A/N: I will never get away from asking you guys for forgiveness for always updating so damn late. I truly am sorry. I don't wanna get too soppy, but being a single mum with a full time job leaves hardly any time to write, but I love it so much, I don't want to stop doing it. And I thank you so much for your amazing support.
Some serious thank you's are owed to LavenderLou07, LokYa, BadBoysAreBest, aj81writing and Nasha233 for your loooove and incredible support in what I'm doing. Also wanna send a shoutout to LoveEpicLove for being here for me, even in the midst of having another baby!
Ok, this chapter lacks of Damon, but needed for the story ahead...
After a long and frustrating night with not near enough sleep, one that she'd really need for a day at the Lockwood's with her family, Elena woke up, bleary eyed and with an aching head.
She drank her coffee in silence, barely acknowledging her mother fidgeting around her. Mayor Lockwood's wife, Carol Lockwood, had the uncanny ability to make even the most self-assured person nervous, and Miranda Gilbert was no exception.
Elena's father was unusually grumpy this morning, probably due to the fact that Miranda had made sure he couldn't get out from attending the auction. There had been a time when Grayson Gilbert and Richard Lockwood had been best friends at high school, both of them popular athletes, who'd been fighting for attention both on and off field, especially in regards to the most popular girl at school – Miranda Sommers.
Grayson had won the fight, and Richard had never truly forgiven him for it.
Nowadays, Grayson was a mild mannered doctor and most of the time he'd stay out of Richard's way. Today was one of the days he tried to. But Miranda was relentless. If she had to go, so did her husband. Why should she have to suffer something that was necessary for the community, and not him? It wasn't called 'in good times, and in bad' for nothing. That was her motto in life, especially in situations like these. Usually this sort of bickering made Elena smile, but not today.
Elena got ready quickly, showering in under ten minutes, using her new vanilla scented shampoo and conditioner, glad that she'd used the gift certificate her aunt Jenna had given her to get a well needed hot wax and Brazilian the previous week. If her Mom ever were to find out, she'd give Jenna an earful for sure. Not that Elena thought Miranda even knew what a Brazilian even was, but she wasn't about to find out either.
She put on a light yellow sundress with small patterns of flowers in turquoise and fuchsia pink and a piqued bandeau top. Then she combed her hair into a high ponytail. She was just finishing off with some cherry lip-gloss when she heard Caroline honking the horn outside. Elena glanced at the time, for once Caroline was on time, thank god. Elena just wanted this day to be over and done with.
'I'm leaving, see you there', she shouted towards the kitchen as she bounded down the stairs, bag in hand and sunglasses perched on her head. She could see her Mom stick her head around the corner with a look of surprise, but she ignored it. She was not in the mood to hang out with her Mom longer than necessary.
Flopping onto the passenger seat, Caroline grinned at her. Bonnie was seated in the back, handing Elena a steaming take away cup.
'Almond latte, extra foam,' she smiled at Elena.
Elena felt a sudden surge of relief.
'Thank god for you guys,' she breathed and inhaled the mouthwatering scent of the sweet coffee in her hand.
She didn't notice the looks that passed between her friends, neither would she have cared, if she had. She was just happy seeing some friendly faces.
They spent most of the morning setting up stalls and putting the items up for charity in their designated areas. Elena saw Tyler Lockwood and Matt Donovan helping to put out chairs in the ball room, with Vicky Donovan prancing around them, looking like the cat that ate the canary.
Elena turned around and noticed Zach Salvatore standing on the porch, flanked by a tall person with dark hair and a dark jacket. She could only see the back of his head, but her heart skipped a beat. She stood frozen in place for a few seconds, until he turned around as Carol Lockwood invited them into the house. Her heart sank. It wasn't Damon.
Mayor Lockwood walked up to them and put his hand on Zach Salvatore's shoulder.
'Let's step into my office for a minute, Zach. I have some matters I wanted to discuss with you. I'm sure Carol will find something to keep your nephew occupied with until we get back.' Richard Lockwood nodded towards the young man and Carol smiled widely at him.
'I'll show you to my son and his friends, Stefan. They'll be able to help you out, and it'll be nice for you to meet people your own age.' Carol barely noticed when Stefan froze as his gaze fell on Elena.
