I do not own any of these characters. It would be awesome if I did, though, because we'd hang out and break into abandoned churches and bitch about stuff together and...I could fantasize about these guys all day. But I won't, as I have a story to tell. And here it is. ^-^
Elena glanced up at the inky black sky with the large white sign contrasting against it. Emblazoned in bold orange font were the words 'MYSTIC FALLS CHARITY NIGHT'. Elena peered into the forming crowd of high school students and the various stalls set up in a circle around them. There were stands selling cakes and pastries, hand-made cards and key-rings, and a few seniors in letterman jackets were running a basketball shoot-out. In the centre of the herd of teenagers was a girl with a head of perfectly curled blonde locks, giving out orders and conversing with her short, dark-haired friend. When they noticed Elena, they came rushing towards her, Caroline carrying her clipboard, and Bonnie clutching two lit candles.
"Elena!" Caroline exclaimed, and she pulled her friend into a warm hug. "I'm so glad you could make it."
Bonnie offered her candle to Elena. "Here," she said, the candle illuminating her coffee-coloured skin, "you'll be wanting this. It's so dark for this time of night."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "You've said that, like, ten times already. I wasn't planning on it being a night-time event but we were held up. Good thing the store had loads of candles in stock." She looked Elena up and down, taking in her outfit. "Gosh, Elena, you look amazing!"
"Um..thanks," Elena replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Absently, she played with the hem of her purple halter-neck dress, before she was struck with a thought. "Hey, do you know if Stefan's here?"
Bonnie looked at Caroline, whose forehead had creased into a frown. "No, we haven't...seen him. Sorry, Elena."
Elena nodded and reached to touch the cool metal of the pendant on her neck. She hadn't seen him since that morning.
"I'm sure he'll show up," Caroline said, taking Elena's hand. "And besides, I haven't done anything like this for ages, not since...well, you know..." her eyes glazed over slightly as she looked off into the distance. She shrugged and looked down at her feet, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Anyway, this charity night will be so awesome, he won't need to be here for us all to have a good time." She squeezed her friend's hand encouragingly. "Right, Elena?"
Elena squeezed back, half-heartedly, and forced her mouth into a smile. "Right."
-/-
By the time the last stragglers had started to leave, it was past ten o'clock. Fat raindrops had begun to fall from the sky, and Elena wished she had brought a jacket. She was about to leave after helping Bonnie and Caroline pack up, when she noticed a figure leaning against a nearby tree trunk.
Elena took in the dark hair framing his face, his icy blue eyes, his black t-shirt with defined muscles underneath, the smirk playing across his lips. She sighed inwardly and jogged over to the tree, taking shelter under the thick branches.
She stared into his eyes defiantly, demanding, "Where's Stefan?"
Damon opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it again, changing his mind. He stopped smirking and breathed out heavily. "He's-" he looked at Elena from underneath his long lashes, "pre-occupied."
Elena couldn't help the exasperation that had settled into her voice. "And I guess he asked you to take care of me?"
"Rightfully so," Damon answered, but he seemed distracted. He observed Elena's narrow shoulders dappled with raindrops, his eyes lingering for a second too long on her drenched, almost transparent dress. Confusion had settled into his features. He frowned, then slid his leather jacket off his shoulders. Avoiding her gaze, he offered it to her. "Here."
Elena tried to meet his eyes, but they were still focused on the ground. She shrugged and took the jacket. "Thanks."
Out of the corner of his eye he saw her bite her lip. His mind filled with dirty thoughts but he fiercely pushed them away.
They stood in silence for a short while, until Damon's voice cut through the damp night air. "Let's get you into the warm," he said, and he ducked under the low tree branches into the rain.
Elena pulled the jacket onto her shoulders, and without thinking she sniffed the collar. Expensive aftershave, old leather- but underneath the lingering metallic scent of blood. She swallowed. She followed him.
Damon's Ferrari was waiting on the side of the road. Elena had never seen the car before, but she could guess how he'd acquired it. He was already waiting by the passenger's side, holding the door open as the rain lashed at his face. His eyelashes were dappled with raindrops, and his hair was spiking out in all directions. A soft smile played at his lips.
Elena ducked into the car wordlessly. He slammed the door after her and in a second he was in the driver's seat, smirking sideways at her. While he fiddled with the dials on the dashboard, he said, "You like my new wheels? A very pleasant young man offered them to me...well of course I had to-"
"Just drive, Damon," Elena replied through gritted teeth, as Damon turned the heating to full blast. Elena closed her eyes and sat back in the tan leather seat, letting the heat envelop her.
Suddenly, the engine leapt to life with an almighty growl. Elena couldn't help admitting that was a satisfying sound. As they pulled away, she could just hear him utter over the roar of the engine, "As you wish."
Five minutes later, Elena opened her eyes. Ahead, the car's headlights illuminated the giant fir trees that lined the road. She turned to Damon. His face was a mask devoid of expression, his eyes glued to the road as it wound through the depths of the forest. His arm muscles were tensed and more prominent than usual when he was driving, Elena noted. His hair was dry now, and a few strands had begun to fall into his eyes. Long eyelashes framed his eyes, which were clouded with... what exactly? Confusion, concentration, a combination of both- Elena wasn't sure.
She turned to look out of her window and let her eyes glaze over, the dark silhouette of the forest blurring past her. The downpour had now reduced to a drizzle, and Elena's eyes re-focused on the raindrops leaving trails on the tinted glass, when she noticed something stream past in her periphery.
She breathed in sharply. Not something, someone. She'd only seen them for a second- probably less- but she was sure who it had been. She had stared into those piercing green eyes, ran her fingers through that thick, dark hair...
"It's Stefan," she breathed. She repeated, raising her voice, "Damon, I saw Stefan. In the woods. You- you have to pull over!"
Damon's mask faded into a frown. He glanced sideways at Elena. "Stefan's at home. It couldn't have been him," he said, meeting Elena's eyes, hers russet brown and worried, his powder blue and unflinching. His chest felt tight as he stared into them. He tore his eyes away and looked back at the road.
Elena spluttered, "B-but...it was him, Damon, we have to turn around." She gulped, trying to summon some authority into her voice. "Now."
A chill was sent down his spine at the tone of her voice. Whether it was for his brother or for the girl he cared for most, Damon was not sure. His face was expressionless as he jerked the wheel and the car spun 180. Elena's body was thrown back into the seat. Her heart pound a tattoo against her ribcage.
She glanced at Damon, sans seat belt. His voice was steady as he asked, "Where was my little brother lurking?"
Her breath back, Elena said, "Just stop here. I'll go look." Elena could feel the car come to a stop. She fumbled with her seatbelt but Damon clasped her wrist in his iron grip. His touch jolted her with an electricity she could feel in her bones.
"We'll go look," he corrected her, his eyes wide and searching. Elena hadn't seem him look at her like this, like he wanted to protect her, all evening. In that moment, she knew that this was Damon, the real Damon, not the one behind the vicious mask.
He was at the passenger's side and opening her door faster than the human eye could see. She didn't break his gaze as she stepped out of the Ferrari into the light drizzle. He slammed the door behind her.
"Thank you, Damon," she said quietly. She couldn't stop staring into his eyes- his pupils seemed almost magnetic.
He smiled lop-sidedly in reply before disappearing into the forest.
Elena followed him.