She woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. Every morning, the same song. She had always meant to change it but she never got around to it. Elena Gilbert woke up feeling the way she felt every single morning since her parents had died. Empty. Useless. Of course she had always hoped one day she would wake up and it had all been a dream. The car accident. Losing her parents. Her brother going off the rails. Her friends nagging her to move on with her life. But, much to her luck, it was reality.

She started getting ready for school, pulling out her usual jeans, tank top and converse from her closet. Her style was very basic for school, but when it came to events, school dances or even family outings, she was a goddess. She never felt it herself, though. Next to her friends she felt very lost, almost hidden behind them. Like she could just fade away and no one would notice.

After getting dressed, straightening her long brown hair and packing her bag with books she needed for the day, she stood in front of her mirror, staring at herself. She took a deep breath and nodded at herself.

"I can do this." She whispered.

She walked through to her brothers room and peered through the door.

"You ready, Jer?" She asked, hoping for a response that didn't sound like he hated her guts.

But, of course, she didn't get one.

"I'll be down in a minute!" He shouted, while slamming his door shut behind her.

Elena just sighed and walked down stairs, hoping her Aunt Jenna had left some coffee in the machine before she went to work. She was going to need alot of coffee to get through today. Luckily there was, she grabbed a mug and poured herself a generous amount. As she waited on her brother coming down stairs she found herself deep in thought, about her him. How could this have happened? Was it all her fault? Could she have done something? She wanted her brother back, there was a time her and Jeremy were best friends. Rarely ever fought, and would tell each other everything. They would spend nights in each other's bedrooms just sitting up talking. This was before their parents passed away, of course.

She almost jumped at the sound of the thud he made jumping down the last couple of stairs.

"Are we going or what?" he said, while rolling his eyes.

Elena let out a quiet smile, "Yeah, sure, let me get my keys"

When they reached school, Jeremy got out the car as fast as possible, making sure to slam the door. None of this was aimed at Elena, but he couldn't help but act out. Part of him wanted to apologise for everything and reassure her it's not her fault. But he just couldn't bring himself to do it, atleast not yet. He wasn't ready. He still needed time. Understandable, but also debatable.

Elena just sighed and started walking to her usual meet up place, where she meets her friends, Bonnie and Caroline. She found herself sighing alot lately.

"Oh my god! Elena, come here! You have to hear this!"Caroline shouted, not really caring who heard her.

She loved Caroline but she could be a little over the top sometimes and not very sympathetic, but her heart was in the right place, which Bonnie and Elena knew. That's all that mattered.

"Hey Care, what's up?" She asked, with her usual fake smile. She was getting better at them, that hardly anyone asked her if she was okay when she spoke.

"Have you seen the new guy? He's like so hot!" Caroline squealed.

Elena could see how excited this mysterious new guy made her friend, but she wasn't quite sure if she was trying to get Elena to hook up with him or if she was wanting to hook up with him herself. Either way, Elena couldn't really care, she wasn't interested in meeting someone new. Atleast that's what she thought.

"Um..no. I just got here." She said, trying not to make a fuss. Unlike her friend.

"Argh, well he is perfect! Like every girls dream, and quite mysterious, which I'm not sure if I like yet.. I mean I want to be the mysterious one!" It was clear in Caroline's face she wanted to know this boy more than she thought.

Elena and Bonnie exchanged looks and chuckled. They were used to Caroline acting like this, they kind of loved her for it. It brought light into their friendship.

At that moment there he was. He turned around just as Elena looked up and their eye's met. It was obvious that he fell instantly for her. But her on the other hand... not so much. He let out a small smile, which in a weird way, warmed her heart. She didn't quite understand it.