Damon and I drove back to Mystic Falls in separate cars. He didn't think it was time for me to meet Elena just yet, so he decided to keep our reunion a secret for a little while longer. I took the time I had left to myself to ponder on the thought of Katherine returning.
Did I want her to come back? Was it safe for her? Was it safe for me? There was a time after her capture where I searched for a way to break the spell, but that was until I realized I was free. I was free from Klaus' chase and free from Katherine's claws that she dug so deep into me. Katherine had a way of manipulating people, even her own flesh and blood. As far as I was concerned, she too was safe from Klaus as long as she stayed locked up in that tomb. We could both live happily ever after. Well, almost.
Before long, we had arrived back in Mystic Falls. I parked a ways off from the Salvatore boarding house, awaiting Elena's departure to make my entrance. I stared at my belongings in the backseat of my old yellow beetle. 500 years on this earth and all I have to show for it was 1 lousy suitcase and a rundown car. When you spend most of your life on the run, you learn to pack light.
My phone buzzed with a text from Damon indicating that the coast was clear. I pulled up in front of the boarding house and parked right outside the garage. I got out and looked at the unfamiliar setting. Last time I was here, Katherine and I stayed at the Salvatore Estate. I wasn't sure if the boarding house had even been built yet.
I went to grab my bags, but Damon beat me to it. He showed me to my room, serving as a tour guide for the rest of the house as we passed by the numerous rooms. The place was huge, to say the least. The walls were lined with books, many first editions I may note, as well as beautiful, expensive paintings. Subtlety was not the Salvatore way, apparently.
Damon deposited my bag beside the bed and went to leave, but quickly turned back, "The liquor cabinet is free for all, so make yourself at home" He paused. "Except the bourbon, that's mine."
"Got it captain. See you in the morning." I nodded at him.
"Goodnight Nathalie."
I plopped myself in the bed. A bed that I could call my own, even if just for a short while. This was a whole new experience for me and I could definitely get used to it.
I woke up abruptly to a banging noise. My instincts kicked in and I rushed around the room grabbing all my stuff, in order to make a quick getaway. That is until I realized where I was. I instantly relaxed, figuring it was just Stefan or Damon downstairs. Even after I stopped running from Klaus, the paranoia still stuck with me. I may be free from Klaus, but I wasn't really free from Klaus. That guy could hold a grudge like no other. I aided and abetted in hiding his precious doppelganger and he would not take that lightly.
I could hear the two brothers bickering about the tomb and decided now would be the best time to make my presence known to Stefan.
"Don't you have school?" Damon shot back at Stefan, raising his eyebrows.
Stefan turned to leave but instead came face to face with me.
"He roped you into this too?" "You're in high school?" We exclaimed simultaneously.
"I'm already late, I'll deal with you when I get home" Stefan sighed, pushing passed me.
"Since when did he become so grumpy?" I pouted, thinking of the old Stefan.
The Stefan that I knew always had a smile on his face. Now he was replaced with a brooding, angst filled Stefan. I can't blame him for that, a lot has happened since I last saw him. I never really bothered to check in with either of the Salvatore's once I fled from Mystic Falls. I had run into Damon on a few occasions, but had never seen Stefan again. Although I did hear of him. Whispers floated around the vampire community about the Ripper of Monterrey. He was infamous.
"Forget him. Let's go have some fun." Damon walked out, not waiting for a response.
What fun was there to have in such a small town?
Damon and I walked into the Mystic Bar & Grill after a long day of wandering around, watching the locals. I'll have to educate Damon on the meaning of fun later.
The Grill was surprisingly busy for a weekday. I scanned the room, my eyes quickly landing on a cute blonde by the bar. He would make for a delicious meal. I strolled over, leaving Damon behind to see to his business with the town witch. I didn't question whatever it was he had in mind to do to her.
I sat a seat away from the blonde and listened in to his conversation with the bartender, looking for an in.
"Well we all can't be football gods." The blonde joked.
"Would the supposed football god mind getting me whatever you have on tap" I said, jumping in.
