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⸻⸻⋅☾ 🪐 ☽⋅⸻⸻

ZACH

"𝗗𝗔𝗗!  Have you seen my sweater!" Clarkes panicked voiced filled the halls. The man in question who sat just down the hall in his study felt a smile break out onto his lips. He knew this would happen. It always did. Every night before the first day of school Zach would warn his daughter about leaving everything till the morning and to make sure that everything she needed for the day was out and ready to go. Of course the girl never listened. Even at the ripe age of fifteen she still ignored his advise than she would find herself cursing at her lack of preparation.

"Dad! I need help I'm gonna be late!" Her voice called again. Zach found himself glancing at his watch as he saw the time had just passed half six. He rolled his eyes. If the girl wasn't at school at least forty minutes before the bell she would deem herself late and often then most it would ruin her whole day. He would often tease her and poke fun but at the end of the day he loved that goof ball of a kid. Realising he had yet to move out of his office after another round of screams from down the hall, Zach moved at a calming pace down the hall till he reached the open door to his daughter bedroom.

He almost felt the father come out of him at how messy his girls room was. His blue eyes came up to look at the various bits of clothing scattered across the wooden floorboards of the large room. Removing his eyes from the horror scene of dirty laundry on the floor his eyes latched onto the fifteen year old girl who was searching furiously through her draws looking for that beloved sweater she called her "lucky sweater".

His smile widen when the girl finally noticed his presence. She looked sightly crazed, her arms mid raised above a draw that crowed with jeans and jumpers all hanging off the sides or on the floor by her feet.

"Dad thank god – I can't find my sweater." She said for what Zach would count the sixtieth time that morning. A smirk formed from the smile on his face as his sarcastic voice filled the room "Yeah I figured that." He said watching his daughter throw yet another now dirty shirt onto the floor. Hearing her father's laughs, Clarke sharply turned her head in the direction of the man, her eyes harden and a glare clear as day on her face.

"Dad this is serious – this is the first day of school. Sophomore year. I need my lucky sweater if I'm going to survive the day." She spoke in a matter of factly tone which almost made the man burst into a fit of laughter. Although her look was known to scare others, to him all he saw was that once adorable little four year old girl in a tutu dress who would demand him to stop work because five minutes of work equaled three hours of playtime with her. To everyone else it made no sense but to a four year old girl it was perfectly logical.

Zach sighed trying to remove the smirk from his face turning his head to the left. His brows raised as he caught sight of the very thing that was sending his daughter into a frenzy. The sweater in question was lying on the tall wooden set of shelves that stood directly by the door almost eye level with him. "You mean this one?" He asked using a single finger to pick up the striped yellow and black sweater, holding it up and moving it in a swinging motion. Her features brightened and Zach almost chuckled as those beat up converses she refused to get rid of squeaked on the floor as she ran towards him.

Of course he didn't blame her for never getting rid of the shoes. They belonged to Alycia. He remembered the bright smile that broke out onto Clarkes face when he gifted her them for her thirteen birthday. He always loved gifting her things that belonged to his late wife and would often then most keep them just so he could give them to Clarke. Everyday when he looked at his girl, everyday when she grew, he saw more and more of the love of his life. Clarke was the spinning image of her. And that was something Zach cherished daily.

"Oh thank you dad! You're the best!" She said grabbing hold of the sweater that was in his hand. He watched as she quickly pulled the fabric over her head, adjusting it over her body and continuing getting ready for the day. He watched his girl rush around her room placing various books and pens that somehow ended up getting scattered across the room into her single navy backpack he'd gotten for her birthday last year.

After a few short minutes he watched her swing the backpack over her shoulder and begin to make a bee line for the door. He smiled, his tall body pushing off the wooden frame standing in front of his speeding daughter. Much to the girls annoyance, Zachs muscular arms came up to wrap tightly around her shoulders holding her head to his chest.

"Dad." Her whinnying voice filled his ears. "I gotta go I can't be late - I'm meeting Bellamy before class and I want to make sure that I find my locker ok and that I be at class at least —" She rambled on and on, her hands playing anxiously with the back of his shirt. The man rolled his eyes.

"Clarkie!" He gently yet loudly said stopping the girl mid sentence as he felt her hands stop moving against his back. He sighed, his lips finding the top of her head and pressed a loving kiss on the top of her strawberry scented hair.

"I'll drive you in today and make sure you're there on time ok." He spoke his hands moving up to cup either side of his daughter's face pulling away from the hug but still holding her close. Those hazel coloured eyes that were identical to his wives softly looked up at him and he felt her head nod in his hands.

"Ok.... But can I at least pick the music. I love you dad but I think if I listen to Zeppelin one more time I might have to have my ears surgically removed." She said. Zachs mouth fell ajar and a scoff escaped his mouth looking at the girl who just insulted his favourite artist. His hands removed themselves from her face.

