A/N: Hello guys! Hope all of you have enjoyed the first chapter. First of all thank you all for the support that you provide for my extremely delayed updates. Everytime I see a mail from Fanfiction it literally makes me grin from ear to ear especially if it's a review alert.
From what I understood my message/theme was not clear and there was some confusion regarding characters, so I'm gonna quickly brush through that.
1. In the first chapter the lady staying with Damon is his wife, you find find it absolutely horrifying/disgusting that it is not Elena.
And no Damon is not cheating on his wife/pretending to care for her while his heart still years for Elena, he loves his wife dearly and there's no second thought in his mind.
2. Elena is someone from his past, someone very dear and near to him, there's history between them and so much of coiled up emotions. How did they meet, how things escalated and what caused them to chose separate paths, all the answers will be revealed one by one.
3. Most important fact, despite his marriage, DE are the soul of this story, that's why the entire story will be a replay of past days. For me DE had been more than just lovers, they are friends, constant companions like stars, hence the name and this story.
If you guys can look past the fact that Damon is married then go on with the story, if not, well you can just stop here, though it would hurt me to lose my readers but I will not be changing the text. As I have said earlier, this story is special to me, in ways I can't even explain, so please people have a look, you won't be disappointed.
Okay, I'm done with my explanations, so let's get going... :)
Chapter 2~ At Midnight
Nights are dark, unpredictable,
Mysterious…
It holds secrets,
It deceives, it hurts.
Makes you lose control, makes you vulnerable.
Oh, how easy it is be lost,
how easy it is to delve into unknown…
The allure of the night, of the mystery hidden beneath,
the stranger, I could never deny!
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
2008
Damon was strolling through the busy streets, his pale skin illuminating under the neon lights. His gaze adhering to the concrete ground beneath his feet, enwrapped by the sultry wind he drew in a deep breath. As his lungs fought desperately to find oxygen from the adulterated air, his heart too struggled to find a tinge of relief in a sea of commotion.
He stood at the edge of a pavement, glancing at the strobe lights. This lounge, the glimmering DIESEL, what seemed mundane in the past, is nothing but foreign right now. He stared at the awaiting crowd, young, carefree, happy perhaps, words that were becoming distant for him, with each passing day. He didn't realize when he got close to the entrance, his legs acted on its own accord. It's an old habit, apparently one he'd not outgrown. He took a step forward but was blocked by a humongous black mass.
"It's the VIP entrance, the queue is on that side for the general crowd."
Damon raised his head to look into the bouncer's face, he opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. Maybe it was a sign, he doesn't belong here, not any more, he was second away from turning back when he noticed a blonde man peeking behind the bouncer. The man was waving his hand frantically while ranting his name.
"Damon, buddy! I'm glad you came." The man turned towards the bouncer, "It's alright, Teddy. He's my friend. I'll escort him inside." With a curt nod the bouncer disappeared from their sight.
Damon smiled at his friend, as the man pulled him in a bear hug. "It's good to see you too, Ric."
"Come on, everyone's inside, waiting." Ric could sense the reluctance in his manner but he quickly brushed it away.
As they moved towards the lounge, a sense of nausea hit him, the blaring music, glimmering lights, the stench of alcohol & sweat, it was all part of his world, then why was he on edge? Has it been that long… His trance was broken by the loud cheer erupting from a nearby table.
"Man! How're you, it's been so long." He was greeted with an ear splitting grin.
"I'm good, Matt. How're you? Um… Where's Penny?"
He huffed, "She dumped my ass after convocation." His playful tone didn't mask the glint of sorrow in his eyes.
Damon's face fell, "I didn't know, man. I'm so sorry…"
"Buddy, you gotta stick around to get a wisp of these things." The man behind the table said, whirling the drink in hand. His other hand dangling around the brunette's neck. He turned towards her, "Veronica baby, this is the infamous Damon Salvatore, the man of the hour."
"Logan, behave. I don't want this get together to be ruined, because you can't hold your alcohol." Ric hissed and motioned for everyone to settle down. After downing a few beers the dense atmosphere thinned out a bit, the conversation became fluid.
