Author: HollyGolightly1985

Rating: T for now. The rating has the ability to always change

Summary: AU. Loosely based on movies such as 'Hearts and Souls', 'Susie Q', 'Earth Angel' 'Just Like Heaven'.

Disclaimer: I obviously own nothing. If I did EVERY episode would be full of Delena fluff!

A/N: Thanks to those of you that have reviewed and added this story to their alerts/favs. You guys are my driving force!

Prologue - 1957

Elena Gilbert bent down towards the mirror as she applied a thick coat of mascara to her long, dark lashes. Setting the mascara down she picked up her powder puff and lightly dusted her nose and forehead. With an slight nod she stood up straight and examined her reflection in the mirror.

She wore a black cotton dress with thin spaghetti straps. It had a drop waist that was adorned with a floral ivory embroidery and the neckline had the same trim. She wore a tulle crinoline slip under the dress to give it a little more volume. On her feet she wore a pair of ivory round toe pumps with an ankle strap. Her hair was down in big loose curls with a large, satin ivory dahlia pinning a bit of the left side of her hair back. Her eye makeup was light and of natural tones with dark lashes. Her lips were stained with a deep red and polished off with a coat of gloss. She wore no rogue as she was flushed enough from the mounting excitement of the evening. With one last twirl in the mirror she was satisfied her work.

"Elena dear, are you almost ready?" A voice sounded from the other side of the bedroom door with a light knock.

"Yes, just finishing mother. Come in," Elena picked up her strand of pearls and set to fasten them on.

Miranda Gilbert stepped through the threshold and into her daughter's room. She leaned against the doorjam and looked her daughter over head to toe. "You look lovely dear!"

"Thank you," Elena smiled sweetly at her mother.

"Elena, Matt is here," a male voice bellowed from somewhere downstairs.

"Coming," Elena hollered back in response.

"Are you ready, dear?" Miranda asked.

"As ever," Elena laughed as she followed her mother out of the bedroom.

Miranda quickly descended the stairs and greeted Matthew Donavon. "Don't you look dashing!"

"Thank you Mrs. Gilbert," Matt smiled back.

Elena took a deep, calming breath as she descended the stairs slowly. She looked at Matt shyly and offered him a small smile.

"You look amazing, Elena," Matt's genuine smile caused Elena's own to light up her face.

"Let's get a few pictures before you go," Grayson Gilbert fidgeted with the camera in his hands.

"Oh daddy, we'll be late and I don't want to miss the first dance," Elena groaned.

"Oh it'll only take a minute, dear," Miranda chided as she took the camera from Grayson. "Smile!"

After a few shots Elena had enough, "Alright that's enough. We're leaving now." She snatched Matt's hand and began dragging him towards the front door.

"You two have a wonderful time at the prom," Miranda called to them from the front porch.

"And drive safely," Grayson added as he placed his arm around his wife.

"Bye," Elena called back as she climbed into Matt's blue, Pontiac Safari. After buckling up she turned and waved goodbye to her parents. Matt started the car and pulled out of the driveway and on to the main strip.

"You really do look great tonight," Matt said in earnest.

"Thank you, Matt," Elena beamed up at him. "You look great too."

Matt's eyes stayed on Elena's face as he drove further into the night. He was snapped back to attention when Elena screamed, "Watch out for the dog!"

With a start he slammed on the brakes as quickly as he could braking in just enough time to narrowly avoid missing the golden retriever. He looked around and gathered his surroundings. They had reached Wickerey Bridge. They were a mere five minutes away from the school. Exhaling a deep shuddering breath he turned to Elena, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, fine. Let's just get going," she dropped her hand from her chest where she had been clutching at her heart moments before.

Matt put his foot down on the clutch and turned the key in the ignition. The car sputtered for a few seconds before it went dead. He tried another time but ended with the same result. "Damn," he cursed. "It must be this new clutch. It's pretty tricky."

That's how they sat as a bright light doused them from behind. Elena turned in her seat to look through the rearview window. Another vehicle was swiftly approaching them and it appeared the car had no intention of stopping or slowing down. Frantically she turned back around in her seat, "Hurry up!"

"I'm trying!"

Elena whipped around to see the headlights of the other car. The car was a mere hundred yards behind them. She quickly turned back around and braced herself for the impact.

The other vehicle struck Matt's car at such a great velocity that it set his car spinning across the bridge and into the bridge's railing. Both Matt and Elena were thrown forward into the dashboard and knocked out cold instantly. A creaking noise dragged Elena back from the dark abyss.

She tried to move her arms and legs but they were so heavy. She managed to turn her head slightly and saw Matt slumped over the steering wheel with a small trail of blood trickling down the side of his face.

"Matt…" she tried softly.

Another creaking noise ripped through the car, louder this time. Elena felt a shift in the car's position. It tipped forwards and slowly descended down the side of the bridge. "Oh, God, no," was the last thing uttered from Elena's lips before the car crashed into the ice cold water below. The car disappeared quietly below the depths of the ice cold surface.