Into Your Arms

Chapter Four

Elena's P.O.V.

Allison came over to my house to study for our test on Monday with me, but I soon learned that was a ploy to play model with me for the party tonight. She calls it, picking out an outfit, but I call it, her personal mannequin.
"What about this one?" She says, holding up a tight blue dress.
"No. It's a party, not prom." I say, taking it from her and putting it down.
She goes back into my closet, her entire head buried by my clothes.
"Ok... what about this one, with a pair of leggings?" She pulls out a sequence top.
"No!" I say, laughing.
"Ugh. You have no sense of fashion. Or a date."
"It's not a date." I say.
"Really? How dumb are you? Of course it's a date!" She says.
"No it's not. We just met. Plus, there is no way he likes me." I say, turning around to hide my frown.
"Wow. You really are dumb." She says.
She pulls out something else. It's a pink blouse, and she has a brown leather jacket with it.
"What about this with black skinny jeans, and your brown knee-high boots?" She's smiling, thinking she finally found the perfect thing.
"I like that." I say, taking it.
"Yay! You're going to look so amazing, Stefan won't be able to keep his eyes off of you!"
We both start laughing and I go into the bathroom to change. I come out in what we've picked out, and she's right, it looks really nice together.
"So... I never asked... do you even like Stefan?" Allison says, sitting on the bed and motioning for me to sit next to her.
I don't, but I still answer her question. "Well, yeah, I think he's super sweet, and obviously incredibly gorgeous... but it would never happen. We're too different."
"Ugh. Worst and most basic excuse ever. You know, if you two dated, we could go on double dates, or quadruple dates with Lydia, Stiles, Caroline, and Klaus! Oh my gosh, that would be so fun!" She says jumping off my bed and coming to hug me.
I quickly move out of the way of her assault, and we both start laughing then fall onto my bed until we are both able to get control of ourselves.
* * *
At the party:

I'm standing there looking around. I'm holding a cup of... something. I think it's beer, but I don't drink. When I got to the party, I realized I didn't have Stefan's phone number, and I had no idea where we were supposed to meet, so now, I'm standing here against a tree looking for him. I'm alone, and I probably look like such a loser, I'm not drunk, and I'm not making out or grinding on some guy. I try to call Allison, but she doesn't answer, she's probably having a good time with Scott. I am having a terrible time. It's been 15 minutes since the party started and he's still not here. He probably stood me up. I turn to leave, but I run into the same solidness that I'm now familiar with.
"Ok. One of us really needs to start watching where we're going." Stefan says, smiling down at me.
"Probably." I laugh, smiling back at him. I was angry he was late. I was angry that I thought he stood me up. But now, all that anger is gone, replaced by pure happiness and contentment, all in one smile.
"Hi." He says, rocking on his heels.
"Hi... um-"
"I know. I was late. And I'm sorry, but I promise, I wasn't standing you up. My dog started throwing up an hour ago and I wanted to rush him to the vet to make sure nothing was wrong. Everything's fine, I just had to make sure he got his medicine, and he was being a pain, and there was a long wait at the vets office. I promise, I'm not lying. Scouts honor." He says, holding up his hand, three fingers together.
I smile and laugh. His facial expression switches from one of regret to one of confusion.
"I was going to say... I didn't have your phone number, so I couldn't text you. I was going to ask if I could get it, so I can text you next time. I'm glad all is well with your dog though."
He laughs. Relieved. He rests his back against the tree I was leaning on. He looks like a model doing that. "Oh. Yeah. Ok. I didn't even realize that. I probably should have thought of that. Here, let me put it in." He says, reaching his hand out for my phone.
I give it to him and I see he quickly types in his number, clearly used to doing it, then he jumps next to me and hold up my phone at our faces. I'm suddenly shocked.
"Smile!" He says. I do so, out of habit, it's almost become a reflex from hearing my grandma say that whenever we go somewhere. She loves taking pictures. I'm suddenly blinded by a quick flash of light. My vision returns, somewhat spotted, and he hands me my phone back. On the screen is a picture of us both smiling. We both look really good and very happy. Now I guess I'll always have that smile on my phone to look at. I click the arrow in the top left corner and see he's already texted himself. He texted himself that picture with my name under it. I can't help but smile, I'm hoping it's too dark for him to see me blushing.
"Is the picture ok?" He says.
"It's perfect. Great camera work." I say, punching him in the arm. Ugh. I'm already friend-zoning myself.
"Why thank you. I've gotten pretty good at selfies. It's all about the angle, you know." He says laughing and taking a fake selfie.
We both start laughing.
"Do want to start walking around? I can give you a tour."
"Ok." I say.
He holds out his hand, and I'm about to take it when some girl comes and pushes him back against he tree and me out of the way.
"Hi Stefan." She says, her face incredibly close to his and her hand on his chest. I'm overcome by jealousy, and I know I shouldn't be, but I just stand there.
"Um... hi Erica." He says. He's clearly confused, but he knows her. I'm guessing they've slept together.
"We should ditch this hag and get out of here. My parents aren't home." She says. Her hand slinging up and done his chest. I'm completely appalled. She is such a whore.
"Come on Erica, don't-" He says.
"Why go with her, when you can go with me?" Another girl says, walking up to them.
"Katherine." Stefan says. Knowing her too. I'm starting to get less annoyed with them than I am with him.
More and more girls start to go up to him, and by the time I realize it, there's 5 girls surrounding him, all fawning over him and trying to sleep with him. I turn around, done with this. I don't want to see it. I get a few feet away when I hear him say something.
"I'm not in the mood, girls. If you'll excuse me." He says, the last word a grunt as I hear all the girls behind me scoffing. I start to smile, and I continue to walk, realizing I've stopped.
"Elena! Elena, wait!" I hear behind me, I want to stop and turn around, but I don't. I can't. I continue walking, but I can hear his heavy footsteps approaching behind me, catching up to me. He's running, and as soon as I realize it, he's right next to me, then in front of me, making me stop. His hands are out and he's slightly panting, I didn't even realize how far I got until now. I'm nearly in the parking lot but the tone he stopped me.
"I am so sorry about that. I didn't think that would happen, and I hate it when that happens. Will you please stay?" He begs, in between pants.
"I don't know Stefan... I-" I'm cut off by his hands grasping my arms. He's holding them firmly to make sure I don't walk away, but I know I wasn't going to. I'm frozen in place, mesmerized by those stupidly beautiful green eyes. The light of the parking lot is hitting him just right, and I notice the scar in between his eyebrows and how he has a very defined jaw line. He's wearing an old black leather jacket and a dark blue Henley shirt and black jeans. He looks very good.
"Please? There's a bridge over looking the woods and a small lake. No one will bother us there."
"Ok."
"Great! Let's go!"
"You lead the way."
We start waking and it's still dark out, but the noises of crickets and the wind rustling through the trees is quite soothing. And being with Stefan is helping too. He's oddly comforting, even though I barely know him.
"So... you waited for 15 minutes and no guy hit on you? At all?" He says, breaking the silence.
"No. Why?"
"I'm just saying. You're just standing there, a new girl who doesn't know what the guys of this school is like, and no one hit on you?"
"No." I say, laughing.
"Damn it!"
"Why 'damn it'?" I say, slightly hurt. But I know he's joking.
"Well, I'm just trying to dig my way out of this hole."
"What hole."
"Oh come on. I see it on your face. You're angry and embarrassed because of those girls."
"I am not!"
"Yes you are! See, you're getting defensive!"
"Ok. Maybe it was a little weird. But no, no one hit on me, so you can't dig yourself out of this hole yet." I say, and we both start laughing. We're now walking side by side, and he starts walking into me on purpose, bumping me so I stumble.
"Hey! No fair! You're bigger!" I say, and I push my shoulder into him, making him stumble. He tried to push me, but I start running forwards. He runs after me, and I feel his large hands wrapping around my waist and picking me up. I start to scream and kick, but it's no use. I'm not breaking free of his hold. He puts me down and turns me around to looks at him and we both laugh. I'm enjoying this, but I'm overcome by curiosity and I know I'm about to ruin the moment, but I can't help myself.
"You know, we've only ever really talked about me. Tell me about yourself."
"Ok. What do you want to know?"
"Tell me about your dog."
"Well, he's a German Shepard. He's probably about 3 years old. He's mine, I found him on the street and took him in. And in a weird way, he's always been there for me, at least, as much as a dog can."
"I would love to meet him one day. I love dogs."
"I hope you do. Is that all?"
"No. You seem really close with Scott, when did you two meet?"
"2nd grade. He's been my best friend ever since. We kinda just... clicked. You know?"
"Yeah. Um..."
"It's fine. You can ask me."
"Ask you what?"
"About my dating life. I know you've been dying to since those girls."
"Kinda."
"Ok. So, you're smart, I'm guessing you've already guessed it. Yes, I am a player. I've slept around and never had a serious girlfriend or been in a serious relationship. But I told myself that at the beginning of this year, I would change all that. And I want to, I just haven't found the right person."
"Ok."
"Ok? You're not weirded out by that? You don't think it's cliché?"
"No. I think it's totally cliché, but, I respect that you want to make that change. Ok... one last question. Tell me about your family."
"That's not a question." He says, suddenly becoming monotone.
"You know what I mean! What's your family like?"
He stops in the middle of the bridge and walks over to the railing, looking over at the lake. With the moon shining down on it, it's really beautiful. But I'm not focused on that, I look over at him. His face is in pain, and I can see that I shouldn't have asked that question.
"You don't have to answer it if you don't want to." I say, putting my hand on his shoulder.
He turns to look at me. His face strained. "No. I want to. I'm an open book. Um... where to start? I'm an only child. I don't have any grandparents, they're all dead. My mom was an only child, and my uncle lives in Colorado. My father left me when I was young and my mom is an alcoholic and started drinking after he left, so I've basically been taking cate of myself and her ever since."
I'm taken aback by his words. How truthful he's being, but I can tell it's not the full truth, but I don't want to push it. He's already given me more than I expected. I can't help but feel bad for him. I hug him, wrapping my arms around his strong body. They don't quite wrap around fully, but I'm hugging him very tightly. I take a breath in and take in his scent of cologne. I never noticed that he was wearing it before. I rest my head against his chest and say into his shoulder
"You're a good person, Stefan. You don't deserve that kind of life."
He has his arms slightly raised, surprised by my action. I'm slightly surprised too, but I don't think he knows what to do. I don't think he's used to this kind of affection. It takes him a second, but he wraps his arms around my upper neck, holding onto me tightly. He rests his head on top of mine, burying it in my hair and we stay like this for a while. I'm comfortable, and I can tell he is too. I can tell that he's grateful for this, that he needs it. It's as if holding onto me, is going to hold his life together. Or, put it back together.
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Authors note:

I'm sorry it's been a while, I've been really busy with school, but I finally got a chance to write a chapter! I just loved writing this scene on the bridge, how it goes from happy, to emotional and how they have a little moment, and I hoped you enjoyed reading it too! Thank you so much for reading, and continuing to read! Please follow me on Instagram, where I'm writing another AU and for updates on my story for when I post another chapter! @stellijah . Thank you again!