Elena breath caught. The strange boy was staring at her as if he'd seen a ghost, and the disgust that slowly rose in his features was palpable even at a distance, before he quickly averted his eyes and trailed after Mrs. Lockwood.
Elena felt a cold chill run up her spine. She was just about to ask her friends if they'd noticed his reaction too, when she took a look at the goofy expression plastered over Caroline's face.
'Did you see that cute guy?' Caroline asked, breathless. 'I wonder if he's the new guy I've heard is starting school with us next fall.'
She gave Bonnie and Elena in incredulous look.
'What? I hear things.' She exclaimed, by way of explanation. Bonnie and Elena started laughing and Caroline looked at them with raised brows.
'What? I really do.' she peeped as Bonnie started walking towards one of the function rooms filled with extra chairs, to bring them outside for the fashion show held by the sophomores. Caroline caught up with her. 'But he's really fit, isn't he?' Elena heard her say, as she turned around to follow Stefan with her gaze.
Elena tried her hardest to shake the strange feeling that Stefan Salvatore really didn't like her, but she wasn't quite successful. Every time their eyes met, the cold stare he gave her was enough to make her heart stutter uncomfortably.
It wasn't until later that afternoon that Elena got a chance to have a closer look at the brother that Damon was so reluctant to talk her about. She could feel his eyes on her as they all made their way to the outside seating area in the huge garden surrounding the estate. They were having a late lunch provided by The Lockwood's as a thank you for helping them out with the auction. The auction itself was part of a tradition to save money for the town bonfire that was held every October.
Elena glanced over sideways at Stefan as he was filling his plate with a small selection of snacks. She felt her ponytail tickle the back of her neck and the rapid beating of her pulse thrumming in her ears. As he looked her way she gave him a timid smile before quickly turning away from him again. She didn't want to give him the chance to glare at her again. She couldn't understand why he seemed to dislike her, she was usually one of the most popular for new kids to get to know, so she felt really confused by him. But also, she wanted him to like her because of Damon. Which was quite ridiculous, to be honest, since she, as of yesterday, hated Damon's guts. The anger flared up inside of her again. Stupid Damon Salvatore, messing with her head. Using her and then leaving her, all exposed and vulnerable. No one treated Elena Gilbert like that. Not even really hot, strangers like Damon Salvatore.
Speaking of strangers…
Elena tilted her head to the side and checked out Damon's brother again. Then she extended her hand to him.
'Hi, you're Stefan Salvatore, right? Zach's nephew?' Stefan looked down at her hand and hesitated for the shortest of seconds before he took it and nodded once. Elena pretended that she didn't notice. Instead she flashed him her most brilliant smile, the one that made judges at cheerleader competitions give her team an few extra points and boys fall all over themselves to date her. Stefan looked equally taken aback by her.
'I'm Elena Gilbert. Welcome to Mystic Falls.'
Stefan Salvatore was trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle that was Elena Gilbert in all the right places. What the hell was going on? The girl had a pulse; he could see it hammering away at the base of her throat. She was alive and human. But the fact remained; she looked exactly like Katherine Pierce, it was uncanny. Just as young, supple and beautiful. Maybe just a hint of innocence that Katherine lacked, but that he, once upon a lifetime ago, hadn't noticed. Until it was too late.
Elena Gilbert's hand felt small and warm in his, and not until he let it go, did he fully register her surname.
'Are you related to the Gilbert's, one of the founding families here in Mystic Falls?'
Her eyes sparkled as she said yes, and his stomach clenched. There was a hint of vanilla surrounding her and all of a sudden he felt an urge to touch her again, just to make sure she wasn't just a figment of his imagination. Being here, in the Lockwood mansion, brought back too many memories. Memories he'd hidden from for decades.
And looking at Elena now, he could still smell the scented roses that had been strategically placed around the ball room. He could still hear the music from the string quartet, playing a soft waltz, while he'd held Katherine in his arms. The lingering scent of cigars from the study, where his father had retreated together with Jonathan Gilbert and Thomas Fell.
Stefan closed his eyes for a moment to get back to the here and now. And was startled by Elena's friend, Caroline, nestling her way in between him and Elena, walking him to a nearby table. She gave him the third degree, one that he hadn't had the displeasure to sit through, ever since him and Lexi, his best friend and partner in crime for the last decades, had scaled the fence to Woodstock in '69 and gotten caught, only because they'd been too high to function properly.
