CHAPTER 14 – CAREFUL...YOUR HUMANITY IS SHOWING

A/N: Thank you all for the amazing reviews. They all make me smile and make my day.

As for the last chapter, keep in mind that Caroline didn't really see Bella because she had hidden further into the shadows, so she is still unknown to them.

Answers to the Questions:

TheDemonOfTwilight: For the witch powers question…we'll have to wait and see if Bonnie tries anything.

helimoen: I am becoming more lenient in having the Cullens in the story so I will give you a half-assed maybe. It's all I can say for now.

Anyway thank again to the last chapter's reviewers: TheDemonOfTwilight, winxgirl1997, helimoen, Daddys little crazy bitch, Dark-Supernatural-Angel, Jojo657…

Leaving the teenage girls behind, I used the large branch on my left so that I could swing down from the tree. With one fluid motion, I landed on the ground and steadied myself with one palm resting on the ground as I bent my knees to break my fall.

Standing up, I straightened out my clothes and made sure to check that my gothic style tights weren't ripped seeing as my thigh had scraped the rough bark on my way down. Once I was certain that I was fine, I began to make my way back to the Founders party.

Oh the joy!

Everyone around was smiling and chatting away like they were best friends which I suppose they were, seeing as we were in a small town and they all grew up with each other. If they weren't eating each other's chilli, they were either swaying to the music or simply engaging in different conversations.

Obviously it was a common and very ordinary thing to gather in the Mystic Falls' town square and eat each other's chilli but I was sure that it was probably a common occurrence in Founders parties.

These small towns found any reason to not work, huh?

It was easy to spot the differences from when we grew up here but I was glad to see that they had made an attempt to maintain the historical architecture of the past times.

Well…seeing as I were already here…

Picking up the small sample plate filled with chilli, I scooped it up with my spoon before popping it into my mouth. Well…it wasn't bad but I'm sure a bit more garlic and maybe even another pinch of cumin would make it better but like I said before…it wasn't bad.

I was about to take another bite from the chilli on my plate but then every fibre of my being froze and then my fingers trembled slightly when I picked up his hushed voice, "Can I let you in on a little secret?" even the smirk could easily be heard within his voice and I found myself imagining the arrogant expression on his face. His ravened locks would probably be falling over his boyish blue yet brazen eyes.

The sudden urge of wanting to run my fingers through those soft locks became strong which then led to the thought of his lips against mine once again. Whispers of his touch against my bare skin being enough to flare the insatiable hunger that I never knew I had. The raging passion that had ignited between us had been overwhelming and yet I had been holding back – imagine what would it be like if I actually gave myself over to him?

Still cautious, I placed the half-empty plate back to the table and slowly inched to the side so that I could peer through the curtain of hair and sure enough he was there. My previous thoughts did not seem to have done him justice because he looked better than he did.

His lips parted but it took a moment to break from the trance so I only caught the end of what he was saying, "…an excuse for the council to have the time to have secret meetings" he joked and I could tell with the light tone in his voice, that whoever he was talking to was dear to him.

My gaze diverted towards the person he was talking to and found an older human, his short brown hair was smoothed back but there were a few loose strands of hair that fell over his forehead. He was a foot taller than Damon and held an air of kindness.

My attention was diverted when I felt someone step close to me but before I could turn and check, his low murmur stopped me, "You like?"

Spinning around, I was met with a blonde hair, bright eyed boy that stood there. A smile on his face when I didn't shut him down but instead, I nodded with my own smile, "Mmm" but the teenage boy only continued to stare at me with the gleaming blue eyes. They were a darker shade to Damon's and not as piercing cockiness but instead his were filled with kindness.

Shaking my head, I willed the thoughts of Damon to dissipate as I took a step away from the new guy, "I'm just going to get a drink" quickly excusing myself.

What I hadn't anticipated is him following me, "Too hot for you?" he teased me with a smile but it wasn't a cocky smirk, more like a friendly teasing smile which I gladly welcomed.

"Nothing I can't handle", I laughed and I halted in my steps so I could talk to him. He was kind of cute but I didn't think I could ever see myself and him in that way because for some reason, it felt like I was betraying that damn leather wearing cocky Salvatore.

I must have sunken deep into the trance because the boy had resulted in touching my arm to gain my attention, "I'm Matt" he introduced himself.

"Bella" I offered with a coy smile and a subtle nod.

He seemed to be pleased with my acceptance because a wider grin stretched across his face and his blue eyes held a sparkling glint highlighting his happiness, "Nice to meet you"

"How about I get you that drink?" he nudged my side with the offer.

With the need to preoccupy myself and prevent my thoughts from trailing off into dangerous territory, I agreed with another eager nod, "Sure" his answering grin was infectious so I added, "That would be great" hoping that he could read into the honesty in my voice.

It was nice to have someone to talk to…

When hearing his retreating footsteps, I fell back into the task of picking out the familiar husky tone of his voice but instead heard his friend's low murmur, "I thought you had one of those meetings today?" he questioned.

"Liz rescheduled because they needed to keep an eye on the town" Damon replied in his casual and nonchalance tone, "As if anything bad would happen in Mystic Falls?" he added with a tone enriched with his satire. This made me roll my eyes although an involuntary giggle left my lips.

