Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Please support the original release. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Thank you cheleyk, lola, Roxhall, Super, delia, Moondancer, and Navywife for you reviews! I know chapter 2 made me tear up too! I love that everyone is loving the story so far. Remember, everything is not as it seems. To alleviate some possible confusion later, Elena is not the one Stefan obviously saves, like in the show. Bella is the one he saves, despite Elena losing her parents earlier in the spring. The obvious choices are not going to be the choices that Bella makes. Chapter 4 will bring some more interesting turns of events and hope everyone enjoys it. I enjoy writing for everyone and hope everyone continues to love the story! As always, don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
Another week passed since the death of Renee Swan. It was hard on Bella, but she had her new friends to help her. She sold the car her mom bought, she wouldn't need it and Bella couldn't bring herself to drive anymore or anytime soon. She had a new Jeep, sitting in the driveway, but she just didn't want to drive just yet. It was Monday again and she was going back to school. She needed the distraction. She couldn't hide away inside forever. She heard the knocking on the door and she went and opened it. It was Stefan.
"Oh, you're early." Bella said, grabbing her bag.
"I'm an early riser." Stefan said. "Um, Caroline talks a lot and has a whole list of things that I'm supposed to say or do, but I'm sure I'll forget them. She wanted to coordinate a schedule on pick up and drop off from school." He explained.
Bella shook her head. "She's extreme. I'm sorry you got roped into this."
"I'm happy to do it. Seriously. I'm new to town too or at least since I was a small kid. I've traveled a lot too, but Mystic Falls is home to my family for several generations. The least I can do is lend a helping hand when someone is in need." Stefan explained.
"I do appreciate it." Bella said and her stomach grumbled.
"First stop is breakfast." Stefan said and grabbed her bag from her. "Come on." He said and they left the house and walked out to his car. It was the same car from the funeral. It was an older car but was in great condition. A porche, but an older classic porche.
Bella ducked down in Stefan's car and they started towards school, but stopped at the coffee shop before they arrived. Stefan ran in grabbing coffees with a danish for Bella and brought it back outside then handed it to her before they drove the rest of the way to school.
They sat in the parking lot for a while she ate the danish and drank on the coffee. "Thank you for this. I have been forgetting to eat breakfast lately. Mom used to… at least throw a banana at me in the morning."
"I thought you were the organized one." Stefan said with a smile.
"Well, I'm not really a morning person." Bella admitted.
Stefan smiled and then glanced out the window, seeing Edward's brand-new Mercedes pull up in the parking lot along side the red convertible his sister Alice drove. They were here early as well.
"It still feels like yesterday that she was taken from me. Sometimes I think about the car sinking and I just feel this drowning feeling. I still can't remember how I got to the riverbank." Bella said and took a sip of the coffee.
Stefan thought back to that night, when he saw her jeep go over the bridge. He reacted slowly for someone who was so fast. The car was sinking so fast and he got to Bella first pulling her from the car, bringing her to the bank and made sure she was still breathing before he went back to get Renee, but Renee was already gone. He couldn't save her and he knew that it would be painful for Bella later. He sighed as he shrugged, though, looking over at her. "Sometimes our minds react in strange ways. You did hit your head."
"Yeah…" Bella murmured. "I guess I wasn't able to get my mom free, and so I just got out when I could. Does that make me a terrible person?"
"No, it doesn't. People don't just willingly drown themselves. Your body would have forced you out of the water." Stefan said, swallowing.
Bella sighed. "Yeah, you're right." She brought her coffee up to her lips and took a drink. Other cars were filtering into the parking lot now, but she still didn't know if she could move her legs to even get out of the car.
Stefan studied her for a few moments before he got out and walked around to her door and opened it for her. He grabbed her bag, slung it onto his shoulder and then helped her up out of the car. "First day back, it's going to be an overwhelming day and at any point you want to ditch let me know."
