1

I put the last box in the car and let out a soft breath. Moving once again. It was the third time in the past two years. We were in search of something big, or old rather.

My life was normal to the common eye. I lived in a small apartment with my dad. Well, he was my step-dad, but he raised me and he was one of the most important people in my life. His name was Alaric Saltzman.

Usually people figured we were biologically related. We had the same smile, which I must've picked up from him as a child, as well as mannerisms. Of course my name was Emmaline Flemming so it sometimes came up in conversation and that was why people knew.

I kept Flemming as my last name as remembrance of my mother. She died a few years ago and Dad gave me the option. It wasn't until later on that I learned she was murdered by a vampire and it hit me like a truck. I understood why dad kept it from me, but it was still hard to cope with, especially the vampire part.

Other than my dad I would visit my mom's parents sometimes. Usually it was just once a year around Christmas time to ask me how I've been and give me cash as an apology for not being in my life. It is what it is, I guess. Dad wasn't close with his parents so it was the same for them except without the actually visiting. They would just send the pity money.

It was really just us and that was okay. We lived in small towns and Dad worked as a history teacher. We moved constantly to try and find the vampire that killed my mom. It was usually at the beginning of the year, but plans changed. Half way through the school year a job offer came up in Mystic Falls for Dad because of a tragic accident. For some reason he was eager for the job and I let him. He said he had a lead in the town.

Wherever I seemed to go bad news followed. I always accidentally ended up in the bad group at school or caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not to say that I was always innocent because I definitely wasn't.

I was a reckless teen. Through high school I've gotten wasted a few times, slept with a few bad people, and done a few drugs that maybe I shouldn't have.

Every time we moved though, I tried to get better. It's been about three years since I was like that and I was proud of myself. Now I just drank normally at parties and refrained from all one night stands and drugs.

So now we were moving again and I hoped it stayed as it was. School was already in for about two months. That meant that everyone was already settled in to where they needed to be, which left me: the awkward girl who doesn't know what she's doing. If I wasn't confident I would be having a heart attack.

I was raised to be strong. I grew up learning basic fighting skills. Dad put me in karate and boxing for a while. That lead eventually into the 'job' I did with my dad.

I was unique in ways. I was a girl who didn't have a mom so that was different in of itself. I liked to draw and I was actually good at it. I usually acted on impulse and was bad at using my emotions. I had a carefree attitude and style. I acted like I had no worry in the world, and to be honest I really didn't have any. They were trivial worries. I was worried I wouldn't make any friends by now. And yeah I'll admit that I was worried I'd be drawn to another crowd of bad people, but they were all things that I could change if I wanted to. There was one thing I was more scared of than anything- the fear of the unknown.

I was scared of what I couldn't see. The things that creeped at night. More specifically a thing. The monster that killed my mother in cold blood, a vampire.

My dad told me all about them when I was fifteen and since then I trained with him to make sure they didn't hurt anyone else. We hadn't crossed any vampires yet, but the place we were going was rumored to have lots of history of them.

Other then the real reason dad and I (mostly him) decided to come was that I hoped out of this change of scenery was a change of crowds. When we got here, to Mystic Falls, I was pretty convinced that it was just a big history museum. Dad educated me on the history of the town before we got here and it was pretty cool if I was being honest.

There was a part of the Civil War fought here and it was still lead by the founding families. It was founded in the 1860s and has been kicking ever since. The internet said that it was calm and quiet until recent animal attacks but there had only been about three so I wasn't worried. I was ready to start over.

I looked out the window as we drove. We passed some mansions, then some normal houses, a shopping center, and then we were at an apartment complex.

"This is it." Dad sighed lightly with a smile. "Let's start unpacking." He instructed as I got out of the car and stretched. I looked around. It seemed fairly pleasant and normal which I was happy about.

I started unpacking from the moving truck that dad brought yesterday. Thankfully all the workouts he put me through allowed me to easily carry the boxes.

I went inside and it was pretty nice. There was a kitchen when you first walked in and a living room towards the left as well as a bathroom. There was a hallway with two doors and dad said he had his own bathroom. My room was on the left of the hall.

It was a cool pale green color which wasn't the worst in the world. I started putting my boxes inside. After a while I told Dad I wanted to go look around town and maybe get some school supplies. He let me go by myself so he could get the house situated. I'd much rather go look around then be stuck in the apartment.

I went into town with my small flower purse over my shoulder. It held the essentials: a pad, some money, chap stick, and a small wooden stake in case of emergencies.

I went into a small shop that was like Walgreens. I got some basic school things: pens, pencils, notebooks.

"Have a good day." The cashier woman said with a smile. I smiled back lightly before walking away.

