Prompt: 37. You still remember ?

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He doesn't know how long he's been staring at his drink. But it can't be too long; after all she's still here, sitting right in front of him. And if he remained silent for an awkward long moment she would definitely make a comment. Because there is a conversation going, and if his memory didn't betray him it was his turn to talk.

"You still remember?" Just because he speaks doesn't mean he looks away from his drink. He can't. Feeling her eyes on him, reading him, burning holes into his skin. His pulse rises just a bit and he holds his breath.

But, he is good at keeping the smile casual.

Scratch that, even his smile is forced and it literally hurts keeping it there.

"Well, not every day you get a straight rejection thrown at you." She shrugs. "Even in my life, which I know is a surprise, but this didn't happen a lot. Well, it was just you." She narrows her eyes, takes a moment to remember. "Yup, just you." She beams at him, even though he is not looking at her, still studying the non-existent curves in his glass.

"Not to mention that you said it in this… way. I don't know but it really got stuck in my mind." She leans forward eagerly, her hands crossing half the table they are sitting on. Ah, the grill, such a great place to have this conversation.

And he can't help it but look up, because he doesn't understand her cheery voice and excited poster. So maybe having a look at her face will make things more buy-able.

Nope. Definitely not; she is smiling, even close to laughing. Is she really enjoying this?

"Caroline… you and me, it's not gonna happen. Sorry." She mimics him; her voice isn't close to his, at all. But she is good with the furrowed eyebrows and he gets that when she deepens her voice way down, she is just trying to portray his seriousness.

He might sound shocked but she carries on, not really noticing.

"I mean, wow, way to make things clear, Stefan." She falls back in her chair, laughing. And he feels different emotions all at once. Surprise, guilt, disgust and maybe disappointment. It sure is disappointment.

Maybe he expected her to be more affected by it. Maybe a part of him was disappointed that it meant nothing to her. Well, double the disgust, because he is oh so sad she didn't stroke his ego and actually cared about it.

He tries to bury them all down, and forces his lips to widen the smile; she is laughing. It's clearly funny, almost a joke. He just didn't get the joke.

And she finally catches his stiffness, one hand tightened around the glass. His lips curved into thin line that should be a smile?

And so she stops laughing, but smiles before her face goes completely blank.

"Oh, Stefan…" She closes her eyes, shaking her head. "It's really fine."

He swallows and stars nodding.

"You know, it was long time ago." She titles her head.

He looks back at his drink, still nodding and smiles.

"Besides, it was actually a good thing. If you went down that road, you wouldn't be sitting here." She leans forward and says in a low voice. "I mean did you see the list of my exes? They're hardly in my life anymore." She scoffs, leaning back in her place.

"It's a good thing you didn't make it to the list." She raises her glass in a toast that he doesn't like.

But he smiles again, raises his glass and takes a long, slow sip. No matter what she says, or does. No matter how many smiles she puts, or laughs she lets. He still feels guilty.

And there is still that voice in his head that says it is all an act. That it did hurt, and it still does.

But there will always be another voice, asking whether he believes so, or wishes so.