The Touch Of The Obsession (Steroline AU)

Chapter 4: Young and Human

CAROLINE

I woke up on a bed that had an unfamiliar scent, a bit like alcohol. I sat up and looked around to try to recognise where I was just to see Stefan laying beside me. A certain feeling of uncomfortable and awkwardness ran through me. We were both clothed, thank god, but I didn't really remember what or how I had acted last night and I didn't know how to cope with the stupid mistakes I may have made. I had a blur of Never have I ever statements and drinks and dancing. I wasn't sure of how much truth I had told or how exactly I had acted. What if everyone already hated me? What if Stefan decided I wasn't worth his promise? What if I screwed up?

The insecure side of me was screaming out, ready to take control of my whole mind. But I told myself that I needed to snap out of it.

Damon, Lexi, Enzo and Alaric were all in the room, scattered; someone on the armchair, another on the floor. It was a hotel room. Suddenly, there was a pain in my head, taking over my senses. Of course I would have a hangover. I was stupid enough to get drunk with people I had literally met just over 12 hours ago and do, god knows what.

I was about to get out of bed before I heard a voice.

"Morning Blondie."

Damon-headache-Salvatore.

"Morning." It only seemed right to reply.

"Slept well, you know, after grinding against my brother in a long night of passion."

I felt like my heart stopped.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? My heart started beating fast. I started to tense up, It must have been vivid on my face because Damon explained what he meant.

"Jeez, you're so gullible." I gave him the right name; headache. "You and Stefan were pretty drunk last night and you danced like crazy people and did crazy people things."

"What do you mean crazy people things?"

"I mean you moaned about your life and all the messed up parts about it to a bunch of strangers- not that anyone minded. But I've got to say, you and Stefan have quite a bit in common, apart from the fact that you're a whole lot more fun than him."

The blur of memories started to become clearer.

Drinks.

Lights.

Music.

Dancing.

Words of Truth.

Tension.

It all came back. I had messed up and I couldn't believe it. I felt as if I was so close to giving up all the control I had, a control freak's worst nightmare. Instead of leaving the past behind me, I had allowed someone to dig it out of me in a millisecond and I didn't even know him or anyone here, well enough.

I heard him stir awake, next to me. His green eyes stared at me. I tried not to make eye contact with him, especially since I had tried to make a move on him. There was a awkward tension between us, one that shouldn't exist since nothing really happened. But with him, the person who could make me feel so vulnerable just from a simple conversation, I felt as if one night had made me almost do the thing I was most afraid of; losing control.

Everything about him and that night made me feel that way.

The way he had looked at me, even when drunk.

The way he had talked, not just last night but on the phone; forcing me to face all my problems and take away any peace and control I had.

The way he had made me feel like that 6 year old girl crouched in a corner while her parents would fight, again.