Hi I was wondering if you could write something on 1, 27 or 34?
A/N: i can’t even remember when you sent this. so i apologize for it taking too long. i haven’t been inspired to write anything lately. except this one au multi chapter thing. and since i’m only inspired when it comes to that universe so i thought i’d use your prompt to add one scene into it. i’m sorry if it feels confusing or out of contest. hopefully, i’ll try to post first chapter of the thing soon. also, i wrote 27 before so this is 1 and 34. i hope you like it :)
“Do youreally have so little faith in me?”
“It’s not like that. You know it’s not like that.”
He nods to her. His walls starting to break. Becausewhat’s the point? Why bother standing tall in front of her? So he opens thegates to anger and shall it all be ruined.
“No, you’rejust being logical. Because you know better. Because I’m just naïve.”
“Stefa-”
“You stood byme.” He takes a step closer, lowering his face till their eyes are in the samelevel. “All this time, you always had my back. I always had you. Why now?What’s different now?”
She doesn’t blink athim. She only looks, observes. And it irritates him still. Because he stillfeels like he’s missing something. And he’s just too stupid, too young, for herto tell him.
She takes that laststep that remained between them. But her eyes don’t have any challenge in them.If anything they are dull. Sad. Like a doctor about to deliver the bad news.
“Because thistime you’re not just asking for me. You’re asking for more.”
He tilts his headback, swallowing.
“And I can giveyou that. Yes, I can. I can…” She scoffs, looking around. “I can giveyou more than what you need. But I don’t want to. Because I shouldn’t.”
“Because youdon’t trust me.”
“That’s nottrue.”
“It is.”
“I’m notlying.”
“Caroline.”He pauses, holding up a finer to make her catch her breath and listen. “Doyou trust me?”
“You’re my bestfriend.” She tries to convince him.
“Do you trustme? With more?”
Words die on herlips. She shuts her mouth and swallows. Her eyes blurring all of sudden. She knowsthat look. That hopeless look. He knows the answer. He just wants her to sayit. To break what’s left in him. What she has been building up again formonths. To prove to her that he’s right. That he’s been right all along.
She opens her mouthand bites her lip.
“What if I sayno?”
He blinks, a smilepulling the corners of his mouth before he nods it away.
“Okay.” Hesays after a long moment. When he starts to turn around she holds his hand withboth of her own.
“Wait.”Her voice cracks.
“It’sokay.” He says again. This time she doesn’t see his face. This time, hedoes pull his hand away. And she feels his fingers between hers before he slipsaway, walking to his room. She shifts in her place, holding all of her hairinto one fist before putting at one side.
I fell off the planet with writing a bit there and am trying to work on a new story, but want to get some more meet to it before i starting posting it. That being said, I’d love some steroline drabble prompts or even things i could work into the unnamed belvafore story! so hit me with what you got!
A/N: i'm high on high school aus, so forgive me. written on mobile, so expect many mistakes.
He's never liked parties, shocking as it was. Everything was just too loud for his liking. The concept of people smiling at each other then gossiping just when they turn around made him sick.
That's why he never liked any kind of occasions. But parties- high school parties at school nights in Rebekah Mikaelson's house, those were the worst.
But he came anyway. 'Cause for the first time in a while he didn't want to stay home. Not when Damon followed him everywhere like a lost puppy, bored and filled with tragic sense of humor.
So he stood up from his desk, threw on a jacket, and mumbled something about heading out to a party. And he hopped that his brother will be fast asleep when he comes home. And that tomorrow he will be the kind of miserable that drinks away his swarrows and pushes people away.
So he's there, at the party, receiving surprised glances that Stefan Salvatore has finally got off his horse to join the humble teenagers of Mystic Falls.
It's quite satisfying, if he's beefing honest. There's something so delicious in the way girls steal glances at him and whisper things to each other then giggle.
It's his last year in high school, and he might have wasted the last three years on English classics and history class.
So it wouldn't hurt if he blended for one night.
Had fun. Left a mark. Started some rumors.
He fills his cup with beer and leans against the table, looking around with a bored look. He can't help it. He still feels older than everyone in the room.
He catches her eyes immediately. She swallows down her drink, her eyes widening when she spots him. She put the cup down and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand before running to him- in that beautiful tight black dress of hers.
