"So how was your dad's?" Linkin asked Caroline as they walked down the footpath from the school parking lot.

"It was really good. I definitely needed the brake after everything that happened with Vicky." She said.

"Are you still getting the nightmares?"

Caroline sighed. "Yeah. It's like every time I close my eyes or try to sleep, I just see her body halfway out the ground."

Linkin couldn't help the stab of guilt in his gut. No matter what he's told by Elena and Bonnie, it was still his fault. Damon may have turned her into a vampire. But he made the wood pierce her heart.

"Anyways." Caroline said as an eager smile emerged on her face. "You need to give me the deets."

"About?" Linkin said.

"Don't be coy. What happened with the hot and sexy fireman? Did he let you slide down his pole?" She said bouncing her brows suggestively.

"Wha, Caroline!" He hissed.

"What?" She defended.

"That's so vulgar, and I'm only sixteen." He reminded her.

"Like I said at the Grill. It's still legal." She smirked.

Linkin just scoffed.

"Oh come on." The Forbes girl pleaded. "As my new, newly gay best friend. It is my duty as a woman and fellow teenager to encourage boy talk, gossip and help you with fashion." She concluded.

"Aren't the gay best friends meant to give fashion advice?" He questioned.

Caroline gave him a deadpanned look. "Your shoes are two years old, that shirt is from last season and your belt doesn't go with those jeans, like at all." She said picking his whole outfit apart in a second.

"Point made." Linkin conceded completely agreeing with her.

"Now stop stalling and start boy talking." Caroline said seriously.

"All right." Linkin said throwing his hands up in submissions.

Caroline's grin somehow grew wider.

"Well after we left and you sent me that message to leave my keys on the tyre-"

"You're welcome." Caroline interrupted.

Linkin rolled his eyes. "Anyways. He actually went back in and ordered us some food to go. Then we drove out to this spot by the falls. We just talked for hours about stuff."

"What stuff?" Caroline asked listening intently and waiting for something juicy.

A smile spread across Linkins face as the memory replayed in his mind. "He told me about his time overseas, his old work buddy's from the fire station he use to work at. I felt comfortable talking to him about stuff I've never really told anyone else before, like how me and Jer used to be close, how my dad used to treat me. I've never felt heard like that before, it was just the perfect night."

Caroline sighed.

"What?" He asked.

"You didn't have sex did you." She said.

"Oh my god. For the hundred time, no we didn't." He laughed.

"Well, I'm happy you had fun. Even if it was boring." Caroline droned.

"There's no pleasing you is there?" He asked already knowing the answer.

"Nope." She grinned.

They both laughed.

"Oh look, there's Elena and Bonnie." Caroline said pointing out the pair.

Linkin looked over and was ready to go over until he saw a pair of teens kissing not far from them. It was Jeremy and Anna. "You gotta be sitting me." He growled.

"What? What's wrong?" Caroline asked immediately concerned.

"That." He sneered glaring at the pair.

Caroline followed his eyes and saw what he was seeing. "Ew. They need a little pda check." The. Her eyes widened and a new smirk spread across her face. "You're jealous aren't you?"

"No." He said through gritted teeth.

"Sure..." Caroline drawled not believing him at all.

Anna and Jeremy pulled apart and held hands as they walked lovingly into the school.

"I need to go to the bathroom." Linkin said before charging off in the wrong direction after the couple.

"That isn't going to end well." Caroline sighed before walking over to the Bennett and older Gilbert duo.

...

Anna had walked out of the office after handing in her admission papers and compelling the receptionist. She waited for the person the lady behind the desk had called to show her around. Not five minutes later Linkin walked around the corner.

"Well, this is going to be fun." Anna groaned completely unenthusiastic.

"You're first class is AP chemistry. I'll show you." He said doing his least to hide his disdain for the girl as they began walking the empty halls.

"Yeah look, we both know I don't need the tour so-"

Anna was cut off as Linkin waved his hand and she went flying into a bathroom.

"What are you doing here." He growled charging in and snapping his wrist making the girl fly sideways into the wall.

"Isn't it obvious, to go to school." She said letting out a weak laugh.

