A/N: Hey guys hope you are well! Thank you to the people who put this story in their favourites or alerts, thank you to the people who put me on their favourite author's list, and thank you to mitzzy, sonny13 and britt4565 for reviewing.

I've had a couple of reviews telling me I'm accidently using Elena's lines for Brooke and I'm sorry, I had no idea I was doing it! Thanks for letting me know, I will try my hardest not to do it in the future!

I also had a review asking me to not completely use the shows lines when I put some of the shows scenes in, so I will either try to cut down the length of the scenes, change the lines or extend them. I hope it's okay that I include some of the shows scenes, cause this fanfiction does mostly follow the show, and I've seen lots of other authors do the same thing. I put the scenes in so you can see how the characters are feeling, and if I throw in some curveballs and the show's plots change, that you can understand why.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries.

Stefan's pov:

Peeking through the bars I could see Damon struggling to move; his breathing was ragged and sharp, and he appeared to be unaware of my presence, but I knew that he was. Vampires can sense everything, especially stronger ones like Damon. I saw his eyes flicker towards his hand and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"You won't be needing your ring anymore. You won't be seeing the sunlight for a long time." He growled in aggravation.

"How long... have I... been here?"

"Three days. I've been waiting for you to wake up; You always were a heavy sleeper." Damon obviously wasn't in the mood for small talk, so I shut up immediately. The least I can do is try not to annoy him when I'm about to lock him away for fifty years. But he deserves it. Why should I be tip toeing around him?

"What... are you... doing?"

"During the dark ages when a vampire would misbave, or his actions would cause problems like making humans aware of the existence of vampires, they would face judgement. They decided to re-educate them rather than choosing to punish them with torture and death."

"Well, I'll tell you something Stefan... this seems a lot... like torture... to me. Starving me of... blood. You know what... happens if I... don't drink... blood." Damon said as sarcatically as he could, but due to the pauses in between his words caused by the Vervain, his words didn't really have the desired effect.

"You'll grow weaker and weaker. And eventually, you'll barely be able to move or speak, you'll just be too weak to do anything. In a week your skin will desicate and you'll mumify. Soon enough you'll just be a living corpse, unable to hurt anyone. Me, Elena, Brooke, Zach, Caroline and God knows how many other people will finally be safe from you."

"So what, you're just going to leave me in the basement? Forever? Is that honestly the best you can come up with?" He laughed mockingly before coughing violently, while I just shook my head.

"There's enough Vervain in you to keep you weak. Within a week when the circulation stops and you can barely move, I'll move you to the family crypt, and in fifty years there's a chance we can re-evaluate."

"I'm stronger than you think. Even you know it, otherwise you wouldn't have spiked my drink with Vervain." My thoughts flashed back to slipping the herb into Caroline's champagne briefly before I refocused on him.

"Well like you said, you may be stronger than me, but you're not stronger than the Vervain and we both know it. Just admit it Damon, you lost; the game's over. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but you chose the hard way, just like you always do." And with that, I left him there and ran up the stairs, searching for my history book. Spotting it out of the corner of my eye, my hand reached out at lightening speed to grab it.

Slipping it inside of my bag I was ready to go and meet Elena, but I paused when a photograph fell from the bookshelf and drifted to the floor. I crouched down to the floor to pick it up, regretting it almost immediately when I realised what the picture was of.

It was a black and white snapshot of me and Damon.

It wasn't taken during the time me and Damon had become involved with Katherine, no, we met Katherine not too long after this photograph was shot. It was taken the day Damon left the confederacy, and it also happened to be my seventeeth birthday. Damon returning was the best birthday present I ever could have gotten. Unfortunately, father didn't share my happiness, but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary, he never did. It was one of the last good times I and Damon shared before Katherine waltzed onto the scene...

I'd escaped from the madness.

I was currently walking along the grounds of our property, in search of peace and quiet. Inside there are a few, well I say a few but I mean crowds of people inside of the boarding house, celebrating my birthday. My seventeeth birthday. Laughter and chatter could be heard from where I was standing presently, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. However, I wasn't in the mood to celebrate.

There isn't a single person inside of that house that I want to celebrate my birthday with. Not even father. Truth be told they're all liars, they're all fake. None of them are my friends. Of course, I get on quite well with some of them, but they don't really interest me. I find myself bored when I engage in conversation with them.

Pausing in my step, I relished in the comfort of the soft breeze as it caressed my face. There is only one person I wish to spend my birthday with. Unfortunately, he's not here. He's out there, fighting for something he doesn't believe in just to keep father happy.

My brother, Damon.

Oh, how I wish he was here. Damon always knows how to brighten my day. He shares similar thoughts about the people inside as I do, but the difference with Damon is that he doesn't bother trying to pretend he likes them. Damon would tell them all exactly what he thought of them, despite the fury from father that would be lashed out upon him. That's why I admire Damon so much, he's who I aspire to be. He's my rolemodel, and I wish I was more like him. Fearless. Completely fearless. Well... not exactly.

