"He hates me," I heard Elena say to bonnie as I stepped up to my twin and our friend Bonnie who she was moaning and complaining to, "who hates you," I with a confused expression on my face, I was so out of the loop with their conversation. Bonnie gestured toward me and Elena's childhood friend Matt Donavan.

I Knew Matt Donavan, we both had known him since we were babies his mom Kelly, and our mom were best friends in high school, "Elena, he could never bring himself to hate you. Although he might not understand your decision for the break-up or be sad at the thought of you moving on, what the two of you shared before- it can't be turned into hatred." I signed offering her a sympathetic look in the eyes before giving her a hug, trying to offer her comfort.

"Besides, if he does hate you, I'll kick his ass." I continued to sign.

I jostled her companionably with my elbow, a gesture of solidarity—we were twin girls who weren't to be messed with, not those Southern belle types that are always fawned over for their beauty and doll-like behavior. We weren't the kind of girls who followed orders; we were something else entirely. I thought of all the women I admired not only in my real life like Liz Forbes who was the sheriff of the town and a pretty dam good one, my own mother of course who made her way up in the social structure when she wasn't a founding family member, and then there were the many literary women whom I looked up to.

women like Demelza Carne- Poldark from the 'Poldark book series' who rose from nothing and made something of herself, beyond what her station in life determine her course, she kept to her morals and values and didn't change because of who she married. We were Elizabeth Bennette, known for our beauty both in different ways, our good sense of the world, and our charm and wit. We were not known for letting life get us down, we may waffle sometimes when things are tougher than most, but we were strong women. my comment that Elena translated for Bonnie made my sister and my friend chuckle not only because of what I had expressed with my hands, but also with the fiery determined expression on my face.

"Gyda's right. That's not hate." Bonnie said as she pulled a book from her locker and stuffed it into her left arm while using her right to close the locker door.

"That's him saying, 'You dumped me, but I'm too cool to show it, but secretly I'm listening to Air Supply's greatest hits." I turned my head just as Matt closed his locker, glanced at us one last time, his eyes widened a fraction when his beautiful blue eyes landed on me, I gave him a slight wave and he gave one back, but I could tell that he wasn't going to come over and talk because he didn't want it to be awkward with Elena around.

We were then greeted by Caroline Forbes, Mystic Falls' cheer captain, activities committee chair, and the social adviser for our junior class. "Gyda! Elena! Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed as she embraced Elena with all her might. Elena returned the hug out of politeness while giving me and Bonnie a strained smile. It was obvious that she wasn't too excited to see Caroline, which made sense because when Care Bear gets her Queen "B" attitude going on, it can be a bit overwhelming. But we still loved her anyway. The exuberant blonde then turned her octopus-like arms on me and gave me an uncomfortably tight hug since she hadn't seen me all summer long.

"How are you? Oh, it's so good to see you, and welcome back, Gyda, I was so disappointed that we couldn't come over the day you came home;" Caroline said making her disapproval known to the three of us, but I wasn't going to feel bad about not wanting to see anyone other than my family the moment I got home, I mean for heaven sake give me twenty-four hours to settle in before you throw me to the wolves I thought irritated, "we should have a welcome home party for you this weekend." Caroline said excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet, nodding as if the decision was already made to Bonnie and Elena.

When she cast her gaze in my direction, her smile faded into a hesitant grin when she noticed the text translator in my hands. I could tell how apprehensive she was now that I couldn't respond to her verbally with my own voice. And from the way she was shifting on her feet I could tell that one of my best friends was now wary of me using a device to help me communicate, I would have scoffed, normally and told her off for her judgment of the disabled, but I couldn't do that anymore, I would have to find a way to get it through her thick blond curls that I may not be able to use my voice to talk, but I could communicate just fine, and I could function normally like I had in the past with the help of signing and my text translator, she didn't need to feel sorry about my disability, and she didn't need to be uncomfortable around me. "That would be great, Care, I can hardly wait to get back to what's familiar," The translator responded drolly.

