A/N: I'm back and I have no reason or excuse as to why I have been gone for such a long time. Please enjoy.
PROLOGUE
PRESENT DAY
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
I wake up to the warm Chicago sun shining through my bedroom window as the smell of freshly made coffee fills my nose. I stretch my arms and turn onto my back. I feel the cold, empty spot in the bed next to me and sit up, throwing the comforter off of me. I slip out of bed in my oversized t-shirt and pink panties and walk to the bathroom.
I quickly brush my teeth and hair then head to the kitchen. There, I find a shirtless guy standing in front of the stove. I stand in silence for a moment or two, admiring the figure before me.
"What are you doing up this early?" I say with a smile, making my presence known. He turns around and flashes me one of his thousand-watt smiles.
"I know you had a tough day at work yesterday, so I thought that I would make you breakfast." He replies, turning and walking towards me.
"That's so very kind of you." I say while batting my eyelashes. He makes his way to me and slides his hands up my body and around my waist.
"I know you've been stressed a lot lately so I want to do anything that I can to help you with that." He whispers, leaving a small kiss on my nose.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it." I wrap my arms around his neck and melt into his hug. "What are you making?" I ask, peeking at the stove behind him.
"Your favorite," he says through a laugh.
"French toast?" My eyes light up with excitement. "You know how to make it?"
"Well, I had to call your mom for some help, but I think it turned out good." He smiles.
"It smells great! I can't wait to try it." I push past him and start filling my plate.
"You know, I've been thinking…" he starts.
"Oh, no, that's not good." I say through a laugh while transferring a piece of French toast onto my plate.
"We haven't been home in a while. Haven't seen your parents… or mine." He mumbles, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Why would we do that?" I say with an uncomfortable tone to my voice. "Our life is here, in Chicago."
"I know that, babe, but it's also nice to visit home now and again." He sighs.
"You can go if you want to, I can't leave. Work won't let me take off any time." I make up an excuse.
I don't want to go home. I left for a reason. People, feelings, the town itself was suffocating me. I felt trapped. I couldn't breathe. So I took the first chance I got, and I ran. I got away from that small city of Mystic Falls, Virginia. I had history with that place. Bad history. High school was a nightmare in more ways than one and that ruined it for me. I needed a new start somewhere far away. To forget things…
"Actually…" he starts. I slowly turn around with a deadly look on my face.
"What did you do?" I whisper.
"I called your work and they gave you this weekend off. We have two tickets back home." He explains and I open my mouth to yell. "Before you say anything, Elena, it's just till Sunday afternoon. We leave Friday night and then we'll spend Saturday with your family and part of Sunday with mine."
"You can't just plan these things without me! I get to have a say in them too." I start raising my voice.
"But now this way, you can't and won't say no. Elena, it's barely a day and a half. Your parents deserve to see you." He says sympathetically. I stand there in silence for what seems like hours but eventually I let out a big breath.
"Fine" I say.
"Baby, it's gonna be fine!" He says as he plants a kiss on my lips.
"You're so freaking lucky that I love you, Aaron Whitmore."
"Stefan! Have you seen my pink t-shirt!" Liv yells throughout the apartment from the bedroom.
"No, Liv." I say from the living room with irritation clear in my voice. I don't care about her stupid pink shirt. And why the hell would I know where it was?
"Godammit, Stefan! It's under all your dirty clothes. Can you make yourself useful and do some damn laundry instead of sitting on your ass all day?!" Liv replies.
"Last time I checked, I was the one who made money in this house! All you do is spend everything I slave over." I yell back.
"Oh, suck it up! Money is meant to be spent." Liv gives some stupid excuse. This girl spends money like it was the air she breathes. Never has any regard for anyone but herself.
"Yeah, well you go tell that to the landlord who wants our months rent that you just spent on two pairs of shoes." I accuse her.
"Screw you, Stefan!" She screams while scrambling out of the room, squeezing into her dirty pink shirt.
I have no clue why I'm even with this girl. She's stubborn, annoying, takes all my money, and treats me like shit. But she's hot… and good in bed. I thought that this was all I deserve, all I'm good for. Second best. Not even second; maybe fifth or sixth. I know I messed it up with the best I could ever have. But that was years ago and there was nothing I can do about it now.
"Where are you going now? To spend more of my money on a new handbag?" I say, pushing her buttons in the best way I knew how to.
