chapter one
pilot
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"Ready for school?" Laura asked her youngest siblings. After the fire that took their home and almost their whole family, Laura, Derek and Willow moved to Mystic Falls, Virgina for a fresh start. "Yeah, Bonnie should be here soon, then we're gonna pick up Elena." Willow said before biting into a piece of toast. "How is Elena?" Laura asked as she rested her hands on their kitchen island and looked at her  sister. "She's... okay i guess, she's been quiet but she seems ready to get back to school." Willow answered as she sighed before they heard a car horn from outside.

"Looks like Bonnie's here, i should get going, i'll see you after, love you Laur," Willow said as she got up from her seat, grabbing her bag from the table and leaving the house as her sister watched. Willow jumped into the back of Bonnie's car, knowing Elena would sit in the front. "Hey Wills." Bonnie said with a wide smile as she looked at her friend. "Hey Bon-Bon," Willow said as she put her seatbelt on and soon enough Bonnie pulled out of the driveway and started heading to Elena's house, which wasn't far. 

"Hey Lena," Willow greeted the Gilbert girl as she got inside the car, "Hey Wills," Elena said with a smile as Bonnie started driving them to school. "So, Grams is telling me I'm psychic," Bonnie said as she drove herself, Elena, and Willow to the first day back at school and Bonnie had been going on and on about how her grams kept telling her she's psychic or some kind of witch but Willow didn't really know anymore. "Our ancestors were from Salem, which isn't all that, I know, crazy, but she's going on and on about it, and I'm like, put this woman in a home already!" Bonnie paused.

"But then I started thinking, I predicted Obama and then I predicted Heath Ledger. And I still think Florida will break off and turn into little resort islands." She finished before looking over at Elena. "Back in the car!" Bonnie said, making Elena sigh. "I did it again, didn't I? I'm sorry, Bonnie. You were telling us that..." Elena trailed off, wanting her to get back on topic.

"That I'm psychic now," Bonnie stated. "Right," Elena nodded. "Okay, then predict something. About me." Elena said, a smile on her face, making Willow chuckle. "I see..." Bonnie started just  as something hit the windshield, making Bonnie slam on the brakes. "What was that?! Oh, my god! Elena, are you okay?" Bonnie said as she looked over Elena as Willow leaned forward to make sure her friend was okay. "You good El?" Willow asked, concerned.

"It's okay. I'm fine." Elena said shakily, trying to calm her heart rate down. "It was like a bird or something, it came out of nowhere." Bonnie said. "Really, I can't be freaked out by cars for the rest of my life." Elena said, as she smiled at Bonnie and Willow. "I predict this year is going to be kick ass. And I predict all the sad and dark times are over and you two are going to be beyond happy." Bonnie said as she smiled, making Willow laugh as they continued to drive to school, none of them noticing the crow that was on the street sign watching them.

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"Major lack of male real estate. Look at the shower curtain on Kelly bitch. She looks like a hot — can I still say 'tranny mess'." Bonnie asked as the three friends stopped at Bonnie's locker. "No, that's over." Willow said with a laugh as she stood between Elena who was leaning on the wall and Bonnie who was at her locker. "Ahh, find a man, coin a phrase. It's a busy year," Bonnie jokes, before she and Willow notices Matt over Elena's shoulder, making Elena look behind to see Matt staring at Elena sadly. Elena waves at him but he just shuts his locker and walks away, making Elena sigh before facing her friends "He hates me." she said sadly.

"That's not hate," Bonnie assured her, "That's 'you dumped me, but I'm too cool to show it, but secretly I'm listening to air supply's greatest hits.'" Bonnie said, but before Elena could reply, Caroline came running up to them. "Elena! Oh, my god. How are you?" Caroline asked, as she pulled Elena into a hug as Bonnie and Willow shared a look. "Oh, it's so good to see you," She said, pulling away from the hug, before turning to Bonnie and Willow. "How is she? Is she good," Caroline asked Bonnie and Willow.

"Caroline, I'm right here. And I'm fine. Thank you." Elena answered with a fake smile. "Really," Caroline asked, not all that convinced. "Yes. Much better." Elena said, the fake smile still on her face. Willow sighed, she knew how Elena was feeling, she felt like that for years after the fire. "Oh, you poor thing," Caroline said as she pulled Elena into a tight hug. "Ok, Caroline," Elena said as she patted her on the back and Caroline quickly let her go.

"Ok, see you guys later?" She said, and the girls nodded. "Bye," Willow called out with a wave as she shook her head but sometimes Caroline was a little much but she loved her all the same. "No comment," Elena said. "I wasn't going to say anything," Bonnie defended, amused, making Willow laugh.

The girls were about to pass the office when Bonnie stopped them. "Wait, hold up. Who's this," Bonnie asked looking at a guy who was in the office talking to one of the office ladies. "All I see is back." Elena said bluntly which caused Willow to giggle. "It's a hot back," Bonnie said as they stared at the guy, "He's not bad," Willow said with a shrug. "I'm sensing Seattle and he plays the guitar," she joked, making the two girls laugh. "You really are gonna run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?" Willow asked as she looked over at Bonnie.