"Heeeeeeeeeey." She raises her arms a little bit above her head as she approaches him, clearly drunk. He can't help the grin that invades his face.
Her hands come up to hold her waist, helping her to stand still before losing her balance and making him fall as well. She wraps her arms around his neck and stands against him. So he leans more against the table.
"Hey." He mumbles back, eyeing her rosey cheeks and messy hair.
"What are you doing here, potter? Got lost from the library?" She leans forward even more and giggles, unaware of how awkwardly close they are.
He winces, looking around and sucking a breath through his teeth.
"Can't we pretend I'm Mallfoy for tonight?"
"I can pretend you're Krum." She whispers, flirting mood officially on, as she leans closer, looking down at his lips and saying the words as if they were some dirty lines.
But she bursts out laughing in less than four seconds. And he holds his breath when her warm breath hits his skin.
Her fingers move down his neck, brushing his hair as she looks at his face like she's staring at the scene from outside.
"Someone got drunk." He stats, looking down between them, one hand holding her elbow now.
She shrugs.
"I was bored. Still am."
He nods.
"I thought youuuu weren't coming. What happened to science project and let's save the world?"
"I thought I'd save the pretty girl tonight. Then the world tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm the pretty girl?" She pulls her face back before leaning forth again. "I'm flattered but, pretty girl has got some claws." She tilts her head.
He swallows. His smile still on, but his muscles hurt. He knows she's drunk, but damn her and the crush from fifth grade that he never got over. He nods again, looking down.
The sounds of loud laughter and girls screaming make them turn around. Liv Parker and Tyler Lockwood have moved the table away so that they can dance in the middle of the room.
The music is still the same, some quick track pulsing through the room. But Jeremy Gilbert and Matt Donovan sit on the couch and sing La Vie En Rose with a terrible voice. And the rest of the kids clap along and whistle every now and then.
He looks back at the blonde against him, and notices that she was deep in her thoughts while staring at his hair.
"You can dance with me... if you want."
He stands still for a long moment. You can dance with me? As in like... a permission? As if he wanted to? Can't she ask him to dance like a proper person?
"Do you want to?" His finger start to move against her waist.
She shrugs.
"I'm still bored." She now looks at his lips.
He looks around. It's not like he's gonna get on that dance floor and dance to some terrible cover of La Vie En Rose. Because first, he got a reputation to keep. Second, that was just such a turn off. And third, can he really take her to the dance floor? Like, any dance floor? Ever?
He seems to lose track of his thoughts, looking around and thinking about a good way to actually dance with her, without making a fool out of himself.
But then she's pulling away, stumbling back few steps before standing still.
"You stay you, Salvatore." She winks at him, her tone sarcastic and annoyed.
"What?" He blinks at her.
She moves through the crowd and away from him. Waving her hand at him without looking back. "Good luck saving the world."
He sighs, wondering if it wasn't too late to join Damon in one of his petty parties.
Summary: They dance for what seems like hours. And in that moment, she feels as if they were one person. As if his world was hers too. Because she doesn’t just get used to the silence, she enjoys it. Steroline AU.
A/N: *sighs* @ the four people who read this fanfic, today is your lucky day! as for the rest, carry on. part1// part2 // part3. ff.net
One thing she knows, volleyball was never this hilarious. It's more of a joke than a sport actually. And her friends, instead of trying to play properly and win are just falling over each other, bursting into laughter and making a comment about everything that happens.
The teams were supposed to be the girls against the boys, with Jo reading a book near them. But Damon and Bonnie had made it their job to ruin the game. Caroline glares at them for the ninth time when they stand in front of each other, separated by only the web in the middle and keep flirting with each other. Alaric comes just in time and pulls Damon away, putting him in his place again and they start all over again.
Caroline is probably the only one who is taking the game seriously, Matt keeps mumbling that he is hungry, Damon and Bonnie keep flirting with each other, Alaric leaves every two minutes to steal a kiss from Jo then comes back, Nadia is actually trying to help but she is so bad at the game, it's horrifying. And Lexi is just playing around.
So that leaves Stefan, who seems to be the only one playing with her. The ball keeps going between the two of them, and damn it is adorable the way he tries to catch the ball, pushing the boys around him. But they are so busy being kids that they don't notice that the game is now played by only two people.
Nadia tried to hit the ball once, but Caroline got in front of her so quick and almost pushed her just to hit it back to him.
