"...Give me that!" I snatched the joint from Jeremy's black tipped fingers, taking a quick hit before dropping it to the ground and stomping on it, grinding it into the concrete with the toe of my boot. He gave me an affronted look. "Get over it. If Elena sees that you're high on the first day she'll be riding your ass."

"Fair point." He grumbled, picking at the chipped polish on his thumbnail. I patted his shoulder consolingly, pretending I didn't see the way he leaned in to me for comfort. Keeping up appearances and all that. Whilst I tried to avoid Elena at all costs - I'd never been fond of her on the show, I took Jeremy under my wing when his parents died.

Shared trauma and all that made for closer friendships. I knew death, intimately, and made it a point to help Jeremy with his grief. Unlike Elena, I didn't try to stop him from making mistakes, he still smoked and drank, but stayed firmly away from the harder drugs under my influence. He knew I'd kick his ass if he did. Vicki was also a firm no go. Her being eighteen and sleeping with a fourteen year old was gross and predatory. She could screw Tyler all she wanted, but Jeremy was off limits. A split lip and black eye was a painful reminder courtesy of me.

"Get to class. Jenna doesn't need to get Tanner'd because you ditched." I spotted Vicki, strung out and looking for her next fix. I muscled Jeremy inside, flipping Vicki the bird.

When Stefan walked in to Mr Tanner's class, the sudden thundering of my heart and sweaty palms was entirely uncontrollable. It was one thing to know that I'd see him at some point in my life, but no amount of mental prep could prepare for seeing him in the flesh. He was handsome, eyes much greener than I remembered. I couldn't help but picture him with his hair falling in gentle curls around his face as it had in 1864.

He took a seat in front of Matt, staring intently at the open doorway as Elena and Bonnie strutted in. It was like an early 2000's Teen Movie. I could hear the catchy pop song playing in my mind, their hair blowing in an imaginary breeze as Stefan and Elena's eyes met longingly.

Their lovey dovey stares throughout class was vomit inducing and made a normally unpleasant hour entirely unbearable. I eased my pain by sending Bonnie lame dad jokes and watching her try and fail to hide her laughs.

I wished I could skip town until the Originals made their appearance - Season 1 was so blah. Season 2 was when the good stuff started. Bonnie would absolutely hex me if I left her behind to deal with this shit storm.

I think I was the first one out of my seat when the bell rang, hurrying into the hall and ignoring Mr Tanner assigning us homework. What kind of monster gave out homework on the first day of term? He was worse than Klaus.

I spotted Caroline's blonde head down the hall and hurried after her, jumping onto her back when I got close enough. She didn't even stumble in the slightest. That girl had thighs like Wonder Woman from all the cheerleading. She carried on talking to Tiki about the back to school party at the Falls tomorrow - where Vicki would be first attacked by Damon, which I had no intention of stopping - the only acknowledgement to my presence being the grip she had on my knees.

When Tiki left I jumped down off Caroline's back to walk beside her like a semi-normal person, arm looped through hers. "You're bringing your jungle juice, yeah?" It was phrased more like a demand than a request. I nodded, knowing not to argue with the blonde. "And your coming home with me after school to get ready before we go."

"Of course, Care. Relax, it isn't till tomorrow. Take a breath." She inhaled obnoxiously, blowing it out in my face before sticking out her tongue. I grinned, lightly slapping her arm. "We're still on for the Grill tonight?"

"Obviously. It's tradition - back to school milkshake." I hugged the blonde's arm, affection warming my body. I loved Caroline - even before I knew her for real. Her character had been one of my favourites. Her growth as a person throughout the seasons had been amazing and Vampire Caroline was a badass. I firmly believed that if she stayed human, she'd always see herself as second, even third, to Elena and Bonnie.

I wasn't going to stop Katherine from turning her, but I was going to be there through every second of her transition to help her, and stay by her side even after.

Caroline caught a ride with us to the Grill after school, babbling excitedly about all the ideas she already had for the decade dances this year. We snagged out usual booth when we arrived. I spotted Jeremy by the bar, but he was sketching rather than mooning after Vicki like he had in the show. Vicki was flirting up a storm with Tyler, who was all too into it, even with an uncomfortable Matt sitting right next to him.

We placed our orders with the other waitress on shift who's name I didn't know and didn't care to know. As we waited for our food, Caroline began to dish the 'dirt' she'd dug up on Stefan;

"His name is Stefan Salvatore. He lives with uncle," Who was really his great whatever nephew. "Up at the old Salvatore Boarding House. He hasn't lived here since he was a kid." Understatement. "Military family, so they moved around a lot. He's a Gemini, and his favorite color is blue."

"You got all that in one day?" Bonnie asked, eyes wide.

"Oh, please. I got all that between third and fourth period. We're planning a June wedding."

I snorted, eagerly taking my milkshake from the waitress. "You're kind of scary and more than a little brilliant." I took a sip of the thick, vanilla flavoured drink. Caroline preened, smiling brightly.

"I know."

After finishing our milkshakes we lingered, doing our own thing whilst we waited for Elena to arrive. Caroline went to play pool with Tyler, Bonnie went to sit with Matt, whilst I joined Jeremy at the bar. "Hey, Marilyn Manson."

He flipped me off with one hand, a pencil in the other as he drew in the thick sketchbook I'd bought him for his birthday last year. I peered over his shoulder to get a good look at the grey hued image on the page. It was a beautiful, realistic sketch of Wickery Bridge. Two greyed out figures sat, legs dangling off the side, wrapped up in each other. "Oh Jere, it's beautiful. Is that your mom and dad?"

"Yeah." There was nothing more to be said. I wrapped my arms around him from behind, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head before resting my chin there. He kept sketching.

I'd moved to sit on the barstool beside him, just watching in comfortable, relaxed silence as he drew, when Elena arrived with Stefan.

Matt walked over to the two of them, the atmosphere tense and awkward. Everyone watching with bated breath, relaxing when Matt outstretched his hand for Stefan to shake. I stood, squeezing Jeremy's shoulder in parting before joining Caroline and Bonnie back at our booth.

Caroline pouted, "Of course Elena is with him."

"Suck it up, buttercup." I threw and arm around her shoulder as I squeezed on the bench beside her "They're not worth your jealously. Trust me."