Previously on I've Been Roaming Around:
"What did you say to her?" His voice was firm.
Stefan ran a hand through his hair. "I-I said that we were friends, who have been through a lot together and care deeply for each other."
Damon scoffed. "Are you an idiot?"
Stefan gave him an incredulous look.
"You and Caroline are definitely not just friends, you never were."
"Damon-"
"When are you going to realize it Stefan? You care about her in a way that is different from how you cared about Elena. It's stronger, it's deeper and that scares you. You better realize it soon brother, before she's gone."
He turned and left, leaving Stefan with the haunting thought that he might be right.
... {laugh}...
His talk with Damon made him realize that he loved her, a lot. He went towards the bathroom door, the sound of the water still running. He knocked.
"Caroline?"
There was no answer, worry struck him. She had been in there for a long time, a little too long. He barged open the door, thick steam hung in the air. His gaze landed on the crumpled figure sitting on the shower floor.
"Caroline?"
He rushed over to her, opening the glass door and turning the water off. He picked up her wet nude body from the shower floor. Her skin was hot and wounds from the scorching water were visible on her body. The redness was slowly starting to heal and her skin was returning to normal. He carried her up the stairs, his shirt getting damp from her wet body against him. It suddenly crossed his mind that she was nude, he ignored it. There were bigger things he had to do. He had to make sure she was okay. Stefan opened his bedroom door and placed her on the bed. He softly stroked her face.
"Caroline? Care? Hey, Caroline?"
Her eyes fluttered open, she looked disoriented. Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in her surroundings.
"Stefan? Wha-"
She stopped mid sentence, realizing she was naked. She frantically looked around for something to cover herself with, but was unsuccessful. Stefan handed her a blanket, she gave him a grateful smile. He looked away as she covered herself.
"What were you thinking?" He sounded mad, but he was just worried about her.
"Excuse me?"
"What were you thinking? What caused you to do that?"
"You're angry?" She asked, confused.
"Of course I'm angry! I want to know why you were doing that."
"I was having me time."
"Me time?"
She nodded. "Yeah, time for me to just be alone and think."
"You were having me time in scorching hot water?"
She nodded again. "Yeah, I guess."
"It burned your skin!" He yelled.
"It took the pain away! It made me feel numb!"
"Why were you feeling pain?"
"Because of everything! Elena, you, Damon and Jeremy! I feel pain over all of you! Elena died!" She stated. "I comforted everyone. Jenna, Jeremy, Damon and you. I asked you how you were, and if you were alright. And no one asked me how I was, or if I was alright. No one comforted me! I gave and gave and no one gave back! No one helped me through all this! No one."
"Care-"
"No." She interrupted.
She stood up, turned away from him as she wrapped the blanket around herself and walked past him to the door. She stood in the frame and faced him.
"I'm leaving. I'm going back to Seaside tomorrow." She paused and looked him in the eyes. "And Jeremy is coming with me."
She turned away from him and left the room, without looking back.
... {live}...
When evening came, Caroline snuck out of the guest room. She had tried her best to avoid Stefan for the rest of the day. Even when he had driven she and Jeremy back to the Gilbert's house. He had told them that he would stay at the boarding house with Damon for now. Jeremy had nodded and said that he would let Jenna know.
"Jer?" She knocked on his bedroom door.
"Come in."
She pushed it open and peeked her head in. "Hey."
She walked in and closed the door behind her. She stayed close to the door so she could have a fast escape if things went haywire.
"What's up?"
Caroline looked at the ground, she fiddled with her hands, her nerves getting the best of her. "I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm going back to Seaside."
She looked up at him and his expression tugged at her heart strings. His smile had fallen, his eyes looked sad and his mouth hung open a little.
He cleared his throat. "Oh." He cleared his throat again, finding words hard to form. "Are you sure that's a smart thing to do?"
Caroline nodded and took a step towards him. "Yeah, I do. I was only going to stay for as long as it took for everyone to get their lives somewhat back to normal." She paused and took in his expressionless face. "But I have a proposition for you." She noticed the curiosity form in his eyes. "What if you came with me?"
She saw his eyes grow wide.
"What?" He shook his head. "No Care, I can't."
"Why not? Come on Jer, this will be good for you. You'll be able to get away! I'll go talk to Jenna right now."
She turned and rushed down the stairs, leaving Jeremy dumbstruck. She turned the corner to find Jenna in the kitchen.
"Jenna, can I talk to you for a second?"
She nodded. "Yeah, what's up Caroline?"
Caroline sighed. "I'm going back to Seaside tomorrow...and I want to bring Jeremy with me."
Jenna stopped what she was doing and looked back up at Caroline, shock written on her features.
"You what?"
"I want Jeremy to come back to Seaside with me. Please Jenna-"
"Yes." Jenna interrupted. "Yes he can go with you. It will be good for him. It will help him take his mind off things. But please Caroline look out for him."
Caroline nodded. "Thank you! And you have my word. I will not let anything happen to him."
... {love}...
A/N: So what do you guys think? Please read and review!