Elena was walking down an empty hallway with a wide smile across her face. She was late for class. Neither her alarm clock nor Jenna screaming her name, telling her she's going to be late, managed to wake her up. She skipped Jenna's awful coffee and did her morning routine in a hurry. Never in her life has she been late for class, and if it were any kind of a different situation, she would curse herself for being late, but happiness was still flooding her mind and body, and being upset at herself for being late for class was the last thing on her mind.
She opened her locker and took a Psychology book out of it. The events from yesterday were still flowing through her mind, flashing in front of her eyes like they're happening now, making her heart race and the hair on her hands stand straight up. Not even the warm shower washed away Stefan's kisses from her lips, so she could still feel them tingling, trembling at the memory of him kissing her in the rain. They were craving for more, although she and Stefan kept making out on his bed long after they came inside the house, before she rested her head on his chest, and before both of them started laughing at what kind of fools they both were. Her neck was still pulsating from all the kisses he planted there, and her mind would not let her forget how softly his fingers fell on her skin, especially when he picked her up from the ground, keeping his hands firmly under her bottoms. She wanted to feel the fire again. Fire starting in her toes and spreading through her whole body while he was lying on top of her, with the fingers of one hand going through her hair, and with the fingers of another gently fondling her hips. She never felt more alive than in the moment when his lips collided with her skin.
She started walking faster, when she could feel someones fingers wrapping around her wrist, pulling her in until her body crashed against the door between two lines of lockers. As soon as fingers fully wrapped around her wrist, she knew it was Stefan, because no one ever touched her so gently, and no one's touch made her body change temperature in the time of one second. When she felt wooden doors behind her back, she raised her head and smiled at already smiling Stefan, who was lowering his head to lock his lips with hers. She accepted the kiss only to detach her lips from his after few seconds, leving him lingering close to her face, expecting her lips to go back where they're supposed to – back on his.
„Someone will see us" – she said as he opened his eyes only to catch her look wandering around the hallway.
He looked around as well. The hallway was empty. When he turned his head around to look at her, he was frowning.
„So? I want everyone to know that you're mine" – he pulled a wide grin across his face.
The corners of her lips curved into a smile and blush came over her cheeks once again, which made him chuckle.
„Am I yours?" – she raised her head and her eyes wandered in the direction of his, curiously anticipating for his answer.
He smirked and took the lock of her hair, only to push it behind her ear and caress her blushing cheek. „Yes" – he said reassuringly.
That simple answer was enough for her to stand on the tip of her toes and throw her arms around his neck. She kissed him gently while playing with the ends of his hair on the back of the neck. He had put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, making their bodies grin against each other.
„But this time, I want to do things right" – he said after detaching his lips from hers.
He had met her confused look and laughed lightly while lowering his head down.
„You know, I want to take you on a date, make you shiver before I kiss you in the end of it" – he smirked at her and she smacked his shoulder with her loose fingers – „Tell our friends" – he continued, to which her face adapted a shocked expression.
Bonnie and Caroline, two of them completely slipped her mind. Yesterday she left the school with no explenation given. She missed the rest of her classes, and still had no idea how will she excuse herself to the teachers, or to Jenna. Obviously, she can't tell the truth, so she'll have to come up with some kind of a lie. Good one. But to Bonnie and Caroline she has to tell the truth. But how? They will expect details and she alone has no idea how everything happened, or how to explain everything that was going on in her mind for the past few weeks.
He furrowed his brows to the shock on her face she desperately tried to hide. „Rebekah and Nik won't be surprised anyway" – he continued, deciding not to react to the way her face started changing colors, or to the way her lips were shaped.
„Neither will Caroline and Bonnie" – she lied, trying to make her face go back to normal. Caroline and Bonnie will be surprised. No, they will be shocked. They will be accepting, but also confused, because both of them probably think Elena would never make such bold move when it comes to Stefan.
Stefan smiled when he saw her being her usual self. „I was thinking we could tell them today" – he said carefully, caressing the fingers of her right hand with his.
She sighed. She knew she will have to do this, but she thought she will have more time to prepare. Maybe this is better, telling them today. That way she won't have time to think about their reactions, and she won't have time to make a big deal out of it, so when they do tell them, she will do it with a completely open mind, and without any fear of what their reaction might be. So she inhaled deeply and nodded to him.
He intertwined his fingers with hers and tightly squeezed her hand into his.
„Good" – he smiled at her – „Today, the Grill, 7pm sharp. You bring Bonnie, and I'll call the rest" – he lowered his head and kissed her cheek, keeping his lips on her skin longer than he intended. His lips were magnatized to her skin, and he needed a lot of energy to pull them away.
