Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC.

A/N: This was just an idea I had and I need feedback. Review please. I'd like to know what you guys think about it.

Chapter One: Pilot

Lying on the ground in her backyard, Trinity shifts to fold her hands behind her head. She sighed as she gazed up at the night sky. She took a deep breath; lettings the scents in the air flood her senses. Her nose wrinkled as she caught a bitter scent. She sat up, looking towards the woods not too far behind her house. Vampire. She thought. She gazed deeper into the woods but did not see anything. Taking another deep breath, she closed her eyes, and focused only on her hearing. She heard the beat of rapid footsteps…no. Hooves. She then heard a lighter patter of footsteps before hearing a thump. The fleeing animal was no more.

A vampire who drinks animal blood. Trinity opens her eyes. Great. She thinks, grimacing. Just what I need. She gets up from the ground and walks towards her house. She goes to the door and twists the handle only to find it locked. She rolls her eyes. Wonderful. She walks down the porch steps and look up at the house; seeing a window open. She grins and her bends down, her body shifting forms, growing smaller. A black cat swishes its tail back and forth before leaping onto house, making several jumps before finally reaching the window seal. The cat slips inside, jumping to the bedroom floor. Trinity, now human; stands from the floor. Now where's that vervain? She thinks as she walks out of the bedroom.

The next morning Trinity walks down the stairs, preparing to go to school. She rolls her eyes. Just what I need. She thought. School. Going to school wasn't something she ever looked forward to. It's not because she hates it, but she was basically invisible there. To the students and the teachers. She can actually guarantee that the same people that she's known for years don't even know her name. She remembers her first day of school when she moved here six years ago. The teachers hardly noticed that they had a new student much less the class. She didn't mind the solitude but it would be nice to have at least one person to talk to.

She sighs and picks her backpack up from the counter and leaves the house. She goes to the garage and looks at her choices. Motorcycle or Car? Her eyes go back and forth before settling on the motorcycle.

Pulling into the school she notices that even though she gets some looks, there's not as much as she hoped for. Everyone is busy greeting their friends after the long summer. Pulling into the parking space, she cuts the engine and gets off of the bike. Pulling her helmet off of her head she shakes her long black hair out, running her fingers through it to make sure she has no helmet hair.

She walks into the school and heads towards her locker. She drops her things off and heads towards the office to ask for a change in her schedule. She passes Elena Gilbert and Bonnie Bennett on the way.

"It's a hot back." Bonnie tells her friend.

Upon entering her senses are assaulted with the bitter scent she caught last night. She looks up to see a young man standing at the front desk.

"Your records are incomplete." The secretary tells him. "You're missing immunization records, and we do insist on transcripts."

"Please look again. I'm sure everything you need is there." He tells her.

The secretary looks down at the papers in her hands. "Well, you're right. So it is."

Trinity looks down and speaks under her breath. "I hope you don't plan on using compulsion for everything."

The young man tenses and turns to looks at her. His face curls in confusion. "Do I know you?" He asks.

Trinity shakes her head. "No." She goes to step around him but he grabs her wrist. Trinity rolls her eyes. "This isn't the time nor the place for this talk." She looks at the hand holding her, taking notice of the ring. Lapis Lazuli. She thinks.

"But we will talk." He says.

Trinity nods. "Yes. I'm Trinity."

"Stefan." He nods, letting go of her wrist.

Bonnie tilts her head at the exchange. "Who is he talking to?"

Elena shakes her head. "I don't know, maybe they're both new?"

Bonnie nods and continues. "I'm sensing Seattle, and he plays the guitar."

"You're really going to run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?" Elena asks.

"Pretty much." She grins.

Elena smiles before she hears a voice from down the hall. "Jeremy, good batch, man."

She frowns and turns back to Bonnie. "I'll be right back."

Trinity motions towards the desk. "Are you finished?" She asks him.

Stefan turns back to the secretary. "Thank you." He tells her.

"You're welcome." She smiles.

He turns back to Trinity. "After school?"

