AN: Hey lovely readers! I'm sorry I already had this chapter published on wattpad but forgot to post it here :/ I usually post things there first. My account SongbirdSara Anyway a new chapter for you to read. 😊 Warning there's a delena scene you can skip if you don't like it xD
Hopefully you'll enjoy this. Tell me guys what you think of it, (comment/fav). I love to get feedback 😍😊❤
Have fun reading now 😘❤ and thanks for reading ❤❤❤
After a little while Caroline arrived.
She was sitting beside Elena on the couch, talking to her best friend. Her intention was to comfort her, maybe even succeed in lightening up her mood.
"He isn't worth any of your tears, Elena." Caroline said softly, hugging her friend gently. Damon hadn't deserved Elena from the start that was the blonde's opinion.
"I know, I know, but I can't help it." Elena sniffed, wiping off her tears and continued, looking at her best friend.
"I loved him so much, so much, I still love him, but...I don't want to anymore. He keeps on hurting me."
"I know, sweetie. Soon enough you'll fall out of love with him and be able to move on. I'm not saying that you'll forget him, you might not as he has been in your heart for almost a decade. However, with meeting someone new, it'll get even better." She cheered, flashing a flirtatious wink in Elena's direction which caused her to chuckle lightly.
Caroline released Elena from her grasp and stared at her with wide eyes, exclaiming, "I'm serious! As soon as you start dating again, you'll feel better. Who knows maybe even Mr. Right is between those guys." She raised her brow suggestively that earned a soft sigh from the brunette.
"Caroline...I'm not sure, if I'm ready for dating again or a serious relation-" Elena was suddenly cut off by her best friend. "Don't you get it? You're single now. Dating doesn't mean you jump into a new relationship. You just meet new people and have fun with them."
She smiled softly. "You can at least try it. The world has lots of candies to discover. You should get the chance to try out a lot of them before settling down with your favorite one, as I did."
Elena thought for a few moments over Caroline's speech and came to the conclusion that she was right. There were still a lot of candies, men she hadn't met yet. In that sea she could find her favorite one, too. If Caroline could make it, then she as well, right?
A small smile traced her lips. "Okay, I'll have my eyes open and take opportunities, if there are ones, and I might find my favorite candy, too. Thank you, Care. I'm so glad that I have you in my life. You're truly the best. I love you."
Next, Elena wrapped her arms around Caroline, hugging the blonde tightly,
"Oh, Elena. You're always welcome. I did what every best friend would do if their bestie has heartache: try to comfort them as best as possible. I love you too, honey."
Caroline returned the hug, threading her fingers into Elena's dark hair to stroke it gently.
Being here with Elena in that situation had reminded her of the time after breaking up with Tyler. Elena had been gentle and succeeded in brightening up her mood. Today she returned the favor.
A week had passed from the break up and Elena was feeling a little better due to Caroline, visiting her on a daily basis with the twins, Ana and Lucas.
Currently, Elena was at work, sitting at her desk and sending emails to the authors of the chosen manuscripts. Afterwards she had to do some (annoying) paper work. Lunch break was her savior. The brunette sighed in relief and leaned back in her seat.
At once someone knocked on her bureau's door.
"Come in," she called and the door swung open, revealing a handsome man with brown hair and green eyes in a grey suit: Mr. Salvatore, her boss.
"Hello, Ms. Gilbert." He smiled politely.
"Hello, Mr. Salvatore." She retuned a small smile.
"I was wondering how you are doing."
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking. How are you?"
"I'm good, just a little hungry. How about you?"
She chuckled softly. "Well,...honestly I'm kinda hungry, too,"
"Great. Let's go out for lunch, then." Stefan exclaimed, grinning.
"What, really?"
He merely nodded.
"Alright, let's go then." Elena got up, smiling gently at her boss who was really nice...and gorgeous.
They went to a restaurant nearby the building.
At the moment they were sitting at a table next to the window, waiting for their order to come.
"It's really kind of you to invite me on lunch." Elena stated, sipping on her drink.
"You're welcome. It's nothing. I thought we would talk a little. I'd like to get to know you better."
"Is that so? Then let's talk. You can go ahead and ask me things you want to know."
He could ask her anything, however when the topic of love came, she wasn't sure if she could answer all his question.
Stefan beamed, glad that he had the chance to shoot some questions at her.
"Alright. So, where do you come from? Or were you born and raised in L.A.?"
The question brought thoughts of her hometown in her mind which caused a genuine smile to appear on her lips.
"No, I'm not from here. I moved here from Mystic Falls. It's a little city in Virginia. You probably haven't heard about it."
That caused the man to laugh lightly. "Actually, I have. I took American Studies in college and in the history part the town was discussed. It is supposed to be a magical city that draws in supernatural creatures. Nevertheless, I don't believe that. What about you?" He eyed her curiously.
Elena didn't have to ponder a lot about her answer as she shared his opinion.
"Neither I believe that story. Vampires, werewolves? That's just nonesense. I guess they were just bored and made up some horror stories to scare people." Now it was Elena's turn to laugh, though she was not alone, Stefan joined her.
