After her disturbing vision on Stefan's birthday, Josie redoubled her witch-hunting efforts. She skipped school twice in one week, though both leads turned out to be dead ends. She didn't give up hope, though and dedicated as much time as she could to the search.

Lexi left Mystic Falls after Damon's betrayal, only stopping to say good-bye to Stefan. Josie got Lexi's number off Stefan, on the pretense of wanting to apologize for Damon's behavior, since it was she who suggested that Damon make nice with the Council. Really, she wanted Lexi's number for when Stefan inevitably went back on human blood. Josie was still determined to leave, but felt it was safer to hedge her bets.

Jeremy was making a renewed effort in school. He seemed to have stopped doing drugs and drinking, now that the influence of Vicky was gone.

With everything going on (school, family, friends, witch-hunting), Josie didn't have a ton of time for Derek. He was sort of understanding, but was getting increasingly suffocating. So, a few days after Lexi was in town, she broke up with him. She told herself it was because she didn't have the time, couldn't stand lying to him and she was leaving anyway. She hoped it wasn't because of what Damon said.

She was walking down the hallway of school, trying to avoid Derek, when she did a double take. There was Alaric Saltzman. The new history teacher, Bridget told her, giggling about what a fox he was. Josie had to agree.

That same day after school, she saw Damon harassing Bonnie about the crystal and Emily. She rolled her eyes. His pointless plan to get into the crypt even though Katherine wasn't there. She didn't want the tomb to be opened, but didn't think she'd be able to prevent it. Damon wouldn't stop until he got in.

Damon saw her looking and smirked, waving in her direction. He then looked at something behind her and when she turned, she saw Derek with a hurt look on his face.

Wanting to avoid them both, she made a beeline for her car. She unlocked it and to her dismay, Damon was in the passenger seat when she climbed in. Damn vampire speed.

"Hey Damon," she said tightly. She didn't want to completely isolate him. So far, he had been keeping her in the loop about his dealings with the Council. And it didn't seem like he was killing people.

"Did you come here just to harass Bonnie about Emily's crystal or for some other reason?"

"How do you know about that?' asked Damon.

"Elena tells me everything," she said. Which was true. She had 'accidently' walked in on Bonnie doing witchy stuff in Elena's room and was now in that particular circle of trust.

"You guys are close."

"Siblings should be that way," said Josie, pointedly.

"Oh the stories I could tell you about Stefan," said Damon, smirking. "You'd stop thinking of him as the good brother."

"The past is the past, Damon. He hasn't hurt anyone since I've known him." Though Ripper Stefan scared her. A lot.

"Well, I've been very good lately," said Damon. "Which means you still owe me one."

"Come to collect, then?"

"Not yet. Just like reminding you of our little agreement."

Josie sighed. "Well if that's it. I really should be going."

"Not to meet Mr. Football though? From the looks of it, you two broke up."

"Yeah, I just didn't like lying to him all the time. It wasn't fair to him."

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes. He was a great boyfriend. He was sweet and caring."

"And boring and boring," Damon said, shaking his head. "Why can't you just admit that he wasn't enough for you?"

Josie rolled her eyes and didn't respond. "Are you getting out of my car or not?"

Damon looked at her. "Why didn't you ask me about the necklace?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Both Bonnie and Caroline grilled me about why I want that necklace. Everyone is trying to figure out why I'm in Mystic Falls. What my diabolical plan is. But you, you don't seem to care."

"I just know you won't tell me anyway," said Josie, but inwardly she was cursing at herself. Of course she didn't ask because she already knew. Playing Josie Gilbert all the time was exhausting.

"Doesn't stop everyone else from asking."

"Well maybe everyone else doesn't understand you like I do."

Damon looked at her thoughtfully. "Maybe."

"Would you tell me?" she asked. "If I asked you?"

"No. But I'd enjoy you trying to get information out of me," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes, but laughed at the same time. Cheeky Damon was fun.

"Get out of my car, Damon," she said, still chuckling a little. "I do have someplace to be."

He smiled and got out. "Until next time," he said, before shutting the door.

That night all hell broke loose. She, accidently-on-purpose, walked in on Elena, Caroline and Bonnie doing some kind of séance. As soon as Bonnie started acting out of the ordinary, Josie knew she must be possessed by Emily. Elena figured out where Bonnie was going when she took off and Josie insisted on going with Elena to the cemetery. She needed to make sure that Emily wasn't interrupted.