Damon would always be there to keep me out of harms way. He always stood by me, and I've tried my hardest to reciprocate that protection. The only problem is father. He always pushes me too hard, and he stops Damon from reaching his full potential.

Damon is one of a kind, like an imperfect diamond: he's not of perfect clarity and his edges aren't straight enough. However, despite all of his flaws, he's the one that everybody wants. Damon can captivate people, capture their attention without any effort neccessary. Damon is desired by all.

Except father.

Nothing Damon does is good enough for him. He's never satisfied with his attempts. It's almost as if he thinks that Damon is a lost cause, and that he isn't worth wasting his precious time on. But he's wrong.

For weeks and weeks, father would bring up the subject of the confederacy. Damon wanted no part in it, but father spoke about it vehemently. And truth be told, when Damon announced that he decided to be a confederate soldier, it was the first time I'd ever seen father proud of Damon. He even smiled. Damon seemed over the moon with father's reaction, as it was the first time in his twenty-four years, that Guisseppe was pleased.

Secretly, I think it's because he's finally gotten rid of Damon, but I didn't have the heart to tell him that. I wouldn't be the one to disappoint Damon, father already has that position filled. I have an inkling that my brother already knows, but he's just happy to have some pride emitted towards him, even if it's fake.

"I can definitely see who the life of the party is." My eyes widened at the sound of that voice. One I hadn't heard in a very long time. One that shouldn't be here.

Damon.

I rotated slowly, not at all believing what I was hearing. It's like I'm under an illusion, because this cannot be real, not in the slightest.

But it was.

Because when I turned around he was in front of me, roughly ten metres or so away. He was leaning against a tree with a smirk on his face, and his left eyebrow was raised in expectation.

"Don't look at me like I'm a parasite. You can come closer; I won't bite." Before I even realised what I was doing I had my arms wrapped around him tightly.

"My my, little brother, you know I don't swing that way!" Damon said mockingly and chuckled in amusement at my reaction, but returned my hug nonetheless. I pulled back quickly, my eyes filled with confusion, curiosity and happiness. Why is Damon here? Is he on leave?

"Here comes the interrogation. I know you're confused Stef, and you have a right to be. I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that I, Damon Salvatore, your handsome, charming, smarter, better looking-"

"Cut to the chase Damon!" I yelled impatiently. It only ceased to make his smirk expand ever larger, and he tutted at me.

"Tut tut Stefan, haven't you ever heard it's rude to interrupt people when they're talking? Stop glaring at me, I'll tell you... I've decided to leave the confederacy." Damon revealed to me and I was over the moon. A smile appeared on my face, and I could see Damon shoot me a beaming grin as he realised I was just as happy as he was. But then, it hit me. What is father going to say? The thought forced the smile on my face to droop like a wilting flower as my lips curved downwards into a frown, Damon's expression mirroring mine.

"What about father, Damon? What is he going to say? Oh no, Damon, what are we going to do?"

"Calm down Stefan! Everything will be fine, I can handle this situation myself, you do not need to be involved in this matter." Damon spoke with conviction, but I didn't want him to go against father alone. He would be furious, even deadly. And while I know that Damon is more than capable of protecting himself, I don't want to risk it. There is no telling what father could do. He's utterly unpredictable.

"No Damon, father will never let this go. You'll be sleeping with one eye open for the rest of your life, let me help you. You need some support." I could see Damon debating with himself in his mind, however he was still dead set on facing our deranged father alone. He shook his head negatively.

"Absolutely not. You know what father is like Stefan, you've seen it in the past, and even been on the recieving end of it." Damon scowled as he said this, and I tried to keep myself from flinching at the memory. Father had only ever layed a hand on me once, and I'm sure it wouldn't have been the last if it hadn't of been for Damon. Words cannot describe Damon's face as he watched father knock the wind out if me. But he only did it once. Damon made sure of that.

"It's not as if father would ever risk doing anything like that again, he learned his lesson from the last time." He most certainly did. But that's not all I'm worried about. Father doesn't need to hurt Damon physically, the blow hurts just as much as the verbal one. And father will take every opportunity he can get to kick Damon while he's down.

"I know he did Damon, and I don't doubt that you can take care of yourself, but I hate the way he treats you, the way he talks to you. It's not acceptable."

"You're right Stefan, it isn't acceptable. But it's life. Obviously, we shouldn't have to put up with it but we must. It's just the way things are, it's not new to us Stefan, we've grown up with it for our entire lives."

"But that doesn't make it right Damon!" He nodded in agreement.

"It isn't right. It's unfair, cruel and neither of us deserve it. We have it harder than some people, but we are also far better off than most. Our lives could be so much worse Stefan; trust me. The war has made me realise exactly what matters in life - including you. So who cares what the wicked witch of the west thinks? I know I don't. I don't want to argue with you Stefan. Today's meant to be a good day. Not only has your devilishly handsome brother returned, but it's also your seventeeth birthday." Damon's frown turned upside down as he smirked and I sighed in annoyance.

