"Are you out of your mind? Just tell her no!" I heard Caroline shriek down the phone. When my meeting with Bonnie had finished, I ran back to my table to ring Caroline. I needed to talk to her immediately. Luckily I caught her awake. Apparently her and Matt had spent the morning together but he had to head home for some work and they are hopefully going to go out again soon. Looks like the pajamas are staying right where they are...for now.

"I tried that Car but it didn't work. She said to me that I didn't have to include the name, just what happened. But I don't want to do it because it's not right to Stefan. What do I do?"

"There may be a way you could get around this." Caroline said after a minute of silence. "Why don't you just write a fake night out, not mention who it was and then in the column you write every week where you see celebrities on the street, you 'spot' Stefan somewhere else. Then you guys get your night out and no one is any the wiser. You two can keep seeing each other without it being awkward." I had to give it to Caroline. She knew how to think on her feet.

"It's not a bad idea... But I would need to talk to Stefan first wouldn't I?" I asked

"Of course! He needs to be in on it otherwise it won't work." This plan might actually work!

"Thanks Car. You've been a great help. I'm glad things are ok with you and Matt by the way." I said trying to change the subject.

"So am I Elena. I'm so happy." She answers gleaming over the phone.

Putting down the phone after my conversation with Caroline I take a deep breathe. It was not a bad idea to write a fake story but what if someone catches us out at dinner so it won't match my story? What if Bonnie finds out what I'm planning to do before it's too late? This could either be a very clever plan or this could be a complete disaster! Lost in my own thoughts, it was a few minutes before I realised someone was sitting on my desk calling my name.

"Elena are you there?" I heard

"Yes. Yes I'm here. Sorry lost in my own thoughts."

"That's okay." My vision came back to me and in front of me I just realised was Bonnie. I must have been so far into my thoughts I didn't realise she had walked passed my chair and sat on my desk. "Just had a thought about what was said earlier and I realised it may have been to harsh to ask you to write a story about your date on Friday. It's too much of a 'How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days' moment. So, I'm going to scrap it. Don't worry we can find another story somewhere else. Enjoy your date on Friday." She said to me with a gleam in her eye. There was clearly something going on in that head of hers and I dread to think what it may be. Maybe a big idea for a story, who knows. In my state of shock from this revelation, I breathed a huge sigh of relief however when she walked away. Thank God! Now I don't have to write that article now! All I have to do is write the article for Stefan's birthday and then sort out my date on Friday.

I was about 3 hours into work and I was proof reading the article about Stefan's birthday party (of course leaving out the hook ups and the fact that I stayed at Stefan's that night) when my phone went. I looked at the screen and it said 'unknown number' so I didn't bother to answer it. It is normally a company trying to sell me something when it is an unknown number and it's been drummed into me since I've ever had a phone not to answer one of those numbers. Thinking nothing of it I carried on but five minutes later another 'unknown number' came up on my screen. It must be the same people. So thinking it may not be a company since they are ringing again, I answered.

"Hello?"

"So you do pick up your phone then?" I heard over the phone the voice faking a surprised tone.

"I'm sorry. Who is this?" I ask not being able to recognise the voice

"It's Stefan Salvatore." Shit. My stomach flipped and I lost the ability to breathe for a moment. I was not expecting him to call me at work!

"Oh... Mr Salvatore. How are you?" I ask in my formal voice thinking that people are going to be listening to my conversation.

"Elena please. We've gone past Mr Salvatore. I'm okay thank you. How is work?" Wait. He wants to talk?

"It's fine thanks. Just going over the article for your birthday last night. I think you'll be happy about it." I answer happy with myself.

"Great to hear. Look I want to talk about Friday." He started. "Why don't I pick you up at 8? Will that be enough time?"

"Yeah. That will be fine. Can I ask where we are going?"

"Now Miss Gilbert that would be telling." He answers cheekily on the phone.

"Really? You're not going to tell me?"

"Nope. But just dress smartly. You will love it I'm sure. See you at 8" We said our goodbyes and hung up. That 5 minute talk surprisingly stuck me in a great mood for the rest of the day. Even when I came home from work I was still grinning like the cheshire cat from Alice In Wonderland.

-
Friday could not have come any sooner. For the next few days I planned my outfit, hair and make-up down to a tee. Normally I don't put a lot of effort into a date but this was no ordinary date to me. I have never dated a guy that was in the news or that I had met through work before. There was something about him that made me want to take the effort for him. As soon as it hit 5pm on Friday, I dashed out of work and got myself ready for the date. I decided on a simple jade green dress with black leggings and black heels. I straightened my hair to an inch of it's life and spent hours making sure my smoky eyes were right.

8pm on the dot I heard a knock on my door and squeals from Caroline in front of my door. "Elena! He's here! Answer the door!" I open my door and run as fast as a girl can in 6-inch heels to the door, check myself in the mirror by the side of the front door and open it to find Stefan standing there in a crisp grey suit and a white shirt and grey tie. I stood there wide eyed, blushing bright red at Mr Sex God standing in my hallway. I give him a smirk and I pose a 'How do I look?' to which he replied with "Wow" and made me giggle with delight. I knew that all of the time spent had been worth it.

"You...uh... you ready to go Miss Gilbert?" He plays holding out his arm for me to link into.

Giggling back I poise myself and answer in a fake posh tone "Why yes Mr Salvatore" and link my arm into his grabbing my bag and coat and locking the door.

"So are you still not going to tell me where it is we are going to dinner tonight?" I asked curiously.

"Nope. It is still a secret."

Walking down to his car nerves started to settle into my stomach. It only took until now to settle in that I was having a date with STEFAN SALVATORE! Of all people! I started saying in a mantra in my head 'Don't act like you're at work, don't act like you're at work, don't act like you're at work" to make sure that I don't go into reporter mode and actually start to interview him. Stefan turned to look at me and smiled while asking me how work was today. I joked back at him "Well, you were almost in the paper twice this week." Oh no. SHUT UP MOUTH!

Looking at me with concern he answered "What?"

"Don't worry it's nothing. Just a joke."

Giving me an unreassuring smile he answered "Sure"

"Really. It is nothing to worry about. Let's just enjoy tonight" Instinctually I wanted to grab his hand when I said that to put my point across but I fought with myself vigorously to make sure I didn't go too far too soon.

Getting into the car Stefan still did not look convinced but after making sure I was secured in his car, he just started to drive. Great. Not exactly the great start I wanted. I just hope that tonight gets better from here.