-

The morning light softly illuminated the room as a muted television played the morning news in the background. On the screen, photos of a missing couple flashed, their disappearance capturing the attention of viewers.

Jenna stood near the fridge, hair up in a messy bun that reflected her thoughtful and slightly scattered nature. She opened the fridge door, contemplating its contents. Domesticity was not her forte, and she knew it.

"I can make toast," she muttered to herself, attempting to reassure her culinary abilities.

Elena entered the room, making a beeline for the coffee pot. With a practiced ease, she poured herself a cup, opting for it black. 

"It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna," Elena remarked, emphasizing the importance of the caffeinated beverage.

Jenna nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. 

Just then, Amelia, the middle Gilbert sibling, entered the kitchen, carrying her lacrosse stick on her shoulder as well as her gym bag. Both things that she would need for her lacrosse practice.

She stood next her sister, grabbing the coffee cup out of her hands, as she ignored the protest that the other made.

As the two sisters stood next to each other, their resemblance showed. Yet, there were subtle differences that set them apart, like two distinct sides of the same coin. Elena, dressed in a girl-next-door fashion, with straight hair that effortlessly drew people in. Meanwhile, Amelia sported a zipped-up hoodie, a graphic tee underneath, and a mess of curly hair, parted on the side. It particularly showed how put together the older twin was compared the messy state the young one was in.

"Good morning," Amelia greeted, smiling at both of them.

Elena returned her sister's greeting with a smile. 

"Morning, did you sleep well?"

Amelia's head bobbed up and down, her bouncy curls mirroring her enthusiasm. "Like a log. I'm ready for my first day as an official player on the team!"

Jeremy, standing in the background, couldn't help but snort in amusement. "Yeah, good luck with that."

Amelia scrunched up her face in annoyance at her brother's remark. She knew her changes weren't perfect, but she didn't look that bad. Right?

Meanwhile, Jenna, still trying to gather her thoughts amidst her morning responsibilities, confessed, "Your first day of school, and I'm totally unprepared." The weight of her parental duties was evident in her words.

She swiftly grabbed three power bars and distributed them to Elena, Amelia, and Jeremy. Then, in a moment of quick thinking, she reached into her purse and produced some cash. While Elena declined the offer, Amelia and Jeremy gladly accepted the lunch money.

"Lunch money. Anything else? A No. 2 pencil? What am I missing?" Jenna questioned, her desire to be fully prepared shining through.

Elena gently reminded her, "Don't you have a big presentation today?"

Jenna's eyes widened as she checked her watch, a mixture of frustration and exhaustion crossing her face. " I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at -- Now. Crap," she muttered, feeling the pressure of time closing in on her.

Amelia, with a mouthful of power bar, managed to offer some muffled words of encouragement. "You've got this, Aunt Jenna!"

In a flash, Jenna disappeared, rushing off to face her academic responsibilities, leaving Elena, Amelia, and Jeremy behind in the kitchen. Elena turned to Jeremy and asked, "You good?"

"Don't start," Jeremy replied, his voice laced with disinterest and annoyance, as he exited through the back door, brushing off his sisters' attempts.

Left alone in the kitchen, Elena let out a tired sigh, feeling the weight of the day settling upon her shoulders. A comforting hand rested on her shoulder, and she turned to find Amelia's sympathetic face.

"He'll come around," Amelia reassured her sister, a sense of understanding passing between them.

Amelia and Elena stood in the kitchen, engrossed in their own thoughts and morning routines. The muted sounds of the morning news played in the background, creating a comforting ambiance. As they went about their business, two distinct honks broke through the tranquility, catching their attention.

Looking at each other with a shared determination, they swiftly gathered their belongings. Amelia grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder, while Elena tucked her notebook under her arm. 

Stepping outside into the crisp morning air, they made their way toward the familiar sound. Elena walked purposefully toward Bonnie's car, her best friend who had become her reliable ride to school. The vehicle stood there, its engine humming softly, ready to transport them to their destination.

Amelia, on the other hand, headed toward Stiles' car. Stiles, her best friend, and partner in all stupid adventures. She opened the passenger door to his trusty blue jeep and slid into the seat, ready for whatever the day had in store for them.

As the cars pulled away from the curb, carrying them toward their respective destinations, Amelia and Elena couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Little did they know that this day would be filled with unexpected twists and turns.

-

Stiles and Amelia step out of the jeep, him badgering about what happened the night before and her trying to forget it. 

The morning sun cast a warm glow on Mystic Falls High School as students flooded the campus, eager to begin another day of classes. Amidst the bustling crowd, Amelia unslung her backpack, her curiosity piqued. She lifted her shirt slightly, revealing a bandage on her side. A school bell rang, signaling the start of the day, but Amelia's mind was still consumed by the events of the previous night. Her voice filled with a mix of nervousness and uncertainty, she recounted her encounter to Stiles.

