Journal Entry

It's been four months since my Aunt and Uncle passed away. The pain is still very raw. I hadn't just lost my Aunt and Uncle. Miranda and Grayson Gilbert were more than that. They were my Mom and Dad. I still feel bad that I never called them that, they did everything they could to make sure I had the best life possible. But having known for as long as I can remember that Miranda's sister Jenna was in fact my real Mom, I could never call anyone else Mom. After the accident my Mom moved back to Mystic Falls to take care of us all. I was glad to have her so close to me. Losing Miranda and Grayson had left a massive hole. But at least we had my Mom here to try to fill it. She struggled at first. Not quite knowing how to be a proper Mom. Jenna and I are more like sisters. With only 15 years between us (she had me young, and Aunt Miranda and Uncle Grayson offered to bring me up as their own so that she could finish school and further her education). At first I hated Mom for giving me up, but now I understand why she did. She could never have given me the life Miranda and Grayson did. What she did was selfless. In fact it was her that told me to write a journal. That way I can get my feelings out. This is my first entry so I'm just going to see how it goes. Today is our first day back at school. I really didn't want to go back. I didn't want anyone's pitiful looks. Elena, Jeremy and I would just have to deal I guess. But we wouldn't do it alone we'd do it together.

Issy Sommers-Gilbert

I shut my journal and made my way downstairs to the kitchen. Mom was busy making Elena toast so I grabbed some lucky charms out of the cupboard for myself before sitting down to eat them.

"Issy, Bonnie is picking me up in 5, wanna ride with us?" Elena asked.

"If that's ok layna"

"We need to face this together Iss. I don't want their pity."

"I know what you mean, I don't think I can do it alone Layna, where is Jeremy?" I asked.

"He left half an hour ago, said something about meeting Vicky before school. We'll find him at school. We're going to stick together little sis. I just need to get my cell. Be ready for me getting back."

I nodded before getting up and running for my bag. I heard Bonnies horn, before running back and kissing Mom quickly on the cheek.

"Bye Mom, don't get too bored."

"Have a good day Isabella."

"I will Mom." I replied hurrying towards the door. Elena came running down the stairs.

"Bye Aunt Jenna."

"Have a good day at school Elena. I love you both."

"Love you too" We replied at the same time smiling at each other before we climbed into Bonnie's car. As we drove along I stared out the window in a daydream. I heard little bits of Bonnie and Elena's conversation. Mainly something about her grams saying she was a witch, but I wasn't really paying attention.

We got to school and got all the looks out of the way before I headed to my form group where I found I had Mr Tanner. I sat down next to Jeremy. And waited for Mr Tanner to get to my name.

"Izabella?"

"Can anyone get my name right?" I muttered to Jeremy who sniggered. "it's Isabella, Mr Tanner. It's pronounced with an s not a z." I rolled my eyes.

"I gather that means that you are in attendance today Miss Sommers-Gilbert"

"Yes sir."

Once form group was over the next few periods went by uneventful. Or so I believed, until lunch time came along and Jeremy came up in conversation.

"Issy!" I heard Elena exclaim. I looked up. "have you seen Jeremy lately?"

"Not since first period."

"Will you help me find him please Is?"

"Sure." I replied as I jumped up from my seat. We were walking the corridors before seeing Jeremy sneak into the boys bathroom. We followed him in. I grabbed Jeremy's face, looking into his eyes to see if he's high.

"Great. It's the first day of school and you're stoned." I muttered at him.

"No, I'm not." He objected.

"Where is it? Is it on you?" I asked. Before trying to search him.

"Stop, all right?! You both need to chill yourself, all right?" Jeremy replied casually.

"Chill myself? What is that, stoner talk? Dude, you are so cool." exclaimed Elena.

"Look, stop! I don't have anything on me. Are you crazy?" he asked me before Elena jumped in.

"You haven't seen crazy, Jeremy! I gave you a summer pass, but I am done watching you destroy yourself. No, no, no, you know what? Go ahead. Keep it up. But just know that I am going to be there to ruin your buzz every time, you got it? Jeremy, I know who you are. And it's not this person. So don't be this person." countered Elena

"I don't need this." Dismissed Jeremy before he walked out the bathroom, leaving Elena and me behind. We made our way outside discussing how we would tackle him. A man approached us.

"Uh, pardon me. Um. . .is this the men's room?" we both looked at him. And boy was he hot. I could tell Elena was completely taken in by this handsome stranger but as handsome as he was he wasn't my kind of guy.

"Yes. Um, we were just, Um—we were just—It's a long story. . . ." she stuttered. I chuckled at her as she tried to pass the stranger and he had to make way for her.

