"Stripped"

Chapter 9: Halloween Ball

"You look amazing," Caroline said happily after finishing the last touches on Bella's hair.

Caroline had done it half-up/half-down and in perfect waves. She had also chosen a dress that looked exactly like Winona Ryder's red one in Dracula (the one she wore to dinner with Dracula).

"Winona has nothing on you," Caroline said proudly.

"What's the theme this year?" Bella asked nervously.

"Come as your favorite character from a period film, preferably a horror one." Caroline replied.

"And me as Mina Harker came to mind," Bella said in disbelief.

"I think you look great," Caroline said.

"It's just so…red," Bella replied, "I have two psycho Original vampires who won't leave me alone; this is just a calling card for them to come at me."

"I will handle Klaus," Caroline said while rolling her eyes, "I've gotten really good at being Klaus bait and I'm sure Damon will run off Kol."

"If I get bit I'm staking you," Bella warned.

"Lighten up," Caroline said, "Alright now we're ready."

Caroline had decided to go as Katrina Van Tassel from Sleepy Hollow.

"What are the others going as?" Bella asked.

"Elena is going as Claudia from Interview with the Vampire and Bonnie isn't going. She and Jamie are up at Elena's lake house for the weekend." Caroline replied, "She needs a break."

"I need a break," Bella mumbled as they walked down the stairs, "Um Caroline how in the hell are we getting to the Lockwood's?"

"Well we are both going in separate cars," Caroline replied apologetically.

"Caroline you are feeding me to the wolves you know that right?" Bella said upset.

"Calm down," Caroline said, "I'll have one of the guys get you." A honk outside alerted Caroline to her ride's arrival, "My car's here, don't bail Bella."

"It's a little late now," Bella said, still upset, "If you leave I can't get out of this thing."

"See you in a bit," Caroline said and walked out the door.

Bella walked into the kitchen and carefully sat down at the breakfast bar. She didn't want to go to this thing tonight, but knowing that Caroline was going to go with her made Bella feel at ease; now she was on her own. Bella hated the attention being all on her, which with the dress Caroline had picked out and how she had dolled Bella up, it was definitely going to happen.

A knock on the door told her that her car was there and she sighed as she made her way to the front door. It took them about 45 minutes to get to Carol's and when she did, the party was in full swing. The valet helped her out of the car and started flirting with her but Bella ignored him and carefully navigated up the steps.

"Just breathe Bella," Bella told herself, "You are more covered up than you were the other night at the costume party. You can do this."

Bella stepped into the house and it was just like the scene in Can't Hardly Wait; all eyes swung to her and immediately she felt uncomfortable.

"Bella," Carol said while swooping in, "You look magnificent."

"Thanks," Bella replied "This party is…huge."

"Well you know me, I like to go overboard." Carol said with a laugh before she tensed, "I really wish they would leave."

Bella turned around and saw Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol entering the house.

"I'll see you around," Bella said before picking up her dress and trying to quickly maneuver her way through the crowd.

She turned back to look and already Kol had a smirk on his face before he quickly gave her a wink.

"Great," Bella mumbled.

"Hey," Matt said while catching her arm as she started to lose her balance, "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Bella said relieved, "Just not really wanting to be here right now."

"Well I gotta say you look pretty hot," Matt said while laughing, "Caroline actually convinced you to do this."

"More like she covered the mirror, sat me down, and didn't show me until she was finished. I swear she blurred around the room and before I knew it I was in this dress." Bella replied, laughing as well.

"You look gorgeous Bella," Matt said sincerely, "Speaking of Caroline, where is she?"

"I don't know, but she was supposed to have one of you guys waiting for me. She's going to have a stake in her before the night is done I promise you that," Bella said playfully.

"Someone talking about me?" Caroline asked while coming to join the two of them, "Sorry Tyler and I got um…distracted."

Tyler walked over and Bella saw the evil smirk he was wearing.

"Bells you look delicious," Klaus said smiling.

"Thanks," Bella replied, "But it's all thanks to your girlfriend here."

"Matt why don't you and Bella get a drink; she looks like she needs one," Caroline said, intervening.

Matt and Bella headed for a waiter who handed them two glasses of wine.

"Hey Elena and Stefan are here," Matt said pointing.

