Another day of work had ended and we were one day closer to Valentine's Day. It was now February 4th. Ten days left. The crowds were getting larger and orders were starting to pile up.

Jenna, Bonnie, and I were gathered in the back after we had closed the shop for the night. A lot of orders had been placed that night and we wanted to make sure everything was organized.

"That Salvatore guy called and placed an order," Jenna slipped a paper over to me.

I furrowed my eyebrows, the name not ringing a bell. I meet so many people throughout the days, I only remember your name if I know you well.

Bonnie could see I was confused and explained, "He was the one who came in freaking out about his fiancé. Jenna helped him. Remember?"

"Oh!" I shouted. That one. The one with the arrogant brother who I could not stop thinking about. I nodded my head and looked over the order slip. "An order of two dozen white lilies and a box of chocolate dipped strawberries," I read it out.

"He seemed much calmer on the phone this time," Jenna laughed as she took the paper back. "He said that everything went well with his fiancé and she was back to her normal self."

"Good," I smiled. "I like hearing those things."

"What are the chances of him bringing that hot brother along when he comes to pick them up?" Jenna wiggled her eyebrows at us with a grin.

"Jenna, really?" I looked at her with a disgusted expression.

"What? You didn't think he was hot?"

"I thought he was an asshole," Bonnie said.

"I agree with that," I nodded my head.

"Still hot," Jenna shrugged.

I shook my head, trying to get rid of all thoughts about how hot he was out of my head and cleared my throat. I spoke up about other orders and for the next fifteen minutes, we went over the rest of them.

Jenna and Bonnie gathered their things, bidding their goodnights to me. After they left, I locked the door behind them and sighed. My night of work was nowhere near done.

I leant against the door for a moment, my eyes set on the portrait of my Mom and Dad. I lost track of how long I stood there. Memories of what had happened began to flood my brain, the familiar noise of rushing water running through my ears. I gasped when I felt like I couldn't breathe and shook my head. I pushed myself off of the door and headed into my office. It was time for business.

I always get anxious at the beginning of a new month. With a new month comes my long nights of making sure the business isn't going under. I need to make sure everything is paid for and that were are making enough money to keep us where we were. I kept to myself when it came to these things, very rarely involving Jenna and Bonnie. I knew I would worry them too much and I've done that enough in my lifetime.

I went over every little thing carefully and thoroughly, sometimes checking things over and over to make sure I made no mistakes. An hour and a half later, I sat with my head in my hands and my eyes closed. We didn't make as much as we should have, as much as we needed to make. If February turned out to be a bust just like January did, I knew this business and myself would be in deep trouble.

"Shit," I whispered to myself. I felt my eyes fill with tears and bit my lip hard to keep them from falling.

I heard a knock coming from the front and quickly wiped my eyes. It was a probably someone who thought I was open because I left the lights on. I stepped out of my office but stopped when I saw Jenna. She gave me a small smile and I walked over to the door to let her in.

"What are you doing? I thought you were heading home," I said to her. I let the door close behind her, watching as she shrugged.

"I could ask you the same thing. We closed almost two hours ago, Elena," she looked at me.

"I was going over some paperwork. You know I hate bringing my work home because then it'll never get done," I explained what I was doing briefly.

"Is everything okay?" Jenna asked. She looked at me with soft eyes and I could tell she was worried. The guilt settled in my stomach and I knew I couldn't tell her the truth.

"Yes!" I gave her a smile. "All is well as usual."

"Mhm," she nodded her head. "So why do you look like you've been crying?"

"I haven't been crying," I laughed a little as I shook my head.

"Elena you are my niece. I have seen you cry in your lifetime and I know what you look like when you cry or have cried."

"I wasn't crying, Jenna. I'm getting a little cold. That is why my nose is red, why my eyes look a little swollen, and why my cheeks are flushed," I listed off the reasons that she always gave me when she said she knew if I was crying.

She stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes set on me. I shifted a little, feeling awkward under her intense look.

"I think I should hook you up with someone," Jenna said out of nowhere.

"Jenna I don't want to be 'hooked up' with anyone. I don't want to go on dates. I don't want a boyfriend. I have you, Jeremy, Bonnie, and I have my business. That is all I need in my life. And Lynx," I added my cat at the last minute because I would be five times more miserable in life without that adorable creature.

"Elena you haven't had a boyfriend in years. Do you realize how long it's been?"

"The summer before my junior year of high school. I know, Jenna."

"Yeah and now you're twenty four! That's years!"

I felt my throat tighten when she continued to talk about how I needed to get back in the dating scene. It got worse when she brought up my last boyfriend, Matt Donovan. It got even worse when she brought up the night that I had broken up with him.

"Jenna," I snapped and cut her off before she could continue anymore. "I get it. I need to date people. You and Bonnie say the same thing and I get it. What you two need to get is that it is not easy for me and it probably will never be easy. Stop talking about that night. Just stop."

