Here's the new chapter, it's short but I promise you a next chapter will be very soon. Again, I'm really sorry for the delay.
I'm grateful to everyone who reviewed, I was afraid no one was reading the story anymore but you showed me that you are still reading. So thank you for reading and thank you for reviewing.
Please review and let me know what your thoughts are, your reviews give me the motive to write…
Enjoy !
"Hey" I hear a voice behind me say. Not a voice, Stefan's voice.
I've been sitting on a bench waiting for Stefan for the past 15 minutes, he wasn't late or anything. I was early. I wanted to see him, to help him, to be there for him like he had been for me a million times before.
"Hi" I say with a smile as I turn around to see him. He looks tired, his eyes are red, he has black circles around his eyes, and he is a little pale. Even his hair is a mess.
He walks towards me and sits next to me with his eyes focused on the horizon.
"Are you okay? You look tired."
He doesn't say anything for a minute and I think he didn't hear me but then he looks at me and says "As fine as I can be."
I think this is a good time to approach the Katherine thing.
"I'm really sorry she did that to you, I can't imagine what you must be going through."
He smiles a little but it doesn't touch his eyes "You know, I thought I'll just start getting used to this happening to me, but I don't. It hurts every time."
I understood what he was saying, I remember the first time Stefan fell in love, he was 12 and her name was Rebekah, I remember him telling me about her, he talked with such enthusiasm. They were together for 2 months but then an older boy showed interest in her and she broke up with Stefan. He was completely devastated afterwards; he was depressed and wasn't himself. But eventually he got over her. 3 years after that, they started talking again, and then one day, she told him that she made the biggest mistake of her life by letting him go and she begged him to take her back, so they were together again. But of course nothing lasts forever. This time they were together for almost a year and Stefan was even preparing for their one year anniversary, he kept asking me my opinion and sharing his ideas till he decided on the perfect gift for her. 2 weeks before the anniversary he went out with some of his friends to a restaurant and there she was. She was with some older guy, sitting extremely close to him-almost on his lap-, he was touching her in a totally inappropriate way and they were kissing.
"I really don't know what the hell is wrong with those girls you date!"
He laughs without humor "Maybe it's not them."
"What?!" I ask angrily.
He shrugs "I'm just saying, there's a certain pattern here. So maybe there's nothing wrong with them."
"Stefan Salvatore! Don't you dare blame yourself for this! They're stupid! You're friendly and honest and trustworthy. You're funny and sarcastic yet romantic and charming. You're everything any girl could ask for. So don't you dare feel guilty!"
He looks at me for a few seconds before he smiles a little. "You really mean that." He doesn't say it like a question, more like with wonder.
"I do. I really do."
"Thank you" He says with sincerity.
I just smile in return.
We fall into silence then, I can distinctively hear children laughing and screaming, I can hear the wind blowing between the trees, I can hear the rustle of leafs. It's so peaceful.
"So," I say after a while, "How is your family finding Mystic Falls?"
He exhales apparently appreciating the new topic. "Well, my mom is finding it kind of hard because she's not used to small town life, but she's getting there. My dad likes working in the hospital a lot, it's not as busy and crowded as in the hospital he used to work in, but he gets to help people and connect with his patients. You know Damon didn't come with us, but I think he's supposed to come visit on Christmas break."
"That's good, I'm sure you miss him."
"Yeah, it's nice to have someone to goof around with."
"Well, I can share my brother with you. You can come over any time you like and goof around with Jeremy. I give you full permission!" I say smiling.
"Aren't you generous?! Thank you Miss Gilbert." He says chuckling.
I laugh and he laughs with me. It feels nice laughing with Stefan. It's like everything other than us and our stupid conversation doesn't exist.
"Listen Elena," he says after a minute "I have to go, my mom wants to reorder the living room and she needs a hand. I promised I would be back soon."
