Elena awoke the next morning thankful for no hangover. She was now happy that Stefan had cut them all off and sent everyone to bed. Speaking of Stefan she fell asleep with him in her bed. Turning over quickly she sighed with relief to find that he was gone. Last night he had gotten too close for comfort. She needed to remember to keep her distance from him or she would end up doing something she'd regret later. Today she just needed to focus on having a good time with her friends at the party and being a good girlfriend. Caroline and Bonnie wandered into Elena's room crawling into bed with her. Elena was so grateful that Caroline didn't hate her for keeping secrets. Life almost seemed okay with her friends by her side.
"Will Stefan make us lunch?" Caroline yawned. "I need my energy for tonight.
Elena laughed shaking her head. "He's not mine to boss around."
"Pssh whatever he is your husband therefore your call the shots and besides you've always called the shots with Stefan."
"What time is it?" Elena asked changing the subject.
"2." Bonnie answered scrolling through her phone. "I have to start getting ready in a few hours. I promised Grams I'd stop by her house before the party."
"To do some witch voodoo?" Caroline asked.
"Oh yeah I'm learning a spell to bring back the dead." Bonnie laughed with her friends.
In Stefan's room Lexi was just waking up to see Stefan up and writing in his journal.
"Logging last nights events?" Lexi asked. "Day 6 with Elena Gilbert and still no one is dead yet." She laughed. Stefan laughed closing his journal and putting it up.
"What do you say about some lunch?" Stefan smiled extending his hand to her.
"Why that sounds wonderful." Lexi took his hand following him down to the kitchen.
"Oh my do you smell that?" Bonnie asked Elena and Caroline.
"He's cooking." Caroline said jumping out of bed. "Thank god or I'd starve!"
"Hello Caroline." Stefan smiled as he turned the bacon over.
"Hello hot stuff." She winked at her friend who was shirtless still.
"Caroline are you hitting on my husband?" Elena asked eyeing her but also taking in the sight of Stefan. He was good looking no matter what the situation was.
"Hey someone's got to appreciate what you aren't every night." Caroline was known for her no filter of a mouth. It was just a part of her nature.
"Yeah Elena I am a fine young man that needs lovin' too." Stefan said turning the stove off. He went about making the eggs next. "It's not my fault my wife doesn't want me."
"Speaking of fine young men I need to go call my boyfriend and arrange dinner plans." Elena stated with a knowing smile before heading off to call Mat. Stefan's whole attitude changed at the mention of Matt. He had promised himself he wouldn't allow himself to feel anything anymore about her and Matt. So right then and there he decided he would be numb to it all and not feel anything towards that relationship. If Elena didn't want him then he would find a girl who would appreciate him.
"Caroline do you have a date tonight?" Stefan asked making her a plate.
"Oh no mister!" She waved her fork at him. "You are not using me to make her jealous." Caroline had fallen for that once and it was the worst mistake of her life. Stefan had played her like a fiddle and Elena almost ended their friendship until she found out nothing happened.
"Stefan that's a bad idea." Bonnie said trying to reason with him. "Come on you two were fine this week. Lets call it a truce."
"She has a boyfriend so why should she mind if I have a date for the night?" Stefan asked.
"Because you don't just go on a dates for the right reasons." Lexi told him.
"What are the right reasons?"
"Um how about that you actually want the girl for more than just sex to make Elena jealous for being with Matt." Lexi said.
"Why would I want anything more than sex? We all know love only leaves us broken." Stefan said taking a plate out onto the back porch where Elena was sitting taking to Matt. He cringed at the sweet voice she was using. He remembered that voice she used to use with him. Elena's smile widened when Stefan set the plate down in front of her.
'Thank you.' She mouthed and Stefan nodded. He was standing behind her as she went on talking to Matt. Elena could feel him behind her but she couldn't really say anything to alert Matt.
"You look beautiful this morning." Stefan whispered in her ear. Elena's body shivered at how close he was to her. She was frozen and didn't know if she could move. Stefan smirked when he knew he had affected her.
