It is official - the lovable on-and-off screen couple, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerholder of the "Vampire Diaries" called it quits after their highly-publicized, three-year romance.

We would like to think that when life imitates art, there are happy endings; however, the couple's trip to Splitsville comes with some sad questions. Fans are asking the elusive "why" and "what now" for the pair. The latter question finds an answer in the form of a statement by an insider released to US Weekly. "They will continue to work together and remain best friends, which is where the relationship started," the insider told the magazine.

But with no real public information on the reason behind the split and reps for both declining to comment on it, we are only left to wonder, spectacle and look for some semblance of a clue.

And perhaps this is a coincidence, but Somerholder recently offered up a puzzling tweet as we learned of the breakup news, according to People Magazine. The 34-year-old hunk tweeted a quote by the late playwright Lillian Hellman, "A Thought For Today: People change and forget to tell each other." This may or may not be in reference to the parting, but the timing of it raises eyebrows.

And as for Nina's part, the 24-year-old has been spotted out and about with newly single girl pal Julianne Hough according to USA Today. The friends frolicked on a Miami beach just two weeks ago, and several weeks after Ian and Nina's most recent sighting together at Elton John's Oscar viewing party in February.

Like most romances, the twosome starred as friends and colleagues while portraying Elena Gilbert and Damon Salvatore on the CW series. Their relationship blossomed at the height of public fascination with the show in 2011, exciting adoring fans who wanted to see the on-screen chemistry between the two spill into real life. It was only last fall that Dobrev opened up to Seventeen about falling for Somerholder, according to US Weekly. "I didn't want to be dating one of my co-stars -- my goal on the show was to be professional," she said.

The twosome will still be working together as the Vampire Diaries was renewed for a fifth season, which filming will begin later this year. In the meantime, Dobrev will film the Fox movie, "Let's Be Cops" this summer post-breakup.

With both Dobrev and Somerholder being tight lipped about the split, what do you think? Tell us below!