Just A Girl (TVD)

Isobel

We need to talk. Those words were stuck on repeat in my mind ever since history class until after school when Elena sat me down on a park bench and spilled the old news. I'm adopted. Those were the new words running through my head at light speed. There were a million things I could've said but all I could utter was, "What?" Elena sighed. "You mean... we're not sisters?"

"No!" Elena looked like she was trying to find the right words while I just stared at her. I would've liked to say that I hid my emotions quite well, but that wasn't exactly the case. I looked like a kicked puppy. "We'll always be sisters. Just... with different parents."

Great, now she's talking to me like I'm five. I kept my head low, looking at the ground. "Yeah, I know, it's just... wow." She went on to tell me about how she found out, how Jenna knew, and how she told Jeremy a couple days ago. She also told me how her birth mother, Isobel, is now a vampire, and Mr. Saltzman' ex-wife. Though, Mr. Saltzman isn't the father. "So who's your dad?"

"I don't know." She said. "I'm not even sure if I want to find out." We talked a bit more, deciding that this wouldn't change anything about how we acted around each other. We're still sisters and always will be. We also decided to put all of the secret keeping in the past which made me feel a bit guilty about not telling her about Charlie... I decided to tell her eventually, just not at that moment. "Well, I have to go help with the Miss Mystic Falls Float. I'll see you later."

"Awesome! I'm helping with the history float!"

Tyler of all people was elected as head of the design team for the float. No one at the table really wanted to be there. I wouldn't have volunteered if I knew no one would even try. "Okay, so... we're recreating the Battle of Willow Creek, right?" I tried to start a conversation but everyone was exhausted and Matt and Tyler seemed to hate each other. "Any ideas?"

Eventually, people started opening up and talking about what we could do. Tyler suggested multiple options with fake blood and dead bodies while Matt reminded him that Halloween is over. So there was still quite a bit of tension in that area.

I looked around the room, trying to find Charlie, even though I knew he had been staying home, faking sick for the past couple days. He was even dodging my calls. I used to think we told each other everything, but lately it feels like the invisible string tying us together at the hip was on the verge of snapping. I turned my head back to the table, where people were finally starting to bounce ideas off each other, and decided that I hated Tyler a little bit less today.

Finally, I got to go home and rest. Elena was already home, due to her access to a car. Hence why I can't wait to turn 16 and get a motorcycle. I sat down next to Elena. "How's Stefan?"

"Better." She said. "He's still a little tense but he's acting... normal again."

"That's good." I said, taking out my Geometry homework. I stared at it for a while. I hate proofs. "I wonder if Amber's okay."

"Well..." Elena sighed. "She's still in the hospital. But you could always go visit her."

"No." I said, putting away my homework, deciding that I would deal with it later. "I don't wanna bother her. She's probably tired and still healing and doesn't even remember what happened." I listed off. "Plus no one but you guys know that I was-" I paused and swallowed the knot in my throat. "That I was there."

"Nora-"

"I'm gonna go see what Charlie's up to!" I cut her off and grabbed my backpack. "I'll be home by dinner time." I opened the front door and briskly walked out, heading towards Charlie's house next door. I knocked on the door and it was opened a few seconds later by Charlie's mom. She was nice, but a total helicopter parent. She tracked Charlie's phone until he was 13 and we saved enough money to buy him a new one that she couldn't change the location settings on. "Hi, is Charlie home?"

"Yes, he's in his room, but he's been sick for the last couple days." She said. She was wearing a suit and had her hair in a tight ponytail. I guessed she had a day off, but she was a lawyer after all, so she had to be ready for a client to call her from jail at any time.

"I know, I'm just bringing him the homework and stuff he missed." I lied quickly. "Plus, I have a strong immune system, I promise."

She gave that light chuckle that adults usually uttered when they wanted to patronize kids but had no excuse to. "Okay, if you say so." She moved aside and I went in after giving her a polite smile and a thank you. Once my face was out of sight, I rolled my eyes. Charlie's parents have been nothing but nice to me. However, I can't say the same for Charlie. 

I made my way up the stairs and knocked on Charlie's door. "Hey, it's me. I come bearing Advil if you need it. You've missed school, so I assumed you were sick."

"Come in." His voice was quiet.

I opened the door to see Charlie reading on his bed. He was usually extroverted and energetic. It was almost scary to see him so... lethargic. "So, um... how are you holding up?"

"I don't know." He set the book down next to him gently like it was glass. "I have so much bottled up but I didn't even know where it's all coming from and I feel like I'll just burst at any minute." He said as I went to sit down next to him. "I thought maybe if I just stay home I can control the explosion when it happens."

"Explosion... wow." I said. "Should I be calling the FBI?" He laughed softly. Okay one step at a time. "But seriously, what can I do to help? And I'm asking you this as your best friend who would do anything for you. Okay?"

"Um... I don't know." He looked up from his hands and at me. "Thanks though."

"No problem." I said, smiling.

"I heard what happened at the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant." He said. Now it was my turn to look down at my hands. "It was the night you found me in the shed. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Your problem just seemed a bit more important and then you weren't at school. I was just gonna wait until I saw you next."

He hesitated for a moment before gently turning my face towards his with his hand. He looked at me with his golden eyes through his sandy hair. I saw him smile. No... I saw him grin. God, when did he get so hot? "Well, now you see me."

I grinned back. "Yes, I do..."