Stefan,
I know that I should be saying what is to come next in person rather than on this piece of paper but I also know that you'll say all the right things to make me stay even longer or make me transfer to NYU. First off, the main reason I wanted to say goodbye at Caroline's place is because I knew that seeing you the day I leave is going to tear me apart even more. Driving to the airport together will be driving to the inevitable goodbyes.
Goodbye. Such a small word, such a strong meaning. Why does it even exist? Constantly tearing people apart. Constantly creating a hole in people's heart... and it's just one silly word.
Stefan, know that this summer has been the best summer of my life. I feel like you've become a part of me and when you're not around, I feel like a piece of me is missing. I don't know how I will cope with the fact that I'm just going to be hearing your voice and possibly see your face on screen until Thanksgiving. I know that I'm not going to see you as often as I would like. I'm not going to get the privilege of holding you in my arms all through the night, But in my heart, I truly know, you're the one that I love and I'm not going to let you go. Your arms around me are what keeps me safe, what makes me feel secure. We've been through hell of a lot to reach the point that we are now, but it was all worth it. Over the summer, everyone smiled all the time and kept saying hello but with you it was different. A simple smile, a simple hello, a simple touch and it was enough to make the butterflies in my stomach create a whirlpool.
Distance is going to be hard, but if our relationship taught me anything, it's to fight. Fight for what we have, fight for us.
Good luck at NYU- you will become a great doctor... and that's a fact.
I love you, Stefan.

Elena
PS- I won't give up

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

The day that Elena has dreaded all through summer has finally come. The day that she would leave for Toronto. You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and place because you'll never be this way ever again. Elena knew what Toronto had to offer, she knew that it was an amazing place, but leaving Mystic Falls after such an eventful summer, was so much harder than she had initially thought. Pointless drama had happened, but everything eventually got resolved and everyone got their happy ending to their summer.

"Lena, you almost ready? It's time to go," came Alaric's voice from downstairs.

Elena looked at the time on her watch: 7:55am. Her plane leaves at 11am meaning that she had to get to the airport by 9am latest. Everything was packed and her room was far too clean for someone who has had one of the busiest summers. Alaric had volunteered to drop her off at the airport and she gladly accepted. She wanted to say goodbye to Jeremy while they were still at the house and not make a scene at the airport.

"Yep, coming right down," she answered and quickly glanced at her room one last time checking for anything that she might have forgotten to pack. Just then, Jeremy came knocking on her door.

"I'll get your suitcase downstairs," he said and gave her a gentle smile. Elena simply nodded as a response.

She turned around quickly and closed the door to her room behind her... Leaving her room was always the hardest for her- she didn't understand why, it's not like she spent a lot of time in there except at night, but seeing an empty room defined the end of the holidays. She got downstairs and through the window she could see Alaric already packing her suitcase in the boot of the car. Jeremy was standing by the doorway waiting for Elena to come join him.

Having said goodbye to Stefan last night made a hole in her heart. She cried herself to sleep knowing that the next time that she gets to hold him will be in 3 months. So much can change between now and then. She knew that Stefan will always remain faithful, she trusts him... but what if some girl at NYU came up and swept him off his feet?

"Alright, all of your luggage is in the car, you ready to go?" Alaric asked while standing in the doorway. Elena nodded and turned around to face Jeremy who was standing right behind her. She smiled before stepping towards him and throwing her arms around his waist. He willingly returned her embrace and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Elena bit her bottom lip while keeping her emotions in control.

"Take care of yourself alright sis? And bundle up, Toronto is colder than Mystic Falls and Bulgaria," he said and tighten his arms.

Elena chuckled a little before answering "I've got a hoodie in my hand luggage."

"Salvatore?"

"That exact one. And Jer, goodluck for your school year, make me proud," she joked. "Remember, I'll just be a skype call away okay ?"

Jeremy let go of his sister and gently kissed her on her cheek. "You make me a proud brother too, okay ?"

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

The ride to the airport was silent. Alaric, although he was hardly there over the summer, knew more or less everything that had happened between the teenagers. He also knew that everything had been sorted out and that Stefan and Elena were going to try a long distance relationship. He had seen the interaction between those two when they weren't in a relationship and he was just waiting for the day that they would both wake and realise that they were meant to be.

An hour passed quickly and before they knew it they were already at the airport. Alaric opened the boot of the car and took out Elena's luggage while she went to get a trolley. He placed her suitcase and her hand luggage and then looked up at the girl he likes to think of as his daughter.

"Ric, you know that I'm not good with goodbyes, could we make this quick?" Elena asked as she guided her look to her converse shoes that she was wearing.

"Ha, yeah no. I know I'm not Grayson, and there's no way that I'll ever be as good of a dad as he was, but I still feel like I should give you some parental advice.."

