The walk to the Mystic Grill was filled with that comfortable silence that only exists between two people who know each other far too well, and who, at the same time, were trying to deal with a tension that grew thicker with every passing minute.
When the glowing sign of the Grill finally appeared through the trees, the noise was already drifting from a distance: muffled conversations, laughter, the clink of glasses, and the low thump of background music leaking through the cracks in the door. Ryan slowed down, easing the Skyline into a parking spot right in front of the restaurant. For a brief moment the headlights washed over the classic facade: large windows, warm lights, and the dark wooden interior casting inviting shadows.
He parked smoothly, pulled the handbrake, and killed the engine.
The rumble of the car died, leaving only the faint trail of the radio before it clicked off too.
Ryan let out a long breath, fingers drumming once on the steering wheel, then slowly turned his face toward her.
Elena was already looking at him.
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
Neither of them had to.
Finally, Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"Ready?"
Elena let out a short, breathy laugh that sounded half-nervous, half-excited.
"If I say no, are you gonna take me back home?"
"Considering how long you took to get ready…" Ryan tilted his head, that lazy, over-confident smile tugging at his lips. "I highly doubt it."
She gave him a playful shove on the shoulder with her fingertips: light enough to be teasing, firm enough to linger.
"Get out of the car, Ryan."
"Yes, ma'am."
He stepped out with his usual effortless calm, circled around the hood, and opened the passenger door for her. Elena, still seated, lifted her gaze to him: that half-shy, half-all-too-aware look of someone who knew exactly who was standing in front of her.
"Thank you…" she said, the word coming out sweeter than she'd meant it to.
Ryan offered his hand: a gentlemanly gesture that somehow clashed beautifully with his usual sarcastic demeanor. Elena placed hers on top, and when she stood, the space between them shrank to something dangerously small. Close enough for her perfume to mingle with his breath.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Neither of them wanted to.
A burst of distant laughter from inside the Grill finally broke the spell.
Ryan took one step back, but his eyes stayed locked on hers.
"Shall we?"
"We shall," Elena replied, adjusting her jacket in a nervous little motion that betrayed more than she'd like.
They walked side by side to the entrance. Just before stepping in, Ryan reached for the door and held it open with casual ease.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the familiar chaos wrapped around them: the smell of fresh fries, the clack of pool balls in the back, overlapping voices, crowded tables, warm light bouncing off the polished wooden floor.
The bar was packed, as always, but there was something cozy about the mayhem.
Ryan's gaze swept the room calmly.
Elena leaned in just slightly, fingertips brushing his arm.
"Over there…" she murmured, nodding toward the window.
Bonnie and Caroline.
Caroline had her back to the door, talking with that trademark passion of hers. Bonnie was listening intently, until something in her peripheral vision made her turn.
Her eyes found Ryan first.
Then Elena, right beside him.
Bonnie blinked slowly, as if her brain needed an extra half-second to process the picture in front of her. Caroline, mid-sentence, automatically followed her friend's gaze and froze.
Bonnie recovered first. She raised a hand and waved them over.
"Hey! You two! Over here!"
Caroline's hand rose more slowly, almost robotically.
Ryan answered with a relaxed nod.
Elena offered a soft smile.
And together, shoulder to shoulder, they started crossing the room toward the table.
Heads turned as they passed. Ryan, looking like he'd just stepped off a photoshoot in Seoul; Elena, dressed in a way that made it was clear she'd put in real effort tonight.
Bonnie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to look chill.
Caroline straightened up, crossed her legs like she was posing for an invisible camera, and pretended she wasn't cataloguing every detail.
When they finally reached the table, Bonnie jumped in first:
"Finally! We were starting to think you two decided to take the scenic route."
"Or bailed completely," Caroline added with a smile that was far too sweet to be innocent.
"I'd never bail on you ladies," Ryan shot back, pulling out the chair beside Bonnie and sitting with perfect ease.
Elena took the seat next to Caroline, but not before trading a quick glance with Ryan.
A half-second of silence fell, then Bonnie took the first real social step of the night:
"So… how are you guys? Nice night, huh?"
Ryan leaned forward, forearms on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I'm good. Better now that I'm here. You three always manage to light up any room."
Bonnie immediately looked away, failing to hide a tiny smile.
Caroline let out a short laugh and shook her head.
"You've always been too good with words, Ryan. Dangerously good."
"Natural talent," he teased, winking at her.
He leaned back in his chair like he'd never left, like he belonged there as much as the wood under his elbows.
Bonnie fidgeted with another strand of hair, the telltale sign she was trying to play it cool.
"So… what were you two doing before you got here? You both looked kinda… excited."
Elena whipped her head around a little too fast, a little too obviously.
"Nothing special!" She smiled, cheeks faintly pink. "Just… talking."
Caroline narrowed her eyes, curiosity glowing like a neon sign.
