The Impala cut through the quiet streets of Mystic Falls with the low, steady rumble of its engine.
The trees lined along the sidewalks swayed gently in the light breeze, their green leaves filtering the sunlight that was not yet strong enough to truly warm the air.
Elena rested her elbow on the window, her face tilted outward just enough to feel the wind brush against her skin. Her brown hair swayed softly with the breeze, while her expression seemed tranquil, almost peaceful, as if her thoughts, feelings, grief, and even the constant attempts to convince herself that everything was fine had all dissipated, carried away like leaves in the wind.
To be honest, since the death of her parents, this was the first time she had felt genuinely happy—ever since Ryan's return, which had happened... For the first time, life seemed to have regained some meaning. The smile on her lips came far too easily, almost automatically, as if it required no effort at all.
After everything she had been through, she was finally by the side of the "love of her life." And in that moment, she felt complete. Utterly fulfilled.
Ryan noticed this out of the corner of his eye.
"...You're being very quiet. Any thoughts you'd like to share?"
He asked, keeping his eyes on the road, his tone as casual as ever.
"No. I was just thinking about how happy I am by your side..." Elena said in a low voice: "And I got a little scared that this might end suddenly..."
She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully.
"It's scary when you realize you're so happy, but you can't fully enjoy it because you're afraid something will happen. I know it might not make much sense, but that's how I feel right now..." She added, with a slight insecure smile: "So I stayed quiet, just trying to savor this moment. This happiness..."
Ryan slowed down a bit, his expression unchanged and remaining calm, but he took a deep breath before responding:
"It makes sense."
He glanced away from the road for a brief instant, just long enough to meet her eyes, ensuring she knew she was truly being heard.
"When you lose something important... your brain learns to protect itself. It starts always expecting the worst, even when everything is finally going right."
Elena turned her face toward him, surprised by the seriousness in his voice.
"But let me tell you something." Ryan turned his eyes back to the road, his hand steady on the wheel: "This happiness you're feeling right now? It's not fragile. It's not a mistake by the universe. It exists because you exist."
She felt a slight tightness in her chest.
"I can't promise that nothing bad will happen." He continued, honest, without sugarcoating the truth. "No one can. But I can promise that I won't just disappear. That I'll be here. That if anyone tries to interfere with our happiness... they'll have to go through me first. So you don't have to live waiting for the end, Lena. At least... not with me. If this moment is good, then it deserves to be lived fully..."
Elena felt her eyes sting, but she smiled—a genuine smile, one that came from deep in her chest.
"I love you, Ryan."
A half-smile appeared on Ryan's lips before he spoke: "I love you too, Elena."
Elena smiled upon hearing his confession, leaning a little closer in her seat to intertwine her fingers with his over the gearshift.
The Gilbert house appeared at the end of the street, exactly as it always had been: white, well-maintained, with a front garden too impeccable for a home where teenagers lived.
Ryan slowed down and parked in front of the house, turning off the engine shortly after. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Elena let out a soft sigh, opened the door, and then hesitated, turning back to him.
"Give me a few minutes?" She asked, with a crooked smile: "I... need to change clothes. And let Jenna know I'm alive..."
"I'll try not to run away in the meantime..." Ryan replied, raising an eyebrow.
She laughed, leaned in, and planted a quick, light kiss on the corner of his mouth—more affectionate than teasing. Then she got out of the car.
Ryan watched her head toward the house. Her step was... peculiar. A little shorter, a little too stiff, as if she were trying to convince her own body to cooperate. He sighed, leaned back in the seat, and crossed his arms behind his head, his gaze drifting to the rearview mirror, which now reflected only the clear sky and the treetops.
That was when the thought returned.
Once again, when she said "I love you," something stirred in his heart. It wasn't pain, nor exactly pleasure. It was a tight, warm sensation, almost uncomfortable, hard to name—something he had never felt with certainty before. He had never been the type to take that kind of phrase seriously. So why, now, did he feel compelled to take it so seriously?
It wasn't love. He was sure of that.
What he felt for Elena didn't come from empathy or anything beautiful or profound like what people usually called feelings. It was different. Simpler. She mattered. In a way no one had ever mattered before.
The thought left him restless. Something was changing inside him, something he didn't fully understand yet.
Ridiculous.
He had never "loved" anyone in his previous life.
Even though he had inherited the life of his predecessor in this world, he never thought that aspect would change. That was part of who he was—or, more precisely, what he lacked. Loving simply wasn't something possible for him. At least, that's what he had always believed...
And yet... doubt now existed.
At least part of him suspected that his predecessor's memories had influenced that strange, almost alien feeling now emerging toward Elena. Not that he considered it bad, exactly. Still, the idea of "changing" had never been part of his mindset. There was something deeply unsettling about accepting that he was transforming because of something so trivial—an insertion into this world decided by a strange roulette after his death. The mere notion that such fundamental feelings could be shaped by such arbitrary circumstances seemed, at the very least, unpleasant to him.
