Unexpected (Vampire Diaries Fanfic)

Mystic Falls

I groaned as the car slowed to a stop. We were finally here. After all the packing, driving, and anxiety, we'd actually arrived. Mystic Falls. I gazed out the window, half-expecting some picturesque old-fashioned village, like a place stuck in a different century. But what greeted me was nothing like that.

It looked... normal.

Too normal. There was a Starbucks on the corner, a Walmart in the distance, even a Wendy's. All the usual chains lined the streets, just like every other small town. I'd been expecting quaint shops, cobblestone streets—something out of a period drama. But this? This was just your average suburban town.

To my surprise, it wasn't awful. In fact, it was kind of nice.

As we drove deeper into town, I spotted the high school I'd be attending: Mystic Falls High. It was a pretty large building, with brick walls and long windows. There were a lot of students walking around the front lawn even though it was Sunday, their voices filling the air with lively conversation. It looked like one of those schools where everyone knows everyone, which made me instantly dread tomorrow.

We passed a restaurant called The Grill that seemed to be buzzing with activity. The parking lot was full, and people crowded inside. It looked like a popular hangout, maybe a place to check out once I settled in.

But then, as we drove further, we passed something I really hadn't been expecting—a cemetery. The iron gates stood tall and ominous, and rows of gravestones stretched far beyond them. Just great. The thought of passing this every morning on my way to school sent a shiver down my spine.

Finally, we turned onto a quiet street lined with trees, and I guessed we were almost there. We pulled up in front of a white two-story colonial house with a wide wraparound porch. It was quaint and charming, with shutters painted a soft blue and flower boxes under the windows. It looked straight out of a magazine.

It was nice enough, but it didn't feel like home. Not yet.

The house next door was almost identical to ours, and as I stepped out of the car, I saw a girl walking out of it. She looked to be around my age, maybe a year or two older, with long brown hair that cascaded down her back. She spotted me immediately and made her way over, a friendly smile on her face.

"Hi, I'm Elena Gilbert. Are you the new neighbor?" she asked, extending a hand.

"Yeah, I'm Jessie Taylor," I replied, shaking her hand. "My parents and I just moved in."

"Well, welcome to Mystic Falls!" she said brightly. "What school are you going to?"

"I'm starting at Mystic Falls High tomorrow, actually. I'll be a junior," I told her, trying to sound more excited than I felt.

"Oh, awesome! I'm a junior too. I can show you around tomorrow if you'd like," she offered, her smile widening.

"That'd be great," I said, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. At least I wouldn't be totally alone on the first day.

"Perfect! I'll see you tomorrow then," Elena said, waving as she headed back toward her house. She seemed nice, and I was grateful to have met someone before the first day of school chaos hit.

I grabbed the first box from the car and followed my mom inside. She unlocked the door, and I stepped into the foyer, taking in the sight of our new home. The entryway was bright and open, with gleaming hardwood floors and a staircase that led up to the second floor. To the right was a large living room with maroon-painted walls and big windows that let in a lot of natural light. The kitchen was spacious and modern, with sleek appliances and granite countertops.

It was all very nice. Maybe even too nice. It felt like one of those houses you see in movies but never really live in.

I trudged upstairs to my new room, carrying a box of my things. The furniture had already been delivered a few days ago, so the essentials were there—bed, dresser, nightstand. The walls were a crisp white, and the carpet was a dull brown, but it was bigger than my old room, which was a plus. I set my box down and took a look around. It even had a walk-in closet, something I'd never had before.

As I was standing there, taking it all in, my dad came up with another one of my boxes and set it down by the door. He gave me a sad smile, his green eyes full of guilt. My dad is still pretty young—he and my mom got married when they were both seventeen. A year later, my birth mom dropped me on their doorstep, and they adopted me. He's tall, like ridiculously tall, with light blonde hair and a laid-back attitude that's hard to stay mad at.

He looked at me now, his smile sad. "I know this move was tough, honey, but I promise you'll be happy here," he said, pulling me into a hug.

I sighed, hugging him back despite my lingering frustration. It was hard to stay mad at him when he gave me that puppy-dog look. "I know, Dad," I muttered, trying to sound convincing.

He smiled, patting my back before leaving me to unpack. I took a deep breath and looked around my new room again. It wasn't home yet, but it was a fresh start, whether I liked it or not.

I headed downstairs to grab the last of my boxes, already feeling the exhaustion of moving day settle in. I decided to start unpacking my books first. They're my pride and joy, and I have over two hundred, all of which I'd collected from thrift stores and eBay. It's way cheaper than buying them new, and there's something satisfying about finding a gem for a fraction of the price.

It took me a while to organize them on the shelves, but it was worth it. By the time I was finished, my parents had ordered pizza for dinner. No one felt like cooking, and I couldn't blame them. I scarfed down a few slices and then retreated to the couch, flipping through channels until I settled on Twilight. I've always had a soft spot for Twilight, even if Edward Cullen's sparkles are a little ridiculous. He's still my favorite character.

But no matter how much I tried to distract myself, the looming first day of school hung over me like a dark cloud. Being the new girl always sucked, and tomorrow would be no different. I hated the idea of walking into a new school where everyone already knew each other. It was like a recipe for awkwardness.

At least I had Elena. I wasn't totally on my own.

Eventually, my eyelids started to droop, and I turned off the TV, pulling a blanket over myself. Tomorrow would come whether I was ready or not, but for now, I let myself drift off, hoping things wouldn't be as bad as I feared.