A/N: Hello everybody, here is the summary to what this story is all about, it starts right at the beginning of season 1 and it's going to follow closely to the show but things will change slightly to fit Brooke into the picture:

Brooklyn Gilbert is the beautiful cousin to Elena and Jeremy Gilbert, and after a while attending Stanford she's decided that moving to Mystic Falls is better than returning home and revealing that she dropped out of college. But is it really for the better when she get's swept into the mystery of Damon Salvatore? Pairing's Damon/OFC, Stefan/Elena.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries.

Brooke's pov:

I've fucked up. Big time.

The breeze blew through my hair as I drove past the welcome to Mystic Falls sign, on my way to my cousins house in my convertible. Here I am, a twenty-one year old woman, running to my younger cousins house because I don't have the guts to go back to my father and tell him that I've quit Stanford university.

My father, Johnathon Gilbert is such a - for lack of better word - asshole. Being an only child isn't easy, especially when you have someone like my father breathing down your neck twenty-four-seven. Most people say I should have gotten over my resentment towards him a long time ago and that it's extremely rude of me to disrespect the only parental figure I have. And if my father had been anyone other than John Gilbert, I'd probably agree with them.

It didn't exactly help the situation that my mother had passed away when I was nine. She was running late to pick me up from a dancing lesson, and she always used to feel guilty if I was the only one left standing in the parking lot waiting for their mother to collect them. So she drove straight through a red light, not really paying attention to her surroundings, and was hit by a Macy's truck.

She died on impact.

It was from that exact moment when the relationship between my father and I changed. He stopped being the perfect father, and I stopped being the perfect daughter. He could barely look at me because I reminded him too much of my mother, and I began to loathe him for treating me differently to how he used to. As a result, we only communicated with each other when necessary, and our relationship continued to decline as I grew older, especially when I started high school.

High school was one of the times I struggled through the most. It's the time where everybody goes through all of their changes as they try their hardest to figure out what they're meant to do in their life and who they're destined to be. Not to mention all of the other hardships, like figuring out the difference between who your real and fake friends are, breaking up with immature boyfriends and attempting to pass your exams so you can go to university and move on with your life.

It was the time I found myself missing my mother the most. I felt like there was no-one to guide me down the right path, no-one to help me make the right decisions. Hence why I followed my father's advice to go to Stanford to train as a doctor, which I realised months into university was a foolish choice.

It's not that I don't admire doctors, because they do a fantastic job each and every day. But, I'm just not cut out to be one. You have to be focused one hundred percent of the time, there's no room for failure in a career where mistakes can cost someone their life. Dedication to saving lives is key, and I want to help people, I do, but not like this. I know it's going to disappoint John, and I know for a fact there will be hell to pay once he finds out what I've done.

But it's my life, and I'm the only person who should determine how I live it. I don't exist to follow his orders.

I shook my head, trying to rid my mind of thoughts connected to my incompetent excuse for a father, choosing instead to familiarize myself with Mystic Falls. I closed my eyes for a few seconds in regret as I drove past the grave yard. You should've gone to the funeral. Just because John told you not to go doesn't mean you shouldn't have. I sighed as I pulled up to Jenna's house, promising myself that I'd go visit my aunt and uncle later today.

I turned off the ignition before retrieving a mirror from my bag, checking that my mascara hadn't run and that the rest of my physical appearance was up to a suitable standard. My chocolate tainted hair cascades about halfway down my chest and my forest green eyes glisten as the sunlight bounces off them. My face is heart-shaped, but most of my bone structure is soft and my skin is a creamy colour, very different to my cousin Elena's olive tone.

I exited my car, excitement rising inside of me at the thought of seeing my aunt Jenna again. She isn't technically my aunt as we aren't blood related, but she's always insisted that I'm like a niece to her anyway. She's the one I call when I need someone to talk to, and she does the same with me.

I heard the front door to the house open as I locked my car, deciding that I'd collect my belongings later and that my reunion with Jenna couldn't wait a second longer.

"Brooke!"

"Aunt Jenna!" We screamed simultaneously as we ran towards each other, throwing our arms around each other as we squealed. Jenna pulled back and cupped my face in her hands.

"Wow, I can't believe how much my little Brookie's changed! I'm sure you have all the guys wrapped around your finger!" She said as she winked, making me blush.

"Shut up Jen! C'mon, let's get inside; I want to see my little cousins."

