'Jeremy, this is Bella. I'm on my way to your house. Call me.'

It was weeks after I watched Jeremy beheaded that guy, one of Klaus' hybrids, the morning of Caroline's 18th birthday.

Hybrids lurking around, running people over...

Who's next?

Gran?

Me?

Rosalie?

The thought of Rosalie getting hurt made my stomach churn.

Were they watching me now?

Klaus has hybrids watching Elena's family and friends, and he knows Elena and I are sisters.

Are his hybrids watching Rosalie as well?

Was he going to go after my family and friends next?

Was Rosalie and her family in danger because of our friendship?

I knocked on the Gilberts' door until it flew open, and out

walked Damon Salvatore.

'Well, well-'

'Shut up. Where's Jeremy?'

'No, good morning?'

'You're right. Good morning, I'm armed. Where's Jeremy?'

'Upstairs packing.'

'Packing?'

'Jeremy is going to stay with some family friends.'

'Is he and Elena going into hiding?'

'No.'

'But Jeremy would never leave Elena alone-' I stopped and shook my head. 'Never mind.' I turned around. ' Nevermind'

'I thought you wanted to talk to Jeremy.'

'We'll talk later, I guess.'

'Bella, you will have to talk to Elena eventually.'

'I know.'

Caroline was overwhelmed by the flood of Happy Birthday messages from everyone she had ever known since the stroke of midnight; it was becoming increasingly frustrating.

As she pondered the concept of vampire birthday celebrations, Caroline regretted not asking Stefan about it before he left. Just then, she spotted Bella walking out of Elena's house and called her over.

"Bella!" Caroline called out as Bella hurried over, stumbling a couple of times.

"Happy birthday," Bella greeted her with enthusiasm.

"Thanks," Caroline replied, mustering a smile.

"I got you something. Well, two things," Bella said, presenting a white bag covered in colorful "Happy Birthday" lettering.

Inside the bag, Caroline found a CD by Sleigh Bells, a band she had never heard of, and a hundred-dollar mall gift card. "Thanks, Bella," Caroline expressed her gratitude.

The conversation soon turned to Jeremy's recent developments.

"Yeah, I heard about it," Caroline sighed. "Jeremy deserves to have a normal life. Elena's a doppelgänger, Bonnie is a witch, Tyler is a hybrid, and the rest of us are vampires."

Bella paused and quickly changed the subject. "Matt and I–"

"Matt stays on vervain, and he wouldn't leave us. And you can resist compulsion," Caroline assured her. "Is–"

"Yes, I put vervain in everything my grandmother consumes and even use it for cleaning," Bella interrupted.

Caroline then inquired about the recent visit from Steve Kingsley, John Gilbert's lawyer.

"John planned to give me something for my birthday..." Bella trailed off, lost in thought.

Caroline then asked an unexpected question, "Was John Gilbert your father? I heard Elena mentioning something about Isobel being involved with both–"

Bella swiftly interrupted, "No, John and I had a DNA test before he died."

"Why haven't you told Elena?" Caroline questioned.

"Because she is always surrounded by those two jerks, Damon and Ric," Bella retorted.

The conversation then turned to Mr. Saltzman. "What happened between you and Mr. Saltzman?" Caroline inquired.

"He never got over his wife," Bella explained. "He's fixated on Isobel, and because I kind of resemble her, he's fixated on me."

Caroline was visibly concerned, "He's not going to hurt you."

Bella sighed, "I hope not, but he makes me very uncomfortable, Caroline. It's only a matter of time before he–"

"Before he what? Hurts you?" Caroline interjected, her concern growing.

"I don't like being around him, especially when I'm alone," Bella confessed.

Caroline urged her, "You should tell Elena. Face to face."

"I don't really want to see her face," Bella admitted.

Caroline remarked, "Well, that's too bad. You two are connected."

'Yeah, the doppelganger and the spare.'

Gran and I were eating dinner when a knock on the door made us jump.

'Are you expecting someone?' We asked the other before turning to the door.

I immediately thought of Klaus and his hybrids, and I rushed towards the door. 'Who's there?'

'Henry Flemming.'

Dear Diary,

Jeremy left town, Bonnie hates me, Klaus had Tyler bite Caroline, and Stefan has lost his mind.

Time dragged on, Caroline is safe, but I hate the thought of Klaus holding that against her.

Bella still wouldn't talk to me, but at least she waves now, so that's something. She looks like she wants to tell me something, but Damon and Ric are around.

I should probably text her...

What should I say?

What do you say to a half-sister that fate keeps tethered to you despite your efforts to sever ties?

'Hello?'

'Hello, who's this?'

'Who's it sound like?!'

'The ghost of Christmas past?'

'Bella!'

