For the rest of the week, I passed glances between Stefan in the hallways. We'd gotten scolded in class for not paying attention, which had only ended up humiliating Tanner much to everyone's appreciation. I found myself thinking about him far too often, spacing out when I should have been listening, and that bit me when Bonnie finally took notice.
"Ask him out, Elena," she demanded. "Ask him to drive that car of his." We sat outside between classes on old concrete tables since the benches had long fallen apart. It was Friday, and I was half through with the homework I'd debated on skipping for history. Now I was having second thoughts and scrambling to get it done. I rolled my eyes, returning to my paper.
"No way, Bon." I heard her huff at my reply.
"Are you crazy? He's so into you! He'd say yes in a minute."
"Bonnie," I started, letting my tone fall as quiet as I could. I saw Stefan near the parking lot, leaning against a tow-away zone sign. "I am /not/ asking him." Those green eyes landed on me all the way across the lawn, and a crooked bit of a smile touched his lips. /Good. God./
"Whatever, then," my friend answered, throwing her hands up. "But I swear, you two will end up together. I know it." I laughed.
"Right. Gotta get that first date though," I snarked, forcing myself to turn back to my work. I delved myself into the book in my lap and started jotting down vague but fitting answers, seeing the hand on my watch move closer to two o'clock. I groaned. Why did I think I could consciously skip this? This class was my worst, and frankly I showed no interest for it. But that didn't mean I didn't have to pass it. Civil War, Pearl Harbor, the Watergate Scandal; I knew everything about it, but I couldn't tell dates to save my life. Near the last question the bell rung, cutting my time short. I cursed, but shut the book and gathered my things.
"Going my way?" Stefan had his hands buried in his jacket pockets as he paused near my table-seat. I hopped down, hoisting the bag onto my shoulder.
"Unfortunately," I mumbled. Discreetly doing a once over, I noticed he didn't have a book, paper, or pen on him. "Did you do the homework?"
"Already done," he shrugged. "It was easy stuff." I was slightly jealous. He was quick to spit out dates and facts to Tanner as if he were a book himself.
"You should tutor me," I slyly proposed. "You're such a buff." He chuckled.
"I just have a good memory is all." He held open one of the double doors of the building, gesturing me to pass ahead of him. I did so with a smile, Bonnie and my's conversation still elbowing me. "So, what are you doing tonight?" Stefan quickly caught up with me, and I shrugged, trying to act like he hadn't just read my mind.
"Nothing. Why do you ask?" /Like you have to ask, Elena,/ I thought to myself.
"Because I think we should do something. You and me." I felt a grin spread over my face.
"Are you asking me out on a date?"
He rolled his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess I am." He began to smile. "So is that a yes or a no?"
I laughed. "I think that would be fun. So yes."
"Eight o'clock? I'll pick you up?" I grinned.
"I'll be waiting."
"Literally twenty minutes before I /said/ you would date him. I'm telling you," Bonnie sang through the phone. "Psychic." I rolled my eyes as I touched up my eyeliner in the dresser mirror.
"Shut up, Bonnie. It's /one/ date," I chuckled.
"And then another. And another…" I could hear the smile in her voice. I shook my head.
"I'm hanging up now," I announced, mocking her tone. "See you Monday." She cackled, a goodbye entwined with it echoing from the speaker as I ended the call. Damn Bonnie. I tucked my phone into my jacket pocket, checked myself for the hundredth time in the mirror, and blew out a breath.
"One date," I said to the person staring back. Nerves were getting me. I'd probably never been nervous about a date, but this one—I was. Totally nervous.
Making my way downstairs, I heard a voice from the kitchen. Jenna had caught sight of me and was going a fuss.
"Mm. /Going somewhere?/" A knowing smirk coated her lips as she sipped from a steaming mug of tea. She was hung over the island among papers and open books, studying for her last courses. I don't know how she did all her classes, her studying, and worked, but I praised her for it.
"As a matter of fact I am," I said in a matching tone, reaching for the door and shooting her a proud up-turn of the lips.
"I won't wait up for you," she waved.
Outside, Stefan was already there, leaned against his old red Porsche and waiting for me to come out. I suddenly felt a little bad. I'd never heard him pull up, so how long had he been here?
"You look nice," he noted with a smile before I could even open my mouth. Pushing himself from his prop, he gracefully opened the passenger door for me.
"Nice car," I smiled back as I slid in. Stefan flipped the keys out of his pocket and started the car. Its engine purred, pleased to be going again.
"Thanks," he chuckled. "I'll let you drive it sometime." I watched as he shifted the gears with the stick in the floorboard to leave the curb, my mind recalling Bonnie's jab from earlier. "So, how against nature are you?"
"What?" I laughed, breaking my thought.
"Bugs, leaves, dirt—do you mind it?" He glanced over to me, and I was really confused.
"Uhm…no, not really. Why?"
"We're going hiking." I blinked.
"At night?!" He laughed.
