A/N: Hello, dear friends. Wow, it's been a long time. Like, a LONG time. I must admit, my last story was a complete bust, and I apologize to anyone who took precious time out of their day to read it. But I swear this story will not be like that. For once, I have an actual plot in my head(WHAT? A REAL LIVE PLOT!?) Besides the first chapter, everything will be in first-person, from Caroline's point of view. This chapter may seem a bit dry, but when she tells the story it will be a bit more…juicy? I don't know the right word…funny? Oh well, you'll have to wait and see!

So, with that being said, please enjoy (or hate, I can't tell you what to do) this story.

Disclaimer: TVD producers own these characters. TVD producers have money. I do not have money. Therefore, by the power of syllogism, I am neither a TVD producer, nor do I own these characters.

Chapter One

Caroline Forbes was tired of living in a house. More specifically, her house. She was tired of her parents fake marriage (her dad was gay, she was sure). She was tired of fake friends who made up fake "appointments" so that they wouldn't have to hang out with her. She was tired of faking happiness with her unfaithful fiancé and his (regrettably) very real affair with his fake-boobed secretary.

Simply put, Caroline Forbes was tired.

So she went on Google (the true celestial deity of today), and found what she was looking for: a way out of this ungodly town, without the hassle of forged tears and phony goodbyes. America For Global Education (otherwise known as AFGE) offered her a roundtrip ticket to Russia, a safe host family to live with, and the opportunity to teach small Russian children English by playing with them for four hours, Monday – Friday. Plus, it was a government program. New, safe, and real sounded very good to her.

Caroline liked the idea of small children. Kids aren't fake – they are too wise, and have yet to be corrupted by the illusion of adulthood. She thought this was a great idea. Clicking the "Yes, I'd Love To Volunteer!" button, she was redirected to a page requiring her information. She typed in all the necessary fields (First name, last name, date of birth, email address, American citizenship: yes or no, passport number, and credit card number), then pressed enter. As she was reading her email from AFGE – which just stated that there would be a 3-5 day wait period, during which her information would be evaluated and she would be given a thorough background check, after which she would be sent another email containing her acceptance/rejection, and (possibly) her flight information – Tyler walked into the study. "Care, what are you doing? It's, like, 3 AM." Yawning, he flopped onto the leather couch across from the computer desk. "I," started Caroline, "am filling out my application for America For Global Education. Sorry for not informing you earlier, but it was kind of a last minute thing. If accepted I will be in Russia for approximately 4 ½ months."

Tyler looked stunned. He didn't get it – why was she being so…straightforward? No, wrong word…detached is more like it. Caroline had never spoken to him like that, so cold, so unemotional. And above all else, she didn't consult him first, and that made him very, very angry.

"Did you even think for one second that maybe, just maybe, your fiancé should have a say in this whole 'Eat-Pray-Love' vacation you're scheming?" Caroline sighed, because she knew he'd react like this; but Caroline Forbes had always been a planner, and had prepared what she would say to each person before she left. "First of all, Tyler, this is not a vacation. This is a learning experience for both the children of Russia and myself. I need this, Tyler, and if you truly care about me, you'll let me go. It's only 4 ½ months, I'll be home before you know it." She knew it was wrong, playing the 'Test-of-Your-Love' card, but desperate times and all that jazz.

Tyler sighed, relenting as she knew he would. "Ok," Tyler began, "if it means that much to you. But on one condition." Caroline turned towards him – she had not anticipated a stipulation. "And that would be?" She asked.

"That you go to sleep now, because it's 3:25 in the goddamn morning."

A/N: I'd like to say thanks to all of you who read the whole first chapter :)

I know this one is a bit short, and I'm planning on making them longer in the future, but this one was sort of like a prologue.

Please review, tell me if you loved it, if you hated it, if I should continue the story, if I should go die in a whole, and anything else you got for me! Above all else, I just want to say that I really appreciate you taking time to give this story a chance.

Sincerely,

Emilie