Caroline glanced at the device and then at me uneasily, quickly averting her gaze by addressing Bonnie. "How is she doing?" She asked before switching focus to Elena. "And Gyda? Is she all right?" Her words felt like daggers as if I weren't even standing there.

I rolled my eyes in frustration; I was nearing the end of my patience with Caroline's behavior. It was infuriating how she pretended that I didn't exist just because I couldn't respond due to my disability. and I could see that my sister's patience was wearing thin too.

"Caroline, Gyda's right here; you don't have to talk about her as if she's invisible. And we're fine. Thank you." Elena said in a firm tone; she didn't like how Caroline dismissed me and I didn't like it either.

Caroline looked as if she hadn't even heard a word Elena had said as she looked between the three of us skeptically. I knew that underneath the shiny blond Vanier of popularity, cheerleading, and event planning lied a sweet, caring, and loyal friend, but that wasn't what she was being right now. No, I shook my head resignedly this was Caroline being her Queen 'B' Bitch persona, which she took out when situations arose that she didn't know how to handle like a normal person; well, I wasn't having that. So, when Caroline asked again, "Really?" I took the translator into my left hand and pinched her thigh, hard enough to cause Caroline to cry in pain, and jump away from me, she rubbed her leg contemptuously, while scowling at me.

I glared daggers at her, silently seething with anger. Grabbing my text translator, I harshly typed out the words: "Stop treating me like a fragile object, Caroline! I'm not someone who needs to be placated or locked away for my own safety." The robotic voice sounded off and I pierced her with a stony look that left no doubt that this was an ultimatum to my friend – shape up or else.

By the time the day was done, I was so overwhelmed and distressed by everything and everyone I encountered that I nixed my plans to visit mom and dad at the cemetery with Elena. Instead, I walked aimlessly through the forest until stumbling upon an old, ruined house; it was the site of the original Salvatore homestead, a place famous in history I knew this because of mom's involvement with the historical committee. The sight of the worn and dilapidated building filled me with grief, pain, and frustration; it was like a metaphor for my life— and what I felt like on the inside. What had once been strong and promising was now just rotted concrete and fallen brick. All I wanted to do was scream aloud, but the accident had taken away my voice, all I could do was choke back my emotions.

I carefully retrieved my Viola from it's carrying case. As I laid it across my lap, I adjusted the shoulder rest and tuned the strings. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and began to sing through my instrument in sorrowful tones from the well-known song in Phantom of the Opera. In that moment, I was Christine mourning her father's death; my music conveyed every ounce of ache for my own mom and dad who had passed away. All the while, I silently repeated the words I'd memorized.

"You were once, My one companion,
You were all that mattered.
You were once my friend and father,
Then my world was shattered.
Wishing you were somehow here again.
Wishing you were somehow near,
Sometimes it seemed
If I but dreamed,
Somehow you would be here.

The music floated over the rubble-strewn landscape; I was completely oblivious to my visible audience of one—a raven who was perched atop a mound of debris. drawn by the melody I was playing; I didn't notice how the curious the eyes of the bird followed the swaying of my body.

The Vampire watched the girl intently, despite not being a fan of her musical genre. He recalled meeting Gyda and her sister for the first time, mistaking Elena for Kathryn. At the time, he'd barely noticed Gyda besides an initial interest that had been born from her relation to Elena. But now, he was struck by how remarkable she was – poised, passionate, and incredibly talented. His past fascination with Elena had prevented him from seeing Gyda in that moment. While it wouldn't take him away from his purpose in Mystic Falls, the young woman certainly had enough to draw a bit of his attention. As he listened to her music, his mind strayed off to one of his own lost loves in a cemetery.

Wishing I could hear your voice again,
Knowing that I never would,
Dreaming of you won't help me to do.
All that you dreamed I could.

Passing bells and sculpted angels,
Cold and monumental,
Seem, for you the wrong companion.
you were warm and gentle.

Too many years of fighting the tears,
Why can't the past just die?

Wishing you were somehow here again,
Knowing we must say goodbye,
Try to forgive, teach me to live.
Give me the strength to try.

No more memories,
No more silent tears,
No more gazing across the.
Wasted years.

