03. Friday Night Bites

It was 7am and Caroline Forbes was still laying in her bed, she knows she should start getting ready for school, but she didn't have it in her to get up, it had been an hour since Brayden left, the whole night, Brayden sat with Caroline and explained everything to her, about vampires, how the brothers got turned, why Damon and Brayden didn't get along with Stefan, but most importantly about Kaitlynn and Katherine, turns out, when Brayden told her he was over Kaitlynn, that was a lie, the only reason Damon and Brayden had come back to Mystic Falls was to free the girls they love.

When Brayden told Caroline that he loved another girl, Caroline swears she heard her heart break, which was stupid considering they had just met, but at the same time, hearing Brayden say that his waited for the love of his life for over a hundred years, Caroline realised how lucky Kaitlynn really was, Caroline would die if someone waited for her for even a month, she can't imagine someone waiting for someone for a hundred years.

Caroline's chain of thoughts were broken, when someone knocked on her window, confusing her.

"Brayden?" Caroline asked confused, opening her window and seeing the middle Salvatore.

"Hey Princess, want to let down your hair?" Brayden asked, a cheeky smile on his face.

Caroline rolled her eyes at the vampire, "What are you doing here?" she asked, "You literally just left an hour ago".

"Well, I know you didn't sleep all night, and you have school this morning, so I bought you some coffee" Brayden replied, showing Caroline the coffee cup, "Now can I come in? Or are you going to make me stand out in the cold?".

"I thought vampires don't get cold" Caroline said, but nonetheless, moved out of the way, so Brayden could enter.

"We don't" Brayden said, entering Caroline's room, "Also, Damon sent you a chocolate muffin, it's his way of apologising", Brayden handed Caroline the coffee and muffin.

"Thank you" Caroline said.

"You're welcome" Brayden said, putting his hands in his pockets, "So, how are you holding up?".

"After learning that the mystery guy I met on the road is a vampire?" Caroline asked, "Surprisingly, not too bad, I mean don't get me wrong, I'm scared".

"Caroline--".

"Not of you and Damon" Caroline quickly clarified, "I'm just scared what this new world is going to bring me, but I'm glad you told me everything, I'd rather know then be in the dark".

"So you're not going to tell anyone?" Brayden asked, really not wanting to compel her.

Caroline shook her head, "No" she replied, "And I want to help you and Damon".

Brayden looked at Caroline in confusion, "Help us with what?".

"Freeing Katherine and Kaitlynn" Caroline replied.

"Caroline, knowing what we are is something, but you actually getting involved, that could prove much dangerous then you realise" Brayden said, worried for the girl infront of her.

"Look Brayden, I want to help you both, I want you and Damon to reunite with the girls you love, you deserve to be happy, I want to help, please let me help" Caroline said.

Brayden sighed, "Me and Damon are planning to mess with Stefan and Elena".

"I'll help with that as well" Caroline said.

"Elena's your friend" Brayden reminded.

"So are you and Damon" Caroline retorted.

Brayden frowned, for some reason, Caroline calling him her friend, didn't feel right to him.

"Fine" Brayden said, finally giving in, "If you want to help, I'm going to need you to wear a scarf to school".

"Scarf?" Caroline asked confused, "Why?".

"To make Stefan think I'm feeding on you" Brayden replied.

"You're going to feed on me?" Caroline asked, shocked.

"What?" Brayden asked, "Of course not, I just need Stefan to think that".

"Fine, you're lucky I actually have cute scarfs" Caroline said, walking over to her wardrobe.

"Great" Brayden said, walking over to Caroline's window, "Me and Damon will pick you up in half an hour".

"I have a car--", Caroline turned around to tell Brayden she had a car and didn't need the twins to drive her, but it was too late, Brayden had already left.

"Unbelievable" Caroline whispered, shaking her head, but a small smile came on her face.

***

Elena and Bonnie were at cheer practice, discussing the dinner Elena was hosting so Bonnie and Stefan can get along.