"Pretty much." Bonnie joked, before they heard someone in the hall shout to Jeremy, Elena's little brother. "Jeremy, good batch man," they said, making Elena look over to see her brother walk into the bathroom and sighed. "I'll be right back." she said before following her brother, leaving Willow and Bonnie to look at the new guy. "Please be hot." Bonnie begged, making Willow laugh as she and Bonnie started until the new guy turned around, and walked out of the office and Bonnie walked after him, as Willow sighed before following her friends, the new guy wasn't that hot.

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"Once our home state of Virginia joined confederacy in 1861, it created a tremendous amount of tension within the state. People in Virginia's northwest region had different ideals than those from the traditional deep south." Mr Tanner said as he taught the class, as Willow noticed Elena look at the new boy before looking away cause he caught her, making her stifle a laugh as she noticed him staring at her, so she quietly pulled her phone from her pocket and texted Elena, not noticing Matt looking between Elena and the new kid, seeing the looks they shared. Elena pulled her phone out when she noticed someone had texted her. 'New kid, staring at you :)' it read, from Willow, making her smile and laugh.

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Willow, Bonnie and Caroline were inside of the Mystic Grill, the town bar and restaurant, they were waiting for Elena to arrive. "His name is Stefan Salvatore. He lives with uncle up at the old Salvatore Boarding House. He hasn't lived here since he was a kid. Military family, so they moved around a lot. He's a Gemini, and his favorite color is blue." Caroline rambled before she turned to Bonnie and Willow with a smirk on her face. Willow laughed as she took a sip of her coke she got herself when she arrived. "You got all of that in one day?" Bonnie asked, shocked. "Oh, please, I got all that between third and fourth period." Caroline said with a wave of her hand. "We're planning a June wedding." Caroline added, making Willow laugh. "I better be a bridesmaid care bear." Willow laughed as she linked her arms with care as the three friends found a table to sit down at.

A little while later, Caroline had gone off somewhere, while Matt had sat down with Willow and Bonnie. "How's Elena doing?" Matt asked, making Willow roll her eyes. "Her mom and dad died. How do you think she's doing?" Willow asked rhetorically as she looked at him. "She's putting on a good face, but it's only been four months." Bonnie said with a sad smile, as she grabbed Willow's hand for comfort, knowing these past few months reminded her of her own family, and how she lost most of hers. 

"Has she said anything about me?" Matt asked, making Willow roll her eyes again, god did Matt annoy her sometimes. "Oh, no. So not getting in the middle. You pick up the phone and call her." Bonnie said with a shake of her head.

"I feel weird calling her. She broke up with me." Matt said sadly. Willow sighed loudly. "Her parents died, Matt, give her some time," she said, as she grabbed her hand back from Bonnie and ran it through her hair just as Elena entered with Stefan which caused everyone to look at them and making Matt look over at Willow,

"More time, huh?" he said sadly before getting up, leaving Bonnie and Willow at the table. "God, he needs some help, her parents died and all he can ask about is if Elena asked about him?" Willow mumbled as she ate some of the food she ordered, making Bonnie sigh.

It wasn't long before Stefan and Elena joined the two friends as well as Caroline, who basically interrogated Stefan–the new kid. "So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline asked and Stefan nodded. "Mm-Hmm. And moved when I was still young." he replied. "Parents?" Bonnie asked. "My parents passed away." he answered, making things silent for a moment as he looked over at Elena, who was frowning. "I'm sorry." she said, making Stefan look at her with a soft look. "Any siblings?" Willow asked before eating some of her food. "None that I talk to, I live with my uncle." he explained, making her nod.

"So, Stefan," Caroline said, once she noticed he and Elena were staring at each other. "If you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow." Caroline said, staring at Stefan. "It's a back to school thing at the falls." Bonnie explained. "Are you going?" Stefan asked Elena and before she could answer, Bonnie did for her. "Of course she is." she said, smiling towards Elena, which made her smile shyly as Stefan kept staring at her. Willow looked at Caroline and noticed her face falling slightly at the scene in front of her, making her sigh before rubbing Caroline's hand in comfort, knowing Caroline had an eye on Stefan, who clearly had an eye on Elena.

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"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle?" he asked, before looking at Bonnie. "Ms. Bennett?" he asked, making Bonnie look up, startled as she was called on. "Um...a lot?" Bonnie answered, unsure. "I'm not sure. Like a whole lot." Bonnie stuttered, not knowing the answers. "Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett." Mr. Tanner said before looking towards Matt. "Mr. Donovan? Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?" he asked, causing Willow to roll her eyes and slump in her seat, she hated Mr. Tanner with a passion.

"It's okay, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it." Matt said, causing some students, including Willow to laugh. "Hmm." Mr. Tanner, before looking towards Elena. "Elena? Surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significant historical events?" he asked, but Elena shook her head. "I'm sorry, I–I don't know." she said with a shake of her head. "I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reasons, Elena. But the personal excuses ended with summer break." Mr. Tanner said, causing Willow to look over at her friend who was frowning as the class went silent.

