𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝙍𝙀𝙀
ミ★ ( lion and the lamb, act one ) ★彡

Being tired is something that Hazel Gilbert is used to. Nightmares and insomnia are the main causes of her sleepless nights, and last night was no different than that, but instead of the faceless man that attacks her or the night of the car crash; she dreams of Vicki and her almost lifeless body. It was almost worse because she knew Vicki, and her bloodied body would be like a plague in her mind. She had spent the night consoling Jeremy who hadn't taken well to Vicki's attack either. After being yelled at by Elena, he wouldn't have been so accepting of Elena's the sudden change of tone, and he would only accept Hazel's softness to comfort him until he fell asleep. Hazel was almost jealous because he could fall asleep whereas Hazel was terrified to even close her eyes momentarily.

"Do I look adult?" Jenna questioned as she showed the twins her outfit while Hazel sleepily chewed on her cereal, "As in respectfully parental?"

"Depends on where you're going." Elena answered her while pouring a bowl of cereal for herself.

"Jeremy's parent-teacher conference. Hair up or down?" She asks, and then uses her hands to hold her hair up in a messy up-do.

Elena looks at the hairstyle, "Sexy stewardess."

Jenna lets her hair down, "Boozy housewife." Hazel chimes in, taking another bite of the cereal, making Elena and Jenna laugh.

"Up it is." She decided, "You two are feisty today."

"Tired." Hazel tells her and Jenna sends her a sympathetic look as she could still see the dark circles underneath her eyes despite the concealer she had placed on top, "Where is Jeremy?" She asks Jenna, redirecting from her sleep problems when she realised that her younger brother wasn't with them like he usually is, trying to pinch their food since he's too lazy to make his own.

"He left early." Jenna answers her while fiddling with her hair to make it look appropriate, "Something about getting to wood shop early to finish a birdhouse." She says, and both Hazel and Elena don't react. Jenna then pauses in realisation, "There is no wood shop... is there?"

"No." Both Hazel and Elena say in unison.

Jenna sighs, her shoulders slumping over slightly in defeat, "Yeah."

      After history class, Hazel headed to the library to study, her assignment was due that afternoon and she didn't get to finish it after the party the night before like she had hoped. She was halfway there when she heard Stefan calling out her name. She turned to face him as he was lightly jogging up to catch up with her, "Hey! How are you doing?" He asked her once he got beside her, reducing his pace to a walk.

     "I'm okay." Hazel answered him, "Just tired. Long night."

     "How's Jeremy doing? He looked pretty upset about Vicki." Stefan noticed, which he thought was a bit strange considering she's supposed to be dating Tyler Lockwood.

     Hazel shrugged, clutching her textbooks tighter to her chest, "He'll be fine once the shock wears off. I think he went to check on her this morning." She tells him, letting out a shaky sigh because deep down she knows that he'll never recover from it. Jeremy was sensitive, and he had a fear of people dying around him because of what happened in the crash. He believes he's cursed and doesn't want to let anyone in, just in case they die on him—it's his coping mechanism, it's how he protects himself.

"He likes her. Doesn't he?" Stefan realised, "Vicki, I mean. Jeremy likes her." He elaborated.

Hazel could only nod. Jeremy wasn't exactly subtle about his relationship with Vicki, which only strained whatever was happening between himself and Tyler, "Yeah." She pursed her lips awkwardly, "Small towns, remember?"

Stefan chuckled at her, he definitely did remember her saying that, and he definitely agreed that it happened a lot in small towns especially. He then took off his backpack to reach into it and pull out a book, "I wanted to give you this—to make up for me disappearing from you at the party." He tells her, handing the book to her.

Hazel takes the book from his hands to inspect it. Her eyebrows furrowed as she read the title, "This is Wuthering Heights. But... it's an Ellis Bell publication." Her eyes widened in shock, she couldn't believe she was holding one of the copies in her hand. She looked back up to Stefan's green eyes, "Where did you get this?"

Stefan stopped walking once he reached her locker, "Uh, it was passed down through the family." He tells her, and Hazel only continued to look wide eyed at the book. They were rare, mostly because they were published under the writer's real name now. During the time of publication, all of the Bronte sisters used pseudonyms for their work since female writers weren't very accepted then, "I want you to have it."

