I made it through a full seven days of living in Mystic Falls — including two school days — before Caroline found out my secret. And by found out, I mean I told her. And I only told her because she felt the need to tell me her own secret; it only seemed fair to reciprocate.

On Tuesday afternoon, C came to the entrance of my bedroom and found me on my bed, reading. "Can we talk, Ri?"

I looked up from my book and saw the serious look on her face. "Sure."

I marked my place before closing the book and scooting forward to sit at the edge of my bed. C entered the room and sat down next to me. She turned a little, to face me better. "I need to tell you something. But it's huge, so you can't go blabbing about this to anyone."

"Yes, C, because I've become the town gossip since I moved here."

"True. Okay, I know this will be hard to understand. And I know it'll sound crazy — I know I'll sound crazy — but I need you to trust me here, okay?" I nodded as she took a deep breath, and I knew to pay attention; this must be important. "I'm a vampire."

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding — one I have possibly been holding since I moved to Mystic Falls — and I actually laughed out loud. Caroline was a vampire too? What a relief!

But my laugh gave C the wrong impression.

She shook her head and stood. "Ugh, I know you wouldn't believe me." She said before starting to walk out of my room.

"Caroline," I said, and before she realized it, I was standing in front of her, blocking her way to the door. (I love vampire speed.) "Wait."

She gasped slightly. "How did you do that?"

"I think you know how, C."

"No. That's impossible."

"Is it?"

"You're a vampire too?" C shook her head, having a hard time processing this information. I nodded. "You can't be a vampire, Ri."

"Why? Because I just moved to Mystic Falls, as opposed to being born and raised here?"

C sighed. "Because you're my cousin. And you're supposed to be human."

"So are you, C."

"What happened? Er, how did it happen? When?"

"I died in that accident with my mom. That laugh," I explained, pointing over at my bed, "was one of relief. Do you know how terrified I have been since I moved here? I know Aunt Liz knows the truth about vampires and I know most of the bigwigs in this town do as well. I've been so afraid of being found out. But if you're a vampire too, I feel a whole lot safer."

I breathed another sigh of relief as C pulled me in for a hug. For once, I didn't squirm or freeze because someone was hugging me.

"How long have you been a vampire?" I asked as we pulled away from the hug.

"About a year."

"Does your mom know?"

"Yep," C responded as we both sat back down on the edge of my bed. "Huge drama. But she's getting used to the idea of her daughter as a vampire."

"So she might not stake me if I ever work up the nerve to tell her?"

C laughed, and her laugh made me laugh too. "No, you'll survive that."

"How do you feed?" C asked me later on. We had been talking for a few hours: she told me about the car accident that led to her having vampire blood in her system and how Katherine killed her (though I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the idea that Elena is a doppelganger); and I told her what little details I knew about how I was turned.

"I don't drink from humans, if that is what you're referring to. After that first time, I vowed to never drink from a human again. Ever. And I haven't. I read 'Interview with the Vampire' and I thought I would try drinking from animals. It satisfied the need for blood and would do in a pinch, but it was rather disgusting. Typically, I drink from hospital blood bags."

"Me too."

"I had a few stashed away before I came to Mystic."

"You can help yourself to the ones I have at the back of the freezer in the kitchen."