The morning dawned way too early for Elenas liking, she just wanted to kill her alarm clock and go back to sleep!

Jeremy had convinced her to go to the back to school party yesterday. She had avoided Stefan and Matt and spent her evening with Jeremy. Then Vicki had been attacked in the woods and Stefan had disappeared, seems like Damon had arrived in town.

After forcing herself out of bed and into the shower, where she contemplated staying for the rest of the day, Elena stood in front of her wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear while the moisturizer cream she was wearing, made the room smell pleasantly like warm vanilla and coconuts.

In the end she decided to go with a pair of dark blue jean shorts, a black spaghetti strap top, thigh high black socks with two white stripes at the top and a pair of sneakers. Then she made her way to her dresser and chose a pair of black earrings that looked like zippers and a necklace with a red stone. As usual the only makeup she wore was mascara and eyeliner, she never really had the energy to get up forty-five minutes earlier in the morning just to put on a face full of makeup.

Elena made her way to Jeremys room while pulling her hair into a high ponytail, knocked on the door and waited for him to either open it or call out for her to enter. One of her biggest pet peeves was when people knocked on someone's door but didn't wait for them to open said door or even wait for permission to enter and just barged in.

Jeremy opened the door with a mumbled "Lena?" in just sleep pants while rubbing sleep dust from his eye.

"Have you been working out, Jere?" Elena asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Trying to impress someone?"

"What do you want, Lena?" Jeremy asked with a blush.

"Don't worry, you look good." Elena continued to tease.

"Lena!" Jeremy called out with an embarrassed laugh.

"Sorry, sorry." Elena threw her hands up in mock surrender. "I just wanted to know if I could borrow another hoddie?"

"Of course!" Jeremy smiled brightly at his older sister. He opened the door completely and walked over to his dresser. It made him feel warm knowing that Elena felt safer when she used his hoddies.

After their parents had died Elena had changed, at first, she was just depressed and wouldn't talk just spent her time writing in her diary all the time and the doctor said that it could be survivors quilt. But after a while Elena started to try to act like she had before the accident but at the same time she was trying too hard and it made it awkward and stilted.

Then the week before school Elena had become quiet again and had complained about headaches and light sensitivity. After that it was like she had decided to stop pretending to be the same person she was before the accident and Jeremy liked this version of his sister. It almost felt like he could take care of her and protect her, especially when she asked to use his hoddies to feel safe.

"Here, I hope this works." Jeremy smiled as he handed over a black hoddie with a dark blue tribal wolf on it.

"Thank you!" Elena beamed as she pulled the hoddie over her head. "By the way, wanna walk with me to school?"

"Aren't you getting a ride from Bonnie again?" Jeremy raised an unsure eyebrow.

"Nope I decided to walk today." Elena shrugged, she then turned to reassure Jeremy. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, I want to, just let me put on some clothes." Jeremy hastily told her, wondering if her choice to walk had anything to do with her still feeling freaked out in a car.

"I'll wait downstairs." Elena smiled and walked away.

Elena bumped into Jenna standing in front of a mirror on the way. "Do I look adult? As in respectful parent?" Jenna asked as she looked at Elena.

"Depends on where you're going?" Elena coked her head to the side with a smile.

"Jeremy's parent-teacher conference." Jenna pulled her hair up. "Hair up or down?"

"Sexy stewardess." Elena said with a smirk and then Jenna let her hair down. "Boozy housewife."

"Up it is!" Jenna pulled her hair up and tied it. "You're feisty today, you look hot to."

"I don't know, today is just a good day." Elena smiled and looked down, as she did, she noticed that with Jeremys hoddie on it looked like she wasn't wearing any pants. "I have decided that caring about what everybody thinks is just a waste of energy, as long as I have you and Jeremy I will survive."

"You'll always have me, Lena." Jeremy declared as he came up and hugged her from behind.

"Thank you, Jere." Elena murmured quietly to her brother.

At that moment Elena new she had changed something because in the tv show, Jeremy had lied to Jenna about a bird house and left early, but here he was, ready to walk with her to school.

XOXOXOX

The walk to school was pleasant and fun. Elena and Jeremy talking about different things but keeping away from the heavy stuff.

"I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle." Elena admitted to her brother when they had walked almost to whole way to school.

