Prologue
It´s been four months since Elena left Mystic Falls. It was the tragic night when she fed on a cheerleading-competition, the day she attacked Liz Forbes and the day of the terrible fight between Caroline and her. From that night on everyone was sure the Elena they knew was gone and that only a monster was left in her, but Caroline still had some hope...
Chapter 1 – The beginning
It was a nice day, the sun was shining. Caroline stepped through the entrance just like every day. When she almost arrived at her locker her mobile rang. "Hello?", she answered the phone. "Hey Care..." Caroline´s eyes widened and she stopped immediately. "I know it´s been a while and yes, last time we met was a disaster but...would you mind meeting me at the Grill? It´s kind of important...". Caroline was still shocked and her mouth popped open. "Elena?", she asked dumbfounded. Of course she already knew it was Elena on the phone, she was her best friend after all. "Uhm..sure, I mean if it´s important...when?" she mumbled. "Is now okay for you? I´d like to talk to you as soon as possible", Elena answered and Caroline nodded in agreement. "Yea, see you there", she answered when she reminded herself Elena couldn´t see her nod. Still a little shocked she hung up the phone and let out a sigh. She wasn´t able to move for a few minutes and it took some time before she finally realized what just happened. Then she turned around at her heels and left the school. In the middle of the parking lot she walked faster until she finally started running. The students at the parking lot were watching her because she looked like she went crazy, but Caroline didn´t care. She ran faster and as she passed the street in front of the Grill she almost got hit by a car. She heard a women´s scream but she didn´t care either. She wanted to hurry, she had to hurry, she couldn´t wait! She stopped in front of the door, taking a deep breath before she finally stepped through the door.
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Stefan and Rebekah were standing at the parking lot, talking about anything and everything, when Caroline left the school. Rebekah noticed her first because Stefan was standing with the back to the school and she looked at him. Curious she watched her, wondering why she left the school right after she entered it. Stefan who was looking at Rebekah turned around when he saw her strange face. He searched the parking lot for anything special when Rebekah interrupted his thoughts. "What is it with Caroline? Look at her face, she looks shocked, now doesn´t she?", she said. Finally Stefan noticed Caroline and he saw what Rebekah was talking about. He was worried about her because she called him very often lately and left strange voice-mails but he didn´t call her back once. He didn´t even know why, he just didn´t. Suddenly Caroline started running what made Stefan even more worried. He and Rebekah looked at each other with opened mouths and started running after Caroline at the same time. They stopped at the street in front of the Mystic Grill. Rebekah screamed and grabbed Stefan´s arm when a full speeding truck almost hit Caroline, while Stefan´s heart stopped for one heartbeat. Of course they knew nothing could happen to Caroline because she was a vampire and with that almost immortal but still: if you see a friend almost being hit by a car you can´t help but being scared. Relieved that nothing happened Stefan and Rebekah sighed concurrently and they followed Caroline who just stepped through the door of the Grill.
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When Caroline entered the Grill, her heartbeat finally slowed down. It always did when she came here. The Mystic Grill was something like her second home. She spent most of her time here and many memories were made in here. She smiled slightly when she thought about the many events that took place here. She searched the room for Elena but she couldn´t find her. Maybe she wasn´t there already but that didn´t make any sense, after Elena was the one who asked her to meet her at the Grill right now. Suddenly she saw a waving hand and she focused on the girl who waved her. Caroline´s eyes widened and her mouth popped open when she noticed that it was Elena. With a racing heart she went to her table, still gazing at her like she was an alien. "Your hair...Elena you...what..?", Caroline stammered. "I coloured it...and cut it", Elena answered and a shy smile appeared on her face. And it was true, Elena´s normally straight brown hair was now curled and in the big curl at the left side of her head were some red streaks. "Thanks for coming Care, it really means a lot to me!", Elena began "Please, have a seat", she added with a smile and Caroline sat down.
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Stefan and Rebekah, who watched the whole scene from the bar, decided to take a seat somewhere Elena and Caroline wouldn´t notice them and they started listening carefully...
