"AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT ANNOYING."

N A T A S H A

LIFE WAS TERRIBLE, or at least that's what Natasha thought. Being a year older than her sister, Bonnie, she was forever being reminded that it was her last year as a high schooler. The thought of moving away from her grandma and sister made her stomach churn. Her and Bonnie were inseparable.

Natasha parked the car in front of Arabella's house. Since Arabella moved back to Mystic Falls, she was the only friend of Bonnie's she actually liked. Bella was laid back, calm, not overly dramatic like a certain someone, they just clicked like that.

She'd honk her horn before Bella rolled her eyes opening the door and basically throwing herself in the passenger seat. "God woman, I was right there!" She'd chuckle.

"You know the rules, we got places to be Mrs. Thing." Bella would groan shutting the door as she'd buckle her seatbelt. She'd look behind her to see Bonnie wasn't in the back.

"She drives." She'd look over at her by the side of her eye and Bella shrugged.

"Her loss."

"So, does the school suck like the older kids always used to tell us it does?" She'd scoff at Bella's question.

"Bella it's a public school. Of course it's ass." Bella would shrug.

"So anything cool happen over the singular day we didn't talk?" She'd pull her sunglasses to the top of her head eager to hear Tasha speak. Natasha shrugged and kept focus on the road as they'd stop at a stop light.

"Actually, me and Bonnie were told that we come from a long line of Salem witches or something. I think my grandma has finally gone senile." She'd scoff at her own words.

Arabella would shrug yet again. "Not gonna lie, that sounds dope. Like you could cast spells on people, light shit on fire or something, like that would be so cool."

Natasha rolled her eyes pulling into the schools parking lot before coming to a stop. "Bella, we're not five. I will not be setting anything on fire, or cursing anyone. Even if I did have those supernatural powers, I'd use them for good. Like protecting Bonnie from assholes like Tyler Lockwood." Bella began to bust out in uncontrollable laughter — so loud other students passing the car would begin to whisper.

"He really is something, you know." She'd shake her head in disappointment. "I can't believe I dated that ass wipe." They'd open their doors swinging their bags onto their shoulders and Natasha laughed at her friend's comment before locking her car's doors.

They'd begin roaming the halls comparing schedules with one another before letting out a sigh as they reached their lockers. "What class do you have next?" Bella asked.

Natasha began to look over her schedule as she'd slide her book bag into her locker, taking out every book just in case. "AP government." Bella let out a pitiful sigh.

"History." Natasha chuckled, shaking her head.

"Good luck." They'd both close their lockers before smiling toward each other, officially going their separate ways. Natasha hummed under her breath as she'd walk herself to class, finally reaching the classroom she'd so desperately wanted to avoid. She'd pick a seat in the way back setting her books down on her desk. The teacher made his way into the room shortly before the rest of the students made their way to their seats.

"Welcome, Mrs. Bennett." Natasha would smile before looking down at her cell phone which began to chime from a message;

BB: so, are we witches for real!?

Natasha let out a quiet sigh as the classroom began to quiet down at the sound of the bell. It was a very good question but sadly, she didn't have the answer for it right now.

I mean sure, she always knew she was different from others — but, not in a witchy way. She'd sigh before putting her cell back into her jean pocket as she'd lean against the palm of her hand, listening to the teacher ramble on.

She'd fiddle with her pencil, twirling her curls in between her fingers. And then she heard it. Tyler Lockwood had a family member going to this school for good. As. If. Rolling her eyes in annoyance, once the lunch bell rang she'd swiftly grab her belongings — wishing she still had her book bag — and would make her way out of the classroom.

Walking to her locker she seen an unfamiliar face. Two unfamiliar faces. When looking at one, she felt uncomfortable. Threatened even. While looking at the other, she felt the same thing — but maybe more. They almost couldn't keep their eyes off each other. His ember eyes followed her every move as he sat there and watched her like prey. It was a lie to say he wasn't attractive, even if Tasha tried to it would've been a complete lie. No one around her suited her tastes. One did but he broke her heart.

Tyler Lockwood.

The man with a middle part ran his fingers through his hair chuckling with the brown haired taller man. Someone who had once been around Arabella, Stefan maybe?

With one fell swoop she'd grab her bag and books stuffing them inside each other, the two boys would look over, the one with a middle part showing her a soft smile. She'd make a face in disgust slamming her locker shut.

"Who the hell even is that?" She'd think to herself.

She'd quickly shut the locker door before making haste. Walking out to the picnic bench that sat under the shade of a tree outside the school.

Taking her lunch out of her little brown bag, she'd bite into the sand which she had made the morning of. With a pleased face she'd smile, a bit of excess egg salad plastering the sides of her face.

Chewing away happily she'd hear a man's voice clear behind her. Turning her head almost instantly as she'd slowly chew, she'd look at him, her eyes narrowed scanning the man before him.

"Hey uh — you think I can sit here?" Natasha would shrug at the boys question. It was the same one from in the hallway. She'd never seen him before so she didn't exactly know him.

"Depends."

"On what, exactly?" He'd cock his eyebrow eager to hear her talk, her plump lips being licked clean from the salad.

"On if you're annoying." He'd chuckle setting his tray down across from her before sliding his legs into the picnic table. "I'm Noah."

Shed cock her eyes brow taking a sip of her capri sun. "Natasha Bennett."

He'd nod slowly before looking at her small meal then his very large one. "Do you always eat so light?" She'd shrug.

"I don't like the schools food, they often try to poison us with their gray meat. Rather die by my own hands." His curious face would turn into one giant vibrant smile.

"That's one way to look at things."

A U T H O R S N O T E

This book comes after the Devils Temptation book, it almost aligns at the same date but also jumps around just like the said book. So if you don't want any spoilers I suggest you read devils temptation.