"Crying won't save you now." Stefan said looking at her. "Matt will know something is wrong if you show up with me and tear-stained cheeks. So stop." His tone was harsh. He was angry. Elena knew he had every right to be angry just like she had every right to be upset, but he was right. Matt would question her all night, It was already bad enough they were riding to the party together. Elena did what he said and wiped her tears away careful not to smear her make-up. Stefan at his house and went inside not telling her what he was going in for. She didn't care at this point though. She was just ready to get to the party. She hoped Stefan would just get drunk and pass out somewhere, but with him that was unlikely. Stefan came out a few minutes later with a couple of items. He handed Elena a cup that was filled with ice and then he opened up a bottle of tequila and a bottle of margarita mix. Elena eyed him as he poured the contents into the styrofoam cup. He mixed it before handing it to her. He carefully sealed the bottles back up before setting them under his backseat. She saw that he had only grabbed one cup. Elena didn't say anything though, she just accepted the drink taking a big drink. She needed this and how he knew was beyond her knowledge. She was grateful for it though.
Arriving at the party there were cars already parked everywhere. People were all off in the woods like they usually were for the back to school party. Caroline was the host of this one though so it was probably going to be over the top and swimming with hundreds of people. Stefan refilled her drink taking note that she had almost downed the thing.
"Look I'd appreciate it if you didn't get drunk tonight and tell Matt." Elena said looking at him seriously.
Stefan nodded his head leaning back in his seat staring out at the crowd of high schoolers. He wondered if he would ever feel the same again. How was he supposed to act now knowing that he would be living with his ex girlfriend/wife/best friend's girlfriend? Stefan didn't know what to expect anymore or how he should feel. "I won't get you into any trouble. When are you planning on telling him?"
Elena shrugged running her fingers through her hair as she took another big drink. She was way too tense to attend the party just yet. "I have no idea but I need you to not screw this up for me. I love Matt and he deserves a better explanation than a drunk one from you."
"What if you get drunk and spill the beans?" Stefan raised an eyebrow at her with a smirk. It was just as easy for her to let it slip as it was him. She did have loose lips when she drank.
"I don't want to hurt him." She told him with a serious voice.
"I don't either." Stefan agreed. "Elena he has to know sooner or later. I don't think we can hide it when we move to the lake house."
"Just let me handle it okay?"
"Okay." He shrugged turning off the car. "These are yours." He said as he grabbed the tequila and margarita mix from under his backseat and handing them to her. "Just don't drive anywhere tonight."
"Thanks, Matt is taking me home I'm sure." She said with a hint of guilt in her voice. She hated thinking about what they did to Matt. Her sweet and loving Matt. He deserved better. "You didn't get anything?" She asked curiously.
Stefan shook his head. "No, Lexi raided Damon's bar earlier and ran off with my bourbon. So she's got what I need, or at least she better or I'm going to be one mad teenager tonight." He laughed making Elena smile.
"I'll see you around Salvatore." She said before grabbing her things and exiting the car. Stefan sat behind watching her. He felt like that's what he was always doing, watching her walk away.
She looked back at him over her shoulder and it was as if their hearts were breaking with the reality of it all. Neither one wanted this marriage but yet here they were stuck with each other. The guilt was starting to eat them up, Matt was his best friend and her boyfriend. They were horrible people for doing this to him. Stefan always joked around with her saying he didn't care about Matt but that was a lie, Stefan could have ruined their relationship many of times but he didn't because he valued his friendship with Matt. Stefan broke their gaze and exited the car. Elena followed his action and began walking up to the party again. Once reaching their destination Stefan was out of sight leaving Elena to deal with a crazy Caroline.
"Elena where have you been?" Caroline asked obviously already tipsy. Elena smiled holding up the liquor in her hand.
"I had to pick up the goodies." She lied through her teeth.
Caroline squinted her eyes at her trying to figure out if she was lying or not. Elena was hiding something and Caroline wanted to get to the bottom of it. "You just coincidentally arrived when our favorite Salvatore did?"
Elena rolled her eyes at her friend. She never did like to let things go. "Where is Bonnie?"
Caroline shrugged looking around. "I think she is by the keg over there with Lexi."
