chapter 6 : Stefan
No POV
Stefan was stunned. Happy but stunned. His best friend was sitting triumphantly on his stomach with a bright yet teasing smile on and he was so darn happy to see her! Lexi Branson was his best friend since his newborn years. He had been in a bad place when he realized what he was and in his angry mind he blamed the residents of Mystic Falls so he had started to eat them. Then he met her.
She waltzed into his life and forced him to see his choices. She had then helped him to 'grow a pair' as she had so nicely put it and helped him stick to animal blood. Since then the two had been best friends. It didn't hurt that she and Damon didn't really like each other outside the bedroom.
She pulled him up and gave him a big hug and sang happy birthday in a sultry tone that could put Merilyn to shame before giving him another tighter than wild vices hug. Then she zoomed off towing him along saying she needed a man to carry her bags. When he saw a young brunette girl in her teens leaning against the car half asleep he was surprised. Was Lexi bringing her along as a ... gift? She had always supported his decision on nutrition even if she hated it herself.
"This is my friend Bella"
She told him with a happy smile
"Nice to meet you Bella"
"You too, happy birthday. You are Stefan, right?"
"Yeah, I am and thank you"
She seemed nice. Lexi loaded him with a cherry colored duffle bag, a bright yellow bafflegab and a big hospital issued cooler that he knew all too well. So Bella wasn't a snack then. He waved off Bella's apologetic glance at his mule status and made sure not to invite her in and exhaled with relief as she didn't need an invitation to enter the house. Ok she was human for sure then.
He towed the bags to the room next to his and Bella gracefully excused herself to 'let them talk' and she closed the door. He and Lexi headed to his room where with once again vampire speed Lexi jumped on his bed.
"Lexi why is a human in my house? In fact why is a human keeping you company at all?"
"I met her at the airport in June. When I saw how broken she looked I couldn't look away"
"you love picking strays huh?"
"I picked you didn't I? Anyway don't worry, she knows about me. Hell she dated a cold one, she's stronger than she looks"
"Damon is back you know"
Lexi laughed
"She cannot be compelled you know. She's wearing vervain just in case"
"Impressive"
Then they let the subject drop and started talking about their lives during the time since they last saw each other. Before leaving to 'take care of some things' he warned her to be careful with the townsfolk. She rolled her eyes dutifully and started making plans for his birthday bash.
She didn't want to admit it but she was sad he didn't want to go to New York for the weekend with her. Sure she was happy he had finally opened up to a girl but she really wanted him to go with her. She loved Bella but she could tell that the girl wasn't the type to just drop everything and live in the moment.
Suddenly an idea stated forming in her head as a slow smile built on her lips.
"Good morning"
"Morning Bell"
Her human friend was dressed in casual jeans and a vest top. Sunglasses rested on her head while her feet were in kitten heeled sandals.
"What do you want to do today?"
"It's sunny so wanna play board games?"
"Actually I have an idea"
"Why every time you say this I want to run for the hills?"
Lexi laughed and told Bella her idea of throwing Stefan a party. Bella that hated surprise parties herself shook her head but kept her mouth shut. She didn't know Stefan and maybe he liked parties... as much Lexi liked the sun.
That sent Bella on her merry way in town after installing Google maps on her phone as she didn't like the idea of getting lost. A few hours later after getting Lexi the stuff she wanted Bella was browsing the books in the Salvatore's vast library while Lexi napped.
She was reading Jane Austen when a flashback of him reading it to her hit her and caused her to throw the book on the floor with a flick of her wrist.
"Be careful, that's a first edition"
a male voice behind her caused her to jump only to jump higher when he zoomed next to her and picked the book up. With a half disgusted sigh he put it on the table.
"So, who are you?"
He asked with a charming grin
'Oh you brought a snack' James voice rang in her ears, he had the smile charming - yet mocking smile
"The snack"
Bella deadpanned
"I'm Lexi's friend and you must be Stefan's brother"
"Damon"
"Nice to meet you Damon"
Damon let this light growl and leaned over Bella with his fans extending and all the little veins around his eyes popping
"Impressive"
Said Bella who could see the humor instead of the usual hanger behind the expression
"Only I've seen worse by better"
She replied with a charming smile, her mind in a dance studio months ago. Damon accepting the answer and more than a little impressed with her being to keep her calm was about to pull back his fangs when a pair of over worried vampires came to the room
"What are you doing Damon?"
"Relax, I was just being hospitable."
at their angry ready-to-scold-him faces Bella chuckled.
"Bella are you ok"
Lexi rushed to her examining her quickly for bites before remembering her locket.
"I'm fine Lexi, he was just ... welcoming me"
Bella's calm expression managed to calm both Lexi and Stefan and Damon told them about his little party idea. It made sense. They needed to mingle especially since the local chief that knew about vampires was going to look for vampires during the day.
"Come on we need to go shopping"
"What? Why? No, Lexi... It... It's sunny outside"
Bella managed to stutter as Lexi all but threw her over her shoulder and made a line for the front door. thankfully the last excuse hit home and Bella breathed a sigh of relief as Lexi stopped. Instead she hauled Bella up the stairs to their room and started browsing through the ridiculously over packed bag she had brought for the couple days they'd stay. She pulled something and threw it at Bella who held it by one finger and tried to understand what it was.
"put it on"
"what is it"
"a skirt"
The piece of fabric was barely 3 inches. Skirt? Seriously? Knowing better than to argue with a vampire over clothes Bella tried it on after stripping her jeans off. After pairing it with the top Lexi just hurled at her she made the mistake of looking herself at the mirror.
