you've gone too far, you're too demented
how many times, how many chances?
should I let you take me for granted?
you'll be sorry, gia farrall

"Criss Angel."

She scoffed. "You're just saying that because he's a magician." When Bonnie gave her a quizzical expression, Caroline rolled her eyes and pulled her towards the lockers. "You're a witch. He's a magician. You both excel at magic. You can't decide on Hottie of the Week if you have a biased opinion." She rolled her eyes at her friend's excuse to have her own way. "That's why I think it should be Mark Salling."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "Care, it's not really a biased opinion when all we're discussing is their looks, but - "

"Caroline."

They both turned, and the smiles on their faces dispersed when they saw Matt standing in front of them.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shot Bonnie a pleading gaze. The witch pursed her lips in hesitant consideration before reaching over and giving Caroline's hand a firm squeeze, her own form of reassurance, ignoring the smile of gratitude that he sent her.

The tardy bell rang as Bonnie made her way to their history class, and Caroline dreaded being alone with Matt, but met his gaze head-on, and wished she could wipe off the hopeful smile that he was sending her way.

"Hey. Can we talk?"

...

Elena turned to the door and smiled when she saw Bonnie come in. Stefan looked to his girlfriend's best friend with concern as she set her books down on the desk methodically, his senses coming to full alert as he waited for her to declare her problem - because the crease in her forehead and the narrow set of her shoulders told him that there was a problem.

"What's wrong, Bonnie?"

Bonnie met their gazes with steely green eyes before heaving a sigh as she took her seat, turning her body towards the couple. "I don't really know. I'm worried about Caroline."

"Why didn't she come in with you?"

"Matt wanted to talk to her."

Stefan's eyebrows furrowed as he was reminded of what Matt had done, and his fingers wrapped around the edge of his desk as he feigned interest in the teacher's lesson, perking his ears up and channeling his vampire senses so he could hear Matt and Caroline's conversation from the hallway.

...

She crossed her arms over her chest once the hallway was clear of students.

"I'm listening."

Matt nodded and scratched the back of his head anxiously. "I don't know how to say this but...I kissed this girl at Tyler's party," he told her, pausing for a second before raising his arms. "But it didn't mean anything."

She raised her eyebrows, even though his admission cut at her raw wounds like a knife with a serrated edge, but she was done displaying her vulnerability out there for him to see; he only ended up using it against her. "I'm not your girlfriend anymore. You don't owe me an explanation."

"Just let me finish," he insisted, and she raised her chin in defiance as she waited for him to continue. "Yeah, I kissed another girl. But it felt wrong." Her eyebrow creased imperceptibly and her throat felt dry. "When my lips were on hers...your image kept popping up."

She inhaled deeply before inclining her head to the side. "Do you have a point?"

He hesitated where he stood for a moment before stepping forward and taking her hand in his, trailing his thumb gently over her knuckles like he always used to do when they were dating. It reminded her of smiles and laughter and love - of a time when she wouldn't hesitate to run into his arms and the feel of his touch didn't feel so...cold.

"Give us another chance."

She breathed a humorless chuckle as her eyes kept themselves trained on their hands. "Matt..."

"I love you, Care." Her heart raced like it did every time he'd tell her that, and she looked up at him through her eyelashes, suddenly unsure. "The way you're looking at me convinces me that you feel the same way."

She knew what he was doing. He knew that he was her only major vulnerability and he was pitting it against her - twisting it and using it to his advantage, sure that she'd give in. He was probably just lonely and decided that he wanted some company. He didn't want her, didn't want Caroline Forbes, he wanted someone. She just happened to be an easy target.

She found her resolve in serious danger of crumbling as she recounted all the joyous times she spent with him by her side and wondered if it was such a horrible thing to want him back. Sure, she'd never be better than Elena in his eyes, but she could live with that, she was used to it. And sure, he'd never really take her or their relationship seriously, but that was what high school love revolved around, right? It's in the moment, and it's not forever.

She thought of Stefan and Elena, of the way they'd stare at each other, and of how much she'd continuously wanted - wants - to be on the receiving end of one of those looks, where the guy she's with conveys all the love and adoration he feels for her in a smile.

She hated how she realized that she'll never get that from Matt. "Whether I love you or not isn't the question here," she began in a soft voice, and she relished the dumbfounded expression gracing his features. "It's whether I'm willing to let the person who hurt me the most back into my life." She gently took her hand from his grasp and met his gaze head-on. "I'm not."

He stood there for a second with his eyebrows lowered as he mulled over what she just said. She bit her lower lip as she awaited his reaction and sighed before going around him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she passed. Her eyes widened by a fraction when she felt his hand grip her arm and spin her around roughly. "Hold on a second. So, you're refusing to be with me?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking back at him through steely eyes, ignoring the way her heart thrummed rapidly against the confines of her chest in fear. "Matt, let me go," she ordered, internally praising herself when her voice didn't waver.

