Juliet sits close to the door and tries to calm her nerves.

The teacher doesn't seem to think this calls for nerves at all. He reads from his roster in a bored voice as he stares at the TV above the board. It looks like there's weather today. How nice.

"Here," say the students who are, in fact, here.

She is also present. And she voices this fact when her name is called. She looks around the room taking note of everyone's names and faces, memorising them.

They put up with this indignity.

And then she has her first class, science.

Today they'll be starting with an exercise for everyone to get to know each other! They have to find a partner.

Ahhhhh? She slightly freaks out. Right, right. She can do this.

She's looks for someone she saw in homeroom...

No one who answers to that description is available.

There are, however, a few students who remain un-partnered after the initial rush.

Maybe she'd like to try one of them?

After a moments indecision she shuffles over to the blonde girl. "Um. Hey. Do you wanna be partners?"

"Sure."

They have five questions to ask their partner. Later, they'll introduce their partner to the class! This helps students integrate into the larger social atmosphere.

Juliet smiles in response and then sits down besides her. "Well, like. First things first. What's your name? I'm Juliet."

"Erica."

She taps the paper between them.

"What three things would you want with you on a desert island?"

"Um. Oh. Like other than practical things that will get me off the island? I suppose... my camera and my car? Though that's a really stupid thing to bring. But still. I want it. And," She stops and thinks, "if I'm the only one there.." she wouldn't need any chains then, "uh, my music player."

"Medication, lipstick, and Lydia Martin's wardrobe."

"Not one of my official questions: who is Lydia Martin? Apart from being a fashion icon, that is."

"She's one of the popular kids. She's the only one everyone agrees is popular, basically, besides Danny. Everyone likes Danny. Who's your favorite fictional character? Mine is Catwoman."

"Oh, okay. Just assume I don't know anyone but you...which is the truth, but like..." she trails off, "Catwoman is cool, any version of her in particular? I like Eartha Kitt. My favourite character right now is probably Hamlet. I just started reading it and he's like.. the original dark and broody guy," she jokes.

"I don't actually know Batman that well. I saw the cartoon? Hamlet is a little too broody for me. Do something once in a while. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"

"I dunno, I like a little brood in my characters, makes them mysterious," she smiles. "I'd go to Florence in Italy. My family is from there, I'd wanna go see the old family estate. And you?"

"I don't know. I've never really pictured myself traveling. I would love to, but when something's impossible it's just not really worth hoping for. Maybe Paris."

"Impossibility isn't a constant. Maybe in the future you'll find the means and you'll get to go to Paris."

"Maybe. It's sweet of you to say."

"A little hope never hurt anyone," she continues with the questions, "like, what do you wanna do after we graduate?"

"Medical research," she replies instantly.

"You?"

"Art school! My dad wants me to go to Duke."

"Does Duke have a good art school, or are you not Daddy's little girl?"

Juliet laughs. "Uh. It does have a good art program. But... the Royal College of Art in London is the best in the world."

"Go. If you can. Don't let someone's opinions hold you back."

She looks at the paper, but it's time to introduce your partner to the class!

Opinions really aren't the thing holding her back...but she's not about to tell Erica that.

Does she go first? Or are there other students before them.

Other, more eager students go first, but she'll get her turn when she wants to take it.

So she stands. "So. This is Erica. She's really nice, really likes fashion and is gonna go to Paris and blow everyone's mind with her awesome medical breakthroughs."

"It's very nice to meet you, Erica. Isn't it?"

"It's nice to meet you, Erica,"

say the students.

Erica stands too.

"This is Juliet. She has family in Italy and a taste for brooding boys."

"It's nice to meet you, Juliet."

Juliet blushes but manages a small, "Brooding girls too."

The last pair to go are these two boys, who seem to be taking different attitudes to the getting-to-know-you activity.

"This is Josh. He said he'd want hair gel on the island. Hair gel."

"It's nice to meet you, Josh," Erica choruses.

"This is Stiles. He wants to be a detective, which is adorable, and his favorite fictional character is Luke Skywalker."

"Leia, I definitely said Leia. What kind of man can't pronounce Leia?"

"One that doesn't see that she is very obviously the superior Skywalker. Heathens."

