A/N : Me again 😆 . Just wanted to say a quick thank you for reading. Hope you're still enjoying the story. Chapter ran a bit long (again!) so im splitting it up. Next update will be really soon. Enjoy 💜 (and let me know what you think)

Fair warning, there might be some slight Klaus bashing this chapter. Personally I have nothing against Klaus or anything, and I actually was a klaroline shipper (and still klefaroline til the end). But as the story is from stefan's pov, and i wanted to show his jealousy over the situation, his preception of Klaus isn't shown in the best light. It may change as the story progresses though, who knows?

"Hello. Old friend"

"Klaus Mikaelson. As I live and breathe"

Klaus held a knowing smirk as Stefan's eyes widened in shock. They held a heated gaze for a brief moment, before Stefan's mouth spread a wide grin. His arms opened wide, welcoming him into a hug as he gave him a clap on the shoulder in greeting.

"What are you doing here?" He asked pleasantly surprised.

"I just popped in to see an old friend. Is that a crime?"

Stefan gave a knowing look.

"Alright, fine. Dear old dad had business to attend to with your father in fact."

"My father?"

"As it happens Giuseppe seems very keen on investing in your future"

"Don't remind me. I'm already set up to start studying at Whitmore next month. What more does he want from me?"

"Well it appears he's making investments in Mystic Falls Hosiptal. He's looking to my father to set him up a portfolio. Obviously planning on getting himself on the board there at some point"

"Uhh. All I hear is I'm gonna run that hosiptal one day. Hard works important Stefan. Make sure you have your priorities right Stefan". Stefan rolled his eyes at the pushiness of his father. If anyone could understand the situation he was in it was Klaus.

"Tell me about it mate. I've got my own dear old dad down my ear hole about my future every two seconds. But still where's the fun if in not rebelling every once and a while aye?" Klaus questioned raising a shot glass to Stefan. Stefan picked up his own glass before announcing a toast.

"To controlling fathers"

"Here, here!"

They both had there shots as Klaus signalled the bartender another round, and Stefan's eyes wondered the room for Caroline. She was still nowhere in sight.

"So. How's the rest of the family?"

"Ah. Well you know us Mikaelson's. Never a dull moment. Elijah and Finn are around here somewhere. Kol's being yet again reprimanded by mother and Rebekah sadly couldn't make it tonight, but sends her love... Enough about them though. Let's talk about that ravishing creature I saw you arrive with."

"Oh Caroline?"

"Caroline? Not the elusive Elena then? You do surprise me Stefan. I didn't think you were the type to have more then one girl a time."

"I'm not. Elena and I broke up"

"Oh I'm sorry to here that mate. I seem to remember you being quite smitten with her last we talked"

"Yeah well. She slept with my brother so" Stefan downed another shot before ordering the next round of drinks. Eventhough it's been months since his break-up with Elena it's still a bit of a saw subject. It's not that he's not over her, he completely is now thanks to Caroline, but his relationship with his brother still hadn't fully recovered yet. They're getting there, but it's still a bit of a sensitive subject.

"Still though. It looks like you landed on your feet with that blonde bombshell"

"Oh. No Caroline's just a friend. My best friend actually"

"Well in that case you must introduce me to her"

Stefan scoffed at that.

"Caroline means a lot to me. I'm not gonna let you love her and leave her"

"Would I ever?" Klaus feigned shock to which Stefan gave a pointed look.

"Oh i've missed you Stefan. No one else quite understands me like you do."

At that point Stefan searches the crowd for Caroline. He promised her he wouldn't abandon her tonight, and he knows how much she hates attending his parents swanky parties.

