I pulled away from the kiss and smiled. He smiled back but of course he noticed the look I knew was present in my eyes. "Are you okay?" he questioned. I nodded and he said, "Elena, I didn't mean to pressure you or anything. If I did I'm so sorry." I shook my head and said, "Do not be sorry. I'm just really drunk and tired. Can I find a room?" He nodded. "Wait down here for a minute. I didn't really get a chance to fix up the rooms so let me just go put a pillow and blanket on the bed for you," he said while walking towards the stairs. I sat on the couch and as soon as I hit the cushion I fell asleep. Damon came down stairs and saw my sleeping form on the couch and covered me with a blanket. He smiled and sat on the couch opposite of me and went to sleep with a smile on his face.

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and didn't know where I was until I saw Damon's sleeping figure. I stood up and stretched as I walked to the kitchen. I opened the cupboard and pulled out some flour, sugar, baking soda and some other ingredients to make pancakes. I went to the fridge to get some more ingredients and saw fresh blueberries so I decided to make blueberry pancakes. As I mixed the ingredients, I tried to remember the events of last night but my memory was splotchy. As the pancakes cooked, I set the table and poured some orange juice. I flipped the pancakes onto the plates and went into the living room to get the things to make bloody marys, the ultimate hangover cure. I made the bloody marys quickly and woke Damon. He was startled but relaxed when he saw me and greeted me with a good morning. "What's that smell? It smells great," he said. "I made the ultimate hangover cure: blueberry pancakes and bloody marys,"I stated. He laughed and followed me to the kitchen. We sat down and started eating quietly and then he said, "This is really great. This truly is the ultimate hangover cure. I don't feel the slightest bit hung-over. I knew bloody marys helped but I guess blueberry pancakes make it even better." I smiled and said, "Whenever I used to wake up Sunday morning with a hangover, my mom would make me blueberry pancakes. Minus the bloody mary, of course, but I didn't even need a bloody mary then. I rarely got hangovers back then." He laughed and said, "Lucky, when I was younger I had the worst hangovers ever. My father used to come in my room at six in the morning, knowing I just got to sleep a few hours ago and start screaming at the top at his lungs for me being 'irresponsible'. It was horrible. I got smarter though. I started wearing earplugs when I got home. He felt like such an asshole when I slept through his little tantrum. My mother laughed her ass off." I smiled and we finished our breakfast.

I got up to wash the dishes but was stopped by Damon. He shook his head and said, "You cook, I clean." I was about to protest but he pressed a kiss to my lips which I all too happily obliged to. But, when his hands grazed the skin between the hem of my shirt and the waist of my jeans, I pulled away. My head was flooded with bad memories and fear. "Elena, I saw that look in your eyes last night after we kissed. What happened to you? Every time someone touches you, you flinch. Why?" My bottom lip trembled and a traitor tear escaped. "It's nothing. I just remembered something. I'm okay, really," I said firmly. "Elena, don't tell me it's nothing. You look so frightened when my hand barely grazed your hip. Why?" he questioned again. "Look, Damon, I'm not talking about this; maybe another time. I have to go home and check on Jeremy and then I have to go to Caroline's. Thanks for letting me stay last night. Bye," I said.

"Elena, wait," he stopped me by grabbing ahold of my wrist. "Let go of me," I demanded, my eyes full of fear. "Not until you tell me what you're afraid of," he said. "Please let me go. Please," I pleaded, tears falling down my cheeks. He let go when he realized how frightened I was. A look of realization crossed his features and then anger. "Who was it? Was it Stefan? I'll kill him," he asked, well more like demanded. I shook my head furiously, "What are you talking about Damon? I honestly don't know. I have to go." I walked quickly out to my car and got in, driving off at the speed of light. With tears clouding my vision, I pulled over. I cried for a good ten minutes and then drove straight to Caroline's. Tyler, one of the only other people who know my secret, answered the door. The only people who know are Caroline, Tyler, and Jeremy. I never even told Bonnie this because she would've pitied and babied me and I didn't need that. Tyler, almost automatically, knew what my tears were about and pulled me in for a hug.

He was like a brother to me. We grew up together and love each other like siblings. "What's wrong, 'Lena?" he asked. For a good 5 minutes, I just held him and sobbed. He soothed me by just being there and smoothing my hair. He pulled me over to the couch and sat next to me. I calmed down and again he asked, "What happened?" I took a deep breath and that's when Caroline entered. She saw my tear-stained cheeks and, just like Tyler, knew what was wrong and just hugged me. This is what I loved about them; they didn't need some long explanation to why I was upset, they just knew.

"What's wrong, Sweetie?" Caroline asked in a nurturing voice. I took another breath and started to talk. "Remember that guy I was with last night?" I asked. They both nodded so I continued, "Well, we went to his place and drank. A lot. We just talked so don't get any ideas, Car. In the morning, I made the hangover cure like we always do when were drunk," Caroline smiled at the thought, "Then we kissed. His hand grazed my hip and I like, flinched. He said the same thing happened last night. Then, he got this look on his face and started asking me 'who did this?' and 'was it Stefan?' No one has ever read me like that. I don't want him to know that about me, Ty," I cried into his shoulder. "Shhhh," Caroline soothed, "Elena, do you like this guy?" I nodded and she smiled. "Do you trust him?" she asked. I nodded and said, "Car, I told him all about my parents and Stefan and Bonnie. I've never told anyone about that stuff. I couldn't. There was like a barrier to keep me from talking about it. Why could I tell him?" Caroline smiled, "Maybe it's meant to be." I laughed. "Do you guys want some coffee?" Tyler asked. We both nodded and he left the room. "So, was he a good kisser?" Caroline asked with a smirk. I bit my lip and nodded. She squealed, "Details!" I said, "He was just so amazing, Car. He really understood me. But, I can't get hurt like that again. Stefan destroyed me. I hope he burns in the fiery pits of hell. I have no idea how Damon and Stefan are related. I want to give him a chance but I don't know if I can," I looked down at my feet. "Listen, Elena, not every guy out there is like Stefan. Take Tyler for instance. He loves you so much and he's not an asshole and you trust him. Not every guy is going to hurt you like Stefan did," the blonde lectured. "You're right, Car. I'm going to try to give Damon a chance," I said with a small smile.