The Best Laid Plans
Summary: AU/AH. When 17 year old Elena Gilbert dreamed of her summer before senior year, she didn't dream of leaving Chicago for Mystic Falls. But it seems the sleepy town has a lot in store for her in the form of two charming brothers.
AN: Hi everyone! This is my first story in a while. It's AU/AH so some of the characters may seem a little OOC. Let me know what you think! Also I've had Elena end school early, before Memorial Day just to fit in with my timeframe. Italics represent Elena's inner-thoughts!
Rating: T (Some language, sex)
Disclaimer: I don't know anything related to The Vampire Diaries or anything else really. But I wish I owned Paul Wesley.
Welcome to Mystic Falls. The sign seemed to taunt the beautiful but angry teenage girl sitting in the front seat of the rental car.
"Remind me why I'm stuck in bumblefuck for the summer?"
"Language Elena. Your mother and I agreed that you need to get out of Chicago for a while."
"You couldn't just send me to camp or Europe like a normal parent?"
"Well normal parents don't have to deal with coming home at two in the morning to a trashed house and cops and firefighters surrounding their teenage daughter."
Elena sighed. She knew she screwed up. Maybe having a huge party to celebrate the summer before senior year wasn't the best idea. But her dad seemed to think that spending the summer with Uncle Grayson, Aunt Miranda and cousin Jeremy would properly punish the 17 year old for her actions. To Elena, spending the summer in the sleepy town of Mystic Falls wasn't exactly what she pictured when she thought of her summer. She was supposed to go shopping in the city with her friends, visit colleges with her parents and vacation with her boyfriend. Instead she was stuck in rural Virginia to waste away her summer.
"I don't understand why I just couldn't have been grounded like a normal teenager," grumbled Elena.
"Enough Elena, stop the attitude. My brother and Miranda have graciously offered to have you for the summer and you better act thankful. It was this or military boot camp. Your mother and I need this time to remodel the house and figure out another punishment. Speaking of, how would you feel without a cell phone?"
Elena may have forgotten to mention that the house was destroyed...an entire wing of the vast mansion had to be torn down due to extensive water damage from a fire sparked from a forgotten cigarette. Fortunately, since her father was a high priced attorney, she was not charged with anything serious. "Dad you cannot be serious? I need my phone if I'm stuck here."
"You'll have it for now. Remember Elena, if you disobey Grayson and Miranda, I will not hesitate to leave you here for your senior year. Their house, their rules and I expect you to listen to them."
Elena paled at the thought. Stuck here for senior year? Without her best friends...or boyfriend. Before Elena thought too much about staying in Mystic Falls for more than her summer, her father spoke again.
"Elena, you know we love you. But we simply cannot let you stay in Chicago for the summer...you need to get out of the city and accept the consequences of your actions. You're lucky we can afford to fix the house and bail you out. Besides, it's only for three months, your mom and I will be back to pick you up before you know it."
As much as her father, John, did not want to subject Elena to the boring life of his hometown, he knew that she needed to be taught a lesson. He and his wife, Isobel, agreed that the best place for Elena to go to get away from certain influences, like her scumbag boyfriend and friends, was in the quiet, historic town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. To be honest, John almost felt bad for Elena...until he remembered how expensive the renovations to their home was costing him and his wife.
Sighing, Elena watched as her dad navigated through the small town until they arrived at the Gilbert's. The average sized white farmhouse seemed to agree with the town's atmosphere...boring. Just then, a middle aged man walked out of the door. Uncle Grayson.
"Just to let you know, I hate you."
"Love you too, kiddo. C'mon let's get your bags."
Elena forced herself to put on a happy face and to try not to look miserable in front of Uncle Grayson. It's better here than bootcamp.
"Elena! My goodness you've grown so much since we've seen you. Beautiful, just like your mother." At the mention of her mother, Grayson looked around for Isobel but found her to be missing. "Now where is my beautiful sister-in-law?"
"It's the start of summer classes at Northwestern." Isobel Gilbert was the head of the History Department at Northwestern, the youngest Department Chair in the history of the school and as Elena thought, more dedicated to her job than to her family. Isobel didn't even come to the airport to send them off, instead shooting Elena a text wishing her a safe flight.
