My eyes fluttered open as the alarm in my phone went off, and I groaned quietly as I tried to reach my phone, which lied on my nightstand. After a few seconds, I finally felt the cold, hard texture beneath my fingers and I quickly grabbed it, bringing it in front of my face and clicking the 'OK' icon. I then put it back on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, lost in thought. How am I going to survive this day? What, am I just going to smile and say, 'I'm fine, thank you,' or, 'Yes, I feel much better,'? If so, then my day will purely consist of lies, lies, and more lies.
"Anna!" I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard Elena knock on my door, "Are you up?!" She must have heard my alarm and was wondering why the shower wasn't turned on yet.
"Yeah!" I called back, and threw my quilt off of me before getting up, ignoring the shivers that ran through me as the air hit my bare legs. I then quickly walked into my bathroom that I shared with my aunt, and quickly stripped my white-brown striped pajama shorts and my white pajama top with brown 3/4 sleeves, jumping into a hot shower. As the water hit my skin, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of pleasure, knowing that this is probably the only pleasant thing about this entire day.
"Hey, Anna!" I heard Jeremy call as he knocked on my door, "Don't go daydreaming again!" he called jokingly, his voice a bit more distant, which meant that he just knocked on the door to tease me and went back to his room. I shook my head at my little brother with a small smile and quickly washed my body with the rose-scented body wash, before quickly wrapping a towel around my body and exiting the bathroom, going back into my room. I then quickly dried myself and put on long jeans and a white-gray striped, loose, 3/4 sleeve shirt. To complete the look, I quickly put on my gray vans, and my long, silver necklace with a large key charm, before walking over to stand in front of my mirror and braiding my hair from the front and putting it in a high pony tail. I then quickly put my towel back on the rack in the bathroom, and then opened the curtains in my room, letting the sun rays in. As I made my bed quickly, I took in a deep breath, before letting it out and grabbing my backpack, and walking out of my room.
"Toast," I heard as I walked downstairs. "I can make toast,"
"It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna," I said as I walked into the kitchen, seeing Jenna standing in front of the open refrigerator and Elena sitting at the table. I then quickly put my backpack on the seat next to my twin sister and walked over to our coffee machine, pouring myself some coffee.
"Is there coffee?" Jeremy asked as he walked into the kitchen, and I nodded while holding up them mug slightly.
"Your first day of school, and I'm totally unprepared," Jenna said as Jeremy walked over to me, holding his hand out, and I smiled a small smile as I gave him the already filled cup, since I knew that he would want some coffee as well. He gave me a small smile in return, and I ruffled his hair slightly as I walked over to stand behind Elena. "Lunch money?" Jenna asked, walking over to stand in front of the three of us and holding some money in her hand.
"I'm good," I shook my head.
"So am I," Elena said, while Jeremy quickly snatched all the money from her hand, making me sigh quietly, as I was 99% sure that that money wouldn't be spent on lunch.
"Anything else?" Jenna asked, "A number two pencil?" she asked as she packed her things into her bag. "What am I missing?"
"Don't you have a big presentation today?" I asked, my brows furrowed in slight confusion.
"I'm meeting with my thesis adviser at..." she trailed off as she looked down at the watch on her wrist, before throwing her hands up in frustration, "Now. Crap," she said as she quickly put her hair down, letting it fall loosely on her shoulders.
"Then go," I said, and she looked at me, slightly worried, "We'll be fine," I added with a small smile, and she nodded, letting out a sigh and giving me a thankful smile before grabbing her bag and rushing out of the house.
"You okay?" Elena asked, looking at Jeremy, concerned, making him scoff quietly.
"Don't start," he shook his head, still holding the coffee I made him, before giving me a nod and also leaving.
I let out a sigh as I watched the door for a few seconds, before looking at my sister, who was frowning.
"Give him some time, Elena," I said, and she sighed, but nodded nonetheless. I gave her a small smile, before grabbing my backpack, "Now come on. Bonnie's going to be here..." I trailed off as I heard a honk outside, "Now, apparently," I said, and Elena gave a small chuckle before getting up and grabbing her stuff.
*Elena's P.O.V., 5 Minutes Later*
"So, Grams is telling my I'm psychic," Bonnie spoke as she drove her car and I listened from the backseat, while Anna sat in the front, "Our ancestors were from Salem, which isn't 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 I couldn't help but smile a little as I turned my head to look out the window. However, as soon as I saw that we were driving past the cemetery, I adverted my gaze and concentrated fully on Bonnie so that my thoughts wouldn't wonder off to places I didn't want them at, "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 said, before stopping as she glanced at Anna. Noticing her expression, I leaned over to also look at my sister, only to see her gazing out the window, lost in thought, "Annabelle!" Bonnie called, letting out a small chuckle, making her immediately turn to look at us, "Back in the car," Bonnie joked with a small grin.
