The Mess I Made
Chapter 3 : No More Goodbyes, Please?
The students filled the corridor of the school. People were rambling over the board with a poster saying that the school will have its annual anniversary in two days. Everyone was excited. Anniversary for them meant booze, party and all-nighters.
On the left side of the corridor were the worn-out lockers. Elena and Caroline were chatting quite loudly trying to overpower the excited voices of the crowd.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit you at the hospital Caroline. It's just there was this big thing with Stefan."
"It's alright. Just minor bruises. And besides, I wasn't really expecting you. So..."
Just before Elena was about to drop her bomb of I-hate-sarcasm to Caroline, Bonnie came. She stepped beside Elena, cueing Caroline to leave. Bonnie and Caroline haven't had much time to talk since Bonnie became the little witch. They kind of just drifted apart.
"Hey Bonnie," Elena was happy seeing that Bonnie and her were back to normal even though everything wasn't really.
"Can you come by my house after school?" Bonnie smiled as they entered their classroom.
Elena agreed. She didn't know what to expect from Bonnie that day, but at least they could bond a little. Stefan came and gave Elena a kiss on the cheek before sitting on his chair. He gave her an everything's-going-to-be-okay look. And she was reassured.
School ended in a rush after that. Everyone was expected to help for the preparation of the annual anniversary. And everyone was very much inclined to do so, especially Caroline. But Bonnie and Elena had something more important to do.
They rode Bonnie's car and finally got to her house in no time. They entered her room which Elena missed a lot. She missed when they would just talk about how school sucks or how one boy is amazingly cute. But now, things have changed. Even in the room, Elena could feel the sense of witchcraft, as if magic lived there with Bonnie.
"I found a spell called "lair" Elena, I will have it in you to protect you from Katherine."
Elena was deeply touched about Bonnie's willingness. She was so happy to see that Bonnie was still the same caring bestfriend she had.
"Okay. Uhm, do I have to do anything?" Elena asked with aggression.
"Tolle detrahere minae. Hoc suscípiet eam. Custodia et universis malis eam.." Bonnie chanted as Elena watched in amusement.
Suddenly, Elena felt a ball of air, seeming to enter her body from her chest. She knew the magic was in her. She felt it. She felt protected.
"Thank you, Bonnie." Elena gave her a hug, and Bonnie hugged back. But she knew she had to tell Elena the truth.
But what if the truth affects Elena and Stefan's relationship? She didn't know what to do. But Elena was her bestfriend, she had to tell her.
"Honestly Elena, it wasn't me who came up with this idea." Bonnie spoke as she sat down in her bed pulling Elena with her.
"Who was it then?" Elena asked in confusion. Whoever that person was, that person cared immensely about her, and she had to give thanks as respect.
"It was... Damon."
Silence covered the room. Damon? Seriously? Elena was shocked. Now he's using Bonnie to get to me? She grew more furious.
"There has to be some motive Bonnie. I mean.. Damon? C'mon. That's just not... right."
Bonnie looked at Elena's face. She knew she was getting angrier. She had to say something.
"Okay. Here's the thing Elena. That was what I thought too. But, he actually told me not to tell you that it was him. He's not trying to get plus points Elena, by using me. He just genuinely wanted to protect you."
"BONNIE? You know that's not possible. It's Damon we are talking about here."
"Why do you seem too surprised Elena? I admit that I was a bit shocked too, but you guys were close, why be surprised. Besides, I got it all clear."
"What do you mean you got it all clear?"
Elena was starting to feel that there was something that Bonnie wasn't telling her. And whatever it was, it was important. Maybe Damon really cared about her, she thought. Why was she so surprised anyway? She asked herself. Little did she know, that the real deal was that she was scared. She was scared to see that Damon cared about her.
"Elena. You are my best friend and I love you. And God, ugh, I hate Damon even more than you do! The freaking vamp tried to kill me, for God's sake! But no matter which angle I look at it... I never thought I'd say this... But... It doesn't take a witch to know that Damon Salvatore is in love with you."
Elena walked to her house. She was feeling like she just wanted to fall onto her bed and stop thinking. Jenna wasn't there anymore, her real father John, was MIA since Katherine came, Jeremy was still hung up about Anna's death, and his falied attempt of being a vampire, Stefan started acting weird, And now, Bonnie, tells her Damon's in love with her. It's not the first time she heard that. But the first was from her real mother turned vampire who has apparently no redeeming qualities, so not a reliable source. This time, it was from a person who cared about her, her best friend. Everything's just falling apart, she said to herself. And just when she thought it couldn't get more complicated.
"Damon... What are you doing here?" Elena walked up the short staircase and faced Damon with a blank face.
"Are you sure you're Elena?" Damon smirked.
Damon pictured the first time she saw Katherine again. It was the same exact moment. He walked out the door almost the same time Katherine arrived. She asked the same thing too. Except there was one distinct point that was different. This time, he had a certain sense of feeling he only seem to learn when Elena is around. A feeling that even he who had lived for more than a hundred years couldn't understand.
"Just had to make sure it was you," Damon stared at Elena as he continued. "Actually, Elena, I have something to ask you... and well, tell you."
Elena knew by seeing Damon's face that this was one of those conversations she had to run from. But she couldn't. She wanted to hear what Damon wanted to say. Damon – even she couldn't understand what Damon was to her. He used to be just a friend, but after everything that happened, she still has yet to conclude if he still is one. With a great amount of courage and a strong leap of faith, Elena asked what it was that Damon wanted to ask her.
"Do you remember that time we danced at the Founder's Party?" Damon saw a streak of memory hit Elena.
"I've been meaning to ask you Elena," Damon gulped as he continued with what he thought was probably the stupidest question he ever asked, "Was it just me or was there something there? I mean . . . between us?"
Elena felt her whole body freeze. She never thought Damon would actually lose his big of an ego to finally do that one thing. She didn't know what to say. But she was completely aware of that dance. The confused blue eyes of Damon stared at her.
Damon bit his lip waiting for an answer he already felt he knew. What could Elena do? This was Stefan's brother. Stefan who had been there ever since. Stefan who she was in love with from the beginning. Stefan, who loved her very much. But there was Damon, the man who had also saved her life too many times, the man who she knew also cared about her. The man secretly looked for a spell to protect her. But also the man who can be cruel as to kill innocent people. She knew what she had to say, whether it was true or not, it didn't seem to matter.
Elena broke the silence, "I'm sorry Damon, but I love Ste..."
Damon cut her off as he turned his back. He was about to walk down the stairs when Elena asked him where he was going, worried that he might do something he would regret.
"I'm leaving tomorrow Elena. You and Stefan finally got what you wanted. I'm leaving Mystic Falls." Damon suddenly disappeared.
Elena fell down on her knees. She regretted what she said the minute after she did. She couldn't comprehend anything anymore. Damon was right, this was what she wanted. But why is it that she felt like she just lost her diary? Everything was blurred and she didn't know how to clear it out. One thing was for sure however : She didn't want Damon to leave.
She wanted to run to him. But she didn't know where to find him. She went up to her room and found herself asking if there really was something in that dance with Damon. She knew the answer but it did not matter. She loves Stefan and that's it. She fell asleep thinking about how it would be like without Damon.