"Why not both," he whispers, but they've moved on to the syllabus.

They'll be covering geology, astronomy, and meteorology. Any questions?

"Are we learning about the moon's phases?"

"There isn't all that much to learn about the moon's phases, Miss Salvatore, they're the least interesting thing about the moon. But yes, we will go over them."

Erica snickers, but says nothing.

With most of their time dedicated to ice-breakers, the science teacher has to let them go soon.

Next, Juliet has art.

The art room appears to be somewhat difficult to find.

"I disagree, but whatever." She grabs her bag and raises an inquisitive eyebrow at Erica's reaction. "...do you have art?"

"No, English. I'll see you when I see you."

She walks off.

...Juliet takes out her camera and snaps a couple of pictures of Erica walking away. Afterwards she slips the camera strap around her neck and walks off down the hall, looking into each classroom. Do any of them look like art-rooms?

...nope.

Nope!

Nooope.

Ugh. She reaches into her bag and checks her schedule. Does it have a room number?

It does have a room number!

As she attempts to locate this room number, she's joined by another pedestrian.

"Hey, sorry, are you in Art too?"

"Yup! Apparently it only materialises once you know it's room number...." she looks at the girl, "or some helpful person comes along and shows me the way?"

"No go. I'm lost too. We can walk together, and if one of us finds it, shout for the other one."

"That's a plan. I like this plan." Juliet checks her schedule again and reads out the number. "So... we go," she looks up at the surrounding classroom numbers, "left?"

"Left!"

It takes one or two wrong turns, but they arrive.

The teacher glares at them, but continues her speech.

It's about the value of art in society. She's very long-winded.

Juliet gives the teacher the appropriate sheepish face and then hustles on over to the seat next to her new classmate. She smiles at her and then takes out her notebook and pen, placing her camera on the table in front of her.

Notes!

Notes!

The teacher doesn't carve out time for them to get to know each other, continuing her lecture. They've moved on to the history of painting.

"I'm Harley," whispers Harley.

"Juliet," she whispers back. "I hope we didn't annoy the teacher off too much."

"It'll be fine. Everyone learns to ignore the things they don't like eventually. Are you new in town? I don't think you were in our middle school..."

"That's good, I wanna make a good first impression. Uh, no. I'm a local. Was home-schooled though."

"Oh, wow. Was that awful?"

"No? It was fine. I learned a lot. I just didn't get much, uh, socialisation," She pauses, "apparently high-school is the answer to this."

"I can't imagine homeschooling. I'd get so lonely. I'm glad it worked out for you, though. I think you'll like high school, anyway. You might not learn as much, but you'll definitely meet more people."

"That's what my cousin said too. He was the one that really pushed for it."

"Yeah? I don't have any cousins who are that close, and I'm an only child. I always thought it would be kind of nice. Stiles is almost like a brother, I guess."

"Stiles is the mouthy boy from my science class, right?"

"I didn't get a look at his schedule yet, but 'mouthy boy', in this school? Probably Stiles."

"He seems like a handful. Not unlike my cousin, Stefan. Though I suspect in a very different way."

"We should introduce them. Stiles needs to tire himself out sometimes. He's like an over-eager dog, or something, you have to walk him."

Juliet laughs at the image. "Ah. I'm not sure. Stefan is the lonely loner type of guy, and he's a bit older than us. We can take Stiles to a park or something? Let him run around for a while and tire himself out."

"Sure. Make sure to say that to him. He gets really adorable when he's pouting."

"Shh," hushes a nearby student, who's apparently riveted by the teacher's lecture.

Juliet ducks in her seat in response to the shh-ing and raises her eyebrows at Harley and mouths sorry. She gets on paying attention to the teacher.

Art! She loves art.

As does the art teacher! She loves it so much, she talks about it instead of doing it.

The bell rings, which means it's time for Juliet's next class, Math.

Juliet takes a sneaky picture of the wordy art teacher, and a few more of the art room.

Does anyone stick around long enough for her to ask about the way to math class?

Another student takes a picture of her taking pictures, but he rushes off.

Harley hangs back with her, though.

"Where are you off to next?"

Juliet watches him go..

