Stefan couldn't be in the same room with them, not sure how long he'd be able to keep up the ruse. After he spoke with Katherine, he felt a wave of aggression come over him and decided to go for a run to burn it off. Wound tightly, he nearly missed the tension between Elena and Damon as he headed towards the door, Damon inspecting the trail that he'd left from the kitchen island to the couch, but Elena's shaky breathing caught his attention just before he opened the front door.

Stefan made up the story on the fly – he'd totally forget about the mess they'd left. He hung around just long enough to be sure that Damon bought it, and then took off into the woods – his sanctuary, his feeding grounds. His thoughts of Damon holding Elena, of Elena's body against Damon enraged him - Each pounding stride into the hard packed dirt adding pressure to his nearly combusting temper. He wondered what they were doing now, alone in the house. They haven't seen each other in a few days; you know what they are doing. The thought coursing through him like poison, raising that sweet thick evil he'd felt in Miami when he learned about Elena agreeing to be turned. Stefan picked up his speed, the pain his lungs fighting down the wickedness trying to surface.

He'd been trekking at that wrath-fueled pace for about two miles when he heard the faint sounds of a rabbit, stopping him on a dime, feeling a rumble of hunger in his stomach. He shook his head, wiping sweat from his face with his hands, confused by his craving. It was so easy, a muscle memory - crouching low, looking for his prey. His eyes began to burn, his throat dry, that familiar ache in his gums. He stood, fear rushing through his body. His tongue slipping across his teeth – no fangs, but he could feel the veins in his eyes – they were changing. The rabbit scurried off at the sound of his panting and quick movements, and his eyes began to feel normal, but his heart was racing.

With her ear buds in and her music up loud, she almost didn't hear Caroline come into the dorm. She'd been at a late study group, but brought home Chinese take out to share with Elena.

"Vegetable Fried Rice?" Caroline smiled, her tired eyes betraying her otherwise bright appearance.

"Yes, gosh, I'm so hungry!" Elena returned her smile, "You're a life saver! I don't think I've had a decent meal all week."

"Tell me about it!" Caroline slumped into the love seat, curling into a ball and cradling the paper box of shrimp lo mein she ordered for herself. She wasn't even hungry, not for food, but it was a comforting event – eating dinner with Elena after a long day. She'd go out later, find something to actually fill her hunger. Mmm, O positive would be nice she thought, chewing a mouthful of noodles. "Thursday's are the worst."

"I hate Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." Elena countered, moving her books from the arm chair and taking a seat in their place. "Remind me next semester to spread out the load a little better."

Caroline's eyes widened, "That reminds me, I'm supposed to meet Stefan tomorrow for lunch. He needs to get registered for summer classes, but wants me there in case there is a problem with his paperwork."

"Oh?" Elena didn't know that he was planning on starting to school so soon – she'd just assumed he'd start in the fall when she came back.

"Yea, I'm like his back up. It's good to have a vampire around, huh?" She smiled. "He had me laughing so hard," She laughed a bit, recalling their conversation, "has he told you about trying to get his car registered?"

Elena hadn't really talked with Stefan since she and Damon came back to campus three weeks ago. It had been easy to fall back into their regular habits of Damon walking Elena to class then hanging out after her day was over. Damon had been in touch with him, but Elena felt as though she couldn't ask many questions for fear of raising his suspicion. It was hard enough to explain to him why she didn't feel like getting very intimate still – her excuse had been that she was still destroyed from Stefan's death. With him back, and truly alive, she had to find another reason… waiting until marriage was all she could think of.

Things were going well between the Salvatore Brothers, they'd met for drinks at a bar halfway between Mystic Falls and Charlottesville twice, and Elena heard Damon talking to Stefan on the phone a few times – it was a tight rope they were walking, but they seemed to be managing to stay on top for once.

"No, I don't think so" Elena responded, a bit hurt that he'd been in contact with Caroline, laughing about his daily trials and tribulations.

"Next time you talk to him, ask him! Make sure he's had a few though. He had the whole bar laughing!"

Elena cringed a bit – they'd hung out together. She looked at Caroline from a different point of view for a moment; she was a beautiful, energetic, smart woman – kind and funny. Stefan's type. The way he'd looked at Caroline in Miami came to her mind's eye.

"So it's just you two then? Lunch tomorrow, I mean." Elena implored, considering inviting herself along.

Caroline was flipping through her twitter app, not really paying attention to their conversation, not seeing the way Elena was glaring at her. "I think so, but I don't know what time Lindsey's plane lands."

"Lindsey's coming here?" She asked, her voice a bit too forceful.

Caroline's eyes cut to Elena, followed slowly by the turn of her head. "Did I say something?"

Elena shook her head. He's single. I'm engaged. We're playing our roles… that's all.

Caroline stared at Elena for a moment. "What happened with you guys? In Miami, I could've sworn the wedding was off…" She sat her Chinese food on the sofa table, adjusting in her seat to be able to give Elena her full attention. She loved a good girl talk, especially if it was about a boy.

