A New Stefan Salvatore

The Mystic Grill was alive with its usual hum of chatter and clinking glasses. Jeremy Gilbert sat at the bar, idly sketching in a small notebook while a glass of soda sat untouched beside him. His dark eyes flicked around the room occasionally, a mix of boredom and curiosity.

Across the room, Anna entered quietly, her gaze scanning the familiar space. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes carried a hint of nostalgia, mingled with caution. She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and hesitated near the door, as though debating whether she should even be here.

Her attention was caught by a figure at the far end of the bar. At first glance, he looked so much like Stefan Salvatore that it made her breath hitch. But as she approached, her brow furrowed, her sharp gaze picking up on subtle differences—the sharper jawline, the slightly more relaxed posture, the way he carried himself with a confidence that bordered on defiance.

"Stefan?" she ventured, her voice hesitant but tinged with disbelief.

Jacob turned toward her, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers with mild surprise. He straightened from where he leaned against the counter, his brow arching slightly. "Close, but not quite," he said, his tone edged with amusement.

Before Anna could respond, Aurora appeared behind her, her soft chuckle breaking the tension. "That's Jacob," she said smoothly, stepping forward to stand beside her brother. Her sharp features were softened by a playful smile as she glanced between the two of them. "My dad is the broody one. Jacob's the... unpredictable one."

Anna's lips parted in a small "oh" of realization, and she glanced back at Jacob, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Sorry," she said quickly. "It's just… you look so much like him."

Jacob smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Yeah, I get that a lot," he said casually, though there was a hint of irritation buried beneath his words.

Aurora patted his shoulder with mock sympathy. "The curse of being a doppelgänger," she teased before turning her attention to Anna.

"And you are?" Jacob asked Anna as he does not know of her yet.

Anna hesitated for a moment, as though weighing her response. "Anna," she said finally, her voice steady but quiet. "I just got back to town."

Aurora's sharp gaze flicked over her, taking in every detail with quiet scrutiny. "Well, welcome back," she said, her tone polite but guarded.

Jacob, sensing the underlying tension, leaned back against the counter with an air of disinterest. "So, what brings you to Mystic Falls, Anna?" he asked, his tone casual but his piercing gaze unwavering.

Anna hesitated again, her dark eyes flicking between Jacob and Aurora before settling on Jacob. "Just… reconnecting with old memories," she said vaguely.

Jacob's smirk widened slightly, but he didn't press further. "Well, good luck with that," he said, his tone light but dismissive.

Aurora shot him a look, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Jacob's not the friendliest, but he grows on you," she said, her voice laced with teasing affection.

Anna gave a small, uncertain smile, and the conversation shifted as Aurora continued to steer the interaction, keeping things light and superficial.

Later that evening, Jeremy's attention was drawn away from his notebook as Anna slid onto the stool beside him. He glanced at her briefly, then did a double-take, his curiosity piqued.

"Hey," he said cautiously, his voice carrying a mix of intrigue and shyness.

Anna offered a small smile, her movements graceful but hesitant. "Hi," she replied softly, her gaze flicking to his sketchbook. "What are you drawing?"

Jeremy instinctively closed the notebook slightly, his expression guarded. "Just… stuff," he said vaguely.

Anna tilted her head, her curiosity genuine. "You're pretty good," she said, her smile widening a fraction.

Jeremy relaxed slightly, his shoulders loosening. "Thanks," he said, his voice a bit more open now. "I don't usually show people."

Anna nodded, her expression understanding. "I get that. Sometimes it's easier to keep things to yourself." Her tone was light, but there was a shadow of something deeper in her eyes.

Jeremy studied her for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "Are you new in town?" he asked.

"Sort of," Anna said, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "I used to live here. A long time ago."

Jeremy's curiosity deepened, but he didn't push for details. Instead, he nodded, offering her a tentative smile. "Well, welcome back. Mystic Falls is… interesting."

Anna chuckled softly, her dark eyes glinting with amusement. "That's one way to put it."

As the night went on, their conversation flowed more easily. Jeremy found himself opening up in a way he hadn't expected, drawn in by Anna's quiet charm and the subtle warmth in her demeanor. Anna, in turn, felt a flicker of connection, a sense of familiarity in Jeremy's easygoing nature.

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Aurora's Observations

From across the room, Aurora watched the budding interaction between Anna and Jeremy with a faint smirk. Her sharp eyes took in every detail—the way Anna's smile softened when Jeremy spoke, the way Jeremy's posture became more relaxed as the conversation progressed.

"Well, isn't that interesting," she murmured to herself, her tone laced with amusement.

Jacob, who had rejoined her at their table, followed her gaze and raised a brow. "What is?"

Aurora gestured subtly toward Anna and Jeremy. "Looks like little Anna's making a friend."

Jacob glanced at them briefly, then shrugged. "Good for her," he said, his tone indifferent.

Aurora tilted her head, her smile growing slightly. "Oh, Jacob. You really need to learn how to enjoy the little dramas of life."

Jacob rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You're impossible."

Aurora laughed softly, the sound light and melodic. "And you wouldn't have it any other way."

A/N

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