To Harley: "The dreaded hall of numbers, Math. You?"

"Science. The math classrooms are on the other side of school, you need to hurry. Take a left at the posters about drunk driving, and a right at the bathrooms."

"Thank you. You are a gift to travellers everywhere."

And soon enough, Juliet is in math class!

Would she like to get to know her classmates?

She has two minutes with each person, go!

Ahhhhhh. No. Is this required, or can she please just sit down and let people come to her?

A few students just skip her! In fact, people mostly seem to be using this time to talk to people they already know.

"If i were you I'd just go with 'and future U.S. President.' Leave no room for doubt. I'm Juliet Salvatore. Hi."

"I'll keep that in mind. Salvatore, that rings a bell. Do you guys own one of the local businesses, have your name plastered all over it?"

"Uh. Yeah, more than one actually. We Salvatores like seeing our name in big letters, apparently."

"Interesting. I can't really pin it down. I guess you have your hands in all the pies."

The teacher announces that it's time to switch again.

"Well. It was nice meeting you, Juliet Salvatore."

"You too, Mister President."

Another student joins her.

"Hey. Saw you earlier in my science class, right? I'm Josh, you're Juliet?"

"I am Juliet. Good memory. Do you mind if I take a picture of you?" She holds up her camera.

"Go ahead. I photograph well."

"I'll make sure of it." And she takes his picture... and a few more of the rest of the classroom and other students, bustled around as they are.

"Thank you. This is a momentous day for me, I wanna document all of it."

"I get it. It's the first day of high school. I plan to make the most out of the next four years."

And it's time to say goodbye to Josh.

She probably has time for one more student, doesn't she?

She does!

"...hey! Juliet. How's it going."

"Hello to the only person I actually know in this school. I've been.. good? Overwhelmed a little. What about you, how are you feeling?"

"Things are a little tense at home, but we're managing. How're things with your dad?"

And Stefan.

"He's... well. He's dad. Tightly wound and stubborn. Not really speaking to me right now, 'coz you know," she gestures to the school, "he doesn't think I'm ready."

"Parents can be hard. Usually they just need time."

And Stefan.

"Well it's time he's getting, that's for sure."

"I'm glad you're giving this a chance. It can help. Meeting them."

"I've met them before. I mean, not these them. But." She pauses. "I think it will help. That's why I'm doing this. And also Stefan wouldn't stop bugging me about it."

"Well, you know. Stefan. I see you brought the camera. Anything good so far?"

"Yes. Very much Stefan." She smiles at him and snaps his picture. "The camera goes where I go. It's a whole thing." 

She looks through the pictures she's taken so far. "Not my best work. But it serves its purpose."

"Cataloging the minutiae of high school life?"

"It has multiple purposes, I suppose. That and to prove to my dad that this isn't a death trap, or whatever he has pictured in his mind."

Nod.

"If I see anything you need to watch out for, I'll let you know."

And that seems to be the end of math.

That was a great math class! She likes it when there is no math involved ever.

What does she have next?

English is next! She appears to be walking to the same place as this fellow.

"Hey, I'm Danny. You're heading to English too?"

"Danny-who-everyone-agrees-is-popular?" She obviously quotes. "I've heard of you! And yes, English is next. Wanna be my escort?"

"Is that's what they're saying? At least it's nice. So far I've heard nothing about you."

They walk.

"I'm Juliet Salvatore. Up until recently I was home-schooled. My favourite colour is blue and I like taking pictures." She snaps a shot of him as they walk.

"You should join Yearbook, they'll need a photographer."

"Huh. Extracurriculars. It would look really awesome on my college applications..."

"Yearbook is full of the type of person you want to know. Achievers who still know how to socialize, and have real interests and skills besides. I can't guarantee you'll make friends there, but it's worth trying, right?"

They arrive. Danny takes a seat at the front.

"....sure. I'm just gonna-" She takes another picture of Danny and moves on. Sitting away from him, but still near the door.

English proceeds apace! They can learn grammar.

Many grammar, is good.

Grammar. Woo.

After English is lunch. Lunch provides a plethora of options. Juliet can sit with anyone she wants.

Hm. Does anyone look particularly welcoming?

