11/27/12 - HI GUYS! I'm really sorry it's taken me SO long to post. I've just been really really busy with school. It just makes me tired and all I want to do is sleep. :) But today I had a BORING lecture and I ended up writing most of the dialogue in my notes. Anyway, enough blabbing.

ENJOY :)

Elena froze as she felt the atmosphere in the room suddenly change and quickly put down her sandwich. She walked over to the living room before turning to Caroline, who remained near the kitchen island.

"I am Katherine." She stuttered before channeling her inner-Katherine and tossing her hair over her shoulder confidently.

Caroline arched an eyebrow before releasing a short laugh. "No. You're not." She walked over to her. "I've worked for Katherine five years. Five long years. And not once has she offered food to me or asked about my well-being. Even when I got food poisoning at a benefit last year and was a bit green for two hours!" Caroline screeched.

Elena's eyes widened in disbelief as she realized she had no preparation for being Katherine.

How could she be Katherine when it seemed that Katherine seemed so different from her in every way imaginable? It seemed like an impossible task to think and be someone who is nowhere near your own train of thought.

Suddenly exhausted, Elena dropped onto the couch and put her head between her knees.

Caroline, sensing Elena's stress, walked over and sat beside her tentatively before running a hand gently on her back.

"Tell me what's going on." Caroline ordered softly. Elena lifted her head and looked at Caroline suspiciously.

Caroline rolled her eyes. "I won't call the police because whatever this fiasco is...it has Katherine written all over it."

Elena smiled softly. "You're right." She took a deep breath after pausing hesitantly. I'm Elena."

"Hi Elena." She said slowly before smiling. "I'm Caroline." Caroline flipped one of her golden locks over her shoulder. "Now what are you doing pretending to be Katherine Pierce?"

Elena sighed. "It was all Katherine's idea. I work as a teacher and was helping my friend Alaric out at his restaurant yesterday and he put me in charge of the back room where I saw Katherine in the bathroom. She claimed that we looked alike and demanded that we switch places. And my life has seemed so extraordinarily ordinary that I just gave it a shot. But now I'm realizing that I'm in so over my head and Katherine doesn't want me to switch back but wants me to sleep with Damon Salvatore and I don't even know him and I just..." Elena sighed loudly before Caroline placed a hand over hers.

"Okay, calm down." Caroline said wisely. "Now, are you related to Katherine?"

Elena's eyes widened as she shook her head. "I don't believe so. We'd never even met before."

Caroline's eyes widened. "Really?" She reached out to touch of Elena's long wavy brown hair. "The similarities of you two are uncanny."

"Except our personalities." Elena huffed. "I don't see how we can put up with this charade for one month. That's a really long time when you have absolutely no idea what you're doing."

Caroline stood up slowly from the couch before pacing across the living room and rubbing her hand over her chin in thought. "One month?"

Elena nodded and watched Caroline closely. "One month."

After a few moments of Caroline going "hm" and "alright" to herself, she snapped loudly before squealing.

"Caroline?" Elena asked worriedly. "You alright?"

"This. Is. Awesome." Caroline said excitedly before turning to Elena and pulling her off the couch and wrapping her in a tight hug.

"What?" Elena squeaked from Caroline's tight embrace.

Caroline quickly released her and grabbed Elena by the shoulders. "It's awesome, don't you see? I hate working under Katherine because she's such a huge bitch! Now I get a month of vacation! My sanity can stay in tact."

Elena's eyebrows furrowed. "Why don't you quit?"

Caroline paused before speaking again. "Because I may be blonde but I'm not stupid." She huffed. "Working for Katherine will open up so many doors. All I need is to finish off the year and I can work anywhere I want."

"Anywhere?" Elena asked.

Caroline smiled widely. "Anywhere. It's a beautiful and ugly aspect of our industry."

Elena nodded. "Well I'm glad that you'll at least get something out of this…situation. Just don't tell anyone."

Caroline huffed dramatically. "Like I said Elena, I'm not stupid. Your secret is Katherine's secret too. And I'd like to keep my job and life because if Katherine ever found out I told…I'd be toast. My lips are zipped."

