CHAPTER SIXTEEN 

(act ii)

THE ANNIVERSARY 

'there goes the neighborhood'

"One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time." ~ Carl Sagan

Stefan walked in with his hands in his pockets, looked around the kitchen, and said, "Your house is really nice. It's much better than the boarding house, it's lighter. I didn't get to see much last time I was here."

"Do you want a tour? I can show you the library. Here" I told him, giving him the half-filled shot glass of blood. Stefan grimaced at the sight of it but saw my raised eyebrow and drank it.

As he drank it, he choked on it, coughed loudly, looked at me with confused eyebrows, and coughed into his hand.

I laughed lightly and told him, "It has vervain in it. Sorry, I should've told you before you drank it. It's to build immunity and lessen your bloodlust. If you drink blood with vervain in it, you won't want to drink it."

As he stops coughing and replies, "That. That's actually smart. Why do I need to build an immunity?"

"Well, in case someone tries to take advantage of your weakness," I tell him, giving him the glass again, and he grimaces at it. He slowly takes it and gulps it down; he coughs again as he puts it on the table.

"On another note, you have a library?" he asks me softly.

I laughed lightly and said, "Of course I do. Come, I'll show you" I walked out of the kitchen with Stefan following me. We walked up the stairs and walked into the library. Stefan let out an appreciative whistle and scanned the massive library.

"We have lost the abstract sense of beauty," I told him as I trailed my hands across the bookshelves.

"Oscar Wilde," Stefan noted. "If you must die, I'll envy even the earth that wraps your body," he replied softly as he watched me look at the books. I froze and turned to him slowly. "Albert Camus, State of Siege," I whispered.

Stefan walked towards me and nodded slowly, "You Caroline Forbes are slowly become anima mia. I don't know how but you plague my thoughts...my dreams. You've bewitched me, how?" He trailed his finger down my cheek towards my neck. My blood roared in my ears.

How? This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to love Elena, Katherine's look alike.

"I haven't used magic on you, Stefan. If I did, you would most definitely feel it. What about Elena?" I asked, looking into his eyes and searching for any truth in his statements.

He stroked my neck softly with his thumb. "Elena doesn't compare to you. You are the one I want to want to wake up to in the morning, to watch the morning sun. To feel your body against mine as we fall asleep listening to each other's heart beats. You inspire me to be a better person. Elena doesn't, she likes someone else, not the real me. You accept me for who I truly am, you accept me more than I."

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Timeskip ~Later That Day

Stefan POV:

Elena and I were making out, and I was nipping against her neck with my teeth, and I felt her tense up as my teeth scrapped against her neck.

I knew she didn't accept my vampiric nature but seriously. I would never hurt her.

I move away from her neck, and she relaxes, and I unbutton her shirt and kiss down her chest, making her arch up slightly. She runs her hand down my chest to my growing clothed bulge.

As I was kissing her skin, I couldn't help but think of Caroline.

She would look under me with her pretty blonde hair spread out like a halo. How she would wither under my touch and gaze. How she would let me have control. I knew she had an alpha-dominant personality but would let others control sex. That little minx definitely was a switch. She enjoyed as men worshipped her body, as they should. But if they got too cocky, she would flip and become the dom I knew she was. She definitely was vanilla, like Elena was. I knew she liked it rough and hard, mainly because I overheard Jeremy and Enzo talk about one night they were together. Honestly, it sounded fun to let go and be drowned in pleasure.

"Fuck Caroline~" I moan out, too wrapped up in my thoughts of her. I'm pulled out of my thoughts when I hear Elena gasp and slightly push against my shoulder. I look down to see her horrified face and become confused till I figure it out.

I just moaned out Caroline's name, and she is not Caroline.

I stop, and Elena starts to cry; she says with a wobbly voice, "Did you just say, Caroline." I stay quiet, unsure how to explain to my girlfriend that I'm in love with another girl, her friend.

Elena grows sad and angry, pulls her shirt on, and says, "Stefan, answer me!"

"Um, yeah, I did. I'm sorry," I say softly, not trying to make her sadder than she clearly already was.

Elena tears up and says, "Why? Am I not good enough for you? Are you cheating on me?" she starts getting angry.

I become annoyed. I would never. I quickly say, "What? No, I'm not cheating on you; I've never kissed or had sex with Caroline. But I think I like her, maybe even love her."

