Time stands still.
Beauty in all she is.
I will be brave.
I will not let anything take away,
What's standing in front of me.
Every breath.
Every hour has come to this.
A Thousand Years, Pt. 2 – Christina Perri & Steve Kazee
Elena wiped mist off the mirror with a sigh. She scrutinized her damp appearance. She'd spritzed body spray over herself before dressing. She didn't like the smell of the motel soaps. They smelled like stale flowers.
But nasty smelling soap was better than no soap. Elena brushed her fingers through her wet locks, frowning as she searched for a blow dryer. "Sam?" Elena called, flabbergasted. "Yeah?" He said from the other side of the bathroom door. "Where's the blow dryer?" She asked.
Silence was her only answer. "Sam?" She asked softly. Elena heard Sam clear his throat before saying, "Ellie, we don't have a blow dryer." "Ohh…" Elena said, shaking her head. Great. She thought hopelessly. Elena glanced at her reflection.
She pressed her fingers to her lips, remembering how Dean had pushed her against the cool tiles of the shower and kissed her so passionately. She recalled how she slumped to the floor under the warm spray, completely disoriented the night before.
Now, she didn't know how to face him. How he'd behave around her. She pushed away from the sink, drawing in a hissing breath through her teeth. Okay. It's now or never… She thought, walking to the door. Elena stepped into the bedroom.
Dean was perched at the kitchenette table. He was leafing through papers. What looked like printed out newspaper articles. Elena allowed her tongue to brush over her lips, moistening them before her teeth sunk into her bottom lip.
Dean looked endearingly disheveled. His hair was slightly mussed and his clothes were wrinkled. Elena strode to the bed and flopped down, huffing as she fought the temptation to brush her fingers through Dean's hair. Her ochre optics roamed over Dean's jawline.
His stubble had grown unruly. She'd remembered how it scraped against her cheek roughly when he'd kissed her the night before. Uttering a low sigh, Elena threw herself back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
After a few moments of entertaining herself by envisaging shapes in the peeling plaster, she shook her head and called out, "Sam?" "Hmm?" Came her mumbled reply. "What did you tell Jenna when you called her this morning?"
She heard Sam breathe out a patient sigh and the sound of a book being closed. "Well," he began, "We told her that we bumped into you outside of the Grill. That you told me that after your argument with Dean, you decided to spend the night at Caroline's."
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Elena's lips, before it melted into a frown. "What if she calls Caroline to confirm it?" She almost shrieked, bolting upright. She stared at Sam in absolute horror. He emitted a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Don't worry. It's all covered."
Elena relaxed visibly, blowing out a soft sigh. She combed her fingers through her still moist hair, as she muttered, "Right. Okay." She stood, grabbing her bag, slinging it cross-shoulder, like a paperboy's newspaper satchel.
"Where are you going?" Dean had finally spoken. "Home." Elena said, shooting him a glance before walking out of the motel room. She heard Dean's muttered curse as he clambered out of his seat and followed after her. "Lena!" He called sharply, halting her in her tracks.
Elena shook her head silently. "What?" She snapped. "What are you doing?" He breathed out. She heard him take a step towards her. "I told you, Dean. I'm going home." She said curtly. "Why?" He asked, sounding stunned.
Elena swallowed thickly, tears rising in her eyes. "We kissed, Dean. And for one moment, I thought you wanted me. And today, you're acting like I don't exist. Or worse, like we never kissed." She heard Dean mutter, "Ohh…" Under his breath.
"It's better this way, 'Lena." He said at last. Elena turned to him, heartbroken. "How?" "It just is. Trust me. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." He said softly. Elena surged forward, taking his hands, her amber hues gazing into his jade ones.
"What if I don't care?" She replied just as quietly. "But, I do." Dean said with a shake of his head. "You could get hurt. Or worse, killed." "And I could get hurt or killed here in Mystic Falls. At least with you, I'd know that I'd be safe." "No, you won't." Dean said sharply, scandalized.
"You can't know that." Elena whispered, lowering her amber spheres. "But, whatever, right?" She raised her eyes to Dean's, her chin rising. "It doesn't matter what 'Lena says, because she's too young, immature and innocent, right?" Elena's voice rose, shaking with every syllable.
Dean opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. Elena nodded, looking away, whispering in hurt tones, "You kissed me." "I did," Dean said softly. "I'm sorry, but I honestly thought it meant something." The young woman said, her lower lip trembling.
"It did, 'Lena. It did." Dean said softly. "Just take me home, Dean." Elena said, looking at the ground. "And just go. Take me home and then just leave." Dean's malachite orbs widened marginally in shock and agony.
"What?" Elena quipped, her sorrel globes brimming with tears, "You've done it before. What's so difficult about doing it again?" "Lena –" "No! You don't get to call me that." Elena hissed, reeling back.
"Know what? Screw this. And screw you. I'll just walk home." She snarled, turning and beginning down the gravel path, towards the highway. Dean pinched the bridge of his nose, drawing in a hissing breath between clenched teeth before he sprinted after her.
