After Christmas, there were a few calm days for everyone to digest and enjoy their new gifts before the New Year's Eve festivities.

There was a party planed in town by the mayor and Elijah was planning to go, along with Kol and Jeremy who were meeting Matt there and the three of them were planning on meeting girls since Matt had recently broken up with Caroline (again).

Damon had a date planed with Rebekah in a fancy restaurant a few towns over. Sage was going to the town's party with Finn, Jenna and Alaric, Caroline was planning on staying in and celebrate with her mother while Elena and Stefan were hesitating between staying in or going to the town's party.

Although this decision was another reason for them to argue because Elena didn't suggest things, she demanded that they went where she wanted and did what she wanted. Katherine had told her that Stefan would only love her better if she was domineering towards him. Of course she believed her. Katherine was her friend, her sister, right?

In Lima, Santana and Tyler were going to a big party with Puck, Brittany and Artie (who could now walk). He had told everyone that the only thing he could remember was seeing someone who seemed to be Santa Claus in front of him and making him drink something, he couldn't remember what. Everyone had different opinions about this but the fact was that he could walk now and Brittany's innocence was preserved (for now).

As for Klaus and Rachel, they were planning on spending it together. At first they wanted to go at the Town's party thrown by the mayor but since Elena was planning on maybe going, Rachel changed her mind. She didn't want any tensions for that night so Klaus was planning on taking her to a nice club he had heard of a few miles from Mystic Fall's. He wanted the best for this first New Year celebration with Rachel. He wanted her to remember this first New Year's Eve forever and he was going to do everything in his power so that everything would be perfect for her. He was going to make it super romantic and make sure the smile he loved didn't leave her face during the entire night.

All in all, the night was pretty good (and even close to perfect) for all of them. At Midnight, Klaus took Rachel out of the club they were at and kissed her right after the fireworks started. It was very romantic and of course Rachel loved it. It was tender and passionate at the same time.

"Happy New Year Rachel. I love you." He whispered to her softly.

"Happy New Year to you too. I love you." She replied, stars in her eyes shining back into his, lightening his world entirely.

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Stefan started the evening by picking up Elena and taking her to the town's party. There, she kept on barking orders at him and when he finally got fed up with it and told her to calm down before he left her alone there, she simply turned around and went to flirt with Elijah first and Matt when Elijah turned her down.

"What's going on with her?" Stefan wondered as he stood next to Jeremy.

"I don't know but she's been getting a lot of phone calls lately. From someone that isn't Bonnie, or Caroline or you. She always changes room before answering." Jeremy replied.

"I'm getting tired of this... She's definitely not the girl I fell in love with..." Stefan replied before he turned around and left the party.

He was walking around in the woods, looking for a good animal to drain when he ran into Caroline who was hunting too.

She explained that her mother had fallen asleep on her and he told her everything that happened with Elena. They stayed a long time in those woods, walking, talking, becoming very good friends. They got closer when they started talking about the friend they had in common: Lexi.

At the moment, Stefan didn't know what was going to happen with him and Elena but he found in Caroline the friend he was missing. She was someone who would help him stay on the right track and who would keep him close to his brother and niece.

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Katherine had spent this New Year's Eve texting with Elena and watching Stefan from afar. Caroline was becoming a problem... She might have to include her in her plan to take care of Rachel and the others... One more person should be easy enough to include right?

So, this chapter marks the end of the winter break time. Soon they'll have to go back to school.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone of you who have read, reviewed, followed and/or favorited this story. Please keep the reviews coming, I love reading them.

I'm not sure yet about what will happen to Stefan... Maybe he'll stay with Elena if she gets better...maybe he'll get tired of it, break up with Elena and open his eyes to find someone else standing in front of him, who knows?

Lorelei Candice Black