[Stefan could tell that she was nervous by the way the words came out, like fragmented sentences to go along with the quick pace that her mind was keeping. And yet, it was easy to follow, because other than a detail here and there, it was the exact way he'd felt for...longer than he should admit.
But for awhile, the things he'd felt for Elena had eclipsed all of that in a way that had blinded him, and the resulting heartache and anger towards his brother that had followed.
And yet when he'd been alone, had been okay with that, the person he'd found himself always calling? Always wanting to see?
It had been Caroline.
So, he got it. But he hadn't done anything about it, because it was more complicated than that. And if there was one person he couldn't lose right now? It was her. Because then who could he talk to? Be himself around?
He had to pretend around everyone else. Be the better person. Say the right thing. But Caroline understood him, the way he thought he understood her.
He internally paused for a moment, smiled oddly, and shook his head.]
You know what, I was going to ask you what she said. And then I realized, I don't really care either.
[And then he took those last couple of steps to her, his hand brushing against her cheek as it slipped into her hair and cradled the back of her head, and did the thing he'd been thinking about doing since the last time he'd gotten to.