'What do you mean this man is Klaus?'

'This is the hybrid, Bella.'

I sat on my bed, Stefan ushering me to the bed.

The hybrid made my skin crawl.

'Did he hurt or threaten you or your grandmother?'

'No. Just asking me my name.'

'Did he threaten anyone else? Jeremy? Caroline?

'No. Stefan, why are you with him?'

'Keeping the peace.'

There was a heavy silence as we bore into each other's eyes.

'How has everyone been?'

'Missing you.'

'How's your...' he paused, unsure what to say. 'How is Elena?'

'I don't really know. We don't have a relationship.'

'How do you feel about that?'

'I'll get over it.'

'You shorten your hair.'

'It's only 6 inches. Caroline suggested it.'

'It was beautiful the way it was.'

I stood and looked him in the eyes. 'Come back home. Whatever he's holding over you, it doesn't matter; you will be forgiven.'

'Give up on me-'

'Never.'

'This is the last time you'll ever see me.'

The declaration made my throat tighten.

'Will you stay until I fall asleep, then?'

'Bella...'

'Just hold me.'

'Elena, I think youre making a big mistake rejecting Bella.' Caroline said pointedly.

I sighed as I grabbed a beer and headed toward Alaric for backup. 'I don't want Bella in my life, Caroline.'

'I think youre being too hasty.' she followed me.

'I have enough things going on in my life.'

'And we both know that none of that will be in your life forever.'

'Caroline-'

'Caroline, it's Elena's birthday.' Alaric said, stepping between us. 'Can't she get a break?'

'Why can't any of you give Bella a break?'

'Caroline-'

'I don't want Bella a part of my life—end of discussion.'

'I saw Bella.' Jeremy rushed to Alaric, Caroline, and I.

'Yeah.' Caroline sighed, looking at me.

'Is she still here?' he asked. 'I wanted to ask her something.'

'She left.' Alaric sighed as he took a drink.

'Why?' he looked at Caroline. 'Did Damon scare her off?'

'Damon isnt here.'

Why was he so eager to blame Damon for Bella's absence instead of Bella?

'Then where is she?'

I took a swig from my beer as I turned away and heard Jeremy sigh.

'I'm going get a drink.'

I turned back to him, grabbing his arm. 'Jeremy-'

'It's not her fault that Isobel was screwed up, and you forget that she could be a Gilbert too.'

Jeremy stormed off.

That's right; we don't know if John was her father. She told Jeremy that they could be related.

Could that be why he wanted to talk to her?

'I'm to find Tyler.'

Caroline rushed away from us.

Why was I the one being vilified here?

That little freak attacked me, did they forget about that?

Why isn't anyone berating her about this?

'Bella,' I tried to oppose when she took me by the hand.

I felt a jolt as we touched.

'Please.'

She pulled me nearer; I sat beside her.

We lay down, facing one another, hands intertwined with one another. Her heartbeat and breaths were erratic, and her eyes and scent were so inviting.

Her lips... So full...

'This is a very dangerous thing we're doing.'

'Because you're a vampire or because of Elena?'

'Both.'

Before I knew how it came to pass, we were in each other's arms, foreheads pressed against one another. Her hand caressed my face.

'I need to go.'

I didn't move; I couldn't.

Her eyes wouldn't let me.

She- she pressed her soft, warm lips against mine, and despite catching a glimpse of Elena's face in my head, I responded to the kiss.

'Don't move.' I told her.

It was her first kiss; I could tell.

She strumbled to keep up with the fervor of the kiss, placing her frail hands on my shoulders to slow me down.

But my lust was awakened; I deepened the kiss and pulled her body near to mine.

She stilled against me but continued the kiss.

I began kissing her neck and collarbone, paying special attention to where Damon bit her.

She began to pant and writhe against me, clutching my hair as I nipped at her neck.

'Stefan,' she breathed as I licked the vein on her neck.

'Just one bite.'

'What did you say?'

What did I say?

What am I thinking?

I broke away from her. 'I need to go.'

'Stefan?' she began.

'No, Bella, I need to leave.'

'Did I do something wrong?'

I said nothing and climbed out of the window.

Caroline. It's Bella. Call me.

I must have sent this text to Caroline a dozen times during the last few weeks.

One day, out of the blue, she texts me.

Bella. Hi.

Caroline, where have you been?

With my dad.

Oh. Is he alright?

He hates me.

What? He can't hate you; no one who knows you hates you.

He hates what I am.

Did you tell him?

No, Tyler's mom did. My dad tried to scare me human.

Like conversion therapy?

Yes.

Isn't your dad gay?

Yeah, so?

It's pretty hypocritical, don't you think?

Very! But let's talk about you.

I want to send you a picture.

Ok.

I sent Caroline the picture of Nik.

He's cute. Are you crushing on him?

Is this Klaus?

What?

Is this Klaus?

I never saw him.

I had a dream that I married Stefan, and he turned into this guy and killed all of you.