"Yeah Matt I'm here." Elena composed herself quickly. Satisfied Stefan walked back inside. The girls were right. He was in a good place with Elena right now. No matter how badly he wanted to screw up whatever their progress could be called he couldn't find it in himself to do it anymore.
Later in the evening Stefan was at the party pumping the keg with Lexi beside him going on and on about some mystery guy at the party she had spotted. Stefan though was looking for someone. He hated to admit that he was even waiting for her arrival. There were plenty of girls at the party to distract him but none were worth it. The party was full into swing by now. People were dancing and running around like crazy.
"Are you even listening to me?" Lexi asked shoving her friend.
"Hmm..Oh yeah Lex something about a mystery guy." Stefan said trying to save himself.
"Don't lie to me it's impossible for you." Lexi rolled her eyes at him.
"Has Matt showed up yet?" Tyler asked coming up to Stefan and Lexi. Tyler had decided to go as a fireman but minus the shirt. Most of the girls were appreciating his lack of clothing and Tyler wasn't one to deny any attention from the ladies. Lexi had gone with a sexy Pocahontas costume or something Stefan wasn't too sure but it was working for her. Bonnie did the whole witch outfit that Stefan thought was fitting while Caroline had gone with bad Sandy from Grease. He couldn't deny how hot she looked. He would never cross that line with her but Stefan couldn't deny her looks.
"Nope haven't seen him." Stefan said shaking his head. "Probably somewhere with Gilbert." Stefan hated to think about what was taking them so long. How was it that she seemed to get to live a normal life while she had all their skeletons in her closet. Stefan didn't understand how she could continue to be with Matt. He hadn't touched a girl since returning home with a ring on his finger.
"Is that bitterness I hear in your voice Stefan?" A girl asked that they went to school with. He wasn't sure what her name was but he thought it was Taylor or something.
"Bitterness?" Stefan scoffed. Was he that obvious? No he couldn't be. He couldn't let people think he was still pinning after Elena. "If you only knew what she was missing out on then you'd know she's the bitter one." He winked at the young girl who was dressed in some skimpy school girl outfit. Maybe she could be a good distraction for him. Maybe she could help him get out of his funk. "I could show you." He suggested making her giggle while Lexi rolled her eyes at her disgusting friend's tactics. Stefan grabbed the girls hand and drug her off to someplace.
"Elena sure did a number on him." Tyler said shaking his head. Stefan had not been the same since losing Elena. Tyler was never one to pick sides or get into their business but he knew Stefan loved her and he hated that his friend was so miserable at times without her. Tyler usually did the normal logical guy thing and tried to distract him with booze and girls. Most of the time it worked.
"I think they did a number on each other." Lexi refilled her drink. "You look hot tonight by the way." She winked playfully at him. Lexi loved to be a total flirt. Tyler was harmless so it was fun messing with him at times. She didn't have Stefan to hangout with because he was out trying to fill the void Elena Gilbert had left in him so Tyler would have to do for now.
Tyler smiled nodding his head. "You don't look too bad yourself Pocahontas."
"Dance?" Lexi smiled at him.
"Love to." Tyler smiled back following her into the crowd of teenagers.
Another hour into the party and Elena finally showed up. She held Matt's hand as they made their way through the trees trying to find her friends. Elena hated how creepy these woods were. As a kid she hated walking through them and now she hated them even more with it being Halloween. She made a mental note of where the vehicle was so she wouldn't end up lost and alone out here.
"Elena there you are!" Caroline screamed waving at her friend.
"Caroling you look hot!" Elena said checking her friend out.
"Same for you girl." Caroline lead them to where their friends were hanging out. Elena and Matt both grabbed a cup of beer and said hello to everyone. Elena was enjoying talking to everyone and playing a few rounds of beer pong before Stefan walked up with a girl hanging on his arm.
Her jaw almost dropped at his costume. There really wasn't much to it at all. Stefan had decided to go as a warrior of some sort from the Roman time period. All he had on was some skirt and a red cape. There were some cuffs around his wrist and he was holding a sword. He definitely looked like a Roman warrior. She tried to turn her gaze away from him but couldn't.