Elena considered explaining, telling her best friend everything – but she knew that Caroline sometimes spoke out of turn and if it got back to Damon, Stefan would be dead within the hour. She decided instead to turn the tables, get the attention off of whatever type of relationship she and Stefan had. "This is déjà vou… if you're scheming with him on another 'plan' of some sort; I want you to clue me in."

Caroline laughed. "No, nothing like that. He's just been kind of lonely lately."

"Why won't he talk to me about it, about anything?" Elena sat back in her seat, frustrated, appetite gone.

"Elena."

"What?" Elena shrugged her shoulders, not sure why Caroline was giving her that look.

"You know exactly why he won't talk to you." Elena examined Caroline's face. Stefan trusts Caroline, did he tell her about our deal… letting Damon and me run our course.

When she didn't respond, Caroline continued, "He's heartbroken over losing you. While we had a few months to kind of deal, he was living in some dream world with you."

Dream world, what? – Elena wondered, her expression giving away her confusion.

"I swear, I'm an idiot." Caroline rolled her eyes in aggravation with herself. "He hasn't told you about that either, huh?"

"No." Elena said briskly.

Caroline stayed quiet for a moment, putting her thoughts in order, using her fingers to slide her blond ringlets behind her ears. "I know this does seem like we've had this conversation before. Still, you're going to have to just give him time. I mean, how you were in Miami… Naples especially, it was kind of leading him on, Elena."

Elena was taken aback. "Oh, it was? Is that his opinion or yours?"

Caroline flinched at Elena's upset response – but someone had to tell her. "Both I guess."

"So he said that? That I led him on?" Elena tensed with anger.

Trying not to roll her eyes, Caroline huffed a bit. "Well Elena, you did. You were with Damon but all over Stefan in Naples. I can hear like, everything, so I know what you guys were saying to each other. You let him drink your blood. To a vampire that rates up there with incredible sex." Caroline felt herself getting angry right back, what right did Elena have to play with Stefan like that, she questioned. "Then in Miami, I don't think you stopped touching him… going back to his hotel with him. You didn't even tell him you were engaged!"

Caroline's words cut Elena to the bone. "This is really none of your business, Caroline. Besides, you weren't doing a lot better with Klaus." Caroline started to argue, but Elena continued. "I know, it was part of the 'the plan'," She air quoted, standing from her seat, throwing her Chinese food in the trash, "but I saw you too… I saw you all over him. I've known you your whole life, Caroline… you aren't fooling me!"

Caroline stood too, matching Elena's anger. "My bad, Elena – I'm not as good at juggling two guys as you are. Maybe you should talk to the dean, see about getting a course going… Whoring Around 101."

"Caroline!"

"Elena." Caroline crossed her arms, already beginning to feel bad for how she said what she said, but still pretty sure the underlying message was spot on.

Elena was silent for a long moment, her voice calmer, but still angry "You know I love Stefan."

"And Damon?"

She almost hated to admit it, fearful of confirming the terrible things Caroline had said about her. "and Damon."

"Then you can't call me a liar, can you?" Caroline sneered. Elena felt herself coming close to tears so she went to her room in a huff, slamming the door behind her.

Behind closed doors, Elena let herself cry a moment, but anger soon took over. How dare he talk about her like that to her best friend… Grabbing her cell phone from her backpack, she found Stefan's new number in her contact list.

"Hey." His voice was robust, happy. "How are you?"

"How am I?" Her attitude was thick, voice louder than she'd planned, but she went with it. "Why do you care now? It's been weeks since I've heard from you, but you've got plenty of time for Caroline."

"Elena…" He sighed, "You-"

"NO, I'm talking okay." Her voice quivered, Stefan could hear the tears through the phone. "How dare you tell Caroline that I led you on. You know exactly how I feel about you and this is your little sick game… if anyone is being 'led on', it's Damon."

"What are you ta-"

"And now you've got some girl coming over here from Italy. What happened to 'I'll wait'? Three weeks is too long for you? Sorry, Stefan but I can't figure out the rules of this game. Am I supposed to stay with Damon to keep him from killing you or are you wanting to let me do what I want and be with you? Was I supposed to screw up somehow in the last three weeks so that Damon would break up with me?"

Elena was pacing, yelling into the phone, not caring if Caroline could hear her or not. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, Stefan!"

"Ele-"

"I don't want to hear this right now. I don't want to talk about it. I just needed for you to hear me." Elena swallowed, taking a deep breath. "Do me a favor and try to keep from running your mouth to Caroline, Lindsey… Katherine… and any other girls you're chatting up at the bar."

*Click*

Elena looked at her phone. It was almost like an out of body experience, talking to him like that, saying what she said. As it was happening she thought she was going to feel better once it was out of her, but now, she just felt heavy and tired… and she missed Stefan.

