Archive of Our Own ^beta

Elena was standing in the high school hallway. She had just gone through the worst day of her life. Rebekah had forced her to reveal all her secrets, and Stefan was furious. No matter how much she apologized, he only got angrier. He even told her he would have preferred never to have met her. That was bullshit. She had every reason to be mad at him. It was because he stole the coffins that Esther was able to wake up, which led to Elena’s transformation into a vampire and Ric’s death. Then he made a deal with Klaus about her without even consulting her. And yet, he dared to judge her? And now, he was asking Rebekah to erase all their memories together. That was too much.

She stepped toward him, grabbed him by the shoulder, and slammed him against the lockers before starting to hit him.

Rebekah, surprised, smirked and pulled out her phone to record.

Stefan pushed Elena away. “What is your problem?”

“My problem is that I was stupid enough to be with you!” Elena shouted, catching Stefan off guard.

“Sleeping with Damon was the best decision I ever made,” Elena went on.

“Good for you,” Stefan said flatly.

“You’re nothing but a pathetic hypocrite,” Elena spat. “Everyone always preferred you to Damon—our friends, me, Katherine, even your parents. But the second one person chooses him over you, you throw your little drama-queen tantrum. No wonder Katherine was obsessed with you—you’re the same. Except Katherine admits she’s a bitch. She doesn’t play the victim, or the good girl.”

Stefan started to speak, but Elena slammed him violently against the wall.

“You say you respect my choices, but you don’t respect anything. You made a deal with Klaus—do I need to remind you what happened last time? And let’s not forget, that deal was about me, but I wasn’t informed. What makes you so sure I wouldn’t rather stay a vampire than be his blood bag?”

Stefan broke free. “You’re not cut out for the vampire life!” he shouted.

Elena burst into hysterical laughter. Stefan started to look worried.

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Elena sneered. “You’re the one who can’t handle being a vampire. One drop of blood and you turn into a rabid dog.”

“Hate to admit it, but she’s right,” Rebekah chimed in.

“I’ve always been there for you,” Elena pressed on. “When you fell off the wagon, I risked my life to save you from Klaus. I forgave your little stunt on the bridge. I never blamed you for Ric’s death or for my transformation.”

Stefan stared at her, confused. “Your transformation and Ric’s death weren’t my fault.”

“Remind me how Esther got out of her coffin,” Elena demanded.

“She’s right again,” Rebekah said with a smirk.

Stefan dropped his eyes. Elena struck him.

“Look at me,” she said, stepping closer. “If by some miracle I become human again and my feelings for Damon disappear, I’d rather sleep with him—or that skank, or crazy Kol, or the devil himself, or cancer, or Klaus, or Katherine. From now on, I’m living my life my way. Don’t you dare interfere. If you do, I’ll make you live an eternity of misery.”

Stefan stared at her, shocked. “Listen to yourself—you’re not yourself.”

Elena ripped a locker door off its hinges and started attacking Stefan with it.

“Go on, Elena, kick his ass!” Rebekah encouraged.

Caroline walked in just then and saw what was happening. She stepped between them.
“Elena, stop!” she said.

Elena swung the locker at her, knocking out some of Caroline’s teeth and badly injuring her face. Blood poured down.

Stefan and Rebekah were speechless.

“What’s happening to you?” Caroline asked, shaken.

“Who’s been your best friend since childhood?” Elena demanded. “Me or him?”

Caroline looked confused. “You.”

“Yet you’re always on his side,” Elena snapped. “Judging me, calling me the worst because I chose Damon, when you’re no better. You want Klaus. Did you forget what he did to me? He killed Jenna—my aunt. Do you remember that he sacrificed her because he couldn’t sacrifice you? But fine, I’ll give you this—he’s cute.”

Caroline didn’t know what to say.

“But don’t worry,” Elena added coldly. “When you sleep with him, it won’t ruin our friendship. I’ve ended it now.”

“What?!” Caroline shouted in shock.

“You heard me,” Elena said.

''Elena'' called Stefan ''Do you realize what you're doing?''

Then she struck him again with the locker.

“I know exactly what I’m doing!” Elena yelled. “I’m done—with you, with her, with Bonnie, with this town. Done putting up with your bullshit. Done with you making me feel guilty for every choice I make. Done being nice, compassionate. Done thinking about everyone else but myself. Done forgiving. Done with emotions.”

The glow in her eyes faded. Her face went completely blank.

Stefan’s face froze in horror.

Then Elena used her vampire speed and vanished.

“Holy hell… she did it,” Rebekah said.

“She did what?” Caroline asked, terrified.

“She turned off her humanity,” Stefan whispered.