"Yes, It's fantastic! It's my birthday, and I am the centre of attention inside of there. You know how much I hate being the centre of attention." I scowled at the thought of everybody inside. They kept following me around and talking to me, and I'm not normally rude, but I felt like telling them to stick their happy birthday wishes where the Sun doesn't shine.

"Well you're obviously not, otherwise they all would have realised that you'd left." Damon brought up a very valid point, but before I could think of anything to retaliate with he held up his hand and presented a box to me. Despite having no idea what was inside, I had to poke some fun at him.

"You're not asking me to marry you are you? Cause truth be told I don't think you're my cup of tea." Damon scoffed.

"You know I have far better standards than you Stefanie." I shoved him slightly and grabbed the box. Opening it I saw a key, causing me to become confused.

"What's this for?"

"It's the key to father's liquor cabinet." It was silent for a moment before our laughter echoed around us, and I felt my eyes welling up with tears.

"Seriously? I actually have no idea on how I'm meant to respond to that... Thank you for this... original... gift?" Damon howled with laughter once again.

"That's not your real present brother! I guess it's obvious who the smarter Salvatore is. Follow me." He grinned and began to run across the grounds, with me in tow. Struggling to keep up with Damon's fast pace, I was beginning to run out of breath when we suddenly stopped inside of the forest not too far from our house. Damon gestured towards a camera on a stand in front of me, and my lips curved upwards into a gigantic smile.

It was only a simple wooden box camera, nothing out of the ordinary. But it meant the world to me. I'd wanted one for years, and father had refused to buy one for me. I loved the idea of a camera being able to capture the moment forever. They make it possible for memories to exist for eternity.

"Do you like it? Who am I kidding, of course you do, you've wanted one since you were five years old." I was actually speechless. There are so many thoughts on my mind right now, but I don't know how to voice any of them. Damon remembered. He always listens to me, and he never forgets what I tell him, even if what I say makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. There were so many things that I wanted to say, but I could only say one.

"Thank you Damon... I love it." He slung his arm around my shoulder and I mimicked his action. My brother is back. He's here for my birthday, and he isn't going anywhere. That alone is more than I can ask for, the camera is just the icing on the cake... and I'm not forgetting about the key to father's liquor cabinet.

"You're welcome; Smile for the camera Stefanie. Happy birthday."

My ringing phone snapped me out of me memory. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of good times with Damon. There won't be anymore happy memories, so stop living in the past and start living in the present.

Brooke's pov:

"You're not going to believe what I just saw!" Elena whisper shouted at me as I exited my room, and I looked at her in confusion. She looked utterly mortified.

"Woah, where's the fire?" She span around, checking that there was nobody in sight before she quickly latched onto my hand and dragged me into her room, my mutterings of 'ouch, that hurts' seemed to go unheard.

"I just saw Vicki in the bathroom! I mean, what the hell? Since when was she here? And this is going to get Jeremy into even more trouble, especially with Tyler..." She sat down on her bed and scrunched up her hair in frustration. Sighing, I picked up her hairbrush and began running it through her hair.

"I know what you mean. Look there isn't anything we can do about it, we just have to let them get on with it, and it's not like we can tell Jeremy to stop seeing her - we know better than to think that he'll actually listen to us." She nodded and the two of us decided to throw on some clothes before we went downstairs to get some breakfast. I put on a pair of dark blue jeans, some plain black flats, a green halterneck top and slipped on a couple of brown bangels. I decided to wear my hair up today, and I kept my make-up fairly natural.

I entered the kitchen, my eyes widening as I heard Jenna tell Elena that she wouldn't be home for dinner, and she said it in a flirtatious manner. I can't believe it. She's fell for Logan's charms, again. When will this woman learn?

"I can't believe it. Jenna, what was it that you said a few days ago? Something along the lines of him being a cheating scumbag and that you would never, ever consider going out with him again?" Her eyes dropped to the floor guiltily and I knew I was right. Elena, however, smiled at her teasingly.

"I think It's great. You're going to go out with Logan!" Elena smirked at the two of us, and I could see Jenna already lightening up at the thought. I, however, was not pleased in the slightest. Logan will only hurt her again, she even said it herself and now, she's going out with him. Again.

"Well, I'm going to show up and torture him if that's what you mean." She didn't say it very convincingly, so I knew it was probably only for my sake. Unfortunately, I'm not stupid enough to buy it.

"Have you heard from Stefan?" Jenna chose the perfect moment to change the conversation because I knew that I was about to say something I was going to regret. Nice move, Jen. From the look on Elena's face, it seemed as if she didn't know the answer herself.

"Since he left that very vague message three days ago, 'Hi umm, Elena, I umm, I have something I have to do I'll umm, explain in a few days'." Elena spoke sarcastically.

"Good Stefan immitation by the way." She smiled as I complimented her tone of voice.

"Haven't you called him?" Jenna said amusedly.

"Nope. Not going to either." Elena declared in a hard voice whilst she poured herself some cereal. I noticed Jenna's smile drop out of the corner of my eye.