"Fine, I'll come" Bonnie said, after much persuasion from Elena, "Now tell me, have you seen Caroline anywhere?".

Elena shrugged, "I don't know, it's not like her to skip cheer".

"I'll try and call her" Bonnie said, picking up her phone.

Before Bonnie could call Caroline, both her and Elena heard loud rock music, turning around, they saw Caroline in a blue camaro, with Brayden driving and Damon sitting in the back.

"Oh, my god" Bonnie whispered shocked.

"You're sitting in the back in the afternoon Blondie" Damon complained, getting out of the car and waiting for Caroline to come out.

Caroline chuckled, "We will see".

"It's my car" Damon reminded.

"That I'm driving" Brayden reminded.

"I don't have time to argue, I'm late I need to go" Caroline said, getting out of the car.

"Caroline wait!" Brayden called, getting out of the car and running over to the Forbes girl.

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

Brayden didn't say anything, he just put his hand behind Caroline's neck and pulled her close to him, his other hand on Caroline's waist, to people around them it looked like Brayden was kissing Caroline, but really there lips were close to touching, but not really touching.

"What are you doing?" Caroline whispered, trying not to let Brayden's touch affect her too much.

"Making it look like I'm kissing you" Brayden whispered, looking into Caroline's eyes.

"Why?" Caroline asked confused.

"To show off to your friends" Brayden replied, finally letting go of Caroline and stepping back, he looked back and smirked seeing Elena and Bonnie's shocked expression, "You can go now".

"Yeah, okay" A flustered Caroline whispered, walking away from Brayden and towards Elena and Bonnie, her cheeks red.

"That was adorable" Damon teased.

"Shut up" Brayden snapped, throwing the car keys at Damon, "Drive".

"So now you let me drive?" Damon asked, walking over to the driver's seat.

"I no longer feel like driving" Brayden replied, getting into the passenger's seat.

"Of course, is it because Caroline is no longer next to you?" Damon asked.

"Keep your mouth shut Damon" Brayden snapped.

"Deny it all you want brother, but you have a thing for blondie" Damon said, finally driving away.

Caroline walked over to a shocked Elena and Bonnie, "I got the other brother, hope you don't mind" she told Elena, she figured if Brayden wanted people to think they were a thing, then she was just going to go along with it, "We're planning a June wedding".

***

After school, Stefan entered his bedroom, where he saw both Brayden and Damon, reading his journals.

"How were tryouts?" Damon asked, Brayden and him having seen Stefan in his football gear when they were dropping Caroline off, "Did you make the team?".

"Why do you use so many adjectives to reveal your soul?" Brayden asked curiously.

Stefan ignored Brayden's question, he just speeded over to his brothers and snatched his journals off of them.

"What are you both doing here?" Stefan asked confused.

"We've come to apologise" Damon replied.

"No, Damon's here to apologise and I'm here for moral support" Brayden said, "I don't do apologises, specially when I've not done anything wrong".

"Fine, I've come to apologise" Damon corrected, "Happy?".

"Very" Brayden replied.

"Anyways" Damon said, turning to Stefan, "I've been doing some thinking, some soul searching, and I want us to start over, we need to put the past behind us", Damon stood up from his seat, "You're my little brother, just like Brayden".

"Again, only older by three minutes" Brayden reminded.

"Again, still older" Damon retorted, turning back to Stefan, "Back to the main topic, if you wanna live a normal, happy, human life, then I want that for you, maybe I can do it too, I can't say that about Brayden, we both know, out of us three, his the one who enjoys being a vampire the most".

"Yes I do" Brayden said, "Who doesn't like to be the immortal stud?".

"Apparently our little brother" Damon replied, "But maybe if I can learn to be a non-living living person, maybe there's hope for both of us", Stefan stared at Damon for a moment, wanting to know if he was being truthful or not, when suddenly Damon bursted into laugher.

"I can't believe you actually thought Damon out of all people wants to be a non-living living person" Brayden said, amusement shown clearly on his face.

"You know, it doesn't have to be this way" Stefan told his brothers.

