Title: never let me go

Pairing: Stefan/Caroline; mentions of T/C; S/E; D/E and H/T (with a possible Caroline and Rebekah friendship)

Rating: M

Warnings: Language, violence and sexual situations

Author's note: Set after 4x03. I was inspired to write this after reading Brandicat's Gloves and Visors (an X-men fanfic with a Rouge/Cyclops pairing). If you haven't read it I would highly suggest it. I loved it. I think this is my first time writing a bit more detailed smut. Hope you enjoy. I know I've started like two new fics but when the inspiration bug bites I have to write.

And the arms of the ocean are carrying me

And all this devotion was rushing out of me

In the crushes of heaven for a sinner like me

But in the arms of the ocean delivered me

Never Let me Go, Florence + the Machine

Truth.

Someone once said the truth would set you free. Yet, she suddenly wished for the safe imprisonment of the lie she'd been living up until a few moments ago. Everything 'til now had been a lie. And some part of her hoped—prayed that the boy who'd been the center of her world would take back everything he'd revealed. Deny that he'd ever do anything to cause such anguish within her heart.

At first she'd thought her ears were deceiving her. Or that he was simply being a douche and playing a cruel joke on her. But…the utter regret in his voice when he spoke was enough to tell her that he was being utterly serious. He'd cheated. Tyler had cheated on her.

A flood of different emotions washed over her. The first was confusion. Why would he say something this hurtful? Was this because of Klaus' crush on her? Following though was denial. No, they were in love. She would never do anything to hurt the man and she was certain he'd felt the same way. But, his expression—on the verge of breakdown was enough to push her over the precipice of what had become her new reality. That was when a boiling rage coursed throughout her body, urging her to rip his heart out just as he'd done hers.

"Caroline…" The heartless bastard breathed out, a mixture of uncertainty and sorrow on his face. "I am so sorry. Please, say something…"

He reached a hand out, trying to offer some semblance of comfort. To hang on to whatever part of her he still held. He cringed as she recoiled from his touch as if it had burned her. The scent of salt hit him as a soft trail of tears formed at the corners of her eyes. He'd hurt her, in the worst way imaginable.

"Don't touch me." She snapped, taking a step back and giving herself the space she needed to collect herself. "Don't ever touch me again."

"I know I screwed up, Care," He began before a slap to the face effectively silenced him. His hand moved to the sharp pain of his cheek, fingers running along the plane of flesh that had just experienced the assault. That would leave a mark.

"You don't get call me that." The blond growled out, whipping away tears she refused to shed for him…even if he was the love of her life. No, not was; not anymore. "You gave up that right the moment you slept with her."

"Care—Caroline, I know I've hurt you," Tyler stammered, correcting himself before earning another slap from the furious girl, "And I'm sorry. I was an idiot—"

"A horny idiot who couldn't keep it in his pants," She interjected sharply, a hiss in her voice.

"—but I love you." He continued on, inching closer to her, pleading for some sort of emotional response utter than anger. "I love you so much Caroline and I will do whatever it takes to make this right."

"You want to make this right?" She inquired, taking a calculating step forward. Her eyes were ablaze with such fury that he had to resist the urge of flinch under her intense stare. He nodded profusely, an obvious hope radiating off him that whatever it was that she'd ask of him could mend what had already been broken beyond repair.

"Then you go back in time, back to before we were together…and you tell your past self to leave me the hell alone."

"Care, can't we just ta—" His words were cut short as a sickening snap rang throughout the room. He crumbled to the ground at her feet, head turned at an angle it was not meant to be in.

A surge of hate and betrayal brought her to her knees as she released the first outburst of pain that had been festering inside of her. She'd been holding it in until now…this feeling of loss. She had lost the love of her life to some she-wolf she'd never even met before. Again she had not been enough for someone. He'd needed more, even if it had been for only one night. And that tore her up inside. Caroline allowed a single tear to run along her pale cheek before pushing herself to her feet. She needed to get out of there, out of his house, before she did something she'd regret. Like take him back.

