25th February 2010

Bailey’s POV

This was my first time seeing the founder’s day parade, I had never really been to any of the Founder’s Day things seen as my Dad didn’t want to go and we weren’t obliged by our surname. The Tanner’s were by far completely unimportant in Mystic Falls, we were just one of the general families in the town, so there was no real obligation of going, even though I wouldn’t mind going.

Obviously Jeremy had been to every Founder’s event since birth, due to be a Gilbert, and a member of the founding families, meaning he had to go to them. But this time he was taking me to the parade, for clear reasons. I didn’t really know what all the hype was about for the parade, seen as I was pretty sure that it was just to celebrate how ‘amazing’ our town was and the show the history of it.

I didn’t mind going though, Jeremy cared a lot about this seen as his parents were involved a lot in the town council, so I was more than happy to go with him.

We watched the parade, and it was like any normal parade, but about the history of our town and whatnot. After the parade had finished Jeremy and I went to get food from one of the stalls that were randomly scattered around the town centre. We paid for our food and took a seat on the grass in the town centre, seen as all of the benches were occupied.

“So how did you like the parade?” Jeremy asked.

“It was good,” I stated taking a mouthful of my food.

“This was your first parade here wasn’t it?” he smiled.

“Yeah.”

“Why have you never been before?”

I sighed. His family were very proud of their roots in this town, but my family didn’t have that.

“My Dad never wanted to. He said it was a waste of time. We don’t have the history here your family has. You can trace back your family to being one of the founders of this town, I can’t. My family isn’t from this town, my Dad moved here with my Mum when they were young. It was a small town that’d be a nice place for them to start a family. My grandparents are from Canada, and my Dad grew up in Montana, and he said my Mum grew up in North Carolina. He just didn’t understand why he should have to celebrate a town, that he has no history with,” I shrugged, “I don’t really understand why he thought that, it may not be our home in the terms of our ancestry, but it is still our home, well I guess my home.”

He nodded smiling softly, “my parents were the complete opposite, they were all about this town, they were involved in everything the council could throw at them, and that meant Elena and I had to get involved because we had no other choice.”

We continued to talk about our families for a while, until it was getting dark, so we began to join the crowds that were walking around the town. There wasn’t too much in the town centre other than a few stalls that sold food and various other Mystic Falls themed souvenirs.  There was also a small stage set up for the Mayor to hold a speech later in the Evening but I guessed it would just be about how proud he was of the turn out to the parade, ad that he loves the town.

Since we had been here I hadn’t really seen anyone I knew. Well it was a small town so I practically knew everyone here, but there wasn’t really anyone I actually spoke to.

“Have you seen Elena today?” he asked.

“No, she’s probably with Stefan, or Bonnie,” I smiled with a shrug.

I already knew Elena didn’t like me. I understood why, I was pregnant with her brothers child, and I was quickly becoming friends with her best friend and ex-boyfriend. I’d probably hate her if we were in the opposite situations.

We continued to walk around until we saw Matt walking towards us.

“Hey,” I smiled.

“Hi, Tyler, Caroline and I are leaving and Ty, said to get you two as well,” he explained.

“What?” Jeremy questioned.

“Mayor Lockwood, told Tyler to go home and take some friends with him, and he told me to get you two,” he shrugged.

Jeremy frowned sternly at me wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I rolled my eyes.

“We are hardly his friends. He hates us, why would he invite us?” I questioned.

“I don’t know. Are you going to come with us or are you going to stay?” Matt asked.

“Well go with you,” Jeremy shrugged.

I was rather shocked by that. I never thought Jeremy would want to be in a close proximity with Tyler, but I guess I was now signed up to going with them.

Matt led Jeremy and me to Tyler’s car, where I was told to sit in the middle seat in the back of the car, in between Matt and Jeremy, whilst Caroline and Tyler sat in the front of the car.

“So did you have fun today Bailey?” Caroline smiled.

“Yeah it was fun,” I nodded.

“Course you’d say that. It’s your first one, if you’ve been to every single one, then you’d realise how boring they are,” Tyler stated.

“I haven’t even been to them all, and I still don’t like them,” Matt added.

“Don’t listen to them. They are great, all of the Founder’s events are, and you should totally come to them all. I’m sure Jeremy will take you but if he doesn’t, then we’ll go as a friend date,” Caroline smiled.

I highly doubted it could be classed as a friend date, we had barely spoken to each other, without her friends there, it’d be more of an acquaintance date, but nevertheless it was nice of her to offer.  

“What the hell is that?” Tyler practically yelled.

“What’s the matter?” Caroline questioned.

“That noise!” he yelled.

“Wait, what noise?” Matt asked.

I looked at Jeremy and then Matt, and they looked both as confused as I did. I let out a gasp as I saw Tyler release the wheel and grip his head, screaming in what seemed like pain.

“Tyler! Tyler!” the four of us shouted.

The car began to swerve uncontrollably.

“Dude, hey! Caroline, the wheel!” Matt shouted.

Caroline leaned across trying to grab the wheel, as Tyler continued screaming. The car came to a sudden holt as it collided with a wall.