Carmen's POV

Stefan and I are walking with Elena across the oval. "Here's what we're going to do. Are you both free tonight?" Elena asks us both.

"Yes" Stefan answers.

"Why?" I ask her curious.

"Dinner, my house. 8:00. You two, me, and Bonnie. You three will spend some quality time and she'll get to see what great people you are. Mission accomplished" Elena explains smiling.

I notice Aiden and Tyler tossing a football around with Matt. "Hey, what am I supposed to do, Ty? She made her choice" Matt tells them.

"Let her know she made the wrong one" Tyler tells him catching the ball.

"What are you doing?" Aiden asks his older brother.

"Ty, don't. Ty, don't! Ty!" Matt shouts. Tyler throws the ball at Stefan, who has his back towards him. He quickly turns around, catches the ball, and throws it back to Tyler. Tyler, Aiden and Matt are shocked. While Elena and I laugh.

"That throw was insane. I didn't know you played football" Elena says as we go inside.

"He used to" I tell her.

"That was a long time ago" Stefan adds.

"So why don't you try out for the team?" Elena suggests.

"Yeah, I don't think so" Stefan tells her.

"Come on Stefan, you used to love football" I tell him.

"But in this case, I don't think football likes me. You saw Tyler over there, and we both know how Matt feels" Stefan states.

"They don't know you. To them, you're mysterious loner guy. Wouldn't hurt to be part of. Make some friends" Elena tells him.

"Says the girl who spends her alone time writing in a cemetery" I state.

"Hey, come on. There's more to me than just gloomy graveyard girl. There's a whole other Elena that you have yet to meet. She was into everything, very busy" she tells us.

"Well, I look forward to meeting her. And when will that be?" Stefan asks her.

"Soon. She's working on it" Elena states.

"See you guys after school" I state and we go our separate ways. Them going to history and me going to Maths where Aiden sits next to me.

"You didn't tell me one of your brother's played football" he states.

"They both do and why would I tell you?" I ask him.

"I thought we were getting along" he says fawning hurt.

"The fact I haven't punched, does not mind we're getting along" I tell him.

"You know I'm on the football team" he tells me.

"Is that suppose to impress me?" I ask him.

"No, but I was wondering if you could talk to Stefan for me" he says sheepishly.

"About what?" I ask him confused.

"Matt and Tyler have been training me, but man can your brother throw. I was wondering if you could talk to him about teaching me to throw better" he states.

"Why? When I could teach you?" I ask and he looks at me surprised. "My brothers taught me everything they know about football, I could give you a few lessons" I tell him.

"That'd be great" he says smiling.

"Miss Salvatore, Mr Lockwood please pay attention" Mrs Oakley tells us. We shut up and pay attention. When school ended I went home with Stefan to change for the dinner at Elena's. We find Damon reading one of Stefan's journals.

"How were tryouts? Did you make the team? Very Emerson, the way you reveal your soul with so many...adjectives" Damon says as Stefan snatches the book off of him.

"What are you doing here?" Stefan asks him.

"I've come to apologize. I've been doing some thinking, some soul searching, and...I want us to start over. We need to put the past behind us. You're my little brother and sister. And if you both want to live a normal, happy human life, then I want that for you both. Maybe I can do it, too. That I can learn to be a non-living living person. Maybe there's hope for all of us" Damon says trying to keep a straight face.

"You know, it doesn't have to be this way, Damon" I tell him.

"Of course it doesn't. I saw Elena today, BTW. That means "by the way." She was at cheer leading practice. She looked so perky in her little short shorts. Just...simmer down, I didn't even go near her. I've got my own cheerleader now. Ooh, that reminds me...I gotta run. I have a date. Sweaty palms. Wish me luck" he says before leaving.

"Well at least he won't be killing anyone for a while" I say shrugging. I go to my room and change. I meet Stefan downstairs and he drives us to Elena's. She invites us both in and we sit at the dinner table with her & Bonnie. "It looks lovely Elena" I tell her.

