Hi again! I just wanted to give a shout out to HappyLucyLocket and say thank you for pointing that out in your review. I've updated the chapter and changed it. I really don't mind constructive criticism and you offered it in a very polite way, so thank you :) And thank you all for reading! These first chapters aren't filled with action, but I don't really want to rush into anything just yet. Even though I have scenes already written that I can't wait to get to.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries


BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

If I could wake every morning with the sun shining through my window and birds chirping, that would've made my early mornings so much easier. But my house was situated no where near a proper forest, and my window didn't face the way it should in order to get any sun when dawn breaked.

I could hear my mother snoring in the next room. Now, that was one thing I was glad I didn't inherit from her. Otherwise, I'd got pretty much the whole package. Blonde hair that was way to frizzy in the mornings, grey eyes, and, according to others, an overly caring personality. Although, I'm wasn't sure to what extent the latter was genetical.

I groaned and reached out to turn off the alarm on my phone, but only succeeded in knocking it off the bedside table.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

With my eyes half shut I disgruntledly rolled into some sort of upright position and reached down to turn the damned thing off.

BEEP. BEEP. BEE-

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I slowly rose and staggered to my wardrobe. Grabbing a pair of dark skinny jeans and a white blouse, I dragged myself back to the bed and sat down with a yawn.

For a moment, I allowed myself to just stare blankly at the wall. I was really not up for this. And by this, I meant this whole day. I had two classes – one in early morning and then it was one of those god awful days when I had a free period for five whole hours. Five hours. Just thinking about it made my want to curl right back under the covers again and just call in sick.

I didn't do that, though. Somehow, I always managed to force myself out of bed and out of the house. I didn't have much motivation except for the savings my money earned me. Whatever I could scrap from what was left after contributing to the essentials, I put in a restarted college fund. That was my motivation. To get to go to school again. A part of me wanted to get out of Mystic Falls, too. Not forever, but I wanted to see other places. To be honest, anything other than the town that I hadn't stepped my foot out of would do.

After a minute or two I finally managed to get up and get dressed. My mother was a light sleeper, so I had to sneak out of the house not to wake her. As I mounted my bike I repeated a silent motivation mantra to myself, hoping it would somehow give me the strength to get through this day, too.


I spent some time after the first class to prep for the one after lunch, but when I was finished I went back to the house. When I got home, I found my mother sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee.

''Why are you up so early?'' I asked her. Her night shifts usually had her in bed until lunchtime.

She smiled at me with tired eyes. ''Couldn't sleep. There are some weirds things happening at work, again.''

''What?''

''Oh, honey, you know I can't tell you that,'' she yawned. She grabbed a grape from the fruit bowl on the table and put it in her mouth. Seconds later, she spit it out with a displeased grunt.

''There are seeds in these!''

''Sorry,'' I apologised, embarrassed. I scratched the back of my neck. ''They didn't have one's without.''

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. ''I've just had a bad night, that's all. It's okay.''

''Sorry for the... um... surprise.''

My mother chuckled and got up from her seat to put her cup in the dishwasher. ''So, were you planning on going to that masquerade thing at the Lockwoods?'' she suddenly changed the subject.

''That's like, two weeks from now,'' I frowned. ''But I guess I am, why?''

She shrugged. ''I thought maybe you'd like an outfit.''

I stared at her. ''Mum, I have some dresses...'' I trailed off uncomfortably.

She just waved me off. ''I know, I know... but I got some extra for all the overtime this month, and I figured maybe we could go shopping,'' she looked at me hopefully.

If there was one thing to say about my mother, it was that she didn't have half of what she deserved. If I thought I worked hard, that was nothing compared to her. And for some reason, maybe it was the overly caring personality trait, she had always found joy in making others happy. And I did love shopping trips.

I gave her a one armed hug. ''Okay. It sounds like fun.''

All of a sudden I felt a jolt of tiredness and a wave of stress came over me. For a short second, I didn't know why – until I realised that my mother was only wearing a tank top, with nothing covering her arms. I gasped, and shame flashed across my face.

''I'm sorry,'' I apologised quickly. ''I'm so sorry, I didn't...''

My mother looked confused, until she came to the same realisation. Her eyes filled with sympathy.

''It's alright, Evangeline,'' she consoled me.

''No, no it's not,'' I stressed and shook my head rapidly. The tiredness and stress I got from my mother was gone, but my own feelings were still there. And I felt devastated.

''It's no big deal, honey,'' my mother tried to convince me, but I wouldn't have it.

''I didn't mean to, I'm sorry...''

''Evangeline.''

''I just...'' I sighed and stared at the floor, trying to keep my eyes from welling up. Oh, god, I felt so ashamed. ''I don't want to invade. It feels like I'm invading.''

''I'm your mother,'' she said solemnly and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. ''It's okay. It happens.''

''I don't know if I want it to,'' I mumbled, still refusing to look at her. ''I can't control it.''

She sighed. ''I know, honey. I know.''

I stubbornly kept my gaze locked on the floor, but my mother lifted my head by the chin and made me look at her. Her grey eyes pierced into mine.

''It's okay,'' she repeated. ''Do you hear me?''

I nodded reluctantly. It didn't feel like it was okay, though. No matter what she said.

''Good. Maybe we can talk about something a little bit more fun?'' she suggested, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. ''About that dress...''


I had another shift at the Grill that evening. Friday's were our busiest nights, but also the nights when I'd make the most money. Around dinner time, the place would usually start to fill up with more and more people – mostly high school students.

