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𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏
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Arabella had caught Stefan's attention the moment that she had walked in. With her hair falling over her shoulders in ringlets, some pieces pulled back and pinned in the back to further display her face. Something about her was so warm, so inviting. Stefan watched her until he could muster up the confidence to ask for a dance. As he led her to the dance floor, his arms became scattered with goosebumps.

After he bowed at her, he made eye contact, "Forgive me, I don't believe I got your name."

"My friends call me Ella,"

Stefan smiled as the name rolled off the woman's tongue, Ella. The name reminded him of a fairytale his mother often read to him as a child, Cinderella. "Do you live in town?"

"The outskirts yes, on my father's property," Arabella smiled through her pain, a habit that she had grown to be very skillful of. Her father was one of her best friends and talking about him often reopened wounds.

Stefan immediately noticed a small amount of color drain from her cheeks, a look bestowed within her eyes was one he knew well himself, "I apologize for the loss of your father,"

"How could you tell that I had lost him?"

"When I lost my mother I too tried to cover my pain with a smile. I could see it deep within your eyes."

Arabella sighed, "I wish to say sorry for dampening the mood,"

Stefan shook his head, continuing to sway with Arabella across the dance floor, "I appreciate you being vulnerable and honest. Many women I speak to uphold a persona. If you don't mind me asking, who is your father's estate going to?"

"Me, when I am of age of course."

"You will?"

Arabella chuckled beneath her breathe, "You sound surprised,"

"It is not every day that you hear about a woman owning property of her own."

"I hope you do not mean that I am not capable of maintaining land solely because I am a woman,"

Stefan's eyes broadened, understanding how he was coming across. "Of course not, I find it admirable. Women are not given the credit that they deserve."

Arabella stared at Stefan for a few seconds, surprised herself that he had such views about women. It was not often that she found a man with such ideas. "You are indeed a rare find in a town like this."

Stefan laughed as twirled Arabella around, beaming as he looked into her eyes. He could see the joy shining through them at the dancing. "You have a very free spirit, I can see it."

"You seem to be keen on reading people."

Stefan shrugged, "It happens to be one of my specialties." The songs came to an end, causing them to pull away. Stefan held his hand out for Arabella, "Would you mind accompanying me to the garden?"

"I would love to,"

Stefan led Arabella outside, leading her around the garden. "Do you like it?"

Arabella's fingers fell by her sides, her fingers brushing against the flowers and plants. "It is beautiful, who tends to it?"

Stefan looked around, rubbing the back of his neck, "I do actually."

Arabella glanced to Stefan, taking notice of his slightly flushed cheeks, "My mother and I used to have a garden. I now tend to it myself. There is no need to be embarrassed."

Stefan looked up, his eyes darting to Arabella who was staring about the garden. His lips tugged upwards as he looked at the girl before him, "You, Ella, are very intriguing,"

"One could say the same for you, Mr. Salvatore,"

Stefan smiled as he followed Arabella to the edge of the garden. In the distance, Arabella could make out a pond and small rowing boat at the bottom of the hill the home was built on. A smile broke out on her face as she took off towards it, leaving Stefan confused behind her. He soon came to his senses and began to run behind her, "Wait!"

Arabella laughed as the wind brushed against her skin, She lifted her skirt up, the train of it dragging against the dirt. She came to the edge of the pond, stopping as she looked at the way the moon looked. She heard Stefan run up behind her. Turning around, her grin alone grew as Stefan watched her. Holding her hand out she spoke to him, "Care for a boat ride?"

A breathy laugh left Stefan's lips, "I would."

The two climbed in the rowing boat, rowing out into the middle of the pond. Stefan kept his eyes trained on Arabella who instead had her eyes solely on the reflection on the moon in the water. The reflection became disrupted by the waves coming from the boat. Arabella lightly held her hand at the side of the boat, letting her fingers drag across the surface of the water. Stefan's eyes never left her, a warmth spreading within him at her soul. Arabella lowered her hand slightly, smirking as she made note that the water was warm and an idea came to her.

Arabella's hands hastily moved to the laces that held her dress together, quickly removing them. Stefan's eyes widened as he released that she was removing the strings, "What're you doing?"

Arabella turned to him with a smile, peeling her dress off. A slip was beneath it. She reached behind her neck and unclasped her necklace, setting it aside on top of her dress. She chuckled as she noticed Stefan looking away. "It's a nice night for a swim, is it not?"

A splash made Stefan look back to where she sat. He peered over the side of the boat, seeing a disturbance in the water from where she jumped in. He shook his head with a laugh as he pulled his jacket off. Arabella resurfaced, able to touch the bottom, and she splashed some water up at Stefan. With a large splash, Stefan jumped in beside Arabella. When he came up, he slicked his hair back, "You are unlike anyone I've ever met,"

Arabella hung her head back, allowing her hair to be submerged in the water. She closed her eyes in a state of bliss, "I can confidently say the same of you."

Stefan smirked as he splashed at Arabella, causing the girl to sit up with a dropped jaw. Stefan snickered as Arabella reached forward, shoving Stefan underwater. A squeal came from her lips as Stefan came rushing up, chasing her across the pond. His arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her up, and slamming her down into the water. As they stood back up, they both laughed. Stefan's hands stayed wrapped around her waist, staring at her face. The moonlight reflected off her skin, making her seem like an angel. Arabella stopped laughing and looked into Stefan's eyes. They two began to lean in, enchanted with one another.

The bell tower rang it from near the Salvatore house, startling Arabella. Her eyes widened as she realized what time the tower was announcing, 11:30. Arabella immediately jumped from Stefan's arms, she grabbed ahold of the boat and ran to the shore. She bundled her things up in her arms and turned to Stefan, "I'm sorry, I must be going!"

"Wait," Stefan ran out of the water but it was too late, Arabella had already gone running. Stefan stood at the edge of the pond, a goofy smile plastered on his face as he watched Arabella's figure disappearing into the distance. A small glimmering caught his eye in the grass. He bent down, picking it up out of the grass. In his hands say Arabella's necklace, her mother's wedding band attached to the chain. And so Stefan Salvatore stood by the pond, remembering the remarkable woman he had met by both the memories in his mind and the necklace in his hand.

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Word count: 1343

I do not own The Vampire Diaries.
All rights go to Julie Plec and Warner
Bro's. I only own any original
plot and characters.