"Actually speaking of Caroline, I should probably go find her. I only promised to get a her a drink so-"

"-No need. Here she comes"

Klaus signalled over his shoulder and he turned in time to see her approach. Klaus was right. She did look stunning tonight, not that he hadn't already noticed before Klaus pointed it out. He always noticed how beautiful Caroline was. And when he showed up at her house to pick her up earlier today, he was speechless at the vision she was. The floor length, midnight blue gown she wore was elegant and simple enough to show her natural beauty. Her golden locks were twisted into a loose updo he wasn't use to seeing compared to her regular loose curls. He was having an internal debate to which hairstyle he prefered when he forced himself to stop. What was he doing? Why was he suddenly so obsessed with her hair? Point is she looked ethereal, and everyone knew it.

"Hey"

"Hey. Where have you been? I thought you weren't going to leave me alone for a second tonight?"

"Sorry. I went to get you a drink and ran into an old friend...Here." He handed her the flute of champagne before gesturing towards the man beside him.

"Caroline this is Niklaus Mikaelson. Klaus, Caroline Forbes."

Klaus took a hold of her hand to place a delicate kiss on her knuckles. Stefan resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the flamboyancy of the gesture while Caroline awkwardly chuckled.

"It's nice to meet you"

"The pleasure is all my mine love". He held a seductive smirk that made Stefan slightly uncomfortable.

"So how do you two know each other?" Caroline asked.

"Klaus and I met at boarding school"

"Was that before you came to Mystic Falls?"

"Yeah. Just before. I had to beg dad to let me go school closer to home when we moved"

"Oh? I didn't know that. He was always so supportive of you when you applied to Whitmore"

"Yeah. Well I think he started to like the idea of keeping me close. Keep an eye on me. And Whitmore's not to far from here. So."

Stefan had a gulp of his drink. Seeing this Caroline gave a slight nod of the head, eyes gentle in understanding to which Stefan responded with a grateful smile. Their silent communication that he didn't want to talk about it anymore and she understood.

They could always do that. Just read eachother in the moment. A lot of people couldn't understand how they did it and in all honesty neither could he. All he knows is that the two of them could have whole conversations without ever exchanging words. And sometimes it closed them off to the world around them. Like in this moment. He felt like it was just the two of them in the room, gazing into eachothers eyes. That's until Klaus cut into conversation next to him.

"So Caroline, will you be attending college also?"

"Yeah at Whitmore. Same as Stefan" she held a beaming smile at that.

"Another doctor in our midst?"

"Ughh. No. I can't stand hospitals..." Stefan recognised the sheepish look she gave him from not thinking before she spoke. He gave her a wink in reassurance she was fine to tease him in front of Klaus. Usually she wouldn't question it but in front of this crowd she never really knew what to expect, or how she'd be judged from her behavioural tendencies.

"..Actually I'm a drama major."

"Ahh. Very interesting. I would love to watch you take centre stage." She rolled her eyes at his cheesy lines. Acting more like her regular self.

"Make sure you're this eager to buy some tickets for my first show then"

"Sign me up for the first row love"

"Yeah? Ok. I'll sit you right next to my boyfriend" she stressed making it clear she wasn't avaliable. The statement sent mixed emotions to Stefan. On one hand it amused him that she was turning down Klaus' advances but on another level it brought an angry reminder of another man that didn't deserve her.

"Ahh. And where is the boyfriend?"

"Tyler's on a camping trip with his family"

"See. More fool him. Leaving you open to be taken advantage of by men such as myself. You know if you were mine, I would take you with me. And it wouldn't be a trashy camping trip. I'd take you to see the world. Rome, Paris. Tokyo?"

Caroline laughed at the temerity of it all, while Stefan stood awkwardly observing the pairs weird dynamic from the sidelines.

"Oh. Wow! Just to be clear. I'm too smart to be seduced by you"

"Well that's why I like you. But come on Caroline. Small town boy, small town life. It won't be enough for you"

Stefan's jaw clenched and he gritted his teeth. It was really starting to annoy him. Klaus didn't know Caroline and here he had the audacity to pretend like he did. He knew Caroline and she didn't want that. She also made it pretty clear she had a boyfriend. He should respect that. Caroline is off limits.

