Elena had avoided Stefan successfully for the most part of the week. Lexi had stayed over to keep Stefan busy from worrying about Elena's whereabouts. Stefan didn't like that she was running from him but he understood she was just scared. He needed to think of more ways to put her trust in him. Stefan didn't even know how to go about it but he knew he had to do something. Lexi had encouraged him to just give her space like always but Stefan didn't think he could keep his distance.
"She still not come home?" Damon asked Stefan one afternoon while they were in the garage at the boarding house tinkering with a car engine.
"No." Stefan said in frustration. "Damon what am I supposed to do?"
"Stop kissing her obviously." Damon laughed. "Okay sorry. Look maybe she just needs time to sort her feelings out."
"She says she doesn't love me anymore."
"And you believe her?"
"No." Stefan replied. "She loves me I know but I don't think she is in love with me anymore."
"Weren't you the one just a few months ago begging for me to help you because you didn't love Elena?"
Stefan rolled his eyes as he sat inside the old mustang they were working on. "Damon I said a lot of things I didn't mean. You know I never fell out of love with her."
Damon set down the wrench in his hand and looked at his little brother. He was miserable with or without Elena, Damon concluded. It wasn't like Stefan could have a happy medium when it came to the girl but it was obvious that Stefan was a happy kind of miserable when he was with her. Much like Damon with Katherine. He couldn't stand her most days but without her he was miserable as could be. "Take her on a date." Damon suggested.
"A date?" Stefan questioned.
"Yes a date." Damon went back to working on the engine. He was on a time crunch to get it working again. "You remember when you came to me after you first received your license?" Damon asked.
"Yeah you couldn't take me that day because you had something to do."
"Yeah yeah I know Grayson had to take you." Damon said disappointed that he had yet again missed something important in Stefan's life. "But what I'm trying to get at is do you remember when you first told me you were interested in our favorite girl?"
"Yeah I do." Stefan smiled remembering like it was yesterday. He was completely smitten with Elena back then.
"You came to me and asked what you should do. I told you to take her on a date."
"But it couldn't just be a dinner and a movie." Stefan concluded.
"Exactly because Elena isn't a dinner and a movie kind of girl. She's different than all the other girls right?" Stefan nodded. "You took her out and you gave her an impression to last a lifetime much like the carnival ride." Damon smirked impressed with Stefan's idea that night.
"You are suggesting I do something to leave her speechless?"
"No." Damon wiped his hands on an old rag closing the hood of the car. "I'm telling you to do something to make her remember those feelings you first gave her. You can't just win her over you have to make her fall for you."
"I can handle that." Stefan nodded his head processing everything that he could do.
Across town Elena was walking hand and hand down the street with Matt who had decided to take her out for dinner and a movie. Elena was more than happy for the excuse to be out of the house. Stefan had not pursued her anymore this week and she didn't know whether to be thankful or hurt. Was he regretting the kiss? Elena didn't know but she did know her mind had thought about it all week. She knew she needed to talk to him but she wasn't ready.
"Elena are you with me?" Matt asked squeezing her hand.
"Yeah sorry." Elena smiled at him receiving a concerned look from him.
"You okay? You haven't been acting right all week. It's like your mind is somewhere else." Matt tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he looked at her.
"I'm fine." Elena lied. "I'm just swamped with college applications."
"Speaking of college you haven't told me your thoughts on Duke." Matt said.
"I haven't applied there." Elena told him making Matt's face drop.
"You haven't applied?" Matt was confused. "I thought that was the plan. We would go to Duke together."
"Just because I haven't applied yet doesn't mean I'm not going to." Elena assured him not wanting to have this conversation tonight.
"You were the one who encouraged me to go with you." Matt told her making Elena feel guilty because a couple months ago she had been dead set on them going to college together but things were different now. Elena wasn't sure what the next year held for her or where she would be. She knew for sure Matt probably wouldn't be around anymore after the truth about Stefan came out. No guy in their right mind would stick around for that but Matt had assured Elena he wanted a future together so he told her he would do whatever it took to get into a college she could so they could be closer together. "Are you having second thoughts?"
