The next day I am sitting on my bed when there is a knock on my door "Come in" I called out. Aunt Jenna and Elena walk in taking a seat on my bed.
"We need to talk Joey." aunt Jenna said.
"I figured as much"
"You need to go back to school. I need to know where you are at all times. You had us all worried sick for months not knowing where you were if you were ok? We had no way of getting in touch with you then all of the sudden you come back. We need time to adjust it can't be like it was before you left do you understand?" she tells me
"I understand aunt Jenna and I will do whatever I need to in order for you trust me again. I'm sorry I left it just felt like I was trapped I need to get away I'm not trying to make excuses for myself. I missed you guys so much and I want to be back and be a family." I told her and giving her a hug. She gets up to leave and Elena stays seated I figured Stefan said something to her. "So are you going to explain to me why you're dating a vampire?" I ask straight to the point
"How do you know about vampires? I love him Joey I know he will never hurt me." Elena has a smile on her face as she talks about him it makes me happy to see her so happy.
"Elena I know about vampires the same way I have known everything my whole life. I can read people's minds, see their memories, I can manipulate peoples thoughts, communicate through only thoughts. You never believed me when we were kids but it's true." She looks taken back by my answer so I demonstrate for her.
I promise I won't tell anyone about Stefan being a vampire I see how happy he makes you. I told her in her mind this seems to relax her I knew she was worried I might expose him. "So I guess you know Bonnie is a witch?" I asked
"Yeah she told me but how did you know?"
"I ran into a Bennett witch a few months back. I really missed you Elena I truly am sorry about everything I put you guys through." I tell her
"I was more hurt than anything after you left we would have been here for you. You didn't have to go through it alone, you are my little sister I will always be worried and look out for you and Jeremy. I missed you too and I am glad your back." she pulled me into another tight hug starting to tear up. "Talk to me please don't leave again we need you here. Now get dressed we are going to be late for school." she leaves my room and I get ready as fast as I can dark blue skinny jeans, white tank top, black ankle boots and black leather jacket. I leave my light brown hair down in its natural waves and put on light make-up. I grab a quick cup of coffee before meeting Elena in the car. Jeremy had already left for school I really need to speak to him alone make sure he is ok. Walking through the halls I hear the whispers and I see the people staring at me, you would have thought I murdered someone. All their thoughts were the same is that Jocelyn Gilbert? What is she doing back? and so on and so on that is the problem of living in a small town nothing goes unnoticed no matter the indiscretion.
"Joey!" I hear someone shriek from behind me before I am engulfed in blonde hair. I feel the tears falling on my shoulder as I hold on tight to my best friend that I left behind Macy Forbes. She is my height 5'6 slim body blonde hair blue eyes and pale skin tone she is the younger sister of Caroline that is how we became best friends. Caroline was always coming over to play with Elena and Macy with me I missed her so much I hold on to her tight fighting my tears. We pull away from each other when I feel her slap me across the face. My cheek feels like it is on fire I almost forgot how bad a temper she has.
"I guess I deserved that" I mutter
"Your damn right you deserved that how dare you leave without even telling me. Almost seven months I have been going out of my mind worried sick about you with no way to get a hold of you!" she is screaming at me in the middle of the hall dozens of people stop to watch what is going on.
"I don't expect you to understand but can we talk about this later not in the middle of the hall and you can yell and scream at me till you have nothing left to say." I said to her
"Fine my house after cheerleading practice you better show." She walks away and I let out a huge breath. This is what I was expecting anger and everyone hating me for leaving, I knew it was a mistake to leave two months in but I was too scared to turn back by then. The rest of the school day went without much incident most people just stared at me no one really talked to me. I got both happy and confused reactions from Caroline and Bonnie, Matt almost didn't let me go from our hug telling me never do that again. The person who surprised me the most was Tyler Lockwood giving me a hug and telling me he was happy I was back. I have had a crush on him for as long as I can remember but always figured he never even knew who I was. After school I start to walk home but decide to go to falls instead I always feel at peace when I am alone with nature that spot especially. I feel a connection to earth and it's elements something I can't explain. Walking through the woods I know he is following me I can feel his presence I chose to let him think I'm oblivious. Once I reach the roaring falls I take a deep breath and sit on the ground.
"You it is impolite to follow a lady Mr. Salvatore" I said with a smirk on my face. Hearing him come out from the trees to my right I turn to look at him he is in black and leather I guess he is the bad brother.
"How did you know I was here?" he asks taking the seat next to me
"Wouldn't you like to know" I fired back
"You are a strange one Ms. Gilbert. You know what I am which leave me at a disadvantage." He said I turn to face him. "What are you?" he is trying to compel me?
"Compulsion doesn't work on me but nice try. Like I told Stefan as far as I know I'm human with perks as I call it."I honestly don't know what I am.
"You have a sense if humor that's good. So tell me why did you leave Mystic Falls?"He asks
"Things got too much so I left now I'm back simple as that. What brought you back?" I asked him I was enjoying his company.
"A diabolical plan that seems to be falling apart" he told me I start to laugh. I was searching his mind to find out his plan and see what I could find out about him
"Must not have been a very good plan so this Katherine was the love of your life? Question does Elena know she looks exactly like her?" His expression is pure shock
"How did you know that? Yes she is the love of my life, yes Elena knows." Nodding my head listen to what he has to say I check the time I have to go talk to Macy.
"Well as much fun as this has been I have to go I'll see you later Damon." I get up to start walking away when he blocks me.
"At least let me walk you" He said
"Fine no more questions though it's getting annoying." I told him chuckling to myself . We walked in comfortable silence there was something about Damon that just made me feel comfortable around him. I walked up to Macy's door and knocked Damon vampire sped away before Caroline opened the door.
"Hey Care is Macy here?" I ask
"She is in her room come on in" She told me moving out of the way. I was really nervous to have this talk with her she can be very hot headed and emotional at times. She opened her door with an emotionless look on her face and it broke my heart.
"Well you actually showed up" she said coldly
"I did can we talk?" She makes the motion for me to come in I sit on the chair at her desk. "I'm sorry... I never wanted to hurt you or anyone else...everything just became too much so many people giving me their sympathy. I couldn't handle it so I took off not thinking of anyone but myself. I missed you so much I wanted to call you but I was afraid of what you say and I didn't want to cause you anymore pain in case I didn't come back." I told her in one breath. She sat there still taking in what I was saying for a few moments before she finally spoke.
"You need to know I was worried sick about you I was here for you. You could have talked to me you didn't have to leave, that was so selfish! But I missed you so much... please don't do that again!" She said before we were embracing neither one of us wanting to let go. "So now that is over with tell me what you have been doing these months any boys?" she ask and I giggle this is what I missed most just talking about stupid things. I fill her in on the places I went the few people I met that were interesting.
"There were no guys that really took my interest so nothing really went there" I tell her
"So are you still hung up on Tyler Lockwood he is single you know and looking pretty good." I feel my cheeks blush
"Is he? I don't know if I'm still hung up on him but he was looking good wasn't he?" I said biting my lip. We chatted for a little bit longer before I went home, I went straight to Jeremy's room figuring I could talk to him too.
"Hey Jer can we talk?" I ask him
"Not really a good time Joey" he responds
"Okay I understand maybe tomorrow than" it really hurt that he didn't want to talk to me but I knew he probably need some time. I didn't expect things to go back to normal but a part of me hoped it would. I love my family I made selfish decisions I can't take back just have to move on and be there for them now.