Elena's POV

I'm not asleep, just dazed, laying in the dark of my dorm room with my ear buds in listening to James Morrison – he's got such a great voice to listen to loudly and the two songs that Stefan had on his Iphone help my memories of him seem more vivid. I'm remembering the night in Naples when Stefan played Better Man and we danced and kissed and it all felt so right, when I hear Caroline laugh.

I know that laugh, it's the one she uses around guys that she likes, and I'm intrigued – I didn't know she had a guy on campus that she liked. Tyler is still in Texas and Klaus… well, Klaus is a moot point. I push the volume up button a few times and fall back into my non-slumber daze, hugging my pillow and eyes shut tight.

It's not like I've never thought exactly what Caroline said, but hearing it out loud from someone who's always been brutally honest with me – it stings. I feel weighted, my limbs harder to move, my thoughts cloudy. Maybe I had done Stefan and Damon wrong before Naples -before my trip to Italy where Stefan and I bonded again, really found one another, I was swaying back and forth between the Salvatore brothers, but it wasn't something I'd planned.

Sure, I'd been attracted to Damon from the moment I saw him, but who wouldn't be – it didn't mean anything at the time and I didn't give it a second thought. He was just the hot brother of my equally as hot boyfriend. Then as things started to turn for the worst, with the tomb vampires and Katherine, Damon became an ally. Stefan trusted him, so I did too. It was innocent. How was it my fault that he'd taken a liking to me and, to be honest, I'd figured it had something to do with me looking like Katherine. Even now I wonder about that. He waited for her for 150 years… I can't help but think that he must feel for her what Stefan feels for me. A never-ending, 'I'll wait' kind of love. Maybe he's subconsciously doing what Katherine did – loving me as a way of taking his mind off his love for her.

It started to go bad when Stefan left with Klaus. Even though I knew he was doing it to save Damon, and I wouldn't have expected anything less from him, it hurt that he left me. Damon was there – he's always there. Every time Stefan has left me, or tried to leave, Damon always stays. He's constant… and that's what I found so appealing, that's what pulled me over the fence. After two years of what still feels like constant loss I knew Damon would never go. At the same time that I was holding onto consistent Damon, I couldn't change the fact that I'd never love him, or anyone, like I love Stefan.

Naples changed everything, in so many ways. It was a glimpse at the life that I could have with Stefan. He had gained control over his addiction to blood and he was back to the Stefan that I ran into in front of the men's room at Mystic Falls High School… it was easy for him to smile again, to laugh again. By the end of that night at the Indian club, when he was carrying me barefoot down the ancient sea side streets of Naples, I knew. I was one-hundred percent sure of what I wanted – who I wanted.

Then his death… and I was knocked flat on face – lost and grasping for something… constant. Damon. And that's how I got to the position I'm in now; engaged to the brother of the man I adore. Standing with Damon and longing for Stefan… missing those grass green eyes.

My mind finally starts to slow – I toss and turn, but I sleep.

I wake to the sound of my alarm tone coming through the one ear bud that managed to stay in my ear through the night, silently thanking God that it held on and I'm not going to be late for first class. Friday's were review day and I had a big test coming up next week.

I can tell by the blue grey color of my dark room that the day is going to be a gloomy one – remembering something about a chance of rain for today, mentally trying to place where I stashed my Kate Spade umbrella that Aunt Jena had given me, when I catch something move from the corner of my eye. I catch my breath, a wash of fear coming over me as I ever so slowly turn my head, images of Klaus, Rebekah, Kol, the Temple… all the evil that I'd been forced to face coming to my mind's eye.

There's nothing there… it's just my empty room, dimly lit by the cloud covered sun light coming through the picture window. I let out my breath, relieved. I feel silly… then I see him. He's lying in the floor on his back, one arm beneath his head, the other lazily resting on his stomach, legs crossed at his ankles. Still fully dressed in a pair of jeans, black work boots, and a dark green thermal shirt, Stefan is asleep in the floor of my dorm room. Despite the sudden memory of my telephone rant from the previous night, I smile. My beautiful Greek God – I haven't laid eyes on him in three weeks and my God is he not the most handsome man I've ever seen. I think he's put on some weight, muscle I decide, as my eyes inspect the way his shirt is laying over his shaped chest. There is something different about his face, too… what is it? It's just a subtle change and I can't place it. I want a closer look.

I don't worry about crossing some kind of boundary when I move from my bed and stand over him, my feet on each side of his body, bending to examine his face. I'm not in that position for more than two or three seconds before he smiles, eyes still closed, and I'm lit from within.

"Are you straddling me for a reason?" His sleepy voice laced with a mischievous tone. His hand moves from his stomach, wraps around my ankle.

"What are you doing here?" I try to sound like I'm not giddy, like I don't want to squeal and giggle.

