It was a call a week earlier that has me standing where I am now. A call begging me for the hundredth time to come to see her graduate.
'Stefan Salvatore, if you don't come I swear your best friend card is going to be officially revoked.'I know she didn't mean it, especially since she had just moments earlier been joking about how next time she goes to college she want's me to come with her. Still I knew she wanted me here for this. She'd accomplished the one thing she'd been working her entire life for. So despite the jokes I knew it was important to her.Still.
'There's probably going to be tons of other people there for you.'I try to sound as casual as possible but she catches the underline question in my words and the silence is defaning. I try to go on as if I don't know what she's thinking. As if she dosn't know that the prospect of seeing Elena again causes every nerve in my body to scream run! 'I'm just kidding. Of course I'll be there.'
So now here I stand in front of The Bording House, willing myself to walk up the drive. I listen for any indication that there is anybody home and pull out my phone in relief when I'm met with silence.
'Are you here yet?' She dosn't even say hello.
'I'm standing outside The Boarding House.' I wince against the glare of the sun as I look up at the huge house. I hear a door shut through the phone.
'Why are you standing outside?' She asks and even if she dosn't already know the answer, my silence is telling. She sighs and I hear a car door slam. 'She's not there Stefan.' There's a twing of irritation in her voice.
'Who?' I ask with blantantly false casuilty then follow it up with an equally tense laugh. 'I know. I checked.'
'Ease dropping? So beneath you.' There's scolding in her tone and I'm effectivly shamed. 'She's with Bonnie at another dress fitting. Apparently her train is to long or something and she's freaking out so Jermey asked her to go with her.'
'And where's Damon?' It's easier to ask about my brother.
She laugh's. 'I don't know out kicking little kid's probably.' I smile. 'I'm coming to get you. And before you say anything we haven't hung out in like two month's! There's no argument that you can make that you'll win so just give up now.'
Laughing, I start walking in the opposite direction of the house. 'Where are we going?'
'Hmm well we can go to the grill' She cuts me off before I can come up with any lame excuses. 'or there's this bar near school that has good music.'
'That sounds good.'
'Cool. OK I'll see you in ten.'
'Minutes?'
'Bye.' She sings before hanging up on me.
Sometime's I see little thing's in her, thing's that reminded me so much of Lexie that it hurts. But the bigger thing's, thing's she says or does, they are just so uniquely Caroline that I'm reminded that she is a different person completely. It's in those moment's that I'm aware of how lucky I am to have been given not one but two amazing women for a best friend.
I wait the fifteen minutes it takes her to get here standing in the shadows of the woods. When she pulls up she lifts an eyebrow in question.
I climb into the passanger seat and she turns down the radio. 'Creep much?' Before I can come up with an answer she has me wrapped in a hug. 'Ugh I've missed you!'
I smile and wrap my arms around her. 'I've missed you too.' We pull apart and she puts the car in drive. 'So ten minutes huh?'
'Oh don't be such a baby. Who were you hiding from?'
'I wasn't hiding.' I respond a bit embarassed.
She laughs while turning the radio off completely. 'Right, so it was just the warm cozy feeling that had you sulking in the shadows?'
'As a matter of fact yes. I've lived in California for the last three years. I've missed nature.'
'Well you know if the sunshine and sand aren't doing it for you anymore you can always come back home.' Her tone is light but I know there's ernest beneath it.
'This – isn't my home anymore.' I answer tentativly.
Instead of berating me like I know she want's to, she chooses to change the subject. 'They know your here you know.' I must not be hiding my hurt as well as I thought because she continues on with a hint of guilt in her blue eyes. 'I mean they know your coming, not that your here. Otherwise they would have been there.'
I shake my head. 'It's fine. I wasn't expecting some huge welcome back Stefan party or anything.' She shoots me another guilty look and I cant help but laugh. 'I'm serious, it's fine. I'm here for you Caroline nobody else.' She looks as if she's about to cry so I hurry on. 'So are you excited?'
'About what?' She asks after clearing her throat.
'About what? Your graduating from Collage in three days!'
She shrugs. 'Not really.' There's an emotionlessness in her voice that wasn't there a millasecond ago.
'What's wrong?'
'Nothing. Why?'
'You just don't sound as thrilled about it as you did a few days ago.' She shrugs. 'What is it?'
'Nothing.'
An emotionless Caroline always makes me feel hopeless. 'Tell me.'
'It's just finally hit me is all. I mean all this time I've thought it was this huge thing but I see it now It was pointless. All of it.'
I sigh. 'Care'
She cut's me off and fire is back in her eyes. 'No I'm serious Stefan! What good did it do me? I mean Graduation is supposed to be this huge thing before you go out into the world and get this amazing job and become something. At least that's what I always wanted it to be. But look at me!' Tears are shimmering in her eye's now. 'I'm supposed to be twenty-two years old and I'm still walking around in a seventeen year old body! I can't exactly go off and take the world by storm.' I'm at a loss for words. How do I tell her she's wrong when I know that she's right?
'You can always move to LA with me. Nobody there looks their age.' I fear that my attempt at a joke will cause more harm than good, but am relieved when after a second she let's out a melodic laugh.
'God I've missed you.' And just like that, she's back to her cheery self.