Help me say goodbye….
Help me to say goodbye…."

Rage filled Gyda as she thought of Caroline's words that morning and the sympathetic looks from her teachers. But when Elena mentioned Jeremy had been smoking weed before school, Gyda reached her boiling point. She channeled her anger into her next song: "Where's the Girl" from the production of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Tallinn on the other hand was invisibly perched on a branch of a tall old an oak tree, so neither Gyda nor the Raven spy could see him. He had watched the bird follow the sound of Gyda's music and fretted about his charge, knowing she craved peace today more than anything, he had heard the gossip rumbling around the school about her and he'd longed to Rune those schmucks into silence but knew doing that wouldn't help anything or anyone in the end. Gyda had to learn to cope with her disability, and the people that had problems with it, but that didn't stop him from carving a rune of pain or making certain body parts inoperable for twenty-four hours for a couple of bullies that were significant. He chuckled at the thought of Tyler Lockwood trying to have sexual relations with his sleazy girlfriend, Vickie Donovan, for the next day.

Before his first class started, and after he had his first encounter, with his charge in the office, Tallinn went to the stoner pit to smoke weed to chill out and get the lay around the kids that were most likely to kick it early in life, which was part of his job as a Valkyrie. He noticed that the Idiots was harassing Gyda's little brother and the insult he had given Gyda to her brother's face. He wasn't going to stand for the arrogant ass to get away with that without punishment, so he'd given him a sideways Ingwaz rune that would prevent him from fulfilling any sexual desires Tyler may have with any female he encountered; it made him chuckle to think that Tyler would be a wet noodle for the day, and not know why.

He swiftly grabbed his phone, hit the record button, and held it up to capture Gyda's stirring performance. Knowing Elijah, his long-time confidant of four hundred years, would be enthralled by her music and choice of song, he smiled. As a highly sophisticated vampire, Elijah loved anything passionate, cultured, and beautiful—Gyda was all three in one. Her playing was no exception.

Tallinn wanted to give his Vampire friend a gift, so he decided to have the phone record Gyda's playing. He knew his friend would appreciate it, especially because he had been so worked up lately trying to find his brother and other siblings. Meanwhile, Tallinn kept an eye on his companion.

I Remember days filled with restlessness and fury,
I remember nights that were drunk on dreams,
I remember someone who hungered for the glory,

I remember her.
But it seems she's gone.
Where's the girl? Where's the girl with the blaze in her eyes?
Where's the girl with a gaze of surprise?
Now and then, I still dream she's inside me.
Where's the girl who could turn on the edge of a knife?
Where's the girl that was burning for life?
I can still feel her breathing inside me.

And I know she remembers how fearless it feels.
To take off with the wind at her heels,
She and I took this world like a storm,
Come again.

Let the girl in my heart tumble free,
Bring your renegade heart home to me,
in the dark of the morning, I'll warm you.
I'll rouse you.

Gyda Marie, don't forget you know who you are
We were cut from the same silly star,
Like the jewels in the sky sharing fire!
Where's the girl, so alive and still aching for more
You had dreams that were worth dying for,
You were caught in the eye of a storm,
Come again.

Let the girl in your heart tumble free. Bring your renegade heart home to me!
In the dark of the morning, she'll warm you,
She'll Rouse you.
Where's the girl?

Is she gazing back at you with surprise?
Do you still see the blaze in her eyes?
Am I dreaming, or is she inside me Now?

After playing the Viola for what seemed like forever, I finally stopped and looked at my phone to check the time. Dozens of texts had come in since then; Bonnie asking me to meet her at the Grill, Jenna wondering where I was, and Elena explaining a strange Hitchcock-like incident that had occurred at the Cemetery earlier. She added some smiley faces as an exclamation on the end.

I was also surprised to find out it was late in the evening. Rushing to put away her instrument and accessories, Gyda jumped when a Raven suddenly cawed from its perched spot. She gasped with shock, her heart pounding wildly in her chest until it felt like it could burst. She furiously placed her hand over her heart, fingers trembling, "Oh my God! You almost gave me a heart attack!" She said in her mind.