He had let go of her hand, smiled once again, and ran away in another direction. Elena fell deeper on the doors and buried her face in her hands before remembering she's late for class and walking towards the classroom in a hurry.
xxxx
Caroline and Nik were sitting in the separate booth in the corner of the Grill. Her head was lowered on his shoulder, and he kept pulling his fingers through her hair. Every now and then she would turn his head around and keep it in that position until he locked his lips with hers. Caroline and Nik were one of those cheesy couples who had to rub their love in everyone's faces.
„Gross" – Rebekah said as she made herself comfortable on the soft bench of the booth across the happy couple. She came there in the moment Caroline told Nik he's her snuggly teddy. Rebekah hated couples like that. She was happy her brother has found someone, and she really liked Caroline, but most of the time the two of them made her puke.
Caroline and Nik rolled their eyes at her comment, but even though they knew it bothers her, they went back to being puke worthy sweet, as they always were. After few minutes Stefan strolled in the Grill, and she thanked God he came so soon, so she doesn't have to be alone with snuggling monsters across her.
When Stefan met Rebekah's grossed out look, he chuckled. He walked to the table in a hurry, because he knew if Rebekah was left alone with them for some more, she would duck tape both of their mouths. Or something worse, depending on what kind of a day she had. Rebekah looked relieved when he got closer to their table, but Caroline and Nik raised their heads only for a moment to greet Stefan, then Caroline's face disappeared on Nik's chest, and he hid his head in her hair.
Rebekah's eyes grew wider until she finally rolled them. They were like fucking lobsters. It's a well known fact lobsters mate for life.
„So, are you going to tell us why you summoned us all here, oh great one?" – Rebekah fixated her look on Stefan and cocked one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows at him.
Stefan smirked at her. „Be patient little one, we're still waiting for two more people" – Stefan tapped her on the head before jumping one step back so she could grab his hand in a tight grip.
Stefan lowered his head down. „I think that one day, they're going to melt into one person" – Stefan whispered into her ear.
Rebekah giggled while looking at her brother and Caroline, cuddled up next to each other. They looked like one giant soccer ball.
„Or eat each other up" – Rebekah said loudly, not trying to hide her comments like Stefan, but neither Nik or Caroline were bothered by her comment.
In that moment Bonnie and Elena walked in the Grill. Stefan met Elena's scared look, but as soon as their eyes locked, a smile appeared on her face, and her whole body relaxed. She grabbed Bonnie by her hand and started leading her towards the table. Bonnie waved at everyone happily, and Rebekah scooted by the end of the bench, thinking both Bonnie and Elena will sit next to her, but Elena, on everyone's surprise, stood by Stefan. Even Caroline raised her head from Nik's shoulder and everyone by the table started glancing at each other. All of a sudden, Elena started feeling uncomfortable, and Stefan could feel her body tensing next to him.
„So.." – Stefan clapped with the palms of his hands to gain everyone's attention – „I have gathered you here today - "
„Cut the crap Salvatore and tell us what are we doing here" – Rebekah interrupted him in the middle of his sentence, and by the tone of her voice he could tell she's eager to find out whatever he has to tell them.
Stefan laughed lightly and glanced over at Elena, trying to catch her look she kept lowered down on the floor. Stefan looked down at her hand that was shakingly lingering next to her body.
„Well, you all know Elena" – he brought his hand closer to hers, intertwining his fingers with hers, lightly shaking their joined hands for everyone to see – „My girlfriend" – he raised his head to see the reaction of people sitting in front of them. He emphasized the word girlfriend which made Elena blush. Soon enough she raised her head only to see shocked faces of her friends.
„No way!" – both Caroline and Bonnie yelled at the same time, before locking their eyes on each other and bursting into laughter.
„I knew it" – Rebekah said calmly, but inside she was exploding out of the curiosity, and Stefan knew that. Her mind was flooded with million of questions.
„It was pretty obvious" – Nik added, as calm as his sister, but unlike her, he didn't need to know when, where or how.
Stefan grinned at his friends. All knowing mother fuckers, Mikaelson siblings.
„Well, me and Elena are going on our first date, so you will have to keep all of your questions to yourself for now" – Stefan looked at Rebekah, letting her know he knows she's curious.
„We are?" – Elena asked shocked, and confused.
Stefan turned his smiling face at her and nodded as he squeezed her hand harder in his. She smiled back. They waved at their friends, and Stefan quickly pulled her outside of the Grill.
xxxx
Elena was waiting in the hall, while Stefan was standing in the line to buy tickets.
She was relieved her friends reactions were normal, and that they did not freak out or anything, but she knew the next time she sees them, they will be full of questions.
She glanced over at Stefan and noticed he's walking her way. He was carrying two large popcorns, and two cups of Coke in his hands, carefully watching them so they wouldn't fall out of his hands. He looked so adorable while walking in slow motion while keeping an eye on the snacks.
