Come Back, Be Here

Chapter 2

Damon

In his past eighteen years of life Damon Salvatore had never seen someone as pissed off as Elena Gilbert in the moment he told her he was going to Dartmouth instead of Stanford. Her mouth hung open as a look of outrage crossed her face when she snapped it shut.

"No, this can't be possible. Damon. You told me that you had gotten into Stanford earlier this summer. We had long detailed conversations about getting an apartment together after we spent a year in the dorms. We talked about going to parties and doing normal college things together. How is it that during all these conversations we exchanged you never once mentioned Dartmouth?"

Damon exhaled. He knew he would have had to deal with Elena sometime. He had just held it off until now because he knew her inside and out.

"Look Elena, the truth is I was scared to tell you."

"Why would you be afraid to tell me Damon? We have been best friends since we were five! We tell each other everything."

"Fine! You want the truth then here it is! Dartmouth offered me a full ride scholarship, which means I don't have to pay for a thing. With Stanford I would be up to my eyeballs in debt and I'm not going to burden my mother anymore. I mean with Stefan's medical expenses and my mother's medications there's no room for some extra money. Plus Dartmouth is closer and I'll be able to check in on them. I don't see why you're not looking at the bigger picture here Elena."

"Why didn't you just tell me Damon?"

"Because I knew that you are the one person in this world who could get me to change my mind. Elena, I need to go to Dartmouth and I need to be closer to my family. I can't be the man you want me to be Elena. I can't be apart of your perfect fantasy life for us anymore."

Elena's mouth hung open and before she could say anything Damon was out the door.