Chapter Nine
Tyler was still in the woods on his property near the old slave cellar. Nearby, the Bronco was parked. The back window had been shattered outward.
"What the hell?" Tyler muttered. What had happened to Mason's car? Had his uncle wrecked?
Tyler looked through to the bed of the car and saw Mason's clothes. His uncle was wandering around naked? Really?
"Hey, you wanna toss me those?" Tyler heard from behind him. Mason was there, naked and covered in dirt.
Tyler looked down at the pants he was holding and then he threw them over to his uncle.
"It was you," Tyler said. "You were the wolf."
Mason nodded but didn't speak.
"How?" Tyler asked. "What are you?"
Mason didn't speak at first, but then . . . "You already know what I am, Tyler. Don't make me say it."
"How?"
"You don't need to worry about it," Mason said. "It won't happen to you."
"Don't need to –" Tyler said, exasperated. "You're a wolf!"
"And you're not," Mason said. "You'll be okay."
How was he gonna be okay? His uncle was a werewolf and he hadn't known until just then. Tyler was freaking out and he didn't know what to do. Did his mom know? Had his dad been one?
Tyler had more questions now than he'd started out with.
Rebecca's wounds had finally closed and were no longer bleeding, but they still looked angry and maybe even infected.
"How much pain are you in?" Damon asked. "And be honest."
"Not as much as I was," Rebecca said. "They still hurt, though."
"Like how?"
"Like . . . they sting if something touches them. But I'm better. I think."
Damon felt relieved, a little, but he wasn't going to relax fully until all the marks disappeared. At least she was getting blood in her system now. The blood was taking affect now. Her wounds were looking more and more like scratches and less and less like claw marks.
"Are we sure it was Mason?" Damon asked, determined. If it was Mason, the man had to be taken care of. "Are you sure it wasn't Tyler? And where was Stefan when all this was taking place?"
"Stefan was there, Damon. The wolf went after Caroline first. Stefan saved her and then Caroline pulled me out of the way before I could be bitten. And . . . Tyler made Mason stop attacking me. I think Stefan's taking care of Tyler, making him forget that he saw us get attacked.
Rebecca stifled a yawn and Damon decided she needed to rest.
"As long as everyone's okay," he said. "You should sleep. We'll talk more when you feel better."
She nodded gratefully, already moving to snuggle under the covers.
"What happened to you not sleeping with me anymore?" he asked, teasing, hoping she didn't take offense.
"Tonight doesn't count," she mumbled. "I was hurt. So I call do over. Tonight and tomorrow is a . . . probation period. I'm your parole officer. I'll monitor your actions and we'll see."
Despite what Rebecca had said about monitoring his actions, Rebecca had fallen asleep shortly after getting comfortable. Damon had rubbed her back to soothe away any tension she'd had and had relaxed when she'd begun breathing softly enough for him to know she was sleeping.
Damon left her in the bed when he heard the door open downstairs. Stefan was home, if the footsteps were anything to go by.
Damon met him at the foot of the stairs.
"Hey," Stefan said. "I am so sorry. How is she?"
"Better. Caroline was . . . helpful," Damon admitted grudgingly.
"Bet you're glad you didn't kill her, huh?" Stefan teased, though Damon could tell he was being serious too.
"Shut up," he said. "Just be thankful she didn't get bitten."
"I am thankful. I didn't want her getting hurt anymore than you would've."
"Right. Well . . ." Damon wasn't sure what to say because he wasn't used to having civil conversations with Stefan. It was odd to him.
"Just say 'Good night,' Damon," Stefan instructed.
"Good night, Damon," he said smartly, before smirking. Then he grew serious. "Good night, Stefan."
Caroline had gone to the Grill after making sure that everything was okay with Tyler and Matt. What she really wanted was a drink, but what she found was Matt there talking to Aimee Bradley again.
She wasn't so jealous this time because she knew that Matt cared for her only, but she also knew that if she acted jealous then it would make Matt mad. She didn't want to put a rift between them, but she thought that was the only way she could get away with breaking up with them without having questions thrown at her from every direction.
"Seriously, Aimee?" Caroline snapped, coming up to the table Matt and Aimee were sitting at.
"We were just talking," Aimee said.
"Oh, that's what you call it?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Are you kidding me?" Matt asked Caroline angrily.
"No, I'm not, Matt. She's into you and anyone can see it."
"Look, I'm sorry," Aimee said, standing up from her seat. "I didn't mean to . . . I'm just gonna go."