"None of your business," she grabs her jacket and slips into it. "I'll be home late, don't wait up."
I watch the front door of the apartment slam shut and let out a big breath. I don't even know what to do anymore. I've gotten accustomed to the yelling and fighting between us that it doesn't even faze me.
I get up from the couch and go to the bathroom. I quickly brush my teeth and get ready for the day ahead of me. I put on a pair of dark jeans and a button up shirt. I roll the sleeves to my elbows, grab my wallet, slip on my sunglasses, and leave the small apartment.
I walk down the four flights of stairs to the ground floor because the elevator is broken and push my way out onto the streets of Chicago. I scan the street and the place is already buzzing. People walking in every which direction, car horns, taxis racing back and forth. I turn left and head towards a small, mom-and-pop coffee shop I go to before work.
It's a Saturday, so I didn't think it was necessary to put on my formal work attire. Plus, I kind of own the whole thing, so I can do what I want. I'm in business. The telecommunication business. It's great because I get to do something I've always loved and get paid for it. I started my own business right out of college and it's grown to be one of the biggest in the world. And it's all mine. I'm the CEO and owner of this huge company. I'm loaded.
Sure, I have a ton of money, but I don't necessarily want my girlfriend knowing that. She never questions how the bills get paid and has never once asked what I do for a living. If I told her how much money I really have, she would figure out a way to get her hands on it and spend every last penny.
After walking a few blocks, I finally arrive at the coffee shop, take my sunglasses off, and step in line behind a brunette woman in hospital scrubs.
I finish my French toast and lick the tips of my fingers that have maple syrup on them. I down the rest of my coffee and jump up to start the day.
"I got to get to the hospital. I have this guy with an aortic aneurysm that hopefully didn't rupture overnight." I say, rinsing off my plate and putting it in the dishwasher.
"I love it when you talk medical to me." Aaron replies, as he walks into the kitchen and does the same with his plate. He gives me a kiss on the temple. "Go, save lives."
I stand on my tiptoes and give him a small peck on the lips before slipping away and scurrying to the bedroom. I open my dresser drawer and pull out a pair of light blue scrubs and slip into them. I slick my hair back into a ponytail, stick my feet in a pair of tennis shoes and grab my purse.
"I'll be back after midnight! Don't wait up." I yell throughout the house before opening the door.
"Love you." Aaron replies before the door shuts and I'm on my way to the elevator. I press the ground floor button and wait in silence until the elevator makes it from the twelfth floor. The elevator dings and the doors open, I make my way to the street and the city was already alive with excitement. I take a deep breath and turn to my right. I start walking towards a small coffee shop a few blocks away from my apartment.
I pull out my phone and check if I actually have enough time to stop there before I head for the hospital. If I walk fast enough there will be just enough time to spare to get to the hospital before my shift starts. I pick up my speed just a little and cross the street.
I soak up the atmosphere around me and realize how lucky I am to have the life that I have. I had always wanted to live in a big city, always wanted to be a surgeon and here I am, having both. Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a doctor like my father, but a different kind of doctor. I didn't want to exactly follow in his footsteps but he was a big impact in why I chose this career field.
I approach the coffee shop and luckily, because it's kind of early, there were only a few people inside. I open the door, hear the small bell and I'm embraced by the scent of freshly ground coffee beans. I step into line behind a tall man in a three-piece suit and grab my wallet out of my purse.
Not even twenty seconds later the bell above the door rings again and I feel a presence enter the building that seems somewhat familiar; I don't know what kind of familiar, though. I don't know whether it's good, bad, or a little bit of both. But, it puts a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I haven't felt since Virginia. A body steps into line behind me and I have to remind myself every few seconds not to turn around and examine the person behind me.
The man in front of me finishes ordering and walks past me with a cup of coffee. He gives me a friendly smile and I hear the bell, indicating that he has left. I step up to the counter, putting more space between me and the person behind me. For some reason, I'm trying to keep my voice low, as to not let anyone recognize the tone I'm giving off. I pay and wait for my coffee to be made.
The barista turns around and goes to work on my coffee, meanwhile I take my purse off of my shoulder and put my wallet back in its designated spot.
I hear a familiar voice. By familiar, it was a voice I had heard years ago. Seven, maybe eight years had gone by. But it can't be her. That's impossible. So I blame it on my imagination and sleepy state.
