The Way We Fall

Prologue

My story begins in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. Actually, I should say our story because this story isn't just about me. It's about my family and friends and the way our lives changed forever. It's about the way we fought, loved, lost, and won. I have to tell our story otherwise it would seem like a really long dream and that none of it happened at all. Despite all the bad this change brought us, I don't think we would have survived otherwise. So this is my family's story, but it began with a terrible accident that would define our lives forever. This accident jump-started our new life.

It's summer after our sophomore year of high school. It's Friday night, and that's game night with Mom, Dad, Elena, me, and our little brother, Jeremy. Mom and Dad are busy a lot. Dad's a doctor, so they try to spend time with us when they could. Hence game night. I enjoy it and so does Elena... usually. Not tonight. She wants to go to a party down by the river.

"It's just one game night that we have every single Friday. Why can't I miss one?" Elena complains to Mom as she and I make a seven-layer dip for tonight.

"Family time is important, Elena," Mom says, and I tend to agree with her.

I don't have any desire to go to a party. I prefer to hang out on my own and I don't like crowds. Seeing everyone from school is not my definition of a good time. I have to see them all year long every day during the school year. Summer is supposed to be my reprieve. School's starting in a month, anyway.

"Mom," Elena whines. I roll my eyes at her.

"Fine, Elena. You can go if Zoey goes with you," Mom says, exasperated.

"Mom! Zoey's not going to go. You're basically blowing my plans up."

Elena glances at me. She's my twin and though it doesn't seem like it, we have a good relationship. We're just opposites when it comes to socialization. She gives me pleading eyes. I don't want to go, but I can physically feel how much she does, so I give in.

"Fine," I answer her unspoken question.

"All right then. You can go. I'll drop you off and I'll pick you up when you call," Mom says, and Elena squeals in excitement.

"Thank you, thank you. I'll be down in twenty. Zoey, get dressed!"

Mom gives me a knowing smile and I trudge upstairs with a sigh to get dressed. I stare at my closet and finally decide on a dark blue summer dress with stars on it. I pair it with a pair of flip-flops and put my hair in a half-up, half-down style. I'm just finishing up when Elena barrels into my room.

"Are you ready?" she asks.

"Yep. Let's go," I answer, and we go downstairs together.

Mom and Dad are there waiting to drive us. The drive is quiet and they park, then turn to us in the back seat.

"No drinking, nothing illegal. Have fun but be responsible. Call us when you're ready to come home," Dad says like he does every time we go out somewhere alone.

"Got it, Dad. Love you," Elena says getting out of the car without a second glance. I'm slower as I smile at them.

"Love you guys. See you later. Sorry game night got ruined."

"I know what it's like to be a teenager. We'll make Jeremy play with us. Besides, there will be plenty more," Dad says with a smile that makes his face crinkle.

"Love you, honey. Try to have fun," Mom says.

With that, I'm off following Elena like a damn puppy because that's what I do. She finds her friends, Caroline and Bonnie, almost immediately and with them is Elena's boyfriend, Matt, and his best friend, Tyler Lockwood. Matt's nice enough, but Tyler's kind of a douche.