"Of course it doesn't" Damon said, grabbing a feather from Stefan's desk, "I saw Elena today, btw, that means by the way, she was at cheerleading practice, she looked so perky in her little short shorts, just--", Stefan glared at Damon, "Simmer down, I didn't even go near her, I'm not interested in her, not even a little bit".

"Okay, if you're both done, I've got my own cheerleader to get to" Brayden said, standing up and walking through the doors, "So nervous, wish me luck little brother, and let's hope I don't accidentally eat her".

"Brayden--".

Before Stefan could say anything, Brayden speeded out of his room, not wanting to hear a lecture from him.

***

It was now nighttime and Caroline, Brayden and Damon were walking up the Gilbert porch, Bonnie had accidentally spilled to Caroline that Elena invited her and Stefan for dinner, which Caroline then told the twins, and Damon decided he wanted to crash the party, much to Brayden's dismay.

"I hate this" Brayden complained, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"We know" Caroline and Damon said simultaneously.

"I don't want to spend time with Elena, why can't we just go to the Grill and get drunk?" Brayden asked.

"What's the fun in that?" Damon asked.

"Why do you hate Elena so much?" Caroline asked curiously, "You don't even know her".

"I knew her ancestor" Brayden replied, having told Caroline about Elena being the doppelganger of Katherine, "She was a bitch, and something tells me Elena is exactly like her, if not worse".

"If you don't want me to speak shit about Kaitlynn, then stop calling Katherine a bitch" Damon snapped.

"What you going to do?" Brayden challenged, "Stake me?".

"I'm tempted" Damon said, glaring at his brother.

"Okay, that's enough" Caroline interrupted, knocking on the Gilbert's door, it really amused her that despite hating each other's girls, Brayden and Damon would do anything to reunite their brother with their significant other, Caroline really admired that about the two brothers, she didn't know them for too long, but she could tell, despite their arguments, Damon and Brayden would do anything for each other.

Caroline's thoughts were interrupted when Elena opened the door, "Surprise" Caroline said, "Bonnie said you were doing dinner, so we brought dessert".

"Oh" Elena said, clearly not expecting the three.

"Hope you don't mind" Damon said, while Brayden just glared at the doppelganger.

Caroline entered the house and handed Elena the cake, just as Stefan walked over, shocked seeing his brothers at the door.

"What are you two doing here?" Stefan asked.

"Waiting for Elena to invite us in" Damon replied.

"Oh, yeah, you both can--".

"No, no, no" Stefan interrupted, "They can't, um--they can't stay, can you, guys?".

"Don't be silly Stefan" Brayden said, "Of course we can stay, we didn't come all the way to leave without eating the dessert, we bought".

"We're finishing up" Stefan snapped.

"It's fine, just come on in you both" Elena said, making both the twins smirk.

They both entered the house and walked over to Caroline, who held Brayden's hand.

"Relax" she whispered, "You look like you want to kill someone".

"That's because I do" Brayden whispered back.

"You have a beautiful home, Elena" Damon said.

"Thank you" Elena said, as Stefan glared at his brothers.

***

"I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team" Caroline told Stefan, while sitting between Damon and Brayden, still holding on to Brayden's hand, "Tyler must be seething, but good for you, go for it".

"That's what me and Bray always tell him, you have to engage" Damon said, "You can't sit and wait for life to come, you have to go get it".

"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today, it's because you missed summer camp" Caroline said, "I don't know how you're ever gonna learn the routine".

"I'll work with her, she'll get it" Bonnie said, coming to Elena's defense.

"I guess we can put her in the back" Caroline said, making both Damon and Brayden smirk, they were enjoying this way too much.

"You know, you don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena" Damon said.

"It's because her parents died" Caroline said, "Yeah, I mean, she's just totally going through a blah phase, she used to be way more fun", Bonnie glared at Caroline, making Brayden frown, "And I say that with complete sensitivity".

"I'm sorry, Elena, I know what it's like to lose both your parents" Damon said, "In fact, Stefan, Bray and I have watched almost every single person we've ever cared about die".