Jenna grew quiet and I glanced up at her for a second. Her eyes were now filled with sadness. She went to apologize and I gave her a tight smile. "It's fine," I said. "You should get home. I'm heading out shortly."

"Yeah," she whispered. She moved over and kissed my head gently. "I love you, Elena. You know that. You and Jeremy mean the world to me."

I nodded my head and stayed quiet.

"I will see you tomorrow morning. Get some sleep, Elena," Jenna sighed when I didn't respond. She left the shop, the door closing behind her and I stayed in the spot where I was standing. I let a few tears fall, the conversation we had replaying through my mind. Memories flashed before my eyes and I moved to my office to calm down.

I began to put everything away. I had enough for the night. I slid my jacket on and made sure I had everything before shutting the lights off in my office. I stepped out and went to go close the lights in the back room. I turned, walking towards the front. I put my keys down on the counter but they slid and fell behind it. I groaned and walked behind the counter to pick them up.

"It's a little late for you to be open, isn't it?'

I screamed loudly and jumped up when I heard a voice. My heart began to race instantly and the owner of the voice started to laugh loudly.

It was that blue eyed, arrogant asshole from the other day.

"Are you crazy!?" I screamed at him.

He continued to laugh, his head thrown back at him. I was beginning to grow worried. Fear was settling into my stomach. Why was he here? What did he want? Oh gosh. What if he was going to kill me?

"Good question," he finally answered me. "But I am pretty sure that I am not crazy."

"Then why the hell are you standing in the middle of my shop trying to give me a heart attack? And how did you get in here?"

"Well you see, sweetheart…" he smirked. "I was walking along the street, minding my own business, and I just so happened to pass your dainty little shop. I saw that the lights were on and that you were here, so I decided to grace you with my presence. It helped that the door was unlocked."

Shit. I forgot to lock it after Jenna left.

"You can leave now," I said with a shaky voice.

"What? Why? Not happy to see me?" he tilted his head to the side.

"No. Not at all," I shook my head.

"You know I never got your name," he stood up straight and completely ignored what I had said. "Care to tell me so I can put a name to your beautiful face?"

"Get out of my shop!"

"Oh come on," he groaned. "Here. I'll start. My name is Damon Salvatore."

Damon Salvatore. Even his name was great. I bit my lower lip hard.

"Now is the part where you introduce yourself," Damon continued to smirk and held his hand out.

"Why? So you can know my name before you kill me or rob me?" I stuttered on my words.

He started to laugh again and shook his head. "You're funny," he pointed at me. "But no. I'm not here to kill you or rob you. I'm not that much of an asshole."

"So why are you here?"

"To see you, of course," he gave me a smile and I put my hands on the counter to stop myself from falling. His smile was amazing.

"You saw me," I cleared my throat. "You can leave now."

"Not until I get your name."

"If I tell you my name, will you leave me alone?"

"Of course," Damon said.

"It's Elena," I swallowed.

"Elena…"

My name fell from his lips, practically rolling off of his tongue. I've never heard someone my name in a way that had my pressing my legs together. My grip on the counter tightened.

"Well Elena," he drawled my name out. I swear he did it on purpose. "Why don't you join me for dinner? I can tell you didn't eat and neither did I."

"How can you tell?" I asked him.

Damon shrugged, "I just can. So are you in or are you going to turn me down again?"

"Gee, Damon, you sound like I bruised your ego," I grinned a little.

"My ego? Bruised? Never," he grinned back.

"Well it's a no," I said. "I have to get back home."

"Then let me walk you home," he continued to talk.

"No," I said abruptly. I realized how rude I sounded and I sighed, "I'm tired. I can walk home by myself. I'm a big girl."

Damon nodded his head shortly. "Well then," he cleared his throat and stood up straight. "I'll see you around Elena. Make sure you eat when you get home."

He said no more words and walked out of the shop. My eyes stayed on his retreating back as he did and a small part of me had hoped he would turn to look at me, but he didn't. That same small part soon felt disappointed when he disappeared from my view. I shook my head and grabbed my keys, walking out of my shop. I shut everything off and locked up, pulling the gate down. I stood still, swallowing, knowing I shouldn't check to see if he was still on the street.

"Don't do it, Elena.." I whispered to myself.

Surprisingly so, I didn't. Instead I turned the opposite way and started my walk home. As I walked home, I could feel my stomach turn. I was starving. I knew I should've accepted his dinner offer and gone with him, but I didn't. At this point, I'm not really sure why I didn't. I mentally prepared myself for a night of no sleep. I knew that after seeing how bad we did last month, my talk with Jenna, and the visit from Damon that my brain would be running full speed ahead. I could feel the dread settle into my stomach knowing I would have no other choice but to deal with it and pretend like I was in perfect shape for tomorrow.

Another chapter up! I'm so happy with the response this story has gotten so far. Please keep reviewing! I love hearing back from you guys. :)