"Come on." Elena looped her arm through Caroline's and pulled her off in that direction to chat with their other friends. She didn't need anyone analyzing her one on one because she was sure to crack like she did with Bonnie. It was bad enough that one of her friends knew. She needed to keep this marriage a secret for as long as possible.
"Elena!" Bonnie yelled hugging her glad to see her smiling face. Elena smiled back happily and hugged her. "What took you so long to get here?" Elena shook her head.
"I was just running late. I had some family stuff to attend to." Elena said like it was no big deal. "Besides I brought you a gift." She held the bottles up while Bonnie's eyes lit up.
"Matt's looking for you." Bonnie said as she made herself a drink.
"Oh and he is super upset." Caroline added. "Tyler said he was complaining the whole ride over."
"Great." Elena mumbled. She didn't want to deal with him right that moment. "Where did Lexi go?" Elena asked.
"Stefan showed up and demanded he get to talk to her alone." Bonnie laughed. "I think he was just going to retrieve his bourbon Lexi hid from him."
"She's a dead woman." Elena smiled. Stefan was in no mood to play tonight.
"Elena where have you been?" Matt said coming up to them.
Elena cursed under her breath before plastering a smile on her face. "I had to help my parents with something and then Katherine came over with a Damon crisis." Elena lied.
Matt tried to hide the disappointment on his face. He knew she was hiding something from him but he didn't want to argue about it tonight. "I'm just glad you made it." He said leaning in to steal a kiss.
"No worries tonight." Elena told him as she brought him in for another kiss. "Let's just enjoy ourselves."
"Okay." Matt agreed.
"Beer pong anyone?" Tyler asked coming up with Stefan and Lexi following.
"I call Stefan." Lexi said stealing his drink as Stefan tried to snatch it back but with no such luck. The girl could drink like a fish sometimes.
"Sure I'll play." Matt said looking at Elena for approval.
"What is that?" Stefan laughed pointing at them. "You need your girl's approval to play?" Elena shot him a dirty look as Matt shook his head not amused by his friend at the moment.
"Come on man stop being so whipped." Tyler joined in on the laughter slapping his friend on the shoulder. "One round won't hurt you. Elena do you mind?"
"I don't." Elena assured. "It's not like he needs my approval anyways." She looked directly at Stefan. "Go kick ass babe." Elena stood on her toes to kiss him sweetly as Stefan averted his eyes and looked at Lexi who handed him his drink back.
"Play nice boys." Bonnie called out after them as they walked away towards the table that was set up and waiting for them.
Hours into the party Stefan was definitely feeling drunk as he stood around with his friends laughing. Elena was surprisingly nearby in the group standing tucked into Matt's side laughing at what Lexi had just said. All the friends were thoroughly enjoying themselves for once with no tension. Everyone was glad that Stefan and Elena were holding off their fires for the night. Caroline was now talking about all the upcoming events for the year and how amazing everything was going to be. Stefan tuned her out though not wanting to hear anything about the year. Elena though had a look of longing on her face, knowing that nothing was going to be the same anymore for her this year. Sure she could take part in everything with her friends but she wouldn't be doing these things with Matt by her side unless she found a way to get him to understand or a way to keep her unfaithfulness from her. She knew it was selfish but she couldn't stand the idea of losing him over this. By the end of the night people were passed out all over the place. People were leaving or trying to find rides home. Caroline and Tyler had called a driver. It was the perk of being the mayor's son everyone guessed. Bonnie had decided to catch a ride with them. Lexi was drunk and passed out in Matt's backseat. So now it was just Stefan, Matt, and Elena standing around by their cars. Elena herself was drunk as she had caught herself stumbling a few times that night. Stefan had caught her on more than one occasion placing her back on her feet. He himself was drunk but he was not falling around everywhere. He had found himself lost in thought most of the night, but Elena on the other hand seemed to be acting as if nothing was going on through her head. She was so carefree that night that Stefan was jealous. He had tried to be carefree and not let the impending future weigh him down but it was starting to get impossible as he watched Elena and Matt.
"I'm just going to grab Lexi and head home. She'll need a place to stay tonight." Stefan told Matt as he reached for the back seat door. Elena stopped him though placing her hand on the truck door not letting him open it.