"Ah, hardworking that woman is. Nonetheless, we are very happy to have you here for the summer Elena. I believe you'll come to love Mystic Falls."
"Thanks Uncle Gray, but I don't think that's remotely possible," replied Elena, not trying to hide her obvious disdain for her summer vacation from hell.
Grayson played off her disdain and joked, "Just like her father, too wrapped up in the city to enjoy small town life."
"Ha-ha, Gray. Can we get inside? Elena has an overpacking problem." An overpacking problem was an understatement as her father and uncle struggled to carry her numerous suitcases and duffel bags into the house. This is going to be a long summer. Elena glanced around as if she was saying goodbye to her freedom before she trudged up the porch stairs.
Elena plopped down on the guest room bed, exhausted from the flight. Surprisingly, saying goodbye to her dad hadn't been too difficult. When Elena was younger, she was the definition of a Daddy's Girl, and even at seventeen, her relationship with her father was still strong. But all Elena wanted to do now was take a nap and wake up back in Chicago, back with her friends.
Before she had the chance to close her eyes, their was a knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in." The door opened to reveal her Aunt Miranda with extra pillows and blankets.
"I just thought you could use some extra things, is there anything else you need?"
Oh you know, just to get out of this hellhole, Elena thought. As much as she wanted to leave, she knew she was stuck. Regardless of her unfortunate situation, she felt no need to be mean to Miranda or Grayson...since her arrival hours earlier, they had been nothing but welcoming and kind to her.
"I'm good, thanks. I've already unpacked and everything, I'm just ready to go to sleep."
"Ah, yes well I'll leave you be." Miranda walked back towards the door, turning around at the last second. "Before I go, there is a festival in town tomorrow. It's a Founders' Council event celebrating Memorial Day, the entire town goes. It should be fun."
Elena couldn't bring herself to say no to her smiling aunt, "Yeah, I'll be there."
"Great! I'm sure you'll be able to make some friends. Also, your father wants you to get a job here. The Mystic Grill is hiring for new waitresses, you should look into it." With the closing thought of a job, Miranda left her niece to her thoughts.
A Founders' Council? Where am I? Stuck in the 1800s? Even worse, a waitressing job...
The sound of her phone vibrating on the bedside table broke her out of her reverie. Elena smiled when she saw her boyfriend's name flashing across the screen of her iPhone.
"Liam! You don't know how happy I am to hear your voice. I already want to go home. My Aunt and Uncle are nice but they're making me get a job, I just want to be in Chicago."
"Listen, E...that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm sorry but I don't think this whole long distance thing is going to work..."
Elena was flabbergasted, things between her and Liam seemed to be perfect. "Excuse me?"
"It's not that I don't like you E...I just can't deal with not having you here."
"I'm only gone for three months Liam! Not two years. Besides I'm in Virginia, not California."
"I know and I'm sor-"
Growing frustrated at her stupid boyfriend, ex-boyfriend now, Elena snapped. "Sorry my ass, you could have done this before I left...oh wait you probably just wanted to get me in bed one last time before you broke up with me on the phone like a coward. Fuck you, Liam. Go hit up Lauren, I'm sure she'd love to be your rebound. Asshole." With a defeated sigh, Elena hung up the phone and waited for the silent tears to lull her to sleep.
When Elena woke to the smell of pancakes and bacon, she almost wanted to run down the stairs. With her parents busy with work, they did not cook...hell they barely ate as a family anymore. The only time they seemed to get together was when Liam was over. Well I guess we won't be eating as a family when I get back.Shaking the thoughts of her parents and Liam from her head, Elena lightly padded down the stairs to find her aunt, uncle and cousin surrounding the dining room table. Quickly, Elena sat down and dug into the best breakfast she ever had. This is one thing I could definitely get used to.
After eating, Miranda quickly told Elena to get ready as they were leaving for the festival in an hour. In a flash, Elena had showered and picked out her outfit. While Elena did not care about meeting the townsfolk, she did want to make a good impression. Maybe if I'm on my best behavior, I can go back to Chicago early.Elena grabbed simple denim shorts paired with a white tank-top and a black cardigan. After finishing her make-up and putting on acessories, Elena threw on wedges and headed out of the door.
