Okay... so my other Delena story fans, just know that I'm working on the chapters. For this story :) I have the first couple of chapters written which is why I'm giving you guys this one ;) Thank you for the big response to this story... I'm totally loving it, and thank you for reading and reviewing.

I think I responded to everyone and those who I couldn't, just know it means the world for you to take the time to share your thoughts with me. Okay ^_^ onto the next mini-chapter... Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Elena saw Stefan approach and she was not ready to talk about them again, she was about to tell him to not ask, but his puzzled expression at what she guessed was his brother's take off, made her just remain quiet.

"What happened with Damon?" he asked her.

"I think he got mad at me or something…" Elena said, even though she couldn't place what she could have done or said.

"OH…" was all Stefan said. Yup, that would do it.

"Do you know why he's mad at me?" she questioned by his obvious stance of knowledge.

"No…" he paused, "but I figure it has to do with the fact that today's his birthday…"

Elena gasped, that made sense.

"What?" Stefan asked.

"I just… I know why he's hurt…" she felt guilty now, "he asked me to skip school to I guess do something, but I told him that I couldn't miss school because of the whole kidnapped thing, and now that just makes sense… why didn't he just tell me?"

"Yeah… he tells no one…" Stefan said.

"I… I gotta go after him…" she said pulling her phone out frantically. He was hurt… because of her and she just needed to make things better. She had to. There were many things that she couldn't control when it came to him, but this… she could fix.

"What? Why?" Stefan caught her by the hand, "I thought you couldn't miss school…"

She shrugged slightly smiling as she remembered Damon's line, "What's one more day…" and she was soon walking off away from school.

/

Damon had just taken residency in a no name bar about to order a drink when his phone went off…

A text message…

[ Need your help… can you pick me up from my house in a couple of hours? :) Please? -E ]

He read the message over and over again… glaring at the device that he felt was mocking him as he deliberated what to do. And even though he'd come to the conclusion of wanting to tell her to go to hell… He replied back...

[ K. ]

Now he felt he shouldn't order a drink. If Elena needed his help then something must be wrong and he thought it'd be better to be sober than not. God, he hated her so much right now… Who'd ever said being in love was a wonderful thing, was not living his life, he thought wryly.

Another message came thru then…

[ Thank you, Bring dressy clothes… :D -E ]

His brows furrowed… DRESSY CLOTHES! What the hell was she going to make him do? Was there some lame town function that he'd forgotten about that she was going to drag him to? He groaned, well at least there might be alcohol and that would totally make his day.

/

Elena finished making the reservation at a genuine Italian Restaurant in the next town. Hopefully that would be okay, she figured Italian because of his last name, though technically he probably wouldn't enjoy the food as much as a human would, but it was the thought that counted, right? She had his small gift on the bed already wrapped and ready to go… as she finished the small waves on her hair.

She wanted it to look flirty but not like Katherine's so she refrained from defined curls. She'd kept her make up light, but cute… eyelashes darkened, cheeks rosy, and glossy lip gloss. She slipped on a royal blue dress… it had wide spaghetti straps, defined her curves perfectly and came down to knee length. She'd picked out some sexy heels and as she looked at herself in the mirror… she was beginning to wonder of whom she'd done this for… him or her?

It had started out as a way to show him that he mattered to her and that she wanted to celebrate his birthday with him, but the moment planning, shopping, and everything came together… she felt nervous and like she was going on a date.

Date? She panicked, but what if he didn't see it that way. Well that would be good… she answered herself, but then if that was true then why was that thought making her feel a pang of disillusion. Was it because since she wasn't with Stefan right now she felt like maybe it wouldn't hurt to give in a little to what she thought she felt for his brother?

This was SO wrong on SO many levels… they were friends weren't they? Couldn't two friends go to dinner without it meaning something?

The door bell rang then…

Her heart accelerated… guess she would find out now wouldn't she? She picked up her small purse, a basket she'd packed, his gift, and headed down stairs.

/

Damon pulled up to the Gilbert Residence… he laid his suit's jacket in the back seat of the Camaro as he stepped out… black slacks, Italian leather shoes, deep blue button up shirt slightly opened at his chest. He didn't know how formal they were going but he'd brought a tie and the coat should he need it.

He rang the door bell and he didn't freaking understand why he was so goddamn edgy… it wasn't like this was a date or something… right?

Just then Elena opened the door… she was a vision, a goddess… God, did she know blue was his favorite color? He was at a loss of words for once and then she said…

"Happy Birthday Damon…" smiling tenderly while then slowly approaching him wrapping her hands around his neck for a hug while giving him a lingering kiss on the cheek.

He allowed the sweet scent that was that of Elena envelope him as he circled her tiny body, pressing it to him lightly… unconsciously returning the hug.

"Thank you…" he whispered against her hair, "I'm assuming Stefan…" he attempted it to be a snide remark.

She pulled back scowling teasingly, "Told me? Yes… and you better not go all off on him…" she finished with a raised eyebrow and hand on her hip

I might thank him! Was what crossed his mind, but instead said, "No promises…" he joked.

Damon then offered her his arm which he expected her to not take, but she'd raised her finger at him to hold on as she reached around the door for her items, and then she comfortably took it as he led her to his car.

Such a change from this morning she noticed, she'd obviously upset him.

"So what kind of crappy town thingy are you making me accompany you to…?" he said trying to tease, "I assume since you and Stefan aren't…"

"Ugh…" she scoffed when he opened the door for her and took the basket from her to place it in the back, "I'm insulted you would think that that's all I asked you to come here for…?"

"Isn't it…?" he said slowly closing her door, while flashing to his side getting in…

"No…" she said, "it isn't… so drive…" she ordered, "I'll tell you were to go…"

"Or… you could just tell where exactly we are going and that way…"

"Not happening…" she smirked at being in control and the look on his face, "now Mr. Salvatore… Drive…"

He glared at her playfully but went ahead and went with her plan. Somewhere between him turning on the engine and turning off into the highway, he began to contemplate the possibility that he'd drank himself to stupor literally, passing out.

It was just that things like this didn't happen… least of all to him. But then he'd glanced to his side catching Elena gazing at him oddly… when she noticed him catching her ogling him, she'd blushed… giving him a smile that seemed foreign to him but had returned nonetheless.

Damon was afraid to hope but he'd thought that smile had been… Amorous.