"She was a wild child; always stealing the stars and getting drunk on the souls of earthbound."

- H. Lynn

Chapter One: A Salvatore Calls

It is a bright and beautiful morning. The sun shines brightly, there's a soft autumn breeze in the air. The small town of Mystic Falls was slowly slipping out of it's morning lull into the upbeat rhythm of the day. "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel blasts loudly from the top-down Mustang convertible, and a small pleased smile graces my lips as I mouth along to the words. Truly, I couldn't think of a better time to be driving.

That's right. Your girl is on the move once again.

It was a strange experience to once again ditch my entire life, especially considering I'd originally promised myself that I wouldn't have to again, but that's life. Things didn't always work out well for me, in general, so I shouldn't have been surprised that I had to use evasive maneuvers.

It still hurt, though.

Sighing at the reminder, I readjust my sun visor as I turn right into the small town center, just starting to bustle with life. A sudden rumble from my stomach lets me know that I require sustenance before linking up with my.. friend..?

Does Damon Salvatore ever count as 'just a friend'?

Who knew?

I turned down what looks like the Main Street of Mystic Falls, an adorable sprawl of shops and restaurants ranging from a shabby-chic furniture store to a bustling green restaurant with a large sign stating 'Mystic Grill.' The people were smiling, waving to each other in a neighborly way, and I'm happily reminded why I like towns so much. It's in the friendly charm of it all.

The fact that half of these people probably don't like each other is briefly humorous, making me smile for split second before I turned into the Grill's parking lot. I quickly adjust my outfit, smoothing out as many wrinkles as possible.

First impressions are important, and I'm going to be meeting some very important people today!

Stepping outside of the car after raising my convertible's roof up, I quickly grab onto my Chanel clutch before turning to pull down the sun visor to double check myself in it's mirror.

My dark, thick curly twists down to just above my lower back, framing my face in adorably frizzy turns curved over in a bang over my forehead. My golden honey skin is doppled by some scattered freckles across my nose and cheeks. I look a little wind blown, but it's not a bad look for the new girl. Oh, this is so exciting!

Blinking into my reflection's matching brown eyes, I blow a quick strand back into place before gasping at what I catch in the mirror.

Grabbing the edge of my tank top, I groan loudly at the small hole in it. My ensemble was effectively ruined. I'm about to throw myself a great big pity party, at least, I was until I catch a flash of white in my rear view mirror, winking at me from my still-open duffel bag.

Oh my God, it's brilliant. It's gorgeous. It's so iconic that I can't believe this wasn't my original outfit.

Hopping into the backseat for the privacy that comes with tinted windows, I quickly switch out tops and smile as I look down. Now, there's the ticket.

If there was one way to describe my sense of fashion recently, it was this: Clueless. A good friend of mine had shown it to me about four years ago, clearly seeing that I was severely lacking without the darling film in my life. My newfound adoration for the film is bluntly obvious when others eventually see what I'm wearing.

An adorable red and black tartan mini midi skirt hugs my thighs, cutting off at about the halfway point. Sheer stockings cling to my legs, gliding down to black velvet Mary Jane heels. To offset revealing my legs so much, the black long sleeved turtleneck from the bowels of the duffel is perfect.

Plus, it's a crop top, so I don't even have to tuck it in! Fashion wins. And of course, there was the adorable matching tartan jacket. I had originally cut the arms into a short sleeve cuff since they were too short on my lengthy arms, and I hadn't been able to go to my cleaners for adjustments, so I made do.

Still super cute, though.

A small golden necklace dangles underneath the collar; a single initial, E.

A small part of my heart aches as I look at it, a certain bitterness twisting in the furthest parts of my stomach.

No.

I was starting over.

There was no need to look back. I never had before.

Placing a smile on my full lips, I hop back in the front seat, once again looking at myself in the mirror. The eyes looking back at me are almost unrecognizable at times, as if I'll never truly be able to go back to the person I was before. And maybe I wouldn't.

But this was a start.

