Rescue Me

Chapter 1

The countryside of Virginia looked exactly as she remembered it.

Caroline Forbes supposed she wasn't that surprised. She honestly hadn't expected much to change in the last five years, but her lips still pursed in distaste as perused the road around her. Her fingers were tapping against the steering wheel in an uneven rhythm, her blonde hair swirling around her face from the wind coming in through the cracked window.

The illuminated arrow on her dashboard told her she was less than a few miles from her destination, and she had to fight the urge to whip the car around and head back the way she came.

She wasn't looking forward to this trip home.

She'd promised herself she wouldn't come back here. She'd told herself time and time again that Mystic Falls was behind her, and it didn't hold anything for her anymore. That it didn't matter, and that there was nothing more here for her. And she'd been perfectly content living her life just like that.

And then the invitation came. An invitation followed by a phone call.

"Married?"

Caroline couldn't do anything but stare in shock at the delicate piece of paper in her hands, her eyes taking in the words that were printed so elegantly on it.

She heard Stefan chuckle from the other line.

"I know. Who could have seen it coming, right?"

Caroline scoffed, shaking her head as she set the invitation to the side and reached for her steaming coffee mug. "Uh, pretty sure that's an understatement, Stef. I mean, didn't you just meet this girl?"

Stefan Salvatore was Caroline Forbes' best friend. He had been since the day he kicked over her sandcastle in the third grade and she had sucker punched him the gut for it. They'd been nearly inseparable for 15 years, seeing each other through the divorce of parents, the death of parents, break ups, make ups, promotions, and everything in between.

Six months ago, Stefan had gotten a promotion at his law firm, adding his name to the Saltzman & Fell practice after three years, a feat that was unheard of for such a young partner. His first act was to fly overseas to Manchester to assist in a case of their sister firm. He'd been excited, telling her it would be like a mini vacation in and of itself. Caroline had laughed at him, wishing him the best of luck at finding any kind of fun while was hashing it out in an uptight British courtroom.

Imagine her surprise when he came home with Rebekah Mikaelson.

"We didn't just meet, Care," Stefan stressed. "We've been together for nearly seven months. Most couples don't even wait half that long before taking the plunge. Romeo and Juliet got married within three days of their meeting, if you remember."

"Yeah. And look how well THAT turned out."

"When did you become such a pessimist? You're my best friend, aren't you supposed to be squealing in joy over my happiness?"

Caroline laughed. "Come on, Stefan. It's been years since I squealed about anything. Except that shoe sale at Prada last month. God, that was great."

She heard him chuckle, and she smiled, cradling the phone in the crook of her neck as she leaned against the kitchen counter. "Of course I'm happy for you, Stefan. I mean, you'd have to be an idiot to not see how in love you and Rebekah are." Even if she was an evil she-devil that gives me the stink eye every time we meet.

"Thanks, Care," Stefan replied, the smile evident in his voice. A slight silence spread between them for a moment before he spoke again. "I know it's a lot to ask...having you come back here. But I'm asking. You know I can't get married without my best girl at my side."