"We don't need to get into that right now Damon" Stefan said.

"Oh, you know what you're right, Stef, I'm sorry" Damon said, "The last thing I wanted to do was bring them up".

Caroline looked at Brayden in concern when she felt his hand tightened around hers, Caroline rubbed her thumb on Brayden's hand, making him look at her.

"It's okay" Caroline mouthed, Brayden didn't say anything, just gave her a small smile.

"So Elena, Bonnie" Brayden said, leaning forward, "I have a question for you two".

"What?" Bonnie asked curiously.

"Do you two consider Caroline as your friend?" Brayden asked.

"Yeah, of course, why?" Elena asked confused.

"Oh this is going to be good" Damon whispered.

"So why didn't you invite her tonight?" Brayden asked Elena, he then turned to Bonnie, "And why did you leave her drunk at the Grill? If someone's your friend surely you don't make them feel left out, or leave them alone when their drunk".

Caroline went to stop Brayden from speaking, when Damon grabbed her hand, he shook his head, telling Caroline not to stop him.

"Brayden stop" Stefan said, while Bonnie and Elena looked at him in shock.

"Why?" Brayden asked, "I'm just asking a question, Bonnie, have you ever thought what would have happened if something happened to Caroline that night? She was drunk, so what if someone tried to take advantage of her? She couldn't even defend herself, who would have been blamed for that?".

"She told me to leave" Bonnie snapped, glaring at Brayden.

"She was drunk" Brayden said, "And you Elena, what's your excuse for not inviting Caroline tonight? Why did we have to force her to come here because she was scared she was intruding on yours and Bonnie's dinner with my little brother? Surely if Caroline was your friend you would want her approval to, right?".

"Enough Brayden!" Stefan snapped.

"Take him outside" Damon told Caroline, he could tell his brother was getting angry, he was close to losing his control and Damon was kind of worried that he was going to attack someone.

Caroline nodded, she grabbed Brayden's hand and dragged him outside with her.

"I'm sorry about him" Damon said, but Stefan could tell he really wasn't sorry, "In the past few months Brayden has grown quiet protective over Caroline".

"Past few months?" Elena asked confused.

"Oh, Caroline didn't tell you?" Damon asked, "Her and Brayden met four months ago", Bonnie and Elena looked at each other in shock, four months ago, Caroline had mentioned a mystery boy she met, but they never believed her, thinking Caroline was just being Caroline, now they realise, Caroline was actually talking about Brayden

Damon observed the girls expression, "Or maybe she did, but you didn't believe her, once again".

***

"What the hell Brayden?" Caroline snapped, as her and Brayden stood at the Gilbert porch, "What were you thinking?!".

"I was thinking that you have awful friends, and they need to be called out for being awful friends" Brayden replied.

"You can't do that" Caroline said, though she felt nice knowing how much Brayden cared.

"Why not?" Brayden asked.

"Because no matter what, they are my friends" Caroline replied, "My only friends".

Brayden sighed, "Look, I'm not going to apologise for speaking the truth, but I am sorry for putting you on the spot like that, it's just Damon being Damon, he had to mention Katherine and Kaitlynn's death, and then Elena was there, who looks exactly like Katherine, so I, maybe for some time lost my mind".

"Brayden, you need to realise Elena isn't Katherine" Caroline said.

"You don't get it Careline" Brayden snapped, "Elena looks exactly like the women who tore my brothers apart, and at that time, I didn't do anything about it because I was so in love with Kaitlynn, my love for her blinded me, and I couldn't be there for my brothers, and I know you and Stefan say Elena isn't Katherine, but whenever I see her, I only see Katherine, the girl who ruined my brothers, who ruined their lives, and I don't want history to repeat itself".

"You feel guilty" Caroline realised.

Brayden looked at Caroline, though he didn't say anything to her, Caroline had gotten her answer, Brayden blamed himself for not being there for his brothers.

