Hello everyone! Here's a very short baby of a chapter.


The next day when I woke up, I checked my phone to see if Grace had replied. She had.

Grace: I'm so sorry, Alexa. I have to leave, I can't do this anymore.

What the hell does that mean?


A couple of days later, I went downstairs and found Jenna in the kitchen. "Hey, Jenna." I nodded to her before grabbing a bowl and pouring myself some bran flakes.

"Hey." She replied, her focus on the paper before her. My mouth opened to ask what she was working on but before I could, Elena stormed in in a huff.

"Jenna, are you aware of what's going on upstairs?" She asked quietly.

"Uh-huh." Jenna said without looking up.

"And you have no objection?" Elena raised a brow.

"He could be craftier about it, at least make an effort to sneak her in and out. Oh, and just so you know, I won't be home for dinner." Jenna smirked as Elena came from behind me with a bowl of her own.

"Oh, so you're actually going to do it. You're gonna go out with Logannn." Elena teased. I made a face.

"I'm going to show up and torture him, yes. And have you heard from Stefan?" Jenna asked with a smile.

"Not since he left that very vague message three days ago. 'Hi, um, Elena, I, um, have something I have to do. I'll, uh, explain in a few days.'" My sister shook her head in annoyance.

"Maybe he's just not that into you?" I piped up innocently.

"Hush, you," Jenna nudged my arm. "Haven't you called him?" Jenna asked.

"Nope. Not going to either." Elena said bitterly.

"Good." I muttered quietly. Unfortunately, Jenna heard and shot me a disapproving glare at which I grabbed my bowl and headed to my room to get ready for school. Today is a turtleneck kind of day. I thought to myself as I found a black short-sleeved turtleneck and put it on.

"Wanna ride?" Elena called from her room. "Yeah!" I called back and grabbed my bag. As she drove, my phone buzzed.

Caroline: Meet me at my locker! :)

Me: Okie Dokie Artichokie! :)

Caroline: lol

Elena's voice interrupted my conversation with Care'.

"Ugh! I hate that he won't tell me what's going on!" She fumed and ran her hand through her hair.

"Wow, Elena. I'm so sorry. I wonder what it is like to have someone that you thought was into you disappear and leave a mysterious message behind." I said in monotone and shot her a glare. Grace had still not replied after a few of my texts and calls. Heartbroken wouldn't be the right word because it wasn't like we were in love or anything, but I was still a sad, angsty teen over it.

"Sorry." Elena winced upon remembering my situation.

"It's whatever. If that idiot doesn't want to confide in you, that's his problem. I'm sure you're better off without having to deal with his weird issues." I rolled my eyes.

"What issues? Did Damon say something?" She asked skeptically.

"No, he actually didn't. Stefan just seems like he's hiding a lot of repressed, messy shit. Why get involved?" I shrugged. Elena was silent for the rest of the ride, thinking about what I had said. Caroline was at her locker chatting animatedly with two other cheerleaders (Kira and Natalie).

"Hey!" I greeted them and poked Caroline's side lightly.

"What was that?" Care' asked after jolting a little.

"Just wanted to see if I could catch you off guard and I can. You should be more aware of your surroundings." I shook my head. In retaliation, she flicked my forehead and I gasped.

"Pay attention, short-stop." She smirked when I pouted. Caroline began talking about the car wash the next day and we began to put up flyers. After putting one on the wall, I saw Caroline talking to Stefan and Elena. Caroline marched over to where I was after Stefan had left.

"Do you know where Damon went?" She asked.

"No, I've been focused on the whole Grace situation. I could text him though." I pulled out my phone.

Me: Hey, haven't heard from you in a while, you good?

"He should get back to me in about five minutes." I smiled before we walked to class.

He didn't respond after five minutes, ten minutes, or three hours, for that matter.

Damon was radio silent.

Uh-oh.

I didn't want to go all guns ablazing into the Salvatore house if Damon was fine, he could just be in a mood after all. Since he didn't attack Caroline and get vervained from her blood, he shouldn't be locked up. I mean, he knew not to drink anything that Stefan could have tampered with, right?


School had gotten out and I had gone home with Elena. Once I was in my room, I called Damon.

"Hey, I don't know where you are or what's going on. I'm worried, can you call me?" I asked after going straight to voicemail.

I worked on my homework for a few hours before deciding to craft my other form of wearable vervain since I had procrastinated enough already. A small box charm in my jewelry box combined with a friendship anklet soaked in vervain hopefully would do the trick.

Feeling hungry and realizing that it was a bit late, I went down to the kitchen to make some dinner. To my surprise, it was occupied. I opened the door only to come almost face-to-face with a vamped-out Stefan.

My eyes widened.

His eyes widened and the veins disappeared.

I wrangled down a laugh that threatened to escape me and managed a neutral expression.

I glanced at Elena's hand.

"Oh no! What happened?" I asked and brushed past a bewildered Stefan.

"Just a little cut from chopping garlic." Elena shrugged as I inspected it.

"Doesn't seem too bad, I'll leave you two to your dinner. Leave me some leftovers?" I smiled at the two as I backed out of the room.

Stefan looked after me in complete and utter confusion.

"Of course!" Elena called after me.

I walked to my room and shut the door before grabbing a pillow and laughing hysterically into it. After regaining my composure, I sat down at my desk and put my headphones on, listening to my music and browsing the web. I jumped horribly when someone tapped on my shoulder.

"About time! Why haven't you been answering my texts?" I asked pulling out my headphones and turning around, expecting to see Damon, but seeing Stefan instead.

"Oh." I frowned.

"What do you know?" He asked and looked into my eyes.

Oh, boy. Here we go again with the compulsion.

"I don't know anything." I said.

"What did you see?" Stefan asked.

"I saw you had dark veins under your eyes, but when you moved, I realized it was a trick of the light." I whispered.

"You're going to forget I asked you all of this, and stop trying to contact Damon, he's gone." He said and I nodded, blinking hard. Idiot.

"Hey, Stefan. What's up?" I asked and tilted my head.

"Just came to tell you that we left some food for you." He smiled and left.

My angsty vampire friend was in the Boarding House starving with only Stefan for company. I sighed upon realizing that I would have to liberate him tomorrow.

"Stupid Stefan and his stupid meddling vampire face." I muttered angrily before going to take a shower.

I took off my necklace and anklet before taking a much-needed shower. I wasn't dirty or anything, it was the hot water that I craved. Once getting out, I threw on my pajamas and walked over to my vanity to put my necklace and anklet on.

"Alexa." Damon's voice echoed in my head.

I gasped and looked up at the mirror to see him behind me in the reflection. I turned to find nobody there.

A CAW at my window startled me again. I rushed over and opened the window.

"Damon, I'll come to free you tomorrow. I promise." I whispered to the crow. It cawwed softly before flying off.

I rubbed my temples and looked up at the moon, sighing.

"It's never easy, is it?" I asked the luminescent orb before heading to bed.


In all honesty, I don't like this episode. I know it's important for the story, but IMO it's a bit boring. I'll try to have the next chapter out next week, until then please review/follow/favorite.

Thank you for reading, I love you guys!