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It wasn't until Wednesday that Elena decided to finally throw Stefan a bone.
She had gotten to school early, knowing he had football practice in the mornings, and found him easily on the field, running plays with his teammates.
The bleachers on the other side of the track that surrounded the fake turf were bare, so Elena climbed up a few steps and sat down.
This wasn't the first time she had attended an early practice, being loud and supportive from the stands, often accompanied by other members of her squad, but today was different.
She was pensive as she watched the plays being run, and waited quietly until Coach Tanner had blown the final whistle, dismissing the team to hit the locker room.
She could have called out, hailing Stefan before he disappeared, but she had decided on a course of action earlier that morning, and planned on following through with it.
When all the guys had disappeared into the building across the field for a quick shower and change, she sent Stefan a message.
It was short and simple, telling him to wait in the locker room until the others had left, if he wanted to speak with her.
She didn't bother reading the response, though it came quickly.
Instead, she stared out at the football field, recalling the many nights she had stood on that very sideline, cheering the Mystic Falls Timberwolves on to victory with her squadmates.
She thought of Caroline, who had always joked and laughed with her during half-time, mercilessly judging the other team's cheer squad and their obviously inferior routines.
Elena did miss her friend, but couldn't dull the ache that was now attached to those memories.
She had decided to try and forgive Stefan, despite what he had done, but didn't know how to handle the situation with her former bestie.
Caroline's betrayal almost hurt worse than his had.
Was reconciliation even possible? And if so, how were they supposed to move forward and pretend like nothing had happened?
Did she trust that Caroline would never make a move on Stefan again? Sober or not.
And would Stefan let her?
Elena shook her head and pushed away the thoughts.
She would figure out her relationship with Caroline later; right now, she had a point to prove.
It only took a few minutes for the group of football players to exit the locker room building and start down the pathway that led to the parking lot in front of the high school.
Stefan wasn't with them.
She waited another moment or two, letting the last few stragglers take off, before making her way over, undetected.
The boys locker room wasn't the most sanitary of places, given the sweaty bodies that usually occupied the space, but steam from the recently used showers carried the scent of soap and body spray, so it was bearable when Elena slipped inside the doors.
She glided through the rows of lockers easily, until she found Stefan, closer to the back.
He was sitting on the bench in front of his own locker, his phone in hand.
"Expecting a call?" she asked, startling him a little.
Those green eyes of his flew up and when he spotted her, he jumped to his feet.
"Elena! I didn't know if you were actually going to show."
"I said I was, didn't I?"
He nodded, "Yeah...but I wasn't sure if you were going to change your mind...I've been trying to reach you all week."
"I know," she assured him, stepping across the space so that she was standing in front of him, "I've been ignoring you all week."
A hurt look flashed across his features and his head dropped, "I deserve it."
"Yeah, you do."
There was a pregnant pause, then Stefan opened his mouth to speak, "Elena, I'm sor-"
"Don't apologize," she cut him off, "You've already said it, and I don't need to hear it again."
He frowned, "Then what do you want me to say? I want to fix this, babe. Tell me what to do."
Elena felt relieved by his declaration.
If he really was serious, then maybe there was hope for them and she could forget that this whole embarrassing fiasco ever happened.
"Just tell me one thing," she held his gaze, refusing to let any emotion display on her features.
"Anything."
"Have there been others? Besides Caroline?"
Stefan made to reach for her hand, but stopped when she flinched away.
"No," he promised, "And Friday night was the first time she and I ever...that's never happened before. I didn't intend for it to happen."
Elena swallowed, crossing her arms, "The why did it?"
He reached up to rub the back of his neck, as if he were uncomfortable with the question.
Good.
"I...I don't know. We'd been drinking and dancing, and then we were in her car and it just...happened. I had been wanting to be with you for so long, and we've been putting it off, and everything was just kinda built up and-"
"Oh, so it's my fault?" Elena challenged.
"No," he backtracked quickly, "No. That's not what I meant."
Another rub of the neck.
"Look, I never meant to hurt you," he tried again, "I swear, Elena. I made a mistake, but that's all it was. I got swept up in the moment and it was just about the-"
He stopped himself, but Elena could guess the rest.