"Don't you think it's a little early to start drinking, sweetheart?" The bartender questioned, raising his eyebrow.
"Oh I'm sorry, I was under the impression that you worked here to serve the needs of customers. I'm a customer, and my current need is a beer, so serve." I smiled sweetly.
"One beer, coming right up" The bartender sighed, sliding it down to me.
I moved to the seat directly beside the boy, resting my head on my hand smiling up at him. He looked at me and shook his head, laughing.
"That was a bit abrupt, don't you think?"
"Baby, you've got blue eyes, like a deep blue sea on a blue blue day" I said, ignoring his comment.
"You listen to Elton John?" He asked, his eyes twinkling with interest.
"Not really, that's one of the few songs I actually know of his if I'm being honest." I shrugged it off. "So what's a guy like you doing in a place like... this?" I pulled a face, looking around at the bar. The Mystic Grill just screamed small town with its interior decorating and patrons.
"I should be asking you the same thing. I'm pretty sure I know everyone in this town and yet I don't know you." The boy noted.
"You're very perceptive. I'm just passing through town, actually. I'm on my way to meet my sister, she's been gone for a few years" Try 100 years, I thought. I was growing tired of the small talk already. I could see the veins in his neck pulsing and it was putting me on an edge.
"Absentee family is something I specialize in" He said.
My response was put to a halt when I felt an arm snake around my waist. I turned my head to see some tall, lanky stranger sneering at me. He had a trucker's hat on with a red plaid shirt with the sleeves cut off. God, everyone in this town just keeps checking the stereotype boxes. This guy screamed sleazy, and if there weren't so many witnesses I would snap his neck in an instant.
"What are you drinking, darling? It's on me." He smiled a toothy grin and I couldn't help but pull my face at his front chipped tooth.
"Nothing I can't afford to buy for myself, thanks" I turned away from the man.
"Come on girl, let's say you and I have a little fun." There's that word again; fun. There was nothing fun about any of this.
Once again, my response was halted when the blue eyed boy stood up in front of me. "Listen man, she said she's not interested, so just back off."
I was taken aback by that. He didn't even know me, but he was willing to defend me? Looks like the football player didn't check the douche bag stereotype, but rather the sweet heart throb. I'm going to need to find another meal for the night, I owed him that at the least.
Recognition passed through the sleazy strangers face before he put his hands up and backed away from the bar.
"Looks like you have some sort of pull in this town, blue eyes."
He opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off by another. "Well that was a bust," Damon said, sliding into the chair next to mine. He beckoned the bartender over and ordered his usual. The boy tensed at the sight of Damon. He got up from the bar stool and handed his papers to the bartender, who reassured him about the pending job. "I should probably get going..." He trailed off.
"Nathalie" I answered his unspoken question.
"Nathalie, I'm Matt. I'll see you around." He beamed, his dimples becoming very prominent. I simply smiled back in response.
I watched Matt leave, wishing he would stay for just a moment more. Once he was gone, I turned to the sulking vampire beside me. Pouting my lips, I asked "What? Did she say no to the prom?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? I'm surprised Donovan didn't ask you to this stupid 50s dance. It's all anyone in this place seems to want to talk about."
"50s dance you say? Interesting."
I began to think of all the different outfits I could wear, feeling nostalgic for the times. I left the grill with a smile on my face.
"You're not going" Stefan said, crossing his arms.
I downed the rest of the blood bag Damon gave us upon our return to the boarding house. "Aw but Pa, everyone in the whole county's going to the big dance." Only Damon seemed to find my joke funny, as he let out a grunt, which sounded very similar to a laugh. "Come on Stefan, you're not seriously going to ban me from a high school dance."
I knew I sounded whiny, but this whole situation had me dumbfounded. I couldn't remember the last time someone told me what to do, let alone me obeying it.
"You haven't even met Elena yet, it's not safe" Stefan tried to explain.
"What do you think I'm going to do? Attack her?"
Or run to tell Klaus about her once I find out she's the real deal and get back in his good graces. No, I couldn't do that. I wouldn't want to put someone else through what my sister and I had to go through. Spending years on the run, living in constant paranoia, and being unable to trust anyone because of not knowing where their true loyalties lie.