"No." Elena shook her head. "I mean I don't know." She took a step away from him. "Matt we are young and have our whole lives a head of us. There are so many colleges out there."
"But Duke was our first choice. We had a plan."
"Why do we have to have it set in stone right now?" Elena asked. "Why can't we just enjoy this moment in life?"
"Because Elena whether you choose to believe it or not you have changed. I need to know that this relationship isn't just a waste of my time."
"You think you are wasting your time?" Elena questioned feeling her anger start to rise. "If you are wasting your time then why don't we just end things now?"
Matt looked at her wondering if this was what she had really wanted all along. Had she been pushing him away on purpose to make things easier on her when she chose to break up with him. "This is what you wanted."
"What?" Elena asked confused.
Matt took a step away from her shaking his head in disbelief. "You have been putting up this whole act for months now. Distancing yourself from me just so you could make this easier when you decided to end things."
"Matt no." Elena shook her head no at him because that was far from the truth. "I had no such intentions."
"How about I just do it for you." Matt said feeling his own set of tears coming on. Elena wiped at her eyes when she realized Matt was breaking up with her.
"Matt I love you." Elena said with tears falling down her cheeks.
"I don't think you ever loved me Elena."
"That's not true!" She argued. "I love you more than anything else."
Matt shook his head sadly and looked at her as a tear escaped his cheek. "I want to believe that, but Elena I think I'm the one who loves you more. I thought in the beginning that it would be enough. That I could love you enough for the both of us but I can't."
"Please don't do this." She begged him. "Don't give up on me. I will be better I swear."
"I just can't right now Elena." He said softly.
"Matt I love you." She cried but he continued to turn and walk away from her. "Matt!" She called after him but he didn't stop. Elena looked around to see she was lonely on the street in front of the movie theatre. She had no where to go and no way to get home. Matt had picked her up from Bonnie's and Bonnie had picked her up from the house today. Elena tried to stop her tears from falling but she couldn't. Yes she knew she was selfish to cry over her broken relationship with Matt but she did truly love him. Matt had been so great to her over the past year. He had completely taken care of her. Matt was the one to help put her back together when she needed it. He was her rock in all of this craziness. Elena continued to walk down the road.
Over across town Stefan was sitting at the lake house staring at the clock on the wall. Elena had told him she was going out with Matt for the night but she said she would be home for the night. It was already nearing midnight and Stefan was starting to worry about her. If she wanted to stay with Matt all she had to do was say so. Stefan didn't like waiting up for her. He had called Bonnie asking if Elena had shown back up over there and she had told him no but her car was gone. Bonnie assumed she had Matt drop her off to get it before they went back to his place or something. Stefan was beginning to grow frustrated. Damon was at the Grill and said there was no sign of Elena or Matt around. Caroline had even made a block around town for Stefan to see if Elena was in fact anywhere with Matt. Stefan didn't want to seem over protective of her but he couldn't help it. Mystic Falls wasn't a bad town at night by no means. Stefan just couldn't stand the thought of her being alone so late. He paced the kitchen floor waiting for her to come home but she never did. Stefan finally sat down on the couch to try and calm his nerves. He didn't need to worry because she was probably just with Matt and didn't tell him.
Stefan woke up with a start when he heard the front door slamming. He looked up to see Elena stumbling in. "Elena?" He called out to her rubbing his tired eyes. "What time is it?" He asked.
"Four in the morning." Elena said as she kicked her shoes off and threw her jacket on the table.
"You are just now getting in?" Stefan stood up and walked to the door looking outside before locking it. "Where's your car?"
"Damon dropped me off." Elena shrugged.
"Damon?" Stefan questioned her.
"He picked me up on my way home." Elena was searching the fridge for something to eat. "Did you not cook tonight?"
Stefan was growing annoyed with her very quickly. He pushed the fridge door shut earning a glare from her. "You are drunk." He stated. "What the hell happened tonight?"
