Chapter 1

2 and a Half Years Later

Elena Gilbert stepped out of her house before turning and locking the door. She and her inventor father Jonathan Gilbert had just moved into a house on the outskirts of a small village. It was Elena's third time into town.

She was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in town now. None of the other girls could hold a candle to her. She had long, dark brown hair that she kept in a ponytail, bright brown eyes that sparkled when she smiled, a heart-shaped face and a thin body covered with a pretty blue and white checkered dress.

Despite her beauty, Elena didn't feel like she truly fit in anywhere. She mainly kept to herself and unlike other girls in town, she was very educated and was often caught reading books. She loved reading, it was her favorite pastime. It was her chance to leave her own world and look into another. Love stories and fantasies were her absolute favorites.

As she entered the village, she noticed many people started staring at her and whispering about her. She blushed and looked down. Her fame wasn't just about her beauty, but the fact that her father was a "crazy" inventor didn't help her. He was considered a complete lunatic with all his crazy inventions and ideas. But Elena still loved him dearly. Her mother had died when she was younger and he was all she had left.

She passed the baker, wig shop, and grocery stand until she finally came to the library. Entering, the old man who ran it greeted her.

"Hello Miss Elena. What brings you here on this fine day?" he asked excitedly.

"Well, I've come to return the book I borrowed. I would like another one, if that's alright." Her musical voice was one she rarely used except around her father, but when one had to speak, they spoke.

"I don't have any new ones yet, but you're more than welcome to look." He smiled at her.

Giving him the borrowed book, she looked around. It wasn't much of a library, but she loved reading her favorite books. Spotting the one she wanted, she reached up and grabbed it.

"I'll borrow this one please." She took it to the counter.

Glancing down at the title, the man looked up. "This one…but you've read it twice." he exclaimed while laughing.

"I know, but it's my favorite! A romance, swordfights, spells, a prince!" Elena was excited about reading it again.

"Well, if you like it that much, then you can keep it," the owner said kindly.

Elena protested. "No sir, I couldn't possibly-"

"I insist Miss Elena."

"Well, thank you very much," she thanked the man then left. She started reading the book mid-walk.

Down the street, there was a loud gunshot then a plop. Matt Donovan, a henchman to Tyler Lockwood, ran to get the pheasant Tyler had just shot down.

Tyler Lockwood was considered the most handsome man for miles around. Being very muscular and having a high-cheek boned face, many girls swooned over him. He relished in all the attention.

"Another shot well-done sir," Matt exclaimed running up with the now dead pheasant.

"I know," Tyler spoke arrogantly. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Elena Gilbert walking by with her nose stuck in a book. He admired her beauty from afar, lewd thoughts running through his head about her body and how small she would look underneath him. However, Elena didn't even look at him as she walked by.

"Admiring Elena again, Ty," Matt spoke up, glancing to where he was looking. "You'd better give up on her, she's the inventor's daughter. He's a complete loony!"

Tyler just stood there looking at Elena. "True, but she's a beauty!. She's the most beautiful girl in town. And the most beautiful woman deserves the most beautiful man," at the end of his sentence, Tyler slicked back his hair and started walking, no, striding toward Elena's retreating form.

Catching up to her, Tyler snatched the book out of Elena's hands. She immediately turned around.

"Tyler, may I have my book back please?" she glared impatiently.

"What? No 'Hello Tyler, it's nice to see you?' And how can you even read this?" he asked, looking through the pages of the book. "There are no pictures. How about you look at something a little more important, like me!" he exclaimed, getting right up in Elena's face.

Elena snatched her book back from Tyler and moved back.

"Subtle much there Ty?" she asked irritably.

"Why Elena, you noticed," he teased her back, thinking that she was flirting with him.

Elena just looked at him before letting out an exasperated, disgusted grunt and continuing back toward her house. Tyler just smiled at her retreating form.

"Soon she'll be all mine." He smiled to himself.