Hazel's eyes snapped up to him, "Oh, Stefan, I can't accept this. It's too much." She shakes her head, trying to hand the book back to him. She appreciates his gesture, but, a book that rare didn't belong in her possession.

Stefan gently pushes the book back to her, "I have lots of books. Go ahead. Keep it." He insists, "I know it'll be in good hands." He's seen how she is with her books, it'll be treated well with her.

"It'll be returned back to you as soon as I finish reading it again." Hazel tells him pointedly as she opens her locker, "But, thank you. You don't have to do this."

Stefan smiles, "I want to." He says before walking away before she can argue further.

She looks down at the book in her hands with a blush on her cheeks that feels as though will become permanent. Stefan was just too kind, and she felt safe and comfortable with him. It was strange since they had only known each other for a short time and already they were acting as if they were familiars. Her fingertips brushed over the cover page of the book delicately. She doesn't want to use too much pressure because the book was rare and most likely expensive; she doesn't want to ruin it. Hazel decides it's best it stays in her locker for the remainder of the day where it'll be safe, and not get accidentally destroyed by something in her bag.

She doesn't even realise Tyler's presence beside her, since she's so immersed in the shock that Stefan had just given her the book she held in her hands until she closes her locker. She lets out a small gasp of fright, flinching because she genuinely didn't notice him approach her, "Oh, wow. Hi." She muttered out, placing a hand on her heart to try and calm down the beating it was doing against her rib cage.

She really needs to start paying more attention to her surroundings. She's too frightened all the time for her to not be doing that, she's like a cat that gets spooked by the quietest noise. Hazel doesn't exactly like being on edge all the time, but for someone who is extremely anxious... she sure as hell didn't make her life any easier to prevent herself from being scared.

Tyler didn't seem to pay any attention to her flinching, he had grown up with her so he was used to it. Instead of asking her if she was okay, or apologising for scaring her; he only corners her by her locker, blocking her from exiting an uncomfortable situation or conversation before it could even take place, "Why are you talking to that Salvatore kid?" He asked while leaning on the lockers beside hers, not caring if another student needed to get into it or not.

"Because he's nice, Ty." Hazel answered him, only glancing in his eyes momentarily before looking away. She curses at herself for using his nickname; it gives them a sense of familiarity, of friendship. She doesn't want to give him any ideas, "And so far he hasn't given me a reason not to be friends with him."

"But, you won't be friends with me?" Tyler questioned pointedly.

"Not when you constantly pick on my brother." Hazel glowered, finally looking back at him, but instead of her usual soft and warm eyes, they were hardened and accusing towards him. Their friendship wasn't exactly saved when they broke up, and it seemed to only get rockier when Tyler took his frustrations out about their breakup on Jeremy. And while Jeremy and Tyler never really had the best relationship to begin with, it only got worse when Jeremy began to get involved with Vicki.

Hazel doesn't like the weirdness between them all—they grew up together—but, as they grow into their teenage years, and hormones get more involved in everyone's drive, close friendships get messy. Hazel doesn't like messy. It made her wish she never dated Tyler in the first place just so she could avoid this aftermath.

"Because he constantly hits on my girlfriend." Tyler responds like it was obvious.

Hazel scoffs at him while nodding, tucking the front pieces of her hair behind her ear in frustration, "Right, yeah. You mean the girlfriend you don't treat right? The one who's currently in the hospital right now after being attacked?" She argues. She isn't sure where the sudden confidence boost came from to make her so argumentative; but, it's as if something snapped when she hears Tyler's backwards thinking, "The girlfriend that you say you'll dump if I give you another chance?"

She says and Tyler's eyes widened in alarm in case anyone heard what she said, not wanting it to get back to Vicki. Hazel's argumentative demeanour dropped because she doesn't like to argue—especially not with him, "Tyler, that's Matt's sister. Treat her right. Otherwise... break up with her if you're not happy, but, don't try and dictate what I do with my life. We're not together anymore."

"But, what if I'm worried about you?" Tyler responds, "Haze, you're one of my best friends—or you were one of my best friends. I loved you. I'll always worry about you."

"And you can worry about me." Hazel assures, "But, just because I do something you disagree with, doesn't mean you can boss me around. That's not how friendship works."

Tyler looks hopeful, "So, you're saying there's a chance we can be friends again?" He asks, although it's not exactly friendship he's after with her. Hazel will always be the girl of his dreams. She's the type of girl that parents dream that gets brought home for dinner. She's beautiful, kind, smart and caring. Everything that Tyler desires in a girl. He could never be embarrassed with a girl like Hazel Gilbert on his arm.