"And you're okay with everything?" I jumped up when Elena dropped her plate on the counter and a loud clanging sound flew to my ears. I am seriously worried about the sensitivity of my eardrums. Keith is always shouting down them from behind me.

"No, I'm not okay with any of it. But I'm not going to cry about it either."

"Yeah, she's not you Jen." I dodged the hand that was soaring through the air towards my arm and flew out of my seat, motioning for Elena to continue.

"You know, I was going to write in my diary this morning and I thought, what am I going to write? Honestly, I'm not going to be one of those pathetic girls whose world stops spinning because of some guy." I hid a smirk as Jenna bit her lip, unsure of what to say to that.

"Yep, because your world is still rotating perfectly fine. That's why you're staring at your phone, waiting for a certain somebody to ring you." Elena's head snapped towards mine and I chose it wise to leave the room at this point. Probably best not to annoy every person I know. I jumped into my car and headed towards the grill. My shift's about to start.

Work was quite good today; all of the staff seemed relaxed and happy, they were joking around and wearing smiles on their faces, which isn't what they've been like the past few shifts I've had. Granted, I've not been here very long, but everyone always seemed depressed at work, and I don't think it's because they hate the job itself.

It's Keith.

He's not here today, he rang up earlier telling me that he had some business to take care of, and when I asked him what it was he told me to... well, to put it in kinder words, that I was not obliged to know. The atmosphere instantly changed as I told the staff, and even my mood has changed seeing everyone with smiles on their faces, with laughter drifting to my ears and jokes being thrown around. We were all taking extra breaks as well, so at the moment I'm just lounging around and playing on the pin ball machine. I'm not winning though.

"Brooke! Just the person I've been looking for!" Elena's chipper voice distracted me and I lost, yet again, causing an annoyed sigh to escape my lips.

"Elena, to what do I owe the pleasure?" I put some more money into the machine and decided that this time I was going to win, and I was going to get the high score. Pft, fat chance...

"Please tell me you're not busy tomorrow, you don't have work or anything do you?" I shook my head sideways.

"Nope, I'm free, why?" She sat down on a chair next to me and paused for a while. I cocked my head to the side so she knew to continue. I'm actually doing quite well this time! I think I might win after all.

"Caroline's having this sexy suds car wash, and she kept asking me to find people to help out."

"That's no problem, I've got nothing better to do anyway. It gets me out of listening to my father's voice mail messages, so..." Elena giggled at my aggravated tone. I really need to get a new number soon. It was then that I realised that Elena had mentioned Caroline, and I was curious to know how she was doing. She doesn't really like me, and It's not like I'm her biggest fan either, but what she's been going through the past few weeks is traumatic and terrifying. It's definitely made me see Damon in a new light, and not in the good kind.

"How is Caroline doing? I mean, you know, is she alright and everything? She looked awful the last time I saw her." Well, can you blame her? Her boyfriend was abusing her, she's not exactly going to be on cloud nine is she?

"I'm worried about her. I saw her at school earlier, and she was totally fine. It was like nothing had happened, and that it was just a normal day. I guess that'a a good thing, and she's totally focused on this car wash so at least she's not thinking about him. Or at least she wasn't." My eyes narrowed in confusion, but I smiled as I realised I wasn't far away from reaching my goal. I only need a few more points now...

"What do you mean at least she wasn't? He, hasn't dared to go near her again has he? I told him that her mother was the sheriff..." I muttered as anger began to rise within me. If I find out that's he's going to try and hurt her again-

"Not exactly. Stefan told her that Damon's leaving town, and that he's never coming back." I froze. He's leaving. And never coming back. Due to my frozen structure, the loser music began playing and I realised that my pause had caused me to lose the game. Again. I hit the machine in frustration, though I'm not sure whether it was directed to my losing self, or Damon Salvatore's departure.

"What do you means he's not coming back?"

"It means that he's never stepping a foot inside of Mystic Falls ever again. Which means he's never going to hurt Caroline again. She was really torn up about it at school when Stefan said that he'd been dealing with him, but I told her it's for the best. Which it is, right? I know Caroline isn't the nicest of people, but she doesn't deserve to be treated that way. At least that explains why Stefan's been gone for the past few days. Speaking of, have you seen Stefan? He's meant to be meeting me here." I'd pretty much zoned out after I heard the words, he's never stepping foot in Mystic Falls ever again. Something inside of me seemed to unlike her statement. I felt myself being nudged, and I saw Elena raise an eyebrow in expectation.

"Sorry, what?"

"Have you seen Stefan? He's meeting me here." I blinked a few times and shook my head sideways.

"No, but I'll keep an eye out." She nodded and stared at me for a few moments before she said she was going to ask Matt if he knew where he was.

Damon's not coming back. Damon's not coming back. The words were continuously being repeated as if they were on a loop, and I rubbed my head gently as I tried to make some sense of my thoughts. I was actually thankful. He's not going to be able to hurt Caroline anymore, or anyone inside of Mystic Falls. This is a good thing, not to mention Stefan won't have to be around him ever again, and neither will Elena or myself.

