Elena straightened her dress in the mirror. Her hair cascaded around her shoulder's in soft curls. She gave a wary glance to the invitation on her desk. "You'll come right? I mean, it's weird…but we are friends now…"Stefan had asked over a month ago when he'd personally delivered her invitation to the wedding of Stefan Salvatore and Rebekah Mikaelson. Elena had agreed to go, after much persuasion, but now she felt like she'd rather rip out her own throat.
When she'd woken up after taking the cure, there was no doubt that she still loved Stefan. She loved Damon too, but…she had to give Stefan a shot. He was her choice as a human, he had to be her choice again, right? But when she'd went to tell him, she'd seen him wrap his arms around Rebekah and kiss her happily, so pleased they were both human again. Their little 'no-emotions, no-strings' hook-up had turned into something much more, it seems…and she couldn't interrupt that. Stefan looked so happy, she couldn't ruin it.
She could have said something. She'd had a million opportunities over the last year...but she'd never uttered a word. She'd smiled and told Stefan she was so pleased he was happy. She could have confessed her feelings, begged him to come back...but after everything she'd put him through, she couldn't seem to find the words.
So now, she was preparing for their wedding. She heard a gentle knock on her bedroom door and she turned, seeing Damon in a tuxedo. He was her date to the wedding. "You look beautiful." he smiled. Elena forced a smile and nodded. "Thanks." she said. Damon was the only person she'd told about her lingering feelings for Stefan. To his credit, he'd kept his distance, even though she knew how much it hurt him. He'd been nothing but an amazing, wonderful friend to her since she'd woke up human. He'd held her when she cried, drove her home when she'd been too wasted and done more than she could ever thank him for. She hated herself for what she was doing to him...she wanted to be with him...but she knew until she could have closure with Stefan...it wasn't fair to him.
Damon walked into her room, leaning in and kissing her cheek. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's not too late to tell him, you know. Or to run. We could get in the car. Drive somewhere tropical…get drunk on the beach and forget this whole wedding is taking place." he offered. Elena smiled. He was good at that, making her smile even when she felt like everything was falling apart. "Thank you…but I have to go. I promised him." she said. Damon sighed and offered his arm, rolling his eyes at her. "Such a martyr. Well, let's go then." he smirked. Elena nodded and took his arm, kissing his cheek. With that, she walked out the door and climbed into Damon's car, preparing herself to watch the man she loved marry another woman.