Destined

By: Joyce & Bre

Chapter One

I walked through a very thick crowd, with no real destination in mind. Soft music was heard in the background as I made my way to a familiar figure in the distance. As I reached him, he turned around to greet me with a smile. Stefan, wearing a tux that made him look dashing.

He extended his hand to me and nodded towards the dance floor. I smiled slightly and took his hand, letting him gently guide me to the middle of the floor. We began to sway to the beat of the song. We, along with everyone else dancing, spun around the floor in lazy circles.

The song suddenly changed in tempo and everything around us changed along with it. It was as if everyone was synchronized to the song... I looked back at Stefan and realized we had done the same. He gave me a small smile and I returned it. I leaned forward to give him a small kiss, but he put a finger up to my lips stopping me. I frowned. He only whispered, "I love you."

I opened my mouth to speak but he spun me away from him before I could say anything. Instead of spinning me back to him, a strong hand had taken my own and was now spinning me in a different direction, away from Stefan. When I stopped spinning I was met by beautiful deep blue eyes. Damon. Looking behind me I found no sign of Stefan anywhere.

Swaying gently alongside Damon made me nervous. I guess I was blushing because he gave me a very knowing smile. Together, we spun once more and then he gently dipped me. One strong arm holding me by my waist. We stayed like that, just gazing at each other as everyone danced around us. He then brought me back up and ever so gently whispered in my ear, "I love you, Elena."

I opened my eyes and slowly sat up in bed. That dream got me thinking about the last time I had talked to Stefan... He had told me to take a week to be apart from both the Salvatore brothers and get my head cleared. To decide who I really wanted to be with. Today would make a week since that conversation. Just thinking about the fact that I was only hours away from making either the best or worst decision in my life, made my stomach turn.

My phone began buzzing on my nightstand and I answered only to be greeted by a very eager and familiar voice.

"Elena Gilbert, why are you not at my house yet? We need to be preparing for the Founders Ball!"

"Sorry, Caroline. I...Over-slept. I'll be there soon." I tell her and start getting ready to leave. I grab two dresses and head to the door.

"What do you think? White dress? Or red dress?" I asked Caroline holding the short sleeved white dress in one hand, and the strapless red dress in the other.

"So our options are safe with white, daring with red?" She said with a raised eyebrow and a knowing look. "Are you okay? You seem distant. You are never distant when we get ready for a party... What's on your mind?"

I exhaled. "Nothing... Just, thinking about everything that might change after tonight, if anything changes at all..."

"Is this about that Salvatore's?" Caroline asks.

I nod.

"You'll be fine." She says with a smile. "So... Which Salvatore is it?"

I was spared answering that question by a knock on the door. It seemed like that was the million dollar question. Which Salvatore did I want to spend the rest of my life with?

"I'm going to go see if I can find Matt." Said Caroline. "Good luck." She gave me a small smile.

My stomach was in a knot. My hands were slightly shaking from the nerves. I looked around and saw a lot of people talking and dancing and enjoying themselves. My eyes searched the crowd and stopped at the door. There I saw the Salvatore brothers walking in and I caught my breath. Stefan was wearing an elegant tux that made him look very handsome and perfect... Damon wearing all black looked strong and gorgeous.

Damon was the first to spot me and gave me his sexy smile that he knew I loved. I felt myself blush, which only made Damon's smile widen. I turned to walk away from both the Salvatore's, knowing that they were both waiting for my answer. I stopped in front of a waiter handing out champagne and took one. I felt a slight tap on my shoulder, and reluctantly turned around. It was Stefan, standing a little shyly with a smile on his face.

"Stefan…." Was all I could manage to say.

"You don't have to decide right now…" He told me with a nervous look. "Would you like to dance?" He extended his hand to me, without saying a word I took his hand and let him guide me to the crowd of swaying bodies.

We began to sway gently in rhythmic steps along with everyone else. And even though I knew it was wrong to feel like this, I couldn't help but feel like the once comforting arms now felt strange around me….

Guilt quickly came over me. I couldn't even look him in the eye. The eyes that were so filled with love and kindness.

My thoughts were interrupted by Stefan whispering something in my ear. "Whatever happens tonight…. Whoever you decide to be with…. Just know that I love you, and that won't change."

Afraid to speak I only nodded into Stefan's shoulder. Tears threatened to fall down my cheeks but I took a deep breath and recovered myself.

The song came to an end and I was left staring into Stefan's eyes. My hands began to shake slightly…

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

"I'm fine." I lied. "I just need some air."

