Chapter 19

Elena headed downstairs the next morning after taking the longest shower of her life. Damon was still asleep and she wanted to talk to Liz before he got done. He felt some resentment towards her since Shinichi used her to hurt him.

"Liz? You down here yet?" She looked around but didn't see anybody. That was weird. Liz always woke up around six to get ready. As she thought this she came through the front door. It clearly answered her question. She had on shorts, a tank-top, her hair up, sneakers, and ear-phones. She had been running to stay in shape. The girl never stopped.

"Hey! You're up early. That's a shocker. Everyone around here seems to sleep till twelve. How do ya'll get anything done?" She was very athletic and the best runners start their days very early.

"We manage to accomplish everything before the day is over. I want to talk to you about something." Liz poured her a glass of water and guzzled it quickly. She sat down and pulled Elena to her.

"Shoot." She shook her head and walked toward the door. Sage and Damon could hear her in the house and she couldn't risk that. It was dealing with everybody here and Liz was the only one with an unbiased opinion. She walked into the cool crisp air and walked to where the cars were parked.

"Shinichi left me this note. I want you to read it. Tell me your honest opinion." She looked at the notes for at least ten seconds and looked up. She seen the look on Elena's face and smiled.

"I'm a nerd and I have photographic memory when it comes to reading. I was born with it. You could probably learn it after we unlock your memories or you can just get a new power daily like you are now. Ok, this is what I think. The quietness of one can be three possible answers if you're counting Mrs. Flowers. Matt and Meredith are both really shy and you never really get to know them. I can sense there is something that Meredith is hiding though." Elena nodded. She had already guessed Meredith but she had forgotten about Matt.

"I don't think Mrs. Flowers really had anything to do with any of this. Shinichi didn't focus on her." Liz was already working on the next one. As much as it pained her to say she had a feeling about this particular person. She could tell her happiness was an act.

"Bonnie. She's the only one I know who wouldn't hurt a fly." She figured as much. She didn't want it to be true. This was her best friend. She didn't want this to happen.

"Matt could be that one too." Liz shook her head quickly. Now that she thought of it, Matt couldn't be any of them.

"It says she and it says her on the first one. Matt is not any of the answers." She let out a mental sigh. This wasn't going to be easy. Her best friends were either killers or double-lifed.

"Sage, he told me about him and your parents and I'm sorry. He didn't mention anything else though. He might if you ask him. How are you planning on telling them?" Elena didn't want to think about that right now. That would come later, after they had a few possible answers.

"Doesn't matter right now. We will handle that later. I can figure a way to gain my own memories back and I'm sure the guys can too. The motel room is over and forgotten. I'm with Damon now so it shouldn't matter and he told me his secret. I will not repeat it. It is between me and him." Liz accepted this. She couldn't come waltzing in and try to take over. "One other thing. Damon doesn't like you that much." She hadn't seen this one coming.

"What do ya mean? I saved him. I know that Shinichi used my image but it was just an image. I would never hurt ya'll." Elena knew this. She couldn't explain why he still didn't like her but he did hold grudges.

"I know and I'm sorry but he doesn't get over things quickly. Give him time and don't chase him. He likes a challenge and if he has to work for you to like him than he will be friends with you quicker." She knew from experience that he liked challenges. She was the ultimate challenge and he had finally defeated it. She also liked challenges and she had won. He had fallen in love with her and not just played with her. It was love.

"Ok, no problem. I have a temper and if I know he doesn't like me it will make things that much easier." They both laughed and walked inside. Sage and Damon were waiting for both of them. Sage kissed Liz at the exact time Damon kissed Elena.

"You get up too early. You have been running, yes? You are sweaty. I can't say it's disgusting because you look…hmm." He was at lose for words. He couldn't decide how to put how good she looked with that sweat rolling down her. His thoughts wandered. Elena swatted him.

"I heard that! I don't want to be a mind-reader if I have to listen to you." Liz shook her head at him and her both. Such little kids.

"Block it out like I do. It's really easy. I only use it when I'm in battle or I forget to turn it off." He was happy she hadn't heard that. Elena had though. Serves her right he thought. Shouldn't be listening.

"I'm cookin'. What do ya'll want? French toast? Something good for Stefan of coarse unless he is still full from all that cereal." She mock punched Elena in the shoulder and walked towards the stove.

"Did I hear my name?" He came down the stairs with a stagger. He was so human. He still wasn't aware of his surroundings and he almost fell. Liz ran over and helped him down the stairs. He acted drunk.

"You're not a vampire anymore. You're not supposed to hear us bad-mouthin' you. Watcha want for breakfast?" He walked to the fridge and pulled out some grape juice and chocolate milk.

"You cooking?" She nodded. "Nothing, you would poison me. Let me cook." He laughed as he said the first part. It was easy to get along with Liz. She was a very laid back person and joked way too much to take anything seriously. She smacked the back of his head and grabbed eggs out of the fridge he had left open.

"Hey, I wouldn't poison ya on purpose. I'm not lettin' you cook either. Now, french toast?" He nodded eagerly. He wanted to start his new life and eat some real food instead of cold cereal.