Elena scoffs and says, "So you like her more than me? Of course, everyone does. She took my father and now my boyfriend, great". She stands up and starts pacing the room as she rants.

"It's not like that. Caroline actually accepts me, my vampire nature. She cares about me, and I care about her a lot," I tell her, trying to calm her down. It wasn't working.

"She's a fucking slut, Stefan. She has two boyfriends! That's disgusting. How could you like someone like that?!" She quietly yells at me, not trying to alert the others in the house.

I stand up, shocked at Elena's words, and tell her, "Elena, you can't say that. She's your friend. She loves Enzo and your brother. Polyamory is real. You know, Polyamory has been accepted since the medieval times, kings and lords had multiple wives, consorts. In the stone ages, women would have multiple male partners to take care of their kids. It's not disgusting. It's natural."

Elena scoffs, not caring what I am saying, and just lets out one word "Leave."

"Elena, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I was going to tell you properly," I tell her gently.

"We're done! Just leave. I don't care anymore. Go back to your whore" she huffs at me with tears streaming down her face.

"Don't call Caroline a whore. She's not," I tell her firmly, not okay with her words.

"Wow, you're a real knight in fucking shinning armor." She says sarcastically, looking at me with something akin to disgust.

I scoff, pick up my shoes, and speed out the window, done with her shit.

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The Next Day

I was driving Bonnie to the hospital to pick Shelia up since she was being released. She would be all right; she just needed rest. After we picked up Shelia, I drove to their house to drop them off. I was in a rush since I had to be at the Gym to see Tyler.

I was walking into the Gym where Tyler asked to meet. We usually have a spar whenever he wants to talk and rant.

I walked up to him as he watched a few members in the ring. I pat him on the back and say, "How have you been, Tyler?" he turns around and gives me a small hug and says, "Yeah, I've been alright" he starts walking me to our little corner where a few mats and punching bags were set up. 

"My parents are driving me mad. They keep cheating on each other and then getting mad about it. There a bunch of hypocrites." he rants to me.

I hum as I start wrapping my hands, asking, "What about art school? Did you tell them?"

Tyler groans puts his stuff on the floor, and changes shoes as he says, "Yeah, I told them. I got the response I knew I would get "Son, no, I will not allow my son to be a pansy artist. You'll play football for the big leagues and come back and be the mayor." Tyler said, mimicking his dad with a higher pitch, making me laugh lightly.

"He's so annoying, he bloody hit me, but you know how it is. I don't care what they want and think about me. I'm going to art school and live my life how I want. They've controlled me for far too long."

I nod at his words and tell him, "That's right. You're entitled to your own life."

"Sorry, I've been ranting. How are you and the boys?" he asks, standing up. I wave it off and say, "Yeah, I've been good. Elena and Stefan broke up because apparently I was being a 'slut' and took Stefan away from Elena. It was kind of funny. Jeremy and Enzo are good."

Tyler laughs at my predicament and says, "God, Elena is so annoying. Does that mean Stefan is joining your ranks?"

I laugh at his wording and say, "Yeah, I don't know. I feel something for him, but it's weird he was supposed to love the doppelgänger with the whole curse and everything. But he's sweet and caring. It's too early to tell."

"It'll do him some good to get away from the doppelganger thing. He needs to move on from the lookalikes and fall in love with someone who will care for him like I know you will," Tyler says softly, making me hug him tightly. He hugs me again with more feeling this time.

Tyler was such a good friend. A great listener and talker.

As we pull away, he asks, "How's Grams? Bon told me she was let out of the hospital."

"Yeah, I picked her up earlier today. She's in good condition, just needs rest," I tell him, walking behind the punching bag and holding it tightly. I pat the bag, making him walk closer and get in position. Legs apart, knees lowered lightly, and arms in front of his face.

"That's good. I was scared when I got the phone call. But I'm not surprised, I mean, Shelia is pretty old, and that spell would've taken a lot out of her." he says and starts punching the bag lightly, getting into the routine and warming up.

"Yeah, the spell was a lot. I'm just glad she's alright. Davina was pretty upset and cried herself to sleep on me." I told him, watching his arms shoot up and hit the bag.

"Oh? Is Davina alright? That poor girl has been through so much," he asks, looking up with worried eyes. I nodded and told him, "She's doing much better and submerging herself in painting. She's so good at art that it shames my years of practice. You should draw together sometime."

