I moped around for four weeks, I couldn't eat, sleep or do anything. I felt like my heart had been ripped into a million pieces. I couldn't talk about it without bursting into tears. Everyone was worried. My brothers, my friends, even my mom. I've never been so hurt in my life. All I wanted to do was be back in the arms of Damon. It was pathetic how much I relied on him but he wasn't just a crush. He was my best friend. He understood me and made me better. I was in love with him and loosing all of that is horrible. I wanted it all back but apart of me was in so much pain for the way he took my virginity and just left.
After those long four weeks, One day I just woke up and realized I needed to get on with my life. I couldn't sit in my own depression anymore.
Today was going to be brand new.
I even let Caroline drag me to the beach. I wasn't in the mood but I had to do this not for her but for me.
We got to the beach. The sunshine on my face was refreshing. I missed it so much. It was beyond hot outside. Caroline and I laid down on our towels. I breathed the ocean air and felt more at home. Damon and I came here once and I drew him in front of the sunrise. It was a beautiful day.
Matt came shortly after and took Caroline out in the ocean. I stayed behind not to be a third wheel. I also didn't feel like being around that right now.
"Is this towel taken?" I laughed and looked up.
"Stefan?" I was caught off guard, I hadn't seen anyone in weeks.
"Hey how are you?" He asked as he sat down.
"What do you want?" I said harshly before remembering he finished our class project without my help and saved my butt in biology.
He went to stand up.
"Wait I'm sorry." I extended my hand. "Let's call a truce?"
"Totally." He smiled so genuinely.
"Than friends it is!" I laughed. Never would I thought that I would become friends with Stefan.
Stefan wasn't that same guy that picked on me last year he. I think as we spent time together he realized his behavior was wrong. I'm all about second chances and he deserved one. As the summer continued I hung with Stefan a lot. He made me laugh and it felt good to laugh again. Caroline didn't like us being friends but she was only looking out for me. I kept telling her we're just friends but she didn't believe me.
We're just friends.
"Elena can we talk?" Stefan asked me as we sit on the same beach but two weeks later.
"Yeah what going on?" I looked at him and then back up to the beautiful sunset.
"I like you." He said, nervously as I blinked at him in shock. "I really like you and I think we should give things a shot." Stefan paused, my body filled with shock. "I know I was a jerk toward you before but I didn't know how to show my feelings but I know that is no excuse and I should hav-"
I kissed him. I don't know why but it was but I felt the need to.
"Wow." He was speechless, so was I.
I wanted something more.
Damon left a big whole in my heart and all I know is Stefan was filling most of the void in my life.
"So does this mean you'd wanna go out sometime?" Stefan chuckled.
"I'd be honored." I smiled and nodded my head.
"I can't wait." He pulled me in for another kiss.
That Friday night I got ready for my first date with Stefan I was nervous. I wanted to look good for him. I wasn't an innocent freshman girl anymore I'm sixteen and I'm a different person. I wasn't that little girl with a dumb crush on a older guy. I was mature and going out with a guy that really has feelings for me.
"You look hot." Stefan whispered to me as we sat down at his favorite restaurant.
"Thank you." I smiled sweetly.
It was a good night. Stefan was unexpectedly a really sweet guy. I had a small salad and he had the ribs. Then went to the movies and saw a romcom. We laughed and had fun.
"Did you like it?" He asked me.
"I had so much fun." I half smiled.
"Good." Stefan leans in to my lips and we kiss. It wasn't like when I kissed Damon but maybe it was because Damon was my best friend.
"I can't believe you Elena." Caroline yelled into the phone. I called her as soon as I got home.
"Why?" I was confused.
"Stefan? Really? Calling a truce with him is one thing but dating?!"
"He's really nice Caroline!" I tried explaining to her but she wasn't listening to me.
"HE was awful to you!" She said judging me.
"So? He's a good now." She didn't care about if I was happy or not. Stefan made me happy.