"Well, I'm starting college. Getting out of that 'small town' for a bit. I think that's enough for me right now"

"Ahhh. Starting college. Often the start of the demise of many a relationships"

"You really don't quit do you?" Caroline asked astounded.

"When I see something I want. I intend to get it. No matter what"

"Oh really?"

"But of course" he responded like every streotypical spoilt rich kid that got everything he wanted.

"And what do you want?" She seductively whispered.

"Quite simple. You." She chuckled amused at his bolshie attitude, all the while Stefan was seething.

His excitment from seeing his old friend had suddenly diminished, and he was aggrevated by his persistence in trying to charm Caroline. Maybe it was envy of the confidence he displayed in seeing something he wanted and going after it. Cause Stefan could never do that. What he could do however was get himself and Caroline out of this situation.

"You know what? I promised mom me and Caroline wouldn't disappear, so we should probably head back" Stefan cut into the conversation.

"Of course. It was good seeing you mate. We'll meet for a drink soon"

Stefan staged a stern smile giving a nod before Klaus turned to Caroline.

"And it was a pleasure meeting you Caroline.." he moved to kiss her hand again and Stefan actually did roll his eyes this time. "... and I'll definitely be seeing you again"

Caroline's eyebrows stretched upward, clearly taken back by Klaus' persistent forwardness.

"We'll just have to see about that" Caroline teased before turning back towards the party, side by side with Stefan.

"Well he was an interesting character to an otherwise lifeless party"

"What the hell was that?" Stefan asked still shocked and mildly anoyed by their flirty banter.

"What?"

"You have a boyfriend"

"Yeah who I haven't in 2 months" she mumbled half heartedly.

He gave her an alarmed look. To which she looked down avoiding eye contact.

"Relax. It wasn't like I was making out with the guy. It was just harmless flirting"

"Trust me Klaus is not harmless." Her brows scruched together as she finally met his eyes again.

"I thought he was you friend?"

"He is it's just. I know how he is Caroline and... I wouldn't trust him with you"

She gave a small grateful smile.

"Don't worry Stefan. I'm with Tyler.." Yeah another guy he doesn't trust Stefan thought.

".. And I know guys like him too. I'm not gonna fall for it... I promise."

"Klaus! You forgot your.." Caroline voice echoed before she saw Stefan standing at her door.

"..What are you doing here?" He stood frozen in position glaring at the pair. His jaw clenched, anger burning through his veins. Of course he was here. Part of him believed after all this time she would of realised what a mistake she was making. Hoped she would of woke up one day in the past five years and realised that she deserved better than this. Than him.

But alas, she was Caroline. Martyr of the lost causes. Doomed to go down with all sinking ships. Cursed with that damn optimism to see the illusioned good in everyone. She refused to give up on anyone, even when it would cost her everything. Sacrificing her own happiness for the devil, hoping to save him. And Klaus was like a leech. Born to suck the light right out of her. And she was just lying down and letting him. It infurated him before. But the sight of him here just made him sick to his stomach.

"Mate. I didn't realise you were back in town" Klaus held a conniving smile, and Stefan snarled at the use of the word 'mate'.

He wasnt his mate. In fact they hadn't been mates for a long time, and he had no interest of ever being his mate.

"Yeah. Been back a while now. You didn't tell him Caroline?" Stefan sneered, at least hoping to stir some trouble in their relationship. Because why should they be happy? Why should Klaus of all people get to live the life he always wanted? It seemed it may be working juding by the evil glare Caroline was giving him, but he couldn't tell if Klaus was affectted in any way as his eyes remained fixated on hers.

He used the heat of his stare to send her a disappointed look he knew she would be able to read. He couldn't tear his glare away from her. He hadn't expected her to meet his scowl. Expected her look away, avoid all eye contact. Instead she was unashamedly looking him dead in the eye, simultaneously biting the inside of her cheeks.