Erica sees her, but doesn't beckon her over or anything.

Sean will happily have her, but she knew that.

Jackson waves her over when he spots her.

Well then. She goes on over to Jackson. "Hey, future President. I'm assuming the gesture was an invitation to sit?"

"You're welcome to, yeah. Juliet, these are my friends. Friends, Juliet."

Wave, goes Jackson's friend.

"Hey. You can sit anywhere but there," he says, pointing out one of the empty seats.

"It's dead to me." She sits. "So uh. Names?"

"I'm Lydia Martin. This is Brian, and that one is Danny."

Danny, who is approaching their table, frowns.

"Oh, hey. Juliet."

"Ohh. Okay, now all this makes sense. Danny and Lydia. The fabled popular kids," she jokes, "Is there a price for admission here?"

"Any friend of Lydia's is a friend of ours."

"Jackson's, actually. Our little baby boy is growing up."

"Looks like he has good taste, at the very least."

"He does! Why don't you tell us about yourself."

"She's a photographer."

"I can see that. It looks like a nice camera, although I'm not an expert."

"That's me, Juliet the Photographer. May I?" She holds up the camera to take a photo.

"Go ahead."

And so she takes multiple pictures of them, and then the surrounding cafeteria.

She sits back down eventually. "Thank you. So. That's pretty much 99.9% of my personality. I take pictures. It's a thing."

"Have you thought about joining the Yearbook?"

She looks between Danny and Jackson, confused, but looks to Brian when he speaks.

"I'm thinking about it. It sounds like fun. I think I'll just have to convince my dad to let me... I don't know, do extra things. He wasn't really keen on me attending high school in the first place."

"Submit the photos, even if you don't attend any meetings. It'll build your resume, and you're taking hence anyway. Then, with a year's record, you can show him your canhandle yourself."

"I like that. It might just work. I mean, there are other factors. But I think that could definitely make a lot of headway." She smiles at her, pleased. "No wonder everyone likes you, Lydia Martin."

"I like solving problems. Most people are just particularly complicated problems, and some of them are worth spending time on."

"It sounds very... Sherlock Holmes." She looks back over to Danny and Jackson. Do they still having Something Faces?

They seen to have moved on to talking about lacrosse. Jackson is apparently very excited to try out.

Okay. That works too, she jumps at that topic. "Lacrosse? I've never seen that played before. Are we good? What other sports do we play?" She asks eagerly.

"We're the best in the region. It's the only sport that counts."

"We still have a pretty good swim team."

"Basketball, too, but it's a little out of fashion."

"I'm good at swimming, I've never played basketball or lacrosse though. Hm. I wonder if the school will let me take pictures of the games? Or maybe the try-outs. Are they soon?"

"We don't have a Yearbook photographer yet- at least, I don't think so. I'll ask around. Either way, if you're the unofficial photographer, they'll let you take pictures of anything."

"Oooh. That's so much power in my hands. Whatever will I do with it."

"Make a career? Jackson has big plan, don't you, Jackson?"

"Lacrosse captain is a stepping stone to my political career. She gets it."

"I'm thinking of taking up the role of Official White House Photographer. Think of all the glamour shots."

"Oh, I'm thinking about it."

"We should really discuss this assumption of yours. Who says you're my First Lady?"

"I just did, sweetie."

She snaps another picture of them together, looks at the result and nods. "Yup. You two look great together. First Lady Lydia checks out."

"Maybe I'm still looking for my perfect match."

"What, you think Lydia's letting you marry for love?"

"He loves me, don't you, Jackson?"

"Sure."

He kisses her, briefly, and steals one of her fries.

"How long have you been together?"

"Oh, a few years."

"A few months, maybe."

"I guess it depends on who you ask."

To Danny: "What's your estimate?"

"Let's say one year. That was when Lydia declared it."

Brian eats his lunch.

"What about you Brian? Thoughts, feelings, deeply held beliefs?"

"Hm? No, I'm good."

Poke, poke.

"So Brian, how's the car coming?"

"It's not. Hey Jacks, did you hear anything from the lawyer yet?"

Juliet eats her lunch and looks out over the rest of the cafeteria. Anything interesting happening?