His companion only gave a dry laugh in response before the silence then befell upon them. Their casual strides seemed to grow louder which could mean that they could be walking this way.

"Listen, uh Damon…" his friend spoke again with an edge of hesitance which I couldn't be sure as to whether it was out of fear or simple doubt. "I think you needs to back away from Elena" he finally spat out and the newfound edge within his voice made me freeze in my movements because I already knew that Damon wouldn't take this too kindly.

Now I was amused…as sadistic as that sounded…

Slowly turning back around, my eyes scanned the surroundings before landing on the now stunned Damon Salvatore who was facing his…human? From where I was standing, all that my peripheral vision could allow me to see was his back (and what a hot back it was…).

Damn my hormones.

"What?" Damon was clearly as shocked as I was, to the fact that the human had even made an attempt at telling him what to do. This was obviously new to him as proven by the small stumble he fell back to but then quickly regained his composure.

The guy wasn't backing down because he took a threatening step towards Damon, a determined look fixed in his eyes as he glared at him, "Whatever you want going happen, is a bad idea" he added but all I could think was how this human was as stupid to rile up a vampire – better yet, a vampire as impulsive as Damon because all he was really doing was simply digging his own grave.

"It's none of your business, Ric" Damon took his own step towards him, which was more threatening because of the venom layered over his angered voice.

I actually felt some admiration to the human who clung to his courage by not backing down, "Actually it is" the one named Ric shot back, "I'm her guardian which means I'm supposed to be looking after her" he argued with a stern voice that suited his hardened expression.

It seemed that there was definitely something going on between Damon Salvatore and the doppelganger because this human wasn't the first to notice this.

Somehow, Damon was still holding on to his rationality because he had not made a move to attack, "What do you think I'm trying to do?" he tried to defend himself but the real question was, why did he feel the need to defend himself? If he was innocent then, he wouldn't sound so angry.

Part of me felt sorry for Stefan...for the fact that he had given into Klaus just to save his brother and for the fact that he was practically risking his life to save the love of his life.

Then again, part of me was…annoyed?

"What I think…" I picked up when the Ric guy spoke again which broke be from falling into yet another pity party. Instead, I focused back onto the bromance, only to find that both men were only inches apart. Both of them, blowing steam out of their ears but the human didn't seem to understand just how thin the line was because he still stood his ground, "…is that you need to back off" he finished.

With the way he was talking to Damon, I could tell that he had already gotten too comfortable in the relationship – not realising just how vampires are all ticking bombs and one thing could simply set the off.

Damon stood there for a moment, probably still debating over whether or not it would be a good idea to kill him in front of all these witnesses. He seemed to be barely gripping on to the rational part of him but he was saved from making the decision because his friend walked off, leaving Damon still standing there.

Could he be thinking about what he was advised to do?

Finally he spun around, his face hardened with his anger and I could tell he was still on edge because his hands were balled up into tight fists. He made a move to take a step forwards but then froze and unexpectedly snapped his gaze up to me and I felt immobilized. The muscles in my legs hardened and my feet were now lead, as I felt the air leave my lungs with our locked gazes. The intensity of his piercing wintry blue eyes but were then slowly filled with his warmth as he kept his eyes on me. Still, I couldn't fathom the emotions that were playing through him as he continued staring at me and I wished that I could know what was going through his mind.

My lips parted releasing the heavy breaths that sent a shiver down my spine. The tremble ripped through my nerves, further into my fingers which were now quivering.

It was then that I realised my first mistake so I quickly composed myself so that I could smile at him. I had to keep the facade that we had never met and my previous reaction hadn't exactly helped. Maybe I could still savage the pretence I was playing with.

His eyes widened momentarily before his own lips tugged up into the all too familiar smirk. My reaction to this was involuntary because I made another mistake of rolling my eyes. What I should have done was smile and turn back around to ignore him but I couldn't find the strength to look away.

Just as he took another step towards me, he froze once again and I watched with curiosity when he diverted his gaze to my left. Following his line of sight, I forced another grin when I saw the boy from before, walking back towards me with a wide grin. "I got you lemonade" he spoke once he found that I had caught his eye, "Hope that's okay?" he stretched out his hand which held the Styrofoam cup full of lemonade.

"I'd prefer something stronger but I'm sure this will do" smiling back at him as I accepted the cup but made no move to take a sip because it was too easy to smell the vervain it was laced with.

"Alcohol?" he gasped out with a laugh, "At 11 in the afternoon?"

Smirking at him, I nudged his side with my elbow playfully, "There's always a good time for tequila" I joked and leaned back onto the tree back.

"Can't argue with that logic" he spoke but I was no longer looking at him, my gaze had trailed off to across the park where Damon was burning holes into this boy's head. With his heated stare, I could identify the silver wisps that were highlighted in his frosty ice blue eyes.

He tore his eyes away from the innocent human so that he could look back at me. His hardened features softened slightly but the frustration still played within his stormy eyes.

Without another look at either of us, he walked off into a different direction and I had to fight with myself to not follow him.

A/N: Aw…Bella made a friend…Thought it would be nice if she had someone she could talk to. Love for Matt? Love for jealous Damon?

Anyway…please review. Next update will be up soon.