Trinity shakes her head. "It won't take too long. If I see you at lunch, I'll tell you then."

He nods his head and walks out of the office.

Trinity steps towards the secretary. "Hi." She smiles.

Trinity sits in the back of the class, resting her head on her hand as the teacher drones on.

"Once our home state of Virginia joined confederacy in 1861, it created a tremendous amount of tension within the state. People in Virginia's northwest region had different ideals than those from the traditional Deep South. Then Virginia divided in 1863 with the northwest region joining the union." He says.

She looks around the room and sees Stefan staring at Elena. I hope he's not hungry. She gazes out the window and tunes the teacher out.

At lunchtime, Trinity grabbed a bottle of water and an apple before heading outside. She finds a spot under a tree, away from the other students. She sits down and takes a book from her bag, opening to the marked page; taking bites from her apple every now and then.

It's not long before a voice causes her to break away. "May I sit here?"

Trinity looks up to see Stefan standing above her. "Sure." She nods, scooting over a bit.

Stefan sits down and looks at the book in her hand. "The Great Gatsby." He says.

Trinity nods. "If I wasn't so disgusted by the people in the book, it might actually be a favorite."

"The decline of the American dream too much for you?" He teases.

"More like the hollowness of the upper class." She says, setting the book down. "But it's not my book that you want to talk about."

"No." Stefan says. "Not really. How do you know-" He says quietly.

"That you're a vampire?" Trinity asks. Stefan nods. "I could smell it."

Stefan's face curls in confusion. "You can smell it." He says dubiously.

"It's kind of a bitter scent given that you're dead." She says. "But under that you smell a bit like," She leans in a little, sniffing. "Cucumbers…maybe a bit of coconut."

"How…" He trails off. "You're not human."

Trinity's face curls. "Well I consider myself pretty human. I just can't say that I'm human all the time."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a shape shifter." She shrugs. Stefan opens his mouth only to close it again. This goes on for another moment before she speaks again. "I change into animals." This earns another fish impression. "Are you gonna get that out anytime soon?"

"How?" He asks.

She shrugs again. "I've been able to do it since I was a kid. I freaked out the first time it happened."

"What happened?"

"I was just sitting in front of the TV, watching this tiger documentary. I was playing around, acting like a tiger. The next thing I know, I am one." She chuckles, remembering how she frantically stumbled around the room before running head first into a wall; dazing herself enough to turn back.

"Do your parents know?"

Trinity's face sobers. "I'm an orphan." She tells him. "My parents died when I was three."

Stefan looks down. "I'm sorry."

Trinity shakes her head. "It's okay. You didn't know. What I am worried about is your diet."

"I only feed on animals." He tells her.

"Which is why I'm worried." She says. "I'm not going to be in the woods one day only to get bitten."

"I wouldn't hurt you."

"How?" She asks.

"Well…you can tell me when you're going out and what you shift into. Then I won't hunt anything that might be you."

"Sometimes I change while I'm there. How will you tell the difference?"

"I guess I'll just have to learn your scent." He says.

Trinity nods. "I guess you will.

"Is it a family thing?" Stefan asks. "Shape shifting?"

Trinity nods. "I don't know why it showed up. Apparently I'm the first in generations. All I have is what's been left in journals. I don't have any other family to ask."

"Are you adopted?" He asks.

She shakes her head. "I got emancipated last year. I don't have to live with a caretaker anymore." The bell rings. They stand from the ground. Trinity goes to walk away but Stefan stops her.

"Wait." He says, taking out his phone. "What's your number?"

"Why?" She asks.

"Well we're friends now." He says. "Friends usually exchange phone numbers."

Trinity blinks. "Yeah." She says nonchalantly, hiding her excitement. "Sure." She pulls out her phone. They exchange numbers before Trinity bids goodbye. "I have to head to math."

"With Wilson?" Stefan asks.

"Yeah." She nods.

"That's where I'm headed."

Trinity smiles. "Well let's go."

Trinity and Stefan sit next to each other at the back of the class.