Is people talking to each other interesting? There seems to be a lot of that.

There also seems to be a lot of people sitting alone.

She picks up her lunch and stands. "So. It was really nice to meet you guys. But the camera beckons. I'll see you in class, Jackson?"

"See you later, Salvatore."

She dumps her leftovers in the bin and looks around the room, analysing it. Hm. She walks over to one of the corners where she can get the best lighting, and takes out her camera. She starts taking pictures. Mostly of Erica, and anyone else she's interacted with through the day.

After a few minutes, this seems to have attracted the attention of a fairly large boy who's heading straight for her.

He doesn't look pleased.

...she pretends she doesn't notice him and keeps taking pictures.

"Are you sure you're supposed to be doing that?"

"I'm supposed to be eating, I suppose. But this is more interesting." She restrains the urge to take a obnoxious photo of him standing in front of her.

"Mhm. How much would it take to get you to stop taking pictures of people without their consent?"

"Oooh, a bribe. Hmmm," she looks him up and down, "...you're really good looking. How about I just take pictures of you?"

He turns his head slightly, as if listening for something.

"Right, like I buy that. Five dollars if you cut it out in the cafeteria. School events and extracurricular activities are fair game."

Juliet pouts for half a second, but then laughs. "Ah. It was worth a try. It's fine, I'll stop, no need to pay me." She slips her camera back into it's bag and then holds out her hand for a shake. "I'm Juliet, and I was not lying about the good looking part, but I'll drop it if it makes you uncomfortable."

"I won't question your taste."

Out loud.

"I'm Boyd. Just Boyd. You might hear something else, but it's Boyd."

"Well. It was very nice to be bribed by you, Just Boyd. Now can I bribe you into showing me the way to my next class?"

"I think I can do that. Schedule?"

She hands him her schedule, looking very gracious. Look how gracious she is.

"Gym next, alrighty. I'll lead the way."

And he does.

"Good luck with Coach Finstock. He can be...well, good luck."

"With that ringing endorsement, I'm sure it'll be fine." She laughs. "Thanks, Boyd." She pauses. "... do you want five bucks, or is the pleasure of my company bribe enough?"

"Not everything has to be a transaction, explicitly. Just the important stuff."

"Wise words. I'll keep that in mind." She goes to enter the gym, "Are you coming or going?"

"Going. Have fun."

"You to! I hope you don't have to bribe anyone else today, I might get all jealous."

"I'll try."

And then she has gym.

There are some people she recognizes.

Okay people are all good and all, but she needs to blow off some steam. Is there something to hit?

Fun! She's only ever seen this game in movies. She quickly gets super into it...

Students who do not enjoy being hit by balls are hit by balls!

Some people attempt to hit her, too.

Ahhh, nope. She jumps out of the way, easily and pays them back. But like, you know, playfully? Kind of.

Well, they can't very well hit her if they've been hit. She's soon the last one standing.

"What was that? All of you just let a completely new student demolish you! Get up! What if your life depended on dodging balls?"

"Oh. Was I not supposed to do that? Did I do it wrong?"

"You were a perfect tornado of teenage rage and violence. The rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Go home and think about what you did."

Juliet is pleased. "Thank you, Coach! Are we playing again?"

"No, the rest of these kids need time to reach your level. Everyone pack up and run."

Naww, sad. She packs up her stuff. Anyone come up to her?

They leave her alone.

Now, it's time for history.

History it is! But does she know the way?

The room number is fairly self-explanatory. She arrives without issue.

There are a few familiar faces here.

Lydia waves.

Sean nods at her.

Sean! She sits next to him quickly, after waving back to Lydia.

"So. I miiight have gone a little bit overboard. In Gym."

"How so?"

"I quote, "demolished", everyone. End quote. At dodge-ball. Apparently they should feel shame. According to the Coach, at least."

"I'll try to manage the rumors. You didn't shift, right?"

"Maybe my eyes?"

"Yeah. I'll deal with that much. Beacon Hills is used to weird."

Would everyone like to play a game to get to know each other?

She smiles at him. "You're the best."

Juliet likes games!

Everyone should find a partner! They'll choose three partners throughout this class; the first one will last for a third of the year.

She could pick Sean... okay but who else is there?