So now that was the scene. Lexi and Nadia are few steps back, watching Stefan and Caroline as they kept the game alive. Matt and Alaric are talking about food, and Bonnie and Damon are now arguing instead of flirting.
And Jo is watching from her seat.
Out of nowhere, Stefan sends the ball high, which makes Caroline jumps the highest she can, hitting the ball so hard that it hit his head. Literally. He falls to the ground, and so does she, since her attempt to reach the ball got her into a glorious jump.
Everyone comes out of their bubble now, Bonnie and Nadia rush to Caroline, helping her to sit. While the boy gather around Stefan and Lexi who is now by his side, chuckling as she helps him to sit straightly.
"You okay?" Bonnie asks Caroline.
"Yeah, yeah." She says absently as she stands up and walks to Stefan, peaking her head between the faces that are staring down to him.
She covers her mouth, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, and when he looks at her he laughs. It's short and barely audible but she hears it. And it makes her heart beats a bit faster.
"You okay, tough boy?" Lexi asks as she helps him to stand up.
He nods his head, looking at everyone around them, he raises his eyebrows. Shooting them a look and looking around him as 'the show is over, leave' And so they do, only after Damon bats his shoulder not so gently.
Matt runs into the house, to the kitchen specifically and Nadia follows him. Alaric sits next to Jo, Damon is already splashing Bonnie with water which leads them into fighting in the middle of the water. Which leaves Stefan and Caroline, standing in front of each other while smiling.
"You really hit him."
Caroline snaps, looks to her right to find Lexi standing almost between them with a smirk. Stefan turns too and smiles.
"I didn't mean to." She defends herself.
"Eh, you did hit him." Lexi titles her head. Which makes Caroline shakes her head and laughs.
"Hey guys." Jo calls them and Stefan turns around when Lexi and Caroline do. "We're starving, you're not planning to eat?"
"Come on, it's kitchen time." Alaric says before he pulls Jo and walks inside. They follow them, leaving Damon and Bonnie in the water.
… …
They sit around the fire that Damon made, everyone holding their own plate of spaghetti and meatballs. They talk, laugh, tell embarrassing stories about each other and laugh. Caroline was now sure that Stefan could read lips, because he understood everything just fine and was laughing as well.
Lexi turns out to be more fun than Caroline thought; she is the one who comes up with stories that never end, some about Damon and some about Stefan. Caroline also figured that Stefan and Lexi were really close. She watches the way she makes him laugh, the way they mess up with each other food. Sometimes Lexi would turn to him, face to face, says something with her lips moving and no voice coming out. And he would nod, or laugh. It was their way of whispering.
After a while, everyone walks in. Bonnie heads to her room to change her clothes because they got water all over them, Damon follows and of course they don't come down any time soon. Nadia and Matt put on some movie and soon enough Alaric and Jo join them.
When Caroline comes out of the kitchen, she looks at everyone, then at the glass door. And she finds him sitting alone next to the fire, with a book in his hand and a bag next to him. She looks back to the group watching TV, no one notices her. So she heads outside, hands playing with the hem of her sweatshirt after zipping it up till the middle.
He looks up when she comes closer, and he smiles, closing the book and putting it aside. Her hand goes up to her hair with a smile, and he motions her to sit, which she does. There's a silence for a while, both staring at the fire. She notices him reaching for his bag, getting something out of it then she looks away again.
Few moments later she finds him handing her a notebook, with 'Hey' written on the first line. She can't help it but chuckle, it's nervous and she feels excitement rushing through her. She takes the notebook and the pen, writes another 'hey' on the next line, then hands it back to him. And his smile is just as big as hers.
She doesn't see what he is writing until he gives it backs to her.
'I'm Stefan.' It says.
She takes it again.
So they say. I'm Caroline :)
I can see your smiley face you know :P
She bursts out laughing then.
I know sign language you know? I mean everyone knows! It's everyone's joke now.
He shakes his head, licking his lips.
I just thought that maybe, mostly, you're still a beginner so I didn't want to put you in a corner.
His teasing eyes make the statement even more mocking.
That is rude.
She says, this time with her hands, in the language he thinks she didn't master yet. And they both chuckle. But their laughter fade away eventually, and they are back to staring at each other. If this was a drinking game, one where they drink every time they stare at each other, they would be both drunk by now.
