Elena sat beside Damon in his blue Camaro as they raced down the familiar highway between Mystic Falls and Georgia once again. They were travelling at what any human would consider a ludicrously dangerous speed; not that either of them had to concern themselves with the possibility of an accident. It would be painful, however the pair of them had long ago become accustomed to pain.
Tomorrow would mark the first anniversary of Elena's transition, and Damon had insisted that they travel to 'their bar' to celebrate. Stefan had given up attempting to deal with Elena's dietary choices while struggling with his own demons, 2 months after her transition. She had been heartbroken at first, but soon after came to the conclusion that it was probably for the best. After all, she had witnessed first-hand what Stefan was like when he succumbed to his blood-lust and the stress of having to deal with his issues as well as reel-in her own newly acquired cravings wouldn't have the slightest bit helpful. Thankfully Damon had remained, when Stefan had taken off. She hadn't asked or expected him to, though now that she thought about it, it didn't surprise her. He wasn't one to break a promise if he could help it.
Through the gruelling months that followed her birth into an eternity of being a vampire and Stefan's departure from her life, Damon had been beside her; assisting her with control, offering comfort on the many nights she spent in a foetal position on the floor because she didn't think she could cope the life she now had to lead, and simply being a friend when she needed one the most. In fact, he was the only one she could rely on these days, now that 'the group' had officially disbanded and gone their separate ways. Typically Damon was usually his arrogant, confident, smouldering self and through all of it, he had been able to remain the optimist and encouraged Elena to pull through, no matter grim things seemed. They had an understanding that was hard to communicate to others. They simply got each other in a way that no one was able to. Damon's friendship provided the comforting constant that Elena needed. Occasionally the idea of them becoming something more did make its way into her mind, but Elena always came to the same conclusion; that it wasn't worth the risk of losing everything they had if it simply didn't work out. In the beginning Damon has pressed her on the matter, but eventually relented, content that at least they would remain such close friends. It was because of the complete comfort that they now shared with other that Elena was able to discuss her human past with him.
The pair had almost reached Georgia when Elena decided to break the comfortable silence they had been sharing.
"I love this car" she offered quietly, very much aware that Damon could hear her.
Damon gave her a sidelong glance before returning his eyes to the road ahead of them, and asking with a smirk "are you sure that it's the car and not the company, Elena?". He turned towards her again to waggle his eyebrows in the suggestive manner that managed to amuse and irritate Elena at the same time.
After a short pause she responded with a sad smile, just as quiet as before "..it reminds me of my dad".
Damon seemed to consider this with seriousness for a second before returning to the usual light-hearted and jovial mode of communication he used with her; "really? This old hunk of metal reminds you of your dad?" he offered with yet another smirk.
Elena considered herself grateful when she heard his reply. It was nice to have these conversations with him that allowed her to open up without becoming to heavy or uncomfortable, unlike how it was with Stefan. She punched him playfully in the arm before she responded, "my dad had a Camaro too".
Damon turned to look at her, and didn't fail to notice that this time when she smiled, it reached her eyes.
"..he had good taste" Damon quipped, while maintaining her eye contact and allowing a warm smile of his own to grace his lips.
The continued to smile at each other for a little longer before they both turned their eyes back to the road, just in time to see the road sign that indicated that they were just about to cross over into Georgia.