The raven's cawing persisted; that's when I noticed its eyes seemed to be trained on me. I had an uneasy feeling like something was off. There was a strange intensity in the bird's gaze that made me feel uneasy, as if there was somebody else looking out from inside. "You certainly gave me a shock," said a voice monotonous and robotic of my text translator.

The bird hopped closer towards me and cocked its head back and forth as if it, or the person behind its eyes were trying to figure me out. I reached into my shoulder bag, pulled out some crackers that were bought earlier from the lunchroom vending machine, crushed them up, and threw them on the ground for the bird to nibble on while I watched it peck away. "I hope you enjoyed what I was playing," I said quietly. The Raven nodded in agreement. "It fit my mood perfectly; music is the only way I can express myself since my parents died four months ago." I typed out on my text translator

Tallinn was filled with foreboding as he observed the raven pecking at the offering that Gyda had laid out. He was aware that Vampires had the power to manipulate animals and wondered if this bird was one of them. His heart pounded as he slowly moved forward, using his rune magic to ensure he remained undetected. He was determined to keep Gyda safe, yet feared he might unveil himself as a Valkyrie prematurely to her to prevent an attack if the Vampire controlling the raven decided to strike.

"I have been so focused on learning sign language that I haven't had the time to process my emotions, and when I went back to school, it felt like my friends were treating me differently." The raven seemed to sympathize with me as it cawed and nodded its head in agreement.

I wiped away the tears that had escaped from my eyes, then let out a deep sigh before deciding I'd wallowed enough for the day. I cleared my throat and moved away from the raven, slinging the viola case back onto my shoulder. I waved goodbye to the bird before turning and heading off homewards.

_

From the window in my bedroom, I couldn't help but stare at the home beside mine. Jenna had told me about a family with a son my age had moved in, and sure enough, there he was - Tallinn. He was the same person I encountered earlier that morning and found intimidating. Though he shared many of Tyler's characteristics, which usually made me uncomfortable, I couldn't deny my curiosity about him.

Tallinn glanced over and noticed Gyda's eyes fixed upon him, so he grinned cheekily before winking playfully. A crimson hue painted her cheeks as she was caught admiring him, yet again. She timidly lifted her feet and moved towards him with a shy smile on her face; it felt like lifetimes had passed since their last conversation, instead of mere hours ago!

Tallinn motioned for Gyda to open her window, the corner of his lips curving into a devilish grin. His eyes glimmered in the dark and his teeth shined brilliantly. Gyda felt her heart pounding as she stared back at him. "What are you doing?" She asked him with sign language from behind the glass. Tallinn merely kept smiling, not wavering from her gaze as he gestured towards the window again. He signed confidently, giving her a mischievous dare. "Open it Gyda, if you're brave enough." His eyes twinkled with delight as his gleaming white teeth made another appearance.

I hated his cocky smile, and turned away from him and took out my sketchbook and began drawing the man I saw in my dreams hoping that if I got his image out on paper, I might be able to see the details of his face and figure out who he is.

Meanwhile Tallinn observed her with fascination as her back was turned from him. He couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "What a stubborn little thing," he murmured to himself as he stood alone in his room. "She's gonna be a tough nut to crack. But the challenge will be worth it!"

Elena rapped her knuckles on the frame of my door causing me to look up from my drawing pad in surprise. "I was about to head over to the grill and meet Bonnie. Did you want to come along? I know today has been rough on you, so I'll treat you to a vanilla milkshake and onion rings," she invited, crossing her arms and legs while learning.

I nodded in agreement and began to prepare for the night. I tucked my phone and wallet into my rear pockets, then placed the text translator in my front pocket. Elena's eyes widened as she caught sight of the drawing on my bed—of a tall man with dark hair dressed in an impressive suit. He was adjusting his tie with one hand while the other remained in his pocket. The drawing seemed almost alive as Elena noticed the details, however she couldn't make out any features of the face. "That's really impressive," she said nudging me with her shoulder. "It would be even better if you could finish it with a face!"