He knew something was wrong the moment came walking into first period history with an unnatural gloom surrounding her. His brow rose, noting the lack of color in her wardrobe. If he knew anything about the girl it was that she had a penchant for pastel and floral print. Instead though, today she adorn Damon's habitual black. Her jeans were crisp and dark, as well as the elbow-length sleeved tee she wore. And her blond locks, which she usually kept down, were tied up in a messy bun that showed an obvious lack of effort on her part.

"What's wrong?" He inquired as she slid into her usual seat. He'd moved from his own regular spot to claim Elena's. The brunette wouldn't need it, seeing as how she'd left that morning to surprise Bonnie on her college visit up at Whitmore.

For a moment he'd thought the girl hadn't heard him or was doing her best to ignore him. But then her eyes flickered behind her, locking on his green orbs; an unfamiliar glint behind them. The usual light they'd once held had disappeared and that worried him more than anything.

"Nothing's wrong, Stef," She sighed, refusing to discuss the epic end to her epic love with the man who had his own relationship problems. It was enough that she'd promised to keep him from jumping off the deep end, but she was not going into uncharted territory with him if she didn't need to. Which she didn't. "Just feeling a bit dead today."

He tilted his head, eyeing her thoughtfully before speaking up. "You know, Care, you're a terrible liar."

"Can we not talk about this here," She whispered harshly as their new teacher entered the room briskly, late as usual.

"Then when can we talk?" Stefan prodded gently, but firmly. The girl was his best friend. The only one he could trust at the moment to keep him sane. And if something was bothering her, then he wanted to know what it was. And kill it—metaphorically, of course.

A sigh escaped her lips.

"Lunch. By the bleachers." She murmured under her breath as class commenced. It was low enough so that he, and only he, heard.

She felt his eyes on her though out the morning, the hairs at the nape of her neck standing on end being one indication. The other came for a group of girls she'd been talking to about another upcoming Mystic Falls social event—anything to get her mind off the asshole Tyler—when one of them informed her that she had her own personal shadow.

She didn't need to look behind her to know it was the Salvatore. Hell, Elena was out of town, what else did he have to do but pester her?

An hour later it was lunch time and she was silently hoping that Stefan would simply not show up. She wasn't ready to tell anyone about her and Tyler's break up. But if she couldn't tell her best friend then who could she tell?

He showed up, punctual as usual; ready to hear whatever it was she had to say. At first she tried to deter the conversation from her and on to the topic of Elena's new found vampire lifestyle. That worked for all of three minutes.

"We're not here to talk about Elena," Stefan said with a knowing expression. "We're here to talk about you, Care and whatever it is that's bothering you."

She fidgeted under his watchful gaze, noting the worry lines forming at the peak of his forehead.

"Ty—I broke up with Tyler." She managed to get out before the first of her heart strings was pulled by the memory. A frown formed at the corner of Stefan's mouth as confusion set in. From what he knew Caroline and Tyler were happily in love. Why would the girl break up with the boy?

"Wha—why?" He asked incredulously. Tyler and Caroline had been happy. But something had changed that, if the girl standing before him ready to fall apart was any indication.

"Tyler…he cheated on me." Caroline cried out, no longer holding back the flood of tears or emotions that she'd been keeping bottled up inside of her since she learned of his infidelity.

Stefan went through a string of reactions. The first, and most obvious, was bewilderment. How could a man, who claimed to love someone, be unfaithful? The second was sympathy. It pained him to see the girl, who was usually so strong and vibrant, deteriorating before him. But the third and final one was the most prominent to him. Anger. He was angry for the girl and for the love she had lost. She had given all of herself to the Lockwood and had received only pain in return.

Stefan pulled the sobbing girl into his arms, allowing her to seek comfort in his warmth. His arms encompassed her shaking frame and he rested his chin on the crown of her head, muttering soothing words as he held her tight.

He hated seeing her like this. It did not fit the depiction of Caroline that he had in his mind as a cheerful young woman. She was usually so strong. But when she loved someone she gave them power over her; power to break her heart, simply with words.

"You'll be okay, Care." He cooed, stroking her back affectionately in the only way he knew how. She was easily breakable when it came to love. He knew that better than anyone. "You'll move on from this. Maybe not today, or tomorrow—"

She pushed away from him, giving him a skeptical look, "Is this supposed to make me feel better?"

