Hello All!

Thank you all so much for the support and reviews with this story! Sorry for the slight delay with this and my other story, I was on a small vacation over the weekend and just didn't have access to internet as much as I would have liked to! My other story will have an update by Wednesday evening, just finishing last minute touches, I want to only put out the best chapters I can! Again thanks so much for the feedback guys, it means so much y'all want to read my work!

Well here is Chapter 2! Enjoy!


PRESENT DAY

Damon cursed softly to himself for having been so foolish, him and Elena had seemed to be making progress over the last few months, his anger towards her and her choices had been left on a low simmer in the back of his mind. And yet, he had still decided it was time to move on but looking at her right now made his face contort in pain. He just had his days where he'd wake up and be reminded of their fights that led up to the night their relationship ended, and he'd be blinded with rage, acting cold towards her the instant they came into contact. The constant back and forth with his emotions and feelings was draining to Elena. If he hated her as much as he claimed, then why was he always calling Elena at all hours of the night when he apparently had another girl?

"Elena, I'm sor-"

"Don't." Elena whispers, silent tears sliding down her cheek. She shook her head, her curls bouncing freely as she slowly backed away, needing space from him; from everything. "I-I have to go." She turned quickly on her heels and began a quick escape, dodging the hand that came out and tried to grab at her arm.

"Elena! Wait!"

But she never turned around, knowing if she caught just one glimpse of his blue eyes she'd fall back into the same routine, they'd never get anything out of this if one of them didn't stop. She was tired of the chase, tired of it all. More tears fell down her face, ruining the stars red carpet ready face. The venue was starting to crowd as more celebrities filed in and found their tables, the massive Staples Center's walls closing in around her. Her breathing became more labored, her face stung with the feeling of numbness as her head swiveled around trying to find an inconspicuous exit. Her vision fuzzy, whether it be from the tears or lack of oxygen—or both—her hand shakily reached into her clutch and grabbed her phone, scrolling through the contacts until she found the correct number and hit dial.

The roar of the press and socialites got increasingly louder as she waited for the person to pick up, her deep, rapid breaths consuming her energy. She had to get out. She had to leave now.

"Hello?" The voice on the line muffled.

"Aunt Jenna?" She said in between choked sobs, trying to quickly say what she needed before her alone time was interrupted. "I need to come home…I don't want this life anymore…I can't do this." Her nominations would have to wait as she cried over the phone to her aunt. Expecting some big speech from Jenna, she felt relief rushing through her body when her aunt promised to make her room up for it. Before she could push through the emergency exit in the back of the building fingers wrapped around her bare forearm, the familiar scent and electricity buzzing with their contact caused her to sharply inhale.

"Please don't go, just…just hear me out Elena. Don't do this. Not again." He begged, his eyes pleading with her big, glassy brown orbs. His hand reaches up and wipes the tears from her face, causing her to slightly flinch from the unsuspecting act. Instead of removing his hand he gently cups her face and she leans further into the soft palm of his hand, closing her eyes.

"I have to." Elena whispers, her hand reaching up to cover his before slowly removing it from her face. His fingers curl around her hand, intertwining them together, refusing to let go. "Damon—" She pauses, looking down at their hands and staring at the promise ring she had wished to return to him long ago. She slips her hand out of his grip and quickly slides the tiffany cut ring off of her right ring finger, placing it in his hand.

"Hey, hey, hey," He reaches out for her hand again, pulling her back in. "Let's just go somewhere and talk, we can go wherever you want, let's just get out of here." Panic begins to set in and settle on his face as he holds the ring he gave her on their one year. Even after all their fights and separation, she hadn't once returned it to him; it was his way of not letting her go even when she wasn't his to keep. He seemed to be living in a constant loop, history always repeating for him.

"I'm going home, Damon." Elena says sullenly, removing her hand once again from his grip and taking several steps back.

"Okay, yeah, then let's go back to your place."

