Chapter Three
"Come on, drunky." Caroline laughed as she helped a stumbling Elena into the back of Tyler's car. Elena fell into the backseat.
"I'm not that drunk." Elena said loudly.
Tyler chuckled, "Actually you just about put your dad to shame tonight, Gilbert."
"My dad hates me now." Elena said in a sad voice.
"No honey, he doesn't hate you, just your boyfriend." Caroline said.
"Then why does he barely ever speak to me? He didn't even hassle me about drinking and how I was getting home. It's like he doesn't even care anymore." Elena started crying a little and Caroline and Tyler exchanged a glance.
"He cares Elena he cares a lot." Tyler said. "He knew I was driving you so he drilled me about how many beers I had. He just…he's stubborn, and so are you."
"Every time you guys try to talk you fight. Maybe he's just tired of fighting you." Caroline added.
"There is a very simple solution for that. He can stop fighting me and just accept my choices are mine." Elena crossed her arms, a stubborn pout on her lips.
"I don't know if that's ever going to happen." Caroline said gently.
"I'm so tired." Elena's head fell back on the seat and her eyes closed, she fell asleep as Tyler drove her home.
Mason was standing outside waiting for them when they got to her apartment building. He was wearing brown cargo shorts that looked wrinkled, a basic white tee -shirt and flip flops. His curly dirty blond hair was a mess, it looked like he had been pulling at it. He had an annoyed look plastered across his face as he walked to the car.
"She's passed out." Caroline said rolling down the window as he stepped up to them. He looked at Elena's sleeping form and the annoyed expression softened and he smiled a little.
"She wasn't lying. You guys did get her drunk." He shook his head. "So you're the bad influences then. She stole my truck, you know."
"You deserved it. You wouldn't leave when she wanted to leave." Caroline defended.
"Why would I want to spend my day off at my boss's house?" He asked with a scoff.
"Then you should have just told her you weren't going to go." Caroline continued her lecture.
"I tried." He shrugged and ignored her, opening the passenger door he gently scooped Elena up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. He chuckled when she made a sort of moaning noise.
"On that note. Goodnight kids." Mason grinned, earning an eye roll from Caroline and a disgusted face from Tyler. He kicked the door shut behind him and started into the building.
She lived on the first floor across the hall from her aunt Jenna and her aunt's boyfriend Ric. He never really liked Ric but Jenna was okay, well at least until he started dating Elena. Then she got all mother hen on him like everyone else in Elena's family. He was just glad they'd be moving out in another week and he wouldn't have to deal with them being right across the hall from her anymore.
He managed to wrangle Elena's house keys from her purse to get the door unlocked and get them inside before her aunt came out. No doubt she'd blame Mason for Elena's state. He managed to successfully get them inside and the door closed without waking them up.
"Damon." She whispered, nuzzling her head into the soft padding right under his shoulder.
"What did you say?" Mason almost dropped her but recovered just in time, the sudden jerked movements startled her awake she looked up at him through half closed eyes confusion etched across her face.
"Mase?" She mumbled.
"Yeah Mason, that's my name." He put her down kind of roughly and walked into the kitchen trying to figure out what the hell just happened. There was no way in hell Salvatore was going to come back here and get his girl.
"What are you doing here?" She followed him, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"I was sitting outside your building for over an hour waiting for you." He said, his voice tight.
"Oh…you took a cab?" She said her voice was slurred.
"Yes. I called you to tell you I was here about fifteen times." He said.
"I must not have heard my phone." She said.
"Too busy with Damon?" He asked, throwing her hard look.
"Actually he was pretty busy most of the night. I only got to talk to him a few times." She sat down and rubbed her head.
"Devastating." He said dryly.
"What's your problem?" She spat out glaring at him.
"Besides the fact you stole my truck?" He asked, "And ignored my calls all night?"
"I'm not sorry for ditching you. I told you we were going to that party. I caught hell for being so late and for you not being there." She said. "So if I decided to not ruin my night being pissed at you, and got drunk so I could ignore you instead, you deserved it."
