In short, Celia's plan worked out. Just not the way she expected it to. By the time morning came, she learned that Rebekah tried to set Elena on fire, but the human girl got through to the Original and they kind of bonded. She was freed, but the Bennets didn't want to stop their spell and now Bonnie's mom was a vampire.

And to top it all, they Mystic Fall gang found out there is still white oak wood around, just when Klaus found out about everything that went down behind his back.

Needless to say, all hell broke lose. Again.

"What do you mean? Go with you where?"

Celia and Jerremy were on the Forbes' porch. After the events of the last night, the new vampire Elena was under strict observation in the Salvatore's mansion. Caroline and Bonnie were with them. They didn't want their friend to go through the pain of transforming in something new, literally, without their support.

That gave Jerremy and Celia some time alone.

"Elena talked with some family friends from another town. Far away from all this supernatural madness. They can host us until we finish highschool and then we'll see. Maybe we'll go to a college there together."

Celia forced a smile to match Jerremy's own sweet one. He was eagerly waiting for her answer, eyes glinting hopefully under the few rays of midday sun sneaking under the roof. Their relationship has become strained since the Mikaelsons came in town, but it was manageable until the whole white oak ordeal. How Celia advocated for a truce with the Originals, how close she got to them.

When Finn died and they learned about the sire curse, as the Mystic Falls gang started to call it, Celia went to the funeral and paid her respects despite Rebekah holding Daemon hostage at the time. She negotiated his freedom, of course, bearing stolen daggers as a sign of good will, but the intent was far bigger than simply caring for the Salvatore's life. And they all could see it.

Jerremy insisted it was because of those too many times she was used as bait or distraction for Klaus. It wasn't her fault she feels bad for people, she's just too nice. So when Elena suggested – more like ordered – Jerremy to go out of town until he graduates, he saw it as opportunity to free his girlfriend of the bitter pain Mystic Falls has become.

"But Jerr, I'm graduating this year, with Care, Bonnie and your sister. I can't transfer mid term."

"Alaric said he can take care of our papers. He knows the principal there. And with your grades, any school would welcome you with cheers and a parade." Jerremy said, bumping playfully his girlfriend's shoulder with his own. "Come on, Celia, aren't you tired of all of this? Your sister was turned against her will, my sister too, my aunt was killed and Bonnie's mom died. So many more things happened that I can't even remember them all. It seems that since last year, when Stefan arrived, we're just surviving. One catastrophe after the other. Don't you want a break? A normal life again?"

And he looked so broken then that Celia felt bad for the chill of recoil that passed through her. She thought she wanted, but ever since she was thrown back into the supernatural world, she felt like herself again. Part of her was missing pretending to be an ordinary girl and she started to tire of pretending it wasn't so.

"I never had a normal life, Jerr. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Besides, Care needs me." It wasn't a made up excuse: a sister's love acting as pretence for not leaving. If Celia left Caroline's so called friends would walk all over her, she was sure of it. Well, maybe she was judging them a bit too harshly. But there's no denial they'd all put Elena and her safety and her needs, above her. Look at the whole love triangle fiasco! They forgot – not that they really cared to begin it – about what Daemon did to her. Forgave him so easily, made him part of their daily lives and forcing Caroline to see and interact with him. There were a million reasons why Celia didn't want to leave with Jerremy, but taking care of her sister was the only one that didn't make her question everything or feel guilty. The strongest of them all.

"Care has Bonnie and Elena. And Stefan! They really bonded over her helping with his blood thirst. Tylor is still in the picture, even though in hiding. And Matt and your mom and Alaric and Daemon. It's not like we're leaving and cutting them off our lives for good either, you know. I just think a bit of normality would do us some good."

Celia closed her eyes. She knew it! This was about their relationship more than anything. Perhaps the sole reason Jerremy agreed to be sent away at a time his sister needed him the most. He still thought they could fix their second chance at a relationship, but it was doomed from the beginning. Something Celia was not ready to tell him, though.

Jerremy was an old connection to whom she is in Mystic Falls, Celia Forbes, the sheriff's adopted daughter. Her first boyfriend, the one she took in her heart with her at New York, the one whom she left once only to pick up again, a renewed Celia, but still holding on to the town and the girl it shaped. She was more confident now and had real friends in the city. Yet the witch dreaded letting Jerremy go for good. She was changing once again, or maybe finally accepting who she was all along, who she's supposed to be. And it was scary. Uncomfortable. On the brink of bursting she needed the familiar comfort of her boyfriend for just a tad bit longer.

"I know that. It still feels wrong to go. And you don't listen, Jerr. I don't know how to do normal. I don't think I ever did, not good anyway. This is the life I am happy with. Crazy and chaotic, but worth everything at the end of the day."

"What do you mean, Celia?" Jerremy furrowed his brows. "People die and get hurt."

"I know that!" The siphoner yelled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... look, Jerr, I can't explain it" – not without telling him about her powers and past – "but I feel it in my heart I'm supposed to stay. You, though, you should go. Elena is right, it's no place for a human boy here anymore. You deserve a normal life."

"And you don't?" Jerremy's voice became soft. Sympathetic. It made sense now! His girlfriend was putting herself down. Again. "Celia, you are so good and kind and smart and funny. You deserve the world, please believe me."

"And I choose this one." Celia smiled, teary eyes holding Jerremy's confused ones in a tight grip. "Listen to me very carefully, Jerdemy Gilbert: you go. Focus on highschool, on what you want and like in life. Take care, have fun. And I'll come visit as soon as I can. I'm out of highschool in a couple of months anyway. Maybe I'll move with you then. And we will talk every night, I swear it! Every morning and noon too if you can. It's not lime you're going to a different country. We'll be fine. We managed to be apart once before, didn't we?"

Jerremy seemed like he wanted to point out how that time ended with a breakup, but seeing as it was his fault for pretty much cheating on her, he decided against it. Instead, he nodded and pulled his girlfriend in for a hug. She surprised him, then. Celia took his face into her palms and pressed her red, swollen from withholding crying, onto his.

A/N: Are two chapters in a row buying me some forgiveness after not posting for a year? (That's it if there arestill people around curious about this little thing I.m doing here...) It's not abandoned, I promise. None of my fics are, actually. I'm just spliting time between college, work, writing and an awful mental health situation. Did you know "if we were villains" by m. was pretty accurate? With how the teachers are and how students get to talk in theatre lines... one more exam week and i'm pretty sure someone WILL end up dead too.

Anyway, sorry for venting, hope you enjoyed these chapters and don't shy away from commenting. I'm always happy to read your thoughts and questions. Much love!

oh, and before i forget, i have an ao3 account as well where i have some hunger games and the poppy war fanfictions in the work, if any of you are interested. I'm thinking if moving them here as well, but it will take a while, so if you are curious and impatient, i'm waiting for you on ao3, you'll find me as .rebel