He nodded, confusion in his eyes. I walked away from him and found a bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and took a couple deep breaths. I had chosen to wear the body hugging, strapless red dress that stopped halfway up my thigh. My hair was in loose curls down my back. I looked… Confident.

I took another deep breath. I had to go out there and face them sooner or later. Am I making the right choice? As soon as the thought came to me I knew the answer.

I walked out and searched the faces around me. "Hello princess." A voice behind me startled me.

I turned around to be greeted by deep blue eyes. "Damon, you scared me!" I said pushing him playfully and smiled.

"Scardy-cat." He said with an exaggerated eye roll, which quickly turned into a small smile.

After a few silent seconds went by I asked him shyly, "Would you like to dance?"

"It would be my pleasure." He replied holding his hand out for me to take.

I took it and felt myself blush. He placed a hand on my lower back and instantly felt butterflies. Being this close to him made me feel very nervous. My heart began to pound in my chest. I blushed even more realizing that he could hear my heart.

He smiled. He knew exactly what to do to make me nervous. The kinds of nerves that turned my legs to jelly and made my heart beat a thousand miles per second. We spun around and, unexpectedly, he dipped me with the slightest care. He treated me like I was a feather. Carefully he brought me back up, one of my hands was now on his chest and the other was still in his own. We had stopped moving. We were standing in the middle of couples dancing, our eyes locked on each other.

I looked down at his lips and leaned forward. The instant our lips met was like we were the only people in the room. I forgot about the party and the people who were still dancing around me and Damon.

His lips felt light and soft on mine, like he couldn't process what I had just done. I deepened the kiss, letting him know that this was what I wanted. This was my choice, and any doubt I had before was completely gone now… The second I did that was like the flame that was between us had grown and was consuming us both, igniting us in a fire filled with love.

I broke the kiss to breathe and saw Damon's eyes searching my face for the answer everyone was waiting for. I smiled and he let out a breath. His eyes showed how happy and lost for words he was. But I made the mistake of looking behind him…

There, turning to leave was Stefan…

I gasped and Damon gave me a confused look. He looked behind him and cursed under his breath.

No! He must have seen me kiss Damon! NO! This is NOT how it was supposed to be! I had to talk to him. God, Elena! Why would you kiss Damon knowing Stefan was around! What must he be thinking? I have to talk to him.

I gave Damon an apologetic look and he gave me an understanding nod. "I should…" He started to say but I cut him off. "No. I will, I should have told him before…."

I started walking in the direction I saw Stefan leave in and was relieved when I found him sitting on the stairs.

I sat down next to him and tried to explain myself, "Stefan, I'm so sorry it wasn't supposed to happen like…" But he cut me off before I could finish.

Without looking at me he said, "Don't apologize, Elena. I was the one who told you you had to choose, and you chose. I get it."

He turned to look at me then, his face was neutral but his eyes showed how hurt he really was. And even then his voice was gentle and I did not pick up any anger in them.

"All I want is for you to be happy… Even if it's not with me." He said trying to give me a reassuring smile. I hugged him tightly and he returned the hug.

"Thank you." I said, not knowing what else I could say to him right now.

"And if Damon hurts you I'll kill him myself." He said with a smile and I couldn't help but smile back.

"I'm going to go say bye to Damon…. I'm going to miss you." He said.

"What do you mean? Are you leaving town?" I asked confused.

"Yeah… I had planned to take you with me to get away for a while…" He looked away.

"Stefan…" I said feeling terrible.

"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine." He said with a small smile.

"Promise me you'll come back to visit me?" I told him while I hugged him one last time.

"Promise." He answered. With that he stood up and went back inside to find Damon.

I stayed there a little while longer. Looking up at the stars and thinking about how my life with Damon would be, a small smile formed on my face.

Stefan's POV

"Hello, Brother." I greeted Damon when I found him by the bar.

"Stefan, listen..." He began but I cut him off.

"No need for that. I talked to Elena…. I'm happy for you brother… You got the girl." I said giving him a reassuring smile.

"Thank you." He said sounding grateful.

I nodded. "I'm also saying goodbye." I said.

"You're leaving?" He asked.

" Yeah, I needed to get away. I only put it off till today for obvious reasons… I'll be gone before you get back to the boarding house though…"

He looked shocked and lost for words. "Goodbye Damon."

"I'll see you around, brother." He said, extending his hand for me to shake.

I shook his hand and turned to leave. But before I left I looked at Damon and said, "Take care of her for me." Then walked away, leaving behind my brother and the girl I loved… This would be a new beginning for me.

~J