When he opens his eyes I swear to you they are as bright as if they are somehow back-lit by the sun. They're as green as a leaf in spring – pure and shiny, replete with life. I want to melt. "After that conversation, if you can call it that, I got in my car and drove to see you." He looks me over – I'm still wearing the long sleeve purple tee shirt that I wore yesterday, but I'm bottomless – thankful that I wore a pair of pretty grey hipster panties. "You have nothing to be jealous about." His hand is moving up my calf, turning my legs to jello.

I sit, half on his thighs, half on his pelvis, hugging my knees. "I'm not." I lie.

He knows it, raising his eyebrows. "Then what was that?" I think about it for a minute. I was so angry and hurt by Caroline, by Stefan telling her that I led him on that I was spewing and can't really remember what I said exactly. "I haven't called you, or came to see you, because if being away from me is as hard as it is for me not being with you, I don't want to put you through that. Caroline is a friend – there is nothing there that you should feel threatened by. Nothing." He sits up on his elbows so he can look at me better – I still can't figure out what's different about his face but I'm absolutely sure he's somehow more muscled than he was three weeks ago. "I did not tell her that you led me on. I know you love me. As far as this being a sick game… fair point, but it's either get through it and hope it turns out or just flip the board off the table and say screw it to whomever gets hurt. I love you enough to know that I could live another thousand years without you and the way I feel about you wouldn't fade in the slightest." He's quiet for a moment, searching my eyes, wondering if he's getting through to me – he is. "Lindsey will be here today, I'm expecting her around four." I roll my eyes uncontrollably – Angelina Jolie's twin sister will be here at four, great. "She's not just some girl." How is he doing this, ticking off everything I said like he's reading a transcript of my rant? "She put herself and her sister in danger to help me get rid of Klaus. She saved me from being that monster… a vampire." The words come from his mouth like they are making him nauseated. "She gave me a second chance to be with you. I'll never be able to repay her for that and if she wants me to show her around, I'll do so gladly. Doesn't mean I won't be missing you every second." I smile, my hand moves to his chest – I can feel his heart beat quicken. I can feel his heart beat… "There are no rules and I have no suggestions for you as far as what you should be doing with Damon… all I can do is wait for you, and I will… I'll wait til the day I die. As far as the girls you mentioned running my mouth off with," he smiles, obviously finding my rant to be a bit amusing. "Just say the word and I'll never see them again. I don't want you to feel threatened by anyone, no matter how ridiculous your fears are in my eyes, I don't want you to ever wonder where my commitment lies. You own me, Elena."

"Why do you say things like that? I don't want to own you." It sounds good, but I know it's a lie. The thought of owning him, of him being mine in all senses of the words give me a high.

He's straight faced, green eyes burning into my brown. "I see no reason why you shouldn't… I'm breathless without you."

His words wrap around me, caress me. I move to my knees, my hands still on his chest – my hair falls to the sides of my face creating dark walls of privacy - and I kiss him. It's like an explosion bursting through me. I stop, my face still against his, allowing the pleasure of that simple kiss to soak into me, the deepest parts of my soul absorbing it, capturing it for safe keeping. His mouth smiles against my lips as he takes my hair between his fingers. There's a scratchy-ness against my lips – something familiar, something I'd not experienced in a long time. It's a bit of coarse facial hair. My human Stefan needs a shave! I move back to look at his face, my fingers grazing over the light brown hair, prickling the sensitive pads, tickling.

"You've never had hair on your face before…" I sound like I'm in a dream. Am I? Is this real? Stefan Salvatore, human, is laying beneath me, I own him?

He takes his hand from my hair, rubs his face and laughs, "Sorry… I forget that I have to shave now."

I don't think about what I'm saying, it just comes out. "I like it… I want to feel it against me."

His eyes flare, darken, sharpen – they burn into me. That magnetic pull is growing stronger. I can see he's struggling with what he wants, what we want, and what he thinks is right. I'm not conflicted.

Crossing my arms against my stomach, I grab the bottom of my shirt, pulling it off, tossing it aside. With a quick, easy motion, he pulls himself into a seated position with me in his lap and knees on each side of him, his rough warm hands against the skin of my back –pressing me against him. Our mouths meet again, faster & deeper than before.
He turns his hips just so and I'm on my back. Stefan's body weight on me is heavy against the unforgiving floor, making it difficult to breathe, hard to move, the carpet stinging my bare back, but the combination of sensations is amazing. I pull at his shirt; I want his skin against me. We remove it without him leaving me and don't miss a beat - our hands, our mouths, our tongues. His scratchy face against me is all that I thought it would be and more; as it's scrapes against my stomach, his lips and mouth nibbling at my hip bone, I know this will be a memory that I'll not soon forget. My human Stefan and his need of a morning shave, grabbing at my rear, caressing my breast. I can't take any more delay and take his face in my hands – the prickly hair feels foreign against my palms – "Stefan, please…" I beg.
I never thought I'd be that type of girl, begging for it, but I am with Stefan. He smiles up at me, moves up to kiss me, then looks away for a moment, freezing.
I open my mouth to speak, but before my vocal chords can react to my brain's signals, his hand his pressing against my mouth and eyes wide. I listen, I don't hear anything…
Stefan bolts to his feet, pulling me up in the same graceful, yet panicky movement. Things are moving too fast – his hand is on the back of my head, a quick kiss on my lips. He's closing the door behind him, shirt wadded in his fist.
I'm shell shocked. Cold in my undergarments, burning hot internally. What the hell…
I don't hear him exit and wonder where he's gone as I slip my shirt back on. Stepping into the living quarters, I'm alone, everything is in its place – books and papers scattered as they should be – it's silent.
A rap at the door startles me – Damon is here to walk me to class.
How did Stefan know? Did he hear him?
I open the door and Damon is holding up a brown paper bag and a cup of coffee – he brought me breakfast.

