Perfect Match

Chapter 8

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The next morning, Stefan and Elena stood side-by-side in the small crowd of Perfect Match contestants. Rob was waiting for everyone to arrive, sending fake grins to every couple that met his eyes.

Elena was pressed up against Stefan's sturdy chest, the steady pulse of his heart jumping from his bare skin to hers. Clad in only a bikini, she felt more exposed than ever for the cameras. She truly felt like her skin was crawling with anxiety; the very last place she wanted to be was at a challenge pretending to be Stefan's girlfriend. She had no idea what was going through his head and she didn't have the opportunity to ask him due to the huge cameras constantly in their faces. She was sure that he felt something beyond friendship for her, but was it just a spontaneous "I wonder what it would be like" moment to him, or was it more, like it had been to her.

Although her body was pressed up against Stefan's, she never felt farther away from him.

"Okay everyone, challenge time!" Rob announced, gathering their attention. "This is what we'd like to call hookup. All the guys will be harnessed up in the air above these beds and you'll have to hold onto your girl until you no longer can. The last couple raised will be our challenge winners! If you both feel like you can't do it anymore, you'll be able to drop her onto the bed and we will unharness you. Ready to go?"

Everyone nodded. Rob smiled and stepped aside, revealing four beds. Katherine placed her hands on her hips and grabbed onto Landon to be her partner. Upon Rob's first words, Katherine's cat-like stare immediately landed on Stefan. He didn't seem to notice, but Elena managed to send a possessive glare her way. Satisfied, Elena realized that was the moment that Katherine rolled her eyes and grabbed Landon's arm.

The next thing they knew, all of the guys were sitting on a different bed, being harnessed to a thick, strong wire above them. Elena giggled in amusement as she watched Stefan stare up at the wire. It was obvious he was wondering if it could hold everyone without breaking; oh Stefan, always worrying. She took a seat next to him, glancing up. "It'll hold," she laughed.

Stefan smiled, a shy, bashful look that she'd never seen on him before, but she liked it. "How'd you know I was thinking about that?" he questioned, pretending to be creeped out.

"Because, Salvatore..." she started. "I can read your mind!"

He arched a brow amusedly, crossing his arms over his chest with that gentle half-smirk half-smile grin of his. "And how on earth do you do that, Gilbert?"

She grinned daringly, accepting his challenge, enjoying this subtle moment of flirtation between them. It was unlike any of the fake acts they'd intentionally shared for the cameras; this was real. Just Stefan and Elena in their own world... On top of the world. "Like this!" she laughed, flipping him over and putting the tips of her fingers on his temple.

"Hey!" A sound that vaguely resembled a growl rumbled from Stefan's chest and within the next second he had her under him again. She couldn't help but be reminded that this was how their kiss happened last night, and from the look on Stefan's face, she knew the exact same thing crossed his mind.

Finally, after a long, intense pause, Stefan said, "You don't know what I'm thinking about."
"Why's that?"

He swallowed thickly, his eyes burning into hers. "Because if you did... things would be a whole lot different."

Elena didn't know how to respond, but luckily, she didn't have to, because Rob announced that the challenge was starting. She gasped excitedly, staring at her best friend for instructions. "How the hell are we doing this?"

They confusedly glanced around, until they saw Mia and Peter embraced tightly together, with her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders. Both shocked by the idea, they exchanged weary glances and slowly nodded. Strategically, Elena wrapped herself around Stefan and they were hoisted into the air.

Fifteen minutes easily passed, until they both realized this was not as easy as it looked. With Elena clinging desperately to Stefan's torso, it was straining her every muscle. "Ow..." she muttered when he rested his head down on her shoulder.

"Sorry." He instantly lifted his head back up despite his exhaustion, his own arms getting sore from holding her tightly against him. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she breathed slowly. "Distract me... please."

Stefan furrowed his brows for a moment, until his gaze fell on one of the cameras down below focused squarely on them. Huh, he'd completely forgotten that it was there. Well, might as well put on a show, he figured. So, Stefan rested his head down on her shoulder and placed light, teasing kisses along her neck.

Elena let in a sharp intake of breath when she felt his cool lips graze her overheated skin. All of the sudden, her bare skin pressed up against his seemed to be catching her attention; she hadn't realized just how close they were. She knew this was for show, but she was instantly caught up in it, in him. "Mmm..."

Stefan chuckled in response to her, making Elena pull away and fake glare at him. "You laughing at me?" she demanded with an arched eyebrow.

"Never!" he declared. Elena laughed and dramatically rolled her eyes in response to his sarcasm. With the little strength she had, she managed to move her hand around to slap him in the arm.

He jumped a bit when she did this, and Elena giggled. Her eyes igniting with a fiery challenge, she willed him to make the next move. And so, he did. Moving his arm around, he managed to nip at her neck in that one spot that always made her squeal because she was so ticklish.

This meant war.

Laughing like a little kid, she reached around and pressed a finger right into his side, causing him to gasp squeeze onto her with a jolt. "Seriously, Lena?" She smirked deviously and nodded.

Within about thirty seconds, they were practically a tangled, laughing, fighting mess suspended in mid air. Of course, this didn't end well, because when Stefan reached around to get her in the side, she fought back, lost her grip, and fell down onto the white bed, laughing the whole way.

They definitely lost the challenge, but that was more than okay.

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Elena dropped the book she was reading and checked the clock. 11 pm. She sighed sadly, wishing Stefan was there to keep her company. He vanished a few hours ago and she hadn't seen him since. A part of her wondered if he was avoiding the inevitable conversation they had to have about their kiss.

Letting out a sigh, she swung her legs over the side of their blue bed and walked out onto the balcony. The cool, California air blew her hair behind her and relaxed her. Below her, waves crashed from the small beach, creating just the smallest mist. She grinned softly, looking down. Her gaze fell on the familiar silhouette of a man against a blowing palm tree.

It was clearly Stefan, writing away in his journal. She could tell that he was frustrated by whatever he was trying to say. Elena just watched for a few minutes as he wrote, crossed something out then just ripped the piece out and started all over again. Was he having conflicted emotions about their kiss? With a frown, she slipped back inside, determined to find him and talk to him about whatever was on his mind.

Her bare feet made no sound against the sand as Elena walked down to the beach. Expecting to see Stefan by the palm tree, she quickly noticed he was no longer there. She glanced around and found him closer to the pool area now, in a friendly conversation with Todd about something they clearly didn't care about. His journal was securely under his arm as he smiled at Todd and shook his hand in farewell before heading into the house.

Elena just stood there for a moment, looking out at the ocean. The salty air cooled her face and she couldn't help but sigh in longing, wondering what was to come for her and Stefan now. Just as she was about to turn around and go back inside, her foot hit something.

Curiously, Elena reached down to grab the item. It didn't take her long to realize it was a torn out, crumpled piece of paper from Stefan's journal, the intricate hand writing on it being a dead giveaway. Without even thinking, her eyes scanned over the nearly empty page, concentrating on the few words elegantly written in the center:

Elena. There isn't a moment that goes by when I'm not thinking about her. And the worst part? There's absolutely nothing I can do to stop it. Because... I love her, and I always will.

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