But I couldn't deny that there was something inside of me that felt... hurt. That felt... unhappy. I was too wrapped up in my Damon filled thoughts that I didn't notice Stefan appear until he began to wave a hand in front of my face.

"Brooke? Are you okay?" I managed to snap myself out of my thoughts, and focused my full attention on Stefan. Well, almost my full attention. There's still an aching in my chest that only became present a few moments ago...

"Oh yeah, I'm fine! Are you looking for Elena? She's over there by the pool table with Matt, I'll walk you over." Matt disappeared the second we arrived, and I stood there about ready to leave myself as Elena asked him why he was an hour late. You need to have a pretty good excuse to get away with turning up that late.

When Elena started to ask why all of Stefan's answers were vague responses, I knew it was my cue to leave.

"Right... So I'm going to get back to work." I got about two steps before I paused.

"I know you." All three of us turned around to see an elderly coloured man approaching Stefan with a look of astonishment and wonder on his face.

"My God..." He muttered in confusion, and I looked at Stefan with the same expression as the man was staring at him with.

"I'm sorry." Stefan said, as if he'd never seen this man before in his life.

"I know you. How can it be?" His stare was beginning to get a little unnerving.

"I think you have the wrong person."

"You haven't aged... a day." His words did absolutely nothing to alter my mood. It's not every day that you get somebody walk up to you and say things like this guy was. And to top it off, none of what he was saying seemed to make any sense. Unless Stefan was lying, and he did know who this person was. But why would he? He has no reason to.

"I'm sorry, excuse me. Hey, can I take you home? And we can talk about it..." Stefan and Elena walked away to the door, but she left alone and when Stefan turned around he and the stranger started staring at each other again. What the hell is going on?

I still don't understand. It just doesn't make any sense. Stefan muttered something about not knowing the guy to me, before rushing out of the door like Sonic the hedgehog. Meanwhile, the stranger stared at the spot Stefan had previously stood in before taking off himself, though a lot slower than buzz lightning over there.

I groaned at myself and my nosy ways. I need to stop overthinking this. It's nothing to do with me, so I may as well drop it. At least it proved to be a good distraction from Damon for a while. I groaned again and hit myself on the head in my own way of admonishing myself. I'm starting to wish some other problem would arise so that I wouldn't have to think about him. And luckily for me, something did. Or rather, someone.

"Hey, can I get a scotch on the rocks?" I lifted my head up to see Logan Fell stood before me.

"It's a little early to be drinking, don't you think?" I couldn't resist throwing in a smarmy comment. I don't like the guy one bit. He's no good for Jenna, but he's still managed to claw his way back into her heart.

"Well, I'm nervous; I have a date with your aunt. Your name's Brooke, right?"

"If that's what it says on my name tag, then yes." I muttered in a bored tone, just like I did to Tyler a few days ago. I handed him his drink and handed him his change.

"So Brooke, I know you and Jenna are really close. You got any tips for me, you know, so I can get back into her good books?" I scoffed at the hopeful look on his face, and I watched it fall as I smirked at him mockingly. Is this guy for real?

"Oh, I have plenty of tips. You're just not getting any of them. No offense, but I don't like you. At all. And I'm not buying this act that you're putting on. So, do whatever you want, it's not my problem. Just make sure it stays that way, because if it does become my problem... well, I'm sure you get the picture." He nodded in affirmation.

"Oh, I get the picture. Loud and clear." We stared at each other for a few moments until Jenna called out Logan's name. She sent me an accusing look, but I just smiled innocently. He was asking for it.

I noticed that it was almost seven o'clock, so I finished my shift and drove home, smiling as one of my favourite songs began to play on the radio. It was Jermaine Stewart's 'We don't have to take our clothes off'. I know it's an old song now, but it's still a clasic. I wasn't even alive when it came out, but it's still my favourite nonetheless. I pulled up by the side of the house, locked my car and walked through the front door, but I became confused when Jeremy was stood at the top of the stairs, beckoning me over towards him.

"What's wron-" My question was muffled when he wrapped his hand around my mouth after I'd reached the top of the stairs. He pointed to the kitchen as he let me go.

"Stefan's finally opening upto Elena." He whispered quietly.

"He is? About Katherine?" He nodded and I raised an eyebrow. Huh, that's a bit weird for mister secrecy over there.

"About time, Elena's been going out of her mind!" I whisper shouted, and smiled as Jeremy laughed. He's... being nice to me? I have tonnes of questions on my mind, but I don't want to ruin the moment.

"Well, I'm just going to hang out in my room for a while Jere, night." I went to walk away, deciding that it was probably best to leave whilst him and I are getting along. I don't know what's making him so happy, but I'm glad. It's been a while since he's been in a good mood. However, Jeremy caught my hand and turned me around.

"I want to say something; I need to clear the air. I know I've been a jackass to you, I've been one ever since you arrived. And, last week, when I said that about you not being able to..."

