Chapter 1

I got the call at 1am that my parents were dead. Sheriff Forbes called me and said that Aunt Jenna was going to be there taking care of the kids. I was spending the summer with Uncle John seeing as I am the only one that gets along with him. Pulling up to the house that I grew up in, around 6pm the next evening, I walked in the door and Jenna pulled me into a hug. "How are you holding up?" she asked. "I'm trying. You?" I asked. "Same." she replied. "Where are El and Jer?" I asked, referring to my younger brother and sister. "They are in their rooms. Haven't come out all day." she tells me. I head up the stairs and into Jeremy's room first. Knocking on the door, he looks up to see me and runs into my arms and cries. "It's okay Jer. I got you. It's going to be okay." I tell him while rubbing circles on his back. He pulls me into a tighter hug and I whisper, "I got you." I get him settled into his bed and he closes his eyes. I get up and head to Elena's room next. Her door is opened so I stand in the doorway and ask "You okay El?" She looks at me and I walk over to her and sit on the windowsill with her and she just looks back out the window. "Why was I the only one that made it out?" she asked me. "I don't know but I am glad you did. We will get through this." I tell her. "I don't know Layne. What are we going to do?" she asked. "We take care of each other." I tell her. We have always been close. The three of us may have a couple of years between us but we are still thick as thieves. I settle into my room and lay down for the night. Tomorrow is a new day.

The next few days go by in a blur. It's summer so we don't have school but we made it through the funeral. There is only a year between me and Elena so we all hung around the same crowd. After the funeral was done, we all took the night to just relax a little and then the next day, we hung out and I got to catch up with everyone. I found out that Elena and Matt had broken up and he wasn't coming around much and Tyler was just as big of a douche as I remember. School was starting back in a week and we had to get ready whether we wanted to or not. Now, where Bonnie and Elena were always closer, Caroline and I have been best friends since before we could talk but the four of us were always together.

Caroline calls and asked if I wanted to go to the Grill and I told her I would meet her there. Walking into the Grill, I see her at our normal table. She sees me and pulls me into a hug as soon as she sees me. "I missed you so much. It's been so boring here without you." she tells me and I smile. "I missed you too Care. But New York was amazing. I hated leaving. Uncle John took me to see so many things. I just wish Elena and Jeremy would have wanted to go." I tell her as my smile fades. "No. None of that. Put that smile back on. You are Layne Gilbert. Girl Wonder and I won't let you think anything less." she tells me and I can't help but smile at my best friend. She always knows what to say to keep me in check. Sitting there, she sees Matt walk in with someone I have never seen before. I stand up and hug Matt. "Matty. How have you been?" I asked. "Good. Welcome home." He tells me. I didn't get to see him much in the last week because things are still awkward with him and Elena. "Layne, Caroline, this is Stefan Salvatore. He will be starting school with us in a couple of days." he introduces Stefan. "Nice to meet you Stefan." Caroline says as she shakes his hand. "Nice to meet you too. Layne, I'm sorry to hear about your parents. I lost mine too so I understand what you are feeling." he says as he shakes my hand and I feel a spark. That's strange. "Thanks Stefan. You guys gonna join us or what? I need some food." I tell them and they all laugh a little. I spent the majority of the time talking and getting to know Stefan. He seems like a really nice guy. I finally make it home about 11pm and as I drift off to sleep, all I can think about was Stefan.