Damon hops down the stairs, smelling the sweet aroma of muffins wafting through the air. He enters the kitchen and finds Stefan stuffing freshly baked muffins into a basket. Damon thinks he looks like a Girl Scout.

He reaches into the basket and pops one out, taking a big bite out of the top.

"Damon stop it!" Stefan whips around. "Those are for Madeline and her mom."

"Good thing I came down when I did, then." He grabs the basket.

Stefan leans his back against the countertop. "And how do you plan on getting inside?" He smirks.

Damon shrugs. "How did you plan on getting inside?"

"Simple. I," he laughs. "Have already been invited in," Stefan continues being smug, knowing this bit of information is going to drive his brother insane.

"What?!" Damon isn't surprised his brother has charmed his way into their neighbor's home but he is shocked Stefan would throw it in his face so easily. "That's not fair."

Stefan takes the muffin basket back. "Maybe if you didn't spend your days staring at her through the window, she'd be more inclined to enjoy your company." He shrugs.

"Enjoy my compan- don't you have a fiancé to swoon or something?" Damon scoffs and throws his half-eaten muffin at him. He takes the muffin basket back and matches it over to Madeline's house.

Damon knocks on the front door and takes a step back, practicing his best friendly-neighbor smile.

Madeline opens the door. She crosses her arms over her chest and leans in the doorway. After last night, she is not exactly in the mood to talk to Damon.

Damon can tell. "Is your mom here?" Damon peers over her shoulder.

"Nope." She stares at him, eyeing the muffins. He stretched out his arms. She takes the basket from him. "I guess this explains why you aren't in the window this morning."

"I was busy making these for you and your mom." Damon lies out of his ass.

"I don't like liars." Madeline says simply before taking a bite out of one of the muffins on top.

Damon gasps. "I am shocked at that accusation! After I slaved over the stove all morning."

"Muffins aren't made on a stove." She smiles without realizing. She is not happy he made her smile. "You can tell Stefan we said thank you." She smirks and shuts the door with her door.

Damon lunges at the door and begs her to keep it open. "I-I thought maybe we could have a chat. The muffin basket is kind of an ice breaker."

"Chat about what?" She sighs, not in the mood for his charming demeanor after he yelled at her last night.

"Last night." He shrugs. Madeline laughs and sets the muffins down. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" He asks.

"Nope." She shuts the door.

Damon grinds his teeth together and returns home. He slams his way into the house and searches for his brother. Stefan is still in the kitchen. "I need you to go over there and compel her or something." Damon wipes his face. 

"Damon, what are you talking about?"

"She hates me and I need her to not hate me!" Damon continues shouting.

"Did you try apologizing?" Stefan asks, wiping the counter to remove the flour remnants.

"Stefan Stefan Stefan. Noble Stefan. Of course I didn't apologize. I don't even know what I did!" Damon slaps his hands on the counter.

Stefan throws a towel over his shoulder. It drapes down, making him look like a housewife. Damon is going to make a comment about it later. "Is it the window thing? I bet it's the window thing?" Stefan asks, wondering if the issue could be obvious and right in front of his face.

"It's not the window- you- stop trying to figure it out. Just go over there and compel her not to hate me." Damon scoffs at his brother's constant do-good attitude. Quite frankly, he is sick of it.

"I'm not going to do that, Damon." Stefan shakes his head and continues cleaning.

Damon groans. 'I'll just do it myself then,' he thinks to himself.

"Do not-" Stefan stops himself to ensure he keeps his composure. Damon has cause him to lose his temper before. "Do not compel that girl."

Authors note: what are you guys thinking of this story so far?