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"Cappuccino and a croissant?" the waitress said, and, at Elena’s nod, set them down on the table Elena pushed her notebooks aside toelse that was happening Elena had tried studying in her rooht of Bonnie’s e without Bonnie

She hadn’t gottenone of the pri outdoor tables that she could spread her books out on She’d tried, but herback to Sairl, Elena thought Elena rehed and the way she bounced on the bal s of her feet as if she was bursting to y to sit stil

Meredith didn’t make new friends that easily, but the wary coolness she usual y ith strangers had relaxed around Samantha

When Elena had left the dorm, Meredith was on the phone with Alaric Maybe he would knohat to say, how to co to break into their conversation, Elena left her a note indicating where she would be if Meredith needed her

Stirring her coffee, Elena looked up to see Meredith coirl sat down across froray eyes "Alaric says Dalcrest is a hot spot for paranoric, vae" Elena nodded and added ar to her cup "Just as Professor Ca he knows "

"You need to push hihtly "If he liked your parents so much, he’l feel like he has to tel you the truth We don’t have time to waste" She reached out and broke off a piece of Elena’s croissant "Can I have this? I haven’t had anything to eat today, and I’ at the strained lines on Meredith’s face, the dark shadows under her eyes, Elena felt a sharp stab of sy the plate toward her "I just cal ed Damon to come meetstil ar into her coffee Elena felt in need of co before they saw Da down the street toward them, his hair sleek and perfect, his al -

black clothes casual y elegant, sunglasses on Heads turned as he walked by, and Elena distinctly saw one girland fal off the curb

"That was fast," Elena said, as Damon pul ed out a chair and sat down

"I’m fast," Damon answered, "and you said it was important"

"It is," Elena said "Our friend Sament "I know

The police are al over ca"

"What do youat his don’t exactly fal under the police’s agency, do they?" Damon reached out and plucked Elena’s coffee cup from her hand He took a sip, then , this is far too sweet" Meredith’s hands were bal ing into fists, and Elena thought she had better speed things up "Da about this, please tel us" Danaled the waitress to bring hi, I don’t know much about Samantha’s death, or that of Mutt’s rooh to the bodies to have any real information But I’ve found definite evidence that there are other vampires on campus Sloppy ones" His face twisted into the sa Elena’s coffee "Probably newly uess No technique at al "