"That's good. I've just been busy with school and football and Clarissa. Davian has a rare talent, and you just suck," he tells me, making me huff and swing the bag into him, cutting him off. He falls to the floor with a huff making me laugh at him.

I look down at him, reach out my hand, and pull him up. "Who is this, Clarissa?" I ask him, confused.

"We've been hanging out for a while. She helps take the edge off things," he tells me.

"Good, you deserve to be happy," I tell him sincerely, and he smiles at me softly.

After our idle chat, we got serious and started sparring and fighting. He is winning in our score of 51/48 in Tyler's favor. That was only because of his abnormal strength due to his untriggered werewolf gene and his bulkiness as a football player.

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Timeskip ~ a Few Days Later, Morning 

I awoke to the noises of Jeremy ruffling around his room, looking for something. My body ached slightly, still feeling the activities from last night.

"What are you looking for, love?" I asked groggily, getting up and rubbing my eyes. Jeremy turned towards me and told me, "One of my assignments for math. The shower is free."

I hum and pull the blankets off my body and slowly walk to the bathroom and have a shower. Once I finish getting ready for the day, I walk back into Jeremy's room to see him on the bed putting his shoes on. I walk over to him, kiss his lips, and tell him, "We should go downstairs and get breakfast" he nods and picks up his bag, making me do the same. I take his outstretched hand, and we walk down the stairs together. I watch Elena slam the door shut behind her, making me smile.

"John. Is that you?" I question as we walk down the stairs, his back towards me. He stiffens, turns around, pulls his hands up, and says, "Care, I didn't know you would be here."

"Yeah, I had a sleepover with Jeremy last night, if you get what I mean," I say lightly as Jeremy rolls his eyes, and Jenna snorts. John hugs me lightly.

Yes, we were friendly with each other, kind of. John was usually annoying, but I thought he was funny.

"Grayson would be so happy, and Miranda would be wondering when the grandkids were popping out," he tells me, letting go of me. I laugh lightly, and Jeremy groans, hiding his face in his arm in embarrassment.

"Yes, they would be," I say softly.

John turns to Jeremy, hugs him, and asks him, "How have you been, kid?"

"Yeah, good, good. How are you?" Jeremy asks him, getting over his embarrassment.

John's smile fades slightly, and he answers, "I'm good. I had some business in town; I thought a visit was in order."

Jeremy nods and asks, "How long are you staying?"

John sighs and shrugs, not knowing the answer, and Jeremy leaves to grab breakfast. Jenna follows him, hating John to his core which is understandable. John walks me to the living room, and I ask, "So, how is Isobel?"

John looks at me for a moment and smiles. "God, you were always so smart; Grayson never shut up about it. She's fine, she and Katherine are causing mischief as usual, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

I smirk and say, "Of course I did. I know everything there is to know. Why are you really here? The tomb vampires are all dead, and the device is no more. There's no reason for you to be here beside Elena."

John stays quiet for a few moments and asks, "You know why Elena is important?"

His question makes me laugh, and I say, "John dearie, your daughter isn't important. Her blood is and only because she's a magical copy and paste."

That reminds me maybe it's time to start collecting her blood. Should I get a few of her eggs for another doe-eyed blood bag? Decisions, decisions. I'll have to get Enzo to compel her. It would be far too easy to snatch the pretty necklace off her neck, compel her, and put it back on. Why is she so stupid?

"I'm here to be with my family and protect Elena against Klaus and Katherine since the tomb vampires are all dead. By your hand, I'm guessing," John says firmly.

He really does care about his family, doesn't he? How loyal; sadly, it will be his downfall.

"Yes, of course. The tomb vampires served no purpose. They died the moment they were trapped in the tomb." I tell him, looking at my nails and thinking of getting a new set.

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Timeskip ~ Later that Night, The Founders Hall

It was Founders Day's 150th-anniversary kick-off party, and I was bored. Jeremy and Davina were off talking to Tyler. Bonnie and Damian were probably making out somewhere. Enzo went to go and get me a drink. It would be his first official public arrival. 

"What are you doing here looking all bored, Care?" I heard someone asking behind me. I turn to see Stefan drinking whiskey. I smile at his appearance and answer him, "I'm waiting for Enzo to come back with my drink" looking him up and down and can't help but think he looks much better in a suit. "You look absolutely ravishing," he tells me, taking my hand and spinning me softly. "Well, thank you, Mr. Salvatore."

