I sauntered through the back door, exhausted from practice, and dumped my stuff in the kitchen. Jenna and Elena were in there, sulking, making sundaes. They both offered a cursory glance my way before continuing with their discussion. It didn't take long to suss out they were discussing Stefan, yet again.

"He's on the rebound and has raging family issues." Elena sighed and struggled to squirt out the last dribble of chocolate sauce.

Jenna noted, pensively, "Well at least it's an ex-girlfriend. Wait 'til you date a guy with mommy issues, or cheating issues, or amphetamine issues."

Elena scoffed and turned to me, "How was practice?"

Our conversation was cut short by Jeremy stumbling through the front door. He caught sight of all three women in his life glaring back at him, and rolled his eyes before slamming the door and sauntering over to the stairs.

"Jeremy." Jenna scorned and stormed after him, "Jeremy, where were you?"

Jeremy scoffed, "More stoner stories? Look, Jenna, I get it, you were cool once and so that's cool."

Elena and I exchanged a glance, and heard Jeremy stomp up the stairs. I began unloading my kit into the laundry basket, and Elena began clearing up her sundae supplies; we were both rather feeble in our tasks, our focus predominantly on eavesdropping.

"Oh, no no no!" Jenna scorned and tossed her apple at him, thumping against his back.

"OW! WHY?!" Jeremy whined, "Why did you do that?"

"Listen up! Quit ditching class or you're grounded. No discussion." Jenna barked.

"Parental authority, I like it! Sleep tight." Jeremy giggled and staggered up the stairs. He was clearly stoned out of his mind, again.

Elena turned to me and asked, "Are you coming to the comet?"

I thought for a moment. Yeah, the last time you dragged me out against my will, we all got into an explosive argument and I got so wasted I fell down the stairs and don't remember anything else from that night.

"I don't think so." I sighed, "I'm so tired. I think I'm gonna have an early night."

"The comet's tomorrow night." Elena said, with a raised eyebrow. I couldn't muster up the energy for another excuse, so I left, silently.

20:17 – The Night of the Comet – Mystic Falls Town Square

"I have to give Adam back his jacket, two seconds!" Natalie smiled and sauntered away.

"I'll get the candles." I nodded and walked over to the stand, "Two please."

The girl behind the counter smiled extra sweetly. I was confused, trying to place her. Did I know her?

"She lives! You know I've heard so much about you, I feel like I already know you." The girl smiled sweetly and shook my hand. I glanced back at her, thoroughly confused.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?" I said politely.

"Kimberley Lockwood. Tyler's cousin. I was there the night you…turned up, but you were out of it, of course." Kimberley said, "This is Amber Lennon, my best friend. You've made quite a splash in the little pond of gymnastics."

"…thanks." I uttered and glanced over at the candles.

"Don't be so modest, it's so impressive what you've managed to accomplish, with so many set-backs!" Kimberley beamed. I nodded back in uncomfortable response. Her face took a contorted turn, "I hope you're feeling better after your fall? You had us all mighty worried."

"Right. Much." I uttered, still stinging with embarrassment that Mrs Lockwood had dressed me whilst I was out for the count.

"So, what's with you and Matt?" Amber uttered, with a disparaging look on her face.

"What do you mean?" I asked

"Amber." Kimberley rolled her eyes and scoffed in disbelief, "I am so sorry, Rosanna. She can be so embarrassing. Just ignore her."

"I mean, are you guys hooking up or-" Amber said.

"Oh. No." I uttered, shyly, glancing behind me to check there wasn't a line to witness my flushed cheeks, "He's been helping me out with my car. It's a vintage number, it's way above my remit. We are, uh, just friends, I think."

"You think you're just friends?" Amber said, raising her eyebrow in delight.

"I'm not-that's not-" I stuttered.

"You're putting words in the poor girl's mouth." Kimberley scorned playfully.

"He's my friend. I've known him since I was this big. We do friendly stuff, hang out, and fix the car and stuff." I uttered.

"Friendly stuff, huh?" Amber chuckled, "Everything sounds so innocent when you say it! You are the cutest. Honestly."

I merely sighed in return and glanced around the square. Where the hell are you, Natalie?

"Well, between us girls, I say go for it. Elena dumped him. He's fair game, and he definitely has the hots for you. It's all over his face. I always catch him looking at you." Kimberley grinned.

"He-He's not. I'm like, just in his line of sight, like in the way or something." I cringed.

"He's a hot-blooded male, Rosanna. Of course, he does, just look at you. You're gorgeous!" Amber grinned.

"Um, thank you."

"Do you think he's attractive?" Amber asked.

"She must do, she has eyes! What a question, bear! You do, don't you?" Kimberley giggled.

"I guess, he's a good-looking guy." I uttered, "Can I just get those candles?"

