Broken Prophecy

One

The drive to the Salvatore School was long and uncomfortably silent. Mrs. Smith, Alex's neighbor—well, former neighbor—wasn't very good at starting conversations, and Alex wasn't about to start one either. Mrs. Smith didn't like the "new music us kids listen to nowadays" because it's too "promiscuous."

Yes, Karen, the WAP is inappropriate. But don't act so innocent. I've seen your 50 Shades of Grey collection, Alex thought bitterly.

Finally, they passed a sign saying "Welcome to Mystic Falls!" Alex sighed in relief, knowing the drive would be over soon.

"Do you want to stop and get some food?" Mrs. Smith asked, glancing at Alex.

"No thank you, I'm sure I can eat there," she replied.

Alex didn't want any more distractions, she just wanted to be at the school already.

"Well let me know if you change your mind, sweetie."

Alex nodded and rested her head against the window.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up to a large gate and Mrs. Smith called Mr. Saltzman. (Yes I know his title is "doctor" but at this point in time Alex doesn't know that.) After a few moments, she hung up and the gate opened. They drove up to the front of the school, which was bigger than Alex thought it would be.

A man with blond hair and a teen girl on either side of him stood on the front steps.

Feeling somewhat cornered, Alex exited the car slowly, clutching her backpack tightly.

Mrs. Smith got out of the car as well and walked up to the man.

"You must be Dr. Saltzman! I'm Shirley Smith, we spoke on the phone." Mrs. Smith shook the man's hand vigorously. Alex wondered how her neighbor didn't dislocate his shoulder.

While the adults spoke, the two girls moved to stand next to each other and linked arms and smiled as Alex approached them.

"So you're the new girl everyone's been talking about," the blonde one said.

Wait, people were talking about me? That's not good.

The blonde girl laughed and said, "You poor girl, you look like a deer in the headlights!"

"Lizzie, be nice!" the brunette chided. She turned to Alex and smiled. "Sorry about her. My name is Josie and this is my twin Lizzie. Dr. Saltzman is our father."

Alex looked between the two girls and figured they must be fraternal. "That must suck," she said finally. "That your dad is in charge of the school."

The blonde, Lizzie, cocked her head to the side and thought about it. "Not really. He treats us the same as everyone else."

Josie nodded, agreeing with her sister.

Alex looked around awkwardly, not quite sure what to say next.

A few moments of silence went by until Lizzie caught Alex off guard again.

"So what are you?"

"I—uh—what?" Alex had a suspicion that she was referring to one of her best kept secrets.

She couldn't possibly know that, though...could she? I mean, no one's gaydar is that good.

"Like, are you a witch, vampire, werewolf...?" Josie clarified in a hushed tone, making sure Mrs. Smith couldn't hear.

"Oh that!" Alex exclaimed, relieved. "I'm pretty sure I'm a witch but I haven't really done much about it. My parents never said anything, so I never really got much training. All I know is from the depths of YouTube and the second page of Google."