Chapter Seven
Stefan knew exactly where he was. Matt's guest room.
Stefan remembered nothing after the point of black out. He remembered Damon kissing Caroline, punching Damon, and then Damon attacking him…over and over. He didn't remember much after that.
It had been a week. It had been a week of Stefan falling in and out of consciousness. Stefan could picture bits of every time he were to be awake before the medicine was to kick in again. The hospital was one place: Caroline at his side crying—that's all he could visualize from there.
After four days in the hospital, he was moved to Matt's place, no more IV, just pain medication that still made him fall into deep slumber. Over and over and over again. He barely took in all the people that came to visit him during the days he stayed at Matt's. Caroline came every afternoon, along with Chloe every other day. Elena came every morning and would stay with Caroline overnight, to watch over a sleeping and delusional Stefan…this happened twice.
Stefan remembered Damon. He had battered his eyelashes Friday morning of that week, his lazy eyelids barely saw Damon's exterior that stood next to the bedroom door. I laughed, Stefan thought, remembering the morning, I said something to him… "Sup brother."
Damon just kind of disappeared after that, or, it was just Stefan's min not being able to recall exactly how many times his older brother had come to see him.
Stefan would unknowingly smile when Caroline or Chloe were around his sleeping form. Caroline's soft hand in his every moment she was to be in the room, Chloe's head against his shoulder as she was to lie down next to him every other day. She would whisper, "Get better soon Uncle Stefan."
Get better soon.
Matt, Caroline, and Chloe were the only ones he really seemed to remember. Elena and Damon were a blur.
"I fucking hate this," Stefan mumbled, snapping out of his thoughts when he felt a jolt of pain in his lower abdomen as he shifted in his lying position.
Groaning, Stefan managed to sit himself up onto the bed. Eyes taking a while to flutter open, Stefan smiled through the pain when realizing that he might actually be able to move around a bit today. Bear through the ache and avoid the pain killers, Stefan plotted mentally, I won't fall asleep so easily that way.
Managing to stand on his feet, Stefan cursed when he suddenly felt light-headed at the action of getting up. Not doing much of the action without help from Matt (like he did for the past week) was weird when it came to independently getting up and walking.
Freezing in his spot as he came across the mirror in the room, Stefan's eyes widened at the sight of his own reflection. He had a deep cut along his cheekbone that was stitched up, while two minor cuts were bandaged on both sides of his jaw. Both of his eyes were black and purple all around, the bruise flowing down up his nose to the peak of his forehead, and to the tip of his broken nose. A long and narrow cut went along the left side of his neck, it's presence barely effecting Stefan because it was half way in its healing process—a long and thin scab taking the bloods place.
"What the—," Stefan started, his hand finding his left eye, "I am ugly."
Still not able to believe his appearance, Stefan couldn't help but slightly let out a bitter laugh, Wow, my brother did this to me.
Looking away from the mirror, Stefan slowly managed to continue with his struggle to escape the room he had been cooped up in for about four days now. Although it was nice of Matt to let him stay the night, Stefan missed the mini bar at his hotel. The pain was unbearable this morning as Stefan popped two prescribed pills into his mouth quickly before leaving the guest room. "Fuck me," Stefan mumbled before limping slowly out of the room and down the hall. I can't help it, Stefan thought to himself as he swallowed the pills, he couldn't bare the pain.
Moving into the hallway, his forehead crinkled at the sound of two deep voices echoing from the kitchen. He found the sudden urge to punch a wall at the sound of Elena, but resisted, mostly because it was physically impossible for him to hurt a wall. "Again, fuck me," he whined to himself before slowly moving into the living room and towards the kitchen.
He watched as Elena and Matt looked over at him from the table.
"Hey," he lamely greeted both. Stefan barely looked at the brunette who seemed to get right up with Matt, both shocked.
"You're awake?" Elena breathed out, her brows crinkling at the sight of the walking blonde. It had been days and all the brunette had seen from the younger Salvatore was just him lying on a bed.
"I'm walking and talking," Stefan muttered, "yes, I'm awake."