Damon was toying with the half empty bottle, when he noticed the raven haired girl sitting next to Ric. It was hard to overlook someone with her feature, pale skin, dark hair and eyes that matched his own, the resemblance was striking to say the least. As if she could feel him gazing at her direction, she turned towards him and offered a sweet smile. Somewhat hesitant Damon too returned the gesture.
"Ugg! I'm an idiot!" Ric muttered, the alcohol slowly affecting his demeanor. "Damon, this is Jo, Josette Parker. She's a psychologist, has her own clinic and let me tell you, she's good. I mean her ranting actually makes sense. Can you believe it." He flashed a goofy grin and turned to face the lady. "This is Damon, my college bud, partner in crime, my best friend." By the time he finished talking he was almost on Damon's lap, holding him by his shoulder, while gulping more of the intoxicating liquid. "But that's not why we're having this party. No… No…"
"Alright, buddy. I think you had a little too much to drink." Damon exclaimed, bit amazed at the situation.
"I can see, you're still clinging to old habits. Deciding what is permissible and what's not for others." Logan spat.
Damon was baffled by the sudden accusation, "I… I didn't mean it like that, Logan. It's just… Just…"
"Just what Damon? Come on, spit it out, I ain't got all day for you." Matt tried to waver him, but he wasn't having any of it. Years of suppressed emotions, hurt, jealousy, anger, frustration, have created a mountain that was threatening to erupt any moment.
The brunette girl tugged at his arm, attempting to calm him down, but he shrugged out of her grasp. "Tell me Damon, what is it? What is it about you that makes you fit to be alpha? I mean I understood that during college, but…"
"I… I'm no alpha, Logan. I never.. never wanted to be…"
"Damn right! You didn't even want it, but you got to reap the benefits. You got everyone wrapped around your finger and you reveled in the attention." He let out a sardonic laughter, "But why now? Look at you, rusty old clothing, you couldn't even manage to secure a job with a management degree." He smirked upon hearing gasps being reverberated, "That's right people…" he got up from the couch, "The golden boy of CMU couldn't manage to secure a pesky job. A grown man, depending on his 'mama' for allowance. Can you believe it…"
Damon squeezed his eyes shut, a futile attempt to block all the sound, he'd been treading on thin ice. Past couple of months had been rough, he'd been burring all his fears, turning a blind eye to it all. He gripped the edge of the table, desperately trying to fight his anger; he couldn't lose it, not here, not in front of his friends.
"Tell us Damon, how's Lily doing? Is she still working two jobs to maintain a roof over your head?" He snorted, "Now that I think about it, you're a creeping plant. You use people to survive, first your mother, then Alaric. You used him to hide your insufficiency throughout. You're a filthy parasite!" He fell back to his seat, "What an idiot I've been…" He turned towards Jo, "And you know, why we're all here. You think this is an innocent reunion, let me tell you buddy, you're here because this moron" he motioned towards an passed out Ric "is worried, you're gonna go of the rail if we don't do anything. That's why he brought his psychologist girlfriend, so that she can do her mojo on you…"
He shot his eyes open, he could feel the rush in his veins, every cell in his body tingling with nerves. This isn't happening, his inside screamed, it can't be!
"Is it true?" his voice was barely above a whisper.
"Damon, listen it's not how you think. Ric didn't mean to offend you. He's just worried…"
He got up from his position at once, "I… I need to…" he could feel his lungs struggling for much needed air, "Need to go…" without hearing a single protest he rushed down the stairs.
Night was settling down slowly tenderly, enveloping the city in black. As the horizon turned a mere blur, the glimmering skyscrapers, rebellious, uncanny, stood tall, declaring their existence. Damon was chugging down the sheer liquid, relishing the feeling as it burnt the path it travelled down his inside. He vaguely remembered grabbing on the Vodka bottle on his way out, he tossed the few bills he was carrying to the bartender and made a swift exit.
