"Ready to go?"

I turned around to see Stefan standing in the doorway to my room. He wore a heartfelt smile, one which I returned sheepishly.

"I don't know if this is such a good idea, Stefan." I sighed and turned back to face the mirror. I fixed a stray hair that hung down my face, tucking it behind my ear before I fixed the cuff on my jacket. "What if something happens. Or someone notices something about us?"

"That's not gonna happen."

I turned around to face him as he entered the room, "But...What if it does Stefan?"

Stefan placed his hands on my shoulders and I instantly relaxed.

"How long have you been alive, Cordelia?"

I smirked, "Too long."

Stefan chuckled lightly, "That's my point. You've never been caught, no one has ever suspected anything."

"Not entirely true," I corrected, "I was nearly caught out a few times over the years. Hence my constant travels. We can't stay in the same place for too long, people become suspicious."

He rubbed my shoulders, "You've never been here, Cordy. No one will suspect a thing. The same goes for me. We'll be careful, protect each other. Just like we always have."

I smiled up at him.

"Fine," I groaned, "I guess you're right. Maybe this will be the place I finally settle and live a normal life."

"What's normal?" Stefan joked as he tugged me towards the door.

I laughed as we continued to walk down the hallway and left the Boarding House.

Today would be the first day of the rest of my life. The new beginning. The fresh start. The normal life I craved so much.

As I drove Stefan and I to school, we chatted amongst ourselves about the past. What we had been up to, what had changed and what not. I was just glad that he was just the way I remembered him all those years ago. It was refreshing to say the least. Nothing had changed between us. It was like we had picked up from where we had left off.

As I pulled into a parking spot, i switched the ignition off and rested my hands on the wheel nervously.

"What's wrong?" Stefan asked as he stared at me.

I shook my head lightly, "I'm still unsure about this."

"I told you," He smiled, "Everything will be fine."

"If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit too old to be going to school, Stefan." I moaned.

"You're 17, Cordelia." He smirked.

I laughed sarcastically, "No, I'm 172, Stefan."

He smirked as he tried to hide a laugh under his hand, "I'm older than you, and I'm 161. What's your point?"

"I might have died younger than you, but I'm still older." I smirked. "My point is..." I looked into his eyes, searching for the meaning behind all of this. "My point is, why are we here? Why are you so eager to go back to school... Why are you so desperate to get to know this girl?"

His smirk dropped, "I-I just have to, Cordy." Stefan avoided my gaze as he looked out of the window. People were walking past in groups, books and bags grasped tightly in their arms. "I can't explain it, but-but I'd really appreciate it if you'd be here with me."

I lulled my head back, "You know I can't say no to you, Stefan." I joked as I lightly punched his shoulder. "I've never actually completed a year at school. They weren't really a thing when I was younger. Through the years I couldn't think of anything worst to be honest, but I've never-"

"You've never had a normal childhood." Stefan said finishing my sentence.

I smiled, "Yeah."

"Well, this is your time to enjoy everything there is to enjoy about being a teenager. It sucks, but you'll love it."

"I'll take your word for it," I smiled and opened my door before climbing out. "What do I have to do?"

"I'll walk you to the office and then you just have to compel the administrator."

Once we met up with each other in front of my car, we began to make our way towards the school with the other students.

"Can I ask to have the same class' as you?"

"Yeah," He smiled and held the main door open for me.

The second I walked through the large doors, my heart-rate spiked as all eyes fell upon me. Teenage boys stopped and stared as I walked in with Stefan closely behind. He felt me freeze up on the spot as he rested his hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle shove. I relaxed under his presence and began to walk further into the school.

We passed a pretty blonde, who stood by her locker and stared at Stefan and I as we passed by. She looked like she wanted to say something, but never did. As we continued walking, I turned my head and looked back down the corridor, and sure enough, the blonde was still staring. Almost like she was marking us.

Once the administrations were taken care of, I was now officially a student at Mystic Falls High.

It was kind of a surreal moment. I hadn't attended school like this before. I had enrolled like everyone else in other states, but I'd never thought of compelling my way in. I never saw the year out anyway, a few weeks at most. I always got fed up with trying to fit into the normal standards of society. Trying to make friends when I spent so much time alone in hiding. It wasn't easy. Not until I met Stefan. We clicked instantly, and hes remained my only friend over the decades. This time would be different. This time I'll try. I'll try for him.

"What's first?" I asked Stefan as we headed over to my new locker to place some books inside.

"History," He said with a smile.