"No, please Ric. Don't do this. Not now. Jenna has already given me plenty of parental advice before leaving Bulgaria," Elena complained as tears started welling in her eyes. She automatically reached up to wipe away the tear before it fell onto her cheek. However, as soon as she was about to wipe her tear, Alarica held her wrist.

"It's okay to cry, Elena. Let it out," Alaric said and held onto Elena's shoulder with both of his hands while she looked down and let her tears silently stroll down her cheek.

"Elena, you're the closest person that I have come to know that I can call my daughter. I met you and you were a couple of years old and now sixteen years later you're off to college. You've grown up to be a strong, independent and determined young lady. Do you know how far in life you're going to get ? With a will power like yours, you're going to make anything you want possible. You know how to differentiate right from wrong and you know who to be friends with. Your friends in Mystic Falls, they're a great bunch of kids. Elijah and Damon, they'll always be there to protect you and to know that you've got people like that in your life makes me happy. Stefan, he'll always be there for you too, no matter what happens. And as for me, if anytime throughout the year you tell me to jump into the next plane and come see you in Toronto, I will do it. Got that ?"

Elena nodded and fell into Alaric's chest. "Yeah, I got it. Thank you... dad."

As soon as Elena said the word "Dad", Alaric tightened his hold onto Elena and tried everything possible not to tear up. Elena looked up and saw Alaric's face.

"It's okay to cry, Ric. Let it out, " she said repeating the words he . Both of them couldn't help by chuckle a little and Alaric let one tear slip up.

"Take care of yourself kiddo," Ric said and loosened his hold on Elena. He kissed her forehead in a fatherly manner before letting her go completely.

Elena smiled and nodded once before turning around and making her way towards the airport entrance. She discretely wiped her tears and sniffed. The soundproof glass door opened and she showed her passport to the security guard at the entrance. The guard looked at her passport photo, and then at her slightly red and puffy face. He gave her a gentle smile before allowing her into the building.

She turned around one more time and saw Ric wave a final goodbye before entering in his car. She waved back and gave him a tight smile.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

Stefan read the letter for the third time before he was out of the boarding house with his car keys in hand. He didn't care that Elena didn't want to see him on the day she left. He promised himself not to tell her to stay a little longer, he just wanted to hold her one last time and tell her that he loved her before she was gone. He looked at his watch: 8:00am.
That was the time that she was meant to leave her house. He contemplated for a couple of seconds whether to go to Elena's house or directly to the airport- he opted for the latter. He was sure that there was a bigger chance he'd catch them at the airport. As soon as he reached town though he was stuck in the 8:15 traffic. That's one of the crazy thing about small town, come one minute later than usual and you're bound to be stuck in traffic. If he had left a minute earlier he would be in town at 8:14am and he would have whizzed through town.

"Come on, come on, COME ON !" he blared out, as if it would make any difference.

8:31am. He had half an hour to get to the airport. He could make it if he pressed the accelerator a little more than he should.

"Come on Stefan you can make it, you can make it! Come on. YES GREEN LIGHT ! You're going to make it Salvatore!"

9:01am. As he turned into the 'departure' area he parked into the first free space he saw. As he sprinted towards the building he spotted Ric's car in his peripheral view. He made a 90 degree turn and almost collided into a reversing car.

"Sorry sorry sorry!" he repeated half looking back while still jogging.

As he got closer he saw Ric kiss Elena on her forehead before she turned around to walk into the airport.

"No no no no. ELENA ! ELENA !" he screamed. Just as he got to her departure zone he saw Ric enter his car. "RIC! ALARIC! ALARIC!" he screamed breathlessly. He was so close. He picked up his speed and was about to tap the back window of Ric's car when he drove just out of reach.

"ELENA!" Stefan screamed once more as loud as he could. He sprinted towards the glass door and was about to enter when a strong arm blocked his way.

"Passport sir," the guard said. However Stefan was scanning the area trying to spot Elena through the millions of people.

"No, sorry I'm not flying. I just need to say goodbye to someone," Stefan tried to explain.

"Sorry sir, no passport, no entrance."

"Sir please. You don't understand. I need to see this girl one last time. I ..." he stopped mid-sentence when he saw her making her way to the check-in area- the furthest place from where he was standing. There was no one between them, it was a clear shot. "ELENA!"he shouted.

"Sir, please step away."

However, when Stefan had screamed her name she turned around and looked for the person who had called her. Just as she was about to look in his direction, a group of teenagers on a school trip walked between them. As the last school boy joined his friends and teachers, Elena was no longer standing behind them.

She had vanished and Stefan was left by himself in Mystic Falls for the remaining 3 days.

He never got to tell her that he wasn't going to give up either.

AN: I hope you all lovely readers liked this chapter. Have a Happy New Year! :)
Maybe as a new year gift you guys could leave a review ? :P If you have any request, don't hesitate to PM me or tell me your ideas in your reviews :) Suggestions are always welcome