Elena waved at Bella and she waved back; eventually they made their way over to Matt and Bella.

"Some party huh?" Elena asked after hugging Bella, "Caroline does good work."

"Yes and yes," Bella replied, "You look great Elena; that blue really suits you."

"Thanks," Elena said with a smile.

"How are you doing?" Bella asked.

"Better," Elena replied, "Thanks for the herbs; between them and the alcohol I'm slowly feeling comfortable."

"Good," Bella said, "I think I will join you in consuming alcohol if I'm going to survive tonight."

.*.*.*.*.*.

An hour later Elena, Stefan, Matt, Caroline, Tyler (a.k.a Klaus), and Jeremy were sitting together as they tried to make conversation with Bella, but she was seeing through their ruse.

"Damon told you about Kol stalking me," Bella said bluntly.

"That obvious?" Jeremy asked.

"I was onto you guys about fifteen minutes in," Bella said, "Go have fun."

"What?" Elena asked.

"Go," Bella said, "Dance, drink, laugh, live whatever. Look I can handle myself and I can definitely handle Kol; if Damon was so concerned about me he should be here too not having you guys do this. I will be fine."

"Bella," Stefan said seriously.

"Look I don't need protection from anything or anyone, now go and have fun before I turn you all into toads or something." Bella said.

"You wouldn't," Matt challenged.

"Try me Matt," Bella said before she started pushing them towards the dance floor, "Now go."

Reluctantly they listened to her and Bella smiled as she got another glass.

"Hello Isabella," Elijah said as he appeared next to her.

"What do you want?" Bella asked through her pursed her lips.

"I wanted to apologize for Kol," Elijah said sincerely.

"Just keep him in line," Bella said before she started to move away but Elijah caught her arm.

"We found it." Elijah said seriously

Bella yanked her arm away from him, "Not here," Bella hissed, "No one knows what I plan on doing do you understand? If they did they would stop me."

"Why are you doing it then?" Elijah asked.

"Your brother is hurting two of my friends and I want him to stop; if that means I have to disobey all natural laws then I will. We meet in two days until then make sure all your siblings keep their end of the deal and definitely keep Kol away from me." Bella said before she walked away.

She walked out the doors to the terrace and sat down on the brick bench as she attempted to calm down. All she wanted to do right now was start throwing Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol into walls, but she couldn't do that just yet.

"Well, well, well," Damon's voice resonated throughout the darkness, "Aren't you just a beacon for temptation." Damon came to stand next to Bella, "Tell me, are you trying to get bitten?"

"Blame Caroline," Bella said as the relief washed over her, "I had nothing to do with this." She said as she swept her hands up and down her body.

"Well part of me says that I'm glad for it; you look ravishing, but the other part is kicking myself for not getting here sooner." Damon said before he sat down with her. "Any problems?"

"None that I couldn't handle," Bella replied, "Seriously Damon having them babysit me? I thought we had this conversation."

"You can't blame me for wanting to be thorough." Damon shrugged, "I knew I was going to be running late and I wanted to make sure someone had your back."

"Thank you for the concern, but it isn't needed," Bella said while standing up.

"Where are you going?" Damon asked.

"I'm leaving," Bella replied, "I'm tired of being watched over."

Bella started to head for the door but Damon pulled her back, "What is going on?"

"What?" Bella asked.

"You're hiding something and don't deny it." Damon said seriously, "Tell me what is going on." His ice blue eyes bore into her chocolate ones and his pupils' dilated

Bella pulled away, "I've already been drinking vervain Damon; you can't compel me." She replied.

"So you are hiding something." Damon said; ignoring her comment.

"Damon as your friend I say this because I care about you…stop with the conspiracy theories or your suspicions. Nothing is going on so don't worry." Bella replied.

"The lady doth protest too much me thinks." Damon replied.

"You actually got that quote right," Bella said teasing, "I'm impressed most say 'Me thinks the lady doth protest too much'."

"Well, it was choice between Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet; I went with Hamlet." Damon said annoyed.

"A tragedy over romance," Bella said thoughtfully.

"Haven't you seen my life Bella? The whole thing is a tragedy in the making." Damon replied.

"No it's not," Bella replied then added. "Maybe you could learn a thing or two from Romeo; he knew how to treat a lady."