Aimee took off, the fact that she was upset clear on her face.
"Caroline . . ." Matt said. "Knock it off. What are you doing?"
"This isn't my fault, Matt, okay? She's after you and I shouldn't have to put up with that."
"I thought you said no more drama?" Matt said, sounding betrayed.
"Well, I lied."
Matt shook his head then and glared. "Forget it. Just forget all of it."
"So . . . what? Are you, like, breaking up with me?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess that's what I'm doing," Matt said and walked away.
Stefan was in period clothes and he was dancing. He knew where he was and when he was.
Lockwood Mansion, 1864.
"Look who's found his dancing shoes," came a familiar and unwelcome voice. Though . . . he didn't feel like the voice was unwelcome in his dream.
Katherine was in an off-the-shoulder blue dress. It was very risqué for the time period they were in. He had no idea why he was dreaming about the founder's ball of 1864, but he was.
It was happening the exact way it had happened in real life. Katherine had gone to the Founder's ball with Stefan, and Damon, being compelled by Katherine, had been heartbroken by not being able to escort the brunette.
He knew Katherine wasn't supposed to be there dancing with him. He was supposed to be with Elena. Why was he dreaming about the other one?
He found that he couldn't control his actions, even though it was his dream, when he moved toward the brunette and tried to kiss her.
"Ah, ah. No touching, Mr. Salvatore. Those are the rules."
"I thought you didn't believe in rules," Stefan said. "My brother's still upset that you chose me to escort you."
"Well, Damon needs to concede that his younger brother is a better dancer."
As Katherine and Stefan spun around each other Katherine looked towards Damon and said, "Ah, looks like Damon has found someone to occupy his time."
Stefan looked toward his brother and saw . . . Elena. What was she doing with Damon? And where was Rebecca? Why was Damon holding her hand? And why was Elena smiling at Damon the way she only smiled at him?
"Elena . . ."
Stefan tried to bypass Katherine, but she placed a hand on his chest and said, "Stefan, don't."
He moved past her anyway and followed Damon and Elena, who were now leaving the mansion. They were leaving together.
"Elena!" he exclaimed as he made his way out the door. Instead of ending up outside, Stefan found that he was going into the Grill.
He heard people laughing and he stopped, confused. How had he gone from 1864 to now? Why was he dreaming this way?
He realized he was in modern clothing now. Everyone else was in modern clothes too. He saw people he knew and people he only recognized. He saw Elena, too, in a purple shirt and tight black jeans. She was holding a pool cue stick and looking at him.
"It's your turn," she said.
He began making his way to the table but stopped when he saw Damon going to her instead. Damon was actually sauntering to Elena. Elena was supposed to be his. Where was Rebecca in all this?
Stefan felt his heart break when he saw Damon and Elena kissing. It was a short and playful kiss, but also an intimate one. They weren't supposed to be intimate.
"Be prepared to lose," Damon said playfully.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" he heard from behind him. Katherine had appeared. She was still in period dress. "Now you know how I feel."
Stefan looked back at his brother and Elena, and Katherine grabbed his face. "Don't fight it, Stefan. You loved me once. You can love me again."
Suddenly, Stefan was back in 1864 and he was in period dress again.
"I love you, Stefan. We'll be together again, I promise."
Katherine kissed him tenderly on the lips and then laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.
Stefan's eyes shot open and he gasped. That had been a weird dream. What in the world had made him dream that?
"Hey, you okay?" Elena asked.
"Yeah, it's just a bad dream," he whispered. "Go back to sleep."
He felt Elena nod and he began to play with her hair and realized the smooth locks were curly. Elena didn't have curly hair. Katherine had curly hair. So Stefan thought about it. Elena hadn't stayed overnight. She'd been at home doing something – reading, he thought – so she wasn't there with him in the bed.
"Katherine," he seethed, getting out of the bed and racing across the room.
"You have to admit I am getting better at this," Katherine said, smirking. She was sitting there smirking at him. "It was easy to get inside of your head. Have you completely forsaken your nature?"
Stefan felt his face change and he lunged toward her, but she easily pushed him to the floor. He knocked a book off the table while trying to catch himself.
"Are we really gonna do this again?" she asked. "We both know I could rip you to shreds and do my nails at the same time."
"What d'you want?" he asked, getting up from the floor.
"I wanted to see you," Katherine admitted, sounding bored. "I missed you, Stefan. Indulge me for a little while, please."
