FRANCESCA. ( the vampire diaries)

Chapter Five

After the girls went home, Stefan and I returned to the boarding house. We were hanging out in his room, and I had been making fun of him since we crossed the entrance. While Bonnie, Caroline and I were discussing things about the party tomorrow, him and Elena were to engrossed in each other to even speak. It was awkward to watch, but that didn't stop me from laughing at him when we got back home.

"I've never seen you act like that before!" I laughed at the bored expression on his face as he stared at me. "I mean, you were ready to pounce on her! Oh, you're so smitten."

"Don't use that word." He shook his head.

"Which one?" I asked. "Smitten?"

"No. Pounce." He told me and I raised a brown playfully. "I'll never do that to Elena."

I nodded slowly. "Of course. Right. You're nice Stefan now. I almost forgot."

From a distance, I could hear our nephew--Zach--approaching Stefan's room in a quick pace. I frowned and lifted myself up from the bed. He entered with a journal in his hands, lifting it for Stefan to see.

"You promised. " He said accusingly and approached Stefan, giving him the journal. Stefan took it immediately and began reading. I sat up and approached from behind, looking at a picture of a girl and a boy. Next to them read: BODIES FOUND MUTILATED BY ANIMAL.

"This was an animal attack." Stefan handed the journal back to Zach.

"Don't give me that. I know the game," Zach told him.

"What game?" I asked in confusion and crossed my arms. Zach looked down at me for a moment, before pointing at Stefan.

"Him tearing them up, they suspect an animal attack." He then faced Stefan and pointed a finger at him. "You said you had it under control."

"And I do." Stefan answered immediately with a hurt expression on his face before turning away from us.

"Please, Uncle Stefan, Mystic Falls is a different place now. It's been quiet for years. But there are people who still remember. And you being here...it's just gonna stir things up."

I scoffed. Of course it would, but since Stefan liked to go around the country during his prime years, it would stir things up everywhere for us, no matter where we went.

"That's not my intention," Stefan told him.

"Then what is? Why did you come back after all this time? Why now?" Zach asked and turned to me. "And you, I thought you hated this place."

"I still do." I shrugged. "But I couldn't let Stefan come here by himself."

Stefan slowly walked towards Zach. "We don't have to explain ourselves."

"I know that you can't change what you are." Zach stared at us. "But you don't belong here anymore."

"Where do we belong?" Stefan asked in a low voice.

"I can't tell you what to do. But coming back here was a mistake." And with that Zach left the room, throwing the journal on top of Stefan's chair.

I sighed loudly and looked up at Stefan, patting his back. "Don't make that face, Stefan. He's always been like this. You should be used to it by now." I started walking out of the room, but Stefan's voice stopped me.

"I'm sorry for bringing you here."

I turned around with furrowed brows. "Don't be."

"You heard what Zach said. You hate this place, and that slipped my mind."

I stared at Stefan. He was stil feeling guilty about what happened years ago in this town, and I still kind of blamed him for what happened. But there was nothing we could do now. What happened, happened.

"Go to sleep, Stefan. We have school tomorrow." I smirked at him.

I grabbed the door and closed it shut without looking at him. I started walking back to my room, ready to doze off for the night. I was too tired to even speak to anyone, and I wasn't in the mood to make that conversation with Stefan just yet. We still had plenty of time, but not right now, when things seemed to go back to normal for once.

I just hoped tomorrow would be better.

— author's note!
Damon is coming backkkkkkkk!