"The only time to go," he chuckled. He sped to the other side of town, towards the west border of the town. The setting sunlight was barely enough to see, the hazy evening hue seeping through the trees. I couldn't disagree—it was peaceful. But really? Now? He slid the gear into park as he stopped near the beginning of the treeline. I rose a brow when I figured out he was really expecting me to get out and go with him.
"Are you crazy? There's some creature out there killing people. We're setting ourselves up." It wasn't a lie. Just last week, a few people had been reported missing. Within a day of the alert, they were found dead near their campsite just a few miles from here. Throats torn and bodies contorted, it wasn't clear what it was, but the police said to stay away from places—such as these –after dark. Stefan opened my door for me again, and tall weeds met me as I started to get out.
"What's out there—you don't have to worry about," he nodded, holding out a hand for me to take. I hesitated because, in my mind, this felt risky. Like some horror movie plot waiting to happen. "I'll keep you safe. I promise." I gave him a nervous smile and took his outstretched palm, letting him guide me down a gently worn path of leaves, pine cones, and broken limbs.
"Okay, so we're here, in the woods. At night mind you," I started. It was an effort to tune out the hooting owls and singing crickets that, any other night, would be soothing. Now they made me nervous.
"I know. It's weird. Sketchy, maybe. But I promise it's worth it." He held back a low-hanging limb, ushering me ahead. I snorted, still nervous.
"I'm /skeptically/ taking your word for it." I dodged ahead, and I heard the faint sound of water in the distance. Were we really that far out? My ankles wobbled in some of the rougher terrain as we trekked closer. A moment later, he grabbed my hand and pulled me in another direction and, after a moment, I realized we were going towards the water. I felt a little nauseous; the last time I'd heard that sound, I was flying off a bridge. But I bit my tongue. I didn't want to ruin the night with a imprinted anxiety.
"Close your eyes," he said as he paused in a clearing.
"Why?" I pried, narrowing my eyes at him. "Where are we going, Stefan?"
"Just close your eyes," he said again with a minute little smirk. I semi-glared at him for a minute before finally letting my lids fall closed. Stefan's hand found mine and began leading me. With each minute that passed the sound of water grew louder and I had to force myself to focus on something else—crickets, owls, the crunching leaves—anything. When we finally stopped, he let my hand go and simply said, "Look."
Mystic Falls hadn't been named what it had for no honest reason. At the heart of the county, which was also the heart of the Old Wood that surrounded the town, were the Falls: beautiful, cascading natural waterfalls that poured out of rock walls in the sides of grassy hills. Grey stone was flocked in moss that, at any other time, would be green. But the moon that was so bright and full bathed everything in a peaceful blue hue. The water that pooled at the end of the falls sparkled with the moon's reflection, making it one of the most beautiful things I'd seen in a while.
"Oh. Wow," I said simply, because I was stunned. Not many people knew this place existed. Or if they did, they didn't think it to be a place to visit.
"Like I said. The only time to come is about now. Especially tonight." He peered up at the moon, tucking his hands into his pockets.
"You know about this place?"
"Founding family perks," he jabbed. He wasn't lying. "You've been here before?"
"Once, a really long time ago. But I haven't been back since. And I've never been at night. It's beautiful." I kept watching the water absolutely twinkle with the reflection, almost hypnotized.
"We'll come more often, then," he smiled, glancing back to me.
"Maybe we should," I returned, feeling a little flushed. Thank god everything was in moonlight out here. "I just have one request." Stefan rose a brow, but then nodded.
"Sure. Anything."
"Tell me first. That way I can wear reasonable shoes." I sat on the flat stone ground and began to shed my heeled boots. He chuckled, joining me.
"You know, in all the things we've talked about, you've barely told me a thing about you," I pointed, propping back on the heels of my hands as I looked upwards. The stars shown so bright out here, it was like a whole new world, and I couldn't pull myself away. And even though I wasn't watching, I could sense the shrug Stefan was giving me.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything," I quickly answered, but I picked a question to start. "Where did you come from? I've never seen you, but you're a Salvatore."
"I moved back from being with family up North. I used to live here, but I was homeschooled. I just really wanted to come home." I laughed a little.
"To Mystic Falls?"
He shrugged. "Home is home." I nodded, agreeing with him. Sometimes I got tired of it, but he was right. Home was home.
"Your parents were okay with it?" He was quiet for a moment, but then he spoke and I was suddenly mortified.
"My parents aren't alive anymore."
"Oh," I pipped. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." He gave another shrug.
"It was a long time ago."
"I get it. Mine are gone, too," I rasped. "They died in May. Car accident." He gave a small nod, watching me. I realized I was rigid. I hadn't talked about my parents since they died, just because.
"It gets easier," Stefan finally spoke. "It starts out hard, but eventually, over time, it gets a little easier."
"It changes you." Again, he nodded. I let my feet touch the surface of the icy water, listening to the fall of the water. Here, it was calming. I didn't feel sick at the trickling sound.