Matt's shocked face softened when looking over at Elena who instantly looked away from the blonde and to the ground. "Why don't you sit Elena," matt said gently, smiling at the brunette in order to reassure her.
Watching her sit down, Matt looked back at Stefan who was making his way towards him. Matt crinkled his nose. "Stefan did you take your medication?" he asked, eyeing the man in slight worry.
"Yeah," Stefan muttered, trying not to let his anger affect him, "It was nice of you to let me stay here, but I'd really like to go to the hotel now."
Matt sighed, "Can't do that. I've spoken to the hotel and have brought all your luggage here…you're no longer staying by yourself."
Stefan's eyes widened, "Wha—Matt, why'd you—"
"You could barely go to the bathroom by yourself Stefan," Matt defended, "Looks like you're my roommate for now my friend."
"Matt—"
"You hungry?" Matt asked.
"No," Stefan mumbled in defeat before slowly making his way towards the table.
At the same time Stefan walked towards the table, Matt walked away from it. It was soft, but Stefan managed to hear what Matt had to say when walking past him, "stop being a jerk to her," is what the man said, causing Stefan's bruised jaw to clench.
"Are you sure?" Matt asked loudly now, no longer quickly muttering to Stefan.
"Positive," Stefan sighed out before slumping onto the seat Matt was previously on. Groaning in pain for a quick moment at the hard action, Stefan muttered an "I'm okay" before letting out a long breath of air.
Trying to not groan out again and get his heart rate under control, Stefan looked away from a worried Matt only to glance over at Elena who sat across him on the table. Her eyes worriedly searched his, her hands up in the air-a reflex to wanting to help him sit. His jaw clenched again at that when remembering Matt's words. She really looked concerned for him...
"Are you sure you're okay?" Elena asked hesitantly, her eyes meeting Stefan's when he seemed to immediately look over at her from across the table.
"I'm fine," Stefan snapped lowly before looking away from Elena and back to Matt who was making him dinner. Sighing out loud, Stefan rolled his eyes internally before looking back at Elena who had her eyes on the dining table. Knowing he was going to regret it later, Stefan pursed his lips before genuinely adding, "But thanks for checking up on me…when you did…"
Elena's eyes shot up at that, a small smile grazing her lips slowly, causing Stefan to look away from her once again. Awkward silence filled the room before Elena got distracted over a smiling Matt Donovan, "See? Stefan's been passed out for a week now and he's still trying to make it easier for everyone to get along."
"Huh?" Stefan blurted out in confusion. Not being awake for a week can really have someone miss a lot, Stefan thought to himself. The constant feeling of being in the dark about a conversation was present when Stefan watched Elena sigh out, "I've got to go now, thanks for everything Matt." He watched her look down at him when she go up from her chair before she smiled, "I'm glad you're awake." Stefan nodded slowly only to watch the brunette start to leave. Yup, I definitely missed something. Elena changed the subject fast...something happened.
"Bye," Stefan stated casually, causing Elena to freeze in her standing position.
"Bye," Elena whispered out, smiling before continuing to walk towards the end of the hallway and towards the front door.
Stefan looked over at Matt who was now putting the oatmeal into the bowl. "I feel like I missed something," Stefan stated, waiting for Matt to bring over the food. He didn't care about what he ate at this point.
"A lot happened when you were half conscious Stefan," Matt sighed out before taking Elena's previous seat, "I was incredibly pissed after I saw what Damon did to you."
Stefan's eyes narrowed, "You were mad at your lover? Oh please tell me that isn't so!"
Rolling his eyes at the blonde man, Matt sighed, "Trust me, I was furious."
-x-
"Who's closing up the Grill?" Damon asked when standing up slowly and pulling his shirt back on, cringing at the pain that struck at his side when doing so. He had trouble eyeing the two that stood in the room, Matt's eyes never leaving Damon's while Elena's never left the floor.
He nodded at the nurse that left, although he had the sudden urge to stop her and quickly ask if she had been in the room opposite of him in the hospital. Sudden worry creeping within him for his brother. Everything was dark and unexplained; Damon remembered nothing after Stefan had passed out...Now completely sober and in pain, Damon was just trying to figure out what exactly had happened. Why'd I snap like that?
