"Stripped"

Chapter 5: New Start

Bella walked into her house and dropped her purse. She was exhausted….mentally drained. Agreeing to work with the people who had caused her friends so much pain churned her stomach, but Tyler was trapped and being taken over by a monster and that just wasn't fair.

Bella shook her head, walked over to the couch and crashed.

.*.*.*.*.*.

In the morning, she woke up to the smell of bacon and she was in her bed.

"What the hell?" Bella said, looking around confused.

Bella threw off the covers and saw that she was in a spaghetti strap tank top and some short shorts.

"Damon," Bella said through gritted teeth before she stomped down the stairs, "Alright asshole," Bella said started before she stopped short.

"Good morning," Elena said while smiling as she cooked bacon.

"Someone apparently woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Caroline said as she made the orange juice.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked, shocked.

"Breakfast with the girls," Bonnie said, smiling as she cut up fruit, "Who did you think was in here?"

"Damon," Bella said as she pointed to her outfit.

"Actually that was me," Caroline said, "I came over 'cause I couldn't sleep and found you on the couch completely passed out so I put you in bed."

"Are you okay Bella?" Elena asked, "Caroline called me and I know you're not a deep-sleeper, she said you didn't even move in the slightest."

"Just really drained," Bella said, "Let me help you guys,"

"No," Bonnie said and pushed Bella towards the breakfast bar, "This is our treat; you are making dinner tonight."

"So why are you so drained?" Caroline asked.

"Moving, breakup, coming home to this and then of course, Damon and mine's talk." Bella explained.

"What did he do?" Elena asked.

"He got me so mad that I told him everything I thought about him and then he held me as I cried all my anger, and frustration out." Bella answered honestly.

"At least he's nice to someone," Caroline said as she brought Bella some juice, "Drink it, you look like you haven't been taking care of yourself."

"She hasn't," Elena said, "Charlie called while you were still asleep."

"He told you," Bella said, ashamed.

"You shouldn't have just shut down over a guy," Elena said. "You stopped eating, talking, you just sat there; why?"

"The way he left me, it just destroyed me. Every ounce of self-esteem I had was gone, not to mention all the air in my body. I was just crushed." Bella said.

"I could kill that jackass," Caroline growled. "You don't get to do that to our girl."

"It's over with," Bella said.

"Right," Elena said as she brought over four plates, "So now we all start new. No more looking back to change things we can't."

"No more losing anyone else," Caroline said.

"No more getting pushed around," Bonnie said.

"No more running away," Bella added with a smile.

"And to the rest of our senior year," Caroline added, "As it should be. The four of us together and conquering it."

They clinked their orange juice glasses and started chowing down. After they finished breakfast, Bella showered and the girls finished cleaning up the house before moving to unpack everything.

"We do good work," Bonnie said smiling.

Just a few days ago this house was a disaster and now it looked like a home. Pictures lined the walls and shelves. The blinds were opened, letting light come in and fill the house.

"Thanks," Bella said while leaning on Elena.

"Together, forever and always." Elena replied.

"Through thick and thin, good times and bad times," Caroline added, smiling.

"In the past, present and future, we stick together." Bonnie said.

"No matter what we will always have each other," Bella finished the mantra they had come up with as kids.

The girls left to let Bella go get groceries for dinner tonight. Bella went to the store and as she was shopping, she ran into Kol.

"Hello," Kol said, "We didn't get to officially meet last night."

"I know who you are," Bella said tensely.

"Yet I don't know anything about you," Kol replied.

"I consider that a blessing," Bella said as she pushed her cart past him.

"Having a dinner party?" Kol asked, catching up with her. "Where's my invite?"

"You don't get one," Bella said before she stopped in her tracks, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear, my friends don't need to know what's going on because your family has caused them enough pain. Just because I'm giving Klaus his body back, doesn't mean I don't despise you or the rest of your family any less. If he isn't careful, I might just banish his soul out of Tyler's body."

"You do that, your friends die," Kol reminded.

"I always find a way Kol," Bella replied glaring.

"Is there a problem here?" Damon's voice said, invading their conversation.

"Damon," Kol said with a smile, "I was just getting to know your friend here; quite lucky that she came back to town."

"Lucky for us," Damon said dangerously low, "Bad news for you."

"I'll be seeing you around Bella," Kol said as he walked away.

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked.

"I see that finding yourself in bad situations hasn't changed since you came back," Damon said ignoring her question.

"Again what are you doing here?" Bella asked annoyed.

"Helping you shop," Damon said while still looking in the direction Kol had went.

"He's gone," Bella said and started to push her cart again.

"What are you cooking?" Damon asked.

"Figured I'd go with chicken alfredo with bowtie pasta." Bella said as she picked up some bread.

"I will have to say I have missed your chicken Alfredo." Damon replied smiling.

