It had happened in a flash that when it was over Bonnie found herself standing on the side of the street blinking her eyes rapidly, and clutching her grocery bags to her chest. She took a deep breath as she looked at the man in front of her. Why did it have to be him? Then again, why did that car have to be so impatient and almost hit her instead of coming to a stop? Yeah, she knew New York drivers were crazy sometimes, but that guy was clearly an asshole.

"Are you okay?" he asked worried, his eyes searching hers as he reached out to put his hands on her shoulder, but then at last minute chose not to.

"I-I-," she stuttered and then shook her head, "Did I almost get hit by a car?"

Pursing his lips and making a small hissing sound, he nodded his head, "Yeah, but that person was just-,"

"A dickhead?!" she exclaimed, "I hate people sometimes."

"The feeling is very mutual on that, Bon B- Bonnie," he corrected himself, remembering what Caroline had said to him a few days prior. "Are you okay?"

Bonnie nodded with a sigh, "yeah, I mean I'm here right- right? Like I didn't just die and am stuck seeing you the rest of my life."

"Ah, seems like my role as the savior didn't win me any brownie points, huh?"

She narrowed her eyes and repositioned the bags in her arms for fear they might fall, "I have to go." Bonnie turned back towards the street, making sure to triple check before she crossed.

"Do you need any help with the bags? I mean we're neighbors!"

"No!" she called back, both shaken and annoyed by the event that just transpired. However, as she stepped on the sidewalk again, she couldn't help but turn around and look his way, "Thanks Damon."

"Not mention it, Bon Bon," he said with a wink, he just couldn't resist.

Bonnie was emerging from her bedroom with her yoga mat tucked under her arm when a knock came at the front door, "I'll get it!" She glanced at Stefan who was lounging on the couch paying attention to some program on the television and didn't even seem fazed by the knock at the door. "Oh please, don't rush to get up or anything," rolling her eyes, she opened the door to see a smiling Caroline.

"Hey!" Caroline exclaimed, balancing her yoga mat under her arm as she greeted Bonnie, "You ready to go?"

"Just about, let me grab my keys," she motioned for Caroline to come in as she went to find her keys.

"Hey Stefan," Caroline called out, her hand coming up to push a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Uh hey!" Upon hearing her voice, he shot to his feet and headed towards her, "You guys going to umm that naked yoga thing again?"

"Mmmhm."

"So, you'll be naked doing yoga?" as soon as the question left his mouth, he wanted to take it back.

"That is what naked yoga is, genius," Bonnie smirked as she slipped her keys into her bag and threw it over her shoulder as she appeared, "Did you want to come with us?"

He couldn't take his eyes off Caroline even though he knew Bonnie was talking, "N-No, I'm good."

"I see," Bonnie shook her head and turned towards Caroline, "okay so Lexi will meet us there."

"Great! She is a lot of fun."

"Wait until she tells you some more A plus Stefan stories."

At Bonnie's words Stefan's eyes widened, they had talked about him? He didn't even want to think about what Lexi could have said, "What? No. I mean don't believe a single thing she says."

Taking a step towards him, Caroline reached out and rustled his hair, "Oh come on. She has some adorable stories about you."

While it may have been a simple gesture, Stefan felt something in her touch, "I don't really do adorable."

"I'll be the judge of that. You sure you don't want to come with us?" She wouldn't have minded if he did, but the idea of seeing him in all his glory made her stomach flutter.

"Maybe another time," he gave her a sincere smile and then walked the girls out after exchanging goodbyes.

Once the door was closed, he leaned his back against it - he was definitely attracted to Caroline, and he was sure it was more than just physical. However, he barely knew her, so how could he be attracted to her? The whole thing was making his head hurt a bit.

"I won, asshole!" Tyler exclaimed as he threw the controller down on the couch and tossed his arms up in victory.

Rolling his eyes, Damon just leaned back against the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table, "That is only because I let you win." Damon smirked when he noticed Tyler drop his arms and turn to look at him, "Like you could ever beat me."

"That's bullshit! I won fair and square, Damon."

"Would you both shut up?" Caroline groaned from her position on the other couch, she had come into the living room to read, but that had been a horrible idea, "I'm trying to read."

"Don't you have a bedroom to do that in?" Damon asked with a raised eyebrow, "This is the guy zone blondie."

"Last time I checked I was the one that cleaned it."

"That's because you are a clean freak," Damon said smiling before turning back to Tyler, "Shall we have a rematch?"

Not wanting to deal with hearing Tyler and Damon go at it during another round of video games, she slammed shut her book and stood up, "I'm going to go for a walk."

"If you see your boyfriend tell him I said hi!" Damon called out as him and Tyler settled in for another game.