"How dare you Zeppelin is a classic and just for that I'm taking you the long way" his finger came up to point at her as sharply turned around walking down the hall. He heard his daughter gasp as she began begging for forgiveness. Of course he was never actually going to go the long way but hearing his daughters pleads and "I'm sorries" and promising not to complain about his music again made him laugh to himself.

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His hands tighten on the steering wheel as he turned the car to the left heading down the long lengthy rode towards town. They lived about fifteen minutes away from the town square and about twenty away from the high school. Twenty minutes. That how long he had to break the news. He was going to do it that morning but completely spaced, his mind to much filled with amusement at his daughters actions. But he had to tell her. Not the whole truth, just the part she was bound to find out about.

Reaching forward he turned down the music sightly and when he noticed it caught Clarkes attention, he spoke.

"Listen baby ahh — for the next little while we're gonna have someone come stay with us" He decided to our right say it, his eyes not once leaving the road. No words were exchanged for a few moments as Zach waited for his daughter's responses. He heard the girl lightly shift in her seat as her voice filled his ears.

"Someone is come stay with us? Who? We don't have any friends." She bluntly said. Trying not to take that to heart Zach continued.

"No someone else — your cousin." He decided to go with. He felt himself approve of the lie. Of course he had no nephew or any of much family anymore. So he wasn't too sure how Clarke would take the lie or if she would even believe it. The man coming to stay with them technically was family. Even tho the man tried to deny it.

"Oh." Was all that came from her. That certainly wasn't what he was expecting, although to be honest he didn't really know what he was expecting. He took his eyes off the road and settled them on his girl who was scratching with the tips of her fingers – a thing she did most when nervous. Removing one hand from the steering wheel he placed it down upon her hands rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand in a comforting gesture.

"I know it's a bit weird and out of the blue but his names Stefan, he's around your age and his parents recently passed and he had nowhere else to go." He lied the best he could to the one he hated lying to the most. He watched her nod her head, her eyes flickering up to meet his.

"Oh.... I'm sorry I had no idea. No I don't have a problem at all with it. He's family we should help him out." The girl sweetly responded. Zach smiled as he turned the corner and approached the school car park.

Pulling up into a spot close to the entrance he turned to the girl who was his world. "Thank you baby. I know it's going to be a little awkward at first but soon it'll be alright." He attempted to comfort the girl. His girl was many things but one thing she was not was a people person. She often hated social gatherings and tended to stay home rather than go out. So announcing that someone that she'd never met before was coming to stay with them was something that would definitely throw her off a bit. But her reaction and the way she was so calm some what put him at ease – even if that's all it was, an act.

"And for the record I do have friends." He deadpanned rolling his eyes at the memory of what his daughter said just moments ago. The girl shook her head grabbing hold of the door handle giving her father a smirk that was one of the things she inherited from him.

"Who Gran Gran?" She snarked raising a brow referring to Alicia mother. The man scoffed playfully punching his daughter on her upper arm. He heard those cute giggles he loved before the car door opened. He watched her go with his head held high to meet her gaze.

"I get off work early today so I'll pick you up after school yeah" He offered earning himself a nod from the girl. It wasn't often he got to pick up his daughter from school. But lately things at the station have been calm and so he's been allowed to finish earlier which of course he had no problem with. It meant more time with his girl.

"Sounds good – love you dad." She said closing the car door before the father could reply back. Zach felt a sigh escape himself as he watched the girl walk through the school yard towards the entrance. He knew she was thinking about what they just discussed. He knew she wasn't happy about having a stranger live with them but she would never say nor complain about it to his face.

He too wasn't happy about the house guest that they were having. For it was someone he hoped to never see again. Especially because the person staying brought in a world that Zach wished his daughter would never have to know about. But with Stefan Salvatore now living with them – it was only a matter of time before Clarke was dragged into it.

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CLARKE

"What's got you in a mood." The cheerful young voice of Bellamy Daniel's called out from just behind the Salvatore girl. Clarke felt herself turn as Bells jogged up to her side. "It's the first day of school – figured Clarke Salvatore would be jumping up and down with a can do attitude." The Daniel's girl joked sliding her hand up and down her bag strap.

She and Bellamy had been best friends since the third grade - when Bellamy first moved to Mystic Falls. Bellamy was a very outgoing person who wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. Whereas Clarke was the opposite. She was well revered and often called a people pleaser for how nice she always was to everyone. They were two very opposite people that somehow brought out the best in one another.

"Hey Bells – no nothing I'm ok." She dismissed but Bellamy was having none of it. She knew the girl better than she knew herself. Stepping in front of her, Bellamy raised her brows looking down at the shorter girl she now stood in front of waiting for an answer. Finally the girl gave in.

