Note: Takes place during season 3—the only thing that will be similar in script terms with the TV will be the Original Ball—but that will only be the setting, not the lines that are said (in most cases anyway). Beyond that, I am taking everything into new places, new adventures and new problems. So, nothing that happens on TVD will be an essential issue here, besides love triangles. So, because of this change, Jenna is still alive and the Originals have not yet been seen.

Dear Diary,

Being a human isn't as terribly bad as vampires make it seem, I mean sure we have the potential of walking forward into death's loving, waiting arms any given moment but experiences are so much more real when one is a human. Now, I'm sure that vampires have their moments of pure bliss considering, from what I've heard, that vampires get to have everything heightened. Yet, even at that, I don't think I'd trade my humanity to be a vampire, not from what I've seen anyway.

I'd explain further, but I'm afraid that whoever is reading this diary, whoever's hands this dropped into would be terribly confused. So, I'll go back to the beginning, before I even knew vampires existed.

My name is Lana Gilbert; I am the other Gilbert girl.

The first day back at school was always the worst, at least in my opinion. I didn't quite see the point of people getting too excited about the entire thing, what was there to look forward to anyway? I mean, unless you liked that whole teenage judgement and endless piles of homework to do that is, otherwise, school was a personal hell.

I looked in the mirror and sighed at my reflection. God, as if school wasn't bad enough I have to wake up to find myself still stuck in reality. Sometimes I hoped, briefly and childishly that my life had been a dream, and one day I'd awaken and find myself to be as beautiful as Elena, and have a boyfriend that was as good looking as hers—Stefan. Of course, she had two boys fawning over her, because everyone bowed down to Elena.

Me on the other hand, well, I may look like her and Jeremy but I was bland compared to them, at least Jeremy had the whole mysterious druggie artist thing going for him? Me, well I was below average.

My hair was brown like theirs, but cut short after a strange impulse. I had been watching the first Twilight movie and had absolutely fallen in love with Alice's pixie cut and so proceeded to chop my long locks off, leaving me with the same cut that the fictional vampire had. My eyes were hazel, my body had only minor curves and my build was skinny. I was completely, and utterly average.

I sighed and slipped on black tights, some studded sandals and a tank top with the words: Avenged Sevenfold printed across them with a white skull just underneath. They were my favorite band, and it was custom of me to wear their merchandise on my first day of school every year as a form of good luck.

I applied quick mascara to my eyes before heading downstairs where Elena and Jeremy were already waiting. Jeremy cast a quick smile at me before handing me my schoolbag. "Come on," he put his arm around my shoulders. "Stefan's outside."

"Great." I muttered, ignoring Elena's gaze. I couldn't quite explain my annoyance with Stefan Salvatore, but what I did know was I preferred Damon a lot more. I was definitely on team Damon on who would win my sister's heart. Or rather, who I hoped to win it.

We got in the car quickly, Jeremy and I greeting Stefan quickly before he and Elena began to talk about the senior year they were going to experience together. It all sounded very lavish coming from them, they made it seem like the most beautiful thing in the world. I of course, would not have that pleasure of graduating, I was stuck with Jeremy.

"Hey," Jeremy poked my knee. "Are you okay?"

I gave him enough of a smile to reassure him. "Sure," I said, my hand moving to my left wrist, I grasped it tightly while I spoke. "I'm fine."

Jeremy, forever the loving brother, noticed where my hand had gone. His tiny grin had vanished, and his face was plagued with concern. He didn't say a word, because he knew there was not much to say, so he put his hand on top of mine and squeezed it, giving me silent reassurance that we would make it through the day.

Stefan parked the car and looked back at us. "Look alive guys, we're here."

I groaned but got out of the car anyway, when immediately, Elena was greeted by Caroline and Bonnie. Bonnie and Jeremy began their stare down of who would approach the other first, so I took it as my quick opportunity to make an escape. I handled things better alone anyway.

I got in school, quickly dodging a group of girls who screamed upon seeing each other—something I found completely stupid considering Mystic falls was small enough for everyone to see each other within a span of twenty four hours.

"Lana?" a familiar voice called. "Lana is that you?"

I turned and gave a genuine grin to Alaric Saltzman who ran up the stairs quickly to catch up with me. "Hey," he smiled. "Happy to be back I see." He grabbed my elbow and steered me with him.

"You know me all too well Rick—I mean, Mr. Saltzman." I had grown so accustomed to having him over that I had forgotten he was my teacher.

