NOTE!: Hi everyone, I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to update this story. This Chapter was a bit trickier for me because I've never written in this format before (Text messaging and etc.) so it was kind of difficult for me to get into the flow of it at first, but I did it! The only problem with it is that because of the format, I'm not able to post correctly here. There are pictures included in this chapter that have to do with the majority of the conversations, so without them, it really won't make much sense. If you find this version to confusing and would like to read the original version of this chapter you can find it at /works/1692440/chapters/3600005 ... I really am so grateful to all who read and comment on this story, thank you guy's so much!

NOTE 2!: So I made a small edit to the chapter because I was re-reading it and when I got to the end I was like ... wtf? who the hell is Anna? lol I don't know if anyone else noticed but I did haha, which made me wonder if I had ever made the mistake before and had accidentally givin Veronica a different name in each chapter lol. So I went back and read the whole story over just to make sure. Anyway, it's fixed now lol. =

D

Chapter 14

What does a panic attack feel like?
Can vampires have panic attacks?
I think I'm having a panic attack.
Stefan!

You're not having a panic attack
You're going to be fine
I'm about to board, call you when I land

Don't text and drive

Bonnie's pissed

Tell me you're not in Mystic Falls

Caroline

In lieu of a response, Caroline's smiling face appears on the screen inviting me to a video call. Her frozen smile is replaced with a deep frown back-dropped by a sea of trees.

'I'm not. I just needed to get out of the car.'
'Where are you?'
'Just outside of Tennessee.' Her voice is monotone, her eyes sad.
'She'll get over it Caroline.'

With a scoff she rolls her eyes. 'Easy for you to say, you didn't just listen to fifteen minutes of thinly-veiled comments about how crappy of a friend you are.'

'She didn't say that.' Her eyes roll, this time connecting with mine for a second before once again moving away. 'Well if she did, which I don't believe she would, but if she did, then she's the one being a crappy friend. Not you. Anyway I don't think you would even know how to begin to be a bad friend.' Her lips twitch, and she shakes her head.

'I'm pretty sure ditching your best friend right before her wedding, is a pretty good place to start.'
'Hey, I thought I was your best friend?'

She laughs, a smile finally making its way onto her face, and shakes her head. 'Shut up.'

I pause for a moment as she continues to walk. 'Care, don't go back.' She looks back at the screen, and just breathes for a moment, staring at me like she's not sure of what to do. Then, finally, she nods. 'Get back in the car.'

'OK. Fine. Stop giving me your serious eyebrows. I'm going.' I can't stop the laugh that bursts out of me. She smiles back softly. 'Thanks.'

'Bye.'
'Bye.'

I stare at the phone until after the disconnect screen disappears and my home screen takes it's place. I can see her clearly in my mind, standing in the middle of the woods, sitting in her car, biting her lip, and trying to decide which way she she should go. Forward or back. With a few swipes I open the camera and turns it on myself.

Drive.

Oh my gosh stop it! OK! I'm going!
And you are.
My best friend.

Dude.

A month passes, a month of texts and pictures, video and phone calls.

'Oh my gosh Stefan, people are crazy everywhere. It's not just Mystic Falls.'
'I should have brought more blood bags with me.'
'I think I want a tattoo.'
'I watched the sun come up over the ocean this morning.'

With each passing day her voice get's lighter, happier.

So I just got this and ….
I'm not sure of how I'm supposed to feel

OH MY GOD HE ATE A CAT?!
EWE!

AND THE POOR KITTY!

STEFAN!

WHY WOULD YOU TELL ME THAT?

He didn't eat it...

He named her.

He... what?

Apparently Elena called her an
evil little soul sucker which made
her name obvious.

Oh my gosh

No. He didn't.

Yep.

Breakfast?

Nothing like rattle snake in the morning

I got a flat

What? Are you OK?

Yeah

I have a spare

… do you know how to change a tire?

Yes!

… really?

No.

I talk her through her first tire change via video call.

I'd call them crazy but …. well,

doppelgangers,

vampires,

witches,

werewolves …. Hybrids

Damon owning a cat.

Damon owning a cat.

'What tattoo should I get?'
'I miss my Mom.'
'I compelled a gas station attendant today.'
'Oh my gosh I am in love with Jazz music.'
'Has Damon ate the cat yet?'

I return to Mystic Falls for two days for my final tux fitting. Even though I stay at the B&B again, I visit with Damon and Elena before leaving to have Lunch with the Sheriff because Caroline says she sounds lonely despite her claims that she isn't. That night Damon and I go to the grill and get drunk. I wake the next day to the sound of Bonnie and Elena knocking on my door.

Last chance for input!

Done with my fittings, I can feel Elena watching me as we wait for Bonnie to finish with the seamstress. I scroll through my phone and try to ignore the feeling of her eyes burning a hole into the side of my head.

Now you don't even get to see it
until I get back

What? Why not?
Ok fine

Better?

Ignoring you now

'Who's that?' Still laughing I meet Elena's gaze. She lifts an eyebrow innocently. 'Caroline?' She has that lit to her tone, the one that tells me her words have an alternate meaning.

Clearing my throat I lock my phone and stuff it in my pocket. 'Yeah.'

'How is she?'

Confused, I shift in my seat to face her better. 'Good?'

She nods. 'Good. That's good.'

'I thought you said she's been talking to you guy's everyday?'

