Pilot
[Book 1 in the Tangled Series]
After the tragic lost of her parents, Louise Gilbert is trying to adjust to her new reality. Everything changes when two vampire brothers come to Mystic Falls. Elena falls in love with Stefan but will Louise be charmed by his older mysterious brother, Damon. The sisters get caught up in the supernatural world and Louise finds out there's more to her than meets the eye.
DISCLAIMER - I don't own the vampire diaries, only Louise and any other characters added.
Dear diary,
I have a strange feeling that something bad is going to happen today. I don't know why I wrote that.
It's been three months, two weeks and two days since I've written anything down. It's been 107 days since I've smiled or spoken really. I have been this giant ball of grieve and sadness all this time but today, journal, today will be different. I has to be.
Today I'm going to smile. Today when someone asks me that dreaded 'how are you' question, I'm going to smile and reply 'I'm fine. Thanks for asking'. I'm going to be bright and peppy Louise. The Louise that people expect me to be. It's been three months, two weeks and two days since my parents died. No one but my family cares anymore. There's nothing I can do to change what happened because believe me I would if I could.
But like I said, journal. Today is going to be different. I am going to be that Louise that people expect to see on the first day of school. Today, I'm going to be the Louise that my brother and sister know. This year I will start fresh, be someone knew. No more being sad.
You and I will know the truth and I'm okay with that. It's the only way I'll be able to survive.
- L
Louise's pen stopped writing as eyes lift to the window, looking outside. Getting up from her window seat, she moved to hide her diary underneath her mattress before she walked over to her vanity. She takes a look at her reflection. Her dark brown hair fell past her shoulder, parted in middle part. She scanned her outfit. She was wearing a military green vest top with plaid top over it, light blue washed jeans and her black converse.
"Okay, Louise, smile." she spoke out loud to her reflection.
A forced smile crept on her lips, practicing the foreign expression on her face. However when her eyes shift to the photo of her parents, her mood changed again. She quickly averted her eyes. Letting out a deep sigh, she gave herself one last look in the mirror - one more forced smile.
"Now you only have to do that 900 more times today."
With that she swings her bag over her shoulder, grabbing her satin bomber jacket and headed downstairs.
"Toast," A voice rang through the kitchen in an almost panicked toned. "I can make toast."
"It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna." Elena, the eldest Gilbert said as she walked into the kitchen, seeing her aunt standing at the open refrigerator desperately looking for something to make for breakfast and her sister sat at the table. She pops her bag down next to Louise before heading to the coffee machine and pouring herself a coffee. Jeremy walked into the kitchen soon after, interjecting the conversation.
"Is there coffee?" Jeremy asked as he walked in, strolling straight over to Elena and scooped the mug from her hands, moving toward the fridge. Elena looked down at her empty hands, rolling her eyes before turning back to the coffee machine.
"Your first day of school and I'm totally unprepared." Jenna stressed as she fiddles with her wallet "Lunch money?" she asked, holding money out in her hand.
"I'm good." Louise and Elena spoke at the same time. Jeremy quickly snatched all of the money and shoved it into his hoodie. The girls exchanged a look, knowing full well the money wasn't for lunch.
"Anything else? A number two pencil? What am I missing?" Jenna asked throwing her hands in the air.
"Don't you have a big presentation today?" Louise asked, amused by her frantic anxiety and her Aunt nodded.
"I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at..." She glanced down at her watch on her wrist and groaned in frustration. "Now. Crap!" She quickly removed the hair tie from her hair, letting her dirty blonde locks drape on her shoulders.
"Then go." Louise told her. She watched her aunt hesitate then added. "We'll be fine." The brunette assured her. Jenna lets out a sigh, looking between her nieces and nephew before grabbing her stuff and rushing out.
"You okay?" Elena's turned her attention to Jeremy, she was washed with feelings of concern. Her voice was soft and he scoffed.
