Chapter 16

An: As promised a whole chapter dedicated to Steroline. Thanks again for all the feedback on the last chapter! Hope you enjoy this chapter.

The air smelt of salty sea waves, crystal sands and sun soaked rays. Caroline didn't know how she sensed those things but she just did. Lying on a beach, soaking up the rays was definitely something a doctor should start prescribing. Her endorphins were sky high and she felt like anything was possible; heck she was even considering going for her first surf lesson. But she didn't need to rush; she had all the time in the world to do whatever she felt like. It was alright if she was undecided now because she had infinity to discover what she wanted to do or where she wanted to go.

Lying on a lounger and simply chilling in the sun seemed like the best possible thing to do right now. She literally wanted the stress and confusion to melt away, she didn't want to deal with her heart strings at the moment. They were strung out and on their last chord. She shimmied her way up so that she could sit up straight. She reached for her mimosa and sipped away as she watched her fellow beach goers. Families settling down for the day, tucking into their lunches under the cabanas. Young couple strolling along the sea shore while youngsters ran between them; eager to get into the water. Nothing was wrong with this scene. No impending doom or monsters of the night, it was exactly the way it always was. Perfect.

It was a shame that Stefan had not joined her on the beach. He was more interested in the Indie Rock Festival that was going on in the middle of town. In a way it was good that they were taking a time out from each other but at the same time Caroline was missing his company. They had spent the whole morning apart and it was now mid –afternoon and perhaps she could sacrifice the rest of her day listening and participating in the things he liked. Friends did that for each other. She could remember being dragged to a hockey game because Elena was playing and there was the time that she went with Bonnie to watch some lame movie about time travel or space travel? She couldn't be sure which one but either way she had done it for her friends and now she needed to do it for Stefan.

So with content sigh she slipped on her black sundress over her bikini, packed her towel into her beach bag and proceeded to cross on to the boardwalk that lead into town. As she got closer towards the town she could hear the throbbing beat of a base and the electrical cackle of energy sifting through out. It was strange too think that this was the energy that Stefan thrived on – after all he was rather reclusive and quiet but then again it made complete sense that this was his playground.

Caroline was moving with ease between the crowds on the street when she spotted Stefan walking up towards her unaware of her. When he did look up her he frowned when he saw her.

"Where you off to?" Caroline asked once they were in perfect range with each other.

Stefan scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I was coming to find you. Thought I'd spend some time at the beach." He answered as he held up his left hand revealing to her a towel.

Caroline smiled. A part of her knew that he must have been feeling the same way because he was not a fan of the beach – which surprised her because he clearly had a body to flaunt. However it strangely was a Stefan thing. It made him who he was.

"Well I was on my way to a rock show. I was missing my companion you know?" She admitted.

Stefan quirked an eyebrow.

"You're really planning on going there." He pointed behind his back towards the festival.

"Yip." Caroline nodded determined, "Let's go!" she shouted out before grabbing Stefan's right hand and dragging the bewildered man towards the festival.

The afternoon skies transformed from its hue of light blue to the purple velvet shade of evening. Lights from the podiums and street lamps were the only source of light among an otherwise darkened mass of bodies moving in sync to the music being performed. Diligently Stefan had not strayed when Caroline had decided to shake things up (her words not his) when she began drinking. Instead he gained amusement from her sudden enthusiasm and enjoyment.

She was currently twirling around in circles, her black sundress flapping about as she sang along with the lead musician. Her blonde tresses were tucked underneath a giant floppy sun hat that she had procured earlier. Caroline had stubbornly declined to take it off so the usually very chic woman he had come to know looked rather misplaced but he didn't mind.

"Dance with me." Caroline shouted enthusiastically as she threw two limp like arms around Stefan's neck.

Stefan steadied her by placing a hand on either side of her waist. The sweet smell of vodka, lime and vanilla engulfed his olfactory nerves. He couldn't help but inhale deeply, drinking in the scent that was Caroline.

"I think you're drunk." He stated as she began swaying absentmindedly.

