chapter 4

Astrid's Pov:

"Alright lets start the next episode." Loki says.

Woods

[A man and a woman are camping in the forest. Fog descends around the tent.]

Woman: Hey. Did you hear that?

Man: Hear what?

Woman: I heard thunder.

Man: There's no thunder.

Woman: Are you sure? Because if it rains, then we won't be able to see the comet.

Man: It's not gonna rain. Listen, I...got you a little something. It's back in the car. Don't you move.

Woman: Stay dry.

Man: It's not gonna rain.

[A dripping noise pounds on the tent after the man leaves. The woman smiles triumphantly.]

Woman: I knew it! I told you it was gonna rain!

[She sees her boyfriend up in a tree. His blood dripping on the tent. She runs to the car.]

Woman: Open! No! Please!

[The car beeps as the doors unlock. The woman looks around nervously. Someone drops from the trees and kills her.]

"Bloody hell, that was a jump scare and a half!" Tyler screams.

[Title credits]

Gilbert Residence/Salvatore Boarding House

Elena: Dear diary, this morning is...different. There is change. I can sense it, feel it.

Stefan: I'm awake. For the first time in a long time, I feel completely and undeniably wide awake.

Elena: For once, I don't regret the day before it begins.

Stefan: I welcome the day...

Stefan/Elena: Because I know...

Stefan: I will see her again.

Elena: I will see him again. For the first time in a long time, I feel good.

[Elena goes out of her room.]

Gilbert Residence

Jenna: Do I look adult? As in respectfully parental?

Astrid: Yeah, you do look like an adult.

Elena: Depends on where you're going.

Jenna: Jeremy's parent-teacher conference. Hair up or down?

[Jenna puts her hair up.]

Elena: Sexy stewardess.

Astrid: You look fine Jenna.

[Jenna lets it down.]

Elena: Boozy housewife.

Jenna: Up it is. You're feisty today, Elena.

Elena: I feel good, which is rare. So, I've decided to go with it. Fly free, walk on the sunshine, and all that stuff. Where is Jeremy?

Jenna: He left early. Something about getting to wood shop early to finish a birdhouse.

[She pauses.]

Jenna: There is no wood shop, is there?

Elena and Astrid: No.

Jenna: Yeah. Thought so.

Astrid: He is probably visiting Vicki.

"How did you know that?" Finn asked but got no reply.

Hospital

[Jeremy stands outside Vicki's room.]

Nurse: You can't be in here, hon. Visiting hours don't start till 9:00.

Jeremy: I just...how is she?

Nurse: She's lost a lot of blood.

Jeremy: Yeah, but she's gonna be OK, right?

Nurse: She needs her rest. So, you come back later. Come on.

Mystic Falls High School

[In history class, Elena, Astrid and Stefan look at each other while their teacher lectures. Stefan smiles at Elena and the nods at Astrid, finally excepting that she has secrets that she doesn't want to share and is fine with it.]

Tanner: Originally discovered nearly 5 centuries ago, it hasn't been over Mystic Falls in over 145 years. Now, the comet will be its brightest right after dusk during tomorrow's celebration. Are we bothering you, Mr. Salvatore? Ms. Gilbert? Ashe?

"So, he calls the other people by their last names but not you. What an ass." Damon mutters holding me closer as he glares at the on-screen Tanner.

[Elena, on-screen Astrid and Stefan drop their gazes. The bell rings.]

[In the hallway.]

Stefan: I brought it. [Hands Elena a book.] Told you.

Elena: "Wuthering Heights" by Ellis Bell. You know, I can't believe she didn't use her real name.

Stefan: All the Bronte sisters used pseudonyms. It was the time. Female writers weren't very accepted then.

Elena: Where did you get it?

Stefan: Uh, it was passed down. Through the family.

Astrid: Yea, sure. [under her breath]

"Smart ass." Freya muttered under her breath only to get a book thrown at her by me.

"OW! WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT BOOK!" she yelled at me. I just smiled innocently.

Elena: Ah.

Stefan: I have lots of books. Go ahead. Keep it.

Elena: Oh, no. I... but I would like to read it again. I promise I'll give it back.

Stefan: Ok.

Caroline: I'm confused. Are you psychic or clairvoyant?