"Don't start." Jeremy resorted, annoyance dripping in his voice. He took one last sip of his coffee before giving his other sister a small smile and leaving the kitchen. Elena sighed in exasperation.
Louise watched the door for a moment before turning to her sister who now wore a frown. "Elena, he'll be fine. He just needs some time" she said and Elena sighed.
"He's had time, Lou. All summer."
"Lena, he will get over it, if you push too hard then he'll just push right back." Louise reminded her.
"So Grams is telling me I'm psychic." Bonnie spoke as she drove the car. Louise sat in the backseat while Elena sat in the passenger seat, using the fact she's the olderest as excuse. "Our ancestors were from Salem, witches and all that, I know, crazy, but she's going on and on about it, and I'm like, put this woman in a home already!" She chuckled and Louise couldn't help but join in with her best friend as she glanced out the window. When she noticed they were coming up to the cemetery, she quickly averted her eyes and refocus her attention back to Bonnie.
"But then I started thinking, I predicted Obama and I predicted Heath Ledger, and I still think Florida will break off and turn into little resort islands" Bonnie glanced over to the older Gilbert, noticing Elena gazing out the window. "Elena! Back in the car." she joked. Elena broke her attention away from out the window and returned her gaze to Bonnie, who has an amused smile on her face.
"I did it again, didn't I? I-I'm sorry, Bonnie." Elena frowned, but quickly changed the subject back to Bonnie. "You were telling me that..."
"That she's psychic now." Louise chimed in.
"Right." Elena began, she took a look at her twin then back to Bonnie. Bonnie's face gleamed with pride as she looked out the window but Elena was still sceptical. "Okay, then predict something," She glanced back at Louise and added. "About us. "
"I see..." Bonnie started as she looked off into the road trying to focus when suddenly, a black crow smashed against the windscreen of the car. Bonnie in panic, slammed her foot down on the break, the car stopped at the side of the road. "What was that?!" Bonnie's wide eyes flickered between both girls who were taking deep breaths. "Oh, my god!" She leaned back into the chair, trying to figured what just happened then looked back at her friends. "Are you guys okay?"
"It's fine, Bon." Louise assured her concern friend. Her hand reached out toward her sister who immediately gripped it. Elena swallowed, flashing slight smile as she squeezed her sister's hand.
"Yeah, we're okay." Elena added.
"It was like a bird or something. It came out of nowhere." Bonnie defended herself but the girls shook their heads.
"Really, it's fine Bonnie." Elena said. "We can't be freaked out by cars for the rest of our lives." She shared a glance with Louise who nodded in agreement and this time Bonnie relaxes.
"I predict this year is going to be kick ass." Bonnie said and Louise smiled. "And I predict all the sad and dark times are over and you two," She pointed between the twins. "Will be beyond happy." she finished and the twins smiled at their friend.
They soon arrived at school, as they made their way through the hallway, observing the students and making remarks to each other. "Major lack of male real estate." Bonnie said with a disgruntled look as she looks at all the guys from their year walk past. Louise and Elena smirked at each other as Bonnie continues to talk about the students walking passed them. "Look at the shower curtain on Kelly Beech. She looks like a hot — can I still say 'tranny mess'?"
Elena pretends to think about it, amused by Bonnie's question and shook her head. "No, that's over." She leaned against the locker with Louise by her side.
"Ahh, find a man, coin a phrase. It's a busy year." Bonnie opened her locker.
The two brunettes turned to see Elena's ex boyfriend, Matt Donovan, staring coldly at her, paralysed next to his locker across the hall. Elena waved politely at him, giving him a small smile but he ignored her gesture. He grabbed some books from his locker before slamming it shut and walking in the other direction. Elena sighed and leaned back against the locker as Louise placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"He hates me." She frowned.
"That's not hate. That's "you dumped me, but I'm too cool to show it, but secretly I'm listening to Air Supply's greatest hits." " Bonnie told her, causing Louise to chuckle lightly but nodded in agreement.
