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Chapter Five:

Stefan whiled away the time before they left for the nightclub on his computer, trying to find out more about it. It was not like he didn't trust his brother, it was just he wanted to be certain that it was a harmless human club, rather than a vampire fest.

He was sure they both knew how that would turn out.

Satisfied with his findings, Stefan shut down his computer and looked outside. It was getting dark. He should get changed.

No matter how much Damon insisted, he was not going to wear anything sparkly. Or colourful. If wearing black jeans and a white t-shirt meant he was boring, he was going to stick with being boring thank you.

When he'd walked into his room earlier, he'd found some clothes Damon had doubtless bought him, laid on his bed:

A grey t-shirt with 'Team Edward' printed underneath a portrait of one sparkly Edward Cullen, and tight fitting leather pants.

Stefan had almost choked on his shock. Thankfully, they were now stuffed at the bottom of his wardrobe. He'd tell Damon that he'd spilled coffee on Eddie's face or something.

Going downstairs, Stefan looked at his phone and, to his surprise, found no texts or calls from Elena. He tried to reassure himself that it was a good thing, but he did wonder what it was Damon had told Elena to persuade her to let him stay with Damon.

Grabbing his jacket, Stefan was about to go looking for his brother when Damon appeared in front of him.

"Just were do you think you're going dressed like that?" Somehow, Damon made it sound like he was wearing something absurd to a dinner party with the Queen.

When that question, if he'd worn what Damon had wanted him to, would have been reasonable.

"I don't see why I can't wear my normal clothes when," Stefan scrutinised Damon's clothing "that's exactly what you're doing."

Which was true; Black leather jacket, white t-shirt, black trousers and black shoes. All expensive of course.

Damon smiled "Yes, but I - unlike you - actually look good in these clothes. You just look like you've got nothing else to wear."

Stefan sighed. "Right. Well I'm sticking with these clothes anyway. I, um, spilled coffee on the amazing shirt you gave me..."

Damon's eyes glinted. "I knew it. You prefer Jacob don't you? Well, lucky for you I bought one of those shirts too just in case. You never know. I'll go and get it -" Before Damon could disappear, Stefan interrupted.

"No! I mean, no I'm fine thanks. I don't like any of them in that ridiculous book."

Damon's lips twitched. "Not even Bella?"

Stefan sighed "Fantasy doesn't compete with reality."

Now Damon couldn't supress his amusement. "I know what you mean. I thought that Bella was a handful til the end..."

Stefan was aware of two things. The way Damon had said "I thought Bella was a handful" immediately had him thinking of Elena and the earlier argument. The second thing he'd said was "til the end" which implied that Damon had read all the books.

Stefan decided to act on the first thought and store the second away for later.

"You know this morning, what exactly did you say to make Elena change her mind?" Stefan asked apprehensively.

Damon smiled slowly "I didn't say anything, but what I did on the otherhand..." He let the sentence trail off.

Stefan's insides turned cold. Would Damon do that? Would he actually compel Elena - against his and her wishes? Ever since she knew what he was, she'd asked for one thing from him: To never compel her. He'd even got her a vervain necklace so other vampires couldn't.

Damon knew this and actually obeyed Stefan on this point. But he knew it would be all too easy for Damon to take it off before she could call for Stefan.

Damon was watching him with some amusemt. Stefan struggled to control his voice and asked "What did you do Damon?"

"Oh you know how it works. I admit, she's quite short so I had to bend a little..." He added, as if in afterthought "Almost touched her lips actually.

Stefan felt sick. Why? Why would Damon do that? Stefan wanted to go to Elena's now, and see what he could do.

Damon sighed theatrically and threw his arm over Stefan's shoulder, steering him to the door. He tried to resist - to no avail. "Relax! She actually left in a huff, but I told her if she didn't pester you tonight, I'd think about giving you the Board House without a lodger."

Stefan's heart lightened considerably. "But where will you live?"

Damon, opening the door, turned to look at him with a puzzled expression. "Excuse me?"

"Well... Are you going to give us the Boarding House? Without...you?"

Damon shoved Stefan lightly through the door. "Nope. I meant the little rat who's been living in the kitchen and eating all our cheese."

Shutting the door, he turned to face Stefan with a wide mischievous grin "But Elena doesn't need to know that."