Elena hopped out of the moving van, having had to listen to the wannabe rock star in the driver's seat go on and on about how his band was going to be famous next year. He had popped his band's CD in and blasted it the entire drive from Elena's apartment to Stefan's place. She was going to need peace and quiet for a week straight to recover.
The rock star mover guy was still rocking out in the truck when Elena slammed the door shut. "Well well" she heard Stefan say. She turned around and saw Stefan walking her way. "My lovely fiancé finally made it" he added. "Welcome home, Baby."
"One, don't you ever call me Baby again" she warned. "Two, the mover you hired? Try sitting in a moving vehicle with him for twenty minutes while he blasts straight up screaming, to which, he screams along" Elena said through gritted teeth.
Stefan smirked. "They are a very reputable moving company in Mystic Falls" he shrugged. Stefan stepped around her and went to the back of the truck, pushing the door open. He looked at the lack of stuff piled in the back. "Where's the rest of your stuff?" he asked when she came around to join him.
Elena raised her eyebrow. "That is all of my stuff" she told him. Stefan studied her for a moment, deciding not to say anything. She looked pissed, as usual. "Are you going to help me get this stuff out or are you going to stand there and stare at me all morning?" she asked, crossing her arms, her eyes narrowing.
Stefan smiled at her as he continued to stare. He was starting to find her hate for him kind of ... sexy. A truck door shutting caught him off guard and he quickly turned to greet the guy coming to help them. "Where should I put the stuff?" he asked Stefan.
Stefan smiled at the thought of where she would be staying. The room next to his. "Well my friend, you can bring her things upstairs, third door on the right" Stefan said. Elena blew a piece of hair off of her face, tightened her grip on her purse, and stormed off toward the house. Stefan grinned as he watched her walk away. He turned back to the mover. "I hear you are a singer?" Stefan asked. The young guy nodded quicklu and smiled proudly. "I'll give you an extra hundred bucks if you sing the whole time you are moving her things up to her room. We could use a little entertainment around here today" Stefan smiled.
"Sure thing man!" the young man sang, grabbing a box out of the back and beginning his screaming singing as he followed Elena.
Stefan turned around and grabbed another box. He stopped and smiled when he heard Elena scream his name out in frustration. With that, Stefan began walking towards his house, thinking up new things he could do to annoy her the rest of the day.
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Elena breathed in and out slowly as she stretched her arms up and then out. She then adjusted her ponytail and fixed the gloves on her hands. She needed to relieve some stress after the morning she had had with Stefan and unpacking. Kickboxing and boxing were her release and she always felt better after punching and kicking the crap out of an 80 pound bag. She had the mover set up the bag in her large room. Elena had placed the mats beneath, just in case she ever lost her balance and fell.
Elena walked over to the large black bag and stretched her neck before throwing her arm towards it, giving it a powerful punch. The heavy bag moved a little and Elena pulled her hand back slightly, feeling a dulling pain in her wrist. She wished that she had more strength in her arms. Taking a step back, she swung her leg out, making contact with the bag. She smiled as the bag began swinging. She kicked with the other foot, alternating back and forth. She would throw in a few punches every now and then.
After twenty minutes, she was sure she had worn herself out. She steadied the bag and grabbed for her water bottle, taking a drink. "You know" Stefan said from behind her, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. She turned around to see Stefan leaning against her doorway, his arms crossed, and his eyes following wherever her athletic clothes clung tightly to her body. "You'd be able to throw one hell of a punch if you knew how to do it right" he said.
Elena tossed her water bottle on her bed. "I can throw a good punch when I need to" she said, readjusting her gloves.
Stefan walked into the room, continuing to let his eyes travel across her body. Elena repositioned herself in front of her bag, took a deep breath and then punched it. She heard Stefan chuckle from behind her. And then he did the unthinkable, reaching from behind her to grab her left hand. Elena turned around quickly, throwing her right hand at his face. Stefan caught it though in time, having envisioned her trying to strike out at him. Stefan held her close, her eyes wide with shock that he had her in a position where she could not escape. "That wasn't very nice" he said, smiling.
"Let go of me" she said through gritted teeth, though he swore he heard desperation. But her eyes were fierce.