"They're both at school. You would be too if you hadn't dropped out." She narrowed her eyes slightly, and I could see the calculating look in her eyes as she ushered me inside of the house and lead me into the kitchen.

"Please, do not lecture me about Stanford okay. The reason I came here was because I didn't want to get judged about my decision to leave, it's my life, and I should get to choose how I lead it."

"I'm not judging you." I scoffed as I sat myself down on a chair at the breakfast bar.

"Okay, maybe I am slightly, but I mean come on! You're the insanely smart one with the promising future, and not to mention when John finds out, he's going to be pissed!" I flinched. There is still the small matter of informing my father that I've dropped out of Stanford, and I'm delaying the conversation for as long as I possibly can.

"Can't I just wait to see if he figures it out himself?" I asked timidly as Jenna handed me some coffee and took a seat on the other side of the breakfast bar. My aunt sent me a knowing look.

"No." She dead-panned, before a small, mischievous grin appeared on her lips.

"I could always tell him for you." My eyes lit up and I nodded. Jenna hated John and I couldn't blame her - nobody likes my father. Apparently they used to date in high school, but like the stupid idiot he is, he cheated on her and the two of them broke-up. Now, Jenna uses every opportunity she has to annoy him or just piss him off, much to his chagrin.

"Sure, you'd actually be doing me a favour." We laughed and this huge sense of relief swept through me. It's good to be back; I've missed this little town and its residents. Something feels different though, I don't know how to describe it. Things aren't the way they used to be, that's for sure.

Jenna tried to update me on my cousins and how the two of them were coping with their parents death. Elena, being the smart and sensible person she is, seems to be dealing with the loss of her parents well. Jeremy on the other hand is playing up, which was surprising to say the least. He's always been so innocent and behaved, so it's hard to believe that he's suddenly just strayed down the wrong path. Maybe if you'd been here things wouldn't have turned out this way. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind, hoping that me being here now would give me the chance to redeem myself for not being here during a difficult time in my cousins lives.

After a couple of hours of talking and catching up with Jenna, I found myself walking through the graveyard looking for Grayson and Miranda Gilbert's graves. It's about time I paid my respects to them. I found the two of their graves together, opposite a statue of an angel, and I knelt down in front of them, brushing my hands along the top of the headstones.

"Hey uncle Gray and aunt Miranda. I know this is a bit over due, four months over due." I muttered as I tried to get a bit more comfortable.

"I'm sorry I didn't attend at your funeral. There's no good excuse for me not being there and if I could go back in time I would, but this is gonna have to do. I..." I stuttered, forgetting about what I'd planned on saying as the realisation hit me. They're gone, forever, and they're never coming back. It was easier to accept in California. I was in denial and tried my best not to think about it, but now that I'm here, sitting in front of their resting places, I knew it was impossible to ignore any longer. My throat tightened as I attempted to keep the tears at bay, but failed miserably as a glistening tear rolled down my cheek.

"I love you guys... Say hi to my mom for me." I stood up and brushed down my jeans before I touched their headstones once again. I turned to leave, but paused when suddenly, a crow landed on Grayson's headstone right next to my hand.

"Caw!" Confused and slightly alarmed, my hand slipped from its place on the headstone and dropped down to my side.

"Okay, this isn't weird at all. Hello bird!" I smiled at the crow sarcastically and it cocked its head to the side, cawing simultaneously. My smile faltered slightly under its piercing gaze. It was looking at me patronisingly, like it knew something I didn't. An overwhelming sense of paranoia passed through me as I watched the bird study me, analyse me and look right through me. Brooke, you're losing it. It's just a bird, a creepy bird, but a bird nonetheless. What is there to be afraid of?

I shook my head, realising I was being ridiculous and sent one last glance to the crow before turning around, choosing to forget about it and just go back to Jenna's like I had been planning on doing before I got spooked. The sound of the crow's caws stopped as I walked away and I breathed a sigh of relief, continuing to distance myself from the feathered creature. A sharp gust of wind blew by me and I accidently dropped my bag onto the ground, causing its contents to slip out as well.

I groaned lightly as I knelt down to retrieve my items, putting them back inside of my bag and standing up once again. The sound of a caw had my head snapping to the side as my heart-rate increased. It's back? My eyes surveyed the area, but there was no crow to be seen. Now you're just imagining things. I bit the inside of my cheek and let out a short laugh, which was quickly silenced when without warning, fog appeared out of nowhere and surrounded me.