'Yeah. No, yeah, I mean she texts to see how things are going, sends pictures sometimes. When she calls it's usually just to see how everything's going with the wedding. I think she thinks we're angry with her, for leaving.'

'Why would she think that?' I hear the defensive tone in my voice, can see her amused smile before it even begins to pull at her lips. 'I mean you aren't, obviously. So I don't know why she would think otherwise.' My change of tactic seems to amuse her even more. 'Stop.'

'What? I didn't say anything.'

'Right. Just like Damon hasn't been making his little comment's either.' She shifts her gaze away, feigning guilt. 'Right, uh-huh.'

'We all just want you to be happy Stefan.'

'And what makes you think that I'm not?'

'Nothing. I see that you are. That's my point.' Her look tells me that I should understand what she means, but I honestly don't.

Curiously, I shake my head. 'What is?'

She seems annoyed with me, but before she can say anything else Bonnie comes back into the room. 'So I officially fit into my dress and I am starving. You guy's wanna watch me eat lunch?'

I push to my feet to meet her. 'Sounds good.' Elena rolls her eyes and follows us out.

Somehow lunch turns into dinner and dinner in turn becomes another night of drinks, this time though everyone joins. It starts out well enough, everyone joking and laughing, but as the night goes on there are jokes that I'm not in on, stories that I'm not apart of, and it leaves me feeling like an outsider.
I sit, silently swirling my drink, when Bonnie leans in and bumps her shoulder against mine. A car horn beeps on the street behind us. She smiles. 'You ok?'

I sit up straighter and set my glass down. Give her a tentative smile. 'Yeah. Why?'
'You're quiet.'
'I'm always quiet.' The joke falls flat and she just gives me an assessing look. Then abruptly she sits back and holds her phone out to me.

'Here, take a picture of us.'

Figuring she means Jeremy and herself, I take the phone. When she leans back toward me, I'm surprised. Not knowing what else to do but lean in, I hold the phone at arms length and smile. As soon as the photo snaps, she grabs her phone back and looks at it. With a smile she looks up at me.

'I'm really glad you're back Stefan.'
With a nod, I glance around the table. 'Yeah. Me too.' And I am. I just can't help the off feeling in my stomach, like it still isn't completely right. As I glance at Damon and Elena on the other side of the table, I wonder if it'll ever feel right here. My phone sounds and when I look to it beside my glass, I find that my hand has been resting atop of it already. When I look at Bonnie she is pointedly avoiding my gaze.

You're there two days without me
and you replace me?

I thought you were ignoring me?

I am

I laugh and Veronica calls my name. 'So Stefan, what's it like living in LA? I mean how do you like,' She brings her wrist to her mouth and mimics taking a bite. My eyebrows shoot up in a mix of amusement and surprise as I laugh.

'Really?' Elena is laughing as she swats her hand down.
'What? I'm curious. I mean there's like, tons of people everywhere right?'
'Some parts, yea. But where I live it's pretty quiet. Also I don't actually,' I gesture to her wrist awkwardly. 'you know. I drink from bags just like I do here.'

She seems a bit disappointed with my answer for a second before perking back up. 'Have you met any other vampires there?'
'A few.'
Her eyes shine. 'We're they famous? Oh my gosh it's Miley Cyrus isn't it?' She leans back and shoves Damon who is sitting on the other side of Elena. 'I told you! There is no way she is famous without compulsion!'

Damon gives her his signature 'idiot' look. 'Miley Cyrus isn't a vampire.' They start to argue back and forth and Elena leans forward to talk to Jeremy who is sitting across from her.

Having fun?

Yeah
It's just … weird

Weird how?

I don't know

I just feel … off

Like ripper spree off, or go home
and never come back off?

I roll my eyes like she can see me.

Neither. Just off.
Like … I don't know, like I don't belong here.

And I know what you're going to say
"Stefan this is your home."

It is.

I know

It just doesn't feel like it right now.

Anyway.
How did the tattoo go? What did you get?

…...

Seriously?

Yep.

When I wake the next morning, I find Damon sitting at the small table in my room. He comes with the offer of breakfast and a ride to the airport. The ride is comfortable and he stays with me until we have to part ways. There's a moment of pause before he quickly pulls me in for a hug.

'I'll see you brother.' There's a waver in his voice, as if he isn't completely secure of his own words. He still is expecting me to leave and not come back.

I drop my carry on and wrap my free arm around him. When we pull away I grip his shoulder, holding him at arms length. 'I'll see you in a few weeks.'

His eyes flash and he grips my arm for a second before we both let go. 'Yeah.'

Two weeks later I'm woken by the sound of my phone beeping. Squinting out my window I see that it's just barely light out. Automatically my stomach drops, who would be calling so early? I grab my phone and see that I have two missed calls, and a text, all from Caroline. When I open the text, relief floods me and I let out a loud laugh.

Weird.

That kind of looks like my apartment.

It does, doesn't it?

Strange.

I throw my blanket back just as she knocks on the door. When I open it I stumble back, as she pushes her way in.
'Oh my god why the hell do they call this place the Sunshine state?' She's rubbing her bare arms, wearing a tank top, sandals and shorts.
I laugh and go to grab a blanket from the couch. 'They don't. That's Florida. And you're cold because we're about two minutes from the ocean and it's not even 6am.'
She pauses for a second. 'Oh.' I wrap the blanket around her shoulders, rub her arms to try and quicken the warming process. A bright smile spreads across her face as she grips the blanket, making my own stretch wider.
'Hi.'
'Hi.'