"Still no word from your mom?" Alyssa stood besides Matt locker watching him put away and pull out his books. He had filled her in on what happened after they had gotten home after the party where she was caught making out with Tyler.

"No," he grunted and Alyssa took that to mean that he didn't want to talk about it but they needed to. "And I don't want to."

"She's your mom Matt." She said feeling that fact needed to be said out loud. "As flakey and immature as she is, no matter how much distance you want between you, she's always going to be your mom, that isn't going to change."

"What's not going to change is my mom. You'd think after finding out about Vick that she would get her act together and actually try being a mom for once."

"Take it from someone who doesn't have a mom, you shouldn't be so eager to cut the one you do have out of your life. Even if she isn't all you hoped to be."

"Kelly might be alive," he closed his locker and looked at her, "but she's dead to me."

"Matt," he walked off and she followed him to history.

He ignored her and sat in his seat and she sat in hers.

"Okay, this week we're gonna set outside our regular curriculum for a lesson in local history as we approach Founders' Day." Alaric said as class started and she turned to face the front. "Apparently the community leaders feels it's more important than World War 2 but hey what do I know?"

He turned to the board and she turned to the door to see Bonnie walking in.

"Sorry I'm late." She said holding her books to her chest.

"Well, it looks like we will be at full occupancy today." Alaric said as Alyssa watched Bonnie. She looked the same as the last time she had seen her yet there was still something different about her. "Welcome home, Bonnie."

She made no comment and sat down smiling at Elena. She then looked at Stefan and her smile fades.

"What was that?" Matt leaned over to Alyssa to ask.

"I have no idea." She answered but in truth she did. Sheila died trying to protect the town from the tomb vampires but as it turned out, it was all for nothing. She knew that she would blame Stefan for it. She couldn't say she blamed her.

"So they announced the founders court," Matt said as he joined Alyssa on the school's bleachers of the football field where she decided to hang out and eat lunch.

"Am I supposed to know what that is?" She turned to look at him as she sat down swinging her leg over the bench to face him.

"The pageant for Miss Mystic Falls." Matt saw she recognized what he meant and went on. "They announced the court and guess who's now in the running to be the next Miss Mystic Falls."

She paused holding her fry just short of her lips, "how the hell did that happen?" Matt knew that was a rhetorical question so he didn't answer. "It has to because of my mom. She was the one who signed me up for it the first place. She thought it'd be nice if one of her daughters to be crowned Miss Mystic Falls like she was. Now I have to find a date." She looked at Matt with a pleading look.

"I'm already going with Caroline."

"You know, you having girlfriend is seriously inconveniencing me." She got up and walked away. There was a lot of stuff to do before the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. The first thing on her list was to find a date since Matt was going with Caroline she had to find an alternative.

Her dating life had been lacking in recent months do to the whole invasion of vampires to her life and there was only one person in that short amount of time that she had met and found remotely interesting.

She took out her phone and text him. Hey, I know this is short notice but would you like to be my escort for the Miss Mystic Falls pageant.

"You compelled him."

Damon held open the door for her and she walked in. He walked away. "You're going to have be a little more specific."

She shut the door and followed him into the parlor. "The guy who was with me at the pool who just disappeared." She watched him poor a drink. "I went to see if he wanted to be my date to the Miss Mystic Falls thing and he acts like he's never even met me before. Then I realized he's been compelled. It took me all of two seconds to figure out by who. What I don't get is why you felt the need to do it."

He simply shrugged, "He was a total tool. And I figured, if you could bud into my personal life. I could do the same. But if you want I can restore his memories just as easily as I made him forget."

"Don't bother, just next time to feel the need to look out for me, don't." She stormed out.

"This year's queen will have the special honor of taking stage at the hundred and fiftieth Founders' Day Gala. Before we crown our winner, we'd like to get to know a bit more about each of you." Alyssa sat listening to Mrs. Lockwood alongside the rest of the Miss Mystic Falls court.