"Been there, done that." I laughed and closed the locker over. "Put this in your bag for me." I handed him over one of my new books to hold for me as I didn't have a bag as of yet. "You'll need to give me a pen as well," I smiled up at him as he sighed.

"You'll need to get your own things after today." He moaned and bumped his shoulder against mine playfully as we entered the history class room.

I managed to find a set beside Stefan as the rest of the students entered the room. Then she walked in, and his eyes instantly flew across the room to meet hers.

As I said before, the similarities were uncanny. Put them together...and I'd never be able to tell them apart.

She frowned, but flashed me a quick smile as she took her seat a few in front of me. She was clearly unsure of what to make of me, just as I was about her. She smiled at Stefan and then faced the front and placed her books onto the table just as the teacher walked in.

"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle? Ms. Bennett?" Mr. Tanner asked the raven-haired girl.

"Um...a lot?" She replied dumbly, "Like a whole lot."

The teacher smirked, "Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett. Mr. Donovan?" Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?"

I turned my head to the right to look at the boy he was directing his question to. A blonde boy smirked as he looked at Mr. Tanner, "It's okay, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it." He joked.

Mr. Tanner bobbed his head, "Hmm. Elena?" He said and snapped the brunette out of her daydream, "Surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?"

Her jaw slackened, "I'm sorry, I-I don't know."

His face tightened up, "I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reasons, Elena. But the personal excuses ended with summer break."

What a jack-ass.

"There were 346 casualties." Stefan said just as I was about to open my mouth, "Unless you're counting the local civilians."

"That's correct. Mister...?"

"Salvatore."

"Salvatore." Mr. Tanner repeated, "Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls?"

"Distant."

"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."

I sniggered, "Actually, there were 27, sir."

Mr. Tanner turned to face me, as did much of the class as I twirled my pen in my fingers.

"Another new face," He observed, "And who might you be?"

"Cordelia Dawson." I replied, and he smirked.

"Confederate soldiers, they fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss." Stefan said as he continued to answer the question, "The founder's archives are, uh, stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts, Mr. Tanner."

"Hmm." Was all the teacher could say in reply.

I smiled as I faced Stefan and he winked at me for our joint effort at taking his ass down a notch.

The rest of the school day was uneventful to say the least. Stefan and I headed back to the Boarding house at the end of the day, and he informed me of a 'back to school party' that was happening in the woods tonight. I chose to accompany him in the hopes that I could meet some people. Set down some roots for myself if I were to stay here long term.

As we arrived at the party, the first thing I could smell was alcohol and burning wood. There was a fire-pit in the centre of the gathering, burning bright and illuminating the space in amber glows.

"This is a school party?" I asked as Stefan and I stood at the sidelines and observed.

"Yeah..."

"Hey! You made it!" The blonde from earlier at the school said happily as she approached Stefan and I.

"I did." Stefan said awkwardly.

I tried my best to hide the smirk on my face as I brushed my hand over my jaw.

"Well, let's get you a drink." She said.

"Well, I'm-"

"Oh, come on." She said as she cut him off and faced me. "Cordelia, right?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"You don't mind, do you?" She smiled wickedly.

I raised my brow in amusement, "Have at it."

Her wicked smile turned into a teeth-bearing grin as she tugged Stefan away into the crowd. I gave him a smile and waved him off as the bossy blonde dragged him away.

Stefan took a fleeting glance back in my direction until he was enveloped by the crowd, and no longer in my sight.

Then I was left alone. Alone in a crowded, unfamiliar place...I'd never felt so out of my depth.

A while later I found myself standing beside a kegger, a cup of cheap alcohol in my hand as I watched the flames from the fire flickering in the air. I listened in to the many conversations that were going on around me in the beginning, then I shut it all out and focused on my heartbeat and the sound of the crackling fire. I was snapped from my daze as a blonde boy tapped my arm.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked concerned.

I blinked a few times and faced him, "Ohh, yeah, sorry," I laughed awkwardly, "Must have zoned out."

"That's alright," He laughed also, "Cordelia, wasn't it?"

I nodded, "Yeah, and you're Matt?"

He broke out into a grin, "That's me." Matt said as he opened his eyes wide.

They were a beautiful shade of crystal-clear blue. Almost like my own.

"So, you're the jock that doesn't want to break the stereotype." I joked with him as we walked over to a bench and took a seat.

He laughed and took a sip from his red cup, "I guess I am." I smiled at him as he observed the crowd of people, "So, what about you? I've never seen you around here before."

