The air in Mystic Falls was thick, saturated with that scent of pine and dampness characteristic of towns that seem frozen in time. Aiden walked along the main sidewalk with his backpack over his shoulder, maintaining a steady pace. He had been in town for two days, enough time to settle into a rented room and verify that the place operated with a sluggishness that felt foreign to him.
He stopped in front of the high school and let his blue eyes scan the main street. He was looking for anomalies. He was looking for what his father didn't have the courage to face. But he only found himself observing the flow of students. The "Welcome to Mystic Falls" sign was slightly tilted, an organic imperfection that Aiden found strangely irritating.
Without wasting any more time, he entered the building. Aiden didn't pull out his notebook. He didn't check the maps he had memorized. He simply paused in front of the main bulletin board.
He didn't go in immediately; he took a moment to check his watch and then headed toward the entrance. In the school's front office, Aiden didn't have to try very hard. He leaned slightly over the counter, letting the overhead lights highlight the clarity of his eyes. He maintained a serious, almost solemn expression—the perfect blend of vulnerability for being "the new guy" and the confidence of someone who knows exactly which buttons to press.
—My father, Dr. Saltzman, will be delayed a couple of weeks finishing some paperwork at Duke —he said, his voice a calm baritone that cut through the hallway noise—. He asked me to go ahead so I wouldn't miss the start of the semester. I hope my transfer files are in order.
The secretary, captivated by his attractiveness and his eloquent speech, didn't even check the guardian's signature. She just nodded, impressed by how impeccable the boy in front of her looked.
—Aiden Saltzman —the secretary read while stamping the schedule—. Everything seems to be in order. Welcome. —She finally said with a polite smile.
He nodded courteously, gathered his papers, and stepped out into the hallway. The noise of lockers and cross-conversations was constant.
While looking for his locker, something caught his attention immediately. A boy standing near the principal's office. He was too still. While the rest of the students moved quickly, he simply stood there, eyes fixed on some point in the hallway, processing the environment in silence.
Aiden, being a bit more intuitive, noticed something else. Beyond the mysterious presence, he noted his posture: rigid. At first glance, it might seem odd, but Aiden recognized it. It was the alert stance of someone experienced, uncommon in students like him, more often seen in war veterans who had honed their senses over the years.
It was then that his gaze locked with this boy's—a look that didn't reveal much, but it was enough to know he should stay away.
'This feeling... he's dangerous.' Aiden looked away and passed him without stopping, feigning his presence as just another new student, and continued on his way.
Aiden tucked the paper into his pocket and slung his backpack over one shoulder, ready to find his classroom. The hallway noise was a shapeless mass of voices and slamming lockers that he tried to ignore.
Halfway down the corridor, the flow of students slowed. Aiden had to dodge a group of boys joking loudly near the library. That's when something else caught his eye.
A blonde girl—she was quite pretty—was talking non-stop, moving her hands with an energy that contrasted with the stillness of the first girl, the one who had actually caught his attention. She had soft features and a brown-eyed gaze that stood out immediately. With just a glance, Aiden could tell: she was the type of person who drew attention without seeking it.
In that moment, she looked up. Their eyes met as Aiden passed just over a meter away. His blue eyes met the girl's brown ones.
Elena observed him with natural curiosity; she seemed to register the fact that there was a new, remarkably attractive boy. To her, Aiden was a momentary interruption in her conversation, a new face that was pleasant to look at.
Aiden, for his part, held eye contact a second longer than usual. Not out of romance, but because something in the way she didn't quite finish smiling despite her friend's jokes struck him. He noticed a reserve, a trace of something she was trying to hide beneath a facade of normalcy. It was a minimal detail, something someone less observant would have missed, but for Aiden, it was enough to register her as someone with a different profile than the rest.
Aiden gave a brief nod, a gesture of automatic courtesy as he passed them. It was a contact that lasted barely a second, but it was solid enough that the hallway noise seemed to fade into the background for a moment. He kept walking toward his classroom without looking back.
Elena stood silent for a moment, processing the image of the new boy; the seriousness of his face had undoubtedly left an impression.
—Who was that? —Caroline asked immediately, breaking the trance as she followed Aiden with her gaze—. He's handsome, don't you think, Elena? A bit too serious, maybe, but definitely a ten on the "new guys we need to know" scale.
Elena let out a short breath, returning to the reality of her books.
—I have no idea, Caroline. He's new. And it's not that he's handsome, it's just that he seems... —she paused, searching for the word— ...a bit strange.
Caroline looked at her, puzzled.
—Well, strange or not, I hope he shows up at the party tonight —Caroline replied with her usual energy—. But come on, move it, or Tanner is going to crucify us before the first recess.
—Wait, I have something to do —Elena said and walked away. Caroline watched her leave and could only shrug her shoulders.
'That was so Elena Gilbert.'
Minutes later, after coming out of the men's room where she had gone to reprimand her brother Jeremy, Elena was rushing out, still dealing with family frustration. She wasn't looking where she was going, her head down and her thoughts tangled.
As she turned a corner in the hallway, she crashed directly into someone.
—Oh, I'm so sorry —Elena stammered, regaining her balance.
Looking up, she found a new boy with a mysterious countenance and quite handsome.
'That's two now; Caroline will definitely be happy,' Elena thought to herself as she took a better look at the boy in front of her.
If the encounter with Aiden had been an observation of mutual and sober curiosity, this was a different impact. This boy stood there with an apologetic expression but an intensity in his eyes that seemed to want to read something within her.
—It's okay —Stefan replied. His voice was soft, almost a whisper, but with a resonance that made Elena stop completely.
—I'm Elena —she said, feeling strangely compelled to introduce herself.
—I'm Stefan —he replied.
They stood there, amidst the flow of students, in a silence that felt much heavier and more predestined than the previous encounter. To Elena, this boy's presence was magnetic, almost overwhelming.
This prologue sets the stage for Aiden's arrival. Unlike a typical self-insert or a generic fanfic, this story focuses on a more grounded and analytical perspective of the Vampire Diaries universe.
I would love to hear your thoughts on:
Aiden's personality:
- Does his observant and serious nature feel distinct to you?
- The pacing: How do you feel about the intersection between Aiden's arrival and the original pilot's events?
Note on Updates:
As this is a passion project focused on quality over quantity, updates will be staggered. I prefer to deliver a well-written chapter rather than a rushed one.
Power Stones & Collection:
If you enjoyed this serious take on Mystic Falls, please consider adding the story to your Library and leaving a Power Stone. Your support is the main metric that helps me stay motivated to continue Aiden's journey.