[ she's not sure how to explain what's wrong. maybe with anything else, at any other time, it would have felt effortless to talk to stefan about what's on her mind. she wants to; if they're going to be friends, she should.
she manages a reassuring smile. maybe they are some things she can say. ] Have you ever thought about... if there's one safe place we can be? [ it's not home. it's not here. elena's starting to believe there's not, and there never will be.
she looks at stefan. tries not to remember how maybe she felt security and safety with him, awhile ago. she doesn't mean it about them, or even necessarily about just herself and her life - it's about everyone they love and care about. she knows he knows that.
she didn't mean to 'bust' him about caroline, just bring it up. after the luau, and... other things. elena has thought. maybe. there was something between them caroline just wouldn't say. ] Oh. [ so eloquent. she nods. tries not to feel relieved. (that doesn't mean he won't see caroline, or wants to. elena acknowledges that. tries to feel good about it.) ] I think she...
[ she what? she is coming? she stops herself there, her expression lightening with an exhale. ] This is weird.