But she can't help it but enjoy looking into those two green eyes. She can write an essay about the way they shine because of the fire next to them. And she thinks that he may do the same thing for her blue ones.
Then his hands interrupt her thoughts. He seems to think about it, the way his lips curve into thin line, takes a breath, smiles and then 'thank you'.
She understands it. And she loves it.
She just shrugs.
But you don't have to. His hands are slower this time. I can read lips just fine. I'm really good at it actually.
He gives her a questioning look when he finishes, probably wondering if she understood it.
"Well, I'm not good at lips reading." She says with a shrug. "So that could be a problem."
They both laugh, and okay she now knows his laugh, can describe it, imitate it. She knows it. First, it's like a chuckle, then he licks his lips in attempt of holding his smile and not letting it take over his face, stupid obviously. And then he looks down, lowering his chin a bit and if you're lucky he will shake his head slightly.
You can teach me.
He looks at her hands, and his smile actually grows bigger, and this time he doesn't try to hide it.
And then he nods.
He does some gesture with his hands, when her eyebrows furrow he gets the pen and writes 'stupid'. She titles her head, pointing at him and saying it with her hands. And he chuckles again. Then he does another gesture, she doesn't get it. So he writes it on the paper. "Beautiful."
And she laughs again. They continue with the game, he teaches her words, then full sentences and expressions.
And they have their own bubble now, one that even Lexi watching them from the glass door can't get into.
… …
It's after midnight; she is laying on her bed under the window and texting him. It's a cycle of texting, beaming, giggling and rolling on the bed like a kid. It's been almost an hour. They went from basic information like favorite color and favorite book, to actually knowing each other.
He asks her about friends. She says that it's been only Bonnie and Matt for a while. She also mentions Tyler, says something about being old friends but no longer on good terms. He doesn't push or ask more when she changes the subject. Apparently he only has Lexi, and he adds Jo before leaving it like that. He tells her that technically she's his therapist, but after three years of knowing each other. She's more of a friend.
She doesn't hide her surprise that Jo is a therapist, neither the awkwardness of it. Something about therapists - or anyone who knows physiology well enough, always made her uncomfortable. It's just the fact that their job enables them to read you too easily. Everything you do, say or think is so predictable for them and they've probably read books that make the way you struggle with something, so normal and just a medical case.
He tells her that even after three years, he like to think that Jo can't read him that well.
Other than that, he turns out to be a writer. Of course, he tries to make it nothing, describe as if it's just a hobby, even though he finished his studies and got a degree more than a year ago. He also says that he isn't writing anything right now. But, after few attempts of her to get him to talk, he admits that he's working on something, nothing big, nothing organized. Just pieces put together. He has no intention of publishing it; it just makes him feel better.
And she almost changes the subject, asks another question. But, he pulls her back into and reminds her that he doesn't know what she does. She had a Drama major back in school, currently interning under an executive producer on some okay-channel.
They talk some more after that, no more questions and answers. Just words going back and forth in ease.
She falls asleep in the middle of their conversation. And when she wakes up with the phone under her stomach, she hopes he fell asleep, too. Or well, at least figured out that she adores sleep.
… …
Oddly enough, everyone else is still asleep when she walks out of her room. She's sure that at least one out of the three couples is awake in their rooms, but she doesn't really care. She walks downstairs, makes some coffee and sits on the couch after snatching one magazine from the table.
The quiet is nice, and much appreciated after yesterday, and well, before today.
A while later, she hears someone walking into the open kitchen. Which is werid, since she didn't hear anyone walking down the stairs. She turns around in the couch, stretches a bit to see who is it. And it looks like he didn’t notice it, since he's standing with his back, probably making his coffee. Wearing only a white undershirt with his shirt thrown over his shoulder.
She clears her throat, then realizes how dumb it is. So she falls back into her place, putting on her headphones in case he turns around and sees her.
Few moments later, she feels a ball of paper thrown at her head. She looks up and sees him leaning on the kitchen island, fully dressed. And a big grin covering his face.
She smiles back and enjoys the few minutes they have before the place turns into utter chaos.
… …
The day goes on normal, everyone gathering around the kitchen or the couch in front of the television. Damon makes pancakes, plenty of them. Mostly for Bonnie but he shows off by forcing them all to taste them, then admit how tasty they are.