The teacher passes out a worksheet. "This is a partner's assignment. One will do the evens, while the other will do the odds. When you're finished I want you to check each other's work. You will do your work on a separate piece of paper and circle the answers. Write your partner's name at the top right of the page. This is just a refresher of what you learned last year before we move on." She says. The students begin to look around a move their desk.

Stefan looks at Trinity. "Partner's?" He asks.

Trinity nods and scoots her desk closer to his. "What's your last name?" She asks, holding her pencil above the paper.

"Salvatore." He answers. "Yours?"

"Clairborn."

"So how long have you been in Mystic Falls?" He asks. "Were you born here?"

Trinity shakes her head. "I was born in France. My family moved back to the states when I was two. I lived in Washington for a while before I decided for a change of scenery. I've been here since I was ten." She explains. "What about you?"

"I was born here, but I've only been back for a few months." He says. They work in silence for a few minutes before he speaks again. "So about your…talent." He says. "I believe you, but it's just-"

"Something you have to see?" She finishes.

He nods. "Yeah."

"Call me when you have time." She says. "We'll meet somewhere and I'll show you."

Stefan smiles and continues his work.

Later that day Stefan walks to Elena's house and walks up her porch steps. He stands in front of the door as it opens.

"Oh." Elena says, surprised when she sees Stefan.

"Sorry, I was about to knock. I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was…strange." He says.

"No worries. I get it, blood makes you squeamish."

He nods. "Um, something like that. How's your leg?"

"Oh, it's fine. Just a scratch, barely. How did you know where I lived?"

He shrugs. "It's a small town. I asked the first person I saw. Um, I thought you might want this back." He hands her the diary.

"Oh, I must have dropped it. I…thank you." She says, taking it in her hands.

"Don't worry, I didn't…read it."

"No?" She asks. "Why not? Most people would have."

"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to read mine."

"You keep a journal?"

"Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important." He tells her.

"Yeah. I'm just gonna, um, you don't have to stay out there."

"I'm fine. Sorry, were you going somewhere?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'm meeting a friend. Do you want to come?" She smiles.

He nods. "Do you mind if I invite someone?"

"Sure." She smiles again.

They head down the porch steps as Stefan pulls out his phone.

Trinity looks up from her book as her cellphone rings. She grabs it off the coffee table and answers it. "Hello?"

"Hey." She hears.

"Stefan?" She asks. "Time to meet already?"

Elena glances at Stefan as he talks on the phone.

"Not quite." He says. "I'm heading out with Elena, I was wondering if you want to meet us."

"Are you sure I'm invited?" Trinity asks furrowing her brow, having never spoken two words to the girl.

"Absolutely." Stefan smiles.

Trinity's silent for a moment before speaking. "Okay." She says. "Where?"

"Hold on a sec." He says before turning to Elena. "Where are we going?"

"Mystic Grill." She answers. "It's where everyone hangs out."

"Mystic Grill." Stefan says into the phone.

Trinity nods. "I know where it is. Meet you there."

"Alright." Stefan says. "Bye." He hangs up and turns to Elena. "She said she'll meet us there."

Elena nods. She?

Matt and Bonnie are at the Grill, talking.

"How's Elena doing?" He asks her.

"Her mom and dad died. How do you think? She's putting on a good face, but it's only been four months."

"Has she said anything about me?"

"Oh, no." Bonnie shakes her head. "So not getting in the middle. You pick up the phone and call her."

"I feel weird calling her. She broke up with me."

"Give it more time, Matt."

He looks over her shoulder, seeing Elena enter the Grill with Stefan. "More time, huh?" He walks over and holds his hand out. "Hey, I'm Matt, nice to meet you."

"Hi. Stefan." They shake hands.

"Hey." Elena greets, a bit awkwardly.

"Hey." He says back.

They stand in silence before Elena speaks up. "There's Bonnie." She says. "We should find a table." She walks away, Stefan following after her.

