Chapter 3

Jenna looked up from her magazine as Elena walked in the kitchen, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and taking a small bite. "How was the sleepover at Stefan's?"

Elena mustered the best fake smile she could. "It was great." She was acting like everything was ok, like the events that took place yesterday never happened. But deep down, she was bleeding inside. Her recent change in relationship with the Salvatore brothers baffled her more then anything. She never expected Stefan to do the things he did to her and she never thought that Damon would be the one caring for her.

She missed Stefan and the way he used to be with her. Kind, gentle, and loving. Where did it go wrong? And even though she enjoyed Damon's more softer side, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable by this new change in demeanor. Elena could feel her feelings change from loving Stefan to hating Stefan. She didn't know what to do anymore now.

Elena trudged up the stairs to her bedroom, glad that she could finally be alone. She opened the door and closed it, then locking it so no one could come in. "Finally I'm alone." Elena breathed out, grateful for the silence that floated around her. She looked around her room, feeling like she hadn't been here for ages. The lilly-whiteness of the room was still the same with a touch of pink thrown into the mix. Elena smiled as she fell into an ocean of smooth silk. She pulled the milky covers over her and laid back on her feathery pillow, closing her eyes and forgetting about everything that happened. But that was an impossible task. How could she forget Stefan's words and the pain he caused her? How could she forget everything that he did to her? Those memories would stay with her forever.

Damon had saved her from that nightmare. That's what she couldn't understand. Damon only cared about himself. That's it, there's no in-between. So why did he save her, of all people? Elena's best guess was that she looked exactly like his first love, Katherine. She was her twin, as Damon put it.

Elena's train of thought was broken by her window suddenly slamming against the wall. She backed up against the wall, petrified. Fear took over her whole body, making her unable to move. Stefan stood there, looking beat up and worn out. His face was somewhat relaxed and he looked more like the old Stefan Elena fell in love with.

Stefan stared into Elena's frightened eyes. "Elena." he spoke softly, his harsh and cold voice gone. "Elena, I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened to me. I know that you are angry with me but find it in your heart to forgive me."

Elena shook her head. She wanted so badly to forgive him, but it just wasn't going to happen. Not after all he put her through. "That ship has long since sailed Stefan. I'm sorry but I can't forgive you."

Elena watched as Stefan's eyes darkened for a minute, his face slowly changed and his stormy green eyes pierced through Elena body. The burning hatred in his eyes started to die down and the impeccable rage started to dissipate. "I'm sorry." Stefan looked towards the ground. This was so much easier when he planned it out in his head; he never expected it to be this hard.

Elena slowly allowed her body to relax when she realized that Stefan wasn't going to attack her. "I knew you wouldn't forgive me easily, but I had to atleast try."

Elena could feel her tempter rising. Well, what did he think she was going to do? Take him back after one little apology? "Sorry means nothing, Stefan. You're going to have to do alot more then just say you're sorry."

"Elena, I-I-" For the first time in a long time, Stefan was at a loss for words. He knew she was right. She had been right about everything. But the human blood made him unreasonable, it made him the monster he didn't want to become, and he couldn't stop himself from drinking it. It was like a drug, always pulling him towards it and never letting go. He couldn't let Elena know, she would leave him for sure next time if she found out that he was still on it. "Please Elena; I'm begging you to forgive me."

Elena cast a sharp glare at him. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that he was off the blood, but her gut was telling her differently. It was telling her that he was lying and that she should stay away from him, but deep down, she was in denial. She rejected the fact that he raped her more times then she could count. But still, something was holding her back from leaping into his arms."Stefan, I-I can't." Elena quickly brushed away the stray tears that ran down her face, dripping onto the brown carpet.

Stefan walked over to Elena and looked deep into his eyes, pleading with his own. Slowly, his lips met hers. They both collided like water and powder, mixing and merging into one. Elena wrapped her arms around Stefan's neck and pulled him in further, deepening the kiss. Stefan happily complied, digging his tongue farther down her throat and filling her with his fluids.

Elena was the one to break the kiss. She was breathing hard, trying to catch her breath as Stefan waited patiently. Her eyes were filled with guilt as she looked at him. "Stefan, I can't do this. I can't act like everything is ok."

"But you enjoyed that kiss, didn't you?" Stefan crossed his arms and smirked.

Elena threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "It's not about the kiss, Stefan! It's about us! I can't ever trust you again. How do I know that you're lying about being off of the human blood? How do I know that you're not still on it? Damon said that it takes vampires awhile to learn to control your thirst once you taste human blood."

Stefan rubbed his face with his hands. "Elena, I am off of the human blood! And why are you suddenly siding with Damon?"

Elena glared. "I'm not "siding" with anyone! I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with you!"

"There's nothing wrong with me!" Stefan yelled, his patients at his wits end.