The woman in front of me got her coffee, thanks the barista, and turns around.
I can't breathe.
Her feet stopped in place.
"Elena?" I say through a strained voice.
"Stefan." She whispers...
EIGHT YEARS AGO
MYSTIC FALLS, VIRGINIA
I sit in history class on the first day of school with my head resting on my hand and a pencil on the desk. I'm not necessarily paying attention. Okay, I'm not paying attention at all. I'm staring at the guy I have had had a crush on since freshman year of high school. Yeah… I'm a senior now.
I've known Stefan Salvatore all my life since we've both grown up in this small town. But only during freshman year did I see him as anything more than the little boy who grew up next to me and put dirt in my hair. Freshman year he seemed to be getting his shit together. Actually going to school, dressing a little nicer, working out. He's no longer the pale and scrawny Salvatore boy. He definitely is not. I focus my gaze on him and instinctually bite my bottom lip.
Stefan Salvatore. Six feet two inches tall, dirty blonde hair, sun-kissed tan skin, dazzling green-eyed Stefan Salvatore. Sitting in a dark blue v-neck, biceps straining against the sleeves Stefan Salvatore. Gorgeous Stefan Salvatore.
I've never taken an interest in anyone in all my years of high school. I never wanted to take interest. All they are is a bunch of boys looking for sex and nothing else. But there's something about Stefan that I can't pull myself away from. I'm drawn towards him. Except he's exactly like all the other guys here, hell he's probably the worst of them all.
A fuckboy.
That doesn't mean I can't stare and appreciate the piece of work that was graced upon us by the Greek Gods. Sure, most of my daydreams include Stefan in one way or another, but isn't that what girls my age are supposed to do? Dream about boys sweeping them off of their feet and living happily ever after. Yeah, a lot of my fantasies include Stefan sweeping me off of my feet… But, a majority of them consist of him throwing me down on a bed after sweeping me off my feet.
I close my eyes and internally groan thinking about it.
Stefan throws me on a plushy, king-sized bed. He slowly drags my jeans down my legs, lifts my shirt over my head and all I'm left in is a pair of matching black bra and panties. He's standing at the end of the bed, looking down at me and smiling. He peels off his t-shirt and tosses it on the floor beside mine. He's crawling up the bed, between my legs, until he's hovering over me and we're face to face. His sparking green eyes meet my dull brown ones. He smiles at me and leans closer to me, our lips almost touching and
"Miss Gilbert?" Mr. Saltzman raises his voice and I jump. I'm pulled out of my daydreaming and my cheeks turn bright red as the whole class focuses their eyes on me. "Are you with us, Miss Gilbert?"
I meekly nod and a smile out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I shyly turn my head only a fraction and see him laughing at me. I quickly whip my attention back to the teacher and sink in my chair a little.
"Great, then I assume you can tell me the answer." Mr. Saltzman says through a fake smile.
"What was the question?" I ask quietly. He and the whole class shares a quiet laugh and then he turns back to me.
"A warmup question to see if you know anything that will help you this year. Which amendments pertain to civil rights?" He asks.
"Thirteen through Sixteen." I reply quietly, playing with my hands under my desk.
"Thank you, Miss Gilbert" He says sarcastically then turns to the board. He writes the numbers thirteen thru sixteen, each with a colon next to them.
"Who can tell me the specifics of each amendment?" He asks to the class. A girl in the front raises her hand and he calls her name. When she gets caught up in describing each amendment, I start to space out and stare at the clock on the wall. Twenty-three more minutes until I can get out of this hellhole.
The bell rings and I quickly throw my notebook and textbook into my backpack and rush out of the door, leaving behind embarrassment and a certain boy that makes my insides melt. I walk down the hall and stop at my locker, seeing a blonde girl waiting for me.
"Caroline!" I yell and she turns around. When she sees it's me, she gives me her million dollar smile.
"Hey! What's wrong, you look like you're about to throw up. And if you are please turn around before you do, I just got these shoes." She says through her high, feminine voice.
"I'm not gonna throw up" I tell her, spinning the lock on my locker and pulling it open. I throw my history textbook into the locker and close it. "History was so embarrassing today." I say, putting my face in my hands.
"Oh, stop. It can't be any worse than any of the days last year." She laughs.
