Try {One | Alaric Saltzman}

You're Undead to Me

"Jenna, are you aware of what's going on upstairs?" Elena rushed down the stairs, through the living room, and into the kitchen. "Vicki is up there!"

"I mean, he could be craftier about it, at least make an effort to sneak her in and out." Jenna smirked as she dropped her coffee mug in the sink. "Oh, and just so you know, I won't be home for dinner."

"You're going to do it?" Abigail asked with an undetectable scoff. "You're gonna go out with Logan?"

"I'm going to show up and torture him, yes." She turned away from her worried gaze to Elena. "Have you heard from Stefan?"

Elena shook her head as they gathered their things to walk out of the door. "Not since he left that very vague message three days ago. 'Hi, um, Elena, I, um, have something I have to do. I'll, uh, explain in a few days.'"

Although Abigail had expressed her concerns about Logan to Jenna, she hadn't expressed her concerns about Stefan to Elena. She knew that she needed to, but she wasn't sure if it would make much of a difference. So, with apprehension, she asked, "Are you going to call him?"

"Nope."

"And you're okay with everything?"

"No. I'm not okay with any of it. But I'm not gonna cry about it, either." Elena slammed the front door behind them. "You know, I was going to write in my diary this morning and then I thought, what am I going to write? Honestly, I'm not gonna be one of those pathetic girls whose world stops spinning because of some guy."

Bonnie was waiting for them at their lockers, sending their attention down the hall to Caroline almost immediately. "She's in denial. She thinks she let him bite her."

"Why would she let him do that?" Abigail asked.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "He gave her that necklace, but never called her again. She says she never wants to talk to him again, so I guess-"

Stefan walked up to them. "Hey."

Bonnie was the only one who greeted him, but she excused herself just as quickly, "You know, I gotta go be somewhere right now."

There was a moment, when Stefan was looking at the tile floor, that lingered. "I'm so sorry I haven't called."

"No worries," Elena said. "I'll live."

"I was dealing with Damon."

"And did you?" Elena finally met his eyes. "Deal with Damon? For four days?"

"You have every right to be upset with me. But can I explain it all to you?" His face fell when she looked over his shoulder without a word. "Please."

It wasn't until Abigail nudged her that she responded, "Sure. When?"

"I have to be home after school, but the Grill, around five o'clock?"

She ignored her sister's second nudge, so she spoke for her, "She'll be there."

"Stefan," Caroline stormed up to them. "Where is Damon? He has some serious apologizing to do."

Stefan sighed as she crossed her arms. "He's gone, Caroline."

"When is he coming back?"

"He's not coming back." He took a deep, relieved breath as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"This is a good thing, Caroline."

"I know that."

When Elena entered Abigail's room without knocking, she knew that something was troubling her. She sat down on her bed, taking notice of the only displayed photograph in the room. Neither one of them said anything as their eyes met, but Elena tilted the new frame toward her with a sad smile.