"Yes there is! You're not even the same person I knew a month ago!" exclaimed Elena with tears running down her face.

A low growl rumbled in Stefan's chest. He was having a difficult time keeping his emotions in check. "Elena, I'm fine. I'm not drinking human blood, I'm not on edge, I'm fine!"

"Then why are you so angry?" sniffled Elena.

"I'm angry because you won't listen to me! When I say "I'm fine" it means "I'm fine." Now you just shut up and listen to me!"

Elena squeezed her eyes shut as more glassy tears fell. "Just go, please. I want to be alone."

Stefan shook his head. "And give you more alone time with Damon? I don't think so."

Elena shook her head at him. "You are such an insensitive jerk. I don't want to be with Damon! I just want to be alone!"

Stefan ran up to her using his vampire speed and slapped her hard across the face. "You stupid whore! I'm trying to make this easier on you but you aren't cooperating!"

Elena held her stinging cheek with one hand, looking at Stefan with fearful eyes. Stefan's eyes widened when he realized what he did. "Elena, I'm sorry."

Finally, her willpower crumbled and she fell into his arms, crying hysterically. Her tears hit his shirt like bullets and drenched them like a heavy rain."I'm sorry Stefan! It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so hard on you when you were going through a tough time and I deserve everything that I got."

Stefan looked at Elena, shocked. He didn't know what to say. "Elena honey, it's my fault. I'm so sorry for putting you through so much and making you go with Damon."

Elena sniffled as she hugged Stefan tighter, not wanting to let go. "But I can't forgive you for locking me up in the basement and starving me while you and Damon slept at a hotel."

Elena screamed as Stefan's face changed and he bit into her creamy skin, draining her bright carmine blood. Fire exploded throughout her body, burning her veins as blood was being taken unwillingly.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!"

The fire at her neck suddenly disappeared. Elena picked herself from the floor where she had fallen and looked to see Damon standing there, eyes raging like an angry swarm of bees. He disappeared from his spot as quickly as he came, leaving Elena in her room by herself. She staggered to her feet and slowly walked over to the broken window where the sounds of yelling and cursing filled the air. Damon had Stefan in a chokehold and managed to hold him still, but because of the recent intake of blood Stefan was a little bit stronger then Damon. Damon growled as he held the thrashing Stefan to the ground, dodging the right hook Stefan tried to give him. "Let me go!" he yelled angrily, kicking and punching Damon.

Damon growled. "We need to get you away from here."

"Damon wait!" Elena cried. Damon sent Elena a bone-chilling glare before disappearing from sight, leaving Elena to drown in her tears.

She didn't know what she did wrong to make Stefan so angry with her. Now Damon appeared to be mad at her too. Everything was falling apart and Elena had no control over it. She quietly sat on her bed and cried. Rivers started to form on her cheeks as she cried harder, her body shaking violently. The vibrating of her phone startled her out of her tears. She slowly reached down with shaky hands and answered it. "Hello?"

"What is your problem?" Damon snapped angrily.

More tears fell down Elena's face as she sniffled. "Why are you acting like this? I didn't do anything!"

"Oh really?" Damon sneered sarcastically. "I heard you talking to Stefan. What were you thinking? Do you have a death wish or are you just so retarded you can't see what is right infront of you?"

Elena cried more as the thrush hit her in the face. She knew she was being unreasonable, but she still cared for Stefan. Heck, maybe even loved him still. "You don't understand Damon. He looked like he was really sorry."

Elena could hear Damon sigh heavily in frustration. "Elena," his voice was more softer now. "Stefan isn't sorry. He never was. As much as you don't want to accept it, Stefan has changed for the worst, and I don't see him going back to the way he was before."

Unnatural wind blew into Elena's room. She slowly turned around to see Damon standing there, breathing heavy. Elena dropped her phone on the bed and ran into Damon's arms. Damon held Elena close to him, rubbing her back soothingly as she sobbed. "Elena, it's ok. I'm not mad at you."

Elena looked at him through glassy eyes. "Really?"

Damon wiped the stray tears escaping her eyes with the pads of his thumbs. "I admit I felt...betrayed at first, but my brother is really the one at fault here."

Elena looked at him confused. "How did you feel betrayed?"

Damon's eyes widened. "Um, it's nothing. Just go to sleep. You've had a long day."

"But Damon-" Elena stopped when she saw the look on Damon's face, telling her not to push it. Damon led Elena to the bed and watched her lay down. She smiled at him. "Goodnight."

Damon smirked back. "Sleep tight, don't let Stefan bite." He narrowly dodged the piece of wood that was aimed at his head, laughed, and jumped out the window.

Elena glared at the shadow quickly disappearing through the woods and laid back, closing her eyes and dreaming of the man who had saved her life more times then she could count. Damon.

A/N: Sorry for the slow update. I've had a bit of writer's block. Lol I hoped you guys liked this chapter and please review!