Bonnie: Technically, Grams says I'm a witch. My ancestors were these really cool Salem witch chicks or something. Grams tried to explain it all, but she was looped on the liquor so I kinda tuned out. Crazy family, yes. Witches? I don't think so.

Caroline: Yeah, well, feel free to conjure up the name and number of that guy from last night.

Bonnie: I didn't see him, you did. Why didn't you just talk to him?

Caroline: I don't know. I was drunk.

Astrid: [walking up to the girls quietly] BOO! [the girls scream and turn around. On screen Astrid laughs as the girl's pout.]

"I see your still up to your old tricks, Astrid." Henrik giggles.

[Outside, Jeremy walks up to Tyler.]

Jeremy: Hey, Tyler. Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt. I was just wondering how Vicki's doing, since you guys are so close. Is she ok?

Tyler: She's fine. Now get out of here.

Jeremy: How bad is she? Do they know what attacked her? Is she going to make a full recovery? Was she happy to see you? What room number was she in?

Tyler: I'm gonna kick your ass.

Jeremy: Yeah, you keep saying that, but when are you actually going to do it? Huh? 'Cause I vote for right here and right now.

[Jeremy shoves Tyler.]

Tyler: Walk away, Gilbert. It's your final warning.

Jeremy: No, this is your final warning, dick. I'm sick of watching you play Vicki. If you hurt her one more time, I swear to God, I will kill you.

[Jeremy leaves.]

Tyler: Damn, that was like a death threat. [He turns to the girls beside him.] Did you hear that?

Astrid: Yea well maybe you should listen to Jer, Tyler. He is not happy. And neither am I. [Astrid knees Tyler in the groin. Tyler grunts and falls to the ground.]

"Ouch, Astrid's kicks hurt." All the boys who have been kicked by me wince. I just roll my eyes and flip them off.

[Matt and Elena talk about Vicki.]

Matt: They're keeping her overnight to make sure there's no infection, but she should be able to come home tomorrow.

Elena: That's good news.

Matt: Yeah.

Elena: Did you get in touch with your mom?

Matt: Called and left a message. She's in Virginia Beach with her boyfriend, so...we'll see how long it takes her to come rushing home.

Elena: Vicki's lucky that she's ok.

[Stefan is sitting on a table revealing that he has been listening to their entire conversation.]

Matt: I know, and now there's talk of some missing campers.

Elena: Did she say what kind of animal it was that attacked her?

Matt: She said it was a vampire.

Elena: What?

Matt: Yeah, she wakes up last night and mutters "vampire" and then passes out.

Elena: OK, that is weird.

Matt: I think she was drunk. So, what's up with you and the new guy?

Elena: Matt, the last thing that I want to do is hurt you.

Matt: You know, I'm...I'm actually gonna go back to the hospital. I want to be there when Vicki wakes up, get the real story about last night.

[Stefan disappears.]

[Jenna talks to Mr. Tanner in the history classroom.]

Tanner: As Jeremy's teacher, I'm concerned. All right? It's the third day of school and he's skipped six of his classes.

Jenna: Mr. Tanner, are you aware that Jeremy, Ashe and Elena's parents died?

Tanner: Four months ago, a great loss. Car accident. Wickery bridge, if I remember correctly. And you're related to the family how? The, uh, mother's kid sister?

"Ass." Katerina and I muttered glaring at the on-screen Tanner. 

Jenna: Younger sister.

Tanner: Right. [Says insultingly.]

"Oh, that man is so dead. No one, I mean no one insults Jenna." John, Isobel and I mutter. Not many people know but John, Isobel and Jenna had a sibling relationship. 

Jenna: Yes. Six classes? Are you sure? I mean, that's kind of hard to do.

Tanner: Not when you're on drugs. It's his attempt at coping, Ms. Sommers. And the signs are there. He's moody, withdrawn, argumentative, hungover. Are there any other relatives in the picture, like Ashe's Uncle John, was it?

Jenna: I'm their sole guardian.

Tanner: Uh-huh. Could there be? [Still in an insulting tone.]

"I'm going to kill him." Katerina muttered. "Us women need to stick together."

Jenna: What are you suggesting, exactly?

Tanner: It's an impossible job, isn't it, raising three teens? 

Jenna: It's been tough, but, no, it's not. And Ashe is not exactly a teenager, she is very mature for her age. She helps me look after the other two.

