New Beginning

Chapter Twenty-Four

A/N: It's been ages since I've uploaded and for that, I'm sorry, but I have at least two more ready to go; including the chapter with Elijah. But for now, here is a large chapter centered around vampire Caroline. I hope you enjoy! The rest will be up either tonight or tomorrow. FYI: I haven't been idle during my absence, my Beta and I have been fixing up this story. We have up to chapter 17 done and they are really good. Some things have been changed up a bit, so if you'd like, go reread and tell me what ya think.

Bright, colorful lights flashed all around me, and I squinted my eyes against the harsh onslaught. I could see the Ferris wheel and a few other rides shining in the distance as I scanned my surroundings. Music blared from the speakers sitting in the game booths and, mixed with the loud voices from the gathering crowd, it was enough to make my eardrums pound along in an angry rhythm. I stood beside Elena and Bonnie, glancing down at my cell - my foot tapping against the pavement in agitation. I had asked Caroline to call me when she was released from the hospital but had yet to receive even a text from her. I had wanted to join Liz when she went to pick her up, but Caroline had laughed my offer away, saying she would rather I help Bonnie and Elena with the carnival set-up. Everyone knew how much putting this carnival together meant to Caroline, and because of that, I had made sure to arrive hours early to help the crew put it all together. I had promised Caroline that everything would be up to her very high standards. Edging onto my tiptoes, I stretched out my neck, looking over the large crowd. I hoped to see a bouncing head of blonde hair owned by an overly bubbly Caroline Forbes.

Elena chuckled softly, catching a glimpse of my nervous form out of the corner of her eye. She shook her head before returning to the list she held in her hand. "She will be here soon, Elara. You know Care would never bail on one of her school functions," Elena said, scanning her list, brows scrunched up in concentration.

I ignored her, instead focusing on my phone, and once again dialing Caroline's number. Placing my cell against my ear, I folded my arms - tapping my fingers against my elbow as I waited for her to answer. When her voicemail greeted me instead, my stomach knotted with stress. I nibbled on my lower lip. My traitorous anxiety-ridden brain couldn't stop itself from drawing forth the image of the mysterious text I had received the night before.

Could Katherine have had something to do with it?

I had not immediately thought of her, normally she would have taken credit. Mysterious just wasn't Katherines kinda thing. Or so I thought, now though, I was starting to think that maybe she had gone that route to throw me off. I tucked away my phone and tried to stay calm. Jumping to conclusions would help no one. Maybe Liz had decided to take Caroline to dinner and she had forgotten to call and tell me they would be late. I nodded my head, nibbling on my already almost non-existent thumbnail. Yeah, that could be what happened...

I stepped beside Bonnie and continued to nervously chew on my thumbnail, smiling weakly when she bumped my shoulder - flashing me a playful wink. I looked over Elena's shoulder, eyeing the list of supplies as she flipped through the pages.

"The ring toss is out of Bart and Homer dolls and Team Jacob T's," Bonnie said, grinning as she threw a few empty plastic bags in the trash can beside her.

Elena nodded and lowered the clipboard to her side. "Ok, I can grab some from the science club. Also, we lost a speaker in the karaoke room," Elena said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

Bonnie smiled brightly and patted Elena on the arm. She gestured out at the bustling festival. "Hey, it's all good Elena, take a beat, look around. This is a huge success," she said.

Elena grinned, wrapping an arm around my neck. "You mean we can do more than just freak vampire havoc?" she asked, widening her eyes comically and pointing her thumb between us.