Authors Note:
OMG! I can't believe how long it has been since I updated... I moved and have been super busy with work, and trying to find internet providers and such, but there is honestly NO excuse for how long it's been. So I hope you all will just except my apology and enjoy this chapter, I tried to get it done and edited quickly so I could get it out to you guys! Again please excuse any mistakes and grammatical errors, I would absolutely LOVE your feedback even though I don't at all deserve it. Anyway without further ado... please read on and enjoy!
2 Years Ago
It had been 2 weeks since I had been introduced to Damon Salvatore, and no matter how brief our interaction may have been I still have not been able to get him out of my head. And god, it's driving me crazy…
Here I am sitting at the campus coffee shop trying to study for a really big exam I have coming up and I can't stop myself from thinking about that smirk of his, at first I thought it was egotistical and annoying but the more it pops into my head the more I find it just plain cute. I can't help but think of those piercing blue eyes, and for the life of me I can't stop myself from wishing that he would be one of the multitudes of guys walking into the coffee shop.
I told myself that if I did bump into him again I would have it together this time; I would not babble on like some 14 year old with a schoolgirl crush on a senior boy.
Ok… enough of this I really need to study… "Hey Elena!" I look up to find Caroline standing at my table, I hope she just got there and didn't catch me daydreaming cause I would never hear the end of it until she knew every little detail about the inner workings of my mind.
"Hey Care, what's up?"
"Why have you not been answering my calls? Anyway, it's not important. I just talked to Stefan and he said his parents are going to be out of town and they want him to house sit for the weekend and he decided to throw a party, which I know, it sounds super childish to throw a party at your parents house when we're all in college but their house is supposed to be super nice; they have pool tables, a fully stocked bar, and even a swimming pool, so you totally have to come " Caroline finally stops to take a breath.
"Ok" Caroline looks at me shocked, and to be honest I'm even a little shocked by how quickly I agree to this, but I'm even more embarrassed because I know exactly why I agreed so quickly.
Caroline gets over her shock, but of course can't let it go, "that's it? No complaining? No moaning and groaning? You're not even going to make me beg? Are you ok?"
"Yes Care, I'm fine. I just think I could use a break you know?" She looks at me skeptically and I pray that she'll let it go.
"Are you kidding? I'm the one who's always telling you that you need a break… You know, it doesn't even matter. I'm not going to bother you. I'm just glad you're gonna be there!" she hugs me quickly and leaves me alone with my thoughts; they immediately go back to Damon and how much I hope he will be at this party
Six dresses and a mountain of clothes on my floor later and I've finally picked a dress that I think will do just fine, I told Caroline that I would drive my self to the party in case I decided to back out, which my bad case of nerves was seriously trying to convince me to do. Lost in my own thoughts I'm surprised when I find myself pulling into the Salvatore mansion driveway; and when I say mansion I mean... whoa…
There are tons of people in the house since Stefan is part of a big campus fraternity, I don't see anyone I know and I think about making a run for it before anyone notices I'm here; but then as if I can sense him I turn and lock onto to those amazing blue eyes; the ones that have been a part of almost every thought and dream since I first laid eyes on them, and suddenly all of my nerves melt away and are replaced by eagerness to get to know what's behind the eyes.
Again Caroline interrupts my thoughts, with her ever-perfecting timing, "Hey I'm so glad you came!" I smile and give her a hug and notice that her arm is wrapped around Stefan's… I wonder when that started? "Hey, care. Hey Stefan, great party, seems like most of the school is here" I joke.
"Yeah, it's a really great turn out. I'd like to take credit for being so popular, but to be quite honest I don't even know half of these people; Hey! Damon, you remember Elena right?" I turn and notice he's stopped and joined our group; oh thank God.
"Of course; I could never forget the beautiful girl with the beautiful name" he grabs my hand and kisses the top of it and I giggle; just like before I'm a school girl all over again.
Caroline just scoffs.
"Hey Damon, its good to see you again, your parents have a lovely home"
"Eh, it's a little old fashioned for me" Caroline and Stefan dismiss themselves to go make the rounds of the party.