Unfortunately, they were a little late. Bonnie was already in a circle of fire and they arrived just in time to watch the crystal explode in midair. Damon looked murderous, veins under his eyes, fangs out. Elena and Josie rushed forward, but Elena was stopped by Stefan. Josie made it past him and threw herself in front of Bonnie.

"Damon, don't," she said, holding out a hand like she was calming an animal. "It wasn't Bonnie. It was Emily. She was possessed." Damon growled, but otherwise didn't move.

"Remember our bargain," Josie said, in a low, dangerous voice. Damon's face gradually went back to normal. He stumbled back, the weight of what had just happened falling on him.

Stefan moved to stand near Damon, clearly at the ready in case he decided to attack again. Elena rushed over to where Bonnie and Josie were.

"Bonnie are you okay?" asked Josie.

"Damon's face," said Bonnie, breathing heavily. "Did you see it? What is he?" Bonnie was looking at the Salvatore Brothers fearfully.

Josie sighed, as did Elena. "I'll explain everything," said Elena. "Let's just get out of here."

On the way home, Elena told Bonnie all about vampires and such. She said there shouldn't be anything to worry about anymore since both Stefan and Damon were leaving town.

Josie rolled her eyes at that. Yeah, eight seasons of the show would have been pretty boring if they'd left at this point. After dropping Bonnie off, Josie moved to the front seat and braced herself.

"So, explain," said Elena, clearly trying to keep her voice even. "What bargain did you make with Damon?"

"What does it matter?" asked Josie. "He's leaving anyway."

Elena just looked at her.

Josie sighed. "Fine. When Stefan took Damon's daylight ring, I told him I would get it back for him, after he had already escaped the basement. In return, he agreed to stop killing people in Mystic Falls."

Elena looked at her incredulously. "Are you telling me you went to Damon's house, alone, to make a deal with him? What were you thinking? He could have killed you."

"But he didn't," said Josie, defensively. "I had to do something. He was threatening you unless Stefan gave back the ring."

"So you let Stefan deal with him, Jo," said Elena, exasperated. "Or tell me or something! Anything besides seeking out a dangerous vampire alone."

Josie scoffed. "I'm fine," she said, rolling her eyes. Though admittedly, maybe it hadn't been the smartest move. "I can take care of myself, Elena." She was not a fucking baby, jeez. Like Elena didn't put herself in harm's way a million times to protect others.

Elena sighed and let Josie's reckless actions be for now. "So, he agreed to stop killing people for his ring?"

"His daylight ring," amended Josie. She paused and decided for honesty, since Stefan knew. "I also agreed to owe him one in the future."

"What?" exclaimed Elena. "How could you do that? Damon is dangerous, there's no telling what he'll ask you to do."

"It can't be any worse than him killing people. And it worked. I don't think he's killed anyone since we agreed. Although he did look like he was going to welch tonight," admitted Josie.

Elena was silent for the rest of the ride. Josie could tell she was angry though.

Later, Josie was getting a snack from the kitchen, talking to Jenna, when the doorbell rang. Jenna went to answer the door and Josie heard, "Logan."

Josie walked toward the front door curiously. Logan Fell? Her heart caught in her chest when she heard him begging for an invite to the house. How was he a vampire? She thought she had saved him when she prevented the whole vampire Vicky thing.

Then she remembered that Logan had been turned by Anna. Or one of her minions. She couldn't remember why. Why would he be useful to her?

Thankfully, Jenna seemed to be blowing him off. Josie grabbed her purse that had her vervain spray in it and made her way to the front door.

"I think she said no," said Josie, coming behind Jenna and crossing her arms. "I thought you were a Southern gentlemen."

Logan narrowed his eyes. "I just wanted to come in and talk."

"Good night, Logan," said Jenna, closing the door in his face. "What a jerk."

"Seriously," said Josie. "You should stay away from him. Doesn't take long for an ex to turn into a creepy stalker."

Jenna nodded. Josie excused herself and went to bed. It took a long time for sleep to come. Why is it that whenever she thought she was taking a step forward in this world, it came and smacked her back?