Chapter 12: Heading to Mystic Falls

With everything ready for my departure, I took a deep breath and prepared to leave Reseda. "Well, everything is ready. I'll call a taxi and go... I've already put my bike inside the house, everything is fine..."

A whirlwind of emotions washed over me. Doubts, uncertainties, and a pang of guilt. "Is it really the right decision for me to leave just because of the search for power?...", I questioned myself, my heart aching. "Shit, what am I thinking after everything I've done?... There's no other option... I gave up on a relationship with Tory because of all this, in search of power. If I give up at this moment, I'd be an irredeemable piece of trash..."

It was 5:30 p.m. and my taxi was almost here. I grabbed my bag and said goodbye to my temporary home. "Goodbye, Reseda. In a year I will return, completely revitalized and with powers beyond comprehension..."

As I was leaving the house, someone called me.

"Clark, where are you going with that suitcase?" John Lawrence's familiar voice made me stop.

"HM?" I turned around, surprised.

"Oh, hello, Johnny," I greeted him. "I'm going to Virginia. I'm going to spend a year there. I'm leaving my house in your hands. I ask that you take care of it. I was going to leave the key with you, in case something happens. Please take care of it..."

Where are you going boy?" he asked, confused.

"Virginia, Mystic Falls, I need to help my grandmother who is sick and also take care of some family matters," I explained.

"What about school?" he asked.

"I'm going to study there. There's a school there too, Jhony...", I replied.

"I see, kid," he said thoughtfully. "Sure, I'll do what I can. If anything happens, I'll take care of it. Don't worry, I'll take care of her. And don't do too many stupid things over there, okay?"

"Okay, Jhony. Bye. 🤝", I said goodbye, interrupting him.

"Goodbye, kid. 🤝," he replied.

I arrived at the airport and waited for my flight. While I was sitting in my seat, near the window, a girl sat down next to me.

"Hello, I'm going to sit here. Excuse me..." she said, with a friendly smile.

"Sure, feel free..." I replied. "You are..." I was surprised by the appearance of this girl 

"Do you know me?" she asked, confused.

"N... It's not that. "You're very pretty...", I complimented, embarrassed.

"Thoughts: What the hell. I didn't think I would end up in front of the famous Caroline, Elena's best friend," I thought, surprised.

"🤭 Oh, thank you so much. You're really cute too," she replied, blushing.

So where are you going?" She asked me 

"I'm going to Mystic Falls. I transferred there from my school. I needed a quiet place to stay, so how about a small town in Virginia?"

"What? Are you serious? You're going there?" she asked me excitedly. "Me too! I'm from Mystic Falls.

What's your name?" I asked her 

Caroline Forbes "She said with a giant smile it's friendly 

What a coincidence! Haha. My name is Clark. It's a pleasure to meet you, Caroline. Just one more question: how old are you?"

"Tsk tsk, Clark, you started off wrong," she replied, laughing. "Never ask a woman her age under any circumstances, because they will definitely get mad at you. But I make an exception for you. I am 15."

"😁😁 Sorry about that. I'll take that advice with me for the rest of my life," I said, embarrassed.

"🤭🤭," she laughed. "What about you? How old are you? I answered you, so you better answer me too, okay? 😤😌"

"Haha, I'm 14. I'll be 15 in February," I replied.

"Hmm, I see. So you're a year younger than me," she commented.

"You're pretty tall for your age," Caroline observed. "😯😯5'10" at 14? What have you been eating to be so tall?"

Hahaha I'm doing growth Caroline "I said laughing a little at her 

Hmmm, she joked about it, tell me Clark, did you leave someone behind? You're very thoughtful, people only get like that when they end relationships "She asked me 

"No..." I replied, looking away towards the window, with a sad expression.

Caroline noticed my change in mood and became thoughtful. "You broke up with someone recently, right? Tell me, I'm a big fan of gossip," she asked cautiously.

I looked at her strangely with that last detail. 

"It's just that there's this girl..." I began to explain. "Things were going well, but I had to come here, so she kind of hates me now. I told her to wait a year when I get back, but I don't think that's going to happen..."

"Is she pretty?" Caroline asked curiously.

"Yes. Here's a picture of her. I took it on the sly...", I showed her the picture. "The camera isn't very good, but it sure gives you an idea..."

Caroline looked at the photo and her eyes lit up. "Wow, she's beautiful. She looks like a cheerleader."

"You think so? Her hot-headed personality doesn't suit that. She wouldn't be able to work as a team with the other girls...", I commented.

"Hahah, so she's that type..." Caroline muttered thoughtfully. "I see."

"What I can tell you is: give up on that girl, Clark," she advised. "You're long gone, so other guys will want her. It's like you said, you broke up on bad terms. "All the more reason for her to move on..."

"Thoughts: She may be right, Caroline. I'll try to move on too."

"That's it. Maybe you'll find someone better suited for you in Mystic Falls," she said, with an encouraging smile. "She started whistling..."

We continued talking until the plane arrived at its destination.

"Clark, come with me. Wait for my mom to come pick me up, we'll go together since we're going to the same place anyway," Caroline invited.

"Are you sure? I won't be a bother or anything, right?" I asked hesitantly.

"Of course not, silly. "Come on, let's wait for her," she replied, with a smile.

"Alright then," I agreed.

About 20 minutes later...

"MOM, HERE! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️," Caroline yelled, waving at an approaching woman.

"Hi, my daughter. I missed you so much!" the woman said, hugging Caroline.

"Hi, Mom. I missed you too," Caroline replied, returning the hug.

"Um, who's that? Is he your boyfriend?" the woman asked, looking at me curiously.

"😳😳 NO, MOM! THAT'S MY FRIEND, CLARK," Caroline replied, embarrassed. "He's also going to live in Mystic Falls and he's going to study at Mystic Falls High School. I met him on the plane, I sat next to him..."

"Hmmm..." the woman murmured, still analyzing me.

"😄😄 Hello, ma'am. My name is Clark. I met your daughter on the plane, like she said, and she also offered me a ride to Mystic Falls," I introduced myself politely.

"Hmmm... How old are you, young man?" the woman asked.

"14, ma'am," I replied.

"I see," she said thoughtfully. "Is that why you're going to Mystic Falls? A small town like this doesn't usually have many visitors... especially students. And you're traveling alone... Where are your parents?"

Give me your ID so I can know if what you say is true" She said practically ordering me around. 

"Sure, here it is," I replied, handing her the court order that allowed me to fly and travel anywhere in the country. "I'm basically on my own… My parents died in a car accident… 6 months ago. So I was thinking about moving to a quieter place. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money to live anywhere other than where my parents had an apartment. So I moved and decided to spend a year here. And in a year I'll go back there."

"I see. My condolences, Clark," she said sympathetically. "My name is Elizabeth Forbes, and I am also the sheriff of the town of Mystic Falls."

"I understand. Thank you, Eliza...", I thanked.

"Thoughts: Ugh, cops are always so nosy. I had to make up a good story for her..."

"So everything's all right, is it, Miss Forbes?" I asked, to make sure she believed my story.

"Sure. Here you go, Clark. Let's go...", she replied, handing me my documents.

Finally, we were on our way to Mystic Falls. A new chapter of my life was about to begin.