Chapter 1: Back to Mystic Falls

The carriage was almost there. I felt myself wanting to scream at the horses pulling me to go faster, but I knew I had to act ladylike and perfect for him, the one who would be awaiting my return. Still, the thought of getting out of the carriage and running the remaining quarter mile that kept us apart was ingrained in my head. Only my pride and my love for him kept me in my seat.

Who was this man? His name was Stefan, Stefan Salvatore. I'd known him as far back as I could remember, and I knew it was the same for him. This love for him wasn't true love; it was a friendship that we both knew would last our entire lives. Though I thought it was changing for me. I wanted to try a relationship and hope for the best. But I knew that although that might be what I wanted, he had to want it, too, because it wasn't proper for a lady to profess her love to a man. Even though we were still both seventeen, I felt like that's what we were: a lady and a man, bound together by the closest friendship I'd ever seen or heard of.

Finally, I could see the white mansion that was my second home. I rested my eyes upon him, and I couldn't wait any longer. I jumped out of the still-moving carriage and ran as fast as I could to my personal adviser and best friend. I didn't like this dress, anyway.

"Stefan!" I shouted as my body slammed into his. I had forgotten how warm he was.

"Alexis!" he said back, with a laugh in his voice that told me all I needed to know.

Stefan was wearing a white shirt and black pants that day. His suspenders were above the shirt, just like I loved them. His eyes seemed even more green than usual, his hair a lighter brown and more perfect. My memory did not do this man justice. And that comment was from a totally friend-like perspective. I think.

The hug lasted a long while, as it should. I had been gone for a month for my mother's funeral in South Carolina. I was now an orphan. Stefan helped me forget about it for a little while in his comforting embrace. He radiated sympathy and compassion. That's what I loved about him. He knew exactly what I was feeling, and how to help me be happy again. I guess it came naturally after doing it for seventeen years.

Then I heard the steps of someone walking onto the porch. My moment ruined, I turned to face the newcomer and stared in awe at the girl standing in the doorway.

She was the incarnation of beauty, with olive skin, brown, curled hair, and brown eyes. She had on a dress that even I would wear by choice, which is saying a lot, and a pretty lapis lazuli necklace that I would kill for. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was it possible for one person to be this pretty?

Stefan bowed, muttering, "Miss Pierce," with a smile on his face. Uh oh.

"Who is our guest?" she asked. "You didn't tell me we were to have company." She was looking at me up and down, and I realized how ugly I must seem compared to her. My dress was torn at the bottom, and my face had dirt all over it. I should have stayed in the carriage.

"She is no guest. She's my best friend, Alexis," he told Ms. Pierce. "Alexis, this is Miss Katherine Pierce. She is an orphan, and my father was kind enough to invite her to stay with us."

I curtsied, as was proper, but I was seething inside. I left for a month, and I came back and Stefan was all Romeo and Juliet with this girl that I didn't know. Who I could never compete with, I might add. I guess this sends my relationship idea down the drain.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Pierce." Not.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss, uh,-"

"Just Alexis. I don't go by my last name." I guess he never even mentioned me. Jealousy and hatred for this girl named Katherine consumed me. How could she have gotten Stefan to forget about me?

"And you can call me Katherine. Any friend of Stefan's is a friend of mine," she finished. Do we have to be friends?

Stefan smiled, obviously missing my "strong" feelings for Katherine. He thought we were getting along! Keep dreaming, sweetie.

Even though I already loathed Katherine, I saw the sparkle in Stefan's eyes when he saw Katherine and me bonding. I could never disappoint him. I decided at that moment that I could never tell him my true feelings for him because of my need for him. This was going to get complicated.

As I thought through all of this, Damon Salvatore stepped onto the already crowded porch. Damon was Stefan's older brother, and he was extremely gorgeous. He had electric blue eyes, brown wavy hair, and was a head taller than Stefan. If I didn't know how obnoxious he was, I would have a crush on him.

"Damon," I said.

"Alexis."

"Aren't you supposed to be fighting for the Confederacy right now?" I asked with mock sweetness in my voice.

"Well, I tried it, but war just isn't my style," he replied. Ugh. The only reason I put up with Damon was for Stefan. Stefan and Damon were closer than most brothers, almost always together. Today, though, they didn't look very happy with each other.

The reality of why this was suddenly hit me. Damon loved Katherine, too. His eyes gave everything away. They were fighting over her! This was even worse than I thought. I was glad I had gotten back now.

I was ready to retort, but Stefan felt the fight coming. "Why don't I show you to your new room?" he asked. "Let me carry your things."

"What's wrong with the room I always stay in?" I inquired. I already knew the answer.

"Well, we, uh, put Katherine in that room. We didn't know when you were coming back, and, so-"

I cut him off. "Yeah, I know, my room is the best guest room in the house. Well, come on then. I don't want to get the lazy disease from Damon." I coughed. Well, at least I got something in.

"Hey!" he began, but Katherine cut him off.

"Why don't we go for a walk? I need to see Pearl." Who was Pearl? Hopefully not more competition.

She left the porch, and Damon followed like her slave. He probably was her slave. But I didn't care about Damon.

I started to open the door, but Stefan closed it.

"What?" I asked. "I'm tired." Whoops. That sounded kind of mean. But I was not in a good mood right now.

"What do you think of Katherine?" he asked. "I mean, does she seem good for, well, me?"

I was about to say how awful I thought she was, but then I remembered my promise. I could never share my true feelings. Well, this was going to be really hard.

"I think she's great," I told him. I was such a liar. "You seem happier around her." Not a lie, just the bitter truth.

"You think so?" He was so excited. How could I put tears into those perfect green eyes?

"Yeah, I do."

I walked inside before my face could give myself away.