I Will Never Leave You

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Elena grabbed her jacket from the back of the couch where she had thrown it when she got home and said, “I’m meeting Bonnie at the Grill,” as she passed her Aunt Jenna.

“Ok have fun,” Jenna sucked in her breath and turned around so she could quickly correct herself, “wait, I got this. Don’t stay out late, it’s a school night.”

Elena couldn’t help but giggle when her aunt put her hands on her hips and tried to look like an authority figure. “Well done, Aunt Jenna.” She said as she waved goodbye.

After taking one last look at her aunt who had a triumphant smile Elena turned the knob of her front door. Ever since freshman year it had been their tradition to hang out at the Grill after their first day. Elena had been so shaken up when she got home, first from whatever had happened in the graveyard and then her encounter with Stefan that she forgot about it until Bonnie texted her. The result was she had to rush around to get ready because she was late.

However before she could walk out the door she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw who was standing on the porch.

“Sorry, I was about to knock,” Stefan said when Elena gasped in surprise. “I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was...strange.”

“No worries,” Elena said once she recovered from the shock. “I get it, blood makes you squeamish.”

Stefan chuckled a little bit, like he was enjoying his own personal joke, “Um, something like that. How’s your leg?”

Before answering she glanced quickly down at her leg which she had cleaned as soon as she had gotten home. It had looked much worse than it really was and she had already basically forgotten about it. “Oh, it’s fine,” she said, “just a scratch, barely.”

The smile disappeared off her face when she realized something. The only time they had ever talked was when she ran into him in the hall and then in the cemetery and she had never once actually told him where she lived.

“How did you know where I lived?” She asked.

“It’s a small town.” Stefan replied hastily, “I asked the first person I saw.”

Elena nodded but didn’t say anything. Just as the awkwardness was setting in Stefan said, “um, I thought you might want this back.” He held out his hand in which he held a familiar light bluish green book.

“Oh I must have dropped it,” Elena said immediately grabbing her diary. “I-thank you.” She looked down at the book to hide the panic that filled her eyes. The only way he would have gotten this was if she had dropped it in the cemetery.  That had been over an hour ago and gave him plenty of time to read almost everything she had written in it.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t...read it.” Stefan said.

“No?” Elena asked relief flooding through her entire body, “why not? Most people would’ve.”

Without any hesitation Stefan said, “well, I wouldn’t want anyone to read mine.”

“You keep a journal?” Elena asked astonished. None of her friends had ever kept a journal, especially not the guys and if they did they would certainly never admit to it like Stefan just did.

“Yeah, if I don’t write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important.” Stefan said completely serious.

This time the silence wasn’t awkward. It was like it had been at first when they ran into each other in the cemetery. It wasn’t necessary for them to say anything and it felt like if they did this moment would shatter into a million pieces.