He smiles at men and goes to say something when Enzo comes up to us and gives me a glass of champagne, and slides his arm around my waist smoothly.

"Stefan mate, how are you? How's the blood diet?" he asks with a smile taking a drink of his bourbon.

Stefan looks him up appreciatively, making me raise an eyebrow, and he responds, "I'm good, Enzo. Thank you for asking. How are you? The diet was rough to start, but I've gotten used to it. I haven't really thought of blood for a while."

"That's good. Please tell me she isn't making you drink vervain, too?" Enzo asks with a shiver. Stefan laughs lightly and nods at him. "Yeah, nasty stuff vervain is. It burns my throat every time I drink it, but it's slowly lessening daily."

"Very true. This little minx has me wrapped so tightly around her pinkie that I'm drinking bloody poison because she asked," Enzo said, squeezing me lightly, making Stefan laugh and agree. "She certainly has her charm," he says, dragging his eyes up my body.

"She's a bloody witch, this one, probably giving us love potions or something," he says conspiratorially but with a joking tone. Stefan laughs again, and I roll my eyes.

"So, is Elena still raging?" I ask to change the subject.

Stefan sighs, racks his hand through his hero hair, and answers, "I don't know, and I don't really care. She's mad at both of us for no reason. I'm glad we broke up, and I can finally be myself with people who accept the...darker aspect of me."

When Stefan told me he and Elena had broken up because of me, I was shocked and confused. I didn't think he liked me at all, I was just flirting to get a rise out of him, and I was slowly growing feelings. I never thought I would see the day Stefan said something bad about Elena or broke up with her.

"Of course, mate, Elena is rude and annoying, from what I saw at the dinner party. I'm glad you're not wallowing in sadness like some blokes." Enzo tells him lightly, chugging his drink. Enzo looks down at me with a smile and says, "I approve of him. You're welcome to join the group, Stefan."

Stefan choked, and I laughed and hit his back so he could breathe. He looked up, shocked, and asked, "Join your group?"

"Yeah, you can join the love fest, only if you want," I tell him softly.

Stefan stays quiet for a moment, making me look at Enzo, who has a knowing look in his eye. Stefan finally looks up with a loving yet determined look in his eye and says, "I will, thank you, Enzo."

Enzo nods and tells him, "Perhaps we can celebrate later at ours. More drinks and fun."

Stefan and I nod at the idea, and Stefan smiles at him, then turns to me and asks, "Would you like to dance, Caroline?"

I raise an eyebrow and say, "I thought you didn't like to dance?"

Stefan shrugs and says, "Well, I don't mind if I dance with you."

I laugh and hit him on the chest and say, "Your such a flirt, Mr. Savloture. Isn't he Enzo?"

Enzo laughs and nods at me, and I take Stefan's hand, and we move to the dry dance floor and sway. I see Enzo' talk' to the DJ, and the music turns into much better music to dance to. Stefan spun me around the dance floor, and after a while, I excused myself to dance with Enzo, who was watching us with dark eyes.

I took his hand, moved to the dance floor, and danced with him. The night was fun, full of drinking, flirting, dancing, and food. Nothing happened much, just Damon killing John, who later came back due to his Gilbert ring. Stefan didn't lose control, and Tyler didn't kiss Kelly, thank the gods.

It seemed everyone had a good night besides...Elena was upset watching her ex-boyfriend dance with me and have a fun time. He looked like he was having more fun with me than with Elena. Elena was seething on the sidelines, making me smirk. 

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I literally hate this chapter so much, it's too short and boring and is mainly just fluff/filler and Stefan and Care relationship. Not sure what's even going on lol. But Stefan's now in the harem so wooo. I know it's kinda short but I honestly didn't know what to write but the next chapter is gonna be better and longer.

I know Tyler and Davina haven't really been involved that much and I'm trying to add them as much as I can because they're so underrated. Tyler's just living the human teenage life since he isn't a werewolf/hybrid yet. He's going to be more involved when he turns. Davina is kinda just there since this stuff doesn't concern her but in future chapters with drama she'll be more involved.

What do we think about a Bonnie POV? Damian is going to make an appearance and I kinda want to write her POV and their relationship idk.

vote and comment x 

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