-Elena: You weren't in class. I wasworried.

-Stefan: Yeah, I got your messages, andsorry I didn't get back to you, but... what I wanna say shouldn't be said overthe phone.

-Elena: A simple "I didn't kill mybrother" text would have sufficed.

-Stefan: I didn't kill my brother, asmuch as he deserved it. He has you to thank for that.

-Elena: So what did you wanna tell me?

-Stefan: I won't be coming to schoolanymore. I'm gonna back off and keep my distance. It's the right thing to do.

-Elena: Back off from school or... fromme? Thank you for telling me.

-Stefan: It's better this way.

-Elena: Yep. I got it.

-Stefan: You're angry. That's good. Beeasier if you hate me.