Summer holidays overwhelmed me and I simply didn't have the time to write.

But here is a new chapter! (:

Let me know what you guys think, yeah?

Enjoy! x

FOUR

The sky was such a beautiful shade of blue and the weather was simply beautiful. Elena was grateful that the break was finally here. It had taken up so much of her energy over the past few days to fake smiles and to make conversations. Although she'd like to think that everybody had no clue as to how she was feeling inside, Elena had a feeling that Stefan was beginning to suspect. It was getting harder and harder to shake him off. But now that Stefan had gone off on holiday with Caroline, she felt lighter somehow. Nobody was watching her every move and waiting for her to break down.

Here she was, taking a stroll in the school compound after a very nice lunch outside. Nothing grand, but it was everything and more than she could hope for. With Matt, everything seemed to be so simple and she was enjoying every moment of it. They couldn't go off to somewhere nice like Stefan and Caroline, because Matt had been behind on school due to the football practices and needed to catch up. Elena didn't mind, though. Bonnie had gone back to Mystic Falls to find her grandmother and had told her that Jenna and Jeremy were both doing well so there was nothing to worry about.

And holding hands with Matt felt like the most natural thing to do. Maybe she'd gotten used to him, but she could not doubt that he made her happy. He was always doing sweet things for her and she appreciated every one of them. Just that morning, he had given her flowers. It might not be anything much, but she was still trying to get used to someone showering her unconditionally with gifts and flowers just because he thought of her.

"What's going on through that pretty head of yours?"

Elena smiled and shook her head, "I was just thinking about how today is such a beautiful day and here we are, holding hands and taking a stroll. And I think that I'm happy."

That frown that crept onto his face gave way to a grin. "That's nice to hear."

She couldn't help but grin back, "It's nice to be here with you. With no one else but us."

Matt nodded but she saw something in his eyes. He stopped walking and took hold of her other hand.

"Lena, I know that I'd said that I would wait and take it slow, and I understand if you won't take me now but I have to ask anyway. I don't want you to think that -"

He was nervous, it was so obvious but Elena merely tiptoed slightly and kiss his lips gently. It was the first that their lips had touched and Matt was stunned into silence. Never would he have thought that Elena would be the one who made the first move.

"Well, I had to do that else you wouldn't stop." Before Matt could say anything, Elena continued, "I can't say those words to you yet, but I really do like you and I like being around you. It's probably selfish of me, but I really do want to give this a try."

She had thought about it long and hard over the past few days after the conversation with Stefan and Elena had thought why not? Matt made her happy and she really did like him. Maybe not love, not yet. But a part of her really do want the both of them to work out. She couldn't control the future and what it would bring, but for now, she was certain that she liked Matt and that she liked being around him.

Matt's grin widened and he framed her face with his hands, "It's not selfish of you, Lena. You needed to be sure and now that you're almost there, I really do like you, too. And why not let's give this a try? Does this mean that you'll be my girlfriend?"

The way he said it made her giggle. It was like as though he could hardly believe it and was testing the word out. Elena could hardly believe it, either.

Here they were, standing in the middle of nowhere in school and confiding each other's feelings for each other and taking the next step. A huge step to Elena but Matt already knew. It felt like his world shuddered for a moment and then righted again. He didn't just like Elena, he loved her. But he also didn't want to scare her away. This was so much more than he could've asked.

"Yes, Matt. Does this mean you'll be my boyfriend?"

Laughing weakly, Matt nodded, "Of course, Elena." And he couldn't stop himself from kissing her. That one taste of her had him wanting more so he deepened the kiss and felt his heart leap.

When Matt had finally let her go, Elena sighed and put their brows together. This felt nice. She didn't know about right, but she felt safe, comfortable and happy. That was all that mattered right?

Just then, Matt's phone rang and he groaned. After the short conversation, Matt rolled his eyes and said, "I'm sorry but I have to go. Prof Fell got my papers marked and she wants to see me to go through it. Apparently, it's not as good as it can be."

Elena felt her heart sink. They were supposed to be spending the day together, one full day after their hectic schedules but, it was school. "It's alright, go ahead I'll see you after."

"Count on it." After a deep kiss, Matt winked at her and left, while Elena made her way back to her room, smiling to herself.

Letting herself in, Elena was about to shut the door when a hand slammed against it and the door was forcefully pushed open, forcing her to take two steps back.

"What the -" But those striking blue eyes pinned her to the spot and struck her speechless. And the world which felt safe, comfortable and nice just got turned upside down even as her heart thudded so hard against her chest that she could hear it beating quickly. It was a wonder he didn't, too.

Closing the door behind his back with a smart click, Damon took a step closer and tried hard to bank down on his anger. Seeing the blond Donovan boy have his tongue all but down Elena's throat made him want to punch him. But seeing Elena responding back in kind made him want to murder the boy.

"What the hell are you doing letting that boy put his hands all over you?"

Once Elena was over the shock, she felt her blood boiling. Who did he think he was, barging into her room like that and demanding answers?

"His hands weren't all over me and he is none of your business. What I do has nothing to do with you."

He smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes which made her temper falter for a moment. This was a man standing in front of her and he looked like he was capable of anything, of hurting anything. Maybe even her.

"That's where you're wrong, Elena." It was said with such deceptive sweetness that it brought chills down her spine. She had seen him angry before, both the hot fury and the ice cold anger. But they had never been aimed at her before. Not until now.

"I don't know what is it you want, Damon. But what you need to do right now is to leave. I want you to leave me alone."

When he took another step closer, she took another step back. She didn't even realise that she was breathing heavily.

"Now, you might want to think again. Do you really want me to leave? Do you really want me to leave you alone? Think again, Elena, because if you do, I can promise that I won't ever bother you again. So, is that really what you want?"

She couldn't think. Simply couldn't. All she knew was that this was wrong. Whatever he was implying, it was simply not right. He was engaged and she now had a boyfriend. She could not cheat on Matt, not on sweet, sweet Matt. And she would not be the cause of Damon's engagement breaking off. She couldn't want him to stay, she couldn't be so selfish when there were so many hearts on the line. Oh but she wanted him to stay. Needed him to. This was the moment she had been waiting for, hoping for, for so long. Yet...

"Yes, that's really what I want, Damon. I want you to leave. Now."

He paused. Then nodded. "Very well, then."

She blinked and he was gone. The door swung shut behind him. He was gone. Again.

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