I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "It's My Life" – Bon Jovi

~*.*~
'This ain't a song for the broken hearted – no silent prayer for the faith departed.
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd.
You're gonna hear my voice, when I shout it out loud.

It's my life – it's now or never.
I ain't gonna live forever.
I just wanna live, while I'm alive.
It's my life.'
~*.*~

Chapter Twenty-Six:

It's been so nice to be at home. It was amazing being able to see my friends and know that I wouldn't have to leave, again. The past month has flown by.

Lexi told me that she decided to stick around, indefinitely. She realized just how much she missed Stefan and was surprised with how much she got used to be around all of us. I'm overjoyed that she's staying in Mystic Falls. I love having her around and there's more than enough room for her with us in the boarding house. I'm pretty sure that a certain blond friend of mine that works at the Grill was another reason for her decision to stay. From what Stefan's told me, she and Matt have been hanging out. A lot.

Jeremy and Vicki are still going strong. Matt has long since given them his blessing, so there aren't any issues there.

Tyler finally made a move on Caroline and told her how he felt. Everyone but Caroline saw it coming. I'm glad that they took the plunge. They're so cute together - it's almost nauseating, almost.

Stefan and Damon have both been true to their word and have been gracious about sharing me. Honestly, it doesn't seem like they mind right now and if they do, they're doing an awesome job of hiding it. The things that I feel for both of them unnerve me. I never expected to fall in love, growing up. The last thing that I ever thought would happen, would be to fall for two people, but I have and I'm so happy that I did. They both make me better versions of myself when I'm with them and it seems like I have the same effect on the two of them.

I can't thank Emily enough for the vision that she sent me. It helped clarify so many things. It took a lot of unseen obstacles out of my way. It's given an advantage that I wouldn't already have. It was a blessing in disguise and I'm not used to those.

Elijah has kept in touch, not that I ever doubted that he would. He emails, calls and sends text messages. Just like in my vision, it's ridiculously easy to talk to him. It feels like I've known him for most of my life. There aren't many people that I've met and just knew I would be friends with them for life, but Elijah is definitely one of them.

I've been in constant contact with Klaus. He's successfully obtained Jeremy Gilbert and is in pursuit of the tombstone with Qetsiyah's blood. From what he has told me, he nearly has it. It shouldn't be long now, until I can do the spell for him. Even though, I know that Klaus isn't all evil, I'll still be relieved when the spell is complete and he can leave Mystic Falls. He's unpredictable and the littlest things set him off. That makes me nervous.

Zach has been great. He's like the father/older brother/uncle that I never had, all wrapped into one person. Even though he's younger than the majority of the people that live in the boarding house with him, it still feels like he excels in the parental role. I don't think Stefan or Damon mind.

We had a new history teacher start at the high school. His name is Alaric and he and Damon seem to have hit it off. I guess they started talking while they were drinking at the Grill and their bromance started. I'm glad that Damon has a friend outside of us. Stefan has Lexi and Damon has 'Ric.

From what Jeremy says, 'Ric has started seeing Jenna. He told me that he can't remember the last time that he saw Jenna this happy. After all the shit that she's been through, she deserves a good guy. From what I can tell, 'Ric seems like one of the good ones.

Sharon hasn't tried to see me. Liz told me that she hasn't heard anything from her, either. I'm glad that she's taking her distance, but a part of me is wary that she's just biding her time.

True to his word, Klaus did kill David. I still don't know how I feel about it. He was such a big part of my life, but I'm not sorry that he's dead. He was my tormentor and I'm not sure if he would have ever really stopped, until he passed away.

There is no doubt in my mind that Karen blames me for his death. In a way, I am responsible. I didn't try and stop Klaus. I know that makes me a terrible person, but I couldn't come up with any reason that he should still live. It's something that has been eating at me, nonstop. I know that it's something that will always haunt me, one way or another.

Looking back at everything, I can't say that I'm sorry that any of it happened. There are plenty of things that I know I would be better off never having to go through, but I know I wouldn't be the same person without them. My childhood, the Glass family, witchcraft, vampires, everything – it's molded me into the woman I am now.

I know that I'm not perfect and I still have trouble coping with the day to day, but I know that eventually, I'll get to where I am okay. I can't change what happened or things outside of my control. I know that.

In an effort to go against my pessimistic tendencies, I'm trying to see things from the glass half full perspective. I was abused, but I made it out alive. I could have died, but I didn't. I spent the majority of my childhood without a family, my family, but now my Grams is back in my life. I didn't think that I was worthy of being loved, not the non-polluted kind, and the Salvatores have more than proved me wrong. Everything that I thought I knew has changed. I still have my friends, my amazing friends, that didn't turn away from me when they found out what I had been going through. I was so worried that they would.

Yes, things could have a lot better, but I'm just thankful that they didn't end up worse.

When all of this is over, I'll free to live my life. I can do what I want to do and aspire to be who I want to be. I won't have to live up to unrealistic expectations. It's freeing and I plan on enjoying it. It's my life and it's time that I take it back.

"What are you thinking about?" Stefan asked me, as he sat across from me, studying my face. I looked up at him in surprise.

"Everything, I guess. Things have changed so much in such a short amount of time." I admitted. A smile played on the corners of his mouth. He moved next to me and tilted my chin, so I had to look him in the eyes.

"Don't think too much. It's bad for you." He teased. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"You're telling me that, out of all people?"

"I'm messing with you, Bonnie. Do you want to talk about it?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"I'd rather do something else."

"Like what?"

"Like this," I whispered as I brought my lips to his.

~*.*~
'This is for the ones who stood their ground, for Tommy and Gina, who never backed down.
Tomorrow's getting hard – make no mistake.
Luck ain't even lucky – got to make your own breaks.

It's my life – it's now or never.
I ain't gonna live forever.
I just wanna live, while I'm alive.
It's my life.'
~*.*~

A/N: Two more chapters in this! Review?
-Anneryn