"It never came up" she smugly retorted.

"How long you back for?" Klaus genuinely questioned.

Apparently he was oblivious to the tension between them. Of course Stefan wouldn't put it past him for this to all be an elaborate act as part of some grand schemed master evil plan in which only he selfishly benefits from. Screw everyone else, screw their feelings and screw their happiness. He would bulldoze over everyone else to get what he wanted. Always has. It never really use to bother Stefan before until it brought himself and the people he cared about into danger of having their lives torn upside down.

"Oh. For good" Stefan factually stated not missing the eye roll Caroline reacted with from the corner of his eye. Her arms were crossed. Defenses fully up. Protecting herself from all emotional damage he could cause. Stefan laughed at the irony of her protecting herself from him when she let the incarnation of the devil sleep in her bed.

"That's great mate..." Klaus responded grabbing the phone Caroline held out in her hand for him while distractedly browsing through it. "..Listen I'm running late, but we're having a party tonight at the grill. First rounds on me" Stefan shook his head to protest. He wasn't going to even be in town tonight. He needed to go to New York to see his mother but even if he didn't, He was the last person he ever wanted to have drinks with.

Klaus raised his hand to signal him not to bother protesting.

"... I'm not taking no for an answer. Today, 5 o'clock at the grill." he made his way passed him towards the elevator and pushed the button.

"Thanks again Caroline. I'll see you later?"

"See you tonight" She waved him goodbye giving him a warm smile, but the smile soon fell from her lips. Eyes narrowed to slits as she shifted her attention to Stefan.

"Seriously, what are you doing here?" She agressively interrogated.

"I'm looking for Damon" he countered.

"Right, well I'm pretty sure he wants to talk to you about as much as I do. So."

She moved to shut the door on his face, before Stefan reached his hand out to stop her.

"Caroline. I've had the past couple days from hell and all I want I to speak to Damon ok. So get him out here." He demanded his patience starting to run thin. All he wanted was his brother out here so he didn't have to face her right now. He didn't exactly have time for her pissy, time wasting attitude.

"Well he doesn't live here" Caroline quickly stated, seeming to want this convesation to end as quickly as he did in that moment as she moved to shove the door in his face, before he forced a hand to it once again.

"Well I don't exactly know where he lives" he tiredly snapped back, running a gruelling hand through his hair.

"Err? He lives at your old house" she proclaimed as if it was obvious.

"The old boarding house? Dad said he sold it to some old couple from Nebraska"

"No he gave it to Damon a couple years ago"

Ok. That's weird. Why would his dad lie to him? And why would he give the house to Damon after he disowned himself from the family? It didn't make any sense.

"But he'll probably be at work now anyway" tiredly reasoned.

"Right and where's that?"

"The police station"

"Wait i'm confused I thought he dropped out of his police training course"

"Yeah, he did. For a couple years actually, but he went back to it. He's a cop now"

"Right"

Stefan silently realed from that information. He was working at the police station. The station right next door to the hospital he worked and his appartment five minutes away. He just drove 20 minutes out of the way. What an vexatious wasted trip.

"Are you done? Cause I've got things to do today"

Now was the hard part. He knows she isn't gonna want to here this. He doesn't want to say it. But he should tell her now. Just in case she finds out from someone else and all hell breaks loose. That's the way these things usually tend to go.

But how does he tell her he needs to leave again? How does he tell her his mom's sick?

"Actually. I-I kinda needed to talk to you too."

She raised her eyebrows in a 'get on with it I don't have all day' manner. Her arms were once again crossed in a defensive gesture. Putting her defenses up from him. Emotionally he made her put her guards up and it made him sick to his stomach.

"The thing is I-I... I need to go back to New York. Just for a few-"

She let out an unsprised laugh. Like she completely expected this to inevitably happen. Him to leave again. She wouldn't even hear him out. Didn't care his reasons for leaving. Didn't care that his mother was sick, probably dying in this moment. Was more interested in shutting the door in his face.

