Hey guys! Sorry for the delay, I've started a new internship that takes up SO much time and I've been ill too, so I've just been buried in work. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update each week for the next month or so, but I'll try my best... Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries


Every year, students at Mystic Falls High School put together a carnival. That meant organising booths, getting rides up – like tea cups or bumpy cars – and planning different competitions. The school had been buzzing all day, because after twelve they were all let off early and most of them engaged in getting it all ready in one way or another.

Having just half a day at school made most of them restless and eager to just get out as soon as possible. I was in the middle of teaching history at about eleven thirty or so, and I could tell that most of them weren't really paying attention to anything other than the clock on the wall behind me.

''You know what, guys,'' I sighed and looked at them. ''You can go.''

Two guys in the back fist-bumped each other, and a couple of students in the front smiled thankfully at me.

''Thanks, Miss Moreau,'' I got a few replies as they pulled their chairs out, a bit too screechy for my liking.

''No problem,'' I assured them. To be honest, I wanted to get out of there as well. They all emptied the classroom quicker than quick, and I took my time gathering my books and folders. I took one last look around the classroom to see if I'd missed anything, and then I locked the door behind me when I left.

When I walked from the classroom to the teacher's office, passing students chatting and rummaging through boxes with decorations, I noticed Stefan Salvatore leaning up against the lockers next to Elena's little brother, Jeremy Gilbert. They were talking.

As I passed them by, the words I heard coming out of Jeremy's mouth made my heart drop.

''What, like a stake to the heart?''

Maybe I'd heard him wrong. Maybe... maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me, and forming sentences that it wanted to hear. Upon getting to a crossing corridor a bit further up, I threw a quick glance over my shoulder. Now, Elena had come up to them with a notepad in hand. She was in charge of the planning committee for the carnival, which obviously spooked her younger brother, because he left in a hurry.

I told myself that I must've hear it wrong. That's when, somehow, Stefan's eyes found me looking at them. He met my gaze and frowned. I quickly looked away, and walked off, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that seemed to stay with me constantly.


I decided to go home in between. I wasn't really involved in the planning committee in any way, like some of the teachers were.

When I got home, the first thing I did was check our mailbox. I should've gotten my pay slip for this month. I rummaged through the advertisement stuff and a bunch of envelopes addressed to my mum, until I found one with my name on it.

I practically ran inside and threw everything else on the kitchen table, grabbed a letter opener from one of the drawers and opened it. I scanned what it said, and let out a sigh of relief when I saw the amount at the bottom. This was a good month – which meant that I could put away a larger sum than usual in my savings account.

Putting the paper down, I walked up to the fridge. I felt like making pancakes. A quick look told me we had everything, so I didn't need to run to the store, thankfully. I quickly made the batter and when I stood by the stove frying, I fished my phone out of the pocket of my jeans and flipped through the news. Nothing out of the ordinary. I was in the middle of reading about how some reality star my mum liked had set fire to a yacht when my phone pinged.

17 by the parking lot?

It was a message from Sarah. She and I had gotten closer at work, and we'd decided to go to the carnival together later today. We seemed to be working just about as much as each other, so we talked a lot at work. She was about my age, and it was nice to have someone to talk to again. Someone I could call a friend. To be honest, I hadn't really had one since I graduated.

Yes!

I quickly texted her back and then placed my phone on the counter to flip the pancake. As usual, I made way too many for just one person. But pancakes... I could stuff myself with those. And today was a stuff yourself day, I'd decided. I would probably have to lie down on the couch for an hour or so before I could go and meet up with Sarah, though.


Later that day, I was walking around the carnival with Sarah. The student's really had done a great job; there were booths of all sorts, different rides, and even a big ferris wheel. The commitment and drive of some of the kids in this town had me both totally impressed and a bit creeped out at the same time.

''Anything in particular you want to check out?'' I asked her. She had her hair out, and some make up on her face. When I first met her, I couldn't have guessed that she was actually very outgoing. And girly... and sometimes she had no filter. Which could be both hilarious or completely embarrassing.

''Well...'' the tone in her voice and the twinkle in her her brown eyes told me that this was one of those moments when she was about to say something... well, candid.

She looked at me mischievously and I think she kind of blushed. ''Let's go find the Lockwood guy.''

If I had a drink in my mouth I would probably have choked on it. Sarah grabbed my arm, thankfully not my hand, and dragged me off alongside the booths. I said hi to a few students and other people from town I knew but that was all I had time for, as Sarah insisted on completing this mission of finding Tyler Lockwood.

When we passed a table surrounded by a bunch of cheering people, Sarah suddenly stopped. She let go of my arm and I rubbed it soothingly, glaring at her. She didn't seem to notice.