"No," She shakes her head at him misunderstanding, remorse bubbling in her. "Home, Damon. Mystic Falls."

Damon's eyes widen as she confesses to him she's leaving once again, but this time with the chance of not returning for good. He begins to step towards her, afraid of this being their last interaction, not wanting this to be their last memory. A tear slips out of his right eye and down his cheek, his blue eyes shining with sorrow and regret. Before he can say anything else or prevent her from leaving, their conversation is interrupted.

"Damon, son! There you are!" Giuseppe's voice booms across the narrow hallway as he makes his way towards the couple. Damon quickly glances back towards his father, wishing for nothing more than a few more minutes alone with Elena. Seeing her opportunity, Elena slips out the back exit, the door quietly slamming behind her, the last thing she saw was Damon turning back towards where she once stood; his father behind him yapping about finding his younger brother and girlfriend. Knowing his father would drag him away towards their seats she let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding and ran her hands through her hair. Their car and driver were long gone and not expected to return for a few hours, so she set off to hail a cab, praying to not be photographed as she did.

Soon enough she's sitting in the backseat of a yellow taxi cab, her nerves causing her hands to shake as she pulls out her phone to already see numerous messages and missed calls from him and her manager. Being nominated a decent amount will definitely get you noticed when you aren't there. Sending one last text to Caroline that she would be away for a few days as to not worry her friend, she powers down her phone; not wanting to deal with the backlash to occur from her team for leaving the show early.

"Where to miss?" The cab driver cleared his throat, looking back at her in the rearview mirror. Her life being in shambles, she wondered what she should even do.


3 YEARS AGO

Elena was shoved off of the air mattress and onto the hardwood, cherry colored floors, waking up ultimately from her face meeting the cold ground. She groggily looked around to find a certain blonde sprawled out in the middle of the temporary bed.

"Thanks." She mutters towards her sleeping friend, rubbing her cheek that had just been smacked on the ground before slowly coming to a stand. Padding her way towards the bathroom, she throws on the lights and groans, her head lightly throbbing from the assault and from the drinks last night. She peels off her jeans and ribbed henley tee, wishing she hadn't slept in the same clothes, her legs feeling stiff as she steps out of the denim pooled at her ankles. Reaching into the open shower door she plays around with the knobs until hot water is pouring out of the shower head and steam is filling the bathroom. She sighs contently and steps into the warm shower, the hot water rolling down her, relieving her aching muscles. Having no real bathroom setup quite yet, the marble back splashed shower was bare, the typical scatter of shampoo bottles and body washes missing among the girls' new space, leaving Elena to just stand under the constant stream of warm water with her thoughts.

Being the worrier she was, Elena was beginning to second-guess her sudden move to Los Angeles with Caroline, wondering what she was truly going to make of her life and how she'd survive without her aunt Jenna. The change in water temperature reminded her she couldn't spend the entire day in the shower and she quickly got out, not wanting to hear the wrath of her friend for leaving no hot water. Out of habit she reached to her left for where the towels once stood in her old apartment and was met with a cold tiled wall.

"Crap." She mumbles as she looks around the spacious bathroom. The bathroom was set in shades of gray with white accent pieces, giving it a very modern feel, a soaker tub sat in the far corner big enough to seat four. While the view was pleasant and an upgrade from any previous bathroom she'd ever stepped in, annoyance grew in her as the steam left the room and the air began to turn cold. With her hair dripping and body covered in goosebumps she debated on putting on her old clothes but not wanting to fight the denim with her wet legs she made the rash decision to look for the towels packed away. Opening the door slowly, she peaked into the bedroom to see Care was nowhere in sight. Creeping out of the doorframe, she padded into the bedroom, water dripping and forming small puddles beneath her steps. Remembering they hadn't moved any of the boxes from the living room yet she mentally kicked herself for allowing herself to be distracted by the boys from the second floor. Grabbing the sheet they used on the mattress last night, she wrapped it tightly around her, slightly shivering from the central air kicking in.