"One you need some new reading books; haven't you heard of Harry Potter? Secondly I know how to treat a lady." Damon said smirking.

"I wouldn't call the girls you take back to your house ladies." Bella countered and headed back into the party.

As she did she ran right into Kol's chest.

"I knew you couldn't stay away from me for too long," Kol said cockily.

"Dream on," Bella said before she tried to move pass him.

Kol moved with Bella, "Come on dance with me; you'll like it."

"I'd rather jump off a cliff," Bella replied.

"One dance won't kill you," Kol continued.

"No but it could kill you," Damon said while coming in, "Besides," he said as he brushed the shoulder of Kol's tuxedo; "She's already taken."

Damon grabbed Bella's arm, wrapped it around his and led her to the dance floor.

"Do you just like playing the knight in shining armor?" Bella asked as Damon twirled her.

"I'm not a knight in shining armor; you of all people know that," Damon replied.

"That's where you're wrong," Bella countered, "You are the reluctant knight in shining armor. You pretend you don't care, but we both know you do."

"Sometimes I do," Damon admitted, "And other times I hurt those I want to protect. I'm not a hero Bella."

"You know every hero was a villain at some point, but they decided at one point that others were more important than their own wants, needs, and lives." Bella continued. "You can be a hero Damon…if you want to be."

"You think I'm redeemable," Damon asked amused.

"I wouldn't be here dancing with you if I didn't think you were," Bella answered, "I wouldn't be trying to work on our friendship. You don't give yourself enough credit."

"And here I have always been told I give myself too much," Damon said, laughing.

"I'm serious," Bella said, "You are a good man."

"I'm not a man anymore." Damon said quietly. "Ask anyone."

"That's only if you believe it," Bella replied.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Are you sure there is nothing going on between those two," Elijah asked while watching Bella and Damon dance.

"Damon Salvatore loving or wanting someone besides Elena Gilbert, please," Rebekah said as she rolled her eyes.

"They do seem cozy," Kol mused, "Just makes the chase all that more exciting for me."

"You do realize once Niklaus is back in his body, he plans on going after her," Rebekah said.

"No," Elijah said firmly, "Once he is back in his own body, we are leaving."

"Not if we don't want to," Kol countered. "She isn't going to do anything; Bella wants her friend free from Klaus, nothing will stop her; not even if we decide to stay."

"There is nothing for us here," Elijah stated.

"There might not be anything for you here, but there is something for me and she is sinfully dressed in red." Kol said while looking at Bella dangerously.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Damon caught Kol's stare and glared, "Come on," he said as he pulled Bella off the floor.

"Where are we going?" Bella asked.

"Away from things that want to take a bite out of you," Damon replied.

Bella wrenched her wrist from Damon's grip, "Stop." Bella said.

"Bella," Damon warned.

"No you listen to me; no running. This is my home, my territory. I am not going to allow some thousand year old vampires with arrogant attitudes take over. They don't get to take anything else away from anyone here, do you understand me." Bella said before she looked straight at Elijah, Rebekah and Kol, "They want to take a bite out of me, let them try, it will be the last thing they ever do."

Rebekah's eyes became dark, Kol looked amused, and Elijah started to push both of them from the party. Rebekah broke away and stomped over to Bella.

"You think you run this town," She asked in disbelief. "You are nothing."

"I am what is standing between you and this town bimbo," Bella said while straightening up, "Go ahead Rebekah, push me…I dare you."

"You will be sorry," Rebekah warned, "Get in our way and you will end up in the ground."

"Better vampires than you have tried and I'm still here." Bella countered, "Run along Rebekah, go primp in the mirror some more, try to tell yourself you're superior and beautiful but we both know that all this attitude is an act. You see, deep down you are still that scared, insecure little girl who can't get over that mommy and daddy betrayed her so you stomp your foot and act out, thinking it will make things better. You are nothing more than a spoiled, ignorant, immature little bitch." Bella said finishing.

Rebekah's vampire face started to come out and Elijah quickly grabbed her and pulled her out of the party.

"Are you insane?" Damon asked while whipping Bella around to face him, "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Making a stand," Bella replied, "Everyone around here tiptoes around them when all it takes is a few words for them to lose their composure and that makes them vulnerable."