"Let me finish." He murmured softly with a gentle stare. It was easy to get lost in his kind, green eyes when he looked at her like that. "What I mean is that this might seem like the most terrible thing in the world to you now, but it won't be forever and you'll be able to move on. You might never forgive Tyler or understand how he could do this to you, but it won't be as crippling."

He knew this to be an inevitable truth about immortality. Time healed all wounds, even the ones that were self-inflicted. He'd spent over a century doing his best to move on from the sting of losing Katherine—though she was never really his to begin with. And now he'd moved on to Elena, a girl who was the complete opposite of the woman who'd taken so much from him. More than he'd been willing to give.

"He was supposed to be my epic love." Caroline said despondently, expression downcast even with his words of wisdom. She couldn't think of the future when there was nobody to share it with now that her relationship with Tyler was over; and with no chance of revival.

"I know." The Salvatore said before pulling the girl back into his arms, hoping to console her in whatever way he could. He felt a twinge of sadness—her sadness—as tears soaked through his grey, cotton t-shirt. The girl was a wreck, running the risk of flipping the switch at any moment. Not that she knew much about it to begin with. He didn't want that for her. He wanted her to stay the same bubbly, optimistic Caroline that he met only a year ago. "But I promise…I will be here for you…whenever you need me. No matter what."

She'd been distant since her return.

She was never quite able to meet his eye whenever they talked…if ever they had the time to do so. Her presence seemed that of a ghost, constantly disappearing on him without explanation. At first he brushed off this feeling that seemed to be eating away at him that something was not right with the girl. He'd like to think it was wishful thinking that she simply wanted space with the sudden transition her life was undergoing…that there was no possible way that his suspicions could at all be reality.

So he distracted himself with helping Caroline deal with the shambles that her relationship with he-who-must-not-be-named, as she now referred to him. Stefan really didn't mind it though. It kept him from thinking about what the Gilbert girl could possibly be up to.

But it wasn't until he came home from a night of pool and burgers at the Grill with his best friend (only a few days since the return of Damon and Elena from Whitmore College) that he learned to truth. Or at least…stumbled upon it.

There they were, the two most important people in his life, fucking in the middle of his sitting room. His brother, with his back to the entrance, was riding the brunette like she was an animal in heat, while she chanted his name in ecstasy. He felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach with ever hard thrust as bile rose to his throat.

"Oh, yes! Yes, Damon!" Elena exclaimed enthusiastically as the man pounded into her.

Stefan stood frozen in the entryway for a moment. It was sick, but in the back of his mind he knew this could happen. That the sweet, innocent Elena could fall for the charms and seduction his brother offered. He'd simply hoped she'd choose otherwise.

"Elena? Damon?" He breathed out, voice laced with disbelief. How could they do this to him?

Damon froze mid stroke, head slowly turning to peer over his shoulder in shock. He assumed it was for being caught.

"Stefan!" The girl who'd stepped on their love gasped, urgently pushing away from her partner. "This isn't what it looks like!"

This isn't what it looks like—did she think he was completely oblivious? His lips set in a thin line as he stared between the two. He was sure his eyes were casting the same emotion that Caroline's had when Tyler confessed of his infidelity. Well, at least she didn't have to experience the show of it firsthand.

"Stefan, I—" Damon began before being cut off by an exasperated Elena.

"I am so sorry, Stefan." She cried, taking a tentative step toward him. He could hear the desperation in her voice. She needed him to believe her. "This was a lapse in judgment."

"What do you mean lapse in judgment?" Damon inquired, hurt in his voice as he grabbed the girl's attention. She turned on her heel to point accusingly at him.

"You know I love Stefan." She chided, waving her finger in his face with a look that would kill a normal man. "You caught me in a moment of weakness and you took advantage."

"Was I taking advantage of you when you asked me to fuck you so hard you wouldn't be able to walk?" The older Salvatore growled out, snatching her arm and tugging her away from the brooding man. He couldn't even think about appeasing his brother while the girl he loved belittled their intimate time together.

"Let go of me, Damon." Elena spat, futilely working at getting herself free. It was a pathetic scene, Stefan thought as her attention returned to him and she continued. "Please, Stefan! Please say you'll forgive me…I know it would take time…but, I don't want to lose what we have."

