My dear readers, here is my newest chapter. Enjoy!

I don't own anything except my OCs.

- Chapter 2 - Friends -

I was again, walking through town, it was keeping my head free and it gave me time to think. As I watched my breath drawing patterns in the cold night air, I let my thoughts wander back to this afternoon, when my brothers had met Ben.

"Hey. I'm Benjamin" Ben said and shook Damon's hand first, then Stefan's. He smiled throughout the introduction, shaking his hair out of his eyes. Stefan looked sceptical but Damon just smiled. It was strange seeing the two of them practically change places but I was just glad Ben was there. He had been my friend and my companion for the past months and he had been such a great help in my search, I couldn't imagine my life without him anymore.

"We met in Cleaveland" Ben was just explaining to her brothers. "It was just obvious she was needing help, I watched her about a week in that bar and she was getting drunk every night" he laughed as Damon laughed with him, throwing me a glance to which I smiled back.

"The very last night I talked to her and in her drunken mannor she told me everything about her, that was the point we became friends. I'm a werewolf" he explained and smiled kindly. This smile, I growed to love so much over the past eight months.

I looked around myself with a sigh, seeing I had unconsciously returned to the memorial again. I sat down on one of the benches and rested my gloved hands in my lap.

"Hey Matt" I said but refused to look at the framed photograph.

"I know it's stupid to talk to you like that but I never really had the chance to say sorry or good bye to you."

I let out a sigh. "So, I'm sorry. I really am, for ending your life as it should have been longer and happy and much more normal than yours ever was. There are no words to discribe how ashamed I feel. I hope you are able to forgive me, now that you are in a better place."

A cold breeze of wind whipped up and my hair flew around my face. A tear rolled down my cheek and I had to smile. I never really believed in anything being out there, or in a life after death, seeing as I had already died but then again, not really. But this just had given me a feeling I couldn't explain. Maybe Matt was now indeed in a better place, I hoped it so bad for him. I closed my eyes and let the breeze clear my thoughts.

I stayed on the bench a little longer, feeling save and my thoughts wandered to another scene of that afternoon.

"What are you doing back here?" He had asked me, nearly angry.

He had sent the girl away he had come with and my brothers had left us some privacy.

"I am back to break the sire bond. Listen, Sage, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you by vanishing, I just-"

"Stop" he cut me off by raising his hand. He closed his eyes as if he was in pain. "Stop with the excuses, I am tired of them. You've apologised so much lately, I can't stand it anymore. You left, and you made it very clear what you think of us. I moved on and I am happy about it."

I snorted. "Yeah, you moved on, I saw that with this chick you brought home. Having a walking blood bag is what you call moving on?"

I looked at him as he didn't know what to say to that. He knew I was right.

"What do you want me to say? That I should have waited for you? You just left, Stella. And you were gone for eight months, not returning any of my calls!"

He had jumped up and was standing there, breathing heavily and his hands balled to fists.

"I know Sage, and I am really-"

"Don't you dare to say you're sorry!" He screamed at me. "You said it too much, it has no meaning anymore. Now I am sorry" he said and turned around, walking away.

I shook my head and buried it in my hands. I had been so stupid, I tried to apologize, to explain, but nothing had worked. He was so hurt, and he had buried his real feelings so deep inside of himself, I knew I had lost him for good this time.

I entered the Grill and pulled off my leather gloves, putting them into my handbag. As I unbuttoned my thick winter coat, I looked up and just then noticed something was different tonight. The music was louder and people were cheering and laughing and singing. As I hung my coat onto the hangings, I spotted the reason for this turmoil. A young man was dancing in the middle of a heep of women. He was shaking his hips, having his back towards me.

I shook my head and took a place near the end of the bar, turning my back to the scene.

I had my hair pulled up in a high pony tail tonight, I was not out for finding a man. As I checked my phone, another hint for any man who wanted to approach me that I was not in the mood, I sipped my cocktail, a very unlikely thing for me too.

Nevertheless I sensed a presence behind me and a husky voice whispered into my ear.

