After class, it's time to eat. Elena and Bonnie find their usual table and sit down. Bonnie almost gags when she looks at Elena's lunch. "Elena, what on earth is on your plate?" She looks down, asking herself the same question. "I think it's chicken?" Bonnie opens her water, obviously disgusted by Elena's choice. "See, this is one of the reasons I'm a vegetarian. You can't even tell what you're eating anymore." This really makes Elena laugh. "B, you became a vegetarian two days ago!" Bonnie puts her hand on her heart as if she's actually offended. "So?" Elena ignores her terrible acting by shaking her head, "Talk to me in a few months. I have a feeling I'll walk into your house and see you eating a rack of ribs." Bonnie now sticks her hand in the air, letting Elena she should stop talking. "Please, don't talk about them. I miss ribs so much." Elena smiles until she sees Principal Stevens looking at her from across the quad. Usually, she tried avoiding confrontation as much as possible, but this is something that she couldn't hold in any longer.

"Hey, you know what's weird?" Bonnie shakes her head no. Just stay calm, Elena. "The principal asked me how I'm feeling lately." Bonnie immediately stops eating, avoiding eye contact with Elena as much as possible. "Oh, that's nice, I guess. I think he just started doing that with all the students." Is she really lying to me? "I think someone told him about what happened with Ellie. Do you think anyone mentioned anything?" Bonnie stares at her food again, pretending to find the best piece of lettuce in her salad. "Bonnie!"This makes her lift up her head with a terrified expression. "Please don't be mad at me." Elena laughs in disbelief. "You know how I didn't want other people knowing what happened." Elena puts her hand on her forehead. Why can't this day just be over? "I know, Elena. But I also know that if I didn't mention anything, that could mean something might go wrong." Was Bonnie being a good friend? Yes. But was I ready to admit that something was actually wrong? No way. "I'm sorry, Elena. It's just your mom said-" If you thought Elena was angry before, she is livid now. "My mom? You talked to her about this?" Bonnie is practically Elena's sister. She's known her since they were in diapers. But that doesn't mean Bonnie has the right to keep something like this from her, right? Unless she knew how Elena would react. "She talked to me. She's worried about you, Elena. And so am I, honestly."

"So what do you want me to do about it? See a shrink or something?" Elena was being sarcastic, but from the looks of it, Bonnie was actually considering it. "If that's what you need, then yeah." Elena scoffed, "What I need, is for everyone to listen to me when I say I don't need anyone's help." Bonnie stands up. "I'm sorry that I'm trying to look out for you! I just don't want to find out that I could have done something to help. Especially if you weren't telling me something when you needed to." Elena gets up too. "Well good news, I don't." Bonnie is about to walk away when she tells Elena one last thing, "That's just great. Let me know when you're finally ready to stop shutting me out." Elena looks around, hoping no one noticed their fight. Unfortunately, Rebekah and her friends stare at Elena, smirking to themselves. She starts to walk away, embarrassed by the whole situation. Elena finds herself at the main office again, this time to see Mrs. Davis. "Excuse me. I'm not feeling very well. Can I call my mom and have her pick me up?" Her concern made Elena feel bad for lying, but what else could she do? Ignore Bonnie for the whole day? She already had to avoid Rebekah on a daily basis, she didn't want to do that with her best friend too. "Of course, honey. Feel better. Dial her number, and don't forget the extension!" Elena smiles lightly, "Thanks." She waits for a few seconds until she hears a voice on the other line. "Hey, it's me. Can you pick me up from school?"


Elena gathers her books from her locker and puts them in her backpack. Her phone vibrates in her pocket, and when she looks at it she immediately feels relieved. As she leaves the school, she waves goodbye at Mrs. Davis, and walks towards an old, red pickup truck. She opens the door, revealing a young man inside. They smile at each other kindly. "How you feeling, Lena?" He puts his hand on her's, giving her the comfort she's been looking for all day. "Just fine, Jeremy." Jeremy was her older brother. She loved both of her siblings dearly, but Jeremy was different from her older sister, Ellie. Lately, Jeremy was there for her more than Ellie had been, which she truly appreciated. They hug each other before he puts the car in drive. He decides to buy himself and his sister some food since she didn't really eat much at school. After ordering their food at a drive thru, Jeremy finds a parking spot for them to eat and talk. "Time to dig in!" Jeremy smiled widely, making Elena laugh. She never knew anyone that loved food as much as her brother. It's silent while they eat, but it isn't uncomfortable. Elena always thought that anytime she could sit with someone in silence without having to say anything was special. She didn't have to think of random things to keep the conversation going. She could just relax. Until Jeremy decides to break the silence.

