Stefan put the letter in as soon as he got to school, he couldn't bear to let his mystery girl wait another moment. Elena's day was packed from start to finish, in her breaks she was talking to teachers asking them about some assignments she didn't understand and also, meeting with Caroline about planning the fundraiser to raise money for the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. She made the excuse of going to the bathroom in class, but went to the English mailbox. They were watching a movie about the war of willow creek, the founder's day party was coming up and it usually lasted for almost a week, so until then, in history everyone was stuck watching movies. Elena got back to the classroom and read the letter under the desk. Out of the corner of her eye at times she saw people look over her shoulder trying to read what it said but she made sure only her eyes could see it.
Pair B,
I wish I knew who you were but I don't, so I can just tell you this. Whatever is going on, it is one of life's many storms that fall on your parade (if that makes sense), it happens but soon high school will be over and what's going on with you will be over soon as well.
These letters should be secret, but what we learn about ourselves shouldn't be. One day, you and I both will let out who we are. One day, we will realize how great this English assignment was and then we will be truly happy.
Insecurities, they aren't my thing, but everyone has them because everyone judges. That is something we can't get rid of. This is why I tell you these things, you have told me you need to get over what has happened to you and I want to help you in any way I can. We can help each other to be happy and finish high school on a good note, unlike what we are headed to do.
To get over stuff, you need to do things you love and take risks. If I knew you, I would blindfold you and take you somewhere you have never been. It sounds weird but someone told me that getting lost can help you find yourself. It's true, we aren't ourselves if we are around the same surroundings, so you should do that. This weekend go somewhere you have never been and then write to me how it was.
Building from that, we have to stop writing so fast. Even though it is fun, if we keep it up we might have nothing to write about. So, perhaps make it like a 2-day thing, so we both have to promise to check the English mailbox every 2 days ok?
So I shouldn't be getting a letter from you until Monday and it should be describing how you did when you lost yourself. Don't worry about homework or anything because this is more important.
Talk soon.
Pair A
Elena was smiling when she finished the letter. It was definitely worth waiting for. Her unknown pair was smart and seemed kind of wise. She would listen to him, she would have to get someone in her family to take her somewhere. Actually, she should get Jenna to talk her to where she lives, since that is out of town but she would have to convince her, to drop her off in the middle of the city or something.
She would miss writing to him but he was right, they were writing too fast. He was so helpful, she would have to return the favour. That afternoon, she finished her homework in record time and began searching the internet for ideas or ways she could help her unknown pair.
It was strange. They had hardly been writing for a week, yet here they were helping each other and talking as if they've known each other forever. Bonnie and Caroline would never have really understood. Caroline would have told her that she should go shopping, get a makeover and not find herself but create herself. It was a good idea but it wasn't what Elena wanted to do. Bonnie would have been the same and tried help her, but to find yourself you have to do it yourself. Elena once saw a picture and it said 'When writing the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen.'
XXXXXXX
'Dad, can I please go?' she asked.
'Sweetheart, why do you want to go? What's wrong with spending the weekend with us?' he asked.
'I would love to, but Dad we hardly ever see Jenna after what happened and I want to spend more time with her and I have never been to Atlanta before. This has to be one of my first steps to independency. Please?' she said, trying to convince him.
'I don't see why you have to…' he started to say.
'Come on, Dad! You could take Jeremy on a fishing trip on Sunday morning. Jenna said I can stay the night, so you won't have to worry about me. He wants to spend more time with you. I will be able to drive to Charlotte on Saturday morning and then be back at around midday on Sunday.' she said.
'Ok.' He said in defeat.
Elena ran towards him and hugged him. He had been having a rough time moving on, especially after building up such hope. He smiled and kissed the top of her head.
'But you have to call me when you arrive, when you are about to go to sleep and when you leave, ok?' he said.
Elena nodded and then ran upstairs to pack, she knew he would eventually let her go, but she texted Jenna confirming that he had said yes. She felt excited, this might be what lets her find herself.
XXXXXXX
Stefan was lying on his bed, trying to watch TV. It was Friday night, he had been asked to go out with his friends, but he really didn't feel like saying lines to girls and acting like a dick. He loves Friday nights, it is the night where almost every girl at the grill gets drunk and it's the night which a several days ago, was going to be spent with girls, so he could reach his goal. He hit himself with the book in his hands, while watching TV and thinking about himself, every time he thought of something he didn't like, he hit himself. His mind was still very complicated, sometimes he would make up excuses about why he did the stuff he did but then he would realize that the excuse is pathetic and hit himself again.
He hadn't totally changed yet, he still hated relationships and didn't understand them but now, he knew that jumping from girl to girl was wrong and that if he really wanted to keep that bright future, he should stop it. The more he thought about it, the more he was glad he was stopping. When he was older, people might be talking about their amazing achievements in high school, they might have gotten straight A's, planned amazing events, won awards and all he would have done is had sex with a whole bunch of girls, who wouldn't remember his name and if they did then they would hate him. He wants to be something more, to be the guy who is remembered by his personality and when they talk about it, they don't talk about him with disgust but instead they talk about him with envy and pride that they knew him.