Tanner: Wrong answer. And Ashe shouldn't have to bear that much responsibility. It is an extremely impossible job, and anything less and you're not doing it properly.

"How dare he!" Elena, Jeremy and I seethed.

Hospital

[Matt is waiting with Vicki. She wakes up.]

Matt: Whoa! Vick. Vicki, hey. Vick, it's Matt. Hey, what's wrong?

Vicki: No! No! Get off! No! No! No!

Matt: Nurse!

[Matt goes to look for a doctor. Stefan enters the hospital room and compels her.]

Stefan: It was an animal that attacked you. It came out of the night and jumped you. You blacked out. It's all you remember.

Vicki: It's all I remember.

Stefan: An animal attacked you. You blacked out. It's all you remember.

Vicki: It's all I remember.

"Good Job Stefan compel her so she doesn't expose the supernatural community, when you could just kill her." Kai muttered but I quickly slapped him.

"We do not kill family of friends!" I scolded him.

Matt: Nurse! I need help! It's my sister.

Nurse: She seems fine.

[Vicki is back in bed. Matt sees Stefan leaving. He follows Stefan. Stefan enters a room with blood donors and blood bags. His face starts to change, but he leaves as quickly as possible. Matt enters the same room. He looks for Stefan but does not find him.]

"Stefan got to skedaddle before he is found." Enzo and I mutter at the same time. 

Mystic Grill

Bonnie: Well, I was talking to Grams, and she said the comet is a sign of impending doom. The last time it passed over Mystic Falls, there was lots of death. So much blood and carnage, it created a bed of paranormal activity.

Caroline: Yeah, and then you poured Grams another shot and she told you about the aliens. So then what

Elena and Astrid: So then nothing.

Caroline: You and Stefan talked all night? There was no sloppy first kiss or touchy feely of any kind?

[Astrid groans and leaves]

Elena: Nope. We didn't go there.

Caroline: Not even a handshake? I mean, Elena, we are your friends. Ok? You are supposed to share the smut.

Elena: We just talked for hours.

Caroline: OK, what is with the blockage? Just jump his bones already! Ok, it's easy. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy, sex!

Elena: Profound.

[Elena gets up.]

Bonnie: Where are you going?

Elena: Caroline's right. It is easy. If I sit here long enough, I'll end up talking myself out of it instead of doing what I started the day saying what I was going to do.

Gilbert Residence

Jenna: I picked up dinner. Tacos. I had an urge for guacamole.

Jeremy: No, I'm good, thanks.

Jenna: Eat anyway. It's a ruse. I want to talk.

[Jeremy starts to leave.]

Jenna: Hey, you! Come. Sit. [Jeremy sits down] Back in school, freshman year, I could eat my weight in nachos, with extra cheese. It was my munchie food whenever I got stoned.

Jeremy: You get high?

Jenna: Did. Past tense. But yeah. Loved it. Anything to get a little distraction from life...reality. And it worked. For a while. Never lasts, though. Hey, I'm not saying I wouldn't love to rail back and kick it, but with a thesis looming and a waistline expanding...

[Jeremy gets up and leaves when Jenna isn't looking. Jenna notices and she sighs.]

"He was like, and I oop." Katherine muttered. 

"Maybe we should have never introduced her to TikTok." I muttered to Marcel who nodded.

Hospital

[Matt is sleeping on a chair. Vicki wakes up. She throws a gelatine container at Matt. Matt stirs.]

"She was really like wake the fuck up dickhead." Katherine called.

"Katherine Dahlia Rhys - Mikaelson watch your language!" I scolded. 

Matt: What the...

Vicki: Finally you're awake.

Matt: Hey. How are you feeling? You look better. I was worried before. You really had me freaked out with all that screaming.

Vicki: Wait, what are you talking about?

Matt: You don't remember?

Vicki: I feel fine.

Matt: Good, good. Doctor said you could come home tomorrow. Vick, what attacked you in the woods?

[Vicki hesitates.]

Vicki: An animal. What else could it have been?

[Jeremy arrives.]

Jeremy: Hey. How do you feel?

Vicki: I'm OK.

Matt: I...I'm gonna...I'm gonna go grab a coffee. Hey, Jer.

Vicki: Why are you here?

Jeremy: I just wanted to see how you were doing.