Besides Lydia and Harley, there's the kid from her Art class.

Pass on Lydia and Harley, been there, done that. But... she slips down next to the sneaky fellow photographer.

"Get any good pictures today?"

"I always do. You?"

"The lighting in the hallways isn't very forgiving, but the windows in the cafeteria? I'm really looking forward to developing the ones I took here. But I am hoping I'll be able to do something with the hallway photos, I read about this cool technique in an old issue of Popular Photography..." She pauses, realises she's rambling, "Uh. I'm sorry. I'm Juliet. Wanna be partners?"

"I think I do. Matt Daehler."

He offers her his hand.

She shakes his hand, acting very professional. But then cracks a small smile. "Please poke me next time I start rambling. Sometimes I get to a certain point and there's no stopping me. I just, uh, photography is my thing, you know?"

"Oh, I know. I should show you my portfolio sometime."

"I'd love to see it. And ditto. Though, kinda depends what sort of imagery you're okay with seeing. I have.. a tendency towards the... morbid? That's not the right word. I can show you some of my safe for work stuff, if you prefer."

"I wonder what else we have in common?"

"A taste for Shakespeare, dear Juliet?"

"Why thou art so fair?" She laughs, "Please. I was raised on it. My dad is obsessive like that."

"Trade you. Hamlet, Antigone, and the Orestia are probably my favorite plays."

"I'm a sucker for Hamlet and also Macbeth. And uh. When We Dead Awaken."

"Are you. I've always had trouble with Ibsen, but I know a good writer when I see one. Speaking of, we should get back to these lame exercises."

Indeed, the exercises listed on the board are reasonably insipid.

-Discuss something exciting that happened over the summer

-Tell your partner something unique about your family

-Share a happy childhood memory

"Uh, maybe a little lame. But. I'll start?" Beat. "So this summer was really exciting actually. My cousin and I managed to convince my dad to let me attend high-school. I was home-schooled. So yeah, it was a big thing. In celebration we went down to the water hole on our property and had barbeque. It's probably super corny, but my cousin and dad are super homebodies and they're pretty much all the company I get, so them coming out with me was... nice."

"No, that doesn't sound corny at all. It's sweet. The only thing I can think of is buying a new camera."

"Ohh. What model did you get? Have you seen the new Canon? I want it so much. But also. I'm so attached to my Olympus. It would kind of feel like cheating."

"Last one broke, so. I don't like replacing them.

Only child, decent parents. Nothing too interesting with my family."

"I'm also an only child. My birth was complicated, to say the least, so it was just me and my dad. Well. And my cousin, but he's always been kind of a second dad to me, despite his age," she laughs, amused at this. "The Salvatore's have been around since the Founding of Beacon Hills, that's interesting, right?"

"I'd say it counts. I didn't know you were a part of our town's history. Tell me more."

"It's a tale. So much family drama. You sure you're prepared for that, Daehler?"

"I'm a big fan of family drama, as long as there's a bit of revenge mixed in."

"There's a little bit of everything." She smiles and shifts in her seat, lowering her tone dramatically, "So picture this, it's 1864 and it starts out with a girl, as most stories do. She was beautiful, and as wicked as one can be. She shows up a little after we've put our pegs down in the ground here in Beacon Hills. And she very nearly wiped out the whole Salvatore family, the whole town, actually. Do you know this one?"

"Not this particular fatal woman. Go on."

"Her name was Katerina Petrova, though by that point she was going by Katherine Pierce. She showed up one night on the edges of Beacon Hills, alone and frightful. And very expertly managed to worm herself an invitation to stay in the Salvatore Manor, with Giuseppe Salvatore himself, my many many times Grandfather. He'd recently lost his wife, see, so I don't really think it was all that innocent on his part." She makes a face.

"I can imagine. Why was she worming her way in?"

"She was on the run, actually. From her former lover who had betrayed her, and who she then in turn betrayed. It was this whole big betrayal thing. Very exciting. But that's another story. So. She finds herself in with the Salvatore family, with all the riches she could desire... and the anonymity that provided. But, you see, Giuseppe had himself two sons... very good looking and charming sons. You see where this is going?"