Stefan's smile slipped from his lips when he heard Elena's voice. He hadn't expected them to be here already. His body tensed when he took in Matt beside her. Of course the two would come wearing matching costumes. Stefan wanted to roll his eyes at them but when he took in Elena he found it hard to swallow. She was wearing a Top Gun green flight attendant dress with knee-high boots. Her hair was in long curls and Stefan was positive her legs were going to go on for days with those boots. He felt his mouth go dry at the sight of her. Stefan loved Elena's legs more than anything in this world and everyone knew it. If Elena was being honest with herself she knew the costume would drive Stefan mad. Matt though was in a similar Top Gun jumpsuit but he was nothing without Elena by his side.
"Hey you guys made it." Stefan said as he began walking up to them again with the girl on his arm. He had already forgotten her name in the presence of Elena's legs.
"Yeah Matt here took the wrong turn." Elena said trying not to stare at the girl hanging on him. She wasn't sure what the feeling was creeping up on her but she didn't like it. Stefan wasn't hers anymore. He was free to be with whoever just like her.
"I like the outfit." Stefan commented not paying Matt much mind. Stefan's eyes roamed her body once again not caring who was around to hear him. Elena was sure she was blushing under his gaze. "You really outdid the nurse outfit." He grinned ignoring the girl at his side who was confused about him hitting on Elena after just trying to convince her he had no feelings left for the girl.
"Thank you." Elena smiled at him. "You don't look so bad yourself." Everyone was looking at the two strangely as they openly flirted with one another. Stefan smiled shaking his head as he looked away. He hadn't expected that reply back from her. He was sure he would get the usual eye roll from her as she would turn to Matt. Tonight Elena was different. Stefan noticed how Elena's eyes had looked from him to the girl at his side trying to figure out who she was. He felt a sense of pride in knowing that he had her attention. If she still felt jealousy then she still cared. Maybe Elena wasn't as over him as she played out to be.
"Matt you better keep a close eye on her tonight someone might steal her away." Stefan winked at Elena before disappearing back into the crowd of people.
"What was that?" Matt asked not amused at all by Stefan's comments.
"Matt don't start with me tonight." Elena warned him. She was not in the mood. She didn't even understand what she was feeling. How could she be jealous of the girl with Stefan? She had been that girl before and she did not want to be her again."It is his party. The least we can be is civil."
"Oh I am always civil with him but you on the other hand aren't. So excuse me for wondering why my girlfriend just gawked at her ex." Matt shook his head trying to process what just went down. Elena never allowed Stefan to try and flirt with her and she sure as hell never flirted back. Matt refused to believe his girlfriend still had feelings for her ex boyfriend. Not after everything they had been through. He couldn't lose her to Stefan.
"Matt." Elena turned to look at him cupping his face in her hands. "I love you." She had to remind him but they both weren't sure who she was really trying to remind. Her or him?
"I love you too." He said kissing her. "I worry that's all."
"We will never last if you keep worrying." Matt nodded letting her go. "Good now go and enjoy the rest of your night and remember that I love YOU." She kissed him again before joining the girls.
"Stefan was a bit bold don't you think?" Caroline asked.
"I don't know what came over me." Elena said honestly.
"His body." Bonnie grinned.
"More like you want to come over that body." Caroline laughed indicating that she had already had one too many drinks.
"You are disgusting you know that?" Elena laughed with her. "My friends are completely gross."
"You know we are right." Bonnie shrugged refilling her cup up with beer. Maybe she was having one too many and losing her normal filter and talking more like Caroline but she was having fun. Maybe Elena needed another drink as well. Bonnie took it upon herself to fill her friend's cup up and dragging them to Tyler's truck to find the liquor. Bonnie didn't need Elena worrying about Stefan because he would more than likely screw up whatever fleeting thought Elena was having about him within the next 24 hours. It was a never-ending cycle.
