Okay i wrote this a while back and for some reason never got round to posting it, so i thought i should :)

enjoy xx

1.- Elena

Elena looked around the area watching the bustling crowds of people passing by

They look so normal, I wonder if I'll ever feel normal ever again…

Stefan was taking her around the country to look at colleges, part of his I want you to have a normal life plan. This one in question, was smack bang in the middle of Texas.

not great conditions for vampires, but she supposed that was the logic behind it.

And, she had to agree that the absence of supernatural creatures, would be a welcome break.

Well, with the exception of Stefan and Damon -who had invited himself along,(though the verdict on the latter depended on who you asked.)

A rustling of paper interrupted her train of thought, and she turned her attention to the other occupant of the bench.

A girl around her age had sat at the other end of the seat, a book, entitled 'advanced

quantum phenomena'propped up in one hand and a takeaway coffee container in the other.

'Hi' Elena said and the girl peeked over the top of the pages, surprised at being addressed.

'Hi,' the girl replied studying her curiously. 'you're new, aren't you?' it was more of a statement than a question.

Was it that obvious?

'yes, I'm Elena'

'Claire Danvers' the girl offered. 'What brings you to Morganville?'

'I'm looking at colleges, with my boyfriend and his brother, we're just here for the weekend.'

The girl muttered something that sounded like lucky you. But it was obviously a comment to herself so Elena pretended not to hear.

'so, what's your verdict of the place?'

'well, your asking the right person I probably know the place better than most people around here.'

Elena smiled and the girl, Claire, continued,

'its a good enough university, it's not the safest of areas though.

I originally wanted to go to MIT; I got accepted but my parents…'she paused to correct herself '…my mom, wanted me closer to home, so here I am' she gestured around her,

'what the folks say goes I suppose, especially if you're dealing with my mom. What about your parents?'

'it was the opposite with my parents, my dad was the boss in our house.'

'was?' Claire asked, picking up on the past tense, then reading Elena's expression, she realised

'oh! oh I'm so sorry, I didn't think…'

'it's alright' Elena smiled a little sadly. 'it's been two years…a car crash…we, my sister and I, have been with my aunt Judith since then.'

'I always wanted a sister' was all Claire said, tactfully drawing the conversation down a different rout.

'Margret's six now. she doesn't remember mom and dad much, she doesn't really understand that they're not coming back. Sometimes I wonder if I've really come to grips with it myself.'

Claire nodded in understanding,

'my boyfriend lost his mom and sister a few years back, and his dad…died very recently, he took it hard…' The girl looked so sad, in a way she reminded her of her friend, Bonnie; much tougher than you might think at first. something in the girls' eyes told Elena that Claire, had been through more than her fair share of troubles, experienced pain beyond her years. Most people wouldn't notice, it was so well concealed, but she'd noted it instantly. It was the same expression she saw every time she looked in the mirror.

'where are you from anyway?' Claire asked after a moments silence.

'Fells Church'

'Fells church…'Claire repeated, 'isn't that where they had all those murders?'

'yeah, that's the place;

'I remember my dad showing me a newspaper article. they thought it was vampires didn't they' my dad thought it was a load of rubbish.'

'you didn't agree?'

Claire thought for a moment, then said slowly. 'lets just say, Morganville has a tendency to change your outlook on life'

'you could say the same about Mystic Falls.' the two girls smiled, neither understanding just how much the other really knew.

'hey, would you like to come round for dinner tonight?'

'that would be lovely' she paused, Claire seeing her hesitation added. 'you're friends are welcome to

come as well.'

'are you sure?' Elena asked.

Claire shrugged. 'I should probably check with my housemates, but I'm

cooking anyway. How does 6 o'clock sound.'

'sounds great'

Claire glanced at her watch, 'shoot, is that the time. I'd better get to class. I'll see you this evening.

It's the Glass house, ask anyone for directions, everyone knows where we are. If you have any trouble just give me a call' she said handing Elena a slip of paper with digits scrawled cross it.

'Okay, see you later then.' Elena smiled, Claire smiled in reply. Then she shifted her bag onto her shoulder, then left, calling a goodbye over her shoulder, Elena waved I return watching until the brunette melted in with the crowd.

She stood up, wondering where to look for Stefan, When someone grabbed her from behind.

(cliff hanger…well sort of….anyways tell me what you think so far-constructive criticism please!)