A/N: So, I know I said I'd post again in a couple of days, I lied and wrote this up today. I did it because I have such a huge following all of a sudden and I just want to take this time to say thank-you to all of you for supporting my efforts here. I'm glad you all are enjoying what I've written so far so I will try to write a couple chapters ahead so I can post everyday or every couple of days. If you guys have feedback or ideas, leave me review and tell me where you would like to see this go. Thanks to DamonElena30512 and AlyssaIanSomerhalder for the reviews! You guys rock!
For you all, enjoy! Chapter 2. I'm fine, Thanks for asking.
Dear Diary,
Today will be different, today, when someone asks me how I am, I'm going to say "I'm fine, thanks for asking." I'll even try to mean it. I'm just so tired of everyone walking on eggshells when they talk to me; like I'm a bomb about to explode if they slip and mention my parents. God! It's silly that anyone would think I'd want them to not talk about them, that even mentioning them is going to send me off into a depressive catatonia. My parents were a huge part of the community, I'm so fucking sick of everyone acting like they didn't actually exist! Maybe all the people that keep not mentioning them should just turn around and say what they're really thinking "I'm sorry that you lost half of your family but death makes me really uncomfortable and I don't have anything to say that is going to make you feel better." and hug me. That's it! Simple! I guess they just feel like I need to talk about it more, I don't feel that way myself. I just want everyone else to stop bringing it up all the time. I want everyone to stop staring at me like they're waiting for me to break or scream; when really the thing I want to do is punch or break something.
I'm just so angry all the time and I don't know if I can choke it back anymore. Damon says I need to go take some Karate or something. He seems to be the only one who actually knows what I'm thinking or feeling anymore. He's the only one I let see that side of me lately anyway. Plus, I think he has like ESP or something. Personally I think it's because he sees so much. Whatever it is, he's been my rock these last couple of months. I know, diary, what you're going to say, and no, it isn't like that with us. I'm not sure I want it to be right now, everything is so ass backward, I can't even think straight; about dating or guys, truth be told. I don't even think he feels that way about me, or at least in the "I love you and I can't live without you" kind of way. I know he cares about me because he has been here through all the shit that has gone down. We haven't had our date and he hasn't kissed me since that night. I don't really know how I feel about him, either. I mean, I lust for him but really, you'd have to be blind deaf and without any senses at all to not lust for him. He is sex on a stick and, if I'm honest? I'd totally eat him. Also, he seems distracted sometimes. Like he's a million miles away. He won't talk about it, but I know there is something hurting him, poking at him, too. Maybe if he learns to trust again he'll open up to me because I'd like to help him if I can. I also hope he gets back soon from where ever he's gone this time, I miss him terribly and he's been away for what seems like forever, though he calls every day to talk and make sure I'm doing ok. I personally think he's worried I'm going to kill someone one of these days. :)
He and Jeremy have grown close too, like brothers almost. He helped Jer kick the drugs he got into, said he helped his brother kick the same kind of habit. There was a lot of shouting and tears and hate, but, we got him clean. He seems better to me and we are attempting the first day of school today. I hope I make it without freaking out.
Elena closed her diary and sighed. Her phone buzzed and she looked at the incoming text from Damon: I miss you and I'm thinking of you. Try not to hurt anyone :) xx.
She rolled her eyes and tapped out her response: I'll do my best. I miss you too, come home soon! I miss your face. :P xx.
Her phone buzzed again with his response: Tease. Wear something nice, I'm coming home and we are going out. See you at seven. Xx
She smiled and went downstairs for her morning coffee. She said her good mornings to Jeremy and Aunt Jenna and poured herself a cup.
"Do you want breakfast?" Jenna asked as she looked around for her keys.
"All about the coffee this morning, Aunt Jenna. Hey! Jeremy! Get your own!" she laughed as he took her cup from her.
"Ahh, Elena, you make good coffee, Jeremy smiled as he gulped it down.
"Jerk, Aunt Jenna, I'm going out with Damon tonight, so don't hold dinner on me, ok?" Elena said in a would-be-casual voice.
"Got a hot date? Nice, I was wondering when you were gonna wise up and give that poor dude a break." Jeremy laughed as he scooped up his bag.
"It's not a date, we're probably just going to grab a burger or something, no big deal. And how am I "giving him a break?" It's not like that for him," Elena explained, though her heart sped up thinking about it regardless of her words.
"Elena, I'm not going to explain it to you, see you at school," Jeremy smirked(too much like Damon when he did that) and left.
"Wish me luck, Elena, I have to give my thesis presentation today, " Jenna said.
"You don't need it but good luck anyway," Elena hugged Jenna quickly and grabbed her bag, and jumped into Bonnie Bennet's car.
