Sorry it took so long to update. I've been really busy and wasn't feeling very motivated, I'm still not. Plus I just found out a few weeks back that my aunt has cancer. So I apologize if this chapter isn't very good. Review, please!

It had been three days. Three days since Elena and I found out Damon was abusing -biting- Caroline. Three days since I found out what the Salvatore's really were. Or at least what I thought they were.

Elena knocked quietly on my door and stepped in, closing it behind her. "Do you know what, and who, are brother is doing right now?"

"Vicki? Oh yeah, their some sneaky right?" I roll my eyes as I get out of bed.

"So you're okay with this?"

"No. But it's not like I can tell them what to do." Plus I rather her have sex with my little brother then Tyler. "So, has Stefan called?"

Elena frowned. "Not since he left that very vague message three days ago."

I nodded. "Good. You can do much better than Stefan Salvatore."

…

"So Caroline is acting exactly like she usually does, like nothing happened." I told Tyler at lunch that day.

"You did the same thing." He reminds me, giving me a pointed look, his eyes darkening slightly like they always do when Jake is mentioned. "And he sent you to the hospital, more than once."

I frown. "Yeah, well." I didn't want to talk about it anymore. I didn't want to think about it but Tyler was right. I tried to pretend like nothing happened, except for the few times I broke down, most of which were when I was with Tyler.

"Damn and I thought he was gone for good."

"What are you talking about?" He points behind me and I turn to see who he is talking about. Stefan.

My lips turned into a grim line as I glare at my sister's boyfriend. He looks over at me and our eyes connect for a few seconds before he turns and walks away, looking slightly confused and worried.

"I'll see you later, Ty." I said getting up and heading towards the direction Stefan left, though finding he had disappeared.

…

I walked into my house that night after hanging out with Vicki to find Elena with Stefan, kissing.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I spat as Stefan and Elena broke apart.

"Zoey! Don't be rude. Stefan just came to make me dinner." She says, smiling up at him. Yeah or drink you're blood.

I keep my mouth shut. "I know I'm probably not your favorite person right now but…"

I interpret him before he can finish whatever lie he was going to tell. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just protective of Elena and Caroline. I'm just gonna head to bed." I lied. I made it to the first step, before turning around. "Damn."

"What's wrong?" Elena asks, concerned.

"I forgot my cell phone at the grill and I am almost out of gas. Stefan, do you mind giving me a ride?" I smile sweetly.

Stefan looks at me knowingly and nods. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course. Bye." Elena smiles as Stefan holds the door opened for me.

…

We get to the Grill ten minutes later. Matt is there, along with a few other customers but it isn't busy. I sit down. "Take a seat, Stefan."

He sits. "I take it that you didn't leave your cell phone here."

I lean forward, giving him a hard look. "What are you?"

He looks at me for a minute, sizing me up, before answering. "I think you already know."

"Vampire." He nods. There it was. The truth. I was never one to believe in vampires and witches or fairy tales when I was little and now I was finding out that at least some of the things I never believed in were true. It was disconcerting. "Leave town, Stefan."

"I can't."

"And why not? You made Damon leave, right? Go with you crazy ass of a brother and stay away from my sister." I practically growled out. I would not show fear, no matter what he was. I was stronger than that.

"You don't understand." Stefan looks at me pleadingly. "I'm not going to hurt Elena, or you, or anyone. I don't feed off of humans."

"Yeah, right." I roll my eyes, but I couldn't stop thinking that maybe he was telling the truth. He looked sincere enough.

"It's the truth, but I don't expect you to believe me. But if you just listen I will tell you everything you want to know."

"Fine, but this better be good."

And it is. He tells me everything. He tells me that he drinks animal blood; his ring lets him walk in the daylight; Damon drinks from human's and was using Caroline as a way to get closer to Elena and used her as a human blood bag; that they use to live in Mystic Falls and in 1864 Katherine fed them her blood before they were shot and turned; he told me about compulsion and how he gave Elena a necklace with vervain in it to stop Damon from compelling her; and how Damon is in the basement at the Boarding House.

And I believed him. I was still suspicious of him but everything he said made sense.

"How do I know you're not compelling me right now, so that I'll believe you?"