I, once again, grab my black Chanel clutch, pulling open my car door and smelling the fresh air of Mystic Falls for the very first time. The quaint town is refreshing, definitely appearing to be a quiet, serene place. Too bad it's swarming with supernatural activity.

Standing, I take a final glance around my new home, eager to get started on the next adventure.

———

Walking into the Grill is a bit of an experience, and by that, I mean it's a bit awkward. My preference for big cities made it to where I was very used to people not noticing my presence, but here, they were apparently not. Many eyes scan my stilled form at the front door, and for the first time in a long time, I feel slightly self conscious.

I'm in a sea of flannel and jeans, and it is not near as cute as I thought it'd be.

There is one thing that I notice that's a bit odd.

Everyone is reasonably attractive. No one overtly ugly, no acne, or men who obviously live with their mothers. It was an even weirder feeling to be noticed by an attractive crowd rather than a normal one. Taking a slight inhale through my nose, there's a glorious melody of scents wafting through the establishment. Grease. Meat. Maple.

And of course, blood.

My stomach rolls once again, not only reminding me that I need a blood bag when I get to the Salvatores, but also stirring my still form into motion towards the nearest empty booth.

The seats are sun-bleached, plush, and well-worn; it's clear that this restaurant has either been around a while or it was well loved. Maybe both?

The thought dies the second I relax against the booth seat.

Driving twelve hours straight had clearly taken its toll on my lower spine, and I whimpered slightly at the pain of it. Stretching out slightly, I cross my legs as the waiter appears. And isn't he a doll?

Baby blue eyes smile at me politely, and I smile back, enjoying the appearance of dimples on his cheeks when I do. "Good morning. My name's Matt and I'll be your server. Can I get you anything to drink to start off?"

My smile brightens at his polite work attitude, and he Matt flushes slightly under my gaze. "Yes, please. Can I get a sweet iced tea with a lemon wedge or two?"

The flush grows slightly brighter when he hears my southern accent, and it's absolutely adorable. He's getting a big tip. "O-," he pauses briefly, chuckling, "Of course. Sweet iced tea. Lemon wedge. Any appetizers, Miss?"

Oh.

I laugh quietly at myself, "I haven't really gotten a chance to look at the menu. Any recommendations?"

"Well," he reaches towards the center table, grabbing the small folded menu there. Matt opens it up, leaning forward so I can follow along. "Hash browns are a classic. The cook, Tony, just started making these mushroom steak medallions that are awesome, but they're a bit pricey. Everyone likes their own thing, though, so why don't you take a look while I go get your tea?"

I nod in the affirmative, and Matt promptly sets out to get my cold beverage. Deciding quickly that I'm feeling the mushroom steak medallions and get a quick, I set down my menu, happy to see the blond waiter returning with the hydration so quickly.

"Pick your poison?" He asks, and I feel like his friendliness is a bit more genuine than it was at the start of our interaction.

"Yup! Decided to splurge on the mushroom and steak medallions. Medium rare?"

Matt quickly jots it down on his notepad.

"Perfect. Got a breakfast in mind?"

This immediately makes me mentally groan at my own inability to function this morning.

"I don't. I'm so sorry, Let me just look at the menu real quick and I'll decide."

He smiles at my earnestness, shaking his handsome blond head. "No, go ahead and take your time. After all, I'm the lucky guy who gets to meet the new girl first. How are you liking Mystic Falls so far?"

Raising an eyebrow at him, I feel another smile tugging on my lips as I take a glance outside the window at my new small town.

"Interesting so far, Matt. Very interesting."

———

After breakfast, I had quickly hopped back into my car and drove right to Damon's house.

Striding up to the front door after deciding to wait to bring my luggage in, I excitedly climb up the stairs to the front door. Knocking in a playful rhythm, I wait eagerly for my favorite person to unlock the door.

And wait...

And wait.