"Stefan you can't drive." She slurred as she shook her head at him.
Stefan fought the urge to roll his eyes as he looked at Matt to make her step back so he could open the door. He just wanted to be as far away from these two as he could.
"Matt." Elena said looking up at him. "He cannot drive." Elena may have been drunk but she had a serious face on that let both boys know she was not backing down.
Matt sighed, running his hands over his face. He was too tired for this and obviously he was the only one out of his friends that did not get hammered. He knew Stefan was fully capable of driving home but whatever Elena wanted she got. Matt would never refuse her, he loved the girl entirely too much to tell her "no".
"Man just let me drop you and Lexi off at your place and I'll pick you up in the morning to get your car." Matt tried to reason with him.
Elena's eyes averted to Stefan's waiting for his answer. He stared at her with such fire in his eyes it would have shaken her to the core had she not been drunk. Stefan was not happy about this at all. He didn't want to be anywhere near her or Matt, not with the guilt he was feeling at the moment. Here was his wife standing before him and her boyfriend behind him. This was so messed up but yet here he was not one to stir the kettle.
"No." Stefan shook his head looking at her. "I can drive home just fine."
"Then we take Lexi. You are not driving her home drunk." Elena said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Fine." He gave in. Elena sighed with relief whispering a thank you. Stefan climbed into the truck and moved Lexi to where she was laying her head in his lap. Not even a couple of minutes down the road had Elena fallen asleep.
"I'm not angry with you Stefan." Matt spoke up breaking their silence. "I mean I know things have been tense with us since I started dating Elena and I was really angry when I found out about the kiss you to shared last year, but you two were drunk. She cares about you still and I know somewhere inside you still care about her. We're all friends here and I don't want things to be awkward between any of us. For the sake of our friendship can we try and keep things civil and for Elena?" Matt asked.
Stefan was quiet for a few moments as he looked at Elena's peaceful form sleeping. Sure she was beyond drunk and no one else could pull off even looking good by this time but she did. Stefan knew that she had always wanted to keep the peace between Matt and Stefan especially considering how things went down between the three. It was only fair for Stefan to agree, but what Matt didn't know was that he had married his best friend's girl. How could Stefan sit there and lie to Matt about working on their friendship when he was the ultimate backstabber. No one would ever understand besides maybe Lexi and Bonnie. Matt would flip out and they would fight, he'd break Elena's heart. Caroline would be furious but she would get over it shortly. Tyler would be Tyler and not care at all about the situation as long as there was beer involved.
"Stefan I love her and I plan to marry her one day. So all I'm asking for is a bit of respect." Matt added in. "I mean sometime after graduation and while we are in college of course." Matt rambled on.
Stefan closed his eyes so Matt couldn't see the guilt. It was too much right now. Here his best friend was confessing his love about a girl that he didn't know was already legally binded to him. Stefan hated this. He hated all of it. He didn't want to be in this situation anymore. How Elena was going to tell Matt Stefan had no clue. It was going to be way harder than he had ever suspected.
"My white flag is in the air." Stefan responded as he looked at Elena one last time. He would surrender so they could finally have a happy ending. She deserved Matt after all.
Stefan thanked Matt for the ride home and grabbed Lexi carrying her inside to his bedroom. Damon and Katherine were sound asleep from the looks of it. So Stefan laid Lexi down in his bed covering her up before he laid himself down beside her. He stared up at the ceiling just thinking until sleep over took him finally as the sun was rising.
Elena awoke to a pounding in her head to see she was laying in bed beside Matt fully clothed. She was thankful for that at least. The last thing she remembered from the night before was listening to one of Lexi's stories.
Elena groaned loudly as her phone started ringing. She saw that it was her mom calling her and she wanted to scream. Couldn't her mom give her a couple of more hours before ruining her life completely? Elena ignored the call only to have one coming from Jenna. She ignored that one again this time. She didn't need this right now. Then Matt's phone started ringing and Elena dug around for his to see it was her mom.
"Just answer it and tell her where you are." Matt sighed.
"No, lets just lay here all day." Elena turned his phone off and hers choosing to ignore the world. She wasn't ready to face the music. Matt just smiled wrapping his arms around her enjoying this peaceful moment with her. He was content if she was content. "Matt you know I'm really sorry about that stuff that happened with Stefan right? It was a mistake."
