CHAPTER 4 - A KISS WITH A FIST IS BETTER THAN NONE

The night sky was pitch black but the soft, orange glow of the street lamps cast enough light to outline Stefan's contemplative figure. He stood against a tree in the desolate town square, a wistful glint in his green eyes.

He pushed his right sleeve up, glanced down at his white gold Rolex and smiled. He was counting down the hours 'til she arrived.

He bit his bottom lip and looked up at the massive billboard that stood in the town square.

Alexia Branson, the enchanting new face of Cover Girl Cosmetics

A smile played on his lips once more.

"6 hours," he breathed.


Elena spent a long time in the shower that night, scrubbing and thinking. No matter how hard she scrubbed, she couldn't get rid of the faint trace of rotten cabbage that remained on her skin. And no matter how hard she thought about it, she just couldn't make sense of Stefan's words.

'6 hours… Paris? What was that supposed to mean?'

Frustrated, she simply opted to forget the day's events altogether.

Elena collapsed on the simple, wooden dining chair. Waiting for Aunt Jenna to finish cooking her trademark Mac and Cheese, she began to sort through the mail. Elena scowled at an urgent-looking envelope and tore it open.

"Aunt Jenna, there's a letter here from Jeremy's school… a final notice for his tuition?"

Jenna whirled around, her apron covered in cheesy stains. She pointed the wooden spoon at Elena.

"I'm paying that…" she sighed, "Once my next freelance piece goes through."

Elena's heart fell. "Aunt Jenna, I could get part-time job… I could help."

"No, Elena. Your parents wouldn't want that. They would want you to focus on your studies. I just… I need to work harder." she gave Elena a lopsided smile and turned back to the stove.

Elena's forehead creased. Jenna was sacrificing so much, just so she could attend the hell-hole that was The Falls Academy. It made her sick to her stomach.

"I'm not hungry," she muttered, heading to her room.

Jenna looked up from the mess of Mac and Cheese and sighed.

Elena tossed, then turned, then stared at the bright, green digits on her alarm clock. It was already past midnight but sleep still eluded her. Moreover, the sound of clanging sent her jumping out of bed and peering through the crack of her door.

"Shhh, Jeremy!" Jenna whispered, slapping the boy on the arm.

"Sorry, I can't see a thing!" Jeremy replied in low voice.

"You sure this is her favorite?"

"Yup, she loves lobster. She eats it like a man."

Elena smiled.

"Nooo, give her more. It's okay with me."

"Okay, okay, Jer. I really hope this'll cheer her up. There's a lot of pressure on her right now." Jenna said softly, carefully arranging the food in a paper bag. Jeremy nodded.

Elena softly shut her door and climbed back into bed. Just the sight of Jenna, her light auburn hair in a messy bun, and Jeremy, in the faded Star Wars shirt he always slept in, showing how much they cared for her lulled her right into a sweet sleep, leaving her wondering what she did to deserve a family as great as hers.


Elena's eyes lit up at the sight of the butter-sauce coated lobster in front of her. In that one moment, just she felt so… blessed, that she pushed both Katherine and Stefan's absences from her mind. She was grinning from ear to ear as she held her utensils in each hand and took a second to thank a higher power for the food.

That second was all it took for another equally omnipotent higher power, to appear in front of her. He looked smart, the sleeves of his black blazer pushed up, but he was seething, his grip of the sides of the table, unrelenting.

He simply did not understand how she could still have the courage to smile. He didn't understand it one bit.

Damon looked down at her meal and laughed.

"I didn't know middle-class hags could cook this well," he said coldly, grabbing the Tupperware. "Look who's desperate to fit in now."

And with a flick of his wrist, he slammed it to the ground. Her food was sent skidding across the linoleum.

She couldn't move. She stared at the lobster, now lying on the floor, the food she'd witnessed her aunt and brother preparing in the dead of night, just for her.

Damon followed her gaze and with a ground-quivering stomp, left the lobster crushed under the sole of his shoe.

As per usual, everyone watched wordlessly.

"Let's go, guys." Damon called out to Tyler and Alaric.

"Where we goin'?" Tyler asked, raising a brow.

"Out," Damon smirked. "I need to buy a new pair of shoes."

Elena snapped.

"Stop."

Damon chuckled. "Huh? What did you say?" he mocked with a tilt of his head.

"I don't know if you're spoiled or just stupid," Elena spat, her eyes ablaze. "But you're a complete ass who has never earned a cent on his own."

"YOU ARE SO FULL OF IT!" she yelled.

And Damon barely had time to react, before she sent her fist straight to his jaw.

He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. He looked up at her, completely dumbstruck.

"I'm never going to give up" was the last thing she said before she walked past him and out the banquet hall doors, the crowd parting like the red sea to let her pass.


Elena woke up the next day, buttoned her shirt, fastened her skirt and donned her navy blazer. When she looked into the mirror, she no longer saw a delicate, spineless little girl. She saw Elena.

She stepped out into the fresh morning air in high spirits. Nothing could faze her today.

… Nothing but the burly man in a black suit and aviators that grabbed her or the other burly man in a black suit and aviators that covered her mouth with a chloroform-laced cloth.

The last thing Elena saw before she completely lost consciousness was person that sat cross-legged in the foreboding black car she was shoved into. She'd know those piercing, steel-blue eyes and that distinctive smirk anywhere.

'A one Damon Salvatore.'


A/N: This chapter's a bit short but I wanted to update quick! I bet you guys were scratching your heads with Stefan's '6 hours' comment, haha! What do you guys think of me bringing in some Stefan S. + Lexi B. in Chapter 5?

On another note... OMG, ELENA'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!

FOLLOW, FAVORITE, REVIEW! :)