Hitch'd (a TVD fanfic)

Chapter 1

Cold chills crept down my spine as my Uber drive pulled up to the Lockwood mansion, the home of none other than the Mayor of Mystic Falls - my aunt. Mom always said she was a snobby bitch. Let's hope she proves her wrong. I thought to myself. The sun was close to setting, I noticed.

I grabbed my duffel bag - the only thing left of my life in Louisiana - and waved the driver off as I walked closer to the impressive building standing before me. My heart thudded in my chest with ever step I took, hammering as I approached the door. I gulped, slowly reaching for the door knob and almost jumped out of my skin when the door jerked open from inside. 

An angry and slightly tipsy blonde with impeccable fashion stood looking down from the four inch height difference she had on me. Her crystal blue eyes studied me and her face softened. "Kira?" 

I blinked, confused. How did she know me?

"I-I'm sorry, have we met?"

Her face morphed into a full smile as she pulled me into an unexpected and off-balanced hug. "Oh my gosh, Kira Fitzgerald! I haven't seen you since we were in kindergarten," she giggled, still hugging me. She was much stronger than she appeared; my lungs felt heavy as I tried to pull away. 

"Kindergarten?" I asked with a chuckle. Mom never told me we lived in Mystic Falls before. But after Dad died, she didn't really give up any information about our history. And as for me, I couldn't remember anything in my life that happened before seventh grade when I lost my father. "It's been a very long time...I'm sorry, I can't remember your name," I said sheepishly.

"Of course! Caroline," she offered a hand. "Caroline Forbes, but you can call me Care," she said, pulling me into the house. "Tyler," she called loudly, her grin never wavering, "you never told me your cousin was coming to visit."

I looked around the incredible mansion, taking in all the victorian architecture and elegant decor before my eyes landed on a pair of familiar brown ones. "Ty!" I breathed out, running into his open arms.

"Kira, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not ecstatic to see you," he said, lifting me into a bear hug. 

I hugged him back for a few moments to gather myself. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. "My mom...she, uh...she passed away a few months ago. I didn't have anywhere else to go," I struggled through the words, my voice breaking as I fought back tears.

"Kira," Tyler pulled me into another hug, "it's okay. I'm so sorry about your mom. Don't worry about anything, you're family, and we stick together no matter what." He went quiet for a moment, signaling something to Caroline. "I know what you're going through," he whispered.

"Aunt Carol?" I pulled back to look him in the eye. My heart dropped at his pain stricken face. "Ty, I'm so sorry. I had no idea --"

"It's okay, it happened months ago. I'm...managing. But having family now," he started, a sad smile surfacing on his face, "that's a silver lining, right?"

"Yes, yes it is," I nodded, smiling back. 

I turned back to say something to Caroline, but she was gone. "Where did Care go?" I asked Tyler with a lifted brow.

He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Yeah...about that...uh, we kinda had a little falling out," he looked away, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "We're like that, though, you know. She'll cool off...anyway, let's get you set up. I got plenty of room," he lead me toward the winding stairwell at the center of the room. "What do you think about a little welcoming party?" he glanced at me with a smile of excitement.

"For little ol' me?" I said in mock flattery. "You know, Ty, I've never actually been to a real-life party. Is it really like the movies?" I asked, too excited to be embarrassed at my overly sheltered upbringing.