Without saying anything, Caroline stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Brayden, she didn't know how else to comfort him, Brayden didn't say anything either, just wrapped his arms around Caroline.

Both of them stayed in the embrace for a while, they broke the hug, when the front door opened and Damon came out.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

Caroline looked between Damon and Brayden, "Talk to him" she told Damon, then went inside.

"How long?" Damon asked after a moment of silence, standing next to Brayden, who was looking up at the dark sky.

"How long what?" Brayden asked.

"How long have you been blaming yourself for me and Stefan tearing each other apart?" Damon asked, letting Brayden know he heard everything.

"It's rude to eavesdrop" Brayden said, avoiding the question.

"Answer the damn question Brayden" Damon snapped.

Brayden sighed, "Since we turned".

"You never told me" Damon said.

"I never told anyone" Brayden clarified.

"Except Caroline" Damon said, "You know, it wasn't your fault, me and Stefan fell apart because of us, not you".

"I should have done something Damon, we were the three Salvatore brothers, best friends, always there for each other, now look at us, we can't even be in the same room without attacking each other" Brayden said.

Damon sighed, "You and me can stay in the same room".

"I mean, us and Stefan" Brayden clarified.

"You know, I blamed myself for you and Kaitlynn" Damon said, changing the topic.

"What?" Brayden asked shocked.

"I'm the older twin, I was supposed to protect you, but I was busy with Katherine and I didn't realise what Kaitlynn was doing to you" Damon replied, "Out of us three you were the most compassionate one, you cared the most for people, but as soon as you turned, you stop caring, stopped being compassion, you turned stone hearted, I hate Kaitlynn for ruining you, for turning you into someone you're not".

"Just like Katherine turned you and Stefan into something completely different", Brayden paused, "Are we doing the right thing?".

"What?" Damon asked.

"The mission we are here for" Brayden replied, not saying the actual words incase Stefan was listening, "Is it the right thing to do?".

"Probably not" Damon replied, "But when have we ever did the right thing?".

"Never" Brayden replied.

"Exactly" Damon said.

"God, we are so damaged" Brayden realised.

"You just realised?" Damon asked.

"I realised a long time ago, just never said it out loud until today" Brayden replied, making Damon chuckle.

"Fair enough" he whispered, "Hey, Bray".

"What?" Brayden asked.

"There's a lot of things in this world that I will do, that will annoy you, but falling for Elena isn't going to be one of them" Damon replied.

"What?" Brayden asked confused.

"If I'm going to promise you one thing in this world, is that I'm never going to fall for Elena" Damon promised.

Brayden gave Damon a small smile, "If there's anything that I believe, it's that".

***

"One more" Damon said, entering the kitchen with a empty glass in hand, while Caroline and Brayden sat in the living room, Damon having told Caroline to keep an eye on his brother.

"Mm, thank you" Elena said, trying to grab the glass off of Damon, but it slipped right out of her hands, but Damon caught it before it could hit the ground, making Elena laugh, "Nice save".

"Thank you" Damon said, as Elena put the glass in the dishwasher, "Hey, thanks for making Stefan smile, it's something I haven't seen in a very long time".

Elena frowned, "Earlier, did you mean Katherine and Kaitlynn?".

"Mh-hm" Damon replied, helping Elena put the dishes in the dishwasher.

"How did they die?" Elena asked curiously.

"In a fire, tragic fire" Damon replied.

"Recently?" Elena asked.

"It seems like it was yesterday" Damon replied.

"What were they like?" Elena asked.

"Katherine, she was beautiful, she was also very complicated and selfish, and at times not very kind but very sexy and seductive" Damon replied, "Kaitlynn on the other hand, she was beautiful, but she was evil, even more selfish then Katherine, but Brayden didn't care, he loved her too much to care".

"So Brayden dated Kaitlynn?" Elena asked, Brayden nodded, "So out of Stefan and you who dated Katherine?".

Damon chuckled, "Ask Stefan, I'm sure his answer differs from mine".

"Can I ask?" Elena asked, "Did Brayden like Katherine?", Elena wanted to know did Brayden hate all his brother's girlfriends or was she the only one.