Pursing his lips, he watched her walk out the door before looking back at Matt who looked over at him blankly. "Dean handled it pretty well," the blond man said, "he closed up the Grill and drove a crying Chloe Lockwood home." Damon's jaw clenched at that.
"I-I don't know what got over me," Damon breathed out, his form now fully conscious and aching. He looked down at his hands, his left hand casted from the broken knuckles, while the right hand remained bruised. He remembered the hard hold Caroline had had on his left hand. Her cold fingers dug into his knuckles, her fingers partly laced with his when begging him to stop, to stop killing his own brother.
"You almost killed him Damon," Elena breathed out, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the back wall. Her eyes full of disapproval and slight concern and worry. She was worried about him and that was clear within those brown orbs.
"Don't you think I know that?" Damon muttered bitterly, sudden anger and uneasiness overwhelmed him.
Elena's eyes dropped low again, her gaze on the tiled ground.
"Is he okay?" Damon asked hesitantly, moving awkwardly before glancing out the window that was slightly shielded from the blinds.
"He's unconscious and on medication—he'll have to stay the night and fully recover before leaving the hospital," Matt started dully, "…if that's what you're asking."
Sudden repulsion screwed with Damon's insides. It was surprising how badly he wanted to see him. Damon clenched his jaw again, internally cringing at the jolt of pain that rose at the action. "Okay," Damon said, slowly starting to let his mind drift to the woman he was trying to block out of his mind. He remembered kissing Caroline, the taste of her lips made Damon sad when knowing that along with her lips, he also knew the taste of her tears. She had been crying when he forced himself onto her.
She may not have hated him before, but he was certain she did now.
"Where's um, is she—Caroline…" Damon stuttered slowly, not knowing if he should ask about the woman he had hurt once again. Plus, asking his confused and angered best friend might have been pushing limits that Damon broke through already—the moment he had sent Matt to get him coffee, only to create the scene he was involuntarily planning. His intentions confused him—did he want to hurt Caroline? Elena? Why didn't I stop harming Stefan?—All questions that bothered his already pained head.
"She's in Stefan's room," Matt said softly, clearing his throat before glancing out the window as well and across the room, "she refuses to leave Stefan's side. She's been crying ever since we got here."
Damon's teeth clamped together, the same pain rising within Damon's jaw.
"What happened?" Matt asked. His confusion and frustration desperately visible, Matt was tired of being in the dark when it came to secrets.
Damon said nothing. His eyes stone-cold when eyeing the floor, the hard gaze drifting off to Elena every once in a while.
"It's been tense between all four of you ever since Caroline and Stefan returned," Matt stated, looking between the ex-couple. "I finally found out why at a dinner party, along with the extra shocking info about my best friend being dead."
Damon's eyes shot up at that.
"What happened tonight Damon," Matt practically begged.
"I kissed Caroline," Damon blurted out, not ready for the reaction he was going to get from Matt Donovan.
"You forced her into kissing you," Elena added, her voice disgusted when remembering the hold Damon had on the hurt blonde.
Damon's jaw clenched again, his sudden urge to pop another pill of pain medication was tempting. He didn't want to hear any of this—frankly, he couldn't believe what he did was real. I hurt her. I hurt both of them.
Damon's mind kept going back to Stefan and his drugged up form in the room across from where he stood. Again: the temptation… the temptation to swallow another pill to reduce the pain—the temptation to see Stefan and his broken form.
"You what?" Matt asked while his eyes grew wide and his body grew tense.
"I kissed Caroline," Damon repeated, his words dull and numb. His head was killing him—throbbing.
Matt laughed bitterly, "No you didn't," he spoke out, his eye glancing over at Elena quickly before back at the dazed Salvatore that stood before him, "You didn't kiss her."
"I-I did," Damon's voice cracked, his brows furrowing in realization as he too started to recall exactly what happened earlier. He suddenly felt lost.
