I opened my eyes that morning, my brain already registering what day it was before I was even fully awake. I got out of bed quicker than usual, not wanting to spend too much time thinking, something I'd been trying to do a lot less lately. Do what feels good. I remembered Rebekah's words in Professor Shane's office all those months ago, and now I was finally listening to her. I stopped worrying, stopped brooding, and did what just felt right. But no need to worry, I haven't gone into Ripper mode and turned my feelings off, in fact, I had managed to control my blood lust, but not by going cold turkey and eating disgusting animals. I finally listened to Damon, I actually tried to control my blood lust and Voila! Here I stand today, drinking human blood from the vein and not actually killing anyone.

Hm, look at that, Damon, Rebekah, I wonder who else I didn't listen to, and now I regret not listening to them?

As I try to busy myself with cleaning up after managing to get home at around 4 A.M, I still can't keep my mind from wandering. I close my eyes and try to clear my mind like I usually do, but it's no help, I have to face it, the faster I think about the importance of the day the faster it'll me over. I clenched my eyes together and led my mind back through two years of long, head throbbing misery. I led my mind back to Elena.

It was two years ago today that her and I ran into each other outside a Men's Restroom and I was pulled under the spell of a Petrova Doppelganger. Again.

You'd think I'd learn my lesson given how everything with Katherine turned out but for some idiotic reason I had myself convinced that Elena was warm and kind and caring. I winced remembering when I said those words and who I had said them to. Lexi. Another reason to hate my brother even more, after killing my best friend for his own selfish reasons, he continued to fall in love with my girlfriend, until eventually she returned the feelings to him, leaving me out in the cold.

I shook my head, trying to get the bitter thoughts out of my head. I had spent so much time trying to stop those through from getting to me and just no, they almost had. I need a distraction.

I look down at my phone to see a unanswered message from my favorite club's manager, asking if I wanted a V.I.P room for tonight. Did I mention that I live in New York now? Chicago was just getting way too predictable for me. I'd thought about declining his offer for tonight, maybe sit at home and enjoy a good book but then I realized that I need something to get my mind off everything. So I quickly thumbed him a text telling him who should be there and what I want for entertainment. I made it quick and informative before setting my phone down counting down the hours until 11 o'clock.

I spent the majority of my day cleaning up my big apartment. This apartment has been my home on and off for the last fifty years, I have been staying here everytime I come to New York, that is of course if Lexi didn't drag me off to some top notch hotel where we could get wasted and spend the night. Prior to a few months ago, this apartment was a one bedroomed, peeling paint, old furniture disaster, I knew I had to do some renovations if I were to stay here for the next decade, so I called in the enforcements, Caroline.

She came in here, her nose wrinkled in disgust, her young radiant face turned down with a frown. When she asked me why I wanted to stay here, I looked at her like she'd lost her mind.

"Caroline! I'm living above a bar! And not just any bar, the best one in the entire city! I am not gonna give that up just because the apartment is a little old!" I said flailing my hands all over the place as I tried to explain why this apartment was ideal.

"Stefan, I cannot believe you are going to live in this pigsty just to have the convenience to walk down to a bar. You are such a man, how the hell is anyone supposed to renovate this? You'll need to call in the best!" she said kicking at the wall to see if it was even stable.

"That's why I asked you to come" I said relying on my good ol' charms " You are the best, I won't get anywhere, if you are not here to boss me around" I said sweetly. It worked. Her face lit up with a smile.

"Well come on then, lets inspect the damages" she said as she dragged me around the room. And here I am now, with a newly renovated apartment that is nothing like me and everything like the playboy lifestyle that Caroline wanted me to live when I got away from Mystic Falls.

There was so much white, white walls, white countertops, white appliances. There were hints of light blues as well, like rugs or paintings or cushions. And glass. There was glass everywhere, with the tables and doors and weird sculptures that sat as centerpieces. I looked around my apartment with a sick feeling as it reminded me so much of Damon's bedroom back home.

Is that what Caroline wanted to do, turn me into Damon? So I can go out to drink, feed, a bring girls home every night? Although, I don't mind doing those things now, I don't see myself doing it for the next ten years. Eventually,this apartment is going to have to change.

I sighed one last time when I heard my phone ringing, Caroline's name flashed on the screen.

"Caroline! I was just thinking about you!" I said cheerfully despite my gloomy mood.

" I have a plan." She said without preamble.

"Okay, let me hear another one of Caroline Forb's master plans." I said sarcastically but she ignored the jibe.

"So you know your birthday is coming up soon and I know exactly what we are going to do!" she said obviously excited.

" Caroline, if you throw me a party, I swear to God, I will never speak to you again. I already let you ruin me with this apartment, I am not going to let you do anymore damage"

" Calm down Stefan, I'm not planning a party, although I definitely thought about it…" she said trailing off.

" Then what is it?" I asked half relieved that she wasn't throwing a party and half annoyed that she wanted to do anything at all.

"Well you are going to drive down to Mystic Falls, and we will throw a small teeny tiny party with just the gang and we will all get along and we'll have fun as we get drunk of Damon's whiskey and blood." she said hesitantly.

Stefan sucked in a fast breath, He cannot go back to Mystic Falls. "The 'gang'? What is this Friends?" I said trying to break the tension. Caroline chuckled nervously.

"Stefan pleasee?" she said quietly.

"Caroline, you why I can't come down there. It's way too soon, I'm not ready to see them. I don't know if I'll ever be ready." I said sighing, giving up on being funny.

"I know, but I never see you and I really want to check up on you, see how you're doing." Caroline said revealing her true reasons for the incredibly irritating plan. Stefan rolled his eyes.

"Caroline, I'm not a child, I've been doing this one hundred and fifty years before you came along."

"Yeah, but you've never been through something like this before." I felt my body stiffen, not believing what she just said.

"You don't know that Caroline, two years isn't a long time to know everything about someone" I said snapping at her after a long pause.

"Stefan, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that, and you're right two years isn't a long time after live for over a hundred years, I just really worry about you Stefan." she said quickly

"Okay Caroline, I understand. How about this instead of me coming down, you can come up to New York, spend a weekend here and we can go out, have fun. We'll celebrate my birthday alone, getting wasted on anything and everything." I heard Caroline squeal over the phone.

"Really? Ohmygosh I need to start packing, oh and I need to make room in my schedule, Stefan I'll call you back" She said hanging up. I looked down at my phone smiling, not quite sure if I was excited or worried about my weekend with Caroline, nonetheless, it'll be good to see her, she has helped me a lot these past few months.

It was seven o'clock, I had to find something to entertain myself with for the next few hours, so I plopped down on my white couch and started watching Fast and Furious. About halfway through the movie I heard a knock at my door, I looked at the clock wondering who it could be as I started slowly towards the door. I open the door half expecting Caroline already here for our fun weekend, but instead I find the last person I expect.

She was wearing light denim shorts, a crisp white top and a black cardigan that hung down past her shorts. She had a light gray tote slung over her shoulder and she had a nervous smile on her face. Standing there was the girl I spent one year in love with, the one I spent months fighting for, the one I lost to my brother. The some girl that I convinced I was over but now I know it was a lie. Standing there was Elena.