Vicki: Did you see that look on Matt's face? That was suspicion. I don't want people to find out about us, Jeremy.

Jeremy: Well, you gotta get over that.

Vicki: Tyler is finally showing some interest.

Jeremy: You have to get over that, too. Do you see Mr. Concerned? Tyler? Are you under there? No.

"He better not be hiding there." Matt and I mutter.

Vicki: It's not cool for people to know. Ok? I'm older than you, and Matt, Elena and Astrid would freak.

Jeremy: No one's going to suspect anything. Why wouldn't I check on you? I mean, I'm the one who found you.

Vicki: You are?

Jeremy: Yeah, I carried you out of the woods.

Vicki: Thank you.

Jeremy: Yeah, you're welcome.

"Awkward!" Katherine says in a sing song voice. I just roll my eyes.

Salvatore Boarding House

[Elena goes to the front door and knocks, it opens, and she enters.]

Elena: Stefan? Stefan?

[A crow flies into the house. Elena turns around and Damon is standing there.]

Elena: I...I'm sorry for barging in. The door was...open.

Damon: You must be Elena. I'm Damon, Stefan's brother.

Elena: He didn't tell me he had a brother.

Damon: Well, Stefan's not one to brag. Please, come. I'm sure Stefan will be along any second.

Elena: Wow. This is your living room?

Damon: Living room, parlor, Sotheby's auction. It's a little kitschy for my taste. I see why my brother's so smitten. It's about time. For a while there, I never thought he'd get over the last one. Nearly destroyed him.

Elena: The last one?

Damon: Yeah. Katherine, his girlfriend? Oh, you two haven't had the awkward exes conversation yet.

Elena: Nope. [With a confused voice.]

Damon: Oops. Well, I'm sure it'll come up now. Or maybe he didn't want to tell you because he didn't want you to think he was on the rebound. We all know how those relationships end.

Elena: You say it like every relationship is doomed to end.

Damon: I'm a fatalist. And not every relationship is doomed to end.

[Astrid walks in from the kitchen not noticing Elena yet.]

Astrid: Damon do you have any chocolate or ice-cream?

"Astrid, what are you doing at that man's house?" Mikael asked me but Dahlia rolled her eyes and placed another silencing spell on him.

Elena: Ashe what are you doing here?

Astrid: [Shocked] Elena! What a surprise. I'm here to meet up with Damon, actually. We were supposed to watch a movie together. But I got hungry and wanted to have a snack.

Elena: Oh I didn't know you knew Damon.

Astrid: Yea I met him a month ago and we started dating.

"WHAT!" All my brothers yell but fall silent due to me placing a silencing spell on them. They all pout.

Elena: Oh okay. [Confused]

Damon: Hello, Stefan. [Hearing Stefan walk in.]

Stefan: Elena. I didn't know you were coming over. And Ashe there is ice-cream in the freezer in the cellar.

Elena: I know. I should have called, I just...

Damon: Oh, don't be silly. You're welcome any time. Isn't she, Stefan? You know, I should break out the family photo albums or some home movies. But...I have to warn you. He wasn't always such a looker. [Astrid giggles.]

Stefan: Thank you for stopping by Elena. Nice to see you.

Elena: Yeah, I should probably go. It was nice to meet you, Damon. I will see you at home Ashe.

Damon: Great meeting you, too, Elena.

Astrid: See you when I get home.

[Stefan is blocking Elena's way as he stares at Damon.]

Elena: Stefan....Stefan?

[Stefan moves; Elena leaves.]

Damon: Great gal. Whoo. She's got spunk. You, on the other hand, look pooped. Did you over-exert yourself today? Let me guess...hospital.

Stefan: Someone had to clean up your mess.

Damon: Well, were you successful? Did the powers of persuasion work? Remember, if you don't feed properly, none of those little tricks work right.

Stefan: How long was Elena here?

Damon: Were you worried, Stefan? Scared we may be doomed to repeat the past? Isn't that why you play your little game, "I'm a high school human"? [Astrid giggles again.]

Stefan: I'm not playing any game.

Damon: Of course, you are. We both know the closest you'll ever get to humanity is when you rip it open and feed on it.

Stefan: What kind of game are you playing, Damon?

