AN: Yeah so I decided to re-write my story, I didn't like the perspective I was writing from and I hope this is way better from what I had before. The story is a little different but the concept is still the same.

Growing up in the Salvatore Boarding House has many different pro's and con's, for example Scarlet had ample rooms, little nooks and crannies to play hide and seek in. In turn though, she lacked friends to play with.

The boarding house itself was situated just outside the town of Mystic Falls, making it out of the way for most kids to come knocking on her door. The Salvatore's of the past had done this with intention, they were a part of the 'Founding Families' of the town and yet liked to keep themselves separate and secluded from most of its other inhabitants. With good reason though.

Back in the 1860's the residents of Mystic Falls discovered what went bump in the night, Vampire's, and cutting a long story short it did not end well for the Salvatore family. Unbeknownst to it's only surviving member, not all vampires that night had been killed, in fact two had been created.

Damon and Stefan Salvatore.

Throughout the decades both brothers liked to grace their remaining descendants with fleeting visits, no-one knew why they liked coming back so often, but most just wished they wouldn't. They often left strife and death in their wake, even so little Scarlet had loved spending time with her Uncle Damon.

Her father, Zachariah, had never been a fan of Damon hanging around his daughter but knew there wasn't much he could do to stop him. Damon had already taken his wife from him, leaving him a shell of the man he was, it was this that had him working for years on a way to protect his daughter from him.

Growing Vervain hadn't been easy, growing it in secret from Damon's yearly visits...risky, but worth it in his eyes.

By the time Scarlet was 12 Zach had given her a special charm bracelet, she was instructed never to take it off, and told that it would protect her.

Yet he couldn't protect her from the truth. Damon had already revealed himself as a vampire, even made it into a game where he'd playfully chase her round the house in a twisted version of hide and seek. And each year he visited he'd tell Scarlet a bedtime story before he left, the story of how he met Katherine Pierce, it was his own dented version of a fairy tale.

As Scarlet had grown older, she had attempted to make friends with the other kids at school, but they all found her a little odd. So she settled for having one friend, Caroline Forbes.

Caroline was your run of the mill preppy cheerleader, she was popular and had a seat on every school committee you could think of. Pretty much everything Scarlet wasn't, which worked fine for them. Scarlet loved to draw and paint, she also had a bit of a mean streak when it came to everyone else. She seemed to push everyone away who'd shunned her in middle school, making their general school life hell where ever she could.

And with her junior year about to begin she was starting to plan out her next moves, the only problem was she wouldn't be the only Salvatore starting their junior year.

"You want to go to high school? Haven't you been there and done that yet? You need a better hobby" Scarlet couldn't believe it when Stefan had rocked up towards the end of summer, claiming it wanted to start living a 'normal' life again.

What 146 year old vampire thinks high school is a great place to be?

"I look like a teenager, going to school is what normal teenagers do" Stefan argued, grabbing what he needed off of his writing desk only to pause when he caught sight of an old photograph sitting there, Scarlet took note of what grabbed his attention.

"Please tell me this isn't because of Elena Gilbert" Scarlet had grown up having free reign of the boarding house, and with the stories from Damon she had definitely seen Katherine's portrait on Stefan's desk before. As the years went by she'd begun to notice the resemblance the Gilbert girl had to Katherine, she didn't understand it but never brought it up to either Uncle.

"No, she's nothing like Katherine." He answered shaking his head and started on his way out the room.

"Sure she's not, she's just the spitting image. A bit weird don't you think?" Scarlet pushed, following Stefan out the room and down the hallway.

Stefan however just ignored her and carried on down the stairs towards the front door, Scarlet rushed down after him to catch up, grabbing her school bag on the way out the door.

"Fine keep your secrets, but you're driving me to school"

The Mystic Falls high school is what Scarlet liked to consider her playground. She wasn't popular in the normal sense, but you could say she was respected by her peers as a formidable foe.

At the beginning of Middle School Scarlet had been picked on by a choice few, Tyler Lockwood and some of other popular kids. Eventually Scarlet had enough of being pushed around, she tired of the name calling and grew frustrated.