The last four weeks of summer had changed my life. It gave me a lot of perspective on life. The first two weeks of August were amazing and since Stefan and I started dating and we're so happy. We didn't stay that way.
"Hey baby." Stefan walks into my room without knocking.
"Hey!" I said with excitement.
Stefan's face fell. "Are you wearing that?" He asked looking at me wondering if I was wearing my short dress to his cousin's party.
"Yeah?" I was confused.
"Change that now!" He was angry. "I can't believe you'd dress like that to a party!"
"I wanted to look good for you! You said you wanted to show me off!" I said with confusion, he was acting weird.
"Looking good and like a slut are two different things!" He grabbed my arm, pulling me over to my closet.
"Ow! Let go!" I shouted, in shock of this change in behavior.
"Change now!" He yelled at me, the anger in his eyes scared me like nothing before.
I changed into jeans and a pink top.
"Is this okay?" I said quietly, I was scared.
"Yes! You look beautiful." He kissed my head.
We went to the party and everything was fine. He was back to the old Stefan that I fell for back at the beach. He's very handsy but I liked all the hugs and kisses. He went to talk to his cousin.
"Elena?" I heard a voice calling my name I turned around.
"Hey Scott." I said awkwardly.
"Are you dating Stefan?" Scott asked me, surprised to see me with him.
"Yeah." I smiled. "We've only been dating for a few weeks."
"What about Liam?" He questioned as he knows I disappeared from his best friend.
"Liam and I only went out two times. Nothing serious." I walked away from him.
I felt bad for what I did to Liam but we weren't official and I was going through a lot. The rest of the party started to slow down.
Stefan took me home. The drive was eerily quiet. The tension was killing me.
He walked me to my doorstep.
"What was with you and Scott?" Stefan folded his arms, he was pissed.
"He was asking me if we were dating and I said yes!" I yelled. I was tired of the way he was treating me today.
He slapped me. I held my face.
"Don't ever do that again!" Stefan yelled, his hands were shaking in rage. "You embarrassed me!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't think it was important!" I cried it was scary.
He grabbed my hand tightly.
"Never again! Promise?!" Stefan breathed down my neck angrily.
"I promise!" Tears rolled down my face, I stood there in fear.
"Good." He kissed my lips.
I went inside running up the stairs and jumped on my bed. My cheek stung.
What did I do wrong?
I didn't know what to do. He had never done something like this since we've been dating. I was scared of him.
Most girls don't stay with a guy that treats them wrong, but Stefan's the best thing that's ever happened to me after losing Damon so I wanted to look past this.
Besides, He apologized.
After that he didn't lay a hand on my for a week but then I screwed up again. I choose seeing Caroline and Matt over hanging out with Stefan's family. I actually just went late but Stefan didn't like that It was wrong of me. I should have put my boyfriend first but my friends missed me.
"I can't believe you!" Stefan fumed around me.
"I"m sorry! I forgot because I hadn't seen Caroline in a while! I still made it!" I pleaded.
"Late! You looked like a flake showing up so late to a dinner in our honor!" He grabbed my arms and pushed me into the dresser. My heart sped up and I crouched down in pain.
Stefan realized what he did and begged for my forgiveness, pulling me into a hug.
Being a young girl you always get told to be careful. That guys lie and deceive you to get in your pants. Damon was everything to me but as soon as I gave it up to him he left me.
Stefan hasn't pressured me one bit.
Yes he's physically hurt me, but the pain he's caused me isn't as painful as the emotional pain I felt because of Damon.
All I wanted was for someone to love me this way he loves me this way. I think he does.
Author's Note
Hey everyone, I hope you're all doing okay after the hell of a year 2020 was. I know I was gone for awhile but I think most of the world was trying to grieve the world we once knew. I had a lot of time on my hands to write but it was too hard to get it out. New year and I'm going to try my best to focus on the things that help me cope through these times and that is updating these stories.
