It was Matt Donavan, and from what I gleaned from him, Vicky, and Tyler, the two boys argued about Vicky and a fistfight between Tyler and Jeremy. Matt stormed out into the parking lot, where he found Mr. Tanner.

Tanner was attacked and killed at the game in the parking lot, and the police are telling people it was the same animal that attacked Vicky.

No animal did this; it was a vampire.

Mr. Tanner was attacked and killed by a vampire!

And I think I saw the vampire who killed him.

I saw Mr. Tanner follow Stefan Salvatore off the field.

Stefan Salvatore was the last person who saw him alive.

Oh, god, Stefan Salvatore killed Mr. Tanner.

Stefan Salvatore...

No, I refuse to believe that.

I was sitting in front of the school when I heard a voice ask, 'Are you Bella Swan?'

'Bella.' I automatically corrected myself before I looked at who I was talking to.

I saw a woman about Caroline's height, face, and complexion, with short blonde hair and brown eyes. She was dressed in a policemen's uniform.

Caroline's mother.

It took me a second to realize that I didn't have to correct her in calling me Bella.

She smiled Caroline's smile. 'Yes, I remember that from when you were a girl.'

That's right from when Caroline and I played sheriff and deputy.

'Or do you still like to be called Deputy Swan?'

I felt my face heat up.

'It's Miss. Swan now, I'm going be a teacher.'

'Oh, like your mom. Did she ever get her degree in teaching?'

'Yes, ma'am. She taught kindergarten through 2 grade.'

'That's good to know. Your parents were good people. It's a shame how things turned out.'

'Yeah, it is.'

'Are you alright?'

'I'm as alright as I can be.'

'Fair.' she sat down next to me. 'Caroline mentioned you were close to Mr. Tanner; she thought you were crushing on him.'

'It wasn't like that!' I tried but stumbled to my feet. 'He was friends with my uncle.'

'Friends with your uncle...'

'I was trying to learn about my uncle's life in Mystic Falls. A little project for my grandmother.'

Sheriff Forbes stood. 'Have you called your grandmother?'

'No. I don't know what to say.'

'Would you like me to call your grandmother for you?'

I nodded and watched the coroner drive away.

Gran was talking to me, but I barely focused on her words; how could I?

Mr. Tanner was dead, and all clues point to Stefan Salvatore as the culprit.

As dangerous and stupid as it was, I needed to confront Stefan Salvatore.

When I got home, I found a package on the kitchen table.

'That little Indian boy sent that for you.'

'Native American, Gran. No one says Indian anymore.' I tore open the package.

'What is it?' she asked.

It was a silver chain with a wooden wolf charm; Jacob had to have carved this himself. Inside the box was a card stating, 'Happy Birthday, Loca.'

I couldn't help but smile. 'It's a bracelet.' she helped me put it on. 'Jacob got me a bracelet for my birthday.'

'I love the little charm.' she pulled a shopping bag from the pantry. 'I was saving this til tomorrow, but..'

I opened the bag and pulled out a box for an iPhone 3GS(an: it's 2009, I believe that was the latest iPhone at the time.) it was black.

'With everything going on, I should have given you this sooner.'

'A phone?'

'I want you to program my number and the number of everyone you know.' she looked away. 'Maybe we shouldn't have come back.'

'The police will catch this animal.' I looked out the window and saw Jenna's mini cooper driving home.

I wonder if Elena was home.

I entered Elena's bedroom; her aunt or maybe her brother forgot to lock the front door.

I looked down upon her; she was asleep with her diary next to her. I could kill her; I could tear out her throat without making a sound.

That would show Stefan.

I could kill his precious little Elena to prove my humanity's gone.

But she looked so very much like Katherine.

I moved closer to her; oh god.

Why?

Why did she have to look like her?

Wonder if she felt like her too.

If she...

If her skin was as soft and as smooth as Katherine's.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was caressing Elena Gilbert's cheek.

I was downstairs by the time she jolted up.

I couldn't sleep; my mind was too busy racing to let me. I had to talk to Stefan Salvatore, and I had to speak to Elena.