She started pushing back, then started hitting back, then she bit a boy at school who'd picked a fight with her. He'd been left bleeding and needing a tetanus shot.

She'd been suspended for a week after that, her father, Zach, had not been pleased. Citing Damon as a bad influence on her and had made an attempt of banning him from seeing her. That hadn't lasted.

Scarlet's reputation however, had. Going back to school after that incident had been weird. People kept their distance from her, well apart from Caroline. She was the only one not scared to hang around her and even made Scarlet feel somewhat normal.

Even to this day people at school whisper about Scarlet Salvatore biting and making another kid bleed, they didn't avoid her like the plague any more but they also didn't invite her to parties often either. At the very least, no-one dared to go against her, especially when she had Caroline there to back her up.

"The office is through there, I'm sure if you bat your eyelashes enough at some poor unsuspecting teen they will show you around. As for me, I've got stuff to do and people to insult. Ciao for now!" Turning on her heel Scarlet left Stefan standing in the doorway of the school's office so he could enrol, which mostly entailed compelling the secretary into believing she'd seen his transcripts.

Scarlet heard Stefan's faint thanks as she made her way towards her locker, it unfortunately wasn't far enough away from the office for her to avoid catching Elena and her friend Bonnie staring at Stefan.

"Hold up, who's this?" Bonnie questioned, halting Elena from walking any further down the hall. Glancing over the shoulder Scarlet couldn't help but roll her eyes at the pair.

"All I see it back" Elena muttered, she wasn't really giving the stranger her full attention. She no doubt had other things on her mind.

"It's a hot back" Bonnie offered up after her friend's almost dismissive answer. Hearing Bonnie calling Stefan 'hot' made Scarlet feel a little uncomfortable, she was starting to get why siblings didn't like hearing each other being described that way.

Closing her locker door Scarlet turned to the offenders, clearing her throat in a bid to get their attention.

"Gilbert, Bennett." She greeted with the fakest smile she could muster, both girls turned around quickly. The two were really good friends with Caroline, so she mostly left the pair alone. Mostly.

"I see you've spotted our newest student. Please try to refrain from dribbling on yourselves, it's very unbecoming." She chided, leaving the pair a little stunned she'd even spoken to them. Scarlet wasn't really one to initiate conversation, especially with the two of them. She more often than not avoided them, she found Elena far too manipulative and judgy for her liking. Bonnie, well she wasn't so bad but she was stuck to Elena like glue.

"We're not drooling!" Bonnie denied, glowering towards the dark haired Salvatore, her hands firmly planted themselves on her hips.

"Scarlet!" Caroline called from the other end of the hallway, she was waving the girl over in a bid for her to join her.

With a small smile on her face Scarlet sent Caroline a nod leaving the pair behind, only sparing Elena a knowing smirk as she passed them.

The first few classes of the day for Scarlet were easy, Art was one of her favourite subjects. She excelled and thrived in it, drawing had been an escape for her for a long time. Math hadn't been that bad either, she had Caroline to annoy and the teacher was too much of a pushover to say anything to her about it.

History though, was a completely different kettle of fish.

She hated history, not because of the subject in itself but because Mr Tanner was the number one asshole around.

He picked on students like it was a sport, but it was kids from the founding families that bore the brunt. Scarlet figured he was either jealous or he resented them for whatever reason.

Either way, it sucked.

Scarlet waved her goodbyes to Caroline from the doorway, she'd arrived early enough to find a decent seat. The further away from the front the better in her opinion.

Mr Tanner didn't bother even looking up from his desk as more and more students entered the room. It had hardly been a shock when Stefan entered the classroom moments after Elena, Scarlet had a feeling he'd compelled his way into most of Elena's classes.

Scarlet couldn't help but let her attention slip from what Mr Tanner had been teaching, from the moment class had begun both Stefan and Elena had been sending each other lovey dovey glances, it was making her stomach turn. Then there was Matt Donovan, Elena's ex boyfriend.