"Oh ok…" I say as cheerfully as I can manage, although I'm feeling anything but. "Well, that's good for you; having something to take your mind off what happened."
"Yeah I guess." He says and we both get up.
We walk to the parking lot together talking about nothing in particular. When we reach my car he takes the keys from my and opens the door for me. See why I love him?
"Thank you" I say with a smile.
"No. Thank you for being here for me. And I'm sorry I couldn't stay but we'll hang out tomorrow. I promise."
I smile hugely unable to contain my happiness. "I look to tomorrow."
He smiles in return and I can't help but think how beautiful he looks when he's smiling. And then he leans towards me and I find myself holding my breath, and staring at his lips. His full, soft lips.
And then he kisses me… but not where I want him to. It's just a peck on the cheek. But it still makes my stomach filled with butterflies and my whole body trembles.
He leans back as if nothing happened oat all "I'll see you tomorrow"
I just nod and get in the car, he closes the door for me and waits until I drive away before he gets into his own car.
I arrive home and find the house unnaturally quiet. "Jenna? Jeremy?"
"Up here" Jenna answers.
I climb the stairs and find Jenna in her room running from the closet to the bathroom and then back to her bedroom. That's when I notice the bag on her bed.
"What's going on?"
"What's going on?! You really wanna know what's going on?! My BOSS just called! He said my colleague is sick and can't go to this huge conference in Seattle on Monday! He's sick! And guess who has to go instead?! ME!"
I don't know what to say or how to answer her so I just nod and say "oh"
"Yeah I know! Now I have to leave today because there's this welcoming brunch tomorrow and I have to be there."
"I get why you're mad but come on. It's not that bad. You get to go to Seattle, sleep in a nice hotel and see the city all for free."
She takes a deep breath then lets it out. "I know I know… I'm just freaking out because I'm leaving you guys alone and I'm not prepared. It's all a last minute thing. You know me and last minute things."
"It's fine. We'll be fine. It's only for… what 3 days?"
"Um… yeah almost. I get back on Thursday."
"We'll be completely fine. We'll go to school, order take outs, study and go to bed. Don't worry."
"Yeah I know… Just don't cook!" She says with a pointed look.
"OMG! It was one time! One little time that I burnt the food! I cooked after that and nothing happened!"
She just shrugs in return and then goes back to packing.
I go to my room and study a little, I finish a few math problems and I read a little history before I hear Jenna calling me to dinner.
We have dinner and Jenna starts giving us the does and don'ts list for this week; DO study, DON'T stay up late, DO clean, DON'T miss school,… the list goes on and on and on.
When it's time for Jenna to go, I offer to drive her to the airport but she says she already ordered a cab. We say goodbye and she keeps adding to the list of does and don'ts as she walks to the cab.
We close the door and make sure we lock it before we both sigh.
"GOD," says Jeremy "I thought she won't shut up!"
I laugh "I knoww!But it's so not over, she's gonna call us to add a new thing"
We sit on the couch and watch a movie on TV. Mid-way through the movie Jenna calls.
After the movie, I say goodnight and head to my room. I change my cloths and sit on my bed thinking about Stefan. I didn't have time to obsess about him today but now I do.
I picture his smile and remember his laugh. I think about how sweet he was when he opened the door for me. And all those feeling I had when he pecked me on the cheek. An innocent gesture but with so much meaning. At least to me. I've never felt this way before. I've been kissed by guys on the cheek but not one of them send a delicious shiver throughout my whole body.
I pick up my phone contemplating calling Stefan when my phone beeps with a new message.
Hey So there's this new awesome action movie in theaters, what do you say we go watch it tomorrow? ~S
He wants us to go watch a movie. Together.
Yeah sure. When do you wanna go? ~E
His reply comes shortly afterwards.
I have to study in the morning; I'm a little behind. But how about 5? ~S
Perfect. I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night: D ~E
Great! Sweet dreams… ~S
My dreams were indeed sweet; they were about him…