I pressed my lips into a fine-line, "I'm not from here. I'm originally from New York." I informed him before taking a sip from my own plastic cup.

"Are you here with your parents?"

I smirked, "No, umm, my mom left when I was younger, and my dad passed away a few years ago." I had gotten so use to telling this lie that I almost believed it myself now when I told it to others.

"I'm so sorry," Matt said in a saddened tone, "So, who are you living with?"

"Stefan, actually," I said and Matt's face instantly changed.

"How do you know him?"

"You ask a lot of questions, Matt."

He smirked, "Sorry, must be the cheap beer."

"I was kidding," I smiled, "I've known Stefan for...many years. We're close. His uncle Zach took me in to stay with them."

"That's...nice," Matt trailed off as his eyes wandered into the crowd. I followed his gaze and my eyes fell upon a brunette walking in our direction. "Looking for someone?" Matt asked Elena as he got to his feet.

"Hey," She greeted him awkwardly.

"When you broke up with me, you said it was because you needed some time alone. You don't look so alone to me."

"Matt, you don't understand. It's-"

Matt shook his head, "That's okay, Elena. You do what you have to do. I just want you to know that...I still believe in us. And I'm not giving up on that."

"Matt..."

Matt didn't leave her room to reply as he walked away and headed over to some friends. Elena turned to face me and I gave her a small smile. She must have taken it as an invitation to join me at the table as she walked over and took a seat.

"Cordelia, right?" She said knowingly.

I nodded and placed the cup on the table, "That would be me."

"It's nice to meet you." Elena said with a wavering smile.

"Likewise," I said in reply.

I still found it utterly horrifying to be talking to her because of who she resembled. Never did I want to rip open a neck more in my whole life than I did when I looked at her pretty, brunette head.

"Cordelia?"

I blinked and looked back at her, "Sorry, zoned out there."

She laughed lightly, "So, you and Stefan..."

She was fishing for something.

"What about me and Stefan?" I asked.

"Are you..."

"Together?" I asked with a smile. My finger absentmindedly began to circle the rim of the red cup as I answered her question. "No. We're not." I sighed and met her gaze once more. "We've known each other for many years. He's...He's my best friend."

Elena looked relieved at my reply as she nodded her head.

"I was wondering who abducted you, but now I know." She said as she looked over my shoulder.

I turned around to see Stefan walking up behind me.

"Is she like that with, uh, all the guys?" He asked Elena.

She smiled widely, "No. You're fresh meat. She'll back off eventually." She looked over Stefan's shoulder and her posture instantly sagged, "Hmm. God, you gotta be kidding me!"

"What is it?" Stefan asked concerned.

I got to my feet and followed her line-of-sight until I saw a dark haired teen stumbling into the woods.

"My brother." She sighed heavily.

"The drunk one?" I asked.

Her face flushed, "That would be the one. Excuse me."

"Need help?" Stefan asked.

"Trust me, you're not going to want to witness this." She said sternly before she walked away calling her brothers name.

Once Elena was away, Stefan and I walked around the fire pit.

"So, the bossy-blonde had you cornered?" I asked in an amused tone.

He chuckled lightly, "I guess you could say that." As we continued walking, Stefan eventually came to a halt and I turned to face him. "I see you and Elena were talking before I arrived."

"Yeah, she was asking about you, if you must know."

"What about?"

I smiled, "She wanted to know if you and I were together."

Stefan smiled, "Did you tell her we were?"

I gasped loudly, "Would I do that?"

Stefan grinned and rested his arm on my shoulder as we watched the fire, "You've done it before."

I grinned, "That was many years ago, Stefan. Besides, that girl was infuriating. Even you were getting sick of her longing over you like some lost puppy." I looked up at him and he met my gaze, "I told her that we're just friends."

"Best friends." He corrected.

"Yeah...Best friends." I repeated as he stroked the back of my shoulders with his left hand.

Just as I opened my mouth to talk, Elena sprinted out of the treeline, followed closely behind by her brother, Jeremy, who was carrying a body.

"Somebody help!" She screamed.

Matt rushed by and headed straight for her, "Vicki?" Vicki, what the hell?!"

"It's her neck. Something bit her. She's losing a lot of blood." Elena announced.

As everyone gathered to watch the scene unfold before them, I felt Stefan's hand drop from my back as he watched on, eyes wide with horror.

I looked back towards Elena and Matt, and just as I did, Matt looked up in our direction and I turned to face Stefan, blocking him from looking any longer.

