Stefan stepped out of the crowded house for some fresh air. He looked around the sky. It was dark, but as there were no clouds he could see stars and constellations shining. He sighed. Why do I have to pretend all the time? He and Katherine were dating and she had dragged him to yet another party tonight. He didn't like it and he didn't want to be with Katherine. Who he truly loved was Elena, Katherine's best friend and doppelgänger. They looked exactly alike, but their personalities were drastically different. She, however, was going out with his great-great-great-something-grandfather Damon. It sounds gross, yeah, but one thing others didn't know was that Damon was a vampire. It was surreal, very much surreal and Stefan still couldn't really grasp how someone that old could look so young and hot, but he knew that he would have to accept it. At least for now. Elena knew Damon was a vampire and she had accepted him from the beginning when he told her who he was. Stefan couldn't understand how she could feel something for a cold, heartless murderer. Because that's what Damon was to him. A cold-blooded hunter and murderer.

Suddenly someone put hands over his eyes. He heard her giggle behind him, sighed and turned around.

"Honey, why are you outside in the cold here?" Katherine was dragging him back to the house. "Let's go inside again. Tyler and Caroline are gathering up people for spin-the-bottle. Wanna play?"

Stefan let her lead him into the house. Everywhere was the unmistakable smell of booze and smoke and couples making out were blocking hallways, stairs, basically any spot that could be used to make out. He wanted out of there, but to be in good graces with Elena he had to endure Kat, her endless partying, and, of course, Tyler and Caroline, the popular couple. Watching them made him want to puke every time.

"Kat, I'm kinda tired. Would you mind if I went home tonight? I really just want to lay down for a while."

"Sure, whatevs," she shouted over her shoulder, not even looking at him. It made him sad.

He slammed the car door shut and walked to the big old mansion Damon and he shared. Seeing Elena's car on their driveway made his heart jump. So she'll be spending the night again. He should have been used to it by now, but he was still exited every time he saw her making herself breakfast in their kitchen in only her pajamas and robe or walking around at night to go to the bathroom. Not that he was spying on her or something! He would never do that! He just... happened to drift into the same room she was. That's all.

He closed the front door after himself quietly, but he knew that even if Elena didn't hear him coming Damon did. There was nothing he could do against that. He went straight to his big room on the third floor and shut the door. He could faintly hear their voices drifting through the panelling on the floor, but he couldn't make out what they were talking about.

Suddenly his phone buzzed. It was Kat.

"Where are you? Where'd you go? I've been looking for you for ages!" Kat yelled.

Stefan sighed. Again she had forgotten everything he told her. She ALWAYS does that.

"I'm home. I told you that I was tired and wanted to get some sleep. You said "Okay". I didn't think you..."

"Don't lie! If you didn't want to come to the party in the first place then why did you agree to come with me? Some boyfriend..." and she hung up.

Oh great! Now she's upset again. The same thing happened every few weeks. She got upset at him about something small and she wouldn't talk to him for a day or two, then Elena would calm her down and she would come back and make a face like nothing's happened. He was so tired of that. He was tired of Katherine. She manipulated him into doing everything she wanted, she always got her way, she never listened to anyone. Anyone but Elena. And that wasn't going to help him. If he broke up with Katherine completely, Elena would never forgive him as well and he would have no chance at all. Not that he had such a big chance against Damon, the ever-young and hot vampire. It bothered him that Elena didn't think of Damon as he did. She saw him as some kind of an angel come down from the heaven, while in truth he was the spawn of hell. Stefan would have done anything to protect Elena from him, he would have even died for her. He doubted if Damon would do something like that.

Stefan undressed, took a quick shower and went to the kitchen. He was hungry. Wonder if they've left me anything to eat... He did a quick cabinet-search, found some bread and made himself some sandwiches. He was just about to leave the kitchen when Elena came in.

"Hey, Stefan, don't put the bread away! I'm soooo hungry!" she smiled and hugged him briefly, then went to the counter and grabbed the butter and a knife.

"Where's Kat, by the way? Weren't you supposed to be at the Forwood party?" Everyone called Tyler and Caroline Forwood for short, 'cause their last names fit together so well. Caroline Forbes and Tyler Lockwood. It's like they had their very own last name. Good for them then.

He shrugged. "Yeah, we went, but I felt tired and so I came home to rest a bit." She looks so beautiful... those perfect hip-hugging jeans and that black tank top... oh if only... but no. She's not yours, Stefan. Stop these thoughts. He smiled and turned away to distract his boiling thoughts.

"And that's what I'm gonna do now, too. Go to bed, that is. Have a good night, Elena."

"G'night, Stefan."