Chapter three: Have you forgotten?

Stefan and Elena had been best friends ever since they were babies. Their parents were best friends as well, and they were neighbors too. She was practically family to him.

The to and fro between them started long before they had even realized. He remembered the first clear memory he had of her.

.. Flashback ..

The five-year-old girl bumped into him.

"Watch where you're going, idiot" She shouted, rubbing her forehead.

"And what are your button eyes for, bonehead," He insulted back.

She glared at him with so much anger before she shouted. "Mom. Stefan called me bonehead,"

.. Flashback over ..

He didn't immediately like her, at all. He liked playing with the boys of neighborhood, and she was just a frail girl who was into playing with her dolls. Sadly, since there were no other girls in the neighborhood, she was mostly lonely. Thus the reason his parents insisted he hang out with her.

.. Flashback..

The entire neighborhood shared this one playground. It was huge with lots of old enormous trees, shiny new play sets with swings and see saws.

Stefan wasn't actually in mood to play but his mother had shut down his gaming console and forced him to go out and get some physical activity. He decided that he would go and play tag with his friends.

He was lost in his musings, when he noticed some of the boys gathered around Elena. They were maybe an year or two older than him. They'd circled her. She was looking around, desperately for help.

"What's going on?" he thought.

Their neighborhood had high bullying rate and it seemed Elena was just about to become another victim.

"Hey!" he called. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size!"

"Oh look, who's here. Short Stefie," One of the boys teased.

"It makes it easier for me to punch you in the balls." Stefan jumped on the boy, kicking him in the stomach, his opponent tried to tackle him, but Stefan overpowered him by grabbing a fistful of his hair with all his might.

"Hey, hey, stop," One of the ladies from the neighborhood had spotted them.

"Oh, crap. Mrs. Ben. Run before she sees us here,"

.. Flashback over ..

That was the start of their friendship. After that, Elena stayed with him, like a shadow. She looked up to him, tried to copy him, she adored everything that he did. Their parents would often joke about how they'd end up getting married, seeing as they were so close.

And to be honest, Stefan thought that too. Until, it all crashed. And for what?

For something so stupid.

He couldn't admit to himself that Elena could be in love with anyone but him. That was just not possible. He believed she married Damon to spite him, and get back at him for what he did to her.

'It's always going to be Stefan,'

Her words. He held onto those words for his dear life.

He had been waiting for Damon and Elena to come back from her honeymoon. The names Damon and Elena in the same sentence made Stefan feel extremely jealous. Stefan and Elena were soul mates. She believed that. He believed that.

When Elena had finally returned, Stefan had tried to get her alone to talk to her. But she was always surrounded by her friends or Damon. It took a week for him to actually get her to go to brunch with him.

"Okay, but let me just ask Damon?"

"So now you need his permission to hang out with me?" Stefan said in a light tone but his words seemed bitter.

"What? No. I was about to call him to ask him to join us,"

"Elena, I want to talk to you. Alone."

"Okay, but let me just text him," She said as she quickly texted Damon anyway. It was just a habit now.

"Are you ok, Stefan? You didn't look very well at the wedding. Did you get food poisoning from the food? Damon said they were some of the best caterers in Mystic Falls, and I made sure there wasn't anything containing nuts because Matt's allergic…"

Stefan put a finger to Elena's mouth to shush her. She was always so caring, so loving that she worried about everyone, even Matt though they didn't know each other very well.

"Elena. No. I am okay. I guess, health vice."

Why didn't he just say it? To just express it. The longer he prolonged it, the more time she spent with Damon.

Stefan opened his mouth to speak.

"Elena, I have to tell you something."

"What, Stefan? Is something wrong? Is it mom's heart? Is dad okay?"

"Elena, do you remember, just over two years ago, when you said that you loved me?"

Elena gazed at the floor, suddenly uncomfortable. "Yes, I do. Why are we talking about that!" She spat.

"Did you mean it?" he reached for her hand but she pulled it away before he could touch her.

"What do you mean? Of course, I did. Back then you were my boyfriend and-,"

"Do you miss it?"

"Miss what? You hurt me, Stefan. You were supposed to be my best friend, my boyfriend, my love. But… you just hurt me so much."

"I'm sorry, Elena. I really am. I shouldn't have done that to you. I realize now because I realize that I didn't love her, it was just lust. I was so confused. I love you. I always have and I always will. I love you, Elena Gilbert."

There. He said it. Elena's mouth opened, but no sounds came out.

"Salvatore." She corrected him, anger brimming in her eyes.

"No. I don't accept this marriage. It's meaningless to me,"

Stefan was finally answered by a slap. A red mark across his face.