Matt nodded kissing the top of her head that was resting on his chest. "I know you are, that's why I have already forgiven you."
"I don't deserve you." Elena whispered quietly closing her eyes. Matt hated that the guilt was eating her up but he promised himself he would do whatever he could to fix this between them. He loved her more than anything else in his life and he wanted things between them to last through all the high school drama.
Stefan and Lexi woke up from Damon coming in and waking them up.
"Get up." He said with no emotion in his voice. Like he wasn't even interested in this moment.
"Get out." Lexi said throwing a pillow at him which Damon dodged perfectly. It was usually like this if Damon tried to wake them up.
"Stefan, Grayson is downstairs." Damon told him. Stefan sat up quickly finding his shirt and throwing it on before running downstairs.
"Father in law is already dropping by?" Lexi grinned at Damon who rolled his eyes mumbling something she was sure were a few curse words. "I'm hungry." She groaned rubbing her head as she sat up in bed.
Damon smirked handing her the glass of water he was holding and a few aspirin.
"Ugh you're an angel." Lexi gratefully took them from him.
"I made breakfast." Damon said before leaving the room.
Lexi smiled climbing out of bed. She loved staying at Stefan's someone was always cooking or drinking. It was so much better than her house. Her parents were never home or cared to cook dinner when they were home for a short time. It was one of the reasons why she was always with Stefan or Damon. They were the brothers she never had, her only real family.
"What can I do for you Mr. Gilbert?" Stefan asked slightly afraid of the man before him.
Grayson looked at him sternly. "Where is Elena?"
Stefan looked confused as to why he was here looking for her. "I haven't seen her." Stefan told him honestly.
"Stefan she left the house with you and now she is not answering her phone. With her recent track record I assumed she was here."
Stefan ran his fingers through his hair. "She's at Matt's." He told on her knowing Grayson would be pissed.
Grayson's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"They dropped me and Lexi off here. She was asleep before we even left the party."
"Why is she not answering her phone then?"
Stefan shrugged. "She's probably sleeping. Here let me call Matt." Stefan called only receiving his voicemail.
Grayson was beyond angry with his daughter at this point. "So I'm assuming neither one of you told Matt?"
Stefan shook his head. "It's not my place to tell him and besides Elena asked me to let her do it first. He's her boyfriend, not mine."
"She's going to try and hide this from him isn't she?"
Stefan didn't confirm nor deny his answer. "Mr. Gilbert Elena doesn't deserve this, I know Miranda made her decision very clear last night but I'm asking you man to man to help me fix this. If you can do this for me then I promise to walk away from your daughter's life and to never return in it."
That was something Grayson had been wanting Stefan to do for a while now but now it wasn't something that he could ask of him. "My wife's mind is made up, I cannot change it I'm afraid. Something also tells me walking away from my daughter isn't something you or Elena will ever truly let happen no matter what."
"Then you can tell Elena I tried." Stefan said. "She's at Matt's, you know where that is." He nodded to the door.
"I'll be seeing you." Grayson said walking back out the door. Stefan walked into the kitchen to see Lexi stuffing her face and chugging orange juice. Stefan laughed making himself a plate. It was already past noon and here they were enjoying breakfast. He wasn't sure what he was going to do when he moved to the lake house with Elena.
"What did Grayson want?" Lexi asked.
"Looking for his daughter."
"Your wife?" Lexi grinned and Stefan shook his head with an angry stare.
"I hate that word."
"So where is Mrs. Salvatore?"
Stefan glared at her. "Her boyfriend's."
"This is such a messed up relationship." Lexi laughed.
"Till death do us part I suppose." Stefan winked.
"So any news on the annulment?"
Stefan shook his head. He decided to fill Lexi in on everything. It seemed to him that Lexi was way too excited about this. He could already see the wheels spinning in her head. It was way too much for him to take at the moment so he chose to ignore her the best he could.
"You living at the lake house could be fun." Lexi concluded as she stole a piece of bacon off his plate.
"How so?" Stefan couldn't imagine any of this being fun.
