There Goes the Neighborhood

"We're having a double date," Caroline informed her with a large smile. "Elena, Stefan, Matt and me... you can come if you want."

Jessica snorted. "And be the fifth wheel? No thanks."

Caroline turned around and stood in front of her, blocking her path. "Please. Its just so awkward between us and we have to work through that awkwardness. We can't exactly avoid being in a three-way conversation for the rest of our lives!"

"Yeah, we can," she argued, trying to step past Caroline, but the blonde blocked her way once again. "Oh, come on, Caroline!"

"Please!" she begged, stomping her foot on the grass like a child. "I just, I really want the three of us to be able to hang out. We've become, like, best friends and I can't even talk to you about this stuff."

Jessica sighed and chewed on her lower lip. "Fine." Caroline perked up, a very large smile on her face. "I'll see you tonight then."

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Elena asked. "I mean, you know Caroline... She might get a little-"

"Jealous, control freaky, vicious?" Her twin nodded. "Elena, we've been friends with her for years, I know how she is. I'm just not gonna mention anything about when Matt and I were together and she should be fine."

Elena smiled. "Very strategic."

Jessica laughed. "Very strategic indeed."

"So, Matt, How do you like working here?" Elena questioned the busboy, trying to bring up a new topic of conversation to keep the night rolling smoothly.

"It's not that bad," he stated. "Wait staff is pretty good and they can't keep a bartender to save their lives. I actually put my mom up for a job."

"How's that been?" Jessica asked. "Having your mom back?"

"You know, same old Kelly." Matt sighed. "She's trying, sort of."

"Kelly and our mom were best friends growing up," Jessica told Stefan and Caroline. "Elena, Matt and I shared a crib when we were babies. That's how we first met. Three gurgling babies."

Elena and Matt laughed. "You're kidding?" Stefan said.

"No, we've known each other our whole lives."

Jessica turned to smile at Matt. Look away from the baby blue eyes... friend's boyfriend... you friendzoned him... Gah! Caroline's sad sigh brought her back to reality. The five of them turned to look at Damon, Kelly and Jenna drinking together.

Responsible guardians my ass.

Jessica, Matt, Elena, Stefan and Caroline were at the pool table, watching their guardians - and brother, in Stefan's case - get drunk. "At least they're having fun," Caroline commented.

"They're drunk," Elena pointed out.

"Remember when Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert busted us here after homecoming?" Matt said, a goofy smile on his face as he reminisced.

They all laughed. "Oh my god, yes!" Caroline exclaimed.

"Well, we were wasted," Jessica said. "It was the first time I ever had alcohol, and the first time I even got drunk. I totally blame Matt."

"Her parents got seated at the next booth," the quarterback continued.

"And Matt had me pretend that I was choking so we could get away," Jessica contributed.

"Except that her dad was a doctor so he jumped up to save her."

"And I ran, slipped on the wet floor despite their being a huge, yellow sign that said 'wet floor' and bit it in front of everyone." Jessica giggled. "Do you remember that? Three stitches, a goddamn hangover for four days and I was grounded from seeing this one..." She pointed to Matt. "...for a week."

Jessica and Matt shared a look and laughed. Caroline did not look pleased. "I'm gonna go to the restroom. Elena? Jess?"

Elena washed her hands at the sink while Jessica leaned back against the wall. Caroline had her arms folded in front of her, sitting behind them, and looked pointedly at Jessica. "So, um, what are you doing?"

Jessica's gaze snapped over to her. "Uh... what?"

"Well the point of this was to show him that you were happy being single," Caroline explained. "And to get over the awkward atmosphere. You know, not to hopscotch down memory lane!"

She raised her hands defensively in front of her. "I was just trying to make conversation. You know, to ease the 'awkward atmosphere'."

Caroline narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Try less."

"Caroline!" Elena exclaimed as the blonde stormed off. She turned to Jessica. "Come on."

Jessica crossed her arms and took a haughty stance. "No," she said defiantly.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Jessica, you're acting like a child. Come on."

