CHAPTER ONE; PILOT

❝ well now really when we go back into falling in love. and say, it's crazy. falling. you see? we don't say 'rising into love'. . there is in it the idea of the fall. and it goes back, as a matter of fact, to extremely fundamental things. that there is always a curious tie at some point between the fall and the creation ❞

˚ ༘ ·˚꒰ 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒚 𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒐 ꒱ ₊

˚ˑ1:35 ━━━●───── 3:47

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

volυмe : ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇▉

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ the gilbert house ❞

A THICK LAYER OF SWEAT COVERED MAYA as she was forced from her anything but her peaceful slumber. Like most nights for the last sixth months it was plagued with nightmares forcing her to relive the night her life forever changed. A night that since robbed the light right from behind Maya's once playful eyes. So, like all the other nights, she had pulled herself from her bed dragged herself to her clothes and went running.

When she would come back she would be so exhausted she would sleep soundly until morning. Today however was different, it was her first day back to school with the summer ending. The best thing about the summer was the freedom to self destruct it offered Maya, with school coming back she would at least need to pretend to be okay.

But how could she? Everything had become so pointless to her and Maya didn't see a point to it all; what was so important about school? What was the hell point? To graduate? Get a some job that she was never going to want to try and get out of debt her going to school caused? Have a family with someone she didn't love just to please society? Was that gonna be her life? Would that be all she would amount to? All that pressure she put herself under to be perfect would end up meaning nothing when all is said and done?

Most likely.

Maya returned home just as the rest of her house was awakening only in time to shower and dress for her day. Something simple but on the first day of school it used to fill her with excitement but she couldn't muster the energy now.

That was who Maya was, she used to be able to find joy in every little thing that she experienced. It didn't matter how big or how small it was, she helped everyone around her see how fun and adventurous things could be. But nearly drowning to death and watching your parents die because they made the mistake of coming to pick their miscreant daughter up from a party can change that about a person.

Over the summer the vivid memory of the accident made a mess out of Maya that would shock even her parents. She had certainly exhausted Elena who had spent the entire summer covering up after her younger twin. It was easy for everyone, Maya included, to say Elena was just being a good sister, but it was easier to take care of the mess that her sister made than deal with her own pain.

Part of Maya knew this, but she was happy to let her take care of her, especially on nights she was too drunk to walk. Or needed someone to sneak her in past Jenna who had been smart enough to wait by the door for her niece but could never manage to stay awake long enough to see her break curfew. But May couldn't help herself, the only things that made her feel anything were the exact things everyone tried to stop her from doing.

Things she had at least spared herself the night of to ensure she wouldn't wake up hungover and more miserable than ever. Which allowed her to finish getting ready fairly swiftly and just as she was buckling up her belt she heard Elena calling up for her, "Maya come on or we're gonna be late!"

The Gilbert girl swallowed hard taking a look at her blue jeans and white crop shirt with her laced black tank top peeking through. "One hour at a time Maya. Baby steps," she whispered under her own breath before she reached down at the foot of her dresser grabbing her back pack.

As she made her way downstairs she watched as Jenna waved her goodbye rushing out of the door. May made her way into the kitchen in time to have her brother Jeremy squeeze his way past her wearing that same frustrated look he always wore whenever he felt Elena was lecturing him. 

Maya opened her mouth to attempt to stop him, but anything she thought of seemed hypocritical of her to even think of. "He won't talk to me, and he still won't talk to you," Elena said softly knowing that her younger siblings had always confided in each other. When May had felt no one picked her first Jeremy was the one person she never doubted would choose her.

And she wasn't wrong, in his eyes Maya was his hero, until going to pick her up cost him their parents. She couldn't look him in the eye, and he couldn't stand the sight of her sometimes, which made him hate himself more. "He'll talk when he's ready," Maya attempted to ensure not fully trusting her own words.

Elena huffed the uncertainty being too clear in her twins voice for her comfort. Nevertheless there was nothing they could do to fix any of that now. Grabbing the travel cups Elena had filled with blueberry smoothies she offered it to her sister saying, "You ready for today?"

The question had been all Maya needed to summon the actress in her. As always she reflected back a version of herself she knew the person before her wanted to see; Elena just wanted her sister back.

Forcing a grin she cheekily gestured to her outfit saying, "Absolutely, got my cutest jeans that make my ass look great, my favorite silver Aphrodite pendant, a good hair day and you've made me a smoothie. What more could a girl want?" Our parents, May begrudgingly thought through her smile.