Damon: Guess you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? [He grabs Astrid's hand and pulls her to the cellar to get the ice-cream]

All my brother's growl at the scene but can't do anything about it because they are spelled to their sits.

Gilbert Residence

Elena: He's on the rebound and has raging family issues.

Jenna: Well, at least it's an ex-girlfriend. Wait till you date a guy with mommy issues or cheating issues. Or amphetamine issues. And what about Astrid?

[Jeremy and Astrid enter the house.]

Jenna: Jeremy, Astrid? Jeremy, where were you? And Astrid where were you?

Jeremy: More stoner stories? Look, Jenna, I get it, you were cool. And so that's...that's cool.

Jenna: Oh, no, no, no!

[Jenna throws an apple at Jeremy.]

Jeremy: Ow! Why? Why...why did you do that?

Jenna: Listen up! Quit ditching class or you're grounded. No discussion.

Jeremy: Parental authority, I like it. Sleep tight.

Astrid: I was with my boyfriend Jenna. [walks up the stairs not letting Jenna get a word in.]

Mikael growls at the reminder.

Hospital

[Vicki wakes up. She looks at Matt and sees him sleeping in a chair. She goes into the bathroom to wash her hands, when she looks into the mirror, she sees a glimpse of Damon.]

Vicki: Matt. Mattie?

[Matt turns into Damon with his vampire face. She wakes up from the nightmare.]

"WHAT IS IT WITH PEOPLE AND NIGHTMARES!" Tyler yelled but got no answer.

Mystic Falls Town Square

[Elena, Astrid and Bonnie are handing out pamphlets.]

Bonnie: Tonight, night of the comet! Would you like a program?

[She turns to Elena as Astrid leaves.]

Bonnie: Would you like a program? He didn't call, huh?

Elena: Or text. But I realized we never even exchanged that stuff. We've never gotten to the texting part.

Bonnie: That's an important milestone in any relationship.

Elena: Isn't it? The timing is wrong, anyway.

Bonnie: When is it ever right?

Elena: I'm not ready, Bonnie.

Bonnie: Who is?

Elena: At least I put myself out there.

Bonnie: Is that what you're calling it?

Elena: What do you mean?

Bonnie: All I'm hearing is reasons why you can't.

[Caroline sees Damon with Astrid and approaches them. When she gets closer, they're gone.]

"Wow, you really ditched them." Katerina giggles.

"Shut up Katerina, you can't talk." I mumbled in reply.

Salvatore Boarding House

Zach: What is Damon doing here? Why did he come home?

Stefan: 'Cause I came home. He wants to make my life miserable. That's how he enjoys his.

Zach: Well, he's putting us all at risk. This girl in the hospital could talk. And what about the girl that was over?

Stefan: She won't. I took care of her. And the girl that was over is part of the supernatural community.

Zach: [Looks shocked but regains his composer.] You're sure about the girl in the hospital?

Stefan: I'm not sure, Zach. I don't know how well it worked. I'm not as strong as Damon.

Zach: So what happens if it doesn't work?

Stefan: I don't know. I'll deal with it.

Zach: Is she worth it? Uncle Stefan, this girl you came back for? And the girl that was over, is she part of your girl's family or life?

"More like part of the Salvatore life." Damon muttered as he tightened his hold on me.

Mystic Grill

Jeremy: Vicki, what are you doing here?

Vicki: Fighting with Robert about my schedule. You'd think getting ripped up by a rabid animal would merit an extra sick day.

Jeremy: Are you feeling, ok?

Vicki: I hurt.

Jeremy: Well, the doctor gave you something, right?

Vicki: The kid stuff. Nothing with an "o" in it. I think they were on to me.

[They laugh. Jeremy gives her pills.]

Jeremy: Here. Knock yourself out, literally.

Vicki: Thanks, Jer.

Jeremy: So you gonna, uh, watch the comet later?

Vicki: I hadn't really thought about it. But I could be talked into it. I'll meet you out there in a few.

[Tyler approaches them.]

Tyler: Hey, Vick. How you feeling?

Vicki: Like you care.

[Vicki leaves. Tyler catches Jeremy looking at him in a mocking manner.]

Tyler: What are you lookin' at, Gilbert?

[Astrid arrives.]

Astrid: Oi Lockwood watch the way you speak to Jer or I'll cut your spleen out and shove it down your throat. [Leaves to find Elena.]