"Why're you back in town?"
"Three reasons. You, you, and you." She even counted each you out on her fingers.
"You see, I can't quite get that down. It gets stuck in my throat."
"Well, you know it's the truth." Katherine placed her hand on his chest and began trailing down gently. "Inside that gorgeous body of yours is the Stefan that fell in love with me too."
"Mmm . . ." Rebecca stretched leisurely across the bed but stopped when she didn't feel Damon there. She was sure he had been there when she'd fallen asleep.
He must've had something to do or he never would've left her side. When she opened her eyes she saw a note on his pillow.
It was short but sweet at the same time.
Becca,
Had something to do. Got Ric to talk to Jenna and she's having a BBQ at their house. Meet me at 2:00? Call me when you wake up.
Love eternally,
D
P.S. Hope you're feeling better.
She smiled at the love eternally part until she realized that something had woken her up. She'd heard a thump, like something had fallen to the ground.
Maybe Stefan had been drinking or something and had fallen? Maybe she should check on him.
Damon looked at his watch. It was almost one and Rebecca hadn't called yet. He wondered if she was up or if she was still resting.
Damon was at the Grill placing an order for a peach cobbler. He was using it as a peace offering for Jenna. She and he used to hit it off great, but ever since she'd seen Katherine trying to kiss him, she'd been a little distant.
He couldn't blame her. Jenna had thought it was Elena. Speaking of, Elena was in the Grill too, going through the book he'd given her the night before. She was also eating.
Just to see what she would do he went and sat at the same table she was at.
"What do you want?" she asked when she noticed him.
Damon looked around the restaurant like he'd never been there before. "So this is where you spend your time when you're not stabbing people in the back."
"I tricked you into telling me the truth. That's not stabbing you in the back, that's using your own tactics against you."
Elena closed the book and Damon noticed she had a notebook with her. She'd been taking notes. She cleared her things away and put them in a bag.
"Where are you goin?" Damon asked.
"I made myself clear, Damon," Elena said, standing up and putting her bag on her shoulder. "I want nothing to do with you."
"Okay. See you at Jenna's barbecue," Damon quipped, stealing a pickle off of Elena's plate. She didn't like pickles? What was wrong with her?"
"How did you know about Jenna's barbecue?"
"It was my idea," he bragged. "Jenna went to high school with Mason Lockwood. So . . . I figured a social gathering was a good way to get to know the guy, so I told Ric to tell Jenna –"
Elena cut him off. "Does Jenna know you're gonna be there? Because she's not exactly a fan of yours."
Suddenly a waitress came up to the table and placed a square box down and smiled Damon's way.
"Perfect," he said. "Thank you." Then to Elena he said, "I'm hoping this peach cobbler will pave the way."
Damon grabbed it and got up, completely prepared to leave, but Elena said, "What're you up to?"
"I'm gonna put some silver into Mason Lockwood and prove that he's a werewolf," he said, smirking. "See ya at the barbecue."
Damon was almost one hundred percent sure that Mason was a werewolf – the same werewolf that had attacked Rebecca the night before, but he wanted to be certain before he killed the man-beast.
"Hey, Mason, you got a second," Tyler asked.
"No, man, barbecue at Jenna Sommer's house."
Mason was gathering his things and Tyler was following him to the door.
"Come on, man, give me two minutes, a'right? You can't keep dodgin' me. I'm freakin' out over here."
Tyler hadn't brought up what had happened the night before at all. He'd been a little too in shock to. But now he wanted answers.
"Tyler, what d'ya want me to say, man? Yes, I turned into a wolf. No, it's not gonna happen to you."
"How do you know that?" Tyler asked.
"Because you're not gonna trigger the curse. Your dad didn't know about any of this; neither did I until it happened to me."
"How does it get triggered?"
"Ignorance is bliss, trust me."
"You blow back into town with some supernatural family secret and you expect me not to ask questions?"
"I can't say anything more. I'm sorry, Tyler. It's just better for you if I don't."
Mason opened the door and began walking out, but Tyler stopped him by saying. "You ever find that moonstone?"
"Do you know where it is?"
Tyler shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. "What's so special about it?"
"I told you. It was my mom's. It's sentimental. Look, just don't worry about it. Forget I even brought it up, a'right? I'll see you later."
Mason left, and after making sure Mason was actually gone. Tyler removed the moonstone from his jeans pocket. Really, what was the deal with this rock? Why was it important? What did Mason need it for?"