Stefan sits at the table watching Elena, Caroline, and Bonnie chat before he sees Trinity enter the Grill. Her eyes scan the crowd and he holds his hand up, signaling her over.

Trinity sees Stefan surrounded by Elena and her friends. Oh boy. She thinks, as she walks over. She plasters a smile on her face. Just breathe.

Stefan stands from his seat when she walks over. "Hey." He greets.

"Hi." She grins. He pulls a chair from the table. "Such a gentlemen." She teases.

"Always." Stefan smiles, sitting back down. He looks to the other girls. "Ladies, this is my friend Trinity." He introduces her.

"Hello." Trinity smiles.

Caroline has a big fake smile on. "Hi!" She says. "So…you know Stefan?"

Trinity nods. "Yeah. We go way back." She says, turning to look at Stefan; her brown eyes glinting in amusement. "How long has it been?"

Stefan inwardly smiles before feigning a wondering look. "About…nine hours?" He asks.

The smile on her face grows. "Yeah." She nods, looking back at the girls. "We're good friends." She says before chuckling along with Stefan.

"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline asks Stefan.

"Mm-Hmm." He nods. "And moved when I was still young."

"Parents?" Bonnie asks.

"My parents passed away."

"I'm sorry." Elena frowns. "Any siblings?"

"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle." He answers.

"So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow." Caroline tells him.

"It's a back to school thing at the falls." Bonnie explains.

Stefan looks at Elena. "Are you going?"

"Of course she is." Bonnie jumps in.

He turns to Trinity. "What about you?"

Trinity starts a little at that. "Oh…um."

"You're both new. It's a great way to meet new people." Caroline says.

Trinity gives an awkward smile. "Actually I've lived here for the past six years." She reveals.

Their eyes widen. "Oh." Caroline says. "Maybe we just never crossed paths before."

Trinity nods. I've had at least two classes with all of you every year since I moved here. She thinks. "Yeah."

"You should come." Bonnie tells her. Trinity hesitates a bit. "We'll keep you company."

"Sure." Trinity said.

The next day Trinity sits in History class, listening to the teacher.

"The battle of willow creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle?" He asks. "Ms. Bennett?"

"Um…a lot?" Bonnie guesses. "I'm not sure. Like a whole lot."

"Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett. Mr. Donovan. Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?" He says.

"It's ok, Mr. Tanner." Matt shakes his head. "I'm cool with it."

"Hmm. Elena? Surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?"

"I'm sorry, I…I don't know." She says.

"I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reasons, Elena. But the personal excuses ended with summer break." He says.

Trinity frowns. Jesus. She honestly doesn't know the answer and the first thing he brings up is her parents dying? I forgot how much of a dick this guy was. She thinks before deciding to answer.

"There were 346 casualties." She says, speaking in sync with Stefan. The class turns to look at them.

"Unless you're counting local civilians." Stefan says. Trinity nods in agreement.

"That's correct. Mister…" He trails off.

"Salvatore." Stefan says.

"And Miss…"

"Clairborn." Trinity tells him.

The teacher nods before looking at Stefan. "Salvatore. Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls?"

"Distant."

"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."

"Actually, there were 27, sir." Trinity says.

"Confederate soldiers, they fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss." Stefan finishes. "The founder's archives are, uh, stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts. Mr. Tanner." The classes chuckles at this.

"Hmm." Mr. Tanner's jaw clenches.

Trinity is walking down the hallway when she hears her name called. She turns around to see Stefan heading towards her. "Yeah?" She asks when he catches up.

"I was wondering if I could go to yours after school. We'll go to the party together?"

Trinity nods. "Sure. And hey, I can even show you that thing." She says.

Stefan nods. "Yeah." He says. "Just text me your address and I'll head over."

Trinity is cleaning up in the kitchen when she hears a knock on the front door. She walks over to the door and opens it with a smile on her face. "Hey!" She greets when she sees Stefan.

"Hey." He smiles. "I didn't realize we lived so close to each other."