The new love birds, no, birds. Just birds.
The new birds are getting better at hiding the awkwardness and long gazes. Their smiles are lighter, their eyes manage to linger less.
But everyone doesn't seem to be getting better like they are. Everyone still watches, everyone still whispers, everyone still seems to be so entertained by them.
So when he hands her a glass of water, then smiles when their fingers touch before walking back into his chair. She isn't surprised to turn around to see adults acting like children and sharing glances. What she isn't prepared to see, is Damon handing Alaric ten dollars on the table.
She looks between them, then between everyone else. And it's the same weird, annoying silence with subtle smiles and glances.
"Okay, what's going on?" She snaps, her hands flat on the cold island.
No one starts, some look at each other, some busy themselves with nothing in particular.
"Damon." She looks at him with tilted head. He takes his time to swallow the food, even take a sip from his coffee before rubbing his hands together and clearing his throat.
"Ric and I had a bet, he said you two would start shy-touching in less than three days, I said four. I almost won anyway, really." He shrugs, saying it all like a piece of news. Nothing that should matter to her.
She takes a moment to let it sink, how simple he makes it seem. She looks between the rest of them. Everyone looks away with annoying grins.
"You knew about this?" She looks at bonnie.
"I couldn't stop them even if I tried." She widens her eyes with a shrug before taking her plate to the sink.
"Caroline, it's obvious that you two are into each other." Bonnie says as she walks back to the group around the island.
"No, it's not." She throws her arm in the air out of madness. "Who decided that we were?"
"It's… kinda obvious." Nadia says, looking at everyone while doing so. "Like… very obvious."
Caroline looks at Lexi this time. And she may be the less annoying face among them.
"Listen-" She starts.
"No, you listen. All of you." She points her finger at everyone. "This is starting to get annoying, guys. I mean at first it was funny, but now it's just irritating. We are not some high school kids, this isn't some rumors going around to entertain you. Okay? All these mysterious smiles and looks and bets." She looks between Damon and Alaric. "It's stupid, and childish, but mostly uncomfortable. This isn't some real life show thing. Just… cut it off."
They all look guilty, even Nadia who isn't even related to the whole thing. Damon, however, doesn't break the eye contact. In fact, he holds her gaze while chewing on his food. She drops his gaze with a sigh and walks around the island and into the living room. And she sees him, sitting with his back, head buried in his book, absolutely oblivious to the conversation that was about him. And it makes her shiver for a moment. Then she wraps her arms around herself before walking out of the place and heading to the beach.
… …urrently interning under an excutive producer on some okay-channel. she does.go. that well.
It's a bit after sunset when they all start packing. Getting ready to hit the road and go back to their normal, boring life.
Overall, Caroline wouldn't say that this weekend was terrible. It was good actually, she met new people, most of them are good friend material. If it wasn't for the childish behavior getting her uncomfortable, therefor angry, she would've marked the weekend as a success.
When she heads to the car with a bag on her shoulder and another in her hand, and sees him putting bags into the car, she decides that it was, after all, a success. Yet, she can't help that voice in the back of her head, pushing her to do something, say something. To take control of the situation.
Because it was so random, gazing and smiles and shy-touching. Even after she got everyone to shut their mouths, she still felt the need to put a label on all of this. She didn't like untitled relationships. She didn't enjoy blurred lines and messing around. People in her life always had a name, mother, friend, neighbor, colleague, ex-boyfriend. Everyone had a name, no other options in sight.
So, with a deep breath, and a leap of bravery and just a little bit of confidence, she walks to him. He only notices her when she's next to the car. He puts the last bag then looks up and smiles at her.
Yup, here it is, same smile. Same annoying, untitled, uncalled for smile.
"Hey." She breaths out.
He nods, trying to pull his lips together and hide his smile.
"Look, so uh…" She starts, her hands playing with each other nervously. "We're, I mean I'm…"
She stops to close her eyes momentarily. He can read lips but can he read rambling? So she slows down, gathers her strength and starts again.
"I'm really glad that I came here, I got to meet new people and blind in and I's been only two weeks since I moved into the city so this is great." She chuckles. And he smiles at her enthusiasm and words.