Hazel nodded cautiously, feeling as if she was going to regret what she said next, "We can... eventually. But, if you want my friendship, you have to stop acting like this. It's not right." She doesn't let him argue further because her eye catches the time on her watch and she realises she's late to meet Matt. She excused herself and quickly ran to the library, where she was supposed to be minutes before if she didn't get distracted.

Hazel isn't sure why Matt is succumbed to the jock stereotype. He's actually really smart... when he applies himself. He just needs an extra push here and there, and the rest he's able to pick up himself after a few tries. She knows Matt has had a rough go at life— his mom is constantly off God-knows where, his dad's not in the picture, and his sister heavily involved with substances using up whatever money she gets from working at the Grill while their family lives in crippling debt since Kelly can't keep an actual job, or stable relationship.

It's why she's trying to help him with school since she wants him to be able to have any opportunity he wants in life. Football isn't always going to be an option, and she doesn't want him to corner himself in that direction, only to then be disappointed with life if it doesn't work out.

They had spent the last hour studying before it was a lunch break, and Hazel was extremely glad that Elena made her favourite sandwich combo for her because she devoured it within seconds.

"How's Vicki?" Hazel asked while wiping the crumbs from her mouth. She's resisting the urge to go visit her in the hospital; they still freak her out immensely, and she thinks it might be weird of her to go see her since Hazel is the ex-girlfriend of Vicki's current boyfriend, and the sister of her side-piece. All in all, Hazel doesn't know where their relationship stands and she can imagine that seeing her face wouldn't exactly help her recover.

"They're keeping her overnight to make sure there's no infection, but, she should be able to come home tomorrow." Matt tells her, relief being shown on him. She could tell he had been up all night worrying about his sister's wellbeing, and now that he knows she could be discharged the next day and they were only keeping an eye on the possibility of an infection was relieving.

"That's good news." A genuine smile spreads on Hazel's face, "Did you get in touch with your mom?" She asks. Although Kelly was most likely in a different state, she did deserve to know her daughter was in hospital.

"Called and left a message." Matt sighed, "She's in Virginia Beach with her boyfriend, so... we'll see how long it takes her to come rushing home."

Hazel tries to hide the disappointment at Kelly's lack of urgency considering her daughter was attacked. Matt knows his mom isn't exactly the best maternal figure, and he doesn't need someone else reminding him too, "Well, I'm glad Vicki's okay. With the state she was in last night, it could've ended really badly."

Matt nodded, "I know, and now there's talk of some missing campers." He tells her, having heard it from Sheriff Forbes.

Hazel's eyes widened. She's seen the news about the couples and hikers that have gone missing recently, and she wonders if it was the same thing that attacked Vicki, "Did she say what kind of animal it was that attacked her?"

A chuckle escaped from Matt's lips at how ridiculous his next words were going to sound, "She said it was a vampire."

Hazel wants to sympathise with Vicki, she doesn't want to diminish what she went through, but, even she couldn't help the giggle that came out when she heard it, "What?" Vampires didn't exist—not in real life anyway, only in stories and movies.

"Yeah, she wakes up last night and mutters 'vampire' and then passes out." He explains, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. He felt so stupid even repeating it because it was that unbelievable, but, Hazel would never judge him or Vicki for it.

     "I feel bad for laughing but that is weird." Hazel mentioned, tucking the hair behind her ear to get it out of her face after it fell from laughing.

     "I think she was drunk." Matt shrugged before hesitantly asking, "So... what's up with you and the new guy?"

     "Matt..." Hazel says warningly.

     "Relax. I'm not doing to tell Tyler anything." He puts his hands up in surrender, but Hazel doesn't believe him and her eyes show that. He holds up his picky, "Pinky swear."

     Hazel looked at it pointedly but she links her pinky with his. She trusts Matt with her life; if he says he won't tell Tyler, he won't tell Tyler, "Fine." She agrees, "But, you'll be disappointed to know... there's nothing going on. We're friends."

     Matt raised an eyebrow, "You two don't look at each other like friends." He pointed out and she blushed immediately at the fact that he had caught their longing looks at each other, "I don't know, it's weird. It's like you two are comfortable with each other—like... you've known each other a long time."