"It's fine Jeremy, it's all in the past, I'm not going to hold a grudge against you for it." He held up his hand at my words.

"No it isn't. I was completely out of line Brooke, and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I had no reason to talk to you like that. I don't even know why I said it. You and me use to get on really well, and I miss that." I watched as his eyes filled with guilt and regret, and I couldn't help but smile at his confession. I feel exactly the same way.

"Apology accepted. Like I said, it's all in the past. And I'll let you in on a secret: I miss that too." We both grinned at each other.

"Okay, so lets agree to never fall out ever again, especially over things that don't matter." I held out my hand and shook his in agreement.

"Sure thing little cousin. Now I'm going to go and get some sleep. Just make sure you keep it down in there, okay?" I teased as I headed to my room, his laughter being the last sound I heard before I shut the door.

Why did I agree to this? I'm sat here with Elena and Caroline, wearing a pair of light blue denim shorts and a red and white polka dotted bikini top. Elena and I were listening to Caroline tell us what to do and what the rules were.

"No freebies, no pay you laters, we aren't running a charity here."

"No, we are not." Elena replied enthusiastically, whilst I just muttered a 'sure'. Caroline seemed annoyed at my lack of liveliness, but I'd turned up, hadn't I? What more does she want?

"Hey girls." Stefan approached the three of us and I smiled at him in relief. From what I've heard, he doesn't want to do this either.

"Stefan, hey! I am so glad you're here!" He laughed at the look of dread on my face as Caroline shot me a sideways glare.

"Hey!" Elena greeted Stefan, and Caroline stood up with her hands on her hips.

"The event is called sexy suds, you know?" Soon enough the two of them left to wash some cars, which is kind of the point of being here, and just as I was about to leave Caroline grabbed my hand.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?" I nodded hesitantly and she motioned for me to sit down at the table where she was minding the money.

"Look, I know I've been a bitch lately. I just want you to know It's nothing to do with you, it's just how I am. You'll learn to get used to it after I while." I had to laugh at the fact that she wasn't sugar-coating what she was saying, but she was giving it to me straight. I can admire that. Honesty is something that is rare to find in a person these days. It was then that I realised that she was trying to apologise, in her own little way of course.

"Well, thanks for telling me that. It's no problem anyway, I know how rough things have been for you lately." She tried to hide her grimace.

"Oh, I'm so over that! I'm fine now. Caroline Forbes soldiers on!" We giggled for a few seconds before Elena came over to us.

"We're out of towels and those shimmy things." Caroline stared into space for a moment before replying.

"I'll go get some more. Mind the money you two." Caroline walked away, leaving Elena and I in a comfortable silence until I decided to break it.

"So, I heard about your night with Stefan. How did it go?" Elena's features lit up like a light bulb, and a golden glow radiated off of her skin. I didn't really need her to tell me, it was written all over her. She's completely smitten with him; Stefan obviously trusts her now.

"It went good. Actually, it was amazing! We cooked dinner together, and he finally opened up to me, even about Katherine. I feel like I'm getting to know the real him now. I like the whole mystery thing that he has going on, but I want to know what he's really like, and I want him to be able to trust me. Which he now does." I smiled at her in pure happiness.

"That's great Lena! Guess what, whilst you were having your little date, Jeremy came and apologised to me." Elena's jaw dropped to the floor.

"Seriously?" I nodded.

"Yeah. He basically said that he was sorry for the way he's been acting recently, and then he said that he wants things to be the way they used to be." Elena smiled gleefully.

"Could today get any better?" My smile turned upside down. Now she's tempted the Gods.

"Good one Lena, now things are going to get worse."

"How are they?"

"Well, you just tempted the Gods my friend. And they're very merciless." She scoffed and turned to the man standing before us.

"That'll be twenty dollars." I turned to face the customer and noticed that he was the guy from yesterday at the grill, the one who was convinced that he knew Stefan. What's he doing here? Maybe he's here to get his car washed, you dumbass.

"I saw you yesterday at the grill, you were speaking to a friend of mine." He looked at the two of us for a moment and I couldn't identify the look in his eyes.

"Well, I thought it was somebody I knew. Looks like I was wrong, it happens from time to time." He muttered, so quietly that I almost didn't hear him. He's lying; The signs are obvious. Fidgeting, lack of eye contact, tone of voice. He definitely knows something that we don't.

"Stefan Salvatore? He's my boyfriend. Are you sure you don't recognise him?" Looks like detective Elena's out to play again. I don't know if I can really blame her. He does have a lot of secrets. But sometimes, it's best just to leave secrets alone. You can't be hurt by what you don't know.

"It's probably just my mind playing tricks on me. An old man like me, it must be my age." He chuckled nervously. Elena sent me a look, asking me to help her out in someway.

"You don't look a day over twenty-one." He laughed at me and shook his head. Elena, however, wanted to get straight to the point and not beat around the bush like I was doing.

"Where did you think you've seen him before?"

