Surprising Lover (TVDxOC) (Complete)

Day One of Twenty-Two Thousand, Give or Take

In the present, Grace is sitting on a park bench in the TOWN SQUARE, where she is writing in her diary. As she writes, she narrates in voiceover, explaining what each character has been up to for the last two months.
"Dear Elena... A few weeks ago, you said goodbye and told us to write everything down so you'd feel like you didn't miss anything when you woke up. Bad news first-- Damon said the best way to keep his mind off you was to help Alaric grieve. So, in common Damon-fashion, he kidnapped Ric and flew him to Europe for a guy-getaway. I'm sure you can imagine how that's going. Matt will officially be Deputy Donovan next week when he graduates. As happy as I am for him, a big part of me wishes Care's mom was hear to see it. The Town Council gave her a bench. I've been visiting it, hoping I'll miraculously start missing her less. [She sighs] I keep thinking that if I can heal, I can move on with my life, but I don't see that happening any time soon. Anyway, I covered Damon, Bonnie, Ric, Matt... Who am I missing?"

(This line is broken idk why)

Stefan finally approaches her, startling her.
"Whatcha writing?"
"Stefan! What are you doing here?"
"Matt reported some blood bags missing from the hospital, so I thought I'd check it out."
"Do you think it's your mom and her heretics?"
"If it's not, then she has quite literally dropped off the face of the earth, and I'm still deciding if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
They're silent for a moment, and Grace, feeling awkward, hesitates before speaking.
"So... how's Damon?"
"[smiles] Well, if the last time he sat around waiting decades for a girl taught us anything, then I am worried."
"[laughs] Well, if you're worried, then I'm terrified."
They once again fall silent, and Stefan sits down next to her on the bench.
"I made this, uh, a thing, didn't I?"
Grace plays dumb and pretends she doesn't know what he's talking about.
"You made what a thing?"
"I told you how I felt about you, and now it's- it's weird."
"No. It's not weird, Stefan..."
"[skeptically] You just asked about my brother-- who you hate-- to fill awkward silence."
"[blushes] I don't hate Damon! I'm just..."
She laughs weakly before dropping the ruse.
"...Obviously... you know... scrambling to fill the awkward silence."
Stefan makes a face, and Grace rolls her eyes.
"Okay, you made it a thing. Congratulations."
"Alright, how about this? New rule-- you live your life, you heal, and in the meantime, we're friends."
"[nods happily] I like that rule!"
"Good. Okay, happy writing!"
"Thank you."
Stefan gets up and leaves, and Grace smiles to herself as she returns to her diary.
"And that's all."

Stefan is finishing his bomb at the kitchen table when Grace walks into the room and approaches him. Caroline also enters.
"There's five Heretics-- two guys, three girls. And, your mom isn't home."
Stefan looks up from the bomb, which he's just finished wiring.
"Enzo?"
"He's not there either. So, if we're going to do this, now is our window."
She picks up the bomb and tosses it in her hands.
"Whoa, whoa!"
"Show me how this works."
Stefan takes the bomb from her hands and sets it back on the table before playfully scolding her.
"First of all, this is a bomb."
He sits down at the table, and Grace sits down next to him so he can explain it to her.
"That there is the timer."
"Mmhmm."
"I'm gonna set it for sixty seconds."
Stefan programs the timer on the bomb while Grace watches.
"Sixty seconds. Got it."
Stefan looks at her with concern.
"Are you sure that you want to do this."
"I have to do this. They lived in your house for a hundred years. They've seen your picture. They'll recognize you immediately."
"I'm just saying... If you think this is a crazy plan, now's the time to speak up."
Grace gives him a look.
"Is there any version of this plan where you're not worried about me?"
"[slightly embarrassed] ...Probably not."
"[smugly] Mmhmm."
The two stare at each other for a long moment, and it's clear that it is stirring up feelings in Stefan. However, when Grace picks up on this, she gets awkward and looks away, making Stefan feel awkward as well.