"She's been through so much because of you Damon," Matt sneered softly, his face inches away from the Salvatore's, "She's been trying to make this move work and all you've been doing is making it harder for her."
Damon bit the insides of his cheeks, his eyes watching the angered man before him.
"All you've been is a fucking douchebag," Matt moved away from Damon and towards the open door. "You've been treating the blonde like shit ever since she's been back," Matt sighed out, the anger now slowly dissolving into pathetic sympathy, "it needs to stop Damon…you need to stop."
Damon didn't know how to react to the words that escaped his friend. One thing was for sure, the few words cut the Salvatore like a knife—a fucking sharp knife.
Elena looked between the two tense men before glancing out the window and at Stefan's room. She watched as the door opened slowly, followed by an expressionless blonde that walked out. Elena watched as Caroline closed the door behind her before leaning against the door, her blue eyes never leaving the floor as she used the door as her support system. "We should get Damon home," Elena said softly, her eyes never leaving the blonde woman who was still oblivious to the open door before her—the door that showed full view of the one person she didn't want to see…Damon.
"Wha—" Damon cut himself off as he followed both Matt and Elena's gazes.
Damon's jaw clenched hard when his eyes met the woman across the hall, her eyes studying the ground lamely, and her blonde hair now in a messy bun. Caroline's face was pale—the smeared makeup washed from her face, while the color in her cheeks slowly drained as well.
"Damon," Matt started gently, "I should take you home."
Damon's face scrunched up as if what he had heard just then was the world's most ridiculous concept ever. He then watched Matt slowly look from him to Caroline who still stood oblivious in the hallway - lost in her thoughts. Damon's licked at his chapped lips, "I'm not leaving," he said loud enough to deliberately get Caroline's attention, along with Matt and Elena who simply looked at him in disbelief.
"Do you not get what you did Damon?" Matt sneered quietly, his form nearing Damon, "you can't stay here."
Damon's eyes narrowed slightly as he tried not to flinch at the feeling of pain shoot through his brain when stressing his bruised vision. "Like you said," Damon said while moving closer to his room's door, "I almost killed Stefan...I can't leave Matt."
Damon groaned in both frustration and in pain when Matt stopped him from exiting the room with on hand on Damon's upper arm. Being jerked back, Damon sighed when Matt looked his way in pure disbelief. "Damon, Caroline doesn't feel -"
"I don't care about what Caroline feels about me being here," Damon stared blankly, his gaze moving away from Matt and towards Caroline who was still watching and listening from her spot. He watched as she simply stared at him, her cold eyes never leaving his, "Stefan's my brother."
Caroline brows furrowed at that. Her eyes never leaving Damon's as he slowly moved out from the room and out into the hospital hallway. She studied the slight limp in his walk, the broken hand, and the bruised jaw—he wasn't even close to resemble the damage that was Stefan. Hatred—her hands clutched at Matt's jacket that she wore, her left hand slowly covering the door handle. Hatred, that's all she felt for the man that slowly started to walk towards her. Too distracted by Damon, Caroline failed to notice Matt and Elena who hesitantly made their way behind Damon.
"I want to see him," Damon said slowly, his form stopping a foot away from Caroline who still remained pressed against the door.
"No," Caroline whispered out, her eyes never leaving Damon's.
Damon's brows furrowed slightly before he took a step closer to Caroline.
"Damon," Matt warned from a few feet behind him.
"Caroline move," Damon whispered out, his voice neither angry nor uneasy. It was a mixture of desperation and defeat.
"You aren't allowed to see him," Caroline said, her voice cracking slightly, her legs awkwardly moving against the door that she leaned against. It was hard for her to speak to him, to talk to him and to look at him. With everything that happened tonight, all Caroline asked for was to be left alone.
"Why not?"
"Y-You almost killed him," Caroline stuttered again, her voice making it clear she was trying her hardest not to cry once again.
