Elena's Point of View
I stood with my back against the cool, solid wood of the front door. My heart was beating a little too fast. I looked down at the bouquet in my hands. The red roses and white lilies were beautiful, their sweet smell filling the space around me. His words, "I am sorry for everything," played over in my head. He had looked so serious, his head bowed.
A small, unexpected smile touched my lips. I shook my head, trying to clear it. He was the one who showed up unannounced, after all.
I carried the flowers to the side table and set them down carefully. Then, almost without thinking, I hurried up the stairs to my bedroom. I pushed the window open and leaned out, the night air cool on my skin. Down the street, I could just see the red taillights of his Camaro disappearing around the corner.
I looked up at the full moon, bright and clear in the dark sky. I took a long, deep breath, held it, and then let it out slowly, feeling some of the tension leave my body.
"Okay, Alex," I whispered to the quiet night. "This is the last chance I give you. If you do anything like what you did before, if you hurt me or play games again... that's it. This is the end of us forever." The decision felt solid, like a weight settling inside me.
***
Alex Point of View
The next morning, I walked into Mystic Falls High feeling better than I had in days. The air in the hallway smelled like old books and cleaning spray. I was nervous about seeing Elena, but hopeful.
As I moved with the crowd of students, a sharp shoulder slammed into mine, pushing me forward a step.
"Hey!" I said, turning.
It was Caroline. She didn't even look back. She just kept walking, her blonde hair swinging, her posture perfect like she owned the hallway. She didn't apologize. It was a deliberate, nasty move.
I felt a flash of anger, hot and quick. But I clenched my jaw and let it go. I wasn't going to let her ruin my good mood. I had more important things to focus on.
I went to my locker, spinning the combination lock. As I put my books away, I felt someone staring at me. I turned my head slowly.
Caroline was leaning against her own locker a little way down the hall. She had been waiting for me to look. Her eyes were locked on me, filled with a pure, disgusting hatred, like I was a piece of trash she'd stepped on. I stared back for a second, my own anger simmering, but I forced myself to turn away. Not now.
When I looked back a moment later, she was gone. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Just then, I saw them. Elena and Bonnie were walking down the hall. The morning sun from a high window made Elena's brown hair shine. She looked calm.
I closed my locker and walked over, a small smile on my face. "Morning Elena, Bonnie," I said.
Elena looked down at the floor, but then her eyes flicked up to meet mine. "Morning, Alex," she said, her voice quiet but not cold.
Bonnie didn't say anything. She just looked at me, her arms crossed.
Elena turned to go to her own locker. I stepped aside to give her space. That left me alone with Bonnie for a second.
She stepped closer, her voice a low, serious whisper. "I don't know what magic you used on her that she's talking to you," she said, her eyes narrowed. "But I'm warning you. If you hurt her feelings again, I don't know what I'll do to you." She stared me down for another second, then turned and followed Elena.
I didn't reply. I just shook my head as she walked away. Her words were harsh, but I got it. If I had a friend like Elena, I'd protect her too.
I sighed and walked over to where Elena was now standing by her locker. I leaned my back against the lockers next to hers.
I didn't want to waste time. I looked at her and asked directly, my voice gentle but hopeful. "Have you forgiven me, Elena?"
Elena stopped what she was doing and looked at me. Her gaze was sharp, like she was trying to see right through me. After a few seconds, her expression softened into a small smile, and she nodded. "Yes."
A big, genuine smile spread across my face. The system reward felt so close.
But then she spoke again, her voice quieter. "I have forgiven you... but not completely."
My smile vanished. "What does that mean, Elena?" I asked, my voice turning serious.
She saw my changed expression, and a little, almost playful smile touched her lips. "It means I don't know if you've really changed. Or if you're still the same person who plays with girls' feelings."
I took a long, slow breath to keep my frustration in check. "Then what do I have to do to make you believe I've changed?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
She closed her locker with a soft click and folded her arms, looking at me with that deep, searching gaze. "You don't have to do anything," she said. "We'll know with time. You just have to do what's in your heart."
Do what's in my heart? I thought, feeling lost. That was way too vague. The system reward was going to have to wait. I must have looked disappointed, because she waved a hand in front of my face.
"Hello? It's time for class," she said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "And it's not hard. You just have to be yourself." She gave me an encouraging look.
I nodded, forcing a smile back onto my face. "Right. Not hard at all." Inside, I was thinking, I just have to keep this act perfect.
We started walking toward the classroom. As we passed the main office, Elena suddenly stopped, grabbing my wrist. Her touch was warm.
"Look," she said, pointing. "Is that a new student?"
A guy was standing there, filling out a form. He was wearing a grey jacket over a grey t-shirt and dark jeans. He had sunglasses tucked into his collar. He felt... familiar. A strange feeling washed over me.
Elena tugged my wrist lightly. "Let's go."
"Wait a minute," I said, my feet feeling stuck to the floor. I couldn't look away.
"Do you know him?" Elena asked, confused by my intense staring.
I didn't answer. I didn't need to.
The man turned around.
And I knew. I knew exactly who he was. This was the moment it all really began. The man standing there was Stefan Salvatore. The vampire had arrived, and he was here for the girl standing right next to me.