Bella smiled as she stood. Stefan really was kind to her. Caroline talked about him a lot, of how attractive he was and that she would get him to ask her to homecoming, but then she forfeited it when she pushed Stefan her direction. Caroline didn't make sense sometimes. She shut the door and fell into step beside him. "I think keeping distracted will help the most. I have PE last period, I'm just so uncoordinated that I might just ditch that class in the very least."
"Done. I'll ditch Gym class as well and meet you in the parking lot." Stefan said with a smile.
"Aren't you on the football team?" Bella pointed out.
"Which means I get enough exercise as it is." Stefan joked. "I don't have practice today, so I can be your chauffeur for the evening."
Bella smiled. "Thanks. I really do appreciate all this."
"Of course, anytime." Stefan said as they walked inside. They went to her locker, where she took out a couple books and closed it. Caroline walked up then, Bonnie by her side. "Oh, hey Bonnie, Care." Bella greeted.
"So, I'm texting the schedule to the group text message. I have cheer today with Elena and Bonnie. Stefan are you good for today?"
"Yup. We're skipping 4th and leaving out early." Stefan said as he leaned against the locker next to Bella's.
Caroline nodded. "Good. I mean, skipping not good, but good that you have drop off handled. Tomorrow morning, I'll swing by-"
"I can get her in the mornings." Stefan said. "Not a big deal. You have president stuff to do early in the morning some days, plus the Boarding House is closer to Bella's place anyways. Not out of the way at all." Stefan explained.
Caroline looked at her phone. "Okay, I'll update the schedule then. If that's okay Bella?"
Bella nodded, smiling a little. "Eventually I'll drive again. I'm sorry for being a burden."
"You're not a burden." Bonnie said gently. "I have her Tuesday and Wednesday, right? For drop off…"
"Yes." Caroline said with a nod. "Elena said she can do Friday since we're all in practice on Friday. Thursday… hmm."
Stefan cleared his throat. "I'll drop her off Thursday and bounce back for practice."
"That's just too much." Bella said. "Thursday I'll just chill at practice. I should get some sunshine anyways, right?"
Caroline smiled. "Yes, vitamin D is good for you. Gives you energy."
The first bell rang and it was time to disperse for class for the day. Stefan walked her to her first period before ducking down the hall to his class. He only wanted to help as much as he could. He found that each day that passed, that Bella drew him in. At first perhaps it was the likeness of her, but she was so much different. Her soul was pure and that was a quality that he wanted to explore more.
Fourth period came quickly and Bella walked out to meet Stefan in the parking lot. She noticed Edward walking out at the same time as she was. "Oh, you're leaving too?"
"Yeah, figured I would ditch Gym." Edward said with a smile. "You rode with Stefan?"
"Uh yeah. Caroline put together a Bella schedule. I feel like I am useless right now. I'm still trying to come to terms with my mom being gone."
"I get that." Edward said with a slight nod. "I lost my mom a long time ago. I don't remember my father."
"Oh, right. You're adopted, I forgot since… Carlisle seems so nice."
Edward smiled a little. "Yeah, I've known Carlisle for a long time. He's my father, he's raised me to be the way I am now. And Esme is great. I'm fortunate."
Bella offered a small smile. "I've never met her, but I'm sure she's amazing."
"She is." Edward said, and studied her a moment. They had stopped right outside the school. He reached up and brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. "I know you're having a hard time right now. I wish I could tell you life gets better, but I can't. But remember how strong you are, and how beautiful you are."
Bella blinked a few times. Edward was staring at her now, studying her like he wanted to kiss her or something. She felt frozen in place as he leaned in close. His lips brushed her cheek and she didn't realize she was holding her breath until he leaned away. "Um… Thanks. I should get going…" She murmured and then turned around and left. She wasn't sure what to make of that encounter. She found Edward to be a bit on the strange side, but at the same time, he had been nice to her. She couldn't really say anything bad about him. From what Caroline said, Edward didn't talk to anyone outside his family, so she really thought it was odd, especially with his compliments he gave her and the kiss on the cheek.