"Dad just dropped a boom on me that some distant cousin is coming to live with us. His parents passed away so now he's staying with us since we're his only family left." Clarke explained shrugged her shoulders as she spoke. She hated feeling annoyed that this Stefan was coming to stay with them. She felt bad for him. The boy had just lost his parents and was now coming to live with strangers. Even though it would be awkward and sightly uncomfortable, Clarke would do her best to make him feel more than welcome and at home.

Bellamy gave her a look.

"Cousin? – I didn't think you had any family besides your dad and gran gran?" She said which sparked a nod from the Salvatore girl. Clarke too had not a clue that she had other family out there. She didn't know whether she was happy surprised or annoyed surprised. She didn't know why she would be annoyed by the new face in there house. It might make the quiet halls in there house fill with more noise.

"Me either but apparently we do. His names Stefan. Dad didn't say much just that his parents died and he's living with us for the unseeable future." The girl simply explained not too sure if her tone was good or bad. The two girls approached the two large wooden doors that opened up to the hallway of the school. Walking side by side the two girls entered the school beginning to walk through the halls filled with students.

"Well I think it'll be fun."

Clarke gave her a look.

"What I mean is that – for as long as... well forever it's just been you and your dad. And I know you two are close and on good terms but you gotta admit your house is one house a little too big for just two people. Maybe having an extra person in the house might make things a little less... lonely. Beside didn't Zach say he was staying with you guys now meaning he's not an adult yet so probably close to our age." Bellamy pointed out stopping to lean on the set of lockers next to Clarke. To be honest she hadn't. She never thought of it like that. Clarke opened her locker beginning to put her bag in as she thought. Bellamy did have a point.

"I guess you have a point."

"I always have a point."

"Not always a good one."

"Hey!"

Clarke's laughter filled the air as she closed her locker, her textbook in hand.

"What do you have first up?" Bellamy asked the girl her eyes flickering down to try and read the textbook being held onto the Clarkes side. 

"AP bio you?" Clarke asked. Bellamy rolled her eyes.

"Maths." She groaned. "God remind me again why we came back to school." The annoyed girl asked frowning as they approached her locker. Clarke managed to hide a smirk watching her best friend grab her textbooks with agression.

"Because we value education." The Salvatore teased.

"No you value education – I just value not getting grounded by my parents." Bellamy groaned out closing her locker with a playful frown on her face. Clarke shook her head with a teasing grin.

"Ok miss pouty we have class to get too – please don't get into too much trouble." Clarke playfully begged beginning her walk down the hall. Smirking, Bellamy began walking off the other way but not before her playful voiced called out bringing a smile to Clarkes face.

"No promises!"

Shaking her head at her friends assuming response, Clarkes gaze remained unfocused from the hall ahead causing her to bump forces with another. Stumping back in surprise Clarkes eyes widen as she went to look up at the taller figure she had just bumped into to apologise when suddenly her face dropped upon noticing who it was.

"Hey watch where your — oh great it's you." Jeremy Gilbert's displeased and irritated voice scoffed out, his wood coloured eyes rolling at the sight of the shorter girl before him.

"Wow is that how you greet everyone you see?" Clarke scoffed out a scowled present on her face as she looked into the boys harden eyes.

"Only the ones I don't like."

"Oh so everyone then." She muttered. She didn't often say she didn't like anyone. Sure she had people who she wasn't particularly fond of but never out right dislike. But Jeremy Gilbert was one of those people she could just never get along with. She use to. Way back when. They weren't friends but they had some form of understanding. That was until the end of middle school when he began hanging out with the "bad crowd" as her dad would call it. For some reason whenever she would talk to him he would make rude remarks or just flat out ignore her. Eventually she gave up resulting in an unspoken feud between the two where either could stand the others presences. Her nose suddenly picked up a strong sense coming from the boy in front of her. She frowned.

"You smell like weed." Clarke deadpanned looking over the boys demeanour. Wearing a raven coloured hoodie with sightly dirty blue jeans the boy looked the epitome of the stereotypical junkie teenager. The boys eyes rolled again and Clarke restrained herself on making a comment about if he keeps doing that he's eyes might stay that way.

"Well you smell... like leather from all those stupid textbooks you carry around." He attempted to make an insult. Clarke raised a brow.

"Was that suppose to be an insult? These textbooks are made of paper and plastic. If you're gonna try and insult me at least do it right."

"Whatever." He grumbled rolling his eyes for the third time. Not that she was counting of course. The squeaking sound of his wore out joggers sounded out as the boy turned on his heels walking away from the Salvatore girl and towards the bathrooms. The girl almost watched with sadden eyes as he wretched open the bathroom door and stormed in.