"None of your business." Elena opened the fridge again with enough force to slide Stefan out of her way.
"Elena you are drunk and it's four in the morning. You don't hang out with Damon."
"I did tonight." She said as she pulled a few contents out.
Stefan made a face at all the food she was pulling out. He took notice of how she was acting and quickly realized she wasn't just drunk. He had been around Elena long enough to know what she looked like at any state. "You are high."
"So what?" Elena shrugged again. "Why are you being the police?"
"Elena what is wrong with you? You don't get high." Stefan didn't know what could have caused her to even want to smoke pot. It was not something she was a fan of after the first time they tried it together.
"Maybe this is the new Elena." She said taking a bite of the food she just threw together.
"You weren't with Damon then." Stefan told her. "Damon doesn't do that stuff anymore."
Elena rolled her eyes at him. "Why does it matter?"
"Because obviously you've been out all night getting drunk and high with God knows who!" He raised his voice at her. It scared him to think that she was out with just anyone and not in her right state of mind.
"Listen Stefan you aren't my dad so don't scold me!" She warned him.
"No I have every right to because this isn't you!" Stefan shot right back at her.
"Maybe I don't want to be me anymore."
"Why the hell not? My Elena is pretty damn great." He said in a softer tone.
"Your Elena? I never want to be yours again." She spat at him. Stefan felt the sting of her comment.
"Tell me who brought you home please." He asked her ignoring the earlier statement.
"Vicki." Elena said quietly as Stefan's eyes went wide.
"Unbelievable! Where was Matt?"
"Probably thinking of the million and one reasons why I suck at being a girlfriend."
"What? Did he do something to you?"
"If you call breaking up with me something." She said finishing her last bite of food. Then she reached into the freezer for the homemade ice cream Stefan had made specially for her. The thought almost made her smile. He was so caring sometimes.
"You want some chocolate syrup?" Stefan decided to drop the conversation knowing she would feel horrible in the morning anyways for what she did tonight.
"Whipped cream too." She grinned at him as Stefan got all the toppings out that she loved. He picked her up and set her on the counter as he went about making her bowl of ice cream. Elena watched him with a smile. She may have been under the influence but there was something so graceful about Stefan Salvatore. Stefan smiled at her sadly as he handed her the bowl standing between her legs. It wasn't like she cared about the distance he kept tonight or not.
"How is it?" He asked when she took the first bite closing her eyes and letting out a quiet moan at how great it tasted.
"Delicious." She said opening her eyes.
"Good, enjoy." He said as he went about cleaning up the small mess she had made.
Elena ate her ice cream in peace. Stefan let her be for the time being. He would get answers when she was ready. Stefan sat up and talked with Elena about nothing in general. It was mainly just her laughing at the little things that Stefan didn't find humor in, but Stefan couldn't help but to laugh at her cute laugh. He loved hearing the sound of her laughter. He hated that it was in this circumstance but he couldn't deny how adorable she was. Elena was never one to par take in those extra curricular activities that others did at parties so this was a rare sight to see her in. Stefan was just glad she was at home and safe with him. When Elena was done eating Stefan helped her to her room.
"Stay?" Elena asked quietly as she fell onto the bed. Stefan sighed knowing she would regret this in the morning but he climbed into the bed beside her pulling a blanket up over them. Elena wrapped herself around him tightly. "I'm sorry I wasn't enough." She mumbled.
Stefan closed his eyes wishing he hadn't just heard those words escape her lips. "You were always enough." He said as he kissed the top of her head.
The next day Elena woke up to a pounding headache and a horrible taste in her mouth. She cursed herself for having gone out and gotten drunk. Elena wanted to kick herself for doing it with none other than Matt's sister. There was no telling what Elena probably told her last night. Then it hit Elena what she had done last night by getting Vicki to drop her off her. Elena quickly jumped out of bed groaning at the throbbing headache as she ran out of the bedroom and downstairs.
"Stefan!" She yelled.
"What?" He asked looking like he just walked out of a magazine as always.
