Elena's POV

He raced off in a flash, before I could barely even see him. "Stefan! Stefan no!" A tear escaped my eye as I raced after him, even though he was nowhere in sight. I looked back to find Damon. I spotted him in the crowd and saw him running towards me, knowing he either saw him, or heard me calling Stefan's name. I put my head in my hands, trying not to cry. We finally found him. We found Stefan, and lost him again. But why had he run off like that?
Damon came up behind me and looked around. "Where did he go Elena?" He asked me, as I pointed in the direction of the door without looking up. I heard him sprint off to the door. I decided to walk out after him, once I got outside…he was just standing there, looking ahead; I walked up to stand beside him and looks at him.
His fists clenched, he said angrily without looking at me, "He left!" He turned and looked at me. "He ran off Elena!" Damon started walking off. I sighed and just shook my head. "Damon…" he turned and looked at me as I said, "He doesn't want to come back anymore Damon, he doesn't love me, all he cares about is killing…" I shook my head and walked away, back to the car.

At this, I could tell he had no idea what to say. He knew it was true…he was a ripper again. Having no care, no feelings…no love. And to me, now there was no point in continue looking for him any longer. Even if we did find him again, he would do the same as what he did today. Run away from us, he barely even looked at me before running off. It made me feel so sad and alone. Bringing back all the memories of my parents, Aunt Jenna, and all the bad things in my life. Now that I didn't have Stefan, I felt as if I had nothing. It reminded me of writing in my diary back at my house maybe a year ago. When I felt like I had nothing left in my life; the sad, lonely girl who lost her parents. Now I've lost all my parents, I never talk to my friends anymore, and now Stefan is gone. I got in the car and sat there quietly, thinking about…everything.

Damon's POV

As she walked away, I just watched her. What was I supposed to say to her? I was pretty sure Stefan still loved Elena…how could he not? After all they have been through together. I know my brother, and when he turns off his emotions…he's heartless, pretends to care about practically nothing. But I know that's an act. He cares. He truly does. For human life, for every drop of innocent blood…for Elena.

I soon walked back to the car and saw Elena already in. I got in the drivers seat and started the car. I started driving back home, in awkward silence. I didn't like it, but there was nothing to say or do. I just continued driving until Elena finally spoke up. "Do you think he'll always be that way?" She turned to look at me for the first time since we've been in the car. I just shook my head and said after a minute of silence, "I honestly can't tell you Elena. Who knows?" I tried to act as if I didn't care, but of course I did. He was my brother, my only brother. I couldn't help but care about him.

She just nodded and looked back out the window. More silence. I sighed to myself after awhile. Eventually, after what seemed like forever, we got back to the boarding house. I immediately got out and walked inside, not bothering to wait for Elena. I stopped right inside the door and looked around. I could have sworn I heard something…or someone. I heard Elena starting to walk in behind me, and I half turned to her, putting a finger up to my lips, telling her to be quiet.

She did, she was quiet. Elena knew when to listen to me. I walked slowly into the house, hearing small movements. I walked upstairs as quietly as I could. I heard it coming from my room. Who would be in my room? Why were they in there? I cracked the door in time to see someone start to jump out the window, I raced after them and looked down, outside the window and called down. "Stefan?" I jumped out, landing perfectly on my feet. But by the time I got down…he was gone, out of sight. What the hell was he doing in my room? What did he want that was in there?
I couldn't catch up with him now…so I walked back in, through the front door to see Elena pacing the room nervously. "It's fine Elena. She literally jumped as she heard my voice and looked at me. "What's fine Damon? What happened? Why was I supposed to be quiet? What's going on?" Elena was obviously paranoid. I wasn't sure I wanted to tell her Stefan had been here. Then she might be even more upset. I shook my head. "I though I…heard something…" I shook my head again and looked at her. "But I was just hearing things."

Elena's POV

I wasn't so sure. He couldn't just hear things and act that…worried? Was he acting worried? Truthfully, I wasn't really sure how he was acting. He walked off into another room and I just stood there watching the place he was standing. I could tell he was lying. It was obvious. But he wasn't going to tell me. I at least knew that much. So I grabbed my jacket once again and walked outside as I wrapped it around me, putting it on.

