Chapter 9 (I don't own anything only dream) Read and review please…

Bellapov

"Fancy meeting you here…"

My hand tightens around the book I'm about to take off the shelf as I hear his voice.

"What do you want?"

"Easy now just saw you and wanted to come say hi…"
"Well hi and bye."

I don't even look his way as I turn to walk away.

"How's the neck?"

I flip him off and go sit down with my book trying to get one of my assignments for school over with. I sigh as he sits across from me. Finally I look up at him.

"Don't you have a cheerleader to irritate?"

He smirks.

"I'm enjoying the current company."

"Funny you're the only one. Now if you don't mind I have to get this paper finished."

He narrows his eyes and tilts his head as he takes it upon himself to drag the book towards him and looks at it. I slam my hand down on it and drag it back.

"Don't ruin my mood Damon get lost."

"And what kind of mood would that be?"

"The I'm fine as long as I don't have to see yours or Elena's faces mood."

"Cute… I can see why he likes you."

"Don't even bring him into this."

"Perhaps you and I should hang out sometime get to know each other a bit."

"When hell freezes over, pigs fly and monkey's take over the world… not even then."

"So why can't you be compelled?"

I sigh getting more and more annoyed.
"Is that what this is about? You seek me out to question something even I can't answer and yet again it has to do with something you can't control."

"I just want to know why your different that's all no harm in questions."

"Then tell me Damon why are you such an ass?!"

He softly laughs.

"You should know I've told Elena to leave you and Stefan alone."

"So you got her a leash after all?"

"Do you talk like this around my dear brother?"

I smile.

"Wouldn't you like to know… Now if I may I really need to get this done and you're contaminating my breathing supply."

"Hmmm."

"What do you really want Damon you want a gold star or cookie is that it? And do you honestly think she's going to ever leave your brother alone?"

"A gold star would be nice don't have much need for a cookie… And to your last question you should be more concerned about if my brother will ever truly leave Elena alone."

"He's already washed his hands of that."

"Has he now?"

"You're not going to play your manipulative games with me."

"Just you wait and see…"

"What's with you? I mean you and Elena are still together right?"

He makes an odd face.

"Yes and no… Things have been a bit on the cliffy side. But the sex is still great as usual."

"You're so far off hinge it's not even slightly funny."

He suddenly appears behind me and I feel him move my hair away from my neckline. I wince as he's breathing against me and leaning his hands against the table.

"Don't even begin to pretend you don't feel something…"

I sigh and roll my eyes. I whip around and stab my pencil into his chest as hard as I can.

"I'm not Elena or Katherine and next time I won't miss…" I hint and grab my pack back and leave the library book on the table.

I hear him chuckle and groan out as he takes the pencil and removes it from his chest.

I get in my truck and wonder where this good side of Damon was that Stefan mentioned. So far Elena and Damon were as fucked up as they come. Damon and Stefan couldn't be more opposite. I pull into the Mystic Grill to get a booth maybe a soda so I can at least attempt to get some work done. My hands however shake thanks to my little encounter with Stefan's brother. I order my drink and take my book out of my bag and start jotting down what I can feeling rather miffed about having to leave my book at the library that I was to rent out but couldn't stand another second with the idiot Salvatore. I dig around in my bag however for a pencil and only to realize the only one I had left I'd stabbed into Damon's chest.

"Damn it…" I mutter.

I narrow my eyes however as a pencil and the book I was using appears before me. I look up and see Stefan sitting across from me. I jump a little and take in a breath.

"Sorry didn't mean to startle you."

I nod but wondered if this meant he just saw everything that took place. Ugh meaning he saw me stab Damon. Shit…

"Nice move by the way."

I narrow my eyes and nervously take a sip off my drink.

"That'd be?"

"Ramming that pencil near my brother's heart."

I close my eyes and look to the table.

"Stefan…"

He laughs.

"He had it coming… besides he'll heal."

"What all did you hear?"

"I just caught the last tid bit I'm afraid I saw your truck parked outside and wanted to come say hi. Just didn't expect my wonderful brother to be there."

