Collide ♡ The Vampire Diaries [1]

Chapter One

Aurora stared at her reflection in the mirror as she patted down the sides of her outfit, it had been a long time since she'd had to attend an awake and if the redhead was honest in her thoughts, she was less than thrilled about it. In moving back to town after years spent on the go; never living in one place too long, it felt foreign to be back in the place she'd been born, and everything that came with it.

Mainly the fact that her father had fit back in so quickly they'd been invited to the wake of the now-deceased mayor. She didn't know which was worse the fact that she had to attend or the idea of being forced into a room with people she hadn't seen in a few years.

"You look lovely, Rory." Her father's voice shook her out of her thoughts, and she turned to face him standing in the doorway of her room. A part of her knew he was buttering her up so she wouldn't continue to complain, but still, the other part of her couldn't help but smile at the compliment.

"Thanks, dad." A quick roll of her eyes let him know she wasn't fooled. "Explain one more time why I have to go?'

"Aside from it being polite to pay our respects to the former mayor -"

"Who we both know was a total jerk."

"Maybe so but considering you insisted on coming home, you might be more willing to interact with the ones you were so insistent on coming back for."

Aurora sighed, listening to her father, who was speaking nothing but the truth. The redhead had pushed aside the dangers of planting roots back in her hometown to keep an eye on the people she had never forgotten about in the time she was gone. It was almost funny how much trouble the town could get into while she was gone.

Not that she hadn't experienced her dose of trouble in the past.

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The wake was as expected, fake attempts of sympathy and the occasional time Aurora had to interact with someone who recognised her. All around the redhead couldn't have complained too terribly, and Carol had been quite welcoming considering the circumstances, even encouraging her to seek out Tyler. The last she heard he hadn't changed all that much with time, but she promised herself to be polite if their paths crossed.

After breaking free from polite chit-chat she didn't care much for, the redhead discreetly grabbed a glass of wine as one of the wait staff passed. Her attention was captured by the violent swing of the doors to her right, and she watched the heated exchange between the three with a knowing look as if the redhead hadn't long been aware of the vampire's existence.

"You alright?" Aurora called out as she leaned against the doorway after the others had left the vicinity.

"Everything's fine. It's nothing, and..."

It was hard to mistake the slight tilt of Bonnie's head, and the widening of her eyes as the recognition set in. It might have been only a few years, but both girls had done some growing up in-between. Still, it calmed the redhead that the vibe she sensed in the room was positive.

"Rory?"

"Hey Bonnie, it's been awhile, hasn't it?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I guess I got nostalgic for home, so here we are."

Aurora took a sip of her drink before speaking again.

"Town got a lot more interesting in my leave."

She doesn't miss the look Bonnie gave her, and although it's in her best interest not to be too forward right off the bat, the redhead knew all too well you couldn't lie to a witch either. Aurora set her glass down on the first surface nearest as she crossed her arms.

"I'm sure you'd love to chat, but we both know you probably need to get to Elena. I think I hear her outside."

Bonnie looked as though she wants to say more; ask more but changed her mind with a nod of her head and rushed past. Aurora followed behind only changing her direction when she saw her father in the corner of her vision. When he agreed to leave soon, the redhead couldn't help but sigh in relief, these kind of things were just not her scene. She'd already stumbled upon Tyler when looking for the toilet and that had been more than enough awkwardness for one day.

Aurora had quickly given her condolences and left the room just as soon.

"Rory?"

The male voice that hadn't changed all that much over time caught the redhead's attention as she swiftly turned to face the unmistakable figure of one Jeremy Gilbert. He'd grown over the years as she found herself having to tilt her head up for a good look at him. And if she was honest with herself, he looked good but had to remind herself this was not the time and place to have those thoughts.

"What are you doing here?"

"We decided to come home... what? Didn't you miss me?"

Jeremy's mouth opened and closed, resembling a fish as he stumbled over his words, which did nothing but endear the redhead towards him. Years might have passed, but at least some things never changed.

"Not what I meant, and you know it."

Aurora shrugged her shoulders, suggesting she agreed, but she enjoyed letting him squirm in front of her if only just a little bit. She knocked her shoulder into his side good-naturedly, before resuming her previous position.

"Of course you missed me, who wouldn't?"

Before Jeremy could even retort, a familiar female voice cut in from behind Aurora, the redhead turned slightly to face his sister, whose expression morphed into one of surprise upon seeing Aurora.

"Rory!"

"Yeah, it's me, Elena. I'm home." The redhead smiled brightly at her old friend, not surprised that Bonnie hadn't the time to spill the beans first. Or maybe she had? Seeing someone in the flesh versus being told about them were two entirely different things. She couldn't be all that shocked when she found herself pressed into Elena, the girl's arms wrapping around her small frame.

"It's good to see you, we all missed you."

Aurora smiled into the girl's shoulder, and a nice warm feeling replaced the overwhelming sense of doom she expected upon reintroducing herself back into her old life. She hadn't known what to expect trying to insert her back into her past life, and the reactions so far assured her that maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

At least for now anyway.

"I was just coming to see if Jeremy and Jenna were ready to leave but if you guys are in the middle of something..." Elena questioned as soon as both girls released from each other's grasps.

"Oh no, we'll have plenty of other opportunities, and I'm sure my dad is more than ready to get out of here too. Plus there's always school."

Aurora made a face that got both Gilbert's chuckling under their breath, and the three made their goodbyes, finishing off with the exchange of their numbers of course. As soon as they were out of earshot, the redhead spun in place seeking out the familiar figure of her dad, sighing with relief when she did.

"Ready to get out of here?"

"Please. Let's grab some burgers and pretend like we're going to finish unpacking."

"Deal."