Tangled Fate

The House Guest

April 8, 2010

The morning light filtered through the windows of Stefan's bedroom, bringing with it the unwelcome reminder of reality. Normalcy was supposed to be a comfort, but right now, normal meant high school—and Stefan was firmly against the idea of high school if it required leaving the warmth of the sheets. Ignoring Elena's half-hearted protests, he pulled her back down, his touch light and teasing as her soft giggles quickly melted into quiet sighs of contentment.

"So much for a leisurely, healthy breakfast." Elena murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips as her fingers traced the line of his back before tangling in his thick hair.

Stefan rested his head against her chest, letting out a quiet sigh. "So much for breakfast at all."

"You are a terrible influence."

"Can't say you're fighting it very hard." Stefan countered, his hands sliding along the curve of her waist. Elena's eyes fluttered shut, a deeper smile spreading across her face as she leaned into the familiar warmth of his touch.

"We really should get moving, though." she whispered after a quiet moment. "That is, if we actually plan on showing up to class."

"We have plenty of time." Stefan muttered into her skin, making absolutely no move to get up.

"Not all of us can get dressed at the speed of lightening." she teased back.

Neither of them stirred. Stefan kept his head nestled against her, quietly calculating how many days of school Elena could realistically miss before Jenna started to worry, or before the front office placed a call to the house. The thought of staying wrapped up together all day, making up for every second of lost time, was entirely too tempting.

"Okay, I am officially getting up now." Elena announced, though she remained perfectly still.

"Your complete lack of movement suggests otherwise."

"I mean it this time. I am going to get up, take a solitary shower, and put on real clothes. Then we are going to go to school, learn things, eat lunch like ordinary teenagers, and then learn a few more things."

"And what about after school?" Stefan asked, looking up to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"I think my schedule might open up by then." Elena grinned.

With a sudden burst of energy, she rolled out from under him and scrambled off the mattress. Giggling at his groan of protest, she grabbed his discarded button-down shirt, throwing it over her shoulders as she darted toward the adjoining bathroom.

Stefan rolled onto his back with a dramatic sigh, resigned to the fact that they were going to spend the day pretending to be normal humans instead of doing what they both actually wanted to do. Between his various lifetimes, he had accumulated more degrees than he cared to count, and the prospect of dragging himself through the halls of Mystic Falls High felt distinctly unappealing.

"Stefan." a voice called out.

He looked up to find Elena leaning out from behind the bathroom door, a sly, knowing expression on her face.

"You might want to hurry if you want to use the shower before we have to leave." she said, her grin widening. "I just remembered how important it is to conserve water."

Before she could retreat, Stefan was off the bed. Elena let out a breathless shriek as he swept her up into his arms, carrying her over to the tub.

"What happened to showering alone?" he murmured against her lips, kissing her once, then twice, completely forgetting about the morning clock.