"Leave. Now." I ordered him and gently shoved him backwards. He broke his eye contact with Matt and looked down at me, the fear in his eyes was overwhelming. I grabbed his arms and gave them a small, reassuring squeeze, "Go. I'll handle it." He never spoke another word as he backed up and disappeared from sight.

It didn't take long for the ambulance to arrive and Vicki was carted off on a stretcher with her brother closely behind. I stayed for a little while and searched the woods to see if I could find something, anything, that would explain what was happening here. I had a scent, but I couldn't quite narrow it down. It was too faded by the time I got there. The only scent that I could clearly pick-up was that of Vicki's blood on the ground.

"This is pointless." I groaned aloud as I began to leave the woods and headed back into the opening by the fire.

As I walked out of the woods, I saw Elena leaning against a table with her brother beside her. I made an attempt to walk by her without her noticing, but she caught me.

"Hey, Cordelia," She said and sprung off the table.

"Yeah?" I asked as I faced her head-on.

"Do-Do you know what happened to Stefan?" She asked.

I inhaled the crisp air, "Uhh, yeah, the whole blood and animal attack kinda freaked him out." I said confidently, "He doesn't do well around...blood." She nodded her head like she already knew about the whole blood thing...but she couldn't have. "You need a ride home, or?"

She shook her head, "No, my aunt's picking us up, but thank you." Elena smiled sincerely.

I nodded, "Okay, see you in school then." As she turned around to walk back over to her brother, I called her name. "Elena?"

"Yeah?"

"I-I hope your friend's alright."

Her lips pressed into a tight-line as she nodded her head without another word and walked back to her brother.

I left the woods and headed back to the Salvatore House, and when I arrived, I was in for a shock.

As I walked in the front door, I was met by a panic-ridden Zach.

"What's going on?" I asked as I rounded the corner into the living area.

He turned around and sighed, "Why don't you go and ask Stefan." He all but hissed in my direction.

I didn't need to be told twice. I whooshed up the stairs and into Stefan's room. He was kneeling down on the ground, brushing up shattered glass by the window.

"What the hell happened?" I asked as I walked further into the room.

He sighed, "Damon happened."

"Damon's here?" I asked, eyes wide as I approached him.

"Yeah," Stefan clarified in a saddened tone, "It's been him behind all the attacks as well. I'm sure of it."

"Makes sense." I sighed and kneeled on the floor. "Why is he here though?"

"Me." Stefan said flatly, "He's here to torment me."

"This vendetta he has against you," I sighed, "He's still not over it."

"Apparently not. I'll never escape him, Cordelia."

I placed my hand on his arm and he stopped brushing the shattered glass and faced me. "I won't let anything happen to you, Stefan." I reassured him, "He'll have to get through me first."

He smiled, "It's not me I'm worried about. It's-"

"It's Elena," I said, finishing his sentence. "He does know that she's not her, right?"

"He does, but why would that stop him from doing whatever it is he has planned." I let my smile falter as I looked at him. With just a few words, I could already tell that he cared about Elena more than he probably knows himself.

"Nothing will happen to her." I said, "We'll make sure of it."

"Why would you help me...help her?"

I sighed and forced a smile on my lips, "You care for her, Stefan. And I-I care about you." He smiled as I continued, "If I'm to stay here, I want to make sure that nothing will happen to you. If that means helping you make sure Elena's safe, then so be it."

Stefan leaned over and pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around my back as he sighed deeply. "I'll never let anything happen to you either, Cordy. You know that, right?"

I gripped the back of his shirt as I inhaled his scent, a smile splayed on my face. "I know, Stefan." I pulled back and punched his shoulder, "We're stuck with each other. Forever."

"Don't threaten me." He joked and I rolled my eyes. "Did you see her when you left the party?"

"Yeah, she was with her brother. They were waiting for their aunt to come and get them." I informed him. Stefan nodded his head and looked towards the shattered glass on the floor. "Why...Why don't you go and make sure she's alright? I'll finish cleaning this up."

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't have suggested otherwise." I smiled and took the shovel from his hand.

"Thank you, Cordy."

Stefan gave my shoulder a tight squeeze as he got to his feet and left the room.

I spent the rest of the night cleaning up the shattered glass and fixing the fallen books from his desk while he visited Elena.

My hand traced over the picture on his desk, the date 1864 was written on the bottom left corner of the ageing card. I picked it up and placed it on top of a book by his light on the desk before switching it off and headed down to my own room for the night.

Hope you enjoyed the second chapter. Leave some feedback if you would :)