He was most certainly still in love with Elena, I caught him often glancing between Elena and Stefan looking like a kicked puppy.

Scarlet considered called PETA once she got home, animal cruelty was a serious issue after all.

The overall class had gone on oddly without incident, and as grateful as Scarlet was for that she could still feel Mr Tanners eyes on her as she left the room. He often had eyes on her, looking at her as if she was about to cause trouble at any given moment. Sure she was known for fighting and the odd 'defacing school property' but there hadn't been any major incidents since Middle School.

Almost fleeing from Mr Tanners classroom, Scarlet made a B-line for the canteen hoping to find Caroline waiting for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. It was entirely possible she was with Bonnie and Elena outside eating lunch, but Scarlet liked the peace and quiet inside when the weather was this good. Less chance of a football ruining her lunch.

"Is it true you bit a kid in Middle School?" had been the first thing Stefan said to her as he took a seat opposite her. He'd opted for a school lunch and was certainly looking like he regretted the poor choice.

"Oh yeah, he deserved it." Scarlet hadn't looked up from her sketch pad, she was currently working on a drawing of Caroline she'd started last week when they'd last had a sleepover. She just couldn't seem to get the eyes right no matter how she tried, it was something that always happened when she drew people. She always just ended up either not drawing them or just filling them in with black instead.

She didn't think Caroline would appreciate the latter this time though so she kept trying.

"Must be why you're sitting here all by yourself, or do you have friends that I'm not aware of?" Stefan sassed pushing the food around the tray, he didn't appear to be touching it anytime soon.

"Well I don't see you with an entourage either, must be that Salvatore loner thing we all have going for us" Scarlet looked up from her work, watching with a look of disgust as Stefan made an attempt at eating the school's meatloaf. It didn't look like it went down well. She wasn't sure if Vampire's would suffer from food poisoning but was pretty confident he'd at least survive.

Grimacing as he swallowed, Stefan quickly set his fork down and pushed the tray of food away from him. If he'd have been smarter, he'd have picked the salad and a bottle of juice. Today's menu was not the most appetizing, but at least the salad would have been fresh.

"You were such a sweet girl when you were little, and now all people want to know is if we're really related and 'Is Scarlet always that much of a bitch?' What happened?" Stefan's impression of Mystic High's nosey teens pulled a small smile from Scarlet, she decided to take pity on him and offered him some of her lunch she'd made before school.

"I hope you said yes, I have a reputation to keep! And the last time you really stayed for a visit I was probably three and didn't really get how fucked up life is." She replied, rolling her eyes as Stefan eagerly took half of her sandwich.

"Say for instance, your century old uncle pining after a seventeen year old high schooler who bears a shocking resemblance to his past lady love" she continued, Stefan paused mid chew to look around to make sure no-one looked to be listening. He wore his poker face well, even after swallowing his food, but Scarlet had a feeling she'd taken him by surprise.

"It's all very teen romance, wouldn't you say?" She teased further, not being able to stop the smirk from her face.

"You look a lot like Damon when you do that, it's disconcerting" Stefan responded rather dryly, avoiding looking at his niece any further. She'd heard that few times over the years, mostly from her dad. Scarlet supposed it was their matching eyes and dark hair that really made them look similar.

"Like I said this morning, Elena is nothing like Katherine. I don't know what Damon's told you but Katherine wasn't a good person, not like Elena." Stefan carried on once he cleared his throat.

"Stefan, no matter how you look at it it's a little creepy in an Anne Rice sort of way. Just be careful this is probably going to back fire...Or don't! I love watching people fail."

"That's because it makes you feel better about yourself." Caroline spoke from behind Scarlet, spooking her a little.

"Oh that was mean, I liked it. Do it again." Scarlet giggled a little as Caroline set her lunch down on the table, taking a seat next to her.