I gasped, my posture becoming stiff as the fog became more thick. I squinted as my eyes tried to look through it, making out the shape of someone's silhouette fading into the distance, until I couldn't see anyone at all. Alarm bells rang through my head and I blinked as I came to my senses. What are you still doing here?

I put one foot in front of the other, running as fast as I possibly could back to Jenna's house, resisting the temptation to look back to see whether the fog was still there, or whether I'd just imagined the entire thing. It doesn't matter, just keep running.

Out of breath I arrived at the house, my feet leading me straight into the kitchen to quench my thirst, realising that I'd just ran almost two miles in my haste to leave the cemetery. I was so thirsty that I didn't even bother grabbing a glass from the cabinet, I just stook my head underneath the tap, gulping down the water flowing out of it.

"What the hell are you doing Brooke?" Jenna entered the room and I pulled myself away from the tap, breathing in tonnes of air as I tried to regain my breath.

"I was... in the graveyard... and there was a freaky bird... so I ran home." I gasped in between parts of the sentence while Jenna looked at me like I'd just escaped from a mental asylum.

"Right, never mind." She vacated the room, shaking her head as she did so, muttering something about delusional nieces. I rolled my eyes as I finally caught my breath, making my way into the living room and collapsing on the couch. I closed my eyes, trying not to think about the unnerving scene I'd just witnessed at the graveyard as I fell into a deep sleep.

"Brooke, wake up." I felt someone skake my body gently, and if my ears weren't deceiving me it was my aunt Jenna who was trying to bring me out of my slumber. My eyes opened slowly as they adjusted to the light.

"Hey. What's up?"

"Elena and Jeremy are going to be home in a minute, don't you want to surprise them?" I smiled slightly. Neither of my cousins know that I'm going to be living with them for a while, only Jenna does. Originally I'd planned on getting a place of my own and getting a decent job, but Jenna said that the idea was ridiculous. She said that since she had an empty guest room I could come and stay with them for as long as I wanted.

"That sounds like an excellent idea. Let me go and move my car around the block." I rolled off the couch and walked outside, getting into my car and parking it further down the street so that Elena and Jeremy wouldn't recognise it.

After getting out of my car and locking it I turned around to walk down the street, but lost my footing when I felt a huge gust of wind pass by me. My hand darted out to latch onto my car so I could regain my balance, whilst my eyes surveyed the area to see if I could find the cause of the small tornado that almost knocked me over.

I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, in fact, everything seemed completely normal. Nothing was out of place, and I was the only one stood on the pathway. I shook my head as I resumed the walk back to Jenna's house. You're starting to act like your father, and he's the last person you want to end up like. His talks about people with supernatural abilities are starting to get to you Brooke.

I groaned lightly at the way my train of thought was heading and decided to think of a way I could surprise Elena and Jeremy with my presence. After re-entering Jenna's house I moved to hide behind the front door, smiling mischievously. I know it's childish, but I just couldn't resist.

The door swung open and Elena traipsed into the house, removing her jacket and dropping her bag onto the floor. I crept up behind her and lent closer to her so I could whisper in her ear.

"Happy to see me?"

"Agh!" Elena jumped and span around, holding up her fists as if she was ready to punch an intruder. The sight evoked a laugh from my lips; Elena was definitely not the fighting type.

"Oh my God, Brooke!" She pounced on me, sending us tumbling to the floor with us both laughing all the way.

"Hey Elle. You have no idea how much I've missed you." I said as we both stood up and dusted ourselves off.

"Me too, I haven't seen you in forever! Wait, what are you doing here? Why aren't you at Stanford?" The smile on my face slipped slightly which she noticed immediately.

"It's a long story."

"I've got time." She sent me a teasing smile and I laughed as she led me over to the couch.

"Well, I guess the beginning is the best place to start..." I informed Elena about my decision to leave Stanford and I was relieved when she told me that she backed my choice one hundred percent. That's what I love about Elena - she accepts everyone and welcomes them with open arms, even when they don't deserve it. Secondly, I told her about my father.

"Can I be there when you tell him?" I sent her a knowing smirk.

"I've already told Jenna that she could tell him, so sure, why not? The more the merrier." We joked about it for a little while, until I suddenly had a realisation.