"What do you do in your spare time?" I chimed in, trying to kill the silence between us. "You're never in town." He chuckled, skipping a rock across the rippled surface of the water. It hit twice and then plummeted to the bottom.
"I read a lot. Study a lot of history. Kind of my thing."
"That's been established. /Thank you/ for that, by the way."
"Ah," he waved. "He had it coming. He's an ass." I laughed.
"You're not wrong. He's /always/ been that way. Driver's Ed was a nightmare. I barely passed that class." Stefan made a sound next to me and I jerked my head in his direction.
"Erm? What does /that/ mean?"
"Barely passing driver's ed?" He was grinning and I could tell he was joking. "I'm glad you gave me some forewarning."
"I'm not that bad," I rebutted matter-of-factly. "I've run a stop light a few times, but who hasn't?"
"I may go back on that offer," he said tenatively. "For Red's sake."
I snorted a chortle. "/Red/? Oh gosh. You're one of those guys who name their cars." He shrugged.
"It's been with me longer than anyone else. I can't /not/ name her."
"/Her/?"
"Okay, okay," he laughed. "I get it. I'm the stereotypical guy."
"There are a lot of people who wonder about you," I noted as I drew a foot underneath me. "You're the mystery kid. Mainly because you don't socialize."
"Hey. I socialize."
"With me."
"Maybe I pick favorites." I saw a smirk coat his lips as he threw another stone. "Needless to say, I usually keep to myself. But I met your friend the other day. The blonde?"
"Caroline?"
"She all but asked my blood type." He laughed, but I flushed, knowing that she did that for me. Not that I had asked, but she was curious as a cat and didn't hesitate in asking questions of anyone. And with a subject like Stefan, she saw it as her chance.
"Yeah. She does that. She /did/ tell me you were a Scorpio." He laughed under his breath and I rose a brow at him. "What?"
"Was she your gopher?" Again, I flushed, but I didn't rolled my eyes to play it. /Damn it, Caroline./
"Self-assumed. But I wasn't going to /not/ pay attention either. I got /some/ information." I propped my chin in my palm, shrugging. "I don't regret it."
In the distance, thunder started to roll. I hadn't even paid attention, but nearly two hours had passed and a storm was threatening.
"I think we should go," I heard Stefan ponder as he searched the sky. Above us, the stars were starting to dwindle out as a blanket of clouds moved over. He graciously helped me up, and I jammed my feet back into my shoes.
"Unfortunately," I agreed, brushing dirt and leaves from my jeans, but I smiled. "We can always come back."
"Just say when," Stefan grinned.
All the way back, I was eaten up with the idea that this guy—someone that was so seemingly wonderful –was interested in me. But it was only date one and I refused to let my mind jump ahead. /One date, Elena,/ I reminded myself. When we finally arrived at the car, I decided to hold out. Would he let me? Really let me drive his mechanical baby? Stefan opened the door, but I stood back and rocked on my heels. He gave me a questioning look before he saw my eyes flit to the keys in his hand.
"Oh no."
"Come on. /Please?/ It's only once."
"It's stick shift. I don't—"
"I know how," I cut him off, taking a few steps closer. "My dad taught me. Prerequisite for even getting my own car." He rose a brow, and I nonchalantly slipped the key from his hand. He looked as skeptical as I felt coming out here. He eventually forced himself into the passenger seat as I adjusted the mirrors to suit me.
"I promise. I won't hurt her," I said with a side glance as I engaged the clutch and started the engine.
"I believe you," he said as he eyed my movements, and I saw him relax when he saw that I, indeed, knew what I was doing. By the time we reached the front of my house, his concern was gone. I beamed inside because, in reality, it'd been a few years since I'd even sat in a manual transmission car. I killed the engine, and the sound of Bon Jovi's voice disappeared.
"I don't disapprove of your music taste thus far," I said, gathering my things. "Bon Jovi, The Cure, Aerosmith."
"I prefer the classics. Some new stuff, but not a great deal."
"Mm. So…Green Day?" He laughed.
"Yeah, actually."
"Maroon 5?"
"Saw them in concert once."
"And what about country?"
"Eh," he cringed. I laughed. "I'll take a rain check on that." He climbed out of the car and before I even turned around, he was opening my door. /I swear this guy./
"Thank you for tonight," I smiled up at him as I stood. "I really liked talking to you." He smiled back.
"You even got a joyride out of it."
"Unintentional. But I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity." That garnered a laugh from him, and I felt him drift a little closer to me. My eyes skimmed over him, up his chest, his arms, fleeting a glance over the defined features of his face before resting on his lips. Slowly, the space between us closed until our lips finally met. It was soft, but passionate. Gentle, but powerful. And I found myself not wanting it to end, even after he broke away. I glanced up at him from beneath long lashes, tucking my things to my chest as I caught the breath he'd stolen.
"Not so stereotypical," I said softly to him, smiling sweetly as I stepped around him to go inside for the night.