Barely A Memory

Chapter 16

Stefan was impressed.

After they got their room keys, they spent a good twenty minutes arguing over who would get to room with who.

Katherine wanted to room with Stefan. Much to Elena's chagrin, Stefan liked that idea.

There was no way Damon and Elena were going to room together though.

Damon and Stefan offered sharing if they needed to.

Katherine and Elena would have ended up killing each other.

And so, Damon was forced to share with Katherine, leaving Elena and Stefan together.

The two of them silently entered their room. Stefan –always the gentleman- held the door for her, but said nothing. For the first hour, the room was replete with awkward chit-chat and attempts at small talk. They had to have discussed how great the room was about five times, when in truth, it was extremely run-down and outdated.

When they were both showered and dressed to go to sleep, they looked at the shared bed, unsure of how to handle this. "You can, um... I'll have no problem sleeping in that chair," he offered.

"No, that's ridiculous. It's got to be a hundred years old, Stefan. You'll wake up covered in dust. We can share."

Based off of the look on his face, he didn't seem to like that idea very much, which made Elena's heart clench a little bit. She tried not to show it, though. She simply bit her lip and looked straight ahead when he reluctantly complied. He pulled the sheets down and slowly crawled into the left side.

Her breath caught.

He still took the left side.

After yet another pause, Elena crawled in beside him and sat against the headboard. The light was still on, but he was already curled up with his pillow, trying to make himself fall asleep. She watched him for a few moments. God, did she miss sleeping beside him.

But, now... the bed felt so hollow, so cold.

She knew that he was maybe already asleep, but she spoke anyways. "Stefan?"

"Yeah?" he said, still fully aware. Good.

"I miss Mystic Falls," she said after a short while. Stefan sighed, still not facing her.

"Me too."

"How long do you think we'll be here?"

"I don't know," he breathed out. "Katherine said it could be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months." Ugh, Katherine. Why did he have to mention Katherine? What was so great about Katherine? Nothing! Nothing at all!

And so, after inhaling and exhaling for a while, Elena clenched her fists and asked, "What is your deal with Katherine?"

Now, Stefan turned so that he, too, was sitting against the headboard. Eyebrows knitted, he shot her a baffled look. "What do you mean?" He crossed his arms against his chest.

Elena looked down at her fingers, entwining and re-entwining them over and over again. "Come on, Stefan," she reasoned. "Ever since she arrived here, on this trip, she's been all over you."

"Yes...?"

"And you've let her do it!" Elena explained, exasperated. "I just don't get it. You wanted to room with her. I just can't fathom it. Why Katherine? Of all people?"

Stefan refused to look her in the eye. "I like Katherine," was all that he said in response. His answer did not seem very convincing.

Elena shook her head. "Stefan, you have to realize that she's a terrible person. If you knew about some of the things that she's done..."