"Well have a nice trip" she chipperly cheered.

"Come on Caroline. Just hear me out for a minute-"

"I don't need to hear you out. You're leaving again. Great! Good for you-" she declared with fake enthusasim.

"..See you in another five years. Actually you know what do me a favour don't bother coming back". They were in the motions. She kept trying to shut the door on him, he kept pushing back. Begging her to hear him out.

"-It's just for-"

"I get it Stefan. It's fine. Go. You don't need my permission. It's not like you asked five years ago when I might of still cared"

"But I want you to-"

"Oh, I get it. You want me to ask you to stay right? To stand here and beg you not to go..." her voice very slightly cracked and he thought he saw the formation of tears glistening her eyes, but that must of been his imagination as she blinked and he could see nothing but pure hate in them. Hate for him.

"...Well that certainly didn't work out for me last time and I definitely won't be doing it again" she was pushing to slam the door again.

"-Caroline-" he kept his hand on the door. Puppy dog eyes pleading with her.

"Stefan. Stop."

"Listen, my mom-"

"-I don't want to listen..." she started explaining slowly, eyes wide and condescending as she began to tiredly list the reasons she didn't need to see him today and he knew it was comming. "...I don't want to hear how you're sorry and how you didn't plan this and that you really want to stay. I don't need to hear your fake ass apologies, that mean literally nothing to me and I definitely-"

"-Would you just give it a rest for a second" he was exhausted she was't even hearing him out. Wasn't even trying to understand the pain he was going through at the moment. Didn't care enough to read it in his eyes that something was seriously wrong like she always use to. And worst of all she was still blaming him for all this.

Because he was sorry. She knew he meant every apology he gave her since coming back. She knew him. The problem they were actually facing was she didn't want to forgive. It was frustrating and infuriating that she couldn't, but that was the reality.

It was the exact reason he didn't want to face her today. Because she was crushing him. Everytime he saw her. The hope he had at rebuilding their relationship dampened with each time he saw that look in her eyes. That look that told him how much she hated him.

Did she have reason? Admitedly yes. But it wasn't wholely his fault for the demise of their relationship. At least he apologized for his part. It's more than she ever did.

"Me, give it a rest? You have got to be kidding me" she shriek completely astounded.

"Look Caroline i'm trying. Ok?"

"You're trying?!" She all but shrieked ".. No you're not trying Stefan. I don't know what you're doing. In fact, nobody would of even known you were in town if I hadn't turned up at the hosiptal two weeks ago"

"Of course I would of told you, I was just trying to wrap my head around being back myself first"

"Oh, cause you're the one who's important here right? Nobody else" her eyes squinted together in an irritated scrutinizing manner.

"No of course not-"

"You know what we don't need this in our life right now. So why don't you just just do your thing and run away. So I can get back to my family" she said completely serious. Her words felt like shards of glass to Stefan when she spoke about her 'family'.

Family. Her and Klaus. He didn't think her words could cause much more pain but he felt like she had not only stabbed him in the chest but was now twisting the knife in. Maximising all pain in lethal dosage.

It was in that word he realised he was fighting a loosing battle. Cause she moved on with her life while he stayed stuck. She moved on with Klaus. Built a life for herself in a family that held no space for him and never would, while he did nothing but eat, sleep and think about her.

"And what about your friends huh?" He responded a completely bent out of shape. She didn't even dignify it with a response. Just glared at him disgusted.

"Cause I thought you never gave up on friends. No matter what" he used her own loyal to a fault tendencies against her. Everyone else seemed to benefit from the perks of her loyal nature. No matter what they all seemed to get away with it. If Klaus Mikaelson could take advantage of it why couldn't he.

