"Elena, remember what I told you."
She could feel the warming sensation underneath her eyes; like a harsh flow of dense liquid beaming throughout her veins. It didn't feel like blood and although she knew it was, she was just thankful it was her own…for now.
Caroline had been with Bonnie all day without knowing about her and Elijah's meeting. As for the Salvatore brothers, she left it alone knowing what their reactions would conclude to. She decided to fib a little and claim to check up on Matt's condition.
But instead, she stood face to face with an original; Elijah Mikaelson.
"Breathe in," He instructed.
She did so, holding her breath until she felt uncomfortable.
"It helps, does it not?" He asked, knocking his fist lightly against a tree trunk.
Elena exhaled while slumping her shoulders. "It does," She replied. "Thank you, Elijah."
With that, she fell against the underbrush of the forest. Elijah quickly rushed to her side only to find her giggling obnoxiously. As he leaned over her snickering body, she squinted into the sunlight.
"It's nice, isn't it?" She wondered.
Elijah raised an eyebrow before Elena grinned at the action.
"The sun?" He asked.
Elena sat up, crossing her legs before she patted the space next to her. Elijah hesitated, but then cautiously placed himself beside her. When he was settled, she turned to smirk at him timidly.
"No," She reacted. "The lack of pressure."
Knowing what she meant, he nodded lightly while looking into the dense woods.
"It's very nice," He replied, watching her profile. There he noticed a stray leaf stuck against her mane of russet hair. Tentatively, he reached out with his slender fingers to her locks. When he retrieved the emerald leaf, she blinked once or twice before replying.
"Thank you…" She whispered, taking it from his hands.
She gasped when their skin met, pulling back quickly. When she noticed his awkward response, she grimaced. Elijah smirked tenderly before standing.
"My apologizes, Elena…" He muttered. His eyes scanned in the direction of the sun's slow absolution as Elena's dead presence awakened his senses.
"Elijah, I…" She murmured.
He turned to find her inches from his lips and the close distance between the two made him nervous. He stepped back a few inches which caused her to tense.
"I want to thank you," She paused. "For not being over dramatic about me…"
She didn't have to continue. "You're welcome," He replied.
There was an abrupt silence between the two before Elijah smiled with effort.
"I have to go tend to some business…" He took a deep breath while walking towards her. "Do not hesitate to ask for help, even in the middle of the night." He reached out to stroke her cheek and she leaned into the touch, surprising him and herself.
"I won't," She breathed.
In a blink, he was gone.