It was as if he had been forced to change by something external, not by his own choice. Perhaps that was what truly bothered him: not the change itself, but the fact that it had occurred against his will. Still, that feeling wasn't bad. On the contrary. He realized, with some reluctance, that what he felt for Elena was much closer to genuine "affection" than anything he had ever experienced in his entire life. That alone was unprecedented. And even more disturbing was the quiet curiosity that arose alongside it—how far could this feeling go...?
For now, he believed he wouldn't mind killing for Elena, or protecting her, or staying by her side until the end of his own life.
Strange thing, isn't it...?
A few minutes later, the front door of the Gilbert house opened again.
Elena came down the steps with firmer strides now, her loose hair falling over her shoulders. She wore a simple yet elegant light blue dress, fitted just right to flatter her figure without excess. The hem ended just above her knees, and a light beige jacket was thrown over it, open, as if she hadn't spent much time thinking about the outfit. On her feet, she wore discreet flats, and her backpack hung from one shoulder.
She opened the passenger door and got in the car, settling the backpack on her lap while carefully closing the door.
Ryan gave her a quick glance, appraising her without hiding it.
"You look beautiful."
Elena blinked, surprised, and laughed lightly.
"I didn't even get properly dressed. I just grabbed the first thing I saw in the closet."
Ryan tilted his head slightly, clearly amused.
"That only proves my point." He shrugged: "Even in a potato sack, you'd still look gorgeous."
She let out a more open laugh, shaking her head.
"You're impossible."
"And yet, here I am." He turned the key in the ignition: "Taking you to school."
The Impala's engine roared back to life, and the car glided through the streets of Mystic Falls once more, heading toward the school.
On the way, the conversation flowed naturally. They commented on classes, boring teachers, small gossips that inevitably circulated around town. At one point, Elena remembered something and turned to him.
"Tyler mentioned yesterday at the Grill about a party in the woods tonight." She raised an eyebrow: "From what he said, half the school is going."
Ryan let out a brief laugh.
"Of course they are." He glanced at her sideways: "Want to go with me?"
"I was about to ask the same thing." She replied, smiling: "So... yes."
"Great." He paused deliberately: "After the party, you can come over to my place..."
Elena didn't hesitate.
"Well, I kind of promised, didn't I?"
The two looked at each other, exchanging a gaze loaded with desire, like newlyweds eager to make the most of every moment of their own "honeymoon."
He held her hand, and she held his, as he continued driving toward the school.
The Impala pulled into the school parking lot a few minutes later. The place was already crowded, students scattered in small groups, loud conversations, laughter, and curious glances that immediately turned to the black car as it parked.
Ryan turned off the engine, got out first, and walked around the car, opening the door for Elena with a calm, almost automatic gesture. She took his hand as she stepped out, and for a moment, several eyes fixed on them. He noticed, of course. But he just smiled faintly, as if none of it mattered.
Elena adjusted her backpack on her shoulder, and the two began walking side by side across the campus, their steps synchronized, talking softly to each other, oblivious to the whispers around them.
To anyone watching from the outside, they looked like just another couple arriving at school.
The campus buzz faded behind them as they approached the main building. The bell hadn't rung yet, but it was close enough to make the hallways too crowded and noisy. Elena instinctively slowed her pace a bit, adjusting her backpack on her shoulder, while Ryan walked beside her with his usual calm, as if the chaos around them simply didn't exist.
They entered the classroom just seconds before the bell rang.
Bonnie was already seated, leaning over her notebook, too distracted to notice the movement at the door right away. It was only when Elena pulled out the chair next to her that Bonnie looked up, and a smile appeared instantly.
"Finally..." She glanced from Elena to Ryan, with that curious gleam in her eyes: "I thought you guys weren't coming to class today..."
"How could we not, Bonnie? We're studious students, okay? We wouldn't miss class just because of a hangover or not sleeping properly..." Ryan replied casually, dropping his backpack beside the desk and sitting behind them.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow upon hearing about "not sleeping properly," clearly curious about what he meant, but she didn't press.
"By the way, good morning." Ryan added, turning to her.
Bonnie held his gaze for a second longer than necessary before smiling again.
"Good morning, Ryan..."
From the other side of the room, Matt was already settled in his seat. When he noticed Ryan, he raised his hand in a quick, no-frills greeting.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Ryan replied in the same tone—brief, neutral, effortless.
The bell rang, cutting through the remaining conversations like a blade.
Almost immediately, Professor Tanner entered the room with hurried steps, his usual serious expression, as if he were perpetually late for something more important than high school students.
"Alright, everyone." He dropped some books on the desk without even looking at the class: "Quiet."