"If Jenna tells him, he's going to know where I am." I scowled while Elena looked at me with pity and sympathy. Jenna joined us moments later, sitting down on the arm chair next to the couch Elena and I were sitting on.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry Jen... I know you wanted to tell my dad about Stanford, but if you do he'll know I'm in Mystic Falls and he'll come to drag me straight back to California." A frown appeared on Jenna's face.

"But you can listen in as long as you promise not to laugh too loud." She nodded enthusiastically and Elena and I shared a look of amusement.

"I guess I should go and unpack. Want to help a cousin out with her luggage, Elena?" She smiled as we went outside to find my car. I pulled up on the driveway. Elena grabbed one of my two bags - I don't really own many clothes or possessions, something I plan on changing soon - and headed back inside. I hovered by my car for a few seconds, my eyes involuntarily sweeping the area much like they had earlier. I'm still having those strange vibes, the kind that tell me I need be careful.

I pushed that thought to the back of my mind and let Elena and Jenna lead me to my room. I used to stay in it when I was younger, and I smiled when I stepped into it. Everything looked exactly the same as it used to: the carpet was still cream, the wallpaper had remained lilac, and the wardrobe, double-bed and computer desk where in the exact same place.

Nothing had changed in this room. It looked like it was cleaned on a regular basis which wasn't a surprise since Jenna likes to keep everything tidy, but other than that it was the same. I felt like I'd returned to a place I could call home, and I couldn't be more grateful to Jenna in that moment for letting me stay.

I even had a little bathroom that I had to myself, and a window on the other side of the room with a huge windowsill, the one I tended to sit in and look at the stars during the night. The girls and I unpacked everything that I had, catching up and talking about stuff that didn't really matter. Elena even mentioned this new guy at her school named Stefan whom it seemed she was smitten with. Then the topic of my stumbling into the house and dying from thirst came up.

"Yeah, why the hell were you doing that?"

"It's a long story, but I went to the graveyard to visit..." I trailed off as I realised that Elena was in the room, but she sent me an encouraging smile.

"Anyway, so I was about to leave when a crow landed on Grayson's headstone and started cawing at me. I ignored it, but when I was trying to leave this fog started to surround me. I'm telling you it, was some freaky shit." I saw Elena's expression turn worried.

"The same thing happened to me the other day when I went to visit my parents." We both wore looks of shock, and neither of us knew how to respond. Luckily, Jenna was still here.

"You're probably experiencing illusions or something, I always knew there was something wrong with you two." She teased before she walked out of my new bedroom, leaving Elena and I on our own.

"So, you're the only person who hasn't asked me how I'm dealing with all of this."

"That's because I know what it feels like to get asked the same annoying question every single day, and I know it's the last thing anyone wants to talk about." Both of our expressions were grim and I felt the need to lighten the mood.

"We can call my dad tomorrow, it's probably best to just get it over with." She smiled and we both joked around for a little bit before she told me she was going to the grill to meet up with some friends, and we both left my room and walked down the stairs as Elena slipped on her coat.

"I'm meeting Bonnie at the grill." Elena said to Jenna who was passing by.

"Okay, have fun. Wait, I got this. Don't stay out late, it's a school night." Jenna winked at her and we all laughed. Elena headed towards the door before she stopped and gasped at the sight of some mysterious stranger stood on the other side. This must be Stefan.

He was tall, around six foot, had dark blonde hair that was almost brown and his eyes were green like emeralds. Elena's done well. I thought as a small smirk appeared on my face and I walked back to my room, leaving the two to have some privacy. I had a shower and came back downstairs to help Jenna make dinner since there was nothing better to do and I wanted to be helpful.

We ate together, joked around like we always do, and started cleaning the dishes. Then we decided to watch television, but there wasn't anything interesting on, so I was incredibly bored.

That was of course until Jeremy walked through the door.

"Jere! It's so good to see you!" I said as I wrapped my arms around my little cousin, pulling him into a hug that he didn't return.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in a bored voice, making my smile drop as I pulled away from him.

"Jeremy, stop being so rude!" Jenna scowled, but he just ignored her and walked up the stairs. Jenna noticed the forlorn expression on my face and rubbed my arm comfortingly.

"It's not you Brooke. It's just... You know what I told you about how he's been coping with things." I nodded, trying to make my expression look indifferent.

"It's fine. I'm just going to go get some sleep, I haven't had much recently." I said goodnight to Jenna and walked up the stairs, pausing for a moment outside of Jeremy's room before I shook my head and walked into mine. There's no point in saying anything tonight Brooke, he won't listen.