"DAMN! GO BAD BITCH!" All the female except Esther cheer.

Mystic Falls Town Square

Caroline: Hey, I got some candles.

Elena and Astrid: Hi. Hey.

Matt: Hey.

[Matt lights Elena and Astrid's candle.]

Elena and Astrid: Thank you.

Matt: You're welcome.

[Astrid leaves to find Damon. Elena lights someone else's candle. She looks up and sees Stefan.]

"What is it with you arriving in one place just to stay there for a few seconds all to leave again?" Alaric mutters. 

Stefan: Thank you. Hi.

Elena: Hi.

Stefan: You know that comet...it's been traveling across space for thousands of years. All alone.

Elena: Yeah, Bonnie says it's a harbinger of evil.

"Yeah sure it is." I mutter doubtful.

Stefan: I think it's just a ball of...snow and ice, trapped on a path that it can't escape. And once every 145 years, it gets to come home. I'm sorry about yesterday. I wasn't myself.

Elena: You seem to spend a lot of time apologizing.

Stefan: Well, I have a lot to apologize for. Yesterday, that wasn't about you, ok?

Elena: You didn't tell me that you had a brother.

Stefan: We're not close. It's, uh...it's complicated.

Elena: Always. He told me about your ex. Katherine.

"Real name Katerina." I mutter again.

Stefan: What did he say?

Elena: That she broke your heart.

Stefan: That was a long time ago.

Elena: When you lose someone, it stays with you, always reminding you of how easy it is to get hurt.

Stefan: Elena...

Elena: It's OK, Stefan. I get it. You have no idea how much I get it. Complicated brother? Check. Complicated ex? Check. Too complicated to even contemplate dating, double check. It's OK. We met, and we talked, and it was epic, but...then the sun came up and reality set in. So...

[Elena blows out her candle and walks away.]

Mystic Grill

[Vicki sees Damon and walks over to him.]

Vicki: I know you.

Damon: Well, that's unfortunate.

Vicki: Um...I don't...I don't know how, but...your face. Excuse me. Sorry.

[Vicki goes into the restroom and takes some pills. When she looks up into the mirror, Damon is behind her and attacks her. She screams.]

"What the FUCK!" Tyler screams. 

"Your voice is annoying me." I say as I place a silencing spell on him.

Jeremy: Hey, has anyone seen Vicki?

Tyler: You're her stalker. You tell us.

Jeremy: I can't find her.

Tyler: She probably found somebody else to party with. Sorry, pill pusher, I guess you've been replaced.

Elena: What's with the pill pusher?

Tyler: Ask him.

Jeremy: You wanna do this right now?

Elena: Are you dealing?

Tyler: She's never gonna go for you.

Jeremy: She already did. Over and over and over again.

Tyler: Yeah, right.

Caroline: You slept with Vicki Donovan? I mean, Vicki Donovan slept with you?

Tyler: There's no way.

Jeremy: And I didn't even have to force her into it.

Matt: What the hell is he talking about, Ty?

[Astrid walks overhearing what Jeremy said and punches Tyler.]

Astrid: I'm going to find Vicki. [she leaves as Matt nods gratefully.]

Tyler: Nothing, man, just ignore him, he's a punk.

Matt: You know what, how about all of you shut up and help me find my sister?

Bonnie: We'll check the back.

Matt: I'll check the square.

Jeremy: I'll come with you.

Elena: Oh, no, no, no. You are coming with me. So that's your game now, dealing?

Jeremy: I'm not dealing.

Elena: Look, I'm sick of the tough love speech, Jer. It's clearly having no impact.

Jeremy: You and Jenna, between the two of you. Enough already! At least Astrid doesn't have a go at me but checks that I am alright.

Elena: We can stop if you want. Send you to a therapist where you'll be forced to deal with it or to rehab where you'll sit in group and tell some stranger how you let your life fall apart. Or you could talk to me. And Astrid is going through something similar to yourself but instead of taking drugs she drowns herself in ice-cream and chocolate!

"What Ice-cream and Chocolate is delicious." I mutter.

Jeremy: I vote for none of the above. And Astrid would agree with me on this!

"True." I confirm.

Street

Matt: Hey.

Stefan: Hey.

Matt: Have you seen my sister?