It was well after midnight, and Elena was probably long since fast asleep.

Or with Stefan Salvatore.

Maybe he's eating her.

I looked out my bedroom window; I saw someone leaving the Gilbert residence.

Was it Stefan?

I found myself putting on a shirt, a hoodie, and sneakers. By the time I made it downstairs and outside, they were gone.

I looked like an idiot standing in the middle of the street.

'Bella?'

I jumped and turned to find Jeremy approaching; he had a lit joint in one of his hands.

'Jeremy, you scared me. Was that you?'

'Was that me what?'

'Er, nothing.' I shook my head as he took a hit from his joint. 'I guess I'm in hyper-vigilance mode after what happened to Tanner.'

'Were you at the game?!'

'Yeah.'

'Didn't peg you as the sporty type.'

'I was invited.'

'By Tyler?'

'Your sister.'

'Elena?!'

'Yeah, but isn't she a cheerleader? I didn't see her on the field.'

'Maybe she quit; she does have many things going on.'

Yeah, if Stefan Salvatore were my boyfriend, cheerleading would be the last thing on my mind.

The idea of Stefan Salvatore and I holding hands with me made my heart flutter.

'Yeah,' pushing the thought and feeling to the back of my mind, 'she does.'

'What are you doing up so late?'

'Couldn't sleep, you?'

'Ditto.'

I showed him my cell phone. 'Check out my new phone. Early birthday gift from my Gran.'

'Did she give you the bracelet too?' he took my hand to wonder at it. 'It's sick.'

'Jeremy?'

We turned to see Vicky looming toward us, looking between Jeremy and me suspiciously.

'Check out the bracelet my friend Jacob sent me for my birthday.' I broke away from Jeremy, eager to show up my bracelet and break the tension.

'Today's your birthday?! Why didn't you tell me?!'

'You've been a difficult lady to get a hold of these days.'

'Still, we could have snuck you into a bar.'

'I got a cell phone. My Gran wants me to put everyone's numbers in case-'

'In case, what?'

'Did you hear about Mr. Tanner?'

'Yeah...' Vicky rubbed her neck. 'It's wild that it happened, and no one saw or heard anything.'

'It's lucky that no one else was hurt.'

'Did you talk to the sheriff?'

Vicky and Jeremy laughed as she shook her head. 'Of course not.'

'Why not?'

'I was drunk before halftime.' laughed Vicky.

'But, you're the only living victim,' I protested as Jeremy passed it to me. 'No, thank you. When you sober up, I'd happily go with you.' Again, they laughed at me; I got mad and angrily demanded, 'What's so funny?'

'You can't arrest a wild animal, Bella.' Jeremy passed the joint to Vicky.

You can't arrest a wild animal, Bella.

They believed that it was an animal.

Duh, Bella.

Vicky put her number in my phone as Jeremy took the joint. 'Text me later. I'm going to take you out.'

Vicky took off, Jeremy tossed, and his joint watched her a bit before adding his number.

'Whatever she's planning, I want in on it too.'

The next day, or more accurately, a few hours later, I decided to take some of my books back to the library.

I was dropping them in the dropbox when I heard, 'Bella!' I turned to see Elena and Bonnie motioning me over.

I walked over to them; they wore jean shorts and old sneakers; Bonnie wore a green tank, while Elena wore a red cami.

I still had on my clothes from last night or this morning.

'I couldn't find you last night.' I flared.

'I looked for you,' Elena gasped, clearly taken aback by my vehemence. 'but honestly, I thought you flaked.'

'I'm not a flaker, but I didn't see you on the field.'

'That's because Elena quit the squad.' Bonnie announced.

One point for Jeremy.

'Jeremy hinted at that.'

'Did he hint at himself into a fight with Tyler?'

'I heard about that.'

'Did Caroline tell you?'

'Vicky.'

There was silence, and Elena and I looked away; it was hard conversing politely with her.

'Today is my birthday.'

'It is?'

'Happy Birthday.' Bonnie chimed.

'Thank you.' I showed her my bracelet. 'Check out what my friend from back home, Jacob sent me.'