"It was just about the sex," she finished, and now he was the one flinching, "I'm sorry."
He did look regretful, the guilt painted all over his handsome face, and Elena told herself that this was where she had wanted him.
Begging for forgiveness. All but grovelling for a second chance.
She thought back to the conversation she'd had with Damon and knew that she had to stick to her plan if she wanted to make this work.
Show him what he had risked losing...make him want it.
Surely she could do that.
Damon certainly hadn't shied away from telling her how attractive she was; how much of a tease just having his hands on her had been.
Why should it be any different now?
"I want you to touch me," she said decisively, the words a little breathless thanks to the nerves flipping in her throat.
Stefan looked taken aback, "What?"
His surprise was understandable; she was Elena Gilbert after all and she never did anything improper or scandalous.
"Touch me," Elena commanded with feigned confidence, stepping even closer to him, "Touch me the way you touched her."
Stefan's breath caught and she saw a flicker of something different take over the shock in his gaze.
"Are you...are you sure?"
Instead of answering, Elena dug up all the courage she had, biting back her insecurities, and took that last step forward.
When they were face to face, she reached up to cup his neck, then brushed the lightest of kisses on his lips.
They were warm and familiar, as were the eyes that were searching her face.
She turned around, pressing her back against Stefan's chest, forcing his back against the wall of lockers.
Her eyes closed and she remembered her experience Monday afternoon, on the couch with Damon.
"I'm going to unbutton my pants," she spoke slowly, following the memory, "And we are going to touch me."
Stefan's hands found her waist as she did what she'd said, and she reached over to take one of his hands into her own.
And just as Damon had done for her, she guided Stefan's hand down, until his fingers were past her waistband, and she felt that tingle of pleasure when contact was made.
"Holy...shit," Stefan murmured against her hair as she moved their hands, focusing the tips of his fingers over her clit.
She could feel him hardening, the erection starting to press against her back, and the knowledge that she was causing that reaction made her feel more secure in her decision.
When his hips started to move slightly, thrusting against her, she groaned.
This was what she wanted. Stefan, hot and bothered, wanting her.
Yet, her body wasn't quite complying.
Despite the victory she felt and the little jolts of pleasure from being touched, there was no climactic edging.
No looming explosion on the horizon.
"Faster," she goaded, having learned from her short personal exploration that she liked that, and Stefan obliged.
It helped, but...it wasn't quite…
Before, it had been so...she just needed-
"Come for me, Elena."
The memory of Damon's soft growl in her ear was her undoing, and she felt the bomb detonate from out of nowhere.
She cried out, covering her mouth with one hand, and reaching down to stop Stefan's movement with the other.
He was breathing as hard as she was, "Did you just-"
"Uh huh," she answered, before pulling at his hand until he removed it from her pants.
Then she buttoned herself and tugged the bottom of her shirt back into place.
Stefan reached for her, his arms trying to slide around her waist, but she held her ground and he settled for just resting his hands on her hips.
"That was...new," he commented, still seeming a little dazed.
Elena smiled sweetly, "And that's all you're getting for today."
Stefan's brows pulled together and Elena's smirk darkened, "Consider the blue balls an atonement for Friday night."
He blinked, then started to speak, but again she stopped him, this time with a quick peck to his cheek, "Prove to me that you mean what you say, that you're sorry and it was a one time mistake, and I might be willing to help alleviate you."
They were pressed together, so she felt it when his erection jumped at her words.
Her smile broadened and she leaned back, "Until then, I'll see you in class."
With that, she turned and walked away, not giving him a second glance.
Elena rode her new wave of victory all through first and second period, relishing the level of control she had felt, having Stefan at her mercy.
It had made her feel so good...so in control.
Just like she had felt when she realized she had managed to turn Damon on after their couch session.
Knowing she could affect him in that way had given her the courage to corner Stefan and to trust she could do the same to him.
After all, Damon had slept with girls leagues above her own, and if his body could still find interest in her, what chance did Stefan have?
Third period brought her to History, the class she shared with Stefan, and when she entered the room, he smiled at her from his desk.
It was lustful and secretive and she ate up the way his eyes never left her...at least not until Caroline entered the room as well.
Right. She was in this class too.