Stefan: No, sorry.

Matt: I can't find her. She's missing.

Stefan: I'll keep an eye out for her.

[Stefan starts to leave.]

Matt: Hey. I saw you at the hospital yesterday.

Stefan: Did you?

Matt: What were you doing there?

Stefan: Visiting.

Matt: Visiting? You know, Elena and I, we've known each other for a long time. We might not be together right now, but I look out for her. And I'll always look out for her.

[Stefan hears a scream nearby, followed by Damon and Vicki's voices.]

Damon: You really have to stop screaming.

Vicki: No, please, stop. Don't...

Damon: Shh. I got you...

Stefan: Excuse me.

[He leaves.]

[Stefan sees Damon and Vicki. He jumps on the roof.]

Vicki: No! No!

Damon: Shh, I'm not gonna drop you.

Damon (to Stefan): Not bad. Have you been eating bunnies?

Stefan: Let her go.

Damon: Shh. really? Ok. Damon pulls Vicki to the edge of the roof.]

Vicki: No!

Stefan: No, no, no!

[Damon throws Vicki to Stefan.]

Damon: Ugh! Relax.

Vicki: What's happening?

Damon (to Stefan): I don't need her to be dead, but...you might.

Damon (to Vicki): What attacked you the other night?

Vicki: I don't know. An animal.

Damon: Are you sure about that? Think. Think about it. Think really hard. What attacked you?

Vicki: A vampire.

Damon: Who did this to you?

Vicki: You did!

Damon: Wrong!

Stefan: Don't.

Damon: It was Stefan.

Stefan: Don't.

Damon: Come here.

[Damon grabs Vicki on both sides of her head.]

Damon: Stefan Salvatore did this to you.

Vicki: Stefan Salvatore did this to me.

Damon: He's a vampire. A vicious, murderous monster.

Stefan: Please, Damon. Please don't do this.

Damon: If you couldn't fix it before, I don't know what you can do now.

[Damon pulls off Vicki's bandage and throws her to Stefan.]

Vicki: Aah!

Damon: Ugh! Your choice of lifestyle has made you weak. A couple of vampire parlour tricks is nothing compared to the power that you could have, that you now need. But you can change that. Human blood gives you that.

Vicki: No!

Damon: You have two choices. You can feed and make her forget. Or you can let her run, screaming "vampire" through the town square.

Stefan: That's what this is about? You want to expose me?

Damon: No! I want you to remember who you are!

Stefan: Why? So what, so I'll feed? So I'll kill? So I'll remember what it's like to be brothers again? You know what, let her go. Let her tell everyone that vampires have returned to Mystic Falls. Let them chain me up, and let them drive a stake through my heart, because at least I'll be free of you.

Damon: Huh. Huh. Wow. Come here, sweetheart.

Vicki: No!

Damon: It's OK.

[Damon whispers something into Vicki's ear and she becomes fine.]

Vicki: What happened? Where am I? Oh, I ripped my stitches open. Ugh...

Stefan: You Okay?

Vicki: I took some pills, man. I'm good.

[Vicki leaves.]

Damon: It's good to be home. Think I might stay a while. This town could use a bit of a wake-up call, don't you think?

Stefan: What are you up to, Damon?

Damon: That's for me to know and for you to...dot dot dot. Give Elena my best. [he see's Astrid and runs to her] Oh there's my girl.

Mikael and the gods growl at the reminder.

Mystic Grill

[Matt helps Vicki with her bandage.]

Matt: She said you found her wandering around.

Stefan: Yeah.

Matt: So, um, thanks.

[Caroline and Bonnie are seated at another table.]

Caroline: Ugh, it's just so much drama. Ever notice how the druggies are the biggest attention whores?

Bonnie: Yeah.

Stefan: Excuse me. Hi.

Bonnie: Hi.

Stefan: Um, have you guys seen Elena or Ashe?

Bonnie: I think she went home. And as for Ashe she told Matt that she was going to see her boyfriend. I'm gonna give you Elena's cell number and her email. She is big on texting, and you can tell her..."I said so". Also, I'll give you Ashe's as well, but she might not answer, she likes to leave people on read.

Stefan: Thank you.

[Bonnie touches Stefan's hand and has a vision.]

Stefan: You ok?

