So I know I haven't updated this in a while and I don't really know why because it's already been writtenand posted on tumblr. But, I wasn't too happy with how I ended it because it only had 8 chapters in it and I think they met too soon. But I have no inspiration to make this longer and I have another two AU's I'm writting so I'm just going to leave it the way it is. If people want me to make it longer than I might later on but for now enjoy!

Crap. This was the only word circulating through her panic struck mind. Crap. Holy crap. Ohmygodthiscannotbehappening crap crap. It took exactly 3 minutes, 14 pants of breath and a few paces left and right to finally get her head together, or at least at a stable enough place to consider her options. Option 1: go home, at that moment in time she favoured this one the most. Option 2: make up some excuse and retreat into hiding, she kept this as a reserve as she didn't really want to spend her only evening in a 5 star hotel in the bathroom. Then there was option 3: meet up with him. Now her mind began to battle between 1 and 3 flitting between them like a ball in a tennis match. 1 no 3, but 1 is the safest, yet 3 is what you have been waiting for…isn't it?

Caroline are you okay?

The match came to a sudden halt as his soothing voice met her ear full or genuine concern and worry. He was still on the phone.

Yeah I'm fine totally fine more than fine actually

You don't sound fine

Whaaaat Stefan are you drunk because I am just perfect

I'm not going to deny that….but you went quiet for like a really long time

Right um sorry I was….um…I was…in the bathroom

I can't see a bathroom

There is one in the lobby

Are you sure you're okay you're worrying me

Yes, I mean I'm a bit nervous about accepting my certificate…big crowds scare me

Okay now I don't believe you

Well you don't have to believe me I'm not some mythical creature that only exists if you truly believe ha

Damn it now I'm disappointed

Yeah well at least we have THAT out of the way

Caroline had now found herself crouching behind the front desk, surprisingly the man working there was a parent of one of her pupils. She had always been the most popular teacher at that school so anyone would do anything to repay her for her talented teaching, even if that did mean letting her hide on all fours under a desk. Although he didn't mean it in the way she took it, Caroline couldn't help use his disappointment as an excuse not to take this any further. Hang up, come on just hang up, why aren't you hanging up Caroline?! Her finger hovered over the red button, always pulling back when it got to close to the screen.

Caroline

Still here

Are you sure because you have gone quiet again and you are not by the bathrooms

How do you know that? In fact I am standing by the door right now waiting for you

No you're not because I am already here

Did I say the lobby bathroom? Oh I meant the bathroom on the first floor my bad

Fine, stay there I'm on my way

I'll be waiting

Slowly she popped her head above the desk, only a few inches to make sure she wasn't seen. Not just by him but by anyone, what would they say about a woman in their mid twenties hiding from a guy under a front desk? Exactly. With a sigh of relief she lifted herself up fully and began walking back towards the crowded ball room. Crowds, yes a crowded room was good, she could hide both herself and her humiliation.

You are liar Caroline

No I'm not

yes you are

Why do you keep calling me that?

You're not at the upstairs bathroom

And why do you not believe me

Because Caroline I can see you, you just walked past me in the lobby, now you're standing by a palm tree in a very tacky pink vase waiting for security to check you're invitation

She looked over her left shoulder to see that in fact Stefan was right, placed right next to her was the palm tree in an extremely tacky pink vase. Once the security stepped aside to let her pass, the foyer was a thing of the past as she sped into safety. He saw, he actually saw her.

Wait what was that I can't hear you

Carolin…

I think you're breaking up

Caroline don't

I gotta go Stefan..I'm..sorry…bad…recepti…

After that she hung up, throwing her phone into her pocket at lightning speed and began running further into the ballroom camouflaging herself in the crowd. At the speed she was going it didn't take her long to find her table, locate her seat and distract herself by engaging in as very boring conversation with her table mates. If he was looking for her at least if she looked busy he might leave her alone. To her amazement it was actually working, she was no longer thinking about him. Not thinking about how fluffy his brown hair must be or how dreamy his eyes must look or how his husky voice would sound in real life or how tall he was or how he looked in a suit. She was not thinking about him at all. It didn't help that her phone was buzzing constantly as text after text was sent her way.

Caroline please we need to talk

Just wait for me

I promise I won't hurt you

you are driving me crazy I just need to see you

at least tell me you're okay

She actually began to relax once the lights had dimmed and the ceremony started. It was long but it was filled with enough emotion and praise and heroic stories to keep her fully entertained. Caroline was particularly taken by the story about a young boy named Jack who had battled through cancer 4 times already and he proclaimed he owed it all to one doctor. As tears rolled down her eyes she wondered what the doctor would be like and what lied behind their motives, most importantly she wanted to thank him herself. She looked through tear filled eyes at her phone as it buzzed, another text.

I need to know where you're table is

Caroline I need you

Just say something anything

Towards the end it was finally her turn, she climbed up the stairs gracefully, accepted her certificate with a smile and descended with her head held high. Of course it was all a show, it was all for Stefan. She kept up the act until she reached her seat, plopping down exhausted and seeing yet again her phone lighting up frantically.

wow

you are beautiful

Caroline

I can see you reading this

PICK UP YOUR PHONE BACK UP PLEASE

No matter how hard her heart was beating or how much her head was begging, she didn't reply.

The night began to draw to a close and she could not think about anything else but getting out of there as quick as possible. As soon as the last speech was said and the last drinks were swallowed she rose from her seat and made a dash towards the exit, pausing to button up her coat in the foyer. Despite the room being filled with loud conversations and laughter of people preparing to leave, she could still hear the familiar chime of bells. Don't do it Caroline, do not pick up the pho…

Stefan

Caroline

Stefan

Caroline

Stefan

I think we established what our names are by now

Yeah I think so

I think congratulations are in order

Thank you

You looked beautiful out there

Stefan

Caroline don't do that

Do what

I just saw you for the first time ever after talking for more than two months and you're making it out as if it is not a big deal

It isn't

How can you say that? Don't you want to meet me

I do of course I do I don't want anything more

Then why won't you

Because… because…ithinkiminlovewithyou

You what?

I think I'm in love with you

You're in love with me?

I think so

And why is that the problem

What if it isn't what we expected? What if we can't hold a conversation? I mean even now we are talking on the phone even though we are in the same building. What if you don't like me like that or you find a habit of mine you find revolting or you hate my hair or we live to far away and long distances never work what if…

I'm in love with you too…what happens then

That doesn't mean anything

Doesn't it, because it means a lot to me Caroline. I saw you today and honestly I have never been this happy in my life. You are the definition of beauty. Okay your smile was like home to me no matter if it was fake. The way you glided onto the stage with such ease was memorizing and I am enticed by you. I heard you laughing from across the room and I don't I will ever be able to get that sound out of my head. Don't you get in Caroline I'm in love with you.

A breath. Another breath, and another and another. Why wasn't she saying anything? No matter how hard she tried once a word formed in her throat it was swallowed right back up again. He was in love with her. And yes it was absurd and crazy and highly impossible but she was in love with him too. Finally a word managed to escape.

Ditto

She heard him laugh his full hearted, husky Stefan laugh calming her body immediately.

I know this is scary and you're anxious and you have lost all control but I am standing right behind you literally putting my heart on the line. All you have to do is say you want to meet me too.

I do.

Then turn around

And she did.