Bonnie claimed to be psychic or a witch, she said she kept getting these weird flashes whenever she touched people or objects that they had just touched. She said it wasn't like an all the time thing, just with certain people.
"So, see any hot guys at school this year?" Elena asked
"No, there is a disturbing lack of male real estate in this town. I swear, they must be leaving in the night or something," Bonnie laughed as they pulled into the parking lot.
"They must," Elena smiled." Holy shit, Bonnie!" she grabbed Bonnie's arm and pointed to the retreating back end of..
"New guy," Bonnie moaned."Oh my GOD! He has a nice rear view."
"That he does," Elena agreed."almost as nice as Damon's."
"Is he back yet? He's been gone for ages," Bonnie asked excitedly.
"He's back tonight, actually, and," Elena paused for dramatic effect."He's taking me out, on a date!"
Bonnie's eyes grew big and she smiled. "Finally! You have to go get something nice to wear."
" I know, I just, Elena closed her eyes for a second."I don't know if I'm.."
Bonnie shushed her. "You need this, Elena, you need to get out and live a little. Plus, I think you've made him wait long enough, he's so gone on you."
"What do you mean "gone on me"? He doesn't think like that about me, he's just being a really good friend," Elena said, denial evident in her voice. Bonnie saw the way she blushed a little and squirmed every time his name was mentioned.
"Cut the crap, Elena, you like him too, and if you don't, you're fucking blind or something," a voice said behind her.
"Caroline! Oh my god! How are you?" Elena threw herself at her other best friend
"I'm good, just eavesdropping on your convo about Mr. Gorgeous pants and his nearly slavish devotion to you," Caroline smiled evilly.
"Don't hold back Care, tell us how he really feels," Bonnie chuckled.
"Oh, he's gone on you, all right, I know why you haven't really been paying attention to that poor hot man, but, I'm glad to see you've decided to give him the time of day." Caroline grabbed her arm and strolled with them inside Mystic Falls High.
"So, New guy?" Bonnie asked, knowing Caroline would know everything about him.
"Transfer from Arizona, five foot eleven, Sagittarius, green eyes, and his name is Stefan Salvatore," Care smiled smugly.
"Damon's brother?" Elena was shocked. "Jesus, he's here?"
"Yeah, I guess he had to come home, touch roots or something, theories abound as to why, plus, just as hot as the first edition," Caroline smiled.
Bonnie remained silent as she watched Stefan slide into the office and pick up his class schedule.
"Earth to Bonnie," Elena waved her hand in front of her friend's eyes.
"I'm sorry, he's just so, wow," Bonnie sighed.
"And he's staring at you," Caroline whispered theatrically in Bonnie's ear.
Elena looked around and sure enough, Stefan was staring intently at Bonnie. She smiled at Stefan when he chanced a looked at her and paled instantly. He walked quickly toward her, a look on his face that was undecipherable. He looked ill as he quickly brushed past their little group and went off down the hall.
"What the hell?" Elena wondered aloud. She glanced at her two friends and noted that they were unaware of the change in Stefan. She kept it to herself and walked in the same direction to their shared history classroom. Stefan was already seated and resolutely staring out the window away from Elena.
She sat as far from his very palpable aggression toward her as she could manage and still be in the same classroom and Bonnie sat right next to him and smiled into his eyes. With an effort he tore his gaze from the window and smiled warmly back at her. At least it seemed he only had issue with Elena.
History carried on much as it had the term before and when the bell rang Elena gave Bonnie the thumbs up and ran off the cheerleading practice. She ended up sitting it out, as she hadn't a clue how to do any of the routines and didn't practice over the summer, her heart just didn't seem to be in it anymore. She watched Stefan and Bonnie strolling around the track laughing and she smiled at her friend's good fortune. She blew a strand of hair out of her face and sighed. She was going to quit cheerleading and she honestly couldn't work up the care to feel bad about it. She sat up straighter when she saw a blue Camaro roll slowly through the parking lot and park. The door opened and a familiar lean figured man unfolded himself from the car.
"Damon, " Elena breathed and smiled like a loon when he seemed to hear her and started walking toward her. She stood and started running to him, heedless of the shocked stares she was eliciting from her fellow cheerleaders and the various lounging students. She hurled herself into his arms, wrapped her legs around him and hugged him tightly.
"Can't breathe, Elena, choking me, " he chuckled as he hugged her back.
"Sorry, I just, you're here and I missed you," Elena had her face buried in his neck, her eyes closed, just breathing him in.
"I missed you too, Elena," Damon chuckled, stroking her hair down her back.