"I-I did it again, didn't I?" Anna sighed as she glanced at me, and I nodded, looking at her worriedly. It's been no secret to me that she took our parents' deaths the hardest, and even though I know she tried to hide it in order to look after me and Jeremy, I can't help but worry about her... and yet admire her at the same time. "I-I'm sorry, Bonnie. You were saying that...?"
"That she's psychic now," I said with a small teasing smile.
"Right, okay..." Anna trailed off, and I could see her holding back a smile, which made me smile, "Then predict something. About me," she said, and Bonnie sighed, looking over at her with a smile, before closing her eyes for a second.
"I see-" she was cut off when something suddenly flew into the car, making us all gasp as Bonnie lost control of the car for a second, before being able to steady it and bring it around the corner, the tires screeching before we halted to a stop, "What was that?!" she exclaimed as we both immediately looked over at my sister, who was trying to take in deep breaths, "Oh, my God," Bonnie leaned back in her seat, also trying to understand what just happened.
"Anna, are you okay?" I asked worriedly as I unfastened my seat belt and leaned over in order to put my hand on her arm.
Bonnie and I both stared at her worriedly as she placed her hand over her chest, trying to control her breathing.
"I-It's okay, I'm fine," she finally spoke, her voice still a bit shaky. I can't even imagine what was going through her head right now, even if we're twins. She was the one who was in the car with our parents when it ran off of the bridge; she's scarred for the rest of her life, no matter how much she wants to pretend that she's alright.
"It was like a bird or something, it came out of nowhere," Bonnie spoke quickly, looking at her apologetically.
"No, it's fine, really," Anna assured, but Bonnie and I both looked at her skeptically, "Look, I can't be scared of cars for the rest of my life," she said, and I shared a look with Bonnie before we both nodded reluctantly, and I sat back in my seat, fastening my seat belt again. I then looked over at Bonnie, only to see her looking at my sister with a soft smile.
"I predict, this year is going to be kick-ass," she said, and I saw Anna smile a little, "And I predict all the sad and dark times are over, and you are going to be beyond happy," Bonnie finished, looking at my sister, and I saw Anna smile a real smile for the first time since the accident, which made me beam happily.
*Annabelle's P.O.V., 10 Minutes Later*
"Major lack of male real estate," Bonnie said as she, Elena, and I walked down the hallway of our high school, "Look at the shower curtain on Kelly Beach," she grimaced, looking at the girl in walking in front of us, making me stifle a laugh as I looked at Elena, who was walking on my other side. "She looks a hot - can I still say 'tranny mess'?"
"No, that's over," Elena said as I leaned against the lockers.
"Ah, find a man, coin a phrase, it's a busy year," Bonnie grinned at us, about to open her locker, when something behind me caught her attention. My brows furrowed as I saw both her and Elena look in the same direction, and I turned around, only to see Matt staring at me. I couldn't help the guilt that washed over me as I saw the pain flash in his eyes. I raised my hand, giving him a small wave and a small smile, but he just looked at me for a second longer before taking his books out of his locker, slamming the locker shut, and walking away, completely ignoring me.
I sighed sadly as I slowly turned back around to look at Bonnie and my sister, both of whom were looking at me sympathetically.
"He hates me," I stated.
"That's not hate," Bonnie protested, "That's, 'you dumped me, but I'm too cool to show it, but secretly I'm listening to Air Supply's greatest hits'," she said, making me chuckle despite my bad mood as Elena tried to give me a reassuring look.
"Anna, Elena," I heard a voice from my right, and only had a second to turn around before I was engulfed in a tight hug, "Oh, my God. How are you?" Caroline asked, before letting me go, "Oh, it's so good to see you," she said, before turning her attention towards Elena and hugging her tightly as well, "How are they? Are they good?" she asked Bonnie over Elena's shoulder, making me smile. Most people find Caroline shallow, self-centered, and insensitive... which might be slightly true, but she also cares about her friends more than anything and is always there to comfort someone or help them with something. Not to mention she is also my best friend, other than Bonnie, and I love her to bits.
"Caroline, we're right here," Elena said with a small grin, though I could see that she was a bit annoyed, "And I'm fine," she nodded, before they all turned to look at me.
"I'm okay, I'm good," I smiled, trying to make it look at real as possible. "Thank you,"
"Really?" Caroline pressed gently.
