*Seventh Period
*Stefan's POV
I walked into seventh period early. I had another five minutes before the bell.
"Stefan you're early," Ric says peering at me from behind today's paper.
"Well Ric, I wanted to talk to you about Damon," I say sitting at the chair next to his desk.
"First off it's Mr. Saltzman in school. Secondly what'd he do now?" Ric sighs setting his paper down.
"Well he came into lunch today and he was really pissed about the hassle the realtors are giving him for that house he wants to buy," I say leaning back in the chair so I can glance out the door. "He smelled of booze and I had to get Coach to escort him off campus."
"He's drinking again?" he asks rubbing his temples at one of his best friend's behavior.
"It's been on and off for the past month," I say as I refocus my attention back on the man in front of me. "Katherine and I both talked with him about it and he got mad and ran off to see our mother."
"Because that always helps him out," he sarcastically says. "I'll talk with him and if that doesn't work we can personally throw him in rehab."
"Well that's the thing, if we throw him in rehab it muddies the Salvatore name and Dad will disown him. He won't have anything left. He'll be broke, homeless, and have a pregnant girlfriend all at the age of 21. There's nothing we can do but try and get Dad to talk to him, but after tonight I don't think that'll be very easy to do," I say running my hand through my hair in frustration.
"What if we got to Giuseppe first? What if I come over straight after school and we confront him before Damon drops the baby news," he says the wheels spinning in his mind. "We can save him from himself."
"That's good in theory Ric but what happens when after we get him on board to help Damon he finds out Damon has yet another screw up?" I question the fear of having to help my brother without the backing of my father overwhelming me. "I don't think I'll be able to help Damon without him."
"Have you talked to your…. mom about this?" he asks treading lightly on the subject of my mother.
"No we haven't spoken since she tried to get me back into her life 2 years ago," I say trying not to sound too bitter.
"What about Jake?" he says smiling knowing how much I love my little adopted brother. Dad decided that after mom tried to make a reappearance in our life that he wanted to adopt. We went to an orphanage in Atlanta and when I met this little three year old boy I instantly knew he was going to be a part of the family. It didn't take my dad much longer to figure that out either.
"I am not putting a five year old into that type of a mess," I say my protective instinct kicking in, "It's bad enough that he has to listen to Damon and Dad fight all the time."
"Not to mention he has to listen to all your one night stands you bring home," he teases me, "or should I just say my soon to be niece? But then again Jer did say you were at the Gilbert house…"
"Oh shut up," I say. "It was one time."
"More than one time from what Giuseppe and Miranda said," he retorts poking me in the shoulder lightly.
"I hate that our families are so close," I say "There are never any dirty secrets."
"Speaking of dirty secrets," he says, "when are you gonna figure out you love that girl." I scoff at his comment and roll my eyes.
"I cannot stand that girl," I respond standing up as the bell rings to grab a desk. "When is everyone going to stop trying to turn our hate into love?"
"When you two stop being dumbasses and figure it out for yourself," he says nonchalantly as he returns back to the paper.
*Elena's POV
The end of seventh period's bell rings and I am a little disappointed Stefan didn't do anything to annoy me this period. He just sat at his desk by the window with his headphones in and played with his ring. I make a quick getaway towards my locker when he jogs up next to me.
"So you know how Jer hates taking the bus?" he asks as he falls into pace next to me.
"Yeah…" I say skeptical of where this is headed.
"Well I called Jake's school to let them know I was picking him up today and he begged to see his favorite Gilbert. So, I was thinking you give the car to Jer and come fulfill a five year old's wishes," he says knowing that out of all the Salvatores Jake was my favorite.
"Fine but you have to be nice to me the whole time," I say as we reach our lockers and quickly grab our stuff. I give Bonnie my keys to give Jer because I know after lunch today she was definitely going to make a move. As much as I want them to be happy I will have to get used to this.
Our car ride was uneventful and relatively quiet except every once in a while Stefan would point out the way the sky looked through the branches. We pulled up to the school and Jake instantly ran to the car. He tossed his Spiderman bag into the truck and hopped into the back seat.
"Lena you came," he yells excitedly wrapping my arm into a hug. "Daddy and Stef told me you were coming for dinner but I wanted to see you right now. I told Stef I was gonna mess up his hair if he didn't bring you."
"Well I couldn't say no to you little man," I say smiling over at Stefan as we made the trip to the Boarding House.
Jake talked the whole car ride about how the way that Stefan told him to ignore the girl he liked in class got him a kiss on the playground. We pulled into the driveway and Jake got even more excited when he saw Ric's car, my parents car, and my car.
"Everyone can hear about how Maddie and I are getting married," he shouts as we park and head inside. Jake runs in ahead of us and Stefan grabs my arm and stops me.
"I just wanted to warn you things are going to be pretty ugly in there at some point," he says and he rubs the back of his neck the way he always does when he's nervous.
I grab his free hand and look into his green eyes, "Don't worry I'm sure everything will be fine." He smiles weakly at me and then we head inside.
"What took you guys so long?" Giuseppe asks as he pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek.
"They were probably planning their next sleepover. Do you remember that Lena? Stefan made us all blueberry pancakes our favorite," Jake yells from the dining room.
"What sleepover?" my dad asks accusingly staring at Stefan.
"Oh Grayson what does he know he's only a child," my mom whispers pulling him away before he can see Stefan shift nervously.