"I can handle myself," Bella said, heading for the checkout.

"Really?" Damon asked entertained.

"I've never been a damsel in distress," Bella said, "So why do you always treat me like I am?"

"I just worry about you," Damon replied.

"You didn't a year ago," Bella countered while paying for her groceries.

"You going to keep throwing that in my face," Damon said anger evident in his voice.

Bella sighed, "Look it's gonna take time for me to completely forgive you Damon. You can't expect things to go back to being normal and you can't just start coming in, trying to save me. I don't need saving, I don't need a knight in shining armor, and I don't need someone thinking that I do. If you want to do something for me then understand…understand I'm still hurt, but that doesn't mean I've given up on our friendship."

Damon just nodded and helped load up the car.

"Dinner's at 7:30," Bella said.

"I don't know if I'm going to come," Damon said quietly.

Bella just nodded and got in her car driving away.

.*.*.*.*.*.

By 7pm the table was set, the pasta was ready, and the bread was almost done. Bella went up the stairs to go change into her two-in-one cowl jumper with skinny jeans and boots. The doorbell rang at exactly 7:30pm and everyone, minus Tyler and Damon, were there.

"Tyler said he wanted to come, but he and his mom have this party to schedule," Caroline said while coming in.

"That's alright," Bella said.

"Hi Bella," Stefan said, giving her a hug and handing her some flowers.

"I brought dessert," Bonnie said while coming in with Jamie.

Everyone walked into dining room and sat down.

"Chicken alfredo with bowtie pasta and homemade garlic bread," Matt said, "You are officially the most amazing person in the world."

Everyone was sitting down about to eat when the doorbell rang.

"I got it," Bella said, getting up and answering the door. She smiled, "Change your mind?"

"Couldn't resist your cooking," Damon said, "I brought something for being late" Damon said and pulled a bottle of wine out from behind his back.

"Only one?" Bella asked while smiling.

"Okay you caught me," Damon said and brought out two more bottles.

"That's more like it," Bella said and she let Damon in.

"Sure you got room for me?" Damon asked while taking his coat off.

"Saved you special seat," Bella replied.

Damon walked into the dining room with Bella and smiled at seeing the seat next to her was empty.

Bella got them all glasses and Damon poured the wine. The conversation for dinner was light with a lot of laughs.

By 10pm the plates were cleared, the kitchen was clean and now they were all in the living room still working on the bottles of wine Damon had brought, plus what Bella had left over.

"Bella what's that on your arm?" Jamie asked, referring to Bella's scar.

Bella sighed and told the rest of the group about Edward and what had happened; actually she gave them the major details leaving out the specifics. Damon just stared at her, but Bella refused to meet his gaze.

"Why didn't you call?" Stefan asked shocked.

"Probably the same reason you guys didn't call me," Bella countered and downed the rest of her wine, "Look it's over and done with; we are moving on."

"Right," Elena said, supporting Bella, "What's this party Carol is throwing?"

"Some society thing," Caroline replied, "It's this Friday."

"Oh joy," Bonnie replied.

"I bet you're excited Bella," Matt said, "You still stumble in heels."

"What do you think?" Bella replied throwing him a playful glare before she looked at the clock, "Holy shit guys it's late and we have school tomorrow."

Everyone started getting their coats, except for Damon who had decided he was going to help Bella wash the glasses. They all said their goodbyes and left Bella and Damon alone.

"You know that party is in your honor." Damon said as he washed the glasses.

Bella groaned, "She knows I hate those parties."

"Yeah well you pretty much saved her son's ass as well as hers so I'm pretty sure she's doing it to be grateful." Damon replied while smirking.

"A thank you card would do," Bella grumbled.

"What did Kol want at the store?" Damon asked.

"Probably sizing up the new witch in town," Bella replied nonchalantly.

"Seemed he was getting a little close," Damon mused. "Actually I'm pretty sure he was hitting on you."

"Damon, are you jealous?" Bella teased, "I highly doubt that was him hitting on me; he was trying to get a feel for me."

"He definitely wants to feel something," Damon said and Bella punched him in the arm as she blushed a deep red, "How's your dad?" Damon asked getting the hint to change the subject.

"He's alright," Bella said, guilt flooding her voice.

"You feel guilty for leaving him, don't you?" Damon acknowledged.

"He says not to, but I know it hurt him that I left." Bella replied.

"Is he still clueless about you?" Damon asked.

"Yeah," Bella said, "It's better that way. I'm afraid I would give him a heart attack and with the way he eats, it wouldn't take much."

"Your dad is tougher than he looks," Damon said, "Guess now I know where you get it from."

"Are you saying I'm tough Damon?" Bella asked.

"I'm saying you can handle more than what most people think you can." Damon replied.

"Does that include you?" Bella questioned.