"Brayden hated Katherine" Damon replied, "Just like I hated Kaitlynn".

"It seems to me Brayden hates a lot of people" Elena said, a bitter tone in her voice, causing Damon to frown.

"Look Elena, I know what my brother said was totally inappropriate, but he didn't mean any harm" Damon defended.

"Really?" Elena asked, "Because it seems to me he did".

"My brother doesn't let people in, Caroline is the first person his let in since Kaitlynn's death, and one thing you should know about my brother is, that once he lets someone in, he will rather die then let anything happen to that person" Damon informed, "He cares for Caroline immensely, which is why he went off at you and Bonnie, and in his defense, you both were at fault".

Elena looked at Damon in shock, before she could defend herself or Bonnie, Damon had walked away.

***

Stefan and Caroline sat in the Gilbert's living room, while Brayden used the restroom.

"Matt tries, but he's just having a really hard time" Caroline said, "You have to understand that they were each other's first, you know, like, from the sandbox".

"That's a really nice scarf" Stefan said suddenly.

"Thank you, it's new" Caroline said.

"Can I see it?" Stefan asked, "I mean, would you mind taking it off?".

"Oh, I can't" Caroline replied, both Damon and Brayden warned her that Stefan will try to get the scarf off her to see if they really fed on her or not and Caroline had to pretend to be confused and under no circumstance is she to take the scarf off.

"Why not?" Stefan asked, "You okay?".

Caroline pretended to be confused, but internally, she was seriously wishing either Damon or Brayden will come before she accidentally ruined everything, "Um--all I know is that I can't take it off".

"What are you two kids talking about?" Damon asked, as he and Brayden entered the living room, making Caroline breath a sigh of relief.

"I was just commenting on her scarf" Stefan replied.

"Hey Princess, Bonnie and Elena are in the kitchen" Brayden said.

Caroline realised Brayden was giving her a chance to escape the awkward situation, so she quickly stood up, "I'll go help" she said quickly, after mouthing thank you to Brayden, she ran into the kitchen.

"They are people, Brayden, she's not a puppet" Stefan snapped, thinking Brayden compelled Caroline, "She doesn't exist for your amusement for you to feed on whenever you want to".

"Sure she does, they all do" Damon interjected, "They're whatever we want them to be, they're ours for the taking".

"Alright, you've both had your fun" Stefan said, "You used Caroline, you got to me and Elena, good for you both, now it's time you both go".

"Of course little brother" Brayden said, "Because both me and Damon have been invited in, I can come tomorrow night and the following night and slowly but surely I'll kill your precious Elena, because I don't like her, and the people who I don't like Stefan, I tend to kill".

***

It was the next day, and everyone at Mystic Falls High was preparing for the football game tonight.

"Nice outfit" Brayden said, walking over to Caroline.

"Thank you" Caroline said, smiling.

"I bought you something" Brayden said, confusing Caroline.

"What?" Caroline asked.

"This" Brayden replied, putting out a crystal necklace from his pocket.

"Wow, that's beautiful" Caroline said, looking at the necklace in awe.

"A few years ago, me and Damon came across a witch, she made me this necklace, whoever I give this to, it will protect them, from vampire compulsion, and if you're ever in danger, I will know" Brayden said.

"How?" Caroline asked confused.

"Through this" Brayden replied, taking out his crystal necklace from under his shirt, "If your ever in danger, this will glow, and I will come to you".

"Did you--was this for Kaitlynn?" Caroline asked.

Brayden sighed, "Yeah" he replied honestly, "But I want you to have it instead".

"Brayden--".

"Look Caroline, Kaitlynn is a vampire, she can protect herself, but I want to protect you, you're involved in this life because of me, it's my job to protect you, from any threat, even from--".

"Even from?" Caroline asked.

"Even from me" Brayden replied.

"I don't believe that you will hurt me" Caroline said.

"Still, just please wear it, for me" Brayden pleaded.