Elena gave a soft smile, "Nothing I guess. Let's go, Bonnie is outside," she said as her sister took the cup in hand.

The pair of twins swiftly made their way out of the house and towards their friends car that was waiting for them. Maya took her normal seat in the back greeting, "Hey Bonnie."

Bonnie smiled from the drivers seat returning, "Hi Maya."  As they began to drive Maya could faintly hear Bonnie talking in the background. She wasn't listening to her though, she was just thinking about what was gonna happen when she got back to school. She had been so caught up grieving and trying to seem okay she didn't even have time to think about her ex, Tyler Lockwood. Maya knew she still loved him, inn fact she doubted she would never stop loving him, but she couldn't be with him.  

The only person Maya managed to blame more than herself for the accident was Tyler. It was easy, being angry with him for cheating on her that night with Vicki Donovan ( again ) and that mess of a fight that came from it that caused her parents to come get her and be killed for it. Blaming him for it was the only thing that got her through the first few days. 

The last time they spoke before summer was when they broke up, after her parents funeral when he tried to pay his respect. He found her in her room, and before he hardly got a word out Maya had begun screaming and hitting him. It was as if all the rage she had been bubbling up over the days leading up to the funeral finally exploded and Tyler got the worse of it.

Not that he didn't necessarily deserve it, but even Maya had to admit it was a little unfair. He couldn't have known being a dick to his girlfriend would lead to such a horrible death and a lifelong fear of water for Maya. Nearly drowning at the nearly lightless bottom of a quarry she used to play in by the bridge she driven over 1,000's of times would do that to a girl. All things that blaming Tyler for was easier than blaming herself like her mind wanted her to.

But no matter how easy blaming him had become it didn't make missing how he made her feel any lesser. Maya couldn't deny that when they were bad they were bad, but when they were good...Maya never felt more understood by anyone. Her rage and unpredictable nature made her hard to love, but Tyler, even in their worse moments, never found her hard to love. She infuriated him more than anyone, challenged him like no other, but loving her was the easiest thing Tyler ever did.

Which was why as they drew closer to the school her stomach began to twist up in knots. Had she not been in Bonnie's car she would've instinctively reached and lit her cigarettes. Another lovely trait that had worsened for Maya, what had started as casual party smoking had become an every day thing with any stressors that came her way. But for sake of it being a closed vehicle she decided to wait a bit longer.

Suddenly her thoughts were hauled when the car came to a screeching halt forcing her put her hand out hitting the seat in front of her stopping her from hitting it. Her heart was caving in of itself and she swore for a second she was somewhere else, somewhere dark. But as fast as she was there she was back in the car again and Bonnie was rushing out, "Oh my god! Guys, are you okay? A-Are you okay?"

The Bennett was glancing between the twins waiting for either to say something. For a moment neither of them could, "It's ok. We're fine," Elena forced out looking back at her sister who simply nodded to ensure her as she leaned back against the seat. 

With her hand placed over her heart Maya inhaled and exhaled listening to Bonnie fumbling words, "It was like a bird or something. It came out of nowhere--"

Hearing her attempt to rationalize things for her sake, Maya finally spoke up to tell her, "It's okay Bonnie. I may need a cigarette when we get to school after that but I really, I can't be freaked out by cars, or water for the rest of my life." Before the only things that scared Maya was feeling rejected or abandoned, things people could make her feel not things in the world. In that regard she was nearly fearless, she hated how water had now in her mind become synonymous with death. Cars would not be a thing added to an already frustratingly long list for the Gilbert girl.

But what had really begun to scare Maya was the thought of her never caring about anything like she used to. What if she spent the rest of her life thinking nothing mattered to her at all again? She missed when she wanted more than just getting through the day. More than limiting herself to the role of the protective sister.

Bonnie sucked in a breath pondering for a moment before she bgena to tell her, "I dont know if you heard, but I;m psychic so I'm going to give you this prediction free of charge before I start really making money off this hidden talent." Her lighthearted comment made Maya shake her head her eyes glisten in a way they rarely did anymore. Sitting up straight Bonnie said to Elena who she had originally begun to say this to, "So, I predict this year is going to be kick ass. And I predict all the sad and dark times are over and you are going to be beyond happy."

She looked directly to Maya next adding on, "And for you I predict that you're gonna be able to find yourself and you will make it through this." Maya forced a thankful smile at her friend hoping to god that she was right as she pulled away form the curb. 

