part 3 (Stefan's POV)
4 months later...
I talked to Caroline a few weeks ago and she told me about this guy who stopped her in school. He told her that he noticed her vampire face I guess she hadn't fed enough that day. He pulled her aside and told her that he's been working on the cure for vampirism. I didn't trust him. I mean how many times has it gone well with any of us getting mixed up with "doctors" who injected us with stuff. Of coarse I went to go check him out. I also compelled him to tell me the truth and in order to do that I had to make sure he wasn't on any vervain. Turns out he's actually a good guy, for now anyway. If he did manage to create a cure that worked, I wonder if I would be willing to take it. The promise of a new life seemed tempting. I could be happy and grow old like everyone else. However, I would also be vulnerable and probably prone to attacks of my own kind. Could I trade my vampire invincibility for a short human life? It was something to think about. I was sure against Damon being human but that's because it's Damon, he's not the most rational person and he's prone to making bad decisions on a whim. Caroline told me that she wanted to take the treatment after he mastered it. It was summer break so she was planning on going with him to Ohio where his lab was. I was going with her. I assumed we'd probably be there the whole summer. Now I just had to break it to Damon.
"What are you packing for brother?"he asked. "Going to Ohio with Caroline, she wants to take this cure once Mr. Wilson has mastered it. We're renting a place near his lab,"I replied. He looked shocked. "Are you insane? Why would you get mixed up with people like him again?" "He's sincere, Damon and my mind is made up." "And what you're taking the cure with Caroline? So that you could live happily ever after?"he asked, obviously fuming. I was a little ticked off after he said that. "So what if I want to take the cure? I mean you wanted to take it with Elena, but obviously human you and human Elena aren't right for each other, it's not the same with Caroline and I," I snapped. He frowned. "I love Elena and I was planning a life with her and because of Kai and the freaking universe, I don't get to have it. So this happily ever after you're planning with Caroline, well I don't believe in it." I scoffed. "Maybe I want the cure for me, unlike you. Maybe being human is tempting to me, I mean I've valued human life while you haven't. Heck I'm not sure you value any life that doesn't serve you." Damon looked angry right now. I wasn't trying to make him angry, but he was really getting under my skin. So I went on. "And this life you were planning with Elena, has it occurred to you that I had plans for me and her too? I mean before she left me for you that is. So you can be angry about your plans being all ruined all you want. Don't act like losing her only hurt you either." And with that, I grabbed my bags and walked out.
"Good you're here, our flight is in two hours." Caroline was waiting in her apartment. All her things were packed and she looked vibrant and that really made my day. She doesn't even try to make me smile, she just does. I leaned in and kissed her softly. She kissed me back and when we pulled away, her smile was so dizzyingly beautiful. We're officially dating now and it's going pretty well. It's been a bout a month since our first date. It felt good to be with my best friend, the woman who was there for me even when I didn't deserve it. There's a question I sometimes ask myself. Am I truly over Elena? Well, I've given up on the idea of us for awhile. But I still care about her, I guess I always will. It no longer stung like it did when she first broke up with me and got with Damon. As time went by, all I wanted was both of them to just be happy. I just wanted Damon to be happy, and I guess that's why I didn't blow up over him and Elena. Well that and the fact that I was devastatingly heartbroken. Something that Damon and all his splendor won't admit is that Elena isn't the only important girl in his life. I've noticed him with Bonnie. They're good friends but I wouldn't be surprised if they became something more. Watching them argue like a married couple and catching him stare at her when she's not looking, has made me wonder. He thinks he's being sneaky. "Earth to Stefan," Caroline interrupted. We were on the plane now. I ordered us some wine. "What were you thinking about?"she asked. I pecked her cheek. "Nothing." She didn't buy it but she didn't pester me to tell her.
When Caroline and I arrived, we went straight to baggage claim and got our bags. Then we took a taxi to the apartment we'd be staying in. It took us awhile to get settled into our rooms. "I've created a schedule that we really should go by. Dr. Wilson said that he'd be done with the first batch in a week. So for now we really should spend an hour with him in the lab every day and help him with anything he might need, and as for the rest of the time, we can sunbathe, go to the pool, just have a really fun summer. And when the batches are ready, we should take a few and become human when we're absolutely ready." "Good plan,"I told my enthusiastic girlfriend. "Oh and we should go grocery shopping, as well as get some blood bags." Caroline offered to come with me but I told her she could stay and I'd be back in a flash. When I came back with everything, Caroline was upstairs showering. So I took the opportunity to make a romantic lunch for us. I bought wine and pasta and chicken and I usually make a mean Chicken Alfredo. I almost had everything prepared before she came down. The lights were dimmed, the curtains were closed and I lit a candle. "What's all this Stefan?"she asked, blushing. "Just a lunch date." She smiled and sat down at the table. After I served everything, we were both seated and enjoying the meal. "Mmm this is so good Stefan." "Thank you." We spent the time talking about so many things and laughing. It was always so easy to talk to her. We kissed a bit and spent the rest of the day watching movies. Caroline told me we had a free day today and we could go to the lab tomorrow. So I enjoyed it. The whole reason I even came was to make sure she was safe..and a huge part of me just wanted to spend a summer with just me and her. I'm not gonna lie. That night, she pulled me in for a kiss and I immediately sped her up to my bed. She giggled. "I'm starting to think you only came with me because you wanted to be alone with me." I laughed, trailing kisses down her neck. "You're half right,"I told her with a smirk.