She shook her head. "No. She's the one acting childish. You go after her. I'm not dealing with Miss Pouty Green."

Her twin sighed, finally realising that she wasn't going to budge, and followed after Caroline herself. Jessica stood in front of the mirror and applied some more blush to her cheeks.

"Katherine."

She spun around to face a tanned, pretty woman. Jessica groaned in frustration. "I'm not Katherine! My name is Jessica. J-E-S-S-I-C-A. Jessica Gilbert. Nice to meet you."

The vampire narrowed her eyes. "I'm watching you. If you give me any reason to believe your Katherine Pierce, I'll kill you. Understand?"

Jessica gulped, but nodded. The woman walked out of the bathroom.

What the hell was going on in Mystic Falls?

"This is so much better than watching Stefan's idiot brother, no offense..."

Stefan chuckled. "None taken."

"...visit cougar town, which happens to be where Matt's mom has taken up residence." She turned to Matt and smiled sweetly. "No offence."

Matt sighed. "Don't remind me. Man, I've always wanted to see what it looks like in this place."

Stefan laughed uneasily. "Yeah... I guess it's a bit much."

"Yeah, my entire house could fit in here. like twice."

Jessica frowned. "It feels like I've been here before. Like deja vu. It's weird."

Elena twitched guiltily and bit her lip. "Do you guys want to watch a movie or something?" she suggested, trying to change the subject.

"Whoa, these are great!" Matt exclaimed. He walked towards a miniature car collection, that was presumably Stefan's or Damon's, and Damon didn't seem the type of person to persue any hobby.

"This is uh... a little hobby of mine," Stefan told him.

Matt smiled. "I did the entire Mustang collection when I was nine."

"You like cars?"

"That's an understatement."

"Come with me."

Stefan led them into the Salvatore Boarding House garage. He opened the garage door. "Prepare yourself, my friend."

He took off a tarp from a car. Matt stared in awe and wonder at it. Jessica resisted the urge to scoff at there boyishness. "Wait, how do you have this?" he asked.

"Got passed down through the family," Stefan smoothly lied.

"Why don't you... I mean, why don't you drive it?" the busboy questioned.

"Well, it doesn't run," the Salvatore told him. "I mean, its not that I could figure out."

"Why would you keep a car doesn't run?" Caroline inquired. Jessica was wondering the same thing.

Matt smiled at her. "Be more of a girl right now?"

Caroline laughed. "Hey," Stefan said to Matt, "wanna come take a look at this for me?"

"Jess, remember the old Camaro you're dad used to have?" Matt said.

Jessica nodded. "Of course. Matt here rebuilt that engine twenty times. Dad kept on screwing it up."

Stefan raised his eyebrows. "Wow."

"I don't like sport's cars," Caroline spoke up. "They're took hard to make out in."

Matt turned to his ex-girlfriend. "It wasn't that bad."

The younger Gilbert twin closed her eyes firmly shut. Why did he have to bring that up? Everything was great until he had to mention their make-out session in a sports car! Thank God he didn't mention that they went to third base in there.

Caroline stormed out of the garage. Elena and Jessica shared a look before Elena followed after her.

"I'm gonna head home," Jessica said. "Too much drama for one night."

"You want a lift?" Matt offered.

Jessica shook her head. "Nah. I'll walk. It's Mystic Falls, nothing bad ever happens around here."

Unless you're counting 'animal attacks.'

"So, what happened after I left?"

"Nothing much," Elena's reply was muffled since she was brushing her teeth. "Caroline and Matt took a long ride in Stefan's car."

Jessica nodded. "Cool."

Jeremy joined them in the bathroom. "How was your night?" Elena asked him.

"Ah... same old, same old. You guys?"

"Yep," Elena answered simply.

Author's Note:That has to be my quickest update in ages! Hope you guys liked the chapter and sorry that it was short. I'm kind of rushing it to get to the good stuff in Season Two.

Make sure to review! :)