"Care?" She yelled as she walked into the hallway, praying her friend had somehow already gotten ready and left for the day. While Caroline and Elena had been friends since diapers and had no real boundaries, she just wanted an easy start to the day; this clearly not being one of them.

"In here!" The blonde's voice chirped from the other side of their downtown apartment, no signs of a hangover present in her tone.

"Do you know where we packed the towels? I completely forgot we weren't actually moved in and—" Her voice stops as her eyes dart up from the floor, making eye contact with blue eyes but not the pair she was looking for. "Oh!"

In her kitchen around the small island stands Matt and Tyler dressed in workout clothes, looking tired and in worse shape than the girls who drank more.

"Uh, hey." Tyler says awkwardly, avoiding eye contact with the soaking wet brunette.

Elena sheepishly smiles towards them, feeling self-conscious and embarrassed as the white sheet clings to her, absorbing what was left of the water on her. She pulls the sheet tighter, wrapping her arms around her small waist. Unlike Tyler, Matt continually checks out the girl, stealing glances when he suspects her to not notice; but she notices each.

"We, uh" Matt clears his throat as he's elbowed in the side by his friend, "just finished up a run and had wanted to see if you girls wanted to grab breakfast or something?"

"But I told them we couldn't because you're coming with me to campus to get a few things, right?" Caroline piped in, sensing the tension, shutting down any plans and ultimately forcing Elena to walk around UCLA's large campus.

"Right." She quickly nodded, wanting to get the boys out of their apartment as soon as they could, feeling uncomfortable under Matt's gaze. She wondered if he'd gotten any mixed signals when they went out for food last night. Being in a new area and fresh out of a relationship, she was far from ready for another one; especially not with someone she barely knew.

Matt opens his mouth to speak but quickly closes it, seeming slightly defeated. Tyler picking up on this cue puts his hand on his friends' broad shoulder and smiles towards the girls, his eyes brightening when he looks at Caroline.

"Maybe next time then." The comment directed more for Caroline than the group in general but all four nods in agreement. The boys make their way towards the apartment door, Tyler's hand still resting on Matt's shoulder to be able to direct him out of the apartment before he stays long past his welcome. "We'll see you around."

Once the door closes behind them Elena lets out an exasperated sigh, her clutch on her sheet loosening, her knuckles no longer white from the grip. Behind her Caroline snickers, the rummaging of boxes reminding Elena she still needs to properly dry off and get ready. Spinning around on her heels, she is met with a towel being thrown her way before the scowl on her face can even be formed.

"Not funny, Caroline." She huffs, catching the towel before it smacks her in the face.

"You have to admit, it's a little funny." Caroline holds her hand up during the thought, pinching her index finger and thumb together, keeping less than a centimeter between the two, trying to lighten her friend's mood. Caroline's goofy smile and messy bun cause Elena to roll her eyes, taking in her less than perfect appearance as a sign the blonde is internally struggling with the after effects of drinking.

"You," Elena breathes out, swapping the sheet for the towel, thankful for the warmth the dry cloth is giving her, "look like shit."

"You're one to talk!" Caroline bursts out in a fit of laughter unfazed by Elena's actions, knowing they both looked like hot mess expresses. Wiping the unfallen tears from her eyes, Caroline rummages through the same box once again, another towel appearing in her hands. "So, you're really going to come to campus with me?" The smile on the blondes face fixed, her question being a yes, or yes answer only.

"Do I have a choice?"

"No."

"Okay then."

