Unstoppable | The Vampire Diaries

1. Mystic Falls 90210

Riley Fletcher closed her eyes, trying to shut out the world around her. Maybe if she kept them closed for long enough, she'd be back in New York. The only place she'd ever lived, and the only place she was sure she could ever love.

Suddenly her mother, Ciara Fletcher, slammed on the brakes, jolting Riley out of her wistful state. Opening her eyes, she was disappointed to see that her environment hadn't changed at all. Despite her best wishes, she was still in Mystic Falls, Virginia.

"Here we are," her mother announced, pulling up outside Mystic Falls High School.

"Great," Riley groaned, rolling her eyes. "But before I get out, consider this: we go home, live our normal lives and... nothing has to change?" It was never going to work, but she had to take the chance.

Unsurprisingly, her mom laughed off her request. "Nice try kiddo, this is home now."

Riley looked out of the window at the students entering the school, many of them looking like they'd just stepped off the covers of magazines. This would never be home.

Ciara turned to her daughter with a sympathetic smile. "Sweetie, I know that you didn't want to come here, but it will be good for all of us. Trust me."

"For all of us?" Riley asked in disbelief. "Please! You moved here for the fancy job, and dad and I just came along for the ride."

Her mom sighed. "A highly respected doctor died a few months ago. When they asked, how could I say no? The pay is good, the job sounds amazing, and I'll be working somewhere where people actually respect me. It's my dream."

Riley looked over at her mother, instantly feeling like a complete bitch. She really had to work on her selfishness.

"I'm sorry."

"You're a teenager, it's your job to lash out when things don't go your way," Ciara said. "Just, promise that you'll give it a try. Go and join a club, make friends, get good grades. And in six months, if you hate this place that much, we can look at moving back to New York. But you have to promise." She held up her pinkie finger.

Riley raised her own, and they pinkie-swore.

"I promise."

She got out of the car quickly and watched as her mother sped off, desperate to get to her morning shift relatively early. Pulling the hood of her black sweatshirt over her curly brunette hair, she hoped that she could just hide from the world for the next six months.

Walking up to the school, she heard a shriek, and turned to see a blonde girl tightly embracing a brunette as a third looked on. The fact that they all looked like models made her roll her eyes, as she walked into the school and away from the loud students.

***

Caroline Forbes pulled out of the tight hug that she gave Elena Gilbert.

"How are you? Oh, it's so good to see you. How is she? Is she good?" The last part of her comment was directed at their best friend Bonnie Bennett. Elena's parents had died in a car crash back in May and Caroline was anxious to make sure that she was doing OK.

"Caroline, I'm right here. And I'm fine. Thank you." Elena appreciated Caroline's questions, but anyone who knew Caroline knew that she could get a bit carried away sometimes. As their conversation continued, Elena looked around, surveying the returning students, most of which she'd known all her life. Her eyes caught the back of her ex-boyfriend Matt Donovan, and she looked away quickly. It was a weird feeling to know that you were the sole cause of someone's unhappiness.

As Caroline left, Elena allowed Bonnie to pull her into the school. They stopped outside the school office, where they saw the backs of two people that they didn't recognize.