Elena shook her head at her thoughts. "Did Vicki see your car last night?"
Stefan crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow at her. So now she was worried? "I don't know Elena did she?" He asked.
"Stefan please." Elena whined. She was rubbing her temples trying to make the headache go away. "I messed up last night. God I really messed things up last night."
Stefan felt bad for her remembering what she had said before she fell asleep. "No I had it in the shop because I was changing the oil." Stefan told her pointing out towards their shop.
"Thank God." Elena sighed with relief.
"Elena what happened?" Stefan asked as he made her a glass of water and found something for her headache.
"Can we not talk about it?" She eagerly took the water and pills from him.
"No." Stefan shook his head. "I agreed last night to let it go. Elena you were high last night." Stefan gently told her.
"That explains it." Elena mumbled. "I'm not proud of my actions."
"Elena look at me." He said softly lifting her chin. "You are better than all of that. Whatever he made you feel isn't your fault. It's his own."
"I just was hurt." Elena shrugged. "I didn't want to face the reality that once again I lost someone I loved."
Stefan shook his head grabbing her by the shoulders. "Elena you are not the problem." He told her. "I was the problem and obviously Matt is to in this. We are the ones not good enough for you. I don't ever want to hear you say you aren't good enough. You didn't lose me, I was the one who lost you." He said sadly. Stefan tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. "I regret every day of losing you." He whispered leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Now get cleaned up we are going out."
"Stefan I don't feel like it." Elena was being honest. She felt like crap and after his comment she didn't know if she wanted to be alone with him. After her break up with Matt she wasn't ready to be with Stefan.
"Elena this isn't about us." He smiled at her. "There is somewhere we have to be today."
Elena looked at him confused. "Stefan really I appreciate you trying to make me feel better but I just want to sleep this off. I need some time to myself."
Just then the front door open and in walked Damon and Jeremy. "You guys aren't ready yet?" Jeremy asked looking at his watch.
Elena was getting more and more confused by the second. She didn't know what was going on. Just then she realized how dressed up the guys were. "What's going on?" Elena asked.
Stefan looked at Damon and Jeremy as if they weren't supposed to be here yet. "Elena please just go get ready and we will talk on the way. Wear something comfortable but nice."
"Stefan I told you..."
"Elena we aren't taking no for an answer." Damon told her firmly. "People are expecting you. So whatever it is that you did last night to leave you looking like the hell that you do get over it." Damon earned a glare from Stefan and Elena and an elbow from Jeremy.
"Come on sis please." Jeremy pleaded.
Elena huffed turning on her heels and stomping to the bedroom.
"What are you guys doing here?" Stefan asked annoyed.
"Katherine sent us." Damon shrugged. "She didn't trust you to get Elena."
Stefan rolled his eyes at the comment. Of course Katherine didn't trust him. "Look Elena had a rough night."
"We can tell." Damon stated. "She looks like shit."
"Shut up." Stefan said pouring a cup of coffee. "Matt broke up with her."
"He what?" Jeremy asked shocked.
"Yeah." Stefan nodded. "It's hard to believe but he did and when I get my hands on him."
"You'll do nothing." Damon finished for him. "Matt made his choice and now it's your turn to be the bigger person in this."
Stefan shook his head. "She hung out with Vicki last night." Stefan said making both brother's eyes grow wide.
"No wonder she looks like she got ran over by a truck this morning!" Jeremy said. "Elena doesn't even do drugs what is she doing with her?"
Stefan shrugged. "I don't know. The break up really hurt her last night though and I won't allow for him to make her feel that way anymore. I know I messed up with her but she deserves better." Stefan sighed. "Can you two please just go and we will meet you there?" Stefan asked. "We will meet you there she just needs some time to get ready."
"Stefan..." Damon started.
"I won't let her talk us out of going." Stefan assured. "Tell Katherine we will be there." Stefan promised.
"It's on you if you don't show up. Everyone is looking forward to her being there." Damon told him.