"Thought you could use some comfort food – bagel and strawberry cream cheese" He smiles, coming in without me asking – this is our routine. He gives me a quick kiss and I force myself not to cringe. I can still taste Stefan. "You won't believe this, but I saw another one of those Lexus sports cars in your parking lot."

"Oh," I'm about to say something, no clue what but whatever comes out is going to have to work, when Caroline's bedroom door opens and she comes out - sauntering. She's in a pale pink camisole and matching boy shorts, her hair a sexy mess. It takes a long moment for me to register it, but Stefan is trailing behind her, their fingers laced together.

Damon looks thrilled; his eyes wide and a sly smile from ear to ear as he watches the 'we just had sex' parade.

"Oh hey!" Caroline greets us. Stefan looks smug.

"Damon. Elena." His voice is low.

Damon and I are statues of ourselves, watching in disbelief. Caroline leads Stefan to the door, opens it a bit. They lean into each other and they kiss – softly, like they've done it a million times. It's a sensual kiss that makes me feel bad to watching. Stefan's hand cups her face and I wonder what it would be like to break her neck.

"Lunch at 1?" He asks, his lips still so close to hers.

She nods, kisses him again, then they part – it feels like I've just ripped out my most important organs, ran over them, left them to rot. The way his hand lazily grazes down her arm as he turns to leave breaks my heart even though I'm fully aware of this con. I remember hearing her 'I'm sexy' laugh just before I fell asleep last night.

"Oh," Caroline gives a wicked smile. Her hands grab the waist band of Stefan's jeans "Can't let you leave like this." She teases as she buttons his jeans for him.

He returns her smile with an equal measure of naughty, kisses her again, then he's out of the door. Caroline turns to us, we're still in shock. "What?"

Damon comes back to life, "Really… that just happened?" His arm circles around my shoulders.

Caroline goes to the kitchen, retrieving a bag of blood from the fridge. "Yep." Her lips smack and eyebrows jump at the 'p' sound.

"Well. That is something." He sounds so happy. In his eyes, I imagine seeing Stefan and Caroline together means that there is no more triangle to deal with. It's Damon and Elena, Stefan and Caroline – the Salvatore brother's are getting along and dating best friends – how nice…

Despite Damon's upbeat mood our walk to my first class was pretty somber. I played my roll, acted like I was totally cool with the new couple, and even agreed that it would be fun to double with them. I'm not only unbalanced from the faux post-coitial show that is on a constant loop in my brain, making listening to my professors review quite difficult, but I'm upset that we were so close to getting caught. My phone buzzes in my back pocket – another distraction – I'm going to fail Monday's test, no doubt about it.

Caroline: I'm sorry. For last night & this morning.

Elena: It's fine. We were both tired & cranky. U saved us this a.m…

Caroline: Why was he still there? Shirtless…

Still there… I think to myself. She knew he was there last night. How many visitors could we have had that she would sexy laugh for? I start to really obsess about it, but stop myself. Caroline would not do this to me, to Tyler. She was with Klaus and not concerned about Tyler. My subconscious whispers. I ignore it, but edit my thoughts – she would not do this to me.

Elena: It's a long story.

Caroline: Whatever is going on, be careful.

I reread that warning, silently promising that I'll do better. I'll have to stop following my instincts when I'm with Stefan… otherwise it's going to get him killed. I start to put my phone back, but decide to text Stefan.

Elena: and the Academy Award for Best Actor goes to Stefan Salvatore!

It takes him about ten minutes to respond.

Stefan: Ha ha. Everything ok?

Elena: Better than… he's so excited. Wants to double date.
I frown at the thought.

Stefan: Wouldn't work. I can't keep myself from you.

Elena: Gravity…

Stefan: I miss you.

Elena: Ditto. Where are you?

Stefan: Registration. I'm officially an English major freshman!

Elena: Never thought I'd be so hot for a younger man

Stefan: LOL – freshman, yes. Younger, no. Didn't I tell you I'm 22?

Elena: ?

Stefan: No way was I going to be too young to buy a drink. ID says 1990. So I'm an antique freshman.

Elena: You've always pulled off antique very well.

Stefan: Stop flirting with me. You're going to make me kidnap you… have my iniquitous way with you.