"Yes please. Where are you from?" Stefan had a million questions buzzing around in his head and he couldn't organize anything. He felt confused. Did people always feel like this when they first woke up?

"I come from a little town in Mississippi. Lived there until I was sixteen and then I went to the Dark Diminsion and I've been livin' there since. I'm nineteen now." She had a mask up he realized. A smirk clearly plastered on her face. Not letting anyone in. He knew he wouldn't get an answer if he asked how it happened.

"I've been to Mississippi. You have real nice people there. It's been three years since you've been back and you still have that accent. I've already lost my italian accent." She brought a plate over to him and smiled. He went to grab the pancake syrup and she popped his hand. She handed him some kind of honey.

"This is better with it. About my accent, I can use it or I don't. When I'm angry it seems to be thicker and more pronounced but most of the time I control it a little so people won't think I'm straight up hick." He laughed and bit into his toast. He savored the flavor. It was delicious and Liz had a feeling she would be making him lots more of them for the next week.

"Can I have another?" She rolled her eyes and walked back to the stove. Matt came down and sat beside Stefan. "Want one?" Matt was laughing at the way he looked. His hair was a mess and he was stuffing his face.

"You're going to get fat. You better start running now." Liz looked up and brought over five more french toasts. He would get fat if he ate all of those.

"Matt and Elena. Get over here before fat boy here eats it all. You keep eatin' like that and I'm gonna make you my runnin' partner." He smiled, stood up, and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks but I'm full. I won't be getting fat anytime soon. It was very good. I hope you can teach me how to make them so I won't have to get you everytime I want one." She slapped his arm and Sage came up behind her and put his arms around her waist.

"You cook too? Stupéfiant! Is there anything you can't do?" She looked up at him and he kissed her lips. They tasted like honey and grape? Well, I know what she ate for breakfast.

"Nope, I can do anything." Damon noticed how she changed from joking to sexy in a matter of seconds. She looked up at Damon and noticed him looking at her. She didn't let any emotion show on her face. He was doing the same and it clicked for him. She mimicked the person she was talking to or looking at. You couldn't tell what she was really feeling because it was hidden behind her mask. Stefan and Matt were joking and so was she. Sage was being romantic, if that's what you call it, and so was she. He looked distant and now, so did she. She was a mirror. How did anybody get to know her?

"Liz? Thanks for saving me." He said it with the most arrogant tone he could use. Her gaze got even colder. She shrugged as if it didn't matter to her at all.

"Yeah yeah. No big deal." He wanted a reaction out of her. Elena said he didn't like her but she wanted to be his friend. So she did as Elena had told her and acted. He should be more grateful but he wasn't or he was and wouldn't show it. Either way, it hurt.

"If it was no big deal then you were just showing off." She heard Sage growl a little and she put her hand on his arm. She knew how to handle guys like this.

"If I wanted to show-off, I wouldn't have saved you. Saving you seemed like a big down-grade to me. Well, I did show-off." He smirked, thinking he had won. "I saved your brother. That was pretty great of me if I do say so myself." Sage, Matt, and Elena barely held back their gasps. Had anybody ever stood up to Damon? Any human girl? He walked straight up to her face and she didn't even flinch. Sage was ready to defend her but she held him back. He growled a little and then surprised everyone. He smiled.

"Touché. Really, thanks. I appreciate it. Without you I wouldn't be here with Elena today but I will be back for round two." Everyone in the kitchen started laughing as she brought her hand up and made a , bring it on, motion. She was ready anytime. She grew up with guys. She had too many uncles to count and she knew how to put them in their place.

"What is everyone laughing about? What did I miss?" Bonnie and Stefan came back down and took their place. Now almost everyone was there. Mrs. Flowers finally came strolling in and took her place at the head of the table. It looked like a big happy family. Elena was about to ruin the picutre perfect moment though. When Meredith walked through the door she would start with the awful discussion she was hoping to ignore.

"You just missed your Damon get beat at his own game by a girl. Liz is the bomb." Matt was gushing. It wasn't everyday he got to see his enemy get taken down by a girl.

"Really? See Bonnie. I told you to hurry and get dressed." She just yawned and sat beside Matt. She seen the french toast and instantly perked up. She needed something sweet. She had been craving it all through the night and Stefan had made it sound so good she just had to have a taste. They heard a knock at the door. Liz went to get it but Sage stopped her and answered it himself. It was Meredith.

"Where is Alaric?" Elena was glad he wasn't here though. She didn't want to talk about this in front of somebody who hadn't been through it to begin with.

"His place. He needed some sleep. What are you all talking about?" Meredith could see the tension in Elena's eyes. She had something very important to say and she was worried.

"I'm glad you're here. I have an announcement. Shinichi left me a note. It answered all of his riddles but they are not exact answers." She passed around the note and then she read it aloud. "The quietness of one has a life of her own." Everyone looked at Meredith. "You wouldn't expect who the murderer is..she can hardly kill a fly." They all turned toward Bonnie. It was clear who everyone assumed did what. "Those are the only two who we don't know the exact person. There are only two people left. Which one of you did what?"

Ok..chapter 17 and 18 was a lot of fluff but I thought Elena and Stefan needed closure…now they have to admit those mistakes that nobody is willing to take the blame for.