Your family moved to Mystic Falls over the summer, and you've been a little anxious about starting a new school in September, since you don't know any of the other kids and you have no idea what the Mystic Falls High School is like. After spending two years at your old high school, you felt perfectly comfortable there, and you're not sure how you'll be starting a new school all over again.

 However, you soon change your mind when you start at your new school, because that's when you meet Caroline Forbes, the captain of the cheerleading team and the most beautiful girl in school, at least to you. You can't believe it when you find out she's single. You'd like to ask her out, and you would if you thought she would say yes. You don't think she would, though, due to another boy who also just started at Mystic Falls High: Stefan Salvatore.

 It's obvious that Caroline has a crush of Stefan Salvatore, and she always seems to be gushing over him. You can't understand why she's so attracted to him when it's obvious he doesn't really like her back. Maybe she just doesn't realize it because of her own infatuation, you think. You wish you knew how to really get her attention.

 In the meantime, you do make friends with Bonnie Bennett and Elena Gilbert, Caroline's best friends. They also know about Caroline's crush on Stefan, and somehow they seem to know how much you like Caroline.

 "I don't think Stefan's going to go out with her," Bonnie tells you once. "I get the feeling she's not his type. Besides, I think he's definitely into Elena. Pretty sure she likes him, too."

 "Well, if Stefan and Elena start dating..."

 "I don't think Caroline would get over that too quickly," Bonnie finishes, "But she would be open to dating someone else at some point. I did point to her a few times that Stefan isn't the only new kid whose attention she can try to get, but I'm not sure the message went through."

 You nod. "Well, thanks, Bonnie. You don't think Caroline and Stefan would actually start dating, do you?"

 She shakes her head. "Very unlikely."

 And it turns out Bonnie was right about that. When you get out of school one afternoon, you see Caroline beginning to slowly walk home alone, looking glum. You catch up with her and say a bit nervously, "Hey, Caroline. Um, what's up?"

 "I'm really questioning the universe right now," she answers. "I don't get it. Why is Elena every guy's first choice?"

 "Uh...no idea," you say, not really sure what kind of answer she's looking for. "Did someone tell you that?"

 "No, it was just an observation. Stefan Salvatore, the boy who knows I like him, has decided he wants to go out with Elena instead of me."

 "Oh. I'm sorry, Caroline. Stuff like that sucks."

 "Yeah, tell me about it. This is my house here."

 You stop outside of her house, and she says, "Thanks for walking home with me, and for the sympathy."

 "You're welcome. And don't tell yourself you're not attractive, because I think you're actually pretty awesome."

 She smiles a little. "Thanks. See you tomorrow."

 You wait until she goes inside to start walking your own way home, and you wonder if what you said made her feel any better.

~~~~~~

 The next morning at school, Caroline approaches you in the hallway.

 "Morning, Y/N," she says in a cheerful voice.

 "Hi. You seem better today. How you feeling?"

 "Oh, better now," she answers. "You know, I was thinking: I was so wrapped up in this whole Stefan thing that I forgot you're also new here, and you're a new friend. But I feel like we haven't really gotten to know each other. So, do you want to hang out after school?"

 "Oh. Uh...yeah, sure."

 "Great!" Caroline gives you a bright smile. "I got to get to my first class, but I'll see you later!"

 Caroline hurries off, leaving to process what had just happened. You hadn't even had to ask her out, because you're pretty sure she just asked you.