Hey guys! I am sorry for this late update. I had a writer's block, I was sick, and I lost my motivation because of my sickness. So I'm so sorry for the updating later than usual but I hope you enjoy. And I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy belated New Year.
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Elena's POV
It's been roughly two weeks since Stefan and I became official. And in those two weeks, I had to make a decision…a difficult one too. Ever since Mr. Saltzman told me to stay away from Stefan, I can't help but to listen to his words. Yeah, it sucks forcing yourself to keep a distance from a guy who makes your life seem sane again but I have this gut feeling that maybe I should stay away from Stefan for a while.
Hearing a door shut downstairs pulls me out of my thoughts. Sadly, it was a Friday night and Jeremy was out with a few friends and Jenna was over at Mr. Saltzman's place while I was left alone at home. Lifting my head up from my homework assignments, I turn towards my open bedroom door. Slowly and quietly getting up from my seat, I walk towards the open door and peek out into the hallway and the top of the staircase. Reluctantly exiting my room, I walk to the top of the staircase and look down at the empty and quiet foyer. "Jeremy?" I called out for my younger brother. No response. "Jenna?" I called out again, feeling a chill run down my spine.
The sound of a falling pot in the kitchen causes me to jump, by now, goose bumps covered almost every inch of my body. My fear is soon replaced by frustration, so I bravely yet stupidly walk down the stairs and stop at the end of the staircase. Looking left to right; I turn left and head for the kitchen. My bravery is immediately replaced by a wave of fear when the kitchen is dark as a cave with the moonlight as the only source of light. Reaching for the light switch, I flip the switch to on and the lights remain off. Feeling my stomach flip, I turn to leave to run back up the stairs when I feel a gentle yet rough hand pull me into the dark and shove me against a wall. Before a cry for help could escape my mouth, another hand covers my mouth and this person has me trapped against the wall. 'I'm going to die.' I fearfully thought to myself. The lights suddenly go on and my fear filled brown eyes meet satisfied green ones.
"You scared the crap out of me." I snapped at Stefan when he removed his hand from my mouth. "I couldn't resist." He replied playfully while I lightly smacked his chest, not able to contain the giggle that escaped my lips. "How'd you even get in?" I asked, remembering how all the doors were locked. "You forgot to lock the back door." He explained. "But I'm pretty sure I locked it…" I trailed off, while leaning over to look at the back door. "Never mind that, it's a Friday night and you're all alone at home." He replied, immediately changing the subject. "I chose to stay in." I clarified. "Well, I decided that I would spend my Friday night with my girlfriend." He told me. "You don't have to…" I replied, trying to avoid a night with Stefan without hurting him. "I know," he said, and I think that I might actually win this one. "But I want to." He challenged evenly.
Raising a gentle hand to my cheek, he leans in as I gaze into his eyes. When his lips were about a centimeter away from mine, his eyes flickered from my eyes to my lips for a quick but noticeable second. A few slow seconds later, he softly kissed my lips before deepening it and pressing my back against the wall again. Suddenly pulling apart from this intense kiss that will scar both our lips forever, he whispers, "Please, come with me." Deciding to break all of my rules tonight, I said, "How am I supposed to say no to you?" Chuckling, he grabs my hand as we walk out the back door and I make sure to lock it this time, making sure the house is secure.
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"I see you're becoming familiar with this town." I commented as Stefan and I hike up what seems to be a never ending hill. "I just have a lot of free time on my hands." He replied, taking my hand in his. Looking up at him, he's looking at me with a smile on his lips that never fails to take my breath away. Returning the smile after breaking out of my trance, we continue walking up the hill.