"Thank you Carmen" she says smiling. "Did Tanner give you a hard time today?" she asks Stefan. Who had tried out for the football team today after school.

"Well, he let me on the team, so I must have done something right" Stefan states.

"Bonnie, you should have seen Stefan today. Tyler threw a ball right at him, and..." Elena tried to explain.

"Yeah, I heard" Bonnie says cutting her off.

"Why don't you tell Stefan and Carmen about your family?" Elena suggests.

"Um, divorced. No mom. Live with my dad" Bonnie says evasively.

"No, about the witches. Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool" Elena tells us.

"Cool isn't the word I'd use" Bonnie mumbles.

"Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed, but I do know that there's a history of Celtic druids that migrated here in the 1800s" Stefan explains.

"My family came by way of Salem" Bonnie states.

"Really? Salem witches?" I ask intrigued. So she really is the great granddaughter of Emily Bennett.

"Yeah" she says nodding her head.

"I'd say that's pretty cool" I tell her smiling.

"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity" Stefan explains.

"Yeah, they are" Bonnie says smiling gently. I think Elena's plan is working. Suddenly the door bell rings. Elena goes to answer it and I hear Caroline with Damon. Stefan goes to see what is happening while I help Bonnie clean up. I was putting scrapes in the bin when I see the takeaway counters. I raise an eyebrow looking at her. "Elena can't cook" she tells me and I giggle.

Just then Damon and Caroline enter the house. Great, now he's been invited in. We all go to the living room eating the dessert he and Caroline had brought. Elena tells Caroline how Stefan made the football team. "I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team. Tyler must be seething. But good for you. Go for it" she tells him.

"That's what I always tell him and Carmen. You have to engage. You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you. You have to go get it" Damon states.

"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today. It's only because you missed summer camp. God, I don't know how you're ever going to learn the routines" Caroline states.

"I'll work with her. She'll get it" Bonnie assures her.

"I guess we can put her in the back" Caroline muses.

"You know, you don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena" I say looking at her.

"Oh, it's just 'cause her parents died. Yeah, I mean, she's just totally going through a blah phase. She used to be way more fun. And I say that with complete sensitivity" Caroline says.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I know what it's like to lose both your parents. In fact, Stefan, Carmen and I have watched almost every single person we've ever cared about die" Damon tells her.

"We don't need to get into that right now, Damon" Stefan states.

"Oh, you know what, you're right, Stef. I'm sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was bring her up" Damon says.

"Lets drop the subject, so Caroline tell us about your family" I say smiling.

"Parents divorced, gay father and live with my mum. Who is the sheriff" she states.

"A female sheriff? Wow" I say intrigued. Elena goes to do the dishes and all us girls go to help her. Leaving Damon and Stefan to talk. Damon then took Caroline and I home. The next night I go with Damon to Stefan's first football game. "Remind me again, why I'm here?" I ask him.

"We're here to support Stefan" he tells me. "Now go be a normal kid, but no boys" he adds before leaving. I roll my eyes and go sit on the bleachers. Soon Aiden sits down beside me in his jersey.

"The jersey suits you" I tell him.

"Thank you, I'm sure you'd look cute in a cheer leading outfit" he says smirking.

"Not a cheer leader type, more of a swimmer" I tell him.

"There's going to be a car wash, dress code swim wear" he tells me.

"I may be there" I tell him. "You should go, don't want to miss the pre-match speech" I state.

"Kiss for good luck?" he asks.

"In your dreams" I tell him. He pouts and goes to say something.

"Aiden, get over here!" Tyler calls. Aiden sighs and leaves.

"I thought I said no boys" Damon says as he appears beside me.

"Nothing happened, where were you?" I ask him.

"With Elena, did you know Stefan gave her a vervain necklace?" he asks me.

"No, maybe you should talk to him about it" I tell him. He nods his head and leaves. Not long after word spread of Coach Tanner's death. I send my brothers each a message and go home alone.

A/N

Picture above of Stefan giving Elena her vervain necklace and on the external link of Mr/Coach Tanner.