Dear diary: So, this is awkward.
We often don't stop to ponder how spur of the moment decisions are going to affect our lives in the long run. I guess I can't really call them decisions since they were made under the influence of Pappy Van Winkle. Poor Tyler Lockwood didn't ponder beyond thinking that raiding his father's special bourbon reserve seemed like a pretty good idea and I didn't think beyond going to my ex's house to look for the necklace that I left there. Please don't judge me; it seemed like a matter of urgency at the time. No one thought about the morning after. Tyler sure didn't expect to be woken up by a fuming Mayor Lockwood and being placed under house arrest for the duration of our winter holiday. I sure as hell didn't expect to wake up in my ex's brother's bed wearing nothing but the above mentioned necklace. Thank God he was nowhere to be seen when I woke up, so I did the natural thing, I grabbed my clothes and bolted out of there. Since that morning I've been trying to avoid him like the plague and I would have been successful if it wasn't for Tyler thinking it was a good idea to raid his father's special bourbon reserve.
See how things always come full circle? Tyler was supposed to be my ride to the cabin we rented for the weekend. Beautiful views, cozy fireplace, fully stocked pantry. A winter wonderland dream come true. Except Tyler's stuck home and I'm stuck in the cabin of a truck with the person I was trying to avoid.
Damon Salvatore. How can I begin to describe him in coherent, eloquent sentences when all my thoughts when he's near lean toward the homicidal? He's always been a bit of a wild child. To balance out the clean cut, straight laced package that is Stephan I guess. I'm on really good terms with Stephan don't get me wrong, he's dating Caroline now and I'm happy for them, they click in a way that Stephan and I never did. I like that, people clicking I mean. Which brings us back to Damon, what I have with him is more of a sizzle. A Coke and Mentos kind of sizzle. He has a way of getting a rise out of me. I hate to admit that he has that much influence over my emotions. It was one of the reasons Stephan and I called it quits last year.
I can feel his smirk from across the cabin of this stupid pick-up truck. Yes, Mr. "I'm not driving my baby up a mountain" is currently doing that smirky eye-thing he has down to an art form and I can feel my blood start to simmer. We haven't even left Mystic Falls yet. So we are sitting at the intersection waiting for the red light to turn green while I'm wondering about everything that I might have or haven't done that stupid night I don't remember anything about. I swear I'm never drinking again.
The light turns green (finally) and Damon puts the F-150 into gear. I'm about to ask him where he got this truck when a faint noise coming from him distracts me. It takes me a couple of minutes to process what I'm hearing.
-Are you humming "Old King Wenceslas"? - I ask him surprised, because let's be honest he's as far as it can get from the holiday enthusiast crowd.
-She speaks! - He says in that sardonic way of his and I immediately want to throw my Thermos at him. –Yes, Elena. Would you like to listen to something else? My rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is even better. - As if on cue he starts humming the new song.
-Where did you get this truck anyway? - I interrupt his absurd song.
-I stole it- He deadpans. His face is completely serious and that gives him away because, when is this man completely serious? He's a pretty good actor I'll give him that. I turn my body to face him fully and cross my arms over my chest.
-Oh, oh- he says.
-What? - I retort haughtily.
-That's the famous Elena Gilbert "You're about to get a piece of my mind" pose. Am I in trouble?- I swear he's just about to lose it and have a laughing fit because his mouth is twitching and I can see his eyes begin to crinkle at the corners. He must realize that I'm about to lose it in a completely different way because he immediately explains –I borrowed the truck from Zach. He had it locked up in the garage and I thought it was better suited for our little road trip. I haven't stolen anything. – He looks and me and waggles his eyebrows –Lately. - He adds. I sigh and drop my arms from my chest.
We are finally on the road and I'm giving myself a mental pep talk, just a few more hours. If I survived Cheerleading Camp while on my period I can absolutely do this. The scenery is a plus, breathtaking actually. Snow covered trees that get closer and closer together the further up the mountain we get. Damon has ceased all attempts at humming and we are currently listening to Phoenix, one of my favorites, not that I will tell him that. Right in the middle of Lisztomania I'm looking at Damon's hands gripping the stirring wheel as he begins to tap his index finger in rhythm with the music. Suddenly I swear I can feel that exact digit pressing against my lips, the rest of his hand cupping my chin pulling my face away from his. I can feel his bare chest under the palms of my hands, he's hot, scorching. I must have jolted awake from my day dream/memory because he asks if I'm ok. I nod dismissing him and turn my head to look out the window.
My heart is thundering against my rib cage. What the hell did I do that night?! Why hasn't he mentioned anything?! My mind is going a mile a minute and my hands are still tingling with the memory of his skin beneath them. Nothing happened. I hear that in my mind but it's the wrong voice. I turn to look at Damon and he is looking at me. Something akin a mix of concern and regret marks his brow.
-I said nothing happened, Elena. Is that why you have barely spoken today? - He asks and I want the earth to open up, swallow me whole and spit me out in Bora Bora.
There's a weird rumbling sound followed by the truck jerking to a sudden stop. We both turn to look out the windshield and there's black smoke coming out of the front of the car. This can't be good.