Reborn As The Current Doppelganger (SI-Elena G. X Elijah M. X Niklaus M.)

A Year Later

I've been navigating my way through college, a journey I never experienced in my previous life. Currently, I'm sitting in Sheila Bennett's class, delving into the world of Occult Studies. It's the one subject that truly captures my interest amidst the sea of other mundane courses.

"Little Bee, class ended three minutes ago," a voice interrupts my thoughts. I glance up to find the classroom empty except for me and 'Grams', as I fondly call her.

"Sorry, Mrs. Bennett, I got a bit lost in thought," I apologize, hastily gathering my belongings. The truth is, in my past life, I never had the chance to attend college, so every moment here feels both exhilarating and surreal.

"That's quite alright, Little Bee," she reassures me with a warm smile, though a part of me wonders if she senses something different about me. Paranoia creeps in, but I quickly dismiss it as irrational.

"Anyways, I wanted to know if you'd be interested in meeting my granddaughter. She's around the same age as you," 'Grams' suggests, offering me an opportunity that could potentially change everything.

"This is it. My way in," I think to myself, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "Yeah, I think that would be inter-nice," I respond, hastily correcting my slip-up. 'Grams' raises an eyebrow at my sudden change in demeanor, but I offer her a reassuring smile.

I bid farewell to 'Grams' as she leads me to the door, reminding me of an upcoming assignment. "Remember, a 3-page essay on any supernatural creature of your choosing. Try to make it as accurate as you can," she advises before sending me off with a smile.

I dart off in search of Papa/Uncle Gilbert, eager to share the news with him. As I navigate through the bustling corridors, familiar faces greet me along the way. "Hey, Ellie," one kid calls out, while another exclaims, "Elena, little genius! What's up?"

"Nothing much, loser," I retort with a smirk, relishing the banter with my classmates. Finally spotting Papa/Uncle Gilbert, I make a beeline towards him, excitement bubbling within me.

"Papa!" I yell, interrupting his conversation with another student. He turns towards me, a fond smile gracing his features. I rush towards him, crashing into his chest with enough force to elicit a laugh from him.

"Oof, I think you killed, Nena," he jests, his laughter contagious. "Papa, I wanna go by another name," I declare, tracing a lemniscate in the air. His expression shifts to one of curiosity as he listens attentively.

"What other name?" he inquires, his brow furrowing slightly. "I was thinking Yelena," I reveal, watching for his reaction. A sigh of relief escapes him as he processes my request.

"Yelena. Why? Why do you wanna change your name?" he asks, his concern evident in his tone as we make our way towards the cafeteria. "Elena is so boring. Yelena sounds somewhat more interesting, and it means 'Shining light'," I explain, eager to embrace this new identity.

"Yelena Gilbert. That has a nice ring to it. Look, I'll talk to Mama about it, and if she agrees, we'll look into it, okay?" Papa/Uncle Gilbert offers, his reassurance bringing a smile to my face.

"Deal," I agree, taking a bite of my lunch. "Hey, Papa," I interject, catching his attention once more. "Yes, Elena?" he responds, turning his gaze towards me. "One of the teachers here has a kid named Bonnie. She wants the two of us to meet. I was wondering if we could," I suggest, eager to expand my social circle.

He pauses for a moment, trying to recall the teacher I mentioned. "She teaches Occult Studies," I provide the missing piece of information, and recognition dawns on his face.

"Sheila Bennett. Right, her granddaughter lives in our neighborhood," he recalls, nodding in confirmation. "She's a bit...you know," he trails off, struggling to find the right words.