Elena glanced around, nervous about what Damon might do this time. "I wanted to apologize for the other night. I really didn't mean to freak you out. Sometimes I tend to jump to conclusions without getting the facts straight."
"That explains so much." Elena said.
"That and the fact that we've had this sibling rivalry for the past few years."
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Stefan asked.
"I think something's up with my date." Caroline said.
"Like what?" Stefan asked.
"He's been acting strange and distant all night."
"Look, I don't like fighting with my brother. But sometimes we just see things differently." Damon was telling Elena.
"Does this have anything to do with her?" She asked. "You know, the one who skipped town? Katherine?"
He looked at her. "How did you know her name?"
"Lucky guess." Elena said, mentally kicking herself for coming up with the worst excuse in the book.
"I'm not sure if she left at her own free will, though." Damon told her. "The last time we both really saw her…something happened. I don't think she noticed us, though."
"I'm sorry about what happened." Elena told him. "But I'm not going to get in the middle of this. I hope you two manage to work things out."
"So do I."
Vicki and Tyler were sitting on a bench outside the house. "So you want to dance?" Vicki asked.
"I'm not a very good dancer."Tylertold her.
"You're kidding, right?" Vicki said. "You live at this cool place and you can't dance?"
"I never said I couldn't dance." He pointed out. "I just don't like dancing."
"Oh, come on. It looks like everyone else is enjoying it. Besides, I'm trying to give you a chance here. Unless you're afraid I'll go running back to Jeremy."
"Look, I know you're not over him and I don't want to mess this up. Not again."Tylertold her. She stood up.
"Maybe I'm not the only one who needs to take a chance here." She held out her hand.
"Fine, just don't tell anyone about this." He took her hand and stood up. They walked toward the dance floor.
Damon and Elena stepped outside and ran into Stefan and Caroline. "What'd we miss?" Damon asked.
"We were just talking about school." Caroline told them. "And Marcus."
"Here, I got you a drink." Elena handed Caroline a glass. She didn't know why, but she had this bad feeling. So she added a little vervain to her drink.
"Thanks."
"Stefan, you don't mind dancing again, do you?" Elena asked.
"Of course not."
"They are so cute together." Caroline said.
"I thought they were just friends." Damon pointed out. They both laughed.
"Please, they're so into each other." Caroline said. "They just don't realize it."
"What did he say this time?" Stefan asked.
"He apologized for antagonizing us. He explained that some of it comes from whatever happened with Katherine."
"You know?" Stefan asked.
"I only know her name, not what happened."
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"I get it, Stefan. You have your secrets and I have mine." Elena said.
"I know. Sometimes I wish you'd tell me."
"I don't know if I can." Elena admitted. "It just feels too soon, you know?"
"Look, if you're worried I'll tell my brother anything, I won't." Stefan told her.
"It isn't about Damon." Elena said. "I'm sorry I brought up Katherine. I was just wondering what happened, that's all."
"I really don't feel like talking about it."
"So, what school did you transfer from anyway?" Elena asked.
"Some private school. It was kind of boring, to be honest."
"I have to go." Elena told him. She turned away and left.
"What was all that about?" Bonnie asked her.
"Sorry, fashion emergency." Elena said as she ran past her and into the bathroom.
Inside, Caroline found Marcus. Damon was still next to her. "Where have you been?" She asked Marcus.
"I've been looking for you." Marcus told her.
"You just disappeared." Caroline pointed out.
"Sorry. I was looking for something."
"Well, you could've told me first."
"Look, can you meet me in the backyard?" Marcus asked. "We can get things straightened out then."
"Fine." Marcus left. Caroline walked over to Damon. He was holding some kind of crystal.
"What is that?"
"My girlfriend dropped this here a few years ago." Damon explained. "I wanted to return it to her."
"So, where is she, anyway?"
"She's out of town at the moment. I'll air mail it to her."
"I never thought you'd be such a gentleman." Caroline said.
"We're not all bad, you know."
Caroline went into the bathroom and ran into Elena. "Hey, Care."
"Hey. How are things with Stefan?"
"They're improving. Sort of." Elena told her.
"Really? Cause you seem kinda down about something." Caroline said.
"Caroline?" Elena asked. "What's that on your neck?"
