Caroline caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass door as she was walking outside to join the others. "Smile," she told herself, "You've only waited for this day your entire life!" While she was human, planning her 18th birthday party was one of the major focuses of her life. Oh, how things change when you turn into a vampire, she thought. The place was perfect (Tyler had convinced his mom to let them hold the party at the Lockwood manor, everyone that mattered was there, and she looked absolutely stunning. Everything was perfect except...

The feeling was all too familiar. Throughout her entire human life, she had been self-conscious. She paid too much attention to the way she appeared to others, and not enough on who she really was inside. Some would have called her shallow. For the most part that had changed when she had turned, and yet here she was, staring at her reflection.

Vampires could never stay in one place for too long. That was what Stefan had told her. As soon as people began to realize that she wasn't aging, she would have to leave Mystic Falls. Leave behind her mother, just as her father had. Leave behind Elena, and Bonnie, and Matt, and... Tyler. Even though they hadn't really talked much since the full moon, she found it hard to picture herself without him. They had something special, whatever it was.

Eighteen... the age when you're finally considered an adult. Caroline stared at her reflection trying to find a woman. To her disappointment, she saw only an insecure girl in makeup and high heels. How much longer can I pull this off? she thought.

She made sure she was wearing her ring (It was cloudy, but she didn't want to risk it.) and walked outside to greet guests.

"Hey, Caroline! Happy birthday!" Matt handed her a present and, as if she needed any more awkwardness than her ex showing up at her party, gave her a quick hug, which made her feel guilty for leaving him.

"Happy birthday, Caroline!" Bonnie waved. Of course, she kept her distance. She still didn't feel comfortable alone around vampires. Even ones that were her best friend since they were toddlers.

Stefan and Elena arrived together, followed by Jenna and Alaric, and then Jeremy, who quickly left the group to go flirt with Bonnie.

"How are you, Caroline?" Stefan inquired.

"Okay, I guess." she replied.

Elena gave her a hug. "Caroline, I know how hard things are for you. Just know I'm here for you." Typical Elena. Sweet, understanding, and always knowing what to say... why was she so perfect?

Where was Tyler? It was his house, he had to be there. She didn't even know why she was looking for him. She needed to see him, to talk to him. She just needed him.

She finally found him talking to Mason's friend. Jules, was it? Why was she still in town. Damon told her she was only in Mystic Falls for one night.

"Caroline!" he called.

She motioned him over and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.

"We need to talk." they said simultaneously.

"You first." Caroline said. She would rather not start the relationship/inner-feelings talk. It wasn't exactly one of her strenghths. They walked into the Lockwood's mansion and made their way into Tyler's bedroom.

There was an awkward silence.

"The Salvatore brothers are vampires." He was tense.

"Wait, what? Did Jules tell you that?"

"They are, aren't they? And there's another one too, Rose, isn't there? Are there anymore I should know about?"

"Katherine."

Tyler glared at her.

"She's the one that turned me. She's all locked up now, so she can't hurt anyone. Then there's Isobel, but she left town and isn't coming back. Bonnie's a witch, but that's a whole other story."

"What about Mason? You know where he is, don't you?"

"Tyler, I-"

"He's dead isn't he? Mason is dead! He's dead!" He looked like he was about to hit her. "You lied to me! I thought you understood what it's like to be alone! But you lied to me!" His rage was building

"I was only trying to protect them!" She was in tears. "Tyler, please-"

"You don't trust me, Car?" There was silence. "You don't trust me." The words cut him as much as they cut her. "I trusted you. You were the only one I trusted. "

"I'm not even sure if we're going out, but please, don't break up with me. Don't leave me alone..." She was sobbing.

"Caroline, I can't leave you, no matter how mad I am. That's what sucks." He paused. "It wasn't like this with my other girlfriends. I left them and didn't think twice about it. Even Vicki, I got over eventually. But you're different. I can't get over you, Car. I don't know why, but I need you with me,"

Caroline didn't know what to say, so she kissed him, first gently, then more fiercely. Words were never her strength anyway. She pulled off her ring and put it on Tyler's night table as she pulled him onto the bed.

"Caroline, no." Tyler pushed her away. "Not after what you did."

"Tyler, I'm so sorry." She stroked his face and kissed him again.

He tried to resist her, to say no. But one look at her in tears made it impossible. He couldn't stand to see her hurt. He knew he felt something for her, whatever it was.

He pulled her closer and kissed her passionately. As they both pulled away to gasp for air, the door creaked open.

Jules stood in the room with a disapproving look. "Tyler!" she beckoned him outside the room and closed the door. "What are you thinking? She's a vampire!" she whispered

"I think I love her." he muttered

"She lied to you!"

"I need her!" This time he said it with more conviction.

"She just stood and watched you drink wolfsbane! Do you think she cares about you?"

He thought for a moment. "She stayed with me the night of the full moon."

"She ran away to protect herself!"

"After I told her to! And she came back! She was there for me...while you weren't. You said you would help me... adjust. Caroline's far more help than you are."

Jules was shocked.

"I want you to leave Mystic Falls." Tyler told her. " Get out of this town and get out of my life!"

"Fine." She turned and walked away. "Tell your girlfriend that she'd better watch her back, unless she wants a stake in it!"

That was too easy, Tyler thought. He walked into the room. "Caroline?"

Caroline sat on the bed and stared at the ground. "Did you mean that?" She asked quietly. She was incredulous."Do you love me?"

"You heard that?"

"Yeah, vampire hearing. Duh. But do you love me?" She leaned in for a kiss.

"I don't want to talk about this. Not now." He turned away. "You hurt me, Caroline."

"Tyler, I am so sorry... I was stupid. Really stupid."

"Let's go, Caroline."

"Hold on, let me get my ring." She stared at the night table. "What the hell?"

"What's wrong, Car?"

"My ring's gone!"

"Look on the ground. It couldn't have gone anywhere. Nobody was in here except us and..." Jules. She took the ring. No wonder she left so damn quickly.

"Hello, lovebirds." As if things needed to get worse. Damon was here. "Just came to tell you to keep it down. With my vampire hearing I could hear your little make-up/make-out session from all the way outside."

Caroline and Tyler exchanged a glance, as if to say I didn't invite him, did you?

"Oh come on, every party needs a party crasher. Look, I'm here on official business" Damon turned to Tyler. "Word on the street is that you know my little secret."

"You mean that you're a vampire?"

"Bravo! Wolfman can keep up! Now I've come to ask you if you would be willing to... collaborate on something with me?"

"Why would I want to work with you? From what Caroline tells me, you're an ass."

Damon turned to Caroline. "I'm flattered. Now, back to Wolfy here. It's simple. That werewolf Jules bit my friend, and is out to get your bubblehead blonde. If we team up and hunt her down, I help Rose, and you protect vampire Barbie. Do we have a deal?" Damon held out his hand.

Tyler thought for a moment, and shook Damon's hand. "We have a deal."