After another ten agonizing minutes, I can see the top of the hill. Without any hesitation, I let go of Stefan's hand and run to the top of the hill before collapsing onto the ground as I stared up into the dark, night sky. Feeling beads of sweat form on my forehead, I quickly wipe them away before Stefan catches up to me. "Sorry, this isn't exactly romantic." I joked as Stefan walked closer and closer to me before sitting down next to me. After a few silent moments with my ragged and labored breathing as the only sound, I pull myself to sit up. "It's like that hill didn't even tire you out at all." I noticed when Stefan wasn't drenched in sweat nor was he breathing as if he needed an oxygen mask. "I've climbed worse." He replied calmly. "So this is what it's like to be human." He whispered after an awkward silence settled over us. "What?" I asked, confused at his comment. "You just had to climb an exhausting hill and you made it, and that's what it means to be human." He elaborated. Nodding, I look at the distance before saying, "It actually resembles my life now ever since my parents died."
Looking at me with confusion, I continue. "Ever since my parents died, it was such a struggle to wake up in the morning, hell; it was painful to even breathe." Fully facing me, Stefan gives me his full attention as I take a deep breath and continue, "When they died, they didn't just take their lives with them, they took a huge piece of my heart and they took the Elena that I used to be. And every day is hell for me Stefan. Every day, I have to internally fight the world and every day, whatever is left of me just wants to give up, throw everything I ever had away. And it would be that simple. I could finally have the peace that I need and I would be with my parents. And then, I think about the life that I have here, I have an aunt who is doing just fine raising two troubled teenagers, a brother who needs someone to guide him in this dark time of his life, friends who love me as much as I love them and I have you, a guy who I am completely and utterly falling for." Exhausted from pouring everything that I was feeling into a few sentences, I end my confessions. "And despite of the life I have here, I feel like I'm dying Stefan." I stated, fighting back tears that were threatening to spill. Immediately feeling his arms wrap around me, I let a few tears escape as I buried my face into the crook of his neck. And in that moment, I take back whatever I said about being okay, because I don't think I'm going to be okay.
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No one's POV
A howling wind continuously pounded on the back door of the Gilbert house. Eventually the door just broke off and the sound of heavy breathing was present in the kitchen. Soon, heavy footsteps followed the breathing. The footsteps trailed off to the foyer and walked up the stairs, each step making a booming and thunderous sound. The footsteps stopped at the top of the staircase for a few moments and continued again, only this time, the footsteps were headed for Elena Gilbert's room and the footsteps stopped again when this unseen figure was standing in the teenage girl's room. Everything was silent when the bedroom door loudly slammed shut and items being broken and damaged can be heard.
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Elena's POV
"This really isn't romantic." I teased as Stefan gently wiped the tears that were still present on my face. "It's fine." He replied with a light smile on his lips, lightly caressing my cheek. Smiling back, I lean forward while he does the same and he lightly places his lips on mine. Kissing him back, we slowly start to turn as I lie on the ground with him on top, not breaking the kiss. Not wanting to crush me with his weight, he holds himself up with his arms as he kisses me more intensively, as I feel myself heating up with this intense kiss. His lips soon pepper light kisses on my jaw line before moving to my neck. Exhaling a breath I was holding, his kisses trail to my shoulder as I release a quiet moan.
As if it were timed to ruin this moment, my cell phone starts ringing, causing Stefan to stop. Groaning, he rests his head on my shoulder for a moment before placing a quick peck there and sitting up. Seeing disappointment present on his face, I chuckle and place a light kiss on his temple before pulling out my phone.
"Hello?" I asked. "Elena? Elena where are you?" A worried and frantic Jenna asked me. "I'm with Stefan," I replied. "Why? Did something happen?" I asked, concerned about Jenna's sudden worrying state. "Someone broke into our house." She replied. Shocked, I turn to stare at Stefan while he looked back at me with confusion.