It wasn't long after that the three girls arrived at the school and Maya excused herself to do exactly as she had said. Before she had even reached the the south parking lot she had it out of her hand and lighter ready. She didn't bother to check before she lit it and leaned against the tree inhaling the smoke. As soon as she exhaled it allowed her fidgeting body enough quiet to enjoy the shade she was under.

It was the tail end of southern Virginian heat and even in her thin shirt it was starting to weigh on her. She watched as student passed her by, some happily reuniting with friends, others dragging themselves to the door trying to fight sleep, and the rest were just too consumed with their own lives to notice anything. Part of Maya was convinced if she took the lit cigarette to her skin and burned herself tjey wouldn't look up for even her screams. 

After all they hardly blinked when her parents died, when her father the town doctor would no longer care for them they never even thought more about him. Her mother was barely a footnote in the articles about it, it mentioned "Grayson Gilbert, and Wife killed in tragic accident. Daughter in critical condition." That was all her mother was, a wife. And all Maya was, was the surviving daughter, and not even the one everyone liked.

Her thoughts were just about to consume her when a familiar squeal calling out for her broke her train of thought. "MJ! Put that thing out," no one hated Maya smoking more than Caroline Forbes so she knew exactly who was coming towards her. She looked up just in time to see the familiar blonde getting out of her car parking just a few feet away.

For her convenience, Maya outed the cigarette before Caroline was close and handing her perfume. "Please, use this or else the rest of the day you're gonna smell like some trailer park cigarette mom."

"Good morning to you too sweet Caroline," teased the Gilbert girl taking her friends perfume spraying herself with its strawberry scent. 

As she handed it back the blonde was intertwining their arms leading her into the school saying, "You know, its been months and you think some people would've used the time to improve upon themselves from last year." It disappointed the girl how not everyone took the effort she had to take of their appearance; it amused Maya how much Caroline cared.

Not that Maya didn't agree, some of these kids weren't even trying to look human. She was depressed and she still managed to make herself look like something. Granted, most people not her own age never liked how Maya chose to look 'put together' over how they'd like her to look. As the pair made their way through the maroon double doors Maya replied, "Not everyone used their time to be as productive as you are."

"Well they could at least try. I am leading by example after all," Caroline said with a refreshing ability to not treat Maya like she was broken. The Gilbert was shattered, barley holding together but Caroline allowed her to exist without treating her like she was only an orphaned child. It didn't matter if she was an orphan because after all she was still her MJ, even if she was hidden underneath all her grief she was a little different but it was still her.

Her self destructive tendencies were always there, and Caroline would always be there to pull her back. And it was nice to simply be her old self, even if they both knew it was just wishful thinking. They just made their way around the corner when the blonde laid her eyes on the Bennett and older Gilbert at Elena's locker.

Before she knew anything, the blonde was throwing her arms around the perfect twin saying, "Elena! Oh, my god. How are you? Oh, it's so good to see you." As she pulled back she looked between Bonnie and Maya asking them, "How is she? Is she good?"

The twins shared a look before Elena decided to speak up, "Uh Caroline, I'm right here. And I'm fine," she answered offering a fake smile as she added on, "Thank you."

"Really," Caroline asked but even Maya could tell she didn't really wanna know the answer. No one ever really wanted to know the answer, they just don't want to feel guilty for not asking the girls about how they were doing.

Still showing her fake smile Elena repeated herself, "Yes. Much better."

"Oh, you poor thing," Caroline said smiling pulling the Gilbert into a hug once more. Which was weird considering she didn't look to be that strong but her grip had locked Elena in. Years of cheer had paid off for the blonde it appeared.

Patting her on the back hinting she wanted to be released Elena eased, "Ok, Caroline."

Pulling away from the grasp she looked between them all knowing she had to go a different way for her first class than the three of them, "Oh! Ok, see you guys later?" She turned walking away from the girls who all gave her half smiles, they loved Caroline but she sometimes could be a little...tone deaf. 

"No comment," Elena said shutting her locker.

"I'm wasn't going to say anything," Bonnie defended sounding slightly amused by the whole thing.

"You better not," playfully hissed the Gilbert. In their group of four their had been a clear division, Caroline and Maya were closer while Elena and Bonnie tended to be more akin to each other. Which over the years had lead to disagreements especially when more often than not, it was Caroline who ended up on her own. Well not for long anyway, Maya was always right behind her. Nevertheless they were still sisters, even sometimes they all fought.