Stefan was leaning against his car, looking at his phone when she walked up. He heard everything Edward said and he felt a twinge of jealousy in his gut when he kissed her cheek. He looked up at Bella then opened her door for her taking her bag to put it in the back seat before closing her door and going around to the driver's seat. "So. Where do you want to go, m'lady?" He said, faking an English accent.
Bella smiled. "Hmmm, well I don't know. I'm not sure I know much about Mystic Falls. I never got the chance to explore."
"Say no more." Stefan said and started the car and drove away from the school.
Stefan pulled up at the quarry. There was a waterfall that rolled over the edge and disappeared into a body of water below. The greenery was so amazing here too. It was quiet and quaint, Bella thought it was nice. You would think she would be terrified of water, but she really did like the water and a sight like this was too beautiful to pass up. There was a large rock formation a little ways from where he parked and they walked over to it. Stefan shrugged his leather jacket off and placed it on the ground for Bella to sit on so she didn't have to get her pants dirty.
"Such a gentleman." Bella said with a smile and sat down. Stefan sat down next to her. "It's so quiet out here and peaceful."
"It is. I like to come here to think." Stefan said. "I write in my journal here and sometimes I just sketch some of the landscape."
"You draw?"
"Not well." Stefan said with a smile.
Bella smiled and looked out at the trees around them. It was so full of wildlife. Birds were singing, and woodpeckers were carving their homes in trees. It was the wilderness. Bella once hiked with her mom in Colorado. The mountains there were beautiful. The Appalachian didn't have that large beauty like the Rockies did, but it was still pleasant and beautiful out here. She wished that her mom could see this right now, just the beauty of nature that surrounded them. She didn't realize a tear slipped down her cheek because she blinked in surprise when Stefan reached over and brushed the tear away.
"You're thinking about your mom?" Stefan asked softly.
Bella nodded. "Yeah. I figured I was done crying, but apparently not." She sniffed a little.
Stefan reached over, his arm going around her shoulders and he pulled her closer to him, so she could lay her head on his shoulder. She did, finding comfort with his arm around her. They were quiet for a while and she appreciated that he left her to her thoughts, but she started thinking about Stefan. He had lost his family too, and he was surviving. She knew that time would heal her wounds, but she sometimes thought about how maybe it wouldn't. What if she was just royally screwed up forever?
Stefan moved his hand, lightly drawing a line up and down her bare arm, a gentle gesture, one that was calming and he hoped that it had that affect on her at least.
Bella closed her eyes, his touch was calming. She felt at ease there with him, so much so that she tilted her face to look at him. He looked back at her, their eyes getting caught in a trance. His forest green eyes were so extraordinary that she studied the swirls of different greens in them. When he leaned forward, his lips just a hair away, she stayed where she was, not backing away. His lips brushed hers softly and it sent little chills through her. Her heart fluttered faster in her chest and she thought about how this was her first kiss. The kiss was slow, like their lips didn't want to disconnect, when he leaned back a little, her lips parted and he kissed her again. This time the kiss was firmer, their tongues sweeping in together and mixing. His hand came up, framing part of her face and neck as they angled closer to each other, their kissing continuing to drink each other in.
Stefan heard the uptick in her heart rate and could tell that she wanted this kiss, so he kept going, his brain trying to catch up with the kiss. His erection grew in his pants, but he stayed the way he was, not pressuring her for more. He knew that he wanted more, but she certainly didn't need more right in this moment.
It was blissful, for Bella. She wasn't sure where the line blurred for her when it came to Stefan, but she was glad that he made the first move. She shifted a little to face him more, her hands moving up his chest to his shoulders as she moved into his lap, straddling him now. His hands moved to her hips, his fingertips brushing against the bare skin where her shirt rose up exposing the milky skin. She felt the hard erection in his jeans as they kissed. This was what making out felt like. Hormones were raging, especially for her, this was the first time she experienced any of these emotions, even arousal for herself. It was a new concept, being aroused. She moaned instinctively against his lips as their tongues fought each other for passionate control.