"You shouldn't read someone's journal," Stefan said.
Rebecca saw him come into the living room with a glass of blood in his hands. He handed it over to Katherine, who was the one reading Stefan's journal.
"I know. I'm sorry. It was just too tempting. All of your inner thoughts and feelings . . . laying there on your desk for me to read."
Rebecca had gone into Stefan's room after she'd woken up and had been shocked to find Katherine there. Now the wench wouldn't leave. Rebecca was thinking about finishing what she'd started the night Damon had stopped her from killing Katherine. Apparently, Stefan had other plans, though, because he'd taken the journal away and had handed the glass of blood to Katherine.
"Damon's private stock."
"That's right, you don't do human," Katherine said. "I read that. And I also read about your recent werewolf sighting. That must've come as a surprise."
Katherine was sitting on a chair twirling her hair, flirting with Stefan.
"Little Becky got a little . . . mauled," Katherine taunted. "I can't imagine what that must feel like."
"Are you that anxious to find out? Because I'm sure that could be arranged," Rebecca threatened.
"Hm . . . I bet poor Damon was so worried when your wounds wouldn't heal. Too bad I wasn't here. I could've . . . comforted him."
Rebecca growled a warning for the girl to shut up, but Katherine ignored her.
"Well, I'm only being honest. I have years of experience on you. I wonder if he ever thinks of me when you're –"
Rebecca leapt from her spot on the couch and grabbed Katherine by the hair and threw her to the floor. The blood went all over the carpet – Damon was gonna pitch a fit.
"Hey," she heard Stefan shout. "Stop!"
Rebecca's face changed in frustration. That was the second time someone had stopped her from killing this stupid Pierce woman. She actually forgot about Katherine for a second and pounced on Stefan.
"Stop saving her!" she seethed.
"We need her," Stefan chocked out, which was when she realized she had her hand on his throat and was squeezing – hard – and she let him go immediately.
"What do you know about werewolves?" Stefan asked Katherine, who had gotten up from the floor.
"I know not to pet one," Katherine answered. "Their bite kills, Stefan. It's best to stay clear of them on a full moon."
"And how do you know this?" Stefan asked.
"Who do you think was responsible for ridding this town of vampires in 1864?"
"Founding families," Stefan said.
"Spearheaded by . . ."
"The Lockwoods."
"You remember the Founder's Ball, don't you?" Katherine asked. "The one that you were dreaming about?"
"I was your escort," Stefan said.
"That was before you and Damon knew about my little secret."
Stefan remembered that night clearly. Damon had made a toast to George Lockwood. George had been a Confederate soldier, much like Damon had been; only George hadn't deserted.
Henry, one of the vampires that had been locked in the tomb, had wanted to talk to Katherine that night. Stefan had never found out what Henry had wanted.
"You remember when the attacks first started? That night Henry told me he'd looked into it. He'd found out it hadn't been vampires. The victims had been torn apart in ways he'd never seen before.
"From the moment I met George Lockwood, I knew he was going to be a problem."
"So you're saying that all the Lockwoods are werewolves?" Stefan asked.
Katherine had moved to the other side of the room, closer to the exit, Rebecca noted smugly. Rebecca and Stefan were seated on the couch, both alert. Katherine was a clever one; they didn't want her getting one over them.
"The werewolf gene runs in the Lockwood family, not that they're all wolves."
"How many other werewolves are out there? I mean, is it just limited to the Lockwoods."
"No, there are others. Not many. They're practically extinct. They mainly exist now in books and really bad movies."
Katherine grinned. "My turn to ask a question."
Katherine giggled and grabbed Stefan's journal again, opening it to a very particular page. Rebecca realized it was a picture of Katherine from 1864; Stefan had been using it as a bookmark.
"Why did you keep this picture?" Katherine asked. "Hm?" Why not burn it? Tear it up?"
Stefan didn't answer. Rebecca could've sworn it looked like Stefan didn't have and answer. In that amazingly powerful vampire brain of his, Stefan couldn't find the answer to that one question.
"You wanna know why I came back? Well, I have a better question. Why did you? For Elena? No. You came back here to fall in love with me all over again, didn't you?"
Stefan's mouth fell open into one of disbelieving acceptance. It was like he was saying what Katherine had said was true.
Oh, my God! Rebecca thought.
"Stefan!"