'Elena Gilbert?'

'How many people do you know that sounds like me?'

'I can think of at least one.'

'Yes, it's me.'

'Hey, Bella.'

'Who's that?'

'Bonnie.'

'Elena and I are on a road trip.'

'Road trip? To where?'

'To find my mom.'

'Your mom?!'

'Yeah.'

'Ok, that's- are you adopted too?'

'Nope, abandoned.'

'Oh...'

'What's up with you?'

'Nothing...'

'For goodness sake, Bella could at least try to converse with me.'

'You called me.'

'Yeah, to talk, now talk.'

'How about I hang up?'

'Fine by me.'

'Ladies, ladies, I'm dealing with my own problems, and I don't think I have the emotional strength to referee yours.'

'Sorry, Bonnie.'

'Well, if Bella would just open up'

'Leave me be, Elena.'

'I called you to be nice, but you're being a bitch. It's fun to share.'

Ok, fine. Your voice is annoying, and it makes me want to die, youre right; it's fun to share.'

'I fucking hate you, dude.'

'And yet you find some way to interact with me.'

'What's going on with Isobel's parents?'

'Oh, well, ... uh... I met Henry Flemming.'

'Okay...'

'Who's that?'

'Isobel's father.'

'What? When?'

'He showed up on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago. He wants to meet-'

'I want to meet him!'

'I don't know what-'

'I want to meet him!'

'Elena, calm down!'

'Bella-'

'I don't know if he knows about you.'

'How does he know about you?!'

'Isobel told him.'

'Right! Because you're the preferred daughter.'

'Elena-'

'Goodbye.'

I rushed through the darkness, my life on the line, driven by an unyielding force propelling me forward.

But why?

What was my purpose?

Where was I heading?

Suddenly, Matt's voice pierced the darkness, calling out for Elena. Despite not being Elena, she raced ahead, oblivious to my presence.

I pursued her, my shouts swallowed by the void surrounding us until we reached Wickery Bridge.

Gasping for breath, I witnessed Matt and Elena on the edge of the rails. "Matt!" I bellowed, but they leaped into the water.

"Elena!" My cries were lost in the splash. I dashed to the river's edge, frantically calling her name.

"Get back!" Stefan's urgent command barely registered as he plunged into the water.

Moments later, Matt and Stefan emerged, but there was no sign of Elena.

Panic and despair enveloped me.

No, not her! Not Elena!

I dove into the water, resolute in my mission to find her.

"Bella," Elena's faint voice reached out to me.

She was further away, but I refused to give up. I could reach her.

I had to.

As we drew closer, relief flooded over me, and Elena managed a weak smile.

But before I could grasp her, Rebekah emerged from the depths and dragged Elena under.

"Bella!" Elena's cry pierced the water.

I fought to reach her, but it was a losing battle. Rebekah's grip was unyielding.

Suddenly, I spotted something else – Alaric Saltzman at the riverbed, reaching out for us.

Then Victoria emerged, swimming towards us.

Faced with an impossible choice, I couldn't save both of us. I couldn't save Elena.

As her pleas echoed in my ears and Stefan's voice joined in calling my name, I was left with an agonizing decision to make.

I was shook violently for a bit before I recognized Gran's voice.

'Gran?'

I was in my bedroom.

'You were having a nightmare.'

'What time is it?'

'It's 3:33 a.m.; my grandmother used to say that was the witching hour. What were you dreaming about?'

'Drowning, Elena was- nothing. I just... I just miss Jeremy.'

'You screaming Elena Gilbert's name.'

'Yeah.'

'Do you want to talk about it?'

'No, I'm fine. I want to listen to some music.'

'Ok.'

Gran kissed my forehead and left the room, and I turned on the radio.

'I'll paint it on the walls

'Cause I'm the one at fault

I'll never fight again

And this is how it ends

I don't know what's worth fighting for

And why I have to scream

But now I have some clarity

To show you what I mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be alright

So, I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit tonight

I don't even like this song, but since I got home, it's been stuck in my head.

I looked over at Bella's bed; her light was on was she awake, too?

I've been thinking about her since we talked earlier; I should go over there and demand she speak to me.

I put down my diary, threw on a pair of sweats and sneakers, and snuck downstairs.

I crept out of my house and started down the street when I saw, walking up to my house, her.

Isabella Swan.

She paused when she saw, we were both standing in front of the two houses between ours.

The house she stood in front of was green, like her hoodie, while the house I was in front of was red, like my top.

We stood there in silence for what felt like ages before one of us, maybe it was her, but it was most likely me, who said something about how chilly it was.

'Of course, it's cold; you didn't cover your arms.' Bella snipped.

'We should go inside, to talk. We need to talk.'

'My place or yours?'