Disclaimer: I don't own anything relating to The Vampire Diaries.

Chapter two:

It was finally noon and I was outside along the porch, Carmen had just arrived and I've already signed the contract and everything. Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, Katherine, Stefan, and Damon were with me, giving me their final good byes while Carmen had to excuse herself to use her phone and deal with some matters.

"Don't forget to write to us. Don't forget to call us. Just don't forget us." Caroline reminded me hysterically, enumerating what I had to do and grabbed my shoulders. She was less composed compared to Jenna, who was still suffering from a huge hangover.

"I won't, Caroline." I smiled and hugged her tightly. I looked over to Bonnie and she headed towards us and joined in the hug. Words didn't need to be spoken between all of us. We simply knew each other that well.

Stefan walked over to me and I met him half way. We smiled a sad smile at each other and hugged too. The security I always felt when I was with him is still there. I squeezed him tight one last time and walked over to Katherine who seemed more than happy to be talking with me for one last time.

We walked away from the others a bit until we were out of hearing range. We gave each other wide smiles. Knowing the Katherine right now with her being a relative of mine, the only Petrova left- besides me- made me see her differently. Right now, she's more like an older and really protective twin sister to me than anything.

"Come visit as much as you need to." She told me while grabbing my hands. "Or else we'd miss you too much" I nodded and hugged her like I did the rest. We talked a bit more and soon, we walked back and I had to say good bye to Damon.

I've already talked with Jeremy and Jenna earlier that day and they said almost the exact same things.

"So this is the last time we'll be seeing you before a long time." Damon stated the obvious. His cerulean eyes didn't light up as they always did when he would tease me.

"Yeah" I answered, even if it wasn't a question.

"New York is a big city, so don't get yourself in too much trouble since none of us would be there to get you out of it." He chastised me like a toddler and wagged his finger at me. I just smiled, knowing it was his way of saying "take care" and nodded.

"Elena! It's time to go." I heard Carmen call out from by her car as she put her blackberry back in her purse.

I sighed and looked over to Damon. He nodded, implying that I could leave. His blue eyes seemed shrouded, hiding his emotions all over again. I gave him a grim smile and hugged him too.

"Don't you forget me, Damon Salvatore" I whispered to him, giving him a warning while not breaking the hug.

"I don't think that's possible" I almost heard him smirk as he hugged me just as tight. What was great about him was that I didn't need to think or anything when I talk to him. He was that one other person I could truly be myself with other than my best friends. Life seemed so easy with him.

He soon had to let me go and after telling all of them good bye, I gave one final wave and hopped into the car. Carmen soon came in after and ordered the chauffer to take us to the airport.

"It's a quicker way to get there and we need all the time we need for you to get settled in." She explained to me with a smirk.

The chauffer dropped us off at the airport and before I know it, we were on the plane headed to the big apple.

"Today we'll arrive there by 3 o' clock. You'll have an hour to put everything in your penthouse in order at Papillon hotel. You'll be staying there during the duration of your stay in New York. I'll pick you up by 4, to meet with your publicist, Alexandra Emmerson. Then after our meeting, we would all go to the main publishing house and after that, dinner." She informed me, looking at her blackberry all the while and giving me a few glances.

I simply nodded and looked out my window, being overwhelmed with all of that's happening. I took comfort in the peace and quiet of our afternoon flight and sighed. Who knows when it would be this quiet again?

Carmen dropped me and my suit cases off at the Papillon hotel. A doorman greeted me as I walked in with the bellboy carrying my suit cases. The entire place was very elegant and I took time to take it all in while walking to the front desk.

The hotel was butterfly themed, derived from the name itself. A crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling and cafés and fine dining restaurants composed half of the main floor.

"I'm Elena Gilbert; I was supposed to take the Amaranthe penthouse." I informed the lady at the desk. She typed some information and got the key card out.