Trinity takes a deep breath before stepping to the side. "Realize that this solidifies our friendship." She says. "Come in." Stefan steps through the threshold. "Follow me." She says, leading him to the backdoor.

"Nice house." He says looking around.

"Thanks." She says. "I decorated it myself." She opens the backdoor, waiting for him to step through before closing it behind her. "We'll need to be in the woods for this." She walks towards the trees.

"Why?" Stefan asks.

"Well some of the animals I turn into aren't from this region, endangered, or hunted. And I have no desire to be trapped or killed." She shrugs. "At least they'll try to kill me. You'll learn that I'm a bit harder to put down."

"How?"

"I'm stronger than the average person." She tells him. "I'm pretty sure that I can bench press my motorcycle. I heal very quickly. My senses are to the extreme and I'm pretty sure that I can keep up with you in a race, or at the very least, close behind you." She finally stops walking and turns to him. "Name an animal."

"What?" Stefan asks, confused.

"Name an animal and I'll turn into it."

Stefan thinks for a moment. "You said the first animal you turned into was a tiger. I think that's something I'd like to see."

Trinity smirks and before turning and walking away from him. She turns around and runs towards him, leaping into the air.

Stefan watches in awe his friend changes into a large tiger. It lands on the ground taking a few steps forward, releasing a roar. He stumbles back a few steps at the sound. The tiger sits back on its haunches, staring at Stefan. He stares at it for a moment longer. "Trinity?" The tiger…Trinity, nods her head. He slowly walks towards it, reaching a hand out. "Can I?" Trinity tilts her head down. Stefan runs his hand through the soft fur. "In all my life, I can honestly say that I've never petted a tiger." Trinity tilts her head up and licks his hand. Stefan chuckles.

Trinity leans back and shifts into her human form. "Cool right?"

"Amazing." Stefan says.

"Well I have to get ready for the party."

"Oh." Stefan says. "I guess I'll go."

"What are you crazy?" Trinity asks. "I've never been to a party and I don't have any girlfriends. You're helping me." She grabs his hand and leads them back towards the house.

Stefan and Trinity arrive to the party looking around. "Are you sure that this outfit is okay?" Trinity asks looking down at her clothes.

"You look great." Stefan tells her.

"People look up to me. I have to set an example." Elena tells Bonnie.

"Just admit it, Elena." She says.

"Oh, ok, so he's a little pretty." Elena shrugs.

"He has that romance novel stare."

"Stefan looked deep into her eyes, piercing her very soul." Elena says in a narrative tone. She chuckles a bit before sobering. "But what about Trinity?" She asks. "They've known each other a day and they already seem close."

Bonnie nods. "Yeah. But I get more of a friend vibe her, not a future romance vibe."

"Hey! You made it!" Caroline says, smiling at Stefan.

"We did." Stefan says.

"Well, let's get you a drink." Caroline says.

"Well I'm-" Stefan starts but Caroline grabs his arm.

"Oh, come on." She says dragging him off, Trinity following behind them.

"So where is he?" Bonnie asks.

"I don't know. You tell me, you're the psychic one."

"Right, I forgot. Ok, so give me a sec. Grams says I have to concentrate." She closes her eyes.

"Wait, you need a crystal ball." Elena picks up a beer bottle and hands it to Bonnie, their hands brushing.

"Ahh!" Bonnie gasps.

"What?" Elena asks.

"That was weird. When I touched you, I saw a crow."

"What?"

"A crow. There was fog, a man. I'm drunk. It's the drinking. There's nothing psychic about it." She rushes out. "Yeah? Ok, I'm gonna get a refill." She walks away.

Trinity catches sight of Elena. "There's your girl." She says to Stefan. He looks over at her longingly. "Go." She motions towards her. Stefan turns to look at her ready to argue. "I'll be fine." She smiles. He nods his head before making his way over.

"Ok. Bonnie!" Elena calls after her before turning to see Stefan.

"Hi." He smiles.

"Hi."

"I did it again, didn't it?" He asks sheepishly.

"Yeah." Elena nods.

"I'm sorry. You're upset about something."