"Ugh same here."

"Bella I really am sorry about all this."

"Don't be Stefan all families have their quirks."

"Yeah well not all families have a Damon Salvatore."

"Ugh…" I grimace in thought.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine ok trust me this isn't really anything new to me. I've dealt with people that don't know what no and frankly what fuck off means. He wouldn't listen with words so I figured maybe a little physical pain."

Stefan chuckles and crosses his arms.

"I'll let you get back to your assignment." He says raising up.

He walks over though and leans down kissing me. Ugh what assignment? I wanted to beg for him to stay…

"Can I pick you up for school in the morning?"

"Sure."

He smiles. He turns as if to leave but turns back once more with a serious expression.

"If this ever becomes too much… you know because of my brother and Elena… or anything else…"

"Don't even finish that thought Stefan. We're fine ok…"

He nods but I can still see the concern in his eyes.

"I'm a tough girl Stefan trust me I can handle whatever they throw my way."

"That's just it I don't want you to have to handle anything."

"That's just life Stefan things are difficult all around but they also have their perks."

He nods and smiles at this.

"See you in the morning Bella."

I watch as he heads out and gets in his car. I sink down in the booth a bit in thought then try to focus on what I needed to do.

I finally finish up and am putting everything up when someone else slides into the seat across from me.

"Oh hey Caroline."

She smiles.

"Am I interrupting?"

"Nope just finished actually."

"Cool, let me by you lunch."

I turn and look at the time.

"OH wow that sure flew."

"Bella why are you doing homework on the weekend?"

"Just wanted to get it done."

"It's not due until Thursday."

I shrug. Caroline laughs.

"Get what you want I'm buying."

"I got it Caroline."

"Hey you wouldn't let me throw you a party at least let me buy you a belated birthday lunch."

I laugh.

"OK fine."

"Cool."

We order our food and she looks to me with anticipation.

"Something on your mind?" I ask.

"YES!" She practically hisses with excitement.

I laugh.

"What do you wish to know."

"How was your birthday?"
I narrow my eyes and shrug.

"It was really good actually Charlie got me…"

"No, no I want to know about the date."

I blush in thought.

"Oh that."

"Yes that."

I force a frown on my face.

"Oh no what happened?"

"It was dreadful…"

She places her hand over her mouth as if in shock.

"I'm kidding. It was Stefan Caroline so of course the date was rather perfect."

She lets out a soft squeal of delight.

"OH I knew it! You two are so meant for each other."

"Are they now?"

Caroline and I share the same expression as she appears next to our table. What's with this town?

"Um yes actually they are." Caroline says with a shrug.

"Highly unlikely… But good luck with that." She says looking to me with a smug look about her.
She heads out the door and I look to Caroline in thought.

"Who wears their cheerleader uniform on a Sunday?"

She laughs.

"That's actually what I was thinking."

"Ugh I can't believe that girl was ever nice."

Caroline shrugs and looks a bit sad.

"That's just it Bella she was at one time. I mean sure she could be selfish, a bit stuck up but she was nice fun even and at one time all that ever hung the moon for her was Stefan."

Ugh poor Stefan…

"And what about Damon is he always?"

"An ass?" She says with a smile.

"Precisely."
"Actually 9 times out of 10 yes. But there is the 1 percent where he'll surprise you and do something completely unDamon like and floor you."

"Huh… So he does actually have feelings…"

"Somewhat." She laughs.

"I just can't get over how opposite the Salvatore's are."

"And the longer you're in Mystic Falls and are with Stefan you'll soon see how crazy things truly are."

"Ugh…"
She laughs.

"At least you have someone along for the ride. And he couldn't be more crazy about you."

I look to her curiously.

"How do you mean?"

"Well the other day when you came up here with Charlie. He was asking me what ideas I had for your birthday it was cute how nervous he was. I hadn't seen Stefan like this about anyone in quite some time. He's happy Bella and I missed seeing my friend this way. He was rather dark for a bit and I was afraid I was losing him so to speak. He just stopped carrying so much about things."

