Stefan's Interlude

It had been 15 years since he had set foot in Mystic Falls and seeing how things went the last time, he knew that it wasn't a good idea for him to be here. And yet...he simply couldn't resist. He had to know her.

The first time he saw Ariana it had been the night her parents died, the night he had saved her. He got her out of the car and that was when he noticed her resemblance to Katherine. He didn't know that her eyes were different because she had kept them closed from when he found her unconscious in the car to the moment he left her on the lake shore before the ambulance arrived. That had been enough of a shock, but finding out that she also had a sister who looked exactly like Katherine...

Stefan hadn't known what to think so he decided to follow them both, curious and suspicious at the same time.

He had realized immediately that something had happened between the twins because Elena hadn't visited Ariana once during the three days she had spent in the hospital except for the night their parents died – the moment when Stefan had found out about her.

When Ariana had finally come back home, Elena hadn't exactly greeted her warmly, the contrary in reality. Elena was cold and rude towards her sister, her brown eyes filled with anger. She hadn't wasted time to explain the reason for her anger once the two of them were alone in Ariana's room. Stefan had listened to their conversation from outside the window, perched on a tree. He felt uncomfortable, spying on them like that, but he wanted to know more about them and that was the only way.

Elena blamed Ariana for their parents' death but that wasn't all. It was also about a boy. Stefan remembered the conversation perfectly.

"You were always jealous of me and Matt. I bet you couldn't wait for us to break up so you could have him for yourself. Well, guess what? He'll always love me, not you!" Elena said scathingly.

"No, Elena, it wasn't like that." Ariana tried to explain but Elena wasn't listening.

"It's all your fault that mom and dad are dead. If you hadn't kissed Matt, I wouldn't have left the party angry and you wouldn't have called them to pick you up! They would have never had the accident if it hadn't been for you! Great job Ariana!"

Stefan's first reaction had been to defend Ariana, feeling that she didn't deserve to be blamed for something she had no control over, especially by her own sister. However, he also knew how grief and anger could cloud your judgment and make you say things you didn't really mean.

Still, his first instinct had been that of protecting Ariana and that surprised him. He had thought at first that his fascination with Ariana was because she looked like Katherine but if that were the case, he would have been just as intrigued with Elena, if not more. Instead, beside the curiosity he felt at knowing that existed someone completely identical to his ex-lover, he didn't feel with Elena the same instantaneous connection that he had felt when he first set eyes on Ariana. Maybe it was because he had saved her. Maybe because in that moment, Elena reminded him too much of Katherine's worst qualities.

He decided to wait and see, however, feeling that he wasn't being fair towards Elena.

Elena went back with Matt – her ex-boyfriend she and Ariana were arguing about – and spent most of the summer ignoring her sister.

Ariana tried to spend time with her little brother Jeremy, trying to steer him away from the bad companies he was keeping lately. She was partly unsuccessful but they were definitely closer than him and Elena. Elena still harbored a lot of anger towards Ariana and was closed-off towards Jenna and Jeremy. She spent most of her time with Matt and Bonnie – her best friend – or writing in her diary.

Most days in Ariana's week, on the other hand, were spent doing community work. She volunteered at the hospital two days at week, at the animal shelter once a week and cooked for the poor soup kitchen during the weekends.

Her free time – when she wasn't at home spending time with Jenna and Jeremy – was spent in the music studio at school. Stefan was surprised to find out that she played both piano and violin and she was very good at it too. He guessed that it was her way of expressing her feelings, the same way writing was to Elena. He also found out that her dream was to get accepted into Juilliard after high school.

Finally, at the end of August, a few weeks before the beginning of the school year, Elena approached Ariana hesitatingly and Stefan knew without listening to the conversation that that would be the moment the two would clear things up.

"Ariana? Can I talk to you for a second?" Elena asked, after knocking on her sister's door.

Ariana looked both weary and surprised but opened the door wider for Elena to enter the room. She closed it behind her and waited for Elena to start.

Elena was wringing her hands and looking away from Ariana. Then she took a deep breath and turned towards her, staring directly into her eyes. "I'm sorry!" she said, tears in her eyes.

Ariana breathed deeply in relief and smiled, with wet eyes as well. "Oh, thank god! I couldn't stand for you to be angry at me anymore!"

They hugged each other closely for long minutes and then Elena started again – now both sitting on the bed side by side.

"I'm so sorry, Ari. I didn't mean what I said, any of it. I don't blame you for our parents...in truth, I blame myself."

"Why?" Ariana asked, completely taken aback.

"Because if I hadn't left you there at the party, our parents wouldn't have to come pick you up. Because I was the one who had wanted to go to the party in the first place; I convinced you to go. It's all because of me."

"No, Elena...it's not. It's not your fault. It's mine...if I hadn't kissed Matt...I'm so sorry..."

Elena shook her head. "Matt explained to me what happened. He said that he was the one to kiss you, to make me jealous...or hurt me...or something. I'm so sorry. He shouldn't have used you like that, just to get back at me. And what did I do? I blamed you. I'm such an awful sister."

Ariana rolled her eyes. "Elena, you're an amazing sister. I couldn't have asked for a better one."

Elena smiled tremulously back at her. "You're such a liar. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is...I was angry and hurt and I just...I blamed everything on you because it was easier, I guess. Which is absolutely awful to say, I know but...I didn't want to deal with my own guilt and pain so I just...threw it all on you...can you ever forgive me?"

Ariana shook her head. "Of course, I forgive you. You're my sister. I love you." They embraced again, both now crying copiously.

"You have to break up with Matt." Ariana said directly, once the two had separated.

Elena sighed. "I know. I just don't know how...I don't want to hurt him again."

"Elena, he deserves the truth. You don't love him anymore. You can't keep stringing him along. You have to be honest with him, about what you really want."

"I know. I feel so awful. I went back with him just so I wouldn't be alone. I just...I needed someone to be there for me, to console me and since you and I were at odds..."

Ariana nodded. "You used him. You didn't mean to but..."

Elena nodded, looking miserable. "I did. But how can I tell him that?"

"Just tell him the truth, Elena. Yes, it will hurt him but it's better than keep lying to him." Elena nodded, a look of resolve on her face. "I will. I promise I will."

Stefan had been happy to see the two sisters reconcile and though he had known that Elena wasn't really bad, just hurt, he couldn't help but prefer her sister, with her honesty and selflessness and kindness, but also with her passion, wit and drive, the way she had been so quick to forgive and her desire to both see the best in people and be someone they could lean on.

There was something special about Ariana and Stefan couldn't help but develop feelings towards her, even if he had never exchanged a word with her.

After a summer spent observing her, he finally decided that it was time for them to meet in person.

Stefan jumped from the roof of the Salvatore house, after observing the sunrise and being lost in his thoughts. He needed to hunt before his first day of school.