'Are you sure you want to do this?' Stefan asked as I packed.

'Which part?' I asked as I threw something in my duffle. 'Digging through my birth mother's life work or going to Duke with Damon?'

'Either, both.'

'Well, I'm not sure about the first part,' I confessed, 'then, again, Ric is a promising buffer to bond in our anti-Damon solidarity. I wish you were coming, though'.

'You know what?' he said, taking my hand, 'Maybe we should wait a couple of days, huh? Wait until Caroline is less of a danger, and then I could go with you.'

'It's okay that I'm going, right?' I squeezed his hand. 'And be honest because if it's not, I can just stay here, and we can take care of Caroline.'

I didn't want to share this moment with Damon.

'Listen, I want you to go, okay?' he held my face. 'I do. You have questions about your lineage and Katherine, and...look, I'm not going to let the fact that Damon is going keep you from an opportunity to get some answers.'

'You hate it, though.' I pressed.

'I hate it,' he confessed, 'but I love you.'

Why can't you be selfish once, Stefan?

'I love you, too.'

It has been a day since Caroline bit Matt and saw that werewolf

She couldn't believe she had hurt Matt; werewolves are a thing.

Caroline opened her eyes and rolled over in bed.

'Elena?' she yawned. 'Elena, is that you?'

She wanted to know how her trip went.

'Nope, try again.'

Every hair on her body stood as 'Elena' walked over.

'Katherine.'

Katherine sat down on the bed; Caroline moved away from her.

She had to get from her.

Katherine smiled; Caroline couldn't help but compare her with Elena.

The same smile that would have made Elena look angelic looked devilish on Katherine.

'Don't be frightened. We're going to have so much fun together.

I sat on the swing, trying to remember the last time I went to a playground until I heard someone say, 'Bella?'

I looked up and saw two little dark-haired children and a little blonde girl rushing to me.

'Do you want to play cops and doctors with me and Caroline?'

Caroline? I thought as I glanced at the little blonde clad in pink from head to toe; she looked delighted to see me. I looked back at the boy; he looked like Jeremy.

I began to wonder if they were, in fact, Jeremy and Caroline until I heard my voice ask, 'Where's Bonnie?'

'Bonnie is with her grandma.' the little Caroline said.

'We can play what we want all day.'

The other dark-haired child, a girl, grabbed my swing and shook it, trying to get me off.

'I want to swing.' she demanded.

'I'm swinging.' I told her.

'Get off!' she screamed.

'I was here first!'

'Now it's my turn!'

Jeremy rushed over to a group of little kids; Caroline watched us argue and then looked behind us.

'Who are you?'

I jumped up, prompting Elena to jump on the swing.

Wait, was that Elena?

Did she tell me her name?

'Who are you?' Caroline demanded.

'I'm-'

'I'm to find Jenna!'

Caroline ran off as Elena began swinging.

'Move, Isabella.'

'Bella.' I hissed as I moved. 'You know I hate being called Isabella.'

Elena began chanting Isabella as she began to swing.

'Bella,' I heard a voice say, 'I like that name.'

I turned to see...

I saw Isobel.

'Bella.'

'Bella, wake up.'

I leaped up and looked around; I was in my room.

'Bella?' called Gran, standing at the door. 'Bad dream?'

'Not exactly.'

'Jenna,' the way Gran said her did not escape me, 'is hosting a cookout, and Jeremy invited us. I figured since John was gone, we could go.'

'Alright, I can finally see Caroline.'

'When was she released?'

'Couple days ago. I just have to finish up on my laptop.

I decided to wear a long-sleeved knit blue henley shirt, blue jeans, and black Converse.

Gran wore a green cardigan and white and petal pushers, and brown loafers.

We were leaving the house, and I saw Stelena approaching us.

Great.

I swear to god if she says anything about those pictures...

'Bella,' she gasped, 'hello.'

And we're back to another exciting episode of Elena attempting to feint a friendship with me because she wants something.

'Hello.' I groaned.

I'm weary of this game of cat and mouse between us and her goons.

'We're here to invite you-'

'Your brother beat you to it.' Gran deadpanned.

'Oh.' Elena looked at me. 'Are you on your way over now?'

'How is Caroline?' Gran asked, throwing Elena a bone.

'She's fine.'

'Will she be there?'

'Yes.'

'Good,' I took Gran's arm, 'I want to talk to her.'

'What about?' Elena blocked our way.

'Music.'

'I like music too.'

Yes, but Caroline doesn't have an ulterior motive.

'Caroline and I, we tend to gravitate toward one another.'

'So does Jeremy.'

'What can I say, I'm very orbital.'

I'm very orbital.

That sentence was buzzing around my head all day.

That little bitch.

She's trying to steal my life!

Ugh! I can't stand her!

I would deal with that little twit later; I was more worried about Stefan than her.

I couldn't reach Stefan all day, so I went to the boarding house.

'Hello? Stefan?' I called as I entered the living room. 'Stefan?

I turned around and saw me, I mean her.

I saw her, Katherine.

I saw Katherine.

'You must be Elena.'

The sound of my voice, I mean her voice, made me jump.

'How is this possible?' I gasped. 'How do we look exactly alike?'

She didn't respond but scrutinized me from top to bottom, touching my neck with one finger.

'You're asking the wrong questions.' she said, standing behind me.

'Elena?!' Stefan rushed into the room.

I turned her back to her Katherine, but she was gone.

' Are you okay?' he asked as he approached me.

'Not really.' I told him. 'Are you okay?'

'Not really.'

Not really.

We held one another.