"Like a Harley Davidson?" Jeremy laughed because the picture in his head of his petit older sister driving a big Harley Davidson was frankly hilarious.

"No!" Elena laughed while she hit him on the arm. "More like a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R"

"You have really thought this out, haven't you?" Jeremy asked slowly.

"Yeah, it's just...I want that freedom, you know?" Elena shrugged, she really missed her bike from her last life, when she was out driving it was one of the few times, she felt completely free.

"Well, if it makes you happy, I'll support you." Jeremy smiled at her. "And mom and dad were pretty loaded so it's not like we can't afford to buy a motorcycle for you. And if you don't want to use mom and dad's money you could always sell your car."

"You are the best little brother anyone could ask for." Elena gushed as she pulled Jeremy into a big hug.

"Just promise to give me a ride to school every now and then and we'll be even." Jeremy teased but hugged back just as tightly.

At that point they had arrived at school and Elena was ambushed by a blond bombshell named Caroline.

"Elena! I need to talk to you!" Caroline grabbed her arm and started to pull her away from Jeremy.

"Talk to you later, Jere!" Elena called to her brother who was just laughing at her.

Caroline dragged her through the school into an unused classroom and locked the door.

"I need your help!" Caroline said in a mix between a demand and begging.

"Sure, what do you need help with?" Elena asked kindly.

"Stefan." Caroline mumbled quietly.

"What about him?" Elena coaxed when it didn't seem like Caroline was going to continue.

"How do I get him to like me?" Caroline moaned pitifully, then she started to ramble. "I tried so hard at the grill but the only thing he wanted to know about was you and then you left while at the same time giving me your encouragement and support. And I know that it's not your fault, you even suggested that he go with me to the party yesterday, which he did, and the only thing he asked about was you."

"I'm sorry." Elena sounded sad and uncertain. "I don't know what you want me to do?"

"He seems to really like you and he has only met you once or twice. Can you show me how to be more like you so he'll like me?" Caroline looked earnestly at Elena.

"Just be you, Caroline." Elena looked at her. "There is only one Caroline Forbes and that's you."

"But he doesn't like me." Caroline said sadly.

"If Stefan can't see want an amazing young woman you are then he is not worth your time and definitely not your tears." Elena whipped away a tear from Carolines cheek. "You are a gorgeous blond bombshell with an amazing personality, some people are just to blind or dumb to see that."

"Thank you for being my best friend!" Caroline hugged Elena tightly. Then she pulled back, took a deep breath and collected herself. "Is my makeup okay?"

"You look stunning!" Elena beamed.

After that they walked arm in arm out of the room, looking like two regal queens as they walked through the school.

XOXOXOX

After lunch she made her way to history class, which she both loved and hated. She loved to learn about ancient times, like the Vikings, the Greeks, the Romans and other ancient civilizations. But she got easily bored when it came to modern history and she never really remembered any of what she learned about it.

As Elena walked into the classroom, she saw the way Mr. Tanner looked at her legs and ass and wanted to punch him in the face. He was what? In the middle of his forties? And while Elena as Alex had been thirty-two, right now she was seventeen! Pervert!

Elena had done her best to avoid Stefan during the day and as she sat down, she could feel his stare burning wholes in her back. She thought if she avoided him, he would lose interest but it seems like she was wrong. Couldn't he just go for Caroline?

He kept on looking at her during the whole class but Elena refused to look back, she didn't want to encourage his crush or anything like it.

"Originally discovered nearly five centuries ago, it hasn't been over Mystic Falls in over 145 years. Now, the comet will be at it's brightest right after dusk during tomorrow's celebration." Mr. Tanner finished his lecture right before the bell rang.

Elena quickly picked up her stuff and walked out of the class room, making her way to her locker.

"Have I done something to offend you?" A voice said from behind her and she jumped around, hitting her shoulder on her open locker door.

"Stefan! Don't sneak up on people!" Elena rubbed her shoulder as she half glared at him.

"Sorry." Stefan rubbed the back of his neck. "You didn't answer my question."

"Huh? Oh, no you have not done anything to offend me, why do you ask?" Elena asked trying to pretend that she didn't know exactly why he would ask.

"You've been avoiding me." Stefan stated softly.