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked. Elena unwrapped the scarf Caroline was wearing and gasped. There were bite marks on her.
"Oh my god! What happened?"
"I don't know, Elena." Caroline said. She sounded scared. "Who could've done this?"
"Did you see anyone unfamiliar?" Elena asked.
"No, except maybe my date." Caroline said. Elena looked at her. Then she really noticed her.
"You don't remember what happened." She realized. To cover up, she added, "He probably knocked you out."
"I have no idea what's going on, Elena." Caroline said. "I have to meet him outside."
Elena stepped out of the bathroom and ran into Marcus. "Look, stay away from Caroline or I'll call the sheriff."
"Wow. That's different." Marcus said.
"Elena, what's going on?" Damon asked.
"Something's wrong with Caroline." Elena told him. "Keep an eye on her?" She ran into Stefan. "I'm sorry. There's something I need to take care of."
"What's going on?"
"I think Caroline's in trouble." Elena told him. "There were bite marks on her neck and she seemed to be acting strange. I think it's Marcus."
"How can I help?" Stefan asked.
"You can get Sheriff Forbes." Elena said. "He needs to be taken down."
"Elena, I think I know how to handle this."
"It's too dangerous, Stefan." Elena said. "If he's what I think he is, I'm not going to risk you getting killed."
"What do you even know about this, anyway?" Stefan asked. "I mean, it's not like you stand any better chance than I do. After all, my family's on the Council."
"Hello? Gilbert." Elena pointed out, gesturing to herself. "Besides, I'll be fine."
"I'll call you when I'm ready." Stefan told her.
Outside, Vicki ran into Jeremy. "You actually came here?" She asked.
"Yeah. My sister called and said there was a problem."
"I'll see you around, Jer." Vicki told him.
In the garden, Damon noticed Caroline talking with Marcus. He looked angry at her. "Why do you always treat me like I'm dirt?" Caroline asked him. "There's no good reason for it. Do you even have any feelings for me?"
"Of course I do." Marcus told her, obviously lying.
"Look, I don't want to be here." Caroline said. "Could you please just take me…"
"It's fine, Caroline." Marcus said. "I've been over you for a long time now." Suddenly, his face started to change.
Back inside the house, Elena heard Caroline scream. She sped out to the garden to find Caroline on the ground, barely conscious. Damon was lying on the ground. Elena checked to make sure he still had a pulse. Luckily, he was just knocked out. But Caroline seemed near death. Elena looked at Marcus.
"You get the hell out of here right now and leave my friend alone!" She yelled at him.
"Not a chance, girlfriend." Marcus told her. He launched himself at her but she fought back at him. She kicked him hard in the stomach. He grabbed her from behind. Suddenly, Stefan was at her side. He had a small branch from the ground in his hand.
"I couldn't find my brother's stake, so I had to improvise." He told her.
"Get out of here!" Elena said. "I've got this." Suddenly, Marcus grabbed Stefan and threw him to the ground. "Go find help and get Damon out of here. I'll take care of him." She picked up the stake, sped over to Marcus and shoved it into his chest. Instantly, he turned grey and died.
Elena went over to Caroline. She was losing consciousness fast. "Caroline…"Stefan was busy helping his brother, so he hadn't seen her kill Marcus. He stood up to get help. Elena bit into her wrist and gave her blood to Caroline. Stefan turned and saw Caroline leaning against Elena's wrist.
A few minutes later, he and Damon were gone. Caroline woke up and found the crystal next to her. "It must've fallen out when he tried to save me." She said.
"Are you okay?" Elena asked.
"Where's Marcus?" Caroline asked.
"Don't worry, Caroline. He can't hurt you anymore." Elena told her. "Come on, I'll get you out of here."
"Thanks." The two girls left.
At the Boarding House, Damon woke up in the living room. "Uh. It feels like I got hit by a car."
"You were trying to save Elena's friend."
"Yeah. I remember, that vampire asshole. What happened?"
"I wanted to apologize. You were right about them." Stefan told him. "They are real and this one would've killed you and that girl if Elena and I hadn't stopped them." They looked at each other for a moment.
"I'll try to stop being so detective like around the others." He told him. "But maybe now you'll take it more seriously."