The three girls linked arms walking down the hall together having small conversation. They were just about to pass the office when Bonnie gripped their arms tighter pulling them into a screeching stop. "Wait, hold up. Who's this," she asked pointing towards a guy who was dressed in mostly all black but other than that not much else could be seen.

Maya simply shrugged adjusting her tote bag that had nearly slipped from her shoulder when Bonnie stopped them, "All I see is back." From what she could tell, he had short brown hair, he seemed pretty fit if she were honest, with his jacket hugging his sides in only the best ways.

"It's a hot back," Bonnie argue humming a moment before she joked with focused eyes, "I'm sensing Seattle and he plays the guitar."

Elena shook her head letting out a small laugh asking, "You really are gonna run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?"

The Bennett girl laughed, "Pretty much." 

Joining in on the joke the younger twin added, "And I predict he will be a tortured artist." Her statement made Bonnie break character while Maya turned her head to the side seeing her little brother Jeremy walking into the bathroom while someone told him he had a good batch as he passed by.

Knowing exactly what they meant Maya pulled away from her friends following her brother into the boy's bathroom before their sister noticed. Not caring if any other boy was in there Maya pushed the door open, "Whoa! Pants down, chick," she ignored the boy walking up to her brother.

"Great. It's the first day of school and you're stoned," Maya scolded angrily. Over the summer, and worse than even Maya, Jeremy had fallen hard from his former life. He was a full on pot head, which Elena considered made him a drug addict but Maya said he was less an addict and more on border-lining addiction. Jeremy didn't smoke so much he literally could not live without it, or he was stealing to get money for it. He was just a boy who never had before who started doing it a lot more over the last eight months.

Maya knew for a fact there were weeks he wasn't even doing it, weeks he was sneaking around doing something else. Whatever it was he wouldn't tell her, but Maya could see through him. She saw his pain turning into his armor he used against them all, and none worse than her. Both of which were horrible and self destructive, but didn't really make him an addict, not yet at least. It made him a lost teenage boy who needed his sisters, even the one who was the one person he fought the most.

She had spent the entire summer watching her brother destroy himself, and though it may have been hypocritical, she couldn't let him do the same to himself that she had been doing almost all her life. "No, I'm not," he shook his head still putting the eye drops in his pocket.

Maya scoffed, "How fucking dumb do you think I am," she snapped shoving her brother back so she could begin searching him. "Is it on you? I bet you don't even care enough to hide the shit," she followed up with knowing if anything that had been something he had learned from her. Most of his new habits were things he learned from watching Maya get caught, or not getting caught. Which only made her feel more responsible for his choices than she needed to.

Pushing her off him Jeremy shouted back at her, "Stop, all right?! You need to chill yourself, all right?"

His sister nearly twitched, without thought she slapped him upside his head, "Get fucked dude, who the hell even says shit like that? 'Chill yourself' twelve year old insults aren't gonna stop me from checking your pockets Jeremy."

"Look, stop," he yelled again pushing her off once more. "I don't have anything on me. Are you crazy?"

"Oh you think this is crazy," challenged his sister moving her head to force him to keep looking at her as she spoke. Maya laughed at herself warning her brother, "Jeremy I have been itching for something to focus on so do not let me make that you because you wanna know what you'll get? True craziness Jeremy. Because I will make it my mission to be so far up your ass you won't be able to blink without thinking I am gonna catch you doing some shit you're not supposed to be doin'. I will not let you destroy one more thing for yourself, you're not me. You're better, so be better."

Jeremy just laughed bitterly towering over his middle sister taunting, "You know what Maya I'll stop acting like this when you start acting like yourself again." The force of his voice almost made her forget it was her brother speaking to her. It almost reminded her of their father when he was mad at her for failing, whether in life or in training it always made him angry. And he was always so much angrier with her failings than he was with their siblings. It never made sense to her, but it was the one thing she didn't miss about them being gone.

In fact it made her feel a little okay about it, which only did make her feel worse. Yet right there in that moment Maya felt so small in his presence, and he seemed so full of hate, "You sit up in your room all the time crying, and when you leave it you act like nothing happen. And then you leave to go party just like me, you drink all night, or you run all morning. Well no amount of running is gonna change that mom and dad are dead because they went to pick your drunken ass up."

