When Stefan, Matt, and Tyler walk up to Elena in their uniforms Elena wolf whistles and says.
"Looking mighty fine there, boys. Especially you, Salvatore." Elena winks and Stefan looks down with a smile.
Matt and Tyler both throw an arm over her shoulder.
"Why thank you, little lady." Tyler says in a southern accent.
"You look beautiful, Lena." Matt says sweetly.
"I always look beautiful, but thank you, Matty." Elena smiles at him.
"You ready for your first game?" Elena asks Stefan.
"You know, weirdly I'm kinda nervous." Stefan says as they laugh.
"Dude, you're like 100. Haven't you played thousands of times?" Tyler asks.
"I know, I know." Stefan nods.
"Whatever man, you'll do great. Just try not to hurt anyone." Matt says gently.
"I'm gonna go find the girls before Care sends out a search party. Love you guys, see you in a little bit." Elena says running away after kissing them on the cheek.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait. Let's be honest here. In the past, we used to let other teams come into our town and roll right over us!" Tanner shouts into a mic while everyone boos.
"But that is about to change." Everyone cheers.
"We've got some great new talent tonight starting on the offense, and I'm gonna tell you right now, it has been a long time since I have seen a kid like this with hands like these. Let's give it up for Stefan Salvatore!" Everyone cheers as Matt and Tyler laugh and pat him on the back.
Elena's standing by her car, waiting for Damon to show up, when he appears behind her.
"Hello, Ocean Eyes." Elena says before turning around.
"Ellie. How'd you know it was me?" He asks teasingly.
"I know everything." Elena jokes.
"I also know what might happen tonight." Elena says getting more serious.
"And what might that be?" Damon says pretending to not be interested.
"It doesn't matter. Just know, whatever happens, none of us will hold it against you." She's tells him walking away as he grabs her arm.
"Why are you helping me, Elena?" Damon asks seriously.
"One, don't call me Elena, it's weird. Two, because I care what happens, Damon." Elena says as Damon scrunches his nose hearing her say his name instead of a nickname.
"I have to get back to the girls. Have a good night, Ocean Eyes." Elena corrects herself noticing the face when she said his name.
"Night, El." Elena hears walking away.
Walking towards the locker rooms Matt and Tyler stop infront of Stefan.
"Hey man, we just wanted to say that we're happy you're playing. And we're glad we became you're friend." Matt says.
Noticing Stefan confused face Tyler starts.
"El may have dropped some not so subtle threats if we didn't make you feel welcome around us." Tyler admits.
Stefan laughs and they join.
"Sounds like El. But you don't have to. I do feel welcome and I'm happy to be on the team." Stefan says genuinely.
"She seems happier, you know. She's been doing surprisingly well since her parents died, but when you showed up she's been more herself." Tyler tells him as he smiles.
"El's great, she makes me feel like I can be myself." Stefan trails off embarrassed he shared so much as they laugh.
"It's okay, Stefan. El does that. We'll meet you inside, alright?" Matt says as Stefan nods.
Stefan starts to walk towards the building when he hears clapping.
"Isn't that nice? Stefan joins a team, makes some friends. It's all so, "rah, rah, go team, yeah!" Damon mocks.
"Not tonight. I'm done with you." Stefan says waking away.
"No, come on. I mean it. I'm happy you finally made some friends. It's too bad they're human. We all know how you get." Damon says with fake sigh.
"What are you-"
"Or me, for that matter. What are you gonna do if I just... snap?" Damon asks while snapping his fingers.
"No. You're not gonna hurt them, Damon." Stefan says sternly.
"No?" Damon asks surprised.
"Because, there is a part of you that likes them. Maybe even cares. I was worried that you had no humanity left inside of you, that you may have actually become the monster that you pretend to be."
"Who's pretending." Damon deflects.
"Then kill me."
"Well, I'm...I'm tempted."
"No, you're not. You've had lifetimes to do it, and yet, here I am. I'm still alive. And there you are. You're still haunting me. After 145 years. Katherine left. And you hate me because you loved her, and you torture me because you still do. And that, my brother, is your humanity." Stefan tries to appeal to his humanity.
"Salvatore! What the hell? We've got a game to play!" Tanner comes in to view and yells.
"If that's my humanity...then what's this?" Damon asks speeding over to Tanner and ripping his throat out.
"No!" Stefan yells.
"Anyone, anytime, any place." Damon says with blood on his face.
Bonnie gets a weird feeling and grabs Caroline and Elena's arms.
"Bonnie! What are you doing?" Caroline ask while being dragged along.
"Honey bee, what's wrong?" Elena asks but Bonnie can't seem to hear her.
Bonnie stops and looks around realizing where she's at.
"Oh my god." Bonnie whispers when she sees tanners body.
"Holy crap!" Caroline exclaims.
"Guys, everything's fine. Just don't look." Elena says to them as they bury their faces in her hair.
"Was this Damon?" Bonnie asks quietly.
"Yeah." Elena says gently.
"Let's go get help." Elena says leading then away.
"El, I'm so sorry. I taunted him. I thought I could make him see he still has his humanity." Stefan apologized while Elena comforts him.
"No, Stef it's not your fault. He's not your responsibility. Just, please don't give up on him. He still needs you. Okay?" Elena begs.
"Okay." Stefan nods.
Elena is sitting up in bed waiting to see if Damon shows up this time when he appears I front of her.
"I figured you know I'd come. Um... look-" Elena cuts him off.
"It's okay." Elena pats the bed and he sits down next to her.
"Tell me about katherine." Elena changes the subject and he looks surprised.
"I thought you knew everything." Damon teases quietly.
"I know big stuff, but I never saw when or how you fell for her."
"Well, when I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful girl I ever saw."
"Aw, thanks." Elena teases and he snorts and shakes his head.
"But I don't think I fell for her until I saw she wasn't what she looked like. Everyone assumed, because of her big doe eyes and innocent smile that she was a sweet girl. But I could see beneath it, it was all an act. Of course at first I didn't know how big an act."
As Damon continues telling her stories she never heard about the infamous Katherine Pierce, Elena could barely stay awake.
"I can't bring myself to believe she left. She has to be in the tomb. Because if she left I spent the last 145 years waiting for a girl who doesn't love me and I don't think I can handle that." Damon trails off quietly.
"I promise we will open the tomb, but in the the mean time, please don't push Stefan away. I know you hate him for making you turn, but he was only 17 and he didn't want to lose his big brother. He still loves you. I promise." Elena mumbles to a stunned Damon before falling asleep.
"Goodnight, Ellie." Damon whispers as he traces her cheek with his thumb.
"Night, Day." Elena snuggles into his chest.