"So, how'd they let you out of school?" Elena finishes chewing her food before explaining. "I told them I was calling mom." Jeremy nods his head, "And why didn't you? She at work?" Elena shakes her head no while drinking her soda. "She's off still. Mom hasn't really left the house much lately since she's been keeping Ellie company." She notices how sad her brother looks, so she tries to give a better explanation. "It's mostly because we aren't exactly getting along so well right now." That's when Jeremy finally gets it. "Is it because she keeps asking about what happened with you guys?" Elena looks out the window, trying to avoid her brother's question. "Yeah, it is." Jeremy turns off the radio, grabbing Elena's attention. "Look, I'm not going to tell you how to handle this, Elena. We all work things out in our own way. But I will say this... Mom is just trying to look out for you, and so is Bonnie." Does anyone value privacy anymore?!"She talked to you too?" Jeremy nods his head. "Ugh. Why can't everyone stop worrying about me?" Jeremy laughs to himself, making Elena even more confused. "Just think of it this way. If Bonnie was going through something, would you leave her to figure out everything on her own? Or would you try your best to get through to her?" Elena doesn't answer because she knows Jeremy is right. "Let them help you. There's nothing wrong with it. I know you may think that it makes you look weak, but it doesn't. It makes you strong." Jeremy rubs Elena's shoulder, making her smile. "Thanks, Jer. I love you." Jeremy smiles too, happy that he could help his baby sister. "I love you too."

He decides to change the subject. "How about we talk about something else?" Elena starts to think of what to tell him. "Mrs. Miller got a divorce! She's Ms. Fey now." His eyes widened, "Really? That sucks." Jeremy looks sad, almost as sad as Elena was at the beginning of the day, but if he knew how she was acting he'd change his mind too. "I know. How's your new job?" This makes Jeremy smirk. He's been working for this big sales company for a few months now. Elena assumes it's going pretty well since he seems proud of himself. "Not too bad, thanks for asking. I think I'm getting a promotion soon." Elena hits his shoulder in a playfully. "That's amazing! Did you tell mom and dad?" Jeremy puts his food in a garbage bag, putting Elena's garbage in it too. "No, but I'm planning on doing it next time we have family dinner." Her smile starts to fade when she thinks of her family. "Not sure if we'll be having one of those for a while." Jeremy didn't mean to make Elena upset, but he couldn't avoid talking about their family forever. "Things are going to get better, Elena. I promise." She doesn't reply, but he gets her to smile, and that's enough for him. "Okay, let's get you home." Jeremy backs out of the parking spot and heads straight to their house.


It's a hot, sunny day in California, and usually Caroline Forbes would like to do nothing more than sit on her swing and write in her journal. But she had such a hard time writing lately, and had to pack for the big move to Mystic Falls. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. She was sick of the drama at her current school, and sick of all the memories her childhood home brought her, but was she ready for such a big change? I guess I won't know until I get there. "Ready to go?" Caroline turns around to find her older sister, Addison, standing right behind her. Caroline smiles sadly. She wishes her sister could come with them, but she has an amazing job and life in California- one that she shouldn't miss for some small town. "Pretty much. I'm gonna miss you though." Addison hugs Caroline and kisses her head. "I'm only a phone call away! Don't forget to keep an eye on Stefan. I know he'll be okay, but I just worry about him sometimes, you know?" Addison and Stefan are Caroline's foster siblings. After her mother died of cancer, and her father being out of the picture since she was born, The Salvatore's took her in as one of their own. It was hard for Caroline at first, but they really made her feel a part of the family. Especially Stefan. When they were kids, he told their friends that Caroline was his fraternal twin. Ever since, she has considered him to be just that. She smiles at the memory, until she remembers that she's forgetting someone else.

"At least he'll have Damon out there too." Damon Salvatore had to be one of the most obnoxious people she had ever met, but there was something about him that made her forget why she was annoyed with him in the first place. He had a hard time getting along with his parents growing up, so he found a job as a mechanic in Mystic Falls. The only person that could really handle Damon was Stefan. Their bond was unbreakable, which was something Caroline always admired. They both turn when they hear a knock on Caroline's door. "Hey, guys. It's time to get going." Addison walks up to Stefan and gives him a hug. "Addison... I can't... Breathe." She immediately lets go of her brother, worried that she hurt him. "Sorry, Stef, I'm just gonna miss you so much." There was no doubt that Addison and Stefan were related. Both of them had beautiful green eyes and light brown hair. But those were about the only things that made them similar. "We should really get going, Caroline." Stefan picks up some of her bags, signaling her to get moving. She hugs Addison one last time, tearing up as they separate. "See you soon, Care." Caroline nods, mostly because she can't speak due to the oncoming tears. "I just wish Dylan was around to experience this with us." Addison wipes a tear off her cheek with her hand. "Me too. But if he was around, you guys probably wouldn't be moving in the first place." Dylan Salvatore was the third child in the family, right behind Addison and Damon. He died in a car accident a little over year ago. Stefan took it the hardest. He makes himself feel so guilty, even though the accident was nowhere near his fault. It's just who he is. He's kind and thoughtful, but also incredibly hard on himself. Caroline never understood it, honestly. "I guess you're right." Addie grabs the last bag on the floor. "Come on, time for you to start your new life!" Caroline wipes her tears before heading down the stairs. "Watch over me, Dyl. Over all of us. I hope we're doing the right thing."