New chapter! It took a while because I was in the middle of getting a new job, moving back to my country, and finally finishing a web novel I had been working on for ages.

Curious thing, my main character's name was also Elena. I started writing way before getting familiar with TVD, but after I started watching the show I couldn't dissasociate the name from the Elena Gilbert I grew to dislike. So I blame TVD for that. Besides, I am writing so much on Caroline and Stefan that is inevitable for them to influence whatever I write next outside of fanfic world.


Give a little time to me or burn this out
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around
All I want is the taste that your lips allow
My, my, my, my, oh give me love

Give me love like never before
'Cause lately I've been craving more
And it's been a while but I still feel the same
Maybe I should let you go

Ed Sheeran, "Give me love"


11. MASQUERADE.

There's the moment she kisses him, and there's what follows after the kiss. Stefan didn't really stop to think what it would be like until it was happening, and all he could see, smell, feel was her. It's like he is brought back to life again at this moment, just like all those years ago when he admitted to himself that he was in love with her. It's hope, the kind that makes his darkness smaller and the day a little brighter.

All of this is true, but it's also true (he realizes this with horror) that he never had to deal with Caroline being human. He should have been prepared for it but he isn't, so the sudden hunger mixed up with lust as she wraps her legs around his waist and he hears her sigh as he kisses her… this hunger is dangerous, but he isn't willing to let go just yet.

So close to her neck, all it takes is a little taste…

"Stop… Stefan…"

In the end, she's the one to save herself, pulling him back to their current reality. She's human now, but he's still a vampire, and the ripper urges are still there, as much as he keeps in control on a regular basis.

Last time, he was also so irresponsible putting Elena at risk. What had he been thinking back then? An idiot, that's what he was, and still is.

"I'm sorry. I overestimated myself."

She still doesn't reject him, instead takes his hand and leads him to the living room. Her head rests on his shoulder as they go back to watching Rent. Caroline knows all of the songs and, not for the first time, he wonders why she never seriously thought about pursuing a career in music. She clearly loves this, too.


"So, the party at the Lockwood's is in two days…"

At first he wasn't considering it because of Mason, but he's left town, apparently searching for Katherine elsewhere and, with some luck, he won't be coming back.

That means there is no reason not to make it a date with Caroline.

She stops walking when they are in front of her locker, and big blue eyes finally look at him. "This is what we are going to do. I'm going on my own, driving myself to the party, and you are going on your own. And we'll meet there to hang out and have fun. Friends do that."

He sighs.

"Caroline, I'm sorry, but you are overthinking things."

So he is doing this now, and it's because Caroline has this idea that they should just act like nothing has changed between them in front of their friends. It's true on his side, his love for her is the same as before, but that's not what she has in mind and frankly, he doesn't know for how long he can pretend his eyes aren't searching for her all the time.

She looks around, probably searching for signs of the gang, and sees Elena and Matt who are coming from their Math class. "So what do you suggest that might help me to keep my friends?"

He doesn't prevent her from Bonnie who is silently approaching from behind.

"So, are you trying to be sneaky when it's already kind of obvious that you are a thing now?"

Caroline jolts, startled.

"Oh my god, Bonnie! And what do you mean with 'obvious'?"

"Well, with all your whispering and leaning into each other all the time." Bonnie shrugs. "Care, just give Elena some time and she'll get over it. It's not like you are commiting a crime either."

"Thanks, Bonnie." Stefan says with sincerity.

She has spent all this time warning Stefan to keep his distance from Caroline, as if he's the bomb that's going to break up her two closest friends, but he is relieved that she is ready to be supportive now that Caroline clearly needs at least one of her friends to be reasonable and sane.

Caroline relaxes her shoulders and tells Bonnie they will be seeing each other for cheerleading practice later.

Stefan raises an eyebrow.

"So, are we 'a thing' now, or do you just want to make out in your house? Not that I'm complaining, of course."

Her cheeks turn red, but she gets over the embarrassment soon, lifting her chin and staring at him.

"Pick me up at 8 p.m."

This is why teasing her is always fun.


Gorgeous and sexy do not even begin to describe how good Caroline looks in that red dress. He even thinks she wore exactly the same in the last masquerade dance, and can only thank the opportunity to appreciate it this time.

"Dance with me."

She smiles and takes his hand, and it is just a prelude to their yearning. The hand on her back, her body pressed softly against his, their skin igniting with every slight touch as if they were flames drawn to each other.

Dancing with Caroline has always been familiar, but suddenly it's all new. The dance translates into hungry kisses on a lonely corridor far from the music and the guests at the hall.

And then, the excruciating pain of the stake going through his back. He doesn't move fast enough and it reaches Caroline too. He can smell her blood, fresh and warm and so close to him. No, the thirst is nothing right now.

"W-what? Stefan…"

"Katherine never left town. You, or your brother, one of you killed her."

Mason.

In the urgency of the situation, he still manages to stand up, but he's hurt and with the stake still piercing his back and stomach.

Damon, however, arrives just in time to break Mason's neck.

"The guy is still stupid, attacking when it's not full moon." He walks towards Stefan, and takes the wood stake out. "I told you he was trouble."

"Caroline," he urges, seeing she's in pain and almost losing consciousness.

"Fine. Why do I always have to save your girlfriends?" Damon cannot help himself, but still bites his wrist and offers it to Caroline.

"I'm not drinking your blood."

"Suit yourself. I'm gonna clean up this mess. Stefan, you can join me in burying the body later when you are done crawling on the floor."

Stefan sighs.

"Caroline, you have to drink," he offers himself this time, even though he's not recovered his strength. "Taking you to the hospital will take too long the way I am now."

Apparently it was just Damon she still can't stand. She nods and accepts the help this time, closing her eyes as she takes his wrist to her mouth.

He's the reason she was in danger again. His brother was right and they should have killed the werewolf a long time ago to avoid this.

The only advantage is that Tyler and his mother probably do not know he came back, but this is something he'll have to confirm in person.

"Stefan, are you alright?"

"I am, but Caroline… I'm so sorry I dragged you into this."

He stands up and offers a hand.

"Can you take me home?"

The question comes in such a tiny voice that Stefan can only hug her tightly and apologize over and over again.

"It's my fault."

"It's not your fault. It's Tyler's mad uncle. He could have killed you too! That bastard…"

He caresses her cheek with one hand, and the other holds hers with no intention of letting go anytime soon.

She pouts. "He just ruined our first date."