Season 7 Episode 1 Part 1

(It starts 3 months after the finale of season 6.)

Caroline walks in the Salvatore Boardinghouse, which is packed with people that dance to the loud music playing from some enormous speakers, drinking alcohol. She pushes her way to the kitchen, trying to find the host of this party. Instead, she runs on Tyler, who is drinking vodka from a bottle and is surrounded by girls, who are clearly wasted.

"Tyler?!"

"Oh, hey Car. Here to party?" He says as he sees her. He is obviously not sober.

"No. Unlike you I am here to find Damon."

"Why not throw some steam, Car? It's good for you. I promise."

"It's good for you?! You have been coming every night here, getting wasted and ending with a girl you don't even know her name in your bed, since Liv died. You are not blowing steam! And it's not good for you."

"You are in no position to judge! What have you been doing since Stefan left two months ago, huh?! You keep calling him. Again and again! He is not going to answer Car. It's like last summer. When things get tough, he flees."

Caroline looks down, knowing that most of the things Tyler said were true. She takes a deep breath.

"Do you know where Damon is?" She asks at last

"In his bedroom." Tyler says after taking a huge sip from his vodka.

"Thanks." Caroline says and vamp speeds to Damon's bedroom

Damon is lying on his bed, his shirt unbuttoned, surrounded by girls that are bleeding and have bites.

"Here to join the party blondie locks?" He asks and takes a huge sip from his bourbon.

"No. I wanna speak to you. Privately."

"Speak freely. There are both wasted and compelled to forget everything."

Caroline shakes her head showing her disapproval.

"You've been like this since Elena…" she couldn't find the right term to finish.

"Maybe you should move on…" She says again

"I am moving on! This IS me."

"Damon… If you need to talk…"

"I don't. I am fine, thanks for your concern. Although, I doubt you came here to look after me. Spit it out…" He says and sips again.

"Want some?" He asks

Caroline shakes her head.

"I wanted to ask you…. If- If you had any news on Stefan…" She said the last word with unease.

A mischievous grin appeared on his face.

"Why don't you call him yourself, if you are you curious?"

Caroline bites her lip nervously.

"Let me guess. He won't answer." Says Damon

Caroline nods.

"And you are… Worried, because he may be in trouble, or mad because he keeps avoiding you?"

"A little bit of both." She says dryly

Damon grins again.

Caroline sighs.

"Have you talked to him, yes or no?"

"Yes." He says sipping again.

"When?!"

"Two or three weeks ago…"

"And?!"

"He is fine."

Caroline looks a little disappointed, realizing that he was avoiding her after all.

"Where-Where is he?"

"New Orleans"

…..

Stefan is sitting on a barstool waiting for his drink, in a bar called Rousseau's.

"Here you are." Says a bartender handing Stefan his drink.

"Thank you-"

He reads the name tag.

"-Camille"

"Cami." She corrects him.

"Cheers, Cami." He says and drinks some of his cocktail.

…..

Caroline is lying on her bed talking to the phone.

"How are the Bahamas, Bonnie?"

"Exotic."

Caroline giggles.

"I wish I could come…" says with a sigh

Bonnie doesn't say a thing.

"But- I understand and respect the fact that you want some time alone." Adds Caroline

"Thanks."

"Any news from Stefan?"

"Not directly. But I learned from Damon that he is fine…"

"Well, at least that's something."

"Yes… I-I also learned that he is in New Orleans. Or at least was for sure two or three weeks ago…"

"Um… Really?"

"Um… Are you- are you planning on visiting him?"

"I don't know. Last time, when you and Damon… Were trapped in that prison world, he just left. For no reason. And he had a new girlfriend." She said the last sentence in a lower tone.

"I don't think he has a new girlfriend, Car. And I think, that this time he might be doing something beneficial, after all."

"That's what we thought last time, Bon…"

"Don't be pessimistic. Look, I got to close. I'll call you later."

"Have fun…"

"Thanks." Says Bonnie and ends the call. She shoves her phone in her pocket.

"Ready?" A male voice asks

"I was born ready, Stefan."