"Oh, uh, no, it's Bonnie. She's…you know what? Never mind. You're…here."

"I'm here." He nods.

"You know, you're kind of the talk of the town."

"Am I?" He asks.

"Mm-Hmm." Elena nods. "Mysterious new guy, oh, yeah." She smiles.

"Well, you have the mysterious thing going, too. Twinged in sadness." He notes.

"What makes you think that I'm sad?"

"Well, we did meet in a graveyard." He tells her.

"Right. Well, no, technically we met in the men's room. You don't want to know, it's…it's not exactly party chit-Chat."

"Well, I've never really been very good at, uh, Chit-chat."

"Last spring…my parents' car drove off of a bridge into the lake. And I was in the backseat and I survived, but…they didn't. So that's my story." She tells him.

"You won't be sad forever, Elena." He looks into her eyes.

Trinity stands by the fire drink in hand; watching the people around her.

"Hi." She hears.

She turns to see Bonnie. "Hi." She smiles.

"I'm glad that you could make it." Bonnie says.

"Yeah it's pretty cool."

"So how come I've never seen you around before?" Bonnie asks.

Trinity looks down for a moment before looking back up. "I'm more of the wallflower type." She says.

"Do we have any classes together?"

"History." Trinity tells her. "Last year was English. The year before Science, and so on, and so on."

Bonnie looks at her in shock. "Really?"

Trinity nods. "Like I said; wallflower."

Stefan and Elena stand on a bridge talking. "I like Bonnie; she seems like a good friend." He says.

"Best friend in the world." Elena nods. "And Trinity?" She asks, trying to subtly find out information.

"Yeah." He says. "She's made it clear that she's my new 'bestie'. Her words. And Matt, he can't seem to, uh, take his eyes off of us."

"Matt's that friend since childhood that you start dating because you owe it to yourselves to see if you can be more."

"And?"

"And then my parents died, and everything changes. Anyway, Matt and I, together we just, I don't know, it wasn't, um…it wasn't…" She trails off.

"Passionate." He says.

"No. No, it wasn't passionate…hey, um, are you ok? Um, your eye, it just, it's…" She says.

Stefan turns away. "Oh, um…yeah, no. It's, um, it's nothing. Um, are you thirsty? I'm gonna get us a drink."

Elena waits for Stefan as Matt walks up to her. "Looking for someone?" He asks.

"Hey." She says.

"When you broke up with me, you said it was because you needed some time alone. You don't look so alone to me." He says.

"Matt, you don't understand. It's…"

"That's ok, Elena. You do what you have to do. I just want to let you know that…I still believe in us. And I'm not giving up on that."

"Matt…" She says, but he walks away.

Trinity is still talking to Bonnie before she stops and looks around.

"Is everything alright?" Bonnie asks.

Trinity takes a deep breath through her nose, catching a bitter scent in the air. That's not Stefan. She thinks. She tries to pin point it. It's too muddled by the number of people, the drinks, and the fire. She looks back at Bonnie. "I'm fine." She says. "Maybe just a bit too much to drink." She shakes her head. "I need to go." I have to find Stefan.

Stefan heads back over to Elena but is intercepted by Caroline. "Hey! There you are. Have you been down to the falls yet? Because they are really cool at night. And I can show you. If you want." She says.

"I think you've had too much to drink." He tries to go around her but is stopped.

"Well, of course I have. So-"

"Caroline. You and me, it's not gonna happen. Sorry." He walks away.

"I was wondering who abducted you, but now I know." Elena says, seeing what happened.

"Is she like that with, uh, all the guys?" He asks.

"No. You're fresh meat. She'll back off eventually." She looks over his shoulder. "Hmm. God, you gotta be kidding me!"

"What is it?" Stefan turns to look.

"My brother."

"The drunk one?"

"That would be the one. Excuse me."

"Need some help?"

"Trust me; you're not going to want to witness this. Jeremy! Jeremy!" She walks away.

Trinity walks around, her eyes finally landing on Stefan. She walks towards him. "Stefan." She says.

