"Uncle Mason where are you going?" My seven year old high pitched voice asked as I watched my uncle from the hall. He was packing chains and ropes into his gym bag. The clatter had woken me from my slumber and my curiosity willed me to investigate.

"Josie go back to your room-" my uncle was cut off.

Sounds of screeching and then earsplitting nails on a chalkboard rang throughout the whole house. Blood. Blood everywhere and I was crying. Huge canines snapped before my eyes. Mother was shrieking from some far off place. How was Tyler even sleeping? Suddenly hands grabbed me by the waist pulling me from the room of blood and teeth. I fought and then...

'I Put Your Picture Away' blasted from my alarm clock. I snapped up immediately and smacked the snooze with my palm. It was all a dream. Uncle Mason was in Florida and had been his whole life. The only recollection I ever had of him were of pictures. Him and dad never got along is what I'd heard from mom, but something inside of me had always screamed that was a lie.

"Jose! Hurry up or your walking!" Tyler called from somewhere downstairs.

I grumbled and rolled over in bed facing my closet. What should I be today? The nerd girl or country girl. Nerd. I grabbed a large red sweater and black jeans with a black beanie that I placed on top of my golden head. Quickly I grabbed my yellow backpack and raced down the stairs to see Tyler just opening the front door.

"Josephine! You can't be wearing that in public!" Mothers shrill voice called from down the hall.

Tyler silently starting counting down to three as I raced to the door, shoving him and heading out towards his jeep. He followed in pursuit mimicking our mothers cries silently as she tried racing after them in her four inch heels.

Once we'd made it out of the driveway Tyler shook his head and laughed. "Jose why do wear that if you know it makes mom mad and puts a bad image on our family."

"Because I'm me. I'm not," I raised my fingers and made quotations. "Our family."

Tyler sighed, but kept his good nature. That would end soon though. Every time he was around other people besides myself he acted like the biggest douche.

"Now tell me this year if any guy tries to mess with you Jose I'm serious. What happened last year is not going to go down again this year. I promise." For a moment his eyes glanced to mine and I could almost see how sad I looked.

"Don't worry. You just figure out what your going to do with that Vickie chick." I giggled a little to myself. Tyler only rolled his eyes in response. Him and Vickie had been on and off again since the dawn of the ages.

When Tyler had finally parked in the Mystic Falls high school I nearly leaped to get out of the jeep. All of the sudden eager to get the day over with. I could almost feel the disgusted glares from the girls burning into her skin. My hands fiddled to my sweater yanking it down farther trying to hide any feminine part of me while some guys snickered and cat called. However the guys quieted down once Tyler stepped from the car glaring at the majority of them.

"I can handle myself," I murmured and walked quickly into the school.

SMACK!

"Ow! Oh ow I'm sorry!" My voice faltered as I rubbed my head. 

I reached down to grab the books that had been in my arms but found they were already in someone else's hand.

"Apologies are all mine."  A deep husky voice responded.

My eyes led me up the muscular figure adorned in black leather to meet a sandy brown haired boy. His eyes were shielded by black sunglasses. He held my books out farther for me to take and I did. Everyone in the hallway seemed to be staring at us in silent wonder. That is till the new boy nodded and turned away vanishing down the hall.

"Josie Posie got another Nosey!" A boy called and everyone laughed.

"You going to get the whole school this year Josie?" Another called and my heart began to rush while warm sensation crept into my eyes.

"Go to hell," I muttered under my breath and stomped down the hall away from the noise.

Sixth period ended at the ring of the bell while seventh was well awaited. I had managed to keep my grades up enough to be in two junior classes which were my sixth and seventh. Finally get to be away from all the scumbags and fake girls.

"Hey." A cold hand touched mine as I rose from my desk. I looked up to see the boy I had run into earlier today.  

"It's Stefan, from  this morning. I just wanted to let you know what they were saying about you in the hall...don't let it get to you." He spoke with so much sympathy.

Suddenly I felt angry. Why should this new kid sympathize for me because he noticed everyone was teasing. I could handle myself!

"Its Josie. And I'm fine thank you." My voice stood firm as I grabbed my bag and walked out from the room.

The last period of the day finally. My legs just barely managed to make it to a seat. Something about Stefan had caused a tick in her that she had never felt and it didn't help he smelled so handsome, like axe and freshly firewood. I heard a familiar voice enter the room and turned to see Elena Gilbert walking in alongside Bonnie Bennett, but behind them Stefan appeared. I rolled my eyes ignoring him and turned my attention to Elena.

"Hey Elena how are you?" I asked.

How stupid are you she's probably heard that all day, my common sense shouted in my head.

Elena's parents had passed away just last year in a car wreck. Elena herself had been in the car herself bit somehow managed to live through it.

"I'm fine." Elena replied back softly and offered a smile. The fakest smile I'd seen in my lifetime, but I only smiled back and turned in my desk to face the front of the class. Once class had started Elena and Bonnie seemed to be giving Stefan constant glance almost like check ups. I rolled my eyes once more. Everyone in this school seemed to think Stefan was hot stuff. 

Eventually as class came to an end I finally decided to spare Stefan a glance to find him and Elena were basically playing side glance peek a boo. However, once Elena turned to look away Stefan's light brown eyes were on me, yet now my skin crawled painfully. I felt angry again all of the sudden but terrified as well. Something I could not describe about Stefan Salvator was conjuring some form of ancient instinct that I never knew I had.

That instinct was screaming run.