• • •

Elena got ready fairly quickly, drying her wet hair and throwing on the first outfit she found in her suitcase, not caring for her appearance. Caroline, on the other hand, took an hour and a half to get ready after showering, leaving Elena impatiently waiting on the floor of the empty bedroom she claimed as hers, unpacking a few small boxes here and there. Opening yet another, Elena's breath hitches in her throat as she comes across items she hadn't realized her aunt had packed up for her from their family home. An oversized Whitmore varsity sweater and pictures of the happy couple sit neatly packed along with a few other various items and knickknacks. She thought she had returned most of Liam's items to him after their messy breakup but here was one of his sweaters across the country with her, her favorite one in fact. Not even having to take it out of the box she could still smell the remains of his cologne, somehow guys scents left everlasting impressions on things while she couldn't even smell her own after five minutes of it being sprayed. Her emotions were bubbling to the surface, a mixture of regret and heartbreak pulling the lead.

"Hey, you ready to go?" Care's voice echoing into the large, empty room as she pads down the hall to the open door, stopping in her tracks when her eyes land on Elena and then on the unpacked items. "Hey," she softly says, walking into the room and sitting down next to her best friend, taking the sweater from her friends' death grip on it. "Don't focus on him. Liam was and has always been an asshole, you were just blinded by love! You deserve better, Lena. So much better." Her hand shoots out and grabs Elena's, squeezing it softly.

It was no secret that Caroline had disliked Liam since the first time the couple broke up over a nasty fight. Liam was the jealous type, he'd often pick fights with Elena over the smallest things and sometimes threw around that he thought she was cheating on him whenever she was home when Jeremy's friends were over. Despite their arguments and seemingly different personalities and interests, Elena had been with him since her Sophomore year of high school and that meant something to her, even if it didn't mean anything to him.

"Let's find somewhere we can donate these items to." Caroline's voice breaks the silence, her thought scaring Elena into reality.

"I can't." Elena squeaks, shaking her head quickly, wanting to put a pin in the conversation and attempting to reach for the gray sweater.

"Can't or won't?" Her friend pushes, leaning away from the brunette's reach. Caroline was always one to poke and prod when most others would resign their efforts. "Lena," she pauses, "it's time to let go."

Tears brim the brunette's eyes, avoiding eye contact with the blue eyes burning into her profile.

"Okay."

Caroline nods her head quickly, collecting the items and photos before Elena can object. Pulling herself and her friend from the ground, Care clutches the items to her chest, preventing Elena from taking them back. "Let's go then, alright? I don't want to get to campus too late."

Both girls set off on what Elena believes will be a long day, wanting nothing more than to lay in their makeshift bed all day. Instead of starting an argument with her persistent friend, she goes along with the plan to get rid of Liam's items, knowing she may not want to but needed to. This whole move was about starting fresh, wasn't it? With an inaudible sigh and soft shake of the head, Elena closes the apartment door behind her, taking in the quiet surroundings of the hallway, the only sound being the clacking of Caroline's wedges ahead of her.

"You're doing the right thing. It's what's best for you." Caroline's arm wraps around Elena's shoulders in the small elevator, squeezing her into a hug, her arm running up and down her best friend's forearm.

"I know." Her voice barely above a whisper as the ding of the elevator signals them it's time to get out. Knowing she would have plenty time to continually listen to sad, love songs from Taylor Swift and Adele over the course of her life, she wasn't going to allow herself to stay sad forever. She stood taller, thinking maybe if she led on she was okay to everyone else then she would believe it for herself.

Things would be different for Elena Gilbert, they had to be. She needed them to be, now more than ever.

• • •

The quad of UCLA was bustling with incoming students and transfers, all excited to be attending such a well-known school, knowing their opportunities for whatever they pursued were seemingly endless in California. The sun was high in the afternoon sky, shining down and warming Elena's skin, giving her already golden tone a glow. Her brown hair showing highlights of golden-blonde embers, sure to lighten even more with all the promises of beach days Caroline was likely to have; the most Mystic Falls even had close to a beach was the Falls and a few manmade lakes. The environment and its pace were a complete flip, they had yet to encounter any cold, detached passersby, each person they came into contact with was strangely mellow and open. It must be something in the air here, because Mystic Falls didn't have this nice of people. Or it was simply that they were two pretty girls and Caroline's ability to talk your ear off scared anyone's hostility away.