"You don't. But I swear I'm not." He reaches into his pocket then and pulls out a bracelet. It is silver with red rubies. "I was going to give you this on the night of the Founder's party but with everything that happened I didn't get too. I was worried that Damon was taking too much interest in you so I was going to give you this as I friendship bracelet. It has vervain in it. It will keep you from being compelled."

"Why are you even giving this to me? Why don't you just compel me into forgetting everything that I know." Why isn't he protecting himself? Is he using me?

"I considered it. But it's not right to mess with your mind and because I don't drink human blood, I'm not sure how well it will work." I take the bracelet from him but don't put it on. "Look, I know you don't trust me, but I ask that you don't tell anyone about what you know. It will just put people in danger. But I also know that you have your own mind and will make your own choice and I will accept whatever you decide to do." He stands up and looks at me intensely. "You know, I really do like you. And I love Elena. I would never hurt either of you. And if I do have to leave, so be it." With that he turned around and left the Grill.

Matt walked by carrying some dirty plates. "Matt, mind if you give me a drive home after your shift?"

"Yeah, no problem." He smiled before walking off, leaving me by myself.

I sighed and sat back in my chair, clasping the bracelet onto my right wrist. I had decided to trust him, or at least not tell everyone that vampires were running around Mystic Falls. I just hoped it didn't get me, or someone I cared about, killed.

…

"Tyler, come on we're leaving!" I yell as I walk into Tyler's room. He comes out of the bathroom.

"Oh, really? And where too may I ask miss bossy pants?" He asks, calling me by my old nickname.

"The car wash, we're volunteering."

Tyler frowns. "When have you ever volunteered for anything in your life?"

"I volunteer… sometimes. I did the food donation thingy in the sixth grade!" I say, as I throw him a blue shirt so that I won't stare as his muscled, unclothed chest. "Now hurry up."

…

"Hey sis. Stefan." I nod as Tyler and I walk up behind them.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Elena asks, smiling.

"Apparently we're volunteering." Tyler tells her, stopping momentarily from giving Stefan dirty looks.

"You two? Volunteering? What are you up to, Zoey?" Elena looks at me suspiciously.

"Nothing. Caroline just called this morning saying she needed more volunteers. So here we are."

"Zoey, what are you doing here? Getting your car washed?" Bonnie asks, as she walks towards the four of us.

"Is it really that unbelievable that I can actually do something for my community? I mean Mr. Tanner was my teacher too." I say, defensively. "I mean sure he was a total asshole and he really…"

"Zoey." At Elena's warning glance, I roll my eyes and take Tyler's hand leading him a little ways away from the rest of them.

"Fine. We are going to go wash some cars now."

"So that's why you wanted to be here."

"Hmm?"

"Stefan and Elena. You want to spy on them." Tyler says matter-of-factly.

I shrug. "I still don't trust him."

"Good, you shouldn't. But it's not like anything is going to happen with all these people around."

"I know…but on the plus side I do get to see you shirtless." I wink at him before taking off my Kiss t-shirt, revealing my black bikini and the top of my phoenix tattoo.

He smirks and takes off his shirt as well. "It's not like it's anything you haven't seen before." He whispers against my temple.

I shove him lightly. "Maybe so, but all the other guys here? Totally shirtless worthy. Actually I see a few guys here who could take you on in a who-has-the-best-six-pack contest."

He laughs shortly. "You wish! Never gonna happen, babe."

I roll my eyes as he grins cockily at me and pick up a rag. Tyler and I start washing our first car, while I keep one eye plastered on my sister and the youngest Salvatore brother.

…

"Elena, you okay?" I ask my sister as I see her staring after an older man.

She snaps out of her daze and looks at me. "Yeah I'm fine. Things just seem to be getting more confusing by the day."

"Like what? Stefan?"

"I thought you and Stefan were friends? Why the sudden turn around?" Elena asks, ignoring my question.

I shrug. "I just don't trust him. You said yourself he has a lot of secrets. Plus the whole crazy asshole thing might run in the family." She seems to be considering this. I look over to see Stefan watching us. "Well I better get back to work. This volunteering, do-gooder thing is easier than I thought." I give my sister a lopsided smile and head back over to Tyler, taking the bucket and pouring the soapy water over his head.

