***

We all walked to the car in silence, none of us really not really knowing what to say. When we got to the car, Stefan opened the door for Elena and before she got in, she stopped. She slowly turned to Stefan, "The mind control...You said Katherine used. Do you ever do that to me?"

"No," Stefan replied. Stefan pointed to the necklace around Elena's neck making her look down at it. "That necklace, it contains an herb called vervain. It protects you from being compelled. I wanted to protect you from Damon's influence. But I also wanted to...Protect you from me. Elena, you should never take that necklace off...Because no matter what happens after today, no matter how you feel about me...You'll know that you were free to make your own choice."

***

When the three of us got to Elena's house, we saw Matt, Jeremy, and Vicki. Matt and Jeremy were looking at Vicki in alarm. We all looked at the three with confusion. What could've happened while we were gone? It seemed like Elena had the same question, "What's going on?"

"She's really messed up." Matt replied to her question.

"Elena, back up. Vicki, look at me. Focus. You're gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine." Stefan said looking at Vicki straight in the eyes. Stefan turned to the other two boys in the room, "Guys, take her up to bed. Shut the blinds. She's gonna be okay. Come on. Come on." The boys took Vicki and did as Stefan asked. I sighed knowing what all of this was.

"You know what's wrong with her?" Elena asked worriedly.

"Yeah." Stefan replied.

"What is it?" Elena questioned a little breathlessly.

"She is transitioning." I responded. I was upset that something like this happened. I just think that it's so cruel that people have to go through tough decisions like this one. Sure people should make tough decisions, but not this one. This one is life and death, one that people should never have to choose.

"Transitioning to what?" Elena asked. She is just so full of questions.

"A vampire." Stefan replied with no hesitation.

"What?" Elena had a look of surprise on her face.

"Damon must have gotten to her. She's new. She hasn't completed her transformation yet." Stefan explained to her.

"H-how does she do that?" Elena asked hesitantly. Like she was afraid of the answer that she might hear and she should be.

"She has to feed on human blood to complete the transition." I responded grimly.

"And what if she doesn't?" Elena questioned the two of us. 

"She'll die." Stefan looked at Elena with a sorrowful look. Elena had tears in her eyes. "She may only have a few hours."

Elena started to pace around the room, "She's upstairs with him right now."

"It's okay. She doesn't know what's happening to her yet." Stefan said trying to reassure the brunette. What he said obviously didn't work because she was still pacing.

"So when is she gonna know?" Elena asked.

"Right now, she doesn't remember anything. A part of her is still human, but slowly, the deeper she gets into the transition, the memories will start to come back, and then she'll know she has to make the choice." Stefan explained. Elena was running her hands through her hair and she had her eyes closed. She was trying to let this all sink in, but I don't think we have time for that.

"The same choice you two made?" Elena asked with a voice that sounded like she was interrogating us. Stefan and I didn't answer then she walked away from the two of us.

***

Later in the day, Vicki had escaped from the house and now everyone was panicking. Matt and Stefan were out looking for her. I volunteered to stay here with Jeremy and Elena while they did that. Elena was cleaning off the kitchen table and Jeremy was leaning against the counter.

"Maybe we should check in with Matt." Jeremy suggested worriedly.

"He'll call when he finds her." Elena said to the boy. Jeremy liked Vicki from what I could obviously tell and he wasn't going to let this go. You know what they say, love makes you do crazy things.

"Well, what are we supposed to do?" Jeremy asked picking up the Chinese food containers off of the floor.

"We just have to wait, okay?" I said to him. It was to reassure him that everything would be fine, but I wasn't really that convincing.

"I don't know what's wrong with her." Jeremy said to both Elena and I.

"She'll be fine. It'll all be fine." Elena said. The doorbell rang and I went over to answer it. When I saw who it was I tried to close the door, but sadly Damon was way stronger than me, Elena walked up behind me with Jeremy behind her. "Jeremy, go upstairs." Elena demanded in a shaky voice. Jeremy was confused, but listened to her anyways.

Damon looked at Elena , smirking. "You're afraid of me. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess. Stefan finally 'fessed up."

"Stay away from me." Elena said.

"Hey, there's no need to be rude. I'm just looking for Stefan. May I come in? Oh, wait. Of course I can. I've been invited." Damon walked into the house and closed the door.

"You know, sometimes I just really want to hit you." I said to Damon, but Damon simply smirked at me. He turned back around and looked about the house. "We can cut to the chase if you want. I'm not gonna kill you right now. That wouldn't serve my greater agenda. So...Where's Stefan?" Damon crossed his arms and actually looked somewhat intimidating.

I crossed my arms and simply stared at him, "Stefan who? I don't know a Stefan. Never seen a Stefan in my life." I smiled sarcastically at him.

Damon smirked, "Cute, but I really need to know. Where is Stefan?"

"He's out looking for Vicki." Elena replied looking at him with judging eyes.

"Don't look at me with those judgey little eyes. Girl's gonna thank me for what I did to her." Damon said stepping closer to Elena. I stood in front of the girl though. Damon looked down at me and I looked up at him, challenging him.

"Did you thank Katherine?" Elena asked.

Damon scanned the girl with his eyes then turned away from us. "Mmm. Got the whole life story, huh?" Damon turned back around and smirked a little more if that was even possible. Damon looked straight at me for some reason. "Even the whole Corinthia part? Because there if there is one thing you and her share, it's your attitudes."

Elena spoke up, "We got enough."

"Oh, I doubt that." Damon walked to the door and opened it. He about stopped out, but stopped. Tell my brother I'm looking for him. Oh, tip for later, be careful who you invite in the house." Then, Damon closed the door behind him. I stayed for a little while longer before going home.

***

Later on, Stefan came home and he looked really upset. I knew something might've happened with him and Elena. He told me that Vicki ended up completing the transition. I was slightly sad for the girl knowing that she would have to go through the pain of living forever. After Stefan told me that, he went to his room and the whole house was silent.