"Parties." Lexi said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You will have no supervision. No one to tell you when to go to bed and no one to rush to pick up the house for. You two will be living every senior's dream."
"Ha yeah right! Being married to an ex who can't stand you is such a dream come true for every 18-year-old boy." Stefan shook his head cleaning up their plates. "Lexi you have a messed up imagination."
Lexi smiled sweetly at him. "It's only a matter of time before you two fall in love again."
"Ugh don't even go there." Stefan groaned as he walked into the next room to fall onto the couch where Lexi followed behind him plopping down on the couch and putting her feet in his lap.
"Can I still come stay the night with you though Stefan?" Lexi's tone finally held some seriousness to it. Stefan looked at her with a warm smile as he nodded his head.
"You're always welcome to my home wherever it may be."
"I love you Stefan." Lexi sighed with content closing her eyes to relax.
"I love you to Lex." Stefan followed her actions trying to get some peace and quiet. He would miss his time with Lexi but he was sure she wouldn't be far behind him wherever he went in life. They were a package deal and always would be.
Elena and Matt both shot out of bed when they heard a loud banging on the front door. They scrambled around for their remaining clothing articles quickly throwing them on.
"It's my parents." Elena said already knowing who it was. It would have been only a matter of time before they showed up.
"Why didn't you tell them you were staying with Katherine or Bonnie?"
Elena shot him a look. "Oh yeah maybe because I was too drunk last night. If you don't mind keep that out of our story." Elena slipped her shoes on walking with Matt to the front door to swing it open looking like deer caught in headlights. Elena was seeing her parents angry too much lately.
"Elena Gilbert." Her mother nearly shouted. "We have been worried sick about you!" They didn't bother waiting for an invitation to come in. Grayson was ready to chew Matt out but he was holding his temper. Elena had never seen him use such control when it came to Stefan. Just the thought of Stefan made her head hurt. They had probably went to his house first looking for her. She couldn't blame them because as of lately she didn't have the best track record. After a good thirty minutes of her parents telling her how irresponsible she was they were on their way home.
"Get upstairs and pack." Miranda told her. She was beyond angry with her.
"Mom can we please just not do this today." Elena begged.
"You are moving today. Stefan is packing right now too." Miranda yelled after her.
"Bet he's a ray of sunshine." She mumbled stomping up the stairs acting like a five-year old.
"They really making you move out?" Jeremy asked coming to sit on her bed as Elena tossed some clothes into a bag. She figured she could get the rest later. She would need a reason to steer clear of the lake house if Stefan was there anyways.
"They are insane." Elena told him shoving more clothes into a bag. She wasn't even sure what to pack. It was as if her parents were kicking her out but yet not really.
Jeremy nodded in agreement. "Elena if you don't love Stefan then why did you do it?"
Elena was quiet as she thought about how to answer her brother. "I don't know Jer. I don't have a reason as to why I did it, but I did and now I'm paying for it." Elena tossed a few more belongings into her suitcase. "Don't ever go to Vegas and get married." She joked but no one was laughing.
"He loved you before, maybe he still does." Jeremy said.
Elena shook her head. "Jeremy love has nothing to do with this."
"Then what does it have to do with? My big sister who is always so responsible came home from Vegas married to her ex boyfriend." Jeremy was seriously confused and wanted to understand why all of this was going on. He loved his sister and just wanted to know why she did it.
"I can't tell my brother my reasons for marrying Stefan." Elena told him. She was too embarrassed by the reason.
"What are you going to do about Matt?"
Elena shrugged. "Keep it from him for as long as I can."
"Elena that's not fair."
"What's not fair is I made one mistake and mom and dad are punishing me for it."
"You can't just not tell Matt."
"I can and you are going to keep your mouth shut about it. If you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone I will hurt you." She threatened him resembling Katherine in that moment. Jeremy was growing into a big guy but he still knew he was no match for either on of his sisters.
"You have my word but just know that someone will end up hurt by the end of this."
"Will you please stop trying to make me feel guilty and grab my bags and help me carry them downstairs."
"Elena I'm not trying to make you feel bad." He sighed feeling guilty now that he had upset his sister. "I just want what's best for you in the long run."
"And what is that?" Elena asked tiredly. She was emotionally exhausted from all of this.