The were three judges in total including Mrs. Lockwood. She didn't know what she could tell them that they didn't already know. Her actions were well known around the town. It should also be known that she didn't want to participate at all. Her bored like expression and previous attitude towards events like it in the past was also well documented.

But because her mom signed her up for it, she was going to put on a smile and get through it as best she can and with no eye rolls, which she managed to do. It wasn't easy. Now she just had to get through a dance rehearsal for the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, which she had yet to have a date for.

"Can't you just say I'm sick?" Alyssa had been trying to unsuccessfully convince Jenna to find a way for her to get out of the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, "or, that I broke something?"

"I think people will notice if we say you have a broken leg and they see you will your bones still attached."

"You could push me down the stairs," she offered up as a solution to their problem. Jenna stopped and looked at her. "Hey, I'm willing to go all in if you are."

"I'm not pushing you down the stairs."

"Fine," since she was out of options she prepared to go to the school. "But you have just lost some major cool points my friend." She turned and walked to the front door.

The playful mood she was in vanished once she opened the door and saw who was on the other side of it. She stepped out and shut the door behind her as she walked out. She crossed her arms across her chest and gave him a stern look, "what are you doing here Damon."

"I felt bad about compelling your little friend. So I'd thought I come here and make it up to you."

She walked passed him and down the stairs knowing he would follow. "Even if I believed you felt an ounce regret," she turned to him once she reached her car, "which I don't believe at all. Compelling Jason to forget me for your own sick amusing, is the last thing on the list of grievances you have to make up for."

"I get it. I did a lot of bad things. I'm a vampire it's what I do."

"My mistake for thinking you'd had just a shred of decency. It won't happen again," she opened the car door and he closed it shut. She turned to him and crossed her arms annoyed.

"Your upset, understandable. I did a very bad thing and now I'm here to make up for it."

"How?" She asked looking at him skeptically.

"By being your escort to the Miss Mystic Falls pageant."

"No."

"No?"

"No." She said more sternly. "If that's all I really have to go." She turned and opened her car door and he closed it again.

"Why not?"

"I'd like to think I've come to know you pretty well so I know that you wanting to escort me to some lame pregnant means you're working an angle. An angle, I don't want to be part of. Elena and I are just getting on the right track and me bringing you as a date is going to negate any progress we have made. Plus I already asked Tyler."

"A, if her finding out that you helped me kill Stefan's best friend didn't cause any further rifts between you showing up with me certainly isn't going to do it. B, not everything I do is about Elena."

"Everything you do is either about Elena, or Katherine, or some other vendetta you have and innocent people end up paying the price for it. My best friend was one of those people. So Damon I can't get mixed up in whatever game you're planning next. It was fun for a while and making Stefan pay was definitely worth it but I'm sorry no. Now get out of my way."

He backed up and she opened the door and she got into the car and drove off.

"You're late." She chastised when Tyler finally arrived ten minutes late.

"Your lucky I came at all." He replied filling in the line of boys in front of Alyssa.

"Honor your partner." Carol instructed and Alyssa stepped up curtsying while Tyler bowed. "Stay focus, right hand around."

They both held up there left hand and circled each other.

"Flirt with your eyes. Left hand around." They rotated using their left hands.

"This is stupid." Tyler complained in a whisper.

"Both hands." Carol said.

"Why are you even doing this?" Tyler asked raising both hands. "I know you haven't changed that much to think that this isn't lame."

"I haven't." She considered it very lame. "But it's for my mom. So I'll have to suffer through it."

She continued the rehearsal until it was time for a break which she was more than grateful for and grabbed Stefan while Bonnie and Elena were talking.

"Hey, can we talk?"

"Sure."

They stepped over to the side. "I just want to know how you were doing."

"If you're referring to the blood," he whispered at the end, "then I'm fine. It's all under control."

"Is it?" She didn't want to sound like she was doubting him but she was concerned. "I mean I saw you drinking it the other night and after happened in Elena's room. You get why I'm concerned right?"