"I was dazing out again and this time Mr. Saltzman called me out for it and everyone was laughing and he was laughing and ugh!" I explain quickly. Caroline is busy playing with her nails then she looks up at me.
"But… he was looking at you." She says with that look on her face. That he-finally-noticed-you-now-you-should-go-get-on-your-knees-for-him kind of look.
"Caroline," I warn her.
"Fine, fine. I'll stop." She says with the wave of her hand. Her bright blue eyes move from me to something behind me and they widen.
"Caroline, what?" I raise my voice, trying to get her attention. She stays staring and slowly a smile grows on her face. I hear footsteps behind us and remind myself to lower my voice. I'm about to say something when Caroline opens her mouth.
"Hey, Stefan" she says through her bubbly personality as he walks right next to us. "You're coming to the Grille tonight, right?"
"Hey, Caroline. Yeah, I am." He says to her then his head slowly turns to me and he squints his eyes. A small smile plays at the corner of the mouth. "Elena…" He nods and walks away.
I can't breathe. My lungs have suddenly forgotten how to work and I'm frozen in place.
"Elena!" Caroline yells, bringing me back to reality.
"What?" I snap back.
"He's going to the party at the Grille tonight." She says.
"And…?" I reply, wondering where she's going with this.
"And that means you're going! So stop freezing up and let's go, we need to get to the mall and get you a new outfit for tonight." She says, her eyes scanning over me.
"Caroline, I'm not going." I tell her as we start to walk towards the exit.
"Elena Marie Gilbert! It is senior year, and until now you have not done anything fun that has anything to do with school. But, we're going to change that. It's your last chance to do anything and make an impression in this school. So, you're coming tonight and we're going to the mall right now." She practically yells as we walk throughout the school hallway.
"Fine" I say, even though I have absolutely no desire to go tonight.
"Good girl, now let's hurry to the mall. If we get there by three fifteen and leave by five, we'll have enough time to get home and get ready." She explains, looking at her phone and we exit the school into the parking lot.
"Caroline, I can get ready on my own." I almost whine.
"Hush, and let Caroline do her magic, baby." She gives me a sweet smile and unlocks her car.
I huff and plop down in the passenger seat. She starts to pull away and I see him standing next to his car, talking to a couple of guys. I admire his lean figure and the cut of his jaw. His arms are folded on top of his chest and I let my eyes linger over his biceps. As we're about to pull out of the parking lot, he turns around and our eyes meet. He doesn't pull away and neither do I until Caroline turns the corner and he disappears behind a line of trees.
Two hours later, I'm standing in front of my mirror in a pair of black skinny jeans that are rolled up at the bottom, a black and white striped crop top, and a pair of strappy, pointed-toe high heels. Caroline has curled my hair so large curls hang down my back and she has gone all out with the makeup. I see silvers and dark grays, winged eyeliner, and red lipstick.
"You look so hot." I hear Caroline say from behind me.
I look hot.
I turn around and let my eyes drag over Caroline. She's dressed in a loose, white, knee-length dress with spaghetti straps and tan wedges. She has two small braids on either side of her head and barely any makeup on. She looks gorgeous.
"It's seven-fifty, perfect time for us to leave and show up fashionably late." She says with a tilt of her shoulder. She turns around and grabs her small bag off of my bed and hands mine to me. I throw in the red lipstick, my phone and my credit card.
"Ready?" I ask, meaning it more towards myself but Caroline gives me a nod and walks out of my room. I look in the mirror once more and take a big breath.
"Elena! Come on" Caroline yells from downstairs. I shut my bedroom light off and head down.
We hop in Caroline's car and start on the road. I immediately space out and it only seems like a few minutes until we pull into a parking spot across from the Grille. I get out of the car and let my eyes wander around. It looks like there must be a hundred cars here, probably more people if more than one person rode in each car.
"Let's do this shit." Caroline says and starts strutting towards the door. I follow in her footsteps and hope that we don't bring too much attention to ourselves when we walk through the door. She walks up the three steps to the doors and pulls them both open.
So much for not making a scene. I think to myself, and walk in next to her. She stops when we're right inside the door and slowly, everyone's eyes turn our way. I look over at Caroline and she has an award-winning smile on her face, she loves this kind of attention.
"Caroline, everyone's staring at you." I say and I'm about to walk away when she grabs my arm.