He shook his head, trying to digest her words. She'd cheated on him. Now it seemed he was in the same boat as that Caroline had found herself in. He ran a hand down his face, pinching the bridge of his nose in thought. Could he really just walk away from Elena after everything they'd been through? Would she be able to live with her guilt?

He didn't really know but he needed some time to figure it out.

"I—I need some space…" Stefan sighed dejectedly, not looking the girl in the eye. He was sure if he did he wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done. "I need time to think."

Heartbreak.

It was possibly the worst part about being a vampire. It was magnified a million fold. And the pain that would seem minuscule as a human was almost unbearable as a vampire.

The moment she opened her front door to find a disheveled Salvatore standing there she knew he had experienced it too. She noted the dried trail of tears contrasting against his unusually pallid skin.

It didn't take a perceptive person to see something was terribly wrong to have caused him such anguish.

"What happened?" She inquired as the man's downcast eyes slowly trailed up to meet her own. There was a fresh sheen of tears threatening to fall in a pool of sadness. "Oh, Stefan…"

The blond grabbed his hand gently, urging him to come inside before closing the door and leading the way to her room. He was silent the entire time; holding in whatever it was that had left him in such a state.

He sat idly at the edge of her bed, fingers twiddling in his lap under her hard stare.

"What is it Stefan?" She had a feeling she knew exactly what had happened. There was only one thing that could cause him to feel this low. Elena. The brunette had that effect on men. Got them to love her then crushed their hearts—albeit unintentionally most of the time.

"Elena…" He began, confirming her suspicions. Caroline crossed the room, crouching before him and prompting him to continue with a look of encouragement. "She…she slept…"

"She slept with Damon…didn't she?" A feeling of disgust crept over her at the idea of her friend and the man who'd used and abused her together. She'd taken notice as their bond grew over the last year during Stefan's short Ripper-stint with Klaus. But she'd hoped that if any relationship could last, it was theirs.

He affirmed this with a short nod, head lulling to the side and resting on her shoulder. Caroline sighed, wrapping an arm around the boy who'd saved her life so many times as he broke down. He'd been there for her during the beginnings of her on breakup with he-who-must-not-be-named. It was only fitting that she be there for him.

She drew back a bit, offering him a reassuring smile as he stared back at her with uncertainty at her sudden withdrawal. "You know what we need."

His brow rose slightly in question.

A slow grin etched its way onto her face. "Lots and lots of alcohol."

This earned her a small smile in return. "That sounds…perfect, right about now."

"Good." Caroline beamed, standing up swiftly before moving to retrieve the stash of vodka she'd swiped from her mother's special cabinet. She grabbed two crystal tumblers as well before returning to her bed, offering one to the boy silently.

They spent the remainder of the night drowning their sorrows, talking about how they deserved so much more than Tyler and Elena. They'd given everything in to their relationship, only to have it thrown back in their face. It was strange but this was the first time, since her breakup, that Caroline had felt the least bit…content.

"Should I forgive her?" He asked in a slur of words as the two lay side by side, staring up at the ceiling. He turned his head to look at the girl, awaiting an answer. A moment of silence passed between them before she finally spoke up, turning to lie on her side.

"Do you think that you could forgive her?"

Either he was too drunk to care or he simply was unsure of the answer to that particular question. He let out a breath before bringing his tenth…eleventh…twelfth (he'd lost count) drink to his lips. He savored the burning in his throat as he swallowed down the contents. It was one of the few pleasures he had left, now that he thought about it; that and being able to talk to someone who seemed to understand him completely. He hadn't had that since Lexi.

"Maybe…you should stop being Stefan Salvatore, teenage vampire with a brooding complex," Caroline managed to get out as a thought occurred to her. That was his problem. He was so busy trying to be this perfect, good guy that he wasn't allowing himself to experience things the way they are meant to be.

"What do you mean?" If his expression was any indication, the boy was confused.

"I just think…you need to give yourself the chance to live a life that doesn't revolve around doppelgangers and vampire hunters." She stammered, before adding. "We both do. Hell, I'm eighteen, it's my senior year and instead of enjoying it I'm wallowing over the failure of my relationship with my hybrid boyfriend. I used to be more resilient than this."