A few murmurs tried to linger, but Tanner's throat-clearing was enough to finally silence the room.
"Welcome back." He wrote his name on the board with unnecessary force: "United States History. And before anyone asks, yes, this will be on the test."
Elena opened her notebook, the soft smile from earlier giving way to the attentive expression she always wore in class.
Ryan simply opened his notebook and calmly looked at the professor, feeling Bonnie's gaze on him...
"The Battle of Willow Creek took place near the very end of the war, right here in Mystic Falls." Professor Tanner interrupted his own explanation, leaning both hands on the desk. "How many casualties were there in that battle, Ms. Bennett?"
Bonnie, who had been leaning to the side, too distracted watching Ryan over her notebook, jumped slightly. She blinked twice, straightened in her chair, and answered on reflex:
"Um... a lot? I'm not sure. Like, a lot."
Some students smiled; others chuckled softly. Professor Tanner, however, didn't seem impressed in the least.
"Cuteness turns into stupidity in an instant, Miss Bennett." He sighed, already looking for another victim. "Mr. Donovan? Would you like to take this opportunity to shed the jock stereotype you carry?"
All eyes turned to Matt. He leaned back in his chair, a calm smile on his face.
"It's okay, Mr. Tanner, I don't mind..."
The class erupted in giggles, which only made the professor's jaw tighten further. Visibly frustrated, he scanned the front of the room until his gaze landed on Elena—who still wore a mood too light for that morning.
"Hmm. Elena?" Professor Tanner raised an eyebrow. "Surely you can enlighten us about one of the most important historical events in this town?"
Elena frowned, confused. She quickly scanned her notes but found nothing helpful. She looked up, embarrassed.
"Sorry, I... I don't know..."
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
"I was willing to be more lenient last year for obvious reasons, Elena." Tanner's voice hardened. "But personal excuses ended with summer vacation."
Elena felt her face heat up. Before the discomfort could grow into something worse, she felt Ryan's fingers intertwine with hers under the desk. The gesture was simple, but enough. The tension in her chest dissolved almost instantly, replaced by a quiet sense of security. She took a deep breath, nodding silently.
Before Professor Tanner could continue, a voice rose from the other side of the room.
"There were 346 casualties. Unless you're counting local civilians..."
The murmur was immediate. Tanner turned, surprised.
"That's right." He studied the new student: "Mr...?"
"Salvatore."
"Salvatore." Professor Tanner nodded: "Any relation to the original settlers here in Mystic Falls?"
"Distant." Stefan's response was short and direct.
"Very well." Tanner cleared his throat. "Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle..."
Some students laughed, pleased with the public correction. Stefan, however, frowned.
"Actually, there were 27, sir." His voice remained calm. "Confederate soldiers fired on the church, believing it was harboring weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss."
He paused briefly.
"The founders' archives are, um, kept in the public administration building, in case you'd like to check, Mr. Tanner."
The professor fell silent for a second too long. The laughter that had spread through the room died down gradually, replaced by an awkward hush. Some students exchanged glances; others just lowered their heads, too pleased not to be the focus of that public humiliation.
He cleared his throat, visibly unsettled.
"Yes... of course. Thank you for the... correction."
Stefan merely nodded slightly. To him, it wasn't showing off—it was just an attempt to impress Elena.
Elena, however, barely paid attention to it.
Stefan noticed that.
His gaze, which had instinctively sought Elena after answering, found her... distant. It seemed his attempt to "rescue" her from the professor to get her attention had yielded no results...
Professor Tanner cleared his throat and resumed the lesson, clearly eager to move on.
"As I was saying..." He turned back to the board: "The Battle of Willow Creek marked the end of a critical period for this town. Mystic Falls was built on sacrifices, losses, and—"
His voice became background noise for most of the class.
Bonnie, still intrigued, leaned slightly toward Elena and whispered:
"Did you see that?"
Elena looked up for a moment.
"See what?"
Bonnie blinked.
"The new guy."
Elena glanced quickly at Stefan, then shrugged.
"Oh. Yeah... he seems to know a lot about history."
Bonnie frowned, confused, but before she could say anything, Ryan leaned forward a bit and said to both of them: "Local history tends to attract certain types..."
Bonnie shot him a quick look, as if wanting to ask what exactly he meant by that. But Ryan had already leaned back into his relaxed posture, his gaze drifting around the room again.
After that, the class continued normally. Having history class two days in a row wasn't for everyone; fortunately, this time it was just one period.
____________________
(A/N: Did you enjoy the chapter? Then you should know that over on my Patreon you can read up to chapters ahead for just 5USD! And yes—for that price, you also get full access to all of my content. That's right: cheaper than a snack… and with way more drama, action, and guaranteed emotional damage.
The link is right below. See you there!
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)