Chapter 12 (I don't own anything) Read and Review please…

Stefanpov

"I'm not playing around Damon you need to get her under control!"
He laughs.

"She could have hurt Bella or worse!"'
"Nothing happened just a little cat fight. Got me all rauled up to be honest. You got yourself a little firecracker some mouth on that girl. She also doesn't mind telling it like it is." He chuckles and takes a sip of his whiskey.

"Where's Elena now?"

"Asleep she had a long night…"

"What all was said?"

"Wouldn't you like to know…"

"Damon…"

He cocks a brow and sits on the couch.

"Something about how Elena could save herself if she truly wanted and a bunch of tearful blah blah nonsense. She's quite emotional that one and I believe a bit bi-polar brother. One minute I hear the two of them ripping into each other. The next Bella's tone softens like she actually rather cared about Elena."

Of course… That sounds about like Bella and that will only get her in trouble. She can't let her guard down around Elena…

"So how's the new place?"

"It's fine…"

"Hmmm."

"Look I also wanted to say thanks for calling to let me know…"

Damon nods.

"She was pretty wasted. I'm surprised she even made it down the block."
I wince in thought.

"So what is this girl to you?"

I sigh and sit down myself now.

"I mean is she like…" He looks to the stairs where Elena sleeps.

"No and that's refreshing."

Damon laughs.

"Quick answer…"

"The two couldn't be more opposite."

"Hence the cat fights? Really brother we should just let them go at it. Good pile of mud a rainy day…"
"Shut up…"

"Fine ruin it for me why don't you."

"How are you?"

"Me?"

"You know what I mean Damon. Don't even pretend you don't have feelings on all this."

He narrows his eyes and gets up pouring another drink.

"There are times I want to snap her neck and just let her sleep it off."

For some reason this makes me laugh.

"But Bella is right… Elena is still hung up on you as well."
"Damon…"

"Brother part of me has always known she'd never fully get over you even after confessing her love to me. Let's just face it this is the modern day Katherine. But I'm still a fool."

"I've said something along the same lines myself."

"I strangely find myself annoyed at certain times and wonder where to even go from here."

"That's all your choice all I know is I'm out and done the only thing I'm concerning myself with when it comes to Elena now is Bella's safety. I won't have her causing her harm just because I've finally moved on."

"So tell me Stefan… Do you love this girl?"

He says with a grin that one that says he knows something.

"Why do you ask?"

He downs the rest of his drink and slams it down.

"I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

"Just spit it out Damon."

He clears his throat and mocks Bella…

"Damn you Elena! Go back to Damon if you love him then go back to him and quit this GAME. I'm not going anywhere I love Stefan and you're just going to have to deal with it!"

He chuckles and pours himself yet another drink. Meanwhile I'm frozen…

"So what do you think?" He questions raising a brow.

"You're certain that's what she said."

"I'm a vampire am I not? We've spectacular hearing."

He says this though and I think on that and look back up to the stairs. Therefore I do not comment but inside… I was smiling. But by no means was I going to further antagonize the situation making this even harder on Bella then it was. I clear my throat and nod as I raise up.

"Where you going?"

"Home."
"So you're not going to entertain me with an answer?"

I shrug and head out the door.

Once I get in the car I call Bella.

"Hello?"

"Hey there."

She softly laughs.

"Hey yourself."

"How you feeling today?"

"Better."

"Did your father question you any?"

"Nope all's well."
"Good."

"And how are you doing?"

"I'm ok actually enjoying my now completed new home."
"Are you now?"

"Yes mam."

"That's good Stefan."

"So can I pick you up for school?"

"Sure."

"I'll see you in the morning then Bella."

"Ok Stefan."

I hang up and continue to think about what Damon heard… So she loves me?

I pick her up and her scent fills the car as she shuts the door. I lean over and start kissing her pretty heavily when there's a tap at the door and her father is shaking his finger at me like I'm a small child. Ah, hell… Bella blushes.

"Oh my God dad!"

He shakes his head at her and heads to his squad car.

"Jesus!" Bella says watching as he drives away.

I clear my throat but start to laugh.

"I'm so sorry Stefan I can't believe he just did that!"
"It happens." I shrug and pull out of the drive.

I take her hand.

"Ugh." She buries her face in one of her hands and looks out the window.

Thus just makes the situation funnier watching her reaction.

I park next to Caroline when we arrive at school. I lean back over and finish our kiss.

"That's better."

She shakes her head laughing.

We head inside the building and I raise a brow seeing Elena's back. I squeeze Bella's hand gently as we head down the hallway. We hit the lockers and head to class. Elena's smiling as she passes us and sits down. Something about that smile has me on edge. I turn to Bella and keep a closer eye out on her. Things get even more suspicious to me when lunch time comes around for once Elena doesn't sit by me but across from Bella and next to Caroline. She looks over to Bella.

"Bella…"

Every one of us turn in surprise on how kindly this sounded as Elena says her name. Bella turns to her I place my hand on her thigh. And pay close attention to Elena.

"I'm so sorry about this all the awful things I said and how I've been towards you."

Bella's jaw rather drops. I grimace however inside knowing damn well what's going on. Elena's starting a game a very sick one. When will she learn she can't fool me?

"All those things you said well I had some time to think about it and you're rigiht. I was being a total bitch." Caroline narrows her eyes my way.

"I realize what you said was true. I'm the only one that can fix this and help myself. That's exactly what I'm going to do. Thank you, all those things you said really meant something when I started to think about it. You're not so bad Bella… I can see how you stole my Stefan away."

Stole? I roll my eyes Elena's direction. Kind of hard to steal something if it's not yours in the first place. I also give her the look that tells her I know she's up to something. Bella opens her mouth at first but says nothing. Her heart races but it's at a very odd pattern I can't detect.

