'cause you still have my heartache,
and i still have your sweater
and things, they will be better
oh no, but not today
forevermore, katie herzig
"So what are you doing?"
Stefan's eyebrows furrowed and he wondered what was taking Elena so long to get a simple drink. He stood up and made his way to the hallway quickly, holding on to the banister as he walked down the stairs.
"Nothing. I'm just at home," he told her simply.
A scoff, then "Eww."
He chuckled. The feeling of having an actual friend besides Lexi was something entirely foreign to him, and he wasn't quite sure how to go about it, especially when said friend was a human. Lexi was the only person that ever got to see how carefree and laid-back he was, and Caroline would be no different. "So you're assuming that because - "
He stopped short at the sight before him. Damon was leaning into Elena's face, his hands placed against the wall on either side of her head, and she wasn't doing anything to stop him, although he could see the hesitation in the narrow set of her shoulders, but hesitation wasn't enough. Hesitation didn't mean anything in the long run. Jealousy flared up inside him instantly and he could feel his fangs begging for release, aching to tear Damon's throat out.
His brother sighed. "Gosh, Stefan. It seems like you've mastered the art of ruining the moment perfectly."
Elena looked up to find her boyfriend standing there, looking confused and hurt and enraged, and guilt made her throat thicken instantly. She glared at Damon, pushing him away from her quickly, dusting herself off and looking to Stefan with apologetic eyes.
"Stefan? Hello? Are you okay? Stefan?"
He was reminded that he was holding a phone to his ear when Caroline's worried voice rang through his eardrum. He swallowed and cleared his throat. "I'm okay. I have to go, something came up. I'll see you tomorrow." He closed his phone shut before she had a chance to answer, and something akin to repentment crossed his mind before he dismissed the thought, instead choosing to scowl at Damon.
"Who was that?"
Stefan's gaze turned to Elena, and his expression softened somewhat. "Caroline."
Damon inclined his head to the side and blinked, pointing a finger towards his younger brother. "Let me get this straight. Caroline gets smiley Stefan and we get broody, holier-than-thou Stefan?" he asked incredulously, referring to the chuckle he'd heard earlier. His eyes darted to Elena for a second before he jutted out his lower lip in a childish pout. "That's not fair."
She rolled her eyes and stepped forward with her hands in the pockets of her jeans, brow lowered in concern. "How is she?"
Stefan pursed his lips, knowing that she was trying to direct the focus of his mind to a safer subject, one that didn't involve his girlfriend and his brother. His jaw clenched, but he answered nonetheless. "She sounded just fine."
Elena nodded and Damon stepped in, an almost imperceptible crease forming in the skin of his forehead as he looked between them. "Something happen to ice princess?"
Stefan narrowed his eyes, because he could sense the concern - albeit mild - swimming underneath the brim of the snark Damon was portraying, and wished for the millionth time that his brother would drop the apathetic act.
"It's just Matt. Nothing you need to pretend to care about."
Damon smirked, raising his hand to his chest in mock hurt. "Ouch. You wound me, little brother." He pursed his lips and smirked, raising his finger to his chin, feigning consideration. "Oh, I dunno. I guess I could snap Mattie's neck like a twig," he mused, and Elena turned to him with wide eyes, which he expertly ignored. "Besides, it'll compensate for him stealing my favorite blonde blood bank."
Elena gaped at him and grimaced. "You're heinous," she spit out venomously, stalking quickly towards the staircase that would lead her to Stefan's room, and both brothers watched her go. "And you're not going anywhere near Matt!" she yelled when she was out of sight.
Damon guffawed, looking to Stefan with amused eyes. "Talk about a drama queen, huh?"
His expression remained indecipherable as he stared his older brother down. "When are you going to get it, Damon? Elena wants nothing to do with you," he snapped, watching as a switch was flipped inside of him as his eyes hardened and his jaw tensed.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Stefan."