I rolled my eyes and smiled sarcastically and pushed Elena back teasingly, "It's just this guy that I've been dreaming about since the accident, I can't figure out if it's someone I knew, or my mind is conjuring up the perfect man." Gyda signed as they walked down the stairs.

Elena told Aunt Jenna that they were heading to the grill to meet Bonnie, and I offered a friendly wave as our strawberry-blonde aunt broke away towards the kitchen. "Have a good time!" Jenna replied, unaware of the late hour. then she swiftly turned around and, "Wait I got this, it's a school night, so don't stay out too long." Giving us a parental reminder before we left.

I applauded with an exaggerated flourish, winking at Aunt Jenna's charade of being the dutiful adult. Elena snorted, "Well done, Aunt Jenna." She tightly grabbed my arm and pulled us towards the door. I quickly yanked my arm away and fished out my text translator from my pocket. With a mischievous grin, I typed on it: "It's only just past eight! We can go for dinner and still be in bed by nine!"

Elena chuckled at her sister's witty comment, she turned to open the door and to her and Gyda's surprise Stefan and Tallinn was standing on their front step, "Oh," Elena exclaimed surprised to see her crush on her doorstep, and Tallinn standing right next to him with his hands in the front pocket of his tanned rolled up slacks wearing a white and blue striped Polo over a Grey T-shirt, and sockless dark brown wing tipped shoes.

I was so surprised that I didn't even know what I was signing until I signed it, "how the hell do you know Stefan?" Tallinn chuckled at my blurted out and abrasive statement that my hands poured out, and shrugged his shoulders easily, before signing back, "our parents were in the military together, my parents are based in Charlottesville so they're away a lot they bought a house in Mystic Falls so we could stay together since we only have two years before college and Stefan's uncle lives intown so I'm not totally without adult supervision." Tallen signed

Stefan shifted on his feet before explaining, "Sorry, I was about to knock. I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was...strange." he looked up at my sister through his blond eyelashes, it was totally a romance novel moment. Elena brushed her hair away from her face and reassured him with a gentle smile while Tallinn and I rolled our eyes, at their cuteness. "I understand, blood makes you squeamish," she said.

As I watched Tallinn's sour expression, I thought to myself with a smirk: "Finally they are taking the first steps towards happiness. Thank God, at least someone can be happy while I'm suffering all alone here." Secretly, I felt a bit of joy knowing that even though the pretty boy and I didn't have much in common, we both were disgusted by Elena and Stefan's flirting.

We made it to the grill Elena had drove me while Stefan and Tallinn drove together, we walked in I looked around trying to find Bonnie, and saw that Matt was sitting across from her, and he had seen us enter, he had lasered in on Elena and Stefan entering the grill together. "Oh god," I groaned in my head, I bit my lip trying to keep my uncomfortable expression from my face, I didn't want to be involved in their awkward greeting. I elbowed Tallinn and when he looked down at me, I signed, "Let's go order food and leave them to their graceless hellos and heart broken, and longing looks." Tallinn nodded and placed his hand behind my back leading me towards the Bar.

Tallinn raised an eyebrow as he propped himself against the Bar, gesturing impatiently at the bartender for their attention. "So, what is it teens do around here for fun?" he asked me, and I gave him an exaggerated roll of my eyes before signing with a sly smirk, "Oh you know, the usual stuff; illegal drinking on weekends."

he chuckled lightly shaking his head letting some of his perfectly quaffed silver hair fall into his steel gray eyes, I held my breath, and my heart started beating, not because I was interested in him, or thought he was cute although he certainly was all that but because for that instant he didn't look like a stupid arrogant douchebag, he looked more like a normal teen, more like me who was covering up his insecurities with a cocky attitude and bravado he didn't feel, although I couldn't know for sure if he was really that person or if it was just the way I was seeing him right now but, in that brief moment he was somehow more vulnerable to me, I could see that he was just a teenage boy in a new town, a new school, and his only friend was flirting with my sister. So, in like true Gilbert fashion I wiped the slate clean, I was going to give Tallinn my friendship, I was going to give him a bit of my trust and hopefully it wouldn't come back to bite me in the butt, I was going to be nice to him.

