Elena barged through the school and opened her locker, she was trying to avoid Caroline and Bonnie so decided to leave just enough time to get to class. She really was angry them, Elena was never very good a confrontation, but she figured since they both knew how long it had been since she talked with Damon, why would they try and keep it from her that he was seeing other girls? Surely they could have just told her? Why couldn't he have told her? And for a split second she tried to remember how her and Damon had gotten together in the first place, when they had dated or any of the things a relationship should have to act the way she did. Am I making this up she doubted for a split second? She hated this, she never remembered feeling so confused and doubt in herself. She had to shrug it off, otherwise it would bother her for the entire day.
Elena slammed her locker shut and made her way to history, when she opened the door she saw Caroline and Bonnie who were trying to catch a glance and give her an apologetic look, but she swung past them and found her seat.
"Hi" a faint whisper came from behind her, she turned to see Stefan.
"Hi" she smiled, they locked eyes once again, stuck this time, but for the first time it was not uncomfortable, she was lost in them. Like she had missed them since last night.
"Ahem, miss Gilbert" she heard Alaric interrupt, "the black board is in this direction" the classroom erupted with laughter and Elena swung back, redness in her cheeks. But she hadn't regretted it for a moment, she supposed she was allowed to do this now, if Damon was flirting with other girls, she was definitely allowed to enjoy Stefan's presence without feeling guilty.
The class bell rang and now Elena had no choice but to face Bonnie and Caroline.
"Elena I'm so sorry we should have told you, we just didn't want you to find out that way"
"What way? Did you guys know before this?" there was no reply, and Elena felt herself tense at the idea that her friends were keeping secrets from her.
"What the hell Car? Why wouldn't you just tell me? Do you know how that makes me look?" Elena raised her voice. She looked over at Bonnie who looked just as guilty, the silence still drilling a huge wedge into the situation making Elena infuriated.
"Fine" Elena spun around to her locker and gathered her things.
"Where are you going?" Bonnie asked
"Anywhere but here" Elena said through her teeth, enraged by the secrets and silences. She bolted off swinging on her jacket in the process, rounding the corner of the hallway, she bumped into someone.
"Sorry Elena" it was Stefan, he helped her with her bag that had fallen in the process
"sorry, no it was me Stefan" she felt nervous again, he was smiling at her with a smile that made her melt. She skimmed at his body, he was wearing a navy v neck discretely showing his defined chest muscles and black jeans that fitted him all to well.
"Where are you going?" Elena looked away, afraid to tell him, but she needed to get out of here.
"I'm - I don't know but I kind of need to get out of here" she pulled a worried face, afraid that he would try to convince her to stay, the thought of trying to actually learn things and concentrate for the entirety of the day was too much of a chore, she just needed space, somewhere to think.
"I see.." Stefan played with a book page that had been turned over, fixing it back into place for a moment before asking her a question he was not sure if he should ask.
"I could take you somewhere if you'd like Elena?"
"Where?" she asked reluctantly, not even considering why he would want to cut class too, maybe it was for the same reasons as her, maybe he wanted to get away as well.
"It's not far, you'd really have to see it to understand"
"Okay" she agreed deciding to go with her instincts and trust him. Go with a vampire to an unknown destination for the afternoon without anyone else knowing where she had gone. Yeah that was a good idea she thought.
"Wow" Elena gasped when they passed the clearing of the forest and to a secluded area of land covered in overgrown grass, complemented by different types of flowers. Stefan guided her to a small path that seemed like it wasn't used much, many of the plants were beginning to crowd the small dusty path, making it less visible.
Stefan hadn't said much on the way, he mostly walked with his hands in his pockets, looking back when she fell behind slightly but always remaining close, they exchanged a few glances and smiled at each other, a comfortable silence that Elena loved, she hated forcing conversation to fill the awkward silences between people. That mindless chatter about things that people weren't really interested in, she mostly would do it when she thought people might think she's boring, like at school or at the grill. With Stefan though, she knew he didn't really mind, somehow he knew she just needed time and space, someone just to keep her upright during the days. A safety rope helping her climb perhaps.
Finally she could see where the path ended, Stefan sat at the edge of a small river removing his socks, rolling up his jeans and dipping his feet in the cool water. The sun was high, and it was warm, but still a cool breeze kept it pleasant enough to walk and enjoy it.