"Hi I'm Caroline, you must be Stefan. You know out of all the years I've been Scarlet's best friend I don't think she's ever mentioned you!" And to Scarlet's defence, she hadn't really been allowed to tell Caroline about Stefan or Damon. Scarlet paused, her eyes squinted in thought. She wasn't really 100% on Stefan's cover story. To her luck though, he took point and answered Caroline's question.

"Uh-Scarlet and I were never that close growing up. I moved away when we were still very young." The lie came off smooth, he was used to making up stories about his background at this point.

"As fun and enjoyable as I'm sure I'd find watching Caroline interrogate you to no end, I think I'm gonna take myself somewhere else. I'll catch you both later!" Scarlet didn't waste any time, she grabbed her art supplies, ruffled Caroline's hair and fled before the blonde could protest.

She knew the lies were necessary but it didn't feel right lying to Caroline, she'd been the only one there for her through thick and thin. But if she wasn't there while the lie was told it didn't count as her fault...right? That's what she thought.

The last classes of the day had been filled with Stefan and Elena swapping gooey looks at each other, not to mention Caroline talking her ear off about how great Stefan was. Then there were the endless questions about Stefan as they walked between classes, 'What does he like?' 'Do you think he'll be at the falls this weekend?', yadda yadda yadda.

Caroline's growing crush on Stefan was a definite car crash, Scarlet didn't want to see her friend get hurt, but she also knew telling that Stefan was into Elena wasn't really going to help.

She couldn't help but feel like she should do something, anything! But as Scarlet made her way home through the cemetery she couldn't think of anything that would help the situation.

Normally when she made her way through here there wasn't another living soul around, not at this time of the day at least. Yet Scarlet had caught a glimpse of Elena resting against her parent's grave, she was so engrossed in writing her melancholic thoughts down she hadn't noticed Scarlet walk past. Perhaps Elena and Stefan were perfect for each other in that respect, Scarlet had read a few of his journal entries he'd left behind. It had made for depressing reading.

As Scarlet passed an ornate grave she felt a cold hand cover her mouth, her eyes widened in fear as she was pulled behind the grave marker.

Damon's matching blue eyes met her own, calming her down instantly. He held a finger to his lips indicating for her to keep quiet, and let go of her face.

Scarlet looked at his signature smirk and knew he was up to no good, she followed his gaze which lay on Elena and worried for a moment that he'd be like Stefan. But quickly remembered Damon's ongoing plan.

From all around them a thick fog rolled in, consuming them as it made its way slowly over to Elena. Scarlet almost jumped out of her skin as a Crow flew from behind her towards the other girl, it sat upon the gravestone in front of Elena cawing.

From how far Scarlet was she couldn't make out what Elena muttered to the bird as she tried to shoo it away, but from the small chuckled that came from Damon she assumed he could.

At this point Elena had really started to take in her surroundings, the chilling fog brushed up against her and carried on past her. Freaking out, Elena scurried to grab her belongings and took off into the distance looking back only once. Damon made sure to loom out from behind his hiding place, giving Elena one last good scare.

"Ah my little red riding hood, my how you've grown!" Damon joked looking at his young niece. She grinned back at him in amazement, it wasn't often he showed off his vampire tricks. Not to mention she enjoyed watching Elena run off in panic, she wasn't the biggest fan of the brunette.

"And if it isn't my favourite Salvatore of all time! Is there a special occasion I should be aware of? It isn't often I see both of you in the same year let alone the same day" Scarlet rushed forward to give Damon a hug, wrapping her arms around him before he could protest.

Scarlet was fully aware of the brothers' dislike for one another, she'd witnessed their strained and tumultuous relationship once before back when Damon had killed her mother. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she chose to forgive Damon much quicker than she did Stefan, but she'd never really blamed Damon for what he'd done. Just thinking about it gave her a headache, so she moved her thoughts elsewhere.

"What? Am I not allowed to pay you a visit anymore? I thought I'd be better company than Stefan!...if that's the case though I can totally leave" he teased returning her hun.

"Pft, as if you'd leave! Stefan's here stalking Elena, so fess up! She's a dead ringer for Katherine."