Damon's eyes softened at the sight of the blonde. Her hand shook at the handle, the jacket suddenly looking like it wasn't warm enough for her shivering form. Her orbs filled with salted water, begging for escape. She was about the cry but fought against it. "I know," Damon confessed softly, "but I didn't…I didn't mean to hurt him." Damon took another step closer to the blonde, who simply leaned further against the door, "Yeah, well you did hurt him, there is no changing that," Caroline started, forcing her head up when trying her best not to look away from the man before her.
She wanted nothing to do with him anymore. After tonight, and the way he almost killed his own brother—her best friend, Caroline had had enough of Damon's behavior.
"I didn't mean to—"
"Oh sure you didn't," Caroline started, her voice high and cracking, a tear finally escaping and rolling down her cheek, "All you've ever wanted is to hurt Stefan; first sleeping with his girlfriend years back, and then now beating him to the verge of death?"
Damon's eyes softened, "I—"
"He was going to propose to Elena, Damon..." Caroline whispered out, feeling guilty over telling Stefan's secret, but also feeling slightly relieved—the douchebag of a brother had to know what he had screwed up for his younger brother.
Damon's eyes widened at that, "What?"
"And as for me coming back and ruining your life...? I'd say you've done way worse," Caroline stated bitterly, "You've ruined both mine and Stefan's life."
Damon eyed the crying woman before him. He watched as she hastily wiped at her face before straightening up again. His jaw clenched, he stood awkwardly, wanting so badly to apologize, but he couldn't say it. He knew the apology wouldn't help. He had gone too far this time.
"Then I'll stay out of it," Damon whispered slowly, his mind calculating what exactly he was trying to say, "I'll stay out of your life."
Caroline froze at that, as if trying to let everything he said sink in, nodding slowly, Caroline let go of the door knob to Stefan's room before stepping away from the door. Now even closer to Damon, Caroline glanced down at his lips, his bottom had a slight cut on the right side. "Don't ever kiss me again," Caroline breathed out before moving past Damon.
-x-
"He better not touch her again, she's been through a lot already and Damon's douchebag-self isn't helping," Stefan mumbled, taking a spoon full of oatmeal, "Caroline should be able to live her life without being judged by the arrogant bastard that hurt her years ago."
"Whoa, okay then," Matt started, slightly shocked over how riled up Stefan got, "don't want to pop open stiches now."
Stefan rolled his eyes before looking at his bowl of food. His form tightened when Matt said, "thank you for not being so rude to her."
"You asked me not to be a jerk," Stefan said shrugging, "I tried."
"Yeah," Matt started, "try to keep it up...?"
Stefan put another spoonful into his mouth, "Really? It was hard just now and you want me to continue?"
"Oh come one Stefan," Matt sighed out, "you were being so nice-"
"I wasn't being nice…I was just being less of a dick. Plus I'm half delusional—I swallowed down two pills this morning so barely have control over my actions at the moment."
"So you…?"
"Still can't stand in the same room as her without wanting to break a table? Yes," Stefan finished off before using his spoon again.
Matt's eyes softened at the tense man before him. Not wanting to pressure or push the man, Matt couldn't help his curiosity when asking one last thing... Everything went quiet for a moment before Matt awkwardly asked, "About Elena, Stefan—"
"It doesn't matter anymore," Stefan interrupted, knowing exactly what Matt was going to say. He knew everyone probably knew his embarrassing secret at this point, and yet he didn't care—he definitely didn't blame Caroline for blurting it out. She was going through a lot and Stefan did not want her to worry about something that didn't even matter anymore. Stefan was done with Elena, and everything that their past had to offer. So what if I was going to propose?
Matt's lips pursed. It was a touchy subject and he could tell by the way Stefan's face tensed up. "Okay," he whispered before watching the blonde man take another spoonful.
"What else happened?" Stefan asked causally before taking his last oatmeal bite.
Matt sighed before thinking, "Like I said before, I was really mad. I was angry at Damon and you for fighting…I was just plain out angry."
Stefan laughed only to receive a glare in return. Stefan shut up right away, the glare was genuine. It was kind of scary.
"The next awkward encounter was here," Matt started, looking around his place, "everyone ended up showing up to check on you at the same time."
