It was the first day of school. I put on the usual pink shirt with flare leggings, and my hair back with a claw clip. Caroline stayed the night with me after bringing me back from the hospital.

"You ready?" Caroline asks and i nod.

"Can I —" Caroline says, wanting to see the scar and I nod. I lift up my shirt and Caroline covers her mouth.

"I know, it's bad. Let's go to school, do I have to go?" I asks. Caroline knew how much you hated not being in any classes with anyone.

"Yes, I have lunch with you, and you have study hall when Bonnie and Elena have lunch. At least you have 2 periods with friends." Caroline says and I nod.

—

"Here we are. Senior year." Caroline says. "And sophomore year for you Ash."

"Anyone else think this should feel slightly more empowering?" Bonnie asks.

"Okay, so prank night was a bust, but we are accepting it and we are moving on." Caroline says.

"You're right. I mean, why should I let the fact that my boyfriend is seeing the ghost of his dead girlfriends hinder this experience?" Bonnie tells us.

"Yes, and why should I let the fact that my boyfriend was turned into a hybrid put a damper on an otherwise fabulous day." Caroline says.

"Today's our anniversary. Technically, Stefan and I met on the first day of school last year." Elena says which we all sigh.

"Elena wins." I say.

"Your turn, Ash." Elena says and i shake my head.

"I don't need to tell you." I say. "But I can show you." I lift up my shirt and show them the scar.

"The doctor couldn't see it up so it didn't leave a scar?" Bonnie asks as they all look at me, feeling awful.

"No. It was too deep to prevent scarring." I say looking down.

"Do you guys want to be here?" Bonnie asks me and Elena.

"I have to be here." Elena responds. "I have to put it behind me. New year. New life."

—

I was walking to my locker and I get a phone call from Damon.

"Hey. If you're checking up on me just hang up. I'm fine." I say.

"You can keeping telling yourself that when we all know you aren't fine. But that's not why o called. You and Elena might not want to come here for a while. We have a new housemate. Barbie Klaus." Damon says.

"Rebekah? Ew. And why?" I ask.

"Because she's stranded. Apparently Klaus left her in the dust after I name-dropped Mikael." Damon explains.

"How's Stefan?" I ask.

"Oh, yeah... that. Klaus compelled him to watch you and Elena, so if you see Stefan staring at you, just know where your anger is coming from. Don't be late to class!" Damon hangs up before I can say anything.

I walk and see Elena pissed, and Stefan walks towards me. "How's your stomach?" Stefan asks.

"I thought you didn't care anymore." I say and Stefan nods.

"Correct, but Klaus wants me to watch over you. Don't do anything stupid. Keeping an eye on you Ashley." Stefan says annoyingly and walks away.

"Wait." I say. Which makes Stefan comes back over and cross his arms.

"Why does Klaus need me?" I ask. "He doesn't need my blood."

"Have no idea. I just do what he asks me, which he asks me to make sure you don't hurt yourself, so don't." Stefan walks away again and I sigh.

—

🎵

Rebekah shows off to the cheer team, and I see Caroline face, which made me want to make Rebekah pissed off.

"What are you doing?" Rebekah asks me as I walk over to the track part of the field. She did a Ariel into a front handspring into a split.

"Watch." I smirk as I go to do a round off backhand spring back tuck, then run to do an Ariel then a front Ariel, the. Finishing it off with a leap kicking my head.

"Go Ash!" I hear Caroline yell and I smile.

"Yes Ash!" Elena shouts after Caroline.

"How did you—" Rebekah says and i interrupt her.

"I did dance before this, and gymnastics. You doing 3 tricks isn't that cool. See you around." I smirk running over to Elena and Caroline.

"That was amazing." Caroline says. "Why aren't you on the cheer team?" Caroline asks.

"I quit dance for a reason Care. It's too much. But it felt good to put Rebekah in her place. I hate her." I say.

"You're in a good mood." Elena says.

"Surprisingly I am. So much shot has happened to me it's making me more mad now that I'm not doing anything about it." I say and they agree with me. "I'm going to go wait for your cheerleading practice to be over." I say walking over to the bleachers.

"Elena, when Ash gets these happy moments, she—"

"I know Care. She's been through so much, more than me. She's going to break. And she's not one to get angry. I just don't know how it's going to end cause nothing like this has ever happened to her. She got kidnapped to Chicago, then got punched to the point of bleeding out." Elena says.