"What are you doing with Jeremy!" He yelled pushing his hand forward and Anna flew back and was pinned to the wall.

"That's what this is really about isn't it." She said.

Curling his fingers, Linkin let his magic flow into the vampire's head giving her a continuous aneurysm. "No, this is about how you were going to kill him just to get your mother out of the tomb. Do you think after everything I did, Bonnie and Grams did to keep that place sealed so none of the vampires could escape? Grams lost her life to keep the ward up on that place, I won't let you or you're mother have the chance to set them all free and use my friends as leverage!"

The lights started to flicker in the room and the taps started shaking.

"You.. you... don't know." Anna said surprised through gritted teeth.

"Know what." He spat curling his hand into a fist making the speel stronger.

...

Bonnie could feel the energy rippling through the school. Feel a power both strong and familiar being used near her sending the hairs on her arms up.

She excused herself from class earning look a look from Elena but also Stefan who also felt the energy buzz around him.

...

"Linkin stop!" Bonnie said running into the bathroom.

"What don't I know!" He repeated ignoring the Bennett witch.

"The tomb stayed open! All the va.. vampires got out!" She managed to wail through the pain.

At her words, Linkins hand dropped and Anna fell to the floor as the spell broke. "You... you're lying."

"She's not."

Linkin turned around only now noticing Bonnie standing there. His eyes began to fill. "What?"

Bonnie stepped closer to him as her eyes to began to well. "We all thought we had managed to bring it down for a few moments. But... the seal broke from our magic."

"No." He said starting to cry. "No that's not true, Grams didn't just die for nothing."

Bonnie pulled him into a hug as they cried into each other's shoulders.

"Why.. why didn't you tell me?" He sobbed.

"You'd already been hurt enough." She said fighting to hold it together. "I didn't want you to get hurt even more."

He held onto her tighter as she did him and they both cried into each other.

Anna pulled herself up from the floor. "I'm sorry, I really am. I don't mean any harm to Jeremy, I give you my word." She said before passing the pair and leaving the bathroom.

"Why does it have to be like this?" Linkin said between heavy pants for air. "We don't deserve this."

"I know." Was all Bonnie could manage to say, unable to find any more words.

...

"Do I really have to do this?"

"Yes. I told you that I needed all the help I can get. Between you Bonnie and Elena that should hopefully be enough to figure out this float for the Founders day parade." Caroline told Linkin.

"Come on, it'll be a good distraction." Bonnie urged.

Caroline sent a look of curiosity between the two.

Linkin groaned.

"Are you okay?" Caroline asked.

"Fine." He sighed.

Caroline looked unconvinced.

"It's just some stuff we've been going over. It's no biggy." Bonnie said.

Linkin let out a small scoff as his eyes trailed away from their table and around the room. He saw his brother a few tables over with Professor Saltzman and Matt along with a few other kids.

Elena and Stefan walked into the cafeteria and Mr Saltzman walked over to them before leading them out of the room.

He didn't even excuse himself as his anger quickly swelled and he just left the table without his bag.

Bonnie and Caroline both looked to each other, one with concern and one with guilt.

"What's wrong? Something happened?" Caroline said immediately getting up to go after him.

"No Care, just let him go." Bonnie said.

Caroline looked at her as if she had gone crazy. "He's clearly upset." She argued. "We are his friends and friends help when the there other friends aren't okay."

"Thia isn't something you can help with." Bonnie told her.

Now Caroline was even more confused. "What do you mean I can't help him?"

"Because you don't know what's going on." Bonnie blurted out still trying to stop her from going.

"Then tell me." Caroline argued.

"I can't. Just, please sit back down and let him go. He's been having some anger issues lately and I don't want you getting hurt." Bonnie expressed.

"Link wo-"

"Caroline please." Bonnie pleaded. She knew deep down that Linkin would never want to hurt her or anyone. But after seeing what he was doing to Anna, the blood coming from her eyes and nose. He used his magic to strike out and he hasn't told her, but she can see it, she can feel it. There was something else going on under the surface and she needed to figure it out before he did something he would regret.

