Chapter 14 : Secret admirers

Stefan POV

I was laying in my bed one night in late January holding Elena in my arms lost in thoughts. That man in the next room was not my brother. He didn't act like the Damon I knew. He acted like me before I met Elena. Maybe not to the untrained eye but I could definitely see the signs. Damon looked as if he didn't give a damn but I knew better. He was in pain. Worse pain that finding out that Katherine only used him. He fucked up where Bella was concerned and he knew it. I winced as I heard the bed squealing loudly in his room and tried harder to tune him out. Right then Elena jumped up and looked at me; I was about to apologize for Damon, once again, when she smiled at me, got up, went to her overnight bag and pulled out a pad and a pen.

"I have an idea"

"What?"

"How about we make him and Bella up? She's a mess as well"

"Elena I don't know"

"Why not? What could go wrong?"

She had a point, I nodded my consent and we went back to sleep thinking how we'd start the operation get Bella and Damon back together.

The next day as I drove us to school we saw a hyper Caroline bouncing up and down talking about the upcoming valentine's dance. I felt a slow smile forming on my lips and I turned to see Elena looking at me with the same smile.

"I want to get Damon and Bella together again using valentine's day. Any ideas?" Elena said

"I spoke to her a few days ago, she didn't sound good and she was in a hurry to hang up on me. Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes Caroline, I'm sure, they're both miserable"

"How do we do it then?" Matt piped in. How much impact that girl made in our lives is crazy!

During lunch that day the plan was formed and set. Elena got Bella's best friend on the phone, Angela and the three of them devised the plan. Matt, Bella's friend Mike and I would make sure no one caught up to what the girls were doing.

NO POV

They started simple enough. With typed small love notes to both Bella and Damon. Bella ended up in tears and kept the note in her diary. Damon simply threw it in the trash.

Bella thought the holiday was stupid and if you were with someone you should tell them you love them any day, not only a designated one by the card and candy companies. Damon simply didn't care about the day.

Next came the flowers. For Bella there was one beautiful deep red rose on her desk in every class, even lunch. The same at work. For Damon one was in his car and one on his bed. Damon grunted, and threw them away. Bella smiled wistfully and put hers in a vase.

Two days later were the teddy bears. Damon's was a pale white one with a heart in it arms with the letter "B" on and Bella's was a tan one with also a heart in its arms and the letter "D". Bella shuddered and put it away. Damon smiled a little and then gently placed it on his bedside table.

On February 13th Bella received a short dark red dress with a killing front and a pair of silver high heeled sandals. She let a laugh, muttered "Alice" and threw the package in the bottom of her closet. As soon as she informed Angela she would not be going a phone in Elena's house rang and Stefan knew it was time for plan B.

Damon POV

I was home, watching trash TV as I thought to the past few days. Someone was stalking me. I had no idea who it was or what they wanted with me. But love poems, flowers and a teddy bear? OK the teddy bear reminded me a little of Bella but I chose not to dwell on that. She doesn't want me to go back to her. She could have lifted her cell and send me a text message. She didn't. End of story.

Stefan and Elena came through the door. They both wore solemn expressions and Elena went straight to the kitchen to make herself some coffee while Stefan came to sit next to me on the couch. I kept my eyes on the TV although I kept stealing glances at my brother in the corner of my eye. Suddenly he handed me a card.

"A card Stefan?"

"I want you to sign it. It's for condolences. I'll mail it when I drive Elena home"

"Condolences? Who died and cares if I sign it?"

"Damon, there was an accident at Forks. Bella got hurt as a thief broke into her work and in a duel he shot her. She passed this morning. Her friend Angela just called Elena. The service is tomorrow and since I can't go I was planning on mailing the card to Charlie."

He may have continued talking but it was met by deaf ears. I stopped paying attention when he said that Bella was hurt. No dead. Bella. Is. Dead. Three words that stopped my heart and made my blood run cold. Without understanding what was going on I signed the card I was given and let my feet carry me to my bedroom.

Bella is dead.

Bella is dead.

Bella is dead.