Moving On

(Chapter one)

Elena Gilbert was the girl that had always gotten what she wanted, when she wanted it. Her looks were to die for and every boy in Mystic Falls wanted her, well every boy except for one...Stefan Salvatore. Elena sat on the edge of her bed as her mind began to relive what had happened earlier that evening before she drove home in tears.

Flashback

Elena walked up the driveway towards the old Salvatore boardinghouse as her heart began to beat faster. Stefan had called her and wanted to talk to her in person and this horrible feeling couldn't help but spread through her body. Elena loved Stefan with everything that she had. She had practically worshiped the ground he walked on and she would do anything for him. She had been there for him when he was having rough times and he was there for her. Elena's mind kept wandering until she reached the front door and then she knocked.

"Elena." said Damon as he opened the front door. "I suspect you're here to see my brooding brother who has actually been rather broody today. He's upstairs."

"Um, thanks Damon." said Elena as she raced up the stairs to Stefan's room and knocked on his door.

"Come in." he called after her as she opened the door and stepped inside the room. Stefan was sitting on the bed and next to his door was three larger suitcases.

"Stefan..what's up with the suitcases?" asked Elena as her voice began to shake.

"I'm...leaving." he whispered.

"Okay...but where to and why did you feel the need to pack three suitcases?" her heart began racing faster and faster as she prepared herself for bad news.

"Don't worry about where I'm going Elena but I need to tell you something." he paused and then took a deep breath. "I'm leaving Mystic Falls and...I'm not coming back. Ever."

Elena began to feel light headed. Was Stefan really saying this to her? He was going to..leave her?

"But...why? What about me, Stefan..?" she let out a small whimper.

"I can't stand this town anymore." he sighed. "And I don't want you anymore."

"Stefan...you don't mean that!" she cried. "What about everything we've been through?"

"It's in the past Elena. I'm done with this town and I'm done with you. I'm sorry." he said as he went towards the door and picked up his bags.

"Why Stefan? What did I do?" tears were streaming down her face.

"You didn't do anything Elena...it's just that the feelings I had for you are gone now. Just please, let me leave and don't make this any harder on me than it already is. I don't want to hurt you and I'm sorry but it's over." Stefan picked up his bags and before Elena could respond he was gone. Forever.

Elena held her head in her hands as she felt the tears began to fall down her face. He didn't want her anymore...after everything she had done for him and after everything they had been through he was leaving her. It was really over. This man that she had fallen in love with was gone and her world was now crashing down all around her.

"Elena honey..." said Aunt Jenna as she opened Elena's bedroom door. "dinner is ready."

"I'm not hungry." said Elena as she kept her back turned from Jenna. "I need to go out for awhile, okay?"

"Elena, you don't need to be going out when you're upset like this. I don't need anything happening to you. I know you and Jeremy have always gotten away with a lot since I've been your guardian but it's going to stop right now. I wont let you go out tonight." Jenna felt bad but she knew it was the right thing to do.

"So what? Now you want to play the role of the protective parental figure that cares? I need to go out Jenna, I'm only going over to the Salvatore boardinghouse." said Elena as she got up and grabbed her keys.

"He's gone Elena and he's not coming back. Going over there isn't going to help and how dare you say that to me. You know that I care about you and Jeremy more than anything..." she whispered.

"Well if you care about me...you'll let me go. I'll be back around midnight. I need to do this Aunt Jenna, just please trust me." begged Elena.

"...fine but please be careful Elena. I don't want anything to happen to you." Jenna called after Elena as she took off down the stairs and was then out the door.

Elena felt the tears running down her face as she drove towards the boardinghouse. Her head and heart ached, all she wanted was Stefan. Once she arrived at the boardinghouse, she ripped open her car door and began to bang on the front door.

"What are you doing here?" asked Damon. "And what in the hell do you think gives you the right to come banging on my door at ten o'clock at night?"

Elena pushed Damon out of the way and took off up the stairs towards Stefan's room. She pulled the door open and stared inside. As Elena looked around the room and took a few steps in, she saw nothing. The room was bare, the only thing that was left in it was a bed and a dresser. Elena knees gave out and before she knew it she was on her knees in the middle of the bare room crying. He was really gone and he really didn't want her anymore. It was...over. Suddenly, Elena felt someone walk towards her and then the person grabbed her shoulders and spun her around.

"He's gone Damon...he's really gone." she cried.

Damon was at a loss for words. His eyes were locked on the broken girl in front of him. Her face was tear stained and makeup ran down her cheeks. Her once beautifully golden skin was now pale. Her brown, silky, and smooth hair was wild now and her eyes...they were not shiny and full of life as they had once been. Now they were dull and nothing but sadness and depression flowed from them. No matter how broken and how much of a mess Elena was, Damon still saw her to be beautiful. He had always loved her but knew he couldn't have her because she was Stefan's and now look at what that bastard had done to her. Damon put all the jokes, games, and flirting aside and then he bent down and picked Elena up into his arms. He carried her downstairs and sat her on the black couch and then tilted her chin so she was now looking him in the eyes.

"It's going to be okay Elena, I promise." he whispered.

"No it's not Damon...I loved him and now he's gone..." she cried.

"He didn't deserve you.." he growled. "and I swear, if I ever see him again, I will kill him for what he's putting you through."

"Damon...?" she whispered.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Please...hold me." she said as she began to snuggle into his chest. This was the one place that she felt safe and loved in for now. "And thank you...I know you're usually not into this whole sympathy thing but I appreciate it. I hate to sound needy but...I need you now more than ever Damon..."

Damon had his arms around Elena as he looked straight ahead. He couldn't bare to look at her and see her like this. "It's no problem." he said.

"I don't want to be alone tonight..." she whispered. "Can you please stay with me?"

"Of course I can." he said as a small grin escaped his face but it was gone in an instant. As Damon slowly looked down at Elena, he saw her face pushed against his chest and her eyes were closed. She looked comfortable and at ease...for now.