"Okay, get out."

Jeremy smirked, shaking his head at Katherine as their driver pulled over on the side of the road, just inside the city limits of Mystic Falls. "I was just kidding…really, I'll shut up now." He folded his arms and sat tight, figuring Katherine was teasing him, getting tired of his sarcastic responses to everything she said. She looked at him sternly. "I'm not kidding," she informed him, leaning over and pressing the automatic unlock button on his door. "Out."

Jeremy glanced out of his window then looked at Katherine, confused. "Why are we back here? Why're you kicking me out? I promise, I'll be quiet." Katherine shook her head. "Relax. I just need you to go back home for a little while. People are bound to be looking for you. We don't need that kind of attention. Go home." Jeremy furrowed his brows, defiantly remaining in his seat. "I don't want to go back there," he sulked.

"I know you don't," Katherine nodded, looking at him with just an ounce of compassion. "I wouldn't either, if I were you." She shrugged, quickly pushing aside any sentimentality for him. "However, it's best if people think nothing's changed. You need to go home and not let on that anything's different. No talking about me or your new life…"

"Why not? Don't you want to see the shocked looks on their faces?" Jeremy argued. Katherine smiled softly. "Trust me…I anticipate that moment. But for now, I need you to do what I say." Jeremy sighed, not wanting to argue, since he knew better than to think he could win. "Fine…can't you at least drop me off closer to home?"

Katherine smirked, reaching into the armchair compartment, offering him a handful of change. "Sorry, I have things to do on the other side of town. There's a bus stop over there though. I'm sure you'll figure it out." Jeremy rolled his eyes, accepting the change. "I guess I have to…" he pushed the car door open but hesitated to get out. "And where will you be? Where can I find you?"

Katherine shrugged lightly, being vague. "I'll be around. I'll find you. I managed to before, didn't I?" Jeremy nodded softly, reluctantly climbing out of the car, shielding his face from the mid-morning sun. "You sure this ring's gonna work, right?" Katherine grinned wickedly, leaning close, resting her hand on the door handle. "Only one way to find out," she teased, waving at him and pulling the car door shut. Jeremy pulled back quickly, avoiding a spray of roadside pebbles. He watched the car speed off, hoping he wasn't wrong to trust her, curious to know what she was up to.

One bus and a 10 minute walk later, Jeremy arrived back home. He sighed to himself as he walked up the porch steps, not wanting to be there at all. He realized he'd lost his house keys and wallet somewhere between his bedroom and wherever Katherine had taken him, probably his cell phone too. He tried the front door; it was locked. He frowned, not seeing Jenna's or Alaric's cars out on the street. As a last resort, he just rang the doorbell, hoping someone was home.

000

Moping around in the living room, too worried about Jeremy to go out, Elena heard the door bell ring. She got up from the couch quickly, eager to assume it could be Jeremy. She hurried to the front door and unlocked it, smiling wide when she saw him on the porch. "Oh my God, Jeremy! You're okay!" She flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He hugged her back weakly, not as excited to see her. "I could really use a shower though, so…" Elena nodded, trying to compose herself. "Oh right, okay…" She stepped back into the house, moving aside to let Jeremy in. He almost took a step forward, until he realized he couldn't enter without being invited now. He quietly put his hands into his pockets, trying to think of a way to get Elena to invite him without tipping her off. She looked at him curiously. "What're you waiting for?"

He smiled a little more, replying with his usual hint of sarcasm. "An invitation, maybe…?" Elena rolled her eyes and obliged him, not knowing what she was really doing. "Jeremy, please come in?" He nodded softly, stepping over the threshold with ease. He pulled the front door closed behind him and turned to head upstairs. Elena eyed him incredulously, following him. "Whoa, whoa…wait a minute. Where've you been? Why didn't you call?" Jeremy sighed, glancing over his shoulder at her, "I was out with friends…I lost track of time…and my phone…"

"It's been two days though," Elena wrinkled her nose, looking him over. "And have you been wearing those same clothes since the other day?" Jeremy glanced down at his disheveled clothes, grateful that they were black and therefore hid the dried blood stains well. "Uh…I guess, yeah." He nodded, continuing to the stairs. "I really gotta hit that shower. Can we talk later, Elena?" Elena sighed and shrugged, staring after him. "…um…yeah, but we definitely need to talk, okay? No disappearing…"

"Mmhm." Jeremy nodded, heading up the stairs, only half-listening to her. Elena just stood there at the bottom of the steps, wondering what was going on in Jeremy's head. How could he think it was okay to just stay out for two days and not let anyone know where he was? How long was he going to act up like this? She sighed deeply, heading back to the couch, dialing Stefan on her cell phone to call off the search.