With a defeated sigh, Caroline dropped back into her chair. "We shouldn't let him go like that." She mumbled.

"He'll be fine. I promise." Bonnie said trying to reassure her.

Caroline just let out a deep breath and focused back on her computer.

...

Linkin made his way down the hall after the Elena, Stefan and Alaric trio. He came around a corner and bumped into someone.

"Woah, hey sorry. I didn't see you there." Amon said smiling. He stopped when he saw the angry look on Linkins face. "Um, are you okay?"

"Never better." Linkin said through gritted teeth before stepping around him and continuing on.

Amon turned and walked alongside him. "I may not be the smartest kid here-"

"Really, never would've guessed." Linkin snarked quickening his pace.

"Ouch." Amom chuckled steeping faster to keep up. "I kinda wanna help, so what's got you all grinched up?"

Linkin stopped and looked at the older boy. "Did you just call me a grinch?" He asked confused.

"Ah yeah. It means grumpy." Amon said with a dopey smile.

"Well I mean, you're not wrong." Linkin said slightly amused and his anger slowly subsiding.

"What are you doing right now?" Amon asked.

"Why do you care?" Linkin asked untrusting of the boy.

"Well, normally whenever I see someone upset I was told you should try and find something to distract them and make them feel better." Amon said.

"Is that what you do for Drake and Makena." Link said with distaste. "Did they teach you to do that when they get annoyed or angry at something."

Amon's smile slightly faltered. "No, my mum told me that before she died."

Linkin felt guilty. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You didn't know, most people don't."

A silence fell between the two.

"So I should probably go." Linkin said.

"Oh, okay."

The pair had an awkward exchange of departures as Linkin took his leave.

Makena, having just caught the end of the two's conversation stormed over. "What do you think you're doing?" She said, angrily grabbing his shoulder so he was facing her.

Amon looked at her funny. "Just talking to Link-"

"That's exactly my point." She hissed. "The only time you should be talking to him is to put him in his place." Makena demanded with a glare.

"You know what Mak. I don't know how what's gotten into you or Drake for that matter. But we don't always have to be mean to people. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be nice." He said.

Makena scoffed. "Nice won't get you anywhere. You of all people should know that, your mum was nice and where did she end up."

Amon looked at her hurt. "Why would you say that?"

"Because nice is for the weak. We are not weak." She argued. "I don't want to see you talking with him again." She spat before walking off.

Amon watched her go, a whirlpool of emotions swirling inside of him. It's not weak to be kind." He said, repeating his mother's words to himself.

...

The crowds of townsfolk gathered around as floats covered with flowers and other decorations puttered along the town square of Mystic Falls.

Carol Lockwood was doing the announcement as always for any town functions. "Everyone please put your hands together for this year's Miss Mystic Falls and her beautiful court."

The whole town applauded as a rather large float covered in purple white and pink flowers strode along, with large columns made of paper mache that stood tall like the outside of a Greek Colosseum. At the front was a young couple and then Elena and Stefan, at the end of the float stood Caroline and Matt on a podium slightly above everyone else.

Everyone looked amazing in their 18th-century theme outfits. Caroline was beaming with a bright smile and Matt was waving to everyone he knew with his non-casted hand.

Elena managed to catch sight of Bonnie and Linkin standing together in the crowd and waved.

Bonnie sent her a wave back, she saw Linkin looking anywhere else and elbowed him in the side. He gave her a half stare before giving in and waving back.

That was when Damon stepped through the crowd and in front of the witches and waved at Elena. The Gilbert girl gave him a funny look, but then with an amused eye roll, she waved back. Damon just smiled at his brother who stared daggers at him.

"What are you doing here?" Bonnie said annoyed.

Damon turned around with a smile. "Just here to celebrate Founders day. I am after all a founding member." He joked.

"Why are you really here?" Bonnie pressed.

Damon sent a glance over the Bennett girl's shoulder surprised Linkin hadn't but in and started questioning him too. But Damon being Damon just dismissed it not caring in the slightest. "I wanted to say thank you."

"For what?"

"For dispelling that Gilbert device. It could have hurt me and I know that you don't like me, so thank you." He said.