Elena smiled. "Good."

The last bell rang loudly and before Katherine knew it, her students ran out her classroom. Some of the kids took their time, mainly the boys, to admire her dress once more before heading out to head home. Katherine released a loud tired sigh before rolling her neck.

"Not bad, Katherine." She purred quietly to herself.

Her first day teaching had been…tiring to say the least. Some people say acting is hard but it's nothing like dealing with children all day. It wasn't until Katherine got her first question that she realized it was going to be a long day.

"Ms. Gilbert, if you perform oral sex and the guy…you know…does his 'bit'…can you get pregnant?"

Katherine knew once she got her hands on her checkbook a month from now, she was going to make a hearty donation to the education system.

It definitely needed it.

Katherine looked up from Elena's lesson plan and to her surprise realized her classroom wasn't empty yet.

This girl was sitting at her desk near the corner staring out the window. Katherine had seen her when she was teaching. She reminded her of her little sister, Aleksandra, a little bit. Elena's seating chart on her desk said that the student's name was Isobel. Isobel had the same timid appearance with the mousy face as Ally. Ally had been quite shy and was just starting to break out of her shell when…

Katherine shook her head.

No point in going down that road.

Katherine stood from her desk chair and pulled down her dress before walking over to Isobel who jumped, her attention leaving the window.

"Oh, Ms. Gilbert, is class over?"

"Five minutes ago." Katherine laughed before sitting in the desk beside her.

"Oh, well, I better go before I miss the bus." Isobel stood nervously before packing her things frantically.

"What were you thinking about?"

Isobel's cheeks flushed. "No one."

Katherine's lips curved into a smile. "A boy, huh?"

Isobel sighed, defeated. "Yeah." She frowned. "He has no idea I exist."

Katherine looked at Isobel, taking in her slightly frizzy hair, large hazel eyes and porcelain skin.

If she changed her hair conditioner, Katherine thought, she could get a guy no problem.

"Well then make him notice you." Katherine rolled her eyes.

Isobel put her backpack on her back before sighing. "It's not that easy Ms. Gilbert, you'd never understand."

Katherine arched an eyebrow. She stood before placing her hand on her hip." What's that supposed to mean?"

Isobel huffed. "I mean, look at you. You look like you've just stepped out of Maxim."

Katherine smirked before rolling her eyes. "Okay, calm down, drama queen. Whether you know this or not, I didn't always look like this."

Isobel arched an eyebrow disbelievingly.

Katherine sighed, annoyed by the fact that she had to even mention this. "Okay. These," she pointed to her chest. "They didn't come in until I was seventeen. And," she whispered. "I didn't kiss a boy until the summer after my senior year of high school."

Isobel seemed to perk up at this in a motion that reminded Katherine of Ally. Her heart lurched. "Really? You're not lying?"

Katherine laughed. "I definitely wouldn't lie about that. But I'm going to tell you something that I wish someone had told me. Don't be ashamed of who you are because no one can love you until you love yourself. Also, say what you feel too because you only live once, kid."

Isobel smiled widely. "Thank you, Ms. Gilbert." Isobel glanced at her wristwatch before widening her eyes. "I'm going to be late if I don't leave now!" She said running out of the classroom and heading out of the classroom and into the hallway.

Kat smiled despite herself as she walked over to her desk and began to clean off the chalkboard. Within a few minutes, she felt a presence in the room. She turned around suddenly and smiled at her visitor.

"Elena?" Stefan asked, walking into the room slowly.

According to Elena's phone, Stefan's last name was Salvatore.

The same as Damon's.

She wondered if that was coincidence or if they actually knew each other. She examined him for any resemblance.

She couldn't find one.

With Stefan's hazel eyes versus Damon's blue, light brown hair instead of dark brown, his tanned skin against Damon's pale, and his thinner, lean muscled body over Damon's more muscle-defined body, she found it hard to believe that they were related at all.

"Elena?" Stefan repeated.

Katherine had almost forgotten that was her name now.

"Salvatore." She nearly purred.

Stefan laughed, looking her up and down. "Looks like someone had a rough go with the chalkboard."