Stefan's brows arched at that.
-x-
"Is he okay?" Damon asked hesitantly, moving awkwardly before glancing out the window that was slightly shielded from the blinds.
"He's sleeping and on medication," Matt started dully, "if that's what you're asking."
Sudden relief stroked Damon's insides. It was surprising how badly he wanted to see him. Damon clenched his jaw again, internally cringing at the jolt of pain that rose at the action. "Okay," Damon said, slowly starting to let his mind drift to the woman he was trying to block out of his mind. He remembered kissing Caroline, the taste of her lips made Damon sad when knowing that along with her lips, he also knew the taste of her tears. She had been crying when he forced himself onto her.
She may not have hated him before, but he was certain she did now.
Reaching the door knob to Stefan's temporary room, Damon froze as words escaped the mouth of the brunette who was now walking towards Matt's side, "I don't think you should go in. I mean, Caroline hates you more than ever right now."
Damon's hand slowly left the door handle before he slowly stepped away.
"No," Matt said, his voice laced with boredom, "We should go, all of us."
"Matt," Elena interjected, only to get shot down when Matt slipped past Damon and opened the door, slowly having Damon and Elena follow him into the room.
Opening the door, Matt watched as Caroline looked up at him from the side of Stefan's bed. Caroline smiled a bit.
Matt walked into the room, only to have Caroline eyes meet Damon who slowly and hesitantly walked into the room. Elena followed, but the blonde seemed to be staring down Damon.
Damon's stomach tugged at the sight of his little brother. The way his body was bruised and cut…the way his eyes were purple and black, he felt sudden disgust roll over him, I did this.
Caroline's eyes studied Damon's face, before her eyes locked with his. She simply stared at him, no emotion in sight when successfully making the man uncomfortable.
"Matt, what the hell," Caroline stated, looking over at the blonde man who should've known how inappropriate it was to bring Damon in the room.
After everything he did, Caroline didn't want to see his face let alone talk to him.
"No, Caroline—this has got to stop guys," Matt began, glancing at everyone in the room, "TWO NIGHTS IN A FUCKING ROW."
Almost everyone jumped at Matt's sudden outburst.
"Matt—"
"No," Matt cut Caroline off, "It's time for a change."
"Matt, don't do this here," Damon muttered before glancing slightly out the window.
"I've had enough of all of you," Matt said, a little calmer now, "I can't keep spending everyday wondering if Damon and Stefan might try to kill each other again."
"Just make sure he never touches Caroline again, and I'm pretty sure Stefan won't have a problem," Elena stated, still shaken up over everything that had happened that night. The things Damon had said to Caroline still made her fall into shock.
Damon's body tensed. His eyes glancing over at the blonde who sank her gaze to the tiled floor. The things he had said to her and did to her…
Matt's brows furrowed slightly at that, "What he do to Caroline?" he asked, clearly confused to the actual events that took place outside the Grill.
"I kissed her," Damon finally voiced out, his muscles tense and showing in the structure of his face.
Caroline looked over at Damon, her eyes meeting his again.
"You hurt me," Caroline let out softly, remembering his hold on her and all the damaging words that had played out of his mouth.
Matt stared at the two, completely dumbfounded. "Okay," he started, not knowing exactly how to react, "Everything that happened between you guys in college is none of my business, but, when it starts to affect the people I care about and almost getting people killed—it's now my problem as well."
Everyone was looking over at Matt again.
Matt's face tightened before he continued his point, "I don't care if you guys hate each other. All I ask is to leave each other alone…whether that is never talking to each other again or not—I don't know and I don't care. All I know is that a teenage girl left crying from the restaurant, and a young boy had to take care of her. She went crying because her Uncle was beat to shit by a man she barely knows."
Damon cringed.
Everyone was silent, Matt's voice playing through all ears.
"Ignore each other, confront each other, I don't give a shit," Matt finished, "but I don't want anything like the past few nights happening ever again."
-x-
"Well that's awkward," Stefan shot out, "I was just lying there—pretty much dead—and you four were in the room plotting on different ways to avoid each other?"
