The parking lot of Mystic Falls High was exactly how you see it in the movies. Teenagers were everywhere, talking loudly, laughing, or huddling in small groups to gossip. The air was full of the sound of slamming car doors and shouted plans for the weekend. It was just a normal high school morning.
I parked my car and walked towards the main building, a smile on my face. "So, this is the famous Mystic Falls High," I thought.The school wasn't far from home but this place which I have seen in tv shows and now seeing in real it really feels different.
Thanks to the memory fusion, I knew exactly where to go. I weaved through the crowded hallways, moving between groups of students without bumping into anyone. My new reflexes made it easy. My destination was my locker.
And that's when I saw them.
Elena Gilbert and Bonnie Bennett were standing at a locker a few feet away from mine. They were talking about some party. Seeing them in real life was weird. Bonnie looked just like the actress, but Elena… she was different. The TV show didn't do her justice. She had these warm, kind eyes, and a real presence. I found myself just staring.
Elena's Point of View
I was in the middle of telling Bonnie about my uncle's weird new diet when I suddenly got this feeling. That prickling feeling on the back of your neck when someone is watching you. I stopped talking and turned my head.
And my eyes locked with his.
He was incredibly handsome, with sharp features and perfect skin. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him for a second. Then my brain caught up. It was Alex Smith. The quiet, sad guy from our history class. The one whose parents died in that plane crash a few months ago.
But he looked… different. Completely different. He didn't look sad anymore. He looked strong and confident.
I nudged Bonnie. "Bonnie, look."
Bonnie followed my gaze. Her mouth practically fell open. "Whoa. Is that… Alex Smith? What happened to him? Did he get superstar plastic surgery over the weekend?"
"I don't know," I said, feeling curious about his changes.
"He was staring right at me. I couldn't help but blush. 'Hey, Alex,' I said, trying to break his concentration."
Alex's Point of View
"Hey, Elena," I said, walking over to them.
I had heard every word of their conversation. On my drive to school, I'd realized I could focus my hearing. If I concentrated, I could hear conversations from across the street. My senses had all been upgraded to a superhuman level. So, I knew all about the "plastic surgery" comment.
As I got closer, Bonnie was still looking at me like I was a science experiment.
"Hey, Alex," Bonnie said, not wasting any time. "Seriously, what's going on? You look so different. Did you, like, get a new face?" She seemed genuinely confused.
Elena elbowed her gently. "Bonnie!" she said, her voice a warning. She turned back to me with a warm, but careful, smile. "It's really good to see you, Alex. You look… like you're in great spirits."
I understood what she was doing. She was being polite because of my dead parents. And probably because her own parents had died not long ago. Rumors said it was a car crash because of her. I knew the real story was more complicated.
Bonnie blushed a little. "Oh, right. Sorry, Alex. I didn't mean it like that. It's just… you've changed a lot. It's hard not to notice."
I just shrugged. "It's fine. I think sometimes you just have to let things go and move on with time," I said, looking directly at Elena as I spoke. I saw a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
Just then, the loud, shrill school bell rang, making me jump a little. My enhanced hearing made it sound like a fire alarm right next to my ear.
"Ugh, history class," Bonnie groaned.
"We'll see you in there, Alex?" Elena said, as they started to walk away.
"Yeah, sure," I said. "See you in a bit."
I quickly opened my own locker, grabbed the history book I needed, and headed to class. When I walked in, I felt dozens of eyes on me. There were whispers and surprised glances. My new appearance was definitely causing a stir. I ignored them all and went to my usual seat in the back row.
The history teacher, Mr. Tanner, started droning on about the founding of Mystic Falls. It was incredibly boring. I rested my head on my hand, already feeling tired of this.
That's when I felt it again. That feeling of being watched. But this was different from Elena's curious glance. This felt… intense. Like a predator spotting a new animal in its territory.
I slowly turned my head to the left.
It was Caroline Forbes. She was sitting a few rows over, and she wasn't even pretending to look at the board. She was just staring right at me. Her blue eyes were sharp and calculating. She looked like she had just found her new favorite toy.
I didn't look away. I held her gaze. Then, I gave her a small, slow smile.
A wide, pleased smile spread across her face. She had gotten the attention she wanted. She finally turned her head back to the front of the class, a satisfied look on her perfect features. Even with her pale skin, she was more beautiful in person, full of a fierce, competitive energy.
I looked back out the window at the clear blue sky. High school was going to be a lot more interesting than I thought.