𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐀 | 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐊𝐈

1. Four Days

Four days. It has been four days since Jeremy, my twin, died. And only one day since Elena decided to burn our house down with Jer's body inside of it.

Four days. It has been four days since my world was torn in half. And only one day since Caroline made me move across the country to Beacon Hills.

I'm going to miss everyone back home, but I know it's for the best.

Caroline and Liz are helping me settle in to my new home. They wanted to get me out of Mystic Falls as soon as possible before something similar to what happened to Jeremy happens to me, especially with Elena's humanity off.

Caroline comes rushing into the kitchen with a list. "Okay, so do you have your house keys?"

"Yes." I nod swiftly and Caroline ticks her list.

She looks down the list before asking, "Do you have your car keys?"

"Yes, Caroline," I sigh as I realise this could go on for a while.

"Do you have your class schedule?" She looks up at me, waiting for an answer.

"Sir, yes, sir." I salute and Caroline laughs.

"I'm sorry. I want you to be prepared," She pouts as she lowers her list.

"Caroline," I put my hands on her shoulders, "You're the one who's packed all my things, so I'll bet that everything is organised." I take my hands away and bend down to look through the glass of the oven.

I'm baking a cake for Caroline and Liz to thank them for all their help. I used to bake all the time with my mom, it was our 'thing'. That and obsessing over conspiracy theories, which is probably why I wasn't too surprised when Jer and I found out vampires are real. A beat of silence passes between us as I stare into the oven zoned out.

I begin to think about how nervous I am to start over. New school. New friends. New everything.

"How are you doing?" Caroline leans against the kitchen counter with her arms crossed. I look to her and stand up. I don't like talking about what happened. I haven't even told anyone about the nightmares I've been having, and they always have the same ending: Elena killing Jeremy.

"Do you want the lie, or the even bigger lie?" I scoff and Caroline takes my hand and leads me over to the dining table where we both sit down.

"I want the truth, Ava," Caroline says sympathetically.

I look down to avoid Caroline's eyes. "I miss him," I croak before looking back up. "I miss him so much, Care." I can't hold my tears back much longer as they come trickling down my cheeks. Caroline wraps her arms around me and lets me cry on her shoulder. "They should've let me go with them," I sob, "Maybe then it would've been me instead of him."

"It's okay," Caroline hushes as she rubs her hands reassuringly up and down my back. She knows I don't need some big speech about how things will get better, that's all I've heard since Jer died.

I pull away and I wipe the tears away from my eyes but Caroline grabs by hands and stares into my eyes and I see her pupils dilate. "I want you to be happy here. Begin your fresh start and find a healthy way of coping with Jeremy's death. Forget I told you this." She lets go of my hands.

I hear the door open and close so I stand up and go into the hall with Caroline behind me. I smile when I see Liz. "Sheriff Stilinski said he'll keep an eye on you, Ava. So don't be trying any funny business." I giggle as I go back into the kitchen and Caroline follows.

"That reminds me." She begins, "There's this veterinarian, Dr. Deaton, who I found. He knows all about the supernatural and said he'll keep you out of trouble."