I could not freaking believe it.

"What do you mean she's going to live here?" I practically hissed.

"It's for her protection. Stephen will be able to watch her better," replied the British, Australian, wherever the hell he came from, hybrid-freak, Klaus.

"Oh, yeah," I scoffed, "she'll be so much safer around the ripper twenty-four seven!"

"My friend here won't hurt her… Too much… Will you Stephen?"

"Most certainly not," said my newly evil brother nonchalantly.

"See Damon," said Klaus, placing a hand on my shoulder. "There's nothing to worry about."

I shrugged off the hybrid's hand and shot him my darkest glare.

"What about your psycho sister, Klaus?"

"Rebekah? She wouldn't hurt Elena!"

"Yeah, sure," I replied. "And I sparkle."

"Rebekah fears me more than she dislikes Elena. There's nothing to worry about, Damon."

"Fine," I spat. "But only under a few conditions."

Stephen and I were sitting on a bench in the park, his arm slung around me. The atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful. We just sat, smiling at each other. He lifted my chin and slowly we kissed. It was soft and gentle, but so full of energy and passion. We sat there a minute; our foreheads touching, our eyes closed.

"I love you, Elena."

My eyes fluttered open. That wasn't Stephen's voice that rung in my ears, it was Damon's. I swung my head to the side, looking for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Did you hear that?" I asked, turning back to Stephen. I gasped.

Stephen's fangs were protruding and those black veins were visible under his eyes. Stephen lunged for me but I didn't have time to scream before I woke up.

I sprung up in my bed. A dream, it was just a dream.

"Morning."

I looked to my left. There stood Damon, smirking over me.

"Bad dream?" he asked.

"Yeah," I panted.

"Ya know what helps that," he said plopping down on my bed.

"What?"

"A bed buddy," he replied, doing his eye thing. "I happen to make an excellent bed buddy."

"Ha ha, Damon," I said pushing him out of the way.

"Don't pretend like you're not considering it."

I scoffed at him over my shoulder as I walked to the bathroom.

"So," he said following me in.

"Out, Damon, I have to pee."

"Let me help you get those short shorts off then. We can't have you breaking a nail."

"Damon," I said shutting the door.

"What? I'm serious! Klaus is going all protection mode on you," Damon said through the door.

"Is that so?"

"He's going to great lengths to make sure his doppelganger doesn't spill a drop of blood."

"What do you mean?" I asked, opening the door.

"Did you wash your hands?" Damon asked, jokingly.

"Damon, don't change the subject."

Damon sighed.

"What?" I pressed.

"Look, I already talked to Ric and he's not too happy about it-"

"What?"

"-And he's gonna talk to Jeremy-"

"Talk to Jeremy about what?"

"-And don't go blaming me for this, but-"

"What? What is it, Damon?"

He sighed again.

"Klaus wants you to live at the boarding house."

"The boarding house as in the Salvatore Boarding House? With you and Stephen?"

"And Ric and Jeremy!"

"What? Absolutely not! No way."

"It's not really optional, Elena."

"What?"

"Klaus made it pretty clear that if you don't move in with us he'll burn down wherever else you have to stay."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why does he want me to live with you and Stephen?"

"So Stephen can keep a better eye on you while Klaus goes rounding up werewolves."

"This isn't fair."

"Elena! I'm hurt! You don't wanna live with me?"

"I'd feel so much more comfortable sleeping in my own bed at night."

"I'm sure you'll find my bed plenty comfortable, Elena."

"What?" I practically shouted.

Damon gave me a smirk and then sauntered out of the room.