"Hey." He greets. "Having fun?"

"There's another one."

His face curls in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I caught another scent." She tells him. "Another. Bitter. Scent."

Stefan's face dawns in realization and they hear calls for help. They turn seeing Jeremy and Elena carrying a girl out of the woods.

"Somebody help!" Elena calls.

"Vicki? Vicki, what the hell?!" Matt says, rushing over to his sister.

"What happened to her?" Tyler asks.

"Somebody, call an ambulance!" Matt yells.

"Everybody back up, give her some space!" Tyler shouts.

"It's her neck. Something bit her. She's losing a lot of blood." Elena says.

"Put this on her neck." Someone hands her a rolled up jacket.

"Vicki, Vicki, come on, open your eyes, look at me." Matt says.

Stefan watches the scene in horror. Trinity grabs his arm, pulling him away from the crowd and leaving.

After dropping Trinity off, Stefan walks into the boarding house.

"What's going on?" Zach asks, seeing his face.

"Someone else was attacked tonight, Zach, and it wasn't me." He heads upstairs. Stefan walks into his bedroom before stopping. "Damon."

A man stands by the window. "Hello, brother." He smirks.

"Crow's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Wait till you see what I can do with the fog."

"When'd you get here?" Stefan asks.

"Well, I couldn't miss your first day at school. Your hair's different. I like it."

"It's been 15 years, Damon." Stefan sighs.

"Thank god. I couldn't take another day of the nineties. That horrible grunge look? Did not suit you. Remember, Stefan, it's important to stay away from fads." He teases.

"Why are you here?"

"I miss my little brother."

"You hate small towns. It's boring. There's nothing for you to do."

"I've managed to keep myself busy." He shrugs.

"You know, you left that girl alive tonight. That's very clumsy of you." Stefan tells him.

"Ah. That can be a problem…for you." He says.

"Why are you here now?"

"I could ask you the same question. However, I'm fairly certain your answer can be summed up all into one little word…Elena." He walks around the room. "She took my breath away. Elena. She's a dead ringer for Katherine. Is it working, Stefan? Being around her, being in her world? Does it make you feel alive?"

"She's not Katherine." He tells him.

"Well, let's hope not. We both know how that ended. And your new little friend. What's her deal?"

"Leave Trinity out of this."

"Tell me something, when's the last time you had something stronger than a squirrel?"

"I know what you're doing, Damon. It's not gonna work."

"Yeah? Come on. Don't you crave a little?"

"Stop it." Stefan says, growing frustrated.

"Let's do it. Together. I saw a couple girls out there. Or just, let's just cut to the chase; let's just go straight for Elena!"

"Stop it!"

"Imagine what her blood tastes like!" Damon shouts. Stefan turns away as his face begins to change. "I can."

"I said stop!" Stefan tackles Damon through the window only to land on the hard pavement.

Damon stands by the bushes. "I was impressed. I give it a six. Missing style, but I was pleasantly surprised. Very good with the whole face thing. It was good."

"You know, it's all fun and games, Damon, huh? But wherever you go, people die." Stefan says, standing up.

"That's a given." Damon shrugs.

"Not here. I won't allow it."

"I take that as an invitation."

"Damon, please. After all these years, can't we just give it a rest?"

"I promised you an eternity of misery, so I'm just keeping my word."

"Just stay away from Elena."

Damon looks down. "Where's your ring?" He asks. Stefan looks at his empty hand. "Oh, yeah, sun's coming up in a couple of hours, and, poof, ashes to ashes. Relax. It's right here." He holds it out. Stefan slides it back onto his finger and looks up, only to be thrown into the garage door. "You should know better than to think you're stronger than me. You lost that fight when you stopped feeding on people. I wouldn't try it again. I think we woke Zach up. Hmm. Sorry, Zach!" He says walking away.

Trinity locks up her house before heading upstairs to go to bed. She lays down staring at the ceiling. Why do I feel like this will be that last peaceful moment for a long time?