"See, I told you, Amber, Matt is moving on from Elena, he's dipping into the kiddie pool, so you definitely have the green light to flirt with Tyler right in front of his face. If he's gonna bring his latest squeeze, and flaunt her right in front of you, there's no reason why you can't face fuck his friend. That'll get his attention!" Kimberley snapped, his sickly-sweet grin turning into a smug one.

"I'm gonna…go anywhere but here." I uttered.

"It was really nice to put a face to all the rumours, Rosanna." Kimberley said with a sickeningly sweet smile plastered back onto her face, "You're nothing like what they say: I can even say I saw the Ro-bot blush!"

"No one will believe you." Amber scoffed.

"What?" Natalie scoffed as she appeared at my side.

"Rosanna the Robot? It's cute, right? I think her junkie brother came up with that one." Kimberley asked, feigning disbelief, and then bursting into raucous giggles.

"Go suck a dick, Kim." Natalie scorned, snatched up the candles and nudged me to leave with her. We stormed off across the square, far away from the bitches, but the heat in my cheeks did not dissipate so easily. I was beyond embarrassed; that one stupid slip up was here to stay, everyone was going to hear about it, if Kimberley had anything to do with it.

"Wow. That was brutal." Natalie uttered.

"I'm gonna go." I uttered back and handed her my candle.

"What?" Natalie hissed, "Because of them? Ro, come on. You can't! The comet's not even-"

"No. I'm just…I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?" I offered up feebly and sauntered away before she had the chance to plead her case. I headed for the Main Street. The night was clear, perfect for walking home with a head flooded with thoughts.

"Hey. Rosanna! Hey! Are you bailing?" Stefan called after me, as I cleared the square.

"…Stefan, right?" I uttered, glancing at him uncertainly. We'd not actually been introduced yet, it was a little jarring to hear him call after me.

"Yeah, Elena's…that way." Stefan rasped and nudged over his shoulder.

"Thank you, but I'm heading that way. Home." I uttered quietly, "Have a good night."

"Are you okay?" Stefan rasped and noted my uncomfortable stance, "Sorry, you just look a little upset."

"Wow, even in this lighting?" I scoffed and shuffled awkwardly, "No, I'm good."

"Do you…" Stefan began and surveyed me. His eyes were captivating, I could almost feel his gaze, "Would you like me to walk you home?"

I glanced back at him and then over towards Elena, she was stood with Caroline and Bonnie on the far side of the square. Her friends were laughing, but she was surveying the area, not so subtly. I smiled at Stefan and shook my head, "It's okay. I think you have more pressing matters to attend to."

Stefan sighed and smiled back, following my eye line to meet her.

"She's gonna play the 'oh no, it's complicated' card, but don't be discouraged, she just wants you to stand your ground, stick around, convince her you're really in it."

"I am." Stefan nodded, pensively.

"Show her." I smiled at him and turned to leave.

21:03 – Gilbert House

"Jer?" I called out as I ascended the stairs. Someone was rummaging around in his room, shadows were flickering on to the landing.

"No, it's me!" Jenna scoffed and greeted me wildly, "The hypocrite patrol!"

"What are you doing?" I asked, tentatively leaning against the doorframe.

"I've become my worst nightmare." Jenna scoffed and continued scanning the room, "The authority figure who has to violate a 16-year-old's privacy. Jackpot! I see the hiding places haven't gotten any more creative." Jenna had dragged a bong out of a boot. She was frantic.

"What uh, what brought this on?" I asked.

"Your ass-hat of a history teacher shamed me good yesterday." Jenna scoffed.

"You got Tanner-ed. Been there." I laughed lightly.

"'Discover the impossible, Ms Summers'" Jenna mocked him, but her expression quickly turned to one of defeat, "Got it. Thanks, like I didn't already know I was screwing up!"

"You're not screwing up, Aunt Jenna." I uttered back, seriously, rising from my lethargic position.

"Yes, I am!" Jenna sighed, harshly, "You know why? Because I'm not her. She made everything look so easy. You know, high school, marriage, having you guys. I can't do it. I'm gonna say or do the wrong thing, and he's gonna get worse, and it's gonna be my fault. It's impossible. And you! You, I worry about even more. It used to be that-that your mom struggled to shut you up; my little Rosie, she'd say, you should hear some of the stuff she comes out with, her ideas and her dreams, they could captivate the faintest of hearts. She marches around bossing Jeremy about, and he follows her. She's a leader."

I sat down next to my Aunt on Jeremy's unmade bed and dropped my shoulders, and exhaled. I uttered, "This is just the fear talking. You're a little scared, that's all. We all are."

"I don't know what you are." Jenna uttered, "I bribed Elena to drag you out, to get you to talk. And given that all I got was a detailed account of Stefan's outfit, and asked to decode what he meant by this and that; she owes me 20 bucks. You need to tell me what is going on with you, so that I can try my damnedest to make it okay. You are allowed to not be okay, okay?"

"Okay." I uttered and embraced her tightly.