His expression twisted and she was staring back at a mask of rage and incredulity, any trace of the boy she loved completely gone. He squeezed her arm tighter and Caroline winced as he gripped her bone through her skin, so painfully aware that her other arm was starting to shake that she didn't hear the sound of a door opening. Her lower lip trembled as she felt her circulation being cut off with the more pressure he placed into his death-grip. "You're hurting me."

"Let her go."

She turned and relief made its way through her body when she spotted Stefan coming towards them. Matt raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him, but released her nonetheless. Her hand twitched, aching to slap him, and she shot a scowl in his direction before mouthing a thanks to her rescuer.

Stefan gave a slight nod in the direction of their classroom and she made her way to the door obediently. He started walking towards Matt once he heard the click of the door, assuring him that Caroline was safely inside the classroom. He wanted to laugh when the blonde backed away slightly before holding his ground and scoffing at him, straightening his posture so he could save face.

"What, are you her bodyguard now?"

Stefan ignored Matt's question and summoned up all his power within him, focusing all of it into his gaze as he stared into Matt's eyes intensely, pleased when the human boy didn't look away. "Never go near Caroline again," he ordered. "Or there will be consequences." Stefan started walking towards the classroom once Matt gave a slight nod to show he complied with his orders, only to turn back when he realized he forgot something. "Oh, one more thing."

...

"You punched him?"

He smiled down at her and leaned down to kiss her temple as he nodded. She didn't really mind that he'd punched her ex because of what he'd done to Caroline, and Elena knew where her loyalties lay. "He was manhandling her. What'd you expect me to do?"

Her eyebrows scrunched together as she gave it some thought before looking up at him. "Well...compel him?"

"Done."

The corners of her lips quirked as she looked up at him in amusement, lifting their joined hands to trail her finger down his cheek. "Wow, physical violence and mind control. Looks like Caroline has found herself a new guardian angel," she mused. He rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Don't you mean guardian vampire?"

She rolled her eyes. "Technicalities." He resisted the urge to frown when that simple word made her sound so much more like his brother and dismissed the thought immediately, leaning down to capture her lips with his. She giggled as they parted and sighed as she disentangled herself from their embrace. "I'm thirsty. Be right back."

As Elena crossed the treshold of his bedroom, Stefan plopped down onto his bed. He exhaled deeply, evaluating the day's events in his mind.

In all honesty, he didn't really fathom why he cared so much. Perhaps it was because seeing her so vulnerable and torn down made remorse bubble inside him when he wasn't even the cause. But seeing Matt holding her when she didn't want to be held...it made blood boil in the pit of his stomach and he always felt overcome with the need to protect this certain girl.

He rubbed his hands over his eyes and dug his phone out of his pocket when he felt a vibration, smiling as he read the illuminated screen.

Caroline.

Speak of the devil, and he doth appear.

"Hello?"

"You, Stefan Salvatore, have one serious hero complex."

A ghost of a smile danced on his lips at her airy slash scolding slash incredulous tone and he inclined his head to the side as he stood up, only to sit back down when he told himself that she couldn't see him. "I don't believe I know what you're talking about."

He could practically hear her eyes rolling over the phone line. "Whatever. I know your fist was formally introduced to Matt's eye today," she told him, and he chuckled. "Thank you. Again. Times a million."

"Don't worry about it." He hesitated for a moment before tacking on, "What are friends for?"

There was a beat of silence where Stefan worried that he'd taken the boundaries of their kinship to a whole new level that she wasn't comfortable with, and he was seriously debating hanging up, because he'd never really been friends with anyone before, and he wasn't sure if considering them friends was wrong or -

"Oh, so we're friends now?"

He sighed and thought it over once he realized that she was leaving the choice up to him. He didn't think of his relationship with Caroline as just strangers-on-a-first-name-basis anymore. The term seemed so miniscule now. He wouldn't go out of his way to make sure she was okay if he continued to think of her that way.

"Yeah, we are."

"I'm glad."

He could practically hear the smile in her voice, and his own lips turned upwards in response, thinking that it might've just been the start of something amazing.

"Me too."

Reviews are love.

A/N: Chappie tres! I know it's so late, but I've been busy and have two other multi-chappie fics that are my prime focus, and many one-shot inspirations that had to be attended to. I included Criss Angel and Mark Salling because sweet baby Jesus, those two are smokin'. I adore Caroline/Bonnie friendship so fucking much. Yes, this chapter was meant to make you hate Matt. I know he's not like that, but it's for the purpose of the story, mayne. Also, Stefan/Matt friendship is nonexistent in this story - although I do love their bromance on the show. Just so you know, Caroline does believe in Bonnie's witchcraft - well, in my story anyway, but she has yet to learn about the vampires. Keyword: yet. Next chappie will probably just be some fun times between the whole gang, and of course, Stefan and Caroline ;)