"I like the way you think, Ms. Gilbert."
He commented with a grin.
"So, how is it to live now in a large city and that in Los Angeles?"
Elena giggled softly. "Well, it's surely different from my hometown, but I enjoy it. It's exciting. There are so many possibilities here. And, hey we have beaches here. That's amazing."
Just talking about the city made her excited. Really, she loved the city. It was never boring here. One concern less, she thought.
"I'm glad you enjoy the city so much. I wasn't born here as well. I was born in Italy. When I was still a baby my family emigrated to America. That explains why I don't have an accent."
Elena gasped. Italy? She was amazed. Europe. That was one of the places she would always want to visit at someday. A small chuckle elicited from her as he mentioned his point of not having an Italian accent.
"That's understandable that you don't have one. It doesn't matter anyway. It's so nice to meet someone who is from Europe. I'd love to go there too."
"Just call me and we'll fly to Italy." He joked, laughing softly along with Elena.
"Sure," she added, giggling.
At once they broke their laughter once the waiter came with their meals.
A pasta bolognese for the man and a steak with fries for the woman.
Both thanked the waiter before he disappeared.
Telling each other "Bon Appetite", they began to eat their food.
Yet, that didn't stop them from conversing throughout their lunch.
"How's yours?" The green eyed male asked pointing to her dish.
She flashed a soft smile. "It's wonderful. Very delicious. And yours?"
"The same, delizioso."
Elena chuckled at his reply, noticing the emphasis he put when he spoke the Italian word.
It was really fun with Stefan having lunch, yet she couldn't help, but think of him.
Not too long ago, she had a date with Damon here in the same restaurant. Back then she had ordered pizza.
"You look beautiful in that short red dress." Damon complimented her, his eyes scanning seductively over her body.
"Thank you, Damon. You already said that, but thanks. You look hot too." She flashed him a flirtatious wink before she continued eating her pizza margarita.
"Just thought I would stress your good looks, babe. Afterwards, what do you like to have as dessert?"
Immediately, Elena beamed at the notion. "Vanilla ice cream. And you?"
"You." He smirked mischievously, making the brunette blush in return.
"STO-"
"Elena? Are you okay?"
The flashback ended when Stefan's voice rang in her mind. She was startled, blinking at him perplexed before she collected herself again after a few moments.
"Uh...yes, I was just thinking. It's nothing." She said calmly.
"Really? It didn't look like 'nothing'. You looked upset."
"I did?" Oh this is not good at all, she thought, frowning.
"Yes. What were you thinking?"
Since he hadn't believed her first, she would tell the truth...in a way.
"Just someone who isn't worth it." She said as a matter of fact.
Stefan paused for a moment, pondering whether he should press the subject more. He didn't want to force her, so he dropped it. He assumed it was her boyfriend. He had heard from other colleagues that she had a shaky relationship with her boyfriend. Judging from her sad look in the eyes, he supposed that they had broken up and it hadn't ended well.
"I'm sorry to hear. Whoever it is, doesn't deserve you. You're truly an amazing woman: beautiful, smart, polite, nice and humorous. Everyone is lucky to spend time with you. I am." He declared, flashing a brilliant smile at her.
The tall brunette was astonished at the spoken words by her chief. She hadn't heard such kind words in a long by a man. A faint blush crossed her cheeks, a small smile gracing her lips, and she tugged a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thank you, Mr. Salvatore. That's very sweet of you to say."
Then a smirk crossed her face. "You're not bad yourself."
She chuckled just as he did.
Next, the two continued to finish off eating their dishes. Soon, they had to get back to work.
"I really enjoyed having lunch with you." Stefan proclaimed, smiling softly.
"So did I. It was really nice." An equal gentle smile traced her lips.
"How about a repetition? This time dinner. Have you already planned something for tomorrow night?"
"No, I haven't. That will do. Where would you want to dine?"
The brown haired man chuckled a little. "That will be a surprise. I'll pick you up at 7 pm. Is that okay for you?"
"Yes, that's alright. Let me just give you my address."
Elena pulled out a little piece of paper and a pen to write down her address and number, though it was unnecessary as Stefan already knew that information. Still, he welcomed it with a "Thank you."
"I think we should go back soon." Elena suggested.
He nodded and called the waiter requesting the bill that he would pay.
She wanted to protest, but Stefan would have nothing of that, and simply paid for both of them.
Next time, she would pay, though she doubted that he would let her.
Afterwards, they both got up and marched back to their work place.
It was when Elena was sitting at her desk as she realized that her boss had asked her out on a date and she had agreed on it.
Oh my God. She succeeded in surprising herself with that outcome. Nonetheless, she did the right thing-well, it felt right. And besides, she acted on her promise to take the opportunities she would receive. She followed her best friend advice.
Elena leaned in her chair and looked out of the window while one name was occupying her mind: Stefan Salvatore (which was strange as usually another man would busy her.)
She didn't know why, but there was just something about him that intrigued her. She couldn't point a finger on what it was, perhaps one day.