"Yes, " I lied again. "Much better,"
"Oh, you poor thing," she said, before pulling me into another hug, making me chuckle quietly. She hugged me for a few seconds longer, before letting me go and smiling, "Okay, see you guys later?" she asked, and we all nodded, "Okay, bye," she smiled, and we all returned it, before walking away.
"No comment," Elena shook her head, making me chuckle.
"Hey, she means well," I scolded with a smile, and Elena just shook her head with a small smile.
"I'm not going to say anything to that," she muttered, making me smack her playfully, before heading down the hallway. As the three of us walked past the school office, Bonnie suddenly stopped.
"Hold up. Who's this?" she asked, and we all turned to look in the direction she was looking at, only to see the back of a tall guy, who was wearing jeans and a black leather jacket. I could also see he was wearing sunglasses, since his head was tilted a bit to the side.
"All I see is back," Elena said.
"It's a hot back," I said, making her chuckle as I smiled, and Bonnie nodded in agreement.
"I'm sensing Seattle, and he plays the guitar," she said in a slightly creepy voice, making me chuckle.
"You're really gonna run this whole psychic thing into the ground, aren't you?"
"Pretty much," she replied, not taking her eyes off of the new guy.
"Jeremy, good batch, man," I heard a guy behind Bonnie say, and I saw my younger brother walk into the men's restroom, making me sigh.
"I'll be right back," I said, and quickly followed my brother.
As I entered the men's restroom, I saw Jeremy standing in front of the mirror, putting eye drops in his eyes. Some guy nearly bumped into me as I walked over to my brother.
"Whoa! Pants down, chick!" he exclaimed, but I ignored him as I stopped next to Jeremy and grabbed his face in both my hands, looking him in the eyes, only to see his pupils dilated.
"Great," I chuckled humorlessly. "It's the first day of school, and you're already stoned,"
"No, I'm not," Jeremy protested, but I just shook my head.
"Jeremy, you can't keep doing this to yourself," I spoke in a softer tone, "It's your choice to make, of course it is, but please, just... be careful." I heard a flush and a guy came out of one of the stalls, glancing at me oddly before leaving the restroom. I sighed and turned to look at my little brother, who was now looking at me with soft yet pain-filled eyes, "Look, I understand that this is your way of dealing with... everything that's been going on, but please... think about what you're doing," I pleaded.
"Like you said... it's my choice," Jeremy said, before leaving the restroom. I sighed, and put my hand over my eyes for a moment before also leaving the restroom. As I turned to the right in order to go back to Bonnie and Elena, I bumped into someone's chest, making me stagger backwards. Hands gripped my arms gently, stabilizing me.
"Careful," the person said, and I looked up, only to be met with a pair of beautiful leaf-green eyes. "Pardon me. Um..." the new guy trailed off as he stared at me, and I returned the gesture as I took in his features. He had light brown hair, thick dark eyebrows, and was just over-all very handsome. But... there was a feeling of familiarity in the back of my mind as well, "Is this the men's room?" he asked as he glanced between me and the restroom I just came out of.
"Yes, um... I-I was just..." I trailed off with a sigh, probably embarrassing myself even further, "It's a long story," I finally said, and he nodded with a smile. I then took a step to the left in order to go around him, but he took a step in the same direction, making me nearly bumped into him again. We both smiled and this time I stepped to the right, but he went the same way once again, making me chuckle, before he gave me a kind smile and stepped to the side, letting me pass, "Thank you," I smiled, and walked past him, but just before I rounded the corner, I felt eyes on me, and turned around, only to see him still staring at me.
*Third Person's P.O.V., 40 Minutes Later*
"Once our home state of Virginia joined confederacy in 1861, it created a tremendous amount of tension within the state," Mr. Tanner, the History teacher of Mystic Falls High, spoke, as Annabelle turned around to glance over her shoulder when she felt someone watching her, only to see Matt staring at her with hurt and longing in his eyes. She turned back around to face the teacher, but could hardly concentrate as she felt the guilt rise up within her again, "People of Virginia's northwest region had different ideals than those from the traditional deep south," Mr. Tanner kept talking as Annabelle glanced around, only to stop on the new teenage boy in school. As if on cue, he also adverted his eyes from the teacher and looked over at her, making her smile and look back to the front. However, that did not make him stop, and he kept staring at her with a small smile forming on his lips, which Matt noticed immediately.
Only a minute or so later, Annabelle felt her phone buzz in her pocket, and she quickly and discreetly took it out, only to see that she had a text from Bonnie:
'HAWT-E. STARING U'.
Annabelle shook her head with a small smile on her lips, and glanced back at her best friend, only to see both her and her sister smirking at her, as the new guy kept kept staring at her with a small smile on his lips.