The Best Laid Plans
Chapter Nine
AN: Hello! I am back :) I tried to get this up sooner but I ended up being really busy all of my winter break and with my classes and work! But thank you for all of the reviews last chapter! They really inspire me to continue writing. I have a plan for the rest of this story and we're basically half way through! I've actually added to my original plan as well. I'm hoping to get a new chapter up within the next month...I'm sorry I'm not better with updating but I do hope you stay with my story!
Enjoy! Review!
Buzz.
The vibration of his phone against the bedside table awoke Stefan from his deep and peaceful slumber. After hours of getting to know every inch of Elena's body, he and his girlfriend were thoroughly exhausted, but he was not going to complain. To say he enjoyed Elena's surprise last night would be a serious understatement. Though even more important to Stefan was the fact it was his first time with Elena. While he felt a little feminine for thinking it, being so intimate with Elena was amazing. They weren't only compatible sexually but Stefan genuinely enjoyed just being with her. Before his thoughts went completely south, Stefan picked up his phone to see a warning from Damon not to drink his stash of scotch at the beach house. Rolling his eyes, Stefan closed his phone and nuzzled his head into Elena's neck, attempting to fall back asleep.
His attempts were short lived as Elena's eyes slowly fluttered open. Taking in her surroundings, she turned around to see Stefan obviously pretending to be asleep.
"I know you're awake. Faker," Elena teased.
Opening one eye, Stefan responded. "Well, I'm trying to sleep but someone is talking."
Elena laughed at Stefan's tone, before cuddling closer to Stefan. "Mhmm, what time is it?"
"It's only 9, go back to sleep," Stefan replied while playing with Elena's hair.
Elena, on the other hand, had something different in mind. "Mhmm, I think I have a better idea," Elena said as she slowly gave Stefan a proper good morning kiss.
As their kiss ended, Elena smirked at Stefan's closed eyes, enjoying how much she affected him.
Stefan leaned back in and responded, "I think I like your idea too." And with that, no more words were needed.
After sleeping for a few more hours after their morning activities, Elena decided she wanted to spend some time in the pool, and in the connected hot tub. Stefan, obeying his girlfriend's desires, agreed and was lounging on floats in the pool. Since they had plans later that afternoon to go into town, Elena just wanted to just lay out and chill and not get her hair wet.
Meanwhile Stefan had other plans. As Elena was relaxing on her float and soaking up the sun, he decided to be a little mischievous and Stefan lightly splashed Elena with water.
Feeling the cool chlorinated water hit her skin surprised Elena causing her shriek. While the water felt refreshing on her warm, sun-kissed skin, she did not appreciate the element of surprise. "Stefan..."
Stefan pretended he hadn't heard his girlfriend and instead, he reclined further into his lounger, closing his eyes to soak up the sun.
With her hair the least of her concerns now, Elena decided to get the ultimate revenge. Slowly she slid off of her float and dove under the water to beat Stefan at his own game. Elena swam under Stefan and with all of her strength, flipped his float over, sending her boyfriend flying into the water.
After sputtering to the surface, Stefan stared at Elena in utter shock. Elena couldn't help the giggle that escaped her. Stefan's expression of disbelief was priceless and sent his girlfriend into heaving laughter. Elena swam to the edge and pulled herself up to continue to laugh at Stefan's speechlessness.
Finally, after catching her breath, Elena spoke. "Aw poor baby, did you get a little wet?"
Stefan broke out of his surprised stupor and swam over to Elena, taking in how beautiful she looked in the sunlight with water droplets glistening off of her tanned skin. Even if he were annoyed with her, which he wasn't, his anger would have dissipated the moment Stefan saw Elena. After everything that happened with Katherine, he was grateful to whomever in the heavens above that sent Elena to him.
"Just a little. How about you come back in and join me?" Before Elena could think of responding, Stefan grabbed Elena's waist and tugged her back into the water.
