Everyone had a before…

Caroline woke up to the sun in her face. Since becoming a vampire she enjoyed the sun infinitesimally. She thought that maybe it was the residual feelings from those first few days when she had been unable to step foot outside her room, those first few days when the blood lust had threatened to make her the monster she could have become.

And but for Stefan stepping in she would have. The guy/vampire had a serious hero complex. He just needed to save the world and she was glad he did. If he hadn't she'd be dead with a stake through her heart compliments Damon Salvatore. The same Damon Salvatore who had compelled her to be his fake girlfriend, just to be able to have an inside track on Elena and Stefan. She was no longer angry at the older Salvatore, because they all had a before. Before they were the people they chose to be now. And Damon and Stefan's before were shadier than the rest of them because they had at least a century head start.

Shaking off the melancholy of those earlier days, Caroline rose from her bed. It was their first day of school since the break and after Katherine they needed a sense of normal. She wasn't sure how much normal she could get being a vampire… who had vampire, doppelganger and witch best friends. Not to mention a werewolf…she didn't exactly know what Tyler was to her.

She hesitated to call him her best friend. She loved Elena, Bonnie and Stefan and their friendships were based on tried and tested true feelings that crossed life and death but best friend seemed too trivial a connotation for what she and Lockwood shared. She had never been as vulnerable with someone before Tyler and she definitely had never allowed anyone to be that vulnerable with her. Even with Stefan, who knew her better than Bonnie and Elena now, she didn't have that connection, that sense that they were truly open with each other. The dark past he refused to share prohibited that.

And it wasn't like she expected him to spill his guts because some things weren't meant to be shared with just anyone but with Tyler she knew everything about him. She knew the dick he was before and she knew the man/werewolf he was now. And he knew her. He knew the neurotic, insecure chic she had been, and sometimes if she were honest with herself still was; and he knew the kickass vampire she was now. It was a little disconcerting having that bond with him. A bond that even crossed physical boundaries. In the sense that they no longer had the weirdness about personal space or how close was too close that most friends who were of opposite sex had. Most nights they slept in each other's beds and that was all they did. Sleep. She hadn't quite figured them out yet. He was more than a friend but less than...a lover but definitely not a brother. He was just too damn…Tyler Lockwood for that. Hot as hell, confident but not cocky and with an underlying vulnerability now that seemed to melt her on the spot.

Making her way to the bathroom, she took a shower and got dressed. Grabbing a blood bag from the mini fridge she kept in her room, she drank before going down to breakfast. Breakfast consisted of cereal and milk since her mom had not bothered to come home last night. Being the sheriff of a small town should mean early nights and easy cases of run traffic lights. But Mystic falls was no ordinary town as it seemed to be the epicenter of every supernatural occurrence. So the town's sheriff was always busy with something or the other and when Caroline's dad had left, her mother had found comfort in the work. It was only lately… as in when she turned a vampire that she understood why her mother had buried herself in work, and she no longer hated her for it. She just wished taking care of her had been enough to keep her mother happy. But it hadn't been.

Feeling her phone vibrate she sighed, she didn't even need to look at the caller id to know it was Tyler. He had this way of picking the exact moment that she needed to hear his voice to call her. The moment when she was feeling her worse. She was starting to think that a sixth sense was a werewolf thing too.

"Hey. You okay?" his gruff voice spoke into the phone.

"I am now," she spoke honestly. Taking a deep breath she released the tension that had been building and said, her usual perky self, "So, Lockwood, you still picking me up?"

He paused for a second and Caroline knew he was contemplating letting her get away with the subject change but after a deep sigh he let it go, "Be there in a few."

When she hung up she washed the bowl at human speed and went upstairs to grab her stuff for the day. By the time she had finished checking her face in the mirror she heard the horn on Tyler's jeep. The thing was monstrous but he was a Lockwood and that meant excess in every way or at least that was how his dad had liked it. She bounded down the stairs and climbed into the cab and smiled at him.

He winked before smiling at her and started the drive to Mystic Falls High School.

"So Lockwood," she started after the first few moments of silence, "You excited about today?"

"Excited? Why? It's just school, Caroline."

"I realize that Tyler, but it's the first day of school and after all the crap we've been through I just thought you'd be happy to get back to normal now."

"I'm a werewolf and you are a vampire. Somehow I think normal went out with monthly transformations and blood cravings."

She rolled her eyes at him as he pulled into the parking space at school. Caroline rolled her eyes again as she saw all the heads swivel in their direction. Ostentacious ride plus a Lockwood and a Forbes meant that they were the centre of attention. Tyler was usually unfazed by it and prior to werewolf transformations, he had been reaping the benefits of the status attached to his names. Girls really wanted to get with Tyler to enhance their social standing. Boys had never really wanted her for anything other than well the obvious. She was good-looking and occasionally fun and had once mistaken sex for affection. Well that was before she met her Damon Salvatore. And then well, he broke her out of that thinking for good. She hopped out of Tyler's truck and just watched the girls drool. It would be funny if she wasn't so irked by it. Though she had no reason to be upset. It was just…could they be more obvious?

She didn't stay by his side long as her locker was on the opposite end of the hall. So motioning to him as he caught up with his football buddies she went to her locker. Suddenly she felt herself picked up and swung around.

"Stefan!" he smiled, that lopsided grin of his. Stefan seemed so much freer now that that bitch Katherine was gone and he and Damon were reconciled. That had been a long hard road and he was finally allowing himself to be free like he couldn't before. Caroline also knew it had a lot to do with the long-haired brunette beside him who was waiting with open arms.

