'Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 3\r'

'August 21, 1864\r\nI cant stop look ating ab turn step up her. I leave no(prenominal) even write her name; I darent. She is beautiful, entrancing, singular. When Im with Rosalyn, I am Giuseppes son, the Salvatore boy, essenti wholey interchangeable with Damon. I pick out it would not matter peerless molecule to the Cartw refines if Damon took my place. It is only me because flummox knew Damon would not stand for it, knew I would say yes, sound like always.\r\nBut when I saw her, her lithe figure, her red lips, her look that were move tooshie and forth and sad and thrilling all at erstwhile … it was as though I was finally incisively myself, just Stefan Salvatore.\r\nI must be strong. I must treat her like a sister. I must fall in love with the cleaning woman who is to be my wife.\r\nBut I fear it is already too late…. Rosalyn Salvatore, I thought to myself the nigh day, tasting the words as I walked out the door, ready to fulfill my duty by paying(a) a sec ond call on my soon-to-be-betrothed. I imagined living with Rosalyn in the carriage houseâ€or perhaps some smaller mansion my don would build as our wedding presentâ€me works all day, po reverberate through ledgers with my father in his stuffy study, while she took care of our children. I tried to heart excitement. But all I mat up was insensate dread seeping through my veins.\r\nI walked slightly the grand path of Veritas and gazed wistfully up at the carriage house. I hadnt seen Katherine since she arrived yesterday afternoon. Father had dispatched Alfred to welcome her to supper, but shed declined. Id spent the evening looking out the summitow toward the house, but I couldnt see whatever flicker of candlelight. If I hadnt kn profess she and Emily had moved in, Id squander assumed the house had remained unoccupied. Finally, I went to sleep, wondering the on the whole time what Katherine was doing and whether she needed comforting.\r\nI tore my spirits away from t he drawn upstairs shades and trudged smooth the driveway. The dirt road under my feet was hard and zesty; we needed a good rainstorm. There was no breeze, and the air felt dead. There wasnt another person outside as far as the eye could see, yet as I walked, the hairs on the back of my neck opening stood on walked, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I got the uneasy life that I wasnt al unmatched. Unbidden, Roberts warnings about walking off on my own floated through my mind.\r\nâ€Å"Hello?” I called out as I turned around.\r\nI started. Standing just a few feet behind me, leaning against one of the angel statues that flanked the drive, was Katherine. She wore a white sunbonnet that protected her drop skin and a white dress cover with tiny rosebuds. Despite the heat, her fair skin looked as cool as the pond on a December morning.\r\nShe smiled at me, displaying perfectly straight, white teeth. â€Å"I had hoped for a tour of the grounds, but it seems you are other engaged.”\r\nMy heart pounded at the word â€Å"engaged,” the ring niche in my back pocket as dangerous as a branding iron. â€Å"Im not … no. I mean,” I stammered, â€Å"I could stay.”\r\nâ€Å"Nonsense.” Katherine shook her head. â€Å"I already am taking lodging from you and your father. I will not take your time as well.” She raised a dark eyebrow at me.\r\nNever before had I spoken with a girl who seemed so at ease and for certain of herself. I felt the sudden, overwhelming urge to dress round the ring from my pocket and offer it to Katherine on one knee. But then I thought of Father and forced my hand to stay put.\r\nâ€Å"May I at least walk with you for a bout?” Katherine asked, swinging her sun umbrella back and forth.\r\nCompanionably, we walked down the road. I kept glancing to my left and right, wondering wherefore she didnt seem nervous to walk, unaccompanied, with a man. Perhaps it was because she was an strip and so utterly alone in the world. whatever the reason, I was grateful for it.\r\nA light wind blew around us, and I inhaled her lemony ginger scent, feeling as though I could die of happiness, right there, next to Katherine. Simply being near her was a reminder that beauty and love did exist in the world, even if I couldnt have them.\r\nâ€Å"I think I shall call you Silent Stefan,” Katherine said as we walked through the cluster of oaks that marked the line between the village of deep Falls and the outlying plantations and estates.\r\nâ€Å"Im miserable …,” I started, fearing that I was as dull to her as Rosalyn was to me. â€Å"Its simply that we dont get very many strangers in Mystic Falls. Its difficult to speak to someone who doesnt know my whole history. I suppose I dont extremity to bore you. After Atlanta, Im sure you find Mystic Falls a bit quiet.” I felt mortified as soon as the blame left my lips. Her parents had died in Atlanta, and here I was, devising it sound like shed left some arouse life to live here. I causeed my throat. â€Å"I mean, not that you had found Atlanta exciting, or that you wouldnt wonder get away exciting, or that you wouldnt enjoy getting away from everything.”\r\nKatherine smiled. â€Å"Thank you, Stefan. Thats sweet.” Her tone made it clear she didnt want to delve into the topic any further.\r\nWe walked in silence for a few long moments. I kept my stride deliberately short so Katherine could keep up. Then, whether by accident or by design Im not sure, Katherines fingers brushed against my arm. They were cold as ice, even in the humid air. â€Å"Just so you know,” she said, â€Å"I dont find anything about you boring.”\r\nMy entire tree trunk flamed hot as a conflagration. I glanced up the road, as if trying to ascertain the best despatch for us to follow, though really I was covert my blush from Katherine. I felt the weight of the ring in my pocket again, heavier than ever.\r\nI turned to appear Katherine, to say what, Im not even sure. But she was no longer by my side.\r\nâ€Å"Katherine?” I called, shielding my eye against the sun, waiting for her lilting laugh to rise up in the underbrush along the road. But all I heard was the echo of my own voice. She had vanished.\r\n'