"Have I?" Elena puzzled lowly. "I have just had a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Elena!" Jeremy called out for her from his own locker at the other side of the hall.

"Sorry, I've been summoned." Elena made ha hasty retreat towards Jeremy trying not to make it seem like she was running away from Stefan.

"I am going to hang out with some friends but if you want, I can walk you home from school first." Jeremy asked as Elena made his way over to him.

"That's very nice of you but from what Bonnie texted me it seems I'm being kidnapped to the grill." Elena giggled softly. "Do you want dinner when you get home?"

"Nah I'll just eat a sandwich or something." Jeremy shrugged. "But could you tell aunt Jenna for me?"

"Elena!" She heard Caroline call and as she turned towards her, she waved and called out. "Hurry up!"

"I'll tell aunt Jenna you'll be home later than usual and I'll see you later Jeremy." Elena smiled and quickly hugged him. As she was walking away, she heard one of Jeremys so called friends whisper. "Your sister has a great ass" Elena almost smiled as she heard Jeremy tell him to shut up or he would get a broken nose.

XOXOXOX

"Well, I was talking to Grams and she said that the comet is a sign of impending doom." Bonnie told them as they were sitting in a booth at the grill. "The last time it passed over Mystic Falls there was a lot of death. So much blood and carnage, it created a bed of paranormal activity."

"Yeah and then you poured Grams another shot and she told you about the aliens." Caroline sassed while flipping her blond hair over her shoulder. Then she turned to Elena. "Why not just tell him straight to his face that you are not interested instead of avoiding him?"

"You are right, it's not fair of me to expect him to know that I'm not interested if I don't say anything." Elena nodded with determination. "I'm going over right now to tell him."

As she got up, she heard Caroline tell her 'Good Luck'.

It took her around thirty minutes to walk to the boarding house but that was okay, that way she could decide what to say to him before she got there. When she got to the front door, she saw that it was open and slowly made her way inside.

"Stefan?" Elena called out loudly. "Anybody home?"

The bird that flew through the front door startled her and she turned around. When she turned back, she jumped in fright at a person standing right behind her.

"You must be Elena." Damon smirked at her. "I'm Damon, Stefans brother."

"Yeah I figured. You and Stefan have the same annoying habit of sneaking up on me." Elena snarked at him. "I didn't know Stefan had a brother."

"Well, Stefans not one to brag." Damon smirked and shrugged. "Please, come in, I'm sure Stefan will be along any second."

Elena was admiring the parlor; it was quite beautiful and think of all the history! "Your parlor is beautiful."

"It's a bit kitschy for my tastes." Damon slowly looked Elena up and down. "I can see why my brother is so smitten. For a while there I never thought he'd get over the last one, nearly destroyed him."

"Me and Stefan aren't together." Elena told him. "And 'the last one'?"

"You aren't?" Damon looked even more intrigued now. "And the last one is Kathrine, Stefans ex. I assume that since you two aren't together that you haven't had the awkward exes talk yet."

"It's none of my business anyway." Elena shrugged uncaringly.

"At least you're not a rebound." Damon did his best not to smile. "We all know how those relationships end."

"That's a depressing way to look at love." Elena almost pitied him.

"I'm a fatalist." Damon explained then he turned to look at something behind Elena. "Hello Stefan."

"Elena, I didn't know you were coming over." Stefans voice was a mix of hope and emotionless as he looked between her and his brother.

"I know, I should have called but I needed to talk with you." Elena looked apologetic.

"Oh, don't be silly! You're welcome here any time. Isn't she Stefan?" Damon mocked Stefan with a look. "You know, I should break out the family photo albums or home movies. But I have to warn you, he wasn't always such a looker."

"Thank you for stopping by, Elena. It was great to see you but can we talk tomorrow at school?" Stefan almost pleaded with her.

"Yeah, of course." Elena made her way to the door. "It was nice meeting you, Damon."

"Great meeting you too, Elena!" Damon called out to her just as the door shut behind her.

As she made her way back home Elena called Caroline and asked her over for dinner so they could talk which Caroline quickly agreed to.

XOXOXOX

Elena is cooking with Carolines help while Jenna drinks wine and watches, not being allowed to cook after 'the incident'."

"He's on the rebound and has raging family issues." Elena cautioned Caroline.