"She's tuff. She'll get through it." Caroline says.

—

We were all back at the school at dark for the bonfire, and to take care of Stefan.

"I'll lure Stefan away from the bonfire then when he's distracted..." Elena says.

"I'll shoot him." Alaric replies.

"Can't Bonnie just juju him or something?" Damon asks.

"I'm trying to keep Bonnie out of this. I don't trust that Stefan won't hurt her. Caroline, are you covered?" Elena asks.

"Yes! I will make sure that the old Forbes jail cell is prepped and ready." Caroline explains.

"We're forgetting a key player here. Rebekah? Wherever Stefan goes, the blond ponytail tends to follow." Damon mentions.

"Which is why it's your job to keep her away." Elena tells Damon.

"How?" Damon asks. "She's an original. Last time I checked, we're out of daggers."

"So then preoccupy her with your charm." Elena says which makes me furrow my eyebrows.

"Might have Better luck finding the dagger." Alaric says, which makes me laugh.

"Are you ever not gonna be mad at me, Ric?" Damon asks.

"Doubtful." Alaric says while putting his hands on his hips.

"Sorry I'm late. What's going on?" Tyler asks, walking into the classroom.

"We need you to raid your mom's vervain supply. Enough to keep Stefan down for a while." Elena explains.

"You can't do that to Stefan." Tyler replies, which was weird.

"Why not?" Caroline asks.

"Tyler, Stefan is dangerous right night. It's in his best interest." I say and Tyler shakes his head.

"It's not in Klaus'" Tyler tells us.

"But Klaus is the bad guy, Tyler. Why are you acting like some freaky, hybrid, slave minion?" Caroline asks.

"Klaus made me who I am, Caroline. I owe him everything." Tyler says.

"Oh, boy." Damon comments.

"What, Damon?" I ask. "Your commentary is not necessary and you're making the situation worse." I say angrily.

Damon stand Tyler with a vervain needle before he can leave the room.

"What are you doing?" Caroline asks Damon.

"He's been sired. He feels loyal to Klaus because Klaus' blood created him. He'll seek acceptance from his master. It's really rare, but maybe not so much in hybrids." Damon tells us.

"So how do I fix him?" Caroline asks.

"Get a new boyfriend." Damon says.

"Ok. So does everyone know what they're doing?" Alaric asks.

"What am I doing?" I ask.

"You'll go with Alaric. Practice your crossbow skills." Damon says and I nod.

—

"Does your stomach still hurt?" Alaric asks and I shake my head.

"I mean, there's obviously a little soreness, but it's not in pain." I explain. "Stefan just caught Elena." I point out.

"You ready?" Alaric ask me and I nod.

We go over to the bleachers and I shoot Stefan, which was a surprise to him. He immediately passes out.

"You okay Elena?" I ask.

"Yeah. I'm... fine." Elena responses.

"You look, uh, not sober." Alaric says.

"The plan worked. That's all that matters. Let's just get him out of here." Elena says as Alaric picks up Stefan.

We put Stefan in the trunk of Alarics car, then me and Elena get in the car.

"Elena! Ashley!" Alaric starts to yell. We see the car randomly set on fire.

"The doors unlocked and won't open!" I shout, and Elena tries opening any door, but it's locked when it should be unlock.

Alaric tries breaking the window with a lacrosse stick, which doesn't work.

"Elena, Stefan." I say, while coughing, then I hear Stefan moving from the trunk and he kicks the door open. Elena gets out and grabs Stefan.

"Ashley!" Elena shouts as I struggle to get out. As I get out of the car, it explodes.

"Ashley are you ok?" Alaric asks.

"Ash your face has a burn." Elena points out.

"I know. And I'm fine, let's just go." I say mad, and Alaric and Elena just look at each other."

—

After putting ointment on my burns, we go to the house. I shower, get ready for bed.

"Hey, Ash. I'm going to watch a movie. Want to join?" Elena asks me and I shake my head.

"I should get some sleep, it's been a long day." I say forcing a smile on my face, and she leaves the room. I lay in my bed, under my sheets and My eyes get watery, tears falling down my face. I cried myself to sleep.

What you didn't know is Elena was still there and she realized you're struggling more than you let on.