"Hey Brooke. There's a party tonight, do you want to come?" Elena asked me as I stepped out of my bedroom, both of us still in our pyjamas.

"You're going to a party, with alcohol, and you expect me not to tell Jenna?" I asked her as I tried putting on an authoritative voice, but failed miserably.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Jenna. And I'm sorry, but hanging out with a bunch of horny teenagers isn't really my style."I winked before we both went downstairs into the kitchen and had breakfast.

I returned to my room before having a shower and changing into a pair of tight black jeans, throwing on a pair of black open-toed pumps (heels are a must have in my wardrobe), and a white, strapless top that was decorated with a pink floral pattern. I put on some light make-up: a little foundation and mascara before heading downstairs, Elena and Jeremy already off at school.

I sat on the sofa and pulled out my laptop, looking for any potential job opportunities that were opening up in Mystic Falls. Unfortunately, for now they all seem to be taken.

I groaned inwardly. I hate being one of those idol people who just sit around all day and do nothing, I get bored, which is what I am now. Even though I don't need a job right now thanks to the allowance I get from my dad every month - which he'll stop paying once he realises I'm not at Stanford - but it's nice to have a reason to wake up every morning. I switched on the television, trying to find something other than documentaries about elephants to watch.

Jenna sat down next to me and I wondered why she wasn't at work, but decided not to question it.

"Look, I know you said that Elena was allowed to listen in when you rang your pathetic excuse for a father, but can we do it now?" Jenna was also going out of her mind with boredom and after a moment of hesitation I agreed, whipping out my phone from my pocket. Jenna and I giggled slightly before I held my finger to my lips, signaling for her to be quiet as I put my phone on speaker.

"Hello."

"Hi daddy, how are you?" I said, making small talk. It was difficult not to laugh at the look on Jenna's face.

"I'm fine Brooke, it's been a while since I've spoken to you. Wait, aren't you meant to be in class right now?" I gulped slightly and shoved Jenna lightly when she starting laughing, my nerves kicking in.

"Well, here's the thing, I'm not meant to be in class right now. There's no easy way to tell you this, but I've... I've left Stanford." For about five seconds, there was complete silence. And as expected, in that sixth second, my father's anger filled voice rang through the receiver, almost bursting my eardrums.

"What? You've left Stanford! How could you do such a thing?" I couldn't help myself. There was something about aggravating my father that was just... hilarious. I however, didn't want him to know that, so I covered both mine and Jenna's mouths to muffle the sounds of out laughter. "You were doing fantastic, and you decided to throw it all away! That's it, you're going back to Stanford right away! No complaints!" He continued to shout down the phone, asking me where I was.

"While this conversation has been pleasant, I think it's best for the both of us if I put an end to it. Bye daddy!" I said in a chipper voice.

"Don't you dare hang up-" I pressed the red button on my phone, ending the call immediately.

"Oops!" Jenna and I couldn't contain our laughter. In fact, we were laughing so hard that we were on the floor with tears streaming down our faces. We went silent as my phone began to ring again, unsurprisingly, my father showed up on the caller I.D. We fell straight back into our laughing fit, and I have no idea how long we laid on the floor laughing, but by the time we had calmed down and stood up, the sky outside was pitch black.

"I'm going to go make some dinner or something. Brooke, that was unbelievable!" We giggled and I picked up my phone, looking through all of my missed calls.

You have 26 missed calls, 14 voice mail messages...

I deleted every single one of them, not bothering to listen to any of them. When my phone rang again I snorted, but this time it wasn't my sorry excuse for a father - it was Elena.

"Hey Lena. I'm really sorry, but me and Jenna rang John earlier, we just couldn't resist!" When I heard her sniffling down the other end of the phone, my good mood suddenly did a one eighty.

"Lena, what's wrong?"

"It's Vicki Donavon. She's been attacked by an animal and she's in really bad shape. There's lot's of blood and... I really need you right now, Brooke."

"Don't worry, it's going to be okay. Just tell me where you are I'll come and get you."

Stefan's pov:

I ran to the boarding house in vampire speed, slamming the door shut. Zach looked up at me from his seat at his desk.

"What's going on?" He questioned, confused by my sudden appearance.

"Someone else was attacked tonight Zach, and it wasn't me." I wasted no more time talking to him and rushed upstairs, noticing a bird fly into my room.