'It's a dog.' Elena said, with feigned interest. 'Cute.'

'It's a wolf.' Bonnie corrected, taking my wrist.

'That's right. My friend Jacob carved it for me.'

I glanced at Bonnie; she seemed like she was zoned out; god, was she on drugs too?

'Bonnie?' I snapped my fingers.

She looked around, blinking, seemingly confused. 'What?'

'Bella was babbling about her bracelet.' Elena sighed.

I guess she's done pretending to be friends.

'Are you alright?' I asked.

'Of course I am.' Bonnie laughed as she let go of me. 'Your bracelet is nice.' she looked at it. 'Your friend, Jacob, he a member of the Quileute tribe, is he not?'

'Quileute?' Elena repeats.

'The Quileute people have been on the Olympic Peninsula since immemorial and have lived abundantly in their homelands for thousands of years.' Bonnie recited. 'They live in the La Push village.'

I never mentioned Jacob being a Native American; I don't recall telling her about him.

How could she have known?

'Yeah, what are you, a witch or something?'

Bonnie paled at the question and turned away; there goes my witches don't exist theory.

'You know what I just realized,' she said as she avoided the question, 'you've been in town forever, and we know nothing about you!'

'Bella is adopted.' Elena threw in.

Note to self, never trust Elena Gilbert to keep a secret again.

'You are?!' she turned to Elena. 'How do you know?!'

'Bella told me.'

'I wasn't aware you two-'

'We're not.' was our joint response.

'How did you find out, Elena?'

'I found her crying-'

'You mentioned having a dream about Damon Salvatore,' I divulged, 'what was it about?'

Bonnie turned to her. 'You had a dream about Damon?'

'You weren't supposed to talk about that.' Elena exploded, narrowing her eyes at me.

'Like with you and my adoption.'

'You didn't say-'

'Neither did you.' I said, locking eyes with her.

'You're dreaming about him too!' Elena wailed like a petulant child.

'Should I leave the two of you alone?' Bonnie glanced between us, arching an eyebrow.

'What was your dream about Bella?'

'Why should I go first?'

'Why not you?'

I needed her to disclose her dream first, but I could outfox Elena, so I shrugged at the question.

'That's fair; I was raised that a lady should be first.'

'What are you implying?' Elena's face turned red.

'Nothing. Not. A. Single. Flipping. Thing.'

'Ladies.' Bonnie stepped between us. 'Let's talk about this like adults.'

'I want to hear what Bella is trying to say.'

'I'm a lady, so I'll go first.'

'Excuse me?!'

'In my dream-'

'In MY DREAM,' Elena asserted, 'I was in my bedroom with Stefan!'

'What?'

Bonnie's eyes widened, and she grinned while I frowned.

'What does that have to do with Damon?'

Elena rolled her eyes. 'Stefan and I are about to have sex,' I felt my cheeks turn pink, 'he takes off his shirt, and he's Damon.'

'Oh.'

'What's your dream about?' Elena demanded.

'Damon kills my grandmother, and he attacks me.'

'That's your dream?!' Elena scoffed.

'I'm sorry it wasn't as sexually charged as yours.'

'Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?'

'Not at all.'

'What happened in your dream?' Bonnie asked.

'I was in my room when I heard Gran calling. I come downstairs to see her in Damon's arms. He was sucking her blood.'

'What? You mean like a vampire?'

'Yeah.' I'm not sure what possessed me to tell them, but I couldn't help but let out, 'I think Stefan Salvatore is a vampire.'

'What?!' Bonnie choked.

'Are you on drugs?!' Elena questioned.

'Excuse me?! '

'Are you giving them to Jeremy?!'

'Elena!' Bonnie turned to her, surprised.

'I don't do drugs!' I flared. 'And if I were stuck with you as a sister, I'd be stoned too!'

'Bella!'

'You bit-!'

Elena moved to grab me, but Bonnie blocked her away; she was trying to hit me!

She was trying to hit me, Elena Gilbert was trying to fight me!

