However Long It Takes

Chapter One - Homecoming

Becoming a vampire completely flipped Charlotte's life upside down. One day you were a 17 year old girl, navigating an absent mother and recently overdosed father. The worst of your problems were still severe, like figuring out how to pay for groceries or forge your mother's signature. Then suddenly, all you could think about was blood. All the time. It didn't take long for Stefan Salvatore to figure out you were a new vampire, given that you disappeared from school for a week and couldn't get back into your house. Bonnie made you a daylight ring, which you were immensely grateful for, but it was on the condition that you accepted Stefan's help and agreed not to hurt anyone. You gave Stefan's method a try, but you couldn't deal with the guilt of hurting animals, even deer. So you stuck to blood bags and out-of-towners, once you had the self control. 

You'd managed to summon your waste of space mother back to town about a month after becoming a vampire. You spent the first week finding random places to hide during the day and sleep at night, then once Stefan discovered you, he let you stay at the Salvatore house until your mother came back. He told you that you had to get her to invite you inside, which would've been hard if she were on vervain, but she was not, so he compelled her to and just like that, you could sleep in your own bed again.

She was gone as quick as she arrived, saying her and Kelly were going to Florida with these guys they were partying with. You paid her no mind, as your own concern was not killing people. By the time senior year rolled around, you were in pretty good shape. You were not a ripper, thankfully. You enjoyed hanging around Damon Salvatore more than the others, as he was much more similar to you. You didn't want to kill people, no, but you didn't share the immense guilt and pressure that Stefan and Elena seemed to have. You fed and compelled out-of-towners and drank from blood bags otherwise. It became like second nature to you, and your vampirism only enhanced your life. In fact, it solved most of your problems. You could compel most people to get what you wanted, have money to buy groceries or pay the rent... It all worked out pretty well, other than the danger that came with being in the know.

Like, for example, when everyone learned about the "Original vampires." You really tried to keep your distance from Elena and her friends, but being that most of them were vampires - or werewolves - and you were too, you always ended up involved in their drama. Apparently, some big bad hybrid vampire-werewolf was after Elena for a ritual. You managed to stay out of that for the most part, only about as involved as Tyler, except that you hadn't managed to get yourself kidnapped and nearly sacrificed.

You were surprised when you heard that Stefan left town with the original hybrid - Klaus. You can't say that you didn't care, of course you did. You hoped that Stefan was okay and occasionally pitched in with Elena's efforts to track him down. He helped you with your transition and you also were friends with Damon - and occasionally more than friends too - so you cared for his brother. Still, you really tried to stay out of it. It seemed like they were always involved in a near-death situation.

It seemed like everyone in the damn town had met "Klaus" except for you. You grew more curious what this big bag 1000 year old hybrid looked like every time they mentioned him, but never actually got to see him. When Stefan returned to town still sired to him but alone, you were confused but relieved.

"What are you wearing tonight?" Caroline asked you as you walked out of your last class of the day. She was one of those girls that constantly cared about things like this - homecoming. She was Miss Mystic Falls, she's always head of prom committee... In many ways, she polar opposite of you.

"Probably just a black lace dress, I dunno." you respond. She stares at you blankly, like you just said the most absurd thing.

"You don't know what you're wearing?" she clarifies, and you shrug. 

"I'm not trying to impress anyone, so I don't really care too much. I'm just going to dance and have some spiked punch." you laugh, but she's unamused.

The day went by like it usually did. You went home, did homework, got ready and had a blood bag, then went to Tyler's estate. The homecoming was moved there last minute, which was fine with you - it was way nicer there than at your school. You arrived in a knee length halter top black lace dress and simple makeup. You thought that you looked pretty damn hot, even without all the get up that other girls did. You wandered around the party aimlessly, waiting for people to start dancing or something exciting to happen. This wasn't necessarily your scene, but it beat staying home.

Eventually, you spotted a tall blond that was definitely too old to go to your school. He seemed to have just arrived, and he was with two other large guys who did not look inviting whatsoever. He was only a few feet in front of you and you accidentally made eye contact after staring for too long. A smirk spread across his features and he approached you.

"Ah, you must be the other one I haven't met." he says. You raise a confused brow and he leans in. "Vampire." he clarifies, and your eyes widen.

"And who are you, might I ask?" you take a sip from your solo cup.

"Oh surely you've heard of me. The original hybrid." you choke on your punch and his grin grows. "Ah, you do know who I am. Fantastic."

"I was expecting someone... ya know, ancient. Aren't you like 1000?" he laughs and you can't help but chuckle too, hearing how odd that sounds.

"I'll take that as a compliment, love." he replies, and you inwardly swoon over his British accent and use of the word 'love.'

"So what are you doing at a high school dance?" you make small talk, attempting to sip your drink one more time. It's his turn to furrow a brow, seemingly confused why you are making small talk with him, but he doesn't mention it.

"I'm actually celebrating. The death of my father. Haven't you heard?" he asks. You stare at him for a long moment, processing what he said.

"No, I don't really keep up with the drama. Don't know much about you other than that you're old and you tried to kill Elena." He eyes you but seems unbothered by your lack of interest. "Celebrating a dead parent, huh? Wish I could relate." you down the last of your spiked punch and crunch the cup in your hand.

"Daddy issues?" he asks with a grin.

"Daddy's dead. Wish my mother was." you clarify. His confident grin falters for the first time in your conversation and he observes you. Before he can respond, one of the guys with him - which you are know piecing together must be hybrids - whispers something to him. You don't bother with your vamp hearing as you don't care much and it was a quick comment, but he nods and looks toward the Lockwood mansion.

"Afraid I got to go, love. Things to attend to." his grin returns, and he starts moving to walk away, but your body acts before your mind can and you reach out to grab his bicep.

"Wait," you look around briefly before leaning in and whispering. "I think they're up to something tonight. Just so you know." you warn him. Why the hell did you do that? His grin falls into a deep scowl but he nods at you and seems appreciative of the info.

"Thanks, love." And with that he heads off toward the mansion. You can feel something brewing in the air and decide that you want no part of it, so you chuck your crushed cup in the trash and call it a night early, heading home.