Chapter 1 : Where We Began

A/N : My first published story!

Damon POV

"Isabel! Isabel, wait! Stop, please!" I ran behind her laughing, as she sprinted off into the woods, constantly looking over her shoulder and smirking.

"No! I believe you claimed that you would be able to catch me, and so now you have to prove it!" She in between her giggles and pants for breath.

I paused to catch my breath, resting my hands on my knees, gasping for breath. God, what a runner that girl was! Of course, If father so much as heard her loud voice echoing through the trees... Stefan and I won't see the end of it. Father would keep bickering on about how unladylike Isabel was, how 'Ladies should be seen, not heard.' The usual. Not that it would stop us from seeing her. She was our best friend, of course.

We met Isabel, when she came to town from England, accompanying Lady Katherine. She had said she was her aide. Stefan and I saw her frequently; sometimes accompanying the Lady, and at other times, alone, in some quiet place, the Library, by the Creek, or maybe in the orchard. When she was in public, she would look down, not meeating a single eye, at tthe beck and call of the lady.

It was when Stefan and I went to visit the orchard that we spoke to her for the first time. She was quite shy, blushing furiously when we addressed her. Slowly, she opened up, and she was a whole different person. She told us stories of her time in England, about her family, how everyone in her family had died, except her, and she was living off the streets, when Lady Katherine found her and took her in.

Everyday, we three would meet, whenever she got free time, and tlak about anything and everything under the sun, even our little troubles and worries. She became our confidante, someone to whom we could tell all about our drinking father, dead mother, family problems. Stefan would even ask her for advice on courting ladies, but I had lost all interest in other women after meeting her.

I often found Stefan telling me how we'd found a sister we never had, and always longed for, but I secretly disagreed. Theere was something in her eyes when she looked at me, and I could swear that it was there in my eyes too. I could feel it; our relationship was not meant to be platonic. It was something more, something much much more. I knew it, and she knew it. We just avoided talking about it.

Until today.

"Isabel, we are going to get lost! I can't see the house any more! Please stop!" I yelled at the flash of a cream gown disappearing into the trees ahead of me.

"Only if you admit that I'm faster than you!" she laughed from the trees.

"Ugh! Fine! You are faster than me! Happy?" I said in a mock- disgruntled voice, stopping and holding on to a tree for support.

"Very happy! Finally, finally, the great Damon Salvatore has accepted defeat! Victory is mine!" she cheered into the sky, which was going darker by the minute. She walked upto me, clutching her heart. The run had taken it's toll on her too.

"We should get back. They would be looking for us," I said half- heartedly. Every moment spent in her company was a luxury.

"Can't we wait a little longer? Please? I want to see the stars come out!" she said to me, in her innocent sweet voice.

"Fine. Let's sit here."

We sat on the ground, cuddling up together. In a while, the skylight dimmed, and a clear summer night rose.

I was content. I did not want to move, I just wanted to sit there forever, with my Isabel in my arms.

After a while, she spoke to me, her head tucked under my chin. "Damon?"

"Hmmmm?""

"This feels nice."

"I know."

She was quiet for a while.

"Damon?"

"Yes, Isabel?"

"Is your father very angry at you and Stefan for spending time with me?"

"Yes. But his opinion does not matter. I live my life the way I want, and the same goes for Stefan. He has no right telling us how to live. We are not children anymore." The last part came out a bit too harsh. I was remembering all the times he had come home drunk and beat me and Stefan. Most of the times, I had tried to avoid Stefan getting hurt. Mother was not here, and I had to take care of my little brother, like she had asked me to, during her pregnancy. But I couldn't help it all the time.

I was lost in my thoughts, when she spoke again.

"Damon? Maybe you shouldn't see me anymore. I mean, I don't want to start a feud in your family,"

"You are not starting anything," I said firmly. "If he cannot accept us the way we are, then he should not call himself our father."

"Damon! You should never say that!" She looked anxious, her worst fears confirmed.

"It's not because of you, my Bella. It's not your fault." I said softly, and realised that I slipped up. I called her my Bella constantly,just in my mind.

We both stiffened slightly.

"I have to tell you something. Don't- don't make fun of me, alright? I just have to say it,"She said hesitantly.

"You can tell me anything," I said, fearing the worst; her rejection, her fury, her goodbye.

She turned around, facing me. Her eyes were cast down. She was blushing ruby red.

"I-"

I waited patiently, unconsciously biting my lips.

"I love you."