Lexi had found Stefan in a group of younger girls working his charm. She wondered where his girl from earlier had gone but she was sure he had ditched her as soon as he walked away from Elena. Stefan had all the girls fawning over him. Lexi knew it was just a front for Elena and Matt. She knew he was confused about his change in relationship with Elena. They were no longer fighting and it was scaring him. Stefan had Tyler right by his side working their magic of drawing in a crowd. She looked around for Matt but couldn't see him anywhere. She assumed he was with some other friends or looking for his crazy sister. Lexi didn't know how he kept up with that girl. She almost felt sorry for the guy. His sister was addicted to drugs and his girl friend was married to one of his friends.
"Excuse me." Lexi said shoving some girls out the way to get to her friends. She was tired of the scene in front of her.
"Lexi." Stefan had this stupid smile on his face that matched Tyler's letting her know they had finally crossed the line of drunk.
"I see you had a party without me." Lexi pouted.
"Oh babe no worries we can go have another party." Tyler said grabbing her hands and dragging her out of the crowd of girls. Lexi quickly reached back grabbing Stefan by his arm making him follow them. They made it back to Tyler's truck which was parked through the woods where no one would see it just in case they needed a get away vehicle. Caroline's mom had been known to bust a few parties of theirs over the years. Tyler opened his tailgate picking Lexi up and setting her down before reaching in his cooler to pull out a very expensive bottle of vodka.
"Who'd you steal this from?" Lexi laughed opening it to take a shot.
"My mom." Tyler said taking the bottle from her. "She tries to pretend like she doesn't drink and I like to steal her liquor and watch her search the cabinets. It's kind of entertaining because she's such a closet drinker she won't dare ask where it went."
Stefan laughed with them. "Your mom is adorable."
"Hey man that's my mom." Tyler shoved him playfully.
"Boys boys, play nice." Lexi stole the bottle back from Stefan. "So Salvatore tell us how hot you think Elena looks tonight."
Stefan rolled his eyes but he couldn't stop the smile that crossed his lips.
"Dude did you see her legs?" Tyler asked getting a warning look from Stefan. "I mean that in the most respectful way."
"Her legs can go on for days with those boots." Stefan got this far off look in his eyes letting his friends know exactly where his mind was.
"Matt's going to kill him one day." Tyler whispered in Lexi's ear.
"Don't remind me of that impending fight." Lexi groaned kicking Stefan breaking him of his daze. "This is me time Stefan." Stefan nodded focusing back on his friends. He couldn't be daydreaming of Elena in that outfit any longer. It would only lead to more trouble.
Elena had successfully gotten Matt off her back for the night. She finally felt free to enjoy herself without having to look over her shoulder and worry about him questioning her every move. She knew that he was just worried about her cheating but she loved him and only him so why couldn't he see that? Elena needed him to trust her, but what's a relationship without trust? She already knew the answer to that. It looked a lot like her and Stefan. Bonnie was rambling on and on about some guy she had met while visiting her Grams and Caroline was asking her a million questions. The girls had made their rounds through the party. They had done a little bit of everything over the past few hours from beer pong, dancing and even a few keg stands. Stefan and Tyler had encouraged that one while Matt was gone doing something. It was going to be their little secret. What Tyler didn't know was that it was just one of many for the young married couple that he was taking on.
"Elena are you ready to go?" Matt asked wrapping his arms around her as she danced.
Elena shook her head not at all ready to go. "We just got here."
"Elena it's two in the morning." He said trying to get her to stop dancing.
"Matt you're drunk." She laughed at him because he really was drunk. "Why don't you go sleep it off in your truck?"
"You sure?" Matt didn't want to leave her but he was drunk and driving with her wasn't an option at this point.
"Yes Matt. I'm fine with the girls they will take care of me." Caroline and Bonnie nodded eagerly. They didn't really know what they were nodding for but they knew Elena needed them to so they did.
"Okay come get me when you leave." He smiled at her pulling her in for a loving drunk kiss. Elena couldn't deny how sweet he could be when he was drinking. He wasn't the type to ever stay mad especially at her. "I love you Elena."
"And I love you." She gave him one last kiss before sending him on his way.
"Where'd Matty go?" Tyler asked.
The party was by no means dying out. If anything more and more people kept showing up. The bigger the better were Stefan's words moments ago.