That's how Caroline made him feel right now, sitting next to him, her arm looped through his, talking excessively about everything and nothing. He smiled at her and answered as many questions about himself as he possibly could without sounding too elusive. He knew that Uncle Zach wasn't too thrilled about having him around. And even less so, that Damon was here.
Damon.
The thought of his brother had him searching for Elena again. If Damon was to find out about Elena, there was no telling what could happen. Adrenaline started surging his body. She needed to be protected. Damon was errant at his best and volatile and murderous at his worst. And add to the fact that he was also an arrogant prick did nothing to help matters further.
Stefan excused himself from Caroline after a few more prodding questions and ignored the disappointed look on her face as he walked across the yard to the other teenagers hanging around a stall of old records. He started looking through some of them absentmindedly, when he could smell her again. He glanced around and she was standing behind him. He turned and faced her. A small smile was barely touching her lips, and he knew why. He wasn't proud of his initial reaction to her, but he'd been caught off guard. He was adamant to try to make her forget about his behavior as quickly as possible.
Elena didn't really know what to say to Stefan as she'd walked up to him. But as his face lit up as he saw her, she found herself smiling broadly at him, and he smiled back. It was genuine and warm and it filled her with renewed confidence. Maybe she'd just imagined his earlier behavior. Maybe she'd just transferred her anger at his brother to him.
She found herself enjoying his company and attention, in a way she didn't enjoy Damon's. It was different, more open and friendly. As she listened to him talking about how Matt and Tyler wanted him go with them to Mystic Grill later for a game of pool, she realized that even if she enjoyed Stefan's company, she missed Damon's wit and certain way to literally sweep her off her feet.
But Stefan was as tight lipped about his brother that Damon had been. When Elena tried to pry into his private life, Stefan closed up and started talking about starting school next semester and maybe she could help him find his way around, since he'd been in Italy for so long, he'd forgotten all about the American school system. She was wondering what could be so much different, but his emerald green eyes caught her off guard and she forgot all about asking. They were burning intensely into her own eyes and it confused her.
She knew that Damon was a passionate person, she should have figured out; so was his brother. The largest difference between the two would probably be patience. Where Damon had none, Stefan had a bucket full, which he showed to perfection each time Caroline brushed past him in the most obvious come on Elena had seen from her blonde friend to this day.
The third time Caroline walked up to them, she stopped and grinned broadly at Stefan, before turning to Elena.
'I was telling Stefan earlier about the football team and how he should hang out with us, and Tyler and Matt.' Caroline turned back to Stefan, her hair bobbing gently around her fine features. 'Since you used to play football before, I'm sure Mr. Tanner would love to have you on the team. And so would we, wouldn't we, Elena?'
Caroline raised a brow to Elena who nodded.
'Absolutely,' said Elena. 'I didn't even know you played football.'
Caroline laughed out loud.
'There you go, Elena, not paying enough attention to him. I found that out before lunch, didn't I Stefan?'
Stefan looked mildly entertained, but nodded.
'Have you heard about the party on Saturday? It's over at the old cemetery, you know where it is?' Caroline asked him.
Stefan nodded yes, and turned to Elena.
'Are you going to be there?'
Elena was startled by his question and out of the corner of her eye; she could see Caroline's eyes narrow slightly.
'Of course, she'll be there,' said Caroline, with just a tiny hint of annoyance coloring her voice. 'She's probably gonna go with her new boyfriend, Damon. Isn't he your brother, by the way?'
Stefan flinched. He stared at Caroline before letting his eyes shift towards Elena.
'You're the girl that my brother...?' He stopped himself with a short headshake. Elena could see his jaw work overtime as his eyes flickered towards the ground.
'I should go. It was really nice to meet you.' He stalked off towards the house before any of them could utter a single word. Then all of a sudden it was as if life came back to Caroline again, and she ran in after him.
'Stefan.' Elena heard her call before she disappeared inside.
'What was that all about?' Bonnie asked as she walked up to her. 'He looked like he'd seen a ghost. That's weird.'
Elena was still staring after Caroline, lost in thought.
'I don't know,' she said after a minute or two. 'I really don't know, Bonnie.'
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