Bonnie could see the honesty in his eyes. A twang of guilt flicked in her stomach but she didn't show it. "Don't mention it."

Damon chuckled. He walked past her sending a nod to Linkin but got ignored and just kept walking.

"What was he talking about?" Linkin asked when Damon was out of sight. "Since when do you do him favours?"

"It doesn't matter. An I don't." Bonnie said ending the conversation.

The day's events had quickly passed and the night's festivals had begun. Everyone was buzzing with food from vendors and stalls had sold out of merchandise and everyone was getting ready for the Mayor to make his speech. People were making their way to the stage are awaiting their town leader to kick off the fireworks celebrations.

Linkin stood, leaning on a post with inpatients. He lost Bonnie in the crowd a while ago and didn't really want to look for her either. He just wanted to be alone.

"Whatcha doin' little Lockwood?" Damon said appearing out of nowhere.

"Leaving." Linkin groaned walking away from the crowd and into the less busy street.

"What has your panties in a twist?" Damon asked following him.

"Oh, nothing." He snarked.

"You know I can basically smell the anger coming off of you." Damon teased. "Tastes like raw chilli."

"Just stop with the jokes will you!" Linkin yelled turning around heated. "Did all of you know?"

"Know what?" Damon asked amused.

"That the tomb vampires got out. That Grams died for nothing, that her sacrifice was pointless." Linkin said begging to cry. "Did everyone know?"

Damon wasn't smiling anymore as he stood there in silence looking anywhere but his eyes.

Linkin let out a defeated laugh. "So you all knew. She was the first person...... to... show me that I was worth more. She taught me so much, a woman who welcomed me in, and saw me as her own. She died to try and keep us all safe and help you. But Katherine wasn't in the tomb and now there's vampires who want nothing more than to kill everyone in this town running around waiting to eat us."

Damon reached a band out and held Linkins wrist. "I'm sorry." He said.

Linkin pulled his hand away and wiped the tears from his face. "It's a bit late for that now." He said bitterly.

"Damon." Someone said.

The pair looked towards the voice and saw Anna rushing over. She caught sight of Linkin however and didn't make another step further.

"The tomb vampires, there here."

Damon's face scrunched. "What do you mean?"

"They plan on attacking." She said looking around making sure she didn't spot any.

"How do you know?" Damon demanded.

"They think I'm on their side. I'm not. I just wanted to start a new life here, but they want to kill the founding families and anyone who gets in their way." She said urgently.

"Where are they?" He pressed.

"There already here." She said.

Linkin looked around at the crowds but realised how pointless it was. Then a sense of purpose seemed to fill him. "Get Jeremy out of here."

"I don't know where he is?" She said.

"You're a vampire. Find him." Linkin said.

Anna nodded before there was a gush of wind and she was gone.

Linkin started to make his way toward the crowd but Damon grabbed his arm.

"What do you think you're doing?" The Vampire questioned.

"Im going to make things right." He growled trying to shake him off.

Damon's grip tightened. "I've seen what you can do, but not even you can take down a full tomb of vampires." Damon argued.

Linkin glared and concentrated on the vampire.

Damon's head began to writhe in pain but his grip didn't loosen.

"Let me go." Linkin growled trying to pull his arm free.

"You're friends are all out here and you have no plan and no idea who these vampires are. You won't be able to do this in time on you're own." Damon argued through the pain. "You really want to risk all their lives, all these people's lives!" The spell faded and Damon let go.

"You do it you're way. I'll do it mine." Linkin said as he walked away.

Richard Lockwood was doing the final announcements and giving thanks as well as giving acknowledgement to the towns people and the founding fathers. Linkin was in the crowd rolling his eyes at the speech before he bumped into someone.

"Linkin." Alaric said wide-eyed. "You need to get out of here th-

"The tomb vampires are here I know. I'm going to kill them."

"You can't be serious" The teacher argued.

"I'm deadly serious. I'm not leaving here until they're all dead." He said.

Before he could walk off Professor Saltzman grabbed his arm.

"You can't stop me." Linkin growled pulling his arm free.