In all the drama of the last few days, Stefan had almost forgotten that it was Christmas. However, by the look of the place someone hadn't. The smell of the pine flooded his nostrils and forced his mind to think of the many years before... some good, some bad.
He took a few steps inside, inspecting the place with each step. Suddenly, the idea occurred to him that he wasn't exactly sure why he was here. It was like something had coaxed him inside and tricked him into thinking it was his own idea.
He gave one last look at the place before turning around in a hurry towards the door. As his fingers gripped the door handle, the woman's voice was heard. He slowly turned around, not sure exactly who or what he'd see, but flashed his signature smile anyway.
"Hey," he said back after seeing her. Suddenly he realized that at some point he'd put his hands in his jacket pockets, and quickly pulled one out and took a few steps forward in an effort to be respectful. "Thanks for the welcome. I'm Stefan."
The girl didn't look at all like Elena, but the image of a girl standing in front of him brought him right back to the night he'd left Elena pleading to him in the woods. It cut him deep, and he wanted out of there.
Her "can I help you" statement forced his mind to quickly try and think of a reason as to why he was here. He figured saying something about a "compelling force" would either a.) freak her out, b.) make her call the police, or c.) all of the above. All of which he didn't want to do.
"Umm, well, yeah," he said, lifting a hand to rub his bottom jaw. "I was just passing through and saw your place and figured, since I'm new to the area, that I'd come in and see what you guys offered to newcomers."