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XXXXXX

"And what are you having this party for again, Caroline?" Elena asked as she set up the music system that would be playing all night, and picked some appropriate tunes that would set the tone for the majority of the evening.

"I'm not having a party, just a small get together! And no reason in particular, just figured it would be nice for you to meet new people in a new town and build up your social circle..." Caroline explained as she trailed off, not explicitly stating, or wanting Elena to know that she was having this get together for her and Stefan.

"As long as you invited some eye candy, keep the alcohol coming and feed me, I'm fine with whatever," Elena threw over her shoulder as she got up to go change into her outfit for the night.

"There is an eye candy for you, yes." Caroline said as she followed Elena into the room to see if her outfit was appropriate, and would at least be appealing to the eye. Particularly Stefan's eye if she was being honest.

"An eye candy? As in, one, and one alone?" Elena asked through narrowed eyes, as she entered the room and began to strip.

"One or two, you know..." Caroline answered, suddenly showing great interest in the floral print of her own bedding.

"Uh huh. Well, I guess it'll do," Elena said as she picked her top up to put it on.

"Well, whatever happens, I need you to be yourself…you can be very intimidating at times, got it?" Caroline said in a snarky tone as she got up to leave the room.

Elena sighed at her friend and continued getting ready. Elena loved Caroline to death, but she could be the biggest pain in the ass. Her only hope was that she would have some fun tonight.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Yeah, I mean it was a fairly easy move, nothing too hard," Elena explained as she nodded, drank her drink – which wasn't strong enough – and talked to a few new people she had just met about 10 minutes ago.

Caroline was busy running around making sure everything was running smoothly, and everyone was having a good time, that she almost missed it when Elena was shooting her daggers from across the room. To be completely honest, Elena wasn't interested in making small talk with some people she knew she would never speak to again. She just wanted to have a good time with her friend and get to bed. Her work days were long, and with her getting familiar with the work, she was given more responsibilities day by day.

Elena politely excused herself with a half-hearted smile as she moved to the kitchen to catch Caroline before she jet off again.

"Caroline please tell me you invited much more interesting people. If I have to sit through another conversation with Donnie over there, talking about how lonely he is, I might just end up sleeping with him so he could shut up – please don't make me do that," Elena said with a pout as she looked at Caroline who was just laughing at her.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to sleep with anyone, not tonight at least. Why don't you help me take this punch bowl out?" Caroline asked as she glanced at the clock on the wall behind Elena.

"Anything for you princess Care bear," Elena mocked as she grabbed the punch bowl from her and sauntered out of the kitchen to place the bowl down on the drinks table.

Elena was about to return to the kitchen to stuff her face with snacks, when the front door swung open and in walked Dr. Salvatore.

Elena let out a low whistle at the sight of him out of work attire. He was wearing a simple white v-neck that did wonders for his chest and arms, paired with black fitted jeans and some black boots on his feet. Stefan looked around first, looking for Caroline as he nervously ran his hand through his hair.

His look then fell on Elena as she stood there, staring at him, smiling to herself. Stefan walked on over to Elena and let out a nervous little chuckle, "Hi, Elena," he said simply. Elena could sense his nervousness all over again, and it drove her insane. Why on earth was he so nervous all the time? She had to admit, this shy personality was something different for Elena – it was adorable. She wasn't accustomed to having men who were genuine and shy, but instead was accustomed to the confident and jerky type.

"Well look who decided to show up, Dr. Hottie," Elena said with a wink as she turned around and grabbed a plastic cup and began to pour a drink for him.

"Yeah, had some work to do at the hospital, sorry that I'm late…I hope Caroline didn't notice, she might actually kill me," Stefan said as he got closer to Elena and was now directly behind her as she poured the drink.

Elena jumped a little, not expecting him to be so close to her in proximity, but calmed herself down and played it cool.

"It's Caroline," she said turning around, offering him the cup, "not much gets by her," Elena said with a soft laugh that got Stefan to smile at.

