The guys were hanging out at the Grill. Alex and Rob were with Jeremy. Amy was sitting by herself, waiting to see when Margret would show up. "Duke's a douche." Matt was saying.

"Yeah, a douche with ten kegs. Aka my new best friend." Tyler said. Jeremy laughed a bit. "What's your problem, Gilbert?" Tyler asked.

"Don't have one, Lockwood." Jeremy said.

"Yeah, I didn't think so."

"Dude, why don't you back off?" Rob asked him.

"Do you ever get bored of it?" Matt asked Tyler.

"Of what?" Tyler asked.

"Yourself." Matt said. The guys laughed.

"Good one, man." Alex said. He and Rob high-fived.

"Keep laughing, buddy." Tyler told them.

Amy saw Caroline walk in. She headed over to Jeremy, so she headed over to them, too. "Hey, Jeremy. Where is Elena?" Caroline asked. "I've been texting her and Bonnie all day about Duke's party."

"Uh, she went somewhere with Stefan." Jeremy told her.

"I am so not going to be one of those girls who disappears just because she has a new boyfriend."

"Right, like how you disappeared the other night cause of you're argument with Matt?" Amy pointed out.

"Easy, Amy." Rob said. "She's been through a rough time."

"Who's Duke?" Jeremy asked, changing the subject.

"Some guy that graduated a couple of years ago. And he throws a party every time he comes home from Duke." Caroline explained.

"Wait, Duke goes to Duke?" Jeremy asked.

"That's kinda funny when you think about it." Alex said.

"His real name's Bob or something. He's a total ass, but, he buys the beer." Caroline told them. "You should come."

"Uh, yeah, I don't think so."

"Seriously, Care, he just got over his stoner problem." Amy pointed out. "No offense, Jeremy."

"None taken."

"No, seriously. Everyone goes. Even quiet sad little loner brothers. Think about it." Caroline told him.

"Well, I'm up for it." Rob said. "Not that I'm much of a fan of drinking, but the party sounds awesome."

"I'm not sure." Amy said. "Isn't being held in the woods?"

"Don't tell me you're scared of the woods now, too." Rob said.

"No, I'm scared of what's in the woods." Amy said. "The last time there was a party there…" She shook her head, not wanting to think about how Vicki was attacked the last time.

"Hey, have any of you seen Margret today?" Alex asked.

"No, she was supposed to meet me here ten minutes ago." Amy said.

"Maybe she got held up meditating or something." Rob said.

"My sister doesn't meditate." Jeremy pointed out.

"Hey, sorry I'm late." A voice behind him said. Margret had arrived.

"I've been texting you for the past ten minutes, why didn't you answer?" Amy asked.

"My phone was off." Margret told her. "So, what's going on here?"

"Apparently we've been invited to this party in the woods." Jeremy told her.

"I don't know, Jer." Margret said. "Maybe we shouldn't go. I mean, it's probably just going to be a bunch of drunks and drug-users. No offense."

"None taken."

"So, then we'll have our own party." Alex said. "I mean, it doesn't have to be as lame as all that stuff."

"Just promise me we'll stick together this time." Margret said. "No offense, but with the last party that went down in the woods, there's safety in numbers, you know?"

"Hey, no problem, Margie." Alex told her. "We'll all be there."

Meanwhile, Amy was talking with Rob. They had moved away from the others a while ago. "So, it looks like your cousin and Matt are really getting close, huh?"

"Yeah, almost like they're dating now." Amy said. "I think she really likes him."

"I don't think he'd hurt her, if that's what your concerned about." Rob told her.

"Well, it's slow progress." Amy said. "She doesn't know if it'll work out between them, and the last thing I want is to see her upset again."

"Hey, if you want, I'll make sure he pays if he does hurt her."

"That's not necessary." Amy said. "Anyway, guess we're going to the party?"

"I'll meet you there." Rob said. "I've got practice with Alex, then I need to check on something before I head over."

"Okay."

That night, the group was in the woods. "Where's Melody?" Amy asked.

"She's back home. She got a cold the other night." Margret explained.

"Yeah, poor girl's sneezing all the time." Rob said.