"You're just looking out for Elena. I get it. But like I said I have it under control."

"I want to believe you Stefan, but I know what I saw. And Damon said-"

"Let me stop you right there," he cut her off. "Never start a sentence with Damon said. Because he's just trying to get into your head."

"Not about this, I saw you the other night at the founders party. What you almost did to that guy. I can't help but think that he's right. You're not in control of yourself when you're drinking human blood," she lowered her voice at the end so no one would hear her and then raised it to inside level, "so you got to stop. Elena thinks you already have and I don't want to lie to her, not about this. So you find away to get yourself off it or I'm telling her and then I'll make damn sure she stays away from you."

She wasn't going to risk losing anyone else she cared about at the hands of a Salvatore. She walked away after delivering a message she hoped he heard and returned back to her partner.

The doorbell rings while Alyssa is helping Jenna get ready.

"That's probably Rick," Jenna said, "He volunteered to drive us."

"I'll get it," she sat down the curling iron and walked down to answer the door but Elena beat her to it.

"I hear your driving." Elena said.

"I am." He confirmed. "Let me take that for you." He grabbed Elena's dress.

"Thanks," Elena stepped back to let him in.

He did and closed the door behind him. She started to turn back around when she heard him ask, "How...how is Stefan?"

She stopped curious as to why he'd be asking.

Elena asked, "What do you mean?"

"You know," he clarified "he seems on edge."

"He went through a lot," Elena excused, "he was in bad shape for a while but he's bouncing back now."

"Alaric," John entered the hall from somewhere downstairs and Alyssa turned back around to get her dress. The conversation was over when John walked in and she knew she had to ask Rick at a later time.

"Your boyfriends here," Alyssa said with a smile meeting Jenna in the hall as then went downstairs.

They heard John saying, "I thought I was driving," and turn in their direction.

"No need, we're going with Rick." Jenna said and they all walked to the door. "Jeremy can ride with you." She said on the way out Rick closing the door behind them.

The girls are putting their make up on. Jenna is curling Elena's hair. Alyssa is doing her own hair after Jenna helped with her make up. She listened to the conversation between her aunt and Elena after she'd thank her for helping her get dressed.

"Don't thank me until you're sure your hair isn't gonna burn off." Jenna replied.

Elena decided to take a trip down memory lane. "You know I remember when my mom and I were first applying for this, she was so excited."

Jenna replied with, "So were you if I recall." She looked to Alyssa. "You, not so much."

"I was." Elena agreed but Alyssa stayed silent. A lot had changed since then and she'd wished she'd been more excited about it like Elena had been back then. "She just made it sound like so much fun. Lots has changed since then."

"I hate to break it to you," Jenna said, "but it's a little late for cold feet."

"I'm going to go put on my dress." Alyssa said after finishing her makeup. She stood away from the mirror. She turned to Jenna who still held the curling iron, "don't hurt anybody with that thing." She grabbed her dress and left walking to a room down the hall.

Amber, another pageant courtess is already there and she looked nervous.

Alyssa approached her, "Are you okay, Amber?"

"I hate being the center of attention." Well that answers that, Alyssa thought. "I get panic attacks."

She wanted to ask her why even bother entering but instead asked, "Do you need some privacy so you can change?"

"Actually I'm just- I'm gonna go get some air." She replied and left closing the door behind her. Alyssa shakes her head and hangs up her dress. She spots Damon in the mirror and turned to him.

"Really Damon," she started to give him lecture about how stalking wasn't really an attractive quality but didn't see the point if. "You know can't be back here right."

"I was looking for Elena."

"She's still getting her hair done." She turned back to the mirror. "I'll let her know you're looking for her." She looked in the mirror to see he still hadn't left. "Whatever, wait here if you want. She should be in in a minute" she unzipped the bag her dress was in and took it out. She undressed being cautious not to mess up her hair and makeup.

