Caroline was the kind of girl who could get anything she wanted, whenever she wanted. They kind of guy she wanted, not so much. A long time ago she fell for a boy named Tyler and he loved her, he did in his own way. In a way that hurt Caroline but made her stronger and more assertive with her life goals by helping her go back to school and gaining her independence. Walking away from him and all the things he could offer her.
She had never gone back but she thought about it almost every night and it resided in her head at the most inopportune moments. Caroline was proud of her life, she came from a small town where no one was ever expected to leave she let behind her family to start over somewhere else. Along with her best friend Bonnie and Elena they packed into her car and drove out not knowing where they were going.
(FLASHBACK)
The night Caroline told Elena she was leaving she was scared thinking her friend might want to change her mind, but she was wrong. Elena was actually on board and wanted to come. They had been waiting for their oldest friend bonnie to show up for their weekly dinner meeting. Having graduated from college last spring they had been trying their best to stay connected. When Bonnie finally sat down in the booth at the back of the bar she eyed them and their excitement.
That night Bonnie thought they were out of their minds, she really thought that this idea would pass and that they would let it go. Thinking about it on her own Bonnie didn't understand why Caroline of all people would want to leave her cushy life and inevitable marriage into the trophy family of mystic falls. Elena she could understand, this town really had nothing but bad memories and an empty house since her only family in the world Jeremy left right after high school graduation.
As for her she didn't have much except her father and a mother who would pop up whenever it was convenient for her. She was very much like her friend Matt whose mom had ran out on him and his sister who seemed to take after her mother.
The next day Elena was talking with Matt and Caroline when she let slip Caroline's idea to leave. Apparently no one but her and Bonnie knew what Caroline wanted to do, not even her fiancé. Matt automatically disliked the idea of any of them leaving, they were in public so he couldn't throttle Caroline but he did in his head while smiling outwardly as Elena and Caroline explained why they wanted to leave.
Matt wasn't always friends with Tyler but for Caroline he always made the effort. And even though he didn't like the plan of her running out on Tyler, he wasn't about to stop her after what she told him about Tyler. If anything he wanted to help Caroline any way he could and make Tyler disappear in the process.
The three of them formulated a plan of escape and the next week that followed read in Bonnie at their girl's night. Bonnie was really starting to become annoyed with being late to dinner with the girls and was starting to apologize when she saw Matt in the booth with them. Matt after hearing Caroline's story over Tyler had refused to leave her side and was with her whenever he could be.
As Bonnie sat down and asked what was happening as Elena's phone went off the screen flashing her brother Jeremy's picture. She quickly shushed them all and answered her brother. She heard her brother's voice in what seemed like forever and felt like crying. "Hey Elena!" "Hey Jer, how are you? Where are you?" she put him on speaker and they all heard him laugh at his sisters anxiety. Elena smiled at how silly she was being but it really had been a long time since he called because he wanted to. "I'm fine Elena," Jeremy said. "I'm actually in Alabama right now, it smells like pine trees and there's red dirt all over my truck." Elena sighed in relief and told him she was at the grill with Bonnie, Caroline and Matt. They all took turns saying hi and saying it was good to hear from him.
During this interaction Caroline got a text from Tyler, she nudged matt and showed him what it read. Tyler wanted to know where she was; clearly he knew where she was because ever Thursday night she spent it in the same place with the same people. Her friends. Then she text him just that but before she could press send he called. As she took his call she walked outside he ignored her greeting and told her to get home so they could talk. Tyler sounded angry and she knew what that meant, he was pissed and looking to take it out on something. Or someone. Her.
(PRESENT DAY)
Caroline remembers that night, most days she can try and forget but not really. It makes her stronger as much as it makes her that same girl. Pulled out of her thoughts by someone's hand on her shoulder she turns to face Katherine.
Katherine was the first person who helped out Caroline and Elena when they first got to the city. Having befriended her after Jeremy surprised Elena with an adopted cousin who looked similar to Elena. After a few nights and a few beers they decided to follow Katherine back to the city. She was actually looking for some flat mates having moved in with an ex and it went sideways very quickly.
Katherine looks at her saying, "Caroline! I finally found you! Guess who I just ran into!" Caroline looks at Katherine and says, "You finally found me at my work where I always am at this time on a week day. Wow Sherlock!" Katherine gives her a cold look. Caroline says, "I really can't think of who might get you this excited. Please tell me" Katherine decides against snapping at Caroline for her sarcasm today.
She says, "Fine, don't guess it better if I tell you! Remember that guy from that one time that I told you about. That did that thing when we were in the subway?" Caroline stares blankly and quite frankly bored with the conversation having bigger things on her mind. Katherine won't have it though, she says, "Damon freaking Salvatore. He's coming into town, Elena's gonna freak!"
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