Walking with their arms linked, the girls made their way around the University, stopping at the registrar's office and campus bookstore for Caroline before ending their tiring adventure in a cute, little campus café. It was well past 2 when they sat at a small, round high-top in front of the large windows adorned with floral paintings. Each with a coffee in their hand and a shared pumpkin muffin between them, they sat in a comfortable silence for the next few moments.

"So…" Caroline paused, glancing up at Elena while picking off a piece of the top of their muffin. Elena looked to her friend with curiosity, a slight tilt in her head a signal that she didn't know where the blonde was going with this conversation and wouldn't be the one to take lead. Sighing, Care dropped the piece of muffin into her open mouth before wiping her hands together, her silver bracelets and charms jingling with each move. "What did you think of the school? It was amazing, right?! You seemed to fit right in here, and you know they have this amazing writing program that you might like! We could take some classes together, I know you aren't into theater but there are other basic courses that didn't transfer over with me…"

Her voice droned on in the background as Elena glanced out the window and into the distance. She hadn't thought about writing since she left Whitmore for much needed time off, and she sure hadn't had the passion for it since her mother's death. After what felt like hours, Caroline stopped rambling realizing her friend was not listening, snapping Elena out of her daze. Glancing back at her blue-eyed friend, she saw concern written in her eyes, her pale hand laying on top of Elena's small, tan one.

"I don't know, Care. I'm not really sure I want to write anymore…" She trailed off, removing her hand from under her friends' and laying them both in her lap. The remaining muffin sitting untouched across from her looked unappealing now, Elena feeling sick from the nagging in her mind about her future. She usually kept these thoughts at bay, wanting to live in the moment like her friend, but times like this reminded her she needed to figure out her life.

"Well then just go in undeclared! Come on, it'll be fun and if I know you as well as I do—which I do—you'll regret not going back sooner."

"For once Care I just want to do things for myself. Not because others think it is what's best for me."

Elena not backing down on her stance caused Caroline to remain silent the rest of their time in the small café. Elena knew her friend was only looking out for her and hadn't meant it in a pushy way like her aunt did, but it still hurt to think people often looked at her and thought she didn't have her life put together or something. Eventually the girls took off and returned to their still packed apartment, Elena taking to unpacking and Caroline eventually helping after eagerly getting off the phone with her mother.

The soft knock on their door left both girls staring at each other, hunched over their boxes, hair up in high ponytails, slightly dusty and in what one would think is pajamas. Care made no movement towards the door forcing Elena to groan in protest and roll her eyes as she padded over the newly laid rug of their living room. In the last hour and a half both girls had managed to make the living room look home-y; pictures and décor littered the walls, tables now had lamps or various coffee table books placed on it. What was mainly left was assembly of some of their furniture, something both girls were putting off.

The door swings open and the pair of girls is met with the familiar brown eyes of their downstairs neighbor, Tyler. He was clad in a UCLA tour guide tee and cargo shorts, sporting a more casual look than normal. Pushing Elena out of the way, Caroline comes in the center of the doorframe, eagerness rolling off of her in waves. Quickly pushing the fallen blonde strands behind her ear and smoothing out her wrinkled Mystic Falls High shirt, Care smiles from ear to ear, her eyes practically glowing.

"Hey Caroline." He smirks, taking in her disheveled appearance before looking behind her and eyeing the apartment. "I see you guys finally started unpacking." He nods towards the almost put together living room, trying to pick apart their personalities based on how they set up their place.

"Yeah, thank god!" Caroline puffs out an exaggerated breath, her grin never fading as she tries to play off being exhausted from all the pictures she's hung. "Who knew moving could be so stressful!"

Elena rolls her eyes before deciding to make her presence known between the two.

"You did, Care. This isn't our first time moving." She says with a chuckle, turning away from her friend before her eyes could burn a hole into her face. Making her way towards what should be the entertainment center, Elena plops onto the ground in front of the pieces and tries to figure out what connected to what without the original instructions.