The elder Salvatore made his way over to their mini-bar and poured himself a glass of bourbon, downing it with a simple flick of his wrist. He refrained from wincing as the amber liquid left a burning trail in his throat and went to grab his leather jacket from the couch, placing it over his body with ease. He frowned when he noticed that Stefan was still standing there, making his way towards the front door.
"Don't you have a girlfriend to attend to or something?"
...
"Hey Bon."
She grinned, taking the seat opposite them, getting a water bottle out of her messenger bag. "Hey guys."
Stefan inclined his head to the side, looking to Elena in question, but his girlfriend just squeezed his hand before turning back to Bonnie. He couldn't ignore the sense of wrongness settling in his stomach at the reminder that they always fell back into the same patterns; everything would be fine, Damon would do something to make him doubt the strength of their relationship, she'd swear that she loved only him, he would be able to sense a lie between her words but he'd dismiss the feeling, and everything would be fine again.
Quite frankly, he was getting a little tired of it.
"What's got you all...peppy?"
She was about to open her mouth to answer when Caroline plopped down beside her, looking at all of them with a smile before turning back to Bonnie. "What are we talking about?"
She rolled her eyes before continuing. "Well, I've been practicing my witchcra - "
Stefan's eyes bugged wide and Caroline clamped a hand over Bonnie's mouth to keep her quiet. The vampire's eyes darted to and fro Caroline and Bonnie's face, clearly trying to convey the message of "Idiot! She's right there!", and Bonnie narrowed her eyes in Caroline's direction, who reluctantly let her go and glared at Stefan.
"You better not say anything," she warned.
His eyebrows raised. "You know?"
She gaped. "You know?"
Stefan blinked. He couldn't believe that Caroline knew about Bonnie's powers. He hated to admit it, but he'd always pegged her as someone who wouldn't believe in the supernatural despite having proof, or as someone who would use their hold on that information to their advantage.
Now that he knew she wasn't like that...well, for a second, he considered telling her about his vampirism, but no, that would put her in danger, and he already had too many people tangled up in his web of the supernatural. He didn't need to add Caroline to the mix, not when they had barely acknowledged their newfound friendship.
"Is this amusing to anyone else but me?" Bonnie asked, eyes alight with humor as she stared at her friends' disbelieving expressions. Elena raised her hand, her own lips quirking in amusement, and Bonnie chuckled as Caroline stuttered.
"Well," the blonde started. "I didn't see that one coming. I thought it was just me and Elena that knew?"
The witch bit her lip. "No, Stefan knows too. And...Damon."
Caroline's eyebrows creased and she tried to ignore the faint pang of hurt that lingered around her heart at the mention of her ex-boyfriend. Stefan studied her reaction with acute concentration, noting the way her shoulders slumped just slightly, and he cursed himself for not saving her from his brother's twisted ministrations as soon as he should've.
"Damon? How does he know?"
Bonnie was about to explain, but one look at Stefan told her that if she told Caroline everything, she'd inadvertently tell her that the Salvatores were vampires, and while she knew that she could be trusted, it wasn't her place to tell.
"Well, I was just practicing my witchcraft at Stefan's house and Damon barged in unannounced," Bonnie explained breezily. "What other choice did I have but to tell him?"
She nodded slowly, sighing dismissively, although she still remained wary about whether Damon could be trusted or not. "Well, that's that, then." Her lips pursed imperceptibly when Elena laid her head against Stefan's shoulder and he kissed her hair, and she turned to Bonnie sharply. "What were you saying about your witchcraft?"
Bonnie smiled, oblivious to her friend's insistence of a conversation to serve as a form of distraction from the couple in front of them. "Nothing. Just that I've been improving. It's gotten so much easier to levitate heavy objects," she declared, and received three wide grins in return. "And that, my friends, is why I'm in such a good mood today."
"That's great, sweetie," Caroline praised, giving her a quick one-armed hug before turning her neck in Stefan's direction. "You. What happened to you yesterday? It was...weird."