"I'm glad you had some time to think Elena and I do hope you find yourself again."

Elena continues to smile and reaches over the table and pats Bella's hand.

"Me too."

Damn it… What are you up to!?

I wait until the one class I don't have with Bella. After I've walked Bella to class I purposely bump into Elena and grab her yanking her into the men's bathroom and lock the door once I see we're alone.

"What are you up to!"

"Nothing Stefan."

"Don't you fucking lie to me I know you I know that look that fucking smile!"

"Stefan please…"

I squeeze the hell out of her arm looking her in the eyes.

"You stay away from Bella Swan! You hear me!"

"You're hurting my arm Stefan."

"GOOD! Think about what else I could do to you if you so much as touch her!"

"Stefan!" Her bottom lip quivers and she starts to cry.

I shake my head and drop my hold.

"I'm not playing the game. When I said I was done I'm done."

"Stefan please I really am trying."

I half laugh.

"She's smart and really sweet. I'm sorry Stefan… Bella really did open my eyes to some of the things she said."

I shake my head. There's a knock at the bathroom door. I grit my teeth and open the door. Jeremy looks to us both oddly as he enters.

"Um Elena?"

She just smiles and nods at Jeremy.

"What the?" Jeremy says looking to me.

"Don't even ask…"

He shrugs as I walk out. I put my shades on deciding to skip the next class. I wasn't in the mood there was just no way was she convincing me that she woke up and changed all because of something Bella said. Yeah Bella's extraordinary beyond belief if anyone could really bring Elena back it'd be her possibly but that wasn't the case. Elena was a stone cold bitch something I never dreamed I'd say, there wasn't anything that was going to scrape the surface I realized that even more so once Bella entered my life. I've seen parts of Elena that make Damon almost look like the better vampire in comparison and that's saying a lot. All that being said even if Elena returned to her old self… well… I already had what I wanted. In the long run it'd be better for Damon. But I knew deep down I didn't want Elena back rain nor shine. I was dead to that world now and I didn't want it back. Now I hope and pray Elena does come back especially when I think of all the history. If I knew without a shadow of a doubt I could help Elena do that I would it'd be worth it but that's where it would end for me just helping an old friend. But that's part of it too. Even before she was turned we always had our ends and outs always second guessing each other. I'm where I want to be now and for the first time in a long time I'm content.

The rest of the day goes ok but I still feel on edge. Once I've Bella in the car and heading to her house I look over to her.

"You can't trust her you know that right?"
She nods but there's something about the look on her face that concerns me. Her heart is doing that funny pattern thing again and racing.

"Bella hun… What is it?"

She says nothing as she reaches over and kisses my cheek.

"It's nothing Stefan…"

She reaches for the door handle.

"Bella I know something's wrong and I wish you'd be open with me…"

She just smiles.

"It'd be good to get the old Elena back wouldn't it? You all could be happy again. It'd be like the way things used to be."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She looks to the ground and reaches for the handle again.

"Come on Bella! Talk to me."

"I think she's really trying Stefan."

I close my eyes and grip my hands along the stirring wheel.

"You don't know her. You need to trust me please Bella I'm freaking begging you to trust me. I know her! You can't fall for this! It'll get you in big trouble. She just wants to get between us and she doesn't know how so she's going to play with your emotions."

I turn around and softly cup my hands along her face and for the first time in our relationship I find myself wishing I could compel Bella to make her stay away to not go near Elena or trust a word she says. I'd do it in a heartbeat if I could I know it's wrong but I want to keep her safe by all means I don't want to lose her too.

"Promise me."

She nods.

"Ok… I'll stay away and take your lead on this."

I sigh in relief.

"Thank you."

I kiss her lips.

"I'll see you in the morning."
She nods and heads inside the house.

The following weekend…

Bellapov

"So do you have to go?" Stefan teases as I lay against him on his couch.

"Fraid so Caroline's all up in arms about this trip."

"Where are you two going?"

"She hasn't really said she's just really anxious about it."

"Well then your mine next weekend."

I smile.
"Am I now?"

"Most certainly so even if I have to kidnap you."
"Hmmm, I wouldn't object to being kidnapped by you."

He laughs.

I roll over in his lap facing him. His hands run along my back.

"Ugh could you just kidnap me?"

He laughs.

"Tell Caroline you've no clue where I am?"

"That's very tempting."

I smile and raise up. I wanted to pout I didn't want to leave but knew I had to get going so I could tell Charlie bye and pack my bags. Stefan runs a hand along my rear, the breath leaving my lungs for a moment. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up the virgin life not around him. Everything about him screams sex literally.

I turn and his eyes are black. He sighs and closes them

"Sorry Bella."

"Why? It's who you are Stefan, nothing wrong with it."

I lean over and kiss him.

"Besides at least I know I'm exciting you…"
He smiles and folds his arms about.

"You've no idea…" He says as if in complete misery.

"You be safe Bella." He says appearing at the door as I open it.

"You too."

He walks me to my car and opens the door. He gives me yet another kiss that makes me ache if you get my drift. Once he stops he grins.

"Hmmm."

"What?"

He just raises a brow.

"It wouldn't be gentlemen like to mention. It just something I'm sensing that's all."

I blush and shake my head.

"Behave Stefan." I say as I get in the car.

"You're making it awfully hard."

I had a pun to that but decided against that poor guy was already in misery but honestly I was too. He waves me off and I get ready for a trip that was eventually going to bite me and Caroline in the ass. I love my cousin but damn… However once I learned of the story I think of Stefan and knew I'd do the same for him.