Bloodstream

Chapter 1 : Pancakes and Vampires

"I can't take it anymore," Elena mumbled as she flipped over the pancakes. She wished there was somebody to tell her what to do. After everything that happened, even cooking pancakes was a big deal for her. Everything stressed her out. She hoped Stephan was there to cheer her up, but instead, she gets burnt pancakes and the sound of blaring rock music from Jeremy's room.

Until suddenly, a built figure appears behind her with a swift of air instating its presence. Elena faced him, putting her arms on the presence's shoulders without even thinking.

"Stephan!"

"Try again." Elena immediately veered away from the last person she would want to see.

"Damon," she mouthed with disgust.

"Oh. I could totally tell that you are very much happy to see me."

"It was instinct, Damon. I thought you were Stephan."

Elena put the burnt pancakes onto a plate. Before her life got all complicated, she was just like any other highschool girl. Jenna would usually cook breakfast for her and Jeremy. And after eating, she would be off to school, meeting normal people with normal lives. No vampires. No witches. More importantly, no Katherine. She was still thinking twice about agreeing to Jenna about her moving with Alaric. Elena misses her tremendously. But she knows that it was for the best. And that they were in love.

"Disregarding your last comment, how are you and Jeremy holding up?" Damon said as he sat on the wooden counter that has been there since he met Elena.

"What are you doing here, Damon?" Elena asked with confusion on her face. She knew Damon wouldn't just come at her house to play who-burns-the-pancake-first.

"I ran out of whiskey. Thought you might have some," Damon replied with sarcasm.

"I'm serious, Damon."

"Well, now that we all know that the bitch came back, I figured I would check up on you. See if you're okay and stuff." Damon said with the usual twinkle in his eyes.

Elena knew that Damon cared about her, and she cared about him too. But after the whole kissing encounter with Katherine, they haven't been really in good terms. Elena felt like Damon was using her kindness to get to her and Stephan, thinking that she would actually kiss him. Elena felt betrayed, she couldn't find any reason why Damon would think that she, his brother's girlfriend, would actually go have a full make-out session with him. What she didn't know though is that Damon was blinded by his emotions for her. But he just has yet to realize about these feelings for Elena.

"Tell me the truth Damon." Elena went closer to the counter and stared down at Damon.

There was deafening silence. Even Jeremy's loud sounds arrived to a stop as if the whole world had to hear what Damon was about to say. This atmosphere made Damon feel even more uncomfortable than he already was. Damon held the edges of the counter tighter, as if he was about to break it. He didn't know that the stare of a single fragile human being can make him feel this way. It seemed as if he was hemophobic, and Elena was blood. He didn't know what to say. For the first time, Damon was speechless.

"I just... Well... Actually..." Damon looked at the floor, not knowing what to say.

"Tell me Damon. I'm pretty certain, you wouldn't go here just for kic..."

"I'm sorry Elena. I'm sorry if I thought you would kiss me. I'm sorry if you thought I used you. I'm sorry if you felt even the least bit betrayed." Damon cut her off.

Elena felt a pang of pain strike through her heart. She looked deep into his blue eyes. Even with her wearing the vervain, she still felt hypnotized. She knew by looking in his eyes that he was sincere. But she didn't know why she felt hurt. Or even why she felt anything. I care about him as a friend... that's why, she repeatedly tried to convince herself.

"Damon, I... The truth is, I..." Elena was about to continue with what probably was the best line she would tell Damon, until Stephan appeared and stood in front of her.

"Stephan," Elena breathed relieved air as she hugged the broad chest of her lover. Elena looked at where Damon was sitting but he was gone in an instant.

"Let's go eat breakfast together outside. I figured I'm not much of a good cook." They both laughed as Elena picked up her bag and swung it to her shoulders.

As Stephan walked out of the door with an unhinged fringe, Elena looked at the same spot one last time. The spot where Damon sat.

He was really no longer there. Elena turned her head down as she brushed her mind off of Damon's thoughts. Elena and Stephan rode the chevy that Stephan just finished fixing the other day. They held hands as the car bolted out of the house's road.

Back in Elena's house kitchen, Damon sat. No one was there anymore. He didn't know why he came back. All he knew was that he was hoping Elena was still there. Damon took the mixer and started making pancakes. The batter was completely rich and full. But one thing was for sure... his unbeating heart wasn't.