Matt returned alone and miserable, going over the details of what went down at the Gilbert's. After doing what I could to console him, he brought up the sleeping arrangement.

"I'm gonna sleep on the couch. My bedroom is down the hall, third door on the right."

"No way. I'm not taking your bed."

"You're injured."

"And you're adorable." I replied, succeeding in temporarily side-tracking him.

"What?"

"I thought we were pointing out the obvious."

He rolled his eyes.

"You need room to keep your leg elevated."

"The sofa has plenty of space for me to prop my foot up."

"You're a guest."

"Exactly. It's your house."

"Exactly." He mimicked. "It'd be inhospitable to make you sleep on the couch."

"We're right back to 'the couch is fine'."

"You're a girl."

"Really? You're playing the gender card?"

In the end, Matt won the argument. Whether it was because of the smile he flashed me, or his ocean blue eyes, I couldn't tell.

I refused his help and hobbled my way to his bedroom, knowing full well that I was being ridiculously childish but unable to stop myself. He joined me not long after, bringing me my bag and crutches.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone as stubborn as you." He chuckled and sat down at the edge of the bed, carefully checking on my ankle in the process.

"Yeah, sorry. That's something I picked up from my mother."

"You don't talk about her much."

"It's still hard even just thinking about my parents." I explained, fidgeting with a loose piece of thread on my shirt sleeve.

"I can't imagine what that must be like, losing someone."

"It's not something I would wish upon anyone."

"Enough sadness for one night. Get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

He gave me the all-familiar farewell kiss to the forehead before walking out the door. I changed into the pajamas he'd grabbed from my house, turned off the light, and crawled under the covers.

A blaring alarm startled me awake at 5:30 AM.

"Turn... off... you... stupid... piece... of..."

A laugh coming from the doorway made me halt my attempts at shutting off the annoying device. I looked up to see Matt leaning against the door frame.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, my ass." I grumbled, earning a chuckle.

"I'm making breakfast. Come out whenever you're ready."

He left the door open as he went back to the kitchen. I grabbed my crutches and followed after him, pausing long enough to swallow a couple Tylenol capsules he'd left on his bedside table for me.

"Who the hell is awake this early?"

"Couldn't sleep. I take it you are not a morning person."

"Not even a little bit. Please tell me you have coffee?"

He gave a short chuckle as he placed a mug in front of me, already full of the steaming liquid caffeine. I took a sip and made a sound of approval.

"You're a lifesaver. Can I help with anything?"

"Sure. You can help by sitting right there and doing nothing."

"Come on! I'm not incapable of doing stuff just because I have a sprained ankle. Let me at least make toast." I fake-pouted.

He gave in and handed me a loaf of bread and tub of butter with a sigh.

We worked in silence, having a small discussion while we ate. Matt had not only been up long enough to shop for and make food, but also talked to the police about putting together a search party for Vicki. I offered to help, but as expected, he refused to let me do anything that would involve unnecessary use of my foot.

When we finished, he insisted that I shower first, while he cleaned up the kitchen. I washed my hair and body as quickly as possible while also trying to avoid doing any further damage to my ankle.

We were just inside the building of Mystic Falls High when Matt's cell phone rang.

"Yeah?" He answered. There was a pause while the caller responded. He lowered his voice and moved over to a line of lockers.

"Vicki! Where are you? Are you okay?" Another pause.

"Tell me where you are, and I'll come get you."

He listened to his sister for a minute, and then he pulled the phone away from his ear in stunned silence, putting it back in his pocket a few seconds later.

"Everything okay?"

"She hung up on me."

"Did she say where she is?"

"No. Just that she's okay and needs time. Damn it!" He yelled out as he punched one of the metal locker doors, immediately hissing and shaking his hand as if it would make the pain go away.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just wish she'd come home. I miss her."

"I know, Matt, but you gotta let her come back on her own."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm glad you're here, Danica." He said, tucking my hair behind my ear and kissing my nose, causing me to giggle.

"Ah, Dani. Just the delectable little human I was looking for. You know, you two make quite the couple."

A deep male voice coming from someone across the hall had my entire body tensing up. I swallowed and looked over as Damon stepped forward.

"Who the hell are you?" Matt asked him, instinctively stepping in front of me. "Dani, you know this guy?"

"Unfortunately." I answered, looking back at the dark-haired vampire that I hadn't seen in days. "Stefan said you were gone."

"I was, but not by choice. And now I'm back. Little brother couldn't keep me away forever. What happened to you?" He asked, indicating my shoeless foot. The wrap around it was visible.

"I fell." I answered with a sigh. "What do you want?"

"To talk. Come with me."

"Whoa, man. She's not going anywhere with you." Matt interjected.

"If she knows what's best for her, she will." Damon smirked at him.

"You do realize that we're in a school, right? Meaning I have classes to attend." I interrupted, trying to keep Damon's focus on me and not Matt.

"Still feisty as ever, I see. I've missed that. I happen to know exactly where we are. I also happen to know that you are more than capable of walking out those doors without me having to resort to killing Romeo over here." He threatened.

"Fine. Meet me out back."

"Don't make me wait too long. I'm feeling a little peckish." He stated, locking eyes with Matt. "Forget I was here."

After he disappeared, Matt shook his head, snapping out of the trance that Damon's compulsion had put him in. I did my best to not let him see my irritation from our encounter with Damon.

"So I was thinking, maybe after school–"

"Whatever you're about to say, I'm in." I cut him off, forcing a smile. "But right now, I'm gonna go home and rest. My ankle is throbbing."

"Want me to drive you?"

"No!" I almost shouted. "I mean, it's fine. My Tahoe is still in the parking lot."

"I don't think you should be driving."

"I drive with my right foot, Matty, not my left. I'll manage. Call me later, though." I kissed his cheek and made my way through the building, stopping inside the office to let the secretary know that I was leaving.

Damon was already sitting in his blue Camaro, parked in front of the doors, when I got outside.

"Where are we going?"

"Haven't decided yet." He answered. "Get in."

"No. I'm going to follow you."

"Dani..." He started in a warning tone.

"Look, people think I'm driving myself home. If they come out and see my vehicle, they're going to flip out. I'll be right behind you."

With that, I walked over to my Tahoe and threw my bag in the back, pushing my crutches over to the passenger side and climbing in.