A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews!

Shout out to my super loyal reviewers, you guys are the reason I keep going! Berenina, Lady TR, Mistress Symone, heyitskarma, and LivJer!

This chapter is kind of on the short side, with a lack of Delena, but necessary for the storyline. I promise the next chapter is a lot longer and filled with a lot more Delena.

Enjoy!

EPOV

My parents were livid. They thought I was joking when I told them, but when I wasn't laughing or smiling, they figured out quickly that I was telling the truth. For the remainder of my winter break I was promised house arrest. And they told me that all Summer I was to get a job and I was not allowed to do anything until I earned their trust.

I didn't blame them for being mad. After seeing their disappointment, I realized how wrong I was. Damon was right it wasn't my place to throw a party at my parents' house when they had no knowledge of it.

All day I had been in my room, waiting for Damon's dinner that had been planned. I was still mad at him. He had no right to get mad at me for being just like him. He wasn't allowed to judge me, for doing things he's done for years.

I had glanced at the clock several times surprised my parents hadn't come up to tell me it was time to head over there. It was now twenty minutes passed time and I hadn't heard anything. Hopefully they weren't going to punish me from seeing Damon too. Even though a big part of me didn't want to see him.

I went downstairs and found my mom cooking soup, "Aren't we going to the Salvatore's?"

"I'm surprised Damon didn't tell you," My mom looked at me, as she continued chopping celery. "He left late last night to go back."

"What?" I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. "He left already?"

"Yeah"-

I ran outside, not believing she was telling the truth. I ran next door, pounding on the front door. He couldn't leave without saying goodbye to me. He wouldn't. Could he?

Stefan answered the door, "Elena. Hey."

"Did Damon really leave?"

"Yeah, I drove him to the airport at like three in the morning," he leaned against the doorframe.

"He didn't tell me he was leaving early," I felt the sting in my eyes. "He didn't say goodbye."

"I know," Stefan looked uncomfortable. "He didn't want to."

I felt myself coil at his words. The pain of his words was like a bullet. My whole body hurt, just thinking about it. "We got in a fight," I spoke softly.

Stefan just stood there as the tears fell down my cheeks.

"He'll be back this summer right? He usually comes home in June," I brushed the tears from my face.

"Actually…" He looked down. "He's getting deployed. He most likely won't be home until September."

"September? When I'm back at school?" It was as if deployed had just entered my brain. "Deployed? He didn't tell me. Where? Why?!"

"Elena, most people in active duty get deployed," he tried reassuring me. "I think it's just standard."

"Why wouldn't he say goodbye?" I sobbed, unable to hold it in any longer. "It was just a stupid fight."

Stefan shrugged, "I don't know. He seemed pretty upset."

"My parents took my phone, can I use yours?" I asked. "I just want to call him."

"He doesn't want to talk Elena," he shook his head. "He'll just hang up, if he hears your voice."

"Why? I don't understand," I could feel myself freaking out.

"Maybe you should take the time to think about it," he looked at me. "Because whatever you did or said, really hurt him."

I couldn't believe this was actually happening. I stood sobbing on the front porch of my best friend's house, and I didn't know what to do to fix things.

"Wait here," Stefan left for just a second. He came back with a small piece of paper. "This is his mailing address for when he is overseas. I don't know if he'll be there the whole time, but you can write to him. I don't think he will write back, but at least you can try."

I took the piece of paper with a shaky hand. I couldn't believe this was happening. "Thanks," I managed.

I dragged my feet back to my house staring down at the piece of paper in disbelief. I still felt like this was a nightmare that I was waiting to wake up from.

"Elena," My dad's voice boomed from the kitchen as I entered the house.

I looked up recognizing that tone. I was in trouble.

"Sorry, I… I didn't know Damon left. I just had to see for myself," I barely whispered.

"Come here," he said still serious.

I walked into the kitchen wondering why he was so upset.

I realized he was holding a piece of paper. "Your grades came in the mail," he handed me the sheet of paper.

I reached out with a shaky hand to take a look. I honestly hadn't given a lot of thought to school. I barely made any effort, so I knew it wasn't great, but I was pretty sure I passed.

My eyes bulged from their sockets when I realized I failed my biology class, and my other three classes were barely above passing.

"What is going on with you?" My dad looked down at me disappointed.

I had no words. It was as if I was finally hearing everyone for the first time. Seeing the disappointment from Damon, Jeremy and now my parents. It was hard to feel their disappointment. It was deserved that's for sure. I wasn't quite sure what was wrong with me. As I stared at the sheet of paper all I could think about was what the old Elena would have thought. But if I were the old Elena this wouldn't happen. I was a perfectionist when it came to school. But my new life didn't have time for school.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, fresh tears stinging my eyes.

"You've been saying that a lot lately," my dad pointed out.

It was true. But I didn't know what else to say.

"Keep that up, and you'll be kicked out of college," he reminded me. "I suggest you make some serious adjustments Elena."

I nodded my head.

"Help your mom set up for dinner," his face held so much disappointment as he looked down on me. I had never seen that look from my parents. I was the perfect child. I was the easy one. The good one.