"That's the thing Stefan. Cause friends don't do that. Friends don't leave each other behind when they need you the most. So may be we were never friends"

They were friends no matter what. Nothing would destroy that. They could still be best friends. Best friends in love. It brought a smile to Stefan's face.

His talk with his mother mere moments ago finally opened his eyes. Allowed his fear clouded vision to clear. She calmed his nerves the way only a mother could for her child. Allowed him to cognize how he was allowing fear control him. Fear of loosing Caroline in his life, made him push his feelings of ever wanting anything more. Forced him to run from what's been coming a long time now.

His mother helped him realise he couldn't let himself live like that anymore. Deny what he so desperately yearned for more than anything. And he wouldn't let fear control him anymore. He'd finally learned to accept his deep rooted affections for Caroline that were so far from platonic they were sinful.

And these feelings he had once and for all admitted to himself wouldn't be the demise of their relationship, but rather transition for them into something more. Something better.

Because they could be better. Better than the past loves they've had before. Better then the pain and the heartbreak. And even if it didn't work out which he could see no reason it wouldn't, they would still be friends. And they could survive it. They could survive anything, as long as they were together.

He was elated. Buzzing. Adrenaline coursing through his veins, filling him with a need to move now. To tell her how he really felt. That he was just scared before. He didn't exactly know when their relationship became more than friendship but it did.

He came barrelling down the stairs faster than a speeding bullet, before seeing his father in the corner of the room standing in front of the fireplace drink in hand. He had a pensive, troubled look on his face as he gazed down at the heated flames. Normally Stefan would question his worries but he didn't have time. There were more pressing matters to attend to then his fathers brooding nature.

"Hey dad. I'll see you later" Stefan hurried out reaching for the door handle. He wanted to see Caroline as soon as possible. He's waited long enough to do this.

"Where are you going?" Stefan paused his movements. He held the door open prepared to make his exit as a wide smile plastered across his face.

"To see Caroline" he went to make his exit before his father interrupted his movements again.

"Stefan wait!"

"What? What is it?"

"I can't let you do that"

"Ok?" He slowly shut the front door and turned, inquisitive look on his face as he gave his father his full undivided attention. Curiousity getting the better of him and putting a pause on his plans.

"I don't want you seeing that girl again" his father demanded.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"She's not good for you Stefan. And I don't want you seeing her."

"What is this? I thought you liked Caroline" Stefan asked completely astounded by his father's words. They seem to of come out of nowhere.

"Trust me Stefan. I'm your father and I know what's best for you, and that girl is not it. In fact I forbid you from ever seeing her again"

"You forbid me?" Stefan sighed a laugh at the audacity of his father. Still telling him what to do at 21 years old. He was just about sick of his intensifying controlling ways.

"...Okay, whatever midlife crisis you're going through leave Caroline out of it. In fact leave me out of it too" he moved to once again leave the house. He had more important things to be doing in this moment then pacifying his Giuseppe Salvatore's demanding ways. He didn't need to be wasting his time here.

"Don't you dare walk out that door young man. I mean it" Stefan looked over his shoulder to the stern eyes of his father. He looked rather serious, so whatever he wanted to say clearly meant a lot to him. He should probably just hear his father out rather then suffer his wrath later.

He looked forward at the open door once more. The crisp air fresh on his skin. His freedom one step away. But as much as he wanted to see Caroline at this exact moment, it could probably wait another few minutes. He closed his eyes in frustration with himself at once again missing his chance to get his happy ending.

He slowly shut the door, eyes longing at the open space before his view was replaced by cold dark oak wood of the closed door. He faced his father head on, lips pursed in aggrevation of the time he was wasting standing here.

"Caroline is not the type of people you should be surrounding yourself with Stefan. She's not your friend and you need to stop seeing her this instant. Cut all ties.." his heart sank at even the thought of that. No way could he ever do that and he was disgusted his father would even suggest such a thing.

