After school, Elena and I went to the cemetery to visit our parent's graves. She plopped down on a nearby tombstone and started writing in her diary.

"Really?" I asked her.

She looked at me, annoyed."Jeremy copes by smoking pot and doing drugs, I cope by writing." She sniffed.

I rolled my eyes and looked at the graves of our parents. It was weird Elena and Jeremy had lost their parents and and in a way, I had lost my real ones. I started to tear up. How was this possible? I shouldn't be here! Elena, Jeremy, and Jenna weren't my family, Bonnie and Caroline weren't my friends, and Mystic Falls wasn't my home. Behind me I heard a squawk I spun around and saw a crow on the tombstone behind me.

Or was it a raven? I wondered... Wait, that doesn't matter. I shook my head. Elena got up and approached it.

"Elena, don't go towards it!" I said backing away, noticing fog rolling in around us.

"It's fine," she looked over at me,"Shoo!" It flew off she straightened facing away from me."That's what I thought." She said confidently.

"CAW!"

I had completely forgotten that it would be behind us and I jumped. "Fuck this. You can stay here and get murdered, Elena. I'm out!" I said to her as I started running the opposite direction.

I looked behind me to see her running the other way. I rolled my eyes. Stupid girl, home was this way. Not paying attention, I ran straight into someone and lost my balance. I started to fall when they caught me, grabbing me by my arms and steadying me. I looked up to see Damon Salvatore staring down at me.

I gulped.

Yes, I actually gulped. And then I got a little angry, he was probably going to kill me. I had to find a way back home and I sure as hell wasn't going to be murdered by a fucking vampire.

"You've got to be careful and watch where you're going. You're might run into some trouble." He smirked.

I looked him in the eyes, took a deep breath, my heart beating a little fast from running straight into the lion's den and said,"Yeah, no." Before I pushed him away and started walking again.

"'No' What?" He asked confused before he caught up with me and matched my strides.

"Creepy pale guy dressed in all black hanging out by a foggy cemetery? What are you a vampire? Zombie? Murderer? No thanks, I don't want to die today. I've got shit to do." I said shortly, picking up my pace, he picked up his pace as well.

His face briefly looked surprised at the vampire part. Ha!

"Sorry, if I'm not mistaken you were also hanging out in the creepy foggy cemetery." He smirked again.

I stopped, so did he. I turned to face him, arms crossed.

"Yeah, I was visiting my parent's graves, asshole. They died earlier this spring." I said coldly even though it was kind of a lie.

His smirk faded into a solemn expression."I'm sorry for you're loss, I lost both my parents too." I knew that already.

"Yeah, it sucks." I muttered, looking down.

He took my hand and lifted it to his mouth before brushing his lips against it."Damon Salvatore, pleasure to meet you. And you are?" My eyes widened and half of his mouth lifted into a smile.

"Alexa." I said with my breath catching a little.

"What, no last name?" He asked still smiling.

I shook my head and brought my hand back down,"You're some creepy guy I met in a cemetery, I'm not telling you that." I said, it was my turn to smirk. "Goodbye, Damon." I said backing away, leaving him annoyed.

He didn't follow. I started walking home thinking about my supernatural encounter. I had just met Damon Salvatore. Holy shit. Ian Somerhalder is REALLY attractive and he's a good person, but his character? Still super hot, but unpredictable and extremely dangerous. I had to stay away from him if possible. I don't trust myself at all. Zero self control. If I'm in danger though, I know to watch it. I was going to change what happens between him and Caroline. Yes, I know, she was kind of annoying in the first season, but when she becomes a vampire she becomes super cool and confident.

When I got home, I went to my room, shut the door, and sat on my bed. I had to make a plan. I needed vervain, that was obvious. I could probably find some out of town or order it. I walked over to my desk and opened the laptop that was on it and started looking for it. There was a store that sold some a town over. Writing down the address I thought, I could probably go right now... There was a knock at my door, interrupting my thoughts.

"Come in." I said, minimizing the window.

It was Elena. I suddenly felt guilty.

"I'm sorry for ditching you in the cemetery, I just got really freaked out by the crow and the fog. It was like that Hitchcock movie!" I spoke quickly.