"Lena!" He shouted. "Just leave me alone, Dean!" Elena shrieked, hurrying to the road. "Oh, I'm not through with you," Dean growled, looping his arm around her waist, twirling her to face him as he yanked her close.
Elena yelped at the sudden contact, before Dean's lips found hers. Her bag slipped through her fingers as her hand went slack. Elena stood on tiptoe, meeting his lips again as his arms snared around her waist, pressing them impossibly close to one another.
Her hands slid up his chest before her arms wrapped around his neck. A shudder of absolute bliss rippled through Elena as she returned his kiss fervently. Hungrily. Finally, the sound of a car horn honking incessantly broke them from their trance.
Elena blinked, wincing as she gazed into headlights. A car had pulled into the driveway of the motel. And the driver, an annoyed-looking middle-aged man and the passenger, a 20 year old girl in heavy makeup and skimpy clothing, were both yelling what seemed to be rude things as well as making rude gestures at Dean and Elena.
Dean's eyes narrowed as he gave the two strangers his coldest look, before he yelled back, "Alright!" He tugged Elena's elbow before guiding her away from the driveway. "Dicks," Dean muttered under his breath. Elena touched her lips tenderly, nodding blankly.
She glanced at Dean who rubbed his chin, chuckling lowly. Elena frowned, asking, "What?" He glanced at her before shaking his head, "Us. We were behaving like kids back there." Elena's cheeks pooled with blood as she nodded, "Uh-huh," waiting for him to continue.
"You actually screamed, 'Leave me alone'?" Dean raised a brow before he roared with laughter. Elena giggled, shaking her head in disbelief, "I can't believe I did that. I've never thrown fits like that before." "You were actually kinda cute," Dean said, after he'd finally sobered up, causing Elena's blush to deepen.
She swallowed hard and turned towards the motel, "Maybe we should head back," She said. "Okay," Dean said resignedly. Elena placed her hand on Dean's chest with a sigh. "Dean," She began, "You have to trust me. You have to trust that I don't need you to constantly come to my rescue."
Dean shook his head. "Lena –" "No, Dean. You need to trust me." Elena said sternly, "I can take care of myself. I'm not a little girl anymore." Dean opened his mouth, and then closed it again, nodding. "Doesn't mean I have to like it." He said gruffly. "Good," Elena beamed, holding her hand out.
"I'm driving." She announced. "Like hell!" Dean scoffed, crossing his arms. Elena pursed her lips in a pout, widening her eyes. "Don't," Dean wagged his finger at her disapprovingly. "That look doesn't work on me anymore, Sweetheart."
Elena sniffled softly, blinking up at him. Rolling his eyes with a low groan, Dean fished his keys out of his pocket, muttering, "I'm so screwed." Elena emitted a squeal of happiness, snatching the keys from his hand, leaping into his arms happily.
She pecked Dean on the lips, taking the both of them by surprise. Elena stared at Dean with wide eyes, who had just blinked at her, shaken. "I'm just -"Elena began, "I'll just start the car." She whispered, prying herself from Dean's arms and scurrying off to the Impala.
Dean brushed his fingers through his hair before absentmindedly wiping at his mouth, shaking his head as he uttered a self-deprecating chuckle. Elena watched Dean out of the corner of her eye as he vanished into the motel room.
Just as she unlocked the driver's side door of the Impala, her phone began to chime in her pocket. Sighing softly, Elena reached into her pocket, unearthing her cellphone. Stefan's name blinked up at her.
Swallowing thickly, Elena answered. "Stefan?" She breathed. "Hey," came Stefan's attempt at offhandedness. "Hey," Elena replied with a faint smile. "What's going on?"
"Time to go." Dean tossed Sam's duffle at him. "Okay," Sam muttered, glancing up from his laptop. "I'll get packed." Dean gathered his jacket and his duffle bag before stepping out of the room just in time to see Elena hanging up her cell, her eyelashes glistening with tears as she attempted to reign in the floods.
Dean dropped his duffle and rushed to her side, his heart thundering against his ribcage. "Lena, you okay?" He asked, worry in his voice demanding her to be okay. Elena nodded blankly, swallowing thickly as she stammered, "That was Stefan." She sniffed slightly, wiping her tears away.
"Um, Bonnie was attacked by Damon and Logan Fell is a vampire and he attacked Caroline." She whispered numbly. "What?" Dean nearly roared, grasping her shoulders, "Are they okay? 'Lena!" "They're fine," Elena whispered serenely, completely engulfed with shock.
Dean searched her eyes before shaking his head and turning towards the motel, shouting, "Sam! We got to go! Now!" Then he turned towards the dazed Elena and ushered her to the passenger side of the Impala and said gently, "Alright, climb in."
He guided her into the car as Sam came tearing out of the room, darting towards the Impala as Dean threw himself into the driver's seat, jamming the keys into the ignition. Elena stared out of the car window, swallowing thickly, and thinking to herself absently; Mystic Falls better prepare itself for the hurricane that is Dean Winchester…