"When I first moved to Mystic Falls, I stayed at the boarding house for a while. Stefan was just passing through to visit some of his relatives... his uncle I think, so I didn't really see him. But none of us knew he was here until the attack." Doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary. Well, except for the part about the attack.

"Attack?"

"His uncle was killed. Mauled by some kind of animal in the woods, I think they ruled it down to a mountain lion." I gripped the table. But I've seen Stefan's uncle before, Zach. He's not dead. Was it another uncle? Or is there something seriously wrong about this situation? I was getting the feeling that the old man wasn't telling us the full story.

"His uncle... Zach?" Elena spoke in a timid voice, slightly afraid of the answer. She's not alone.

"No, Joseph."

"Is there anything else? I mean, we don't really know about this story." I asked, eager to hear more. Normally I stay out of other people's business, and I'm not normally this nosy. Elena and I are definitely related. One day our Sherlock Holmes like ways are going to get us into trouble.

"Well, I'm not surprised. It happened years ago." Elena and I turned to look at each other before our eyes flashed back to the man's. Years ago? Stefan's only seventeen, how many years ago would this be? And then I remembered something else this man said.

You haven't aged a day.

A girl came over and said that her mom was wondering where he was, and then asked us if he'd been any trouble. He began to walk away, but neither me or Elena could let him go without hearing the rest of this story. We just couldn't. Even though there's a part of me that's telling me to run for the hills, there's a bigger part telling me that I need to know, and I think Elena feels the same way.

"Wait, Sir! Are you sure that the man that you saw, was... Stefan Salvatore? You're positive?" We caught up with him pretty fast and he looked at us with pity, but I didn't understand why.

"Yes. I remember this ring that he was wearing, that he still is. And his brother..." He clicked his fingers as he tried to remember the his name, and before I could stop myself the word tumbled out of my mouth.

"Damon?" I blurted, and the man smiled victoriously.

"Yes. Stefan and Damon. The Salvatore brothers."

"When was this?" Elena asked before I had the chance. However, I was not prepared for what I was about to hear. What was revealed. About Damon and Stefan.

"It was early June... 1953. Yes, June, 1953."

I was stood by the gymnasium waiting impatiently for my cousin. Elena had gone to to talk to Stefan, but in the mean time I'd thrown on a navy blue tank top and was tapping my foot against the concrete at an unregular pace. I began to calm down when I saw Elena approaching me.

"Did you find out anything?" Elena shook her head.

"No. I asked about his family and he said that they're spread out. I... I don't even... Ugh! I'm... I'm scared." My features softened as I realised how that Elena was really worried. Her skin tone had turned to a deathly pale, something that was very unusual for someone with an olive skin tone like herself.

Without thinking I pulled her into a hug and tried my best to comfort her. The problem is, I just don't know how. I'm scared too, but one of us has to be strong right now, and it looks like that's going to have to be me.

"It's going to be okay. Look, maybe we're overthinking this. Maybe that guy is actually just seeing things like he said, you never know, it could just be the ramblings of an old man." Despite everything I was saying, there wasn't a fibre in my body that believed a word of it. Not at all.

"No, he isn't Brooke. He was so sure. There is no way that he could be wrong." I pulled away and held her at arms length, searching her eyes for... well, I'm not sure what I was searching for. Maybe I just wanted to know that I wasn't the only one who was going out of her mind.

"I've got an idea. Why don't we see if we can get access to some old news reports. Maybe we can find something about Joseph Salvatore's death. There has to a logical explanation for this. There just has to be." Elena seemed to think it was a good idea, until we both realised that there was a problem with that plan. How are we going to get access to it?

"How are we going to get access?" My face fell in defeat. We could be onto something here. We could solve the mystery behind the Salvatore's.

Despite that voice in my head reminding me that some things are best left alone, I just didn't care anymore, and neither did Elena. Especially if there's something wrong about them. Something... evil. Damon's proved that theory. We don't know either of them very well. What if Stefan tries to hurt Elena? No, absolutely not. I won't allow it. We need to unvail their secret, and fast.

"Wait! I think I know how we can. I know somebody who has access, the problem is that we're going to have to convince him to give it to us." I was beyond ecstatic. Elena always knows how to save the day. Hold on a second... what does she mean we're going to have to convince him?

"Elena, why do I have the feeling that I'm not going to like what you're about to say?"

Turns out, I was right. Kill. Me. Now.

Logan Fell, what a conicidence. Here I am, standing here, being suffocated with the size of his ego. I'm trying not to let it show that I'd rather be anywhere but here by plastering a beaming smile onto my face, but all I really want to do is wipe that patronizing smirk off his face, and he knows it.

"Do you have any news stories on the fifty's? I've got some history homework and I'm really struggling with it."

"Well yeah, we do at the station, between the archives and the internet we have pretty much anything." He grinned smugly at me as I remained silent, letting Elena do all of the talking. We need to know what's going on, they could be dangerous. Damon is a fine example of that.

"I'm heading to the station now, I can give you a lift if you'd like? But, does it really require the two of you? Last time I checked, Brooklyn wasn't in high school." My jaw tightened.

