Never before was Stefan Salvatore so excited to go back to school, having been to several different one through his immortal life. But today was different because he knew that he would see her, Elena Gilbert. After yet another run in with Tyler Lockwood and his group of jocks over the coaches new found likeness to him because he believed that with Stefan on the team they would actually win a football game for one. 

Quickly spotting Elena in the hallway, his pace quickened as he appeared in front of her "Hey" he grinned cheerily. With his backpack slumped over his shoulder, a grin from ear to ear as he propped himself up next to her locker, a grin that he couldn't seem to get off his face. It was infectious, for the first time in a long time he was happy.

"What are you doing tonight?" he quizzed her. It had only been a couple of weeks that he and known Elena, but he felt like it was forever.

"Well......" he dragged on with a cheeky boy-ish smirk that spread from ear to ear "I was thinking maybe dinner. At my place. My uncle Zack is out for the night and I figured I could cook" he grinned.

Stefan had mastered the art of cooking after spending two years in Paris in the 1930's, with an eternal life ahead of him he figured it would be best to do something productive with his time. Turning to face Elena as he gazed into her eyes "You know unless you don't trust my cooking skills?" he grinned at her.

His arms draped down by his side as a grin spread further across his face "Jeremy told me that chicken Parmesan is one of your favourites and I happen to be a good cook" he beamed.

Stefan had dropped little hints to Elena's brother that he wanted to cook something for her and had got enough out of him to find out what was Elena's favourite food to eat.

"So are you sure that you are free tonight?" he grinned as his arms folded across his chest.

"I have my ways" he grinned "Plus I just I just kinda asked him what was you're favourite food was" he admitted honestly. "Bring some friends if you want. But I am not sure we could really call it a date if you bring friends" he grinned shyly. 

Stefan could feel that someone was staring at him as he glanced over his shoulder to see a guy staring at him. As he turned back to Elena he inclined with his head "I get the feeling that I am hated" he joked a little indicating to Matt

She felt her heart speed up when he mentioned the possibility of it being a date. Elena swallowed nervously and looked down at her feet briefly before looking back up to face him. "I uh...a date?" She couldn't stop smiling and she liked it. He made her happy, he made her smile, he made her feel like her old self again. Almost. "I guess it couldn't if I brought friends." She said before giggling nervously at how ridiculous she sounded.

Clearing her throat, she looked where he did and saw Matt looking their way. He seemed upset, and the way he set his jaw she knew he was. She looked back at Stefan and shook her head no, "No, he's just...taking our break hard. He hoped we might get back together...everyone did. But...I just..I..." She shook her head not knowing what or how to explain it. It was pretty soon for the ex talk anyway. She smiled bigger and shrugged, "Doesn't matter. I'll uh...see you tonight?" She said happily and a bit excited before the warning bell rang and she pouted a bit. "I better go." She said before she began to walk past him, leaning closer to whisper to him. "And you're not hated, you are competition now." She grinned and gave him a playful wink, glancing at Matt one last time with a sad frown on her face. She just wished they could be friends, like things could be normal again. Pulling the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder before she headed to class.

The bell rang as Matt slammed his locker closed as he spotted Elena giving him a sad smile as she headed off to class. Seeing the new guy alone he decided to take his chance. Stepping in his way as he tried to walk past him.

"Hey, look. I get it your the new guy around here. But Elena, she is my friend. I don't want you hurting her" he spat out quickly.

He knew that he wasn't her boyfriend any more but that didn't stop him from being her friend.