Elena couldn't even complain about having her hair wet and being back in the chilly water. Being in Stefan's arms provided her with love, comfort and safety. Wait did I just think love?
Her thoughts were soon cut short as Stefan leaned in to kiss her. Like most of their kisses, it quickly turned heated as Stefan backed Elena up against the pool wall, leaving them both with the thought that getting wet was a marvelous idea.
Stefan couldn't wipe the stupid grin off of his face as he waited for Elena to finish showering. After crossing pool, hot tub and shower sex off of his bucket list all in one afternoon, Stefan knew he was the happiest, and the luckiest, man alive.
With the heartache and the theatrics he went through with Katherine, Stefan couldn't have thought how refreshing his relationship with Elena was. Even though they hadn't been together for very long, he felt like he had known Elena his entire life and could only hope that he would know her for the rest of his life. Stefan knew what his feelings for Elena were. Stefan only hoped Elena felt the same. Stefan didn't know how much longer he would be able to keep his feelings to himself. He just wanted to find the perfect time.
While Stefan thought about his feelings for his brown-eyed girlfriend, Elena was doing the same. As she shampooed her hair, Elena grinned at their afternoon exercise. Since they first made love last night, it was a miracle she had gotten him to leave her alone in the shower. Not that she was complaining. Elena couldn't remember the last time she felt this satisfied, not just with her sex life but also with her entire relationship with Stefan. The person she was back home in Chicago was barely a memory to her, and Elena liked her 'new' self a whole lot more.
Regardless of how much she'd changed for the better, Elena was 100% positive of her feelings for Stefan. She just needed to find the perfect moment to tell him.
Once Stefan and Elena managed to keep their hands off of each other long enough to leave the house, the couple decided to walk into town for dinner and a movie on the beach.
There were very few things Elena loved more than going on dates with Stefan. While they hadn't been on very many dates, Stefan showed his impeccable manners off when they went out together. Stefan was a true Southern gentleman, a statement proven again when Stefan pulled out Elena's chair.
"This is my favorite place down here, you're going to love it," Stefan said as he sat down. The duo were dining at a local restaurant that had been a staple of the town for many years as it was famous for its fresh seafood.
As Elena was about to respond, their teenaged waitress came bouncing up to the table, immediately setting her eyes on Stefan, a fact Elena immediately noticed.
"Well hi y'all! My name is Nikki. What can I get you to drink cutie?" Elena's eyes were shooting daggers at their scantily clad waitress. Though the other servers seemed modestly dressed in their company t-shirts and jeans, Nikki wore her shirt tied up and the shortest denim shorts Elena had seen in public.
While she was fuming, Elena refrained from commenting on Nikki's attire or her use of the word cutie...or she wasn't until Elena saw Nikki's hand that was resting on her Stefan's shoulder. Though she was furious, Elena put on a fake smile when ordering her lemonade.
Stefan would be lying if he didn't notice the waitress's hand on his shoulder or his girlfriend's glare towards her. As subtly as he could, Stefan tried shaking off Nikki's hand as he reached back down for his menu, pretending to ponder over the drink selection. Once Nikki's hand was off of his shoulder, Stefan practically sighed in relief. "I'll just take a coke, thanks."
"No problem darlin', I'll be back in a jiffy!"
Stefan reached over and grabbed Elena's hand, a comforting gesture that meant to calm Elena down. In reality, Elena only grew more fired up, furious of Nikki's actions. Stefan realized that his action did not work the way he hoped and decided to say something. "Babe, it's nothing. She's just being a little friendly that's all."
Elena scoffed, gripping Stefan's hand tighter. "A little friendly? She practically offered herself up as a drink for you."
Stefan brought Elena's hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. "It doesn't matter what she did. I'm here with you."
Though she was still annoyed at their waitress, Elena relaxed into Stefan's touch. He was right; Nikki was only their server and didn't really matter.