I laugh, out loud. A few classmates look at me like I'm insane. My professor is glaring at me from his podium and I realize I'm not even holding a pen trying to look like I'm paying attention. I wait a few minutes to respond.

Elena: Iniquitous… only a sexy English major would use such a word to describe what you do to me.

Stefan: I can think of a few more words to describe what I want to do to you.

I squirm in my seat. I'm about to send a text that suggests we meet – I'll skip my next class, see about his iniquitous thoughts – when the professor calls to me "Gilbert?" I look up, a deer in the headlights. "Whenever you're through, we're having a review session here and I'd like for you to join us."

I slide my phone back into my pocket – a bit embarrassed and thankful that his interruption has stopped me from doing something so irresponsible.

Chapter 8

Stefan's POV

I'm finished registering, happy with my selection of classes and that I won't need Caroline's 'assistance' after all. No one really blinked an eye at my forged documents. Caroline was a life-saver this morning, but Elena is already concerned about our friendship and I plan on discussing this with Caroline when we meet for lunch at one. I've got a lot of explaining to do about this morning as I wasn't able to give Caroline any details at the time. It's a little after noon and I'm starving – the gas station pizza and half gallon of orange juice I had for breakfast already gone.

As I near my car I once again regret my decision to purchase the Lexus – it seemed like a good idea in Miami. My '63 Porsche was still in storage in New York from when I left for Italy and, a lot like the endless appetite for food – and Elena – I can't seem to get enough of fast cars now that I'm human again. It's the adrenaline rush, I guess. There are a couple of guys standing near it, looking it over. It's bringing far too much attention to me and my whereabouts. When I heard Damon this morning, on his way to Caroline & Elena's dorm - greeting a couple of co-ed's on his way, I knew that if he'd seen the Lexus, then he'd know I was there. I'm still unsure why I can hear so well, but I haven't had any more weird episodes since I was running in the woods the morning Damon and Katherine were at the house, so I'm not concerned. If anything I'm lucky to still have the super sensitive hearing.

Giving the group of gawkers a minute to pass on, I check my phone, wondering why Elena hasn't texted me back – our playful banter was just getting good – that's when I see her. She's leaning up against my car, her back to the driver's door. I wonder if it's not the car those guys were inspecting at after all as she's dressed in a pair of undersized khaki shorts, a yellow boat neck loose top that's hanging off of one shoulder and layered over a white tank – canvas wedges extending her already long, smooth legs. She looks up from her phone, gives me that smile – I love her.

"Already done?"

The moment I'm close enough to touch her, I drop my bag of textbooks and move against her, pinning her against the car, my hands on top of the door frame and my lips find her bare shoulder. "Haven't got started." I flirt. She's wearing a perfume that I can't place and I taste it on my tongue.

Her hands move to my waist, under my shirt, resting just below my ribcage. "Mmm, I like how forceful you are these days… what does Elena think of it?"

I push myself away – take another look at her. I see absolutely nothing different; Katherine is a faultless duplicate of Elena. My heart starts to race. The gig is up, cover blown, game over…

"I have no idea and could care less. Why would you bring her up now?" My mouth takes over. I'm getting pretty good at lying at the drop of a hat. "Quick way to turn me off is to bring up an ex-girlfriend that cheated on me with my brother." I pick up my bag and open the car door, using it to push Katherine's body out of the way.

"You're saying you knew it was me…" Katherine is skeptical, really looking at me, trying to catch me giving off some kind of body language that will tip her off to my lie. I don't miss a beat tossing the books in the passenger floor board as I slide into the driver seat. The car roars to life with the push of the ignition button. I have to turn down my radio as I'd been listening to the Airborne Toxic Event much too loudly after I escaped Elena's.

My eyes run down Katherine, back up to her face slowly. "Elena's a bit more covered up."

"And you like that pretentious modesty better?" Her hands are on her hips, a sly smile on her face – she's the Hyde to Elena's Jekyll.

I roll my eyes, "Look Katherine – you shouldn't flatter yourself." I laugh. "Seventeen year old guys aren't really that picky. I'm either hungry or horny pretty much all day long so I'd be just as happy with a burger as I could've been had you kept your mouth shut." She frowns at me, frustrated. I can't figure out why she was waiting on me, and I'm not going to stick around to ask. "So could you move so I can go eat?"

************************************************************************************
Caroline was waiting for him when Stefan arrived, spotting her blonde hair in the crowded sports bar with ease. The smell of the fried foods made his stomach growl with anxious anticipation as he made his way to the window-side booth.
"Hey!" Caroline smiled, "do we have to kiss again?" she teased.

Stefan leaned over the table, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before taking his seat across from her. "That was… bad."

"Ugh hello… I think I'm a pretty decent kisser!" She gave a mock hurt expression, before sipping her tea. Stefan laughed, it was easy being around Caroline and he'd often wondered if this is what it would've been like had he and Damon had a sister. "Though, I would like to know why we had to have fake sex and you had to do the fake walk of shame."

