Stefan didn't want to come to the barbecue, nor did Jeremy or anyone else I wanted to see. Caroline avoided me, and then she and Elena left; only Damon and The Saltman remained.

Who wants to talk to them?

We bailed soon after Caroline and Elena left; it wasn't hard to convince Gran to leave.

I had to talk to Gran about my dream, but I wanted to talk to Jeremy and Caroline. Neither of them came to school the next day; even the golden Elena girl was m.i.a.

Doesn't anyone come to school anymore?

A few days later, the following Monday to be exact, I found myself marching over to the Gilberts. I didn't get a chance to knock before Stefan Salvatore opened the door; he stared at me like an apparition, then pointed at me.

'What the heck-?'

'We match.'

I noticed that we both were wearing a light purple shirt over a white t-shirt. Mine was plaid, open, revealing white shirt beneath while his shirt was solid, buttoned up, except for the top; his t-shirt was visible, and jeans; I wore black sneakers while he wore black boots.

'Oh.'

He stepped outside, shutting the door behind him. 'What are you going here?'

'I wanted to talk to Jeremy and Caroline.'

'I think Jeremy is already gone; Caroline might be at school.' I began to walk away. 'Wait, come to school with me.'

'What would Elena say?'

He looked away from me. 'Elena and I... We broke up.'

'Why?'

He turned to me. 'Why what?'

'Why did you break up?'

'That's personal-'

'Was it because of Damon?'

'Why would Damon be-?' he shakes his head. 'Let's go; I don't want to risk another fight with Elena.'

The sound of a crow made me jump and nearly fall; Stefan caught me, of course.

Stefan glared at the crow as he helped me up; it was perched on a branch in a nearby tree.

'I think I'll just wait on Gran.'

'I'll drive you.'

'School doesn't start for another hour.'

'It'll give us a chance to catch up.'

I looked at the crow; it watched me expectantly. 'Let me grab something from home.

'Do you like Linkin Park?' she asked as she held up a CD case entitled Hybrid Theory.

'Sure.' I lied.

'This is one of my favorite bands from this millennium, at least.' she put in the c.d.

'What's the name of this song?'

'Papercut.'

'What other music do you like?'

She shrugged. 'Whatever Renee listened to.'

'Renee?'

'My mother.'

'What did Renee listen to?'

She shrugged again. 'Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, and John Denver. I'm not a big music fan.'

'But you like this band.'

'Someone gave it to me-' she turned up the music. 'It's better loud.'

'Bella!' I shouted as she blasted the music.

'Cool, right?' I could scarcely hear her.

I went to turn it off, and I noticed her looking out the window. She wants to talk but isnt sure if Damon's still around.

I decided against it; what are you up to, Isabella Swan?

When we reached the light, she turned to me and shouted, 'I can make you a list of all my favorite songs.'

'Ok.' I shouted back.

'What?'

I turned the volume down. 'Yes, make a list of all your favorite songs.'

She turned the music up again. 'Is there anyone behind us?'

'No.'

'Is the light still red?' She began writing something.

'Yes.'

'What?'

I turned off the music. 'Damon isnt following us.'

She turned it back on. 'How can you be sure?'

How could I be sure?

I waited for the light as Bella kept writing. 'What kind of music do you listen to?'

'Classical mostly.'

'What?'

'Bella.'

'I'll give you a list of songs I like after school.'

'What did you want to talk to Jeremy and Caroline about?'

'What?'

'Stefan went to school with that twit, Bella Swan.'

The remark caught me off guard, and I turned to find Damon leaning against my car. He wore black as usual.

'Stefan drove Bella Swan to school.'

Bella's face flashed in my mind, and I frowned. 'Did she say anything?'

'They talked about music, stupid teenager stuff, but it was hard to hear over the music.'

'Stefan and I are broken up.' I said to Damon. 'He can be with whomever he wants.'

This pretending to be broken up was just as emotionally taxing as an actual breakup.

'It didn't take long.'

'And how long do you plan to wait?' I snapped, irritated that he was throwing this in my face.

He shrugged but remained silent.

'He could be trying to get information out of her.'

Or he is bleeding her dry...but I couldn't speak that thought into existence.

'What was Bella doing lurking around my house anyway?'

'Looking for Jeremy and Caroline.'

'Why?'

'She didn't say, although I couldn't hear over the music.'

I would have to ask him about it.