"Matty boy got a little too drunk thanks to Bonnie's magic potion." Elena shot a look to her friend who had the most innocent look on her face.
"Aw the witches brew." Tyler said as he took a sip of his cup wrapping an arm around Elena's shoulders. "She gets him every year with it."
"Oh my god I love this song!" Elena yelled shrugging Tyler off her as she threw her hands up and began dancing. Tyler soon joined her as did Bonnie and Caroline.
Stefan and Lexi were on the beer pong table sinking the last cup with yet another win. Lexi was already moving to the music beckoning Stefan to dance but he just shook his head no denying her. Elena was witnessing it all as she ran over to Stefan and began dancing with Lexi. Stefan was still shaking his head at the two. He was not about to drunk dance. Elena knew she needed to get Stefan to dance she did what she did best and jumped up on the beer pong table with a smile that meant trouble. Lexi was hollering at Elena tell her to shake it. People started to crowd around as she danced to the music in her own world. Stefan was in a trance just like she was anytime she danced in front of him with such freedom.
There were boys yelling for her to take it off and that's all Stefan needed to jump up there and dance with her. It was after all their thing to dance like nobody's business together whether it be in the rain or on tables. Elena let her body mold into his loving the feeling of him behind her. Stefan's hands found her hips trying to steady their movements but Elena wasn't having it. She was letting loose and Stefan would just have to keep up for the time being. Stefan followed her every move though knowing they were both going to regret this in the morning. He turned her around spinning her around watching the smile on her face. Elena threw her head back laughing as she watched Stefan bust out with his own crazy dance moves. He jumped down off the table and began to dance with Bonnie. Elena stayed on the table dancing loving the carefree environment her friends were in. This was what she missed. She missed everyone being together and not worrying about stepping on anyone's toes. She loved when everyone was on the same side and there wasn't an awkward tension between the group.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into that Gilbert." Stefan said wiping some sweat off his forehead.
"It's Salvatore to you mister." She said poking him in the chest. In her drunk state she was openly admitting to herself that she was happy the girl Stefan was with earlier had disappeared. It made things easier for them. She almost felt like Stefan was the Stefan she used to know.
Stefan raised his eyebrow at her in question. "My apologies Mrs. Salvatore." Stefan said in his most formal voice.
"Apology accepted Mr. Salvatore." Elena did a cute little curtsey and all for him. "You always were a sucker for my dancing." Elena said thinking back on their time together. Stefan could never resist her and she always had used that to her advantage. It was like he fell into a trance when she was so carefree.
"My one weakness." Stefan said shaking his head as he walked away to go find a strong drink.
"Bonnie I need some more of your brew!" Elena yelled to grab her attention.
"Well follow me to the witch's lair." Bonnie said looping her arm through Elena's.
"Wait I need some too!" Caroline yelled grabbing Bonnie's other arm. The three girls headed off into the woods to Tyler's truck where Bonnie was keeping her famous creation.
"I think those girls need a good scare." Tyler said watching the girls walk off in the woods.
"Elena will have a heart attack." Stefan told him. "But what's a good Halloween party without a little scare?" Stefan and Tyler went off after them sure to keep their distance.
"Elena that was some show on the table." Caroline said refilling her drink.
"I can't help myself when it comes to the table." Elena laughed making them laugh with her. Elena Gilbert-Salvatore had always had a habit of jumping up on whatever she could and dancing. No one knew why but she had done it since they were kids.
"You mean you can't help yourself when it comes to Stefan." Caroline pointed out.
"She's with Matt." Bonnie reminded them.
"She's married to Stefan so I think that trumps the whole boyfriend card." Caroline pointed out to Bonnie again.
"Can we not discuss my relationship status like I'm not right here?" Elena was starting to get annoyed. She hated when someone pointed out the love triangle. Elena liked to believe there wasn't one at all. She liked to believe she was with Matt and Stefan was just someone from her past.
"Sorry." Both girls apologized.
"Whatever you do I support you." Caroline said hugging her.
"I support you with Matt because I don't want you getting hurt again." Bonnie was never quiet about her opinion when it came to Stefan especially after the nasty break up. "He's sweet and hot and one of my good friends but he broke your heart I have a right to not want you with him."