"Well, at least it's an ex-girlfriend." Jenna gesticulated dramatically with her wine glass. "Wait till you date a guy with mummy issues or cheating issues or amphetamine issues."

They heard the door open and Jenna was on alert as Jeremy came into the kitchen.

"Jeremy, where were you?" Jenna asked slightly angry.

"Oh crap, this is my fault, I was supposed to tell you that Jeremy was hanging with some friends." Elena groaned and hit herself on the forehead as she looked at Jenna. "I'm so sorry Jeremy."

"It's okay but please remember to tell me next time so I don't get grey hair for nothing." Jenna joked with a chuckle.

"You want food Jeremy?" Elena asked kindly.

"Aunt Jenna didn't' cook, right?" Jeremy teased his aunt.

"Hey!" Jenna tried to slap the back of Jeremys head but he managed to duck out of the way.

"No, aunt Jenna didn't cook." Elena giggled. "Me and Caroline has made meat sauce and spaghetti."

"How can I say no to food cooked by my wonderful sister and a beautiful blond?" Jeremy smiled at them and Caroline had a slight blush dusting her cheeks. "Even though I've already eaten."

"Of course, you can eat more Mr. Jeremy 'Black Hole' Gilbert." Jenna laughed at him.

"Hey aunt Jenna, how did Jeremys parent-teacher conference go today?" Elena asked as she put the spaghetti in the boiling water.

"Your history teacher is an absolute ass!" Jenna growled and drank the rest of the wine in her glass. "'Discover the impossible, Ms. Sommers' Got it, thanks. Like I didn't know I was screwing up already."

"You are not screwing up aunt Jenna!" Both Elena and Jeremy exclaimed.

"They are right." Caroline agreed as she poured more wine for Jenna. "I think you are doing a marvelous job actually."

"You are all so kind but I am screwing up, you know how I know?" Jenna smiled sadly at them. "Because I'm not her. Miranda made everything look easy. You know, high school, marriage, having Elena and then Jeremy. I could never do that:"

"I think you are being too hard on yourself." Caroline said and hugged Jenna before Jeremy or Elena had a chance to say anything. "Did you know this last week is the first time I've seen Elena so happy in a long time? And today at school was the first time I've heard Jeremy laugh since long before the accident."

"You preach sister." Elena nodded at Caroline and everyone quietly looked at her.

"What?" Elena asked and that made them all break out into laughter.

As the laughter died down the four of them sat down to eat. "Did Mr. tanner say anything else?" Jeremy asked a little worried.

"It was mostly along the lines of 'Mr. Gilbert is not doing this blah blah blah he's failing that blah blah blah I was lenient last year blah blah blah:" Jenna ranted. "He's a real piece of work that on."

"He's always been an ass." Elena nodded, deciding against bringing up the way Mr. Tanner had looked at her earlier that day.

"Yeah and he seems to dislike Jeremy more than anyone else for some reason." Caroline added with a frown.

"He's going to fail me." Jeremy groaned and banged his head on the table.

"No, he won't." Elena denied but knew it was a big possibility.

"Even if he does you could always choose to do the history course online with Jenna's permission." Caroline smiled reassuringly at him.

"Caroline," Jeremy breathed out in awe. "You are a genius!"

Caroline blushed, not used to people praising her, especially for her intellect. She was seen as the bubbly, ditzy blond one and that automatically made people place her in the 'dumb blond' category. Except, it seemed, the people around the table right now.

"How about we play monopoly after dinner?" Jenna offered, not wanting to give up this family night.

"I'm game." Elena smiled then she turned towards Caroline. "You could call your mom to ask if you could sleep here, if you want?"

"Works for me." Caroline beamed. Before the start of school, she had always felt like she was Elenas and Bonnies friends while the where each other's friends but not really hers. Now, after school began again, she felt like Elena was choosing her over Bonnie which made her feel warm inside, she had never been anyone's first choice before.

"As long as Elena is the bank, I'm in." Jeremy chimed in with a mischievous look. "Aunt Jenna tends to cheat."

"You take that back, you little delinquent." Jenna laughed and pointed a mockingly stern finger at Jeremy.

The rest of the evening was spent teasing, laughing and having fun as they played several different boardgames.

XOXOXO