10 years ago

"Stop it!" Elena giggled as she tried to push Damon away. He had her where he wanted her; arms above her head and her legs underneath him.
"Make me!" Damon teased and ignored her protests as he tickled her again.
It was a warm summers day in Miami, and the two children were playing on the beach. Elena, who was eight years old at the time, was as cute as an eight year old could get. Her dark, chocolate hair which travelled half-way down her back and her doe eyes which would make you melt as soon as you looked into them, made her stand out from the crowd. Everyone could tell she would be a stunner when she got older.
Damon, who was 12 at the time, had dark hair and bright blue eyes, just like the ocean. He was tall for his age, but also a trouble maker. Elena liked this aspect of him, but she knew she felt safe by his side.
Elena and Damon had met while both families were on holiday, only two weeks ago. Their time together was coming to a close, but neither of the children wanted to talk about it. That was, until Damon brought the subject up as the sun was setting.
"What's going to happen, Elena? You're going back to Mystic Falls and I'm going home to Chicago, we can't possibly hang out any more." Elena stayed quiet, running through her answer in her head before she spoke it.
"I'm never going to forget you Damon! Never, ever, ever!" Her voice coming close to shouting by the end of the sentence, just to make her point heard!
"I hope not." Damon sadly smiled as he looked over at Elena. She smiled back, but anyone could see it wasn't genuine. She was worried that he would end up forgetting all about her.
Elena brought her gaze down from his eyes, to her hands, which were running through the sand. She lifted her hand up to reach her necklace which was laying on her chest. The necklace was slightly too big for her as it lay further down than it was supposed, but Elena didn't care. She loved this necklace like there was no tomorrow.
Elena sighed and unclasped the necklace from her neck. She held it in her hand and starred down at it. The necklace was beautiful, and had an old-soul feel about it. It was slightly Gothic and unusual, and nothing that Elena would pick out from the shops, but it felt special to her. Elena's grandmother had given it to her as a present, before she died, as her grandmother had given it to her before she passed. Elena had promised to pass it down to her granddaughter, but this seemed much more important.
Elena reached out her hand, and placed the necklace into Damon's. He gazed down at it and started to protest.
"Something to remember me by." Elena plainly said and closed his fist around the necklace. She knew she was doing to right thing. She didn't want Damon to forget about her at all, so this was a way that ensured to en extent, that he wouldn't.
"Thank you." Damon smiled and leaned over and kissed Elena's check. Once he'd realised what he just did, he started to blush and looked away quickly. Elena giggled sweetly and moved closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and slowly drifted to sleep.

Present Day

It had been a long day driving for Damon, over 11 hours, but somehow, he wasn't tired. Adrenaline had gotten him through most of today, plus a high amount of sugar he had consumed. He had just passed the sign welcoming him into Mystic Falls, a place he only dreamed about visiting, but that day, was here.
He was ready to face her again. A girl that he hadn't seen in over 10 years. A girl he hadn't spoke to in over 10 years. A girl that he'd loved since Day 1, but never had the courage to say so.
Damon was now 22, about to turn 23. And by his calculations, Elena should be 18... Or 19... He couldn't remember exactly when her birthday was. Or then again, she may of never told him.
By now, Damon was starting to get nervous. He had no idea where to find her. He didn't know where she was or where she lived. Hell, he didn't even know if she still lived here. But it was a place to start.
He started to drive aimlessly around the small town, with a population of 9,000 people. Where should he start? The high street? Let's face it, teenage girls who have just finished school would definitely not choice to hang out on the high street. The park? He knew far too well that the only people who went to the park were happy families who enjoyed spending time with each other, or families that despised each other but wanted to show the world how good they all were at acting that they liked each other. So no, Elena Gilbert would not be at the park.
Damon parked his car near the grocery store. He needed to stretch his legs... badly. He opened the door and stood up, closing the car door behind him and locking it. He stood on the spot for a moment, taking in the surroundings. He was in the middle of nowhere. Correction, Mystic Falls was in the middle of nowhere.
Damon stretched his arms up and over his head, before walking towards the entrance.
"Oh my gosh, he didn't do it did he?"
Damon halted in his tracks. No. It couldn't possibly be. There it was, the voice he had dreamed about for nights upon end, and that all to familiar giggle that made him smile like a child at Christmas whenever he thought about it.
"I can't believe he did that!"
Damon slowly, but surely, started to turn towards the familiar voice that was gaining on him. She had her arms linked through two other girls arms, that looked around the same age. But never mind them, all he could focus on, was the beautiful girl, with the long brown hair and the dark brown eyes, which had been the centre of his thoughts for the last 10 years.
As Elena started to pass him, he stepped in front of the three girls, without thinking if this was the right thing to do. All he could say was "Elena."