❝Your hope is admirable, yes, but foolish nonetheless.❞
In which he wasn't hers but she loved him like he was.
[LOOSELY BASED ON THE VAMPIRE DIARES SEASON 3]
PLOT BY @hercules
STARTED: OCTOBER 23, 2016
FINISHED: APRIL 8, 2017
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Hope's hand gingerly reached out to tug the bell the Salvatore's used as a doorbell. The door quickly swung open, revealing Damon on the other side of the threshold.
"Most people just walk in, but you – you have manners," the raven haired vampire smirked at the young human. He swung the door open wider to let her in. "How can I help?"
"Is Stefan home?"
"You're in luck, he's upstairs," Damon nodded towards the staircase. He paused for a moment, sympathy in his blue eyes. "Hey, uh, Hope?"
"Yeah?" She at him over her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Of course," Hope nodded, turning to face him fully.
"You know you can talk to me, right?" She smiled a little. "You don't have to pretend you're okay if you're not."
"I'm fine, Damon, really." She pulled her sleeves over the fists. "Why do you care so much?"
"Your dad hasn't been around since you were in the 8th grade," Damon let out a small sigh. "I care about you, Hope. You're like family to me. And I guess I see myself as, I don't know, as a father figure to you."
As soon as the words had left his lips her arms were around him, her head buried into his neck, and he was certain he could hear faint sobs. After a few minutes she pulled away, swiping her fingers under her eyes.
"Thank you, Damon."
"It's alright kiddo," he grinned at her before pushing her towards the stairs. "Now go get him tiger."
A laugh escaped her plump lips and she quickly made her way up the stairs towards Stefan's bedroom.
"What're you doing here?" Stefan furrowed his brow, looking up from his journal.
"I wanted to talk." He put down his pen and gestured for her to continue. "You said you chose Elena, but I don't think you ever had to choose. There was never any competition. You've only ever loved one of us. And, even if that person isn't me, I'm still not gonna give up on you."
"You're right. I did only love one of you," he shrugged. "But now I don't love anyone. I don't feel a thing."
"I think this is an act, and I think it has been from the beginning." She looked up at him through thick eyelashes. "You're Stefan Salvatore, you can't not care."
Stefan's thick eyebrow rose up, as if he were challenging her statement.
"The Stefan I know wasn't afraid of caring, and he certainly didn't pretend to not feel. He was full of compassion, and he accepted me for me," Hope shrugged, taking a few steps backwards towards the door. "I've lost enough already, don't let me lose my best friend too."
She hung onto the door frame for a moment, her green eyes seemed to be staring into his soul, before she turned and left the boarding house.
---- one more chapter & then an epilogue all the love, M x
