I Had To Know Her

Chapter 19

Stefan's POV:

I made a mistake of texting Elena last night about the suprise birthday party, meaning that it wasn't a suprise anymore.

She called me right away and asked me what my text was about and I tried to play it off like I texted the wrong person, which I did, and that it wasn't for her. She figured me out after a while and knew the whole plan.

We decided to not through a party anymore but to go out to dinner instead.

I wanted just me and Elena to go out by ourselves but I guess her friends tagging along shouldn't be a big deal.

Today was her birthday and it just happened to be a Friday, but we still had school.

I picked her up in the morning, but instead of just waiting for her in the driveway, I walked up to the front door with flowers and my present. I got there a bit earlier than usual so I could see her open it.

She greeted me at the door and was so happy about the flowers.

''What's that?'' She said, eyeing the gift.

''For you.'' I said, handing it to her. ''I want you to open it now.''

She took it from my hands and started to take off the wrapping paper and it revealed a jewelry box and opening it, she saw the necklace.

''Stefan.'' She said. ''It's beautiful. I told you not to get me anything, and not sometime like this.'' 

''Don't. It's your special day and you deserve a special present.'' I started. ''Now turn around and let me put this on.''

She smiled and handed me the necklace as she turned around and held her hair up.

I put the necklace around her neck and lached it together. 

She picked it up with one hand and turned around and grabbed my face with the other lose hand. 

''Thank you.'' She said.

''It's not just a necklace.'' I said. ''It's called a vervain necklace. Vervain is something that keeps vampires away, so they don't hurt you. I'm not the one you should be scared of, because I've told you before I will never, ever hurt you. Just Mystic Falls has been one of those places that vampires like to gather sometimes, and if that ever happens again, I want my girl to be safe.'' 

She smiled and thanked me again for the necklace.

''It was my mothers, you know.'' I said.

''Your mothers? Oh my, Stefan, why did you give me this if this is a piece that you have left of her?''

''Because I'm giving you a piece of something that means a lot to me, because you mean a lot to me.'' I said.

She blushed and kissed me.

''You are something else.'' She said, our faces only about a centimeter apart.

 We went to school after that and made it through the day.

''Going to school on your birthday sucks.'' She said to me once we met eachother at my car and got inside to drive home.

''I know, but at least we have dinner to look forward too now.'' I said.

We drove to my house first so I could pick up my suit and I would just change at hers. Girls take much longer to get ready anyways we needed all the time at her house that we were going to get.

She went inside to her house once we arrived and went up to her room, as I went into the bathroom and changed.

I came out and walked upstairs to see her in a long pinkish red dress, that covered the back on her knees but not quite the front. She was wearing black heels and changed her earrings. Her hair was curly but had a decorative black headband pulling back the pieces in the front.

I said nothing and looked at her for a moment.

''You clean up nice.'' She said to me.

''I was going to say something first about you but you kinda just took my breath away.'' I finally spoke.

She blushed and grabbed her purse in one hand and my hand in the other as we made our way to my car and to the restaurant.

We were meeting everybody else there and when we walked in, they were already all there waiting for us.

''Look at you, birthday girl.'' Bonnie said, making her way over to her. ''You look stunning.''

''Doesn't she?'' I added.

Me and Elena took a seat in the middle of the table, across from eachother. Matt was sitting on one side of me and Tyler on the other. Caroline was across from Tyler and Bonnie was across from Matt. Girls on one side and guys on the other.

We ordered dinner, opened some presents and even got Elena a cake and watched her blow out the candles and make a wish.

She was care free tonight and that's all I wanted. No problems, no nothing. Just her enjoying her 17th birthday.

I remember my real 17th birthday, when my parents were still alive.

Damon and I were on the farm and were playing tag, right after we had a nice meal. We played all night long because we were allowed to stay up later on our birthdays. I miss those times and I miss my brother.

I watched Elena as she laughed and had the time of her life at a fancier restuarant. I told her the first time we were on a date that next time I would take her somewhere even better and this place was the perfect answer.

We left dinner after we said goodbye to everyone and went off on our own way, back to her house.

I pulled in her driveway and turned off my car.

''I had such a nice time tonight.'' She started. ''You always spoil me more than you need too. I would of been happy with all of us doing a little get together.''

''Well that was the plan all along until someone stupid told you about your suprise party. That someone stupid just happened to be me. I'm sorry, babe.'' I said.

''Sorry? Stefan, I had fun tonight and that's all that matters. I just don't deserve all these things coming my way.''

''Yes you do. You deserve that and more. You deserve the world to me.'' I said.

''I love you.'' I added.

She stared at me for a minute. I've said those words before but just joking around or out of the spur of the moment, never like this. When we were being serious and all our attention was placed on each other. She never said it back before.

''I love you, too, Stefan.'' She finally said.

I got out of the car and walked over to the other side that she was on and opened the car door and picked her up with everything I had and grabbed her face and kissed her with full force.

''It's so nice hearing those words.'' I said.

''Good, cause I mean it when I say them.''

I set her down and we kissed for a moment more because we said our goodbyes and she went inside the house and I went back into my car to drive home.

I smiled the whole ride knowing that I was in love.

I was in love with Elena Gilbert.