"You have my word." Stefan said waving at the two as they walked out. Stefan walked up to Elena's room and knocked before entering she was showered and dressed which was a good sign. "Hey I brought you coffee." He greeted her.
"Do I have to go?" Elena whined taking the coffee from him.
Stefan smiled sadly at her nodding his head. "Unfortunately you do. Katherine has sworn everyone to secrecy. I honestly don't know much about it besides what Damon has told me."
"I hate her games." Elena rolled her eyes as she brushed through her hair.
"Don't we all." Stefan laughed. He left Elena to finish getting ready. Thirty minutes later she was downstairs ready to go following Stefan out to his car. They drove in silence listening to the radio playing softly. Before long they were on the outskirts of town pulling up to a huge field that was full of cars and there were tents and people everyone. Elena had no clue what was going on today. Stefan stepped out of the car and walked around to help Elena out. They walked up to the main tent to see a banner saying 'Happy Anniversary' and it clicked in Elena's head that this party was for her parents.
She stopped in her tracks right before she entered and Stefan noticed she stopped walking. He reached down grabbing her hand. "Stefan I want to go home." She shook her head.
"It's time Elena." He said. "I'm right here with you." He promised. "All we have to do is make an appearance and if you don't want to stay then we will leave. Just try." His only job was to get her there today. He didn't make a promise to make her stay or talk to her parents. He promised to get her there.
Elena nodded but slipped her hand out of his as she walked beside him. Everyone watched as the two walked up together. Stefan's eyes focused ahead of him searching for the Gilberts wanting to keep a safe distance until Elena was ready to approach them. Lexi waved from the table she was sitting at with Bonnie and Caroline. Stefan waved back at her with a small nod. Normally he would have left Elena's side and went straight for her but today Elena needed his support.
"You came." Katherine smiled hugging Elena happily. "Thank you."
Elena nodded running her fingers through her hair nervously. "I didn't know this was for mom and dad."
"I asked Stefan not to tell you." Katherine said. "Don't be upset with him." For once Katherine was asking Elena not to blame Stefan for something.
"Where are they?" Elena asked.
"Over there." Stefan nodded. Elena's eyes followed his nod and her eyes caught her parents. Miranda was looking at her daughter longingly. She wanted to run to her as soon as she showed up but knew Elena would come to her when she was ready. Too much time had passed since they had last spoken. Grayson had a smile on his face happy to see his daughter. Elena gave them a small smile that she could muster. "Who invited him?" Stefan tensed up when his eyes fell on Matt who just walked up.
"I did." Katherine said like it wasn't a big deal. "He is Elena's boyfriend."
"Was." Elena winced.
"What?" Katherine asked. "Since when?"
"Last night." Elena said sadly.
"He's headed over here." Stefan said not happy at all.
"Hey." Matt greeted the group.
Katherine rolled her eyes at him. "You have some nerve showing up here." Stefan said feeling his rage build up. After Elena's confession last night about not feeling like enough he swore to himself he would never allow anyone to make her feel like that again not even him.
"What's your problem?" Matt asked growing defensive.
"You're my problem." Stefan said.
"Stefan stop." Elena warned him.
"Do you know she had no ride last night?"
The look on Matt's face showed he didn't know that but it didn't make Stefan feel any better. "You called him?"
"No." Elena shook her head.
"No she didn't call me." Stefan said. "But I found out."
"I came to talk to you Elena." Matt said softly. Matt looked between Stefan and Katherine who were on either side of Elena acting as if her body guards in this situation. "Alone." He stated.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Stefan said.
"Yeah you might leave her alone again." Katherine crossed her arms over her chest.
Matt sighed shaking his head at their antics. He had never done anything wrong to Elena and the two people who were constantly hurting her were giving him grief over a one time mistake. "Give me a break." He groaned. "Elena please I'm trying to apologize."
"Okay." Elena said nodding her head.
"Thank you." Matt held out his hand for her to take to follow him. Elena placed her hand in his and began to walk away. Stefan reached out for her to open his mouth to say something. Anything to try and stop her from walking away with Matt. He couldn't find the words.