"Herder of sheep, tiller of soil. It's always two brothers."

"Yes, very biblical. So, she can't decide. Which is so like her. And though she loved the younger brother most, the older brother, Damon, had a love for her that was.. all consuming. Obviously she liked that, didn't want to give it up. So she played them off each, toyed with them both for months, until. Her past caught up to her."

"The greatest sin of all, having a past."

She laughs. "It always comes creeping back at you, it's sneaky like that. This one especially. They had intergrated themselves into the wider community of Beacon Hills, biding their time and their pitchforks, until... they find her. And obviously she's a witch. That needs to be burned, because all women with agency were back then," she jokes, "and they rally the town into a frenzy. Tracking her down, rounding her up and putting her into the old Church. They throw a few other people in there to make it look like an epedemic, but she was who they were really after."

"I'm glad we've evolved past the mob violence phase of human history," he says, rather overtly glancing around the room.

"Oh, yeah, sure. We are pictures of individuality," she laughs, "no mobs here." 

She continues: "So in comes the two love struck heroes, lost without their love. They fight, nearly kill each other, blaming the other for her misfortune. But eventually they crack their heads together and come up with a plan... So its a shit plan, obviously. And they get caught... by Giuseppe himself. Who had taken one look at his stupid stupid sons, saw that they had been bewitched... and shot them both in the back, killing them."

"I love a happy ending."

"But it's not over yet! Because dear listener, she really was a witch. And so the two brothers awoke from Death, tracked down their father, and ate him up while he was still alive. As you do in such circumstances."

"The murdered do haunt their murderers. Ghosts have wandered the earth."

Wasn't getting to knew your new partner fun? Now it's time to go over the establishment of the American colonies.

"Yup. And now they are forever lost in the abyss." She smiles. "You like Wuthering Heights?" 

"I don't want to be typecast this early, but yes, I'm all for a good brood now and again."

"Damn it, Daehler, you're pushing all my buttons. Stop that."

That seems to be all for history. It's amazing how time flies.

"We should pick this up later."

"...can I get your number?" She pauses. "To, you know, make that a happening that happens."

He writes it down in his notebook and tears that piece out.

Juliet takes it and memorises it immediately. She gives him her own number. "For redundancies sake?"

"Until we meet again, Juliet."

Juliet's first day of school is nearly at its end. Only Latin left to go.

Juliet smiles at him and then goes off to Latin.

Latin! Latin has Lydia, and it has a vocab list for them to start studying, and an overview of the pronouns.

She's not the only familiar face.

There are three students here she recognizes, actually.

Hm. Lydia is smart. But. Boyd is pretty. She sits next to Boyd. "Hey there, handsome."

She get's to work on the assigned work, smashing through them. "How's your day been? Need to threaten any other juvenile delinquents?"

"I'm not a very threatening guy. Check in after I've done a tour of duty."

"Hm. That'll take a while. Maybe I'll record the process. You can send letters to friends in the military, can't you? Oh! Maybe you can check in by video chat. That'd be cool. You can give me demonstrations."

"You're really persistent. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Like a wolf," she airquotes, "do you want me to stop? I do want to be your friend. You're interesting."

"Maybe I'm just having trouble adjusting. You're the first person to accuse me of that."

"They're just not paying attention. People are stupid like that."

"I wouldn't say that. Self-interested, with terrible priorities."

"This is true. Though. Corvus oculum corvi non eruit. I have the weirdest priorities."

"I think I have about half of that, but I guess that's what this class is for."

"Uh. Just kind of a pretentious way of saying... 'I can relate- in spite of judgement.'"

"Right. That's always been my motto."

The teacher shushes the students who don't seem to be practicing their pronouns.

Juliet doesn't really need practicing, she's got pretty much all the basics down, but she humours them.

And starts sketching.

Boyd doesn't know the basics, but realizing he's behind Juliet seems to give him the motivation to catch up.

Class proceeds.

...she sneaks a peak at his work. Are there any mistakes?

His handle of pronouns looks good. It is introductory material, he just has no experience with Latin.

The teacher doesn't seem to expect much, and doesn't even ask to look at their work. After turning nothing in, they're dismissed for the day.