''What is it?'' I asked, trying to follow her eyes to what she was so interested in.

Over by the wrestling club we noticed, the one and only, Tyler Lockwood, and a bunch of guys lining up to beat him at arm wrestling, it seemed.

I noticed Sarah eyeing him with eyes big as saucers. ''Of course,'' I chuckled. ''So you like him?''

''He's hot.''

I sniggered. ''How old are you?''

''Not too old,'' she answered firmly. I just laughed and shook my head. She was actually just a year younger than me, so there wasn't much of a difference.

Tyler beat anyone who had the courage to arm wrestle in front of that big a crowd. All that guy seemed to do was work out. Suddenly, a man came up to him and placed himself on the opposite side of the table. It looked like they knew each other.

''Who's that?'' I leaned in to ask Sarah. I hadn't seen him before.

''I think that's his uncle,'' she answered, in a failed attempt to sound like she had to think about it for a second.

''You know that's his uncle,'' I laughed. She smiled sheepishly and mumbled something incoherent, but I let it slide.

Tyler and his, apparently, uncle, locked hands and even from this distance I could see the veins in their arms. Tyler face was contorted in concentration, and his arm bobbed up and down. Eventually it hit the table.

''Huh,'' I let out a surprised sound. ''Seems they've got the same genes?''

''He beat Tyler.'' Sarah shrugged. ''He's still hot.''

It seemed as if the Lockwood uncle was the king of the hill now, as he asked if anyone wanted to go up against him. I guessed most people figured that if Tyler was pretty much unbeatable, then his uncle was an impossible task.

''Oh, Stefan wants a go!'' I suddenly heard someone shout.

Damon Salvatore. Now that was a guy I'd rather not hang around with. I didn't know too much about him, but occasional run-ins and the time when he'd hung around school for Caroline had been enough for me. I didn't like him that much. He was rude, full of himself and just not very nice. It didn't matter if you hadn't even met him before, and he'd be a complete douche to you.

He stood next to his brother a couple of feet to my left, and at first Stefan looked like he wanted to nothing else but punch him, but he walked up to the table anyway.

''Get him, Stef!'' Damon shouted. His brother looked at him exasperated.

''All right, you want to leave?'' I asked her, not really keen on staying and watching the Salvatores. ''If you're done ogling, that is.''

''Sadly,'' she frowned, but a smile quickly found its way on her face and she let out a small laugh.

When we walked off, I could've sworn that I felt Stefan's eyes burn holes in my back. I still didn't have him figured out, and it bugged me. But the carnival and Sarah quickly helped me get all the pondering thoughts out of my head.

There really wasn't a whole lot to look at, so we got through the whole thing pretty quick. I suggested that we should go on the ferris wheel though, so that we'd done and seen everything. And maybe I wanted to contribute a little to the school after all that the students had put into this carnival. It really was amazing.

''Have you got someone?'' Sarah asked when the machinery rattled to life and we slowly went up to the top of the wheel.

''Huh?'' I looked at her perplexed.

She poked my arm. ''You know. A guy. Or a girl, for that matter.''

''Nope,'' I clasped my hands together tightly in my lap, suddenly feeling really uncomfortable.

''Anyone you like?'' she pressed curiously. Another thing about Sarah, she was a bit of a gossip. But not in a bad way, she was just... very curious. I guess this was just a way for her to get to know me a bit better, and I didn't blame her for it. But that didn't mean that I had to answer.

''You really can see a lot from up here...'' I mumbled and turned my head to look around us.

Sarah laughed. ''Okay, if that's how you want it. I won't ask.''

We sat in silence for a second.

''Are you planning on studying something, or do you want to do something else?'' I asked her.

She shrugged. ''I don't know, to be honest. Right know, I'm just working. I'm not sure what I want to do yet. How about you?''

''Well,'' I began, not really knowing how to put it. I mean, I liked Sarah, I did, but I rarely trusted people with some parts of my life. Like how my college fund was depleted before I turned eighteen and how I was trying my hardest to save up and at the same time help my mum.

Clearing my throat, I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat. ''I'm not really sure yet, either. I've thought about it, but I figured I might as well work until I find something I want to do.''

Sarah nodded understanding. ''I get what you mean. It's so hard though!''

''Mhm,'' I hummed, grateful that she bought it. I just didn't like talking about it. Talking about crushed dreams – not my forte.

We got of the ferris wheel, and Sarah said she had to use the restroom. We were going to walk home together – at least part of the way. She lived about fifteen minutes away, a lot closer than me.