"Caw!" It landed on my nightstand, and all of my worst fears were confirmed. What am I going to do? He's found me. He's here, in Mystic Falls, were Elena is. I turned around slowly, preparing myself for the encounter I knew we were about to have. He was there, smirking as he stood on my balcony.

"Damon." His smirk grew larger as he looked at my face, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"Hello, brother." I stared at him for a few moments before the crow started cawing again and Damon stepped forwards, closing in on me. I stood my ground, determined not to back down from him. I've done that too many times before.

"Birds a bit much, don't you think?" He moved around my room as if he owned the place, picking up random objects I'd accumulated over the years and observed them.

"Wait till you see what I can do with the fog." He quipped.

"When did you get here?"

"Well, I couldn't miss your first day of school." He said in a cheerful voice that was so sickeningly fake that it made my insides churn. I momentarily thought that I was going to throw up the animal blood I'd drank earlier, but I willed myself not to knowing that Damon would probably get a huge kick out of it. He chuckled slightly as he lent against my bookshelf, examining the room with his eyes before they turned their gaze onto me.

"Your hair's different. I like it." He said as he picked up a picture of me and my friend Lexi.

"It's been fifteen years, Damon." He groaned in relief.

"Thank God! I couldn't take another day of the nineties, that horrible grunge look did not suit you." He went back to smirking as he crossed over to the other side of my room, my eyes following every step that he made.

"Remember Stefan, it's important to stay away from fads." He scrutinised.

"Why are you here?" I demanded angrily, rolling my eyes as his smirk grew even wider.

"I missed my little brother." I scoffed.

"You hate small towns, they're boring and there's nothing for you to do." He rolled back his shoulders.

"I've managed to keep myself busy."

"You know you left that girl alive tonight, that's pretty clumsy of you." He hissed slightly and grimaced.

"Ahh, that could be a problem. For you." His expression returned to it's usual cocky state and I shook my head.

"Why are you here?" It's impossible, he can't know. His eyes gleamed with mischief at what he was about to say, and I tried to appear as if I wasn't dreading what was about to come out of his mouth.

"I could ask you the same question, however, I'm fairly certain your answer can be summed up into one little word. Elena."

Brooke's pov:

I arrived just in time to see Vicki Donavon being put into an ambulance with her brother Matt jumping in after her. I could see Elena in the distance leaning against a bench trying to be strong and hold her emotions in, but I know her better than anyone. I sprinted over to her and when she spotted me I opened my arms and she rushed into them while I rubbed her head soothingly.

"Are you okay?" I did a quick check over of her with my eyes as we pulled apart, satisfied that she was physically okay. But mentally? What she saw must have been mentally scarring for life.

"I guess, it's more shock than anything else. The paramedics said that she was going to be fine and that she just needs to rest." I nodded in understanding. She looked down at the floor for a moment before her tear filled eyes returned to mine.

"There was so much blood... I thought that I was going to have to watch her die. And I can't do that Brooke, I can't watch anyone else die. Promise me that you're not going to die on me." Most people would find her demand confusing, and a little amusing, but I understand. I can remember what it feels like right after a relative dies.

You feel lost, broken, and alone. And the last thing you want after someone close to you dies, is to lose another person you love.

"I promise. I'm not going anywhere, especially after the conversation I had earlier with my dad. You're stuck with me forever now, soon enough your going to be begging me to leave." She chuckled a little.

"As if I could ever get bored of my beautiful, intelligent and entertaining cousin." I scoffed before smiling slightly.

"Please, you're the one who is clever and fantastic, not to mention stunning." She laughed, but then a teasing smile replaced it.

"Says the person who in high school was voted student body president, prom queen and valedictorian." I rolled my eyes; nobody cares about who you were in high school. Nonetheless, I wanted to cheer Elena up, so I continued to keep up our rapport.

"Yeah, and I'm certain you'll exceed me when the time comes." We giggled again, stopping when Elena's friend Bonnie walked up to us.

"Hey Bonnie." She smiled at me slightly in response before her expression turned grim.

"Elena, there's no way that I'm psychic, I know that. But whatever I saw, or I think I saw, I have this feeling..." She trailed off, and I knew my face was contorted in confusion. Psychic?

"Bonnie, what?" Bonnie was silent for a few moments, deadly silent, and I felt uneasiness rise in me.