"Hey guys Jenna is gonna drink up all the grown up grape juice," Jake says rushing out and grabbing my and Stefan's hands and dragging us into the dining room. He makes me sit in the middle of him and Stefan. We're across from Jenna and Ric and my parents.
"Katherine and Damon aren't here yet," Giuseppe announces.
"But daddy I'm hungry," Jake whines and puts a puppy dog face on.
"Okay kiddo I'll go grab you a snack," Giuseppe says as he ruffles up Jake's hair.
"Stefan and I will come with you," Ric says standing as Giuseppe does, "We have some important business to discuss."
Stefan stands to join them and excuses himself from the table. His manners were impeccable.
"Why does it always turn into a business meeting between those three?" my Aunt Jenna asks sipping her wine.
"It probably has something to do with." My dad starts and he looks over at Jake, "D-A-M-O-N and his D-R-I-N-K-I-N-G. Katherine came to me last week to ask for help but when I went to talk to him Stefan said that he had just run off somewhere." No wonder Lexi was so pissed at Damon and why Stefan had said that things were going to be bad tonight. Here he was at 18 taking on the responsibility of helping a brother who not only had an unborn child but also a drinking problem.
Fifteen minutes passed before the three joined us back in the dining room. When Stefan sat down I placed my hand on his knee and gave him a reassuring squeeze. He placed his hand over mine and we sat there as the usual family stories came out.
Our laughter was cut short when the front door burst open and Damon staggered in.
"Damon stop. You can't talk to them like this," Katherine pleads with him trying to lead him back out the door. He just shakes her grip off and walks over to the end of the dinner table.
"Hey Dad," he slurs out, "Boy do I have great news for you. Not only have I disgraced the family name by getting kicked out of Whitmore I knocked Katherine up. Guess you were right to always count on Steffy-Poo here. He's the only one you and Mom could ever really be proud of right? He's your perfect angel with the perfect hair and the perfect jawline." He's pinching Stefan's cheek and then he let's go and starts to chuckle to himself. "I can't wait for your first major screw up kid." He slaps Stefan on his cheek harder than sober Damon would have.
"Damon I think you need to leave," Giuseppe says. He stands up from his seat and you can see the anger flash through his eyes but then it is quickly replaced with hurt. "Come talk to me when you're sober."
"Why dad?" Damon questions his eyebrow rising in a challenge and Stefan tenses looking at Ric silently forming a plan. "Are you afraid that our dearest friends will judge you because of me? Are you upset that I called you out on not loving anyone but Stefan?"
"Daddy why is Damon-" Jake starts to ask but Stefan picks him up and puts him in the kitchen. He returns a couple minutes later glaring at Damon who is standing balancing himself behind my chair.
"Damon, Dad said to leave," Stefan says his tone even and unemotional.
"Ah the favorite proves once again why he's at the top," Damon says clenching his jaw and coldy glaring back at Stefan. No one moves, no one speaks, I'm not even sure if everyone's still breathing as the two Salvatore's stare each other down. It isn't until Katherine takes a small step into the kitchen that everyone is fully aware of the situation.
"M-m-maybe we should leave, Damon," Katherine meekly says taking a small step towards him.
"Katherine don't," Ric commands standing up between the brothers.
"Ric? Taking Steffy's side? I bet everyone here is on your side Stef," Damon says glaring at Ric.
"Damon, you need help," Ric says walking over to Katherine and leading her to the kitchen with Jake.
"I'll call a cab," my father says standing bringing my mom with him to the kitchen. Jenna follows closely behind and as much as I wish I could join them I can't. Damon's grip on the chair is too strong and he's too close.
"C'mon son," Giuseppe says, "let Elena get out of here before you start this."
"No," Damon spits out. I didn't notice Stefan move across the room until Damon was on the floor and I was being ushered into the kitchen.
"I'm really sorry about this," Stefan says quickly, "It'd be better if you guys headed out the back." He turned to enter back into the room. As the door closed we all saw Damon in Giuseppe's face.
"Jake, you can ride with me," I say grabbing his hand and pulling him with us out to the cars.
*Giuseppe's POV
As Stefan reentered the room I knew that tonight would not be ending the way I had hoped. I looked away from Damon who was now just yelling nonsense in my face to see Stefan's green eyes full of anger and determination.
"Damon I will call the Sherriff if you don't leave," I say not wanting my boys to ruin their relationship.
"Go ahead Dad! While you're at it why don't you sign the family business over to Stef," Damon yells turning to his younger brother. "By the way, brother, touch me again and you'll regret it."
"What are you gonna do Damon? Suffocate me with your bourbon breath?" Green eyes bore into blue as he steps forward. He may be a couple inches shorter than Damon but Stefan is bigger. Damon being the punter for his football team was not nearly as big as Stefan's half-back, corner-back build frame was. Stefan had also taken all those martial arts classes I forced the two to do seriously unlike Damon who only used it to impress a couple girls. If it came to a fight I had no doubt that Stefan would win but I also know he wouldn't hit his brother no matter what.
"Funny," Damon retorts his blue eyes glaring with hatred, "Wasn't so funny when you were the reason mom left was it?" Green eyes flash with a flicker of sadness then fill with anger. Stefan clenches his jaw and his fists ball and unball repeatedly.
"Damon you're mother left because of herself," I say taking a step in-between them.
"Stay out of this old man," Damon says shoving me and the next thing I know is everything is black.
A/N- I decided I couldn't leave you guys with such a short update. I'll give you a hint for the next update it's going to be really heartbreaking for one of the characters. I'll try to update Monday or sooner depending. Thanks Love ya