A preppy, blonde haired, Caroline Forbes, approached the group of girls, sporting a pearly white grin on her face. "Elena, Louise. Oh, my god." She gushed and before either of them could react, she pulled the two girls into an uncomfortable hug and they both have no trouble of showing it. "How are you? Oh, it's so good to see you." She let go of the twins then turned to Bonnie, seemingly forgetting their presence. "How are they? Are they good?"
Elena and Louise exchanged a look before Elena spoke. "Caroline, we're right here." Caroline turned her attention back to the girls and smiled politely. "And we're fine, thank you."
"Really?" Caroline pried.
"Yes." Louise nodded and remember what she wrote in her diary this morning. "Much better."
"You, poor things." Caroline embraced the twins once again, much to their dismay.
"Okay, Caroline." Louise said trying to escape from the blonde's grip.
Caroline gave them another dazzling smile, wiggling her fingers at them. "See you guys later?"
"OK! Bye!" Bonnie said and with the blonde turned on her heels and walked down the halls. Elena turned back to look at her sister and best friend.
"No comment."
Bonnie exchanged a look with Louise, holding her hand up in defence. "I'm not going to say anything."
The girls laughed as they began to make their way to class. They were about to walk pass the main office and something caught Bonnie's attention. "Hold up." she said, halting their walk in front of the door. "Who's this?" she asked as the twins peered into the office. There stood a young man with a leather jacket, dark washed jeans and light brown hair.
"All I see is back." Elena said simply.
"It's a hot back." Bonnie replied, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smile.
"A new guy, no doubt." Louise added.
"I'm sensing...Seattle," Bonnie stated as she's fixated on the mystery man in the leather jacket in front of them. "And he plays the guitar." Louise and Elena laughed amusingly.
"You're really going to run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?" Elena asked, laughing a little.
"Pretty much."
They all laugh but Elena's amusement soon faded. Louise followed her gaze to see their younger brother, going into the bathroom. Elena sighed, Louise grabbed her hand as pleaded with her to not go after him but she didn't listen. "I'll be right back." Elena said following after Jeremy.
Bonnie looked at the younger twin, "You gonna go with her?" she asked and Louise shook her head.
"Elena can deal with him." Louise told her. "It's just his way of coping. I can't stop him and neither can Elena, no matter how hard she tries to control him." She let out sigh. "But you know my sister, she can't let things go." Bonnie gave her friend a small smile but before she could say anything, Louise quickly changed the subject, turning their attention back to the guy in the office. "Okay, what else are you sensing?"
"I'm just hopping he's really hot." Bonnie replied and Louise giggled before the two turned back to the guy waiting anxiously for him to face them.
"So hot." Louise whispered to her friend when the guy finally turned around. She's in awestruck at his appearance. Before she could get a better look, he walked passed them and Bonnie began to follow him, "Bonnie!" Louise called as she followed after her.
The boy walked towards the bathroom, Elena who was in the bathroom came out, colliding with the mysterious stranger.
"Uh, pardon me. Um...is this the men's room?" he questioned.
"Yes." Elena answered awkwardly. "Um, I was just, Um—I was just—It's a long story," she stuttered around with her words. She moved to walk pass him but he moved the same way, then again before he finally moved to let her pass. "Thank you."
After school, Louise went to find Elena, she ha asked Bonnie if she knew where she went. She wasn't surprised when she learned she went to the cemetery. She often joined her sister at the cemetery but she found it just made her sadder. Bonnie had asked if she wanted a lift home but she said she'd walk.
It was a beautiful day out. The sun shun beautifully, highlighting Louise's hair in streaks of brown and gold. Her eyes glimmer in the sun as well and the warm is comforting temperature, complemented with a slight breeze. The leaves are beginning to fall, a beautiful shower of green, yellow, red and orange.
As she made her way down the pathway, outside of the cemetery, a black bird - a crow was perched on the gate and screeched at Louise causing her to jump back a little in fright. She furrowed her brows as she looked at the bird which eyed her in a way that seemed almost human like.