"Good one." Katherine said rolling her eyes at him. Stefan shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the table to join his friends.
"What was that about?" Lexi asked him.
"I don't know." Stefan shrugged. "Matt broke up with Elena last night and I thought that might have been my chance to start making things right between us but it looks like things might not go so easily."
"You can't give up now." Lexi said patting his thigh. "This is only one obstacle."
"I just don't want to hurt her again." Stefan said.
"Then don't." Caroline said. "Sorry I couldn't help but to ease drop." She smiled. "You know I am rooting for you two."
Stefan nodded. "Thanks Care."
"Stefan you have to fight for her. Letting her carry on with Matt will get you no where and it will only leave her living her life wondering why it doesn't feel right." Caroline told him.
"She's right Stefan." Lexi said. "Elena needs you to fight for her this time."
"I did before."
"You hurt her before." Caroline reminded him of that dark time in everyone lives. "She didn't know what to believe. This time is different. You are her husband after all." She winked. "Why don't you start acting like it. Take advantage of the fact that you are the one going home with her every night."
Stefan let their words sink. They were right. Stefan needed to fight for what was rightfully his. Elena was his heart. She would forever be his home. Stefan was nothing without her and he needed her like he needed air to breathe. He was young but he knew he would never feel this way about anyone else in his life again. What he shared with her was rare and he knew that she felt it too. There was no way that this could be one sided. Elena was only using Matt as a safety net because everyone knew that Matt would never do anything Elena didn't agree with. Stefan though was good for her though because he challenged her to do all the things she was afraid of doing. He didn't just sit back and let her run the show for him. Stefan had dreams of his own but those dreams were nothing without Elena by his side. He needed her to make those dreams come true. She was his dream.
Elena and Matt returned to the party sometime later. Stefan watched as Matt followed Elena to their table where everyone was sitting and conversing. Stefan hadn't really paid much attention to any of the conversations going on. Tyler and Lexi were bantering over how the football season would turn out for the boys and Caroline and Bonnie were chatting away about colleges. Stefan didn't know what his college plans were yet. He had not even filled out on application. The thought of college was far from his mind now considering his situation with Elena.
"Hey guys." Bonnie greeted the two.
Elena gave a soft smile while Matt nodded picking a seat by Tyler. Stefan picked up on how the two seemed distant. Stefan's eyes connected with Elena's and he could see the pain behind them. He wanted to reach out and tell her it would be okay that he was there for her but she didn't need to hear that. Not from him at least.
"Excuse me." Stefan said getting up from the table. He needed to get himself some fresh air.
"Thank you for bringing Elena today." Stefan heard Miranda's gentle voice from behind him.
Stefan turned to look at her with a bright smile. "You're welcome Mrs. Gilbert." Stefan reached out to hug her. "Happy anniversary."
Miranda pulled away from him with a smile. "Maybe one of these days I'll be standing here congratulating you on that."
Stefan chuckled looking down at his feet shaking his head. "I don't think you will."
"May I ask how things are going?" Miranda had been longing to talk to her daughter but she knew if she pushed anything Elena would just push her away kind of how she did Stefan.
"Things are going." Stefan shrugged. "She's with Matt one minute and the next she's not and now I don't know." Stefan sighed running his fingers through his hair. "I've been trying. I mean really trying to earn her trust again."
"Give it time." Miranda encouraged.
"Time?" Stefan questioned. "I'm running out of it. The longer I stand back and wait the closer they get."
"She's closer than you think. Just when you think there's no hope is when you should fight the hardest. Don't give up on her please." Miranda asked of him. "She's confused. Make her understand." Stefan nodded as Miranda walked away to join her party again.
The party went on without a problem. Elena didn't say anything to her parents but she did tell them hello and that was enough for them. It was a start and that's all that mattered. Stefan had stayed close to Damon's side for the remainder of the evening.
"I think we are about to head out." Damon said clasping Stefan's shoulder in his hand.