That was the first time Clarke had seen him in four months. She felt her heart beat increase as she remembered why she had seen him. It had been four months since she'd attended Grayson and Miranda Gilbert's funeral, Jeremy Gilbert's parents. She was told that they had passed during a freak accident on Wickery bridge when the car skirted off the road and into the river below. Only their eldest daughter Elena Gilbert had made it out. She didn't know the Gilbert parents well but every time she had interacted with them they had been nothing short of sweet and genuine towards her. She truely felt saddened by their passing and even more sad for their two children they left behind.

She had seen him briefly at the funeral. It was not a memory she wanted to remember.

Shaking herself from thoughts of Jeremy, Clarke continued her way down the hall desperately trying to ignore that lingering feeling of Jeremy Gilbert.

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BELLAMY

Bellamy stood with the red plastic cup filled with the mysterious beverage that came from the big metal kegs next to the big lit bonfire, waiting. The cool springs breeze blew her dark curly locks causing her to bring a hand up to smooth them down. She listened to the sounds of her peers as their laughter and talking filled the air with the vibe of a party. Her hips lightly swaddled to the music that played in the background as the cup in her hand came up for her to take a slip.

The dark coloured sky removed all form of light surrounding her, allowing only the massive bonfire and string lights set around the trees to light the way. That was how she saw the girl in her dark blue jeans and wearing her usual faded pink and white beat up converses walking over to her.

"There you are!" She expressed as Clarke walked over. "I thought you left me high and dry." She complained but smiled nonetheless at the presence of her best friend.

"Yeah sorry but made it - barely - dad was hard to convince but as long as I'm home by 11 and don't smell like anything illegal – I'm good." Clarke joked earning a chuckle from Bellamy. Clarkes dad had always been what she would jokingly refer to as a "papa bear".

He wasn't a helicopter parents and wasn't overly controlling of Clarke at times Zach would become a bit overbearing and begin to constantly worry about Clarke. Bellamy found it hilarious and at times sweet. Sometimes just to mess with Clarke she would tag team Zach and act as a sort of parent which Clarke found absolutely annoying but she found entertaining. She loved Zach and Clarke like they were her family.

"Ah but we gotta love papa bear Zach." She joked earning a roll of the eyes from Clarke but a smile still graced her features.

"Yeah you only say that because your not actually his kid – I'm convinced as soon as I walk in the door he's gonna be stood their holding a breath test and start giving me sobriety tests." Clarke groaned earning around of laughter from Bellamy.

"So... drink?" She innocently asked. Clarke gave a wide smile.

"Yes please." She said causing both girl to burst out laughing as they approached the keg filling up another red cup with the liquid for Clarke.

"So I heard Caroline Forbes talking the other day." Bellamy started off. "She said there's this new boy in her year called Stefan and get this the last name was yours... Stefan Salvatore, your cousin goes to our school." Bellamy revealed. She watched her friends face form into one of surprise.

"Really? I didn't even know he'd arrived yet I haven't seen him since dad told me about him three days ago." Clarke said taking a small drink from her cup. Bellamy knew the girl wouldn't drink much but it was always fun to see the girl a little tipsy.

"Yeah I thought so because you haven't mentioned anything of him since the first day." Bellamy said thinking back to when her friend had first mentioned her estranged cousin.

"I guess he hasn't been home much." Clarke concluded looking to be not thinking much on the matter. It wasn't surprising. He was new to town and of course would be scared and nervous. Either girl could blame him for his distance. A sudden noise rang out that sounded like a girls voice calling out to someone. Both girls turned to see Elena Gilbert storm off into the forest following what look to be the silhouette of Jeremy. Bellamy sighed.

"Have you talked to him?" She asked. Her eyes watched Clarkes face form into one of confused as her eye brows frowned.

"Who?"

Bellamy gave her a knowing look.

"You know who."

Clarke sighed taking another drink from her cup before shrugging.

"Ran into him in the hallway.... acted like his usually douche bag self... and I acted like my usual petty self and matched his energy." Clarke said, the last part sounding almost regretting. She looked down at Clarke. She loved that girl more than anything and knew that something with Jeremy was bothering her. Bellamy, about to say something was suddenly interrupted before she could speak.

"Hey I love this song – let's dance!" Clarke excitedly spoke putting down her cup grabbing ahold of Bellamy's hand before she could protest otherwise. Bells knew this was Clarke trying to change the subject but decided against speaking up. This was a party and Clarke wanted to dance and have fun. And who was she to say otherwise.

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⠀ ◞ ྀི◟ ͜  ◞ ྀི◟ ͜  ◞ ྀི◟

╰┈➤ authors note!!

hey so I'm probably the most annoying writer ever but this story has just been bothering me lately – I love changing fates so much and really want to give it justice. So I'm re writing it adding more details and making sure I give all you what you want

I want to add more Zach and Clarke and show their relationship more – but don't worry Stefan and Clarkes cute father daughter relationship is still happening

Also I'm thinking about keeping Zach alive in this fic – what do you think?

Let me know what you love most about this story and what you want to see <3