Good evening, everyone!

Let me start by saying that I appreciate every alert/favorite/review this story gets! It means a lot realizing that you are not the only one enjoying your story! :P

Regarding this chapter… even though I had some trouble writing it, and initially I had my doubts about it… now, I honestly believe it couldn't be any better. I hope you'll have the same opinion with me!

I apologize in advance for the lack of Damon. He will be back! Of course!

Ready? Go!

Disclaimer: I don't own TVD, even though I'd love to!

We all hide something.

Be it a part of the truth, our feelings, or a dead body… it doesn't really make a difference.

We all have secrets.

End of story.

Elena sighed against her pillow, and stole a glance at the alarm on her nightstand. It was 5.30. Five freaking thirty in the morning, and she was wide awake. The extremely few hours she had actually managed to fall asleep hadn't helped her body rest. Instead, she had been tortured by more nightmares than she was willing to count, and therefore, now, she craved nothing but to curl in a corner, or even in the dark confines of her wardrobe, if it meant that she would get to hide from the rest of the world.

Hide from Stefan, to be more exact.

The fact that once the sun was up she would have to go to school, both comforted her, and frightened her. On the one hand, it would give her a much needed distraction. Her mind would have to focus on the mundane routine of the 21st century's teenager. And mundane was good, more than good. It was way way better than almost having died less than twenty four hours ago, being afraid of your vampire boyfriend, and trying to keep in control your ethically wrong attraction to a certain male.

Elena groaned in frustration as she threw the covers off her body, and padded towards the bathroom. What was she supposed to do? Act like nothing had happened, attempt to discuss it with Stefan, or stay as far away from him as possible, like her instinct of survival screamed at her? Attack, or not, she was still his girlfriend, and she could understand that what he was going through wasn't easy. Wasn't it her role to help him out? Wasn't this some kind of silent agreement they'd made, when she decided to be with him, despite his undead status?

But I wasn't expecting him putting my life in danger, Elena thought to herself, as she sat down on the edge of the bathtub. Stefan had always been kind, and sweet, and romantic. Most of all, he'd been careful, considerate of her wellness. The Stefan she saw yesterday wasn't her Stefan. The blood he'd drank, her blood that she had made him drink had changed him. It had transformed him into a cold creature with no feelings, no hesitations when it came to getting what he wanted.

"It's my fault," she whispered, tears slowly building in her eyes. "It's all my fault, and I need to fix this."

Her train of thoughts was interrupted, when the door that lead to Jeremy's bedroom opened, and her exhausted-looking brother walked inside, apparently oblivious to her presence.

A loud gasp escaped his lips, when he all but bumped into Elena's knees, his eyes opening to the their normal size, their brown gazes locking.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" he asked abruptly, and Elena flinched at his tone.

"I can't really go to sleep. Every time I close my eyes, he's…" her voice broke, and Jeremy sighed, before taking a seat by her side.

"Every time you close your eyes, Stefan is there?" Jeremy offered, and watched as his sister nodded curtly.

He was angry at her. Man, he' never been angrier at another person, but seeing her like this… so broken, so fragile… he couldn't take it. Holding a grudge to your sister for lying to you was one thing, but attacking your girlfriend was a completely another one. If he wanted to be clear with himself, and judge the events of last night with human standards, Jeremy considered what Stefan did, rape. And he couldn't just let someone go away with raping his sister.

"Do you want me to deal with him?" He was only half-joking, something that apparently escaped Elena, since her loud chuckle echoed in the room.

"Like you attempted to deal with Matt when you caught us making out in my bedroom?"

"Hey, he was basically groping you!"

"He was my boyfriend, Jeremy," Elena pointed out, memories of her younger brother storming into the room and tackling Matt on the ground flooding her mind.

"I thought you were trying to push him away, and I figured you'd need my help. I was only thirteen, I couldn't exactly make out a grunt from a moan!"

"Your being thirteen didn't stop you from trying to beat up a football player."

"Well, my sister's virtue was in danger, I didn't have time to consider my opponent's strength."

