A/N This one shot is based 1 year after the events of S6 finale. Caroline is still keeping Stefan at an arm's length and is in denial.
"I can't believe this!" Caroline shouted for not the first time that night, flinging her arms into the air exasperatedly, "Can we not go one day without you pissing someone off and having to flee for our lives? I was hoping to spend my summer break having fun, not hiding in some hotel from a pack of witches"
"Coven," he corrected, looking away when she glared at him icily. "I'll take care of it first thing in the morning once Damon comes here," he assured her, swiping the keycard in the room lock.
"Whatever, I just want to get some sleep," she huffed, brushing past him into the room, stopping short once her mind registered the layout: bathroom, desk, couch, chair, bed, another chair, minifridge… and nothing else. "Oh, no, no no no! Where is the other bed, Stefan?!"
"This was the last room they had left, Caroline," he tried, shutting the door behind them, "We'll just have to make the best of it," he said with amusement, though his amusement quickly fell as she whirled around, glaring daggers at him.
"What?!" she demanded, stomping back to him until she was only inches away, a manicured nail pressing roughly into his chest. "Go. Fix. This. Now."
Stefan sighed, all hope he had of the blonde enjoying this turn of events quickly dashed, "Would you like me to compel some innocent guests out of their room so that you can have it? After compelling the staff to clean it, of course? That's far too many loose ends and you know it," he said matter-of-factly, gazing down at her.
"Fine," Caroline huffed, giving him one last glare before she turned away, heading over to the bed to inspect the sheets. Once satisfied, she kicked off her heels and stared at the bed, hesitating a moment before she looked back at him, "Give me your shirt," she demanded, only blushing after he raised a questioning brow at her. "I mean, I'm not going to sleep in this dress, and the rest of my clothes are still at your house," she clarified, feeling embarrassed.
"Can't you just sleep in your underwear?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot how comfortable it was to sleep with metal wires poking you in the chest all night! My mistake," she said, voice heavy with sarcasm as she glared at Stefan, hands on hips.
"Fair enough," Stefan acquiesced, pulling the shirt over his head and tossing it over to her.
Caroline caught the ball of fabric easily, forcing herself not to stare at his now bare chest as she made her way to the bathroom to change, wondering if there was suddenly something wrong with the thermostat as she felt her skin heat up.
When she returned, only the bedside lamp was lit, Stefan already under the covers. She pursed her lips in annoyance for a moment, he could have taken the couch like a gentleman after all, before she followed suit and joined him in the bed, making sure to stay on her own side.
"No funny business," she said with a glare before she switched off the light, rolling onto her side and facing away from him.
"Wouldn't dream of it.," he chuckled, settling in for what would surely be a long night; followed by a cold shower in the morning.
When he awoke, he found himself staring into a heap of blonde locks spread across his chest, her arm wrapped around his waist as she slept soundly, curled up against him. Stefan smiled, gently brushing the hair away from her face so he could watch her sleep, satisfied in knowing that even if she wasn't ready to admit that her heart wanted him it was obvious that her subconscious did.