"Okay" Caroline said, "Help me?".

Brayden nodded, Caroline turned around and Brayden clasped it around Caroline's neck.

"So, no vampires can compel me now?" Caroline asked curiously, turning back to Brayden.

"Nope" Brayden replied, "Now you are completely vampire proof".

"Thank you" Caroline said.

"You're welcome, Princess" Brayden said, a smile on his face.

Left necklace belongs to Brayden, right one is Caroline's.

***

It was now nighttime and everyone was getting ready for kick off, after seeing Jeremy hit Stefan with a glass, but no wound appearing, Elena decided to go to her car and gather her things alongside her thoughts.

After taking her things out, Elena closed her boot and turned around, she gasped in shock when she saw Brayden standing behind her.

"You scared me, what are you doing here?" Elena asked, confused.

"I'm hiding from Damon" Brayden whispered.

"And why is that?" Elena whispered.

"Sometimes you need a break from your siblings, even if he is your twin brother" Brayden replied.

"I feel you on that" Elena said, "So, did you need anything from me?".

"Right" Brayden whispered, "Have you seen Caroline anywhere? I can't seem to find her".

Elena shook her head, "Sorry, I haven't".

"Do you actually have feelings for him?" Brayden asked suddenly.

"Sorry?" Elena asked.

"Do you actually like my little brother or are you playing with his feelings?" Brayden asked, looking into Elena's eyes, trying to compel her, "Do me and Damon get to you? Do you find yourself drawn to us? Do you think about us when you don't want to think thing about us? Have you dreamed about us? Maybe, you're using our little brother to get to one of us, are you?".

For a second Elena just looked into Brayden's eyes, the next moment, she slapped Brayden, "I have had it with your behavior" Elena snapped, "I have done nothing to you, and you don't get to come here and judge me, I have no interest in you or Damon, I like Stefan, only Stefan, it's always going to be Stefan, I don't know what game you're trying to play with Stefan, but I don't wanna be part of it, and I don't know what happened in the past but let's get one thing straight, I am not Katherine or Kaitlynn".

After Elena walked away, an amused Damon walked over to Brayden.

"Look at you trying to make sure your little brother's girl isn't a two timing bitch" Damon teased.

"Just cause I like messing with my brothers, doesn't mean I appericate other people messing with them as well, that's my job, only my job" Brayden said.

"How nice of you" Damon said sarcastically, "So do you believe her?".

"Of course I don't" Brayden replied, "But right now, she's the least of my problem, looks like our little brother found some vervain to give to his lady love, don't you want to know where he got it from?".

"Of course I do" Damon replied, "So shall we find out?".

"We shall" Brayden smirked.

***

"You gonna be able to play?" Matt asked Stefan.

"Oh, yeah, I'm good" Stefan replied.

"Uh, what you did back there" Matt said, "You had Jeremy's back".

"He's a messed up kid" Stefan said, "Somebody's gotta look out for him".

"I know" Matt said, "This week at practice I was a dick".

Stefan shrugged, "Had your reasons".

"No excuse" Matt said, forwarding his hand to Stefan, who gladly shook it, "Good luck tonight, we're lucky to have you".

After Matt walked away, Stefan heard clapping, turning around he saw his older brothers standing there.

"Isn't that nice?" Damon asked, "Stefan joins a team, makes a friend, it's all so, rah, rah, go team, yeah".

"Not tonight, I'm done with you two" Stefan said, walking away, but Damon and Brayden speeded infront of him, blocking his path.

"Something very funny happened tonight" Brayden said, "I tried to compel Elena, but she didn't get compelled".

Stefan looked at Brayden in worry, wondering what his brother told Elena this time.

"Let me guess, vervain in the necklace, I admit, we were a bit surprised" Damon said, "It's been a while since anyone could resist mine or Brayden's compulsion".

"Mind telling us where you got this vervain from?" Brayden asked.

"Does it matter?" Stefan asked, starting to walk away.

"Guess we could just seduce her the old fashioned way" Damon replied, stopping Stefan.