She looked taken aback,"Hitchcock... I said that." She murmured, looking a little dazed and then snapped back into reality,"It's okay, I got freaked out too. Bonnie and Caroline are at the Grill, do you want to come?" She asked.

"Yeah, that sounds good. I actually have to pick something up first, so I'll be there maybe... 20 minutes late?" I estimated.

She looked at me curiously. "What do you need to pick up?" She questioned.

"Oh, you know. More eyeliner, I'm almost out. You know me, who am I without my wings." I lied awkwardly.

"Oh, okay!" She smiled, believing me. I grabbed my purse and we walked downstairs.

"Hey, Jenna. We're meeting Bonnie at the Grill." Elena called and Jenna came over.

"Okay, have fun. Wait, I got this. Don't stay out late, it's a school night." She smiled, proud of herself.

"Well done, Aunt Jenna." Elena and I said speaking in unison.

Jenna laughed and shook her head. "You know, it's weird. Identical twins are usually the ones who do that and you're fraternal."

I smiled."Bye, Jenna." Elena and I said together as we opened the door.

"Oh!" Elena said, almost walking into Stefan.

"Sorry, I was about to knock. I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was... Strange." Stefan said.

Yeah, because you're a vampire and you saw blood, I thought.

"No worries. I get it, blood makes you squeamish." Elena said, trying to be understanding.

"Hi, I'm Alexa and I've got to go. It was nice to meet you." I quickly introduced myself and made my way to the driveway. "Stefan." He said and waved at me.

I got into my light gray 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan and pulled out of the driveway. A popular song from 2009 started playing and I sang along,

"Remember those walls we built? Well baby they're tumbling down and they didn't even put up a fight, they didn't even make a sound. I found a way to let you in, but I never really had a doubt standing in the light of your halo, I've got my angel now..."

Yay. I know most of the lyrics to popular songs for the next seven years.

It took me around ten minutes to get to the next town over, the store was called Nirvana's Herbs and Stones. There was a sign outside advertising deals on chakra stones. I walked inside through a beaded curtain and caught the smell of incense burning.

"Hello, dear. What can I get for you?" The woman at the counter asked me, she looked around 60.

"I was wondering if you were selling verbena. I'm making soap."

It wasn't a full lie, I probably was going to at some point. She smiled at me.

"Of course, it's right here," she said kindly leading me over to the herbs.

"You know, it's great for warding off evil spirits." She told me and I looked at her and smiled.

"Oh, really?"

She had no idea.

We talked a bit longer about herbs and healing stones when I realized something.

"You wouldn't happen to have any moonstones, would you?" I asked innocently.

"Of course, they're right here." She said gesturing to where the stones were.

I looked through them. There was one that was almost identical to the one in the show. The total was $25 dollars. I opened my purse and took out my wallet. Inside, I found my drivers license with my full name on it, Alexa Thalia Gilbert. Huh. I found a credit card and my eyes widened. My own credit card! Yassss! I paid and left. Driving to the grill, I was ecstatic. I could get the real moonstone from the Lockwood mansion and use it as leverage against Klaus. I wasn't going to let Caroline, Tyler, or Jenna be in danger of being in the ritual this time. Tyler was actually a huge prick, I thought as I parked the car at the grill. I walked in and found my "friends" sitting in a section of the restaurant. Caroline saw me first, her eyes widened.

"Hey, Alexa!" She said cheerfully.

She asked me about my summer and I told her that it was okay. I had to "cope". That was total bullshit, I went to India! It was amazing! But I couldn't tell her that.

"So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow." Caroline said slyly, rejoining the conversation.

"It's a back to school thing at the falls." Bonnie added.

"Are you going?" Stefan asked, turning to Elena.

"Of course she is." Bonnie said, answering for her.

We were interrupted by a server,"What can I getcha'?" She asked us.

"May I please have an iced tea?" I asked.

"Sorry, we're out." The server apologized,"But we do have sodas-" She started.

"No, I'm fine thank you!" I cut her off.

"Will that be all?" She smiled. We all nodded and she left us.

"Why no soda?" Stefan asked me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Elena cut me off,"It's because it hurts her mouth."

Bonnie and Caroline giggled while Elena pouted at me.

"It does!" I stuck my tongue out at her and everyone laughed.