"And I also got to know you." She extends her arm to motion at him, eyeing him up and down. "Which is even greater." She chuckles again. "It's good to have a new friend… I hope I make it to the list with Lexi and Jo." When she finishes, she has hope bursting out of her eyes. Anticipation and worry and maybe a little bit of fear all mangled up together.
She hopes he catches her point.
He doesn't blink, doesn't seem taken back at all. Not surprised. If anything, he looks calm. In a way that bothers her. Like he expected this to happen. Like he knew she'd make this move. That she'd chicken out quickly. Like it was the normal thing for her to take a step back. He expected it, and that… well that makes her blood boil all at once for all the different reasons. His smile starts to fade, but then his lips go wide again in a total fake forced display. And he nods, so easily.
He looks down, and she finds herself searching for something to say.
But his hands cut her, say something that she's sure she's seen at least once in the midst of her online lessons.
Friend.
He moves his lips, and she feels so fragile, like she's been cornered even though he hasn't done anything but make it easier for her really.
He puts his hands in his pockets and starts to take steps back, all while looking down, before turning away fully and walking back into the house.
She can't help the tears that form in her eyes, out of sadness or embarrassment or something unlabeled. She doesn't really know and she doesn't really care.
She turns away from the house, closes her eye and puts her hair away from her face before inhaling what must be her first breath in a minute.
She shakes her head, chuckling before turning around to be greeted by Damon.
"You know? You just made me lose another bet." He says, looking around as he approaches her. She scuffs, crossing her arms against her chest as she listens to whatever he got.
"Rick said this will be over in three weeks." He narrows his eyes. "I said two."
He takes a moment to run his tongue over his teeth, looking her up and down. "Took you less than a week." He chuckles.
And she has to shift in her place, her arms falling next to her body and her eyes now looking at the porch behind him.
"Just keep it this way, blondie." He says, in a serious tone that bothers her even more. "Keep it this way… and we all avoid unnecessary drama." He nods at her before heading back to where he came from.
As she stands still, alone, after one brother being so calm and the other be so aggressive. She doesn't know what bothers her more, that Stefan seemed to be expecting her move, or that Damon dropped that comment, or that weather she likes it or not, it doesn't seem like a game to him, or that she took that move in the first place.
She walks to the car and opens the door. She'll wait for everyone in the car, because honestly? Honestly, she's had enough of this weekend already.
A/N 2: FRIENDZONED WE ARE WEHEEE. lolol okay first of all hiii. i know it’s been more than a year, which is awful but last year was a roller-coaster for me and i didn’t feel like writing in a while and when i did, i never had the time. anyway, this is just something i tried to put together as a gift that i hope some of you can find comfort in it after the finale. also, thank you so much for your comments and your messages they’re the reason the i got inspired again to continue this. fair warning though, this fic will take a very angsty turn later on, i mean i don’t do fluff!! and this is probably the reason i was hardly inspired to update, so imma turn it into angst mess pretty soon. but don’t worry, it’s a nice kind of angst. spoiler alert: no one dies! i will be much kinder than the writers ever were to us. hope you enjoyed this lil chapter. till next time, hopefully less than a year.
They both lay in quiet, staring at the dark ceiling and just breathing. She can hear his heartbeats, slow and steady. And for once, she knows he can’t hear hers. She closes her eyes and wishes to wake up from this dream, because this isn’t happening.
He turns around, meets her eyes after a beat. And he feels all his bones crack and all his wounds open and bleed. Because tonight he is nothings but wounds and scratches and blood coming from everywhere. And for the first time, she doesn’t make it better.
In fact, she hurts him more when he just looks at her.
“Is it different?” He doesn’t bother to raise his voice even a bit. “Is something different?”
Her palm is cold against his jaw, finger going back and forth as she stares at his lips. And he takes it back right away, ‘cause that touch? It heals all the wounds. Well, not all the wounds, but he takes what she gives.
“You’re bit warmer.”
“Other than that, it’s just you.” She smiles. And of course she doesn’t say that he also looks weaker than ever, and that his face looks as if the years had caught up on him and he looks like a man who’s been around for hundred seventy years, doing nothing but carrying the world on his shoulders.
She doesn’t say that. She doesn’t say that she suddenly feels stronger than him. Yes, she felt that before, ‘cause Caroline Forbes never felt weak and between the both of them, she knew she was just as strong as he is, sometimes stronger. But this? This is a feeling that sinks down in her stomach, that Stefan Salvatore can no longer save himself from the world, let alone save her.
