Before publishing the next Chapter... I wanted to encourage everyone who reads it to consider posting a review. I've worked hard on these chapters & I'd love to get some feedback or your thoughts. If you think the story is rubbish - please say so! Thanks :) - Iris x
Chapter Three: Hot Chocolates
Klaus had left the Boarding House shortly after Caroline's bold promise. Since then everyone had spoken to her in turn: Bonnie, Matt, Tyler (called by Matt), Stefan, Elena… even Damon had tried to talk her out of it. But she was adamant. She'd said she was Team Delena – as in, "Stand up for Stefan!" Team Delena – how could she go back on that just because it was her neck placed on the line?
3 hours later and everyone was back home. Elena was curled up on her bed, her fluffy slipper-socks from Caroline on her feet and a cool lemonade on her bedside table. She was totally absorbed in her favourite book. She almost didn't hear her phone buzz (it had a habit of interrupting her).
Message Received at 21:46
Caroline said:
Wanna hang out 2morrow? Tyler&I are going down 2 the lake :) You can invite Stefan xx …or Damon ;) Heehee – ly CFx
Of course… Caroline! Who else? She told herself, trying to disguise the fact she was a tad disappointed. How could Caroline be so calm? She tapped her answer hurriedly, wanting to return to her novel.
Message Sent at 21:49
You said:
Caroline, is this really what you want to be doing tomorrow? You've got your "date" with Klaus the day after… I'm worried about you… & Me? Take Damon, seriously, Caroline? xx
Message Received at 21:50
Caroline said:
YES, 100% sure this is wat I wanna b doiin xx C'mon Eleeenaaaaa… ya no ya want 2 xD & 'bout Damon… who am I 2 judge? Watev rocks ur boat and all, sweety x CF xx
Maybe it was just her? If Elena had found out that a cruel homicidal vampire who hated her friends was looking for a date, she'd have probably locked herself in the house and refused to come out. Heck, that's what she'd briefly felt when she found out the truth about Damon. But no, Caroline was above all that. If she was out to have a good time, who was Elena to stop her?
Message Sent at 21:50
You said:
Well, Stefan & I already have plans for tomorrow. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we changed them. So I will be bringing STEFAN with me! You're on, Caroline :) x
No sooner had she pressed 'Send', when another text light up her already overexcited phone.
Message Received at 21:52
Damon said:
My ears are burning. Are you talking about me? =)
Huh. How had he known? Well, she wasn't giving him the satisfaction, anyhow!
Message Sent at 21:53
You said:
No! What makes you think I'M the one talking about you?
Message Received at 21:54
Damon said:
The way you were smiling as you sent those texts earlier…
Message Received at 21:54
Damon said:
…and the way you're blushing now ;)
Okay… that's just a little unnerving… thought Elena, but to her dismay, she felt her cheeks getting hotter.
Message Sent at 21:55
You said:
You're watching me?
Message Received at 21:55
Damon said:
Of course.
Well, at least he's honest, she thought. Her heart felt more like a humming bird trapped in her chest.
Message Sent at 21:56
You said:
Is that a habit of yours? :)
Message Received at 21:56
Damon said:
No :'( But it could become one if you want :)
In his dreams! Even so, she was struggling to control the army of humming birds, now flitting about her stomach.
Message Sent at 21:57
You said:
No Comment. Where are you anyway?
Message Received at 21:57
Damon said:
In the tree outside your window – take a look.
Strange!
Message Sent at 21:58
You said:
Why didn't you just come in? You don't have a problem with not being invited, normally ;)
Message Received at 21:59
Damon said:
I wasn't sure whether you wanted me to or not.
Message Sent at 21:59
You said:
You've never been that concerned before ;) What makes you think I don't want you?
Elena realised what she'd just written a moment too late.
"Argh!" she screamed, turning bright red. Then she remembered he was watching her… why didn't she just crawl in a hole and die…?
Message Received at 22:00
Damon said:
Your words, not mine =) I'd mock you further, but it seems your beating yourself up pretty hard without my help.
