Chapter One: Ingrid

I sat in my room looking at my mirror. Strikingly sharp cerulean blue eyes stared back at me. It was the most noticeable difference I had from Elena, my twin. Our hair was different too, hers dark brown and pin straight while I had light dirty blonde loose curls. It didn't matter that she was my twin, I hated her. Maybe it was the fact that everybody thought that she was innocent, the "golden girl" when in reality I knew the truth. Elena was a lying half-witted lug but she could be nice and not as irritating sometimes, not like I would admit that to her though. We looked alike yet we could not be more different. I was never jealous of Elena, no that wasn't the problem it was she who was the were never close when we were little. I mean sure she followed me around like a lost puppy trying to catch my attention but I detached myself from her. It wasn't something that she did, it was just that I couldn't stand her, her mere presence had me grinding my teeth in aggravation. I guess you could call me the wild child in the family. I was rebellious and I completely disliked being told 'no' because I did what I wanted when I wanted however I wanted. I wasn't a brat about it, it was just the plain fact that I knew something called manipulation and I was sure as hell good at it. Jeremy and I were close, extremely close but Elena in my eyes was almost like a complete stranger. Ok, no that's not exactly true. I did care for her a bit I just didn't show it. I was exactly 4 hours older than Elena and apparently I was suppose to be the 'responsible' one. Hell no, it wasn't like I was her mother so why should I be the role model, I had my own life she had hers. I was Ingrid Grace Gilbert, I ruled my life no one else did.

It was a week before school started up again, I just got back from a full summer in Australia with a friend of mine and I had obtained a gorgeous tan that if I do say so myself made my legs look absolutely fantastic. My hair was a bit longer and it received a nice glow from the sun. Australia was one heck of a place for a beach party and I enjoyed myself completely until I came back to the small town called Mystic Falls. I wanted to get away after what happened at Wickery Bridge. I grieved a lot but In all honesty I wasn't as upset as I thought I would be, if that made me horrible then so be it. I didn't have a very close relationship with my parents, Miranda and Grayson. But I would say I was closer to my mother because dad would always looked at me with those disapproving eyes of his. I did have good memories with both of my parents but I feel as if the closest person I was with in this family was Jeremy. I loved Aunt Jenna but I was closer with Jeremy. She was the cool aunt. Aunt Jenna always took me shopping because I loved to shop and I'm pretty sure I passed that onto Caroline because I would always bring her with me. Caroline was my closest friend, my best friend. Elena was friends with Caroline but she had a better relationship with Bonnie. Bonnie wasn't... let's say, my favorite person. Her personality was so judgmental and critical that it pissed me off, but she wasn't someone I couldn't tolerate.
I was cut off my thoughts when the doorbell rang. I gracefully walked down the stairs with my head held high and opened the door. I wasn't snobby but I was taught by the best to hold myself with confidence. Caroline was at the door smiling brightly at me. I totally forgot that I was going shopping with her. I opened the door some more for her to enter.

"Let me get dressed and we'll be going." I told her since I was still wearing my bootie shorts and a pair of Jeremy's baggy shirts. I ran up the stairs when I heard her call back.

"Hurry up, I saw a pair of red peep toe louboutin pumps. Your favorite!" That made me get ready faster. Red was my favorite color and I absolutely love louboutin style.
I decided to wear a crimson blouse with high waisted black shorts and a pair of black stilettos to match. Only a line of eyeliner and mascara was added to my face and a dash of nude lipstick. I left my hair in its natural curls while I grabbed my black with silver trimmings baguette purse and headed downstairs to Caroline. I noticed Elena woke up and was now chatting with Caroline. I grabbed Caroline's hand and told her I was ready. I left without so much of a hello or good-bye to Elena even though I could feel her gaze on me the whole time.
When we reached the shoe store, Caroline and I ripped through the door and greeted Sarah the shop owner. We came here enough times to know her well.
I was looking at all the shoes when I saw a pair of pink and brown espadrille heels. Those would match Caroline perfectly.

"Caroline!" I shrieked. She practically flew over to me.

"What is i—" she cut off her sentence when she saw the pair dangling from the tip of my manicured fingers. Caroline squealed so loudly I was sure the glass would break.

"This is perfect! I am totally buying it."

That was how our day went. We went from store to store and bought all sorts of items.
When I got home it was about 11:00 o'clock pm and I was dead on my feet. I opened the door and let the boy, who looked about my age, in. He was Sarah's son Owen and he asked if I needed help carrying my bags. I accepted his offer. We both went up to my room where we set down my shopping bags. He smiled at me and I thanked him.
When he left I looked around my room, it wasn't really a room it was the attic, but I made it mine anyways. The walls were a deep red and the edges were aligned with silver/grey trimmings. The ceiling was high and the color of the ceiling and the floors was a dark cherry. Photos littered the walls. Photos of the day I was born to my summer vacation in Australia. I didn't really have any photos of Elena. I had a photo of her and I in our cheerleading uniform hugging while I had a slight scowl on my face. Then there was the one when we were nine— almost ten. Elena was wearing baby pink shorts and a Tinkerbell t-shirt holding hands with me while I was wearing a peachy polka dotted dress. Elena had a large smile on her face while mine was a bit dimmer.

I remembered that day clearly, it was the day I met my best friend and no it's not Caroline. We had gone to the ice-cream shop near the Louis Park. I had begged mom to let me play on the playground and she had finally caved in. Elena was with our parents when I went exploring. I found a girl— teenager really about eighteen, sitting on the bench alone eating strawberry ice cream. I already had my raspberry blast but I had a sweet tooth so naturally I wanted more. Things could have turned upside down completely but fortunately it didn't. I don't really remember much about what happened or the girl but I knew I had met someone that day.
I plopped onto my bed because I was exhausted. The shopping bags would have to wait. Once my head hit the pillow I was out like a light.