"Boyfriend?" Tyler glanced towards Caroline as she slipped on a pair of shoes and a hoodie, "You're dating someone, Care?" His eyes narrowed and there was no denying that there was a hint of jealously in his tone.

"Nah," Damon replied before Caroline had the chance to, "I was just referring to the guy across the hall that she makes googly eyes at."

Groaning, she pulled her hair back and went to open the door, "I do not make googly eyes at anyon-," she trailed off as she immediately came face to face with the very guy that Damon was referring to, "Stefan."

"Yes blondie, I am aware his name is Stefan," Damon not even realizing what was going on as his eyes stayed glued to the screen as he played his game.

"Wha-What are you doing here?"

Stefan tilted his head to the side and then held up a manila envelope, "It looks like another piece of your mail got put in our mailbox."

"Oh? Oh! Thank you," she took the envelope and gave him a sweet smile.

"No problem," he nodded and slipped his hands into his pockets. Just as he went to open his mouth again Tyler and Damon both yelled out some nonsense about the game they were playing causing both Stefan and Caroline to look their way.

Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Stefan, "They are trying to beat each other at some video game. Tyler won, but Damon claims that's only because he let him win." Shrugging her shoulders, she chewed on her bottom lip realizing he probably didn't care.

"Anyway, I guess I'll let you go?"

"Oh, yeah I was about to take a walk - clear my head and-," she was rambling and decided to just go for it, "Would you like to join me?"

"If we can add coffee to that walk that I am so yours," he said with a smile.

"Definitely!" Turning back towards Tyler and Damon she wondered if she should bother to say goodbye, but they both looked distracted by the game to even pay attention to her. With a smile, she turned back to Stefan and the two headed out of the door.

"I don't like that dude."

"Huh?" Damon didn't pay attention to what Tyler was saying, "What dude?"

"Your neighbor."

With a few smashes of buttons, Damon won and threw his arms up in victory, "And I kicked your ass." When he turned towards him noticed the annoyed look on Tyler's face, he had a good feeling it wasn't because he beat him. "Wait why don't you like my neighbor?"

"He seems like a dick."

"Or you're just mad blondie might want him." He pushed himself up from the couch and made his way over to the fridge to grab a beer. "I think you need to accept that you guys are never getting back together."

"You don't know that," Tyler grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Damon rolled his eyes and stared at the guy. Tyler and him weren't best friends, but they got along and Damon liked to kick his ass at Video games. In fact he had been the one that told Caroline he was better off, but that was something the guy did not have to know. "She asked you to stay and be the love of her life and you walked out on her."

"Hey, I came back again after that. I had every intention of making things work and then she was with him."

Him. A name none of them liked to say, "Tyler, you're lucky that she wanted to be friends with you again."

Caroline couldn't stop the blush that appeared on her cheeks as they walked down the street, her hands shoved in the pockets of her sweatshirt. Ever since their run in in the laundry room she thought about him more. However, she hadn't forgotten the way he stiffened when she touched him the day prior when she had gone to pick up Bonnie for yoga.

"So how's Damon? Bonnie told me he saved her from oncoming traffic".

"He told me that!" she exclaimed, "Think she hates him any less now?"

"Probably a smidge," he said with a laugh, not able to stop himself from gently nudging her with his shoulder.

Caroline knew she wanted to pick his brain and learn more about him, "So are you an only child?"

He nodded, "I am, how about you?"

"I have an older sister."

"Does she live in the city?" he asked, his eyes focusing on this piece of hair that was in her face. He couldn't deny that he had a strong urge to reach out and push it out the way.

Caroline shook her head, "No, Rebekah is back in Connecticut. That's where I'm from Connecticut. What about you? Where are you from?"

"Like over an hour from the city in New Paltz," he told her, his eyes constantly glancing towards her before looking back ahead of him to make sure he didn't walk into anyone.

"I just realized this is the second time we've walked together," Caroline randomly blurted out, a blush appearing on her face, "I mean that one day you walked with me for a while and- you know what, don't listen to random me."

"I like listening to you."

"Yeah?"

"Do you like Thai food?" he asked suddenly.

Caroline stopped walking and turned to look at him, "Thai food? I've actually never had it surprisingly enough."

A smile appeared on his face and he looked into her eyes, "Well, Caroline could I take you to get some Thai food?"

Her eyes lit up and she nodded, "I'd love that."

The walk to the Thai restaurant wasn't particularly far, and once they were inside Stefan pulled out a chair for Caroline before taking his own seat. However, after a moment she began to fidget and Stefan couldn't help but take notice, "Everything okay? Did you actually not want to-,"

She shook her head, "No no, I'm really excited to try it. I just feel like I look really underdressed to go out to eat." Normally Caroline wouldn't go out in anything that resembled what she was wearing unless it was to get the mail or run to the corner store, but she hadn't really thought about the fact she was going to be spending time with Stefan or going out to eat.