"They're not looking at me, sweetcheeks." She says and walks towards a table. I'm left standing in front of everyone with their eyes on me. I take a deep breath, hold my head high, and walk towards Caroline. I let a small smirk play on my face as I start conversation with Caroline.
"That was so badass!" Caroline yells over the music and a big smile spreads across my lips.
"It felt good." I tell her. "Why haven't I come to more of these things?" I say through a laugh.
"I don't know, but you're not missing another one for the rest of your life." She says and walks off to talk to some guy. I grab my purse and throw it over my shoulder. I walk to the bar and lean over it, trying to get the bartenders attention. He walks towards me and smiles.
"Can I have a water, please." I say. He turns around and grabs a glass and walks to the other end of the bar. Someone comes and stands next to me, very close to me, and leans over the bar as well. When the bartender comes back, I take my glass of water and turn towards the person next to me, ready to walk away.
I'm stopped in my tracks once I see who it is. My lungs forget out to work and my mouth forgets how to speak. My signature move.
"Hi, Elena" Stefan says through a smile, then asks the bartender for a glass of water as well. He turns back to me and raises his eyebrows.
Come on, Elena. Get over it. Just say hi, you are not going to freeze up.
"Hey," I say with a shy smile.
"She speaks," he says with a laugh. "Come, let's sit." He says and we walk towards a table in the back of the Grille. Once we're both situated in our seats he takes a sip of his water. "I liked the floor show." He points to the front door and I can already feel my cheeks blushing.
"Well, it's my first party, I had to make an impression." I say through a breathy laugh. He laughs as well and I look up at him. His eyes are sparkling. "Did you need something? Is that why you're talking to me?" I ask and his eyebrows furrow.
"Can't I talk to a gorgeous girl without being accused of an ulterior motive?" He says while dragging his finger around the rim of his glass.
"That's a questionable statement." I tell him, taking a big gulp of water. He laughs and I'm confused.
"You're funny, I like that." He says as an upbeat song comes on. "Dance with me."
"I should find Caroline." I say, getting up from my seat. He grabs my hand as I'm about to walk away.
"Please" he pouts.
He's no good, Elena. You know his reputation. Walk away.
"I know about you." His grip on my hand slowly loosens until my hand falls by my side. "You use girls, promise them things you don't mean, then throw them out. I actually know about fifty of you's." I say and his eyes lower away from mine.
"You don't know what you're talking about." He says through a whisper.
"Thank you for the compliment and the polite chit chat. Have a nice night." I say and walk away from him. I immediately spot Caroline with her golden hair and walk up to her.
"Elena!" She turns towards me and smiles. "I saw you talking to Stefan." She nudges me with her shoulder. "What happened?"
"He asked me to dance. I said no." I say calmly. I look over my shoulder and he's still sitting there, staring at his glass.
"What the hell! Why'd you say no?" She yells at me and slaps my arm.
"Because of who he is, Caroline! He'll say all the right things and mean none of them." I say, digging through my small purse, not trying to find anything, just distract myself.
"Elena, it's just one night, one dance. It's not like you're going to be forced to marry him. So just go over there, and live in the now." She says, pointing in the direction of him.
"I already walked away, it will be awkward going back." I make an excuse.
"Oh shove those excuses up your ass, Elena. He won't give a shit. Just go over there, toss your hair, touch his hand and everything in the last ten minutes will be forgotten." She explains.
"Okay, just because it will probably be this time only." I tell her and start to walk away. She grabs my arm and grabs the lipstick out of my purse. She applies it to my lips then puts her hands on my shoulders.
"It was starting to fade. Now, go be a teenage girl." She says, turning me around and pushing me towards him.
I slowly walk up to him and he keeps his head down. It isn't until I'm right next to him that he lifts his head and looks at me.
"On second thought, what harm could one dance do?" I ask, biting my lower lip and holding out my hand. Slowly, a devilish grin spreads across his face and he takes my hand. He stands and pulls me towards the empty floor. I'm not sure who is making these decisions for me, but I like her. There is one thing I know though… I like the feel of his hand in mine.
A/N: I hope some of you are interested enough to continue reading this. I had a severe case of writers block and trying to write LVB was not working for me. I'm on vacation right now, so this is the story I will be updating until I get back home. But, as soon as I do get home, I will alternate between updating this, and updating LVB.
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated and if you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