Elena didn't clue her in? Stefan found it odd that Elena hadn't explained anything to Caroline, but shrugged it off to lack of timing since Damon was there. "Elena called me last night. Gave me a bit of an ear full, ya know?" He'd already told to her about that last night when he showed up at their dorm. "But she was already asleep so I just slept in her floor and waited for her to wake up. It was innocent…" he lied. "I just can't take the chance that Damon is going to be suspicious and freak out."

They stopped discussing it in order to give their order to the tattooed and pierced waitress with light pink hair – the girl, with her round face and eyes, reminded Stefan of how Lexi had once dyed her hair that color before they saw the Rolling Stones in Amsterdam. Once the waitress left, Caroline picked it up again "And your shirt came off… you're pants were undone because?"

Quick lie – "I got hot."

Caroline raised her eyebrows at him. "I bet you did." The pink haired new age Lexi sat Stefan's water down, giving him a sweet smile. "Reminder… I've got really great hearing. I see you haven't shaved…"

Stefan felt himself blush but he couldn't stop the smile bright smile from taking over his face – remembering how Elena gently touched his scratchy beard. "Nosey much?" How much had she heard?

"Ugh, how can I help it? You two are anything but subtle." Caroline laughed, sliding her hair behind her ears. "It's no wonder she can't get over you. The way you talk to her… I was having trouble not swooning for you." They laughed, but Stefan felt a bit uneasy with the way the conversation was going.

"Whatever." He smiled, trying to think of a way to change the subject.

"You own me, Elena." She teased in her best 'Stefan' voice. "Why do you let her do that to you?"

"Do what?"

"Dragging you along… Damon too. Elena is –"She stopped, the waitress sitting a large basket full of fries between them.

"The kitchen is kind of backed up on the grill, so it's gonna be a little wait to get your fajitas out here…" She was eyeing Stefan again. Caroline shifted in her seat – Stefan noticed how Caroline seemed uncomfortable and wondered why she'd suddenly become so possessive over him - staring down the punk rocker. "Thought I'd bring some fries over for you… on me, of course."

"I'm sure you would love him on you," playing on the waitress' ill-phrased sentence, "but we're talking so please…" Caroline snapped. The girl backed away, shocked at Caroline's outburst.

"Have you ate today?" Stefan asked after a moment. "Little on edge today?"

Caroline rested her face in her hands and closed her eyes. "I have no idea what that was about…" She groaned. Stefan stayed quiet, ate a few fries – one of the things that made him a good listener, someone to talk to when things were feeling off or just too heavy was that he knew when to not talk. After a few minutes, gathering her thoughts, Caroline continued. "I miss Tyler. I really miss Klaus. And yes, I know that makes me a terrible person. I don't want you to be hurt like this… not again. She's with Damon. They are engaged, Stefan. Besides my mom you are all I've got and you are sleeping on the floor and giving yourself to a girl who has already betrayed you once. I love Elena, but she chose Damon while you were paying a debt for saving his life!"

"You're the furthest from a terrible person that you can be, Caroline." Stefan took her hands from her face, held them across the table, and looked her straight in the eyes. "Klaus is complicated… there was a time that I would have laid down my life for him, so trust me, I understand that there is a side of him that is good. You shouldn't be ashamed, at all. But you've got to trust me when it comes to Elena."

She looked at him for a long moment, searching his eyes. He appeared confident, sure of himself, yet Caroline couldn't help but feel as if something was going to go bad and it would be Stefan that got hurt. "So that means something is going on?"

Stefan sat back, taking his hands from hers and resting them in his lap. "Look, this –"

"No, you look, Stefan. You need to really think this over." Caroline sat straight, her eyes wide, "You've got a second chance to, to live! To have a real future and a real family – how long are you willing to wait for her to decide?" She could see that Stefan was getting aggravated with her tone, with her down-talking of Elena, but it had to be said. "A smart man once said if you love two people, choose the second one, because if you'd really loved the first one you wouldn't have fallen for the second." Stefan had no response – Caroline's words weaved through him and for the first time since coming back to Mystic Falls and meeting Elena, he felt doubt. He felt reservation. For the first time, he felt a shadow of distrust for Elena. "Johnny Depp – in case you were wondering." Caroline smiled, seemingly happy that she'd cracked his resolve.

"She loves me, Caroline."

"And she loves Damon." Caroline's voice was dry, "Do you really want to settle for second place or are you okay with sharing her?"