"It was too dark to see much but I'm pretty sure it was a wolf," Amelia confessed.

Stiles shook his head, a skeptical expression on his face. "A wolf bit you? No, not a chance," he retorted.

Amelia slung her backpack over her shoulder once more and headed towards the entrance of Mystic Falls High School, with Stiles following closely.

"I heard a wolf howling," Amelia insisted.

"No, you didn't," Stiles replied.

"What do you mean 'No, I didn't'? How do you know what I heard?" Amelia questioned; her voice tinged with frustration.

"Virginia doesn't have wolves. Not for the last century," Stiles explained matter-of-factly.

"Really?" Amelia asked, surprised by the revelation.

"Yes, really. There are no wolves in Mystic Falls," Stiles reiterated.

"Well, if you don't believe me about the wolf, then you're definitely not going to believe me when I tell you I found the other half of the body," Amelia declared, leaving Stiles in a state of disbelief.

Amelia's heart raced as she remembered the terrifying encounter. They stood in the shadow of Mystic Falls High School, their voices hushed as they exchanged words.

"You what? Are you kidding me?" Stiles exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Amelia shook her head, a solemn expression on her face. "I wish. I'm going to have nightmares about it for a month," she confessed, the memory still fresh in her mind.

Stiles couldn't contain his excitement, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "That's freaking awesome. This is seriously the best thing that's happened to this town since...," he trailed off, his attention shifting to someone approaching them.

Amelia followed Stiles' gaze and saw Bebe O'Connell, the drop-dead gorgeous junior, strutting their way with the confidence of a runway model. The sight of Bebe's beauty momentarily distracted Stiles from their conversation.

"Hey Bebe, how are you? You look..." Stiles began, his voice trailing off as Bebe walked right past him, seemingly oblivious to his presence, or ignoring him on purpose. Who could say which one is worse?

Amelia couldn't help but smile at the situation. "...like you're going to ignore me," she finished Stiles' sentence, her amusement evident.

Stiles looked at her with a determined and annoyed look in his eye.  "You're the cause of this, you know. Dragging me down to your nerd depths. I'm a nerd by association. I've been Scarlet-nerded by you," 

Amelia grinned shaking her head at the guy and grabbed his arm to drag him into the school.

-

Amelia and Stiles walked side by side through the bustling hallways of Mystic Falls High School. Lockers lined the walls, students rushing to their classes, and the energy in the air was filled with insecurity, B.O and gossip.

As they reached Amelia's locker, she began organizing her books and supplies, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Stiles leaned against the lockers next to her, his eyes shining with determination. 

"You know, Amelia, this year is going to be epic. I can feel it," Stiles exclaimed, his voice filled with optimism.

Amelia nodded, her thoughts drifting momentarily to her parents who were no longer there to share in this moment with her. It was the first day of school without them, and a twinge of sadness crept into her heart. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, choosing to focusing on Stiles' words.

Stiles noticed the hint of melancholy in her eyes and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering reassurance. "Hey, I know it's not easy, but we're in this together. We're going to make this year our year. Trust me."

A warm smile spread across Amelia's face as she looked at her supportive friend. Stiles had always been there for her. She knew she could always rely on him.

"Thanks, Stiles." she said, her voice filled with gratitude. 

With a playful grin, Stiles grabbed Amelia's hand and starts pulling her towards their history class. "Come on, time to conquer the mysteries of the past. Our adventure awaits!"

-

Mr. Tanner's voice filled the classroom, droning on about the recent discovery of a body in the woods. Amelia, sitting among her classmates, listened intently, her curiosity piqued. She glanced at Stiles, who seemed just as surprised by the news, his shoulders shrugging in response. It was clear that this development was a surprise to them both.

As Mr. Tanner continued, he instructed the students to focus their attention on the syllabus that lay before them, outlining the semester ahead. The room fell into a quiet hum of reading, with everyone engrossed in the written words. However, amidst the stillness, a sudden ring cut through the air, catching Amelia's attention.

She looked up, scanning the room to locate the source of the sound. To her confusion no one else looked up about the ringing sound, the rest of the students absorbed in the syllable before them. Confusion settled in until her gaze shifted towards the windows. There, across the quad, stood a student she had never seen before, a student that held a cell phone to her ear. 

Despite the closed windows and the distance between them, Amelia somehow heard the ringing resonating from Hanisa's phone. It was as if the sound defied the confines of space, reaching her ears as if she was calling right next to her.

