Into The Hills

Chapter 17

Stefan's POV

I watch her leave with my plaid shirt in her hands and my heart feels like it's going to explode from sadness. I turn back around and Tom watching me, his expression is unreadable as he sits down on the chair.
"Hey." I say, regaining some of my tranquility and walking over to him.
"Hey, I'm leaving soon." He says, as he starts out the conversation on a sad note when I'm already sad, I internally roll my eyes and look at him.
"Stef, I just want to make you are safe." He explains, looking down at his hands, I notice their shaking a little.
"I'll be okay, Tom. I always am." I say, while I sit down on the bed opposite from him.

Tom sighs and decides to change the subject, not believing me, but I can tell he's too tired to fight about it.
"That girl.. Elena, you really love her, don't you?" He asks out of the blue, and the term love gets my heart rate up, as I picture her in my mind, her face so concerned for me and beautiful, the way she smiles makes me insides quiver and her laugh is cute but there's a sexy undertone to it, she makes me feel so high and alive and I wouldn't trade her for anything in this world.
"Yes." I say simply, watching Tom's eyes light up, as he pats my back.
"Good, I'm glad. It's about time you picked yourself up from your guilt and started being happy again." He says, looking into my eyes.
I smile lightly and nod, but little did he know I wasn't going to see her for a long time and the thought alone crushed me.
"Wanna go grab a couple beers?" He asks and I nod my head, grabbing my leather jacket and throwing it on. I look at myself in the mirror as Tom patiently waits for me downstairs in his BMW. My eyes glance over to the picture hanging on the line to dry, I walk over and take it off carefully, making sure it's dry. There she is laying in bed with her long legs, wearing my plaid button up, I take the picture and take a closer look, her eyes are closed and she's laughing like nothing in this world could touch her, my heart swells up when I realize this is how happy I make her. I smile and grab my wallet, looking at the picture before I tuck it in my wallet, I shove my wallet in my back pocket and head out to meet Tom.

Tom starts driving away from the Loft and I watch it fade out of view, as I look out the window. I can't help but to think of Elena, what's she's doing, how she's feeling.

Eventually, we get to the bar and Tom orders us some drinks.

"So, are you excited to get back to Cali?" I ask, looking at him.
He shrugs his shoulders, taking a swig of beer.
"Guess so." He whispers, and it's the first time I notice the sadness in his eyes.
"Hey, what's up?" I ask, taking a swig of beer, his eyes meet mine.
"It's just.. Caroline." He whispers her name like a silent prayer and I listen intently.
"She broke things up last night, guess she's trying to get her marriage back together." He laughs at himself, taking another swig.
Doubt beings to creep into the back of my mind about Elena, will she leave me to? For Matt?
"Well, some things aren't meant to be." I say sadly and he nods, raising his beer to that.
"But you and Elena I can tell it's more then what Caroline and I had, you guys seem to really care for each other." He says, smiling lightly at me.
I feel my cheeks being to heat up.
"We do." I say slowly, taking another swing of beer.
I smile shyly and Tom beats my back with his hand.
I grunt and he laughs.
"Captains wife got you whipped." He says fascinated and I chuckle, shaking my head.
"Shut up, Tom." I say, bashfully as I hide my smile with a chug of beer.
"Damn never thought I'd see the day." He says, laughing as he finishes his beer, too.

It was true, I was whipped, I was madly in love with this girl, this women, she's mine, and I don't plan on letting her go. Love is so fickle and then I met her and she showed me love can last if you have passion, and we do we have incredible passion and chemistry and a real connection. It's a real relationship, the realest one I have ever been in.

Tom and I spend the whole night talking about meaningless things when he realize it's one in the morning, looking at his watch.

"Dammit, I got a plane to catch." He says, looking at me, and I smile, shrugging my shoulders.