Said vampire got up from the couch and went to Katherine; their faces only inches away from each other. Stefan cupped her cheek.
"What is it about you . . ." Stefan muttered. "That makes me still care?"
Stefan had lost his mind. Maybe he'd been drinking human blood again? Whatever the reason, Stefan was doing the worst thing imaginable. He was switching teams.
Traitor. Damon was going to be heartbroken and angry. Elena was going to be heartbroken and angry. The brunette was going to feel used and . . .
Suddenly Katherine was falling on the sofa and Stefan was glaring at her; he had one of Alaric's tranquilizer darts filled with vervain. Rebecca hadn't known they were in the house; she hadn't known Alaric had supplied them with weapons.
"Stefan . . ."
Stefan looked at her. "Ye of little faith," he chided. "Help me get her into the cellar."
Rebecca nodded and grabbed Katherine's legs while Stefan grabbed her upper body. Rebecca was surprised when Katherine was deposited into a chair and was then shackled to it – arms and feet.
Katherine, who had been unconscious, started groaning and her eyelids fluttered open.
"Now, where were we?" Stefan asked, leaning against a table in the room. That was when Rebecca realized where they were: the room where they grew vervain. "That's right, you were gonna tell me the reason you came back to Mystic Falls, weren't you?"
"You didn't have to do this," Katherine said, struggling with her shackles.
"Answer the question."
"I came back for you."
"Well, we're gonna play by my rules now."
Rebecca watched as Stefan put on the gardening gloves she or Damon used when they picked vervain for the sheriff and pulled a sprig from the soil and walked to Katherine.
"No, what're you doing?"
Stefan grabbed Katherine's hair and pressed the sprig to her cheek. The room was filled with Katherine's screams. Rebecca wanted to cover her ears. Vampire or not, Rebecca did not like hearing people in pain, even if it was the evil-monster-of-death.
"Answer the question!" Stefan said dangerously.
"You're gonna torture me now?" Katherine asked, her voice trembling.
"I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get you to tell me the truth," Stefan declared.
Stefan threw the herb down and went back to leaning on the table.
"Later that night, at the Founder's Ball . . ."
"No, I don't wanna hear anymore stories about the past."
"Yes, you do, Stefan. That's exactly what you wanna hear."
Lockwood mansion, 1864
"She's all alone," George Lockwood said, coming up to Katherine. "Does this mean I can finally have you all to myself?"
"Your father's outdone himself."
"Yeah, knowing father, he'll wanna throw a Founder's Party every year."
"I must admit, I am a bit surprised that you would come looking for me," Katherine said, hiding a shy smile behind her champagne glass.
"Because you're the rope in the Salvatore's tug-of-war?"
"No. Because I'm a vampire who could kill you in your sleep."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Relax, George. I know you know my secret."
"This conversation is over," George said, beginning to walk away. Like other men, he thought his word was law because he was a man, but Katherine grabbed his arm to hold him in place.
"And I know your secret too, and I know that you're extra-strong. Only not as strong."
George smiled uncomfortable. "How do you know who I am?"
"You think that I would settle into a town without knowing my enemies?" Katherine asked.
"What do you want?" George asked, falsely agreeable, and Katherine smirked at him.
"What did he want?" Stefan asked.
When Stefan didn't get an answer he grabbed another chair that was in the room and sat in front of Katherine.
Just then Rebecca's phone vibrated in her pocket and she grabbed it. It was after two, so she knew who it would be. She hadn't called Damon when she'd gotten up and she definitely hadn't met him at Jenna's.
"Yeah," she said, stepping out of the room in the cellar. "Sorry I didn't call. I'm still gonna come; I just . . . I'm distracted right now."
"Distracted how?" Damon asked.
"Oh . . . I woke up and the evil monster of death was here. She's . . . being interrogated. But if Stefan has it under control I'm still planning on coming."
"Please. Don't make me sit through a whole afternoon of people who hate me."
"Oh, Alaric doesn't hate you. Neither does Elena; she just . . . doesn't like you right now."
"Thanks," Damon muttered. "Anyway, I'm at Elena's. I can expect to see you here soon?"
"Yeah." She smiled softly. "I missed you his morning, Mr. Love Eternally."
"Shut up," Damon mumbled. He sounded a little embarrassed, much like he would've had he been human. "I've gotta get going. Love you."
"Love you too."
Damon hung up and shut the car off. He'd waited outside in the car because he heard talking coming from inside the Gilbert house.