Why you don't "want" me: Our conversation last time – the way it ended…?
She needed a cold shower… to get rid of that infernal blush more than anything! And, what? She thought they'd gotten over the little "Haunted House" incident…
Message Sent at 22:00
You said:
It was a slip of the tongue (or fingers in this case) :D And I thought there were no hard feelings about that.
Message Received at 22:03
Damon said:
Elena, I told you I would settle for one hand in that Haunted House – I didn't say I was happy with it.
Oh God…
Message Sent at 22:04
You said:
I know & I'm sorry. Will you come inside so I can say that to your face?
Message Received at 22:04
Damon said:
Open the window, then :)
Phew, deep breath. Elena fanned herself with her hand, then went over to the window. Sure enough, Damon was reclined on a branch, the tips of it brushing against the pane. She saw him smile as he tucked his phone into his jeans pocket. He looked up, his icy blue eyes doing nothing to cool her down. She flipped the latch, and he slid inside.
"You look hot." He said, raising his eyebrows.
"Thank you," She said quickly.
"You're welcome…" He said, trying to resist the temptation to laugh, "…but I kinda meant flushed."
"Oh!" said Elena, her embarrassment level reaching new heights. She laughed, but he just smiled. He loved the way her eyes crinkled when she did that.
A while later they were both spread out on the floor. Elena had brought Damon up a whole bottle of bourbon – a good job she'd saved Ric's supply, she thought, sadly – and a box of Mystery Chocolates.
They'd already gone through half the box, Elena getting more than her fair share of disgusting mouthfuls. Damon hadn't had so much as a coffee one, Elena wondered absentmindedly whether he could smell the flavours.
"What do you think, Damon? Should I go with this one…" she pointed to a smooth, round chocolate, "which I know is just plain chocolate or that one, which could either be caramel or chilli…?" She pointed to an almond shaped one. She squinted her eyes, trying to decide.
"Well, you love the plain chocolate, but caramel could offer you so much more. However, with the caramel comes a risk…" he said, thoughtfully, "…after all, you could be disappointed." He reasoned. He'd found it hard to get the whole Damon-Elena-Stefan situation out of his head, and when faced with a metaphorical version… he couldn't help but play along.
"You're right." She said, soberly, "I can depend on the plain chocolate, I'll be happy, but I'll be left wondering whether there was something more if I'd chosen the other chocolate." Had she guessed what he was thinking?
"But you can't trust the other chocolate," challenged Damon, "It's unreliable, and though you know all it wants is to make you happy… sometimes it's what's inside that counts the most. And it wouldn't want you to risk the good, dependable chocolate for something you don't, you CAN'T trust." He said, deadly serious.
"But I do trust you, Damon." She said suddenly. Their eyes locking. "It's just sometimes… I find it hard to tell what's inside."
"Which one are you going to choose, Elena?" He said, almost coldly. He didn't want to have this conversation anymore, he couldn't watch her torn in half before his eyes… he felt like he was ripping inside as it happened.
Without speaking, she picked up the almond chocolate and bit it in half. A smile curved onto her lips as the smooth, golden liquid washed over her tongue.
"Caramel." She announced, with a small, but genuine, smile that Damon mirrored.
"There's your answer then." He said, picking up one identical to Elena's and biting into it. His face convulsed as he took a huge swig of bourbon. "Chilli…" he explained and they both laughed.
It was half past one in the morning – the latest Damon had ever stayed with her. They lay side by side on Elena's bed, his hands behind his head, hers resting on her stomach.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" She asked, the bird still alive and kicking… well, humming.
"I've got nothing planned. You?" He said, evenly. He was staring at her ceiling, imagining the stars.
"Well, actually…" she began. Her heart was aching despite her already made plans - this night with Damon had pulled at its seams and it was groaning to see him again, wherever that might be, whoever she had to forget in the process.
"…nothing." She finished, her heart was splitting, but her head told her it could bear the agony a little longer. One night with Damon couldn't change the months of blissful days with Stefan. Could it?