"Well Logan, history has always been one of my favourite subjects. I'm only trying to help my cousin with her homework, I'm sure even you can understand that." I said snidely through gritted teeth. It's funny how the moment you begin to dislike someone, everything they do begins to annoy you. Even the fact that he was breathing near me was adding to my aggravated mood. He nodded, the smirk still present on his lips, and turned around as he headed towards his car.

Elena took off after Logan and I followed suit grudgingly. Let the thrilling ride to the police station begin!

"So, what is it that you're looking for?"

"An incident from 1953, if it even happened at the old Salvatore boarding house." Logan's cell phone began to ring, and he told us that he had to go because there was a fire that he had to report on; I was beyond thankful. Finally, he's gone. The car ride had been the most dragging one in the entire history of long car rides. I'm never getting into a car with him again, I'd rather crawl my way to my destination. Unfortunately, Logan had no idea when to quit, and before he walked out of the door he had to ask us something - just because he's an idiot.

"Hey, can you put in a good word to Jenna for me?" I knew he wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He doesn't have one. Elena giggled and said she would, while I just rolled my eyes.

"So, what are we going to search for first?" She asked me.

"I don't know. Something along the lines of... Joseph Salvatore and animal attack." It came up with a link almost instantly.

The link led to a video. Franklin Fell was reporting at the Salvatore boarding house, stating that a brutal animal attack had ended in tradegy. My eyes watched every inch of the computer screen carefully; I couldn't afford to miss anything. The body was wheeled out of the house, and then something startled me, shaking me to my inner core.

"Is that the nephew?"

And it was. Except it wasn't just any ordinary nephew. This person, and to quote the elderly man's words... hadn't aged a day.

Stefan.

Stefan.

Stefan?

No. That's not humanly possible.

Somehow, mine and Elena's hands became interlocked, and we were gripping each other's as if it were our lifeline.

"Hey, it's Jenna. I was hoping you could pick my phone up for me, I left it at the grill yesterday and I'm having to use Logan's right now. So if you have the time can you please drop in after you and Elena have finished at the police station and pick it up? Thanks Brooke, I'll see you soon!"

She left that message about an hour ago. So here I was, at the grill, walking out with her phone. Shaking. And using all of my will power to hold myself together.

Lets just get home. Just think about home. Where it's safe. Where you know what's real and what isn't.

My pace increased at the thought. I was power walking down a street whilst nightfall fell upon Mystic Falls, and I was almost on the verge of running. Running for my life.

Nothing makes sense. None of it. Stefan was... And Damon... they're... I don't even know.

I'm not a believer. I think I've proven that after ignoring my father whine on and on about inhuman things, things that don't exist. Things that I don't believe in. People live, go through the stages of their lives, grow old, and die. That's the cycle of the human race, and it's not meant to differ. Everything that exists has a logical explanation, a scientific explanation. Everything makes sense in one form or another.

Not immortality.

"Look, it's the original guest registary." " Is that Damon Salvatore? And Stefan Salvatore?"

"You haven't aged... a day."

Stefan's face flashing across the computer screen in 1953.

Not generated healing.

"Oh my God, you're bleeding!"

"He missed. It's not my blood. See, I'm fine." He wiped his hand on his jersey and held it out to me and Elena as I inspected it with my eyes. He was right; Jeremy missed. That's the only explanation, because there is no way that Stefan's wound would have closed up almost instantly.

There are rational explanations for all of these things.

"What is that?" Elena asked curiously as she looked at Caroline's neck.

I slid down the cardigan covering her dress, revealing some more marks on her back. These marks seemed cleaner, and I could finally see what they were: Bite marks.

There just has to be. Because there is absolutely no way, that my father has been telling the truth for all of these years.

"Sorry, it's just that when I woke up, I told people that it was a vampire that attacked me!"

I stopped moving. That feeling had returned. The tingling sensation. The one I get around-

"Hasn't anyone ever told you it's dangerous for a young woman to be walking the streets this late at night?" My eyes widened as the final clog turned in my head, and everything fell into place. The last piece to the jigsaw puzzle. They don't grow old. They don't get hurt. Girls bitten and bodies drained of blood. All of the secrets they're keeping.

"Sorry, it's just that when I woke up, I told people that it was a vampire that attacked me."

"I told people that it was a vampire."

"A vampire."

"Vampire."

Oh my God.

My body went numb. I knew I should be running. Running as fast as I possibly can. As fast as I humanly can. But my body seemed to have other ideas. My hand rose to my chest and clutched the point above my racing heart as I turned around, finding myself mere breaths away from Damon Salvatore, his cobalt blue eyes connecting with mine.

"What are you?"

A/N: Dun Dun Dunnnnn! Thought I'd leave you with a cliffhanger, though obviously unless you guys have been living under rocks, will pretty much get the jist on how his reply might go. I'm sorry for the lack of Damon in this chapter, I was upset too, but don't worry, the next chapter is Damon filled! :)

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