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"So...what is it you wanted to talk about?", Caroline asked insecure. She still wasn´t sure what this was about and if this might be a trap. "Well I know the last time we saw each other was a little...you know. And I´m really sorry, for being an emotionless bitch.", Elena started "And the reason I wanted to talk to you is...I turned my emotions back on!", she added. She watched Caroline´s face and she was a little uncertain what she was thinking right now. "You don´t seem surprised", Elena noticed bewildered. "Well I noticed no one was bitten or lying dead on the ground so I assumed something might have changed", Caroline answered, smiling slightly. Elena chuckled and Caroline was sure. She didn´t see that smile for a really long time and now she was sure Elena wasn´t lying. An awkward silence came between them. "Come on Care, I know you...you want to know why I changed my mind, right?", Elena broke the silence. Caroline nodded and she smiled shyly. "Wait, don´t tell me! I´ve got an idea!", Caroline interrupted Elena who just opened her mouth to say something. "I´ll organize a girls night with Bonnie. Then you´ll tell us everything, okay? My house, 6pm", Caroline added while she stood up and grabbed her school bag. Elena smiled, relieved that Caroline forgave her without even flinching. "Will we also talk about you and hybrid number one?", Elena teased her. Yes, she hasn´t been in Mystic Falls for ages now but she was sure that this hadn´t changed. Caroline tried not to laugh but she couldn´t hold herself from a slight smile while she mumbled "Shut up!".
_
"What does she mean with that? Do you know something about Nik and Caroline?", Rebekah asked protective. Of course she knew her brother had a thing for the other blonde, but she would always protect her brother. "I don´t know, why don´t you ask her yourself?", Stefan teased Rebekah and he kissed her on her cheek. "Don´t be mean, you know they don´t like me!", Rebekah moaned without being able not to smile because of the kiss. "Hey, I didn´t know you two were here", Caroline interrupted them. She stood in front of their table, beaming at them. Just when Rebekah wanted to say something, Caroline interrupted her again. "Oh Rebekah, we´re doing a girls night at my house tonight. Wanna come?", Caroline asked, smiling politely at the blonde Original. "Uhm...who else will be there?", Rebekah asked a little perplexed, while pretending she did not hear a word of Caroline and Elena´s conversation. "That would be you, Bonnie, Elena and me" Caroline smiled bright. "Elena?", Stefan asked curious. Rebekah chuckled lightly because Stefan was a really good actor. "Yes! Oh my god, you won´t believe it – her emotions are back on! Isn´t that amazing?", Caroline shrieked while clapping her hands in excitement. "That actually is amazing Caroline", Stefan answered smiling. "So will you come? It will be way more fun with the four of us!", Caroline looked at Rebekah. "Okay fine, I´ll be there", Rebekah answered and even though she tried to hide it, there was the shine of anticipation and pride in her eyes. "Oh great! At my house, 6pm. Oh and better bring stuff for a sleep-over-party, okay?", Caroline beamed at Rebekah and in less than a second she was gone. Now Stefan and Rebekah were alone again and they burst into laughter. "Bravo, very good acting Mr Salvatore", Rebekah chuckled and Stefan laughed out loud. "You´re making some friends, I´m proud of you", he teased her while kissing her cheek again. "You´re mean", Rebekah answered laughing. But he was right, she never had any friends, just her brothers. Certainly she was very proud that Caroline invited her to spend the evening with them...
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Caroline left the grill with a smile on her face. Since she caught up that Rebekah and Stefan were dating, she started warming up for Rebekah. Yes, she didn´t really like Rebekah but in the end Stefan was her best friend and she wanted him to be happy. Moreover Rebekah was just a girl like her and the only reason she didn´t like her was because she was after Tyler. But after that didn´t mind anymore, she didn´t see a reason to hate her. Yes, this evening would be a good one, she was sure of that. Just this moment Caroline´s thoughts got interrupted when she bumped into someone. "God, I´m sorry, I didn´t see you...", she started excusing. "Don´t worry love, I´m not that easy to hurt", a man´s voice answered and she could hear the smile. Perplexed Caroline raised her head and she suddenly went pale.