"He actually kind of mentioned something like that to me."

"Stefan wears his heart on his sleeve sometimes and when he falls. He truly falls."

Something about how she said that unnerved me. I couldn't nor did I want to imagine Stefan in that sort of state. Hell it'd kill me.

"I'm so glad you came into our lives Bella you brighten them up a bit and well you rather rescued Stefan. I've a feeling he'd have very well gone down a path that he couldn't really walk away from if you hadn't."

"That's just too bizarre to think about."

"He's still a vampire Bella always keep that in mind, just as I am. Vampires have a different way of relieving stress and cutting lose."

"Yeah well apparently some fall of the wagon and stay off." I say thinking of Elena and Damon.

"Very true…"

The food comes out and we both sit in silence while I eat and she sips on a drink. Once we're finished she looks over at me.

"So there's two things I'd like to do."

"What's that?"

"Well for one we need an all-girls night…"

"Ugh Elena?"

"NO she's not invited. This way too you can actually get to know Bonnie a bit more." She smirks.

I sigh in relief.

"Um ok and what's the other."

"I'd like for you to come with me next weekend somewhere. There's someone I'd like you to meet… However you're sworn to secrecy on this matter you can never tell anyone not even Stefan on where we go or who it is we are visiting."

Ugh not this secret crap again. I also didn't like the idea of keeping secrets from Stefan that was doom for any relationship that and I knew you don't ever want to test a vampire too far. I had enough in Forks. But Caroline was beyond nice to me and she was family…

"Um ok. You aren't in some kind of trouble though are you?"

"No… Just a difficult mess is all something I'm trying to work on but like I said you just can't say anything this would be between the three of us."
"Three?"

"You'll see." She says with a smile.

However I had a very, very bad feeling about this. Something told me Caroline was in big trouble or about to be and I was about to be caught up all in it. I hoped it was just my imagination as I finish my drink and grab my bag as we head out of the grill. I just knew how drama followed me everywhere and I knew before long mine and Stefan's little dance would eventually be tested and interrupted by chaos off and on because let's face it I'm Bella Swan and there is no normalcy for me and I cannot expect it when I'm dating yet another vampire now. Not that I regret or will regret even the slightest of seconds with him if anything when it comes to Stefan… Bring it on I'll take whatever's dished out as long as we're together. I just hoped he felt the same way.


Stefanpov

"And how is your morning so far?"

She gets in the car and leans over pecking me on the lips.

"Better now."

I smile.

"Good."

I take her and as we drive to school. Her scent flooring me as it fills my car. It made my mouth water and filled my mind with thoughts that weren't very gentlemen like. Everything about this weekend runs through my mind mainly our first real date but also what she said to Damon. But there was a sense of pride about it when I heard her say she wasn't Elena or Katherine. Something about that made me smile when she said that. But I was also getting very tired of Damon pulling his crap. I know my brother and I know what he's trying to pull which only further pisses me off everything to him is a game. I was just tired of playing them and wanted to move on and for once I actually did wish that Elena could make him settle down somewhat.

I took some time to think about things last night as I unpacked some of my things and started to set up my new house. I thought about my history with Katherine and then Elena and I mean everything to the point of making my head spin. I thought of everything my brother and I have been through mainly with the two of them. I took all of that… well I took it all and said goodbye. For once I meant it too. I'm not looking back and even if I wasn't with Bella now it' something that was long over do. There's just so much one can take and when you're alive for centuries things get tiring they wear you down and it begin to feel like dejavu. For once I don't have that feeling. It actually feels like I'm moving on that I'm getting somewhere and instead of being pulled back and sucked back in like a never ending vortex. That part of my life will be nothing more than a distant memory now one day. Even if something shall happen between Bella and I and I pray it doesn't but it if surely does I'm still done with my past. I'm through with being haunted no matter what I'm doing or where I go.

