I gaze leisurely across the room trying to make the minutes hasten. Looking to the window for relief, I find no such comfort. The ever present gray clouds are settling in the 10 o'clock Georgia sky. I search the room for a set of familiar eyes, but alas, even among friends I am always in a room full of strangers. As Professor Saltzman prattles on about the Civil War, all we ever seem to discuss in this class, I gradually ease my head on top of my folded arms until I feel a soft tap on my shoulder.

As I turn, there sits my prince charming, my Adonis, my Stefan Salvatore. Am I really this pathetic? Following my high school sweetheart to college was never part of my big plan, but then again, my "big plan" ended the day my parents drove off that bridge. Either way, when am I going to start making my own decisions?

Stefan flashes a charming smirk. He could sense my boredom, along with any other emotions I was ever feeling. He is good that way. Stefan is a people person—he loves people, and people adore him. That's probably why I fell for his advances the second I gazed upon those piercing eyes. I'd never seen anything like them.

"Elena?" Stefan breathes so nonchalantly.

"Hmm?"

"You're brooding," He smirks.

"I'm just musing. I hate days like this."

"The sun never shines on Briarview. Too much tragedy and whatnot," he says sarcastically.

I wasn't sure what to tell him. Recently, things have changed. As I always do, I'd been over-analyzing every aspect of my existence. Why didn't I go far away, study abroad, or see the world? Staying in Briarview simply to be with a man I've only known for two years must be one of the most naïve decisions ever made. Then again, my two closest friends, Bonnie and Caroline, are always doting over Stefan and his rigid jaw line. Anything that involves being with Stefan is the right decision for me in their minds. Because they're like two little birds chatting in my ear, I never really thought to consider a future independent of Stefan. Do they really think my happiness and well-being depend on whether or not I'm with him? These are the questions I bury. I can't bear to consider how little my friends think of me.

But I can't bury them forever. This time, I need to make a change. Do something about it. It is with this musing that my rebellion begins.

"I think I'm gonna go…" I utter slowly and hesitantly.

"We still have 37 minutes left. Are you sure you're alright?" Stefan asks as he looks at me like he would some strange woman passing him on the street.

Always following the rules. Everything must be perfectly in line, but I can't be this way. Not today.

I nod my head and stand from my seat. I'm unsure of my next move, so I falter a bit. Somehow I make it out alive. Whether I looked like I was having a seizure or a panic attack, I don't know. Though it was small, I made a decision. I did something I wanted, even if it was disruptive and may have earned me a failing grade for the day.

Hey, you've got to start somewhere.