"Think you could help me out with that? Tell her I got here earlier?" Stefan asked as he nodded his thanks for the cup and took a sip.

Elena let her eyes scan down his entire body before she looked back up into his green eyes, "that depends, Salvatore, what do I get?" Elena asked flirtatiously, true to her nature.

Stefan blushed again at her forwardness, and decided to take a leap of faith as he scratched the back of his neck nervously, "dinner? With me?" Stefan said, finally finding some confidence.

This wiped the playful look off of Elena's face real quick. She wouldn't have expected him to ask her out on a date, she didn't think he had it in him. But she was pleased nonetheless. She quickly recovered and raised an eyebrow at him, "dinner? Did you just ask me out on a date?" Elena asked, trying to tease him a little, simply because she knew he would be a little uncomfortable.

"Why? Would you go on a date with me?" Stefan asked with a curious tone as he smiled at Elena. Stefan was quite proud of himself. The confident, flirty girl before him was clearly surprised at his forwardness, but he didn't mind one bit.

"Ask me again at the end of tonight," Elena said as the look in her eyes softened, as did her tone of voice, reverting back to the sweet Elena he had seen a glimpse of earlier that week in the children's wing.

"And if I don't see you?" Stefan asked, inching closer to her as their eyes maintained eye contact.

"Oh, you'll see me," Elena said with a ring of guarantee as she flashed her pearly white teeth at him.

XXXXXXXXXX

Stefan left Elena to socialize with others as he went off to look for Caroline. He figured he might as well make his presence known before he got a piece of her mind.

He found her sitting in a corner talking to a few girls he didn't know, but he decided to walk on over anyways.

"Hey, Care," Stefan said as she slung his arm around her shoulders, fully expecting her to brush him off and give him a good lecture.

"Stefan! You came!" She said excitedly as she reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Sorry, I am being so rude, Stefan, this is Gwynne and Stacy, girls this is Stefan," she said introducing them all with the wave of her hand.

"Nice to meet you girls. Do you mind if I steal Caroline for a bit? She'll be right back I promise," Stefan said, not waiting to hear their answers as he walked away with Caroline in tow.

Stefan led them to a quieter spot in the living room before Caroline began speaking, "where the hell have you been? It is quarter past 9 already mister. I didn't throw this party for you, so you could not attend," she said in angry hushed whispers.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I got held up at the hospital. But if it makes you feel any better, I think I asked Elena out on a date…" Stefan said warily, not quite sure himself if that was what in fact happened.

Caroline squealed and jumped up and down in one place as Stefan finished his sentence, "what do you mean you think? Did she say yes? What did you say?" Caroline asked inquisitively.

"I'm not sure? It kinda just happened, and she told me to ask her again tonight," Stefan said confused.

"Well that means she's at least thinking about it, no?" Caroline said optimistically.

"Yeah, I suppose. But I don't think I can do it? I can barely have a conversation with her one on one without her flirting with me nonstop, can you imagine what it would be like on a date?" Stefan asked.

"Like I said, Stefan. You need to get to know her. This flirty front of hers is just that – a front. Once you chip away at her guarded exterior, you'll find the girl that I've known since forever, and you'll love her." Caroline said encouragingly as she got up and walked away, giving him the hint that he needs to get his ass up and go look for her.

XXXXXXXXX

Elena sat alone in a corner with a drink, playing around on her phone when Stefan finally spotted her. Why she was alone, he had no idea. Someone as beautiful like her could have been talking to any of the guys at the party right now. Stefan gave her a once over and let his eyes linger over her long, tanned legs in her white shorts that contrasted perfectly.

"And we're sitting alone in a corner because?" Stefan asked as he sat down, and took her empty cup and replaced it with his full one.

"Because I'm the new girl, remember? It's like high school all over again…" Elena said with a roll of her eyes, before she took a sip of her drink. But Stefan could sense the veiled insecurity in her statement, and could see some hidden truths in her eyes.