"Thank you." Elena replied. I laughed at her as we walked through the hallway. "Stop it!" she muttered at me.

"I'm sorry Layna, but you were just too cute back there." She slapped my arm to shut me up. "Ouch!" I feigned hurt.

Elena and I managed to get through the last part of the day. It felt like an achievement. Elena decided to go visit her parents grave. But that wasn't the kind of person I was. I like to think that they are around me all of the time. Matt offered me a lift home so I accepted, although I wished I hadn't when he never stopped talking about Elena. I got out of his car, thanked him and hurried into the house.

"Hey Mom!" I shouted out loud.

"Hey Issy, I'm in the Kitchen." I could hear pots and pans clashing about and something smelled like it was burning.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to cook tea, but its all burned. I really suck at this."

"No you don't. Elena and I are going to the grill. So don't worry about us. Just make something for yourself. We'll get some meals made together over the weekend. Make big batches and just freeze them. Mom, we're all going to be ok. I promise." I said as I hugged her.

"I know we are baby, because we've all got each other." She pulled away and kissed me on my forehead.

"Hey Issy, We're heading to the grill, you ready to go." I heard Elena shout.

"Coming." I replied as I made my way to the front door. Mom followed me. Elena looked up and saw her.

"We're meeting Bonnie at the grill." Elena told Mom.

"Okay, have fun girls. Wait, I got this. Don't stay out late, it's a school night." Mom beamed with pride.

"Well done, Aunt Jenna." Elena smiled as she opened the door, only for the handsome stranger to be standing there. "Oh." She exclaimed.

"Sorry, I was about to knock. I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was . . . strange." He explained.

"No worries. I get it, blood makes you squeamish."

"Um, something like that. How's your leg?" he asked.

"Oh, it's fine. Just a scratch, barely. How did you know where I lived?" queried Elena.

"It's a small town. I asked the first person I saw. Um, I thought you might want this back." He handed her her diary.

"Oh, I must have dropped it. I-thank you."

"Don't worry, I didn't . . . read it." He smiled. Boy after my own heart I thought.

"No? Why not? Most people would have."

"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to read mine."

"You keep a journal?"

"Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important." Smooth talker I thought.

"Yeah. I'm just gonna. . .umm, you don't have to stay out there.

"I'm fine. Sorry, were you going somewhere?"

"Yeah, we're meeting a friend. Do you want to come?" the guy looked at me, awkwardly and I at him, Elena seemed to finally notice that I had been standing there the whole time. "Oh I'm sorry. This is my sister Isabella, Isabella this is Stefan Salvatore."

"Isabella, its lovely to meet you." He held out his hand for me to shake.

"You too Stefan Salvatore." I smiled. The three of us climbed into Elena's car and made our way to the Grill. When we pulled up I saw Tyler Lockwood by his car.

"You two go ahead I just want a quick word with Tyler." They both nodded and carried on walking. "Hey Ty." I shouted over. He smiled back at me as I began walking over.

"Hey Issy."

"I just wanted to say, could you please give Jeremy some slack. He's really struggling at the moment and he could do without any trouble with you. I know he's acting up but me and Elena are trying to deal with it."

"I'll do my best." He conceded.

"Thanks Ty." I said as I turned on me heel and made my way back to the grill. I walked in as Matt walked towards Elena and Stefan, they had a conversation with Matt and then moved towards a booth that Bonnie and Caroline were sitting in. I walked over and joined them as I sat at the end of the booth. It didn't take long for the stefterrogation (or in other words the Stefan interrogation from Bonnie and Caroline to start.

"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" questioned Caroline.

"Mm-Hmm. And moved when I was still young." Replied Stefan.

"Parents?" asked Bonnie.

"My parents passed away." he replied sadly. Elena and I knew that feeling.

"I'm sorry. Any siblings?" Elena asked kindly.

"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle." Poor bloke I thought.

"So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow." My eyes met Carolines and I knew where we were going to take this.

"It's a back to school thing at the falls." I informed him. Stefan looked straight at Elena

"Are you going?" he asked her directly. She hesitated and that was all I needed to enact my plan.

"Of course she is." I answered for her quickly.

I arrived at the party with Elena but I decided to go on a little bit of a wonder. I slowly walked back to where Elena was but she was talking to Stefan. So I went to Bonnie.

"They're rather cute together."

"Aren't they just." replied Bonnie.

The night was going by without a hitch when I heard screams. Vicky Donovan had been attacked and Jeremy had found her. Elena, Jeremy and I followed along to the hospital to see how she was doing and whether Matt needed anything. We were all feeling so tired so we made our way home. We told Mom what had happened and I'd gone straight to bed. Hoping that tomorrow would be a better day.