"It must have been amazing to grow up here"
"Amazing? Maybe. But I definitely couldn't call it a childhood" he tried his hardest to make it sound like he was just making some kind of cryptic joke, but I could tell there was definitely more behind it. "Can I get you anything to drink, something to hold to and fiddle with? You seem nervous"
I cant help blush at his acknowledgement "sorry, yeah I'm I little nervous, parties aren't really my thing. In fact this is the first big college party I've been to, but um, yeah a drink would be great, thanks" we walk over to the drink table and Damon starts mixing a martini of some sort.
"First big college party huh? You're a sophomore right? How is that possible? A pretty girl like you must be invited to things like this all the time" he hands me my drink and I blush at the fact that he called me pretty, despite the corny line.
"Yeah, I mean Caroline and I used to go to parties all the time in High school, it's just not my thing now" I sip my drink and cringe at the strong taste
He chuckles at my reaction and it's adorable "what changed?"
"Um, life? Things that are way to depressing to talk about at a party"
He smiles sadly at me but lets it go, thankfully. "So… if this is your first college part we must make it a memorable one, follow me" so I do, and he leads me into a den where people are playing beer pong.
"You in?" he asks
"Only if you're ready to lose," I tease him
'Yeah right… To the girl who hasn't been to party since high school?" he smirks and nudges my side
"It's just like riding a bike; so bring your A-Game Salvatore, I'm not worried" he leaves to go set up the table and the irony of how easily the banter between us comes is not lost on me.
30 minutes later and I'm the very tipsy loser of beer pong, normally I would be a little bitter but I'm having too good of a time and too much fun to care. Damon and I have spent the night exchanging stories of our time in college, although his are much more interesting then mine.
"Would you like another martini?" Damon asks
"Sure that would be great" I stand to walk over the bar with him and sway as soon as I stand.
"Or maybe I should get some fresh air instead. " I suggest
"Would you like some company?" Damon holds his arm out to me like a perfect gentleman and I gladly accept his offer.
PRESENT DAY
His words sting like salt in a wound, I cant even believe he would announce that in this manner, I suddenly feel like I'm going to faint "I need some air" I try to sound sure and steady but it comes out more like a pained whisper.
"Now that sounds like a great idea! It's about time Elena...how about I go with you, and you can give me some answers, sound good?" Damon starts to follow me
"Damon no! I know you don't care about her anymore, but please don't do this now, just let her go" Caroline interjects
"Caroline… this has nothing to do with you so please, just stay the hell out of it. Something you should've learned to do along time ago"
"Damon! You can't just talk to Care like that… I'm your brother and she's my girlfriend and THAT should matter to you, regardless of the past"
"You can all go to hell" and he walks away
I'm leaning against the wall wiping my eyes and trying frantically to find my keys in my blackhole of a purse. God this was a bad idea; happy freaking birthday Stefan.
"There you are! God, still the same old Elena… trying to act all high and mighty like nothing bothers you, like noting in the world matters to you, and then…when that fails you storm out of a party and start crying, well guess what sweetheart, there's no sympathy for you to find here"
I try to form my words but I don't even get a chance "hurts huh? To know that the one person in the world who used to be able to comfort you doesn't even give a damn" I think maybe he's done but of course he isn't
" I mean what the hell did you think you were going to achieve by coming here? You knew I would be here; you and Stefan may still be friends but he's my fucking brother Elena, so what were you thinking? Did you think I would be fine and just greet you like two old friends?!"
"NO!" I interrupt him "no, Damon I didn't I would have to be insane to think that…"
"Well hey! If the shoe fits, right?" he smirks and I want to slap him again
"Look, I don't know what I was thinking, maybe I wasn't. But I sure as hell don't need anymore-verbal abuse from you. You're right Damon… I did mess up… and I'm sorry for it every damn day. I feel awful for the way thing's ended between us; and believe me if I could change the past I would...but I can't. And THAT is the reality we live in." I smile sadly
"Damon? Are you ok?" I follow the voice to find a worried Andie
Damon's eyes follow my gaze over to her "Yeah, I'm fine" he turns back to me and drops his voice so she cant hear "at least someone cares"
"I have to go" I reach into my purse and by some miracle find my keys immediately "goodbye Damon" and for once I really hope it is goodbye. It least I think I do.
When I finally reach my car I let out all the emotions I was holding in tonight, maybe even longer.