I did come across one person I could trust apart from Katherine. He's been gone for a while now, though.
"That's not what I meant. She's just been a little on edge when it comes to vampires. Especially since she's gotten herself a new stalker vampire. Someone's been following her since you guys came back from Georgia." Stefan sounded exasperated.
"Stefan?" We all turned to the small voice coming from the entry way of the boarding house.
My eyes widened once again at the girl in front of me. I'm not sure I could get used to looking at her and not referring to her as Katherine.
I flashed over to Elena. "You came in at a great time, Elena. I'm Nathalie, Katherine's sister. I'll be at the dance tomorrow night to protect you from your so called stalker." I turned towards the two brothers. "There, problem solved. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I'm a little tipsy so, I'm going to bed. Goodnight" I wiggled my fingers goodbye and left without a response from the three.
"What just happened?" I heard Elena ask from behind me.
I walked inside Tina's Tiny Thrift Store and instantly felt claustrophobic. Tiny is right, I thought. There was no organization to this place whatsoever. It was cluttered with clothes from as early as the 1910s as far as I could tell. Although, there could be clothes from the prehistoric ages hiding under all this garbage. Well, it wasn't garbage per se, it just looked like it.
It reminded me of this Disney movie I watched back in some cheap motel in Nevada when nothing else was on. The scene involved a teen witch who wound up in a place where everything goes when it gets lost. Tina's Tiny Thrift Store was that place. Anyways, the movie and its depiction of witches was absurd.
"Is there anything I can help you find, dear?" I heard a voice ask. I couldn't tell where it came from until a lady emerged from behind a pile of clothes. She was a frail old thing and looked as if she stepped off the set of The Golden Girls.
"Tina, I'm presuming?" She smiled at me and nodded her head furiously. "Yeah, I'm looking for something to wear for the -"
"The 50s dance! Oh I have just the thing for you sweetheart follow me."
Tina scurried off to one of the many racks in the store. We were in the midst of a chaordic organization that only she seemed to know. She whistled to the tune of Fly Me to the Moon as she flew through the rows of dresses. Finally, she came upon a black dress with a high neckline.
"It's nice, but I'm looking for something less Hepburn, more Taylor if you know what I mean."
Without a word, Tina ran back upstairs, leaving me alone. I rummaged through some of the piles, to no avail. There were mounds of frills, pieces with stains and smells, and endless amount of extra large sized clothes. Just as I was about to give up and head out, I heard little footsteps coming back down the stairs. Tina walked back up to me with a box in hand.
"Now, I never had any daughters or granddaughters. I was cursed with boys, God bless them all. So I've been saving this dress for someone special to come along and take it." Tina passed me the box. "My mother nearly had a heart attack when I left the house in this. Now go on and try it over there" She motioned to a small corner in the store, hidden by a curtain for privacy.
I got behind the curtain before opening the box. The dress was a stunning green with a sweetheart neckline and definitely short enough to give any mother a heart attack. I had one just like it back in the day. Obviously, the packing light dilemma prevented me from keeping it. I tried the dress on, and, like magic, it fit like a glove.
I exited from behind the curtain to show Tina. She gasped and ran to me, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh dear it's like looking in a mirror. You look stunning." I thanked her and turned back to the dressing room. "By the way, that boy you're pining over, you'll be with him soon." I looked back at her in shock, wondering how she knew about Matt. "Oh I saw him in your head when I grabbed on to your arm. He's a looker, that one. Hold on to him or I might just snatch him up."
I didn't answer her. I simply turned back to the dressing room and changed quickly back into my clothes. She must be a witch or a seer of some sort. Either way, I wasn't keen on sticking around.
I went back to the counter where Tina was waiting for me. "How much do I owe you?"
"That ones on me, dear. And don't worry, your secrets, all of them, are safe with me."
I nodded, leaving the store confused.
"Didn't you just make fun of me for going to high school?" Stefan asked surprisingly.
