Fall

Chapter 22: The Mighty and Majestic Horse-Sized Duck

I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, and I turn to see Stefan and Lexi walking over. Both fully clothed, thank god. I clap my hands on my thighs and use the momentum to stand up, meeting them as they get to me. "Well, if it isn't the birthday boy. Happy birthday. Here's your card." I thrust a plain white envelope into Stefan's hands, having gotten impatient with all my waiting here. It started to get dark outside.

"Uh, hi Kara. Thanks, yeah I'll open it." Stefan looks at me in confusion before turning to the envelope, ripping it open and finding the card inside. He pulls it out, and I can't help but smile at the dinosaur on the front. "Happy birthday you fossil." Stefan raises an eyebrow at me, the corners of his lips turning up as Lexi laughs next to me. He looks back down and keeps reading it, laughing, "It is your birthday. You are old. Congrats. Kara."

I shrug as the two of them laugh, moving the present over to them as subtly as I can. "What can I say, I've got a way with words." I laugh a little with them, feeling relief that he likes the card. I was trying to make it the most nonchalant card as possible. The most platonic one ever. I'm glad I succeeded.

Stefan moves to the box and sends me an amused look at the wrapping paper used. The one I made out of my math and physics homework. He tears through it slowly, but at least he's not one of those people that tries to preserve the paper perfectly. He opens the box too, pulling out a giant yellow plushie. "What the hell is this?" He laughs at it as Lexi crouches next to him, looking over his shoulder to see what it is. It expands to it's original height after having been compacted in a box, almost being as tall as me.

"A horse-sized duck." I answer with a smile, watching as Lexi picks him up into her arms and snuggles against him with a laugh.

"Oh he's adorable!"

"Yeah, I thought he would fit right in with the depressed vampire chic you've got going on in your room." I send Stefan a teasing look and he laughs again, a sound I find myself wanting to elicit more and more. He yanks the bright yellow duck from Lexi and plops him down on the couch, patting his adorable head.

He crosses over to me, leaning in and putting his hand on my shoulder. I can't help but be drawn up into his green eyes as he looks down at me. "From our conversation in the hospital? I love it. Thank you so much. Though now I have to figure out what to name him, let alone where to put him." He says, and I have a hard time focusing on the words when he's so close to me. I blink a few times, trying to lock my feelings down into my feelings box and keep a neutral/slightly happy look on my face. It's best if I just don't feel my emotions for a while.

"Steve." I say, moving myself away from his touch. He smiles but furrows his brow at the same time. Lexi shoots a look between the two of us, but I ignore it for the moment. I can worry about it later. Or not, I don't have to read too much into everything. I can just not read into everything and be a chill person. Ok, new resolution for the year.

"Steve?"

"Steve." I affirm with a nod, crossing my arms over my chest. "That's what his name should be." I point to the giant duck that Lexi is currently cuddling. She jumps up with him in her arms, almost blocking her entirely.

"Oh my gosh, Steve is the perfect name for him!" She throws Steve at Stefan, who catches it with a laugh. It's nice, seeing him this happy. He's always so brooding and moody. Must be Lexi, she probably brings this out in him.

"Alright fine, Steve it is." He grins at me, leaving the room with Steve and no doubt taking him up to his own bedroom. It's a funny sight, serious Stefan carrying a giant duck so big that he almost engulfs Stefan entirely. I chuckle at it and check my watch to see the time. I should probably head out now, don't want to overstay my welcome and make it weird.