"No, it makes them dangerous," Damon said seriously. "An angry vampire is not vulnerable."

"Yes they are," Bella said, "You don't think when you're angry. You're guard goes down, you think irrationally, which allows someone to destroy you."

"You're trying to figure out their buttons." Damon said, realizing then what Bella was doing.

Bella smiled, "Know your enemy Damon; that's one thing you taught me."

"You are trouble Swan," Damon said while shaking his head.

"And you're to blame on that one…you taught me how to be trouble." Bella replied with a smile.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"That little witch," Rebekah said before throwing a vase against the wall, "How dare she say those things to me? Who the hell does she think she is?"

"She was intentionally trying to get a reaction out of you Rebekah," Kol said while rolling his eyes, "Honestly now I understand what they mean by blonde moments. It was obvious she was doing it on purpose."

"I don't care," Rebekah seethed, "I want to rip her heart out, I want to snap her little neck like a twig, I want to hurt her."

"You will do no such thing," Elijah roared causing both Rebekah and Kol to freeze, "She is the one that is going to free Klaus and you will not touch her."

"Someone's panties are in a wad," Klaus said while strutting in, "What's wrong sister, can't handle a little witch?"

"Once you're back in your body, she's dead," Rebekah hissed.

"You aren't going to touch her," Klaus said; his voice serious and dangerous, "She is too much of a puzzle to kill."

"I agree," Kol said, "I want to see what she is capable of."

"You've gone mad," Elijah said in disbelief, "I don't think she is one of the witches you want to be messing with."

"Did you see her and Salvatore?" Kol asked Klaus, ignoring Elijah.

"He fancies her," Klaus said amused, "But we all know his heart truly lies with Elena."

"But he cares for Bella," Kol said, "It could be fun to watch as we try to persuade her."

"True," Klaus said, "Perhaps we could make him chose between the two."

"Klaus this is no time for games," Elijah said, deciding then to intervene, "She is not a witch you want to mess with."

"Oh, but she is," Klaus replied as he looked into the burning fire, "She is a challenge and I love a challenge."

"So instead of you and Elijah competing for a girl, it will be you and Kol; how lovely," Rebekah said annoyed, "Tell me how did that end again?"

"Let me make one thing clear little sister," Klaus said before turning to look at her, "Stay away from Bella. If you hurt her, I will put you back in that coffin…are we clear?"

"Yes," Rebekah replied reluctantly.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Carol it was a great party," Bella said while hugging Carol.

"It wasn't too unbearable," Carol asked while laughing, "I know how you hate these things."

"Well once the psycho family from hell left, it got better," Bella replied, laughing.

"Now that Halloween is almost over, I have to start planning for Thanksgiving." Carol said whimsically.

"Where's Tyler?" Matt asked.

"Oh he said he needed some air; probably out running," Carol replied, "I think he's been having a hard time."

"He'll be alright Carol," Bella said reassuringly.

Everyone headed out the door.

"So what now?" Matt asked, "I know none of us are tired."

"Speak for yourself," Bella said, "I still have homework so I will see you guys later."

"No," Elena argued, "Bella ever since you've gotten back, we have barely hung out. Come on, be irresponsible for one night."

"Elena I pretty much insulted the big baddies in town, I think I'm done being irresponsible." Bella replied.

"Come on," Jeremy said, "We could drink some more."

"I have a whole cabinet at my house," Damon added.

"Who said you were invited," Caroline asked.

"I don't remember you being given an invitation either," Damon countered.

"Guys just stop," Bella said while stepping in between the two of them, "I am going home, I'm tired but I promise you next weekend we will go out and do whatever you guys want to."

"Promise?" Elena asked.

"I promise," Bella said, "Goodnight guys."

Bella got into the car she came in and it drove her home. It wasn't until she reached the front steps that she realized she was screwed.

"Damn it," Bella said while leaning her head against the door.

"You know after pissing off Original vampires it's not very wise to stay outside." Damon's voice said, coming from her front yard.

"Right now Original vampires are the last of my worries." Bella said while turning around to see him leaned up against a tree.

"What's worse than Original vampires?" Damon asked amused.

Bella walked over and sat on the railing of her front porch, "Trying to figure out how the hell I'm going to get out of this dress."

