Bonnie, Caroline and I got seated at one of the tables and waited for the announcements.

Stefan ran up the steps to the stage and reached the microphone at the front. He looked in my direction before saying, "Ok. Hi again everyone. In case any of you forgot, I'm Stefan. I know you all just got off a bus ride and you're probably all tired from traveling so I'm giving you all the afternoon off to walk and talk or nap until 4:00. At 4:00 we will meet on the volleyball court for our first activity. Until then, Enjoy."

Well we had 3 hours to just hang around before any obligations. It was almost 100 degrees outside, and we all saw an extremely nice little pool on our way to the lunch hall. I think I can guess what we're going to end up doing.

Then I hear Caroline yell, "Who wants to go to the pool?!" All the guys respond with whoops and whistles. Within 5 minutes everyone was going back to his or her rooms to get changed.

"I can't believe I didn't pack my cute bikini. I thought if we were going to do any swimming that it'd be in some slimy old lake, not a clean pool," Bonnie groaned. She was smaller than Caroline and I so we couldn't let her borrow one of out bikinis.

"Oh come on Bonnie. It's not like the guys notice whether the bikini is cute or not. They really only notice what under the bikini." Caroline said wiggling her eyebrows at Bonnie.

We were already at the pool when I stopped dead in my tracks.

Stefan was sitting atop the tall white lifeguard chair with a baseball hat on, a whistle hanging from his neck, and no shirt.

I was right when I assumed he had a sculpted body. His muscled arms were holding a megaphone, but even the word muscled doesn't begin to cover it. He had olive skin and a six-pack any girl would kill to touch.

I silently thank God that I had enough sense to bring one of my better bikinis

He was a lifeguard, too. And not one of those semi-hot ones who you glanced at from time to time. He was a lifeguard that I would seriously consider drowning for, just to feel his arms around me.

"Elena. Elena. Elena!" Caroline shouted in my ear until I jumped and said, "Yes, what care!"

"Quit staring or you'll scare him away. Guys don't like stalker girls" Caroline says in a more hushed tone.

"I wasn't staring. I was admiring. There's a huge difference." I said with blush creeping up my face. Caroline gave me another one of her famous faces when I heard a whistle coming from our left.

Then a voice inside a megaphone said, "Elena please come to the lifeguard chair immediately." I turned and saw Stefan waving one of his hands at me with a megaphone in his other hand. He was motioning at me to come over.

Needless to say, I didn't waste time contemplating my decision.

I walked over to him and oh god did he look gorgeous. When I got there he climbed down from his chair with his biceps bulging. Once he got down he flashed another one of those white, breathtaking smiles showing his perfect teeth.

"Hi" he said with his romance novel stare. Oh god, I think what I feel in my stomach is butterflies, but it could be easily mistaken for the whole zoo in there.

"Hey" I replied with a good-measured lip bite to add some seduction to the conversation. His eyes were glued to my lips so I'm guessing it worked.

He turned to look around and I got a perfect view of his side profile, he had a jawline that could cut glass.

"Our conversation was cut short in the lunch hall. I never got your full name Elena…" he waited for me to fill in my last name.

"Gilbert. Elena Gilbert" I said with smirk present on my face. He smirked back.

"Well, I wouldn't want to deprive your friends of your presence, I hope you have a nice swim, Elena Gilbert." With his ever-present soul-searching stare that left me breathless.

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. From the looks of it, Stefan Salvatore had a beautiful soul. I wonder if 12 days is enough to get to know Stefan's soul.

"I'll see you around Stefan Salvatore." And as I walked away I realized that he had called me over to get my last name. Just that. Just a name with seven letters, but it was important enough for him to be curious about it. Which meant he was thinking about me. And that was definitely a very good sign.

I got back to the girls and Caroline couldn't help herself: "He's in love with you. It's obvious. He gives you these stares and I swear you look like you're going to die." I blushed and she giggled at my embarrassment. I looked over to where Stefan was sitting and caught him looking over at me before he turned away.

"See! He was just staring at you. I don't know if it's love, but Elena I do think he might have feelings for you." Bonnie said, emphasizing the word feelings and wiggling her eyebrows.

"Girls, for once you're right." They stared at me like they didn't know what I was saying "They might as well make me Mrs. Salvatore now." I said sarcastically as we all started laughing.

"But seriously Elena, he definitely is at least attracted to you" Bonnie said, sounding so smart and logical about the situation

"Yeah Elena, I mean look at you. You're hot!" Caroline said a little louder than I was comfortable with.

I chuckled and replied, "And that's my cue to get in the pool before you go full lesbian on me Care." If I was going into the pool in font of Stefan, I might as well put on a show.

I turned and faced away from him even though I knew he was looking. I got my sunscreen and started lathering my back and neck.

"Elena Gilbert stop with the seduction, Stefan is going to explode over there." Caroline said with semi-stern look on her face, but Bonnie was cracking up at my attempted sexy-situation.

We all jumped into the pool. It was about 10 minutes later that I decided I was done with the water and, it was time to get my tan on. Caroline doesn't tan because her pair complexion went perfectly with her baby blue eyes and bouncy blonde hair. And Bonnie hated the idea of tanning because she was afraid of getting skin cancer. So when it came to lying in the sun, I was on my own.

I was lying in the sun for less than 15 minutes when I felt a pair of hands cover my eyes. Then I felt cool breath against my ear that made me shiver, and then I heard a sexy masculine voice say, "Guess who."

I was frozen in place and couldn't move, not that I wanted to either, I was enjoying this situation immensely. I just wanted to be able to move something, anything, really.

"I'll give you a hint. Its your favorite retreat leader." He whispered into my ear again seductively. His lips just barely grazing the edge of my ear making me shudder in response.

I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat and forced my body to regain control. "Well then I know it can't be Stefan." I said jokingly while his hands were still over my eyes.

He scoffed: "Well now I'm just hurt," he said sarcastically as he removed his hands from my face and took a seat in the chair next to me.

"Oh no. Did I hurt the little boy's feelings?" mocking him as he gave me a faux offended face.

"You know, contrary to popular belief, under this bodacious, rock-hard bod, I do feelings." He said joking with me now.

"You know, I buy the feelings part, but your bod could use a little work" That was a complete lie. Not only was his body "bodacious", but also it was distraction me from my conversation.

"You know, that's where I draw the line. I think it's time to go into the pool," he said with an extremely mischievous smile.

"I suddenly realized what he meant. "No. No way Stefan!" But I was too late he had already easily scooped my up over his shoulders. I was yelling and laughing at the same time until the rush of water around me silenced me.

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Stefan and Elena are bonding, Yay! Get ready for a hike into the woods, emotional confessions and bonding next chapter. I will also be introducing Damon into the story in the next few chapters, don't worry I won't make him all bad ;). Thank you for all the support, this has been great!