Twenty five minutes have gone by, and I'm past being gracious. Pulling out my phone, I quickly ring him up in my contacts. The second I hear him pick up, I'm on his butt. "Damon Salvatore, where are you? Asked me to come help you out with something, and you're not even here when I arrive? The audacity."

"Who the hell is this?" A woman's voice asks, and she's lucky I can't reach through the phone with the tone she's taking with me.

"Ugh. You're not Damon. Where's he?"

"Wonderful question," she replies, "Answer is: he's unavailable."

My eyes narrow at that, suddenly very concerned that I might've come too late to help. "Explain what that means before I jump to conclusions and go rip your throat out."

The voice on the other end of the line scoffs at me, "Please. No need. He's alive and well. Just busy for a bit. And I intend to keep it that way till we get back, so, ta-ta!"

Dial tone.

"That bitch just hung up on me."

———

So, things were not working out that well in the new town. It was just the start! Not everything comes easy in eternal life, so I might as well roll with the punches, as they say.

Unfortunately, I do not roll with the punches very well, so I had a bit of a fit outside of Damon's house.

I know, not very ladylike for someone over three hundred years old, but I digress. An apology note for the landscaping in the front yard would do more than fine until Damon came back. And then, I would properly skin whoever came back with him. Unsure if it's noticeable, but I have a tendency to not tolerate too much in the way of disrespect.

Vampirism had been an excellent teacher when it came to being confident. A lot of my kind had egos the size of Texas, i.e. Damon, and it was typical for us to talk down to one another. Respect comes with age and reputation, and I've been around for a very long time.

I do hope that Damon hasn't turned whoever that was. I'd hate to end an immortal life right as it's started, but if she was, well, it's the principle of the thing.

This train of thought eventually led to me driving around. I ended up finding a rather shoddy motel on the outskirts of town, but it'd do fine for the night. Hopefully, Damon will have returned by then. I proceeded to take a nap for several hours after downing a couple blood bags, but it proved to be an insufficient day activity. So, I decided that the only answer as to what to do next was: I would wander.

Who knew what kind of dark crevices this town had? It's history is practically laced with vampirism itself, let alone other supernatural entities. Mystic Falls was similar in supernatural historic importance to New Orleans, a place that is clearly marked by the paranormal.

And so, that leads me to how I wound up here, in front of Mystic Falls High School.

It was so strange.

It was clearly closed, but I could hear young humans bustling through the hallways, laughter quickly following. I could hear the clack of plastic cups being placed on linoleum, the sounds of movement from one classroom to another. It was oddly enough very alluring to me.

I wanted to know what they were doing in there so happily. What did teenagers in this day and age do at school in the middle of the night? My feet guided me towards the main doors without my asking, and my curiosity quickly overwhelms any hesitation I have about looking college-aged in a high school.

The hallways are dark and seemingly empty, but I can hear the teenagers' heartbeats and footsteps. It's an interesting aesthetic to be sure, a lovely sort of eerie almost-quiet, and it makes me happy that I decided to come in.

A few students pass me as I wander the labyrinthine halls, not really paying me any mind, and I sigh happily that I'm coming off as if I belong here. It's a unique sense of euphoria that only comes with wanting to, and in turn, being happily accepted. Humming some lullaby, I jump a bit at hearing a door open a bit behind me. Quickly turning, I'm surprised to see a.. very sweaty Matt from the Grill.

"Matt?" I ask, clutching my necklace in relief, "You scared me half to death!"

"Hey!" He says, smiling at me warmly enough to show those dimples again. Albeit, it's much less endearing when he's caked in sweat.

Trying my best not to make a face at the water pouring off of his face, I gesture at him, "Are you alright? You're.. sweaty."

He chuckles at my derisive tone, grabbing the towel off of his shoulder and wiping his forehead. "I was working out in the gym.. Actually, what are you doing here? Are you in school?"

Oh shoot, I guess I'm lying.

"Uh.. Yes, actually! Start first thing tomorrow."

Please say school starts tomorrow. Please say school starts tomorrow.