Elena sat near the bank, laying her jacket down to sit on, watching Stefan as he knelt down to watch fish move around him in the water. He really did see the world differently from others, she has never once seen Matt, Tyler or even Jeremy come to a river and so timidly enjoy the elements, letting the water run through his fingers, watching carefully as the wildlife gathered around him when the quiet resettled. Elena rested her head back, letting the sun work on her skin for a few moments, feeling for once she could really relax. This was a good idea she thought, this is really nice.
"Here" Stefan sat next to her and handed her a petunia.
"Thanks" she smiled, "There my favourite" Stefan smiled at this, he knew they were her favourite, that was part of the reason he had brought her here in the first place.
"This is so perfect" and again those words sounded strangely familiar to Stefan, he remembered when they would come here and she would say that. He wanted to hold her hand; he wanted to show her that it was only perfect because she was there with him, and he loved that place because they used to share it together and no one else.
"What are you thinking Stefan?" as though she could tell that he was deep in thought, he turned only to see her staring right back at him, she wasn't nervous anymore, she held her own back in her gaze like she had made peace with Damon last night. It made him shudder seeing her eyes piercing into his.
"Honestly, I'm thinking this is perfect too, because your here with me" it sounded cheesy but she didn't care, because it sounded so sincere and he seemed heartbroken after saying it. He looked away, shy and scared of what she may think. Afraid that she would run because he had just opened up to her.
She placed a hand on his that was resting on the grass next to her, deciding that he needed it, that he needed someone to know he was hurting and she was there for him. Stefan looked at their hands for a moment, hoping this wasn't a dream, her touch alone made him flutter above them and watch as his perfect angel was returning to him.
Suddenly Elena wanted more, touching him wasn't enough, she wanted to be closer. She turned her fact to his and looked in his eyes, her heart beating so fast, his gaze that retuned was intense and lustful.
"You make me nervous "she whispered, almost laughing at it, knowing he could probably hear her heart pounding against her chest. And she wondered for a minute if he could see her lips shaking in their close proximity.
"You have no idea" Stefan tried as he shook his head in disbelief, how beautiful she was, suddenly she was looking at his lips, and she couldn't hold it any longer. Instantly, she pressed her lips on his. And they kissed, like it was their first time.
Stefan gently stroked his thumb across her cheek and pulled away, savouring every last second of her lips on his. Her eyes remained closed for a moment, and he tried to read her. She leaned back to kiss him again, as though she wasn't sure about something, like she wanted to know.
She pressed her lips against his and he eagerly returned, his hands running through her hair, while hers dragged across his jaw, breathing heavily, bodies moving involuntarily closer, lips crushed together and bruised in unison.
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at him like she could see him, like she felt so much in those few seconds of contact that made her delirious.
"Have we done this before?" she asked, confused, still lingering close to his lips, afraid to move.
Stefan was afraid to answer, afraid to shift away from her body, to act and hope.
"What makes you think that?" she drew away from him, she seemed shaken, confused, she didn't know how she had let this happen, it felt so right, and he didn't even have to say two words for him to make her feel that way.
"It just feels...right" Stefan nodded, knowing what she was thinking, what she was feeling, the confusion inside herself that she couldn't remedy.
"Listen, I won't say anything to Damon if you don't want me to" offering her a resolve to her predicament, but it was tearing him up inside that she may decide at any moment that her and Damon was the answer and not him.
Elena nodded reluctantly, her brain telling her that Damon would never have to know, he would never find out, they were meant to be. But her heart was telling her, Stefan, being with Stefan was right. Elena felt a weird sensation near her chest, she moved her hand to her necklace, feeling it tremble slightly by no cause that she could see, making her skin under it tingle and heat up.
"Uh what the hell" she began to remove it.
"No!" Stefan tried to stop her realizing that she was taking it off.
"Why" she asked laughing from his reaction, but still placing her hands to her sides again,
"That was weird...my chain was, moving or something" Stefan got up and offered his hand to her.
"Come on, we better get out of here, it's getting late" he smiled, and she took his hand willingly, but never let go, she wound her fingers through his and they walked together, but this time they talked, they talked like nothing else mattered, about everything and everything, and Elena felt normal, she felt like, she remembered a few things, like she wasn't stuck for words anymore, maybe the walk had helped she thought, or maybe, it was Stefan.
Yay Stelena kisses, it seems like years. What did you think? We have to remember Damon is still being all in love with her too, I hope he keeps his hands off her ;)