Amelia's astonishment grew as she realized she could also hear both Hanisa's voice and that of her caller. Their conversation echoed faintly, it was a phenomenon that both captivated and bewildered her.

Amelia found herself unable to look away from the girl. She watched as the school's principal approached her, engaging in a conversation that gradually became clearer to Amelia's ears with each step they took. The principal apologized for the delay, guiding the girl across the quad. Amelia's curiosity heightened as she absorbed snippets of their conversation.

"Well, hopefully, Mystic Falls is your last stop for a while."

The classroom fell into hushed anticipation as the door creaked open, drawing every eye towards the entrance. The principal's voice resonated through the room, introducing the newest addition to their class with a warm yet expectant tone. "Class, I present to you our new student, Hanisa Chandi. Let's all make her feel welcome."

Amelia's gaze fixated on Hanisa as she gracefully made her way towards the only vacant desk, which happened to be right behind her. Amelia's hand instinctively reached out, offering a pen to Hanisa, an act that made the new girl look up bewildered. She grabbed the offered pen with a confused but grateful smile.

-

After class ended, the students flowed out of the classroom and made their way to their lockers. Amelia's locker was situated across the hallway, several meters down from Hanisa's. A smile passed between them as their eyes met, a silent exchange of greetings amidst the bustling hallway.

At that moment, Bebe O'Connell approached Hanisa, striking up a conversation. Amelia couldn't help but observe from a distance, her senses picking up on their words as she eavesdropped with her (unaware) newly enhanced hearing. Their friend Harley joined Amelia and Stiles by her locker, curious about the interaction between the two girls

Amelia watched as Bebe, with her striking presence, complimented Hanisa's fashion choice. Bebe's words flowed effortlessly, "That jacket is absolutely killer. Where'd you get it?"

Hanisa, with an air of nervousness, replied, "My mom was a buyer for a boutique back in San Francisco."

The atmosphere shifted slightly as James Bradford, Bebe's boyfriend, joined them. He greeted Bebe warmly, though his arm around her waist.

"Heyyy," James greeted, and Bebe responded in kind, sharing a tender kiss with him that made their innocent bystander, Hanisa, uncomfortable with the PDA.

Meanwhile, Harley, who was also observing the scene with Amelia and Stiles, looked at them with an incredulous expression. Amelia was too engrossed in listening to Hanisa, Bebe, and James' conversation to notice Harley's bewilderment.

"Can someone tell me how New Girl is here all of five minutes, and she's already hanging out with Bebe's clique?" Harley remarked.

Stiles offered an explanation, "Because she's hot,"

Harley gave him a skeptical look, but Stiles didn't seem to grasp the implication and continued.

"Beautiful people herd together," Stiles added.

Amelia, wholly absorbed in listening to the three across the hall, continued to oblivious to Harley and Stiles' conversation.

"So, this weekend, there's a party," Bebe said.

"A party?" Hanisa asked.

"Yeah, Friday night. You should come," James suggested.

Hanisa felt slightly bashful as she replied.

"Uh, I can't. It's family night this Friday. Thanks for asking," She explained.

Both Bebe and James appeared disappointed by her response. Meanwhile, Harley and Stiles continued their spirited debate, the details of which were drowned out by Amelia's intense focus on Hanisa.

"You sure? Everyone's going after the scrimmage," James insisted.

"You mean like football?" Hanisa innocently asked.

James chuckled as if she were joking.

"Football's a joke in Mystic Falls. The sport here is lacrosse. We've won the state championship for the past three years," James explained, the arrogance in his tone eluded to the fact that he was one of the reasons that was true.

Bebe regarded James with an affectionate look, possessiveness radiating from her as she rubbed the back of his head with her fingers

"Because of a certain team captain..." She noted, the proudness in her tone heard loud and clear.

James couldn't help but smirk at the compliment.

"Well, we have practice in a few minutes. That is, if you don't have anywhere else--" James started to say.

"Well, I was going to--" Hanisa tried to explain, but she was interrupted by Bebe, who took charge of the situation.

"Perfect! You're coming," Bebe declared.

With that, Bebe grabbed Hanisa's hand and led her towards the lacrosse field, leaving Amelia with one last longing glance before they departed.

-

The lacrosse field was a hive of activity, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. The rhythmic thud of the ball being passed between players echoed through the air. Among the athletes, Amelia and Stiles were deep in conversation as they made their way toward the field. In a twist of roles from the previous night, it was now Stiles who struggled to keep pace with Amelia's unflagging energy.

"But if you play, I'll have no one to talk to on the bench. Are you really gonna do that to your best friend?" Stiles panted between words, his tone carrying a mix of jest and genuine concern.

Amelia, however, had a resolve in her voice that couldn't be shaken.

