"Stripped"

Chapter 8: Dead Man's Party

Breathe.

Bella kept telling herself this over and over again but it wasn't working. She looked at the clock and realized that it was too late to back out now. She had snuck in to the boarding house earlier to drop off the suit. Mr. Grey was still a miracle worker and although it was a little out of her budget, she knew it would make Damon happy.

Bella twirled once more in the mirror, looking at her costume and she was still a little nervous about it. She had decided to go with the Queen of Hearts Theatrical costume. It was an off-the-shoulder red corseted number that came with a scepter and a little hat. Bella had put her hair up in a bun with strands coming down to frame her face. Her make-up was darker than normal and when she finally looked in the mirror after Caroline had finished, she didn't recognize herself. Caroline had left an hour ago with instructions on how to do the touch ups before she left her with a pair of incredibly high Steve Madden pumps.

The doorbell suddenly rang, pulling Bella out of her thoughts. She carefully walked down the stairs. Bella opened the door and in front of her stood Damon; his suit fit him perfectly and for the first time (in a long time) Bella noticed that Damon had very well defined muscles and he looked really sharp in his suit. The gangster era really did suit him well.

Damon was in shock at Bella; she looked amazing. This was the first time he had seen her really fixed up with her hair and makeup. He remembered seeing this costume at the shop and though on the model it looked skanky, on Bella it fit perfectly as it defined her curves.

"Hey," Bella said nervously.

"You look amazing," Damon replied as he kissed her hand, "I think you are gonna break a lot of hearts."

"You aren't so bad yourself." Bella replied.

"Thanks," Damon said while motioning to the suit," You didn't have to."

"Well I'm glad I did," Bella replied, "That other one just swallowed you compared to this one."

"Shall we?" Damon asked while offering his arm, "Last thing I want is for you to break your neck in those things."

"Blame Caroline," Bella said as she took his arm after locking the house, "She insisted that I wear them to complete the look. I was just going to wear ballet flats."

"Take a risk Bella," Damon said as he walked her to the car.

.*.*.*.*.*.

They pretty much drove in silence to the party. Bella was somewhere else with wondering where she was going to get the last ingredients she would need.

"Something wrong?" Damon asked as they pulled up to the party.

"Just really dreading this," Bella said as she opened her door. "Why are we at the old tombs?"

"Because this is where the party is," Damon replied, "Ready?"

"Don't really have a choice now," Bella said while taking a deep breath before she started to walk.

It was easy to find Bonnie, Jamie, Matt, Caroline, Tyler (a.k.a. Klaus), Jeremy, Stefan, and Elena.

"Wow," Bonnie said while looking at Bella, "You look amazing B."

"Heartbreaker," Tyler said, "Appropriate."

"Look at you guys," Bella said, wanting to take the attention off of herself.

Stefan was dressed as a doctor, which wasn't surprising seeing as how he was never one to get into all of this stuff. Elena was Red Riding Hood; Caroline was a pirate as was Tyler; Jamie was dressed as a zombie while Bonnie was dressed as a gypsy; Jeremy was dressed as a cowboy and Matt was dressed as Captain America.

Jamie and Bonnie went off to dance as did Caroline and Tyler. Jeremy went to go talk to some girl and Damon's eyes were fixed on Elena and Stefan.

"Hey Matt," Bella said while grabbing his hand, "Let's see if you can move Captain America."

Matt allowed himself to be led to the makeshift dance floor and they started dancing.

"How are you doing Bells?" Matt asked as he spun her around, "I mean you just seem really distant lately."

"It's just been a lot you know with the move, my breakup and coming here to all of this," Bella said.

"Yeah speaking of the breakup, you never did tell me what happened." Matt nudged.

"Please not tonight," Bella said.

Matt spun her out and Bella felt someone grab her other hand, pulling her towards them.

"Mind if I cut in?" Kol asked with a smile.

"Actually I'm dancing with Matt," Bella said as she pushed herself away from Kol.

"I think your dance partner has already moved on," Kol said as he pointed to Matt, who was now dancing with Rebekah.

Matt gave Bella an apologetic look but he kept dancing. Kol grabbed Bella by the waist, pulling her close to him and forcing her to dance.

"Loosen up," Kol whispered in her ear before he tried to kiss her neck but Bella pulled away, "You know I love a girl that fights."

"Kol," Bella said, "Consider yourself lucky we are in public right now otherwise you would be on the ground in severe pain."

"Then you would end up like you did last time," Kol whispered, "Nearly drained."

"I don't make the same mistake twice," Bella replied through gritted teeth.

"Come on," Kol said, "How about one little kiss? I mean you are the Queen of Hearts, maybe you can have mine…if I get a kiss."