"Yes, and I still think it's the stupidest thing you've ever done. But, I've never had a proper education so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Plus, I'm getting bored staying in this house day after day." I explained myself.
"Did they even have high school back in your day?" Damon asked. I whipped a book at his head and he quickly dodged it
I didn't really need their permission to go to school, but if I was living with them, we needed to get our stories straight. Even if that meant that Damon had to be my... guardian.
Going to high school had to be the craziest thing I've ever done. The way others describe it, it might as well be hell incarnate. However, I wasn't sure how long I would be in this town, and this house really was boring. There's only so much I can read and drink before I grow sick of it, and those are two past times I don't want to grow tired of.
"Fine" Stefan agreed. "But only on one condition. No feeding on humans. Blood bags only. Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die, little Salvatore."
I made my way to the high school the next day. As luck would have it, I spotted Matt across the way. He was painting a banner with some girl. She was pretty; that small town type of pretty that no one could rival. I felt a pang in my stomach. Jealousy. I haven't felt this in a while and I'm not very keen on it.
I approached the two as they playfully fought, feeling as if I were intruding on an intimate moment. Matt looked up from the banner and locked eyes with me. A cheesy smile spread across his face causing me to blush. I haven't done this in a while either, nor was I keen on it. I felt like a love struck school girl and the thought sickened me. Pull yourself together, Nat.
"Nathalie, hey! What are you doing here?" Matt asked, still beaming.
"I just wanted to thank you for the other night. I probably could've handled the situation myself, but it was kind of you nonetheless." I said genuinely.
"Ah, no worries. That guy was a creep." Matt said, rubbing the back of his head.
We looked away from each other, not sure how to continue the conversation.
The blonde girl broke the awkward tension first. She stuck her hand out to me, introducing herself as Caroline Forbes. She must be the sheriff's daughter. Stefan and Damon gave me a run down of all the people to avoid, the sheriff being one of them.
"I hate to be rude and leave so abruptly, but I have to hand in these papers. Can one of you direct me to the office?" I asked, hoping Matt would take the bait.
"I can finish the banner, you go ahead, Matt." Caroline offered. I sent a grateful smile before following behind Matt.
As soon as we walked through the double doors, the atmosphere engulfed me. For as long as I've been around, I've never been to high school. I've learned a lot from Monks and Monarchs, but never behind a desk with pen and paper in hand. Cliques were easily spotted; the nerds, the jocks, the stoners. It was just like the movies. From Matt's conversation last night, I could only assume he was part of the jocks.
We walked in silence as I took in my surroundings. Matt held the office door open for me. I made a bee line towards the secretary's desk. She talked a mile a minute about all the catching up I had to do. I nodded occasionally so she would think I was listening. I could already tell I was going to become easily bored in this place. My mind wandered back to Matt and Caroline. I wonder if they're going to the dance together.
I took my schedule from the secretary and left, not even saying a thank you. Matt once again opened the door for me as we made our way back out. He asked to see my schedule.
"We have history together. Mr. Saltzman is great, you'll love him."
"Are you going to this stupid 50s dance tomorrow?" I asked, not wanting to beat around the bush. Before he could answer I continued, "Who am I kidding of course you're going. I'm sure you asked Caroline, I mean you guys look like a really cute couple. Very picturesque."
"I'm not going with Caroline." I perked up at this. "Im not going at all actually." My face fell again. All I could say was oh. "I have to work tomorrow. I got that job at the Mystic Grill."
I congratulated him and said my goodbyes, too embarrassed to continue a conversation. I can't believe the way I've been acting around him, this wasn't me. I turned back when I heard him call my name.
"Caroline and I aren't dating, by the way" he said, with a knowing smirk.
I nodded, hiding my smile until I was alone in my car.
-
A/N hello again. Sorry for the long break but it seems every time I try to write this it turns into some cheesy typical fanfic and I end up giving up lol anyways I was gonna make this longer but figured I owed you guys something so hope you enjoy
Also as I've previously said this story is gonna divert from canon to fit in Nathalie's story so for obvious reasons Caroline and Matt aren't together
