Until This Lie Do Us Part

Chapter 21

Stefan sat up too. "Well, yeah. I told you I wanted to meet them. What better time than Thanksgiving break?" he asked her. "I'll take care of their flights and they can stay here. I'll do dinner. Completely low-key" he shrugged.

"I don't know" she said hesitantly. "I don't think it's a good idea. I told you. My brother is not going to be happy about us. About you" she explained.

"Then I'll make him like me" Stefan said. "If I can make you like me, I think I can make anyone like me" he winked again. Elena raised her eyebrow in warning. "Come on. Just invite them out. We'll all have a good time. I'll make sure of it" he promised.

Elena thought about his offer and then huffed. "You're not going to stop until you get what you want" she said. Stefan winked again. "Stop that!" she said, turning to turn her lamp off. "I'll call my brother" she sighed, snuggling down into the covers.

"Good" Stefan said, snuggling down with her. He smiled at the thought that he had one this round. He liked winning. Especially if it meant winning with her.

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"Where should we take Lily to dinner?" Elena asked as they entered into Mystic Falls. Elena stifled a yawn, having had an intense class discussion hours earlier.

Stefan looked over at her. "You know, we could just pick something up and head home" he offered.

Elena shook her head. "No. I just need coffee" she said, waving off his offer.

"Okay" Stefan said, turning down the road that Damon lived on. Elena felt herself become anxious. The last time she had seen Damon, he had kissed her. Something that she still hadn't told Stefan about. Why? She didn't know. Maybe because things were going so well between her and Stefan. When Stefan parked the car, he looked over and saw that she looked nervous. "You okay?" he asked.

Elena quickly looked over at him before nodding. "Yeah. Maybe I should stay in the car. Katherine probably wouldn't appreciate me in her house" she explained quickly.

Stefan quickly brushed her concerns off. "Katherine is probably passed out drunk" he said, getting out of the car. "Come on" he said. Elena silently groaned as she got out of the car and followed Stefan to the door.

Stefan knocked on the door, remembering how irritating he found it to be when Damon barged in to the boarding house. As they waited, Elena took the time to look around. There was a large well-manicured front lawn with a pond and fountain along with various marble statues. The lawn was perfect, as were the trees planted strategically around the property. She thought it must have cost Damon a fortune to keep it up.

The door swung open and Katherine smiled as she saw Stefan, then glared when she saw Elena. "Well well, what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, turning her attention back to Stefan.

"Just picking up Lily" Stefan said, brushing past Katherine in an attempt to get away from her.

Katherine bit her bottom lip as her eyes followed him. Elena felt herself getting a little jealous at the way Katherine was watching Stefan. "Can I come in?" Elena asked, clearly annoyed with Katherine.

Katherine turned around, giving her a snarky look. "If you must" she said. Elena slid past her uncomfortably. "Just don't touch anything" she said, narrowing her eyes at Elena. "I know you have Stefan's money now, but I still don't trust you not to swipe a crystal vase from me" she smirked.

Elena smiled. "I tend to go for the paintings, but thanks for the heads up on the crystal" she chirped, turning and going in search of Stefan.

Katherine crossed her arms and clenched her fists, but she could not think up a snarky reply on the spot. Another time, she thought.