"I can't sit out again. My whole life is sitting on the sidelines," she declared resolutely, her bag dropping near the bench as she spoke.

"This season, I make first line."

Amelia's gaze momentarily drifted to the bleachers, where Hanisa and Bebe had settled to watch the team practice. Hanisa's smile sent a warm flutter through her heart. Just as she was about to return the gesture, Coach Bobby Finstock appeared before her, his booming voice calling her name.

"Gilbert!"

Amelia shifted her attention to the coach, who tossed her a lacrosse stick with a larger net and a bulkier helmet. She caught them clumsily after they struck her chest. Confusion clouded her expression as she absorbed the unexpected equipment.

"You're on goal," Coach instructed bluntly.

A furrow formed on Amelia's brow, and she admitted, "I've never played..."

Coach brushed her concerns aside with a casual wave, explaining, "I know. Scoring some shots will give the boys a confidence boost. It's a first-day-back thing."

He smacked her shoulder playfully, urging, "Get 'em energized! Fired up!" Doubt was etched on Amelia's face as she contemplated her newfound role.

"...What about me?" she questioned hesitantly.

Coach's playful cheek tap encouraged her, "Try not to take any in the face." With a gentle pat on her cheek, he turned his attention back to the field, bellowing, "Let's go! Come on!"

In the stands, Bebe cast an intrigued glance at Amelia, as if noticing her for the first time. Hanisa, too, was staring in her direction. Amelia reluctantly took her place in the goal, mentally preparing herself for the torture to come.

Just then, her hearing kicked in once again, granting her access to Hanisa and Bebe's conversation.

"Who is that?" Hanisa nodded in Amelia's direction, curiosity evident in her tone.

Bebe raised an eyebrow, inquiring, "Her? I'm not sure who she is. Why?"

Amelia listened attentively as Allison shared her insights, replying, "She's in my English class."

Unfortunately for Amelia, her distraction and heightened senses caused her to flinch and instinctively cover her ears when the assistant coach blew the whistle to commence practice. This vulnerability made her a prime target for the first player, who seized the opportunity to take a shot at the goal while she was momentarily incapacitated. The forceful impact of the ball against her helmet sent her tumbling backward onto the field.

Laughter and mockery erupted from Coach Finstock, James, and the rest of the team members.

"Hey, way to catch with your face, Gilbert!" James jeered.

Determined to prove herself, Amelia swiftly got back on her feet, shaking off her discomfort as she prepared for the next shot. The next player tosses the ball towards him, and Amelia catches it easily, to the point where she's visibly stunned that she was able to do so. This sentiment is shared by all the rest of the teammates, Stiles included, who then cheers happily for his friend. 

"Yeah!!!" 

The second, third, fourth, and fifth shots are caught by Amelia just as easily, and Coach Finstock simply stares at her with his mouth open as though he can't believe what he's seeing. Hanisa smiles when she sees Amelias performance, and even Bebe is clearly impressed by what she sees. Amelias hearing once again picks up on their conversation while she gets ready for the next shot.

"She seems like she's pretty good," Hanisa observed, her gaze fixed on Amelia's agile movements.

Bebe, who often portrayed the role of the mean girl, responded sincerely, "Yeah, very good."

Amelia, her heart brimming with excitement, couldn't contain her elation. She bounced on the balls of her feet, a bright smile adorning her face. The sight only fueled James's simmering frustration. Determined to reclaim the spotlight, he resorted to a reckless display of anger.

With a sudden, forceful strike, he slammed the top of his stick against a fellow player who had been waiting his turn and rudely replaces him in line. Amelia, seeing this move, tensed, bracing herself for pain,

"Oh, God..."

As James charged toward the goal, he hurled the ball with every ounce of strength he could muster. Yet, to Amelia, it felt as if time itself had slowed, affording her a clear shot at catching the incoming ball. She catches it so easily that it makes James look mediocre.

Stiles, swept up in the exhilaration of the moment, jumped to his feet, his cheers ringing out. "YEAH!!!!" 

"WOOOO!" Even Bebe got swept in with the excitement and cheered for the female lacrosse player, annoying her boyfriend to no end.

"THAT'S MY FRIEND!"

The realization that Amelia had outmaneuvered him left the popular boy dumbfounded and furious. Bebe's pointed look seemed to silently question his abilities. But instead of backing down, James's anger only swelled. 

Hanisa, who had been watching Amelia's remarkable performance with keen interest, observed as she prepared to throw a back-shot at the assistant coach, who managed to barely catch it with his own stick.

-

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Disclaimer: I do not own the body of work that is The Vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf. Only the character Amelia Gilbert.
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I hope you enjoy this new story.
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