His feet wobbled but he wasn't fazed to the slightest, every trace of this night he wanted to drown deep in his subconscious. As he forced the intoxicating liquid down his throat, he could feel the familiar sting in his eyes. He could have knocked the guy out, just to satisfy his ego, but would that make any difference? Deep down he knew, every single word that resonated was raw and absolute truth. No matter how violently it churned, how deep it pierced, it was all true. He's been withholding them for too long, he tried to be strong, he tried to shut out his emotions, he was a man, he wasn't going to break down like a rag doll. But tonight he didn't resist, tonight it raised a havoc of pain, anguish and he let himself be flooded away with the force.
Continuing down his path, he closed his eye momentarily, drawing in air, in an attempt to calm his nerves. He was about to take the next step, suddenly he felt a collision with another body, causing to lose his footing and sent him sprawling down the road. He groaned in pain as his behind on the concrete path, clutching the bottle tightly he pried open his eyes.
"Watch where you going, you…" the rant continued but he didn't hear a word.
In his drunken haze, what he could register the voice was too sweet to belong to a man, he tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't conjure a clear image of the person in front. Violently shaking his head he tried to blink away the haze, only to worsen the case further.
"Wooo… Slow down, pretty boy." He could feel warm palm holding the side of his head, his instinct was to jerk away, but somehow he couldn't muster up the strength to do so. Taking in a few deep breaths, he gently pried his eyes open, meeting a bemused face of a girl. His eyes immediately locking with her ruby red lips, then shifting up to her eyes. Through the dramatic false lashes that fluttered every now and then, her hazel orbs stared into his.
With a cheeky smile the girl stood up, lending a hand in front of him, giving him an opportunity to take in her appearance. Her thigh high boots, skin tight jeans and biker jacket were doing wonders for her figure. Her chocolate brown hair cascaded down her back, except for one unruly strand that fell over her face. Though her aura screamed for attention (not the good kind) but he couldn't disregard the innocence settled in her eyes.
He didn't even realize when he was hauled up on his feet and being dragged along the pavement. Trapped in his own bubble he failed to notice everything that came out of her mouth. Her right arm was wrapped around his middle while his left arm swung around her shoulder, he couldn't tore of his gaze from her face, intently staring at her mouth that opened and closed animatedly. She turned abruptly, gone was the amusement.
"Are you even listening to me?" She asked exasperated.
"I… I'm…"
She rolled her eyes, pulling her arms by her side. He tried to straighten his posture, attempting to balance his weight on both feet, but immediately regretted when he felt a sharp ache on his right ankle. The girl smirked but promptly held him, saving him from another fall.
"Now, that I have your attention, I think you sprained your ankle. Tell me where you're parked so I can dump you to it and go on my merry way."
He didn't know how to answer, "I… I don't…"
"God! What's with all the stuttering?" she said, clearly annoyed by the lack of response.
"I didn't take it out tonight."
"Just my luck!" She let out a sarcastic snort, it soon turned into a mischievous grin. She scooted closer to him, too close for Damon's liking, "Well, Pretty boy, you're all alone…" her eyes glanced down his leg, "injured, in the middle of the night. Clearly in need of help." She batted her eyelashes, "In need of company. And, like a good little girl, I'm here to offer my assistance."
Damon gulped, uncomfortable with the turn of events. For a brief moment he was about to shove the girl aside and tell her to leave him to his demise, but then, flashes of the night started coming back. The night club, Ric, his friends, lights, music, alcohol, Logan… Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to block all those images, desperate to divert his attention and at that moment he appreciated the beautiful distraction present in his arms. Without pondering for another second he hailed a cab and both of them were inside in no time.
"Your place or mine?" her voice raspy.
"Yours."
As they drove past the night, she moved closer to him, her hands found their way around his jaw, turning him towards her side. "Your eyes are so so blue… Pretty boy." She slurred.
"Damon, my name is Damon."
With the corner of her eyes she could see the driver gawking at the scene taking place in his back seat, she smirked and brought her face closer to the impossibly handsome male seating beside her. His alcohol breath was mingling with hers, the heat from his skin radiating to hers, the musk of his cologne making her tingle. She placed her lips close to his ear, then back to his face. Her lips made contact with his cheeks for a brief second, before he could register she pulled away with a smirk.
"You can call me Elle, pretty boy."
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