[A/N]: I feel like a horrible human being for making you all wait so long.

When Jamie returned home, Caroline practically tackled her in a hug. "Jay! I heard about what happened! Are you okay?"

Jamie smiled and pulled away from her sister. "I'm fine, Care. I was with Klaus and Kol after the crazy witch attacked us."

Caroline raised an eyebrow. "And that's supposed to make me feel better?"

"Not even a scratch on me. I'm the witch battery, remember? They won't let me get hurt. My blood falling onto the earth could accidentally cause the apocalypse." Jamie smirked.

Caroline scoffed. "I still don't like you around them. Remember everything Kol's done? And let's not even talk about Klaus."

"They're not evil," Jamie insisted. "They've made mistakes, but so has everyone else in this town. You can't excuse the others and blame them! Sure, their mistakes are better, but they're trying. If Klaus was truly evil, don't you think he would've killed everyone in the town already?"

"I still don't like it. I talked to Mom, you're not allowed to be around them anymore."

Jamie was infuriated. "You can't control my life! You can't tell me I can't see them!"

Caroline crossed her arms. "Just go to sleep. We'll discuss it with Mom in the morning."

Jamie made her way up the stairs, shaking with anger. "And I was ready to tell you all about my day and how happy I was. Guess that won't be happening."

Caroline called, "Jay, wait," but Jamie had already walked out of sight. Caroline ran a hand through her blonde hair. "I really messed up this time."

XxX

In her room, Jamie grabbed a jacket before opening her window and climbing out onto the roof. She had come home with plans to talk to Caroline and Liz, not to fight with Caroline and be confined to the house.

She took a steadying breath before running and jumping towards the huge oak tree next to the house. She was free from everything for just a moment before her fingers closed around a branch and she was scrambling not to fall.

Jamie dropped to the ground, wincing as the impact rattled her from head to toe. She heard Caroline inside, heading towards the front door to stop her. So Jamie did what always got people in trouble. She ran.

She heard Caroline calling behind her, but she ran faster, knowing that if the vampire wanted, she could have her back inside in a split second. She reached the Grill and headed inside, knowing that to follow her would blow the vampire's cover. From the relative safety of a booth, she texted Kol. 'Friend time?'

The reply was immediate. 'Where r u?'

'Grill. pick me up?'

Jamie didn't have to wait, because the next person to walk through the door was Kol himself. She gave him a half-smile. "Hey."

"Hey, yourself. Are you okay?"

Jamie shrugged. "I'm..dealing. How are you?"

Kol parroted her answer. "I'm dealing."

They were silent for a moment before Kol clapped his hands. "Well, this is perfectly depressing. Let's do something fun."

Jamie grinned. "Movie?"

"You know me too well, Red." Kol messed with her hair, making her slap his hand away, scowling. "How does Rush Hour sound?"

"Perfect. I need a distraction. It was either you or Rebekah, and I don't think that after today she'd be too receiving."

Kol chuckled. "I think not. Well, let's go."

XxX

Twenty minutes later, they were in the mansion's living room being entertained by Jackie Chan and Chris Rock. "This movie never gets old," Jamie commented.

"I agree. Now, kindly shut up."

Jamie rolled her eyes. Kol hated it when people spoke during movies. She slapped the back of his head. "Don't tell me to shut up."

"Don't hit me," he replied absently.

Jamie returned her attention to the movie, giggling as a particularly funny scene occurred. She turned to make a comment to Kol, only to find him staring at the wall, seemingly lost in thought. She shook her head slightly, refocusing on the screen. Only then did she realize her exhaustion.

Not physically, but mentally. Today had been trying, and she just wanted to stop thinking. Get away from the thoughts swirling through her head, each vying for attention. Some she wanted to think about, but not now. Some she wanted to completely forget about, never to think of them again. Sometimes it was hard to tell which was which.

When she fell asleep curled up on the couch, she had no more answers than she'd had at the beginning of the day, just more questions.