Going back to school for the second semester certainly looked different. I had to explain to my friends that I had to focus on school. And even though they were understanding enough, they no longer had interest in me. It made me realize the kind of friends they were. They were there for the good times, not the bad. They were the kind of friends that would help me with my make up or go the bathroom with me while I was drunk. Not the ones who would study with me or listen to me cry while I talked about my problems.

As much as it sucked that I lost the friends I worked so hard to get, I knew it was necessary for me to get back on track.

At least I had Tommy. He was pretty good at listening. Even though he didn't have the same perspective as a woman, he did the best he could. I tried talking to him about Damon, but it seems like he is just as fond of Damon as Damon is of him. Which sucked, because he had no idea the amount of pain it caused me to lose Damon.

I tried writing Damon several times, and I heard nothing back. My parents also gave me my phone back when I returned to school. Every time I called; he rejected the phone call. And every text I sent was left unread, and with no response. Every day that passed made me more depressed. I thought he would get over it. I thought the anger would ware off, but apparently it didn't. Coming to terms with the fact that I ruined our friendship was perhaps the worst part of it all.

My eyes were starting to cross from reading my textbook for too long, so I closed it. I checked my phone out of habit and frowned when there were no new messages. I stretched out my stiff body and decided I needed a little pick me up. I slid on my shoes and headed up to the fourth floor to go see Tommy.

He would make things better. He always did.

Hopefully he was in his dorm room. Normally I'd text him first, but I could use the break even if he wasn't in his room. I needed to move. My neck was starting to get stiff from leaning over my desk for hours on end.

I was about to knock, when I just decided to open the door instead. It's not like I haven't seen him naked before.

I pushed open the door so ready to have a nice distraction.

I froze as I took in the sight before me. At first, I was so shocked, I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing. Tommy was laying in his bed, and a random girl was straddling him. She was just in a bra, and I wasn't sure if they had been kissing or what because as soon as I walked in, they both sat up and stared at me.

Tommy looked so guilty, so there was no question as to what was going on.

I feel like he was rambling off apologies and excuses, but I couldn't hear anything. I just felt numb. My whole world was falling apart. The only person I had left betrayed me, and I never felt more alone.

After I stood there for a few frozen seconds, I left his room in a flash. I didn't want to be there anymore. I didn't want to hear his apologies or excuses. I didn't want to see his face again.

I ran down the stairs as fast as I could, and I could hear Tommy following me, saying a bunch of crap that I could care less about. When I made it back to my room, I slammed the door in his face as hard as I could, before throwing myself down on my bed.

I sobbed into my pillow. The final straw. I had hit my breaking point. I felt like my life was spinning out of control and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I fell for a guy who I thought was this amazing guy who would never betray me. I lost my virginity to him.

I found out my friends were not the kinds of friends that have your back.

I betrayed my parents.

I was not doing well in school.

But most of all, I lost Damon.

I heard Tommy keep knocking and shouting out apologies when my roommate who I didn't talk much to, sighed getting up and answered the door.

"She doesn't want to talk," Bonnie sounded aggravated. "Take the hint."

"I just want a few minutes to explain"-

"My guess is that it won't do you any good," she interrupted him. "So just go away. If she feels like talking, I'm sure she'll reach out."

Before he could respond she shut the door in his face. She walked back to her side of the room and crawled in her bed, going back to studying.

"Thanks," I sniffled.

She barely glanced at me. "He was a douche. I was glad to slam the door in his face."

It seemed like everyone saw right through him except for me. I chewed on my lower lip. Bonnie and I never talked unless it was about who's turn it was to take out the garbage or asking each other to pick up more paper towels while the other was at the store.

She seemed like a nice person. She kept to herself, but not in a cold way.

I know I haven't been the best roommate. Coming home late after drinking. Taking up a lot of closet space. Having my friends and Tommy over without asking if she was ok with it. A lot of the times she'd get up and leave when I'd invite someone over. I assumed she went to the library.

That wasn't like me. I was usually courteous to other people's needs.

I think I was so afraid of keeping up this image that if I didn't, please the people in my inner circle, I'd lose them. Which turned out to be true. But the reality was even more sad. That I didn't have true friends. Because if they really cared about me, they'd be here for me in these rough times. But I was just a party favor. An accessory. I was made to be the hot friend, or the hot girlfriend. I was nothing else.

"I'm sorry Bonnie," I apologized.

"For what?" She looked up from her book confused.

"For being the worst roommate ever," I said.

She was silent for a minute. Probably deciding if the apology was genuine or not. "You're not the worst roommate ever," she decided. "At least you shower."

I giggled, surprised by her response. I had heard of roommates that had poor hygiene. That would be awful. "Yeah," I agreed. I felt like I finally smiled for the first time in weeks, and it felt good.

I was determined to turn my life back around. I needed to make better choices. I needed to go back to being responsible and sensible. I needed to be less selfish and be more selfless. I needed to be Elena again.

A/N: What do you think will happen next? Let me know your thoughts and I will see you next week :)