"Well, then we can sit alone together, I suppose. I don't much like Caroline's friends," he said, plopping down beside her, letting his right arm and leg line up with hers.

Elena stopped breathing for a second as he got comfortable, and stopped moving around. He sat fairly close to her, and Elena was grateful, but also a little wary.

"Caroline tends to attract the weird ones. Been that way since middle school," she said, letting her eyes wander over to Stefan's hands as he played with them nervously.

"I can only imagine. Any embarrassing stories you got for me?" he asked with a smile as he bumped his shoulder into hers.

"I'm afraid not, sorry. She would actually kill me," Elena said as she took another sip of her drink, and handed it to Stefan, offering him some. He gladly accepted and took a sip before giving it right back.

"Fair enough, what about you? Any embarrassing stories?" he asked as he looked over at her.

"My entire life is pretty embarrassing to say the least, nothing interesting." Elena said in a tight manner, hoping to end the conversation. She brought the cup up to her lips and drank the entire thing.

"I beg to differ," Stefan said defiantly as he stood up, and reached his hand out so she could take it.

"Come on, let's go somewhere a little quieter," he said with a smile as she took his hand and stood up.

"And what would we do in a quieter place?" Elena asked suggestively as she began walking, not letting go of his hand.

"Talk," he said simply, as he squeezed her hand and let it fall, taking the lead and leading her out of Caroline's apartment.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Stefan if I fall to my death out here I swear to god I'm gonna come back to life and shoot you in the knees," Elena threatened as she tried to climb over a high fence that was in between some old parking lot, and a great view of LA.

"You won't fall to your death. I saved you once, I can do it again," Stefan announced with a great big smile as Elena finally made it safely down.

Elena grumbled some expletives at him and walked ahead of him, as he followed silently, chuckling every now and then.

"Turn to your right up there," Stefan said as he caught up and led her through a couple of trees to an open place that overlooked a part of LA.

Elena stopped in her tracks and looked at the city all lit up and beautiful at night. She could only imagine what the sunrise would look like up here.

"This is beautiful," She muttered as she took in the sight. Stefan walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder as he nodded, and hummed in agreement.

"So, what did you bring me up here to talk about?" Elena asked as she turned around and was face to face with Stefan. She felt her breath catch in her throat at being so close to him. He smelled great – like cologne, mouthwash and a hint of alcohol.

"Well," he said, his breath fanning over her face, making her lick her lips. Stefan let out a low chuckle at the way Elena was reacting to his proximity. The confident, flirty Elena was certainly not present at this very moment.

"I wanna know more about Elena Gilbert," he finished as he moved away from her, leaving her standing there with her eyes closed.

Elena laughed at the way this man that she knew for a little over a month, was making her feel.

"And why must we talk about me? Why not you?" Elena asked accusingly as she sat down on a large rock and patted the space next to her, signalling Stefan to take a seat.

"We can talk about me if you want. My full name is Stefan Antonio Salvatore, I was born on July 23rd in California, I have an older brother named Damon who lives in San Diego, my parents are currently retired and living their dream back home in Italy, I'm a doctor as you know, my favourite colour is green, I can cook fairly well, lost my virginity when I was 16, I love dogs, but hate cats, when I was a kid I fell and I cracked my head open, um, what else…" Stefan said trailing off jokingly as he quickly rattled off random facts about himself. This made Elena giggle at his silliness.

"Okay that's enough, I get it, you wanna get to know me," Elena said through her giggles as Stefan laughed himself.

"So, Elena…what are you all about?" Stefan asked, fully turning his body towards her and crossing his legs so he sat face to face with her.

"Stefan, I'm not as interesting as you might think. I'm not that type of person who has stories upon stories to tell that builds character. I don't have very many memories of happiness to share…" Elena said slowly, deciding that honesty would be the best way to start.

"Try me," he said simply, not letting up.

"Boy, there is just no stopping you is there," Elena said as crossed her legs, clearly preparing for a lengthy conversation.