Stefan let go of her and took a small step back, raising his arms to show he was backing off. She watched him carefully, eyeing the door every so often. Stefan stepped around her and pushed the bag, testing it. He turned around again and looked at her. "Let me see your hand" he said, holding his own out towards her. Elena hesitated and Stefan rolled his eyes. "I want to show you something" he assured her. Elena reluctantly stepped closer to him and gave him her hand. Stefan held her hand for a moment, reveling in the fact that his mere touch had her going crazy inside. It was all over her face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. "The number one rule when throwing a punch?" he said, balling her hand into a fist. "Is to not tuck your thumb in. You'll break it" he said.
Elena watched closely as he caressed her thumb for a moment. And then before she even realized it, he was moving behind her, still holding on to her hand. "Rule number two? When you go to punch, throw your weight into it. You need the extra momentum" he said into her ear. Elena swallowed hard as she nodded. Why did he have to be so close? "Okay" he said, stepping away from her. "Take a swing." Elena took a moment before moving into place. She focused on the bag as best as she could, trying to contain her beating heart. Taking one last breath, she pulled her arm back and made contact with the bag. The bag moved and her hand didn't hurt after the fact.
Elena smiled as she turned around. "Like that?" she asked, unable to contain herself.
Stefan shrugged. "Not bad" he said casually. Elena glared at him, but he noticed it was more playful. "So what made you get into all this?" he asked, waving at the bag.
Elena rolled her shoulders, feeling a bit stiff. "For self-defense" Elena answered.
Stefan laughed. "Because the bag is going to attack you?" he asked, finding her training method a bit flawed.
Elena had never been able to take actual self-defense classes unfortunately, so she figured a punching bag was the next best thing. "It's better than nothing" she replied.
Stefan shook his head. "No no no" he said, waving his hand. "That's not going to work."
Elena raised her eyebrow. "Why do you care?" she asked. She figured he had plenty of other things to think about besides her ability to defend herself.
"Because" Stefan said. "Every girl should know how to defend herself" he shrugged as if he hadn't put much thought into it. Elena looked at him quizzically. "What?" he asked.
"That was the last thing I expected to come out of your mouth" she said. "The guy who plays girls is worried about their safety. I'm floored" she said.
Stefan furrowed his brow. "Well, maybe that just goes to show that you don't know me as well as you think" he replied. He paused for a moment as he thought about something. "How about you and I spend the evening getting to know each other?" he suggested.
Elena shrugged. "Well, seeing as how I probably have to meet your family soon, I suppose I should learn a few things about you" she told him, taking a few steps closer to him. "But just so we are clear, I have no interest in spending time with you" she stated.
"Fair enough" Stefan grinned. He locked eyes with her for a moment before she broke contact. "Now, for your self-defense lessons" he said.
"What, are you an expert in this area too?" she said crtitically.
Stefan smiled. "Not particularly, no" he answered. "But, I am a guy, so I think that makes me better to practice with than an inanimate object" he told her. "Turn around" he told her.
"What? Why?" she demanded. She was clearly uncomfortable with the idea of not facing him.
Stefan rolled his eyes again. "Just turn around Elena" he told her. "I'm not going to try anything stupid" he promised her. She still didn't look convinced. "Scouts honor" he grinned. Elena groaned as she turned around. Within moments, she felt Stefan behind her. "Now, most of the time, you will probably be attacked from behind because it is easier to overpower you that way" he told her. Elena held her breath as she felt his arms go around her, holding her tight. "I've got your upper body immobilized, so now you can't use your arms, right?" he asked.
Elena slowly let herself breath out, but having him flush up against her, being able to feel his heart beat against her back, was distracting. "Right" she answered.
"Wrong" Stefan whispered against her ear. Elena closed her eyes. How could her body react this way to him? She hated him. "Turn your body to your right" he prompted her. Elena did so. "Now your elbow is free. You can move it forward and then thrust it back into my stomach" he instructed. Elena nodded. He turned her around and grabbed on to her upper arms. He stared into her eyes, trying to figure out what she was thinking. He realized that he couldn't figure her out, and that scared him a bit. "You know what to do here I assume?" he asked her. Elena nodded as she began to draw her knee up, aiming to kick him between his legs, when he flinched. "Don't even think about it" he warned her.
Elena smirked and watched how nervous he looked. She slowly put her foot back down and he let go of her arms. "Thanks for the tips" she said, walking around him. She went to her dresser and grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt for her shower. Stefan watched her saunter off into the bathroom. He decided the girl was insane. But all he could focus on in that moment was how much he wanted to be in that shower with her.