Chapter 8

Instead of using his hyper speed, Stefan took a long and slow walk back home. With Caroline helping him – he would have to face up to what he did. There was no way he could ignore what he had done. It was true; Caroline would be the best person to help him. After all she was easy to talk too , he could tell her how he discovered that he and Klaus had a past , she wouldn't be repulsed to know that his ripper self-had considered him a true friend.

Caroline wasn't judgmental and he knew that he could talk to her about anything without being judged or pitied. But how could he tell her that even though the ripper was gone, he could still feel the lingering essence of her on him. How could he tell her that he was jealous that she slept with his ripper self and not him? It was madness. Just the thought of it.

By the time Stefan reached home, he was beyond exhausted. The cravings were there, but not as intense as his guilt. He was luckily enough to have caught a few stray creatures on the walk home. But already his body was going through its detox mode. It wanted more blood, preferably human blood.

Ping.

Startled Stefan pulled out his phone. It was a text from Caroline.

Hey. Just checking on you, sober sponsor and all. Don't overdo it with animal blood – it will just make you more aggravated. Drink some coffee and go watch some I love Lucy re – runs. Will see you at school tomorrow.

Stefan couldn't help it when a huge smile crossed his features. How did she know that he had been contemplating drinking more animal blood? Yes, Caroline was definitely the best person for the job. Stefan's joy was short lived when he happened upon Rebekah. Who for some strange reason was still taking up residency in his home?

"What?!" Stefan asked annoyed. Rebekah was the last person he wanted to deal with right now.

"Still moody I see. Shouldn't you be celebrating your return?" Rebekah sighed tapping her nails on the stair railing.

"Shouldn't you be with Tyler?" Stefan quipped.

"Your friend wouldn't like that very much but then again … I don't care. Screwing Tyler was fun and I got to mess with Caroline." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Stay away from her." Stefan growled out.

"Or what? You going to spank me for being a bad girl?" Rebekah ran her hand down, Stefan's torso.

"I'll take away everything from you." He spat before pushing past Rebekah.

Rebekah couldn't help but smile to herself. Things were finally going her way, she was getting all the teen angst that she had missed out on.

The next day.

The summer rays of light warmed Caroline as she, Elena and Bonnie were all seated around a table enjoying their lunch and discussing important matters. Vampires, boyfriends and love. Caroline couldn't ignore the pain in her chest – she had truly messed up things and if her two friends found out … she had a feeling they wouldn't be very forgiving. She had crossed a boundary that would only lead to heartbreak and she would be classified as a home wrecker / trampvire.

"You must be so relieved, Elena." Bonnie smiled warmly at her friend.

"I am but he's just been so distant – but then again he's done things and I can't imagine how he is feeling." Elena said dejectedly. It was difficult for her to see him like that but at the same time she wanted everything to go back to normal.

"Maybe he just needs some space," Bonnie answered, "Besides, Caroline will be keeping a close eye on him. Right, Care?" Bonnie looked towards Caroline.

"Absolutely! I'll make sure that nothing bad happens." Caroline answered. She could feel the guilt squirming in her gut. It was making her nauseous. She had done something so despicable and now she was lying too her friends.

"He's in good hands." Elena agreed as she laid a hand upon Caroline's.

Stefan had begrudgingly dragged himself out of bed. The cravings had been more intense and he was slightly itching with thirst, a few rabbits in the wood wasn't going to miraculously take his cravings away but it was a start. It was better to emerge himself into the ring now, face his demons head on. His eye line caught Caroline's sun soaked blonde hair that glistened against her pale skin. He frowned. Why hadn't he noticed Elena first? He really needed to get his emotions in check otherwise he was going to do something incredibly stupid. Well he had already done the worst thing possible but he didn't want to do anything more to jeopardize his friendship with Caroline and he needed to figure out where he and Elena stood.

But looking at Caroline made him more aware that there was something bubbling underneath him, something that wasn't going to let him get off that easily. He decided to retreat but unfortunately at the last second, Bonnie spotted him.

"Hey Stefan! Over here!" Bonnie waved him over.