"This time you don't even stand a chance of landing a punch, Jer. Stefan is faster and stronger than you."

And with those words, the warm, playful atmosphere that had settled between the two siblings vanished. They were left staring at each other, as if struggling to get a hold of the thoughts swirling into the other's mind.

"This time I won't be alone, and it won't be random." Jeremy spoke in a small but firm voice that immediately grabbed Elena's attention.

"What do you mean you won't be alone? Are you… are you planning to work with Damon

against Stefan?" Damon would most probably get him killed, not to mention that he wouldn't be willing to work alongside a human to… detain his own brother.

"No, I wasn't talking about Damon. I may, or may not know someone else that could help me handle Stefan." Jeremy said cryptically, not sure how many details he could share with his sister. He was aware that Anna had been trying to keep a low profile, and he didn't want to bring her in the middle of the mess that was the Salvatore brothers. He didn't even know if she would be willing to help him out, after she found out about Vicky.

"Know someone else? Some other vampire?" Elena asked, her eyes filled with confusion, her eyebrows raised. Jeremy merely nodded in response, granting her the time to mull over the new information.

"And you want to deal with Stefan? How? Why…You know what, why are we even talking about this? How do you know about this? You were supposed to be safe." Elena cried out, standing up, and fixing her gaze on Jeremy. He was calm, too calm for her liking, and especially taking into account that they were talking about vampires at the crack of the dawn. She had gone to extreme lengths to ensure that Jeremy wouldn't be a part of this world, how the hell did he find himself back into it? And what was this other vampire he had mentioned? What danger had he put himself into this time?

Elena was so absorbed in her frantic internal monologue, that she missed Jeremy's expression hardening, as he stood up to his full height, and positioned his body directly in front of hers. He wasn't going to give her the opportunity to back down from this, he wasn't going to give her the opportunity to walk away. He was angry, and betrayed, and he needed answers from her. Hell, he deserved to get some answers, after having saved her life.

"I know about this, because I read your diary." He enunciated every word, smiling inwardly, when her jaw dropped. She was shocked. Good. He had been shocked as well, when he found out that the girl he was in love with had been turned into a vampire only to be killed a few hours later. He had also been shocked when he found out that his sister had taken his memories away with the help of Damon Salvatore, the same man who was responsible for turning Vickie.

"You read my diary? Jeremy, you had no ri…" Elena started saying, but was interrupted by Jeremy's groan of frustration.

"Oh, save me the lecture, Elena. You invaded my privacy first, so I'm pretty sure I had the right to snoop into your room, and dig up your pathetically hidden diary." Elena gasped as he pressed his finger against her shoulder, harsh, but nonetheless fair accusations flying out of his mouth.

"What… what do you know?" She whispered in a trembling voice, in an effort to evaluate the situation. How much damage had been done? What part of the truth was Jeremy cognizant of?

"Everything, Elena, I know everything, and I'm so disappointed at you."

"Jeremy, I'm so sorry, but you have to understand the reasons why I asked Damon to compel you," he listened carefully at her, helplessly hoping that she'd say the words he needed to hear. "The night that Vicky died, it was like mom, and dad died all over again. It was all over your face, and it hurt so much to see you like this. I just wanted to take away your pain. I was only trying to help you, I'm sorry."

"Do you regret it?" Elena inhaled deeply upon hearing his question. Did she regret it? Did she regret her feeble effort to keep her brother out of harm's way? Did she regret helping him feel a little less miserable? No, she didn't regret her decision. In fact, were she given a second chance, she'd do the exact same thing.

Jeremy stiffened as he so expertly read his sister's expression. Just like he had anticipated, she had let him down. She was being stubborn again, and unable to see the situation from another point of view. Well, in that case he didn't want to be in the same room with her anymore.

"Jer, Jeremy, come on…" Elena murmured, getting a hold of his arm. "Think about it."

