Chapter 12:

"You know, there is nothing in this book that is of any help whatsoever." She said in all seriousness and Stefan tossed her a juice box – she refused to call it a 'blood bag'; it really just sounded yuck – before turning around to face her.

"What book would that be?" he asked, grabbing one for himself.

"New Moon." She answered, waiting for recognition to strike.

Instead, he tilted his head in the way that he did and gave her a blank stare.

"You know? Team Jacob? Twilight!"

He shook his head as he took a sip.

"Come on Stefan! Have you been living under a rock? Bestseller of the past – I don't know – like five years. Edward and Bella! Kinda like you and Elena! Come on! Even Damon knows more pop culture than you!"

"Damon is a hard-core consumer of pop culture. All he does is stay at home drinking bourbon and blood and watch cable."

They both laughed at that unnatural image of Damon as Stefan walked over to the sofa to take the book from her.

As he paused to read excerpts from random pages, she enlightened him.

"Meyers is just as wrong about werewolves as she is about vampires. We are waaay less pasty than the Cullens. And we are definitely warmer to the touch." She smiled widely when he looked confused.

"I am definitely all about Jacob, but seriously, werewolves do not get to keep their clothes after a transformation. It's just not practical or feasible." She continued and then looked at Stefan to see him raise an eyebrow in question.

"I mean, not that I have seen anything. Just an FYI, you know."

He went back to the book and then asked, "What is this? Werewolves that shift at any time? Ha! We sure would be far fewer in numbers if that was the case."

"Do you know if we can heal them? Werewolves, I mean. Do we have the power to take their pain away?" she hoped the question didn't stand out too much in their general conversation, but of course it did, because he paused reading and laughed out loud. When she looked down and fidgeted with her ring, he stopped laughing.

"Wait, you are serious? Where did you hear that?"

"Nowhere." She shook her head.

"Caroline, Vampires and Werewolves… It's like Oil and Water. We don't mix. In fact, we usually assure mutual destruction, not healing."

When she continued to look down, Stefan touched her shoulder to get her attention.

"Tell me. What happened?"

"Nothing…" she trailed off, still lost in thought.

"Caroline."

She looked up and knew that it was better if Stefan knew. She couldn't handle all this by herself. She didn't know how to help Tyler. And if she could trust anyone in the world, it was Stefan.

"Nothing really…. It's just that Tyler has been having these headaches. Like intense ones where he almost doubles over from the pain. They happen a lot. I think he's in pain all the time…" she trailed off.

"Tell me the rest."

"If I touch him, it seems to… ease his pain." She said in a low voice, looking down again.

"What? Are you serious? He is not messing with you?" Stefan asked sitting forward on the couch.

"You should see him Stefan. He's in bad shape."

"I have seen him. He doesn't ever seem to stay in the same place for more than five seconds nowadays."

"I know. He's so restless. And he won't tell me exactly what he is going through either. He is so alone, Stefan. And it's not like he is great at asking for or accepting help."

She looked at Stefan when he didn't answer her right away.

He was looking at her strangely.

"What?" she asked, drawing back.

"Are you…" he started.

"No!" she answered right away and then looked away when she knew she had been too quick in her denial. Had she learned nothing from Shakespeare?

"Caroline…" Stefan's tone was soft now as he called her attention again. "You know I am the last person who would give you advice about…. inter-species… relationships. But, as your friend and as someone who knows a little bit about the centuries of bloodshed between the two, I have to warn you. It would be incredibly hard if you fell in love with him."

"Of all the crazy ideas, Stefan!" she said agitatedly as she stood up and walked to the window.

"He is all alone. He needs a friend. A friend, Stefan. Since when does that equal to falling in love? Sometimes, friendship is more important than love!"

She was twisting her ring again, a habit that she really needed to stop. It just reminded her of the number of lies that she had told Tyler already and what would happen when they all came to light. And she knew that they would. It was just a matter of time. Tyler didn't trust easily at all. And he never showed vulnerability. He showed her both. It killed her to know how much he would hate her once he found out the truth.

"And you're one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for." He said softly and she looked up in surprise. He always knew what to say. Not like Damon, who only said what shouldn't be said.

She smiled widely and walked back to the couch to sit next to him and grabbed her half-finished juice box.

"You too." she told him honestly.