The first thing I notice when my eyes open is the bright light hovering above me.

Am I in heaven?

"She should be awake by now. The concussion wasn't as bad as we had anticipated."

"Thank you, Dr. Fell."

Doctor?

Wait.

As realization slams into me, I skyrocket up, and my head fuzzes, a result of the whiplash. Am I in the hospital? As I glance around the room, painted in white with not a mark on the walls, I notice the sink in the corner, and the set of couch and recliner in the opposite corner. A small TV hangs on the wall in front of me, and as I move to turn it on, I feel a slight pinch in my arm, and when I look down, I see the IV injected into my arm.

What the hell-?

Before I can think of any events that might have triggered my visit, the sound of a door swings open, and I shoot my gaze toward the entrance.

"Elena,"

Grayson approaches me, and as he walks further into the room, I spot Jenna and Jeremy behind him, both displaying looks of concern and relief.

"Hi," I smile, and I realize that my voice is hoarse. Vaguely, I wonder how long I've been in here. I assume it's been at least a couple of days.

"Finally you're up," Jenna says as she takes a seat in the recliner. "We thought you'd never wake up."

Maybe I have been in here longer than two days.

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

"Four days," Jeremy says, and my eyes sweep to him.

"What happened?" I squeak, stunned by the length of my stay at the hospital. I don't remember a thing, so it's even more shocking why this visit has been so long.

"We were hoping you could tell us," Grayson clears his throat. "All we know is, we get a call about 1:00 on Tuesday from Bonnie that you were unconscious at some woman's house. The police found you and told Bonnie."

Tuesday.

Bonnie.

Unconscious.

Woman's house.

Police.

Suddenly, everything comes back. Trudy's house, her confession, her suicide, the note.

Then the blackness.

The note.

My one clue.

"I sort of remember," I sigh, my head starting to pinch. "Where's Bonnie?" I ask.

"She's at the station." Jenna says. "She stopped up here earlier, but she was called away for work."

"I need to call her," I breathe as I reach for my phone. I have to talk to her. I have to tell her what happened at Trudy's. What I found.

"No, you don't," Grayson shakes his head as he waves his hand. "What you need is to rest. Bonnie's busy, and you're still injured."

"How did I..How was I unconscious?" I ask. Not that they could probably tell me the truth. Because they don't know it themselves.

"The police told Bonnie that you had a bump on the back of your head. You must've tripped on something wherever you were."

I didn't trip.

I'm awake enough to know that much.

But if I tell them that someone must've knocked me unconscious, then more unnecessary questions will be asked, the kind that I can't answer.

"Right," I nod, my stomach growing with unease. Who would've done such a thing? What the hell happened that night?

"Anyway," Grayson pats his legs. "We need to get going. Isobel's expecting us to come over,"

"Wait, what?"

"Ever since we told her about you being in the hospital, she's been having a rough time, and she wants us to come over and have dinner as a family," Grayson explains, and in the corner of my eyes, I see Jenna's face scrunch into a look of disgust. I nearly burst out in a fit of laughter.

"Yeah, because Isobel knows how to lead a family reunion." She scoffs.

"I told you, you don't have to go," Grayson tells her, but I know he wants her to go.

"And I told you what kind of a schmuck she'd think I was if I didn't go." Jenna shoots back. "So, yes, even though it will be dreadful, I'm going."

"Suit yourself," Grayson mutters, earning him one of Jenna's award-winning death glares.

"Are you going to be alright?" Jenna asks, and I realize she's talking to me.

"Yes," I nod. "Go have fun at Isobel's," I giggle, and Jenna rolls her eyes.

"That'll be the day," she splutters.

"We'll be back tonight," Grayson tell me, and I nod. "See you guys later."

Once the door shuts and I am indeed alone, I throw Grayson's word s out of the window as I grab my phone and dial Bonnie.

As I stare out of the window above the sofa, a soft knock comes on the door, and I sit up anxiously, expecting Bonnie.

Instead, a blonde woman peeks her head through the door and turns to me.

"Can I come in?"

I nod.

As she enters the room, I see in her hand a vase with an array of assorted flowers, ranging from every possible color. Attached to the vase is a green string, containing a pair of balloons with the message "Get Well" and "Feel Better" printed on each of them.

"Someone dropped these at the front desk for you," she explains, and I assume she's noticed my look of confusion toward the flowers. "By the way, he was ridiculously hot."

I would wonder who sent them, but deep down, I know.

"Is there a card?" I ask. A small part of me is still unsure. I need confirmation.

The nurse shuffles her hands through the flowers, and I almost tell her to leave it because I don't want the flowers to be messed up, but she speaks before I have the chance to.

"I don't see one," she says sadly, and I slump backward.

"Alright," I sigh as I lay my curiosity to rest. "Thank you."

"Oh, and Dr. Fell should be on her way up to see you in a bit," she tells me.

"Thank you for letting me know." I say, and I watch her walk toward the door.