I've never been in a fight; even Lauren Mallory, who despised me passionately, never tried to fight me.

I didn't think I could win.

'Bella, I think I should go!'

You read my mind, Bonnie.

I watched Elena and the Bennett witch as they ran errands for Elena's aunt.

They, or Elena, spent the entire time whinging about Bella Swan.

How Bella Swan thinks she's superior to everyone else.

How Bella Swan acts like an elitist.

How Bella Swan is always making eyes at Stefan and-

Wait a minute.

Eyes at Stefan?

Well now...

'Every time she's in front of him, those buggy eyes of hers pop out of her head.' Elena spat.

'She's a freshman; I doubt Stefan is even aware of her existence.'

'She like a pathetic like a puppy. Only not as cute and probably full of fleas.'

'Elena-'

'You heard what she said to me!'

'Yeah, and I heard what you said to her.'

'She has to be on drugs! Vampires, Bonnie?!'

Vampires?

Is Bella Swan aware of vampires?

This could be a problem.

'It was a dream, Elena. She's alone and friendless in a strange town with wild animals attacking and killing people. Her brain conjured up vampires to explain it.'

'I don't want her influencing Jeremy!'

'I don't think Bella will convince Jeremy that vampires are real.'

'Maybe I should tell Stefan; he'll think she's crazy.' Elena turned to Bonnie. 'It's funny.'

'What is?'

'Matt told me when Vicky woke up that's what she claimed attacked her.'

Bonnie shook her head. 'I don't want to talk about vampires and Bella Swan anymore.'

'Fine by me.'

'Have you spoken to Caroline?'

'No, I haven't.'

'Has Stefan seen her?'

'What?'

'She and Damon are an item-'

'Damon Salvatore.' Elena groaned. 'He tried to kiss me last night.'

'What?! He tried to kiss you?!'

'Yes.'

'Did you tell Stefan?'

'No.'

'Are you going to?'

'I don't know.'

'You should.'

'I can't believe that Bella was right about him.'

The two girls exchanged glances, then Elena rolled her eyes, and Bonnie laughed.

'And I can't believe I just said that.'

After I got home, I baked a cake, more so for me to take. Vicky will tell Matt, and he'll undoubtedly tell Tyler. And Jeremy's probably the house like a hawk, and if Elena's...

I should apologize for what I said to her; she probably already blames herself enough for Jeremy.

'Gran?'

'Yes, Bella?'

'Vicky Donavon invited me to hang out with her and her brother.'

'Bella-'

'Please, Gran? If things get dangerous, I'll have Matt and Vicky bring me home.'

'I don't know, Bella...'

'Please, Gran... You're always telling me to be more social.'

'Fine, just be careful.'

I texted Vicky and Jeremy at 7:30.

I was right to assume she would tell Matt and Tyler; she said we could meet at the Grill. I texted Jeremy and asked if he wanted to bum a ride; ten minutes later, he rang the doorbell. I changed into a white cami underneath a gray henley, a pair of faded jeans, and a pair of black converse.

I opened the door and found the Gilbert siblings on my doorstep. Jeremy was wearing a red shirt, black hoodie, and faded jeans with holes; not sure if they wear made that way, though. Elena still had on her clothes from earlier.

'I hope you don't mind..' he said apologetically. 'Elena was with me when I got your text. I mentioned that I was meeting you at the grill, and she's meeting Stefan there-'

'I wanted to watch out for my brother too!'

Protect him from me, the drug addict.

'Er, sorry.'

'No, it's fine.' I lied. 'Do either of you want cake?'

The aroma of Isabella Swan had me in a stranglehold before she reached the grill.

Her scent completely precedes Elena's and Jeremy's; I scarcely noticed them.

Isabella Swan glanced over at me, then she and Jeremy went to Matt, Tyler, and Vicky. Matt and Vicky looked nervous, while Tyler voiced disapproval. Bella hopped between him and Jeremy and pleaded with both to put their issues aside for an hour. Both guys reluctantly agreed before Bella and Jeremy sat next to Matt.

'What's going on over there?' I asked as Elena kissed my cheek.