"So, what—we should just act like nothing happened? Move on?" This wasn't the first time the woman he loved slept with another man. It was just the first that it was someone who promised him she had no feelings for said other man. She couldn't deny it and he wouldn't ask her to.

"No, we shouldn't act like nothing happened." Caroline said thoughtfully, crossing her legs Indian-style as the two sat before one another. "But we shouldn't let what Tyler and Elena did keep us from having fun…for whatever time we have left before shit hits the fan for the umpteenth time."

"Which it will," He said, "If Damon has a say in it."

"Forget about Damon, Stef." She downed the remaining contents of their second bottle of vodka before continuing. "Just—can you please just try to have some fun? For me?"

He nodded slowly, rolling his eyes before allowing a smile to grace his features. "Fine. For you, Care. Only for you."

She'd dragged him to one of Duke's infamous parties. The college dropout had returned for the weekend under the guise that he was simply taking some time off from school to visit his parents. It didn't take a genius to see that was a blatant lie if he ever heard one.

There were a few familiar faces among the sea of partygoers flooding the moderate estate. It reminded him a bit of the Lockwood residence, big and filled with expensive looking aesthetics. It was a wonder that someone hadn't broken something yet.

He thought nothing of Caroline's delicate hand in his; leading him along the house as she sought out the alcohol she'd been told was there. He didn't mind the feel of her soft palm pressed against his, or the way it brought a sensation of warmth to a place that hadn't felt such a way since he'd asked Elena for space to sort things out.

No, the blond's presence had become a habitual part of his life. Something that he, surprisingly enough, craved. She kept him grounded in the little fantasy world they'd built for themselves; a world where they were simply normal teenagers trying to enjoy their senior year.

"Ah ha!" Caroline exclaimed in delight as they entered the almost empty kitchen. There were a few older looking guys, crowding around the island counter littered with snacks. She swept passed them to the booze cooling in a bin of ice.

He could not deny that the smile that mare her face was enough to make his dead heart beat.

Time found them drunk and alone, in one of the many rooms upstairs that they'd found unoccupied. The two were so far gone in their haze, running along the line of fantasy and reality, that they could not recall who'd been the first to make a move; only that they'd somehow ended up on the subject on their severe lack of a sex life. It was one of the problems that came with being newly single.

However, it had started with a single kiss. One drunken kiss and they were lost in one another.

Stefan had found himself on his back, the blond joining him on the guest bed. Her eyes were darker than he remembered. He attributed it to the alcohol influencing them and the uneasy sexual tension that had been developing between them for a while.

She straddled him, pressing her wet center against his throbbing manhood. He hissed at the contact, hands reflexively going to her hips. His fingers dug into bare flesh as she ground her hips down into his, a soft breath escaping her lips.

He growled, hips jerking up to meet hers as a slow rhythm built up between them. God, she felt so good, his mind buzzed, the sweet aroma of her arousal filling the room.

The contact was unbelievable. In one swift movement he reversed their position, pressing her arching frame into the comforter as his mouth assaulted her neck. She moaned at the sensation of his teeth grazing her pulse, his tongue darting out to taste his favorite spot on a woman.

Her hips bucked as he nipped lightly at her skin. She liked what he was doing to her. He was sure Tyler had never bitten her during sex—a hybrid bite could kill a vampire after all.

"Stefan." She exhaled softly. The sound of his name on her tongue was enough to push him over the edge.

His probing hands trailed up her flat stomach, thumbs grazing the sides of her breasts. She withered beneath him at the light touch; wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him back down for a long, searing kiss.

"Are you sure about this?" He mumbled against her lips, still sober enough to contemplate the consequences of what they were getting themselves into. She cupped him through his jeans, giving a gentle squeeze and the only answer he needed. Stefan groaned at the sudden pressure, grasping her wrist and gently moving it to his chest.

He did away with the black, leather shorts and v-neck blouse she'd decided on wearing for Duke's party that night, sliding down her dark red panties as well. She shivered as he trailed a finger along the inside of her leg, back arching with a sudden stir of desire churning at her core.

