(Chapter three)
Elena got home, parked her car, turned her key to open the front door, and ran upstairs into her room. Her mind was racing and her heart was pounding. She had just kissed the most handsome person she had ever met in her life. She liked it but what about Stefan? She couldn't do that to him and she really cared about him. She needed to calm down so she could call Stefan and make up some lame excuse about having to rush home before even eating dinner but then again, Stefan had took off somewhere in anger from the subject of Katherine. This was all a mess she told herself. She needed to call Stefan and tell him to meet her at her house so they could talk about everything and get ready for the Halloween party that was going to be held at school tomorrow evening. She picked up her cell and hit the green button and listened until she heard a voice respond on the other end.
"Hello? Elena? Is everything okay? Damon told me you just took off. What's going on?" he sounded worried.
So many question she thought.
"Yeah Stefan, I'm fine. Something came up and Aunt Jenna called me to come home. I'm sorry but look we need to talk. Can you meet me at my house tomorrow before the Halloween party at school? I figured we could talk and then get ready at my house. Is that okay?" she asked.
"Sure. The party starts at eight so I will be over around six. Is that okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, sounds good. I'll see you around six." she said with no enthusiasm.
"And Elena? I'm sorry about what happened earlier...see you tomorrow." he said and then hung up.
She was tired now, time for bed.
That morning Elena woke up holding her head in her hands. All last night she had dreamed about Damon. This was not a good sign. Elena got ready for the day and cleaned her room before Stefan was scheduled to come over. It was finally close to six when she heard the doorbell ring so she ran downstairs to answer it. There was Stefan holding a plastic bag in one hand which Elena figured must contain his Halloween costume for later tonight and in the other was a bouquet of red roses which were her favorite.
"They're beautiful Stefan. Let me go put them in a vase. Just close the door behind you." she said and took off towards the kitchen.
Stefan didn't move a muscle, he couldn't enter Elena's house because he had not been invited in. Elena came back towards the door with a look of confusion.
"Um, are you going to come in or not?" she laughed.
"Oh, I was just admiring the um, wood work on this house. It's amazing." he knew he sounded like an idiot.
"Well um, thank you but come on inside so we can get to talking, okay?" she said.
He sure was acting weird. Something is up she thought.
"Alright," he said as he stepped through the threshold, "lets get to talking."
Elena led Stefan upstairs to her bedroom where she took a seat on her bed and he followed right behind her. They were both sitting on her bed and gazing into each others faces lost in thought until Stefan spoke.
"Elena, I'm sorry about last night. I really am. I just don't like to talk about Katherine because it brings up bad and...painful memories." he said looking down.
"Stefan, I'm asking you to please tell me. I want to know more about you. I told you my most painful story about my parents...just please tell me." she reached down to grab his hand.
"Okay...well if you must know, Katherine was the girl of my dreams. She was beautiful and I loved her but so did my brother. He wanted to be with Katherine just as bad as I did and it was a constant fight between us to win her affection but Katherine was set on having both of us. See, Katherine was beautiful but she was selfish and greedy. Well one night Damon and I were arguing over who would take Katherine to the party that was coming up until we got a phone call. The call told us that Katherine's house had caught fire and that...she hadn't made it out." Stefan was still looking down. "She died in the fire and ever since then Damon has hated me. He feels like I'm to blame for her death because he loved her and was hurt. He jumped to the first person he could that had stood in the way of him being with her which was me. He refuses to let it go. I have moved on but somewhere inside of me, the pain is still there..." he whispered.
"Oh, Stefan...I can see why you wouldn't want to talk about her. I'm really sorry." Elena cried and tears were forming in her eyes.
"No, Elena! Don't cry! It's alright, it's all in the past. I"m just glad I have you now. You truly make me happy and show me that there is a way to love again." he said holding her face in his hands.
"I love you Stefan and I'm here for you." she said softly and then she was in his arms.
"I love you too Elena." he whispered.
They spent quite a bit of time like that just sitting and holding each other. The time passed and then Elena realized that they needed to get ready. For the party she was dressed as a nurse and Stefan was dressed as a doctor. They looked so cute and like a real couple. The time passed and they realized it was now eight so they went outside to get in Stefan's car and head for the school. The party was great, and the gym was set up like a haunted house and it really was actually creepy.
"Elena!" screamed her best friend Bonnie.
"Oh my gosh, hey Bonnie! You look amazing in that witch costume!" cried Elena.
"Thank you! Caroline actually helped me pick it out. I'm loving the sexy nurse costume you got going on and the hot doctor that you're with." she whispered into Elena's ear as Elena let out a giggle.
"You look great Stefan!" said Bonnie.
"Thank you and so do you Ms. Bennett." he smiled at her.
"Well come guys, you have to see the haunted house that we set up! It's the best one we've had yet!" said Bonnie.
The three of them walked over towards the haunted house to get in line but someone grabbed Bonnie's attention so it was just Elena and Stefan until an old lady of about sixty passed by and stood there staring at Stefan.
"Hey, I know you." she said to him.
"Um, I'm sorry ma'am?" said Stefan.
"I know you, you're Stefan Salvatore but you haven't aged a bit..." her eyes were wide.
"I'm sorry ma'am but you must have the wrong person. Excuse me Elena, I need to use the restroom." he said storming off.
"Excuse me ma'am. You said you know Stefan Salvatore? May I ask you how you know him?" said Elena.
"Why yes of course dear. I know him from the boardinghouse. I stayed there one year when I first moved to Mystic Falls. He was living there with his uncle Gabe." said the old woman.
Elena's mind was racing! Stefan had told her that his uncle's name was Zach.
"Sorry to be so noisy ma'am but what year was this?" said Elena in a confused tone.
"Lets see, the year was 1953. Yes, that's when I first came to Mystic Falls. But don't mind what I say deary, I'm old now and my memory is a little foggy. I guess my minds just playing tricks on me but your friend sure does look like the young man I met named Stefan Salvatore. Well if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my granddaughter. Happy Halloween." she smiled and walked away.