The brunette shuddered as a cold chill washed over her body. She had this odd feeling that something was watching her. Her chocolate brown eyes scanned the area not seeing anyone before she brushed off the feeling and continued her journey home.
She ended up taking a detour and now found herself at the local park. It was fairly busy; children who had just finished school heading eagerly for the climbing equipments and the adults trailing close behind them to make sure they were safe. There were couples having picnics or just soaking up the sunshine in various places. An old gentlemen feeding the ducks by the pond. Louise chose a secluded spot on a small hill from the children's play area.
She sat down on the grass, moving her bag to the side of her before rifling in it. She removed her journal, opening her pen and began to write.
Dear diary,
I survived the school day. Shocking, I know. Everyone was mega cool.
So, I'm going to a party tomorrow. I know; it's been a while but I'm so due. It's the back to school party. I don't know. I haven't had any actual fun since...you know and I'm afraid I don't know how to anymore. But I did realise something about myself today, though.
I'm different.
Louise looked up from her journal as she felt eyes on her. Her eyes travelled around the park but she saw no one looking at her. She brushed it off and continued to scribble in her diary. What she didn't see was the same crow from early, perched on a tree branch looking at her.
"Elena and I are meeting Bonnie at the grill." Louise told her aunt.
Without even thinking, Jenna replied. "Okay, have fun." She paused, stopping in her tracks and turned toward her niece. "Wait, I got this. Don't stay out late, it's a school night." she tried to sound stern as she placed both hands on her hips.
"Well done, Aunt Jenna." Louise applauded her, Jenna walked away from her with a triumph smile on her face. Just then the doorbell rang, Louise opened the front door and she's surprised to see who's standing behind it. Stefan. 'The hot-y from History class' as she called him. "Hey, Stefan, right?" Louise spoke.
"Yeah," he smiled shyly. "You're Louise, Elena's sister."
The brown haired girl, smiled nodding. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the doorframe narrowing her eyes at the green eyed boy in front of her. "So... you an my sister?" she questioned jokingly.
"Oh, no," he spoke quickly which she found amusing. He rubbed the nape of her neck nervously before he pulled out a book which she recognised to be her sister's journal. "Your sister left this at the graveyard." He offered it to her. She raised an eyebrow at him, reached out and took the journal.
"You hang around in graveyards?" she questioned.
Stefan stared at her, unsure of how to answer but before he could respond Elena came stopping down the stairs, spotting Louise at the open door with Stefan on the other side. She joined her sister. "Oh, Stefan, hi." Elena smiled. "What are you doing here? I hope my sister isn't torturing you too much." she joked and Louise stuck her tongue out her.
Stefan laughed nervously. "Um, I wanted to apologize from my disappearing act earlier." he explained. "I know it was...strange."
"No worries," Elena smiled and shrugged her shoulders, brushing it off. "I get it, blood makes you squeamish." They all laughed but Stefan's laugh seemed unsettling. Louise narrowed her eyes at him again.
"Um, something like that. How's your leg?"
"Oh, it's fine. Just a scratch, Lou bandaged me up." Elena told him and Louise flashed him a cheeky smile. Then the younger twin is hit with realisation.
"Wait, how did you know where we lived?" Louise questioned.
"It's a small town. I asked the first person I saw." He nods assumingly and they both nodded back. "Um, I thought you might want this back." He gestured to the book in her sister's hand.
"Oh, I must have dropped it. I-thank you." Elena took her journal. She stared at it self consciously, worry that the worst has happened. As if reading her mind, Stefan spoke up reassuring her.
"Don't worry, I didn't...read it. " he said. Louise looked between to the two, feeling like a total third wheel.
"No? Why not?" Elena asked surprised. "Most people would have."
"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to read mine." Stefan admitted. Elena and Louise shared the same shocked look.