How did everyone know that? I guess the Alexa here had the same tastes as me. We hung around a little longer before everyone left. When I got home, I got ready for bed, and before I turned off the lights, I went over to my vanity and looked in the jewelry box on it. There were some pretty pieces, like fancy earrings and a couple of nice rings. I finally found a good necklace. It was a little vintage circle-shaped locket, like it was passed down, and had a simple vine design on the front. Maybe Elena and Jeremy's mom had given it to me? Or at least the Alexa in this world. I put some of the vervain in it and put it around my neck. I thought back to what I had seen in the show. Elena had lost her necklace several times. I should probably have another source of vervain hidden on me. I'd deal with that tomorrow. I'd had a long day. I fell asleep, thinking about home.

I dreamed that night of crows and fog. There were people shrouded in the fog calling to me. My family. I tried to go to them, but every time that I tried, the fog would thicken and form a wall between us while crows flew around me.

I woke up in the morning, stressed. My alarm went off and I went to take a shower. The hot water felt amazing as it ran down my back. I got out, got dressed in a Captain America shield t-shirt (I guess the Alexa here liked superheroes too), some jeans, converse and a zip-up hoodie. I did my usual makeup and de-frizzed my hair. I went downstairs for breakfast and then to school. The day was pretty uneventful. The buzz of the party at the falls was going around the and there was that whole Stefan making a fool of Coach Tanner about how many casualties there were at the Battle of Willow Creek. I kind of knew the answers too but I let Stefan have his moment of glory. When I got home, I started getting ready for the party. I was excited. I hadn't really been to a party in a while and I wanted to drink. I decided on a gray V-neck (too to show off the goods), dark jeans, short boots with heels, and a warm jacket. I made my makeup a little darker, added a tiny bit of contour, and put a berry colored lipstick on. I looked in the mirror.

"You are going to have fun tonight." I told myself before turning the light off and exiting the room. Bonnie picked me up and we chatted. Yeah I'd be drinking, but not that much. I'd sober up with Bonnie and Caroline at the Grill later. I was there for two minutes before Caroline found me.

"You're here! Let's do shots!" She said, she was already tipsy.

"Care, did you start drinking without me?" I asked pretending to be offended.

"You were taking wayyyy too long to get here, though." She pouted.

"It's okay, I forgive you." I smiled at her. I did two shots. Yeah, yeah. Total lightweight. I didn't want to be too drunk because I knew Damon was lurking, but that didn't mean I couldn't have fun. Caroline left to find Stefan and I inwardly rolled my eyes. I was sipping a beer when Tyler approached me.

"Having fun?" He asked.

"Yeah, I guess." I was a little suspicious. I always have this gut feeling about what someone wants from me and right now I felt like a piece of meat in front of a hungry dog. Ha! Because Tyler becomes a werewolf, get it? Anyways,

"Good, good." He said trying to make small talk. "So, do you want to go for a walk? Maybe go somewhere quieter?" He asked.

Was he trying to get with me? What the fuck?! He's with Vicki and making Jeremy's life hell because of it. "Sorry, Lockwood. Maybe you should go make out with Vicki, you know, you're girlfriend?" I spat at him before storming off.

I thought I saw Caroline going into the woods to find Stefan but I wasn't sure. The alcohol was already affecting me. I looked around and called,"Caroline? Where'd you go?" I took two steps and I tripped. I stood up, swearing and brushing myself off.

"Well that's not very ladylike." Came a mocking voice from beside me.

Damon was leaning against a tree with crossed arms and I knew he hadn't been there a second ago.

"Oh my goddd," I complained."Seriously? You can't get any creepier. You're wayyy too old to be at a high school party and you're hiding in the woods. Are you a pedophile? Because dude, you're acting like a pedophile." I said, slurring the last part a bit.

"You're drunk." He stated.

"Yeah, what's new?" I sassed before taking another sip from my cup.

"Well, it's dangerous walking around the woods alone at night when you aren't in complete control."

I looked at him."You're the only one who's a danger to me right now, along with that root." I kicked the offending piece of wood that had tripped me.

Damon wiggled his eyebrows."Well you're not wrong." He smiled.

"Alexa?" I heard Caroline call, I turned toward her voice."Where are you? Can we talk?" She asked.

"Yeah." I called back to her.

I looked around Damon was gone. Probably went off to attack Vicki. Caroline came over to me, rejection practically oozing off of her.