"I have you first period right?"

"Right."

"Please tell me you're going to get a tutor this year for history and math."

I groaned loudly as we walked into the class room. "Christ can't you teach me for history?"

"You don't seem to be learning anything from me." he laughed. "I can do my best outside school, but you still need to get a math tutor. You barely passed last year and that's only because Jeremy slipped you answers—oh don't look at me like that of course I knew."

I sat on a desk and sighed, letting my bag drop to the floor. "It's going to be another bad year."

"Oh don't say that." he began to take out his papers from his own bag, before running a hand through his hair. "You'll be—" a knock at the door interrupted him. Alaric frowned and called, "It's open."

A young man, slightly older looking than myself walked in. He was tall, easily six feet, with dark hair that invited hands to run themselves through the locks, gorgeous dark eyes, with a lean and slender build.

"Hi," Alaric raised an eyebrow.

"Hello," a beautiful British accent escaped his lips. "Are you Mr. Saltzman?"

"Yes, can I help you?"

"I truly hope so. My name is Kol Mikaelson, I believe I am in your class, correct?" he smiled and it was beautiful. He handed Alaric a paper that looked like a schedule.

Alaric shook his head. "I think you looked at the wrong time. I have you second period, with the other seniors. This class is a year behind you." he motioned to me, and so, naturally Kol's eyes followed.

I couldn't look away. He smiled at me, and I did nothing but stare like the complete idiot I was. He looked back at Alaric, allowing me to breathe again before saying, "My apologies." He bowed his head a little, as if he came right out of the 1800s before leaving the room, right as the bell rang.

The bell rang, signalling for class to end. I of course, was called to the front to have a word with Alaric.

"Listen," he said under his breath as the people left. "I think it'll be good for you to make some new friends this term."

I didn't say anything; if it was anyone else I would have been annoyed with the nagging. Unfortunately, with Alaric he had something about him that placed a barrier so I wouldn't tell him off.

"I have friends."

He stared at me. "Don't give me that fictional character crap." He half-grinned. "Come on Lana, a couple of new kids started today—"

"—probably all seniors—"

"—who cares!" he exclaimed, before putting a hand on my shoulder. "Do yourself a big favor. Survive," he looked into my eyes, surveying me. "It's almost done."

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I have to go...class."

"All right," he sighed, letting me go. "I'll see you later."

I left the classroom, dodging the hoard of students who were coming from both directions as I tried my best to get to my next class. On my way there, a group of football players, whom were usually led by Tyler, were coming in my general direction. Now, normally, this wouldn't be a problem with me. As said, usually the band of idiots was led by Tyler, which considering he was with Caroline had him on decent terms with me just by association, considering I was a Gilbert. Unfortunately, when Tyler wasn't around—

"Watch it bitch," a jock said as he purposely smashed into me, dropping all my things to the floor. The impact on my much smaller and weaker body sent me with my stuff. I winced lightly, before looking over my shoulder, thanking god silently that at least this time they had decided to walk away and not do anything more to me, which was a new one.

When I looked back down at my things, they were gone. For a moment panic swept through me as I thought another practical joke was being held, but it was not so. Instead, I was staring at a pair of combat boots. I looked up slowly, past the dark jeans, the dark v-neck and leather jacket up at the same senior who had walked into my class only an hour earlier. The new kid in town (because with a face like that I definitely would have noticed him) was smiling arrogantly down at me, with my bag slung on his arm and two of my books in his hand.

I got up and held my hand out. "Thanks." I muttered, trying not to look him in the eye, but he made it impossible.

"Pleasure," he responded, handing me my things. His smile faltered only a little. "Are you alright? Took quite a hit from those jackasses." He nodded his head at the retreating figures.

"It's fine." I grabbed my things and held them to my chest, biting my lip as I felt my bracelets retrieve slightly down my wrist. Unfortunately, Kol's eyes drifted with them, but he expertly kept his face a perfect picture of subtly, as if he had not noticed what he had just seen. His eyes locked with mine once more, and this time, his face was serious.

"Should I accompany you to your next class?" he asked. "In case they return?"

"There's no need." The bell rang. "Sorry, I have to go."

"Wait," he grabbed my elbow softly, igniting sparks under his fingers. They traveled throughout my spine, the little hairs on the back of my neck standing as if I were an animal responding to fear. "I didn't catch your name."

"I'm Lana, Lana Gilbert."