"You keep a journal?" Elena questioned.
"Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important." he told her and she gave him a small smile. Louise stared at him, wondering if he really had a journal or if it was just a line to win over Elena.
"Yeah." Elena stared at him in awe and Louise nudged her bring her senses back to reality, making her remember where they were supposed to be right at that moment. "I'm just gonna...umm, you don't have to stay out there." She smiled and retreated back into the house, leaving Louise still in the doorway but Stefan remained outside.
Louise watched as he shifts nervously, looking at the door frame, knowing without a proper invitation he wouldn't be able to go much further.
"I'm fine." he said and Louise have him a confused smile. "Sorry, were you going somewhere?"
"We're meeting a friend." Louise told him. Elena's head pops back in view and her smile grew bigger at a new idea.
"Do you want to come." Elena asked.
The door to the Grill opened and Bonnie looked up to see who just walked in, seeing Louise with Elena and Stefan not far behind. Matt turned to follow her gaze and soon enough everyone in the Grill is looking toward the girls with the new mysterious guy. Matt felt his stomach drop at the sight. He rolled her eyes, looking back to Bonnie.
"More time, huh?" he resorted which only earned a shrug from Bonnie. He got up and headed toward them. "Hey I'm Matt, nice to meet you." Matt said politely and offered his hand to Stefan.
"Hey, Stefan." he replied, shaking Matt's hand. Matt looked over at Elena, receiving a smile.
"Hey." she said awkwardly.
"Hey" he greeted back to her. He looked at Louise who gave him a small smile.
"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline questioned as she, Stefan, Elena, Louise and Bonnie all sat at a table.
Stefan nodded at her. "And moved when I was still young."
"Parents?" Bonnie asked him.
"My parents passed away." Stefan said. The same saddened look appeared on both Elena and Louise's faces. Elena reached out the touch his hand.
"I'm sorry." she said empathically, earning a thank you nod from Stefan.
"Any siblings?" Louise asked, wanting to change the subject as quickly as possible.
"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle." he told her but his eyes drifted back to Elena's. Things were silent for a moment, Caroline didn't like the way he was eyeing Elena so she took this moment to interject.
"So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow." she smiled flirtatiously, chin in her hands and her eyelashes fluttered rapidly.
"It's a back to school thing at the falls." Bonnie informed him. Normally Stefan wouldn't be caught dead at an underage drinking party but when he looked back at Elena, he starts to reconsider.
"Are you going?" Stefan asked her but before she could respond or react, Bonnie instantly intervened.
"Of course she is." Bonnie beamed. Elena tucked a strand of hair behind her and looked up at Stefan. Bonnie and Louise shared a glance, both grinning. Caroline didn't look happy with his.
"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle?" Mr. Tanner asked his class then he scanned the room till his eyes landed on Bonnie. "Ms. Bennett?" he called, drawing her attention away from her notebook. She looked up in surprise but attempted to play it off cool.
"Um...a lot?" she said, some of her class mates snickers at the answer and Bonnie smiled coolly. "I'm not sure. Like a whole lot."
"Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett." Mr Tanner told her, not caring much for her laid back behaviour. Bonnie looked down, hurt by his words. He soon found his next victim, "Mr. Donovan? Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?"
"It's okay, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it." Matt said, earning himself a light laugh from the class. Even Mr Tanner smiled a little before bring his gaze to the youngest Gilbert.
"Hmm, Louise?"
"Uh, I don't know, sir." Louise spoke.
"Elena?" Tanner asked, he turned to the other Gilbert. "Unlike your sister, surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?"
"I'm sorry, I-I don't know." Elena replied.
"I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reasons, Elena. For you and your sister, butt the personal excuses ended with summer break." Elena eyes casted down and Louise ducked her head. The class remained silent for a moment before Stefan's voice cut the tension.
"There were 346 casualties. Unless you're counting local civilians."
"That's correct. Mister...?" Tanner nodded.