When they arrived in town, Elena was surprised at how many people were out. I guess Aunt Miranda was right, apparently Founders' events are the only thing going on in this godforsaken town. After noting the multiple people dressed in strange costumes, Elena told her Aunt and Uncle she wanted to walk around and explore, but she simply wanted to get away from the crazy of Mystic Falls.
Somehow Elena ended up at the edge of town and it was then that she realized she was lost. Just great. Reaching for her phone, she realized she had no signal. Looks like I'm walking back into town. Elena turned around and started her trek back to town square when a car stopped alongside her.
"Hey, do you need a ride?" The car revealed a blonde girl behind the wheel, along with a light-skinned girl with brown hair in the passengers seat, both appearing to be teenagers.
As much as Elena's feet seemed to scream yes, Elena knew she probably shouldn't get in a car with strangers. "No, I'm alright. I can walk from here."
The blonde spoke again, "It's not a problem. We're headed into town too...besides you look a little lost."
Elena laughed, "That easy to tell?"
"Mystic Falls is a small-town. We know everyone. C'mon hop in."
Washing away her doubt, Elena slid in the backseat when the blonde spoke again.
"I'm Caroline Forbes by the way," Caroline then motioned to the girl sitting next to her
"And this is Bonnie Bennett."
"Hi, I'm Elena. Thanks for the ride, my feet are killing me."
"Oh it's alright, your wedges are totally killer." Elena smiled at the compliment from Bonnie and relaxed more into the seat.
"So what brings you to Mystic Falls Elena?" Bonnie lightly smacked Caroline on the arm.
"I'm sorry, she has a problem. Way too nosy."
Elena laughed, "It's alright, I'm staying for the summer with my Aunt and Uncle." Elena did not want to go into detail about her troubles with people she had only just met.
"Oh, who?" Bonnie was right, Caroline is nosy.
"Grayson and Miranda Gilbert." At the mention of their names, Caroline's ears seemed to perk right up.
"Oh right, the Gilbert's, one of the Founding Families."
"Founding Families?" Though her Aunt Miranda mentioned the Founders' Council, Elena had not heard of the term 'Founding Families.'
"One of the families that helped found Mystic Falls in the 1800s, duh!"
"I honestly had no idea...my Dad never really talks about Mystic Falls." It was true, John never mentioned home other than it was rough after his parents died. He got his girlfriend pregnant when she was sixteen and he was eighteen, had a shotgun wedding and had Elena. Her parents moved to Chicago to start a new life and rarely talked about their time in Mystic Falls.
"Oh well, you're a Gilbert. In this town, being a Founding family is something to be proud of. But we're here!" Caroline parked the car and the three girls jumped out.
"Well, thanks for the ride. It was nice to meet you both." Elena turned to walk away and find her aunt and uncle until Bonnie called after her.
"Wait! If you're not doing anything you should hang out with us, we can introduce you to everyone." Elena ran over the scenario in her head...There's no point of making friends, I'm just going to leave in a few months anyway. But she couldn't exactly say no, not when Caroline and Bonnie helped her out.
Caroline saw the apprehension on Elena's face, "C'mon, you can meet the boys. Just not Tyler, he's mine." Elena giggled at Caroline's possessiveness and followed the two girls into the town square.
As Elena followed Caroline and Bonnie, she quickly got distracted by the extravagant decorations and costumes...she could only imagine what other holidays and town events looked like. Probably like a party store threw up everywhere. Elena's thoughts about the town were interrupted by her walking straight into a strong chest. Finding her balance, Elena glanced up and found herself captivated by the man she clumsily ran into. Elena would have kept staring but the mysterious stranger spoke up.
"My apologies, it looks like I got distracted."
"No, it's totally my fault, I wasn't looking at where I was going."
"It's alright, without it we wouldn't have met."
Elena blushed at the man's forwardness, but wanted to appear strong and confident "It's your lucky day I guess"
"Oh it definitely is."
"I'm Elena, and you are?"
"Nice to meet you Elena, my name is Stefan Salvatore."
AN: So...what do you think? Should I continue? Review and let me know!