Stefan was doing exercises in his bedroom, using the rafter as a pull up bar, and I walked in because of the loud music. "Could you turn it up a little bit? It's not annoying yet."

"Sorry," Stefan said as I switched it off.

"When are you going back to school?"

"Soon."

Stefan dropped to the floor and started to do push-ups when Damon walked in with a glass of blood in hand, leaning next to Stefan. "Oh, come on. Just drink already. Come on, this self-detox is not natural."

"Can you get that away from me, please?" Stefan asked.

"How long did it take you to wean yourself off it the last time you last indulged?" Damon asked.

Stefan didn't answer.

"That's not good," I said.

"I'll be fine," Stefan said. "It just takes a little bit of time."

"I don't get it," I admitted. "You know, you don't have to kill to survive. That's what blood banks are for."

"I have to agree with Kay and say I like her diet better than I like yours," Damon agreed. "I haven't hunted a human in . . . God, way too long."

"Oh, I'm impressed," I said.

"It's completely self-serving," Damon said as he stood. "I'm trying to get the town off the trail of vampires, which is not very easy considering that there is an entire tomb of them running around."

"What are we planning on doing about that?" Stefan asked as he stood.

"We are not going to do much of anything if you don't have your strength."

I sighed. "There's nothing wrong with partaking in a healthy diet of human blood from a blood bank. You're not actually killing anyone."

"I have my reasons," Stefan said.

"Well, what are those holier-than-thou reasons?" I asked. "You know, we never actually discussed that."

"You know, I'd--I'd love to hear this story, too," Damon said as he sat down on the couch.

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Stefan asked us. "Watching me struggle?"

"No," I answered the same time Damon said, "Very much so."

I scoffed, and Stefan said, "I hate to break it to you, Damon, but . . . I actually have it under complete control."

"You do? Well, then you should just carry on, making the rest of us vampires look bad." I rolled my eyes as Damon stood, already walking toward the door as he said, "Have a great day, Stefan."

I knew he purposely left his blood to go back for it.

*

The sun had set by the time Damon, Stefan and I walked into the Founder's Day Kick Off Party together, and Stefan said, "Oh, God! I shouldn't be here."

"Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for the Founding Families," I said with fake enthusiasm.

"That would be us," Damon went on. "That would be rude to skip it."

"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody," Stefan said to Damon.

"Oh, I still do. I just love that they love me."

I looked at Stefan. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good, I'm fine," Stefan said a little too quickly.

"No cravings?" I asked. "No urges? Is that whisky you've been drinking all day doing its job?" 

Stefan chuckled.

"We are who we are, Stefan," Damon said. "Nothing's gonna change that."

"Nothing will make you happier to just see me given up hein, Damon?" Stefan asked.

"Whatever, it's inevitable."

"Well, I'm gonna find Elena."

"And I'm gonna go find something a little stronger than wine," I said, starting to walk away.

"Don't embarrass me, young ones!" Damon called after us.

*

I saw Stefan compel a DJ, and the music changed to something people could actually dance to, and Stefan started to dance with Matt's mother as I stood next to Elena. "Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?"

"Kaylin, is he gonna be okay?" Elena asked.

"Eventually," I answered. "One way or another."

We exchanged a look then looked back at Stefan.

Truth was, I was getting a little edgy about him myself.

I wouldn't have called it worry, but if it escalated . . .

He would become the Ripper.

That was the time to worry.

*

I had come outside because I heard the fight, and I saw Matt hurt and bleeding, Kaylin kneeling next to him. "Here, come on. Get up. Are you okay?"

"It's okay," the Mayor repeated. "Go get cleaned up." Tyler walked away inside, and he turned to Alaric. "Thank you for your help. Everything's fine." He raised his arms. "Everything's fine. Come on, everybody, back to the party, let's go. Come on. Have a good time."

 Elena was standing next to them while I asked Matt,  "Are you okay?" 

"Where is she?" Matt asked.

"Who?" I asked.

"My mom. Tyler kissed her. Where is she?"

"I don't know," Elena said.

"Put your head up," Kaylin told him.

I lifted his chin and he gae me a look I recognized from before I'd compelled him. 

I looked away. I'd compelled him for a reason. Because his sister died and they'd all found out about it, that's why this even happened tonight. 

So I wouldn't get into this again.