A/N: Hey Guys! So, here's CH.4! Thanks for all your reviews on this story and interest! The reason behind Stefan being so rude will be explained over time :)
Anyways, Enjoy & Thanks for reading!
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-Until Next Time-
CHAPTER FOUR-The Mysterious Ways Of Love
Jeremy smiled widely as he watched Elena run towards him at full speed, barely stopping before she crashed into her brother and nearly sent them down to the graveled road that crunched under their feet. He wrapped his arms around her tightly as she giggled. "I've missed you so much!" She declared as she felt Jeremy laugh.
He stepped away from her for a moment and then smiled at her, taking in her tired eyes and dissolved hair. "How was the ride up here?" He asked, closing the car door behind him, shoving his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans.
"It was fine...Jer...Daniel and I broke up, like for good. He asked me to marry him and I said no. I mean, I..couldn't do it." Elena said, turning towards her brother as he stopped in his tracks, staring at her in shock. "What?"
"He just wasn't the one. I just...it never felt real with him. I did love him, though. I called Caroline, told her that I was coming up here and Tyler gave me the directions. I needed to get away. I don't want everyone to know that I left. I mean, by now they probably do because everything spreads like wildfire in that small damn town." Elena told him, placing her hands on her hips as she watched Jeremy walk beside her.
"I'm sorry, Elena. You know what, stay here for as long as you want. I just hope that they don't bother you too much..." Jeremy's voice trailed off as he looked over towards Stefan and Damon who were climbing a ladder and painting the addition that was being placed right beside Stella's Bed & Breakfast.
"They?" She asked in confusion.
"Umm...Yeah. The workers. They live here, behind the B&B actually in an set of apartments." Jeremy explained as he looked over at Elena.
"Oh my god!" She said under her breath as she heard Jeremy laugh and shake his head.
"What's wrong?" He asked with a laugh, still glancing out at the brothers.
"I almost killed one of your workers when I drove here! The light brown haired guy with green eyes..He's an asshole, Jer! He dented my car after his motorcycle almost went into a ditch. Is he always like that?" Elena asked, a sneer on her face as she too glanced towards the direction of where Stefan and Damon were placing new shingles on the roof.
"No. Elena, stay a while. Get to know him, maybe you'll like him. He's a nice guy, better than his brother." Jeremy told her as he watched her crinkle her nose in disgust. "Fine." She told him as they made their way back into Stella's and heard Bonnie calling for them to come inside before lunch got cold.
The next morning, Elena had gotten up before the sunrise as she stretched her legs outside on the porch, getting ready for her morning jog. Taking in the morning air as she bent over and inhaled deeply. She had been so lost in thoughts and hadn't noticed anyone behind her until she heard footsteps and a loud whistle.
"Nice view." Stefan said with a grin as he walked over to where she had been stretching.
"I was just getting ready for a run. What are you even doing here?" She asked, turning around and pressing her back against the white beam from the porch.
"Don't I have the right to get up in the morning too, enjoy the views and breath in this fresh mountain air." He said with a smirk, watching Elena shake her head and roll her eyes at him.
"Yeah, you do. But, not around me. I gotta to go." Elena said as she pushed off from the beams, quickly jumping over the steps as she placed her head phones in her ears, blasting her iPod as she took off running.
"Oh come on!" Stefan groaned as he took off after her, trying his best to keep up as he watched her turn a sharp left corner. "Damn it, she's fast!" He declared as he continued to follow her.
Elena hadn't heard that anyone was behind her as she ran past a few over grown areas in the forest filled landscape. She had been too busy focusing on her surroundings until she saw him from the corner of her eye. "Jesus! You took off like the freaking energizer bunny! What do you eat for breakfast?" He asked with a smile as she gave him a serious look. Stefan watched as Elena stopped, ripping her headphones out of her ears as she glared at him.
"What are you even doing following me. This is supposed to be my time to clear my head. Not fill it with your none sense." Elena complained as Stefan gave her a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning all of his weight on one foot.
"I guess I thought that we could start over. I'm sorry. I overheard Bonnie and your brother talking about how rude I was to you this morning when I walked in to return a pair of keys to Bonnie. Well, to be honest so were you. That motorcycle that you nearly killed me...It's very expensive." Stefan said, giving her a half hearted laugh as he watched her brown eyes soften at him.
"So is my car that you dented. It's a Mercedes. My fian-...My ex. Bought it for me." Elena told him, correcting herself quickly as she looked him over. Stefan looked out of breath and she tilted her head in confusion.
"Why are you so out of breath...you're a construction worker. I thought that you would be all fit and you know...able to handle a run." Elena said in a curious tone as she watched Stefan give her a small smile.
"I had some problems growing up, my lungs are a little weak, medical problems. So, I don't really run or jog. But, I can do everything else." He explained as he looked over at her.
Elena smiled at him and watched as Stefan laughed. "When you're not being bitchy, you're actually a really pretty girl. You know that?" He told her in a charming tone as he watched Elena blush a bit.
"umm..Thanks. But, that's still not going to make me like you more." She declared as she began to walk slowly with Stefan by her side.
"Okay, at least I can say that I've tried. Look, Elena..I don't know what your story is. But, you obviously came here to get away from whatever your running from. So, I won't be a jerk to you. I won't bug you unless you want me too. But, I do want to start over." Stefan told her truthfully, watching as her eyes grew wide.
"Seriously? You want to start over?" Elena asked him suspiciously. She heard him let out a laugh before she smiled at him again, not even really realizing that she was smiling until he returned her a flirty glance.
"Yes. Hi. I'm Stefan Salvatore. I work at your brother's Bed and Breakfast with my brother and his girlfriend, Katherine. She's a bitch and I would recommend not meeting her yet. But, I'm a recovering jackass...and you are?" He asked her, a silly grin forming on his lips as he extended his hand towards Elena and she shook it, playing along with the role playing game Stefan had started.
"Hi. I'm Elena Gilbert. I'm here because my boyfriend of nearly two years asked me to marry him and I don't do commitment very well. So, I took off. Both of my best friends live here, so being here is closer to home than anything. I'm a recovering rich princess, who got spoiled by her wealthy boyfriend a ton, So..it's a learning process." Elena told him with a bashful smile as Stefan laughed.
"It's nice to meet you, Elena. Oh and I can be your break up buddy, if you need one." He told her with a wink, still holding onto her hand and gazing into her brown eyes.
" It's nice to meet you too, Stefan. Ha, my break up buddy? Fine, deal. You can help me when I get to my stages of grief over my failed relationship with Daniel." She told him confidently. Elena watched as Stefan laughed and then he released her hand.
"So, what are we doing out here today?" He asked her, slowing down as she locked her eyes on him and then smiled. "We're clearing our heads and starting over."
"Aha. So, we're not running or jogging?" He asked in a playful tone.
"I thought that you said you had medic-" Elena began to say as watched Stefan pick up his steps, brushing past her as he ran down the trail. He turned towards her with a laugh as she shook her head and shouted at him. " I thought that you said you couldn't run!"
"I lied. I wanted your sympathy, and I got it...come on, I want to show you something!" He shouted back at her. Elena shook her head as she took off run, catching up to Stefan.
"You really are a jerk!" She declared as she swatted at his shoulder.
"Ouch! Ouch! Okay..Okay. I am. But, how else was I going to get you to warm up to me! The being a fragile guy, gained your trust." He said innocently as he smirked at her and with that, he took off down a trail as Elena trailed behind him shaking her head at his foolish words.
