Melanie rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly on the bed looking around cautiously. She came down to find everything in order which meant Damon had cleared up. 

She heard clattering sounds coming from the kitchen so she went in there and found Damon searching the cabinets. She perched up on the stool as per her usual routine. 

Sensing her presence he turned around, "Morning." She only nodded in reply. "I think some ingredients are out of stock," he spoke, "or else I could have made you pancakes for breakfast." 

She looked up, "I don't want to eat pancakes." 

He looked surprised, "really? Well then what do you want to eat?" 

She replied, "an omelette. French omelette." 

His eyes widened for a second, "but you know I've no idea how to make any kinds of omelettes." 

She sighed, "guess I'll have to make do with peanut butter then." 

He watched her as she went to the refrigerator and took out the jar of peanut butter applying it on the bread wearily. "I thought you liked peanut butter. That's why we have it in the house," he remarked a thoughtful look spreading on his face. 

She gave him a straight clear look, "and does that mean you have everything which I like in this house?" 

He simply shrugged, "almost." 

The knife dropped with a clatter from her hand as she stood up probably fuming in anger, "I liked Stefan too." 

He understood why she was being too sour to him, "but I hated him and that's a fact." 

She spoke, "why do you hate him?" 

He replied, "some day later when you'll be able to understand I'll explain. I promise." 

She saw the blank expression on his face and fired up, "Damon why are you so cold? How can you kick your brother out of the house?" 

He looked up, "stop defying him." 

She sighed, "I'm not defying him." 

In no time he was standing right in front of her gazing down with his piercing blue eyes, "fine then, answer me this: why didn't you go with him? Why did you choose me if you plainly had to traumatize me by being so distant and make me realize the intensity of the crime I committed? You had a choice and I did not force you. Why did you stay behind?" 

She clenched her jaw in rage and that took him by surprise, "I stopped for a lot of reasons. I almost chose Stef because that was the right thing to do. You were wrong not him. I should have left with him but I didn't because I can't let you become a monster. I could not let you blame Stefan again and I could not let you hate him more than you already do. And most of all because I care for you. I simply couldn't bear to see you destroy your own self!" 

He felt as if he had done wrong to ask her. He tried to say something but she cut him off, "I'm already late for school and I don't wanna be stuck in here right now. If you can give me a ride to school, well and good. If not, I've no problem in taking the bus, thank you very much." 

Her sudden outburst had shut his mouth up. He took the car keys, "no, I'll drive you." They were silent on the way which was an oddity. 

He watched as she got out and left for her classes without a goodbye or even a single backward glance. "She has every right to be angry with you," a voice spoke in his head. Conscience. 

He slammed his fist on the steering wheel. Clenching his jaw in suppressed rage, he drove off. Once again he blamed Stefan for ruining his relationship with his baby sister.