"I don't want yours and you sure as hell aren't getting a kiss from me," Bella said before she started trying to push away.

Kol just smirked as he pulled Bella through one of the tomb doors, covering her mouth as he did so.

"You really are feisty," Kol said as he pinned her against the wall, "But there's a difference between being cute-feisty and annoying-feisty."

Bella focused and used her powers, causing Kol to let her go and grasp his head.

"Don't ever touch me again," Bella said while still using her powers as she backed out of the room, never taking her eyes off Kol.

She released him once she stepped into the party and her back hit something hard.

"Where is he?" Damon asked through gritted teeth.

Bella turned around, relieved that Damon was probably on his way to look for her.

"If he's smart he's gone," Bella replied before she looked around. "Where's Stefan and Elena?"

"Who cares," Damon replied dryly; his eyes still staring into the dark room.

"Come on," Bella said while pulling him along, "I need a drink and so do you."

Damon and Bella made their way to the makeshift bar and she ordered them both a whiskey straight.

"Relax," Bella said once she noticed Damon's still tense posture, "He isn't going to do anything else tonight."

"Never underestimate your opponent Bella," Damon replied before downing his drink.

"Are you going to be in this mood all night?" Bella asked annoyed.

"Probably," Damon replied as he signaled for another drink.

"Then I'm not going to be around you," Bella said, "I came out tonight because everyone wanted me to and I thought it was going to be a good night. Now either pull that stick out of your ass or I'm ditching you."

Damon didn't move so Bella shrugged before she walked away. She was in the middle of the dance floor when "I Think We're Alone Now" by Birthday Massacre came on. A hand snaked out before it grabbed her wrist and pulled her backwards, having her collide into Damon's chest.

"They're playing our song," Damon said while smirking and spinning her around.

Bella just smiled and allowed Damon to twirl her again so her back was flush against his chest. His hands were outstretched in front of Bella, holding hers as they grinded on each other a little bit.

"Bring back memories?" Damon asked before her spun her out and back to him; this time her chest against his.

"If you're talking about our late night bar hops then yes," Bella replied with a laugh.

"You were always getting into trouble," Damon replied while putting one hand on her back, "Those guys couldn't keep their hands off of you. I had to chase them off."

"You were just jealous," Bella retorted while laughing.

"So what if I was?" Damon questioned, "You never would have let me make a move."

"Actually I seem to remember quite a few nights where you were making moves on me in a drunken stupor." Bella countered.

"And I seem to recall as well Swan that you were coming very close to giving in." Damon said; his eyes staring deeply into hers, causing Bella's heart to skip a beat. Damon smirked, "See I know you want me."

"Your charm Damon only works on me momentarily when you're staring at me like that then you open your mouth to say some egotistical comment and your spell wears off." Bella replied while smirking at Damon, "That's the problem; your talking ruins it."

"Hey," Damon said as he pretended to be insulted, "Girls like when I talk."

"Only because they're compelled," Bella replied as Damon dipped her.

"You know he didn't treat you right," Damon said while pulling her back up, "I can tell you know."

"Not tonight Damon." Bella said as she started to close herself off.

"Will you just listen to me?" Damon asked but he didn't wait for an answer. "He should have pulled you close so that he was holding you like this, making sure there was no distance between the two of you." Damon proceeded to show Bella before he dipped his head towards her neck, causing her to tense as she remembered that night she left but all she felt was a light brush along her neck, "He should have done that," Damon said; his lips reaching her ears, "He should have made you feel like you were falling."

Bella pushed away from him as she shook her head, "He should have done a lot of things but he didn't."

"Bella I'm sorry," Damon said.

"It's okay," Bella replied as she moved back over to Damon, "I just don't want to talk about it."

Damon nodded and they danced until the song was over. Damon disappeared for a moment to go find Stefan and Elena; leaving Bella alone.

"You okay?" Matt asked while coming up behind her.

Bella jumped before she turned around, "You scared me," she said with a laugh, "Yeah I am. You leaving?"

"Yeah I have to work in the morning." Matt replied unhappily.

Bella looked around before she said, "Can I get a ride with you? I'm tired."

"Sure," Matt replied.

They started walking but Bella stopped to talk to Bonnie.

"Hey, tell Damon I went home with Matt will ya?" Bella asked.

Bonnie nodded before Matt and Bella headed to his truck. They drove in silence until Matt finally broke it.

"What the hell was that tonight?" Matt asked a little tense.

"What was what?" Bella asked confused.

"That little stunt with Damon all over you," Matt replied.

"Damon was being Damon," Bella said dismissively, "He was showing me how that guy should have treated me."

"Bella everyone was staring at the two of you like you were about to get it on. I mean we all know there is something there between the two of you." Matt said.

Bella started laughing hysterically, "Wait what? You think me and Damon? Please Matty, tell me you're joking."