But Elena, who had been ignoring the blonde all week already, had no problem keeping up the charade, and watched Stefan from the corner of her eye to test his reaction.
He had noticed Caroline, that was a given, but he merely shook his head and dropped his gaze back to his homework.
It stayed there for several moments...before shifting to Elena again.
He gave her another warm smile, and she returned it.
A few moments later, when the teacher began to drone on with the daily lesson, Elena pulled out her phone and sent a short text.
E: Lesson one was helpful ;)
It took longer than usual for Damon to reply, not surprising since they were at school, but she waited with anticipation for her phone to light up.
When it did, she opened the message eagerly.
D: So I've heard.
Elena blinked.
He had heard? What did that mean?
She started to ask him, but another text came through before she could.
This one from Caroline.
C: Seriously? I thought Perfect Elena Gilbert was too pure for public indecency. And the boys locker room? Classy.
Chagrin filled her as she glared over her shoulder.
Caroline gave her a face that nullified any apologies she may have been making previously, leading Elena to believe that the blonde wasn't actually happy that she and Stefan had reunited.
But how the hell had she found out? Had Stefan told someone?
E: About as classy as car sex with your best friend's boyfriend. At a keg party in the woods.
She shot the text back to Caroline just as another came in from Damon.
D: Tyler Lockwood saw your frisk sesh this morning. I'd say nice work, but something tells me you didn't plan the voyeurism.
Ah, Elena sighed. So that's the how.
She probably should have locked the door behind her before she went to find Stefan, or at least made sure the coast was completely cleared, but hindsight did little to help her now.
E: Who all knows?
She was afraid of the answer, but it would be better to be prepared.
D: It's Lockwood...so probably the whole football team.
Great.
E: Which means the whole school.
She wished she was the kind of girl who could afford not to care about gossip.
But being from a Founding Family meant she was always open to social scrutiny.
Sure, a teenager getting handsy with her boyfriend was hardly the most risque thing to happen in the town, but people would still talk.
And if word spread too far, her parents were liable to hear it, and that was going to bring on a whole different list of problems.
More fighting, more blaming, more avoiding the actual issues of their marriage.
Not to mention the awkward doctor led sex talks that would follow, as well as the pressure to be ladylike and a reminder of the responsibilities on the respectable families of Mystic Falls, and how they were already on such tight schedules that they couldn't afford to have her going wild...blah blah blah.
The whole ordeal was better avoided if possible.
Another text came through, getting her attention.
D: Too bad he didn't record it. You could have been famous. The Football player and the Cheerleader hooking up in the locker room. Sounds like the plot of every porno ever.
And just like that, the pressure valve released and Elena laughed to herself.
E: I thought Sexy Professor and Naughty Student was the typical cliche? Though I suppose cheerleaders still score pretty high on the list. Bet it's the skirts.
A quick reply.
D: It's definitely the skirts. And the flexibility.
She smirked again.
E: Well, If it's ever produced, I'll give you a trainer's cut from the profit. Deal?
The response came before she could refocus back on the teacher's Civil War lecture, but when she checked her phone, it was Caroline's name on the screen.
C: So you're still pissed at me, but Stefan gets a free pass and a trip to third base? How the hell is that fair? I wasn't alone in that car, you know.
Elena rolled her eyes, but felt the jab prod at her brain.
Caroline wasn't entirely wrong...but what did it matter? It was her business who she chose to forgive or not forgive.
And unlike Caroline, Stefan did seem to feel sorry for what had happened.
Her phone lit up with another text.
C: So what's the plan? Screw him into being a faithful boyfriend? If you were giving him anything worth having he wouldn't have wanted to hook up with me.
Okay. Ouch.
Elena swallowed as light was shone on one of her deeper insecurities.
She had never really discussed her sex life, or lack of it, with Caroline in detail, but maybe Stefan had?
Did he tell Caroline that Elena refused to sleep with him? That she was a clueless virgin that had no idea how to pleasure a guy?
Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes and Elena turned off her phone without responding.
What was she even supposed to say to that?
Especially when she feared it was the truth.
The rest of the class dragged and Elena was already halfway out of her seat when the bell rang.