"Or we could eat her" Brayden suggested.

Stefan turned to his brothers, "No, none of you are gonna hurt her, not even you Brayden".

"And why's that?" Brayden asked.

"Because you both care for Caroline, at first I was sceptical, I didn't know what you both were doing with her but I saw at the dinner how much both care for her, especially you Brayden, and you won't hurt Elena because hurting her would mean hurting Caroline" Stefan replied, "I was worried that you both had no humanity left inside of you, that you both may have actually become the monsters that you pretend to be".

"Who's pretending?" Damon asked.

"Then kill me" Stefan challenged.

"Suddenly, I'm very tempted" Brayden said.

"No, you're not, none of you are" Stefan said, "You've both had lifetimes to do it, and yet, here I am, I'm still alive, and there you both are, you guys are still haunting me, after 145 years, Katherine is dead, Kaitlynn is dead, and you both hate me because you loved them, and you torture me because you guys still do, and that brothers, that is your humanity".

Both Brayden and Damon glared at their younger brother, when Mr. Tanner walked up to them.

"Salvatore!" he called out, "What the hell? We've got a game to play".

Both Damon and Brayden exchanged a look and smirked, "If that's our humanity, then what's this?" Damon asked, speeding over to Mr. Tanner and biting into his neck.

"No!" Stefan yelled.

"You should know better then to try and provoke us, brother" Brayden spat.

Damon let of Mr. Tanner, letting his dead body fall to the ground, he then turned to Stefan with a bloody face, "Anyone, any time, any place".

***

Caroline stood next to Bonnie, both of them watched as the medics took Mr. Tanner's dead body away.

"Caroline!" Brayden yelled, gaining the blonde's attention.

"Brayden" Caroline whispered, running into Brayden's arms, "Did you--?".

"No" Brayden said, running his hand through Caroline's hair, "It was Damon".

"Why?" Caroline whispered, though she didn't like Mr. Tanner, it didn't mean she wanted him dead.

Brayden broke their hug, "Stefan provoked us by mentioning Katherine and Kaitlynn".

"Where's Damon now?" Caroline asked.

Brayden looked around, concern shown clearly on his face, "Honestly, I don't know".

"Shouldn't you be looking for him?" Caroline asked.

"I should be, and I will, but after making sure you're home safe first" Brayden replied.

"Brayden I'm fine, you should go look for your brother" Caroline said.

"Caroline right now, I need make sure your safe, Stefan knows both me and Damon care about you, and I know his the good brother and all, but I still don't want to take any chance, so let me take you home and then I'll go look for Damon" Brayden said.

Caroline sighed, but nonetheless nodded, "Okay".

"Great, let's go" Brayden said, placing his hand on Caroline's back and leading her away from the crime scene.

***

"What happened to looking for Damon after dropping me home?" Caroline asked, both her and Brayden walking into Caroline's bedroom.

"He texted me, saying his fine and at the boarding house" Brayden replied, laying on Caroline's bed.

"Then shouldn't you go to him?" Caroline asked, getting under the comforters.

Brayden laid on his side and looked at Caroline, "I should, but I like it here, with you".

Caroline looked at Brayden, "Don't do that, please don't".

"Do what?" Brayden asked confused.

"Don't flirt with me, don't give me hope, especially when your in love with someone else" Caroline replied.

Brayden sighed, "I don't know what I'm doing here" he replied honestly, "You're right, I'm being confusing because I think I'm confused myself".

"About what?" Caroline asked, her eyes closing due to her tiredness.

Brayden stared at Caroline for a moment, "About what I feel about you" he whispered, but it was too late, Caroline had already fallen asleep.

***

Presenting 1x03 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

Thoughts on Brayden and Caroline pretending to be in a relationship?

Thoughts on Damon and Brayden's talk on the Gilbert porch?

Thoughts on Brayden giving Caroline a necklace that will tell him when she's in danger, which was originally meant for Kaitlynn?

Thoughts on Brayden admitting his conflicted about his feelings regarding Caroline?