"I am thinking about it, Elena," he replied, roughly walking away from her "I am thinking about it, and do you know what I see? I see that you won't let me grow up! I get that I'm your little brother, and it's your instinct to protect me, but at some point you have to realize that I have to learn to deal with my life and my problems on my own! I can't have you rushing here and cleaning after my mess. I am almost an adult, Elena, and you have to let me live my life, and experience everything that comes along with it."

"But Jeremy, that wasn't fair to you!" Elena cried out, trying to reason with him.

"No, Elena, do you know what was not fair? Stealing my memories! I know you think that Damon took my suffering away, but it's still there. Even if I can't remember why, I still feel empty, alone, and making me forget wouldn't fix this. It would never fix what is really wrong."

These were the last words Jeremy spoke before walking back to his room, and locking the door behind him. For thirty whole minutes Elena struggled, she struggled to do what Jeremy had claimed she couldn't. But honestly, no matter which way she looked at it, she had done nothing to be guilty about. She had been helping him, perhaps not in the best way, but she had used whatever means were available at the time.

The sun had just started rising in the horizon, when Elena found herself staring at her cell phone, and in particular at two consecutive contacts. Damon Salvatore and Stefan Salvatore. She would have to confront both of them that day, but she couldn't decide who should be the first. Damon, or Stefan? Stefan, or Damon? The two names kept ringing in her ears as she gazed at the sky that slowly turned from pitch black to a dark shade of blue with yellow and orange highlights.

She actually felt more at ease with the thought of talking to Damon. He had been upset when he had left her room the previous night, and it wasn't hard to figure that he'd spent the night drinking his precious bourbon. By now, he'd have put their argument aside, and pretend that nothing had happened. Even if their contact was limited to a mere phone call, she would still be able to picture his waggling eyebrows every time he'd change an innocent expression into a sexual innuendo, and his annoying but so damn sexy –wait, what? where did this come from?- smirk when he'd say something that would make her uncomfortable.

Stefan on the other hand… she had no idea what to prepare herself for. Would he still be out of control, or would he have cooled down? Would they manage to have a civilized conversation? All in all, which Stefan would she be interacting with? The one she had fallen in love with, or the one who made the hair on the back of her neck stand?

The universe apparently got tired from waiting for her to make a decision, because suddenly her phone started vibrating in her hands, and Stefan's number flashed on the screen. Elena took a deep breath, and braced herself for whatever horrible dialogue would ensue during the next minutes.

She couldn't have been any more wrong.

"Elena?" Stefan spoke her name in almost a whisper, a pained and clearly worn out whisper. She exhaled in relief at the familiar sound, before smiling softly. He was back. "Elena, are you there?"

"Yes, Stefan, I am right here. How are you?"

"I am devastated, Elena. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that I lost control, especially that I lost control with you. That was never supposed to happen. I understand if you want nothing to do with me after what I did last night, bu…"

"Stefan, wait. Wait!" she cut in his speech, finding his rambling mildly attractive. "I promised you something yesterday, I promised that I'd help you pull through this. I'm not saying I'm okay with you turning on me, because I'm not. It was scary, but… I know you are stronger than this, Stefan. You're stronger than the blood, and you're better than who the blood makes you. I cannot overlook that this is partially my fault, so I'm not going to give up on you. It might be hard, but I don't care, I'll help you get over this. I'll be there every step of the way."

"No, maybe it's better if I just stay away from you for a while, until it's safe, until I am sure that I can trust myself around you." Elena vehemently shook her head at his words. She wouldn't agree at this, she couldn't let him fight this battle on his own.

"No." She said in the firmer voice she could master, "I am certain, Stefan, and you cannot change my mind. I'm helping you with this."

Stefan let out a resigned breath, and checked his appearance on the mirror.

"Okay, if you insist."

"I insist," Elena re-assured him from the other line, and he allowed the tiniest smile to find its way to his lips. Maybe this would be easier than he had expected.

"Then, who am I to deny a gorgeous girl like you?" his words caused a giggle to escape her lips, and he closed his eyes as he marveled at the beautiful sound. She truly had the sweetest voice.

