TVD imagines/preferences

You save him

Stefan: Something was off about Stefan. He wasn't around as much, he rarely answered his phone, hell- even the way he spoke had changed. Being his best friend, you should have been able to sense the change in him earlier, but instead; you justified his odd behaviour as a repercussion of the whole 'Elena' thing- Stefan needing time to himself to figure things out, to heal.

>>

Despite Stefan harmlessly going rogue, and your constant worry for the younger Salvatore, you continued to move forward, joining Caroline and Elena at Whitmore college- a milestone you feared you'd never make it to.

With a little help from compulsion from Care's behalf, the three of you had managed to score a dorm together, and had finished unpacking in no time- Caroline having rushed the entire process so as she could get outside to mingle with some of the 'cute guys' she had spotted on her way in.

>>

You and Elena sat at a nearby picnic table, laughing to yourselves as you watched Caroline playfully flirting her way around the campus.

"She misses him." You thought out loud, a sorrowful smile curling onto your lips as you fiddled with the straw of your drink.

"Tyler?" Elena chimed.

"Klaus." You corrected nonchalantly with a shake of your head. She sighed in hesitant agreement, nodding. A sharp ring of her phone interrupted the bittersweet memory- her face lighting up as she read the caller id, of which undoubtedly read; Damon. Probably accompanied by some sort of love-heart emoji.

"I'll be right back." She smiled simply, wandering off to take the call, leaving you to sit on your own as you sipped from your now empty milkshake. Both the girls have had one love or another, even Bonnie had Jeremy. But it was different for you. It's not that you didn't have someone in mind- someone who made your heart skip a beat at the sound of their name, someone who made you feel safe and loved- because you did. But that someone was grieving over his lost love with Elena, that someone was Stefan, and there was no escaping the title of 'best friend' after all you had been through together.

Thoughts of him ran wild through your mind as you picked up your phone, readying yourself to send him what would probably be the thousandth voice mail in the past week.

"Hey, you." A familiar voice called, a grin evident in the tone- Stefan. Your head shot up almost instantly and a wave of relief washed over you.

"Stefan." You sighed happily, reaching over the table to wrap him in a rushed hug that seemingly took him by surprise before he seated himself down in front of you.

"How's college-life treating you?" He grinned, looking around the crowded campus in disgust.

"Ah, you know, I think Care's having more fun than me." You laughed light-heartedly. A forced smile spread across his lips in return before his eyes flickered to the now empty cup that sat by your side.

"May I?" He asked. You furrowed your brows, unsure of his odd request,

"Yeah, sure." He grabbed the styrofoam cup, taking off the lid as you watched him curiously. A muted click sounded as he unsheathed a small pocketknife, grabbing your arm in the process. You looked at him in complete and utter confusion, fear pooling in your core.

"Stefan, what are you do-" You began fearfully, your words cut off by a short hiss of pain as he slid the sharp edge down your wrist, holding the now bloody wound over the cup.

"I'm outing myself as not Stefan, obviously." He spoke as if the revelation, let alone the action were nothing. "Don't move, don't be afraid."

"Silas." You mumbled as he continued to let the droplets of blood from your arm pool into the cup. "You're still alive."