"It's just the beginning." I looked to my right to see Jeremy standing next to a wall with his shoulders hunched over, and I excused myself from the girls. I'm not sure I like the direction their conversation is going in.

"Are you okay?" I went to rub his shoulder but he flinched away from my touch, causing my hand to fall back down to my side.

"I called Jenna, she's on her way." I'd forgotten to tell Jenna about what had happened before I'd left the house, so I'd rang her on the way in the car. Jeremy shot me a glare but I found myself glaring back at him with as much fierceness as he was, causing his to falter slightly. If he wants to treat me like dirt then I'll treat him like dirt too.

After a few moments of us glaring at each other, I tried to lighten the mood. Noticing that he was taking rather large gulps from his beer bottle unnerved me. He shouldn't be doing alcohol and drugs, he's fifteen for God's sake, sixteen in a couple of months. I subtly tried to get the warning across.

"You see those people in uniform, they're the police." He ignored me, tipping his head back and downing the rest of the beer bottle's content defiantly. He threw it to the ground, avoiding my glares.

"People are going to stop giving you breaks Jeremy, they just don't care anymore. They don't remember that your parents are dead because they have their own lives to deal with. The world has moved on, and I know it's hard but you need to try too."

"You haven't moved on." He accused as he referred to my mother. I sent him an icy glare, backing down from the challenge he had presented me with. He wants me to get mad so he has someone to argue with.

"Your parents wouldn't want this." I stated, walking away from him and heading off to find Elena to see if she needed a ride.

My eyes welled with tears at the thought of my mother. Honestly, I don't think anyone ever fully moves on. I've accepted the fact that she's gone and that she's never coming back. I don't feel sad or bad when I think about her. But that doesn't mean I never stop missing her.

Stefan's pov:

"She took my breath away, Elena. So did her cousin, Brooke, is it?" My hard look didn't seem to deter my brother. He carried on walking around and picking up my belongings, sending smirks in my direction. And now, he's talking about Elena and her cousin. I knew he'd notice Elena right away - what with her resemblance to our dead ex-girlfriend - but I didn't count on him noticing her cousin. I only saw her briefly the other day and we haven't been introduced, but Elena absolutely adores her. That means that there's another person added to the list of people I have to protect.

Your protection means nothing. He's stronger than you, even more so when you're on this diet.

"Elena's a dead-ringer for Katherine, and Brooke, she's stunning. Not to mention she smells incredible." Damon turned towards me to send me a knowing look.

"Is it working Stefan? Being around her? Being in her world, does it make you feel alive?" Damon walked closer towards me, flicking a piece of dirt off his trademark leather jacket.

"She's not Katherine."

"Well that's good. We both know how that ended." Damon stopped just feet in front of me, towering over me at his six foot one height, while mine was only five foot eleven.

"Tell me something, when's the last time you had something stronger than a squirrel?" I clenched my jaw. How he finds my suffering amusing, I'll never know. Everything is just a game to him, and everybody is just a pawn in his wicked schemes.

"I know what you're doing Damon, it's not going to work." I turned to walk away but he locked my arm in a steel like grip, holding me in place.

"C'mon! Don't you crave a little?" He shoved me hard, sending me back a few steps.

"Stop."

"Let's do it together. I saw a couple of girls earlier. Or lets just cut straight to the chase. Let's just go straight for Elena and Brooke!" I shoved him back roughly, yelling at him to stop it. The idea of human blood was tempting, but I can't do it. I have developed too much of a conscious for that, and I will not let Damon come back to Mystic Falls to destroy me, especially by threatening Elena and her cousin Brooke.

"Imagine what their blood tastes like. I can." My face vamped out as I lost all of my restraint and will power.

"I said stop!" I ran at lightening speed towards him, causing the two of us to crash through the window and tumble to the ground. I groaned as I tried to pick myself up off the ground, but the broken glass from the window sliced into my hands and my legs buckled underneath my weight. I fell back to the ground, breathing heavily.

Summoning up as much strength as I could I tried again and managed to get onto my knees. I swiveled around slowly, searching for Damon, until I realised he wasn't on the ground at all.

"I was impressed. I'll give it a six, you missed on style but I was pleasantly surprised." He called out as he leaned against a brick wall, clapping at me mockingly. Regaining some energy as my body slowly started to repair itself, I stood up, still gasping for air.