"Especially me," Damon answered as he put away the last glass, "Well that's it."

"Thanks for cleaning up," Bella replied gratefully.

"Yeah well I better let you go…school and all." Damon said before he headed for the door.

"Night Damon," Bella said, opening the door.

Damon smirked, grabbed her hand and kissed it, "Thank you for a lovely evening Bella."

"Anytime," Bella replied.

"I'll remember that." Damon said, his smirk growing.

"Of course you will," Bella said while shaking her head, "You have a memory like an elephant."

Damon left and Bella showered and fell asleep dreading tomorrow.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Bella hit her off button on her alarm and stretched. She got up, straightened her hair and picked out her outfit. She wanted to make it to school early to get her books and find her locker, but unfortunately her car didn't want to start and once it did that, she knew that by the time she got her books, schedule, and locker number she would be late to first period.

Bella sighed as she pulled up to the Mystic Falls High School and got out.

"Bella," Caroline said, chipper as usual while carrying some books, "Okay I have your books, schedule and I made sure your locker is right next to mine, Elena's, and Bonnie's."

Bella just smiled, "Thank you Caroline."

"I know how you hate being late," Caroline said, linking her arm with Bella's. "I have your first three class books here and the rest are in your locker. All four of us have History and English together during the first two periods. Then third period you're with Elena, Matt and Bonnie in Biology. Fourth is with Stefan and you have Italian; Fifth has you and Tyler in Algebra, then all of us have Theatre during last period." Caroline explained.

"You changed my entire schedule didn't you," Bella said while nudging her friend.

"I might have improvised it a bit." Caroline admitted.

"Thank you," Bella said, "You are amazing."

"I try," Caroline said, "Oh and we were all thinking that maybe we could go shopping after school for a dress for you."

"Sounds like fun," Bella said as they walked into history class.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella was immediately welcomed and the first two classes were less nerve-wrecking than she expected. Thankfully in Biology, she and Elena were partners and they got to sit at the same table as Bonnie and Matt. Lunch was good and Bella noticed that Tyler/Klaus was absent which made her wonder if Klaus was backing out of their deal. Fourth was amazing; she forgot how much she loved Italian and during the entire class period, she and Stefan just sat together speaking to one another in Italian since they were the two advanced ones in the class.

As she walked into Algebra, she breathed a sigh of relief to see that Klaus had actually shown up, but the look in his eyes when he smiled at her told her that he had something up his sleeve.

"You look lovely today," Klaus said, scooting out of the only seat that was left which happened to be next to him.

"Don't waste your compliments on me." Bella replied tensely.

"Come now you are the talk of the town," Klaus purred, "In fact my mother is throwing you a party."

"Klaus," Bella said quietly, "Don't push me."

"You won't reveal our little secret," Klaus said while touching her leg.

Bella scooted away, "Try me," Bella replied glaring, "You don't scare me and you need to accept that."

Class started and the rest of the day passed without another incident. After school Bella drove her car home and hopped into Elena's car. They headed to the only high end boutique in town and they started looking.

"What is the dress code for this event?" Bella asked.

"Like the masquerade minus the masks." Caroline replied, "Carol doesn't do anything small."

Bella rolled her eyes and Elena threw her arm around her shoulders.

"Don't worry, we won't let you look like a fool." Elena said.

"Can you make me not clumsy?" Bella asked while pulling out a one-shoulder black dress.

"Oh that's cute," Caroline said.

They all picked a few selections before they went to the dressing rooms.

"So how did it go after we left?" Bonnie asked.

"We talked," Bella replied. "Nothing big."

"Are things always going to be so awkward between you two?" Caroline asked, "I mean you two were so close and although he is an ass, he was never that way towards you…except for after the bitch came back," Caroline added.

"I don't know," Bella admitted, "I want to trust him, but I'm just…"

"Hurt" Elena said, finishing her sentence.

The rest of the shopping trip went well and they all found their dresses before they dropped Bella off so she could do her homework. It was almost nine at night when she finally stopped and stretched.

"Boo," Damon said right next to Bella's ear.

Bella jumped off the couch and flung her hand out, causing Damon to fly into the wall.

"Fuck," Damon said while standing up.

Bella had her hand over her mouth, "You scared the crap out of me." Bella finally said.

"That's a nice way to welcome a friend," Damon said while rubbing his head.

Bella put her hands on her hips, "Excuse me for getting scared and throwing an intruder into the wall."

"I thought you could sense me from a mile away," Damon said.

"I was doing homework Damon," Bella said. "I wasn't paying attention."

"And that can get you killed," Damon pointed out.

Bella rolled her eyes.

"Don't do that," Damon said, looking at her disapprovingly.

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked, starting to put up her homework.

"I came to see if you wanted to get a drink," Damon said nonchalantly.