CHAPTER 8

STEFAN's POV

We'd been driving for a solid hour before I realized how awkward things were between us. At first, I assumed Lindsey was quiet because she was exhausted from the flight. We picked up some coffee at a drive thru Starbucks, but the shot of caffeine didn't seem to be making a difference. Then I thought maybe she was distracted by the scenery – but, really Roanoke isn't much to look at and she didn't get any more talkative when we hit the bland highway on our way to Mystic Falls. The radio is on, so that's helping keep the silence from becoming too heavy, but as she rigidly sits in the passenger seat, staring out of the furthest part of the window that she can, I can now clearly see that something is wrong. Lindsey's hands are clasp together in her lap; knuckles slightly white and the skin of her hands is beginning to look irritated by the constant pressure of her fingers. Our greeting was less than friendly at the airport but I thought nothing of it at the time. I wasn't listening before, but now that I am, I can hear her heart beating quickly and the shaky breaths that escape her lips.

I see the "Welcome to Mystic Falls, VA" sign and reach to drop a gear in order to adjust to the lowered speed limit – when my right hand leaves the steering wheel, moving for the gear shift, Lindsey nearly shrieks as her body jerks in place with fear.

"Are you scared of me?" I ask. I'm honestly horrified. This girl saved me. I would never even think of hurting her. She swallows, cutting her wide hazel eyes at me. "Lindsey, what? What did I do?"

Lindsey is looking every which way but at me, the kneading of her fingers getting much more intense. I pull over to the side of the road thinking that maybe she needs to get some space between us to calm down, but her breathing grows more ragged as I pull to a stop. I stick to my plan and get out of the car. We'd left the interstate sometime back and the road we're on is quite rural – I think back to the night Elena flipped her SUV just a mile or so further down.
For the life of me I cannot figure out what is going on with Lindsey. We'd just talked just last night when I was driving from Mystic Falls to Charlottesville to visit Elena and I didn't detect any of this apprehension then. As a matter of fact, she was quite flirtatious and excited. What could have changed her opinion of me in such a short time?
The buzzing of my phone in my back pocket distracts me from routing any further into that question.

Damon: Pick up your witchy girlfriend?
I roll my eyes – wonder how he is able to transmit his attitude via a text message so perfectly.

Stefan: Yes. Nearly home. Why?

Damon: What does your vampire girlfriend think of your summer fling?
Vampire girlfriend? Caroline or Katherine… I'm sure Katherine has already given Damon a play by play of the parking lot incident from early today.

Stefan: Which one?

Damon: HA! I swear, brother. You are ten times more fun as a human.
Damon: Let's get together this weekend. Let me know.

I start to respond, tell him that I'm going to be too busy though truthfully I just do not want to face him and Elena, when the passenger door opens and Lindsey steps into the early summer breeze. She really is quite breathtaking. I turn to face her – the hood of the car separating us, hopefully giving her a sense of safety – I'm still not sure why she's scared of me. I'm human. I spent weeks with her in Italy recovering before coming home. I spent months with her as a vampire before the Temple spell and she'd been very affectionate, not scared, at all.

"Something is not right, Stefan." Lindsey and I are a lot alike when we are upset – she has her arms crossed tightly across her chest, her voice emotionless – it's business. "I don't know what it is, but when we hugged at the airport…" She stops, looks me over again, her frown growing deeper. "Something is wrong with you. I felt it – when we touched. You've changed since you came back here."

She's making me feel uneasy, nervous in my own skin, but I try to brush it off. "Lindsey, I'm fine. Nothing has happened." Except I'm very fast & strong, I'm still able to hear a pin drop a hundred yards away, I can still stalk like a predator and, of course, that time in the woods… I swear my eyes changed.

"Did you have them change you back? To a vampire, I mean?"

"What? No! Never." I run my hand through my hair, I'm feeling restless – what is she talking about?

"Something isn't right, Stefan." She insists, beginning to sound frustrated and scared again. Her accent is thick and it makes her words seem even more substantial. I move slowly as I come around to her side of the car, cautiously place my hands on her upper arms. She doesn't flinch and her heart beat is slowing.

"I don't know why you're upset, Lindsey. I swear, I'm fine." I smile despite the fact that she's got me kind of freaked out. "Maybe it's just this area… its historic and riddled with supernatural power and deaths. Salem isn't too far from here."

Looking up at me, her hazel eyes the color of damp moss; she looks as though she is considering what I've suggested. I feel her relax a bit, take a deep breath. "I don't know… You don't feel human." She says it like it's silly, so I give a small laugh and she leans into me – hugging my stomach. She's a bit taller than Elena – I notice how her head doesn't fit perfectly under my chin like Elena's does.

I don't love her, in any way really, but it's nice to have her against me like this. She's warm and smells nice, and I know she has a crush on me. "I'm not a vampire. So if I'm not human, what am I?"

"Stefan…" She sighs my name, "I dreamt you killed me. I woke up terrified just before the plane landed." I squeeze her a bit tighter, rub her back with my open hands. "Then when I see you at the airport, when I hug you, I can feel it."

I pull away a bit, honestly beginning to get aggravated with this conversation. "I. Will. Not. Hurt. You." I try. "It was just a nightmare… what can you feel?"

"I know that. I know you won't hurt me, Stefan, but I can feel you." She looks deep into me, through me. "You're evil."