We completed our orders, but just before we could join up with Elena and Stefan, now accompanied by Caroline and Bonni in their booth, I decided to do something I had pledged not to do. My hands shook slightly as I started to sign, "Well, about illegally drinking on the weekend...there's a bonfire party at the falls tomorrow night. Everyone will be there. If you wanted to come, it's just as friends of course..." Silence filled the air as she anxiously awaited her response.

When I gazed into Tallinn's eyes, his expression lit up with a small smile. This was not the reaction I expected; I had anticipated something like "What is this, darling - are you asking me on a date?" As I mentioned earlier, self-aggrandizing men weren't my type. The sort of partner I dreamed about was someone like Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice: daring yet full of heart and willing to put aside pride for some higher goal. Also, I wanted a partner on an even footing that listened to my ideas for their worth, not due to my sex or our relationship status. Plus, it was essential for me that the relationship be passionate but regulated so both partners could find a balance between dominance and acquiescence.

The faceless figure of a man from my dreams came back to mind, as well as a barrage of images of screaming, blood, and tears form several of my family, friends, and town members, it was so many images that I swayed on my way to the table to join Elena, Stefan, Bonnie, and Caroline. Tallinn caught me by the Elbow as he took the tray of food away from my hands, "Gyda are you alright?" I heard the worry in his voice but wasn't as shocked as I would have been earlier in the day with having just changed my opinion about him.

I was sweating a bit from the intenseness of the images, I honestly didn't know where they were coming from, but they were starting to drive me nuts. "I don't know," heaved out a distressed sigh as I signed.

I looked at my new friend warily, afraid that if I explained what was going on he'd laugh in my face, but all I saw in his expression and his eyes was genuine concern for me, I looked down at my hands, and saw them shaking and I was disgusted with myself for letting this? whatever it was affect me so badly.

"Ever since the accident that took my parents and my voice, I've been having bizarre visions. Vampires drinking human blood, werewolves hunting in the woods, witches wielding magic against those who have displeased them whether those being hurt were good or bad… Even more hauntingly, I heard cries for help coming from a place unseen - they could see us, but we couldn't see them. And there was a man – faceless, yet somehow familiar to me in a way no one else was." I shook my head dejected it sounded crazy in my head, but it sounded even crazier when I explained it to someone who didn't know me or my life at all.

I'm not sure what I expected to hear but silence wasn't it. There was a heavy silence as I finished explaining, during which Tallinn just stared at me with an unreadable expression. I almost expected him to laugh in my face or mock me for being so silly, but instead he just gave me a light smile and nodded thoughtfully. He didn't try to dismiss or deny my experience, seemed instead to be giving it serious consideration.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke with a soft voice that made me feel like I could tell him anything. "Gyda," he said gently, "I think you are very brave for sharing what you've been experiencing with me." He paused and then added, thinking about how she was exhibiting the first signs of becoming a Volva, a prelude to becoming the Valkyrie she was meant to become. "Have you told anyone else?"

My cheeks were burning as I shook my head no. It wasn't something I had wanted to share with my family or close friends, because I didn't want them to worry about me more than they already did. But here in this moment, with Tallinn who had only just become part of my life, I felt like there was something more than understanding in his eyes - something that made speaking up easier than it had ever been before.

"Maybe," Tallinn continued slowly as he looked deep into my eyes, he was shifting nervously, I didn't think it was because he was hiding something, that didn't even cross my mind, because I had decided to trust him, but I thought his nervousness was maybe because he was going to rationalize what I said but he didn't want to offend me since our friendship was so tentative and new but I was surprised by him again, "You can talk to me about your visions and the man from your dreams? You deserve to know what's happening and why you're having these experiences. Even if I don't know what's happening to you, just getting it out without someone judging you, and I won't I've had experiences in my life that no normal person could come up with an explanation, but it helps to talk about it."