"Uh-huh. 'Just talking.' Alone. In that ridiculous car of his. For, like, half an hour." She rested her chin on her hand and shot Elena a playfully jealous look. "No judgment. Just observing."
Ryan chuckled low, that calm, rumbling sound that made all three girls exchange quick, tense little glances at the exact same time.
"Caroline, you've always been terrible at subtle."
"Me? Subtle?" She pressed a hand to her chest, all drama. "I would never."
"Sure, Care. Never," Ryan drawled, rolling his eyes theatrically, already knowing she'd fire right back. But before she could, a shadow fell over the table.
Vicki, wearing the black Mystic Grill shirt, apron tied at her hips, order pad in hand. She looked rushed, as usual… until her eyes landed on Ryan.
She literally stopped mid-step.
"…Ryan?"
The name came out so shocked even Bonnie's eyebrows shot up. Elena turned slowly to watch his reaction.
Ryan lifted his gaze, calm as ever, like running into old acquaintances in Mystic Falls was the most normal thing in the world.
"Well, look who it is… Vicki Donovan." He flashed that polite, devastating smile. "Long time no see."
Vicki blinked rapidly, trying to reboot.
"You… you're back? Like, actually back? Because people said you were in Tokyo… And then the biggest news was that you became a freaking model!"
Ryan just shrugged with that effortless charm.
"Nothing crazy. Just worked overseas for a bit, that's all."
"That's all?" Vicki almost laughed. "Ryan, your face is all over the internet! I saw that winter campaign the other day; didn't even recognize you at first…" She glanced away for a second, then back. "You got… really hot."
"Anyway," she shook her head, snapping back into server mode, still a little flustered, "what can I get you guys?"
Caroline grinned like a cat who'd spotted cream.
"I'll have the large fries and a soda. Oh, and—"
"Caroline," Bonnie interrupted, "you get the large fries every single day."
"So? My choices are consistent." She turned to Ryan with a wicked glint. "Unlike some people…"
Ryan arched a brow, amused, but let it slide.
Vicki took a breath and refocused.
"Elena? Bonnie?"
Elena sat up straighter.
"Plain burger and an iced tea, please."
Bonnie ordered something light: salad, lemon water, but her eyes kept drifting back to Ryan.
Then it was his turn.
"And you, Ryan?"
Vicki asked with a shy little smile, like she still couldn't believe he was sitting there.
Ryan met her eyes for a second before answering.
"Double cheeseburger and a lemonade for me. And—" he tilted his head slightly, "it's okay, Vick. I know it's a shock seeing me again."
She laughed, a little embarrassed.
"Yeah… a little. Mystic Falls ran out of gossip when you disappeared."
"And now it's gonna have way too much," Caroline muttered just loud enough for Elena to hear. Elena rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself.
Vicki jotted everything down and stepped back.
"Be right back with your orders. And… good to have you back, Ryan."
"Good to be back," he replied, calm and sincere.
The waitress turned and walked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear like she was trying to look less affected than she clearly was.
As soon as she vanished between the tables, Caroline leaned forward like a shark smelling blood.
"See? Not even five minutes and people are already tripping over themselves."
Ryan sighed, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"Caroline…"
"Don't 'Caroline' me. You know it's true." She pointed at Elena and Bonnie. "And you two stop pretending you didn't notice."
Bonnie folded her arms.
"I'm just observing. Not writing a report."
Elena fiddled with her napkin… exactly like someone who'd noticed way more than she wanted to admit.
Ryan just laughed.
"I'm starting to think I should've stayed in Japan."
"Don't you dare," Caroline shot back.
Bonnie nodded in agreement.
Elena… said nothing, but the corner of her mouth lifted.
The rest of the night unfolded like a memory coming back to life, as if Ryan's presence had unlocked a part of their lives that had been sleeping for years. When Vicki returned with the food, tray steadier this time though her eyes still flicked to Ryan every few seconds, the four of them slipped into an easy, almost familiar rhythm. Food was passed around, drinks set down, and conversation started flowing like no time had passed at all.
They talked about school, about teachers whose quirks were still burned into everyone's memory. Caroline dredged up long-forgotten social events, Bonnie revived stories Elena wished would stay buried, and the whole table cracked up more than once. Ryan mostly listened, dropping the occasional dry comment that hit perfectly. Still, it was impossible to ignore how his mere presence shifted the room: curious glances from other tables, whispers whenever he smiled or turned his head.
At one point Tyler swung by, slapped Ryan on the shoulder like old times, and jumped into the conversation without missing a beat. Not long after, Matt joined too.
With the two of them, the vibe changed again: what started as an intimate four-person reunion quietly turned into the natural gravitational center of a bigger group…
__________________________________
(A/N: Guys, thank you so, so much to everyone leaving Power Stones and commenting: it means the world!
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