In that moment it had hit her that her being with Stefan is reality. She remembered the tingly feeling in her chest when he called her his girlfriend in front of everyone. When he held her hand in public. When he kissed her in the school hallway not giving a damn will anyone see them. She was not only his, he was also hers. And they're on the beginning of something. They're on the beginning of sharing even the tiniest details of their days, sharing their secrets, their feelings, kisses and hugs. Elena was never in a relationship before. She never felt loved or wanted or needed, not in that way. And the fact Stefan went through it all more than once scared her. She was scared that he will want things she can't give him, or the things she's not ready to share with him. Unlike her, he was so experienced, and sleeping with someone was probably not a big deal for him, it was a normal part of the relationship. But for her, that area was unknown. When he got closer to her, she dismissed those thoughts.
„Do you need help?" – she asked with a smile on her face, watching him struggle with popcorns that were trying to jump out from the box on the floor.
He raised his head and frowned. „Guy carries snacks, not the lady."
She cocked her eyebrow at him, but she had let him have it. She wasn't incompotent child, she could do things by herself. She could carry a box of popcorn and a cup of Coke by herself, but she also knew Stefan didn't mean anything bad by that. Stefan was very traditional, and when it came to relationships, he had some sorts of believes. He was a guy who would open a car door for you, pull you a chair to sit on, carry your bags. She knew he wouldn't lock her in the kitchen or make her make him a sandwich while he's watching the game in the living room. In the same time, his traditional behavior flattered her, but it also bugged her a little. But that was who Stefan was, and she accepted him like that, deciding to stand on the middle ground.
„What are we going to watch anyway?" – she asked while putting one popcorn in her mouth. Stefan frowned at her. He hated when people ate popcorn before the movie actually started. Rebekah would always eat her own popcorn before the middle of the movie, then she would sneak her hand into his box and steal his popcorns, and he would pretend he didn't notice everything. Elena was the same, her popcorns never saw the beginning of movie, she would eat them by the time of opening credits.
„Some horror movie" – he shrugged.
Horror movies were the best kind of movies for the first date, and Stefan knew that. Him and Elena were somewhere in between of the beginning of their relationship and the honeymoon phase. In the middle of sharing kisses at special occasions, but not being used to each other's touch. And if they're going to watch a horror movie, there will be plenty of touching. Elena told him herself she's a scared little kitten when it comes to horror movies, so he knew there will be a lot of snuggling. He only hoped she won't remember telling him that.
„A horror movie?" – her face was washed with shock. No, he can't see her scared like that in the beginning. She acts like a frightened little child whenever she sees blood on the screen.
He cocked his eyebrow at her. „Scared much?" – he teased her.
She furrowed her brows. „No!" – he had hit him in the shoulder with her tiny fist, he barely felt her punch.
He smirked. He lowered his head and gave her a peck on the lips, but he didn't raise his head up, but brought his lips closer to her ear. „Don't worry, I took us love seats, so I can protect you from the dark."
Elena blushed. She was never in love seats. She would watch couples cuddle in them while watching a movie like they're in the privacy of their own living room. She would often envy them.
The lady opened the cinema so they could get inside. There were couple of teenagers there, lot younger than them, two couples who were about their age, and an older man, who was alone. Elena felt sorry for him. She never understood how can someone go alone to the cinema.
Stefan found their seat, and they sat down. Their bodies were in the close proximity of each other. When the lights went out, Stefan had put his arm on the top of the seat, his fingers lingering on Elena's shoulder. Elena was sitting still with her eyes locked on the screen, eating her popcorns.
The movie began playing and her body relaxed.
But every time a scary scene would come up, he could feel her body tense, and every time there was blood, she would jump a little in her seat. Finally, her head fell down on his shoulder, and he smiled. She finished her popcorn, but he hadn't touched his. He was too busy with holding her close to him. He had put the hand that was resting on the top of the seat around her shoulders, pulling her in. She would keep burying her head in his shirt like a child every time the scary scene would be on.
And that silly little moment became relevant to him, because that was when he realized he never wants to let her go. He wanted to protect her from everything in many ways than one. He wanted to protect her like a parent wants to protect their child from the world, how older sibling wants to protect their younger sibling from the bullies, how a lover wants to protect their better half from pain. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go, because he knew his arms were the only place where she's safe. He would never intentionally hurt her, and he would never let others hurt her.
She reached for his other hand, intertwining her fingers with his.
Happiness had hit both of them like a running train, and even if they wanted to, they had no time to move from the tracks. Neither of them were so happy for a long time as they were in that moment. The simplicity of moment they found themselves in made them happy.
With her other hand she reached for his popcorn that were sitting next to him. She took one and put it in her mouth while resting her head on his chest.
That little..
Cutest being on this planet, he thought.
He took the popcorns in his hand and put the box in his lap so it would be closer to her. She can eat his popcorn. And if she wanted more, he would get up and leave the movie to buy her more. He didn't need popcorns, he had her in his arms, and that was enough for him.