When Elena got to school Stefan was already there sitting on the bench in the quad brooding and looking hotter than any guy should be able to look. She swallowed, looked forward, and continued to walk into the school.

She jumped when Ana was suddenly at her side, "I hate it when you guys do that."

"Grumpy. Hm, must've not gone well."

"No it didn't. She was already there pretending to be me."

"The brothers fell for it. They always have been quite stupid."

"No, no they didn't fall for it, just Stefan." she stopped at her locker and opened it.

"Incoming." Ana said and Elena followed her stare.

Katherine's hair was now curled perfectly and she was wearing a low cut shirt, tiny jean skirt, and stilettos. She was surrounded by drooling boys and laughing as she soaked in the attention. Her eyes met Elena's and she smiled a sweet smile that gave Elena the creeps.

"That's just gross." Jeremy came over his eyes on Katherine like everyone else's but his reaction much different which I could tell pleased Ana. "More of you than I ever wanted to see."

Katherine's look turned fierce as she no doubt heard the comment. "Oh that's not good." Ana whispered nervous, "you've created a challenge. If she tries to talk to you act like you're into her."

"But she looks like my sister." Jeremy whispered back, "that's weird."

"Just do what I say." Ana whispered back annoyed, "trust me I know what I'm doing."

"Do you think she'll try to kill me." Elena said a little detached.

"I…I don't think so, not yet anyway. She's like a cat she toys with her prey before devouring it so you at least got a few months." Ana said as if she was delivering good news.

She saw Stefan start walking over and knew she should walk off but there was something in his expression that made her freeze. He looked upset and scared and she couldn't help herself, by the time he reached her she wasn't mad at him anymore.

"Good morning." he said in a careful tone, his eyes pleading for her not to turn him away.

"We're gonna go." Anna said, "Leave you two to….yeah okay."

"Later." Jeremy gave a quick wave and followed Ana.

"Stefan." Elena sighed and put her arms around him.

"She's not gonna kill you or Jeremy." he told her and kissed the top of her head, "I'm not gonna let that happen."

"You don't still…if she wanted you back…" Elena couldn't figure out the right way to ask him if he'd rather be with Katherine.

Stefan pushed her back a little bit and looked deep in her eyes, "I want you Elena. Katherine means nothing to me okay?"

"Okay." Elena nodded slowly.

"I'll see you in class okay?" he kissed her softly.

"Yeah." she smiled, still a bit uneasy but not being mad at Stefan had relaxed her a little bit more. "Bye." she waved and disappeared into the crowd.

"When you said see you in class I didn't think you met literally every class." Elena said as they sat at lunch.

"That way I can make sure you're safe."

"You going to follow me around for the rest of forever now? I don't want to spend my life watched like a hawk and living in fear. That's really sweet of you Stefan but that's not how I want to live."

Stefan wanted to argue. She was being ridiculous. The worlds most deadly, dangerous creature was in half of her classes and posing to be a family member. Katherine was also no doubt unhappy with being replaced by anyone. Any second Katherine could strike and he'd lose Elena forever, if only she weren't so fragile, if only she was like him...NO, he scolded himself and made himself picture what she'd have to go through to become a vampire, the pain she'd go through watching Jeremy die, everyone she knew for that matter. He couldn't do that, wouldn't do that he loved her too much.

"Don't worry." she said, "I'll be okay."

He just sighed, trying to suppress the outburst rising in his throat. "Yeah." he smiled and nodded, "I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Mind if I join?" Katherine came up to their table and sat down. "She is just adorable Stefan, so sweet and innocent…she has no idea how many different ways I could end her. How easy it would be to just snap her tiny little neck." she gave Elena a polite smile, "Sorry, I was eavesdropping."

"I told you to leave her alone not threaten her." Stefan said firmly his eyes dark and intimidating but she didn't seem to even notice.

"Just stating a fact." she shrugged off his comment, "It's so odd to hear you talk to me like this, it seems like just yesterday you were whispering the sweetest things in my ear as we made love." she turned back to Elena, "We were the perfect couple, we were supposed to be together forever."

"Was that before or after you had sex with Damon." Elena asked.

Stefan stifled a laugh at Katherine's shocked face but he shut up quickly when she turned her glare on him and got up. "Watch it. Both of you." with that she stormed off.

Stefan smiled, "As amazing as that was…"

"I know, I'll keep those comments to a minimum." she rolled her eyes at his hesitant facial expression, "Fine I'll promise not to do that again. She's just so…"

"Petty, deceiving, and pretentious?"

"A bitch." Elena said and they both laughed.

"Have I told you I love you today?"

"Not yet." she smiled as he kissed her.

"I love you." he stopped long enough to murmur against her lips and kissed her again.

From across the quad Katherine was watching a listening with her heightened senses fuming and plotting.