I strolled casually by the line ups of pop corn, cotton-candy and all kinds of different sweets. I smiled at some people I knew passing me by, otherwise I kept a bit to myself, just taking it all in again.

I was in the middle of giving a longing look to a box of chocolates when I noticed something in the corner of my eye. I turned my head, not really sure what it was that my brain had registered. I scanned the area trying to figure it out. All I saw were people chatting, playing games and...

Then, suddenly, a flash of something blonde. I blinked. I thought I might've imagined it, but no, it was still there. My heart skipped a beat. In the crowd in front of me, I saw a blonde head that looked all too familiar. And I saw Matt Donovan. Which meant...

Her eyes were darker than usual. Not just the fact that she had put on more aggressive make up, but even from here I could tell that her eyes were dark. She looked troubled, and Matt tried to talk some sense into her – but she turned on her heel and left.

My breath hitched in my throat. Caroline. Caroline Forbes. I stared wide-eyed at the spot by Matt where I'd seen her. She obviously wasn't there anymore, but every time I blinked I saw blonde hair before me.

I didn't think, I just rushed off to get away from all the commotion. I wanted to get home, lock myself up safely and throw my cozy and warm covers over me, and then I wanted to stay like that. Safe. I took a few long strides and before I knew it I'd left all the sounds of the carnival behind me.

But when I'd gotten away from all of that, it suddenly didn't seem like such a good idea – because now I was all alone – and I'd just about changed my mind, when I heard someone crying.

I squinted my eyes and tried to make out any silhouettes, and noticed someone leaned their head against a tree a few metres from me. ''Hey, are you okay?'' I called out, my voice shaking. Without any lights, it was kind of dark, so I couldn't see who it was from this distance.

''Go away,'' the person wailed. It was a girl, or, at least it sounded like it.

I approached her slowly. ''Should I get someone?''

The girl continued her crying, but when I put my foot down and got a step closer to her, she snapped her head in my direction.

''I said, go away!''

I couldn't breathe. A chill ran down my spine and I stared at her in disbelief.

''Miss Moreau?'' she whimpered, and then that whole night came back to me. All of it. I backed away slowly, not letting my eyes leave her. I was afraid that if I did, I wouldn't see her coming.

''What are you?'' My voice cracked. I think that I might've been too shocked to cry.

Then it looked almost as if a light dawned in her eye. ''You remember?'' she breathed, her voice ragged, and looked terrified. She looked terrified? Why would she look terrified when she was the one who... who...

She suddenly changed from a huddling, bawling, petite little thing to completely confident as she walked briskly up to me. Her eyes locked on mine and I shied away in fear. ''Forget what happened.''

I frowned. ''W-wha...''

For a short second, she looked surprised. Then she went back to looking scared to death, and all that confidence that had oozed off of her disappeared immediately.

''Forget. What. Happened.'' She repeated herself and looked like she was ready to kill me. Her voice was desperate.

''Forget,'' she said angrily through gritted teeth.

''Leave me alone,'' I hissed and backed away further.

''Why isn't it working?'' she screamed and grabbed her head in between her hands, turning away from me. She collapsed in sobs again.

''Who's there? Are you alright?'' I suddenly heard a voice shout from afar.

My body was on full escape alert. Now someone else was there, and I couldn't decide if I was overjoyed that he or she might help me get out of here, or panicked that they might suffer the same fate I would. Caroline could kill me.

''Hello?'' the voice sounded again, closer this time. I turned my head towards the direction I'd heard it from for a second. Behind me, I heard a faint whoosh. When I looked back, Caroline was gone.

''Evangeline?''

''Sarah?'' I said in relief. I tried not to let the tears fall now that part of the shock had worn out.

And then Sarah appeared before me. Her brown eyes locked on mine. ''Who screamed?''

''Um...'' I was terrible at coming up with lies on the spot. Absolutely terrible. ''I did. I fell.''

She frowned at me. ''What are you doing here? I thought you'd wait for me by the candy booth?''

''Yeah, well...'' my voice felt so fragile and meek. I cleared my throat, and tried to shake the fear of me, but it didn't really work. My body was still on edge. ''You were taking so long so I figured I'd warm up and stretch my legs. I was just about to go back there.''

I didn't think Sarah bought it, but at least she didn't say anything. We started walking home, and after a minute or two she started up a conversation and I had no trouble keeping up with her. It felt so normal talking to her that I almost forgot what had just happened. But the way my subconscious kept on making me throw glances over my shoulder every few metres that we walked, reminded me that everything wasn't normal. Caroline was still out there. And I had no idea what I was in the middle of. Absolutely no idea. And it scared me to death.


Okay, I think I can say that the countdown to chapter E can officially begin…. Someone in particular will soon make his first appearance!