I just wanted to be alone and think to myself. So of course, the best place to go is in the forest. I start walking, and after awhile, maybe 30 minutes, I pause and lean against a tree and just let the tears spill. As the tears fall down my cheeks, I slide down the bark of the tree, sitting down on the cold, forest floor. I rested my head in my hands, getting my hands wet.

After a minute, I jerked my head up. I could have sworn I heard something, then shook my head. I'm just being like Damon, hearing things that aren't even there. I couldn't help but slightly laugh at my own thought, wiping at my eyes.

Then I hears it again…the crunching of leaves. Like someone walking around. I slowly stood up, trying to be quiet. I don't know why, but I was frightened. Who knew who it could be? I heard the sound getting closer, so I started running, not daring to look back.

I gasped as I heard it right behind me, I ran as fast as I could. Almost to the boarding house, just a little bit longer to run. I suddenly felt my back against a hard, rough tree. I couldn't help but scream as loud as I could. What was holding me there? Or who? I closed my eyes as tight as I could, terrified for my life. I opened my eyes to see who it was. What was he doing here? And holding me down to a tree by my shoulders?

I stared at him in disbelief, no longer struggling against his hold. "Stefan? Wh-what are you doing?" He just stared at me, looking me up and down. "Elena?" he said in question. Didn't he know who I was? I looked at him confused. "Stefan…Stefan it's me. Elena." Stefan then let go of me. And stepped back, looking at me with horror in his eyes. I was caught off guard…why was he acting like this? I've had so many questions lately…I didn't know what to think or do.

He slowly backed away, not taking his eyes off me. I looked at him cautiously; I was starting to get afraid. He was looking at me as if I was a monster. He was gone by the time I blinked. I looked around, and of course, I didn't see him.

Stefan's POV

It was Elena. I hadn't seen her in what seems like forever…except for the split second in the club. I just wanted to be with her again. I wanted more than nothing than to caress her and hold her in my arms. But of course I knew I couldn't. So I ran, preventing me from seeing that perfect, beautiful face any longer. I would surely break down and give in to holding her. I heard Elena scream my name from behind and I stopped.

Why did she still care for me? Did she…? Did she care for me? I'm sure she did, otherwise she would have stopped searching long before now.

I wanted her to be afraid of me. How much easier that would be…for me and her. Then I turned around toward the sound and her yelling for me. Should I go back? Would I go back? Yes…yes I had to. I had to see Elena again. I ran back to her, as fast as I could, eventually coming to see her again, I wrapped my arms around her as soon as I got there, and heard her scream from such sudden appearance.

But as soon as she realized who it was that was hugging her, she hugged back. I heard her say, "I love you Stefan. I love you so much." And of course, I said back, "I know…and I love you too Elena." I held her tighter. "So much."

But then a thought hit me. Why was I doing this? So I pulled back and looked at her. Klaus would surely punish me for this. Or maybe punish Elena… I wasn't supposed to talk to or see anyone without him knowing it…especially Elena. I couldn't do this. I couldn't put Elena in danger because of me. I shook my head. "I'm sorry Elena…I'm sorry…I can't."

She looked at me confused. "But Stefan…I thought that's why you came back here. We've been searching forever." A tear came from her eye. "And I thought you finally came back for good." I couldn't handle to see her cry. Why did I come back here in the first place? Why did I go back to the boarding house? I just wanted something to keep with me. To remind me why I'm staying alive…in hope I might come back and be with Elena again.

I shook my head and sighed. "I just had to see you again Elena. But I can't stay. I'm not even supposed to be here." I looked into her eyes. "Goodbye Elena. There's no need to look for me anymore. So don't. Please." I was doing my best not to cry. I kissed her forehead and closed my eyes, telling myself not to cry. Then I pulled back, looked at her sad face a moment before running off.

Elena's POV

I thought I had he back. It was the happiest I've been in my life. Then it was shattered. Why was this happening to me? I should have tried to stop him from leaving…but I didn't. I just stood there. Those few moments when he had his arms around me, was the Stefan I had been longing for, that I knew was still out there. I wasn't going to stop, even if it took forever, and he was gone…for now. But what he said wasn't going to stop me from going after him and trying to kill Klaus and finally get the love of my life back.