Chapter 7

After an awkward breakfast with the wedding party, the girls arrived at a quaint little wedding dress shop nestled between a café and a flower shop. From the outside, it appeared unassuming, its simple sign barely catching the eye. However, as soon as Caroline stepped through the door, she was enveloped in a magical world of lace, satin, and sparkling diamonds—a realm where true love felt tangible. The air was thick with the scent of delicate fabrics and the faint sound of soft music playing in the background.

As she waited for Elena to emerge in her chosen dress, Caroline's fingers glided over the intricate designs hanging on the rack. Each gown told a story, but she couldn't shake the bittersweet feeling that washed over her. Would she ever get the chance to wear something so exquisite? Would she ever find someone to love her like Tyler had? He had seen her in one of these dresses, imagining their future together, declaring his love in front of friends and family. Now, that vision belonged to Elena, who seemed willing to give up everything for him.

"Okay, ladies, here she comes!" the nervous sales assistant exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement as she opened the dressing room door. The curtains fluttered as Elena shimmied out, a vision in white satin. The room fell silent, and Caroline could hear the collective gasps from the other women. She was struck by Elena's breathtaking silhouette, the fabric hugging her curves before flaring elegantly at her feet, a cascade of fabric that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale.

"So, Caroline, what do you think?" Elena asked, a playful glint in her eye that felt like a challenge, daring Caroline to confront her own feelings.

"I think Tyler will lose his mind when he sees you in that dress," Caroline managed to reply, though envy twisted in her chest like a tightening coil. She forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You really think so? I want him to never forget me in this," Elena said, spinning gracefully, the satin swirling around her like a cloud. Caroline watched, feeling a pang of longing for the love she once shared.

"Don't worry, girls, I've picked out your dresses too, so let's get this party started!" Elena exclaimed, raising a glass of champagne high in the air, her laughter ringing through the shop like a bell. Caroline tried to join in the excitement, but her heart ached with memories of a love that now felt like a distant dream.

Tyler and Stefan embarked on what was supposed to be a classic manly bonding adventure, hitting a series of gritty bars in search of cold beers and camaraderie. Tyler, ever the embodiment of his macho persona, threw back brews with an enthusiasm that bordered on excessive, throwing around phrases like "real men drink this stuff" and boasting about his gym routine. Stefan, who had never fully bought into Tyler's over-the-top masculinity, found the whole display increasingly nauseating, cringing with every exaggerated flex or chest-pounding proclamation. Still, he followed along, half-heartedly laughing at Tyler's antics to avoid confrontation. By the time they stumbled out of the last bar, they were both a bit too drunk for their own good, swaying down the street and somehow ending up in front of a bridal dress shop. Tyler, still holding onto his bravado, laughed loudly, making an unfiltered comment about the "fanciness" of the store, while Stefan, rubbing his temples, just wished they were anywhere else but there. But as they stumbled past the display window, Stefan froze. His eyes locked onto a figure inside—a vision in a delicate, flowing gown. It was Caroline, stepping out of a changing room in a stunning maid of honour dress. For a moment, everything around him seemed to fade. He was lost for words, struck by how breathtaking she looked—so effortlessly beautiful, so poised. A sharp pang of longing hit him as he realised how much he wished their situation-ship was real, that he could be the one standing beside her in that moment, offering support, offering love. But all he could do was stand there, mesmerised, watching her for a brief second before Tyler nudged him, snapping him back to reality. "Dude, you good?" Tyler asked, oblivious to the weight of Stefan's emotions.

Tyler, still in his own world, followed Stefan's gaze and paused mid-laugh. His expression shifted from playful to surprised as he caught sight of Caroline through the window, stepping out of the changing room in that maid of honour dress. The sight stopped him dead in his tracks, his usual swagger faltering for a moment. He wasn't expecting her to look like that—so elegant, so… perfect. For a brief instant, Tyler's tough guy act slipped, and he seemed almost vulnerable, caught off guard by how stunning Caroline appeared.

"Damn," he muttered, clearly impressed but not quite knowing how to react. "She looks… incredible."

Stefan's heart skipped a beat, still reeling from the way Caroline's beauty had struck him, but now there was a strange tension in the air. Tyler, ever the opportunist, glanced over at Stefan with a smirk. "She's definitely out of your league, man. You sure you want to be in a relationship with her?"

Stefan shot him a glare, half-wishing Tyler would just shut up, but also grappling with the bitter reality of his own feelings. He'd been too afraid to admit them—too afraid that his situation with Caroline was too complicated, too fragile, to ever become something real. But seeing her now, radiant and so far out of his reach, only deepened the ache.

Tyler, sensing the shift in Stefan's mood, raised an eyebrow. "What, can't help it, biggest regret of my life letting that go."

Stefan opened his mouth, but the words were stuck, the weight of his emotions locking him up. He wasn't sure what to say, especially now that it felt like he was standing at some kind of crossroads—caught between the façade he put up with Caroline and the truth of what he really wanted, which, right now, was also Caroline.

Caroline stood motionless, her eyes locked on the two men standing outside the bridal store, their faces framed by the glass window. Her heart twisted painfully, torn in two opposite directions. She felt like she was caught in one of those pivotal moments, much like the one in Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow, where every decision would lead her down a completely different path. On one side, there was Tyler—her past, with all the raw, complicated history of their time together. He was the boy she had loved, the one who had broken her heart and yet, somehow, had always remained a part of her. On the other side, there was Stefan, who represented everything she was trying to be—her future, a chance to finally let go of the past and embrace a new beginning. The weight of the choice was almost suffocating, but before she could decide, Elena turned in her seat, breaking her from her thoughts. With a bright, infectious smile, she waved toward the door, signalling the boys to come in. "You have to see how fabulous the ladies look in their dresses!" she called out, her tone light and teasing. "But don't get too excited, boys—they won't be upstaging the bride herself!" Her words, playful yet sincere, added a touch of warmth to the moment, but Caroline couldn't shake the gnawing feeling inside her. With both Tyler and Stefan standing there, she realised the hardest part wasn't just choosing between them—it was learning to let go of the person she had been, no matter which path she took.

