Caroline sat in her car, with no idea where to go. She felt like crying, but the tears would not come. She desperately wanted to go home and curl up in her own bed, but that wasn't an option. She briefly considered the idea of calling her mom, but a glance at her watch ended that thought. It was 4am.

Not over Elena. Caroline had heard that before. She remembered Matt standing in front of her at the Grill, telling her the same thing. Was that really only two years ago? It seemed like another lifetime ago.

She leaned her head up against the door and stared out into the darkness. She couldn't remember a time when she'd felt so alone. Bonnie was gone, she couldn't visit her Mom, and the men in her life…..

She couldn't face going back to the hotel and seeing Stefan. Elena had company in the dorm room. She considered driving to another hotel, but it was only a couple of hours until they were due to leave. She closed her eyes and drifted off.

She woke with a start to the insistent ringing of her phone. It seemed like 5 minutes later, but the sun was up. She squinted at the sunlight streaming through her windows and was momentarily confused.

She looked down at her phone. Elena. She stared at her phone for a moment, no idea what she was going to say.

'Hey Elena' she said, with a brightness she didn't feel.

'Hey, Caroline' Elena's voice was sleepy, but there was an edge to it. 'I just got your message. You said you needed to speak to me about Damon?'

Clearly Damon had not made it to Whitmore yet. Oh God, she hadn't even told her about Damon. She frowned, puzzled. He should have been there by now.

'Yeah' Caroline racked her brains for the best way to tell Elena this, but came up with nothing. 'He's back'

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

'He's back?' her voice shook a little. 'When? How?'

'Last night' Caroline said. 'I called you as soon as I found out…'

'What about Bonnie?' Elena asked, her voice hopeful.

'She's not with him' Caroline said, her voice dropping.

'Well – where is he now?' Elena's voice took on a panicked tone, and Caroline assumed that Liam must still be in the room.

'He was on his way over to see you' Caroline said, cautiously. 'But that was-' she checked her watch 'About 3 hours ago.'

'Well, I don't want to see him!' Elena looked around the room frantically, remembering the unsettled feelings she'd had the night before. Something had been off and she hadn't been able to place it. Had he been in her room already? Had he seen her with Liam? Her gaze came to a stop on the nightstand. Her necklace. It was hanging on the edge of the mirror. Had she put it there?

She shivered. The window. The window had been open.

'I have to go' Elena said. She hung up abruptly.

She scoured the room silently, afraid to disturb Liam. She found nothing. There was nothing out of place.

Her eyes rested on the door. She crossed the room and stood staring at it for a few minutes. Was he on the other side? She put her hand out to the doorknob and realised she was trembling. She listened carefully, but could hear nothing. Slowly, she turned the knob and opened the door. She saw him instantly. He was slumped up against the wall, his skin a deathly pallour, blood congealed around his neck.

'Oh my God' She recognised him as one of her classmates from down the hall. They had Biology together. Her hand flew to her mouth and she rushed to his side. He was barely alive, his breaths coming in shallow rasps. She raised her wrist and bit into it without hesitation, putting it to his lips and holding it there as he struggled weakly.

Almost instantly, his colour began to return and she removed her arm. He looked up at her confused. He opened his mouth to say something, but she leaned in closer to him and looked him in the eye.

'You had too much to drink last night' she said. 'You fell asleep out here in the hall. That's all you remember.'

'Hey, what's going on?' Liam appeared in her doorway, his hair tousled and his voice sleepy.

Elena looked up, her mind racing. Damon had been here at some point in the night. He obviously knew about her and Liam. So he'd attacked one of her classmates and left him for dead? Just more proof the guy was a monster.

'I'm sorry, man' their classmate was shaking his head ruefully as he stood up slowly. 'I think I fell asleep out here last night.'

Elena glanced at Liam. That had been close. Again.

Liam laughed politely as the guy ambled off down the hall, then caught Elena's gaze. They stood looking at each other shyly for a moment, then Liam grinned.

'Good morning' he said, flashing her a full-on smile. 'You going to come back inside so I can say it again properly?'

Elena let herself be drawn in as he leaned down to kiss her, but she couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. Was Damon still around, lurking and waiting to pounce on someone else?

'Well, uh, actually, we need to get ready for class' she said, closing the apartment door behind her and glancing around.

Liam looked at her doubtfully.

'Hey, you're not getting second thoughts on me again are you?' he asked.

'No!' she said, emphatically. 'No, not at all' She smiled brightly at him and leaned in for a kiss. 'I just have a couple of things I need to do this morning, that's all.'

Liam looked at her for a few seconds.

'Ok,' he said. 'I'll just have a shower, then I'll get going.' He saw the look on Elena's face. 'Or, I could just shower back at my place?'

Elena nodded.

'I think that would be best' she said.

Liam nodded and turned away from her. He crossed the room and retrieved his jeans from the floor, clearly annoyed. Elena watched him, unable to find the words to make it better. She had to get him out of here for his own safety.