"You have no idea what Stefan just said to me!" She said sadly.

Actually, I knew exactly what he had said to her. She was telling me what happened when we heard commotion.

"Let's go, I think something happened." I said acting curious.

We went up to where everyone else was. Vicki had been attacked, and someone had pressed a jacket to her neck. "Vicki, Vicki, come on, open your eyes, look at me." Matt was saying desperately.

When the ambulance and police arrived I saw Elena talking to Jeremy, asking him if he was okay. Bonnie, Caroline, and I walked over,"Hey. We're gonna go mainline coffee, wait for news. Are you coming?" Bonnie asked Elena.

Elena shook her head,"I gotta take Jeremy home." She looked at me.

"Elena, I have to sober up more. I need the coffee." I said.

"Elena can I talk to you quickly?" Bonnie looked at her a bit urgently. Elena nodded and they went off a little bit and talked for a minute.

Bonnie, Caroline, and I made our way over to the Grill, ordered coffee and sat down. I went to the bathroom, I had to pee really badly. I looked at my face in the mirror. My makeup still looked fine, my hair as well. I took a deep breath, I'd talk to Bonnie's Grams this week. I would do it tomorrow. I opened the door and started walking over to our table when I paused. Caroline was sitting alone. Bonnie had probably gone to get the car. I looked around. Yup, Damon was staring at her. She looked up at him and they smiled at each other.

"Nuh, uh," I said under my breath."Not. Happening." I grit my teeth and walked over to Caroline."What are you looking at, Care?" I asked innocently.

"Hottie, 12 o'clock." She said.

I looked behind me, Damon and I made eye contact. He winked and I rolled my eyes and turned back to my friend.

"No! Caroline, I met him yesterday at the cemetery. I ran into him, literally. And he was super creepy, he took my hand and kissed it. Who even does that?! He's totally a murderer. Or pedophile. Or both!" She just looked at me skeptically.

"You don't believe me, just watch." I got up and marched over to Damon, the alcohol still restricting the part of my brain that was screaming that this was a bad idea. "I know what you're doing and you have to stop." I said to him, glaring.

"Stop what? I'm just standing here." He smiled cockily.

"Don't go near my friend. She's upset and I know that you noticed that. She's a good person and doesn't need you corrupting her. And just so you know, her mother is the sheriff, so fuck off."

He smirked at me,"You're a feisty little thing you know that?"

I continued glaring."Just leave me and my friends alone."

He laughed,"You came over here, sweetheart." I turned my back walking back to the table.

"Ooh! What did he say?" Caroline wondered.

"He asked me if you had nice feet and if you would let him smell them." Her eager face slowly turned to one of disgust.

"Okay, I think I believe you now." Her phone buzzed. "It's Bonnie, she brought the car, you coming?" She asked.

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll be out in a minute, I've got to pay."

She nodded and walked out the Grill. I made eye contact with a server and they brought over the bill. As I was signing, someone sat across from me. I looked up to find Damon sitting there. He looked pissed.

"Foot fetish? Really? Not. Cool." He dragged out the last part.

"Well it worked didn't it?" It was his turn to glare at me, he leaned in and looked into my eyes.

"What's you're full name, and why don't you like me?" Shit, I had to make this convincing. I made my face go blank.

"My full name is Alexa Thalia Gilbert. I don't like you because you're attractive and intimidating and you seem unpredictable. You're also everywhere I look and I feel like I'm being stalked." I blinked hard several times, shaking myself out of the fake compulsion. "Why did I just tell you all of that?" I asked acting confused.

Part of that was the truth. I added the attractive part so that he would feel flattered and maybe not want to kill me as much. My phone chimed.

"I-I've got to go." I purposely stuttered and rushed. I practically ran to Bonnie's car and put a solemn expression on my face."Have you heard news about Vicki?" I asked.

They shook their heads. The ride home was pretty quiet. Bonnie was thinking about what she saw when she touched Elena's hand, Caroline was thinking about how guys never go for her, and me? I was thinking about how badly I messed up when I cast that spell.

I got home, drank a glass of water, got ready for bed, forced down another glass of water, and made a plan to see Bonnie's Grams the next day.

There y'all go! Another chapter which I would love for you to review/favorite/follow. Hope you enjoyed it.