Problematic Situation
Chapter one
It was the start of senior year. Caroline could hardly believe that she had made it through the last few months alone. She had been a hundred percent convinced that she wouldn't have made it out alive, but here she was. It felt reassuring that she had at least made it too senior year. Standing in front of Mystic Falls High School with Elena and Bonnie on either side of her comforted her greatly because this was how it was supposed to be. Before it got complicated and messed up. Before hunky vampires and werewolves sprang into the picture. Before her two closest friends got involved, an unexpected doppelganger and even unsuspecting witch.
"Here we are. Senior Year." Caroline broke the silence among the trio.
"Anyone else think it should feel slightly more empowering?" Bonnie sighed.
"Okay. So prank night was a bust. But we are accepting it, and we are moving on." Caroline said with finality before they made their way towards the school.
"You're right. I mean, why should I let the fact that my boyfriend is seeing the ghost of his dead girlfriends hinder this experience." Bonnie replied.
"Yes! And why should I let the fact that my boyfriend was turned into a hybrid, put a damper on an otherwise fabulous day." Caroline agreed.
Elena stopped.
"Today's our anniversary. Technically, Stefan and I met on the first day of school last year." Elena spoke solemnly.
Caroline couldn't help the pang of hurt that ran through her. Elena was no doubt suffering. This whole thing with Stefan and his humanity, was beyond the worst thing that could have happened to her friend. Especially after everything that had happened the previous year.
"Yeah. You win." Caroline said softly.
Bonnie moved closer to Elena.
"Are you sure you want to be here?" Bonnie asked her.
Elena lifted her shoulders.
"I have to be here. I have to put it behind me. New Year. New life." Elena said as she carried on walking.
Bonnie chased after her, while Caroline lingered. Guess this was going to be a repeat of last year, she thought. None the less she was determined that she was not going to follow in that glorious tradition again. This year, things were going to be different. It just had to be different.
Once Caroline had tucked away her new stationery into her locker she came across the bonfire flyers that she had put in her locker the night before. She had completely forgotten about the whole thing. Hurriedly she grabbed them and proceeded to start sticking.
Once majority of the school was covered she decided to place the last one near Alaric's history class.
"I forgot about the bonfire." Elena said from behind her.
Caroline turned and immediately when into damage control mode.
"You have to go. It's our first spirit squad event. And it sets bar for the whole year." She exclaimed, trying her hardest to get Elena on board.
"Relax, Caroline. I'll be there." Elena interjected.
"Thank you. It's just that …" Caroline was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Tyler and his mouth.
He kissed her deeply before pulling back and giving her his megawatt smile. Caroline instantly tasted the tang of blood on her lips.
"Happy first day!" Tyler smiled, unobvious.
Before Caroline could say anything, Elena pointed and spoke out her worst fears.
"Is that blood?" Elena asked.
"Oh my God!" Caroline moaned as she grabbed Tyler by the arm and forcibly shoved him into a restroom. Elena followed close behind.
"What's going on?" Tyler asked annoyed by the sudden attack.
Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Vampire 101 … don't wear your breakfast to school!" Caroline growled out.
"Chill out. It was just a blood bag." Tyler scoffed.
"From where?" Caroline questioned, she certainly did not hook him up with any blood bags last night.
"Rebekah hooked me up." Tyler shrugged.
"Rebekah? And what are you even talking to her for?" She huffed out.
"Klaus told her to keep a watch on me. Protect his new asset." Tyler said smugly.
"His what? Why are you amused by this?" Caroline couldn't believe her ears.
"I'm his first successful hybrid, Caroline. Don't you think that's the tinniest bit awesome?" He asked.
"Oh, wow. I cannot believe you just said that."
"I think I should go." Elena piped out.
Caroline glanced over Tyler's shoulder. She hadn't been aware that Elena was even there.
"No. Can you please stay and try talk some sense into him." Caroline rubbed her temples before she continued, "I can't deal with this right now."
Elena nodded as Caroline exited the restroom and ran straight into Stefan Salvatore. A dehumanized Stefan.
"Hello, Caroline." Stefan grinned.
Caroline gulped before answering.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked puzzled.
"What do you mean? I'm coming back to school to see your sexy outfits that you wear." Stefan smirked before running his eyes over Caroline's figure hugging blue dress.
"That is so Eww." Caroline bit out, freaked out by the Stefan standing before her.
This was not the Stefan that she knew. He was something darker and twisted. This was the ripper.
"Come on, Caroline. You must have some idea what those outfits do to me. Especially when you wear something like this." He stepped forward and tugged on the hem of her dress.
Caroline shoved him away from her, which loosened his grip on her dress.
"If you're looking for Elena then you're out of luck. She's not here." Caroline lied trying to protect her friend.
Stefan quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Who said anything about Elena?" He teased.
Caroline rolled her eyes before she shoved past him. She so did not want to deal with that! Maybe her dreams of a happy senior year were getting flushed down the toilet.
"I love it when you walk away. I get to see that pert behind." Stefan hollered out from behind her.
Yip, they were definitely down the crapper, she thought.