Chapter 1: I Promise

It was a beautiful day. The sun was out. The birds were singing. Everyone had decided to head down to Elena and Jeremy's lake house and spend a while there to get away from everything. Everyone was happy to be getting away from the dullness of Mystic Falls. Everyone got out of their cars, staring up at the house, everyone in a range of conversation.

"This better be a good trip Gilbert." Damon turned to Jeremy, giving him a look as it was his idea.
"It will be. We're away from Mystic Falls aren't we?" Pulling out the keys, he opened the front door, walking in as everyone began piling in after him.

The brunette looked up at the house, letting out a breath and considered leaving now. She couldn't do this right now. Pretend to play happy when all she wanted to do was break down and cry. Shaking her head, she moved inside, slowly closing the door behind her as she seen everyone moving upstairs to pick their rooms. Knowing Stefan would pick their room, she walked through the living room and opened the door, slowly walking down the dock, her mind going into overload.

Standing at the end of the dock, she crossed her arms, looking at the boat that sat floating on the water, which was tied to the dock. An easy exit. A VERY easy exit. Just to get away for a while if she couldn't take it. When could she take it? She was fed up of keeping so many secrets to herself. When would it end?

"You okay?" Looking around, she seen Stefan giving her a stern look and faked a smile, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I'm perfect." She responded with a soft smile as he nodded slowly.
"You better be. Everyone is inside, deciding what to do. Join us when you feel part of the group, hmm?" He moved away from her, going inside as she licked her lips, turning away again.

If it wasn't obvious enough already, the trouble she was having right now was with Stefan. He'd changed. He wasn't...her lovable, could talk to about anything Stefan anymore. He was a monster. She didn't recognize him anymore. Rubbing her arms, she moved back down the dock, making her way inside.

"Who the hell gave her the privilege of messing about with the remote!?" Damon questioned as Caroline looked at him, gasping.
"Hey, do NOT talk to your girlfriend like that mister! Elena LOVES everything I watch!" She told him as Elena rolled her eyes, looking through the fridge for something.

"Car, what are you doing?" Bonnie questioned, sitting along side Jeremy as she'd been watching Elena for a while in the kitchen.
"I am going to put music on instead, music videos!" She shrieked, grinning and put on one as the music began flowing through the speakers of the television.

If there's a price for rotten judgement, I guess I've already won that.

No man is worth the aggravation.

That's ancient history, been there done that

Elena looked around, wide-eyed and shook her head. This is NOT the song she needed right now. That was another thing. She was falling hopelessly head over heels in love with Damon and it was annoying the hell out of her. Looking at the television, she swallowed and slowly looked over to Damon.

Who'd'ya think your kidding? He's the earth and heaven too

You try to keep it hidden, honey we can see right through you.

Girl you can't conceal it, we know how your feeling

Who your thinking of

"Elena LOVES this song! She use to listen to it all of the time." Caroline laughed and turned around to look at Elena, but seen she was gone, "Where's she gone?"
"She was just there." Bonnie commented, confused.

Taking a deep breath, she rushed down the dock, not being able to think straight. This was going to drive her mad. How was she going to survive this? Closing her eyes, she listened as the song got louder and began flowing out the doors, following her.

No chance, no way. I won't say it no no.

You swoon, you sigh, why deny it, uh oh.

It's to cliche, I won't say I'm in love.

That was it. She needed to think and she couldn't do it here. Pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, she let out a breath, thinking of everything that was troubling her, so that she could leave it behind her on the dock for a while.

I thought my heart had learned it's lesson

It feels so good when you start out

My head is screaming "get a grip girl!"

Unless your dying to cry your heart out

You keep on denying

Who you are how you're feeling

Baby, were not buying, hon we saw you hit the ceiling

Face it like a grown up

When ya gonna own up that you got, got, got it bad?

Hearing the music stop, she sighed in relief and slipped her pumps off as she slipped her dress over her head and dropped it by her feet. Looking out at the water, she seen the orange buoy floating and closed her eyes, diving into the water as she came to the surface, breathing deeply, getting use to the temperature of the water. Closing her eyes, she began swimming with fast pace, trying to clear her head.