"Stefan." Elena greeted him as she moved over so that he could sit between her and Caroline.

"Elena, Bonnie … Caroline." He greeted, hesitating before mentioning Caroline's name.

"You didn't tell me that you were going to be at school?" Elena asked puzzled. Now that she thought about it; Stefan hadn't mentioned that he would be returning to school. Let alone so soon. After all it was only his second day of being derippered.

"I forgot. Besides I can handle it." Stefan answered dismissively. He didn't want or need Elena's worrying about his self-control. His self-control was still intact – it was the guilt that was getting to him.

"Are you sure? You don't have to be here if it's too hard for you." Elena asked again, she didn't want Stefan to be hard on himself.

"I can manage it." Stefan grunted out as he noticed Caroline stiffen when he accidentally bumped his shoulder into hers.

"When are you guys starting with the detox regime?" Bonnie asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence that was lingering.

"Yeah, um when are you and Caroline getting started?" Elena joined in.

"Um … I don't know? Caroline?" Stefan turned his profile so that he could see her upfront. He couldn't help the slow burn that gravitated from his very inner being. The attraction stirred deep into his gut, his body was aching for her touch.

"We can start today … If you want?" Caroline answered immediately looking at the ground. She couldn't look into his hypnotic eyes.

"That would be great." He answered immediately, before putting a smile on for Elena.

"You know what I need to see Mrs. Dane about my English paper." Caroline said.

"Okay … where must Stefan meet you then?" Elena asked.

"In the gym hall before cheerleading practice." She answered.

"I'll see you then." Stefan answered.

Caroline nodded and grabbed her satchel and headed off towards the school building. This was going to be so much harder, she could not ignore him for the rest of her life. It was impractical and it was bound to stir up questions. Questions that did not need answers.

Stefan watched as Caroline retreated away from the group. Perhaps this wasn't going to be an easy task. He made a mistake coming here. There was no blood lust but there was lust of a different kind. A kind that left him wanting Caroline even more. Especially since he had a taste of her already.

Stefan shook himself. When the hell did he have thoughts like that? He wasn't a prude but he never saw a woman as just an object to be treated and discarded.

Bonnie and Elena were happily chatting away about nothing in particular when Elena suddenly noticed that Stefan had turned rather pale. Well pale for a vampire at least.

"Stefan? Are you alright?" Elena asked as she grabbed his hand.

A tremor of revolt passed up and down Stefan's spine. He didn't want her touching him.

"I uh …" Stefan struggled to speak. It felt like someone else was trying to prevent him from talking.

Bonnie shifted uncomfortably. She wasn't used to dealing with vampires on a whole. Her witchy vibe told her that this was a bad idea. That something had happened and that it was just the start of something more. But the scary thing was; she didn't know what was coming.

"I'll leave you guys to talk." Bonnie moved away from the pair.

"Stefan? You can tell me anything you know that?" Elena batted her brown eyes at him.

In the past when she would look at him like that – he would cave and feel so helpless and cave into her request. But now it just made him angry.

"Really? Talk to you? Hffft what a joke." He scoffed.

Stefan cringed internally. This definitely wasn't him. He would never be so snippy and disrespectful. This had to be the ripper's doings but for the life of him he couldn't figure out how he hadn't been engulfed by the ripper yet. Why was the ripper keeping him around? It didn't make sense.

Elena's face fell.

"I knew this would be too much for you." She ran a hand through her long hair.

"Oh boo – hoo." Stefan growled out.

Elena dropped her hand and stared at Stefan bewildered.

"I uh … I'm just feeling testy. Perhaps I should just head home." Stefan bit out. This time his own words had registered.

"Okay. I'll call you later?" Elena asked.

Stefan just nodded his head – which turned out to be more difficult as his body was fighting him. He took off and left a curious Elena behind. She really hoped that he was alright.

What she didn't know, was things were far from alright.

An: Sorry for the delay guys. Don't you just hate it when real life interferes with your Steroline goodness? Anyway thanks for the reviews and favorites on the last chapter. I promise I will try and get the next chapter posted early next week.