Chapter 7

"Remember when all we had to worry about was Katherine?", Caroline asked. They were outside by the eating area having lunch.

"Ugh, don't remind me", Elena said, scrunching up her nose. "Although, I would prefer if we were dealing with her antics instead."

"Yeah", Caroline replied. "I wonder where she is."

"Who knows", Jeremy said. "Probably half way around the world."

"Probably. You know she only cares about herself so there's no way she's sticking around to be killed by Klaus", Elena added.

"I don't know", Bonnie said. "She did give Damon the cure...and she didn't have to."

"Yeah, I get that, but I guess it's because she owed him..for giving her the vervain and all when she was trapped in Alaric's apartment", Elena declared.

"Well, I'm glad she's gone", Tyler announced. "It's because of her why I'm a werewolf and an innocent girl dead."

"Make that lots of innocent people", said Jeremy. Everyone was in agreement with that.

"Hey, what do you guys think of the new girl?", Caroline asked. "I CANnot believe that I don't know anything about her."

"How could you?", Bonnie said. "With everything that's been going on, not even you, spared the time to look at anything else that wasn't a threat to this town."

Elena chuckled a little, realizing how much Caroline has changed.

"Besides", Bonnie continued, "I don't think she's been here long. She probably just came in time for school."

"Yeah, that could be it", Caroline said.

"She seems nice though", said Elena, "and you didn't sense anything off about her, did you Bon?"

"Nope, nothing", Bonnie replied.

"I didn't sense anything weird about her either", Tyler said. "She is hot though."

"Hey", Caroline said poking him in his side with her elbow, with a mischievous smile on her face.

"What?", Tyler asked grinning just as mischievously.

"Yeah, it's true", Jeremy added grinning.

Bonnie and Elena just rolled their eyes. They knew that is was just harmless admiration on the guys part and the girls did agree. She is a great looking girl and she seems nice on top of it.

"Oh, there she is", Caroline announced. "Why don't we invite her to sit with us and maybe we can find out more about her."

"Sounds good", Bonnie said. The others nodded in agreement.

"Hey Vinnie, "Bonnie called out. "Would you like to join us?"

The girl nodded her head, smiling while walking over to them with her lunch tray. "Hi", she said while sitting beside Caroline and Tyler, "thanks."

"No prob", Bonnie said. She noticed what Vinnie had on her tray: a chicken salad, a few grapes and a bottle of water. 'Hm, healthy eater', Bonnie said to herself. "Oh, this is Caroline, Tyler and this is Jeremy."

'Hi guys, nice to meet you", Vinnie said.

"Yeah, you too", they replied.

They were eating in silence for a while when Caroline broke it saying", Sooo...tell us about yourself Vinnie." Everyone was now focused on Vinnie.

"Uh, what do you want to know?", she asked.

"When did you move to Mystic Falls and from where?", Caroline asked.

"Over the weekend from Cedar Rapids, Iowa," Vinnie answered.

"Oh, OK", Caroline said.

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you move here?", Bonnie inquired.

"For a fresh start", she replied. She noticed that Bonnie looked a little confused with a 'what do you mean' look on her face. So she shared a little more information. "My parents were killed and I didn't want to stay there anymore, so I decided to move here. It seems like a nice, peaceful place to live."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry", Elena said. Caroline, Bonnie and the boys shared the same sentiments.

"So, how were they killed?", Jeremy asked.

"Jeremy-", Elena started.

"No, it's OK", Vinnie said. "They died in a house fire", she answered.

"God, when did it happen?", Bonnie pressed.

Vinnie cleared her throat before answering quietly,"Five months ago."

"So, you're here with relatives then?", Tyler wanted to know.

"No, I'm alone. I'm an only child and my parents, they didn't really live around any other family, so I'm not familiar with any of them. When it happened I got emancipated so as not to deal with social services, especially with turning 18 in a few months - which I did last week so, I'm OK to be on my own," she said.

"So, where are you staying?", Caroline asked.

"At the Inn, until I find a place", Vinnie replied. She saw the look on their faces and added,"my parents made sure that I was provided for in case of anything, so I'm OK until I go to college and get a job."

"That's great", Bonnie said. "If you need help in finding somewhere, we'll be glad to help."

"Thanks, I'll let you know", Vinnie replied smiling.

"Yeah, Vinnie and if you ever need to talk about stuff..you know...about your parents' death, then...I'll listen. Jeremy and I, our parents died in a car accident two years ago, so...", Elena offered.

Vinnie's expression softened and she replied,"Oh, wow, I'm really sorry about that", while looking at both the Gilberts. "And thank you."

Elena smiled and nodded saying,"You're welcome."