Katherine glanced down and red dress and noticed that it was covered in white chalk. She rolled her eyes as she examined the damage. "You've got to be kidding." She pouted. "My poor dress."

"Well, that is quite a dress."

Her eyes shot up and brown met hazel. "You coming onto me, Salvatore?"

Stefan smiled, not answering her question. "I heard what you told Isobel." Katherine found her eyes widening in embarrassment. "Don't worry, it was good advice."

Katherine placed her hand at her hips. "Well, you have to tell kids the truth. I'm a teacher, right? I should teach them." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Hasn't anyone told you it's rude to eavesdrop?"

Stefan held his hands up in defeat. "I do apologize." He laughed. "I just was walking by and was curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat." Katherine countered and Stefan smiled.

"You seem different." He neared her.

"How so?" Katherine crossed her arms.

Stefan stood in front of her now. "You seem…" He lifted his hand slowly and gently ran a thumb across her cheek. "Different." He murmured.

Katherine's breath hitched as she breathed out, "Stefan." His name seemed to roll off her tongue.

"Chalk on your cheek." He moved his hand slowly from her face and smiled. "All gone."

Katherine cleared her throat as she searched for words. She hadn't been breathless from a guy in years.

Katherine Pierce didn't do flustered.

When her eyes focused, she noticed that Stefan had stepped away.

"Well, I better get going. I have to meet Lexi." Stefan said honestly before heading to the doorway.

Katherine felt jealousy grip her. "What's the deal with you two anyway?"

Stefan turned and smiled at her. "Just friends." He turned. "See you tomorrow, Elena."

Katherine smirked as she looked back down at her desk and began to get her things in order. "Until then, Salvatore."

Stefan paused and turned to her once more, his hand on the doorway. "Oh and Elena?" Katherine's head shot up. "I like the change." He smiled before exiting.

Katherine's cheeks warmed as she was shaken by a terrifying realization.

She was flustered.

"But what about Damon?" Caroline wondered.

Elena bit her lip.

Damon.

She had only spent two hours with the guy and he had given her the most breathtaking kiss of her life that caused her to forget twenty-seven years of morals.

"Well, so far, I'm following through on the relationship. I just plan on doing it on my terms."

Caroline snorted. "Good luck with that."

Elena nodded. She was going to need all the luck she could get.

Caroline walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed her purse. "Well, I'd check your phone because Damon doesn't do that wait-three-days-to-call-after-a-date thing. No games."

Elena nodded again, even though she dreaded a phone conversation with Damon. "Where are you going?"

Caroline pulled out her cell phone and car keys. "I have to find a way to push your auditions back a month. If I knew you weren't Katherine in a few moments, directors who know her personally will definitely pick up on it."

Elena nodded as she felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders. "So my only problem is Damon."

Caroline smirked. "And he's quite the problem." She said before heading to the front door. "I'll come by again tomorrow. 11 AM." Before Elena could answer, Caroline's phone was to her ear and she was out the door.

Elena huffed as she headed to back to the bedroom to get Katherine's cell phone. She quickly found it on the night table and saw that she had eight missed calls from Damon's office.

She sighed as she tried to figure out Katherine's fancy phone. She eventually found the 'Redial' button.

After three rings, Damon answered.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" Damon demanded.

Elena's eyes widened at his harsh tone and found herself getting annoyed. "Good afternoon to you too."

"Katherine, don't be cheeky." She could tell he was rolling his eyes. "Where were you?"

"I had a talk with Caroline if that's any of your business." Elena muttered, still bitter about his greeting.

To Elena's surprise, he released a short laugh. "She still alive? You didn't bite her head off did you?"

"Of course not." Elena replied offended before realizing that Katherine hated Caroline. She winced.

Damon's voice returned to being cold. "Well, I'd like to see you again. I'll pick you up. Three hours."

Before Elena could think of a reply, he had hung up.

Elena sighed as she tossed her phone on her bed.

Caroline was right. Luck would not be enough.

She needed a miracle.

DUN DUN DUN :) Anyway I'll try and be faster with the next chapter. REVIEW/COMMENT PLEASE. It inspires me to know that people actually are reading this thing and what they think of it.