"Bonnie that's not even fair." Caroline said.
"Listen no one has to worry about anything because Stefan and I are just friends or whatever it can be called. Matt is my boyfriend and I'm not leaving him anytime soon for a fleeting feeling for Stefan. Bonnie I love your protectiveness and Care I love how loyal you are but I don't want you two at odds over something so trivial. Now we have a party to get back to and some guys asses to kick at beer pong." They headed back up to the party until they started hearing some strange noises.
"Wait did you hear that?" Caroline asked stopping to look around. It was so dark in the woods. "Elena where is the flashlight?"
"I forgot it at the truck." Elena cursed under her breath.
"Great!"
"It sounds like someone is coming." Bonnie whispered.
"It's probably Stefan." Elena wasn't too confident in that answer. No one had a cell phone on them because their costumes didn't allow for them to have pockets.
"Guys are we even going in the right direction?" Caroline was turning in circles not sure at all where they were.
"I think so." Bonnie nodded.
"No I think the truck was back that way." Elena pointed. "So that means the party is that way." Elena then pointed in another direction.
"So we are lost?" Caroline whined.
"We aren't lost." Elena said trying to reassure her. She did not want to deal with a drunk crying Caroline.
"We are lost." Bonnie confirmed as Elena shot her a look. "No sense in lying." She shrugged
"Yeah I'm sick of you lying." Caroline said crossing her arms over her chest making Elena roll her eyes.
"Caroline now is not the time to be pouting because I lied I to you." Elena wasn't about to argue in the middle of these creepy woods about who's been lying to who. That could go on for days as far as she was concerned.
They all jumped when they heard more noise. "They're getting closer." Bonnie whispered.
"Maybe we should yell for Stefan. He knows these woods right?"
"Yeah so whoever is out here can find us faster I don't think so." Bonnie shook her head. "Not such a good idea."
"Run!" Elena screamed when she heard the footsteps getting louder as they approached the girls. Caroline and Bonnie took off screaming behind Elena.
"Oh god I don't wanna die." Caroline cried. Caroline was having a hard time running in her red heels. She knew she would be the first to go because she would be the easiest to catch.
"Shut up." Bonnie said pushing her to run faster. They didn't have time to be crying. They needed to get back to the party and fast.
Just then someone jumped out in front of them making all the girls scream bloody murder. Then they heard laughter from behind and in front of them.
"Oh god I don't wanna die." Tyler mocked in Caroline's voice.
"Shut up you jerk!" Caroline yelled shoving him backwards.
"That was priceless." Stefan smiled happily. Halloween was officially success. He and Tyler had scared the girls once again this year.
"Real funny." Elena said shaking her head. She was still trying to get her heart rate to calm down as she punched Stefan in the arm making him wince.
"Every damn year." Bonnie cursed under her breath. She was sure this year the boys would have been too drunk to remember.
"You girls really shouldn't make it so easy." Stefan laughed wrapping Bonnie up in a hug trying to comfort her.
"You will give us a heart attack one day." Caroline was leaning up against a tree taking deep breaths. She didn't know why every year they fell into their trap.
Stefan let Bonnie go before high fiving Tyler. "You two are assholes." Elena had her arms crossed over her chest not wanting to be around either one of them. Every year Stefan and Tyler would scare the living hell out of her. They had been doing it since they were kids. As she was running though all she could think about was finding Stefan. It didn't sit right her to be thinking of him to find. She should have wanted Matt to come and save her. He was her boyfriend after all not Stefan.
"Now don't say things you'll regret." Stefan said trying to walk closer to her but she just moved away from him.
"The only thing I regret is not punching you in the face when I had the chance a minute ago." Elena glared at him as she turned to walk away.
"You were too busy screaming." Tyler called after her.
"Oh come on don't be mad at me." Stefan reached out for her grabbing her as she pulled away. Stefan ran around to be in front of her making her stop. There really was no use in trying to get away from him. They were in the middle of the woods and she needed him to lead the way out. "Elena it was just a prank." Stefan said grabbing her hands in his pulling her close to him as he hugged her. He could feel her heart beating against his chest. Stefan really had scared the crap out of her.