"Uh, Vinnie, can I ask you something else?", Bonnie asked, not quite sure of herself.

"Yeah, sure, shoot", Vinnie encouraged.

"Do you by any chance have any McCullough's in your family?", Bonnie asked.

Vinnie seemed to be considering this. She then said,"Yes, I think so. My dad's older sister went to Scotland and married a McCullough. I'm guessing they were fruitful and multiplied. Why do you ask?"

They laughed at that remark. "Because my mother is a McCullough, and you remind me of her", Bonnie said.

"Oh, what a small world. So that means there is a really high possibility of me and you being related then huh?", Vinnie said.

"Yeah, there is", Bonnie answered.

"Hm, I might just have family here after all", she replied smiling.

They all laughed at that. For the rest of lunch the supernatural gang told Vinnie about themselves, except all the twilight zone stuff.

Later that evening, the girls were staying at Caroline's house. Bonnie's dad was away in Canada for three weeks on business and asked the Sheriff to keep her until he comes back. The boys were over at Tyler's and Alaric was at the boarding house with Damon and Lucy. Elena was in the shower and Caroline and Bonnie were talking.

"What are we gonna do for Elena's birthday?", Caroline asked Bonnie. Elena's birthday was coming up next week and they have no idea what they should do, because when that day comes and no Stefan, well...it's gonna be like a Cymbalta ad - depressed people all over the place looking like zombies.

"I have no idea", Bonnie said. "The only thing that would make her happy is having Stefan back and I have no clue when that will be." She sighed, an overwhelming feeling of frustration coming on.

"Yeah, our lives have been turned upside down, and we don't even know how to fix it", Caroline said. "Still no luck with the whole telepathy thing?", she asked.

"Nope, not a darn thing", Bonnie said. "He's blocked me off completely ever since that run-in with Klaus. He doesn't want me locating him at all."

"Can't really blame him though", Caroline said. "If you guys had pushed further...I don't even wanna talk about what would've happened." She was so worried and felt the way Bonnie did - powerful and not able to do a damn thing.

"Yeah, and Klaus gave me the creeps. As if I would ever join him in his deranged psychotic plan to take over the world", Bonnie said, feeling chills running up and down her spine as she remembered him touching her.

"Can you say - Freak?", Caroline said with a look of disgust on her face. "Bonnie,what if he comes after you? It's obvious that he's attracted you," Caroline said, really worried.

"You mean attracted to my powers," Bonnie said. "I don't even know why. I can't even do anything to harm him. That lunatic is toying with me..with us.."

There was silence for a while.

"On a more pleasant note. Looks like you have a new member of the family", said Caroline to Bonnie, singing the word family, and smiling.

"Well, we haven't confirmed anything yet. Remember that she's not close to the McCullough part, so,I don't know. But she reminds me of my mother - her looks - so it seems like a 90% chance," Bonnie told her.

"Well, whether or not, I think it's great. She's all alone and she does seem nice", Caroline voiced.

"Uh huh, she does. Would be cool if she were a witch, at least we could probably try with rescuing Stefan again," Bonnie said.

"How do you know that she isn't?", Elena asked exiting the bathroom. Her hair was hung loose around her shoulders and she was wearing red and white polka dot boxer shorts and a red cami. Caroline was in blue boy shorts and a white cami, while Bonnie was in a grey yoga pants and a white fitted v-neck tee. Both had their hair hung loose as well.

"Because I didn't sense it, like I did with Lucy, or the Martins", Bonnie said.

"Well, isn't it possible that she cast some sort of spell so that you're not able to sense it?", Elena asked.

Hmm, Bonnie never even considered that possibility. "I guess, but the Martins were really powerful and I could tell by touching them. They had every reason to hide their identities and they didn't. The same with Lucy, so I don't know if there is even such a spell. I didn't come across it in the grimoires either. And I haven't any reason to suspect her yet," she said.

Elena nodded, seeing Bonnie's point of view. She then added,"But she's possibly related to you, so doesn't that mean something?"

"If she is, it's on my mother's side. The only witches in the family I know about are on my dad's side", Bonnie concluded.

Elena nodded, understanding Bonnie's point of view. Caroline then said that they can just observe her, keep an 'extra eye' on her to see if anything weird goes on. Can't be too careful these days.

Meanwhile at the boarding house...

"What's the deal with this new kid at school?", Damon asked.

"I don't know", Alaric replied. "I asked Bonnie and Tyler if they sensed anything about her and they said no. She appears to be normal."

"Huh, when has anybody new that moved to Mystic Falls ever been normal?", Damon said widening his baby blues for effect.

"Yeah, you have a point, but as far as we know right now, she is", Alaric returned.