"Dead ringer? Mind if I steal that?" He deflected like he often did when he didn't want to talk about something. Scarlet just rolled her eyes.

"Oh sure, but now we've got to discuss how you're getting away with plagiarizing Hitchcock while you walk me home"

"Pft, who do you think he learned it from!" Damon scoffed in indignation.

Having other ideas then actually walking, Damon picked Scarlet up bridal style and rushed them both back to the boarding house before Scarlet could fully start screaming.

When they came to a stop he gently set her on her feet, she took a deep breath before lightly punching him in the arm. Even after all these years of experiencing his vampire speed, she still got a little dizzy from everything in her eyesight blurring past her.

"Hey! What was that for?" he whined, rubbing his arm as if she'd actually hurt him. Scarlet scoffed, shaking her head.

"For scaring the shit out of me, give a girl warning next time" She complained and made her way towards the front door of the Boarding house, the door itself was as gaudy as the rest of the building.

"Well when you ask so nicely, sure. Do me a favour though, no-one else knows I'm here yet and I'm gonna need you to keep it that way" Damon's eyes narrowed as she turned to meet them. She considered him for a moment before slowly nodding in agreement, Damon was definitely up to something.

"I sense you might be up to no good Damon, I approve. You have my full cooperation."

"Glad I have your approval, Little Red." Damon smirked down at her, and then motioned for her to head up the stairs.

"So Little Red, care to fill me in on Stefan's first day of school?" Damon probed as the pair made their way up the stairs. Scarlet was leading the way to her room while Damon trailed behind, with his enhanced hearing he knew Zach was locked away in his office so the coast was clear.

"He turned up, lived up to being a Salvatore hottie, annoyed me at lunch, and then left" Scarlet summarized quickly, she knew Damon wanted to know Stefan's relationship with Katherine 2.0 but she felt like playing with him a little.

"That's it? No juicy gossip, no embarrassing first day moments?" He pushed further as they entered Scarlet's room.

It really lived up to her name, all the soft furnishings were red with small accents of black. From bedding to carpet, it was dark and plush. Everything else was the standard dark wood that had been with the Boarding house when he was fully built.

Caroline liked to joke that Scarlet was secretly a little goth kid, but Scarlet would deny it to the very end.

"Ok Regina George, let me think!" Damon scoffed at the reference, throwing himself on to her bed, making himself comfy amongst the cushions. Meanwhile Scarlet settled herself on the bottom half of the bed by Damon's feet.

"There isn't much to tell to be honest Damon, all I've heard is how much of a Heart throb Stefan is." Scarlet made a disgusted face before continuing.

"Oh! But he was swapping longing looks with Elena throughout every class he compelled his way into. Beyond creepy if you ask me." She knew this is what Damon wanted to know, it was something she was sure he suspected but he'd get a kick out of it nonetheless.

"Oh Stefan, you're making this almost too easy." Damon muttered more to himself that to Scarlet. By the look on his face Scarlet knew he was scheming. He was thinking of all the ways he could use Elena to torture Stefan.

It wasn't something Scarlet had a real problem with, she was well aware there was nothing she could do to stop Damon and even if she did give Stefan a warning she doubted he'd heed it.

Besides she had way better things to do than getting involved in their drama.

Rolling her eyes she pulls herself off of her bed and makes her way over to her closet, Caroline had asked her to hang out at the grill for dinner, but that meant hanging around little Miss Gilbert and her bestie Bennett. Browsing her closet trying to decide if it was worth the effort of changing she was starting to win her inner debate on why she should stay at home.

"I want you to tell me about Elena and all her little friends. I need a way in" And bingo, Scarlet had found her reason to stay home instead.

Even if it did still involve Caroline's other friends…

"I'm not your way in? Well now I feel a little offended" she joked looking over her shoulder towards Damon who was still lounging on her bed like he owned it.

"Don't be so touchy, you don't have any friends." He paused for a second as Scarlet raised her eyebrow.

"Well besides me, and really I don't think you need any more than that. I'm pretty awesome."

"Dick."