And just like that the moment with Enzo was gone, and Caroline was thrown back into reality. Everything was uncomfortably silent until Caroline broke it, asking, "What are you doing here? We aren't friends, remember?" He looked at her with such pain that it truly shocked her.
"I had to try…I had to try to fix us, to fix this ridiculous mess I made, Care," Stefan said simply.
"It's not that simple," Caroline said softly, almost in a whisper.
"Stefan, brother, I think it's time we left," Damon looked from Caroline to Elena and Liam and back.
"Not until I talk to Caroline. Alone," Stefan gave Enzo a harsh stare. Caroline sighed. This was getting exhausting.
"Fine, you have one minute. And don't expect a verbal response," Caroline glared at Stefan. He chuckled to himself as she led him to the hallway outside.
"Stop laughing at me. You don't have the right to come here, uninvited to Friendsgiving, after I humiliated myself in front of you, just to laugh at me. So actually, I think I'm gonna go back inside to my real friends," She said, trying desperately to pull herself together before the tears overflowed.
"Caroline, I wasn't laughing at you. I just missed your feistiness. Please wait." Stefan pleaded with her.
"Why? Give me one good reason," She said firmly.
"Because I miss you, and everything about you, and I screwed up," Stefan replied. Caroline turned back to face her former best friend.
"I missed you too, and you knew that, from every damn voicemail I so desperately sent you. I was so desperate, Stefan. For someone who could never, who would never see me the way I saw him. At least you admit that you 'screwed up,' but it's too late. I have a life to get back to," She started walking away.
"You need to know why," Stefan said. She paused again.
"Caroline, I had to push you away. It was the only way I could survive the pain. I knew that you would be there for me, to hold me and let me cry. But I wanted to move on and stop crying, and I knew that I couldn't do that if you were with me. So I had to leave and try to forget about you. And that was one of the hardest things I had to do. I'm not proud of what I did, or of how I treated you when I came back. I should have stayed when you asked me to, and I'm sorry I didn't," Stefan admitted. Caroline turned back to face him one more time.
"Thank you for that, Stefan. I'll see you around," she patted his arm and went back inside, leaving Stefan with only the wind and his thoughts.
The others noticed the absence of the other Salvatore and quickly made a well timed escape. Well, everyone but Enzo.
"Hey Gorgeous, is everything with Hero Hair all sorted?" he asked gently. Caroline tried to manage a laugh, but Enzo knew better. So he just took her in his arms and held her. He knew she was still in love with that blasted Salvatore. And he knew that she would always be in love with him. But that couldn't stop him from trying to make her happy, even if he couldn't be with that ridiculously bubbly, blonde cheerleader. No, Enzo would be okay. It was just a matter of making sure the girl would be okay.
"Enzo, I'm sorry," she said through her tears.
"I know Gorgeous. It's okay, I'm still here," he said with a smile.
"Why?" Caroline asked him in bewilderment.
"Because I still care about you. We're 'best friends' as you once called it, remember?" He smirked. Caroline flashed him her signature grin.
"That we are," she agreed.