Elena stiffened and averted her eyes, because she knew fine well why he abruptly ended their conversation. Caroline was waiting expectantly, and Stefan's teeth minutely grinded together, because they'd just started being friends, and he was already lying to her. He swallowed down the feeling of guilt wrapping around his throat like a vice and gave her a simple shrug.
"Damon."
She nodded once in understanding. "Ah." Looking to change the uncomfortable subject of Stefan's brother, she grinned, setting her palms on the table and looking at their faces intently, eyes dancing with mirth and determination as she remembered the original reason she'd approached them in the first place. "We are going to Alison's party tonight."
Elena groaned and Bonnie rolled her eyes. The former snuggled herself closer to her boyfriend, and Caroline's posture absentmindedly straightened. Stefan cocked his head to the side.
"Alison?"
Caroline nodded. "Yeah. She's a complete bitch, but she throws great parties and she lives in a mansion."
"Which means Care is going to drag us there. Like always."
Caroline scowled at Elena, and Stefan smothered a smile.
"As I was saying," she continued, "we're going. Stefan, it's about time you learned what a true high school party is all about." He was about to politely protest when she gave it a second thought. "Actually, I think it's safe to say that they're pretty horrible, but still. You need the experience. No one goes through high school without going to at least one party. It's fact."
Stefan grimaced. "I'm not sure..."
"C'mon. I won't even drink at this one." Elena and Bonnie looked at her with raised eyebrows, and Caroline scoffed, a bit miffed. Even Stefan was looking at her doubtfully, although amusement was the main undercurrent in the lines of his features. "What? I promise."
...
She was hammered by midnight.
Bonnie grunted as she took one of Caroline's arms and slung it over her neck, and Elena did the same, wrapping an arm around her friend's waist. Stefan frowned at the scene before him, because it was quite obvious that they were used to taking care of Caroline, and while it was sweet and endearing, a part of him just felt sad as he watched her feeble attempt at standing, only to stumble with a giggle.
"Oops."
"My God, Care. Looks like that promise went down the toilet," Elena scolded.
"Seriously. Who was that guy?" Bonnie asked, her tone tinged with a mixture of curiosity and incredulity.
Caroline looked up to the night sky and pursed her lips. "Hmm...I think his name was Jake," she affirmed, only to furrow her eyebrows as she tried to remember more details through the haze encircling her brain. "Or was it Josh? Joseph?" She shrugged. "Definitely something starting with a - " Suddenly, her world was spinning, and the cement was twisting and turning until she could feel it beneath her. She laughed, splaying her arms out lazily over her head. "How'd that happen?"
Elena cursed, and Bonnie raised her hands to the air in frustration.
"Every time."
"Here," Stefan interrupted, handing Elena the keys to his car. "Since Caroline gave Bonnie a ride, and she is clearly in no state to drive, you drive Bonnie home, and then go to your house. I'll drop her off before heading over there."
The two girls gave him looks of gratitude, and Bonnie dug around in her purse for Caroline's keys and gave them to him. Elena gave him a quick peck on the lips before they made their way to his car. Stefan sighed and placed his hands on his hips, looking down at Caroline for a second before breathing an unamused chuckle.
Never let it be said that Stefan wasn't observant, so there is no way in hell that he didn't know that Alison's party was her own twisted version of therapy to cope with her run-in with Matt the previous day. Although he didn't approve of it, he knew that it was too early in their friendship for him to be judging her actions by any means, so he'd chosen to stay quiet.
Her eyes were drooping slightly, so he guessed it was nearing that stage where she completely passed out. He bent down and placed one of his hands in the crook of her knees while keeping the other one firmly pressed against her back and lifted her, hating how light she was. A strange wave of déjà vu washed over him and he was reminded of the time he'd saved her from Logan Fell's cruel ministrations.
She stirred in his arms, and he took a detour on his journey down memory lane, reminding himself to stay focused on his current objective, which was to get Caroline home in one piece. Her eyes opened and cyan met jade.
"Stefan?"