"Would I be here if I wasn't actually interested in getting to know you?" he asked.

"Fair enough, Salvatore. Um, I was born in Atlanta on January 9th , I have a younger brother Jeremy who lives with my Aunt Jenna, I went to Cheshire high school…um, I have a dog back home, and that is about as interesting as I get…" Elena said, wanting to wrap things up. She didn't need to get into the details of her life at this very moment.

"When did you know you wanted to become a nurse?" Stefan asked as continued to stare at this brunette sitting before him.

"In the 12th grade…I spent quite some time in the hospital scene and admired their work…I think it's very rewarding knowing that you can help people…what about you? When did you know you wanted to be a doctor?"

Stefan looked away from her and over to the city lights below them, "when my grandfather passed away, I knew that this is what I wanted to do. To be able to help people in ways that he wasn't," Stefan said simply. He was expecting Elena to nod in silence, but was surprised when he felt her hand grab his and link their fingers.

"I'm sorry, I know how hard it must have been, losing someone who means so much to you. You put so much blind faith into something, anything, that you know would keep them safe but then life has its own way of showing you that it is only temporary," she said as she squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.

"Spoken like someone who has felt quite a bit of pain," Stefan remarked quietly as he looked over at Elena and saw her looking down at their linked hands.

"Enough to remind me what is important in life, yes," she said as she looked up and saw Stefan looking back at her with earnest eyes that looked like they cared so much. But for what? For who? Some girl he just met?

"It gets better. I know that it is probably the last thing you wanna hear, but it does. Eventually you don't have to pretend anymore, and you can find that one thing that reminds you to hang on and that in the end, everything will be okay," Stefan said as he too looked down at their hands.

Stefan was the first one to pull his hand away and Elena just put her hands underneath her ass and sat on them, hoping this conversation would go back to their playful banter.

"I know…thank you, though," Elena said looking up at him with another one of those genuine smiles that Stefan loved so much.

Stefan just smiled back and then looked back out over the city. They sat in silence for a bit before Elena was the one to break the silence.

"So, you lost your virginity at 16 huh?" Elena said in her flirty voice again.

"Out of all the things I said, that is what stuck with you?" he asked, blushing again as he scratched the back of his neck once again. Elena noticed he did that a lot when he was nervous.

"Well, I mean yeah. You kinda just threw it in real casual," Elena said, laughing at the way Stefan was clearly embarrassed now.

"Her name was Britney…and I'm not talking about this with you," he said shaking his head as he got up and began walking back down the path they came from.

"Oh come on, Doctor! Don't go all shy on me now," Elena said as she got up and ran after this man that made her want to destroy the walls she had built up so high. But she couldn't. Not yet.

XXXXXXXX

"Well, this is me. I think Caroline might just kill us for ditching her party though," Elena said.

Stefan laughed, "I think she'll be okay with it…" he said as he looked up at the sky and back down at Elena.

"Thanks for the 10 mile hike. I probably smell and look like ass now, so I'm gonna shower and crawl into bed." Elena said, trying to fake her annoyed tone.

"No problem, and naw, you don't look like ass that much," Stefan said jokingly, but it got Elena to smack his arm.

"I am very attractive, thank you very much," Elena said, completely tooting her very own horn.

"I think I was meant to ask you if you wanted to go out for dinner, remember?" Stefan said as he put both his hands into his pockets.

"After saying I look like ass, you can forget about it Salvatore," Elena said as she turned to walk away.

"Aw come on! That isn't fair! You told me to ask again at the end of the night!" he called out behind her.

"Ask me again on Monday! Good night, Doctor!" Elena said playfully as she winked at him and blew him a kiss.

"Now¸ can I at least have your number?" Stefan yelled out.

"Mmm, nope. I'll get a hold of you if I need you!" Elena said as she laughed and walked into her condo.

"Goddammit, this girl," Stefan said frustratingly as he ran his hand through his hair and began his walk all the way home.