The door was open when Elena tried the doorknob. It silently swung inward, and eyes as deep and blue as lapis lazuli glanced up at the nondescript staircase. A quick, alert glimpse over her shoulder at the night behind her assured no one was watching, no one was tailing her. She ascended the stairs carefully in the dim light, heart beat slow, controlled, anticipating.

She slipped into the bedroom on the second floor, and closed the door with a quiet click behind her. Her eyes roamed over the contents of the room while she glided to the trapdoor. It was open and waiting for her, inviting. She paused on each step, ticking off the troubled list that encompassed her life at that moment. Forget about Mr. Tanner. Forget about Caroline stealing her diary. Forget about her and Tyler's scheme to expose Stefan. Forget about worrying about Aunt Judith and Margaret.

Forget about Damon. She was on the top stair, and lingered there a long moment. This was the hardest one to pull off. Putting Damon from her mind completely, forgetting about that night when he'd shown up at Bonnie's house, forgetting the inexplicable, wildfire he evoked from her. Leave behind the memory of those dark eyes.

She could see out over the roof platform from the top step. A blanket was spread out a few feet away from her, two candles burning feebly in the dark.

He was waiting for her. Stretched out on his back, arms folded under his dark head, and warm green eyes fixed on her. His sculpted lips curled into a sensual smile at the sight of her. Elena forgot Damon.

She walked over to him slowly, and gracefully lowered herself down beside him. She snuggled into the crook of his arm, and exhaled a deep, content sigh. She gazed up at the midnight sky sprayed with millions of blinking lights.
"I'm glad you came." Stefan whispered against her ear.
"I got a little held up. Bonnie..." Elena started.
"Ssssh." Stefan sighed, and his arms wrapped around her securely. "Don't break our rule."
Elena tilted her head back to look at him. She hung indecisively between the natural instinct to reprimand him for cutting her off, and to defend herself. She did neither when his eyes locked with hers. The barricade that had earned her the title of ice queen melted at the touch of his lips.

The kiss was sweet and chaste, and turned her heart into a quivering mass.
"Let's just lie here and forget the world. Just for tonight." Stefan murmured softly. His smile spread to her own lips, and she watched him a minute longer when he turned his face toward the twilight. She tore her gaze from his profile to look up at the sky.
"Just for tonight." Elena repeated quietly.