"Well, I say, keep an eye on her. Just in case. Can't deal with any more drama right now", Damon said. "We also have to come up with another plan to get Stefan and find a way to kill Klaus."

"How exactly are we gonna do that Damon?", Alaric questioned. "We have no idea where to start. You remember what happened last week?"

Damon was silent. Ric was right. They have no idea where to start. That binding spell wouldn't hold him and even if it could, his witches would've placed a protection spell on him. Hell, he probably does have one on him. Then there is Stefan. He's totally cut off the telepathic communication with Bonnie and now, they have no clue where he is. Klaus is holding all the cards and that, is NOT good. At all.

They were in the kitchen around the island. Lucy had been quiet all this time, not really knowing what to say. She has never come across someone as powerful as Klaus before. No one has. Crap. It would be so much easier if it were Katherine they were dealing with, hell, she'll go as far to say even a regular Original vampire.

"The only thing we can do is wait", Lucy spoke up, in a solemn tone. "We look through all the grimoires..again..to make sure we didn't miss anything. We were, after all, flustered and agitated AND jumpy when we were trying to get Stefan. So, we double check. Also, Damon is right. We keep an eye on the new girl. I know that she's "normal" but it's still weird her moving to town right before school, with no parents and no family. She might not be linked to Klaus, but still...," she added.

"Well Bonnie did say it was a possibility that she's related to her on her mother's side", Alaric said.

"Even so", Lucy said. "Remember I'm related to Bonnie too and when I first came here it was with Katherine. Now I didn't know that another witch was involved but still...I came here with not-so-good intentions."

"Lucy has a point", Damon said. "We don't know about this, what's her name?"

"Lavinia Vladimirescu", Alaric answered, "She goes by Vinnie."

"Oh, Romanian is she?", Damon said. "Anyway, this Vinnie, might be here under similar circumstances like Lucy was and people - namely us - could get hurt," he added, pointing at all three of them with a 'matter-of-fact' look on his face. "Besides, it is kinda weird that she'd move here from another state to finish high school when she only has a year left."

"That's true, but her parents were killed in a fire about five months ago and she didn't want to stay there...which is understandable," Alaric said.

"Yeah, but of all the places to get a fresh start, why Mystic Falls?", Damon said

"Caroline said it's because she finds it nice and peaceful. And to the outside world, hell to everyone here apart from us and the Sheriff, it's just like Mayberry," Alaric said.

Damon rolled his eyes, sighed and said,"Guess you're right. Still keeping an eye on her though."

"No disagreement there," Alaric said.

In Caroline's room...

The girls were on the bed watching season three reruns of Fringe. Even though the show deals with some weird crap, it's nothing compared to what they were dealing with. Besides, Walter Bishop makes them laugh, Peter is cute, funny and badass, Astrid is super smart and sweet and Olivia is just amazing.

Bonnie stood up and went to the window, looking out.

"What's the matter?", Elena asked.

"Yeah, what's wrong?", Caroline asked suddenly beside Bonnie looking out too. "I didn't hear anything, nor do I see anything."

"I don't either,"Bonnie said. "I just got the feeling that we were being watched.. again."

"Oh", Elena said quietly. "Do you feel that way now?", she added.

"No", Bonnie said shaking her head. "Ugh, maybe I'm paranoid. You know, with...everything."

"Well...you're not alone", Caroline said. Elena nodded in agreement.

They finished watching an episode of Fringe and were getting ready to turn in for the night.

"God I miss Stefan", Elena said all of a sudden and started crying.

"We know sweetie", Bonnie said quietly, starting to cry as well," we know".

Both Bonnie and Caroline held Elena in a warm embrace and cried themselves to sleep.

Meanwhile at the Mystic Falls Inn...

Vinnie is in her room on the bed reading the James Patterson novel "See How They Run". She just finished reading the 17th chapter when she put the book down for the night. She was wearing a white very short sleeveless cotton nightgown with matching panties. She smiled to herself as she thought about school and they way those kids were interrogating her. They were nice but she knew that they were scoping her out. Who wouldn't, a new girl from out of nowhere, no parents and no family. Really strange. Hmmm, family. She thought of her parents. Oh, how she misses them. Tears began to form in her eyes, thinking how unfair the world is. Unfair that her parents had to die, especially that way. They never troubled anybody. They were peaceful people who minded their own business. They were so happy and then bam...it was over. They were gone, just gone. She thought of Bonnie and smiled. Great girl. She was indeed related to her and she's glad that she met her. She hopes that they can be really close. She hopes that Bonnie will accept who she is.

A/N: Hey all, no Klaus and Stefan in this chapter, but will be in the next chapter. Just wanted a little insight on the new girl Lavinia Vladimirescu aka Vinnie. Hope you liked it. :o) Your comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks!