Elena sighed. She had been looking for something to wear for almost two hours and couldn't find a combination she liked. After her confession the day before, Bonnie insisted that she went out for a bit. Have some fun, clear her head. Bonnie was worried about her and her confusion concerning her feelings. Elena herself was worried as well, knowing that someone would get hurt in the end, though she truly did not know who would that be, since she had no idea what was she going to do about it.

"Wear the black dress with the cream jacket." Elena heard her brother say. She turned around and found him leaning against her doorframe. She took the two pieces of clothing he suggested and put in front of her body, looking herself in the mirror. It actually looked really good.

"How come you chose this?" Elena asked her brother in disbelief.

"I didn't." Jeremy laughed. "Bonnie called. She said you'd probably still be trying to find an outfit so she told me to suggest that." He said, pointing to the outfit she had in her hands.

Elena smiled at her friend knowing her so well. "I'll be ready in half an hour." She told him and without saying anything else, he left. She texted Damon telling him she was just about ready. By the time he got there she would be. Elena slipped inside the black dress Bonnie had chosen for her, and applied minimum make up on her face. She was working on her hair when Bonnie arrived, and Damon got there soon after.

Half an hour later they were walking in a nightclub that had openned quite recently, ready to have some fun. Damon and Jeremy made their way to the bar, needing a drink if they were going to do all this dancing thing. The girls were left behind to check the place out. The first story was very crowded, so they decided to stay on the second one.

They made their way upstairs and just after they finished going up the stairs someone bumped right into Elena, making her lose her balance. She had to hold onto Bonnie not to go falling down the stairs.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you." Elena heard a strong British accent apologizing to her. She raised her head and looked at the blond girl with shots in her hands.

"It's fine, Rebekah." Elena said after recognizing the girl. The lights were doing that weird effect that makes you feel all dizzy, giving you the impression of seeing a sequence of images, instead of a full 'video'. Rebekah took a few more seconds to recognize Elena, and the brunette wondered if it was because of the confusing lights or the fact that she was probably buzzed.

"Elena!" She said, like she was disappointed in Elena for being there.

"This is my friend, Bonnie." Elena introduced them, pretending that meeting Rebekah wasn't a total inconvenience. "Bonnie, this is Caroline's friend, Rebekah."

"Bonnie!" Rebekah said excitedly. "Caroline told me lots about you." she giggled, proving Elena's point. She was more than buzzed.

"Oh, is that right?" Bonnie said, not so sure how to interact with the blond in front of her. Was she supposed to hate her because Elena did, or like her because Caroline did? What was the best friend duty in this situation? There had to be something on the girl friend's code for that.

"Yup. It's okay, I know you haven't heard about me." She said with another giggle. "Anyway, I should get this to Katherine before I drink hers too." She told them, raising the shot in her hands just a little bit for them to see it. She waved a quick goodbye and left them.

"Oh, great, of course Katherine's here, just what I needed!" Elena complained. Bonnie chuckled, putting a hand on her shoulder and continuing to walk around the place. About 10 minutes later, Damon and Jeremy were able to find them, each with a glass in their hands, and Elena was able to forget about the undesirable presences there and have a little fun.

"I almost drank yours." Rebekah said when she caught up with the group, handing the little glass to Katherine. The brunette only shrugged, seeing as how the music downstairs was too loud for her to shout and make herself heard.

"We should go upstairs." She told Stefan who didn't seem to listen to her, but understood what she meant by her head movement pointing upstairs. He took Rebekah by her hand and brought her with them. Tired of dancing, they chose a table in a corner to sit for a while.

"Who is that?" Rebekah asked Stefan, discreetly pointing towards a couple of guys on the other side of them room, still deciding who was hotter.

"Caroline's ex." Stetan said, chuckling.

"Which one?" She asked, figuring she'd have to take the other one.

"Both." He answered, laughing at her disapproving expression. "Which one did you have your eyes on?"

"The blond one." She said after sighing, not taking her eyes of the guys, who were looking at her now.

"Im sure she won't mind, it was ages ago. They're good friends now." Stefan said, taking a sip of his drink. "His name's Matt. We used to play football together."

"Great," she grinned. "Then you can introduce us."

"He's coming here." Katherine observed.

"How do I look?" Rebekah asked, faking nervousness. The alcohol was definitely making an effect on her. Stefan smiled, letting her know she looked great.

"Hey, man! How's it going? I haven't seen you in a while." Matt said a couple seconds later, directing his words to Stefan and keeping an eye at Rebekah.

"I'm great, man. It really has been a while." Stefan said, making small talk. "Oh, you remember Katherine, right?" Matt greeted her quickly, appearing to be in a hurry for Stefan to introduce him and the blond. "And this is my friend, Rebekah."

Matt took Rebekah's hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing it lightly. "It's very nice meeting you, Rebekah." He said, making her giggle a bit. Damn that alcohol! "Can I get you a drink?" Matt asked, kinda nervous, and Stefan knew it was because Matt was not the guys to find someone in a nightclub and I instantly hit it off with them. Rebekah caught his attention, though, and that had to be a good thing. They excused themselves to go and get drinks and Stefan was left with only Katherine. Nik and Caroline didn't come with them, since they had that mysterious date of theirs.

Stefan scanned the place while talking to Katherine. She was basically doing all the talking, and he just sat there, listening and asking occasional questions to keep the conversation going. That's what he did best: listening. Caroline says that he must be a saint for listening to all of their problems and never complaining about having to put up with her. Truth is: he likes to listen, because sometimes all people need is someone to listen to them. They don't necessarily need the other person to say anything, they just want to get it out of their chests. So he likes to help them. He takes pleasure in helping people. He wanted to be a doctor, as a child, but as he grew older he knew there was no way he could do it. Because doctors help people when they need the most, but there's only so much one can do, and sometimes it's not enough. He would feel so guilty if he was responsible for losing a life, even if there was nothing he could have done to save it, so he gave up on that idea.

His thoughts and conversation were interrupted suddenly when he saw her on the other side of the dancer floor, dancing with Damon. She had her arms wrapped around his neck, and his were holding her by her waist. In a quick movement, Damon twirled her and pulled her against him again. She looked beautiful in a black dress that barely reached her knees. Stefan stood up all of a sudden, surprising Katherine and himself. He couldn't remember telling his body to do that.

"I need a drink, do you want something?" Katherine shook her head and he started walking in the direction of the bar.

"What's it gonna be?" The bartender asked him.

"The strongest you have." Stefan said and the guy quickly came back with a bottle and a glass, filling it and putting the bottle away. Stefan drank it at once, not bothering to try and figure out what it was. As soon as he felt the burning feeling of the alcohol on his throat, he hit the table lightly with the empty glass, calling the bartender's attention, and letting him know he wanted another one. He turned around on his seat and watched his brother dance with Elena. She seemed so carefree and alive. So... Happy. Did he want her to be sad and gloomy? No. So why did he expect she would be? Why did he expect her to be feeling the same way he was, when she had given him proof that she didn't feel about him the same way he felt about her? Because love has a habit of messing with our heads. It finds it's way to our hearts and makes its home there. And because it's home, it feels safe and guarded, and in order to remain that way, love builts walls to protect himself from harm. Walls of hope. It doesn't matter if those walls crumble; as long as there's still one brick standing on his own, you'll have hope. You tell yourself that little brick won't stop the harm that comes your way, and maybe it really won't, but as long as its there, you have that tiny bit of doubt if it will or not. As longs as you love, you have hope that there's a minimum, but existing chance that it's not in vain. And that's what keeps you from moving on. One brick a few inches above the floor.

He was already on his fifth drink when Katherine came and sat beside him, ordering the same as he had.

"God, you must really depressed." Katherine said after feeling the burning feeling of the drink in her throat, like Stefan. It was strong, and she was sure her drinking limit was way higher than Stefan's, seeing as how she went out to drink more often. But then again, Stefan grew up with Damon. He was probably as used to having alcohol on his system as she was.

"There's no way I can endure an entire night of this without the alcohol." He said, looking around for the bartender once again, but he was taking someone's order on the other side of the bar. "You should have another one."

"Why don't you do something instead of sitting and torturing yourself?" Katherine said, annoyed with him. When he didn't say anything she stood up and spoke again. "Come on," She put one hand over his. "Let's dance."

"I hate dancing." She rolled her eyes as he put a bill on the counter, then pulled him by the hand and into the dance floor anyway.

"Not tonight, you don't." Katherine threw her arms around Stefan's neck, and started dancing to a song Stefan did not recognize. Their bodies were close, scrapping against each others's. He started moving as well, knowing the alcohol was the single reason why he was allowing himself to dance with her. They stabilished a matching rhythm. Katherine really knew how to put on a show, but he doubted it would make any difference. Damon wasn't even aware of their presence there, so there was no point in trying to make him jaelous. A few songs went on, as they continued to move. That's when Stefan felt Katherine's left hand pull him closer by his neck, as she ran her right one through the hair on the back of his head. She brought her body closer to his; so close that if his heart had skipped a beat, she would have been able to feel it. It didn't, though. He knew what was coming next, but couldn't bring himself to stop her now. He figured that if there was ever a time that's okay to do something as stupid as they were about to do, well, this was it. He tried to block the voice inside his head; the one desperately telling him this was a bad idea, and he mentaly thanked himself for that fifth drink that was making it a whole lot easier. He could feel her breath on his skin. He closed his eyes and waited for her lips to come crashing down on his.

But they didn't.

Instead, he felt himself being pushed back. He openned his eyes, confused. That's when he saw Elena beside him; shock printed all over her face. He couldn't really tell if it was shock, maybe she was disgusted with him. Her expression soon turned into something else: anger.

"Excuse you." Elena heard Katherine say.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"We're dancing, Elena," Katherine said. "Can you go ruin someone else's night now?"

"Stefan hates dancing!" Elena answered, feeling angrier every second she had to spend looking and talking to Katherine.