First thing I see when Stefan pulls up on my block are flashing red and blue lights. As soon as he turns his car off, I exit his car and run towards my house. Pushing past the group of observing neighbors, an arm stops me and a policeman is about to argue when I tell him, "I live here." With a nod, I turn to see Stefan right behind me as I take my hand in his and drag him with me past the crowd. Moving past a few officers in the foyer, I hear Jeremy's voice. "Thank god you're back." He sighed in relief before pulling me in his arms. "Did anyone get hurt? Are you okay? Where is Jenna?" I badgered him with questions. "Elena!" Jenna called out to me. Turning around, I run toward her before she gives me a hug. Pulling back, I notice she is looking at something behind me before genuinely saying, "Thank you for stalling my niece, I don't know what would happen to her if she were in the house during the break in." Furrowing my brows in confusion, I turn around and see Stefan behind me. Realizing that in the heat of the moment, I completely forgot that he was with me. Watching him smile at Jenna, I'm grateful that she received a good impression from him. "Ms. Elena Gilbert?" an officer with a southern accent called out. Nodding, I approach the stern man with Jenna and Stefan following behind me. "Is everything okay?" I asked, as the four of us walked up the stairs. "Well luckily, nothing was stolen. But this person has completely destroyed your room." He replied while opening my bedroom door. "Only, your room." He stated as I walked in with devastation. Containing my tears that were already forming, I slowly walk around my room, hearing glass crunch beneath my feet. My bed was flipped over, my window was cracked, and my mirror had pieces of glass missing from it. My once organized closet was nearly empty with most of my clothes lying on the floor. Covering my mouth with a hand, I muffle a quiet sob as Jenna asks, "Why just her room?" In response, the officer says that that is what they are trying to figure out.
"Hey," Stefan whispered before wrapping his arms around me. Finding his embrace the only comfort so far, I wrap my arms around his neck when I notice the picture frame on my vanity. It was a family photo and my heart shattered to pieces when my face had scratch marks on it…only my face.
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"Have you met any people who have made threats against you?" The officer asked me with a pen and note pad in his hands. "No, not that I'm aware of." I replied, desperate for the police to get out of here since the observing group seemed to increase. "And you did say that you locked all doors before you left." He stated. Nodding, he tells me to follow him as he leads me into the kitchen and I can feel goose bumps form on my skin when I see that the back door was broken off from the hinges. "I just want to know who would attack me like this and why." I said, irritated that there wasn't any progress going on. "We're working on it Ms. Gilbert." He justified. "Are you? Because all I've seen you do so far is to just take down irrelevant notes and ask me useless questions officer." I countered, not caring how disdainful I sounded. "We can take this down to the station if you want Ms. Gilbert." He challenged, not bothered by my rudeness, which only caused me to be even more agitated. "That won't be necessary sir," Jenna nervously said. "Thank you for your help and we hope to hear what you're able to come up with in the future." She thanked him as she gestured all of the police officers out the door. "Help? How in God's name have they helped?" I protested once she shut the door. "Elena," Jenna aid warningly. With a huff, I enter the living room to see Stefan and Jeremy lounging on a couch. Making note of my presence, he excuses himself and gets off the couch and walks towards me. "Hey," I greeted. "You're still here?" I asked. "Yeah, I didn't think it would be right if I were to disappear at a time like this." He replied, showing concern about the situation. "Thank you, for everything." I said gratefully before pulling him into a hug. Wrapping his arms around my waist, Jeremy coughs awkwardly before excusing himself out of the room. Pulling away from each other, I tell him, "You can go home if you want. It's getting late and I don't want you staying up over some sick joke someone played."
"Are you sure?" he asked for reassurance. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll see you on Monday?" I replied. Nodding, a small smile forms on his lips as he leans in and places a quick kiss on my lips. Walking him out the front door, I wave when he turns around one last time before entering his car. Watching his car disappear into the darkness of the night, I sigh before entering my house. In the foyer was Jenna with her arms crossed and her eyes fixated on me. "You were incredibly rude to the police tonight." She stated as if I wasn't aware of my actions. "I know Jenna and I'm sorry." I apologized without any real emotions in my apology. "Look, I get it. You're hurt and you're angry and the police weren't making it any easier for you but don't stoop so low Elena. It isn't worth it." She said, attempting to give me a lecture. "Okay Jenna, I'll be better next time." I promised without any meaning to it. Nodding she changes the subject, "So you and Stefan seem to be getting serious."