She slipped into her white dress and reached behind her to zip it up but he was already there helping her zip it. She turned around when it was done and he moved her hair off to the side.

She cut her eyes to the door when it opened and Elena walked in. "She's here," she backed up and walked out to leave the two of them to talk. She hoped that he wanted to see her about Stefan and his drinking habits.

She found Tyler downstairs hidden in the corner. She took his glass of champagne from him. "Let me know if you see your mom."

"Aren't you supposed to be up there with the rest of Mystic Falls princesses?"

"Only if you turn from a frog into a prince."

"I don't know. Kiss me and we'll find out."

She pushed the now empty glass to his chest, "I'd rather choke on vomit."

She turned and walked away.

"Underage drinking doesn't really befit Miss Mystic Falls." She stopped at the sound of his voice and turned around to see John leaning against a wall. "Being rude to your date doesn't really constitute it either."

"Uncle John," she smiled despite herself. "Just about the last person I wanted to run into right now. But since I have you quick question, what are you doing in Mystic Falls, now of all times."

"Thought it was time I'd pay the family a visit." He walked towards her.

"You must be a mind reader because here I was thinking I can't wait to see dear old Uncle John again." She said sarcastically. "And now here you are, boy are we all glad to see you." Her pretense smiled dropped.

He played along. "It seems I'm just in time to. This town has gotten itself into a little bit of trouble the last time I was here. You and Elena especially."

"I have no clue what you mean. Elena's happy and no longer hanging out in cemeteries and I'd like to believe that I've turned a real corner on the straight and narrow path."

"It's where that path seemed to have lead you that's the problem. You've spent a lot of time with Damon recently."

"Is that a statement or a question in there? "

"It's just an observation."

"Well here's another thing you can observe, me walking away. Feel free to take that however you want." She turned to head back upstairs were the rest of the pageant court was beginning to line up.

Mrs. Lockwood stopped her when she reached the top of the stairs. "Have you seen Amber?

She shook her head slightly, "not for a while."

"We're about to start soon,"she nodded and watched as Mrs. Lockwood frantically walked away before ducking into the nearest bathroom to check her makeup but the mirror was smashed.

She furrowed her brow at it wondering what could have happened but backed out joining the rest of the court

"Do you see Stefan down there?" She heard Elena asked Caroline who looked down below.

"Nope," she answered "just my boring fill in escort."

Alyssa stopped besides Elena, "Stefan's missing?" She thought about the broken mirror she saw and Amber being missing and knew that couldn't have been just a coincidence. She quickly turned and left taking the back stairs so no one would see her.

She began to look for Stefan any place that was not crowded ignoring Mayor Lockwood calling her name. She searched through the entire hall for signs of either Stefan on Amber but saw no signs of them and decided to check a less crowded area.

Mostly everyone was either inside or in the backyard. The place where the cars had been parked was the only secluded place. She took out her cell out and called Damon.

"You really have a bad habit of not answering at the most inconvenient times. Amber is missing, and while that may not seem to mean anything to you Stefan's whereabouts are also unknown and there looked like there was a sign of struggled in the bathroom upstairs. I don't have to tell you how bad that is for both Amber and Stefan. The council is here and I'm really worried about Amber given your brother's dodgy behavior. I'm out in the parking lot so when you get this put that vamp speed to use."

She hung up and continued looking continuing down the driveway until she heard screams. "Why is it always the woods," she complained hiking up and taking off her shoes she heads towards where she heard the screaming.

"Stefan!" She called to get his attention and he turned releasing Amber and she fell to the ground. Her initial reaction was to check to see if she were still alive but she stopped when she saw the cagey look in his eyes and knew that it would've been the wrong move to make. She started backing up "woah, down boy. Can't we just talk about this."

His advancement didn't stop and she reached behind her for a weapon of anything, she grabbed the first thing she came in contact with "I guess not." She swung it at him but he grabbed her wrist so tight that it feel from her hand. She raised to the second one to hit him and hoping to knock some sense into him but he grabbed a hold of that arm. She watched as his eyes changed and he moved in towards her neck.