"You really scared me." She whispered into his chest.
"I'm sorry." He whispered as he stroked her hair. "Did I get to tell you that I really like your hair like this?" He played with a curl admiring it. He wondered how long it took her to do it, maybe that was why she was so late to the party and not because of Matt.
Elena shook her head pulling away from her. "Compliments won't make me any less mad at you Stefan."
"I'm serious you look good." He grabbed her hand again. Elena looked down at her hand in his. They had found themselves touching each other innocently a lot tonight. She noticed how different he was with her than Matt was. The way her hand fit in his or how his arms felt around her compared to Matt's. Elena knew she shouldn't compare the two but it was almost impossible sometimes. Remembering Matt though she pulled her hand out of his. Matt had never broke her heart.
"Can we get back to the party now?" Caroline asked. "I've had enough of these creepy woods."
"Yeah come on." Stefan said as he started walking in the total opposite direction than the girls were originally headed in.
"My god we were really lost." Bonnie laughed.
"I told you!" Caroline said walking faster to catch up with Stefan. She didn't want to risk getting lost again.
Everyone partied until the wee hours of the morning. The crowd had thinned out over the hours. Some people were passed out on the back of tailgates, in cars or just on the ground. There were only a few left standing. Stefan looked all around him observing the party. Music was still blaring loudly and he wondered why Caroline's mom had not come to bust the party yet. Usually every year she found the time to drop by the party by two in the morning and start making people find rides home.
Stefan turned his eyes towards Elena who was singing along to some song with the girls with the biggest smile on her face. Stefan couldn't help the smile that came to his own face as he watched her. Her being happy had always been his number one goal since he could remember. Even if they had lost their way over the past year he had always deep down wanted her to be happy. He supposed that was why he was so lax when she started dating Matt. Stefan would let her do whatever she wanted at the end of the day as long as it was what truly mad her happy. Elena caught Stefan staring at her and she waved him over.
"You okay?" She asked as he sat down beside her. Stefan nodded smiling at her. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked smiling but the words got lost somewhere. The words always seemed to get lost when he was around her.
"Are you okay?" He asked her. She had quite a bit to drink tonight and he was genuinely concerned about her. Elena could see the sincere look in his eyes. Stefan wasn't looking to take advantage of her drunk state of mind. He knew just like she knew if he made a move she would probably follow his lead. Tonight though was different. He had no intentions of trying anything she'd regret in the morning.
"I've had a great time tonight." She said sipping her drink. Stefan raised an eyebrow looking at her in question. "Okay maybe it had something to do with the booze, but I can't deny how much fun we all had." Stefan nodded to agree with her. They had all enjoyed themselves together. There was no fighting which was a first for them.
"Your boyfriend passed out a little early." Stefan commented.
"I can still have fun without him." She laughed.
"Do you plan on staying with him tonight?" Stefan asked.
"No." She shook her head. "I don't know where I'm staying actually. I can't exactly take him back to my place and I can't drive through town to get to his place."
"We can go to the lake house." Stefan offered. "Tyler can take Matt home."
"Why do I know I shouldn't be agreeing to this?" Elena asked him.
Stefan laughed shrugging. "Probably because in the morning we both know we'll regret whatever happened tonight."
Elena laughed with him. "We don't have to let anything happen."
"True, but I think tonight something already did."
"You were nice to me." Elena said softly thinking about it. Stefan wasn't his usual jerk self towards her or Matt. At first he had been a bit standoffish but after about an hour he had warmed up.
"You were nice to me in return." Stefan said kissing her forehead as he got up leaving Elena to think about how things had changed in a short amount of time for them. Tonight they were civil with one another in front of Matt and their friends. No fighting took place. Stefan wasn't an intentional ass to her. Things had taken a turn for them. Elena was afraid to admit that things had changed. Because if things were changing then she was either letting her guard down or letting go. But everyone with half a brain knew Elena would never let Stefan go. She was the only one who needed to be convinced of it.