It seemed like an eternity since he'd gotten any, and from the sounds she was making he was sure she felt the same.

Her shaking hands worked at riding him of his jeans, pushing them aside and down his legs with his assistance, leaving him in nothing but his boxers. Caroline found pleasure in the effect she had over him, if his impressively swollen cock was any indication.

She watched him carefully, parting her legs with upon his request; allowing him to settle between them. Her fingers fumble around the material of his underwear, pushing it down enough to free his member. Legs wrapping securely around his waist, they both bit back a moan as he entered her with one quick thrust.

"Oh my god," Caroline cried out as he stilled within her for a moment; giving her time to adjust to his size. He'd always been well endowed. "Stefan…"

It was all the incentive he needed and with that he began moving within her. It was a slow and steady pace at first. The moist warmth enveloping him, clenching around him was wonderful.

He hissed, noting for the first time the sudden change in her demeanor. Her breathing was labored as she stared entranced at the throbbing pulse of his neck. She was thinking about biting him. Sharing blood. The idea had him pounding into her harder. He held on though, concentrating on the rhythm he had set for them.

His hand moved to the back of her head, pressing her lips against his neck. Silently tell her it was okay. That she could have this part of him, too. The instant her teeth sank into his flesh he lost control. Stefan sat up; never breaking the intimate hold she had over him. She sank down further unto his erection, taking more of him in then before.

"Caroline," He breathed out as the scent of blood invaded his senses. His blood. Her arms encircled him, nails scrapping down his back in the most erotic way. "I'm going to—"

His thrust suddenly grew frantic, uncontrolled. He slowly unraveled, finding his focus suddenly drawn to the crevice between her breasts. Her heart was drumming, blood calling to him.

He let out a growl, teeth digging into the soft mound of flesh. The metallic taste in his mouth was enough to push him over the edge and with a final, long hard thrust he experienced organism; bringing Caroline to the point of climax as her blood ran down his throat.

They had started something that night. Something that would forever change the course of their relationship. They shared a long look, Stefan pulling out of her hesitantly before turning their gazes to the ceiling fan rotating above them.

"That was…you were…" She started, trying to regain her breath.

"Thanks." Stefan said, closing his eyes and allowing the cool air to circulate over his naked body. He knew what she'd been trying to say. "You were pretty amazing yourself."

From the corner of his eye he caught the smirk that twitched at her mouth. He wondered momentarily how talented that mouth could be…before an image of Elena appeared at the forefront of his mind. Did sleeping with Caroline mean that he was over the girl? No…no he was not quite sure about that yet.

"Should…are you going to tell Elena?" She inquired. Even though the two were taking some time apart so that the boy could think about the future of their relationship it wasn't set in stone that they were officially broken up. And she was friends with the girl. Sleeping with friend's ex-boyfriends was kind of a big no-no. Though, Matt had been an exception to the rule, seeing as the Gilbert girl had quickly moved on to someone else. That someone being Stefan—the guy who'd just fucked her brains out and exchanged blood with her.

"Should I?" He asked her, voice flat at the idea of even talking to the brunette about what he'd just done. "Are you going to tell Tyler?"

"That's different." Caroline interjected, craning her head to stare at him. "Our breakup was very definite. Tyler isn't giving me space to think about things."

"I've had my space." He began, running a ringer along her blood stained lips, "I've thought about it. And I don't think I can trust Elena or Damon again. Not after what they did. But…"

"But what?" She asked, holding in a breath and awaiting whatever barrage of regrets he would through her way about them having sex.

A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he continued. "But I think it would be smart of us to be a bit more inconspicuous if we want to keep doing…whatever it is we're doing. Elena still has not managed to gain full control of her emotions. If she knew about this—about us, I don't know what she would do."

"What's she going to do? Kill me?" The blond said jokingly, earning a flinch in response. "Stefan?"

"She almost killed Rebekah." Caroline's blue orbs widened in surprise. For as long as she knew the girl she could not even hurt a fly. The thought of killing an animal brought her to tears. And now she was full blown ready to face and Original. She was definitely off balance. He cupped her cheek, tilting her head and planting a chaste kiss on her temple. "I honestly don't know what she'd do if she found out…but I don't think I'll be able to continue you on without my best friend by my side."