"Damon it's late and I have school," Bella said while shaking her head, "Not all of us are capable of compelling our way through life nor do we want to."

"I could do it for you if you like," Damon suggested.

"GO home Damon," Bella said as she zipped up her backpack.

"I don't want to," Damon whined.

Bella sighed, "Why?" she asked.

"Stefan and Elena are there." Damon said. "I do seem to remember a very good friend of mine saying that if I ever needed to get away from the lovefest I could crash here."

"You're kidding me right?" Bella asked in disbelief.

"Isabella Marie Swan, are you going back on your word?" Damon asked innocently, "I mean you always did say your word is your bond."

"You're really pushing it Damon," Bella said while crossing her arms, "The guest room isn't ready."

"The couch is fine…or if you want to be really hospitable, I don't mind sharing your bed." Damon replied while smirking.

"Park it on the couch Salvatore," Bella said as she went upstairs to get some pillows and a blanket.

"You are a life saver," Damon said, taking the pillows she gave him.

"When it comes to you, yes I am." Bella replied, "One of these days Damon you're not going to make me budge on something."

"When that happens I think I'll stake myself." Damon said. "Goodnight Bella."

"Night Damon," Bella said before she walked up the stairs.

.*.*.*.*.*.

The next few days at school were the same with tons of homework, Klaus constantly hounding her and Damon coming over at night and crashing there. She felt bad for Damon; it wasn't easy to watch the girl you love be with your brother.

Friday finally came and she dreaded the entire day. Caroline, Bonnie, and Elena had offered to come over and help her get ready, but she said no. Bella wanted some time to herself and as she pulled up to her house and she saw Damon's Camaro in the driveway, she knew that wasn't going to happen.

"Okay what are you doing here?" Bella asked while walking in, "I know it's not because of the lovebirds seeing as how I just dropped Elena off at her place while Stefan had football practice."

"I was bored," Damon said while reading a book. "Don't you get tired of these old books?"

"They're classics," Bella said, taking away her copy of Romeo and Juliet away from Damon. "Are you going to Carol's deal tonight?"

"Oh I'm torn," Damon said, "Either I can go out, party and drink or go to a boring, uppity soirée thrown by the Mayor. Oh whatever will I choose?" Damon said while pretending to be worried and torn.

Bella rolled her eyes and walked towards the stairs, "Don't even think about saying it Damon."

"I'll quit saying it when you actually listen," Damon called back to her.

Bella showered, straightened her hair, did her make-up, and got dressed. As she was putting on her jewelry, a knock on her door interrupted her.

"Come in," Bella said and Damon entered.

"Whoa look at you," Damon said while smiling and leaning on the door frame, "You know maybe Carol's party won't be so bad after all."

Bella laughed, "What's up?"

"Matt called asking if you needed a ride." Damon said, holding out her cellphone.

"Nah, I'll probably just drive over there," Bella said and took the cellphone texting Matt. "Alright well I'm out of here."

"Don't stay out too late," Damon called out as Bella passed him.

"My house Damon and you are neither my dad nor my boyfriend so I'll do what I like but thanks for the concern," Bella said while walking down the stairs.

"No I'm a friend that cares," Damon said, "Just watch your back."

Bella smiled, "I will. Guess I'll see you later."

"Don't worry after tonight I'll be out of your hair," Damon teased, "I'm going to take over control of my house."

Bella smiled, "You want to know something Damon?" Bella asked and Damon nodded, "Having you around hasn't been so bad. Pretty sure I would have gone crazy by now if you weren't here."

Damon smiled, "Well you aren't so bad yourself." He said.

Bella said goodbye, got in her car and headed for the Lockwood family home while trying to prepare herself for the attention to be all on her; not to mention what Klaus was going to do.

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the update. This is a rarity for two chapters in one week. I probably won't update until the middle of next week. I will tell you this though some big things happen in the next chapter ;)

Thank you Dark~Supernatural~Angel for being a wonderful beta. She has even created a special master list for me over on live journal. The website is; http

: / / dark-spn-angel dot livejournal dot com / 44790 dot html (just get rid of the spaces and actually put dots. The website gives us a hard time actually letting us post the link for some reason)

All you have to do is find the story you want click on "master list" and it will take you there with links to outfits, book covers, videos etc…

Thank you Dark~Supernatural~Angel for doing all that work on the website.

Some quick announcements;

I am working on Chapter 19 of Buried Secrets 2: Blood and it should be up next week. It looks like we have about 3 or 4 more chapters so if you haven't voted over on the poll I have up about Buried Secrets 3 I suggest you do it soon because the last chapter will be where I will announce if I will be doing a 3rd story.

For all you The Devil You Know fans the sequel is coming along nicely and I'm pretty sure it should be up September 30th and the title for that one is Never Let Me Go.

Review you guys I love to hear your thoughts and reviews get you teasers ;)