"I'm not joking," Matt replied, "There is something there with you guys."

"A friendship," Bella replied; wiping the tears away from laughing so hard.

"It's more than that," Matt countered.

"Matt, Damon and I are friends…that's it. There is nothing between us other than an understanding friendship. Besides even if I did feel something, which I don't, but if I did it wouldn't matter; he is in love with Elena." Bella replied.

They pulled up to her house and Bella hopped out, "Thanks for the ride." She said.

"Anytime," Matt replied with a wave as Bella walked into the house.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Come on Elena, I'm a better dancer than Stefan," Damon said as they walked back into the party.

"That's debatable," Elena replied before her eyebrows furrowed out of confusion, "Where's Bella?"

Damon's head snapped towards the party goers as he tried to find Bella in the massive group.

"She's gone," Bonnie said while coming over, "She left about an hour ago with Matt."

"Yeah what were you guys doing for an hour?" Jeremy asked.

"Having a threesome," Damon said yet his eyes were still scanning the area.

"What's wrong?" Stefan asked.

"Kol's been having an unnatural fixation on Bella," Damon said as he handed Elena his drink, "I'll see you guys later."

"She can handle herself," Bonnie called out annoyed but Damon just ignored her.

"Are Bella and Damon together?" Jamie asked.

Elena sighed, "No."

"They might as well be though," Bonnie added, "They fight like a couple."

"I think it would be good for Damon to be with Bella," Caroline said while coming over, "Maybe she'd knock some sense into him."

"What happens when he gets bored and leaves her," Jeremy said, pointing out.

"My brother does a lot of shitty things but he would never leave Bella." Stefan said.

"No he just takes a bite out of her and throws her onto a couch," Bonnie said angrily.

Elena downed Damon's drink before she said, "They're good for one another; she keeps him balanced and makes him think. He challenges her and convinces her to step out of her comfort zone." Elena looked at Stefan and smiled, "Come on, I want to dance."

.*.*.*.*.*.

Damon was about to walk into Bella's house when Kol's voice stopped him.

"Well if knew she liked late night…what do you call them…booty calls, I would have signed up right away," Kol said while leaning against a tree.

"She's not that kind of girl," Damon replied as he turned around.

"Looks like she is to me," Kol said while pushing off the tree, "That little outfit she had on tonight was the fact that sealed the deal."

"Stay away from her," Damon warned as he gave Kol a dangerous look.

"Or what?" Kol asked, "I got to her twice now…maybe next time I'll make sure I can keep her."

"Kol," Elijah yelled as he came out of the shadows. "What are you doing?"

"Came to see if the sweet little witch needed someone to warm her bed." Kol said while smirking at Damon.

"Elijah you better get your brother out of here before I snap his neck…again." Damon growled.

Suddenly Bella's front porch light turned on and she came out in black yoga pants and a black tank top while putting a sweater on.

"What's going on?" she asked; tensing immediately once she saw Kol and Elijah.

"Oh I wanted to see if we could pick up where we left off," Kol said; his voice dripping with sex, "You know I can be very good to you."

"I'll pass," Bella replied before she glared at Elijah, "You should get better control of him. I think he needs a leash or better yet a shock collar."

"Believe me I will be taking it into consideration," Elijah said while grabbing Kol's arm.

"You don't know what you're missing," Kol called.

"She doesn't care," Damon said as he started to pull Bella into the house, "What the hell?"

"What?" Bella asked, completely confused as Damon shut the door.

"You just up and leave," Damon said angrily.

"I was tired Damon." Bella replied while crossing her arms. "You were busy so I asked Matt for a ride. I'm sorry I didn't want to get into the whole triangle issue between you, Elena and Stefan. You three are just pissing me off with this avoidance crap; just say what you got to say, let it all out in the open and be done with it."

"You don't know anything about that," Damon sneered.

"Really," Bella said in disbelief, "I'm the one you go out with to get drunk and to talk to, I'm the one who you came to after you snapped Jeremy's neck, I'm the one who has been on your side trying to help you but as usual you don't want to listen. You know what since apparently I don't know anything about that entire situation then consider me done with it. You do whatever the hell you want to do Damon, I'm done trying to help you."

Damon sighed, "Bells."

"No," Bella said angrily as she stomped up the stairs, "Get out Damon."

Damon's jaw clenched when he heard Bella's door slam shut. He hated when she was right and this time was no different.

.*.*.*.*.*.

The next day Bella was in town when she ran into Tyler (a.k.a. Klaus).

"How are things coming along?" Klaus asked.

"Don't worry," Bella said while turning around, "You'll get your body back but I suggest you keep your brother in check. My patience is wearing thin with him."

"I do apologize," Klaus said while trying to sound sincere.