She knew he had felt this way, but hearing it was worse than she could ever imagine. And Jeremy wasn't finished yet, "So excuse me if i'm not okay, because newsflash, you're not either, Maya. You're broken just like the rest of us, and you're the most broken of us all. So stop acting like you're not the same fuck up as the rest of us."

Something snapped within her when he said that, Maya slapped him as hard as she could leaving a mark on his face as she spat, "Fuck you." The look in her eyes instantly told him where this was going. He had gone for punches with his words, Maya was about to go for blood. And one thing about her was that when she went for blood, she became like a feral animal most times and right now was one of those times. 

"I see right through you too Jeremy. You are nothing but a scared little boy who even though he claims he's angry with me has done nothing but try and be me. Everything you do is something you learned from me, so hate me, it's gonna changed that I am you're blood and that mom and dad are dead and they're not coming back. I was always going to destroy my own life, we all knew that. Everyone said it, I was defective one out of the three of us, but you? You were kind, protective, and selfless boy who loved art and learning. Now? You're so consumed with anger you're gonna ruin you're life. And I don't care if it make me a hypocrite Jeremy I won't fucking let you ruin your life and I'll let you hate me for it too."

"I don't hate you," Jeremy attempted but he still warned, "But keep pushing me Maya and I will. I don't need this and I don't need you." The youngest Gilbert allowed his shoulder to hit hers as he walked out.

As the door shut behind him Maya closed her eyes taking a deep breath closing her eyes trying to silence the voices in her head each giving her a new bad idea. But she forced them out of her head for today at least, Elena deserved one day she didn't have to clean up after Maya. She rubbed her face wishing she was home before she forced herself to leave the bathroom only to smack right into someone when she did.

She was about to say 'sorry' when she caught by eyes like the forrest for a moment before she let out a breathy laugh, "I'm so sorry."

"Uh, pardon me. Um... Is this the men's room," he asked looking at the doorway she had just walked out of. 

Realizing how suggestive the sight was Maya laughed nervously at herself again trying to explain, "Yes, and you see...the thing about that that is." She tried to find words but the truth seemed just as bad as a lie. Waving her hand she shook off the idea, "It's not important I'll just let you go to the bathroom." Maya attempted to go to the left and sneak around him but in his attempt to let her leave he went the same direction.

They moved once more both to the right, finally the boy moved aside letting her pass. Maya smiled grateful, "Thank you." She walked pass him, but as she went to turn the corner she gave him one last look, and found him already looking. Maya blushed a deep red, and all that went through her mind was that maybe there would be light at the end of her dark tunnel.

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❝ mystic falls high school ❞

Mr. Tanner. The worst teacher in all of Mystic Falls high in Maya's opinion and most of the opinions of every child he ever taught. For lack of better words Maya frequently called him a complete and utter dick. He was especially so whenever he saw her ever since she first became a freshman. It only got worse when she was dating Tyler, Tanner thought she was distracting him from football. In all fairness she was, but she wasn't forcing him to be distracted, he just loved her. Maya always tried to force him to go to practice, but they alway found something more...fun to do.

Plus she also found Tanners class extremely boring, all he ever did was talk and not even with good conversation. "Once our home state of Virginia joined confederacy in 1861, it created a tremendous amount of tension within the state. People in Virginia's Northwest region had different ideals than those from the traditional deep south. Then Virginia divided in 1863 with the northwest region joining the union." Maya rolled her eyes listening to him speak resisting her urge to tear at her own ears and spare herself this. Suddenly she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, slowly, and carefully she pulled it out.

TEXT FROM: The Bonnie Bennett <3

message: HAWT-E. STARING @ U

Out of curiosity, Maya slowly turned around seeing the boy from earlier with the beautiful green eyes looking at her. She didn't mean for it to, but it did make her happy being looked at by someone the way the new boy was. She pressed her lips together forcing herself to turn around unable to keep looking at him without blushing.

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❝ msytic grill ❞

Right after school Maya went straight to the Grill to work until she and her friends would be meeting later in the night. About five and half hours, three cigarettes breaks later, Maya was finally able to at least enjoy some food and map out her syllabus for the semester. Distractions were her best friends now and with school coming back it would give her something new to use. She was sitting silently when she felt someone sit down across from her. 

Maya looked up confused seeing a man with raven black hair and blue eyes sitting there. "Can I help you," she asked dryly with a raise brow.

The man stared at her for a moment, it made Maya feel as if she was under a microscope with how he was trying to notice every single detail. After a moment he smiled tightly saying, "No, just bored and looking for a pretty face to talk to."