"So, should I come by the Boarding house, and then we can drive to school together?" Elena suggested, catching him completely off guard.

"No!" he blurted out before he could control himself, and the change in Elena's demeanor was both immediate and obvious.

"No?" she asked flatly, and Stefan couldn't help inwardly cursing his stupidity.

"No, that's…I meant…" he inhaled through his nose, fighting with everything he had to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't lose it.

"I am at the Boarding house, but I want to go to the woods and hunt, before heading to school," he explained, and Elena nodded in understanding.

"Okay, so, I guess I'll meet you there?" she said, running a hand through her already tangled hair.

"Yes, I'll see you there. I love you, Elena." He had been saying those words for weeks now, and they used to bring warmth into her heart. But this time, there was no delicious tingling on her skin, there was no instinctive smile. Only a pressure on her chest, as if someone was clutching his fingers around her lungs, squeezing them together, and keeping her from breathing.

"I love you, too," she eventually whispered, but even to her own ears she sounded cold, and detached.

Elena, and frankly all of the students of Mystic Falls High, watched as Stefan Salvatore's car entered the parking lot. She knew that he was really protective of it, never actually using it, in fear of somehow damaging it. So, this was a surprise, a good one. And when Stefan turned off the engine, and exited the beautiful vehicle with a huge smile adoring his face, Elena realized what a fool she had been. This was Stefan. The guy who brought her journey back without stealing a peek. The guy whose kisses made her blood boil with excitement. Sure, he'd made a mistake, but he still cared about her. And as she started approaching him, she came to the conclusion that she cared about him, too. Yesterday had just been a bad day. But it was over. And it wouldn't be coming back.

"Nice car," she called out at him.

"I thought it was a waste to leave it in the garage."

His lips were gentle as they pressed against hers, the sensation familiar. She smiled as he pulled away, and their gazes connected.

"I wasn't sure you would be coming today," she breathed and he shrugged his shoulders in response.

"I wasn't sure either. But I stayed up all night thinking about what I had done," his hand raised to cup her cheek, and she leaned into his touch "I will never forgive myself for that, Elena. I wish it hadn't come down to this, but it was also my wake-up all. Me endangering your safety was also me hitting my lowest point. Now I can start moving upwards again. And after this morning's hunting I feel much more in control than before. It's a great feeling."

"Does that mean you're okay, now? With all the cravings?" she questioned, and Stefan nodded.

"Yeah, the worst part is over, so… now, all I want to do is just spend as much time with you as possible."

"I'm okay with that." And she was really okay with that. How could she have believed that she had lost him for good? How could she have believed that she could simply give up on him?

This time the kiss they shared was a little more promising, and Elena found it particularly hard to force herself back to reality.

"We're going to be late," she pointed out, and he glanced awkwardly at his car.

"Okay, uh, you know what? I'll catch up with you, I'm gonna grab my stuff. I'll be right behind you."

"Okay," Elena agreed, as suspicion slowly and effortlessly crawled into her heart. She shook her head lightly, and pushed the unsettling feeling away. This was Stefan. Surely, he wasn't trying to hide something from her, he was just making sure that she wouldn't be late for class. Surely…

Stefan's smile disappeared the moment Elena turned her back on him. This was a little too close, he thought to himself, as he opened the trunk of his vintage car. Positioning his body so that he was obscuring everyone else's view of its insides, he let his eyes trail on the young woman lying there. She had been beautiful last night; now she was nothing but a pile of dead meat, drenched in whatever blood had escaped her wounds. Stefan sighed as he picked up his schoolbag, and started walking towards the school.

That woman had been nothing but a distraction.

Soon, he'd have what he really wanted.

He just had to be patient.

His plan was coming along pretty nicely so far, after all.

"Soon," he breathed to himself, as he spotted Elena across the lot.

We all hide something.

Be it a part of the truth, our feelings, or a dead body… it doesn't really make a difference.

We all have secrets.

End of story.

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Until next time, take care!