Elena. She looked radiant today, without even trying. A while ago the jealousy would have reared its ugly head but now she reveled with Elena in her natural beauty. When Jeremy popped up beside them, Caroline nearly squealed with delight.

"So, everyone is at school today!" she gave baby Gilbert a one armed hug as he just rolled his eyes at her antics.

When Tyler walked up and greeted them all she smiled. It had taken a while especially with the vampires and werewolves hating each other thing. Initially it had been tough with Jeremy and Stefan doing most of the reaching out. But Tyler was slowly but surely coming around to the way of thinking that he could have deep connections with people. Even Damon calling him 'puppy' was more of an endearment now than an insult. There was only one person missing from their motley crew and that was Bonnie.

She soon saw the Bennett witch striding into the hallway. Bonnie had come a long way from the quiet girl who couldn't get a date. Being a badass witch and having a boyfriend who loved you definitely gave a girl confidence even if that guy was Damon Salvatore. Well, everyone had a before.

Bonnie strode up to them a smile on her face, "Hey guys. Damon says to have a nice day."

Everyone looked at her skeptically.

"He did!" she reiterated adding in an almost inaudible voice, "After a micro-aneurysm."

Stefan, Tyler and Caroline all laughed, only the humans didn't hear.

"What?" asked Elena.

"Bonnie gave Damon an aneurysm to make him play nice."

"Only a little one!" she pouted causing everyone to laugh.

"I just think you two are sadists," it was Tyler this time.

"You would be too if you knew what making-up was like," she sighed wistfully.

"Come on Bonnie," Caroline rolled her eyes as she took hold of her hand, "We have first class together."

They waved at the group as they dispersed, reserving a smile for Tyler as he walked away. She could still hear their chuckles as they went to class.

"You don't mind me talking about Damon, right?" Bonnie asked as she worried her lip. It was no secret what Damon had done to her, well mostly no secret. Tyler still didn't know because he held a grudge longer than that guy from I Know What You Did Last Summer. And they were finally all starting to get along. She didn't want to be the one to start up that again.

Caroline shook her head, "I'm so over it!" Mostly anyway. Besides it was good seeing Bonnie so happy.

They slipped into class with Bonnie sitting behind her. It was a little more difficult now she was a vampire paying attention to school work. She had always been an overachiever so her grades were way above average but now she hardly had to try to get concepts and then there was the added fact that barring something supernatural she could like, do over high school many more times if she wanted. So she barely listened as the teacher expounded on some topic or the other after the welcome back.

The morning passed quickly, well she daydreamed through most of it but she was able to pick at least that despite the recent deaths the fundraiser was still on. Truth was that if they stopped fundraisers every time someone died they would never get anything done. Not that she was being flippant with life and death. Having taken someone's life she was never flip about it but Mystic Falls was just that type of town.

The brilliant idea had been hers. She was the ultimate energizer bunny now because all the things she could have done before, she could now do at vamp speed and with the help of a few supernatural friends she could pull next to anything off. And this time she was going to pull off something great. When lunch came around she already had her clip board out and was ready and rearing to go. They needed at least 20 guys and she already knew three guys that had no choice but to say yes.

Caroline smiled evilly when she heard the groans coming from them. But they were the Gilbert, Salvatore and Lockwood males of this high school. Even social status withstanding they were three of the hottest guys at school. She needed them to give her the mass appeal.

Stefan was mysterious and brood-y and girls lapped that up. His green eyes were penetrating but sensitive. Add that to gorgeous face and well-defined body, well Stefan would bring in a hell of a lot of money.

Baby Gilbert, Jeremy, she corrected herself had that boy next-door, screaming-fan-girl-boy-band-romance thing going. He was hot with a sweet shyness that would guarantee a payday.

And then there was Tyler, a Lockwood no less. The ultimate bad boy challenge. Tyler was the obnoxious creep who every girl wanted, the guy that made you think of motorcycles rides, leather jackets and sex in public. Rough around the edges and lately a heart of pure gold.

At least in fantasy, and if she were honest with herself, definitely in the reality. Tyler had shown her a vulnerable side he didn't want anyone to see. He was just like the rest of them, out of their element in a world who had no clue who they were. That was why their group was so important. They didn't have to hide or pretend and they accepted each other without qualms.

And that was why despite their groaning and moaning they would do this for her.

"So let me get this straight," Stefan spoke, "You're going to sell us to some preppy high school girl for the highest bidder?"

"Yes exactly!" she exclaimed excited. It was brilliant.

"I'll give you the 20,000 so I don't have to do this." He promised looking serious. And she knew he could too. He had more than a century to accumulate money and unknown to anyone outside their group, Stefan was as rich as Croesus.

"No! We are doing this the old-fashioned, normal high school way. We are going to do something normal if it kills us."

"Hopefully it won't get that far," Stefan muttered and she had the sudden urge to smack him. Maybe she should have waited until Bonnie and Elena had arrived. Elena could talk Stefan in or out of anything. And both girls would lend their support, even if they whined about it first. What else were best friends for?

"Caroline," Tyler moaned but was cut off by Jer who chimed, "I'm in.". The guys looked at him like he'd just betrayed them while Caroline flashed him a brilliant smile.

"Unlike you guys I don't have a significant other and I'm getting a free date with a hot girl who also clearly thinks I'm hot so yeah I'm in."

"Alright Caroline," it was Stefan this time.

Tyler just rolled his eyes after looking incredulously at his comrades, "Whatever Care."

They all laughed when she squealed.