"Hey!"

…

"Oh don't be so sour." I tell Tyler as I reach forward to get a missed spot on the red sedan I was washing. Elena and Caroline had both disappeared a while ago.

"Whenever your back is turned and you're not expecting anything, I'm going to get my payback." He promises me. I roll my eyes at him.

Suddenly the blue car next to us catches on fire. Tyler pulls me behind him. If it was anyone else I would have glared and pushed him away, but Tyler has always been overprotective and I'm used to it by now. I glance over his shoulder to see Bonnie staring intently at the car. I see Stefan come up behind her and shake her out of her trance. The fire surrounding the car then disappears.

My eyes narrow suspiciously and I walk over to Bonnie and Stefan. Bonnie rushes away, not even looking at me. "What was that?" He shakes his head slightly. "Stefan. Tell me what is going on. Was that Bonnie?"

He looks at me for a moment before answering. "Bonnie is a witch."

I look at him in disbelief for a second before realizing that he is telling the truth. Vampire exist, so why not witches? The fact that Bonnie, who I have known since I was five, is a witch is a little harder to take in, but it isn't surprising.

"Terrific. Just what I need. More buds that turn out to be evil supernatural creatures." I say sarcastically.

"Bonnie isn't evil. She just doesn't know how to control her powers yet."

"Yeah, well, hopefully she learns soon."

Stefan shakes his head and gives me a small smile. "You're unbelievable." He says. "You learned that vampire and witches exist and you barely blink twice. Why aren't you scared of me?"

I shrug. "I was never one to get scared during horror movies. Finding out that the supernatural is real is a little unsettling, but I can handle myself. Plus I could always stake you." I say seriously.

He looks behind me. "I think you're boyfriend doesn't like me talking to you."

I look behind me to see Tyler coming towards us, frowning and glaring daggers at Stefan. I scoff. "He's not my boyfriend. And I can talk to anyone I please."

Stefan smiles amusedly. "Do you know where Elena is?"

"Nope, haven't seen her for a while."

Tyler is next to me now still glaring at Stefan. "Is he bothering you, Zoey?"

I roll my eyes and take his arm dragging him away. "No, we were just having a little chat. See you later Stefan." I then turned to talk to Tyler. "What'd you say, wanna head out? I need to get drunk. I'm pretty sure I'm done with my volunteer work for the year."

He nods with a small smirk on his face and we leave the car wash behind.

…

I reach for my phone as I continue to laugh at Tyler. "Hel… Hello?" I had only had four beers but it felt good to forget everything for a little while.

"Damon has escaped."

"What? Stefan?"

"Yeah it's me. Damon's gone."

"What do you mean he's gone?" Tyler looks at me confused and worried.

"I don't know what happened. Zack is dead, broken neck."

I take a deep intake of breath. "What should I do?"

"Nothing. Stay inside. Somewhere that Damon isn't invited in preferably."

"I'm at Tyler house, but what about Elena and Jeremy? Do you think he'll come to the house?"

"I don't know what my brother will do but I'll be outside the house just encase, so you don't have to worry about it. I'll protect them. Damon has been invited in to the Lockwood mansion."

"I'll be fine. Just make sure they are, okay?"

Stefan sighs over the phone. "I will, be careful." With that he hangs up.

I toss my phone and fall back onto Tyler's bed. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

Tyler scoffs. "Yeah, right. I know when you're lying, Zoey."

"I can't tell you." I see the hurt in Tyler's eyes and cave in, just leaving out the most important parts. "Damon's back in town. Stefan and I are just worried about what'll do."

"You think he'd go after Elena and Jeremy?"

"I don't know. He's crazy! I just don't want to think about it."

I push my head into the pillow. Tyler sighs and lies down next to me. "If he ever touches you, or Caroline, or Elena, or even Jeremy, I'll beat the shit out of him for you."

I give him a small smile. "I know."

Tyler presses his lips to my forehead before pulling back. He pushes a strand of hair out of my eyes, his thumb rubbing against my cheek.

I stare into his dark brown eyes before I notice both of us leaning in. The next thing I know my lips are moving against his and all thoughts of vampires and witches drift from my mind.