"Caroline," his voice serious, "I don't know if you realize this, but you are absolutely gorgeous in whatever you wear."

Her eyes lit up at his words and she immediately dropped her head to look at the menu. She could just feel the heat on her cheeks and knew they had to be right red, "Thank you, Stefan."

Opening the apartment door, Bonnie took a step inside and let out a relieved sigh - she was glad to be home. She had gotten stuck at work way longer than she had hoped and really started to think she was not going to get out of there. Dropping her bag and kicking off her shoes, she headed over to the kitchen and began to rummage through one of the drawers with one hand as she started to shed her jacket with the other. She was on a mission, and that mission was food.

"Hey Stef!" she called out as she pulled out a takeout menu and began to look through it, "I was thinking about ordering some pizza, you in? I got stuck at work and am completely starving. I didn't bother to stop anywhere because I want to just get home."

After a moment of silence she began to head towards his bedroom, but abruptly stopped when she heard a knock at the door. Turning on her heel, she looked down at her menu and then at the door. Heading over, she opened it up and was met by two things - a pizza and her neighbor Demon.

"A peace offering!" he announced as he thrust the pizza towards her before she could decline. Taking a step inside the apartment, he looked around and then turned towards her, "For being a dick that day that I don't really remember, but you obviously do and it was wrong of me."

Bonnie just narrowed her eyes at him as she held onto the pizza box that was suddenly in her hands, "Did I invite you in?"

"Well now," Damon said nonchalant as he headed towards the kitchen area to look for plates, "But you were about to, Bon Bon."

Dropping the pizza on the countertop, she just shook her head in disbelief - was this guy serious. "Who are you?"

"Oh yeah," Damon pulled the plates out of the cabinet after finally finding them and set them down. Reaching his hand out towards Bonnie he smirked, "I am Damon Saltzman."

"That isn't what I meant," Bonnie crossed her arms over her chest and just looked at him.

Damon let out a sigh, "Well do you mind if I at least get a slice of pizza before we get into this?"

"Fine."

Pulling a slice out, he took a bite and swallowed before he began to talk, "We're neighbors, and we may end up being neighbors for a while. I mean I don't plan on moving anytime soon, do you?" Deciding the shrug Bonnie gave him was answer enough, he continued talking, "I am an acquired taste I'm told, but really I don't want any bad blood between us."

'Uh huh."

"I mean you're hanging out with my roommate every once in a while. And I mean right now your roommate is out with my roommate."

Bonnie raised her eyebrow at that, "They are?"

"Mmhm," Damon nodded his head as he took another bite of pizza, and then motioned towards the box, "it's really good pizza, you should try some."

Bonnie looked at the pizza hesitantly, she was starving and she was considering ordering pizza only moments before. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed a plate and threw a slice on it, "thanks I guess."

"I guess you're welcome," he smirked and then continued with their previous conversation, "but yes the roomies out and I might have to say I smell love in the air."

"Stefan doesn't do relationships anymore."

"Neither does Caroline," Damon nodded, "but you never know! She did bake him cookies."

Bonnie couldn't help but let out a snort at that, "He likes to remind me anytime i say that is the cookies were for the both of us."

"Those are Caroline's special cookies," he took another bite, but chose to start talking before swallowing, "And she clearly thought he was cute." He tilted his head and watched as Bonnie picked at her pizza, "Hey it's not poisoned or anything. I mean I'm standing here eating it."

"I know."

"So what do you say, Bon Bon," putting his food down and wiping his hands off on his jeans, Damon held his hand out for her to shake, "shall we call a truce?"

Bonnie stared at his hand for a while as she thought about it, "I guess so." Reaching out she shook his hand, but then pulled it back immediately.

"Good!" He exclaimed as he went to grab another slice after finishing off his first, "Besides, I have a feeling the four of us may end up hanging out."

"I don't know about that, but Caroline is nice."

"She's great for the most part," he nodded, "I mean she is a bit of a neurotic control freak on drugs. Does Stefan like that sort of thing?"

"Oh Jesus."

Damon stood still for a moment and took a deep breath, "He's a good guy, right? I mean even if they just are friends, he's a good guy?"

Tilting her head to the side, Bonnie took a moment to really take Damon in. His words actually seemed sincere, and his face, well she couldn't put an exact word on that, "He's one of the best guys I know."

Nodding his head, Damon finished off his second piece of pizza and smiled, "Good good! Well I am off! I have places I need to be, people I need to see!" He headed towards the front door to head out, but paused to turn and look towards her, "I'm glad we called a truce."