...or that's what Elena told herself before they had gotten their check. After a delicious meal with limited interruptions, Nikki dropped off their bill, causing an argument between Stefan and Elena.
"You always pay! I haven't paid for a single thing yet. Besides you brought me here, it's the least I could do."
"But you're my girlfriend, I want to treat you to dinner. I'm supposed to spoil you."
After about five minutes of back and forth arguing, Stefan finally relented to Elena's wishes. It wasn't that he was archaic and believed that the man should always pay; Stefan simply enjoyed doing romantic and kind things for Elena, which included paying for dinner.
Elena smiled as Stefan admitted defeat. Her smile quickly vanished as she opened the checkbook to see a special message from Nikki for Stefan.
Stefan noticed Elena's face fall into a frown, which quickly turned into anger. "What? What is it?"
For the second time that night, Elena's anger was directed toward their waitress. There may have been a green monster on her shoulder but Elena knew she was justified in her emotions.
"Call me. I'm better in bed than your GF. xoxo Nikki."
Stefan let out a laugh, which he promptly masked with a cough when he met Elena's burning glare. "Baby, she's just being forward. It's not a big deal."
Once the words left his mouth, Stefan immediately regretted them. It definitely was a big deal as Nikki blatantly hit on Stefan all night in front of Elena's face.
"Not a big deal? Stefan, are you kidding? She's been flirting with you all night and then she gives your her number!? This is a joke. I think Nikki and I need to have a little chat." With that, Elena stood up and walked around the large restaurant, trying to spot their over-affectionate waitress. You won't know what's coming to you...bitch.
Elena soon spotted Nikki behind the bar, seemingly flirting with another patron. As Elena walked closer, Nikki met her furious gaze and attempted to go back into the kitchen. Before the blonde waitress could reach her safe haven, Elena cornered her.
As if on cue, Nikki started apologizing. "I'm so sorry, I thought he was single. I mean he was flirting with me all night."
Elena scoffed at her obvious exaggeration and her insincere apology. "Listen, sweetie, my BOYFRIEND is completely satisfied with me and at no point did he even bat an eye in your direction. He doesn't like trashy girls that throw it in his face. Trust me."
Extremely pleased with her speech and Nikki's blank expression, Elena started walking away. But she did manage to get one last word in. "Oh and Nikki, try not to hit on anymore of your customers...you never know when you're gonna run into a girlfriend or a wife a lot less forgiving than me."
After Elena told off the waitress from hell, she and Stefan made their way to a public beach to watch a movie under the stars. To be honest, Elena really didn't care to know what movie was playing. She just loved the excuse to be able to cuddle up with Stefan and a blanket on the beach. Not that she couldn't get him to do so otherwise.
Meanwhile, Stefan was extremely excited for the movie as he wanted to watch Star Wars but more importantly he wanted to introduce Elena to his favorite films (the original trilogy of course). When he learned that Elena had never seen the classic films, Stefan thought he was going to die of a heart attack. How his girlfriend had never seen Star Wars was a travesty! It was only a sheer miracle that the town happened to feature Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as their weekly on the beach movie.
Elena thought that Stefan's enthusiasm and excitement for the movie was adorable. It was cute watching a grown man "fangirling" over movies made decades ago. As the movie started, Elena leaned further into Stefan's chest, determined to enjoy a romantic night watching a movie under the stars with her boyfriend.
About 40 minutes into the movie and Elena couldn't take her eyes off the screen. While it was strange to watch a movie that was in the middle of the action of a long saga, she could definitely tell why Stefan enjoyed the movie so much. Though Stefan enjoyed re-watching one of his favorite films, he loved watching Elena's expressions throughout the movie. She looked so adorable when her excitement matched his and Stefan couldn't help but think how it was time. It was time to tell her how much he loved her.
AN: I know this chapter isn't as long as the last but I thought some fluffy SE was desperately needed! The next chapter should be both romantic and shocking...stay tuned!
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