Next day Morning.
I had my legs on Caroline 's lap when we heard a knock on the door. The door opened and i sighed when i saw who it was.
Caroline looked at him" We're not friends anymore, which means you can't just show up unannounced at my door. Good-bye."
She stood up and went to shut the door in his face but Stefan walked inside before she could to that.
Stefan"Hey, Caroline. Look. You're not safe. Tripp's men still have your name."
Caroline said amused " So, what? You here to protect me? News flash! I don't need your protection, and more importantly, I don't want it. I have Adelaide"
I raised my hand "here"
Caroline's phone rang and she answered "Hey, mom. Can I call you back? I'm trying to get a piece of gum off of my shoe."
Liz " Actually, honey, this can't wait. Do you have any idea where Tripp Cook might be?"
Caroline looked at me confused but i shook my head confused too" Tripp? No. I have no idea. Why?"
Liz" Because one of his men just ran me off the road, and they're gonna kill me if they don't get him back."
Her eyes widened and she looked at me. My jaw dropped.
On the road.
I was sitting in the passenger seat while Stefan drove. Caroline was in the backseat trying to reach Enzo.
Caroline "Answer your phone, Enzo! I just... I didn't call her today, you know? I always call my mom every Saturday morning, but, no, today, I said, "screw it. I want to sleep in. I'll do it tomorrow.""
Stefan" Well, don't worry. We're almost there."
Caroline asked irritated " We're almost there? You said, two hours and then kill him. Do you even remember how long ago you said that? I mean, what kind of person sets a ticking clock without setting his watch?"
I sighed "Caroline, calm down, your mother's going to be fine"
Her phone rang.
Caroline" Tell me that Tripp is still alive."
Enzo" Tripp is still alive, surprisingly torture-resistant but alive."
Caroline" What took you so long to answer your phone?"
Enzo" My fingers were covered in blood, and the touchscreen wouldn't work."
Caroline" Just don't kill him, ok? One of his guys took my mom, so just keep your hands off of him so I can get her back, ok? Enzo, please."
At a abandoned storehouse.
We walked inside and Enzo looked at us.
Enzo smiled "hello, gorgeous and gorgeous"
I rolled my eyes.
Caroline " What did you do to him?"
Tripp was knocked out chained on a chair.
Enzo shrugged "Oh, he's fine. Just a little blood loss. I think he may have an iron deficiency problem."
Stefan" Knock it off. Her mother's life is on the line."
Enzo" Hang on. Just so I'm clear. All Caroline and Adelaide had to do to get you to treat them with a modicum of respect, is to stop paying attention to you. Is that how this works?"
I warned "Enzo"
Well, Enzo and i have a love- hate friendship. He's not as bad as i thought.
Caroline looked at Stefan " No, but you let your sidekick Enzo do it because what could go wrong when you team up with your sworn enemy?"
Enzo chuckled" Oh. That's brilliant. That's why Caroline told you to go take a leap. They hate you because she doesn't hate you at all."
Stefan"I'm sorry. Are you still talking?"
Enzo "Ask Adelaide yourself. Don't be ashamed, Adelaide"
He gave me a quick smirk.
Enzo looked at Caroline " Tell your mum I send my best."
Then he walked out.
I looked at Stefan "You're not going to ask me anything because i'm not going to answer anything "
He nodded.
On a Road.
We were waiting on a road in the middle of no where.
Stefan "They're here."
I saw a car pulling up on the other side of the border.
Stefan got Tripp out of the car. Matt got out the other side. Men got out of the other car, one pointing a gun at the sheriff.
Caroline went to walk to the border "Mom?"
Matt "Caroline, stop! The border."
Caroline stopped and looked at her "You're bleeding? What'd you do to her?"
Liz " I'm fine."
Matt" Ok. Let's do this. Let her go, and you can have him."
Man with the gun "Tripp first."
Caroline growled" Let her go, or I'll kill you."
Liz gave her a soft smile"Sweetheart, it's ok. Stefan, let Tripp go."
Stefan let go of Tripp, who walked over to the men.
Caroline" He's across. Now let her go."
The man let Liz go and she walked across the border. Tripp crossed the border.
Matt " Are you ok?"
Tripp asked confused "What's happening to me?"
Suddenly a huge slice appeared across Tripp's throat. he collapsed as Matt watched, horrified.
Caroline's eyes widened " Oh, my God."
Matt watched Tripp die and then turned to us " What the hell did you do?"
Stefan shook his head" Wasn't me. Enzo must have turned him into a vampire before we got there."
At the hospital.
Caroline hovers over her mom.
Liz chucked softly "This is totally unnecessary."
Caroline " You hit your head. You could have a concussion, and I know better than to trust that you're going to take yourself for a checkup back home."
Then she turned to Stefan. " You can go now. We're fine."
Liz" Sweetheart,-"
Stefan shook his head "no, it's fine. I'll wait outside."
He walked out and i followed him. I wanted to give Caroline some time with her mother.
Stefan turned to me.
I raised my eyebrows surprised "you're really going to wait here?"
Stefan "what was Enzo hinting on earlier?"
I shrugged "didn't realize you'd care"
Stefan sighed "of course i care, Adelaide"
I crossed my arms over my chest"you didn't seem care four months ago"
He looked down nodded "i deserved that one"
I nodded "and much more"
Stefan sighed" Look, Adelaide, please just talk to me. talk to me"
Me "Believe it or not but Enzo was there for me. sometimes. He found me"
Stefan "Where?"
I sat down on a chair "Damon had just died, and not even 13 hours later you left me too. My world was falling apart. I started drinking even more than i already was."
Stefan "Alcohol? blood?"
I looked down "both"
He nodded.
Me "i was a mess. I head reached my breaking point and at some point i enjoyed it. I started drinking from people who even dared to look at me the wrong way. I was getting pissed of by everything with a heartbeat."
Stefan "Ric and Caroline didn't tell me about that"
I drove my hand through my hair and sighed "Because they didn't know"
Then I looked at my hands "Enzo found me one night. I was drinking from a guy and he pushed me off before i killed him. I had killed a few before he found me but i just didn't care. He was the one telling me Damon wouldn't have wanted this for me. He kicked my ass even though he knew i wouldn't listen."
Stefan "And you hid your "activities"?"
I nodded "of course they knew something was wrong with me but they couldn't blame me. We all had our own way to move on. My way was drinking without caring"
Stefan "I'm sorry. I am incredibly sorry for the way that I treated you since that night."
I stood up and took a few steps away from him "i tried to hate you, Stefan"
Stefan nodded"i figured"
Me "i tried and I tried and I tried but i couldn't. Even though you broke my heart i couldn't hate you. Because it would've meant hating every single moment we've spent together"
Stefan looked down.
Me "and i didn't want that."
Stefan looked down.
I cracked out "Just tell me the truth, Stefan"
Stefan looked at me.
Me "did you really move on? Were you really going to built a new life with Ivy? Was everything you said about me that night a lie?"
I felt tears in my eyes.
Stefan "The truth is, Adelaide, i never moved on"
I let out the breath i didn't realize i was holding.
Stefan "but hearing what happened to you, what you went through because of me, only confirmed my thoughts"
Even though i was scared of the answer but i still asked "what thoughts?"
Stefan "That you deserve better than me. Way better"
He walked past me out.