When Sheriff Liz Forbes arrives, her first question is about her daughter (the one she doesn't think enough of to feign interest in her hypothetical future career, never mind protect with a nice Vervain amulet). "Where is she?" Winded, Damon explains that his brother is taking Caroline home -- to safety. As he rises to his feet, he apologizes for his "failure" to stake Scum. "I'm sorry, Sheriff." His blue eyes nearly fill with tears. "I just wasn't strong enough." Bravo, Damon. Bravo. Commercial.

MFHS, Career Night: Stefan meets up with Elena, tells her that he got Caroline home safely and that Damon is "dealing with" Scum. He then uses the evening's events to drive home the point that it's not a good idea for them to be together. Elena accepts this on the surface, and convinces him to let her drive him home. And we cut to...

MFHS Exterior: Jeremy finds Ty sitting alone and extends an olive branching asking if his dad is like that all the time. If so, Germ claims he "gets" it. At that, Tyler punches him in the face. Bleeding from the nose, Germ says, "What's your problem?" Tyler doesn't need his pity. Germ says that they don't have to be like this. Tyler orders him to "just go." Again, Jeremy asks what his problem is. As if drugged, Tyler staggers under the light of THE FULL MOON and says, "I don't know." As he tries to catch his breath, he repeats, "I don't know." He allows the moonlight to stream down upon his troubled head before he stumbles off. Say, did anyone else think it was hinky that MFHS' teams are the Timberwolves? Yeah, me neither. Arrooooooo!

Mossy Manse Exterior: Elena drops Stefan off and apologizes for being harsh earlier. Stefan tells her she has every right. Elena changes topics and answers his earlier question about her hopes for the future. She always wanted to be a writer and that's a dream her mother always supported, but once she died, Elena was unable to envision it. She points out that although Stefan is trying to protect her, she's already drowning in a world of pain and death. He treats her as if she's intellectually challenged, stating that although it's hard for her to understand, he's doing this for her -- and then exits the car. Elena gets right out after him and tells him, "No." He doesn't get to make that decision for her. Hooray! "If you walk away, then it's because that's what you want." A beat. "Stefan, I love you." Stefan, whose back has been to her, turns on his heels, looks at her, and moves in for a breath-stealing kiss. When they finally break, we cut to...