"Hello beautiful. Why don't you turn around and party with us?"

The voice was deep and steady, I knew the tone. The soft caressing like velvet in the voice was obviously used for compelling. I just shook my head.

"Sorry, but I'm in no mood for partying" I said and turned around on my stool, finding myself face to face with no other than Sage.

"Sage?" I hissed. "Moving on, huh?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Stella. What a surprise. I didn't recognise you, dressed like that. It's not nearly slutty enough for you."

I looked into his eyes, his smirk playing on his lips. He was obviously drunk, but I was determined on not caring. He made sure that he didn't want me anymore.

A girl stalked over to Sage, on impossible high heels, far too high for a bar like the Grill.

"Are you coming, Sage?" She slurred, possibly drunk or compelled. Or both.

I looked at Sage, disgusted.

"You better get back to your party" I snapped and turned away again. It was making me itch and I wanted to rip the throat of this girl open right here, right now. The next full moon was only days away, I could feel it.

Suddenly, my bar stool was swivelled around quickly and a hand caught my waist, preventing me from falling down.

Sage was smirking down at me.

"Come on, you know you want to party with me" he licked his lips and that made me switch. I slapped him across his face, causing him to stagger back. I jumped to my feet and looked at him.

"If you want to carry on with your little games, fine. But don't drag me into this or make me responsible for your freaking out."

I turned on my heel and walked out the door, ripping my coat violently from the racks.

Outside I drew a breath, the winter air cooling me down only slightly. I had my bag in my hand, the coat draped over it. I couldn't bother pretending to be a human right now. I was furious, for Sage being so irresponsible and not caring at all. And I was furious at myself for transforming Sage into what he was now. I made my way home, not making a detour through the woods as I had planned previously but straight to the house and inside, pouring a big drink into a glass and downing it in one go.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned around slowly.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Ben said and quickly stepped towards me, hugging me to his chest. Tears quietly dropped down my face and into his night shirt.

I just shook my head and wrapped my hands around Ben.

"It's Sage, I-I met him at.." I broke off and sobbed soundly into Ben's shoulder.

"Shh, it's okay, we don't need to talk about it."

He softly kissed my forehead and rested his lips on it for a few moments longer.

At this moment I was just thankful for his presence and I wrapped my arms closer around his shoulders.

Through my sobs and sniffings we both didn't hear the front door opening.

We didn't notice someone coming in, not until this someone cleared his throat.

My eyes opened and I saw Sage standing there and he saw me, with Ben, in a right embrace. I quickly stepped away, wiping my tears away.

"So this is the new you? Making me feel bad for trying to move on and then you run into another men's arms?"

He flicked his tongue and shook his head.

"I shouldn't have left my party for this."

I took a step forward.

"Sage, this is not what it looks like, this is Ben, he's my-"

Sage again broke me of with a gesture of his hand.

"I don't want to know, don't even try Stella."

He glanced one last time at me before turning around and walking upstairs.

I woke up from an uneasy sleep, haunted by nightmares about Klaus killing me while I tried to get his blood.

I got up and wrapped a morning robe around myself. As I softly tapped down into the kitchen, I saw someone was there before me and coffee was already freshly made.

I helped myself to a cup and sipped it slowly, looking out the back door as the sun was starting to rise.

I was sunken in my thoughts, in days only plans about Klaus and how to get his blood were circling in my mind.

Suddenly, someone cleared his throat behind me.

I turned around and Sage was standing there, in night trousers.

I looked at him, not sure what to say to not fight with him again.

"Stella, listen" he said and took a step closer to me.

"I am sorry about last night. I was drunk and I overreacted. I hope you're not mad at me."

I shook my head. "No, it's okay. We all make mistakes when we're drunk" I said and half-smiled at him. I was glad we could talk like civilised people again.

"It was not my place to talk about your friend last night, I hope we can start over" he smiled at me.

I smiled back and he offered me his hand.

"Friends?" He asked and I shook his hand.

"Friends" I said. For now, I thought.

Please tell me what you think and leave a review!

xoxo - Lalapaya