I take Bella's hand and before we enter the school building I pull her in wrapping my arms around her waist and kiss her. I then force myself back as I lead her to our lockers. I open my locker however and I quickly rip the picture down from my locker and turn back looking towards her shaking my head as she smiles and winks. I ball it up in my fist and look down towards Bella who thankfully didn't see. I toss it into a nearby bender grab my books and slam my locker shut.

"Everything ok?" Bella says grabbing her last book and I offer her a hand.

"I'm fine just forgot a book was all."

Just let it go Stefan I tell myself. I'm only letting her win if I react too much or let Bella know that's what she wanted. She's going to do everything in her power now to break us up and it's not even so much about her still being in love with me. Hell I don't even think she does love me. It's about possession now about not wanting to see me with anyone else and if any girl damn near makes me happy she's going to do her best to rip it away. How do I know all this? I've lived it before many years ago and I remember all too well and she has that same look in her eyes as she looks upon Bella then to me. I'm not letting her win. I know what she expects me to do. The old Stefan would get scared and dump Bella because I don't want her to get hurt. I'd emotionally scar Bella and hurt myself and playing my own stupid game with Bella's heart breaking it over and over because I can't seem to stay away. No that's not what I'm doing. I'm not going anywhere I'm going to fight this I will prove a point to my brother to Elena and to myself. But the one person I want to prove something to the most is Bella. She's already been through this roller coaster. Edward left her and from the way it sounded it was because of that exact thing he wanted to protect her but rather than protect her he broke her heart and shattered it. Now she can't stand for him to even touch her. I grimace in thought. I don't want to be Bella's Edward one day. I don't ever want her to look upon me like that or feel that my touch to become dead to her. Therefore I'm not giving up, running or breaking her heart. Whatever comes our way I will find a way past I will protect her and not give up. We both know what it feels like when someone gives up on you.

"Stefan are you sure you're ok?"

I smile and kiss her hand as we sit down for class.

"I'm fine."

We get through our classes ok as I'd sneak a flirt her way here and there or casually lean over and run my hand along hers.

Come lunch time though I knew things were about to heat up. I wanted to prove that point though. Bella was my girl now I wasn't in the mood for any silly nonsense. We all sit down. Naturally Elena sits beside me and I felt it coming off Bella and didn't blame her. That would be equivalent of Edward coming to school here and having the balls to do something like that. The difference between Bella and I is Edward would need a new face. Bella wouldn't want to hurt me I think sometimes Bella thinks by hurting Elena she's hurting me but she couldn't be more wrong. In fact it kept all will power not to laugh at her remark about the one man thing the other day. But I didn't because I saw the look on Bella's face and I know she's not used to being so cruel she's a nice person and doesn't like hurting people's feelings. Therefore I also know that if Bella rips into you about something you deserve it. She's just not that type of person and it's refreshing. I like that she defends herself when needed but isn't out to hurt other's unless they have started something with her first.

Bella picks at her food but I hear her heart doing that unsteady pattern and her handshakes a bit. She pushes her tray aside and stuffs her hands into her gray hoodie. I raise up and lean over and start kissing her. I then take her hand and lead her out of the cafeteria. We make our way to the football field where I go back and continue the kissing. I position it to where she safely falls back on the ground with my hands breaking her fall.

She laughs realizing what I did.

"Pretty smooth Stefan."

I smile.

"I thought so…"

We kiss some more and then I roll over on the grass and pull her into my chest. She runs a hand along me.

"Hey Stefan?"

"What's on your mind?"

She half laughs.

"Would it put a damper on our relationship if I staked your ex?"

We both laugh.

"Nah… go right ahead."

"Cool."

I knew she was joking but at times I did wonder and hope it wouldn't ever actually come down to that. I hoped that after too long even my brother would get tired of it and figure out how to bring a bit of her old self back. Even he must get sick of how she is lately considering we both fell for her back before she seemed to lose her mind. Unless this was just something that was buried deep within her and we never knew it but it didn't matter either way I was done… All that was Damon's life now and this right here was mine…

And for once in a long time I can actually genuinely smile…