I could feel the tightness in my chest start to release as I nodded slowly in agreement. It had taken a lot for me to trust him so soon with something like this and feel comfortable accepting help to make things easier - but now that I knew it did, I was ready to take another step forward into finding more out about this all of this and what was happening to me. "Thank you, Tallinn." I signed shyly as I steadied myself and walked towards my sister. "No problem, Sweetheart." he said impishly, checking me with his hip which hit me just above my own since he was around five foot ten feet tall to my five foot seven.

"So, you were born in Mystic Falls Stefan?" Caroline asked with a hint of curiosity, twirling her straw around and bringing it up to her lips while simultaneously delicately cupping the top of her plastic bar cup.

I tried to bite down on my tongue to keep the smile that was threatening to creep up on my face while I locked eyes with Tallinn who was sitting next to me on the end of the booth table in two chairs, we had dragged over from a single table to join the group. I watched amusedly as Stefan uncomfortably avoided Carolines Lazer blue eyes, "Mm-Hmm. And moved when I was still young. I met Tallinn and his parents in New Orleans when our parents shipped off to Somalia to help intervene in their civil war in 1995," he expertly lied to Elena, Gyda and their friends.

Tallinn winked his eye at me smiling conspiringly enjoying Stefan's misery as Caroline tried to get him to pay her a bit of attention, from Stefan who was obviously too interested in my twin. "We've been friends ever since, and we've stayed with each other while our parents were deployed together or if they were deployed separately, that's why my parents feel comfortable leaving me on my own here while they're away since they know I have Stefan and his uncle to keep me out of trouble." He said as he reached over and gave Stefan a hearty slap on the arm in his "Bro," like fashion.

I jousted his shoulder with a smirk that said I thought he was silly, "You must need someone to keep you from getting into trouble around the clock, huh?" I typed on my text translator before dipping my onion rings in fry sauce, causing everyone to chuckle, Tallinn glared half-heartedly at my comment, before eyeing me with a mysterious glint in his eye talking lowly conspiratorially to me, I couldn't help but indulge him in his childish antics and leaned closer to him to hear what he had to say, "This might surprise you to hear, but I'm quite responsible for a seventeen year old sweetheart, Stefan is the one with the wild side underneath his well styled hair and cool loner guy exterior." My eyebrows raised slightly in surprise.

Stefan reminded me of Colonel Brandon, the reserved and brooding British officer from Sense and Sensibility. I hoped Stefan would appreciate Elena for her soulful nature and intellectual self like Colonel Brandon did with Marrianne. I had no response to Tallin's words, so I just silently nodded in agreement, trusting that Tallin knew Stefan better than we did.

Bonnie took a sip of her drink, then curiously questioned, "And you, Tallinn... where were you born?" Tallinn nearly choked on his fries at the inquiry - it seemed Gyda's friends were being quite nosey. Although he was taken aback, he figured that girls got like this when they thought other boys might have a thing for their friend. As far as Tallinn was concerned, he was interested in Gyda but not in the romantic sense; he wanted her to be comfortable with him, so their relationship was strong when Tallinn began teaching her how to become a Valkyrie. After clearing his throat, Tallinn replied, "Err... You caught me off guard! Sorry about that. I was born in a U.S. military base hospital in Norway."

"Are your Parents on deployment?" Bonnie asked Stefan inquisitively trying to pull more details about Stefan and Tallinn so she could give Elena and Gyda her honest opinion, "No, but they're Staying close to the base in Charlottsville," Tallinn expressed. I gave Bonnie an incredulous look, when she caught my eyes, she shrugged her shoulders Un-apologetically so I did it for, I turned to Stefan and Tallinn and Signed out my apology while mouthing, "Sorry" giving them my own apologetic look since Bonnie didn't care about offending Them, and I did since I would be incredibly offended by the intrusive questions that my and Elena's two best friends were launching at Stefan and Tallinn.

"It's alright Gyda," Stefan said gently, patting my hand in reassurance, while Tallinn just gave me an exasperated eyeroll, which I appreciated that they weren't getting upset at my insensitive friends. "My parents passed on," he continued to explain, seemingly unbothered by the intrusive nature of Bonnie's question.

