Author's Note: Hey guys! I apologize for the very, VERY late update. I hope you are all patient with me. I have been through a lot lately and haven't had any breaks to update. So I might as well update now :) So, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Thanks everyone!
Chapter 8 - The Truth
The next morning I stared up at the ceiling. Damon was still asleep in bed beside me. My mind was on Stefan. I couldn't stop thinking about him all night. I was worried about him. I sighed, getting out of bed and went into the bathroom to take a hot shower. Something was bothering Stefan, and it couldn't be about the break up. I had to find out the truth.
As soon as I got dressed, Damon was already awake. "You took a shower without me?" he asked. I just shrugged and said, "I'm going to see how Stefan's doing."
"I'm sure Stefan's fine. What about our time?" Damon asked.
"We'll have our time Damon. I'm just concerned about Stefan." I told him, then kissed his lips. "I'll be back in a few hours." I grabbed my bag, car keys, and walked out the front door. Ever since dating Damon, Stefan became distant. We hardly saw each other, talked, and the only chance that I ever saw him was at graduation. He didn't go to the party because of the break up between him and Caroline. I just wanted to ask him what happened and what was the truth behind Caroline. I knew that if I approached Caroline, she wouldn't tell me.
I wasn't sure of Stefan's location. Where was he staying now that he and Caroline weren't together? I decided to stop by Mystic Grill and there he was, sitting at the bar. I wasn't sure if I should approach Stefan at that moment, or just wait a few seconds. He knew I was there. Of course he heard me come in. It didn't seem like he acknowledge that I was there. Was he trying to avoid me? What was to become of Stefan and I? I took a deep breath and began to approach Stefan. "Hey Stefan." I said, smiling. It was a pained smile to see Stefan again. But it felt like the first time in years. "Can I join you?"
When he didn't answer, I just took it as an invitation for me to sit down. I felt that he wasn't in the mood to talk with me, but I need to hear what he had to say. I had to ask him the questions that were eating me from the inside out; the questions that I tried to drink away but they still continued to come back. "Stefan, I have to ask you about-"
"Caroline and I are still good friends. I know she and I broke up, but that's because it just didn't work out." he said, interrupting me. "If you have anymore to say, I don't want to hear it Elena." He stood up and began to walk towards the entrance. I followed him outside, grabbing his arm. "Stefan. This isn't like you. Talk to me." I said. He looked down at where my hand placement was before turning and looking at me. I knew that his eyes had turned cold. It was as if he had become a different person. "Don't you have Damon to talk to now?" he asked.
I reached up, caressing his face. "I need to know about us. Tell me where we stand. Are we friends? I want to know the truth Stefan." I said. "What was the reason you and Caroline broke up?"
"I told you. It just didn't work out." he said, turning his face away from me. "Like with us, it didn't work out. You picked Damon and that was your final decision. Just leave me alone Elena." I dropped my hand, watching him walk away. A tear rolled down my cheek and there was a pain in my chest. It was the same pain I felt when Stefan and I had broken up. "Stefan!" I called out after him.
I went after him, stopping him in his tracks. "You can't just walk away Stefan. You can't walk away from what we used to be. I know I chose Damon, but-"
"But what Elena? You made it clear who you had feelings for." I shook my head because I knew what he wasn't saying was the truth. "You were my first love Elena and no one will be able to replace that love, not even Caroline or Katherine even. I want you to be happy and if that happiness is with Damon, then I fully understand. You and I can still be friends, but I don't think there's a chance that you and I can be together. Bye Elena." With those words, Stefan left. I went back to my car and just sat in the driver's seat as I cried.
What was there to do now without Stefan? I knew I had Damon and my friends, but nothing wasn't going to be the same without Stefan. I started my car and drove back to the boarding house. I parked the car in the driveway, shutting off the engine. I looked at myself in the mirror and wiped any make-up that began to smear. Why would Stefan say those words and just leave? Was there something that was eating him to? Was it the fact that Damon and I being together that Stefan hated to see? I got out of the car and entered the house, closing the door. "Any luck?" Damon asked, approaching me.