"Stefan!" Alyssa heard Elena call in a terrified panic and he turned.

She was able to catch a glimpse of her with Damon over his shoulder and for a moment he looked afraid but she wasn't sure for who. She took the time while he was distracted to attempt to get out of harm's way but he still had a firm grasp on her wrist and snapped his attention back to her.

Damon approached him cautiously like you would an wild animal that was backed in a corner. "Stefan come on, get control. It's okay, come on. Breathe through it." He reached him at the end of trying to cox him down but he was swatted away and landed against a tree but immediately gets back up.

Stefan started towards him and Elena yelled for him to stop but it didn't appear to be listening. Until he stopped in his track suddenly and held up his hands to his head in pain. Elena instantly turned her attention to Bonnie who seemed to be the cause of whatever pain that he was feeling and when she stopped, he'd realized what he'd done. He looked mortified.

"It's okay. Stefan." Damon assured him but she could tell by the look on his face and the way that ran away, that he wasn't going to be okay.

Elena rushed over to her when he was gone and Damon went to check on Amber. "Are you okay?" Elena looked over her checking for any visible marks.

"Not the first time I've gotten attached by a vampire, I'm sure won't it be the last."

"I've never seen him like that." Elena was still shaken up.

She lightly rubbed her arm in comfort, "It's going to be okay, once he's back on his diet of bunnies and squirrels were going to get him back. We just have to get through tonight first." She left Elena and walked over to Damon. "Isn't she going to be okay?"

"She lost a lot of blood but she's going to be okay."

He looked down at Amber who was sitting up and looked more lively then she had a moment ago."She'll be fine, won't remember a thing." He turned to her focusing on her wrist that were slightly bruised.

"I'm fine." She said when she saw what he had been focusing on. "I wish I could say the same for Amber. Something has to be done about Stefan, Damon. He attacked someone tonight, with a house full of people ten feet away, my uncle included, and with the council on the hunt again."

"I know." His brows knitted in concern.

"He could have killed her."

"I'll handle it. I'm going to go the sheriff. Stay here."

She watched him walk away.

"Are you and Bonnie going to be okay?" Alyssa asked after watching Bonnie get into her car after they were dismissed by the sheriff.

Elena sighed, "I wish I knew."

They walked back towards the party.

"Going to see Stefan?" They were back at the house and changed out of there dresses. Alyssa stopped by Elena's room after she changed into jeans and a t-shirt.

"Yeah," she tucked her hair behind her ear as she packed a bag.

"I would ask you not to but I know better so here," she handed her a syringe full of vervain. "I got this from Rick. I figured after tonight you were going to be determined more than ever."

"Vervain?"

She stuck her hands in her back pocket, "just in case, and for backup." She got a bag out of the hallway. "I'll be there too. You know, to make sure you don't do anything stupid, that's my thing."

Elena zipped her bag, "I would ask you not to but I know better," she parroted swinging her bag on her shoulder. Together, they left.

"He all tucked in?" Alyssa asked Damon from her stretched out on the couch in parlor looking up from her book.

He picked up her legs and sat under them placing her feet on his lap, "safe and sound."

She looked where he walked in from the cellar in the basement, "where's Elena?"

"She decided to wait by his side."

She returned her attention back to her book, "spending the night in a dingy basement," she turned the page, "now that's love."

"Yeah, well I prefer a bed," he stood letting her feet fall back to the couch. He held out his hand and she took it sitting down the book and allowed herself to pulled to her feet. He pulled her closer so there was no space between them.

"The next time someone's in danger don't run try to save them, especially if that thing attacking is a blood thirsty vampire. Do something stupid like that again and I'll find something sturdier than a broom closet to lock you in."

He let her go, grabbed her bag, and took it upstairs with him. She released the breath she was holding and followed him.