"Thanks for letting Caroline come. She could use a day of distraction." Elena said. She'd obviously gotten back from the Grill.
Damon had heard about Caroline and Matt. Caroline had bitten him and then, feeling guilty, had arranged for Matt to think she was an overly jealous, insecure, girlfriend so he would break up with her.
"Well, she's not the plus one I'm worried about," Jenna said. "Why is Damon coming?"
"Because Alaric is a pity-taker. Come on, Jenna, be nice."
"I'll be nice when Damon learns to keep his paws off of you."
Then, suddenly, Damon heard a male voice. "Aha, good news, found the shot glasses." That would be Mason; his Bronco was parked outside.
"That would be my exit," Elena said.
"I'm here ten minutes and already it's like I'm back under the bleachers at a pep rally."
"It's just like old times, huh?" Mason asked, and they both laughed. "Only I didn't swipe this bottle from my old man."
Then a new voice came in, also male. Ric. "Oh, the expensive stuff. I like you already."
"Just happy to be invited."
"Well, thank Ric, this was his idea."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Well, ya know, I thought it'd be nice to meet some of Jenna's old high school friends. Dig up a little dirt."
"Oh, I've got dirt," Mason claimed. "I've got dirt."
"I have no secrets," Jenna claimed. "Only dirty shame."
"Well, then, to dirty shame," Ric said.
Damon chose that moment to get out of the car, go up to the door and knock, and be let in. Elena was the one who answered the door.
"They're in the kitchen," Elena said. "Go on in."
Damon went past Elena and into the kitchen. Ric, Jenna, and Mason seemed to be having a grand old time.
"Hey," he said.
"Damon . . ." Jenna sounded less than thrilled.
"We're just doin' shots," Ric said. "Let me get you a shot glass, buddy."
Damon smiled a little when Jenna looked at the dessert box in his hands.
"No. Here," Jenna said. "Use mine."
The woman walked past him and dropped the small glass into his hand. Then she left the room. Ric looked at Damon sympathetically but then followed his girlfriend out of the kitchen. It suited Damon fine. He wanted to talk to Mason alone, anyway.
"She doesn't like me very much," he stage whispered to Mason, going toward the kitchen counter and placing the box down on it.
"We haven't met. Mason Lockwood." Mason held his hand out and Damon shook it.
"Oh, sure, hey. Damon Salvatore."
"I know. Heard great things about you. Carol, the sheriff."
"Really? That's weird. Because I'm a jerk."
"It's true, ya know," came a very welcome voice from the archway of the kitchen. "He really is."
Rebecca had arrived.
Damon hadn't realized how tense he'd been until he'd heard her voice. He turned to her and smiled when he saw she was healthy looking again. No blood all over her, no pale skin, no shuddering, pain-filled breathing. She was fine again.
"I see you're feeling better," he said.
"Much, thanks." She then eyed the other man. "Hello, Mason."
"Becca."
From the other room, in came Caroline. She smiled at Rebecca, then came over and gave her a hug. A tight one.
"You're all better!" the blond exclaimed. "All better!"
"Yup. Thank you, by the way, for helping me when Damon wasn't there."
"What're friends for?"
Then Caroline went for a bowl of potato chips that had been left on the counter. She gestured for Rebecca to follow her and Rebecca did, after giving Damon a swift kiss on the cheek.
Stefan had told Rebecca she could leave if she had wanted to; he could handle Katherine on his own. So she'd come to Elena's. And now she was being led out front by Caroline. Elena was on one of the chairs on the porch, so Rebecca and Caroline sat on one of the two-seaters that had been placed there.
Elena was just hanging up her phone when the other two girls sat down.
"Was that Stefan?" Caroline asked, stuffing a chip into her mouth.
"He hasn't called me back. I'm trying to decide if I should be worried."
"I'm sure he's fine." Caroline stuffed another chip into her mouth. "I cannot stop eating. Stefan says it's a great way to sublimate the cravings. You know, it's horrible, just fighting the urge for blood every minute of every day."
"I know that Stefan really hates that part of himself," Elena confided.
"Well, yeah," Caroline said. "I mean, he hates that you're a constant temptation."
"He said that?"
"Mm-hm. The desire to rip out your jugular every time he's with you? Trust me, it's there. And it's why I had to break up with Matt."
Elena was quiet for a few minutes and then Ric came out and said, "Hey, food's ready. Come get it."
"Finally. I'm starving," Caroline said.