Hazel gnawed on her bottom lip. She did feel like that. She did feel that way, like Stefan has been part of her close circle since the beginning. She wants to trust him, but she's scared. She doesn't want to let another person into her life for them to die on her, too. Jeremy isn't the only one that feels the way he does about letting people in. She can't handle losing anyone else, there's already so much at stake.

If she loses anyone else, she'll never recover.

That afternoon, Bonnie, Caroline and the Gilbert twins were at the Mystic Grill, folding pamphlets for the town event that was taking place that night. It was the night of the comet—a piece of history that was a rare occurrence since they're only visible every 145 years. Hazel thinks it's quite cool to be alive at a time like this to see it for herself.

"Well, I was talking to Grams, and she said the comet is a sign of impending doom." Bonnie says as she folds one of the pamphlets, "The last time it passed over Mystic Falls, there was lots of death. So much blood and carnage, it created a bed of paranormal activity."

"Yeah, and then you poured Grams another shot and she told you about the aliens." Caroline retorted with a snort before she turned to Hazel, wanting to know more about the gossip from the bonfire since Elena had told her that Hazel and Stefan might be starting up a romance, "So, then what?"

Hazel looks confused as she answers, "So then nothing." Caroline should know Hazel better than anyone (besides Elena), she should know that she would never hide anything from her when it comes to details. Hazel told her everything.

"So, you just talked all night? There was no sloppy first kiss or touchy feely of any kind?" Caroline asks as she reaches for another pamphlet.

Hazel laughed and her face flushed slightly, "No. We didn't go there. We only just met!" It feels like there's a connection between them, but, there's barely been any time to explore it. She wasn't going to rush anything and try to plant one on him the first night they've spoken to each other alone just because they were at a party.

"Not even a handshake?" Caroline asks hopefully and Hazel sends her a deadpanned look, "I mean, Hazel, we are your friends. Okay? You are supposed to share the smut."

"We just talked." Hazel denies, shaking her head with a laugh and folded another pamphlet.

"Okay, what is with the blockage? Just jump his bones already!" Caroline exclaims with frustration. She wants her friend to have some action, it'll do her some good, "Okay, it's easy. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy—sex!"

"Profound." Elena laughs along with Bonnie, who was shaking her head in disbelief that Caroline was trying to convince Hazel to sleep with a guy she's just met. They all know that Hazel wants a connection with someone first; she wants to feel like she knows the person truly and that she would be comfortable with them. She can't do that with just anyone.

"Care, I barely know him." Hazel says softly while shaking her head, "And besides. I'm not... I'm not ready for that yet." Sex is the last thing that's on her mind at the moment, even if Stefan was inhumanely gorgeous. Normal Hazel should want to do those things, but, she just can't seem to bring herself to at that particular moment.

     "I know." Caroline groaned playfully, "I just want my girl to have her mind blown by a hot guy."

     "One day." Hazel laughed, "I'm sure it'll happen and I won't be a spinster my whole life." She says before checking her watch and realising how late it was, "I have to go, but I'll be back later to help finish this later, okay?"

     Hazel got up out of her seat and grabbed her things, "Where are you going?" Bonnie asks.

     "To return a book I borrowed." Hazel answered as she puts her jacket on as it was starting to get cold at night and she gets cold very easily.

     Generational wealth is something that Hazel knew her family had. Her family was a founding family that dated back to the 1800's in this small town in Virginia, and her father worked as a doctor in their hospital. Hazel knows they are comfortable with their house in the suburbs and their lake house paid off, and a small trust fund between the three Gilbert children to share when they get old enough to inherit it from their parents that will to send them to a good college with a small amount left over for help with a house of their own or a wedding of their dreams. Now, they're no Lockwood family with their wealth since the Lockwood family show off their exponential amount of wealth with flashy cars and a large mansion surrounded by greenery and water fountains that are taken care of by a multitude of staff.

     The Salvatore Boarding House, however, was something out of a magazine. The Salvatore family was a name that also ran deep, and must've also had deep pockets for their home to be this large. It was almost intimidating to be standing in front of it knowing she will never be able to afford something like this in her lifetime.

     Hazel knocks on the front door and waits for it open, but, instead of his uncle, or Stefan answering it, it's a face she's never seen before, "Elena?" He asks.

