It’s a new day—or should I say, the first day of summer. The sun is setting, and honestly, I couldn’t care less about the time. The day’s been good. I spent hours looking for a job at various bakeries around town. You’re probably wondering, why bakeries? Why not something else? Well, baking has always been my stress reliever. It’s my way of reconnecting with myself, along with writing. When life gets overwhelming, there’s nothing like the warm, comforting smell of freshly baked bread or a batch of cookies to help clear my mind.
After checking out a few places, I got a call from Caroline, my sister. She’s the person I can always count on to brighten up my day, even if she’s just giving me the latest gossip. And today, it’s about a guy at school—Stefan Salvatore. Caroline tells me all about him with that excitement only she can muster, the kind that says she’s probably already planning their entire future together. But you know what? That’s my sister for you. She shares everything with me, and I mean everything. We’re best friends, even if we do have our differences sometimes.
“Come meet me at The Grill, Viv,” she says. “I’m with Bonnie, and we’re talking about this Stefan guy. He’s new.”
Who am I to say no to her?
I head over, and as soon as I walk in, I see Caroline talking to Bonnie. The moment I approach, I hear Caroline’s voice, detailing Stefan’s life story like she’s been investigating him for months.
"His name’s Stefan Salvatore. He’s staying with his uncle at the Salvatore boarding house. He’s a Gemini, his favorite color is blue…" She’s rattling off facts like she’s writing a report for school.
I can’t help but laugh. “Okay, Stalker Caroline,” I tease as I stand behind her.
She jumps in surprise. “Oh my god, you scared me, Viv!” She laughs, and Bonnie greets me with a wave.
“You got all that in one day?” Bonnie asks, clearly impressed.
“Oh, I’m sure she got most of it by third period,” I joke, knowing exactly how Caroline operates.
“You know me too well,” Caroline grins, clearly not offended by my teasing. “And we’re planning a June wedding!”
“Wow,” I reply dryly, rolling my eyes. “You two are moving fast.”
We share a laugh before she pulls me over to meet Tyler. I wave, and he grins back. I order a strong coffee—I can't function without it—and take my seat beside Caroline and Bonnie. The moment I do, I catch sight of Elena entering with a new guy.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that he’s Stefan. I can already see the chemistry between him and Elena. Their eye contact is undeniable, and Caroline, as usual, seems to notice everything but is too caught up in her own excitement to admit it.
Half an hour later, I find myself in the middle of one of Caroline’s “interrogations.” She’s grilling Stefan about everything, trying to find out more. As the conversation goes on, it becomes clear to me that Caroline’s taking an interest in him. But I can also see that Stefan and Elena share something deeper. A connection, something I’m not sure Caroline is ready to admit.
At one point, Stefan looks at me and says, “I don’t think I’ve seen you at school before.”
“I graduated already,” I reply with a smile. “I’m Caroline’s older sister, Vivienne. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” he says, returning the smile, though there’s something about his eyes that I can’t quite place. After a while, Caroline chimes in.
“So, Stefan, if you’re new here, you probably don’t know about the party tomorrow.”
He glances at Elena. “Are you going?”
“Of course she’s going,” Bonnie says with a knowing smile.
Caroline tries to convince me to go to the party, but I refuse. Not my scene, I say. And while Caroline may be adorable with those puppy dog eyes, I’m not easily swayed.
Later, after I finish my coffee, I’m curled up with a book at home when my phone buzzes. It’s Bonnie. She tells me about Vicky Donovan’s animal attack. I immediately get worried and grab the car keys. She tells me they’re at The Grill waiting for me.
When I get there, I spot them sitting at a corner table, and Caroline looks upset. I slide into the booth beside her, concern immediately taking over. “Are you guys okay?” I ask, trying to keep the panic from creeping into my voice.
Caroline shakes her head. “No,” she says quietly. “Why didn’t he go for me?”
I blink, not understanding at first. “Who, honey?”
“How come the guys I want never want me?” Caroline’s voice trembles with frustration. “Why is it always Elena? She doesn’t even try, and yet she gets everything. He picks her, and I try so hard, but I’m never the one…”
I glance at Bonnie, who’s quietly watching, not sure what to say. Bonnie looks at me, and I see the pain in her eyes. I know Caroline’s been struggling with this, but seeing her like this breaks my heart.
I wrap my arm around Caroline and pull her into a hug. “Care, listen to me. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? You are beautiful, strong, loving, and everything anyone could ever need. You don’t need a guy to tell you that. If they don’t love you for who you are, then they won’t love you even if you change yourself for them. The right people will love you the way you are. Don’t ever change for someone else.”
As I speak, I can see Bonnie looking at me with a soft smile. I think she wishes she had an older sister like me—the kind who always knows the right thing to say, the kind who always puts everyone else first. I try not to think about it, but it stings just a little to know how much my sister depends on me.
Bonnie waves goodbye, offering to pay the bill. I nod, watching Caroline wipe her tears. She looks up and sees a guy smiling at her. A creepy guy, if you ask me. My instincts are on high alert, but I say nothing, trusting that she’ll be okay.
“Let’s go home, Care,” I say, standing up.
She nods, and the three of us head out of the Grill and toward my car. I make sure Caroline’s settled in before turning to Bonnie.
“Are you okay, Bon?” I ask, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Bonnie nods, though I can tell she’s still shaken. “I’m okay. Just a little… startled by everything.”
“Let’s stay with Caroline tonight,” I suggest. “I know you wouldn’t want to be alone after all this.”
She smiles softly, grateful for the support. I give her a quick pat on the head, and we head off, the events of the night already feeling like a distant memory. But I know that things are changing, and nothing will ever be the same again.
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Author's Note:
Hey everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for reading and supporting this story. I’m so excited to dive deeper into Vivienne’s world and the complex dynamics between her and the other characters. There’s a lot more to come, and I can’t wait to share more of their journey with you.
As always, your feedback means the world to me, so feel free to leave your thoughts, suggestions, or anything else you’d like to share in the comments. I’m so grateful for each one of you who’s taking this ride with me.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, and thank you again for all the love!
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