"You bastard! How DARE you! I've tried to be civil, Stefan! I moved on because you hurt me! If it wasn't for Damon, I would have KILLED myself! You only care because I'm with Damon, that's all!"

Her body trembled with fury. How could he have the audacity to say such a thing? Did he not care about her or Damon at all?

"When Tyler was flirting with me, you acted all protective, like I belonged to you and when I had courage to tell you how I felt, you not only turned me down in front of everyone, you broke up with me, you left with that bitch, that you told me, was just your friend,"

He looked hurt and disappointed, as if he was expecting a different reaction.

"I am married to your best friend. I am married to the man I love. Did you not think about that even for a second?" she reminded him.

Stefan closed his eyes, suppressing the guilt. He pursed his lips, not thinking about Damon. He didn't want to open that can of worms.

"You married him to spite me,"

"No."

"You can still choose. You have an option,"

"You're disgusting, there is no option. There is this man, that I am married to, the man I love, and only him."

"Are you, really?" he replied angrily. "Because you never even considered him when you were with me," Stefan argued. "Listen to you, getting all defensive. It makes you look more guilty."

She was stunned for a minute, not knowing what to say.

"You're thinking about it aren't you?" Stefan stepped closer.

She wasn't shocked, she was actually sad. Sad that this had come out now before all this heartache. Maybe she was sad for Damon, sad that Stefan was betraying him.

Elena eventually stopped shaking and looked back up to Stefan. She had wiped the tears away. They had gone. She was very angry at him, but she empathized with him, maybe he was feeling the same way how she felt when he left her, two years ago. She didn't want to come between him and Damon, she wanted him to understand that she belonged to Damon only.

"I'm sorry, Stefan. I really am. But… I'm married to Damon. I love him. We've just come back from our honeymoon, and we've already discussed children. I mean… I have moved on. I'm sure you'll find someone."

Stefan stared at his hands, clenching his knuckles. This couldn't be happening. He loved her. He wanted her to be his wife. He wanted her to give birth to his children.

It just wasn't fair. He clenched his fists again as he felt warm, salty tears threaten to spill from his green eyes.

Why did he hurt her? Why was he so stupid? Why was this happening to him?

"Elena, I love you."

The tears had finally escaped. He expected that would soften her. She'd never seen him cry.

And when he looked into her eyes, he did them softening. He was after all her best friend, the man she had always wanted, the man she adored. He knew that.

"Stefan. Please don't do this. It's hurting me seeing you like this,"

"Then don't go back to him." He held her hands tightly in his grasp.

"Damon's always worrying about you and me. He kept on telling me that he thought that one day I would run away with you, because it's obvious that we do love one another. I do love you, Stefan. But it's a best friend love. I fell in love with you a long me ago, but I fell out of love. I know it's hard. But I'm sure you'll find someone else. Someone who will love you like I love Damon and like Damon loves me,"

"Damon. Damon. Damon. Why are we talking about him? Why don't you understand-,"

"I do, Stefan. But you must understand that I can't. I can't even think of hurting Damon, my husband. I don't want to hurt you either, and the longer you go on about this, the more it's going to hurt you. Because my answer isn't going to change" she seemed firm when she said that.

"I can't! Can't you see? I've loved you all of my life! I can't imagine it without you by my side! I'm sorry I hurt you! Please!"

"I AM by your side, Stefan! I'm your best friend! I've always been there for you, and just because I'm married to Damon, it doesn't mean that I won't continue to be there for you. I do love you, as a good friend." She pulled her hands out of his, slowly. She decided that it was best that she leaves.

She turned around and was about to leave.

"It's always going to be Stefan," He repeated her words to her. "You promised that."

The memories rushed back to her cutting through her veins like a sharp knife.

"Do you not remember how we would kiss all the time? Have you forgotten how we'd stay up, all the time, talking? Do you not remember how we planned our future?"

It was all coming back to her, the memories that she had locked in darkest corner of her heart.

She stepped out hurriedly before he could scratch the wounds more.

Your firsts are always messy. But she was afraid, this could wreck her life.

..

..

Now we have like 32 votes for Damon and 2 votes for Stefan. Now I know Elena has been clear about who she prefers but, I am going to make sure that conflict is over there for a while. I know you wanted a glimpse into Damon's head but I wanted Stefan to actually confess before Damon would get involved. No doubt, he's going to find out soon and he's not going to be happy about it. Do tell me about your favorite pairing so far.

As for SHRM, I am facing a huge writer's block, I know what I want to do but it's hard to get there. I am sure I will figure something out soon.

Review, it's the only thing that keeps me motivated.

Hugs for everyone. Bye.