"You're such a good brother to her." Amy said.

"Well, I'm not going to let her down."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Oh, brother. This again?" Alex asked. "Haven't you guys argued enough for one day?"

"Speaking of people who argue…" Margret nudged his shoulder. They saw Elena and Damon together.

"Seriously, what is up with them?" Amy asked.

"They're working on some kind of project or something." Margret said. "She needed both of them to help."

"Oh, so it's like a tutoring thing?"

"You could say that." Margret said. The group walked over, where they were joined by Caroline and Matt.

"Elena, hey." Matt said.

"Elena, oh, my have you been?" Caroline asked.

"Long story, no time to tell it." Damon told her.

"Wasn't talking to you."

"Sure you were."

"Back off, Damon." Amy said.

"Relax, I'm not here for her."

"Okay, what's going on here?" Rob asked.

"Dude, that's Stefan's brother." Alex told him.

"Oh. That explains things."

"We haven't met. I'm Matt." Everyone groaned when Matt stepped into the conversation.

"Matt, there's a reason we haven't met." Damon told him. He turned to Elena. "You and I are going that way." He started walking off, then turned and waited for her.

"I'm sorry, you guys." She walked off.

"Careful, Elena." Margret said as she left.

"I hope she knows what she's getting into." Amy said.

"I don't think he'd hurt her." Margret told her. They all looked at her like she was crazy. "Look, he was over the other night. He's actually not as bad as you think."

"He hurt my cousin."

"But she's getting over him." Margret said. "Besides, I had a feeling they wouldn't last long, anyway."

"Hey, I think they hired a band for this party." Alex said. "Why don't we go see?" The girls, forgetting their argument, followed him.

"Nice one." Rob whispered.

"Thanks."

A couple hours later, the group were together. Margret really wasn't enjoying this anymore. "You okay?" Alex asked.

"I'm worried about Elena. She and her friends could be attacked."

"I don't think there's anything to worry about." Amy said.

"Really? What about stalker chick?" Rob pointed out.

"Excuse me?" Amy asked. Rob pointed. They turned and saw Anna talking with Jeremy.

"What do you think's going on with those two?" Rob asked.

"I don't know." Margret said. "He says she creeps him out, but they seem to be on friendly terms with each other."

"Maybe he secretly has a crush on her, too." Amy said.

"Wouldn't surprise me. It seems like she's into him." Rob said.

"It looks like they're headed for the woods."

"Maybe we should check it out." Margret said.

"Are you insane?" Amy asked.

"No, but I'm really starting to get worried." Margret said.

"We'll cover more ground if we split into two teams." Rob pointed out.

"Call if you find anything." Alex told him. With that, the four of them split into two groups of two and walked in opposite directions.

A few minutes later, Amy was starting to feel really bad about being in the woods. "Maybe we should just get out of here." She said.

"Are you kidding me?" Rob asked. "You always want to bail whenever things are too uncomfortable for you."

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is."

"Is that how you see me? Some weak girly-girl who has no idea how to protect herself?" Amy asked.

"No. I see someone who is an even worse version of her cousin."

"Hey, at least I don't sleep around." Amy said. "I always knew she was reckless, and after this thing with Damon…"

"You're worried. You have every right to be, but Matt's a good guy, Amy." Rob told her.

"I know, but things get really confusing sometimes, you know. My whole life, I spent so much time trying to be the opposite of Caroline. Sure, we have some things in common, but she's just too boy crazy to really pay attention to anything else that happens." Amy explained.

"And how do you see yourself?"

"As someone who, while might be into shopping as much as her, wants to be different. Someone who would rather have friends that have my back. Over one person to spend my life with."

"Look, I know you're worried something bad's going to happen, but it's not." Rob told her. "There's no way whatever hurt Vicki would be able to take on two of us."

"Unless it was a very large creature." Amy said.

"Hey, once we're done checking out this area, we'll head back to the party." Rob told her. Amy shivered. He put an arm around her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Margret and Alex were still looking around. "Man, I wish I could see where I was going." Margret said. "I wish I brought a flashlight or something."