"Ahh, Ms. Gilbert. You'd be living her in the next incoming months." She smiled sweetly and handed me the key. "The pool, spa, garden, and gym are on the fifth floor. If you need anything at all please feel free to call. Enjoy your stay." Her smile seemed stuck on her face.

I walked towards the elevator as the bellboy took the employees elevator. The penthouse was located at the top floor and before I could put my key in the hole, someone coughed from behind.

I turned around and saw a girl. She had straight ebony black hair that reached to her mid back with side bangs; big almond shaped hazel eyes and was around my height.

"Hi, I'm Veronica Xanders. I heard someone was moving in here. That must be you?" she raised a questioning brow at me. I nodded.

"Then I'm your new neighbor. I live across from you." She introduced herself with a smile and extended her hand.

"I'm Elena." I shook her hand. She seemed very nice.

"Do you live here on your own?"

"Yeah" Now that I think about it, I am going to be alone these days.

"Then you can come over whenever you need to." She replied happily inviting me to her home. "I'm live alone here too"

"Thank you" I smiled and at the same time I was sad that she had to live on her own. "You can come by anytime you feel like it too." I said hopefully seeming as welcoming as she did.

She smiled. "Oh no, not today, you seem to have a lot of bags that you need to unpack. I'll be on my way as well. See you around," She said turning around and going in her house.

I didn't know how she knew how many bags I packed until I turned around and saw the bellboy waiting for me to unlock the room. I nodded shyly and turned to open the door for him.

While he brought my bags in, I took notice of my new home. The penthouse was wide and spacious, probably taking a third of the entire 15th floor. It was just one big room and everything seemed to fit in with a lot more space.

The floors were some kind of wood and the walls were cream colored decorated with framed abstract paintings of nature. To my right was the living room. The furniture was a nice pure white color. The couches and seats were a white leather and incredibly soft and the coffee table was sleek and modern decorated with a vase of amaranth flowers. There was a black flat screen TV across from the sofa set.

The kitchen and the dining room were combined and were to my left. The appliances were silver and very sleek and clean. The dining table was made of glass with a metal stand and had another vase of amaranths.

There was an elevated section on the deeper right of the space, past the living room which was facing the front. A queen sized bed took most of the space and the section was carpeted with a white color. There was a white side table with a singular lamp on the left said and a closet was to its right. Beside the closer was a vanity table.

The bathroom was adorned with white walls on its upper half and black tiles on its lower half. There was a bath tub and a shower on different sides of the bathroom with a towel holder each.

It was perfect.

"Would that be all, Ms. Gilbert?" He asked once he finished his task and took me out of my reverie.

"Yes, thank you." I let him out.

That basically took fifteen minutes, so I have forty- five minutes left to unpack. I better get started

That took a lot of time and I wasn't half way done. Before I could do any more, my phone rang. It was Carmen, on time as usual.

"Elena, I'm on my way there. Get to the lobby right now." She ordered me in her business mode.

"Okay."

"And be sure to look presentable, you need to make a good first impression to Ms. Emmerson." She reminded me and hung up before I could reply.

Alexandra Emmerson. Why was that name so familiar? I asked to myself and walked towards my vanity table. I heard her name from Carmen's mouth earlier this afternoon but I couldn't remember where else. I didn't think about it any further until I suddenly remembered.

"Alexandra Emmerson is one of the most distinguished publicists of her time. For such a young age, she has taken the public by storm with every customer she has taken completely satisfied. Knowing the ropes in the business at an incredibly fast rate she practically bought, owned, and changed the entire publicizing world."

It was that magazine article Caroline was reading aloud while I was distracted by something else completely. So that's her. That must be why Carmen warned me strictly. Alexandra Emmerson was just that much of an influence in the publishing of my book and I was to meet her. I was definitely anxious and my nerves were getting the best of me.

Before another thought occurred in my mind, Carmen called again making sure I was in the lobby since she'd just arrived. Just what did I get myself in to?

I know that this is a tad bit shorter than the previous chapter

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