You and Caroline had been seeing each other for a few weeks but hadn't made it exclusive before she was killed by Katherine, when Elena told you about Caroline's vampirism you did your best to avoid her making Caroline think that you hated her.
❝How can you hate who I am so much?❞
❝I don't hate you Caroline, I love you but you're a vampire now and I wont let you watch me die, I won't cause you the pain of losing me to old age.❞