"..I've talked to some old colleagues and got you a placement to take you residency in New York. You should surround yourself with people more on your level. Get away from this town and everyone in it"

"Yeah. That's not happening"

"Stefan as your father I must insist"

"-Dad..."

Stefan took an audible deep breathe.

"... I love her"

"What?"

Stefan smilied.

"I love her. I think i've always loved her... And it's about time I told her" Stefan whispered almost to himself as he nodded his head looking to the floor. He lifted his head up, meeting his fathers steely eyes and gave him the biggest smile that's ever stretched across his cheeks. He then took a few steps backwards towards the door, entirely done with this pointless conversation.

"Well she doesn't love you"

"What?"

"She doesn't love you Stefan". Stefan bit the inside of his cheeks at that.

"Actually i'm pretty sure she feels the same way as I do. So-" Stefan pointed a thumb in the direction over his shoulder indicating his exit was imminent.

"Well, did she tell you she's back with that Mikaelson boy?" his brows scrunched together.

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw her. Today. With him"

"Well i'm sure it's not what you think."

"They were together Stefan. She's been playing you for a fool. Sneaking around behind your back with your friend"

Caroline and Klaus. No way. Especially with everything that's been going on between them recently. He knows she feels it too. All the signs she felt the same way were there. This isn't all in his head. It can't be.

"No. Caroline wouldn't do that"

"Well, she did once before didn't she?"

"That was different. That was before we.." his father raised his eyebrows at him expectantly, before Stefan vigourously shook his head in denial.

"..No. There's no way. Besides, Caroline hates Klaus now... You're wrong about this dad"

"Stefan. I saw it with my own eyes...I'm sorry son". His father place a firm hand on his right shoulder but it did little to comfort him. It was cold and hard. Quite like his heart. He moved past his father to the drinks cabinet pouring himself a large glass of bourbon, as his father regaled details of the compromising position he caught the two in while having a business meeting with Klaus' father Mikael at their house.

Tears began to cloud his vision, but he blinked hard to rein them in. He wouldn't be weak. Especially in front of his father. He was so ready to finally be with Caroline he didn't even bother to question if she even wanted to be with him. He was such an idiot. Of course she wouldn't want to be with him.

He gulped down his drink in one swoop before pouring himself another. He kept his back to his father. His numbing words further stabbing the knife in his chest as images he didn't want to picture conjured up in his mind as Giuseppe described in detail the precise scene he walked in on.

His breaths became staggered as he fell in silence to a seat on the armchair by the fireplace looking to the flames as anger boiled through his veins. His father didn't let up on the dirty images he projected onto him of the girl he loved and man he hated. The man she promised to never go back to. His insides were on fire as rage burnt his insides.

He had reached his breaking point and he just snapped. A blind rage like a fire swept over him.

"You know what. I'm getting tired of this. It wasn't all my fault. Ok."

"What?!" She turned to him her angry stare sending shivers down his spine.

"I mean yeah I left, and I screwed up.. but you have to take some responsibility too okay... it wasn't just me. You mest with my head. You made me push you away" he was yelling all the anger he built up over the past couple of days reaching its boiling point.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"And I get that I hurt you, but I would never do this to you." He carried on determined for her to hear this. She had to realise that the majority harsh words she was giving him wasn't completely justified. Some of it was just cruel.

Caroline looked to him with furrowed brows clearly no clue as to what he was talking about. Was she really that delirious to how he felt all them years ago? Did she not realise how badly she broke his heart?

"I think you should leave Stefan"

"And here you are five years later making the same stupid decisions. I mean it's gonna ruin your life Caroline more than it already has." His thoughts were cut short by the sharp pain emitting from his cheek were Caroline had slapped so hard it was surely to bruise.

She gave him her killer death stare before abruptly slamming the door in his face with full force once and for all. He watched the closed door swallowing hard. Closed eyes, frustrated like hands running vigorously through his hair as his anger turned to despair.