The door closes behind her and two sets of footsteps echo in the apartment before she's met with a pair of Nike running sneakers in her peripheral vision.

"Need any help?" Tyler raises an eyebrow at the girl, sensing she clearly had no idea what she was doing.

"I think I can manage." She tilts her head up towards him, his square jaw appearing more defined from this angle and she can see why Caroline seems to have a thing for him. Returning to the puzzle in front of her she grabs two pieces that look like they'd belong together and attempts to screw them together with no luck, resulting in a stripped screw and soft cursing under her breath.

"Oh, Elena, stop pretending you know how to build things and let him help!" Caroline whines in the background, causing Elena to roll her eyes, a small blush creeping onto her cheeks from her friend's forwardness. Giving up, she nods her head slowly, a chuckle escaping Tyler's lips as he squats next to her and takes the items out of her hands.

Not bothering to call Matt, Tyler works his way through assembling the girls' furniture as they continued to unpack. His payment the free beer and time spent with Caroline was enough to make him not question why he spent 3 hours after guiding tour groups helping these girls set their apartment. Setting the T.V. into the entertainment center before leaving for the night, Tyler turns it on to quickly check that he's properly installed it, a celebrity news channel blares from the speakers.

"And to end tonight's Hollywood recap is the pressing headlines about this celebrity couple's nasty breakup!"

"Oooh, turn it up!" Caroline rushes back into the living room, her blonde curls now bouncing around her small head, free from their once high ponytail. "I want to hear who this is about!" Tyler rolls his eyes at the blonde, not understanding anyone's obsession with celebrity gossip, before turning up the volume, drawing Elena's attention as well.

"Reports having been flying in all week that model, Andie Star, has called off her engagement to actor and philanthropist, Damon Salvatore, just weeks after he was spotted out with several other girls while Star was away on a week shoot. This comes days after Star is photographed without her engagement ring in New York City during Fashion Week. The couple have been dating for nearly 2 years after meeting at one of Giuseppe's fundraising galas, where they seemingly hit it off. Sources close to the couple say there hasn't been any spark between the pair for months, only continuing with their engagement to save face. When asked, the couple's PR declined to comment on the matter. I guess Andie couldn't be compelled by those baby blues any longer, failing to make Damon a one-woman man." The reporter laughs before turning to her co-anchor, both who animatedly begin to discuss the plight of what once was Star and Salvatore's romance.

"He is disgusting, he cares so little for women. I can't see how anyone could date him, let alone be engaged to." Elena mutters to herself, however the comment is heard by Care.

"Oh, I don't know, Lena." Care says wistfully, twirling a blonde strand around her index finger. "He is ridiculously hot! And dreamy! Have you seen him in his new action movie?!"

"He's an ass, Care!" Not wanting to continue the conversation about yet another famous manwhore, Elena walks briskly over to Tyler and snatches the remote from his hand, silencing the now broadcasting fashion show. Tired and slightly annoyed at her friend's increasing fascination with celebrities, she excuses herself to bed, leaving Caroline and Tyler alone in their fully unpacked living room. Opening her bedroom door, she is overjoyed to see Tyler had assembled her bed and she quickly flops down onto the mattress, sinking into the plush, bare bed. He had even carried in the boxes labeled as Elena's bedroom and set them in the far, back corner. Finally resting after a long day, the brunette's eyes begin to feel heavy and she sighs contently on the unmade bed, not caring there were no sheets to lie under. The irony, she thought to her sleepy self as she blindly reaches over to her nightstand to turn off the bedside lamp, falling quickly asleep in the foreign room. The quiet sounds of the city looming just beyond her closed window, her dreams filled with unfamiliar blue eyes and promises of a passionate, fulfilled life.


Well, what did everyone think?! Let me know in the comments! Don't forget to follow, favorite, review, whatever! Thanks everyone! :)