"Whatever," were the only words Bonnie muttered as she watched Damon head out of her apartment. She'd tolerate him as a neighbor, but that was that, she had no plans on being friends with that guy. However, she'd definitely eat the pizza he had brought over.

Their laughter could be heard as they walked up the stairs of the building, Stefan shaking his head at the joke that Caroline had just butchered. He knew it shouldn't allow his attraction towards her to cloud his judgment; after all, he had no plans on dating anytime soon. Hell, Stefan wasn't really sure he was meant to ever be in a relationship again, at least not at the current time. Yet he still found himself drawn to her, wanting to get to know more about her. It was obviously just because he wanted them to be friends, right?

As they came to stand between their apartment doors, Caroline towards Stefan and smiled. She brought her hand up to push some of her hair back, "Thank you so much for dinner. You did not have to pay though."

"Caroline," he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, "I told you it was fine. I wanted to pay for you - it was my pleasure."

"Then thank you again."

"You are welcome," he really couldn't help but smile in her presence. How did this girl he barely knew have such a weird effect on him? Maybe he really needed to go to a bar and pick a girl, occupy his thoughts and get Caroline out of his system. The problem was Stefan didn't want to do that. "Think you'll try Thai food again?"

She nodded vigorously, "Oh definitely! Well-," she took a step towards her door and pulled her key out, "I guess this is goodnight."

"Yeah, Goodnight," he turned towards his own door, but found himself hesitating to open it. "Hey Caroline."

"Hm?" she turned around and before she knew what was happening Stefan was pressing his lips to hers. However, before she had time to react he was pulling away and headed into his apartment, leaving her there absolutely stunned.

Opening the door to the bar, Damon shook the rain that decided to start on his walk over out of his hair and headed inside. With a quick scan of the area he saw who he was looking for and went that way, "Starting without me, huh?"

Lorenzo St. James lifted his head and then lifted his drink to acknowledge his friend, "Hey mate, it's not my fault you take longer to get ready than a gal does."

"Ha ha," Damon rolled his eyes as he motioned for the waitress and ordered a drink before sitting down, "Thanks for meeting me."

"I always have time for my bud," Enzo finished his drink and turned his attention towards the waitress, "another, love!"

Damon impatiently tapped his fingers against the tabletop, "I'm not sure this was a good idea."

"Mate," Enzo knew Damon wasn't talking about meeting for drinks, but a topic his friend had entrusted him to help him with, "You have gotten this far."

"I just don't know what to say or do," he groaned and then smiled when the waitress brought his drink, "And then I'm lying to Caroline."

"It's not so much lying as it is withholding the truth until you know everything?" Enzo suggested with a laugh, but he knew his friend was worried about all of this, "Have you found anything?"

"Barely," he shrugged, "Caroline is having better luck and she doesn't even know."

"Lucky you have me then," Enzo reached into a bag sitting on the chair next to him and pulled out a few files. He tossed them on the table in front of Damon, "Stefan Salvatore, born November 1, 1988, and was raised in New Paltz, New York by Lillian and Giuseppe Salvatore."

"Which we already knew."

"Hey, let a man finish," Enzo sighed and continued on, "He is currently enrolled at the New School where he is going for his PhD in Anthropology - ambitious guy. Lives with a Bonnie Bennett and formerly with an Alexia Branson, which if I lived with the two of them I would probably be a very happy man."

Damon pulled out a picture of Stefan, Bonnie, and another girl who he assumed with Alexia, "Did you really follow them and take pictures? Enzo, I wanted informati-,"

"You asked me to help you find out what I could, Damon," Enzo thanked the waitress as she brought him his drink, "I'll order another round for both of us, love."

"If you were in my shoes what would you?" Damon asked as he looked over the information in front of him, "Maybe it's better if I left it alone."

"If you wanted to leave it alone you could have done that a long time ago," Enzo gulped down his drink and sighed, "First, if I was you I'd tell gorgeous - she'd understand."

"I can't drag her into this-," he groaned and ran his hand over his face, "I think she likes him."

"What?"

"Well, I mean they talk sometimes, and her face gets that- you know how Caroline gets," Damon then reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone, "And let's add in the fact I got this text message from her on my way over here."

He held the phone out for Enzo to see what it said: 'SOOOOOO… Stefan kissed me and then walked straight into his apartment. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?'

"Sticky situation you have there, brother," Enzo just shook his head and leaned back in his chair, "But one thing I will say, on paper he's a better alternative than Klaus Mikaelson."

Authors Note: Hey all! Oh my god, thank you so much for the reviews, they are what are making me want to get the next chapters of this story out to you faster. So we are finding out a little more information about what Damon is up to and Bonnie is finally warming up to Damon perhaps? Stefan and Caroline will have lots of interesting things ahead of them. And well, I don't want to give too much away! Thank you again for reading and I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Please review! xoxo