'Vicky is throwing Bella a party.'

'What for?'

'Her birthday.'

'Today is her birthday?'

I glanced over at her; she showed Tyler and Matt a phone. I noticed a tiny wooden charm swinging on her wrist.

'Were you invited?'

'Did your grandmother get you that bracelet, too?' I heard Tyler ask.

'No.' Elena scoffed.

'No, my friend sent it to me.' Bella's soft voice sang.

'It's sick. What is that? A wolf?'

'Why would I want to celebrate her existence?'

'Yeah, he craved it himself.'

'Carved it?'

'Yeah, Jacob is a member of the Quileute tribe; this little guy is like their mascot.'

'Mascot?'

'A boring story about his ancestry- it's nothing. I brought cake.'

'Good, we can eat it on the way.' Tyler grabbed a piece.

'On the way?' echoed Bella.

'To where?' Jeremy followed up.

'Richie Barron, a senior, is throwing a party, and we're going to crash it.' Matt sighed in disagreement.

'Matt's too chicken-' Tyler began.

'If by that you mean I'm against leading two kids into a lion's den, then yes, I am.' he turned to Bella. 'Richie's parties usually end when the cops show up.'

'Cops?!' repeated Bella.

'Tyler and I say yes, and it looks like Bella and Matt say no, which means,' Vicky turned to Jeremy, wearing an alluring smile, 'you're the tiebreaker, Jer.'

'I say we go.'

'Wait a minute!' cried an indignant Bella, jumping up and knocking over the salt and pepper shakers and nearly the drinks. 'I'm the birthday girl; shouldn't I have the final decision?!'

'Sorry, birthday girl,' Tyler grinned, 'democracy rule.'

'How are we going get past my sister?'

'Bella.' Vicky said.

'What?' Bella choked.

'Yeah,' Jeremy agreed, 'and all you have to do is irritate her with your presence.'

'But I- why me?'

'Because Stefan Salvatore enjoys staring at you.' Vicky pointed out.

I noticed Bella glancing my way, and I felt Elena stiffen. 'She's looking over here.'

I looked at Elena; she scowled as Bella whispered. 'I actually do need to speak to her.'

'Well,' Vicky announced loudly so Elena could hear, 'I'm going to get some air.'

'I don't feel right...'

'Please, Bella?' Jeremy begged as vicky and Tyler walked out.

'Ugh, fine.' Bella turned to us. 'Don't be a coward, Bella. You planned to go this anyway.'

'She's coming over.' Elena's face turned red.

Bella stumbled over as Elena's fist balled; she paled at Elena's stance but continued approaching.

'Uh, Elena, can I talk to you?' she glanced my way. 'it's kind of private.'

She wants to go against their little scheme?

'I think-'

'Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of Stefan.' declared Elena keeping an eye on Jeremy.

Bella looked at her feet. 'Ok. I'm sorry.'

'I'm sorry?' Now Bella had Elena's full attention. 'What did you say?'

'What I said about Jeremy's drug use, that was uncalled for.' Elena was disconcerted, unsure of what to do or say next. 'I mean, you probably already feel... Listen, I'm so sorry for blaming you.'

Elena stuttered an apology as the others snuck out.

'I was wondering if, maybe...'

'Wondering what?'

'Did your aunt Jenna happen to mention anything else about us as kids?'

'Is that why you apologized?!' Elena flared. 'To sweeten me up for information?'

'No, i-'

'And here I thought you were actually trying to be friends-'

'I was until you called me a drug addict.'

'Ladies, ladies.' I stood between the two, I could see Elena's thoughts, and they wanted to wring Bella's neck.

'You know what, 86 that apology.'

Bella stomped- stumbled out the door as Elena turned away.

'I can't stand her!'

'Elena-'

'Elena.' called a voice. We turned to see Bonnie staring at us; she paled at the sight of me. 'I just saw Jeremy-'

'Jeremy?!' Elena looked around.

'He and Bella left with Vicky, Matt, and Tyler.' Bonnie offered. 'They're probably planning to crash Richie Barron's party.'

'Then we should crash too.'