"Yeah I am too." Stefan nodded as he searched the place for Elena.
"Don't give up." Damon encouraged him.
"So I've been told." Stefan laughed lightly as Katherine approached.
"You ready dear?" Katherine asked Damon slipping an arm around her boyfriend's waist.
"All set." Damon smiled at her.
"Stefan try not to let Matt weasel his way back in."
"You telling me you want Elena and I to work out?"
Katherine smirked at the younger Salvatore. "God no, but I know you're the only one who can get her away from Matt and then it's only a matter of time before you screw it up again."
"Katherine." Damon warned her with a tight squeeze around her waist.
"Take care Stefan." Katherine said walking away.
"I'm sorry." Damon sighed shaking his head. He hated how mean Katherine could be at times but he was madly in love with all sides of her.
"It's okay even a witch needs love." Stefan grinned when Damon punched his shoulder.
"Take care little brother." Damon smiled walking off to find Katherine.
People were starting to thin out. The happily married couple had left an hour before for a nights getaway. Stefan had stuck around like most people to help clean up. All the tents had been taken down and the chairs and tables were loaded up. The only thing left were the people standing in the field as the sun was starting to set. The air was beginning to get crisp and Stefan reminded himself to light a fire that night to warm the house up for Elena.
"What's with the smile?" Lexi asked walking up to Stefan.
"Nothing." Stefan said. "Just laughing at myself."
"Do share."
"I was thinking about how I've turned into a real husband thinking about how I need to start a fire tonight to warm the house up for Elena."
Lexi smiled at her friend. "So thoughtful." Stefan shrugged. "She will appreciate it."
"Where is she?" Stefan asked.
"She left with Caroline and Bonnie."
"You have a ride?" Stefan asked her.
"Yeah I came alone to this." Lexi smiled.
Stefan wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "How about we grab lunch tomorrow?" Stefan had been absent from his best friend's life lately.
"I'd like that." She smiled as Stefan walked her to her car. "Let me know how things go."
"Will do." Stefan helped her into her car before retreating to his own.
Elena was waiting on the back porch when Stefan arrived to the house. He would not have noticed had he not seen the back porch light on. She was sitting on the dock over looking the water. He made his way inside and started a fire leaving her be for the time being. After he was done building a fire to warm the house for the night he approached her out on the pier.
"Some day huh?" He asked walking to standing near her as he looked up at the moon.
"Eventful yes." Elena nodded not bothering to look up at him. "My parents have some how made it work this long and I don't know how."
Stefan laughed quietly as he sat down beside her. "You think they always knew what they wanted?"
Elena shook her head at his question. "No." She sighed. Turning to look at him Stefan turned his head to look at her as well. "They had complications in college."
Stefan's brows furrowed together. He had never heard this before. "Did they break up?"
"I don't know really." Elena shrugged. "Jenna told me the story while we were in New York." Stefan sat a little straighter at hearing this. "She said when they were in college mom had met an older guy." Elena looked away from Stefan trying to remember the story fully. "Mom and dad had been together since they were teenagers. They were in new territory. No one knew they were together unless they were publicly together. Mom was so head strong that she got confused." Elena told him meeting his eyes again. "She got wrapped up in the prospect of something different, something new. I don't know all the details but I know my dad wasn't happy. They fought about her spending time with this new guy and my mom went out one night without my dad. Turns out the ended up at the same party. Mom was kissing this other guy."
Stefan felt his breath catch in his throat. The pain on Elena's face was evident. "Did Grayson leave her?"
Elena laughed and looked up at the moon. "Does the moon refuse to rise each night after a bad storm?" When Stefan didn't say anything Elena decided she should tell him what was going on. "Matt wanted to work things out." Stefan's eyes turned to her looking for an answer. "I told him I needed some time alone."
Stefan sat quietly for a moment. He wanted to say something . He wanted to say something meaningful. something she would remember forever. Stefan wanted this to be the moment that changed everything but as they sat there he realized it wasn't their moment.