Tonight, we had reinforcements, thankfully. I worked alongside Sarah and another waitress, Jessica. The workload was heavier than usual, for me at least, due to having to run to Sarah's aid now and then. She was a pretty quick learner, and with some experience backing her up she would get the hang of it in no time.

I was clearing off tables when I spotted Elena Gilbert coming in alone and sitting down at one of my tables. Balancing a highly stacked tower of plates, I walked on sure feet to drop everything off by the kitchen. On my way, I checked on Sarah to make sure she was okay by the cashier, and then walked over there.

''Hi, Elena,'' I greeted her.

When she looked at me, her eyes were cold. And when she smiled, it didn't quite reach her eyes. But her voice was laced with cheeriness. ''Hi!''

Finally! I cheered on the inside. ''Thanks for not calling me 'Miss Moreau','' I laughed. ''It makes me feel so old sometimes. Is there anything I can get you?''

''I'm fine, I'm just here waiting for someone,'' she claimed and smiled at me again. And again, it didn't quite reach her eyes. Something was off.

''Okay,'' I said slowly. She seemed so different. Almost too different. But it was out of my bounds to ask, so I kept myself under control. Maybe she had a falling out with Stefan, or something. ''Well, if there's anything you need, just holler.''

I went off to tend to some other customers, and when I finally had the time to glance over at her table, all I saw was her back as she got up and left. I tried to shrug it off – and would've succeeded if a certain someone hadn't walked in through the door.

I was wiping off the table Elena just had been at, for good measure, and when I turned around I looked right at Elena. Again.

''Elena?'' I asked, baffled. ''But you...''

Elena had just come in with Stefan in tow, and now they were both looking at me strangely.

''Something wrong, Miss Moreau?''

Miss Moreau. I almost choked on my words, because I was seriously confused. ''Um...'' I looked from Elena to the door and back. ''You were just here? Only a minute ago.''

''I was?'' for a second, Elena looked just as perplexed as me, but then a light dawned in her eyes. She glanced at Stefan who looked at her back with a deep frown. ''Yeah, I was... sorry. I dropped my keys just outside, so I went back to get them.''

Elena and Stefan exchanged looks before Stefan turned to me with a smile. ''Yeah, she can be... forgetful.''

I shook my head. ''I'm sorry. didn't get much sleep, I guess it's catching up to me,'' I laughed nervously. She had been wearing different clothes. They probably thought I didn't notice, but the short second when they both let their emotions show were enough to fuel my doubt. She didn't even have the same shoes.

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. ''On another note, can I get you two anything?''

''A coffee and half a sub?'' Elena said and smiled kindly at me. I nodded and turned to Stefan.

''Just a glass of water, thank you.''

''No problem. Oh, and Stefan, you'll come by the teachers office on Monday?''

''Absolutely,'' he replied. ''Elena told me.''

''Good,'' I nodded.

''Thanks, Miss Moreau.''

Miss Moreau. ''It's Evangeline outside of school,'' I plastered a fake grin on my face. ''I'll get right to it.''

As I went off to get their orders, I threw a quick glance over my shoulder. It was impossible. Either it was some sort of joke, or I was just tired beyond belief. I was sure of what I saw. And who I saw, wasn't the same Elena who came in only a minute after. It was probably the lack of sleep. And all the stress. Yeah, that's most likely it.

As if in a trance, I poured a cup of coffee and filled a glass with water. I made the sandwich entirely by routine, and then I sunk down on a chair by the kitchen door.

''Are you okay?''

I looked to my left and found Sarah eyeing me worriedly.

''Would you mind getting those to table five?'' I nodded towards the plate and beverages on the counter. ''I just need to sit down for a minute.''

''Okay...'' Sarah replied, uncertain. ''Are you sure you're fine?''

I nodded and forced myself to smile again. ''Yeah, thank you, Sarah.''

She gave me a concerned once-over before she went to get Elena and Stefan their orders.

''I just need a minute,'' I mumbled to myself and leaned forward to rest my head in my hands. Maybe my stressful work schedule had finally gotten to me. I knew stress could do strange things to your body, but I never expected it to happen to me.

I sat there for a while, contemplating whether or not I was beginning to go crazy, but when I hear a panic-struck Sarah call for my help at the cashier I stood up and brushed it off. At least for the moment.


When I finally got home the time was well past midnight. I trudged into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. All I wanted was to take a long hot shower and then just stumble into bed, but if I didn't get some food in my system I might just pass out before I got to that. I made a sandwich and went up the stairs to turn on the computer.

On the way to my room I took a quick look into mum's. She wasn't home yet. Her night shifts usually ended at around four or five in the morning, so she'd still be a couple of hours.

I took a bite from my sandwich and chewed pensively. I could barely keep my eyes open, but my fingers were still quick enough for keeping a decent typing pace.

Manipulating feelings.

I can manipulate people's feelings.

When I touch someone I feel what they feel.

After about ten minutes of restless search, I let out a heavy sigh and leaned back, finishing the last piece of bread. Nothing. I tried to not let the endless defeats get to me – but when even the infinite web couldn't provide me with any answers...

My room went dark when the screen switched off. I fumbled for my desk light and managed to turn it on, letting it shed some light in part of the room.

I actually surprised myself when I managed to take a shower and get out of my day clothes and into a set of pyjamas before collapsing. I think this day had resulted in more confusing events than my mind could handle. That probably helped with me instantly falling asleep, only seconds after my head hit the pillow.