"There were 346 casualties. Unless you're counting local civilians." Stefan said, making everyone turn to him. "That's correct." Mr. Tanner said, nodding his head. "Mister...?" he trailed off, not knowing Stefan's last name. "Salvatore." Stefan said, giving his last name to Mr. Tanner. "Salvatore. Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls?" he asked, and Stefan nodded. "Distant," he answered after a moment of silence.

"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle." Mr. Tanner said, turning around.  "Actually, there were 27, sir. Confederate soldiers fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss." Stefan said, making Willow bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. "The founder's archives are, uh, stored in the civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts, Mr. Tanner." Stefan added, making the students whisper to each other. "Hmm." Mr. Tanner hummed and nodded.

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"Remember, if you need someone to come pick you up, you call me and or Derek, okay, i don't need you to get hurt, or lost, okay." Laura said as she stared at Willow as they stood in the hallway of their house. Willow was ready for the back to school party at the falls when Laura stopped her before she could leave. "I will, I promise." Willow promised as she put her jacket on herself as she walked towards the door. "Please be careful Willow." Derek called out from the kitchen. "I will, bye Der, bye Laur." Willow shouted back before walking out of her house and to Bonnie's car, who was picking her up for the party.

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Later that night, Elena, Bonnie and Willow were standing around at the party. "Just admit it, Elena," Bonnie said with a laugh. "Oh, ok, so he's a little pretty." Elena admitted making Willow laugh before she took a sip of her beer. "He has that romance novel stare," Bonnie said. "Stefan looked deep into her eyes, piercing her very soul." Willow joked in a low voice, causing the other two girls to laugh. "So, where is he?"  Bonnie asked as she looked around. "I don't know," Elena shrugged. "You tell me, you're the psychic one." Elena said as Bonnie smiled. "Right, I forgot. Ok, so give me a sec. Grams says I have to concentrate." she said, going to close her eyes.

"Wait," Elena stopped her. "You need a crystal ball." Elena said before she looked around. "Uh..." she said, before she grabbed a beer bottle from the floor. "Ta-Da," she said but the moment Bonnie touched the bottle she opened her eyes in fright, freaking Willow and Elena before she moved her hand so fast. "What," Elena asked worriedly. "That was weird," Bonnie said, making Willow furrow her brows. "What happened, Bon?" she asked.

"When I touched you, I saw a crow." Bonnie said as she looked at Elena. "What?" Elena asked, confused, remembering the moment she fell in the graveyard with the crow. "A crow. There was fog, a man." Bonnie said but changed her tone, noticing Elena freaking out. "I'm drunk. It's the drinking," Bonnie said. "There's nothing psychic about it." Bonnie said, trying to assure Elena that nothing was wrong. "Yeah? Ok, I'm gonna get a refill." Bonnie said before she walked away, leaving Elena and Willow. "Okay," Willow whispered, weirded out. "Bonnie," Elena called out to her as she walked away but when she turned back around, she found Stefan standing there. "Hi," he said to Elena. "Well, I'm gonna go, have fun." Willow said before leaving Elena and Stefan alone.

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Later that night, Willow was talking to some of her other classmates when she heard Elena yell. "Somebody help," Elena shouted, making everyone and Willow turn around to see Jeremy carrying Vicki's body. "Vicki? Vicki, what the hell!" Matt shouted as he ran to his sister as she was put down on the table with Tyler, not far behind, Willow following as well. "What happened to her?" Tyler shouted in worry as he checked Vicki, who had passed out again.

"Somebody, call an ambulance," Matt screamed. "Everybody back up, give them some space," Tyler yelled at the people pushing them back. "It's her neck," Elena said, her voice shaky. "Something bit her, she's losing a lot of blood, It's bad", Willow said, looking over Vicki's wound on her neck. "Put this on her neck." Willow said, taking off her cardigan and putting against her would to stop the blood, not caring if it ruined her cardigan. "Vicki, Vicki, come on, open your eyes, look at me." Matt begged, making Willow let out a shaky breath.

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Willow watched as Vicki was put in the ambulance, Matt going with, she messed with the rings on her hand in nerves. She had texted Derek to come get her not long after, she needed to talk to her siblings about this, because she had a feeling she knew what did that to Vicki, and it was no animal, or wolf or even a werewolf, like her or her siblings or even the others. It wasn't a full moon.

She looked over her shoulder, seeing her brother's car approaching, she bid Bonnie a goodbye and a good luck with a drunk Caroline before jogging over to her brother. "What happened?" he asked as Willow crashed into him, hugging him. "Something attacked Vicki, Matt's sister." she said. "But that was no animal or wolf of any sort." she said, pulling away, looking at him. 

"Do you remember those stories mom told us about vampires?" she asked, making Derek sigh. "Those were just Stor–" he started but Willow cut him off. "It's not." she said, making him look at her. "I think they're real, and in Mystic Falls, because those marks on Vicki were not normal." she explained to her brother, neither noticing a raven watching them in curiosity before flying off.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
meet willow hale! i love her and i hope you'll love her as well <3 

⎯ UPDATED AUTHORS NOTE 14/9/204
changed the ending to this, because, i know  that they would know something was up in that town, they aren't stupid