"Bonnie? What are you doing here?"
"Im here to pick you up for school," The words slowly registered in her mind and she nodded mechanically, her head still stuck on Damon.
"Oh, yeah. Of course," Bonnie held up her hand, blocking Elenas way, her eyebrows raised in questioning.
"You wanna tell me what just happened?"
"I don't really know. Its just.. Its just Damon being Damon, okay?" She wanted nothing more then to drop the subject about Damon. It had all been very weird and strangely intriguing. Not that she would ever admit that out loud.
"Elena, I don't trust him, you know that. The way he talks to you.. Im worried," Bonnies face was etched into her exact words; distrust and worry. Elena always knew Damon wouldnt hurt her, but from anothers point of view she could understand. He talked with confidence, a threatening confidence that made you want to bend over backwards to everything he says. It could be intimidating and his constant impulsive decisions made his anger very dangerous.
And everyone knew the best was to make him angry was Elena Gilbert.
"I know, he's a little hard to take but I have it under control," She gave her best friend a forced smile, and she could tell Bonnie was unconvinced.
"Come on! We're already late for first period," Elena hopped into the car and Bonnie stood in her thoughts for a beat.
What could she do? Her best friend was being tormented by a sick, demented vampire. Worry was her middle name at this point. A cold chill suddenly ran down her spine, as the wind picked up. Bonnie flashed her eyes around her surroundings. From the change in the weather and the eery cawing of a crow perched on a nearby tree, Bonnie knew she wasn't alone.
She ran into the car with haste.
The crow stared did not break eye contact with the girls and even as the car drove away and down the street its gaze did not falter. In the deep shadows of the crowded trees, a devils smirk appeared.
A week had past since the 'Damon incident' as her and Bonnie were calling it. She had not seen Damon, unless you count the moment at the Grill when he flashed her a dangerous grin and discreetly ran his hand across her side as they walked past each other.
But other then that, no Damon.
She hadn't really been doing anything. Bonnie seemed distant and distracted all week and whenever Elena suggested going out Bonnie made up an excuse. Jeremy has been practically living at Tylers house and Caroline was currently out of town visiting her dad. So she was extremely surprised Damon hadn't stopped by in her room when shes getting out of her shower or when she was sleeping. She was paranoid mess, even the tinest of creaks made her jump.
She constantly had this nervous feeling that eyes were on her. But all there was was an empty house and a caw of a crow nearby. She felt utterly and completely alone.
Elena layed on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her homework, unfinished, was sprawled out around her. She had to be okay with the fact that Damon wasn't bothering her, right? Its not like she wants him to constantly corner her and mess with her head. She came to the conclusion that thats what she hated the most. He had a way of wiggling his way into her and messing with her thoughts. He makes her question whats right and wrong. He makes her question her wants.
Her phone buzzed, jumping her out of her thoughts.
Bonnies name flashed on her phone and she hurled herself at the oppurtunity of having a conversation with someone.
"Hey Bonnie,"
"Hey Elena, whats up?"
"Nothing, just trying and failing at doing this stupid math homework. I mean who said it was okay to give this much work? Besides, its not like im ever gonna use this crap," Elena scowled at her books on the bed. Bonnie chuckled, but it sounded more forced and uncomfortable then usual. It did not go unnoticed.
"Her Bonnie... Are you okay?" Worry etched into her voice.
"Yeah, look Elena I was actually calling to ask you what you were doing tomorrow?" She sounded nervous. What is going on?
"Im going to school..."
"I mean after that,"
"Well I was going to stop by the boarding house to pick up the rest of my clothes and stuff I had left in Stefans room. But I think ill put that off until later, I have alot of homework to catch up on,"
"Oh okay, you're sure you're not gonna go there tomorrow?" Elenas eyebrows furrowed, why did she want to know?
"Yeah, positive. It can wait. Why?"
"No reason, but I gotta go,"
"Wait Bonnie-" The tone dial went off signaling Bonnie had hung up.
Well that wasn't weird at all, Elena mused. With a sigh and a shrug she went back to her homework.
Elena woke up in a great mood. Which was a rare occasion for her. She had woke up before her alarm with a pep in her step and a smile on her face. Why? She didn't know, and she didn't care. She took a long steamy shower drying herself and throwing on some jeans and boots. Taking her sweet time doing her makeup, even going as far as to curl her hair, she looked at the mirror with a satisfied smile.
She. Looked. Good.
Snagging a glance at the clock she realized it was time to head out to school. Bonnie had called her once more before going to sleep to tell her she wasn't going to make it to school, so that Elena would be driving alone. The humidity was ridiculous when Elena walked outside to her car.
She couldn't help but glance around her cautiously, still expecting Damon to pop out of no where. It had been subconciously worrying her that he wasn't nagging her. Calm before the storm, as they say. Because for some odd reason, she couldnt shake the feeling that it wasn't over. And she couldn't shake her own feelings that she didn't want it to be. Did she actually like the thrill he gave her? She hadn't been feeling anything at all since Stefan left.