Caroline noticed the look on his face, though Elena couldn't see it, to Caroline he looked as if he'd finally come home. She smiled and turned back to the other girls and continued practice.
Damon set Elena down and smiled into her eyes, brushing her hair back from her forehead.
"You ready for tonight?" he asked.
" I need to got to the mall and get something to wear, do you want me to meet you at your house?" Elena asked.
"That would be fine, I'll see you soon then? "He kissed the back of her hand and walked back to his car and drove out of the lot.
Elena walked over to where Caroline was smiling like the cat that had the cream and she stopped.
"I'm quitting, Care, I just can't fake it, I'm not this person anymore," she said, stooping to pick up her bag.
"I know, now go buy something sexy for that man, he looks like he needs a good roll in the hay," Caroline laughed.
"CAROLINE! Oh my god! That's mortifying!" Elena covered her now flaming cheeks.
"You know you like him, just fudging admit it!" Caroline cried.
Elena knew she did, felt it whenever she looked at him or whenever she caught him looking at her. She liked him, a lot. He was what she wanted. She hoped he felt at least something more than friendship for her or she would die.
"Ok, I do, I just, how do I "win his hand" as it were?" Elena asked.
"You aren't going to have to try very hard, he's kind of already falling for you, " Caroline replied walking with Elena toward her car.
"He, really? You think so?" Elena asked, hope springing eternal.
"I'm fairly certain, just, be easy on him, it might take him a bit, he seems like he has some trust issues," Caroline said knowingly.
"Ok, thanks Care, you're a good friend." Elena pulled her into a hug.
"I just see what I see. Let's go get you appareled for Pants." Caroline started the car and the girls went to the mall.
An hour later, Elena's bank account was a couple hundred dollars lighter but she felt good about the dress and matching shoes she had purchased. She thanked Caroline and bundled her stuff up to her room. She took a shower and wrapped herself in a big towel and walked out into her bedroom drying her hair with another towel. She looked up when a shadow passed in front of her window and let out a strangled yell.
"STEFAN?! What the..." was all she manged to get out before she found herself pinned to the wall with Stefan's hand encircling her throat, cutting off her air.
"Katherine, I never thought I'd see you again. Apparently no one was immune to your charms; how did you manage to escape the tomb, no one else did. Why are you here, Katherine? Are you trying to torment me? I'll kill you, I swear to god! I will end you if you don't tell me!" He was hissing his epithets into her ear, punctuating each statement with a little shake. Elena tried in vain to pry his fingers from her throat, so she settled for holding onto his forearm and trying to talk without oxygen. Stefan was staring into her face, her eyes, when he loosed his hold on her neck and stepped back jerkily. Elena massaged her throat and stared at Stefan.
"What in the ever-loving fuck are you trying to pull? And who the hell is Katherine? Damon said the same thing to me a couple of months ago? Are we twins or something?" Elena was furiously asking.
"You're human?!" Stefan said hoarsely.
"As opposed to, what, crustacean? Spill it, Stefan, who the fuck is Katherine?"(A tomb? ) she let that slide.
"She WAS my girlfriend, until she betrayed me, I thought she died in a fire. I thought you were her, I'm sorry, Elena, please, I swear, I made a huge mistake, I should have known you weren't her. She has no kindness in her eyes; you do. I can see why Damon is so taken." Stefan looked so ashamed she had no choice but to forgive him.
"Apology accepted. So, which one of you dated her first?" she asked.
Stefan nodded at her and smiled tightly, " very observant, Elena, Damon did, then she left him for me. She was not a very kind woman, I think she really hurt him and in the end, she abandoned us both. Damon and I found out a few years later that she didn't die in the fire, that she just left. Damon was helping me track her down, he thought she was in Chicago, and she was for a time. He never mentioned that you were such a doppelganger. All he said was that he had met someone very dear to him back home; here." Stefan sat on her bed and ran his hands over his face.
Elena looked at him for a few seconds before asking him her next question.
"What did you mean when you said that I was human?" Elena watched Stefan's face as she asked, saw a flash of something that was gone as quickly as it had come.
"Katherine sometimes seemed, inhuman, she was so cruel to Damon, that's all," Stefan said convincingly.
Elena nodded like she believed what he was feeding her but she didn't, he was hiding something and she was going to find out, whatever it took.
"Well, Stefan, I am not her, I have issues but she sounds certifiable," Elena smiled and looked at her neck checking for bruises; there were none.
"I have to get dressed and go meet Damon, so if you'll excuse me.." she indicated the door so he could leave.
"Have a good night, Elena, sorry again for scaring you," Stefan said as he walked out and closed the door.