     Hazel makes a face wondering how her sister knows this guy and didn't tell her, "Wrong twin." She tells him. She wants to be annoyed at how people can't tell them apart because they do things to differentiate themselves to people, like wearing their hair different and sporting necklaces with the initial of their first name to make it easy. Hazel doesn't always like being compared to her sister—because despite being the oldest, everyone seems to know and remember Elena first. It makes sense, because Elena is popular and on the cheer team whereas Hazel keeps to herself in the library most days, but, it would be nice to have someone know the difference between the two of them.

"Stefan never told me that his girlfriend was a twin." The stranger says as he eyes her up and down.

Hazel pursed her lips awkwardly as she isn't liking the way he's staring at her like she's a piece of meat, "Not his girlfriend... and I can't see why that would be a point of conversation for you."

The man chuckled, "I just realised you have no idea who I am. I'm Damon—Stefan's brother." He holds his hand out for her to shake.

"Oh, the one he doesn't talk to." Hazel realised as she takes his hand reluctantly to shake it, "Hazel."

     "Glad to see that Stefan's still not one to brag." Damon responds and Hazel raises an eyebrow momentarily at his sarcasm. The older Salvatore then stepped aside to allow room for her to pass him, "Please, come in. I'm sure Stefan will be along any second."

     Hazel entered the house cautiously before her eyes widened at the inside of the house. If she thought the outside of the house was luxurious, the inside was even more beautiful, "Wow. This is your living room?"

     Damon nods, "Living room, parlor, Sotheby's auction—it's a little kitschy for my taste." He jokes, shrugging slightly to seem humble before he eyes her up and down once more, "I see why my brother's so smitten. It's about time. For a while there, I never thought he'd get over the last one—nearly destroyed him."

     Hazel wants to blush at the thought of Stefan being smitten with her but instead, her mind can't move past what he said and she turns to him with confusion, "The last one?"

     "Yeah. Katherine, his girlfriend?" Damon elaborates and Hazel's expression remains blank. Damon then cusses, "Oh, you two haven't had the awkward exes conversation yet."

      "No..." Hazel shakes her head and looks down at her fingernails to pick at the skin of them anxiously because now she's slightly uncomfortable. She regrets coming; all she wants to do was drop off the stupid book and leave, she doesn't even care if she discards it without care at this point because she wants to leave so badly and escape this conversation.

     "Oops." Damon winces, "Well, I'm sure it'll come up now. Or, maybe he didn't want to tell you because he didn't want you to think he was on the rebound. We all know how those relationships end."

      "I mean, we're not even in a relationship so it shouldn't even matter if he is or isn't on the rebound." Hazel shrugs back, struggling to show off a calm and collected demeanour, "You talk like every relationship is doomed to end. Why is that?"

      "I'm a fatalist." Damon replies before smirking, "Hello, Stefan."

      Hazel's head whips to look to see Stefan standing behind her. He looks stiff and on guard, and she can't tell whether it's directed at her presence or Damon's, "Hazel... I didn't know you were coming over."

      "I know. I should've called." Hazel's so uncomfortable at this situation because Stefan doesn't look happy to see her at all, and she's not used to this cold of a greeting from him. If the ground were to swallow Hazel whole, she would welcome it gladly at this point. Instead, she reaches into her bag, "I just... wanted to return this." She says, holding up the book he gave her.

     "Oh, don't be silly. You're welcome any time. Isn't she, Stefan?" Damon responds to her, but, Stefan doesn't move or say anything in agreement, "You know, I should break out the family photo albums or some home movies. But... I have to warn you, he wasn't always such a looker."

      "Thank you for stopping by, Hazel. It was nice to see you." The younger Salvatore says, solely keeping his eyes on Damon.

     Hazel's glad she wore her jacket because the way Stefan's demeanour is so cold, she's sure she would have goosebumps without it, "Yeah, I should probably go." She mumbles as she hands Damon the book because she doesn't even want to step closer to Stefan with the way he was acting, "It was nice to meet you, Damon."

      Damon gives her a sickeningly sweet smile, "Great meeting you, too, Hazel."

      Hazel doesn't even look Stefan in the eye as she doesn't have the guts to as she mumbles a quick goodbye and scurries out of the Salvatore home as quick as she can, as she feels like she can't breathe inside there any longer. Once she shuts the door behind her, she lets out a sigh of relief that she's finally out of there and begins her walk home.

     What the hell was that all about? And who was Katherine?