Bonnie: What happened to you? That's so rude. I'm sorry. Excuse me.

Caroline: Yeah, she kind of wigs out. It's like her thing.

Gilbert Residence

[Elena goes into Jeremy's room. Jenna is searching his room.]

Elena: Jer?

Jenna: No, it's me, the hypocrite patrol.

Elena: What are you doing?

Jenna: I've become my worst nightmare. The authority figure who has to violate a 15-year-old's privacy. Jackpot. I see the hiding places haven't gotten any more creative.

Elena: What brought this on?

Jenna: Your ass-hat of a history teacher shamed me good yesterday.

Elena: You got tannered. Been there.

Jenna: "Discover the impossible, Ms. Sommers." Got it. Thanks. Like I didn't know I was screwing up. Also what is his obsession with Astrid.

Elena: You're not screwing up, Aunt Jenna. And you can guess what his obsession with Astrid is.

Jenna: Yes, I am. You know why? Because I'm not her. She made everything look so easy. You know, high school, marriage, having you. I can't do it. I'm gonna say or do the wrong thing, and he's gonna get worse, and it's gonna be my fault. It's impossible. And that's gross, the fact that Tanner is obsessed with Astrid in that way.

Hearing this all of the people who are protective of me growls dangerously.

Elena: This is just the fear talking. You're a little scared, that's all. We all are. I have to go do something. But are you going to be ok? I'll make sure Astrid comes see you when she gets back.

Mystic Grill

[Jeremy enters. He sees Vicki and smiles. Tyler walks up to her and they start kissing. Jeremy leaves with a sad look on his face.]

[Caroline is walking to her car. She hears something and stops. She gets to her car, drops her keys, and stands up. Damon and Astrid are in front of her.]

Caroline: Oh...whoa.

Damon: Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.

Caroline: No, it's fine. Um...I was hoping I'd see you again. Hey Astrid.

Damon: I know.

Astrid: Hey Care bear. And also sir

Caroline and Astrid: Cocky much?

"You are very cocky Damon." Enzo calls over to where we are sitting. Damon just roll his eyes.

Damon: Very much. [He smiles and wraps his arms around Astrid.]

"Hands off!" Odin and Mikael mutter at the same time.

"Just shut up!" I call as I place a silencing spell on the pair of them.

Salvatore Boarding House

[Elena rings the bell. Stefan answers it.]

Stefan: Hi.

Elena: Hey.

Stefan: Would you like to come in?

Elena: The comet's actually this way.

[Elena goes out. Stefan follows her.]

Elena: Sorry for barging in. Especially after earlier.

Stefan: No, no. I'm glad you're here. The way we left things...I didn't like it.

Elena: See, the thing is, I got home tonight planning on doing what I always do, write in my diary, like I have been since my mom gave me one when I was 10. It's where I get everything out, everything I'm feeling. It all goes in this little book that I hide on the second shelf behind this really hideous ceramic mermaid. But then I realized that I'd just be writing things that I should probably be telling you.

Stefan: What would you write?

Elena: I would write..."Dear diary, today I convinced myself it was ok to give up. Don't take risks. Stick with the status quo. No drama now is just not the time. But my reasons aren't reasons, they're excuses. All I'm doing is hiding from the truth, and the truth is that..." I'm scared, Stefan. I'm scared that if I let myself be happy for even one moment that...the world's just going to come crashing down, and I... don't know if I can survive that.

Stefan: Do you want to know what I would write? "I met a girl. We talked. It was epic. But then the sun came up and reality set in. Well, this is reality. Right here."

[They kiss.]

"Ew my eyes!" Katherine says dramatically.

Forbes Residence

[Damon is kissing Astrids cheek. He looks at Caroline before speaking.]

Damon: So Caroline, Astrid here wanted to tell you something.

Astrid: [whispers something in Caroline's ear. Caroline smiles.]

Caroline: Please show me. [Astrid shows Caroline her magic and vampire face.]

Astrid: You will meet your soulmate soon Care bear. Also, one of my friends will turn you.

"How do you know?" Klaus muttered.

"Well when you have the Norn's as your magic given mother's, they tell you about people's fate." I reply sassily.

Caroline: Damon, you look hungry. Feed from me. It's ok. [Damon smiles gratefully and feeds.]

"All right lets watch the next episode." Thor booms.