Getting to the buoy, she banged it three times like she use to when she was little and smiled softly as if everything were alright. Lying her head on it, she closed her eyes, letting the tears run smoothly down her face as she opened her eyes, looking back at the house, to see Damon walking out, carrying a glass of bourbon. Why was he so perfect in everything he did? Why was he Stefan's older brother?

"If it isn't my favourite Gilbert." Damon smirked, his blue eyes sparkling in amusement as Elena pulled herself up onto the dock, swallowing back her tears as she nodded softly.
"Hey Damon." She murmured, squeezing the access water out of her hair as she re-tied it.
"Are you going talk to me? Or am I going to have to drag it out of you?" He raised an eyebrow, sipping his bourbon, looking over, licking his lips.
"I'm fine." She whispered softly, tugging her dress over her head with her pumps.

"Lena, say that one more time and I swear." He started, his eyes full of concern as she looked up at him slowly, tears glazing her eyes.
"Stefan." She mouthed with a swallow as he frowned, reaching up to wipe a tear.
"Elena, are you coming in?" Stefan questioned, standing at the door as she looked up at Damon, placing her hand on his chest as she moved past him, following Stefan inside.

Damon looked behind him confused and took a gulp of his bourbon. Now he was worried. He'd never seen Elena upset, not unless she had lost someone. To see her in tears though and lost, he couldn't understand what was wrong. He was going to find out though.

"Stefan, were having this same argument over and over. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm bored of having it." Elena told him, looking out the window as she played with her dress.

"Then stop causing trouble and I'd stop repeating it." Stefan told her as she stood up, looking at him, anger in her eyes. "Your trouble. Your the trouble for me. I hate you and you don't listen whenever I tell you it!" Elena shouted, trying to keep calm, knowing this will lead nowhere good.

He glared at her, his usual green eyes darkening as he stepped towards her, Elena's brown eyes preparing for what was to come again. Closing her eyes tightly, she bit her lip with as his hand came down on her cheek with force. When a normal man does it, it canes, but when a vampire does it, you feel like your head's just been knocked off your shoulders. Opening her eyes softly, she glared at him, her eyes shining with tears as the stinging burned with intensity.

"Now I'm going to bed. Go do something with yourself." He told her as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door over.

Closing her eyes, she walked out, rushing down the stairs and walked outside, a sob slipping from her lips as she hurried over to the side of the dock, throwing up as she held her stomach. Another sob slipped from her lips as she hunched over, breathing deeply, shaking her head.

"Elena...?" She looked up through bloodshot eyes, seeing Damon walking down the dock towards her she looked away, closing her eyes.
"Just go away Damon." The brunette breathed, shaking as the stinging wasn't seem to be calming anytime soon.

"I'm not going anywhere. Look at me." He told her, watching her as she slowly lifted herself up.
"I'm fine. Just leave me be." Elena whispered, crossing her arms over her stomach a she closed her eyes, trying to stop her tears.

Damon frowned, worry passing through him as he took her arm in his hand gently and tugged her around, seeing the bloodshot eyes, the falling tears and the red mark on her cheek.

"What the hell is that Elena?" Damon questioned angry as she swallowed, shaking her head.
"Nothing. I just fell." She explained, wiping the tears as she ignored the pain.
"Elena, you didn't fall." He whispered softly, tilting her chin lightly as he looked her over, "what's he done to you?"
"Oh Damon." Elena let out a sob, looking down as she covered her face with her hands.

Stepping close, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he rocked her and stroked her hair. He frowned, rubbing his hands down her back as he whispered soothing words into her ears.

"I'm sorry." Elena told him, pulling away slowly as she let out a breath, calming down.
"Hey, listen to me. Don't be sorry." Damon told her, tilting her chin as he stroked his thumb across her cheek, watching how she winced, "Elena, I swear to god, if he's laid a finger on you."

"He wouldn't." She responded, leaning into his touch slowly, feeling comfort as he sighed, watching her.
"You'd tell me if he was though?" He asked softly as she looked up into his eyes, squeezing his hand.
"I promise."

A/N: Hope you liked it, some new idea I had :)

Shauna
xx