"Oh, excuse me," I sit up, my back aching slightly as a result.

Immediately, the nurse stops in her tracks and turns to me.

"Do you know when I might get out of here?" I ask, prepared for her answer.

She shakes her head. "I don't. But probably the day after tomorrow, if not tomorrow,"

"Thank you again," I tell her, and she gives me a smile and walks out.

Another knock comes about ten minutes later, and it startles me as I was nearly asleep.

"Elena?"

Bonnie.

"Bonnie?" I gasp, and I'm suddenly wide awake as I sit up.

"How are you?" she asks as she enters the room. When she meets my eyes, her mouth opens. "Were you asleep?"

I shake my head. "No," I lie. If I tell her I was, then she will excuse herself, and I need to talk to her.

A look of skepticism crosses her soft features, and before she can question me, I jump in.

"I assume you know about Trudy," I say, and Bonnie's face turns dim.

She nods. "She had a heart attack."

Wait.

What?

No.

"No," I shake my head. "She-She committed suicide,"

Bonnie's eyes open so wide that the white dominates the green.
"What?" she gasps, clamping her hand to her mouth.

I nod. " I saw her do it," I swallow as the memory floats back. "But I don't understand. Why would they-?"

Realization slaps me in the face.

They have no reason to believe that she committed suicide.

I took the only evidence.

"Crap," I mutter under my breath.

"What's wrong?" Bonnie's brow bends, and I look up into her eyes.

"They didn't rule it suicide because they didn't have any evidence," I say.

"There was no evidence," Bonnie says.

I shake my head. "That's because I took it,"

"You stole evidence-?!"

"Shh!" I hiss at her, not wanting any of the nurses or doctors to overhear those words.

"Look, I had to because I know that she wouldn't have just killed herself like that,"

"She could've been depressed-"

"But she seemed fine when I talked to her, Bonnie. More than fine. Until I brought up the fact that my parent's deaths may have been more."

"So, what are you saying?" Bonnie frowns.

"I'm saying that I think her doing this, it was about my parents." I tell her.

"Elena-"

"Think about it," I say. "I show up, bring up my parents, and she shifts a 90 degree and then overdoses. There's no way it's a coincidence, Bonnie."

"Well, where do you expect to go from here?" She asks. "You're out of sources."

I shake my head as I reach for my coat. "No, I'm not."

"What's that?" she asks as I pull out the paper I found.

"A letter addressed to some woman named Nadia Grey." I explain. "I found it underneath a table in Trudy's house."

"And who is this Nadia?" Bonnie wonders. "How is she going to help you?"

"Because she was also mentioned as one of the children who lost their parents in the crash." I tell her.

"Wait, so what you're saying is-"

I nod, knowing what she was going to say. "Nadi's parents were on that flight as well."

"Do you want me to get you an address for her?" Bonnie asks, and I don't hesitate to nod.

"If you would," I tell her. "If you're to busy, then-"

Bonnie shakes her head. "I don't mind."

"Thank you so much, Bonnie," I tell her. "I honestly don't know what I'd do without you."

"It's no problem." she smiles.

I nod, unsure of what to say. Bonnie suddenly turns around, and when I trace her gaze to the vase on the table, I frown.

"Who sent you those fancy flowers?" She whistles, chuckling.

"I don't know," I sigh, hoping I sound somewhat convincing. "There wasn't a card."

"Hmm," Bonnie mutters, and I watch her stroll over to the vase. "Why wouldn't you leave a card?"

"I don't know," I shrug as I play with the sheets.

"You know, Damon stopped by a few times while you were asleep."

Oh.

"He did?" I pretend to sound shocked. Lord knows what Bonnie would think of me if she knew about Damon and I. And if he sent these flowers like I think he did, then that just makes it all the worse. But if it was him, then he was smart to not leave a card.

"Yeah, he seemed pretty shaken up," she narrows her eyes in suspicion.

Act normal.

Act normal.

"Huh," I say.

Act normal.

"He sure seemed worried about you,"

"Well, we're friends." I explain.

"Is that all?"

I look into skeptic eyes, and swallow nervously at the intensity of their gaze.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"You know, it sure is odd to not leave a card with flowers." Bonnie says suddenly as she strolls back to the flowers. Her fingers trace the pedals. "Why do you think someone would do that?"

I shrug, unsure of what to say, and Bonnie's suspicion feeds off of my nerves. "I don't know." I finally say.

Bonnie turns back and resumes playing with the flowers. "Maybe it's because they didn't want anyone but you to know who sent them."

"Why would they not want anyone else to know/' I try to stall her for a moment longer.

"Because it would cause trouble for them if anyone knew that they sent you flowers."

When my eyes meet Bonnie's, I see the certainty in her eyes.

The elephant is just about to let out it's mighty roar.

"Damon sent you these, didn't he?" she says firmly.

Bingo.

"Why would he send you flowers?" she asks.