Elena heard him leave and took out her new dress and shoes. She pulled her hair up in a mass of curls, a long coil loose over her shoulder. She stepped into the shimmery dark blue dress with it's flirty hemline that skimmed just above her knees topped by a corseted bodice. Her shoes were the real find. They were dark blue suede with a blue steel four inch spiked heel. She was as ready as she was ever going to be so she grabbed her purse and a nice dark blue coat and her cell and got in her car and drove to Damon's house. She parked the car and got out, looking at the grand front entryway and the big oak front door that was...
open...
She walked up to it and gave it a little nudge. "Hello? Damon" she called out"Anyone home?"
She pushed it open all the way and walked into the house, closing it behind her. "Hello? Anybody?"
She followed the long dark panelled foyer into a large richly appointed great room complete with giant fireplace and roaring fire. She smiled and unbuttoned her jacket, placing it and her purse on the back of the couch. She walked over to stand in front of the mantle, enjoying the warmth. She heard a small rustle of fabric and turned slowly to catch Damon standing as if frozen in the arched entryway to the great room. His lips were slightly parted and his eyes were huge as they traveled over her face and body. She stood tall as his eyes devoured her and she felt the physical palpitations of his apparent lust and awe at her appearance. She felt that power that all women feel when they render a man speechless; knowing that that man wants them, burns for them alone. Damon seemed to snap out of his trance and in a half dozen strides was crushing her against him, his lips on hers hard and insistent, daring her to respond with a denial. She didn't, she kissed him back with just as much ardent heat as he kissed her; as natural as breathing was this kiss. Damon pulled back and smiled gently down at her.
"You look stunning, Elena, if it isn't obvious," he traced her jaw with his fingertips his eyes on hers.
"Thank-you, Damon, that's very nice of you to say," she responded a little breathlessly. She was having a damned hard time concentrating when he looked at her as he was looking at her in this moment. She kept staring at his mouth. She licked her lips and heard him groan before he slanted those lips over hers once again. She sighed and wrapped her arms around him, holding him to her, aching for him to put his hands on her over-heated flesh. He pulled away slowly and cupped her face.
"Elena? We are going to be late if we stand here much longer," he smiled.
"I'm more than ok with that, " Elena whispered, trying to get him to kiss her again.
"You are a tease, I really want to take you out tonight, you got all pretty for it, I'd hate for me to be the only male to appreciate how truly beautiful you are." he handed her her jacket and her purse.
"I'd rather stay in and have you," she eye fucked the shit out of him "show me how much you would appreciate me."
He felt himself become painfully aroused at the prospect. He was going to need a lot of ice by the end of the night, he was sure.
"Oh, I will show you, Elena, but not tonight. Tonight I have plans that cannot be derailed." He took her hand and walked her out to his car.
Elena smiled and shivered at his statement. That kiss almost melted her carefully chosen undergarments off, his cocky smirk as he drove them out of Mystic Falls told her he knew he turned her on, and told her how much she turned him on.
She heard him groan when he caught sight of her shoes. She swore she heard him muttering "Goddamn, she's wearing fuck-me shoes; heaven help me, please." as he got into his side of the car.
They continued on in a comfortable silence for a bit and then Elena asked, "where are we headed?"
"Fell's Church, there is a really nice club there. They have really good burgers." he smiled over at her and reached for her hand. She twined her fingers with his as he stroked his thumb over her knuckles.
It felt right.
The small moments weaving into the bigger tapestry of what was meant to be.
They pulled up in front of the club and Damon handed her out and walked her to the door where they were ushered in without Elena getting carded. " How did you..?"
"I know the owner and I told him I was bringing you here. I've never brought anyone here before, Elena, so he's happy to look the other way when it comes to your less than"legal" status." he said as he snaked his arm around her waist and guided her through the arched entrance into the club proper. The music was loud but not unbearably so, the people dressed nicely and the bar clean and well lit. Elena smiled hugely as Damon handed their coats off to the passing coat check girl and she looked at him, motioning him to the dance floor. He smiled and nodded and followed her. He twirled her quickly into his arms and was charmed when she beamed a huge smile at him for it. They fit so well together as they moved around the floor and the other dancers. Damon couldn't get over how incredible Elena looked, how incredible she always looked. He focused on the shoes again. He was a sucker for a woman in high heels, high heels and very little else, Elena in nothing but those shoes...
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wanted their first date to be memorable for more than a good lay. He actually cared about her and having a good time; actually getting to know her and dating. He hadn't done that, dated really, ever. He hoped this was how it was done he wanted to do this right this time. He also thought he should spill about his and Stefan's "big dark secret", the one that would either send Elena packing for parts unknown or pique her curiosity. He just didn't know. Tonight, though, wasn't the night for that.