You're dreaming about marrying your sister's boyfriend?

Elena doesn't acknowledge our relationship.

Oh. Thats right. Sorry, I never saw Klaus.

Well, could you show it to someone who has?

Why not just show Elena?

It's just best if we don't talk to each other.

Ask Jeremy to ask her.

I don't want him in the middle.

This isn't a skirmish; you must know how to protect yourself from Klaus.

I'll send it to him later. I'm going to let you go.

Ok, but I have one more question for you.

Shoot.

Was I your maid of honor?

Caroline!

I've been staring at my phone, hoping and praying Stefan would call and tell me and Damon where to find him.

'Elena,' said Alaric, 'you should eat something.'

'Not hungry.' I insisted.

'Elena, is this Klaus?' Jeremy handed me his phone; I saw a photo of Klaus with Mrs. Higginbotham.

'How-? Jeremy, how long have you had this?'

'Bella sent it to me a few minutes ago.'

'How long has she it?' Alaric asked.

'Since the day Klaus took Elena.'

'She sat on this for that long?!'

'This is Klaus?'

'Yes.'

Jeremy texted her; I leaned over his shoulder to glimpse her response.

'Elena, go away.' he moved away.

'What did she say?' I demanded.

'Ok.' Jeremy said, then went back to his food.

'That's all?! She encounters the most dangerous vampire ever, and all she can say is okay?!'

'You worried about your sister, Elena?' Jeremy scoffed and stormed upstairs.

The remark stung in more ways than one.

'This must have been right after Damon, and I met him.'

'What do you think he wanted with her?'

'Maybe he just wanted to scare her.'

'Do you think she told Jeremy?'

'Wouldn't he tell you?'

'What if she asked him not to?'

It was a lazy day; I was reading, and Gran was watching the news when a knock on the door made us jump.

I rushed to the door before Gran could open it. 'Who's there?!'

'Alaric Saltzman.'

Gran and I exchange a glance as he looks through the window. 'What do you want?'

'Are you going to the Lockwoods?'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Is there a reason why we need to go?'

'To show support.'

'Support for what?'

'The town.'

'Not a townie.'

'You were born here.'

'What do you want?' demanded Gran.

'May I come in?'

'Why?'

'I want to talk to Isabella.'

'Again, why?'

'The picture you sent Jeremy.'

'What picture?

'What about it?' I pressed.

'Can you open the door?'

'No way.'

'Isobel-'

'Bella!'

'I don't want anyone to hear what is being said-'

'Then email me.'

'Could you please-'

'I don't know if you're the one I'm inviting in.'

Gran turned to me in confusion as Alaric sighed. 'Could you come out?'

I started to unlock the door, but Gran stopped me. 'Bella, wait.'

'I'll be fine.'

I poked my head out of the door; no Elena or Damon in sight. I crept out, leaving the front door ajar per Gran's insistence.

'Yes?'

'How long have you had that picture?'

'Since the day Elena's aunt...' He looked away from me. 'He told us his name was Nik.'

'Did he mention Elena or Stefan?'

'No, he was only interested in me.'

'What exactly did he say?'

'What exactly is this about?'

'Klaus,' he said exasperated, 'did he threaten you in any way?'

'No,' I thought of Rosalie, 'but...'

'But?'

'When he hijacked your body, he was trying to talk to Rosalie.'

'Rosalie?'

'Rosalie Hale. The blonde girl that sat in front of me in class.'

' Did she tell you what he wanted?'

'No, because he never talked to her.'

'How do you know?'

'Because I told him to stay away from her; I made sure that we were rarely apart at school. We had every class together together.'

'But that was only at school; who knows what he did when she was alone. Where is Rosalie now?'

'On vacation with her family.'

'Do you know what he would want from her?'

'Information about me.'

'Did you tell her anything?'

'Are you seriously asking if I told Rosalie?'

'You sounded insulted.'

' Yeah, I'm insulted.'

'Why?'

'What do you mean why?!'

'I'm not following you, Isobel.'

He had the nerve to sound annoyed, like I was the one who came to his house.

' Isabella, I'm not her.'

'I know that.' he said tightly.

'No, I didn't tell her. That would be stupid.' He started at me for a while, making me feel ant-size. 'What?'

'When did you find out Isobel was your mother?'

'When she told me.'

'When was that?'

'On the day of Founders Day parade.'

'When did you find out about Elena?'

'When she told me.'

' Isobel?'

'Elena.'

'When were you born?'

'September '94.' he looked at me strangely. 'What?'

'Isobel and I met in September of the following year. Why didn't you just give us the pictures?'

' Why didn't any of you tell me why you wanted them?'

'Did you forget?'

'No.'

'How are you able to resist compulsion?'

'I don't know.'

'What made you send Jeremy the picture now?'

'I had a nightmare. Are we done now?'

'Stop hounding Elena about-'

'I'm done with Elena. If she doesn't want to shed light on her past, she can live in the dark.'

My comment took him aback; I slid back inside and closed the door.