"Oh, well, that's great—," he pauses, glancing down at me, "Wait. I don't think I caught your name."

"Well, that's because I didn't throw it, Matt," I say with a faux puff of my cheeks, before finally breaking and snorting, extending my hand out warmly. "Just teasing. My name is Eleanor Maddox."

He tests my name out once before nodding as he shakes my hand, looking up, and glancing around the hallway. "Is something going on here tonight?" He asks as he releases my hand from his much larger grasp.

"I'm unaware of any engagements. But, I'm looking around, if you'd like to escort me."

"Escort?" He asks with a snort, "What are you, eighty?"

Not even close.

Shoving his shoulder playfully, I continue walking down the hall without him, waiting for the sweaty blond boy to catch up to me. He does shortly after, quickly jogging behind me.

He's very sweet.

I might not think he's attractive anymore because of all the gross sweat, but Matt is an absolute sweetheart, so we could be friends. We continue a light conversation as we search the school, and I'm happy to have found someone who I can converse with so easily. All things must come to an end, however, and we eventually found a classroom that he heard a shuffle in.

We slowly close in on the door, peeking into the dark room. Matt's heartbeat spikes when I cross the threshold first, but he quickly follows. How odd. Typically that only happens when humans are scared. Did I scare Matt? Or was he scared of whatever could be lurking in the school hallways?

My thoughts screech to an alarming halt as the room suddenly rings out with many loud THWACK!s in quick succession. It makes me jump and squeal, and just as soon as I make to rush Matt out of here, the light switch flips on revealing an angry group of teens.

A pretty blonde girl, dark-haired jock, a pretty girl with green eyes, and another pretty girl with large doe eyes.. who looks sort of familiar. Curious.

"Oh, come on!" The blonde cries looking at both me and Matt accusingly, "Seriously?! Do you know how long it took for us to set all this up?!?"

Glancing down at the floor reveals the unseen 'threat': mousetraps.

I am so confused.

Why are you all such pretty teens? Did you all just skip puberty? Why are there mousetraps? Why are they all over the classroom floor? Why are there teens at school at night? Why are the teens setting mousetraps on the floor of the classroom at the school in the middle of the night?

My brain is deeply befuddled.

"Forgot about Senior Prank Night, huh?" The jock asks, leaned against a desk.

Senõr what?

"Clearly," Matt replies, and the sweat on his forehead has made an obvious return at how bad he must've been scared.

"Who's this, Matt?" The brunette with the doe eyes asks, and the minute I see them make eye contact I recognize the tension. They're ex-lovers! How dramatic.

Matt sheepishly wipes his forehead again with the towel, seeing me get squeamish about it as he gestures to me. "This is Eleanor Maddox. She's new, and also didn't know about Prank Night."

I smile at his cheap attempt at a barbed comeback. It's clear he's close with these people, and if they were a friend of Matt's, well... I'd give them a shot.

Waving to the group, I feel Doe Eyes' gaze shift from questioning to suspicious while the rest of them smile back at me politely. I wonder why?

And why does she look familiar?

This town is so much more interesting than I thought it'd be.

Matt nods to each of them, starting with the jock with the chiseled jaw. "That one there is Tyler Lockwood, he's a douche," Tyler Lockwood immediately glares at Matt, but the sweaty boy carries on before he can start. "That's the one and only Caroline Forbes," points to the blonde who waves with a smile before stubbornly turning back to a frown.

Matt turns to continue down the line, pointing at the suspicious brunette with doe eyes.

"This here is Elena Gilbert," Guess I don't know her. "And then there's Bonnie Bennett, he finishes, pointing at the green eyed girl. She gives me a small smile and a wave, and I'm starting to feel pretty welcome outside of Elena looking at me like I'm about to murder her.

Or at least I had thought I was.

The blonde girl is undeterred and full of rage. "How could you forget?" She yells/asks Matt, and I breathe a sigh of relief that it's not directed at me. "We've only been waiting for this since, like, freshman year!"

She's a spitfire.