"Ill see you tomorrow? You can supervise me at lunch so I'm not tempted to get out my camera again," she jokes.

"I'll think about it. Have a good night."

"Think well of me. You too."

And that seems to be that.

The rest of the day belongs to her, and her father.

And her uncle.

Anyone who feels they have the right to offer input, really.

Still, the school has no more claim on her time. She's free to go.

Her great great great whatever granduncle Stefan is waiting for her in the parking lot.

Juliet runs up to him when she sees him and hugs him. "That was so great. I met so many cool people."

"Remember that the next time I suggest something. I'm always right," he jokes, setting her back in front of him.

"Nah. I think you'll enjoy it more if you get to say 'I told you so.'"

"There is that," he smiles, "you ready to go, got everything?"

"Yup. Take me away, Stef. I wanna go show dad all the pictures I took. He's home?"

He opens the passenger door for her, and closes it behind her. Then when he's in the drivers seat he replies, "I haven't seen him today, so that probably means he's holed up in his office. I'm sure he'll love to see them."

"The doors breakable, not gonna give him a choice. I'm spoiled like that."

"I have a key, Juliet. No breaking down doors. Especially not very old and expensive ones." He starts the car, and pulls out of the parking lot.

"You are an Awful Role Model. Don't let me have any fun."

"Keep telling yourself that. Eventually someone will believe it."

Assorted students go home.

Jackson goes home. Mr. Whittemore tries to talk to him, but he's not interested in what he has to say.

He's not sure if he wishes they told him sooner, or if they'd never told him.

Every time he thinks about it, he wishes the lie had fallen apart years ago; every time he thinks about it, he wishes he could scrub the knowledge from his memory.

He practices.

Lydia goes home.

"How was your day, honey?"

"I made a new friend, I think."

"That's wonderful. What's her name?"

"Juliet Salvatore."

"...Salvatore? That's not a very common name, is it?"

"Isn't it? I haven't studied which Italian names are common in Southern California, should I?"

"There's no need to bite my head off, Lydia, I was just asking."

Boyd goes home.

His parents are polite, and pleasant, and avoid looking at him for longer than they have to.

His mother cries in the bathroom while he tries to study ahead for Latin. There's only one wall between them, but he can't confront her. Can't comfort her.

He puts in his earphones and thinks about crows.

Juliet arrives home. Her father is not there to greet her. She stands outside his office door and calls out to him, she can hear his heart beat, but she gets no answer.

She does not break down the door.

Instead she goes for a run, a swim and then transforms and runs through the woods.

Eventually when she arrives home she finds dinner waiting for her on the table. Pancakes.

She goes to bed hungry.

There's a knock on their door early the next morning.

Stefan is the only one up, so he answers the door.

"Stefan, hello!"

The rather large, rather bearded man and his less large, less bearded wife who greet him are familiar, as is the young man standing behind them.

"It's great to see you again," says Mrs. Walcott. "How's Juliet?"

"Vivian, hey." He steps aside for them to enter. "Wallace and Sean too, please come in, all of you."

"She's sleeping right now, had her first day of school yesterday. Did you want me to wake her?" He pauses, "Is something wrong?"

"We just wanted to make sure you were apprised of what happened yesterday," Vivian says, wringing her hands apologetically.

"It's a shame, really. I'm sure most of the students won't remember the details," her husband muse.

Sean is gritting his teeth, but he doesn't expect the adults to care.

Stefan notices, but looks to the couple, "This sounds serious. What exactly happened?"

"There was some kind of incident- she lost control, Stefan."

"Dad, come on, it was nothing-"

"I thought he should know, and we both know neither you or Juliet was going to tell him."

"This happened at school?"

Zach walks into the entrance hall. "What did she do?"

"Yes, in front of a class full of students."

Vivian shakes her head.

"She can sit out gym if that's what it takes, you're not pulling her out-"

"Don't speak that way to Stefan, Sean, it's rude."

"She might have flashed her eyes, and been a little better at playing dodgeball than the average kid, nothing incriminating."

Zach turns to Stefan. "I told you this would happen. She's not ready, she'll never be ready. She knows it, and you know it. I'm pulling her out."

To Sean: "Did she hurt anyone?"