She stopped her swaying and stood on her tippy toes to whisper into his ear:

"I know. Don't tell. Shhh." She giggled as she fell forward, losing her balance until she was literally pressed up against him.

"Maybe we should go home then?" Stefan queried as he straightened her up.

Caroline shook her head like a disobedient child.

"No. First we dance." She slurred out.

"Caroline you know I don't like to dance."

"Oh come on! Shake that sexy ass for me! Please?" She complained, jumping up and down like a Duracell bunny.

Stefan conceded and decided that it was best to submit to her request. It wasn't exactly unreasonable and besides he needed to live a little and just give in now and then.

"Alright." He said as he pulled away and twirled her around in a circle.

Caroline laughed joyfully and soon the pair were dancing separately and then together depending when the mood struck them. They laughed whenever the other pulled some peculiar move and applauded one another as if they were deviant little children discovering something new for the first time.

Caroline was enjoying some of Stefan's outdated moves when suddenly he pulled her in close and tipped her back like in one of the romantic cliché scenes that she had seen in countless movies. She giggled when her hat toppled to the ground, as she stared up at him, into his eyes that held some lure over her.

Stefan pulled her up when he noticed that her gleeful face had suddenly turned somber.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Dizzy and frankly very drunk, Caroline began stumbling away from Stefan. Away from his attractiveness. Her sexual induced inventions were confusing her and scaring her at the same time. But she wasn't lucid enough to think clearly so she just pushed and shoved her way past the masses towards the exits. Stefan followed her closely as he noted that she was making her way towards the beach front.

"Caroline! Where are you going?" He asked as they found themselves on the squishy cool sands of the beach.

Caroline stopped and pivoted.

"I want to swim."

"Now?" He asked puzzled as she proceeded to pull off her sundress until she was standing in her black bikini.

She remained silent and before he could do or say anything, she took off with vamp speed and dived into the sea. The sea consumed her and because of her drunken state, she battled to fend off the sets of waves that knocked her. Caroline began too struggle when she felt herself getting pulled further out , panic was flooding her even though rationally she knew that she couldn't drown.

A set of strong muscular arms wrapped around her torso and pulled her up towards the surface. She spluttered and joked out water that had seeped into her lungs. Stefan pulled her closer and parted her hair away from her face so that he could check to see if she was alright.

"Are you alright?" He asked panicked. He hadn't expected her to leap into the turbulent sea quite so eagerly but then again she had a way of taking him by surprise.

Once Caroline had managed to compose herself, she breathed out raggedly:

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Just tell me when you plan on doing something like that again." Stefan chuckled, his grip on her not slacking.

Caroline only noted now that he was shirtless and that her body was pressed up towards his chest. Stefan hadn't failed to notice the sudden predicament either as her nearly naked bust was merged with his. Caroline hesitantly placed her hands on either side of his chest. She could feel his breath pulling in and out beneath the muscle. Shyly she glanced up towards his face.

"I really want to kiss you." She slurred out in a hushed tone.

"Caroline …"

It was as far as Stefan got before she surged forward and bought their mouths together. Stefan couldn't stop the magnetic pull that latched on to him as he returned her kiss. He knew it was wrong and that he should stop immediately, but he couldn't find it in him to pull away from her soft lips. The soft smacking of lips, the hush of the sea and their heavy breathing was the only thing they could hear in the bubble that had formed around them.

They pulled away several times only to catch their breath but nothing could stop the force that was causing their lips to meet time and time again. Hazily Caroline pulled away after countless times of repetition. She watched as Stefan finally opened his eyes and gazed down at her. Feeling faint her eyes sagged and suddenly she was taken in by darkness. Stefan quickly cradled her neck with one hand and reached under until he managed to lift her unconscious body out of the water.

Once he reached the shore, he laid out his towel and placed Caroline on it, before drying her off promptly, denying his bodies lustful intentions before slipping on her dress. He pulled his shirt over his head and for the first time he realized what had just happened. He had kissed her, not once but multiple times. His best friend, his light source and his ex's best friend.

What the hell did they just do?