"I was trying to help them find ways to get along," Matt corrected, only to have Stefan grin.
"How'd that work out?"
"Caroline left crying and everyone felt like shit after," Matt sighed out, "she didn't talk to me for two days after that. We're okay now…I don't expect her to talk to Damon though. She has the right to be angry at him."
"Yup," Stefan sang out.
"Now everyone just kind of comes in shifts to check up on you," Matt finished, "I don't know how that all worked out…but at least no one's attacked each other yet."
Suddenly uncomfortable, Stefan twitched in his seat, "You allowed Damon and Elena to see me?"
"I refused to allow Damon in the house a few times," Matt started, "but Elena…I couldn't say no to her."
Stefan's jaw clenched.
"She was worried about you."
Stefan snorted causing Matt to let out a puff of air.
"For my sake, try not being a douche to her when she comes over again?"
Stefan's brow arched, "Why is she coming over again? I'm awake and fine."
"Yeah, but she's still worried," Matt pointed out, grabbing Stefan's bowl before walking over to the kitchen again.
"Then tell her not to be," Stefan shot back. It was clear that Stefan didn't want to see the brunette.
The crazy bit about it all was that, sometimes Stefan was at his angriest when it came to Elena. It was a crazy and disgusting feeling because Stefan knew he couldn't possibly hate Damon any less, however, something within him just snapped when around Elena.
The bell to the front door rang only to snap Stefan out of his thoughts.
"…and that's not her," Matt said, smiling over at Stefan, "she just left, remember?"
Stefan glared at Matt as he watched the healthy blonde walk away towards the front door, "then who is it?"
"Damon," Matt sighed out before opening the door to the oblivious older Salvatore.
If only I could walk right now, Stefan thought to himself, feeling stupid when realizing that he probably couldn't get off the kitchen chair without looking stupid.
Stefan felt the sudden urge to punch a wall again.
"And you," Damon said, cutting Elena off when looking over at Caroline who was now frozen, "you were supposed to be gone forever—not back to ruin my life!"
Caroline's mouth gaped open, "Wha…Damon I—"
"In all honesty, I'm glad I cheated on you 18 years ago," Damon started, grinning when looking over at Elena who seemed to eye him in disappointment, "Thanks for helping me dodge a bullet Elena."
Caroline's jaw clenched. She could feel angry tears starting to brew at her eyes. "Fuck you," Caroline shot out bitterly before trying to free herself again, "Let me go," she screeched before starting to yell at him, "Damon, I said—"
Lips crashed hard against hers. She could taste the alcohol on his lips.
Lips crashed hard against hers. She could taste the alcohol on his lips.
Lips crashed hard against hers. She could taste the alcohol on his lips.
Lips crashed hard against her.
Lips crashed hard against hers.
Lips crashed hard—
Caroline jumped out of her thoughts at the sound of the doorbell ringing. Almost spilling her coffee that was in her hands, Caroline hadn't realized that she had zoned out again.
Her fingers found her lips when remembering exactly what she was thinking about. For the past week now, Caroline had nightmares and flashbacks of Damon hurting Stefan in front of her. She would always think of the one night where her best friend was almost killed. But, recently, Caroline couldn't top thinking about the moment before Damon had forcefully kissed her.
Her lips would part and her throat would go dry when thinking about his lips on hers. She remembered it and it angered her that she allowed herself to relive it every day.
Licking at her lips quickly, Caroline's eyes shut closed when trying to block out tears of frustration. You can't be thinking about Damon kissing you, Caroline thought to herself, god I hate him so much, he's a monster—A MONSTER!
Caroline jumped again at the sound of another ring of the doorbell, sighing out loud from the kitchen; Caroline placed the cup on the counter before walking slowly towards the door. "Chloe, hurry down and eat your breakfast," she called out when reaching for the door knob. Opening the door, Caroline smiled at the boy she saw before her, "Good morning Dean," she welcomed the boy her daughter had been spending a lot of time with. 'He's just a friend' she'd say, Caroline simply laughed every time.