Stefan's hands moved under her shirt now, running up her sides, making her shiver. His brain shut down on him as he let her consume him. The heat that started between them wasn't ending and now he wasn't sure if he wanted it to end. She shifted her hips against him, rubbing against the material of his jeans, making it rub against his erection and he moaned against her mouth now.
Bella felt his dick harden more and his moaning made her aware that he was really turned on by what was happening between , she twirled her hips purposely now, rubbing against his hard cock through the material of both their jeans. It sent sensations through her that she wanted to chase, so she repeated the motion which made him moan again. Their breathing got heavier as the kissing intensified, until the kiss broke and his mouth went to her throat, kissing her there. She moaned as she twisted her hips again.
Stefan inhaled her scent, he felt the tingling under his eyes form, and knew that he had to stop then. He could never hurt her, she was too pure, too perfect, so he pulled his face away from her throat and focused on controlling himself as he managed to keep it at bay. His hands moved to her hips and stopped her. "Bella…"his voice was strained. "We shouldn't…"
Bella was coming back to reality, and she looked into his eyes, his look was strained like he was trying to hold himself back. "I don't want you to hold back Stefan… what if we just… right here, no one will come by. I'm okay with this."
"I don't want to hurt you." Stefan murmured. "I could never hurt you…" He said, reaching a hand up and caressing her cheek.
"You're not going to hurt me. I trust you Stefan." She said and then lifted her shirt, pulling it off. She felt nervous, sitting in his lap like this exposed, but she wanted to take a step in a direction and break through the fog of losing her mother. It was reckless, but she wanted to be reckless.
Stefan took in the sight of her, her skin was so smooth looking and her breast were supple. He wanted nothing more than to take this to the next step. Could he keep his control? It had been a while since he lay down with a woman.
"Stefan…" Bella murmured, her eyes watching him. "You can touch me."
Stefan's hands moved up her sides to her breast, feeling her, cupping her in his palm. They were heavier than he thought they would be, but her breast was nice and round, like perfection. Like everything else about her. She was, incredible. His mouth moved back to hers, their tongues reunited and she shifted in his lap. She began pressing against him with each twirl of her hips until he was laying her back on the ground, her head laying on his jacket. His hands moved down her body to her pants and he unbuttoned them with ease, sliding them off. Her heart hammered in her chest and he could hear it, so he blocked it out, continuing the assault on her mouth before moving down to nuzzle between her breast. She leaned her head back, closing her eyes while enjoying the way his mouth felt.
Stefan felt the tingling under his eyes again and he stopped, reeling himself in, before pulling away, panting slightly.
Bella frowned. "Stefan…"
"Um… I can't. This is just… too much too fast." He said and turned around, hiding his face because he could feel the dark veins still crawling, and he needed to calm himself down more. He couldn't do this. He just couldn't.
Bella sat up, her arms covering her chest, as she suddenly felt self-conscience. "Oh, um. You're right. Maybe another time." She said and reached for her shirt and pulled it on while he still had his back turned. "Or maybe… I'm not the right girl."
Stefan closed his eyes, the veins going away, but he turned to look at her. "You are very much, the right girl. I promise you, it's not you. I just… haven't… so I'm just…." He blew out an anxious breath. "I'm not sure how to explain."
Bella understood then. "It's okay. I understand. I'm… I'm a virgin too, so… I know the nerves can be too much. Perhaps it's best you did stop." She said with a nervous chuckle, her cheeks tinting.
Stefan reached up and caressed her cheek. "You are so beautiful, Bella. I want to so badly do all these things with you, but perhaps we should take one step at a time. Your first time shouldn't be on a cliffside next to a waterfall in the woods."