When I got outside I was putting my money in my purse when I bumped into someone. "Oh." I said as I looked up to see a guy. He had raven hair and icey blue eyes. "Sorry." I smiled lightly to him.

He looked at me and shook his head. "Don't worry about it." He smiled but I kept walking. "What's your name?" He asked as I turned around.

"What?" I asked confused as he walked over. I heard him perfectly well he was just a stranger that I didn't want to speak to.

"Your name." He said once more looking me in the eyes.

"It's Emma." I responded looking at him confused. The staring was uncomfortable as if he was compelling me or something. As if- no that's crazy. We are in the middle of the day.

"Where are you from?" He asked looking at me closely.

"Why do you care?" I asked staring to get defensive. "I don't know you." I added as I looked at him.

"Why won't you answer?" He asked looking at me. I guess he was used to getting his way.

"Because you're creepy. I have things to do." I replied as I turned around and walked away. I looked back and he wasn't there. I looked around but I didn't see him. It was weird.

The day went on and I went into a place called Mystic grill for dinner. Dad wasn't really the cooking type and neither was I. I mean unless you thought microwaveable Mac and cheese was quality food.

I went inside and ordered my drink. Dad was meeting me there eventually but he said it would be about ten minutes until he was there.

"Hey Elena." A guy with blonde hair called out as he smiled to me before it faded. "Oh sorry. You aren't Elena." He apologized as he chuckled nervously.

"No worries." I smiled up to him. I mean why not be friendly right? He was attractive and I needed a friend. "My name is Emma Flemming. I just moved into town." I informed him.

"No way. I'm Matt Donovan." He introduced himself almost in disbelief. "You look a lot like my friend Elena especially from the side. Sorry for the confusion." He shook his head lightly. 

"It's no problem." I smiled tilting my head to him.

"So did you want something to drink?" He asked getting out a pen and paper.

"Yeah I'll have a Sprite please." I answered as he nodded before looking away. I looked at my phone and someone sat across from me. It was the guy from earlier.

"Are you following me?" I asked putting my phone down and looking at him. I crossed my arms.

"No I just happened to run into you again. You see I don't believe you." He said the last sentence in almost a whisper.

"What?" I asked confused.

"You said your name is Emma. I don't believe you." He responded leaning forward a little. He must've thought I looked like Elena as well.

"Why do you care?" I questioned confused. He was too interested in who I was. I didn't get it.

"Because you hesitated when I asked you your name. It's sketchy." He replied.

"If I tell you who I am will you get off my back about it?" I asked leaning back in my chair. He nodded once.

"My name is Emmaline Flemming, Emma for short. I just moved here with my dad. I'm seventeen, I don't have any siblings and I don't know anyone in this town." I sassed looking to him agitated. "That's who I am, okay?"

He looked at me with squinted eyes. "Fine, but this isn't over." He insisted as he stood up and walked to the bar.

What wasn't over? I looked to the door and saw my dad. I put my hand up and he walked over. "Everything okay? You look-" he started not sure where to start.

"Yeah it's been a weird day. Supposedly I look like another girl from town." I explained looking at him.

"Weird." He raised his eyebrows slightly but didn't think much of it but neither did I.

The day went by and I was back at our apartment. Dad almost had everything done. I think he did all the work because he felt bad that we were moving again. I wasn't complaining.

I went into my room and I started putting everything together. It took about two hours, but I finally finished.

I started opening the boxes and put my picture frames on my dresser. One of me as a baby, of my dad, and my favorite, one of me with Mom and Dad together. I was about thirteen and I finally accepted that dad was part of my life.

I didn't really have any pictures of friends. They were 'sad' to see me go only because I knew how to set them up with people. I was usually the outsider of groups and I was used to it.

I put the picture down and I heard a tap at my window. I saw a bird sitting on the perch. I looked at it and walked over to it as it looked at me and tilted its head slightly like a dog.

I chuckled lightly and turned off my lights. Looks like I already had a new friend.

I was in my room making out with someone. I wasn't sure why but I wasn't complaining. I continued kissing them until I realized it was weird. I stopped and looked at them. I saw the guy from yesterday. The one who thought I was lying.

"Why are you here?" I asked as I pushed him away.

"Because you wanted me to be." He replied as I looked at him.

"No. I don't know you." I responded angrily. "Get out." I pushed him again.

"Make me." He urged as he tried to kiss me again.

"Go away!" I said hitting him again but it didn't phase him. "Go!" I continued hitting him.

I heard an alarm and I woke up.

I looked around my room to make sure I was by myself. It was a crazy dream. I didn't even know this guy and I was dreaming of him.

I looked at my window and it was open with the crow sitting on the ledge. "What the hell?" I asked looking at it before closing it. I turned of my phone alarm and looked at myself in the mirror.

What a great way to start of my first day at a new school.