AN: I've been writing this story for such a long time! It's inspired by a story I came across that was deleted. I promise the next chapters will be longer and more in line with the canon. I hope you love this story as much as I do! Let me know what you with by sending a PM or writing a review below! Thanks, elizaxbethx3 ! :)

Corinne Gilbert rushed down the school corridors trying to make herself look presentable and less like she'd been on an airplane the past twelve hours whilst also make it to her favorite class on time; especially since in order to do so she'd came straight from the airport without changing clothes or dropping her luggage back home. She slides off her brand new Louis Vuitton sunglasses, shoving them into her Gucci handbag, and dragging her perfectly manicured fingers through her long, curly brunette locks. Finally at the classroom, she pushed open the door stumbling and sighing dramatically- much to the amusement to her classmates and dismay of her teacher.

"Hey, Mr. Tanner so sorry I'm not on time. I got stuck at the airport because my flight was delayed and the official trying to explain the delay spoke a weird foreign language that I didn't understand and I kept saying that I was trying to get home in time for my favorite class and this went on until some lady came over and translated whatever the guy said. Other than that I would completely recommend Europe for your next vacation." Corinne explained, walking towards the back of the classroom and taking her usual seat next to her sister's former boyfriend Matt Donovan and her lifelong crush Tyler Lockwood.

Mr. Tanner sighed. "Please stop talking and take a seat Corinne. And since you're so eager to be back I presume you wouldn't mind telling the class how many casualties resulted in the battle of Willow-"

"346 casualties and 27 civilians who were apparently killed according to the cute new guy whose name I didn't seem to catch."

"Very good."

Corinne smiled brightly. "It's good to be home."

Mr. Tanner simply rolled his eyes, continuing his lesson for the remainder of the class period. "As I was saying…"

As class ended, Corinne made her way into the crowded corridors; smiling coolly and waving at everyone, pretending not to see the pitying looks on their faces or hear them whispering about her 'tragic' past.

She's almost to her next class when she hears a familiar voice- one that could only belong to her best friend Caroline Forbes. "Corinne!" Caroline squeals, wrapping the younger girl into a bone crushing embrace that left her gasping for air.

"Hi friend." Corinne greeted.

Caroline looked her over for any changes- other than her hair there weren't any. "I know that we Skyped every day, but I missed you so, so much!"

"I missed you too. God, I even missed my super annoying and bossy sister and my moody stoner brother and clueless Aunt Jenna."

"Wow." Caroline said. "I never thought there'd come a day when Corinne Gilbert admitted she cared about someone other than herself."

Corinne tried to hide the hurt look on her face at Caroline's obvious insensitivity. "I'm going to go find Elena."

"Okay. I'll talk to you tonight at the Grille."

"Yeah." Corinne agreed, before disappearing into the crowd of peopled and searching for her big sister who she'd not seen in three months- not since the funeral procession. She planned on going to Europe long before her parents died; and since the expenses were already paid so even if she didn't want to go she'd still been made too.

It didn't matter since she still wanted to go anyways; plus she was the best dancer at her company and was the reason they were invited on the tour in the first place. She didn't leave things in a good place with Elena and there was a lot they needed to talk about, but for now she just wanted to find her big sister and feel the comfort of her arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace.

They were always close- closer than Corinne and Jeremy who were only close in the sense that they weren't close at all. She really didn't have a choice to be close with Elena considering they shared not only a house but also a bedroom.

"Corinne?"

"Elena!" Corinne shouted, weaving her way through the people between them and when she finally reached her sister springing into her arms- which surprised Elena. (Corinne normally didn't like being touched and typically didn't initiate physical contact with anyone other than Tyler.)

She breathed in the familiar scent of her sister who always smelled just like their mother- their dead mother. "I missed you." Corinne said, swiping at the tears filling her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Elena didn't say anything, simply holding her sister in her arms and finding herself able to relax for the first time since Corinne left Mystic Falls. "I missed you too."

Corinne reluctantly untangled herself from Elena, letting out a half-laugh half-sob in the process. "I like your hair." Elena said, referring to the red streaks in her sister's hair sporadically- making her look different and more grownup.

"Right? So I haven't been home yet…" Corinne awkwardly stated, fidgeting.

Elena knew that was Corinne's way of saying: "I don't want to go alone but I don't want to sound like a baby or make you think I need you." She smiled. "I have to change clothes before I go to the Grille anyways."

Corinne visibly relaxed. "Okay."

They walked together quietly, enjoying the other's presence since their friendliness wouldn't remain forever and Corinne would go back to blaming her for their parent's death and everything else that went wrong in their lives.

Corinne couldn't believe how different the house felt when it looked exactly the same; the same pictures hung above the mantle, papers scattered on the coffee table, and candles filling the room with a pleasant aroma and glow of light. "Wow." She murmured, brushing her fingers across everything she passed- which made Elena laugh at the childish display.

She always possessed this aura of innocence and childlike tendencies everyone loved to make-fun of her for behind her back. Everyone knew better than to bring something like that up around Corinne- that was a mistake people only made once.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" Elena asked.

Corinne nodded. "I can't wait to sleep in my own bed."

That was a lie.

Elena and Corinne both knew Corinne would climb into Elena's bed before the night was over- another childlike tendency that started way before their parents died. Still, Elena went along with her sister's charade. "Mm Hm."

Corinne continued to look around and become reacquainted with all her things that stayed behind while she was in Europe. She looked deep in thought for a moment. "I wished you were there with me sometimes."

Elena was surprised to hear Corinne admit something like that and took into account her averted eyes and flushed cheeks. She never understood why Corinne was so embarrassed by letting people know she needed them or cared about them- again, except Tyler.

Another thing Elena didn't understand was her sister's infatuation with Tyler Lockwood even though the boy was arguably the biggest player in town and toyed with girls feeling without a second thought. Yet Corinne thought of him as God's gift to girls everywhere.

"Elena?"

"Yeah?" Elena turned her attention back to Corinne.

"I… never mind, I'm going to take a shower and go to the Grille with you to see everyone else." Corinne knotted her fingers together. "So far I've only seen Caroline and you."

"Alright, I'll be downstairs. Holler if you need anything."

Corinne smiled and rolled her eyes, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her body. "I won't need anything."

To be continued...