"No you're not," Bella replied, "You're jealous if anything."

"How do you know that?" Klaus asked.

"Typical sibling rivalry for one, for the other, you are a chauvinistic male who doesn't like being shown up especially by his little brother," Bella said, "Now all you have to do is pretend to be Tyler for a few more days then you can leave."

"What if I don't want to?" Klaus asked and Bella tensed, "My brother has gotten to spend time with you, maybe I want my turn."

"You don't get a turn," Bella said with a glare, "Once you're back in your body I want you gone, do you understand me? If you stick around there will be consequences."

"I like a little danger," Klaus said smirking.

Bella stepped closer to him and replied, "I'm not a little dangerous Klaus…I'm life-threatening dangerous. Go back on our deal and you will wish I never came back here to Mystic Falls."

"You can't kill me you know," Klaus replied, "You do your friends die."

"There's always a way around everything; I figure someone as old as you would know that by now." Bella replied.

The woman at the dress shop handed Bella her dress before she walked out.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"So did you get your dress?" Caroline asked while sitting on Bella's counter.

"Yes," Bella replied while making a fruit salad, "Thank you again for getting me a dress."

"So Tyler has been acting really weird," Caroline said while watching Bella carefully. "And someone told me you two have been getting cozy."

"Really Caroline?" Bella asked playing it off. "Me and Tyler? Seriously we couldn't stand each other until after his dad died. I used to slap him all the time."

"Things change, people change, or sometimes people's bodies get taken over by psycho Originals." Caroline said nonchalantly.

Right as Caroline said bodies Bella's hand slipped, causing her to cut herself pretty badly.

"Oh god!" Caroline said; her face changing but she quickly gained control. "Here," she said before she bit into her wrist.

Bella gaged, "No," Bella said as she started to hold her breath.

"Bella you need it," Caroline argued.

"Take me to the hospital," Bella said, "I can't drink it…no way in hell."

Caroline rolled her eyes but she did as she was told and put Bella in the car before she drove her to the hospital.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"I'll get the stitching kit," Meredith said as soon as Bella and Caroline walked in, "Room 3."

Caroline led Bella to the room and shut the door.

"You okay?" Caroline asked, "You look like you're going to pass out."

"I think I'll live," Bella said while not looking at the blood and breathing through her mouth.

"So it's true…Klaus is in Tyler's body," Caroline said sadly.

"I'm sorry Caroline. I didn't want anyone to be worried; not after Elena." Bella said apologetically.

"Who did it?" Caroline asked, "Wait I already know…Bonnie."

"She couldn't let you guys die." Bella said as she started to defend Bonnie.

"That's not fair to Tyler," Caroline said upset.

"Don't worry," Bella replied while patting her friend's hand, "He'll be free soon."

Before Caroline could reply, Meredith came in with the suture kit.

"Another window?" Meredith asked.

"Knife," Bella replied with a wince as Meredith uncovered the wound.

"That's pretty deep Bella," Meredith said a little worried, "What were you cutting?"

"Fruit," Bella answered as she started to feel queasy again.

"I think I'm still going to give you a round of antibiotics." Meredith replied.

About an hour later Bella was all stitched up.

"Take it easy with lifting with that hand." Meredith added as Bella signed the discharge papers. "Maybe a few drops of vamp blood will help the healing."

"Any way you can write me a note excusing me from the party tonight?" Bella asked hopefully.

"Wish I could, but you know my doctor power only goes so far; especially with Carol. I'll see you tonight." Meredith replied before she walked off.

Caroline and Bella headed back to Bella's house.

"I want to be there," Caroline said as they drove, "Whenever you do it."

"Caroline," Bella said in a warning tone.

"No," Caroline said firmly, "You're going to need back up first off and secondly it's the only way you're going to get me to keep my mouth shut."

"Really?" Bella asked.

"Really," Caroline replied.

"Deal," Bella said, knowing she wasn't going to win this battle.

"Alright now let's go get all pretty for the party," Caroline said happily as she sped up the car.

A/N: Hey everyone I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Some unfortunate news my grandma has been diagnosed with Leukemia and with that being said my writing will be taking a back burner. I will be taking her to her chemo treatments and helping her in any way I can. To you my readers I am sorry, but my family has and always will come first. I will update when possible, but please be patient with me. Any good thoughts or prayers you could send my family's way would be very appreciated.

Thanks to my wonderful beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all her hard work. Everyone's costumes are over on her livejournal account if you want to see them. To the group Bambi's Beloveds on facebook thank you so much for all the help and supportive comments. Guys it's an amazing group of people who are very supportive and really great so I encourage you all to join.

I am keeping my promise and yes reviews will get you teasers. Until next time you guys thank you for your support and understanding.