"Your happiness, so when you figure out who or what that is you let me know so I can make it happen for you." He brought Elena into his arms giving her a big hug. "I still want to come visit."
"Be my guest." Elena smiled heading out her bedroom door but not before stopping to grab Stefan's ring off her dresser and shoving it in her bag.
"What are you doing here?" Jeremy asked the question for Elena. when they saw Stefan standing in their doorway.
Stefan shoved his hands in his pockets looking annoyed to be in their house. "The infamous in-laws told me to come here before heading to the lake house. Apparently Damon and Katherine are serious about this moving thing and have taken away my keys to the house and practically kicking me out. I'm not really in the mood for a Gilbert family meeting." Stefan was beyond irritated. Damon may as well had shoved him out the door tossing his bags with him. He was shocked to see his house keys were gone to. He would be sure to make a copy of Lexi's later.
"Like I'd want you here in the first place, and don't consider yourself family." Elena told him as her mom walked into sight.
"You two are hopefully going to be more pleasant next time we meet the two of you." Miranda said. "Stefan I wanted to personally give you a key to the lake house and we want to lay a few ground rules out."
"If we are husband and wife shouldn't we not have any rules?" Stefan smirked taking the key from her.
"If I were you I'd watch my mouth." Grayson said appearing behind them taking Elena's bags. "Jeremy help me load her car."
"First things first I want you two to know we are still here for you with whatever you need. Just because I'm doing this doesn't mean I hate you. Your father and I will still be paying for all of your things, like school stuff and we will help with what we can. Stefan I'm sure Damon filled you in on the money situation, but there is a catch. Since you two are married Elena you will have to tell the school. Your last name is no longer Gilbert because apparently you chose not to keep your last name."
Elena's face paled at the realization of that. She would have to change everything to Salvatore. "I do?"
Miranda nodded. "You do. Now I'll be coming to check up on you two every now and again, but for the most part you are on your own. I expect you not to trash the house and treat it with respect because we have worked hard paying for that house. You are adults and are free to do whatever you want there but remember whatever you do falls back on you, so stay out of trouble. Your father asked for his one rule was for you not to share a bed."
"No worries!" Stefan told her quickly. "Been there done that and ended up married. Trust me I won't be going back."
Elena shot him a death glare as Miranda sighed tiredly. She was really tired of the two's bitterness.
"So we have a deal?" Miranda asked.
"By graduation we have an annulment set up and we have a deal." Stefan told her firm on what he wanted.
"Like it never happened." Miranda said.
"Yeah but we will know it did." Elena groaned.
"Well if that's all I'm going to head out. I'll see you tonight wife." Stefan winked quickly exiting the house before Elena could call him a name.
"Mom you have to hate me to put me through this." Elena whinned.
"Elena I can't fix every mistake you make just because you expect us to. I love you that's why I'm doing this for you."
"It sure doesn't feel like love." Elena point blank told her. "Mom you don't understand." Elena said sadly. She just wanted her mom to take her side and support her and help her.
Miranda sighed hugging her daughter but Elena was tense in her arms. "I do understand sweetheart. I understand that you married a boy and you need to figure out why you did it and when you do we can talk about an annulment. Until then make things right in your life including Matt."
"If I decide not to tell him?" Elena asked hoping her mom wouldn't get mad.
Miranda shook her head disappointed in her daughter's decision. "Then I won't say a word, but I know in due time you will do the right thing. You always have." Miranda kissed the top of Elena's head letting her go. "Call me when you get settled in."
Elena was so upset with her mom she didn't bother saying anything in return. She just walked out of the house and hugged Jeremy whispering that she loved him. She looked at her dad sadly and shook her head at him disappointed that he was letting this go on. Getting in her car she slammed her car door and drove off.
"Is she going to be okay?" Jeremy was really concerned for his sister. It seemed as of lately she was extremely out of character.
"She will be." Miranda said coming outside to join them. "When she figures out who she is and what she truly wants from life she will be just fine."
"I sure hope you are right." Jeremy said with sadness in his voice. He hated that his sister was suffering and he didn't understand his mother's logic but he was sure in the end it would all work out like it usually did. They just had to have faith that Elena would find herself and somewhere along the way Stefan would find himself as well.