Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've done these past few chapters (Chapters 6 through 8) and hadn't put them up because I've been so swamped with things. I hope you all enjoy them. Please let me know what you all think and if anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. Thanks ;)

Chapter 7: The Ruse

Damon and Elena's mirth was short lived when they entered the living room of the boarding house. They saw that Stefan was there, frowning, but otherwise impassive.

"Do you have a minute?" He asked softly looking at Elena.

She gaped at him but nodded tersely. Damon gave his brother a warning glare and took hold of her hand.

"I'd like to speak to Elena alone, if I can," Stefan said evenly.

"Sorry, baby bro, can't let that happen after all the shitty things you said to her already," Damon warned.

"I know and I don't blame you, but I don't have anything shitty or mean to say. I promise."

"Your promises mean nothing to me! After all, remember that our father should've pulled out before I could be conceived," Damon hissed.

Stefan winced. "I didn't mean that. I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry." Damon gave him a skeptical look which prompted Stefan to continue. "To say I've acted out of character is an understatement. I'm sorry I hurt you both. I pushed it too far."

Damon's brows furrowed and he said, "What the hell are you, schizo or something?"

"Yeah, Stefan, what's with you? What game are you playing at? First you say those nasty things to Damon, then call me a whore and have the audacity to ask how Damon was in bed! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Elena demanded.

He held his hands up and said, "No game. And no, Damon, I'm not schizo. I had to make sure Klaus believed that I had turned my humanity off. I never knew where he might be lurking and it was very convincing. I think it worked."

"Yeah, a little too convincingly if you ask me," Damon sneered.

"Look, I don't blame either of you for being angry with me…," Stefan started but was abruptly interrupted by Damon.

"Angry?!" He thundered. "I'm fucking pissed off!"

Stefan fell silent as Damon rushed at him, grasping him by the front of his grey hoodie. "I don't blame you," Stefan mumbled.

"Whatever you have to say to Elena, make it fucking quick!" Damon snapped and shoved Stefan away from him roughly sending him stumbling backwards towards Elena.

Stefan straightened himself out and turned to her. "Elena, I'm truly sorry about what I said to you. I never meant to hurt you."

"Yeah, well, it did, Stefan," She said sharply.

"I got too wrapped up in my ruse. I wanted to appear like I didn't care. That it didn't bother me that you chose Damon."

"I don't think all of what you said was a ruse, but rather your innermost thoughts which you normally would keep to yourself!" Damon snapped.

Elena exchanged a glance with Damon and then turned to Stefan. "So by telling me this, you think I'll suddenly leave Damon, come running back to you and forgive you?"

"No, that's not it. I just wanted you to know…both of you to know, that I didn't mean it. And for the record, I'm not okay with you and my brother. It bothers me how quickly you ran to him when I left with Klaus. But I guess I deserved it. I did leave you high and dry to wonder what happened to me." Stefan told her and walked out of the room.

Elena sighed and went after him. "Stefan! Wait a minute."

When Damon saw her go after Stefan his heart dropped. Feeling upset, he made his way past them in the front hall brusquely and walked out the door not bothering to close it behind him.

Elena's eyes widened and she rushed to the door and called out, "Damon! Dammit, Damon! I was going to tell him that I'm with you now! Come back! Oh, goddammit! Now I'll have to go after him." Then she slammed the door so fiercely Stefan jumped.

"I'm sorry that happened, Elena. Do you want me to try to find him for you? It'll be a little quicker." Stefan asked her.

Elena gave him a skeptical look and let out an exasperated breath, "Fine, but know this, I am NOT leaving him for you! I made the choice to take a chance on him and now he thinks I'm leaving him for you. Happy?"

Stefan remained stoic, but said, "That wasn't my intention, Elena. I just wanted to say my peace and try to move on, like you obviously did."

She slapped him soundly then. "How dare you! YOU left ME! All those months with no word; nothing! Damon was there for me and then some. How could I not get closer to him? It wasn't planned! It just happened! He just got under my skin and consumed me. Now, help me find him and I'll look too."

He was stunned by her slap but nodded. "Fine, I'll help you find Damon. Then what?"

She raised a brow and said, "Then, nothing. We find him and I tell him what happened. That's all, Stefan. Look, I still love you, but it's not the same. It can't be the same. Everything has changed. We've both changed, so how could we go back and act as if nothing happened? It's not possible. I'm sorry, Stefan, but I can't."

He nodded tersely and said, "Fair enough. Shall we find Damon then?"

She nodded and he gestured towards the door, "After you, Elena." She headed out the door and turned around to see him still standing in the doorway.

"Well? Are you going or what?" She asked.

He nodded and sped out. Elena sighed. She sure hoped Stefan wasn't playing anymore head games and was actually going to look for Damon for her too. She was going to try the Grill first. If he wasn't there, then she would try giving Alaric a call to see if he'd seen or heard from him even though their friendship was a tad strained after the neck snapping incident. She'd have to give it a shot. She didn't want to blow it with him. He had enough let downs in his life and she didn't want to be another one.