Elena and I looked at each other with heartbroken and sympathetic expressions, still feeling the pain of our own parent's loss, "we're so sorry Stefan, do you Any siblings to help you through it?" I pulled Elna's hand over and squeezed her hand comfortingly feeling the guilt seep into my heart that I hadn't been there for her and Jeremy because I'd been off to New York learning sign language and coping with my disability.

Elena squeezed my hand back giving me a smile full of love, understanding and compassion, my twin knew I agonized and drowned in guilt that I wasn't there for her and Jeremy, she knew that I was putting the weight of her melancholy and Jer's drug use on my shoulders, I knew she didn't want me to bare that burden but I was the older sibling, it was my job to look after them.

Stefan bent his head and I saw his jaw tighten, and his hands reflectively tighten a bit, but stopped before they turned into fists, it made me think, maybe he didn't have a close relationship to them like I did with my siblings, or at least the relationship I used to have before the accident, "None that I talk to. It's part of the reason I live with my uncle."

Caroline shifted the conversation away from the depressing theme of death and loss, addressing her two male companions. "So, being new here, you and Tallinn probably aren't aware of the party tomorrow," Caroline inquired flirtatiously towards the two boys, "at the falls." Bonnie joined in, adding more details. "It's a beginning of the school year tradition," Bonnie informed swiping hair from her eyes, Tallinn knocked his knuckles on the table in an uninterested manner "Gyda asked me to come as a friend," Tallinn said with a friendly smile in my direction. I nodded light-heartedly as I finished off the last Onion ring.

Stefan nodded and grinned at me nodding in appreciation that I was welcoming his friend so openly, then faced Elena and asked, "Are you going?" His eyes shone with anticipation, "Of course she is." Bonnie enthused; before Elena could answer for herself if Elena and I were honest with ourselves, it was more than trepidation we were feeling about going to the party; we didn't know if we were ready to go to another party in the woods since the last one had ended in such disaster... But after Bonnie's confirmation, Elena smiled tightly and nodded because Gyda had already told them she and Tallinn were going.

Tallinn's POV:

I felt encouraged after Stefan and I said goodbye to Gyda and Elena this evening. I knew I wouldn't be able to break through her formidable defenses in one night, that it would take a lot of time and effort. It was like trying to crack an eggshell.

I needed the strength to smash it open quickly, but being strangers, we had no prior acquaintance to give me that kind of power. Mystic Falls was a hub for supernatural activity, old and new, so I needed to get her trust fast if I wanted to prepare her for all the difficulties ahead.

Stefan dropped me off at the front door of my home, "Are you reaping tonight?" Stefan asked me as he idled in my driveway.

"Yeah," I replied, resting my rune-marked arms on Stefan's car door window. "I only have a two to tackle, and then I can punch out - literally!" Stefan nodded hesitantly.

I knew he was questioning why I didn't try to save those souls instead, and I had explained this to him countless times.

I wasn't a Norn who could alter fate, nor a witch who used their power for selfish gain without giving anything back; my job was straightforward: collect the souls and ensure they were sent to the correct realm. If he wanted fate changed, he'd have to wait until Gyda developed her abilities as a Valkyric-Volva — but even then, she wouldn't be able to fix everything.

I gazed at my friend, who was sober and still retaining his humanity. He was the most gentle and caring vampire on earth, so it saddened me to think that he only saw death as something sorrowful when for most souls, it wasn't; it was a relief and a release. "Yes, I hear you loud and clear. But let's not be naive here - life isn't just a whimsical bedtime story; conflict is necessary to experience growth, and life and death are universal truths." I said artfully. Stefan looked away, deciding to ignore my statement.

"Every action and inaction reverberate in this world, and you know that better than anyone. Through these connections, humans—and even the supernaturals—evolve, are educated, and comprehend one another better." I started as I pushed myself away from the car and walked towards my front door.

I glanced at Gyda's window, saw her talking to Elena and Jenna with her text-translating device, and heard her say, "Trying to teach her that? Might be the toughest trial I'll ever face." Satisfied that Stefan had left, and no one was paying attention, I activated my invisibility runes and skirted the outskirts of town.