She pulls into the parking lot of a bar called Sal's and cuts the engine. Gives me a curious look when I don't move to get out. 'What's wrong?'
'I just want to say something.' She turns in her seat to face me. 'What you've accomplished is amazing Caroline so be proud of yourself. I am.' Despite the smile on her face I know she isn't convinced and I sigh. ' And second, I was serious about only coming here for you. I didn't want my being here to be a big deal.' Off of her questioning look I laugh and tap my ear once. She rolls her eyes dramatically and lets out a frustrated growl.
'You couldn't have even pretended to be surprised? How did you know?'
Laughing I follow suit as she gets out of the car. 'I know you about as well you know me. '
She tosses her head back in exasperation.' It was the grill thing right? I knew I should have put up more of a fight!'
I don't have the heart to be upset with her because I know her own is in the right place. So to give her a break I point behind her at the bar window. 'And I saw Matt walk by when we pulled up.'
She stomps her foot in irritation. 'I'm going to kill him!' Linking her arm through mine we make our way toward the entrance. 'But I was at least a little believeable right?' I laugh and nod even though my nerves are shot to hell. 'Hmm maybe I will go back to LA with you. I can be a famous actress!' She tosses her arm dramatically while giggling and doing a periotte. The purity in her laugh makes me briefly forget what awaits me inside. She stops just outside the door and I know she can see the panic on my face. 'OK stop. It's only awkward if you let it be.' I nod and try to get pumped up enough to feel as confident as she sounds. 'I've got your back, you can do this.'
I let out a pointless breath and nodd. Her arm slips back through mine and she pulls me through the door.
The first voice I hear is Matt's, he's standing just inside the door with an apologetic smile on his face. 'Sorry.'
Her eyes narrow playfully for the briefist of a moment before she shakes her head. 'He knew anyway.'
He laughs before shaking my hand and pulling me into a hug. 'Hey man.'
I'm surprised by the gesture for a second, neither of us are exactly the hugging type. 'Hey.' It's only after we pull apart that I notice the petite red head standing behind him. He laughs and pulls her forward.
'This is my girlfriend Veronica. V this is Stefan.'
She smiles and holds out her hand. 'It's nice to finally meet you.'
'It's a pleasure to meet you Veronica.'
Her hand drops from mine and entwines with Matt's. 'I was starting to think you didn't exsist.'
We all laugh before Matt's gaze fall's over my shoulder. Fully expecting who is behind me I take another useless breath before turning.
'Hello brother.' The smirk that I've known since childhood is in place but I can see that it isn't meeting his eye's.
'Damon.' I step forward and catch us both by surprise with my embrace.
There is a seconds pause before his arms move up and embrace me back. 'It's been too long.'
I pull back suddenly uncomfortable. I smile and his eye's are searching mine trying to decipher my next move. I feel the tips of Caroline's fingers brush the back of my hand and the tension in my shoulders ease. I smile and give a nod. 'It has. Luckly we have eternity to catch up.' My joke seem's to knock him off-kilter yet again. Obviously he'd been expecting an entierly different meeting, which given certain circumstances I can't really blame him. He say's nothing more as Bonnie steps forward, her hand linked with Jermey's. She let's it go as she reaches up to hug me. There's no hello or welcome back, just a smile that light's her eye's and has my own widening a bit. She stand's on the tips of her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. 'Hi.' I know I sound confused by her greeting and she laugh's lightly.
'You're different.' I'm left puzzled by the whispered statement as she pulls away and Jermey step's forward.
'Jermey.' He smiles and shakes my hand before pulling me into a quick hug much like Matt had.
'Welcome home man.'
Again I'm left with a disocncerting feeling but still I smile. 'Thank you.' I glance around the group of people, Damon is now sitting at the bar with a scotch in his hand. Veronica murmer's something to Matt then lean's up and kisse's him on the cheek before walking over and taking a seat beside him. I watch with curiousity as she order's a drink of her own but nether of them speak. The scene seem's so fimiliar. Alarec. The thought has me remembering that there's someody missing. I turn back to where Damon had been standing and find her sitting at a table alone, staring at me. I watch her for a moment, transfixed by the sight of her. I'd imagined it would feel different, seeing her again. Like it did the night I left. Instead I find myself feeling relieved. Relieved that it didn't hurt anymore. My nerves fall away and we seem to sigh with relief simultaniously. She smile's and so do I. She get's up and walk's over still tentative in her movement's but I suspect that has less to due with me and more to due with the six set's of eye's staring at us. She step's easily into my arm's.
'Hi.' It's simple and it's enough.
I smile into her hair. 'Hi.'
'Wonderful. Not that we've got that all done with' We pull apart and Damon is standing beside Bonnie, a tray holding eight glasses and a bottle of scotch held at level with his head. Veronica silently returns to her place beside Matt and slide's her hand into his. He balances the tray in the air with one hand and smile's the way he does when he is uncomfortable. 'let's drink.'
Everyone is quiet, not knowing how to respond. I take a step toward him and pat him on the back with my own smile still in place. 'You know Damon I think that's the best idea you've ever had.' My eye's meet Caroline's for a second and she smile's proudly. I gesture to the table where Elena had been sitting and look around. 'Shall we?'