Caroline remembered the day she came back from the hospital only to see her daughter…
-x-
Caroline opened the bedroom door, uncertainty and sadness falling over her as her gaze met her daughter on her bed, her father's letters scatted around her, one in her hand—she read. Caroline then looked at her mother that lay next to Chloe on the bed, fast asleep.
"Chloe?" Caroline asked, slowly moving into the bedroom.
Chloe looked up at her mother, tears damp on her cheeks. Chloe watched as her mother's mouth gaped open slightly at the sight of her. It took a while for Chloe to speak, but she did and watched as Caroline rushed to the opposite side of the bed, sitting down in front of her, "Uncle Stefan?" she simply asked. She couldn't ask much more—the strength gone.
Caroline nodded at the blonde. "It's okay sweetie," she reassured, "he's fine. He's okay."
Chloe let out a shaky breath when Caroline pulled her in for a hug. Chloe sighed, her head snuggling into her mother's shoulder. Everything she saw today, everything Damon did, how could she go on with what her father wanted her to do? How could she pair her mother up with a man so destructive? He was damaged and it was clear to Chloe, but what he did to his own brother today… I don't think I can do this Dad, Chloe thought to herself, glancing past Caroline's shoulder when viewing the letters that lay around her. I can't do this Dad.
She held the letter in her hand as Caroline pulled away from her. She remain still and quiet as Caroline wiped at her cheeks and whispered reassuring phrases at her. She remained quiet, debating on whether she should tell her mother about the letter…about what her father wanted for her. She debated on whether Damon really deserved her mother. Could he really have potential to change? Or was it just some fantasy her father imagined would occur 18 years after Damon fucked up. The truth was, Damon Salvatore was worse now versus when he was younger—when Tyler knew him.
Caroline looked down at the card in Chloe's hand. She smiled slightly at the girl, "The secret card huh?" she asked, chuckling slightly when Chloe nodded.
Chloe sighed internally. She was going to do it. She was going to show her mother what the card was all about—about her. Opening up the piece of paper, Chloe stared at the words on the page. The happiness and hope linked to the words of her dead father. "Mom, I—" she started, her voice soft when eyeing the words again, "this letter—"
"Yeah?" Caroline asked confused over what her daughter was trying to tell her.
"I love you," Chloe let out, letting her fingers close up the piece of paper before she tucked it back into the envelope. She looked up at her mother, letting a small smile graze her lips. It doesn't feel right, Chloe said slowly, as she decided on hiding the card from her mother again. She still didn't know Damon Salvatore…she couldn't act on any of her emotions at the moment.
She needed to talk to him. She needed to confront Damon Salvatore.
"I love you too sweetie," Caroline whispered before kissing her daughter on the cheek, "Alright, go to sleep now alright? Still have school tomorrow."
Chloe nodded before picking up all her cards that lay around her. Stuffing them into the drawer next to her bed, she let her mother tuck her in before leaving Liz and Chloe in the room.
Chloe sighed out loud before snuggling into her pillow underneath her.
-x-
"Morning Mrs. Lockwood," Dean greeted back. Awkwardly twitching when the blonde before him seemed to eye him, Dean continued, "is, um, Chloe ready for school?"
Caroline's brows furrowed at that, "Are you here to pick her—"
"Oh!" a voice chimed from the stairs, "Sorry, I'm late."
Caroline and Dean both watched Chloe rush down the stairs, her bag hanging from one shoulder as she ran towards the open door. Eyes narrowing at the blonde teenager, Caroline questioned, "What about breakfast?"
Chloe quickly dragged Dean off the porch before running down the driveway, "I'll eat extra during lunch, promise!" she yelled from mid-driveway. Laughing at her mother's expression, Chloe screamed, "I love you!" before running towards Dean's car that was parked on the road.
Rolling her eyes, Caroline sighed out before closing the door behind her daughter and so called "friend".
Chugging down the rest of the coffee, Caroline decided on making her way to Matt's place.
Maybe Stefan was even better today…
Review?
(PS. Sorry about the slow chapter, the next one will be more exciting aha)