One year later

Today seemed to start out great for Havana. She woke up at the crack of dawn, went for a jog around the neighborhood, ate a healthy breakfast at the house she shared with her two cousins and aunt, showered, and got ready for work. It was her daily routine. Mediocre but fulfilling. Havana Sommers was now settled and called this small town her home.

The sun had decided to bless the town with beautiful weather today. It was hot but not humid. It was also the weekend which made today better; children gathered in the park, adults enjoyed picnics outdoors while teenagers like Elena and Jeremy were out and about enjoying the company of their peers. Havana however, had decided to go to work. She didn't have to go through the adult joys of mortgage payments but she still needed to earn a living.

At last, she had arrived. To where exactly? The Mystic Grill of course, where she worked as a full-time bartender. It didn't take long for Havana to sign up for the job seeing that she would be doing two of the many things she loved; making alcohol and getting drunk with it (she didn't mind doing it in front of the boss seeing as she was also the general manager of the grill).

The twenty-six-year-old didn't only gain a fun job but new friends as well. It didn't mind her one bit that most of her friends were high schoolers. In her mind, she was still a 17-year-old who was still figuring out life, which was true by the way. They were also Elena and Jeremy's friends. There was Bonnie Bennet, a witch from a powerful witch family; she would do anything to protect her friends, even if that meant hurting herself. Caroline Forbes, a preppy newborn vampire who resembled a barbie, funny, and a loyal one at that. Matt Donovan; a human who was her cousin's ex (yikes), though he may be athletic and popular, Matt was down to earth and a kind person (probably the kindest person she has ever met). Then you have the opposite, cocky but tolerable Tyler Lockwood who apparently has an untriggered wolf gene thanks to the paternal side of the family. He was the one that got on Havana's nerves the most. But whenever she needed weed or needed to let loose in a wild party, he was her go-to person. And finally, you have the Salvatore brothers. The oldest vampires in town. The eldest one was the infamous mean and egotistical Damon Salvatore who surprisingly became Havana's best friend. His younger brother, Stefan, who was dating Elena was the total opposite of his brother. Havana seemed wary of him at first but then when he (and his brother) finally proved to Havana that they weren't going to murder her family, everything was good.  Last but certainly not the least was Alaric Saltzman, the history teacher/vampire hunter who was also thrust into the supernatural world whether he liked it or not, he became Havana's other best friend.

The trio's (Havana, Damon, and Alaric) close friendship was unexpected. It was no secret that Damon loved alcohol, sometimes even more than blood. So every day, he would go to the Mystic Grill where Havana worked and ordered her every single one of her delicious new inventions. Their small talk and their shots of bourbon turned into a daily ritual thus starting their close ties. Alaric was the last one to join their afternoon drinking sessions when he started swinging by the grill and became a regular customer of Havana's.

The Mystic Grill started filling up with more people from all age groups. It was a busy day for the staff as usual. Havana pinned her name tag to the left side of her polka dot tube top before exiting the bathroom to serve drinks. She didn't even bother wearing the uniform.

-----------

"I'm not supposed to see you here until five Damon. You know that my shift ends by 4:30. I can't drink on the job again." The twenty-six playfully rolled her eyes at the vampire before her.

"As if you didn't do that yesterday." The raven-haired vampire rolled his eyes at Havana who was grinning. "Anyways, I'm not here to socialize. I've come to pick you up." He replied. Havana's eyebrow shot up. Damon seemed oblivious to the dozens of people waiting to get their orders.

"Which part of 'I get out at five' didn't you get? It's not like you would notice but it's kind of hectic around here." Havana motioned to the dozens of people waiting to be served.

Damon sighed impatiently. "Was Caroline here this morning?"

Havana's mind flashed back to a couple of hours ago when she saw the blonde heading to the bathroom after she awkwardly tried to flirt with Matt. "She was but left in a hurry after a few minutes. Why? What's up?".

"It's Katherine. She delivered a message through Caroline and she's freaked out. Now are you coming with me or not?" Havana stopped tending to the bar when she heard the she-devil's name. She may have not met the infamous Katherine but she hated that cunning bitch from the moment Stefan opened his mouth about her. Havana was fiercely protective over her family, that also meant her younger cousin Elena who was getting targeted by the she-devil who shares the same face. "Wait up! I'm coming!" She ran after the vampire.

------------

Havana and Damon arrived at the Salvatore Boarding house, where Stefan and Caroline waited for them patiently inside. Once Havana and Damon stepped into the parlor, Caroline started to talk about her encounter with the psychopathic doppelänger. The blonde vampire sat down facing the three and started her story.

"I saw Katherine today at the Grill."

"Did you see her?" Stefan asked Havana who shrugged "There were tons of people at the Grill. I was on shift so I didn't pay attention as to who went in and out."

Caroline continued her story, "I just came back to say hello to Havana...and spy at Matt." She lowered her head embarrassed by her little crush. Havana smirked knowing how this morning went for her. "Then I went to the bathroom and that's when she came in. I pretended to be oblivious, calling her Elena and all. Katherine went along with it until I tried to escape and she blocked the entrance. She told me to deliver a message."

"What message?" Damon asked.

"She said that you guys need to give her the moonstone or she threatened to rip this town apart until it rains blood." Caroline gulped.

Havana shook her head. "What else did that bitch say?"

"She wants the moonstone tonight. At the masquerade ball." Caroline answered.

The only human in the room looked at the two brothers, "So what's the plan?"

"We can't underestimate her. We'll have to play smarter than her." Stefan walked back and forth.

"Can't we just give her the moonstone so she'll leave-" Caroline got cut off by Damon who laughed at her statement. "Katherine's not getting anything. I've had it. I'm gonna kill her at the masquerade ball."

"I second that motion." Havana raised her hand up.

Stefan was the one who disagreed with the two. "No, you're not doing it."

"Oh please, Stefan. Don't give me that goodie crap." Damon sneered.

Normally, Havana would've sided with Stefan who was on the humane side but this was Katherine, she needed to be ended for the good of everyone involved. "Yeah Stefan, we need her to stop pushing us around permanently."

"You're not gonna kill her," Stefan repeated. Havana rolled her eyes while Damon mocked "Oh really?"

"Yeah, because I am."

Havana's brows shot up "Didn't think you had it in you bunny killer. This got a lot interesting now." She crossed her arms smiling.