Elena appears to take a break from staring me down like a microbial disease she's attempting to study, smiling at Matt instead.

"Yeah, Matt. If I'm doing this, you're doing this," she pauses turning to me and forcing her smile a little bit, "and since you're brand new, you're doing this, too, Ellie."

I try not to reflexively cringe at the podunk nickname; one of the eternal banes of my existence. "Oh, don't call me 'Ellie', please, Elena? My little brother was real mean about it, and Eleanor is much more elegant. But if you all would like my assistance, that sounds lovely."

Everyone blinks besides Matt, and I momentarily forget that I even have an accent, wondering instead 'what have I done wrong?'

Caroline giggles slightly, and I raise an eyebrow, getting annoyed that I'm not in on the joke. Finally, Tyler speaks.

"I didn't know you were a southern belle, Eleanor."

Oh. Well. Proves no matter how old you get, you can make a mess of things.

"Yes, sir," I say playfully, smiling at the jock, "Born and raised a Georgia peach."

He smirks at me, and the mischievous glint in his eye tells me he is nothing but trouble. "Well, Peach, I'm gonna go finish the other rooms while you lazy guys chitchat." And with that, Tyler Lockwood exits the classroom.

Elena is still eyeing me up when she thinks I'm not looking, and my own suspicions are proven valid when she walks up to me. She comes off warm, but I'm not quite sure if it's genuine. "I'm going to go prank our history teacher. Wanna help?"

Smiling back at her, I can't help but be even more curious. Who exactly is this 'Elena Gilbert'? "Well, of course! I've never heard of Prank Night, but I'm excited to join its customs."

Her dark brow arches to match mine.

"You're really well spoken, Eleanor."

"Practice makes progress," I quip with a smirk, following her as she exits the classroom. We walk besides one another, and I can already feel the awkwardness from the tension hedging in.

"So, Elena," I finally say, breaking the heavy silence, "Anything special or interesting about Mystic Falls you could tell me? This town is a bit boring at times."

She chuckles as we turn to step out of another set of hallway doors, and I let her go through first, "Actually, yeah. There's—!!"

Elena gasps harshly as she slams into someone ahead of us.

Some man.

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen, frankly.

He has deep stormy blue eyes, awash with several shifting emotions that I can't identify if I try, but they are there swirling magnificently. High cheekbones lift smooth pale skin, a button nose topping his features like a cherry on top. He has curly blond hair, and believe me, it's difficult for a man to pull off, but he is completely owning it. Tall, at least six feet, broad-shouldered, but lithe. Handsome. I wish to take many pictures of this man.

Elena's gasp, however, had not sounded like she was surprised she had bumped into the pretty man, but more like she was afraid of the pretty man.

"There's my girl," he replies, but it sounds like a threat.

Oh, wait. Was that a British accent? That's just about the loveliest thing I've ever heard.

"Klaus," She gasps in fright, going several shades paler as the man looks down on her. Those pretty blue eyes are on me momentarily, but I feel it. The predatory nature that I was all too familiar with.

This town has got to be the most intriguing place in the world.

He smiles darkly just as Elena snatches my wrist in hers, turning us to get away, but he's suddenly there in front of us. Oh. Oh.

Not only is the beautiful man a vampire, but he must be a lot older than me to move that quickly. I hardly sawhim move. Oh boy, does this 'Klaus' have something to do with why Damon asked for my assistance? Why is he here for Elena? Obviously she's aware of the supernatural, but I wonder if she knows Damon.

Choosing to observe before helping out either side, I stand passively as he glares down at Elena.

"You're supposed to be dead."

My eyes widen cartoonishly at what the handsome vampire says to the human girl who's oddly familiar, in a small town full of the supernatural.

Well, I'll be proud to call this place home if it is always this entertaining!

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A/n: Hi, everyone! Hope you enjoy this new story. My other stories will be continuing as normal. This is a Klaus/OC story, and no, this doesn't affect who my love interests are in my other stories!

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