And isn’t she a vampire? Isn’t she strong and scary and a creature of the night. But that doesn’t feel enough. That doesn’t take away the feeling that he’s slipping through her fingers, that this is the quiet before the storm. And soon this would be a memory she holds on to.
Her fingers press a bit harder to his cheek, just a little bit of reassurance. God knows she needs this.
“Nothing else?” He asks. Well, he may not be a vampire anymore, but he still reads her so damn well.
She just looks back at him, and considers letting that hang in the air, no answers no burdens. Just crawl into his arms and stay there. Or maybe she would pull him instead.
A/N: I wrote this on my phone so there might be mistakes. Just didn't feel inspired in a long long time so when i finally did I didn't want to miss it.
She thought she was ready for this. She thought, that it wouldn't be hard to see him. After all, she did meet him before. When she twisted his arm till he surfaced from underneath, she saw the beast that he was. In all his glory, she saw how far he can go, she saw how ugly he gets.
And she saw why he hated this side of himself so much.
She understood why control was so important for him. She saw the reason behind his suffering. She saw it all, and even though they never got the chance to talk about it. About him. Because there was a fog around them, filled with her grief and first guilt trip. So they just silently pushed it under the rug, and never talked about caroline meeting the ripper.
But now he's back. And there's something so different about it this time. Maybe it's the fact that she isn't an emotionless cold hearted vampire enjoying his state. She was herself, caroline forbes, his sober sponsor, the reason for him losing control- in one way or another.
And it's like salt poured on a wound that never actually healed. She brought him back three years ago, and she's the reason he's back now. She closes her eyes, partly because she's tired and partly because she doesn't want to keep thinking in that direction. One that will only end with her wallowing instead of actually doing something.
When the other door of the car opens, she shifts in her place. Tries to sound somewhat okay. But of course it's bonnie, and of course she doesn't even need to look at her to know she needs to give her a supportive speech. She starts without waiting, once she closes the door and rests her head back.
"We'll get him back." She says. And for a second, for less than a second. That voice of the friend she knew since she was seven makese everything better. She has nothing to worry about, no fiance murdering people, no guilt and no pain. That voice that suddenly fills her head with a smell of her house, with the feel of her sheets and the candles she'd fill her bathroom with as she takes a bath with a glass of wine right after she goes home and-
Home. Stefan. The Ripper. Her fault.
And just like that, she's back to her not so relaxing life.
"Should we?" Her eyes are on the trees around them as she tries and tries to miss the smell of blood on her dress. "Caroline-"
"He did it for me, bonnie." She turns around. "For my girls. He got himself into all of this so that I can have my girls." She tilts her head, can feel tears blurring her vision just a bit but choses to ignore them. "Can I really blame him for trying to make it somehow easier for himself?" Her voice cracks but she covers it with a sarcastic smile.
"This isn't Stefan, caroline."
"But the one who made this decision was him. It was Stefan." She looks ahead of her and considers stopping here, 'cause she wouldn't get it. No offence to bonnie, it's not her fault. But she can not understand all those thoughts and questions and answers in her head. Not when she herself can't put them into words.
"No one hates the ripper more than Stefan." She says, and it's more of talking to herself than her friend. Because it's easier this way. Less tiring. "If he... wanted to do this. If he decided... to let that part of him out then... I can't... stand in his way."
"So what? You're just gonna accept that stefan is gone? Maybe you'll even marry him like this." "No bonnie...no" It starts harsh but gets softer at the end, more tired. God she is so tired. "I'm just... he made a deal with Cade. One year. I can't ruin the deal for him... not before the year is over." She takes a breath, wills herself to let things fall temporally, before taking over the ship and saving everyone.
"Until then, there's nothing that I can do. There's nothing that I Should do."
So I'll let the ripper go around killing people, I'll let him add to the guilt that will wait for him when he's back. I'll let him fall and fall till the time comes when I can give him my hand. And pull him back.
Bonnie starts the car, heading to a place that no longer feels like home.
'Cause it's him.
And it can annoy her all she wants, can send he crazy more and more. But Stefan Salvatore had gone from a lover to a home. Two arms where she feels like herself. And she shall root in hell, if she doesn't bring those arms back to her.