"Nothing will happen, Stefan." She murmured affectionately. She pushed back the wave of uncertainty—the fear of losing Elena as a friend. The girl had lost her claim to Stefan the moment she slept with his brother, just as Tyler had lost her. All he had now…was her. "I'm not going anywhere."

It made her sick, the way the brunette cast her doe eyes in his direction whenever he was near. She tried to ignore the way his own gaze managed to find hers, though there was no indication on his face that hinted whether or not he appreciated her attention.

He was so good, even the blond couldn't figure out what he was thinking whenever their eyes met. She didn't like the glint in Elena's eyes—a glimmer of hope that she'd be with the right Salvatore again, soon enough. And that irritated her. As much as she loved the Gilbert girl, the thought of the two of them getting back together…after the night she'd shared with him…was enough to make her want to throw up the breakfast he'd prepared for her that morning.

She did her best to subtly listen in on the conversation the exes were having from her open locker, pretending to be switching out books for her next class; which she had with both of them.

Caroline pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, brows scrunching up in concentration.

"H—how are you?" Elena asked gently, resting a hand on his arm. It was the first physical contact they'd had in days. The first time they'd talked since he'd walked in on her little lapse in judgment. He didn't flinch away from her touch as he'd done before, but he did not particularly know how he felt about it.

"I'm doing well." He informed her, eyes falling to where her hand lay before returning her gaze. It was strange, looking at the girl he'd at one time given his heart to and realize she was no longer the person he'd fallen in love with. Transitions…they had a way of bringing out people's true selves. His was a bit…violent. Caroline's was caring and strong. And Elena, well, she wasn't the same sweet girl she used to be. And that made him wonder what else about her was different if she was willing to risk their relationship to sleep with Damon.

"You…you haven't answered any of my calls." She murmured, leaving room for him to explain why that would be so. It had been almost a week since the end of their epic romance. She assumed he'd had all the time he needed to think about them.

"I was…thinking. You said you'd give me some space." He replied smoothly. The blond smiled slightly at his words. Well, at least he wasn't falling prey to her feminine wiles. "You know…to digest everything that's happened."

It was quite obvious to Caroline what he meant by that.

"Oh…okay…" Elena stammered, hand dropping back to her side as he closed his locker door. She'd caught him off guard. It had been her plan, after all. To get him alone long enough to talk things through. It seemed she was jumping the gun, thinking he'd be so easily forgiving.

"Eavesdropping, are we?" Someone announced in a low voice behind her, drawing her attention away from the two brunettes down the hall and to the impeccably dressed blond leaning against a row of lockers examining her nails.

Caroline rolled her eyes, slamming the metal door shut before addressing the girl's question with one of her own. "What do you want, Rebekah?"

The Original pain-in-the-ass pouted, crossing her arms over her chest before allowing a snide smile to graze her lips.

"I need your help." She said after a moment of silence passed between them. Well, this was a first. The big, bad Rebekah asking a baby vamp for help. Caroline noted the sudden seriousness in her eyes, giving her a hard look.

"And why would I help you?" Caroline asked skeptically. "It's not as if we're the best of friends. You've made an enemy out of everyone."

Rebekah's face fell for a moment before she responded with an undeniable truth. "Because…you're trustworthy, or at least loyal. And I need someone I can trust—albeit not completely—if I want to help April find out the truth about what happened to her father."

A pause. The younger blond's face scrunched up in disbelief, unsure if she had heard the girl correctly.

"What? April Young?"

"I promised I'd help April find out what happened to her father and the other Council members. That gas line explosion was no accident, or at least, she doesn't think so. And that is enough for me." Rebekah said with such...sincerity…that Caroline wanted to believe it. "Please, Caroline—god, don't make me beg."

It was unusual to hear her ask for help. And even more so that she was really considering it.

The sounding of the school bell saved her from answering Rebekah, for the moment. She shifted the weight of her backpack to her shoulder, sending the girl a pensive stare.

"I—I'll think about it." And with that, she shuffled away before Rebekah moved on to threats to get her help.

Thanks for reading! Leave a review.