A/N: This update skips ahead about a week. Stefan and Elena have been on a few dates and they have an established relationship, just no title yet.
"Let's go, ladies, find another gear." Stefan shouted as the clock reached the top and the first group left the wall. The clock changed to five and the second group left. Stefan studied the girls as they swam, but none as closely as Elena. He tried not to be biased with his attention during practice; his gaze was drawn to Elena no matter how much he tried to fight it.
As beautiful as Elena was on dry land, she was equally as beautiful in the water. Stefan was mesmerized as he watched her move through the water. Her movements were fluid and precise. There was no wasted energy in her stroke as she sliced through the water. Her long tan legs beat the water in a quick, powerful kick to aid in propelling her through the water.
"Elena is quite a talent, isn't she, mate?" Stefan started, turning to see Nik standing next to him, legs spread and arms crossed over his chest.
He nodded at his friend. "Yeah, you weren't kidding when you said all this team had something special. Vicki is strong and Lauren has a great finishing kick. I love watching them and I'm very excited to see where these ladies will go. Working with them is so much fun."
Nik laughed. "I know that. I was subtly trying to segue into a conversation about Elena and yourself." Stefan looked at his friend, confusion on his face. "Oh, come on, Rippa. I may not always be paying attention but I am not blind. Something is going on between you and the lovely Elena. I'm asking you as a friend right now, not as your boss or her coach. What's going on between the two of you?"
Stefan couldn't help the smile the crept across his features. "I don't know what it is, Nik. I just feel this pull towards her, it's magnetic. When I'm around her I….. it's like I'm drowning."
Nik looked at his friend with great confusion. "Drowning? Mate, drowning is not a good thing."
Stefan shook his head. "I know that, Nik. I just can't think of how to describe it. I have this flood of thoughts and emotions when I'm with her. I can never get her out of my mind. Elena has invaded my life. I'm drowning in her."
Stefan looked at Nik, hoping his friend would understand what he was trying to say. "Oh, I see. I bet it never felt this good to drown before, eh?"
Stefan grinned. "Yeah, Nik. Drowning never felt so good." He turned his attention back to the pool. The girls were just finishing their last 400 of the set. He clapped his hands together. "Alright, Ladies. Great set. I'm really proud of all of you for finding that extra gear and really putting it all out there. Now I get to brag to Kol that my girls work harder than his." There was a collective chuckle from the distance swimmers as they lounged at the wall. "So, next order of business." Now a groan reverberated from the pool. Stefan cocked his head, a teasing smirk on his face. "Hey, hey. You don't know what it is yet."
"Stefan, we are 20,000 meters into the day. Anything more is just cruel and unusual punishment." Stefan looked at Elena. Her chin was resting on her arms, which lay crossed along the gutter. Her goggles were pulled up to sit on her forehead. Stefan found himself temporarily mesmerized by her dark eyes. He felt two hands clamp down on his shoulders, snapping him out of his gaze. Elena raised a brow at him, amusement playing at her features.
"Ladies, that is why Stefan here warrants the title of Rippa. He tears everything apart." Stefan laughed, grateful for Klaus and his interruption.
"Great work today, you all have a 400 easy - every fourth back - cool down. I don't want to hear any complaining, go." He swung his arms forward, motioning for them to push off the wall. None of the girls made a move. "Now, or it will be a 500 every fourth fly. Come on, the sooner you get it done the sooner you get to the showers. Get moving."
Elena was the first to push off. Stefan smiled to himself. That was his Elena, getting it done. His Elena? Where did that come from? Stefan shook it off. Whatever Elena was to him, she meant a lot; he just didn't know how to put a label on it.
Elena groaned as she heaved herself out of the pool. She swung her leg up to aid her as she stood and stepped out of the gutter, ripping her goggles off her face, Elena rubbed her eyes. "Nice welts. Those are attractive." She turned her head to see Stefan leaning against a block. There he goes, leaning on things all sexy again.
"If someone didn't keep us in the pool so long our goggles wouldn't dig in so much." Stefan and Elena turned to see who had spoken. Alana pulled her cap off and shook her head, long brown hair tumbling down.
"That is what it takes to be great." Stefan shot back. Alana rolled her eyes at him and popped a hip. She batted her eyelashes.
"Sure. Thanks for the set, Coach. I'm telling you, Elena, one of these days I will catch you." Alana teased as she turned to Elena.
"Not a chance, you haven't come near my toes since freshman year. Nice try." Elena smiled and Alana laughed.
"See you tomorrow. Good-bye, Elena. Bye, Stefan." Alana winked at Stefan as she walked past, brushing his shoulder. Elena tried to fight the glare as Alana disappeared into the locker room but Stefan caught it.