Bella smiled. "It wouldn't be a bad first time, but I understand. Kissing is okay for you though… right?"
"I need to calm myself down, but yes. Kissing is okay." Stefan said. "More than okay."
Bella felt herself blush again and she looked away. She experienced her first make-out session and for once, she felt like a normal teenager. She only wished her mom was there to talk to about it, but she pushed the thoughts away then leaned close to Stefan, laying her head on his shoulder again, and they sat for a little bit before, they headed back to his car so he could bring her home.
Caroline sat on Bella's bed that night after bringing Chinese over for dinner so Bella wouldn't starve, painting her toenails a bright coral color. "So, tell me about it."
"About what?" Bella asked as she worked on math homework.
"The small hickey on your neck." Caroline said with an arched brow.
Bella flushed a little at the thought. "Um… well…"
"Bella Marie Swan, did you have your first make-out session with a boy." Caroline said with a fake gasp.
Bella smiled and set her notebook down. "Maybe."
"Oooh. You have to tell me more about it." Caroline said, fanning her toes so they'll dry faster.
"So, he took me to the quarry, where the waterfall is. It was so beautiful there. It was relaxing, one minute I was leaning my head against his shoulder and then the next minute I know, we're kissing." Bella said and ran her hands over her face to hide her embarrassment.
"Oh my god! That's amazing. Did you get to second base?"
Bella shook her head. "I mean, almost. I had my shirt off and he started undoing my pants, but he stopped himself."
Caroline gasped a little. "You almost made it all the way, oh my god Bella. This was your first time. Do you think you'll kiss again?" She waggled her brows.
"I hope so. Is that bad? I feel like I pressured him, because I was sitting in his lap and I could feel his… you know."
"How big was it?" Caroline asked, curious.
"I don't know. It was pretty noticeable. Like, I've never seen one before really at all, but feeling it was a different… thing I suppose."
Caroline smiled. "What did you do?"
"I uh… might have stimulated him more through his jeans, by moving my hips a lot."
Caroline gasped again. "That was bold. He was liking it right?"
"Yes, but like I said. He stopped himself. He said it was too much too fast for him. He's a virgin too."
"No way! He's hot! You're telling me, a woman hasn't jumped his bones before now?" Caroline squeaked.
Bella shook her head. "I guess not." She sighed. "I thought maybe I just wasn't the right girl, but he told me I definitely was the right girl. He said I was beautiful." She said as her cheeks rosing up a bit more.
Caroline hugged Bella then. "That's so dreamy and romantic. I knew he would be a good one. I can just tell. And he's a gentleman. He opens the car door for you and he put his jacket down for you to sit on. That's just amazing Bells. Seriously."
Bella laughed a little. She was at ease with Caroline oddly, so, and she felt like what a normal teen girl would feel like. She was giddy at the thought of Stefan. It was odd. "I just hope I don't screw anything up. I can still feel his lips against mine."
Caroline smiled wide. "That is amazing. Seriously. You know I was joking about the homecoming thing. I would never interfere with young love." She said, clasping her hands together and pretending to swoon on Bella's bed.
Bella smiled. "I really didn't intend for him to look my way. He just did. I'm just this awkward, plain looking girl. I don't wear makeup; my hair is always a mess and I wear jeans and a t-shirt most of the time."
"Well, I can teach you to be more girly." Caroline said, her smile begging Bella.
"I don't know. The whole makeup thing isn't me." Bella said.
Caroline reached into her nail polish bag and rustled through some things and pulled out electric blue. "Well, nails aren't makeup. It's just an extension of you. Socks off. Toes first." She insisted.
Bella sighed and slipped her socked off, and Caroline grabbed a foot and started putting the polish on her toes. She smiled, watching Caroline. She was happy that Caroline was a friend, despite their personalities being so different. Today was a great first day. She figured, with friends like Caroline, Bonnie and Elena along with someone like Stefan, she could get through this heartache. They could help heal the hole left by losing her mom.
