Unexpected (Vampire Diaries Fanfic)

School

My alarm blared at 5:45 a.m., pulling me from the clutches of sleep. Ugh. Why do schools make us wake up so early? It's scientifically proven that teenagers are biologically wired to stay up later and wake up later, but apparently, the school board doesn't care. Groaning, I smacked the snooze button, rubbing my eyes as I sat up.

I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed my iPod, scrolling to my Panic! at the Disco playlist and hitting play. The familiar chords of "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" filled the room, energizing me slightly. At least mornings didn't have to be completely dreadful if I had music to drown out the early hour.

Luckily, my parents, being the weirdos they are, were already up. They've always been early risers, even though they don't leave for work until nine. Maybe it's just a parent thing. I threw on some dark denim jeans and a long-sleeved black V-neck, then shuffled into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

After freshening up, I stood in front of the mirror, carefully putting on my makeup. A swipe of dark purple eyeshadow, a bit of eyeliner, mascara, and a red lip gloss to finish it off. I added some concealer under my eyes to hide the dark circles from my sleepless night. Satisfied with my reflection, I reached for my locket—the one thing that never leaves my side.

I've had it ever since I was born. It was the only thing my birth mom left me, and it's become my most prized possession. The silver pendant has intricate lacework designs etched into it, with tiny red stones set in the middle. It feels old, like something from a different era, and I can't help but wonder what its history is. I fastened the chain around my neck, the cool metal resting just above my collarbone.

With my hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and my school bag packed with new supplies, I was as ready as I was going to be. It was only a week into the school year, but I was already behind, and I hated the idea of playing catch-up from day one.

I headed downstairs, where my parents were already sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of toast.

"Morning, sweetie. There are Cocoa Krispies on the counter if you're hungry," my mom said, gesturing toward the island.

"Thanks," I mumbled, heading over to pour myself a bowl. As I started eating, my dad glanced over at me with a smile.

"You excited for your first day?" he asked.

I snorted, giving him a look. "Define 'excited,'" I said sarcastically, shoving a spoonful of cereal into my mouth.

"Enough with the sarcasm, young lady," my mom said sternly, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything else.

I quickly finished my cereal and drank my coffee—just the way I liked it, with almond milk and a dash of raw sugar. The warm liquid helped wake me up a bit more, but I still wasn't thrilled about the day ahead.

As I rinsed my bowl and placed it in the sink, there was a knock at the door. I glanced at my parents, then headed over to answer it. Standing on the porch was Elena Gilbert, all ready for school with a friendly smile on her face.

"Hey, I was wondering if you needed a ride to school," she said, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

Wow, the neighbors here are really nice.

"Sure, that'd be great. Just let me grab my bag," I said, heading back to the kitchen. "One of the neighbors is giving me a ride," I told my parents as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Okay, honey. Have fun and good luck today," my mom said, giving me a quick hug goodbye. My dad gave me a reassuring smile from his seat.

I followed Elena to her car, which was parked in the driveway. When I opened the door, I saw that someone was already sitting in the front passenger seat, so I slid into the back.

"Jess, this is my boyfriend, Stefan," Elena said, introducing me to the guy sitting next to her.

I blinked. Stefan was seriously hot. He had short, spiked brown hair and these piercing green eyes that practically glowed.

"Hi, nice to meet you," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Nice to meet you too," Stefan replied, turning slightly in his seat to look at me. "How are you liking Mystic Falls so far?"

"It's nice," I said honestly. "A lot different from my old home, though."

"Where did you move from?" Elena asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

"Long Island, a town called Wantagh," I told her, watching the scenery blur by as we drove.

"Well, I'm glad you're here. We should hang out sometime," Elena said cheerfully.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to hang out with someone younger than you?"

Elena laughed softly. "Because you seem nice, and why not? Age doesn't matter that much."

"Well, thanks. That sounds good," I said, smiling at her. It was kind of refreshing to meet someone so open and friendly.

The ride didn't take long, and soon we were pulling into the school parking lot. Stefan parked in the senior lot, which seemed fitting for how put-together they looked as a couple. I followed them into the school, trying not to feel too self-conscious as I trailed behind. They really did make a perfect pair—like one of those couples that everyone secretly envies.

We stopped at Elena's locker, where two girls were waiting. One was a stunning black girl with sharp features and a confident stance, and the other was a perky blonde who practically radiated energy.

"Hey, Elena!" the black girl greeted, waving.

"Hey, Bonnie. Hey, Caroline," Elena replied, smiling as she introduced me. "This is Jessie. She just moved in next door to me."

The blonde, Caroline, immediately wrapped me in a hug. "Hi! I'm Caroline."

"Uh, hi," I said, caught off guard by her enthusiasm.

The other girl, Bonnie, extended her hand. "I'm Bonnie," she said with a friendly smile. I shook her hand, feeling a bit more at ease.

"Nice to meet you both," I said sincerely. Everyone here was so welcoming—it was a bit overwhelming but kind of nice.

Just then, a tall blonde guy wearing a varsity football jacket walked over, draping an arm around Caroline's shoulders. He had that all-American look: blue eyes, short blonde hair, and a classic jock vibe.

"Hey, Matt," Caroline greeted, kissing his cheek. "This is Jess, Elena's new neighbor."

Matt smiled at me. "Nice to meet you. I'm Matt Donovan."

"Nice to meet you too," I said, returning his smile.

"So, what's your schedule look like?" Bonnie asked. I handed her the paper, and she scanned it quickly.

"You have a lot of classes with us!" she said, sounding pleasantly surprised.

"I'm in a lot of AP courses," I said nervously, hoping I wouldn't come off as too much of a nerd.

"That's awesome. Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other," Matt said encouragingly.

The bell rang for first period, and Caroline grabbed Matt's hand, waving goodbye as they headed off to class. "It was nice meeting you, Jess!" she called over her shoulder.

"You too," I replied, watching them disappear down the hall.

Elena turned to me. "We all have first period together, so just stick with us."

I nodded and followed Elena, Stefan, and Bonnie as we made our way to class. At least I wouldn't be walking into the unknown alone.