"No, I don't." Stefan lied, repeating Katherine's earlier words. He felt his own anger builting as well. She looked at him in disbelief, and Katherine's voice made her turn her look back.

"Maybe he just hates to dance with you." She smirked. "Now, if you excuse us..."

"Stefan!"

"God, Elena, just leave us alone!" He snapped at her, surprising the three of them. She looked at him speechless for a moment, not being able to believe he would talk to her like that. He didn't believe it himself.

"Are you drunk?" Elena asked. Being able to smell the alcohol in his breath now,and knowing that was probably the most suitable explanation for his change in behavior. She looked over at Katherine who was rolling her eyes in annoyance, even though Elena knew she was enjoying this.

"That is none of your business." He said, harshly. Elena openned her mouth again to say something, but before she could, he cut her off. "Why don't you go back to my brother, huh?"

"No, I'm getting you home, come on." She said, grabbing his arm as he pulled it back in a quick movement, startling her. "What did you say to him?" She asked Katherine, figuring out she must have been involved in whatever it was that had gotten Stefan to act so harshly towards her.

"Don't blame me, it was all you." Katherine said and Stefan eyed her.

"Is everything okay?" Damon directed his question to Stefan after joining them, putting his arm around Elena's waist for Katherine to see it. He did it as a reflex, and when he saw the look on his brothers face he realized he shouldn't have done it.

"Yeah, it's fine." Stefan said before Damon could pull his arm away, walking past them in a hurry.

Elena stood there, confused and unsure of what to do. "What are you waiting for?" Damon asked her, confusing her even more. "Go after him." He ordered. She turned around without thinking twice, looking around for any sign of Stefan. She finally spotted him on the exit of the club, and quickly went down the stairs and out of the main door.

Stefan felt the cold air hit him as he stepped out of the club. His body was operating on automatic mode now, walking past the big group of people who were still wating in the line to go inside. He heard Elena call his name a few seconds later, but he didn't stop walking. She called his name again and he could hear her footsteps getting closer. He didn't want to stop. He didn't want to face her. He just wanted to keep walking until he was far away from her, from his brother, from this city. He wanted to walk away because feeling empty was better than being constantly hurt.

He forced his legs to stop moving, though, but didn't turn around.

"Stefan," she said his name, catching her breath after running after him.

"Elena, please, go back inside." He asked, tiredly, running his hands through his hair.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is wrong." She said firmly.

Stefan turned around; disbelief printed on his face. She stared right into his eyes. Eyes that were showing so much emotion, so much sadness, that it made her want to hug him forever and make him believe it was okay. That it was going to be okay. "Are you serious?" He asked, not moving his look away from hers. He never planned on having this conversation with her, and had he been sober, it probably would've never happened. "Are you really that blind or do you just pretend to be?"

His behavior was confusing her more and more each second. Mostly because she wasn't used to him talking to her that way, and that was only agravated by the alcohol. She wanted to believe that was the only reason why he was acting like that, but don't they say "Drunk man's word is the sober mans thoughts"? Elena took a step closer to him in an attempt of softening him, but he took a step back, keeping his distance from her. That only frustrated her more. "I have no freaking idea what you're talking about!" She said, almost yelling, angry at him. "So please, enlighten me." She said, crossing her arms over her chest. Stefan stared at her, right in the eyes, for a few more seconds, before throwing his hands in the air and turning around. She saw him sigh and shook his head, before starting to walk away from her again. "Stefan, I'm talking to you!" Elena yelled now, and a few people passing by eyed her. She ignored them and followed Stefan. "Damn it, Stefan! Why do you have to act like this?"

"Because I love you!" He yelled. She had barely been able to finish her sentence before he abruptly turned around and took a couple steps towards her, dropping this bomb over her head. She froze imediately upon hearing his words. They stood face to face, which was only possible due to the high heels she was wearing. Elena could feel Stefan's eratic breath on her skin, and for the first time, it felt strange having him so close. Not because she felt unconfortable with him, but she felt unconfortable with herself. The pain she could see in his eyes, his beautiful grass green eyes... She was the one who had caused it. "I love you." He repeated helplessly and more silently, like he wanted her, and only her, to hear it. Elena could feel tears grouping in her eyes and before she could think about blinking them back, they were already rolling down her checks. "I've never stopped loving you and it hurts me." He confessed. "It physically hurts me, but I can't help it. I can't stop loving you."

Elena covered her mouth with her hands. This was not happening. This couldn't be happening. She wanted to say something, but nothing came to her mind. Even if she knew what to say she doubted she could find it in her to open her mouth.

Stefan observed her reaction in silence, but couldn't tell what she was feeling. Hell, he couldn't even describe his own feelings right now.

Elena watched as Stefan pressed his lips together and closed his eyes for a brief second before he turned around once again and walked away. She let him this time. She had lost her ability to speak to call his name, or the control over her body to go after him. She just stood there with tears rolling down her face as she watched him walk away from her. "I love you too." She whispered to herself when he could no longer hear her.

XXXXX

Things are definitely starting to get interesting. Don't forget to review and let me know what did you think ;)