She had felt sick to her stomach as Caroline's words replayed in her head, teasing at her self doubt until she was feeling pathetic.
So she had made her boyfriend put his hands down her pants...what did that prove exactly?
It had all seemed to make sense in the moment, but now it felt like a joke and she was the punchline.
And it was only a matter of time before word got all the way around the school…
She just couldn't deal with the speculative looks right now.
Deciding to ditch out of fourth period, Elena slipped into an empty Chem Lab down the hall from her English class.
It was only ever used on Mondays and Fridays, for the dual credit college classes, so it was a safe bet that no one would come looking for her there.
And for a while, no one did.
She leaned against one of the tall black topped tables, resting her head in her hands as she tried to figure out what the best thing to do would be.
Option one, keep trying to win Stefan over by playing on his desire and ignore Caroline's rude remarks.
Option two, dump Stefan and never speak to him or Caroline Forbes ever again.
Option three: Try to make it work with Stefan and try to salvage whatever was left of her friendship with Caroline by forgiving them both.
When her mind refused to come up with an option four, Elena cursed under her breath.
None of the choices she had offered herself felt right.
Maybe she should talk to her Mom; get a more mature perspective before burning any bridges.
But that would mean admitting that she had been cheated on, which felt like an admission of failure somehow.
And she already felt inadequate enough, trying to live up to the PHD's in her household, why pour salt on the wound?
Besides, her parents loved Stefan.
She groaned into her hands.
This was pointless.
As she wallowed with indecisiveness, Elena heard the door behind her slowly crack open.
She didn't bother to move.
Whoever it was would either call out to her, or go away.
When the door shut with a loud thump, she assumed the latter had happened.
Except then she heard footsteps, and a hand touched her arm.
Before she could turn around, a body pressed against hers, and that hand fell to her waist.
Lips brushed against her ear, "I hear you've been a bad girl, Miss Gilbert."
Elena shot her elbow backwards, catching a set of ribs, and her assaulter groaned.
"Serves you right," she smirked, and turned to see Damon recovering from her hit.
"And hello to you too," he jabbed.
She sighed, "I was hiding."
"I know. But I'm good at seeking; or did you forget about your eleventh birthday party?"
He looked good today, she noticed as he teased her.
His dark hair was falling forward, the bangs flirting with his brows, which were slightly arched as he looked at her.
Those crystal blue eyes were as consuming as ever and it took a moment before she thought to respond, "I'm not really in the mood to reminisce right now."
The devil's smile parted his lips, "Then tell me, what are you in the mood for?"
He drew out the words, his tone offering a few suggestions, and Elena put a hand against his chest, meaning to push him back a step.
Instead, she just stared at where her palm rested, the muscles beneath his black shirt going taut at the contact, before lifting her gaze to his.
"Caroline knows about this morning," she told him, moving her hand so that her fingertips tickled the lapels of his leather jacket, " I don't think she's very happy about it."
Damon frowned, "Why do you say that?"
Elena reached back to her pocket, pulled out her phone, and gave it to him, "Read the texts."
When he did, annoyance flickered across his face, "What a bitch."
Elena shrugged, "Yeah...but maybe she has a point. Maybe all of this is useless."
"Is it still what you want?" he asked slowly, but Elena wasn't entirely sure how to answer.
She didn't know what she wanted anymore.
Well...she knew one thing.
"Right now, I just want to disappear for awhile. I don't want to deal with Caroline, or Tyler and the rumors, or classes, or the future, or even Stefan."
Damon's gaze swept her face, and he nodded, "Alright, then come with me. We'll ditch out early and go get some coffee or ice cream to make you feel better, then I'll take you home."
She smiled lightly as he motioned to the door, "Keep this up and you might be able to start charging me for transportation."
"Send me some pictures of yourself in lingerie, and we'll call it even," he joked, and she rolled her eyes but played along, "Do you prefer lace or satin?"
Damon smirked as they entered the hallway, "I prefer nudes, but I know better than to press my luck."
Elena shook her head, but was unable to fight the smile that teased her lips.
Banter with Damon was so simple, it made letting go of everything else so much easier.
And right now, that was what she needed.
To let go.
A little less DE sexy time in this chapter, but don't worry! It's coming. ;)