He didn't mean it.
This was all Elena could keep thinking.
"It's done. That part of my life is done. I don't want to see you. I don't want to be with you. I just want you to go."
She was in the car with Damon, riding back to Mystic Falls, and for once the eldest Salvatore was being quiet. For this she was greatful. One off handed comment, or snarky remark just might be too much for her right now. How could Stefan really do this? Leave like it was nothing. Sure, he had started out with Klaus to save Damon, but now? There should be nothing to bind him, yet he was acting like he didn't care at all. All she felt like doing was crying. An entire summer! For months she'd looked and looked, and researched, and dug for clues in every angle, just trying to find him. Only to learn he didn't want to be found. She wasn't sure if she was upset or pissed. Maybe a little of both, or a lot of both. She sighed, resting her head against the glass.
"You okay?" Damon asked, almost hesitantly.
"I'm fine." As fine as she could be anyway.
"Elena..." Damon looked as thought he wanted to press the topic, but let it drop instead.
The rest of the trip was made in silence.
As soon as Damon pulled into the driveway of her house, Elena was out of the car and all but flying up the stairs.
"Elena, wait." Damon called out, using his Vamp speed to catch up.
She could feel the tears coming on, and really just wanted to reach her room and cry in peace, but neverless, she turned to face him, having reached the porch.
"What?" She tried to clear the thickness out of her voice, but Damon wasn't fooled.
He didn't say a word, just reached out, and pulled her into his arms. It only took a second for her to relax and for the tears to spill. And once they started, it didn't feel like they would stop. Damon surprised her, simply backing up into the pillar for support while she cried into his shoulder. His hand smoothed her hair, and it sounded like he was whispering words of encouragement, though they were too quiet to make out. Finally, it was as if she'd cried all of her tears out and she just sagged into his body with silent sobs. She didn't even protest when he picked her up and carried her into the house, upstair, to her room. As he laid her on the bed, she decided she'd at least have the curtosy to thank him.
"It's okay Elena," He assured her, walking toward the window, his preffered exit, "Just remember that this will all be okay. I know it doesn't feel that way now, but trust me, things will get better." He took a breath before finishing with, "I'll stop by tomorrow, we should probably still keep tracks on Klaus' whereabouts. Goodnight Elena."
"Goodnight Damon." And he was gone.
Over the next few days, Damon went back to being his normal, douche, sarcastic, self. But the day of the Founder's Party was the worst. Elena was already a mess, between everything that was going on with Stefan, her necklace suddenly burning her, and now the councel wanting to put vervain in the water system, but of course Damon had to make a bigger mess of things. She watched in horror as he snapped Alarics neck, completely unremorseful, and stormed away to follow his own plans. It was just like him to be that reckless too! Elena did her best to carry Alaric to the car, but he was a lot bigger than her, not to mention heavier. Thank God she'd been working out, but even then the task was nearly impossible. She drove him home quickly, wanting to get back to the party before Damon did something entirely stupid.
Finally getting his body settled on the couch, Elena turned to walk out the door again, only to be greeted by a dark figure. There was a slight pain, then everything went black.