Barely A Memory

Chapter 15

"I think you guys need to talk."

She agreed slowly, closing her eyes for a long minute. "I just... if he wanted me to... If it was what he really wanted, I'd do it. I'd leave him alone and never look back."

Caroline tilted her head. "But...?"

"But losing him scares me more than anything."

XXXX

Stefan shook his head and said nothing as he ran his fingertips along the dusty desk in his room, spending hardly any time on objects that once had meaning. He brushed past the letter that, based on the worn and frayed ends, seemed to have always been there. It was from a girl named Lexi. He was going to read it, but as he grabbed it, his heart fell and his throat clenched, so he set it back down, right where it had been. He didn't even care about the pen –his journaling pen, he presumed—and instead ended up staring at a little empty, leather box. Tilting his head to the side, he picked up the tiny box and effortlessly opened it. For a moment, he could have sworn that he'd done it before, but he shrugged once again and set the pretty, little box down.

His attention lingered on a newer picture. The frame had been flipped over so that it was face-down, and puzzled, Stefan flipped it over. He could instantly feel the smile curling onto his lips. There he stood, in a jersey, smiling up at the camera as he held a blushing Elena tightly against him. The look in his own eyes startled Stefan a bit when he realized he really did not recognize this man; he was happy. He'd almost forgotten what that felt like.

He ran his teeth along his bottom lip and quickly stuffed the photograph into the bottom of his duffel bag.

Don't bring much, Damon had told him a few minutes ago. Only bring what you need.

Of course he didn't need a picture—he wasn't foolish, but Stefan decided that this could be the one exception.

XXXX

The sun was shining bright over the little town of Mystic Falls, and Damon was in a rush to leave. Elena was, too, if it meant that they could all be a little safer. Stefan, on the other hand, was a little more hesitant.

Elena watched from a safe distance while he talked with Caroline about calling and texting and whatnot, and she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Why didn't Stefan try so hard like that with her? She pushed the thought away, forced a smile, and waited for her turn to say goodbye to her best friend.

Elena grinned at Caroline and pulled her into her arms, giving her a squeeze that was a little too tight. "Take care, Caroline. Call if you need anything."

"Aww." She chuckled and gave Elena a light squeeze. "Will do. I'm sure Matt will want to hear all about your 'leaving Mystic Falls' adventure when you get back. Who would have ever thought that any of us would actually escape this little town?"

Smiling fondly, Elena stepped away and nodded, beginning to open the door of Damon's mustang. Stefan, strangely quiet, opened his door as well. He was just about to get in, too, but he swiftly turned around and pulled Caroline in for a hug, burying his face in her shoulder. Elena gritted her teeth, but once again, made herself smile. How sweeeeeet.

"The old Stefan was never such a hugger!" Caroline observed, pleasantly surprised. She gently rubbed his back for a long moment when he did not bring his head up. Eyebrows furrowed, Elena watched as her friend whispered to him, "Hey, this will be good. You're going somewhere. No one knows you there, no one expects anything of you. Where you're going, you're not Stefan 2.0, okay? You're just... Stefan." He finally lifted his head and stepped away, holding onto her every word. "Just be who you want to be. I'll be here when you get back."