"Let's stop dancing around the obvious," I sigh, tired of these word games.

"Are you seeing Damon?"

Okay, I knew that she would come out and say it, but I didn't think she'd come out that much.

"Bonnie-"

"That's it." she nods. "Damon's been worried about you, which, at first, it was a little odd, but it makes sense now. And he sent you the flowers but didn't put a card in because he didn't want anyone else to know. He didn't want her to know."

Before the guilt of being involved with my sister's fiance pours in, I say something.

"You should've been a Lawyer." I chuckle softly. "You're a shoe-in for Nancy Drew."

"How long have you been with him?" Bonnie asks, avoiding my comment.

I sigh, knowing that I should tell her. "Since the night of his parent's barbeque."

"Wait, I thought that Stefan invited you to that," Bonnie asks.

"He was late, so Damon came over to tell me. We drove out together. Stefan never showed up." I explain.

"Elena, what are you doing?" Bonnie sighs.

Here comes judgy.

"Look, Bonnie, I know what you're thinking." I say, my heart aching. "But this thing with Damon, it's not just some stupid fling," I explain. "I met him before, Bonnie," I tell her.

"Wait, what do you mean, you met him?" She frowns.

"I met him already, over winter break at Whitmore. Lexi told me when she was here. We went over the Kat's and she recognized him. Bonnie, we had a one night stand."

As Bonnie's face pales, I continue.

"So don't you see? This isn't some little fling between him and I. He and I, we have something. I can't explain it, but there's something. Bonnie, please don't tell anyone, especially Katherine-"

"I won,t'" Bonnie says, and I'm silenced by my shock.

"You won't?" I whisper.

Bonnie shakes her head. "Look, I know that you care about Damon, and he obviously cares about you as well if he's coming here near every night. He's risking his relationship with Kat to come see you. He sent you flowers." she chuckles. "And I know that you don't want to hear this, but he is still engaged to your sister, and eventually, he's going to have to decide what he wants."

I don't want to hear this, but I know she's right. Damon is still set to marry Kat. He hasn't mentioned anything about calling it off, other than he doesn't want to marry her. But I know how hard that must be.

"I know." I nod. "And I know, believe me, I know how wrong this is. But, Bonnie, when I'm with Damon, I forget everything. I forget."

"I get it," Bonnie says softly. "But you do know that I'm only telling you this because I don't want you to be strung along?"

I nod."I do."

"Alright," she sighs. "Enough of the rough stuff. I should head out, I'll get you that address."

"Thank you," I tell Bonnie.

"You're welcome," she smiles, and I watch her retreating back.

As I reach for my phone, it vibrates, and a message blinks across the front.

Damon: Like the flowers?

My heart warms as my guess has been confirmed by the source itself. I type a reply immediately.

Me: Of course. Thank you.

Almost instantly, a reply comes.

Damon: I need to see you. Katherine is pissing me off.

As I'm about to reply, I hold. Bonnie's words float back to me, and reality comes 's still engaged to Katherine. He hasn't called off the wedding.

Deep in my heart, I fear the worst. What if I am just being strung along? What if he decides to marry her? What if he never decides? What if he doesn't care about me enough to call off the wedding? As much of an ass I feel like for admitting this, I know it's a thought to be considered. But then again, Katherine is annoying him, so maybe he can't put up with her and will call it off. I feel like such a traitor thinking these things.

Instead of running myself into a hole, I quickly type a reply.

Me: I want to see you, too. Don't know when I'll be out. PS: Don't come back up.

Damon: Why not?

Me: Bonnie knows about us.

As I watch the envelope icon float into the mailbox, another message pops up.

Damon: Uh oh.

Me: Yup. Not good.

A chime rings, and as I look at the message, a smile spreads across my face.

Damon: Kat's going away for the weekend. Can I take you somewhere?

Me: Tempting. Where did you have in mind?

My fingers slide across the keys, and once again, I watch the message depart.

Damon: My parent's cabin up in Harrisonburg.

I don't hesitate to reply.

Me: I'm in.

Ping.

Damon: I'm counting the seconds already.

I roll my eyes as I compose a response.

Me: Me too. I need to get some sleep. I'll see you this weekend.

One final chime sounds, and my heart warms.

Damon: It's going to be the best weelend of your life. I promise.

Suddenly, I'm overcome with tiredness, and I drift.

AN:PLEASE FAVE/FOLLOW. Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW :) It motivates me to update more!

PS: Please check out my other TVD/DE stories Bitten: The Marked,it's sequels Bitten: The Hunted & Bitten: The Saved, The Other Side of Me, Star Crossed and Shelter. I'd REALLY appreciate it :)

PPS: Follow me on Twitter, EverbloomMist13!

Soundtrack that inspired/were mentioned in this chapter:

Theme Song: Bad Things ~ Meiko

Wish You Were Here ~ Avril Lavigne

Untouchable Taylor Swift

Hey There Delilah Plain White T's

Far Away Nickleback