Damon was packing his bags when Stefan walked in.
“What are you doing?”
“Packing my bags, if you didn’t notice” Damon replied.
“Why? Where you going?” Stefan asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet” Damon said.
“I don’t get it” Stefan said. Without turning around Damon started to explain. “I’ve always known you hate me, but I didn’t know it was that bad. If you really loathe me that much you could’ve said so and I might’ve left”
“No, I don’t want you to leave” Stefan said. “I just…”
“You just wanted someone to drive a stake through my heart. You just didn’t have the nerve to do it yourself” Damon snapped bitter.
Stefan walked to the bed and unpacked Damon’s suitcases.
“What are you doing?” Damon asked confused and annoyed. His phone rang, but he declined the call.
“Why are you not picking up?” Stefan asked.
“It’s Elena” Damon explained.
“Shouldn’t that be a reason to pick up?”
“No” Damon said. “Everything’s back to normal again. She’ll go back to her own life, where she doesn’t need me”
Stefan gripped his brother’s arm and forced him to look at him. “She does need you. I thought the night before last night made that perfectly clear”
Damon shook his head and put the clothes Stefan had taken out back in the suitcase. “The night before last night I was being tortured. I was going to die. I was injured. She just felt sorry for me, just like she felt sorry for me when Tyler bit me. She feels for me, but it’s not love”
“Okay, just…just stop packing already” Stefan said and he emptied Damon’s suitcase. “You’re not leaving. I am”
“Don’t be so ridiculous, Stefan” Damon said.
“I’m not being ridiculous” Stefan said. “I’m finally trying to do the right thing…I’m sorry…All this time I saw you as a threat to me and Elena, but truth is Elena and I were never meant to last. I believed I was Elena’s true love, but I was only an obstacle for the two of you and for that I’m sorry. So yes, I’m the one that should leave”
“And where were you planning on going?” Damon raised his eyebrows.
“I talked to Ric. After everything that happened with Jeremy and Elena he wants to keep a closer eye on them” Stefan said.
“He already lives with them” Damon said.
“Not exactly. He merely traveled from his loft to the Gilbert house and back” Stefan said. “But now he’s going to live with them permanent. And I suggested to take care of his place”
“Why did he ask you?” Damon asked a little pissed.
“If it makes you feel better, I have to pay rent” Stefan said. He grabbed Damon’s clothes and put them back in the closet. “So you’ll stay. You should live here”
“But this place is too big for one person” Damon said.
“That problem can be fixed” Stefan said mischievous.