"Well I'm meeting people here, so," she trailed off hoping he would just take the hint and leave.

"Well then I'll stay with you until they show up," he offered making her role her eyes at his forward nature. Usually she would play into it, but right now boys, or in this case, men, weren't one of distractions she wanted. "What are you doing there," he reached over grabbing her notebook from under her hands.

Watching as his flipped through it she tilted her head, "Homework. Something that teenagers do, you should know you look like you were one...a couple hundred years ago." She leaned forward over the table snatching the notebook back.

"Ouch," the man stated sarcastically faking hurt, "Someone's got some issues."

"Do I have issues or do I just want the stranger to fuck off," returned the Gilbert debating if she would need to get up and leave before her friends were even there. She was starting to regret the choice not to drive her own car today so she at least wouldn't have to walk out of the Grill all the way home.

He chuckled at her brazen statement returning, "Well since you asked, I'm Damon Salvatore, and your Maya Gilbert. Maya tensed realizing he knew her name, "Small town, I asked the perky blonde." Maya looked over at the other side of the room seeing Caroline and Bonnie laughing at the girl.

"Well it was nice meeting you Damon, but that perky blonde and short little brunette are the ones I was waiting for," Maya was starting to leave when he grabbed her hand to stop her.

He barely held it a second before she snatched herself loose and he was to his feet. Maya was about to open her mouth to tell him to go to hell when his eyes of ice grabbed her attention with such unwavering focus she couldn't even speak. She swore his pupils grew as he said "You can leave but from here on out, you're going to do whatever I ask, tell me whatever I want to know, and forget whatever I want you to forget. Understood."

HIs words sounded crazy, and she wasn't the type to listen to her parents let alone some creepy guy who she hardly knew. At least she thought she wasn't the type, but she didn't tell him to fuck off. Nor did she slap him like she wanted to, instead she found herself agreeing, "I understand."

"Good," he smirked pulling away from her, "Now if anyone ask we're friends, and you wont be able to tell anyone what I just did or even remember this."

"I won't say or remember anything," Maya promised wishing her mouth would stop moving without her permission and her voice would say what her mind thought.

"Good now go to your friends," Damon said with a grin as he turned her around slightly pushing her towards her friends. Suddenly what he had just done was forgotten and she was making her way towards her friends.

Caroline smiled as her friend made her way over, "Tell me everything."

"He's my new friend weirdly enough, I don't wanna be sad girl forever, gotta make new friends to do that." She smiled as the two started to have conversation back and forth until she noticed Caroline looking over her shoulders with wide eyes.

Maya furrowed her brows before turning around to see Elena...with the mystery boy, "Figures," she mumbled.

She watched carefully as Matt got up, and instead of fighting with him he said, "Hey I'm Matt. Nice to meet you."

"Hi," he answered. "Stefan Salvatore." So that's his name, Maya thought.

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"So, you were born in mystic falls," Caroline asked leaning in. Her, Bonnie, Elena, Stefan, and Maya all sat at a table together. Caroline and Bonnie across from the twins and Stefan. While the twins sat on either side of Stefan listening to Caroline Speak.

Stefan nodded, "Mm-Hmm. And moved when I was still young."

"Parents," Bonnie questioned.

He looked down sadly, "My parents passed away."

Elena, and Maya shared sympathetic looks, "I'm sorry. Any siblings," Maya asked trying not to dwell on the topic for his sake.

"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle," he answered, so he did have siblings, he just didn't talk to them Maya figured.

Noticing the interest Maya and Elena had in the Salvatore boy Caroline leaned in. "So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow."

Stefan shook his head having no idea what the blonde was talking about. Bonnie smiled, "It's a back to school thing at the falls."

The Salvatore boy looked towards Elena and asked, "Are you going?"

Maya smile sitting up straight to answer for her, "Of course she is." She may have had a tiny crush on Stefan, but if her sister felt something for him? She'd give up her chances with him if it meant her sister would be happy again.

It was a character flaw of hers, let everyone else be happy before she'd let herself be happy. She had only just met him today so how much could it really hurt? She didn't care no matter what, and her siblings had been sad for too long. She was willing to do anything to make sure Elena was happy, that's what sisters do for each other. Plus it wasn't as if one interaction would create something endless between Maya and Stefan, what were the odds of that?

╰┈➤ maya's outfit next chapter 

edited 02/14/24