She functioned normally and was a pro at painting on a smile but she had no feeling when Stefan had broken her heart. So, is Damon the reason why she's suddenly so ready to feel? Elena scowled at the thought, burying the question deep inside her.
School was a major drag without her best friend. Matt was company enough but he was a guy and guys liked 'bro time' as he had put it. The bell had finally rung and she found herself in 7th period, at last, waiting for Alaric to start his usual teaching.
Alaric had refused her offer to stay at the house with Jeremy and Elena. She had of course argued and he had of course not listened.
The dismissal bell finally rang signaling Elena was free to leave until Alaric called her back inside.
"Whats up? Finally accepting my offer?" She grinned. He shook his head.
"Nope. Im still set on getting drunk in my apartment, not your house,"
"Oh come on, Rick. We all know you get drunk at The Grill." He chuckled.
"You're in a good mood," He observed. He was used to seeing sad Elena or worried Elena. Happy Elena was a side of her that rarely appeared.
"I feel good today," She smiled at him. "Did you need something? Everythings okay right?" Worried Elena started to make an appearence and he was quick to diminish it.
"No, no everythings fine. I was just wondering how you're doing. Damon hasn't been an ass has he?" Alaric narrowed his eyes at the thought of his sort-of vampire friend hurting Elena. They may be buddy-buddy but neither of them wouldn't hesitate to hurt each other. Lets just say, they had a love/hate relationship.
"When isn't he an ass?" She smirked, "Speaking of, I think im gonna drop by the boarding house, I've been meaning to pick some stuff up," The thought of Bonnie making sure she wouldnt go flashed through her mind and that made her all the more determined to go.
"Okay, be safe. And tell Damon to give me a call," He called out to her as she nodded and waved a goodbye.
The drive to the boarding house was quick, she hesitated going in at first, wondering if Damon was there. She shook her head, she should be fine going to the boarding house wether Damon was there or not, she's only done it a thousand times. So she threw caution to the wind and opened the door stepping inside for the first time in a long time.
"Hello?" She called out meeting only eery silence.
"Looking for me?" Whirling around, she knocked into him harder then you would have thought possible.
"Ow, do you have to do that? A simple 'hello' would have sufficed," She growled at him as he shrugged.
"I think my way is more fun, don't you?"
"Look, im just here to pick up my stuff," She went to side step him but he blocked her way. She balled her hands into fists trying to calm herself down. Feeling his eyes on her, she squirmed but refused to make eye contact.
"Hmm, Elena. You look tasty today," She tried to ignore the fact that his fingers were running slowly along her collar bone and that her skin was screaming for him. She could practially feel the smirk on his face.
"Excuse me," Attempting to side step him again he blocked her way.
"Why won't you look at me?" The seriousness in his voice made her glance at his beautiful features. The expression on his face was one that often was not there. He was confused and serious, eyebrows drawn together, no hint of sarcasm there. It had really bothered him that she wouldn't turn in doe eyes on him.
She yanked her chin out of his grasp.
"I need to get my stuff," She said mechaniclly and ran up stairs to Stefans room. What just happened again? Why does this keep happening? And why the hell was this time so different? Tossing her clothes in a duffel bag she ran down the stairs. Taking a glance around the room she spotted Damon pouring himself a drink.
"Well im going. I would say it was nice seeing you but.." She trailed off, turning on her heel to the door not bothering to wait for a reply. Her bad self was smiling and clapping inside, she liked messing with Damon.
"Someones fiesty today!" He yelled to her from the other room. She suppressed a smile, shaking her head, she reached for the door nob. Only problem was she couldnt actually reach it. Oh my god, no. Im seeing things, she thought to herself. Panic was threatening to pour out of her, as she reached for the doornob again. Though, it was as if there was a force field around it and no matter how many angles she tried to grab it, she couldn't.. It reminded her of the time Bonnie had locked her in her house..
Oh my god, magic.
"No, no, no, no! This is not happening right now," She chanted to herself.
"What are you babbling about?" He took in her distressed appearence. "Look, if you're gonna have some kind of panic attack, go home. I don't have time for this,"
"I can't!" She screamed. He gave her the have-you-completely-lost-it look and rolled his eyes a small smirk playing at his lips.
"If you wanted to spend more time with me, all you had to do was ask," He obviously was not understanding this. She took a couple deep breaths, trying ot calm down so she could explain to him what the fuck was happening.
"You don't understand, Damon. I physically can't get out," She gestured to the door nob and he became very serious. His eyes turned hard and focused as he walked towards the door, unable to open it. He growled in frustration.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," He hissed and my god if it wasn't the sexiest thing shes ever heard. No, focus Elena, she scolded herself. He tried again and again but continued to fail.
Well, at least she wasnt the only one who didnt want to be here.
"What do we do?" Panic creeped into her.
"Call your witchy little friend! Hell, this is probably her fault!" He slammed a glass agasint the wall and she cringed, shakily pulling out her cell phone dialing Bonnies number.
"Hey, Bonnie. We have a problem."