Stefan rifled through his suitcase, searching for something suitable to wear for the evening. He was certain he had packed something nice, but with the hasty nature of their departure, it seemed everything had gotten mixed up. His brow furrowed as he pushed aside a few shirts, his fingers brushing over a tie and then a pair of shoes, until he finally found a black dress shirt. He pulled it out, grumbling to himself. "Where did you say we were going tonight?" His voice echoed towards the bathroom door, where he could hear Caroline bustling about.

From behind the door, Caroline's voice floated back to him, distracted but clear. "Oh, it's some bar, I think… Tyler mentioned they're doing a joint hen and stag thing. Should be… interesting."

Stefan raised an eyebrow, a little skeptical about the whole situation. "Sounds like a recipe for chaos," he muttered under his breath, but there was a touch of amusement in his tone. He could picture Tyler's enthusiasm for the evening already. Stefan paused, holding the shirt up against his chest, his eyes scanning the fabric for any wrinkles.

In the bathroom, Caroline stood before the mirror, carefully applying a stroke of black eyeliner to her eyelid. The lines were precise, the contrast bold against her fair skin. She glanced at herself in the reflection, the black corset of her dress hugging her curves tightly. It was beautiful, no doubt, but not entirely her. She had loved Bonnie—her best friend—like family, but the dress Bonnie had chosen for her felt like it belonged to someone else. "What could go wrong…" she muttered to herself, trying to push away the dissonance she felt as she pulled the lace straps tight.

Stefan's voice called to her again from the other room, and she couldn't help but smile. He was probably struggling with those tiny, impossible buttons again. He always did. "You alright in there?" he asked, his voice more curious than impatient.

Caroline stepped from the bathroom doorframe, leaning slightly into the hallway as she peeked at Stefan. She couldn't help the smirk that tugged at her lips as she noticed his frustration. His fingers fumbled with the small buttons, his patience wearing thin. "Need a hand?" she teased, her voice light with amusement.

Stefan jumped at the sound of her voice, his fingers slipping as he hastily tried to undo the buttons he'd just managed to fasten. "Umm, yeah, that would be wonderful," he said, a slight chuckle escaping his lips despite himself. "Big hands, small buttons—do not mix."

She sauntered over to him with ease, her movements graceful, and the scent of her perfume—a delicate, floral blend with a hint of something sweeter—seemed to fill the space around them. It was intoxicating, drawing Stefan in as she approached. Her hands, slender but steady, moved towards his shirt. He could feel the warmth of her close proximity, the soft hum of her energy radiating in the space between them.

As she adjusted his shirt, her fingers brushed lightly against his chest. He could feel the subtle tremor in her touch, a vibration that made his heart skip. The way she moved around him—each action deliberate, yet almost effortlessly sensual—sent a ripple of heat through him. He resisted the urge to close the small gap between them, but it was getting harder to ignore the chemistry that was always there, simmering just beneath the surface.

Caroline glanced up at him briefly, her blue eyes meeting his with a look that was both uncertain and intense. She was so close now that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his neck. Her fingers slid to the collar of his shirt, adjusting it with careful precision, and in that moment, everything seemed to slow down. The throbbing ache that had begun in her chest spread down to her stomach, a tight knot that tightened with every passing second. It was almost unbearable, but she pushed it down, focusing instead on his voice as he spoke.

"Well, confidence looks good on you, Forbes," he said quietly, his tone low but sincere.

She stared at him for a long moment, her gaze lingering on his lips. Her pulse quickened. Confidence? Was that what it was? Maybe. But in this moment, all she could think about was the way he was looking at her, the way his breath hitched when she moved so close. Her body seemed to react on its own, her mind drifting back to the taste of his kiss—soft, but with an undeniable intensity. She had wanted to kiss him again since that night, and now, standing here in the quiet tension of their shared space, she felt herself leaning toward him, drawn to him in a way that left her breathless.

"Thank you, Salvatore," she murmured, the words almost lost in the space between them. The name felt like a soft caress, rolling off her tongue with a familiarity that sent a thrill down her spine. She didn't even realise she was standing so close to him, her body nearly pressed against his. But when she looked up at him, the temptation was too much.

Her eyes never left his lips, and for a moment, everything else faded into the background. She wanted to feel them again—so badly that it made her heart ache. Would he lean in? Did he feel it too?

Stefan's breath hitched once more, his eyes flicking between her lips and her eyes. His voice was barely a whisper when he spoke. "Caroline…"

Her name on his lips was like a spark, igniting something deep inside her. She didn't think, didn't hesitate, and before she could second-guess herself, she was closing the distance between them, her breath mingling with his as her lips brushed softly against his. It was gentle, almost tentative at first, but the moment their lips met, everything inside her seemed to explode, the tension of the evening spilling into the kiss. It was everything she'd been longing for, a mixture of relief and yearning, and it was more than either of them could have anticipated. After what felt like an eternity Stefan was the one who first pulled away from her. "What was that for?" He asked tentatively. "Just needed a little practice." She smirked as she moved away from her and sauntered towards the door. "You ready?" she asked and Stefan stood still, dumbfounded at what had just happened.