"Well," Damon said as he walked over to stand beneath the railing, "I wouldn't mind being of assistance," he said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

Bella playfully swatted the top of his head and in an instant he was sitting on the railing with her.

"Hey don't mess with the hair," Damon said.

Bella looked up to the sky; it was a clear night allowing all the stars to shine through.

"I remember quite a few nights sitting out here with you," Damon reminisced, "Your grandma always had to come out and drag you inside."

"She thought you were a bad influence on me." Bella said chuckling.

"Moi," Damon said in disbelief, "Well I am just offended."

They both laughed.

"She was a good woman," Damon continued. "Lots of heart."

"Yeah she was," Bella agreed, "She was the mom I never had."

"Speaking of mothers," Damon said carefully, "How is Renee?"

"Married some minor league baseball player last I heard," Bella said with a shrug, "That was about six months ago."

They were quiet for a while until Damon finally ask; "Are you ever going to tell me what's going on?"

Bella sighed, "Damon do you trust me?"

"Of course," Damon replied.

"Then believe me when I say there's nothing going on." Bella replied before she stood up, "I better get inside."

"Mind if I crash again?" Damon asked.

"Sure," Bella replied as she unlocked the door.

Damon had gone to his car to get his bag and Bella walked up stairs to try to get her dress off. Try being the keyword. No matter how she angled she couldn't undo her dress.

A light chuckle alerted her to Damon's presence in her doorway.

"It's not funny," Bella said as she narrowed her eyes in the mirror at Damon's smirking face.

"It's a little funny," Damon said. "Come on you know it is."

"Okay I know I look ridiculous," Bella said.

"You don't look ridiculous," Damon said while walking in, "You looked beautiful tonight."

"Yeah right," Bella replied, rolling her eyes in the process.

"Don't do that," Damon said.

"Don't tease me then," Bella said.

Damon sighed and forced Bella to look in the mirror, "Look at yourself and I mean really look at yourself; you are gorgeous. You have flawless skin Bella; every girl and woman wants that. Whether you realize it or not people are envious of you and tonight just fueled that envy."

"Stop it Damon," Bella said as she started to feel uncomfortable.

"No," Damon said, "It doesn't matter what you wear Bella, you are a beautiful woman both inside and out. You are the girl people envy because they know you have the best of all three worlds; beauty, brains, and heart. Every guy wants a girl like you."

"Not every guy," Bella said as the memory of Edward tugged at both her heart and brain.

"Don't think about him," Damon said while turning Bella around to face him, "He was an idiot, he lost you. He should have never let you go but he was too much of an idiot to realize that. You are beautiful, self-less, passionate, smart, funny," As Damon described Bella, he started to lean down, coming closer to Bella; his lips were centimeters away from hers, "You are everything that's good in this world and if he couldn't see that then he didn't deserve you. You belong with someone who accepts you, who knows that you're strong enough to handle the toughest situations, who trusts you, who loves you and appreciates the woman you are."

Bella was so caught up in Damon's eyes that she couldn't feel her heart pounding in her chest or the blush creeping up her cheeks or the taste of Damon's breathe. Unwillingly her tongue darted out, wetting her lips.

Damon himself was entranced with Bella as well; they had flirted but this seemed different. When her tongue darted out to wet her lips it was almost like an unseen force was beckoning Damon closer to kiss Bella. Bella's lips looked so soft, full, and inviting.

Just as Damon and Bella's lips were about to touch, something broke the spell that had been woven around them.

"Bella!" Caroline called as she started up the stairs, "I completely forgot you can't get out of your dress without help."

Damon quickly backed away before walking out the door, passing Caroline on the way and bumping into her.

"What the hell is his problem?" Caroline asked as she heard the front door slam.

Bella shook her head to clear it, "Nothing," Bella said, "Just stuff."

Caroline shrugged and started to unlace Bella while she stared out the window as she tried to figure out what the hell had almost happened.

A/N: Hey everyone I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The picture of Bella's dress is over on my wonderful beta's live journal account.

Thank you to Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all the amazing work that you do. I'm sorry I haven't been very talkative lately. Thanks also to the wonderful group over on facebook Bambi's Beloveds.

Things are about to get very hectic in Mystic Falls and I hope you are ready for the ride.

Review they get you teasers.