"Was she flirting with me?" He asked, pointing a finger at himself. Elena looked back at Stefan and nodded. He glanced around the pool, only Nik was left, and he was in his office. "Does that make you jealous?" He smirked at Elena.
"So what if it does? What are you going to do about it?" She placed her hands on her hips, smiling at him. Elena had no time to react as Stefan lunged for her. In an instant, she was hoisted over Stefan's shoulder. "Stefan, put me down!" As annoyed as she tried to sound, Elena was actually enjoying herself, especially with a lovely view of Stefan's tight ass in front of her face.
"What? Sorry, Elena. I can't quite hear you." Elena lifted her torso and turned her body so her mouth was right by Stefan's ear. She felt his arms tighten as her abs moved over his shoulder and he let out a small growl.
She leaned in close so her lips were brushing his ear. "I said. Put. Me. Down." She kissed his ear.
He groaned theatrically. "Alright, you win." Stefan threw Elena into the pool. She came up sputtering for air.
"STEFAN! What the hell was the for?" She yelled at him as she began to tread water.
He shrugged his shoulders. "What? You said put you down. So I did." He smiled at her. "Besides, I don't throw just anyone in the pool. I have to either be super pissed at them - in which case said person would go in fully clothed if I could manage it, or I am flirting like a teenager. Since you seemed to be annoyed that Alana was flirting with me I took it upon myself to remind you that I am only interested in you." He shrugged again.
"Ugh, I forgive you. Mostly because I was already wet." Elena pulled her cap off and threw it at Stefan. "But, don't tell me you weren't the least bit affected by her. She did the whole 'over dramatic fake anger' thing," She drew air quotes as she spoke, "and then added a hip pop and hair flip. Most guys would have been drooling."
"Elena, a, I am not most guys, and b, I am not interested in the slightest. I want to get to know you and only you." He pointed at her for added effect.
"But, she is really pretty and she does have really great hair." She said, letting her insecurities show.
"Elena, no one in this pool is as beautiful as you are to me. And, her hair?" Stefan scoffed. "Mud brown, dirty ropes compared to your hair. Stop worrying about it. I am off the market. I am actually unavailable. Taken." He smiled at her.
"Oh." Was all Elena replied with.
"What?" Stefan asked, his heart dropping a bit.
"It's just that we never really got around to discussing what we are yet and I didn't know if we were exclusive or…" She trailed off, avoiding Stefan's gaze.
"Do you want to see other people?" Stefan asked. Elena shook her head, wet hair whipping around. "Good, cause I don't either. As far as I am concerned, we are in an exclusive relationship. Now, as far a titles, cause I think we need to decide this. I am all for telling people I am your man slave." He opened his arms as Elena gawked at him. "Kidding." He held up a finger. "But, Elena, I would like to introduce you as my girlfriend when you meet my friends or when I talk about you. What are your thoughts?"
Elena swam to the wall, lifting herself half way out with her arms. Stefan moved closer and bent in order to bring his face level with Elena's. "I would like very much to be your girlfriend, Stefan Salvatore. Will you be my boyfriend?" Stefan nodded, an enormous grin stretching his mouth. Elena leaned closer to Stefan and her lips brushed his as she spoke. "Good."
Stefan closed the gap, kissing Elena slowly and sweetly. Elena sighed into Stefan's kiss, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers. She slowly sank further into the water, Stefan following her as he kept their lips in contact. Elena reached a hand up and set it on Stefan's neck. She pulled her mouth a millimeter away from Stefan's. "Gotcha."
"Wha-?" Was all Stefan had time to say before Elena pulled him into the pool with her.
Stefan surfaced, laughing. "I guess I deserved that."
Elena swam to Stefan. "You did, now, where were we?" She wrapper her arms around his neck as they both kicked to stay afloat.
"I think we were kissing." Stefan said.
Elena ran a finger along Stefan's exposed collarbone. "I think we were. But first, Mr. Salvatore. I think your shirt is weighing us down. You should remove it." Elena brought her other hand to rest on Stefan's shirt, just above his collar.
"I agree." Stefan replied and Elena wrenched his shirt at the v of the neckline. The shirt tore down the middle.
"Whoops, hope you didn't like that shirt." Elena said in an innocent tone as she slid the torn shirt off of Stefan.
He leaned closer to her, planting a kiss on her nose. "Not. A. Bit. Hated it, actually." He punctuated his words with kisses to her forehead and nose.
She smiled, "good."
A/N: A wet and shirtless Stefan! I want one of my own! Sorry I took longer with this update, I was reading for school – blah – and I have been really busy. I just sat down and all this came out. Hope you enjoyed it and I hope I gave you some feels. Oh, did you catch the title in there?
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