Her back was turned to me. Her coat was a deep shade of red. It looked like she was cloaked in blood. She stood, humming, some tune that I couldn't place.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

She started to slowly turn towards me.

I sat up right in bed, sweating and breathing heavy. The light in my room was quickly flicked on and I saw my older sister, Sierra, standing there looking panicked and holding a flyswatter. I placed my hand on my forehead.

"Elena! I heard screaming! What's wrong?"she asked, swinging the flyswatter.

I shook my head. "Just a bad dream."

The bright bedroom light was blinding. As my eyes adjusted I realized the fact that she was holding a flyswatter. I had to laugh.

"What were you gonna do? Swat them to death?" I asked with a giggle.

She frowned and put her hand on her hip. "I panicked. This was the closest thing."

She tossed the hot pink flyswatter onto my bare bed. I noticed my bright blue comforter and matching sheets on the floor.

I groaned.

"Uh, Elena?" she asked, eyeing the ground next to her suspiciously.

"What?"

She bent down and picked up my lime green alarm clock. She waved it in the air. "Poor clock."

"I must of thrown it in my sleep."

"What was your dream about?"

"I can't remember," I lied.

She raised her eyebrow, deciding it was too early to press for more information she turned her back and walked out. I checked the clock on my phone. 5:05. I don't have to be up for another hour for swim practice but there's no hope in me getting sleep. I stood up and ran a brush throughout my insanely frizzy brown hair. I walked over to my dresser and pulled some clean clothes from it. I then made my way out the door to the bathroom. Dropping them on the counter by the sink, I stared in the mirror. My face was pale. I looked as if I seen a ghost.

I opened the bathroom cabinet and pulled out my Clean and Clear face wash. I started the water and washed my face. After my face was dried I raised my head and looked in the mirror. I looked dead. Sighing, I decided to take a shower. I started the water and went through my pre-shower routine.

I walked back into my room after a long, hot, shower. My crazy hair was wrapped in a towel. I walked into my closet and chose a pair of white sneakers and carried them over by my bed. Then I decided to go get my anti-frizz serum and go ahead and put it on my hair. I walked over to my vanity and when I looked in the mirror, the once blue towel was now blood red. Screaming, I tossed the towel off my head and threw it halfway across the room. I looked at the towel, it was now blue again. I shook my head. This lack of sleep must be messing with me.

"Finally, it's over," I muttered walking out of Rosewood High. Swim practice was especially hard today. We have a meet coming up soon so coach is making us practice on Saturdays now, too.

I was walking down the steps when Emily Fields ran up beside me. "You okay, Elena? You were a little off today," she said, grabbing my arm to stop me.

"Just tired, that's all."

I didn't look at her but I knew she was giving me a look. I like Emily. She's nice and she's a great friend. But she would think I'm one fry short of a happy meal if I told her I had a dream about a girl in a red coat and I hallucinated that my towel turned red.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

I just nodded.

"Okay then...if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," she smiled.

I finally looked at her and smiled.

"Emily!"

We both turned to see Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, and Spencer Hastings at the bottom of the steps. I didn't know those three well. I just moved here last month and I only really know Emily. I do, although, know about the girls. Hanna, the blonde one is the most popular girl here in Rosewood High, Spencer is the school brainiac and I don't know too much about Aria.

"Hey guys, this is Elena Carrington. She's on the swim team. Elena this is Aria, Hanna, and Spencer," she said with a smile.

Aria smiled, Hanna looked around, and Spencer stared at Emily.

"I uh, better go," Emily said.

She raced down the steps to join her friends and they walked off in a huddle. I felt a stab of envy. I wish I had a close group of friends like that. I fished my iPod out of my bag and put my earbuds in. The sound of Kelly Clarkson accompanied me on the way home.

I checked the time on my phone. It was 11 PM already. I sighed and closed my eyes. I had the eerie feeling I was being watched as I drifted off to sleep.

Okay, guys, what do you think? Oh and this IS taking place during season 3 (Elena knows nothing about Mona, A, Alison, etc.)This is my first fanfic so please be nice(: Thank you for reading!

Xoxo.