"Very good with the face, 'ahh ahh' thing." He laughed as he did a fake imitation of what I'd looked like in my true form, and I was too tired to even respond with a retort.

"That was good."

"It's all fun and games Damon, huh? But where ever you go, people die!" I shouted out in a hoarse voice while he shrugged and looked at me knowingly.

"Well, that's a given."

"Not here. I won't allow it." He grinned like a Cheshire cat that got the cream and walked towards me.

"I'll take that as an invitation."

"Damon, please! After all of these years can't we just give it a rest?" I asked, in a last attempt to change his mind. I realised that I shouldn't have even bothered, because it's not like he's really going to listen to me, is it?

"I promised you an eternity of misery so I'm just keeping my word."

"Stay away from Elena, and while you're at it her cousin too." He raised an eyebrow in response before pretending to look worried about something.

"Where's your ring?" I looked down at my hand to find that my daylight ring was missing; I shot Damon a look full of disdain.

"Oh yeah, Sun's coming up in a couple of hours and poof, ashes to ashes." I stared at him before he sighed in annoyance.

"Relax. It's right here." He raised his arm towards me and I snatched my ring out of his hand immediately, afraid he would suddenly speed off and leave me without it. He smirked as I slid it onto my middle finger before his face changed and his hand locked itself tightly around my neck. He threw me at the garage door and I felt myself smash into it before I hit the floor. I let out another loud groan, opening my eyes to see Damon hovering over me.

"You're stupid to think you're stronger than me, you lost that fight when you stopped feeding on people. I wouldn't try it again." Damon spat out each word slowly, burning them into my brain. Damon cocked his head to the side before smirking, yet again.

"I think I woke Zach up. Sorry Zach!" He whistled as he strolled away, leaving me lying on the ground in agony, and full of unanswered questions. Why did he have to come back? Why now? And why does he have to hurt the people I was beginning to care about?

Damon's pov:

I sat down at a table, winking at one of the waitresses before deciding to listen in on the conversations of Mystic Falls locals. My thoughts strayed to my brother.

Saint Stefan hasn't changed at all. What a surprise.

He's still on his high horse about humans, but he really doesn't get it. All they are to us, is meals. Sustenance. Other than that they're pathetic excuses for a race.

I know exactly what Stefan would say: don't feed on humans, it's not right, feeding on animals is so much better. I'd never, ever, adopt the Stefan diet and eat woodland creatures. I'd sooner spit on my own pile of ashes.

My little brother obviously seems to have forgotten that once upon a time, he was the villain in this story. He was the one who slaughtered every human he came by, drained them dry and ripped them to pieces. Then that wench Lexi changed everything because - stupidly - I asked her to.

I rolled my eyes. Sitting in the Mystic grill and eavesdropping on people's conversations was starting to get boring.

"Why hasn't he called? Why-"

"I think I'm definitely going to get this promotion-"

"I'm inappropriate and always say the wrong thing, and Elena always says the right thing." Now that conversation sounded interesting. Elena. Hmm.

I listened to the blonde girl who sat a few tables away, watching as she vented out her insecurities to the caramel skinned girl opposite her. Maybe she'd get the guy if she wasn't constantly whining twenty-four-seven. Grudgingly, I forced myself to listen to the chick flick moment, knowing that it would be in my best interest to get to know this person. She's an easy target, and an easy way to worm my way into Elena's house.

After her friend left I caught her eye, sending her a lop-sided smirk. I heard her heart skip a beat, not to my surprise of course. I tend to have that affect on women. The blonde didn't notice when my demeanor turned patronizing, too engrossed in my good looks. She has no idea what I have in store for her, does she?

Suddenly, my train of thought went down a different track. There's something about Elena that doesn't attract me. She's shares a remarkable resemblance to Katherine, but that isn't enough. I found my attention wandering elsewhere, towards her cousin, Brooke. She's beyond beautiful, and I'm sure she's wild in the sack. She'll be the perfect person to use as a distraction until I figure out how to release Katherine from the tomb.

Besides, even if I did find Elena appealing, Stefan's like her personal guard dog, always there to keep her out of harms way. But he can't defend both of them at the same time, and I think it's obvious who he'd rather protect.

I continued to smile insolently at the young blonde.

I have a feeling that I'm going to like it here.

A/N: So that was the first chapter, please leave a review and let me know what you think. In the next chapter, both Brooke and Elena will meet Damon.

Review! :)