ELENA GILBERT was two days into the first school week of the new year and already sick of it.

Her best friends Caroline Forbes and Bonnie Bennett made it better, and of course her loving boyfriend Stefan Salvatore, but she still wished she was in her bed. Despite the "animal" attacks and whatever other secrets laid buried in this town's past, it wasn't the most fun place to be.

Mr. Saltzman practically ran into the classroom. "Sorry I'm late." He said, catching his breath, "I had to look at some paper work for a new student. She should be here in about..."  He glanced at the door. "Now."

Sure enough, a girl with hair the color of a chocolate fountain and skin a mix between cream and sandal wood came in just then.  She looked approachable enough but there was a look on her face that said there was something to her she wasn't going to come right out and say.

She surveyed the class before sitting down in the corner, a seat that is usually empty due to the fact that most people don't like to be able to see the whole class while they're working.

And the class noticed this although they said nothing.

It was her first few minutes and she was already catching everyone's attention.

Elena felt that she'd be a good addition to their class.

"Her name is Laura Winchester and she's new to town." One of the boys whispered near the trio. How he got that information baffled them but in that moment, it didn't matter. "Someone told me she's into all that supernatural stuff."

"Does this mean that stuff is real?" a different boy asked.

"Please. If you believe that stuff you're craz-"

"Mr. Ferras?" Mr. Saltzman cut off the rest of the boy's sentence.  "Mind sharing your words with the class?"

He sat back up and grinned. "No, not unless the class wants to hear how this town might be infested with vampires." He said ominously.

Murmurs arouse in the class as people considered his words. But Elena and her friends already knew about the vampire problem, at least somewhat.

They were aware that Stefan and his brother were vampires, and Laura caught on to their lack of surprise at the news even though it was blown out of proportion.

When the murmurs died down and class was officially in session, Elena glanced back at the new girl.

She was staring.

/|\

LAURA MADE plans to get to know the straight-haired girl and her two friends. They seemed like they could provide useful information about the so called "vampire problem".

So after school, when everyone is piling out of classrooms, she makes her way over to them.

"Excuse me?" she said, seeming as innocent a possible.

The three turned their heads and saw the girl - Laura - running to them.

"Yes?" Elena asked, wondering what this girl had to say to them.

"Do you know anything about the town's vampire problem?" She directed the question at all of them, wanting to seem as oblivious as possible.

The tension in the air seemed to grow thicker at that moment, which wasn't surprising due to the weight of the question.

"Not much... Why?" Elena was suspicious. Usually people went to the sheriff with this sort of question. There had to be a reason she was asking them.

"One of my family members was killed by a vampire." she lied, earning sympathetic looks from them.

Bonnie folded her arms. "Does that mean you believe in vampires?" she asked Laura in a hushed voice.

She just nodded and displayed a look of grief-driven determination.

The trio exchanged looks, contemplating keying use in on their vampire knowledge.

At last, Elena sighed and turned back to her. "We were planning a sleepover, but if you're not busy, come over my place after school." she handed her a piece of paper, "Here's my number. I'll text you the address."

/|\

ELENA'S HOUSE seemed homey even before she walked in, making her long for one like it. Perhaps if she became friends with her she'd get to sleep there more often.

Ringing the doorbell, she waited, glancing around the porch.

When the door opened, it was a smiling boy that looked to be younger than the three girls she'd met that day.

When he spotted her, his smile faded. He must have been expecting someone else.

He had a naivety to his demeanor that made her feel safer.  "Who are you?" she asked.

"Elena's brother. You must be...Laura. Elena told me you'd be here." He moved out of the door way. "Come in."

She stepped into the house and took in the smell of apricot, likely coming from a  candle near the entrance to the living room.

Elena came down the stairs smiling. Her friends came out of the kitchen.

"Hey!" Caroline said happily, though it was drowned out slightly by video game gunshots coming from the living room.

"Can you turn that down please?" Elena said loudly.

"What's the fun in a low volume video game?" a man's voice said. It was very different from Jeremy and there was no way they were the same age.

"We have a guest, Damon. Earn manners." she said playfully.

After a few moments of steady volume, the sound decreased and footsteps were heard in the living room.

Wait, Damon?!

Just then, a man with black hair and pale blue eyes entered the room with a sly smile on his face.

He eyed Laura. "Our guest?" he questioned Elena.

She sighed and started fidgeting with a necklace Laura hadn't noticed before. It had a red jewel embedded in its face and was silver. Laura wondered where she had gotten it. "Yes, Damon now please excuse us. We have work to do."

Why was she lying to him? Laura wondered.

"You're not even going to introduce me?" Damon made his way to her and extended his hand. "Anyway, I'm Damon. Damon Salvatore."

She took his hand and shook it. So this was the big bad vampire she had to kill.

And she was standing in the same room with him.

"I'm Laura Winchester." she told him, seeming small. When in reality, all she wanted was to force a stake through his heart.

/|\

IT IS DONE

They've mettt.

Still cringing becuz I called Stefan Elena's loving boyfriend.