The process of growing up is a long and difficult one. Each stage brings different emotions and personalities to match the age. This is true for everyone, including the girl who is spoken of here. Her first emotions were typical and childish. The innocent happiness she felt at the flutter of a butterfly's wings or other insignificant moments. There were also times she became indignant when the cookie jar became off-limits by her mother's hard look or at other restrictions on items that she saw as a necessity. Not to mention the curiosity. The word why was constantly present throughout this time. She didn't understand why it was that her father looked so flustered when she asked this after the arrival of her brother. She assumed the best of everybody. In this world, everyone was a friend. She radiated innocence.

Of course, she grew. As she grew, so did the range of her emotions. In the late childhood years to her early teenage years, she would be laughing and liberated one moment and reticent the next. She would use irreverence to show her disapproval. The stage of apathy lasted longer than her parents would have preferred. Another change had also come. She was beginning to see that not everyone was a friend. She could now detect the bad side of everything. Although this was a clear sign of her growth, the loss of that beautiful piece of innocence was missed.

Soon, the presence was friends became more desirable than family. Spending the day with the bubbly blond, who was a fellow cheerleader, overruled the family lunch that had been planned. Then there was the boy. The perfect boy. The high school quarterback. The boy with blond hair and eyes of an angel that she had only just started to notice. They had known each other since they had been in diapers but it was only now that she noticed. Little did she know, he was noticing her doe eyes for the first time as well.

She wasn't having fun at the party. She usually loved them. She usually loved the games, the drinking, her friends, and her perfect boyfriend. But now she was wishing she had attended family night instead. She knew she had to tell him, but she didn't know how. She couldn't continue this way. She couldn't be thinking about such complicated subjects. She was a teenager. She needed to enjoy being a teenager before worrying about becoming an adult.

With a sigh, she pulled out her phone to call her parents.

Unfortunately, she never got her wish. She was forced to grow up. Her parents' car had swerved off Wickery Bridge on their way to pick her up. She had her brother. She had her aunt. She had people who loved her. Yet, she felt alone.

She had to get out. She couldn't breath. They were staring at her. All of them. She stood there, at the front of the church, trying to force out the words she had written. She had put everything in those words. Every feeling that had taken over her body every since she had been stranded at that party.

Maybe she had put too much into those words. Maybe that was why she could no longer speak. Maybe it was too private.

But that wasn't the reason.

She couldn't read those words because they weren't right. She had agonized over making sure they were perfect, but she had failed. She couldn't explain her parents. She couldn't explain her grief. She couldn't explain the guilt.

So she ran.

She had ran until her heart nearly gave up on her. When that was just about to happen, she collapsed onto the ground and began to sob. She had absolutely no idea where she was. She hadn't been paying attention. She didn't care where she went.

When she opened her eyes, she saw a blurry figure in front of her. She hadn't even noticed that she had fallen asleep. He didn't say anything. He just looked at her.

Finally, when her vision had been restored to normal, he opened his mouth and asked of she needed help.

She felt a great amount of relief when she heard those words. She had assumed he would ask if she was okay. That's what everyone else asked.

She had to lie to everyone else. She didn't have to lie to him. He offered the only thing she needed.

He took her back to his house in his arms. He could tell every part of her was exhausted.

She was barely awake in his arms. She knew she shouldn't have allowed him to take her to his home. She knew it would be considered stupid. At that moment, she also didn't care. She just needed to rest.

"Stefan, go clear out the guest bedroom."

"What the hell, Damon? Who is she?"

"Just do it!"

Elena opened her eyes. The light was too much, so she buried her face into the black material that had been rubbing against her cheek. She only recognized on of the voices that had been speaking. She was about to try to figure out where she was before her eyelids were tugged close once again.

For the first time since she had stood up to speak at her parents' funeral, Elena was fully aware of her surroundings. Actually, that's not true. She still had no idea where she was, but at least she was able to think straight now.

She sat up in bed and wondered what she should do next. She was considering climbing out the window when a man walked in. Even though she had been unconscious most of the time she had been with him, she still could tell it was the man who had found her.

Her eyes were immediately drawn to his eyes. They were blue. But not the same innocent blue of Matt's eyes. His eyes were a dark, striking blue. They weren't the color of the sky on a cloudless day. They were the color of the ocean during a violent storm. They were different. They were beautiful.

After she came to this realization, she caught herself staring. This also the same moment she realized he had been speaking to her and was now waiting for her to answer him.

"I'm sorry. What?" She felt her cheeks grow warm as she asked. He smiled at her and repeated the question.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I... Yes, I am. I'm sorry for being a bother. I'm sure you have better things to do than rescue strangers." This was the most she had said since her parents' car had gone off the bridge. He let out a little chuckle.

"Well, I must admit that it isn't a habit of mine. I don't mind, though. You can stay as long as you like." Elena gave him a small smile.

"Thank you," she said softly. He mirrored her smile.

"I'm Damon, by the way," he told her.

"I'm Elena," she responded.

"I do have one question if you don't mind. Why were you lying behind my house?" Elena sucked in a breath. She knew she would have to answer this question at some point.

"I was at my parents' funeral and I just... couldn't handle it." She looked down at her hands as she spoke. She kept looking at them until she heard his voice.

"Is there anyone you need to call?" Her eyes widened as she thought about Jenna.

"Oh my god! My aunt is probably worried sick," she exclaimed. She couldn't believe she had forgotten.

Damon reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. "Here. You can use this."

"Thanks." She took the phone and began dialing. She chewed on her lip as it rang.

"Hello?"

"Jenna? It's me," Elena said.

"Oh, thank God! Where are you?" Elena froze. She didn't really know herself.

"um...one second." She looked up at Damon and asked "What's your address?" He gave it to her and she repeated it over the phone.

Jenna responded, "I'll be right there."

A few minutes later Jenna's car was pulling into the driveway. Elena turned to Damon. "Thank you for... well, you know... everything."

"No problem." He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and began writing. He handed her the paper when he was done. "Here's my number if ever want to talk, or hangout, or whatever."

Elena smiled shyly "Thanks. I might take you up on that offer." She waved as she walked out the door.