A/N- I haven't written in a long time! I'm really sorry. This chapter is a little rushed, but I wanted to update :) Thanks!

Life goes on.

The next morning, the sun rises just as dutifully as it always has. The birds still chirp and the flowers still bloom. However, one thing is different.

Me.

Caroline is still my cousin, but I'm cautious around her now. She's a vampire. She's still my favorite cousin inside. I see it, I understand it, but I can't bring myself to care. I know why she didn't tell me, but some irrational part of me insists that she should've. Is that selfish? Probably. Am I a horrible person for being distant and avoiding her? Definitely. Gradually, I begin to reach out again. Jeremy first. We get ice cream, pull pranks on the mean cat lady next door, and generally avoid the whole vampire thing.

I start going to Alex's soccer scrimmages. I actually really look forward to them. I play midfield. Usually, we play each other, but today we managed to arrange a scrimmage against some team called the Buccaneers.

I get to the field pretty late, so the coach sits me out the first shift. I sit on the bench next to Kate, one of the girls I met at the festival.

"So why are you here?" Kate asks.

"Um, I like soccer," I answer.

Kate rolls her eyes. "Well, duh! I mean in Mystic Falls."

"Oh!" I laugh. "Dumb of me. Right… um, I'm visting my cousin. Caroline Forbes." I spit out the word cousin. I'm not really ready to forgive her yet.

Kate was tying her shoes, but she stops, recognition kindling in her eyes. Her gaze flicks up to my face. "Forbes… as in Bill Forbes?" I nod, and she makes a face.

She sits up and crosses her arms. "I hate that guy. Please tell me he isn't your dad," she fumes.

I study her curiously. "No, he's my uncle. How do you know him? He skipped town years ago."

Her voice is tight. She points over at a middle aged man on the sidelines. I see the resemblance right away. His light brown hair is the exact shade as Kate's, and he stands with the same casual air as his daughter. "That's my dad. He's dating Wonder Bill," she throws out the sarcasm with the practiced technique of a pro. "Really hoping he isn't your idol or anything. That guy is a total jerk."

I laugh. "Nope, not my idol. I barely knew him before he left. Why do you hate him so much?" She opens her mouth to reply, but the coach walks over and she closes it. He places his hand on her shoulder.

"Kate, sub for Cammie at right forward. Emma, sub for Isabelle in left mid." We spring up and jog to center field to sub.

The game is really fun. It's nice to play some new people once and a while, and we actually get subs since we aren't playing each other. You can really tell that the girls have an admirable camaraderie. They pass the ball unselfishly, and there are no ball hogs on the team. Kate turns out to be deadly on offense, and Alex isn't afraid to get down into the mud for saves. Cammie plays with an aggressive style that complements mine and Isabella's finesse well. I manage to give Cammie an assist. Bri, Rose, and Amie hold the line at defense, rarely letting the ball get near the box. Alex, the team's goalie, makes an amazing save on a penalty kick. However, she misses a really well placed ball that shoots into the top shelf at a hundred miles an hour. We catch up at the last second when Isabella gets a run and places the ball near the post and past the Buccaneer's goalie. The score ends at 2-2.

The entire game, I try to talk to Kate, but we never get the chance. I finally catch her after the coach's post-game talk. I catch up in the parking lot.

"Kate!" I pant, "Hey." We fall into a comfortable rhythm, walking to the end of the parking lot where her dad, Steven, waits in their truck.

Her voice is downcast. "I guess you want to hear about your uncle, huh?" I nod. She sighs. "He's good to my dad. He's nice to me. I mean, he can be intense sometimes, and sometimes he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread, but I like him. Usually."

"So why did you hate him so much earlier?" She shrugs.

"My dad and I… it was just us for a long time. I guess I'm just not used to sharing him, you know?"

I try to imagine my mom dating again, and I find myself nodding. "Yeah, I see what you mean." She takes a deep breath and hands me a piece of paper with her number scribbled on it.

"Here. We usually live in Georgia, but for the summer, we're here. Call me sometime, and you can meet your uncle." We're at the truck now. I stuff the paper in my pocket and wave to her dad. He waves back, then yells to Kate.

"Come on, we'll be late!" Kate waves goodbye, and I start home. The paper feels warm in my pocket. Caroline loves her father. Maybe we could meet him together. My mind flashes back to Stefan's face with the vines under his eyes, and picture it on her face. I shudder. No, not Caroline. Not yet.

When I get home, Aunt Liz is in the kitchen reading some papers. I walk in and plop down across from her. She gives a start and stuffs the papers into her briefcase.

"How was the scrimmage?" she asks.

"Good, what's new with you?" I ask.

"I'm going out to dinner with Caroline," she responds offhandedly.

I'm dumbfounded. "Really?"

Aunt Liz nods. Her phone dings and she sighs again. "I've gotta get to work. Are you okay here?" I nod, and she gives me a hug. "Love you, bye!" She dashes out of the house.

Even Aunt Liz has gotten over Caroline's vampirism. I guess it's my turn. I'm being an idiot. I have to stop being afraid of my own cousin. When Caroline lets herself back into the house an hour later, I surprise her by running into a big hug.

"I'm sorry. I've been an idiot," I whisper. She hugs me harder and whispers back.

"Everyone goes through it, trust me. I did."

I pull away. "No more secrets… okay?"

Caroline laughs a little. "I can't promise that. It's my job to keep you safe, and that means not knowing too much."

Childishly, I respond, "Then I'll keep you safe, too."

I start to tell her about meeting Steven, but I stop myself. Kate's voice rings in my head. "He can be intense sometimes…" Aunt Liz was furious about vampirism. What if Uncle Bill was the same? I should go check it out. It was my uncle, and it was perfectly safe. I'd be safe. I make up my mind and nod.

Caroline notices. "What?"

I shake my head and smile innocently. "Nothing," I reply, "I just have a phone call to make."