His lips quirked slightly and he nodded down at her. "Yeah. I'm taking you home."
She curled her fingers into his shirt and pressed her face closer to his chest. He told himself it was probably because it was mid-October, and the air was crisp as it hit her bare arms, although the way she looked so at home with him begged to differ.
"Okay," she breathed wispily, one of her blonde curls falling delicately around his finger like a tendril. "That's fine."
Even if her mind was being dominated by the alcohol she'd consumed, her body was on hyper-alert, fully aware of the way his arms tightened around her before settling her in her passenger seat, the way his fingers barely brushed her neck when he buckled the seatbelt around her, and she couldn't really be blamed when her neck tingled in the wake of his touch.
Her hero.
...
Caroline stood steady for a moment with her hand on the banister, checking to see if her balance was good enough so she could walk. When she was assured that it was, she took a step forward, only to stumble as her knees gave out with jelly-like resistance.
Stefan moved towards her with the speed of lightening, wrapping an arm around her waist to make sure her body didn't crumple on the stairs. He analyzed her face warily and breathed a sigh of relief when she gave him a sloppy smile and he was assured that she didn't see any of his vampire traits in motion.
She laughed as she righted herself, clutching at her stomach and gripping Stefan's arm so she wouldn't keel over. He stared at her, eyebrows raised, a small smile beginning to form on his lips as he took in just how crazy she looked at the moment. She sighed when the inebriation-induced laughter went away, and resorted to staring at him in wonder.
He rolled his eyes and jutted his chin in the staircase's direction. "C'mon, Caroline. Let's get you upstairs."
"Okey dokey, Mr. Party Pooper."
He chuckled inaudibly and took hold of her arm firmly, leading her upstairs cautiously, always keeping his eyes on her feet to make sure she'd make it safely. He opened the door to her bedroom and momentarily paused when he spotted a familiar scrap of clothing hanging from the chair at her desk.
"Hey, that's my sweater."
"Yeah."
She wasn't going to offer its return to him, because then that would imply that she didn't want it anymore. And she did. Caroline didn't really know how to explain it, but just knowing that a little piece of Stefan was always with her made her feel warm, and she loved the feeling, and she wasn't about to give it up.
He'd almost forgotten about its existence. It was obvious to him that she loved it enough to keep it as a reminder of some sort, and he thought it endearing, so he wouldn't ask for it back.
"Well, technically, it's your sweater now."
She gave him a small smile, and he noted that the effects of the alcohol she'd consumed seemed to be wavering. She yawned, and he smiled thoughtfully, moving to pull back the covers of her bed once he was assured that sleepiness was mixing in with her drunken state.
"You should get some sleep."
She nodded and laid down on her bed, seemingly not having the energy to put up much of an argument.
"Most of the time, I wish I was Elena," she mumbled, and his eyebrows raised slightly at her admission as he went to work on taking off her boots.
Stefan had always known that Caroline had some insecurities when it came to his girlfriend - whether it was boys, looks, or popularity - and he felt slightly guilty for taking part in it as well; having rejected her when she came on to him only to go running to Elena.
"Why is that?"
He wanted to get to know this girl better, wanted to know why she felt the need to be the best at everything so desperately. He wanted to know her, and if the only reason she told him was because she was drunk off her ass, then so be it.
"Because then I'd have you."
Reviews make me smile.
A/N: Okay, so I am totally inspired for this story at the moment, though I'm sure it won't last very long - my muse is a bitch like that. Anyways, there was your Damon appearance! Gah, I love him so fucking much - favorite male character of all time. I had to include D/E/S triangle, because it's the Vampire Diaries, and how could I not? While I've never been a big fan of Stefan's character, I'll admit that writing this story has made me fall in love with him. I still don't like him with Elena though. Never have, never will - sorry, SE shippers. Okay, in other news, I have officially mapped out the storyline for Bleed For Me and am proud to say that there will be fifteen more chapters following this one, including an epilogue, so Stefan and Caroline will have quite the journey :)