"Well, we're just going to have to do without one." Alex said. Margret felt something touch her hand.

"What was that?"

"It's just me." Alex told her. "Maybe we should hold hands so we don't get separated."

"Yeah, good idea." Margret said. They grabbed hands and continued walking through the woods. "It's kinda quiet. I would give anything to hear Amy complaining."

"Yeah, me too." Alex said. "At least she never stopped talking." Margret heard something then.

"You hear that?"

"Sounds like we're not alone out here."

"It's coming from that direction." Margret said. "Let's check it out." They walked in the direction they had heard the sound come from.

Back with Amy and Rob, they had both stopped looking and were walking back. "Man, I hate being out here." Amy said.

"We'll be back soon enough. Besides, not like we found anything out here except more trees and dirt." Rob pointed out.

"Yeah, it's like why bother going for a walk out here when the landscape is completely the same no matter where you go?"

"I like you, Amy."

"So what?"

"No, I mean I like you, Amy."

"Oh." Amy looked at him in surprise.

"Look, I don't want things to be weird between us." Rob said. "I mean, your my friend and all, but I guess spending time with you made me see how awesome you are."

"I don't want to wreck things, either." She told him. "I'm just not sure if I feel the same way. I mean, no offense, but you just don't seem like the type who would…" Amy never got a chance to finish because his lips were on hers. She got lost in it for a few seconds, before remembering where they were and slapping him.

"Dude, isn't kissing someone in the woods a good way to ensure that both parties will die in the woods?" Amy pointed out.

"Sorry, I didn't…" Rob ran his hand through his hair. "You watch a lot of horror films, don't you?"

"No, but that doesn't mean I don't know the rules." Amy said. "Last thing I want is for you to sign our death sentence."

"Hey, we're almost there." Rob said. "I think I see something." Amy saw it, too. There was a light coming from a flame several feet away. The two of them walked back to the party.

"Hey, where have you two been?" Caroline asked.

"Long story." Amy said.

"You two okay?"

"Yeah, we are." Matt said.

Margret and Alex were back at Elena's house. They had found Jeremy passed out in the woods, along with Elena, Stefan, and Damon. They helped Elena get him home and came to make sure he was okay. Elena showed up and gave him a bottle of water.

"How's your head?" She asked.

"Oh, it's all right." Jeremy told them. "I just wish I knew how I passed out. I didn't drink that much, I swear."

"You should really stay away from that stuff, Jer." Margret said.

"And you don't remember anything?" Elena asked him.

"The whole thing's pretty cloudy. I know how this looks. I'm sorry."

"No, Jeremy. Don't be sorry. You didn't do anything, okay?" Elena told him.

"At least you're safe, that's what matters." Alex pointed out.

"Okay."

"I've gotta head over to Bonnie's for a little bit. Is there anything you need?" Elena asked.

"Oh, no. I'm just…I'm gonna crash."

"Okay, well, Jenna's here and I'll be back soon." Elena turned to go. "Oh, Margie. Alex. Thanks for helping us find him."

"It was nothing." Alex said.

"He's my brother, too, Lena. I'd do anything to help him." Margret pointed out. She left. Margret and Alex sat in the living room. "Thanks for helping me tonight."

"Anytime, Margie." He told her. "You know I'd help you with anything. Besides, if he were my brother, you'd probably do the same."

"Yeah, at least you don't share a birthday with him." Margret pointed out.

"Still, I admire how much you care about others." Alex told her. Margret blushed. She wasn't sure what was going on, but it was a little awkward.

"I should go check on Jeremy." She told him.

"Yeah, I guess I better be going, too. They're probably wondering where I am."

"Thanks again, Alex. For everything tonight." Margret told him. She kissed him on the cheek before heading upstairs. "Hey, how are you doing?" She asked Jeremy.

"Fine, I'm just really tired." He told her. "It's been a long night."

"I know."

"So, what were you and Alex doing?"

"We were just looking for you guys." Margret told him. "That's all. Elena was worried about you, so she had us out looking."

"Thanks." Jeremy said.

"Good night, Jeremy." Margret said, leaving. She was a little tired herself. She headed into her room to get some rest.