"Salvatore." Elena smiled at him grateful for the save.
"Salvatore." Mr Tanner repeated. "Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls?"
"Distant." Stefan replied.
"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."
"Actually, there were 27, sir." Stefan corrected before he went onto to explain. "Confederate soldiers, they fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss. The founder's archives are, uh, stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts, Mr. Tanner."
The class broke out in baffled snickers and scoffs, looking at Mr Tanner and what his next move will be. Mr Tanner just smiled sarcastically, fiddling with a book on his desk, all while Stefan's eyes remained on him. Payback for speaking so cruelly to his students and judging by the redness of his face, Stefan's plan worked.
Later that night, everyone from Mystic Falls High were at the party. Louise, Elena and Bonnie stood around by the fire. "He so has a think for you, Lena." Louise said tauntingly, exaggerating her o's. She was wearing, brown ankle boots, jeans, a lightly fitted tank top and a leather jacket matching her shoes. She wore her hair in the usual, straight middle part.
"Yeah, whatever." Elena rolled her eyes.
"Just admit it, Elena." Bonnie joined in, a smug grin plastered across her face.
"Oh, okay, so he's a little pretty." Elena admitted embarrassingly.
"He has that romance novel stare." Bonnie noted.
"And those mysterious green eyes." Louise added. Bonnie eyes scanned around the crowd of students not locating the new kid.
"So where is he?"
"I don't know." Elena shrugged. "You tell me, you're the psychic one." Bonnie smirked and Louise giggled a little.
"Right, I forgot. Okay, so give me a sec. Grams says I have to concentrate." she told them.
"Wait, you need a crystal ball." Louise pointed out. She scanned the ground for an object then turned back to Bonnie with a beer bottle held out in front of her. "Ta-da!" She revealed, Bonnie and Elena laughed at her silliness. Reaching out to take the bottle from Louise, their hands made contact. Louise's eyes widened and Bonnie went completely still. They both gasped as they were pulled back into reality. Bonnie abruptly snatched her hand away.
"What was that?" Louise questioned.
"That was weird. When I touched you, I saw a crow." Bonnie explained, looking at Louise, who stood there slightly terrified as she might have witnessed the same thing. She immediately remembered the crow she'd seen near the cemetery prior that day.
"What?" Elena asked.
"A crow. There was fog, a man." Bonnie explained and Louise gulped, her heart beating a little faster. "I'm drunk. It's the drinking. There's nothing psychic about it." She took the bottle from Louise. "Ok, I'm gonna get a refill." She dashed away quickly not wanting the conversation to carry on.
"I'm going to see if she's okay." Louise told her sister, before following after Bonnie.
Louise watched all the party-goers enjoy their night of irresponsible drinking and reckless behaviour, hoping she'd spot Bonnie. She had ran off earlier after getting that weird vision and frankly Louise was worried about her. She looked around anxiously but yet to spot her petite friend.
"Bonnie." Louise called, when she finally spots her friend, leaning against a tree. Bonnie groaned once she saw Louise approaching her. "You okay, Bon?"
"Sorry for disappearing like that but.." Bonnie tried to explain but she was loss for words. Louise bit her lip as she debated whether to tell her friend she also saw the crow.
"It's fine." Louise shrugged it off. She lowered her voice and leaned closer to Bonnie. "Can I tell you something?" Bonnie nodded, looking at her friend curiously. "Something doesn't feel right." Louise admitted.
"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked, as she urged her friend to continue, not sure where she was going.
"I mean..." Louise paused. "I mean, something is going to happen that will change everything." Louise expected her friend to be looking at her like a crazy person but was surprised when Bonnie said.
"I get it. I've had this bad feeling tonight."
"Really?" Louise asked. Bonnie hesitated but looks sure of what she's about to say. She never took her gaze away from the brunette.
"Like, it's only the beginning."
DISCLAIMER - I don't own the vampire diaries, only Louise and any other characters added.
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