Keeping My Distance

seven

EDITED

I go downstairs to open the door of my house to leave to meet Stefan about twenty minutes after we had texted about hanging out.
I was already late, he's going to kill me.
Pulling my phone out to text him that I am sorry I was doing my makeup and am running late, I also open the door at the same time.

Stefan is standing there with a shy look on his face and a huge bouquet of my favorite wild flowers.

"Oh! Stefan, hi!" I smile surprised to see him standing there.

He smiles back and comes in handing the flowers to me,

"I got these for you. I figured I could just pick you up myself since I was in the neighborhood."

"Thank you. That was surprisingly thoughtful," I say to him and walk to the kitchen to find a vase to put the flowers in.
I'm surprised, and I don't know why I'm so surprised.
I'm never this surprised.

Maybe it's because he's Elena's ex boyfriend, and he's probably on the rebound and very hurt about Elena choosing Damon.
Well, Stefan I'm not going to be that rebound, but I'm not going to not be friendly with him either.

Flowers can be friendly.
But they were specifically my favorite type of wild flowers.
He had to of asked Jeremy what my favorite flowers are because Jeremy is the only one who ever buys them for me on our birthday.

I turn around placing the vase full of water and the flowers on the center counter, Stefan eyes me then the flowers then me again. And we sit in an uncomfortable silence.

"Your hair is shorter. I like it. It looks nice on you," Stefan says finally, pointing out my new hair style.

"Thanks, I cut it this morning after my shower," I blush slightly.

More awkward silence

"So, did you wanna go get coffee?" He gestures over his shoulder to the door.

I nod, smile awkwardly and grab my purse, "Sure, let's go."

When we get into the car Stefan steals a glance over to me, and I smile back at him.

"Why did you want to spend more time with me?" I ask him,genuinely curious as to what his answer will be.

Stefan's eyes lock with mine, 

"I thought I would see how you were doing, especially after last night."

I scratch the back of my head, and we ride the rest of the way to the coffee shop in silence.

** time skip to later that night **

It's 8:00 and I can't decide what to do.

Eat a late dinner with Stefan since we've hung out all day. Or have him drop me back home so I can meet with Kol on time.

The letter Kol sent to me in my room via paper airplane that morning floats through my head.

Meet me there around 9:00pm. Room 308.

I shiver in the passenger seat next to Stefan as we drive around town looking for possible restaurants.

I'll be waiting darling.

I make up my mind.

"Hey Stefan?" I ask him suddenly, cutting off his speech about how the few Mexican restaurants in Mystic Falls aren't authentic anymore and how that sucks.

"Yeah?" He asks me, his eyebrows raised.

"Can you drop me home. I actually forgot I made plans with an old friend I used to go to school with. His name is Collin," I totally just lied when he already knows I have a thing for Kol.