Stefan turned off the TV and went over to his desk, in the search of the letters from his mystery girl. He read them over and over again. It was so strange, they weren't written because they have to be written but because they want to be. When he read them, he didn't feel like they were cut off from each other and simply writing, they had a connection. When he read them, he felt the emotions she would have had and felt his own, they were writing down their feelings and letting each other in. People would think they don't know each other because they haven't seen each other but really they know each other better than anyone.
He heard someone knock at his door, he looked up and saw Damon walk in.
'What are you doing?' he asked in a rough tone walking towards Stefan.
Stefan quickly put the notes in his desk drawer with one hand, while moving stuff off his desk with the other. 'Nothing, just looking for something that isn't here, I guess.' He lied.
'I meant, it's Friday why aren't you going out?' he asked.
'I don't feel like it,' Stefan said. He didn't like his brother's visits, they always left Stefan either on the ground in pain or tears in his eyes from not being good enough.
'What kind of excuse is that?' Damon asked, his voice getting louder.
'It's the truth, Damon.' Stefan said, his voice was getting softer.
'Stefan, this is unacceptable. Do you know who stays in on Friday nights, because they "don't feel like it"… Nerds! Those people have no lives and you are ruining yourself if you aren't going out. You spend too much time studying and look where it is getting you, you are turning weak and pathetic. You aren't allowed to be that way! Do I need to teach you a lesson?' he yelled at Stefan.
Stefan was practically used to it, he stayed quiet and hoped it would pass without hurting too much. He was never enough for his brother, no matter how hard he tried. He usually felt like a dog chasing its tail but after reading what his mystery girl said, he had a sudden burst of energy.
'Why are you saying this? They aren't nerds, they are people with normal lives. They suffer from not having great social skills or not having everything we do, so why should we make it worse by insulting them?' Stefan yelled back.
He knew that any second his parents would be coming through the door, telling them to stop fighting.
Damon had a look of anger on his face and as he took a step forward, Stefan knew what was coming.
'How can you say that? Little brother, you are weak. You are pathetic, useless and weak. You are standing up for those sad people. You are like them and you know what you do to them don't you prove your power. So that's what I have to do to you.' Damon said.
Damon pulled his arm back and was about to punch Stefan, but Stefan caught his fist. Stefan was shocked. He had never done that, usually Stefan would take the blow, so then Damon would leave but out of nowhere, he did this.
Damon was shocked as well but then he pulled his arm out of Stefan's grip and shoved him against the wall. Then he began beating Stefan, punch after punch. His parents came running in and his father was stronger than Damon. He pulled Damon off Stefan but it was too late. Stefan was crippled on the ground; his face was bleeding and his nose probably broken. That wasn't the worst of it though, Stefan's eyes were filled with such pain and hurt, he locked eyes with his mother and the tears she had when she saw his face started to fall and she began to sob.
Damon ran out of the room after saying 'He deserved it.' Stefan stood up and walked into his bathroom to wipe the blood off his face. His father stood there in shock. This was the first time, he had seen his sons fight. His wife usually told him that they fighting and he would tell them both off. Stefan would usually say to him that he didn't fight back and it was simply Damon beating him up but he always though Stefan was lying and he always ignored the fact that Stefan would be bleeding or bruised while Damon didn't have a scratch.
He and his wife were preparing dinner in the kitchen. They asked Damon to go get Stefan, so they could sit down as a family, when he heard Damon yelling, he thought Stefan was being stubborn and not coming down but he was close enough to hear Stefan yell back and he was proud of his son for sticking up for people he didn't even know. When he heard Damon yell back, he was shocked. He had never raised his sons to say things like that, he recovered and began walking up the many stairs but stopped when he saw his wife behind him. The yelling had stopped but she insisted they check on them and that was when he saw Damon punch Stefan over and over again.
Giuseppe walked over to Mary and got her to her feet. He could see the pain in Stefan's face and all he wanted to do was find Damon and punch hurt him as much as he hurt Stefan. Stefan didn't deserve this, he knew that this past year Stefan had been using girls, he didn't agree with it but he knew it wasn't Stefan it was Damon. Stefan must have been trying to be like Damon but now he thought about it, Damon must have been forcing Stefan to be like this. Stefan always had good grades, he respected his family and their wishes, he played football because he loved it and he would always ask his father for help and managed to stay connected with his family, unlike Damon who would do whatever he could to disappoint them.
Stefan looked in the mirror; his face was beginning to swell. It would hopefully be gone by Monday but a bruise would probably be there which meant he would have to ask his mum to put make-up on it, so he didn't get teased at school. Why did this always happen to him? He felt like he was never good enough for Damon, no wonder he needed help from his mystery girl to find himself.
Stefan walked out of the bathroom after cleaning up his face and got out a piece of paper and began to write. If anyone would understand and be able to help him, it was her. She was the only one who would be there for him and the only one he could tell.
A/N: Hey guys! I am updating a lot (I know) but I am trying to gather some momentum and really launch this story. We don't know much about Elena, which is what I am aiming for. I hope you liked this chapter and thank you to everyone who has reviewed and everyone who has read it!