"Yeah, he's actually a good person and I wouldn't want to lose him." I agreed with a smile plastered on my face. "You seem happy with him." She commented, also smiling at my happiness. Nodding, my smile goes away when I remember Mr. Saltzman's words. "Well goodnight and by the way, I managed to get your bed back in place and all your clothes are back in your closet and I cleaned up the mess on your floor, and your window and mirror is going to be fixed soon." She said, pulling me out of my thoughts. Thanking her, I watch her head up the stairs when I decide to stop her. "Hey Jenna?" I called out. Stopping, she faces me. "I'm not trying t be rude but can you get Mr. Saltzman to mind his own business? He told me to stay away from Stefan without even giving me a valid reason." I explained. Her brows furrowed in confusion before she nodded and promised to talk to him soon before heading up the stairs.
With a sigh of relief, I look around and take note of how quiet the house was now. The police were gone, Jenna and Jeremy were in their rooms, Stefan went home and now I need to manage to get some sleep in my room that seems so foreign to me now. Sighing in exhaustion, there is a knock on the front door right when I took a step on the staircase. Frowning, I wonder who could be here at this late hour. Walking towards the front door, I open it and I'm taken aback by this stranger who has the rarest electric blue eyes that I have ever seen. "Hi," the man's voice said, bringing me out of my star struck state. "I'm so sorry that I'm here at this late hour but have you seen my brother Stefan?" the stranger asked with a desperate tone. "Stefan? You mean Stefan Salvatore?" I asked, feeling my jaw slightly drop when I realize that this man was Stefan's brother that he rarely mentions. "So you're Stefan's brother, Damon?" He nodded, confirming my answer. Remembering the reason why he was here, I said, "Stefan was actually here. He left my house about half an hour ago; I figured he might be home by now."
"So you're Elena Gilbert? My brother said he would be with you tonight and I can understand why he won't shut up about you." He replied, with a hint of flirtation present in his voice. Feeling flustered about Stefan actually thinking about me, my cheeks start to warm up while he continues staring at me with smoldering eyes. "Well, he must've been caught in traffic or something. Thank you for your help." He sighed. "You're welcome." I replied with a smile. My body tenses when he forwardly takes my hand and places a light kiss on the top o my hand before whispering, "Goodnight Elena." Watching the elder Salvatore walk into the dark, I close the front door and lean against it. Still able to feel his lips on my hand, green eyes flash across my mind as I remember how I'm with Stefan and I shouldn't-no-I can't be drooling over his brother. Running a shaky hand through my hair, I slowly exhale and head upstairs, wanting to just sleep this day off.
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Stefan's POV
"Where were you?" I asked Damon as he walked through the front door with a cocky grin plastered on his face. "Just exploring." He shrugged. "Exploring? And what exactly did you explore?" I questioned, furrowing my brows. "Your girlfriend is very beautiful." He stated, causing my heart to drop to my stomach as I feel worried and angered as I ball my hands in fists. "Now, no need to get violent. We only talked." He explained, noticing my fisted hands, raising his hands as if he were surrendering. "For how long?" I asked, trying to conceal the hatred and anger I have for my brother. Ha, brother, the once frequently used word was now foreign to me as if I were speaking another language. "Long enough for me to get under her skin." He stated, his cocky grin present on his face again. "Stay away from her Damon." I warned with a seething tone. "Or what?" he dared to ask. "Mind you, I'm not exactly the threat here Stefan, Klaus is." He reminded me. "I'm just here to watch everything fall in line as he kills your girl and you won't be able to do anything about it." My heart breaking with every word he says about Elena's deadly future. "Now, have a good night's rest brother." Damon saluted with the same cocky grin as he walked into the dark corridors and headed upstairs, leaving me, with an even heavier heart.
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I hope you enjoyed and let me know what you think. Again, sorry for the late update.