Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

 is the second episode of the seventh season of The Vampire Diaries and the one hundred and thirty-fifth episode of the series.

Summary
MAKE BELIEVE – While his brother continues his act, Stefan tries to sway Damon from his new state of mind. A new guy makes a move towards Caroline, who doesn’t know what to do with it. Bonnie decides to get some human friends again. Elena has a hard time trying to discover her own whereabouts. Meanwhile, Matts days as Mystic Falls’ new deputy prove to be more challenging than he suspected.

Main Cast

 * Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert
 * Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore
 * Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore
 * Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett
 * Candice Accola as Caroline Forbes
 * Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan
 * Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman
 * Michael Malarkey as Lorenzo (credit only)

Special Guest Starring

 * Annie Wersching as Lillian Salvatore

Recurring Cast

 * Justice Leak as Malcolm
 * Elizabeth Blackmore as Valerie
 * Jaiden Kaine as Beau
 * Scarlett Byrne as Nora
 * Teressa Liane as Mary-Louise
 * Luke Benward as William Duncan
 * Adam Gregory as Ethan Crane
 * Alexandra Chando as Marge

Guest Cast

 * Brandi Gerard as Tiki
 * Emily Pierce as Savannah

Trivia

 * Antagonist: the Heretics (Valerie, Nora, Malcolm, Beau and Mary-Louise)
 * It is revealed that Damon acted like he turned off his humanity, because he didn't know what to do after Elena was cursed with a sleeping spell.
 * Caroline visited her mother's grave and met Andrew, a new guy, there. This parallels Stefan and Elena's first official meeting at the graveyard where they introduced themselves to each other.
 * Elena got into contact with a woman named Marge.
 * Bonnie tried to make human friends.
 * To protect Mystic Falls from the Heretics after their attack on the Mystic Grill in revenge for Matt and Caroline's attempt to kill them by shooting vervain darts and stake them, the town is evacuated with the story of a mine fire to cover the deaths. The deal with Lily is that she and her heretic family can kill any human that comes into town (mostly homeless people) afterward and now officialy live in the Salvatore Boarding House, instead of hiding out there.
 * Alaric, Damon and Stefan return to Mystic Falls after their Europe trip.
 * Malcolm's death proves that Heretics, although powerful supernatural beings, can die by a normal vampire's weaknesses.

Continuity

 * Tiki was last seen in the Season 1 episode You're Undead to Me.

Cultural References

 * "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" is a song by American duo She & Him, written by Zooey Deschanel for their first album, Volume One.