"He's not coming home Damon." I said and then the tears began to start again. He reached out, giving me a hug. He rubbed my back as I just let the tears fall. I was never going to see Stefan ever again. "He's gone." I looked up at him.
"Then we'll find him Elena. We have to get my brother back." he said. I nodded and then hugged him once again. Not long after, I realized in that very moment what I needed to be happy. I couldn't just need one brother, I needed the other.
…
Summer had ended and college was finally beginning. I was going to college with my best friends - Caroline and Bonnie. Tyler had gone out of state and Matt wanted to travel the world. I was thinking about joining him, but I was persuaded into experiencing the college life. It was the only way I could experience humanly things, even as a vampire. For three months, I couldn't stop thinking about what could've happened to Stefan. I was afraid that he'd turn off his emotions and it was going to be more difficult to get him back. Caroline was already eying a few guys in college that she could possibly date. At least one of us was having fun.
"So you don't know if Stefan's going to come back?" Bonnie asked. The three of us were gathered in our dorm room. I was so glad that the three of us were dorm buddies, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get through the semester without them. I shook my head, sitting down on my bed. On the dresser beside my bed was a picture of both Damon and Stefan. Just looking at Stefan made the waterworks begin. "Don't cry Elena." she said, wrapping an arm around me and pulled me into a hug. "I miss him Bonnie." I told her, hugging her back.
"Everything's going to be just fine. You and Stefan always seem to work everything out." Caroline said, sitting down beside me. I looked at her, wiping my tears away. "You think so?" I asked her. She nodded and smiled, telling me that she believed that Stefan and I will be able to get past this bump in the road. "I heard there's a frat party tonight and one of the guys that I was talking to invited us." Caroline smiled. Both Bonnie and I looked at each other, exchanging glances before looking at Caroline. "Do you think that's a good idea?" Bonnie asked.
"We can't even go in without being invited by the owner." I told Caroline.
"We'll get in." Caroline smiled.
Later that evening, the three of us got ready for the frat party that night. We all arrived at the house where tons of people were already swarming into the large house. Music could be heard from the outside and we were almost near the entrance. "Hey Caroline!" A guy approached Caroline, giving her a hug. She hugged him back with a smile and pulled away. "Bryce, these are my best friends Elena and Bonnie. Girls, this is Bryce. He's the guy that invited us to come here tonight." Caroline said.
"Nice to meet you." Bryce held out his hand towards our direction. Bonnie and I both shook his hand. "You too." I smiled. Two other guys showed up, joining us as well. Their names were Dean and Luke. Finally we were invited in and was soon surrounded by a group of people. Everyone was dancing and all had drinks in their hands.
I tried to stop thinking about Stefan, but it was impossible. All night while my friends were having fun, I decided to hang outside to get some fresh air. "You alright?" I turned and saw that Luke was approaching me. I nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I'm fine." I looked back up at the sky as Luke sat down beside me on the bench. "You don't sound fine. I don't mean to intrude on anything, but I hope you don't mind me asking what's wrong." he said.
"It's just- One of my friends and I stopped talking to each other. He left without fully telling me the truth about what's going on with him." I said and then I was about to tear up. Luke wrapped an arm around my shoulders, gently rubbing them. "Hey, if there's anything you need, I'll be happy to help. I know we just met and all, but if you need someone to talk to, I'm available." I looked at him and thanked him for his effort in making me feel better.
Luke and I headed back into the house after talking. For some reason, he reminded me a little bit of Stefan. His caring ways and to be honest, it did make me feel a little bit better. After partying for a few hours, the girls and I went back to our dorm rooms. "I saw that you and Luke were having a good time." Caroline said, sitting down on her bed.
"You two were getting awfully close." Bonnie smirked.
"I have a boyfriend. There's no way I'd go for-" My phone interrupted with a ring. I looked down at the caller ID and picked up. "Hey Damon." I looked at my friends and then got up, walking out of the dorm. "I got a lead on Stefan." he said.
"Where is he?" But before Damon could answer, footsteps turned the corner down the hallway of our dorm room and I was met face to face with- "Stefan?" I asked. I heard Damon's voice over the phone asking about Stefan and cut him off by hanging up the phone. "What are you doing here?" Stefan was in front of me within seconds and kissed my lips.