"Elena.." He groaned, but she already got up and stomped down the hall to her room slamming the door behind her.
"I'm sorry." He said, rattling on the door.
"Just go home!" She called out.
"No, not until you let me in." He said.
"No." She said stubbornly. "Stand out there all night then. I don't care."
He rolled his eyes in frustration. It really annoyed him when she got all stubborn and hardheaded. He was an easy-going guy, he just wanted to do what he wanted to do. She could be a major buzz-kill sometimes.
"I'm sorry I ditched the party and yes I kind if did it on purpose. I did deserve it okay? " He said.
"You're not really sorry you're just placating me."
"I don't know these college words, but it sounds kind of dirty. I'd love to placate you." He teased and earned a small laugh from the other side of the door.
"You know exactly what it means." She didn't sound quite as angry anymore.
"Please, just let me in." He begged.
"Fine." She whipped open the door and walked back over to the bed, letting out a huffy breath when she sat down.
"You can't blame me for not wanting to spend my day off at my boss's house." He said.
"All the more reason you should have went." Elena said. "It's called respect and it's not just this party, this is a straw at the top of a heap of things I wanted that you managed to wrangle your way out of."
"Your family..."He started.
"Is my family and they will always be my family. Yours isn't always the most warm and welcoming bunch either, but I'm still there for every Sunday brunch and a million other things." She said.
"Well that's cause you're such a good girl like that." He flashed a little smile at her. "I'd take you to the beach and skip every single one, if Richard wasn't running for senate."
She just frowned, rubbing her temples. She was going to have a killer hangover tomorrow.
"Just imagine you and me and a whole weekend without our families driving us nuts." He sat down and put his arm around her.
"Don't Mason. I'm still mad about this one." She crossed her arms.
"Come on babe, I can't take it back now and go to the party, so can we squash it?" He asked.
"It's not that easy."
"What if I was to offer one day at least to the big rock festival you were dying to go to?" He pulled out the tickets from his back pocket and saw her bite back the smile of excitement.
"Really? You got these? And we're going for sure?" She asked her hazy eyes widening.
"For sure." He promised.
"This doesn't mean I forgive you." She mumbled looking at the tickets.
He gently pushed her down and tackled her with tickles.
"Hey stop!" She cried out.
"Nope, not until you forgive me." He continued tickling her, her body squirming underneath his.
"So unfair..." She spurted out in between giggles. "You can't win an argument this way."
"We'll see about that." He said with a cocky grin reaching for her foot.
"No!" She squealed jumping back. "Fine I forgive you, just get off of me."
"That's better." He leaned over and kissed her.
"Ewe tequila." He teased, pinching his nose.
"Shut up." She laughed tossing her pillow at his face, he caught it and shoved it under his head as he laid down next to her.
"Gimme back my pillow!" She laughed as she tried to pull it out from under his head. He let her struggle for a few moments and then finally gave it back to her. She curled up next to him her eyes getting droopy.
"Don't pass out on me yet. I want to placate you." He said but she was already passed out before he even finished his sentence.
"Great. Two hundred dollar concert tickets, a fifty dollar cab right and I don't even get any." He muttered staring up the ceiling.
He glanced over at her and gritted his teeth, hoping the Damon slip was just that, a confused drunken slip. There was no way he was giving her up, especially to him.
Damon's mom woke him up around ten the next morning for some Lockwood brunch they were going to. It was definitely the last place he wanted to go and he groaned at the thought of dealing with Mason today. The only thing that cheered him up was the idea that Elena could be around. Too bad it was another family event but maybe he could pull her aside…and what steal her from her boyfriend? He scoffed at himself, he heard her on the phone. That wasn't a friend she was talking to it was a boyfriend that she was fighting with.
Maybe they were on their way out though; would it be so bad for her to know he's waiting in the wings? Is that what he was doing?
"Obsessing. That's what you're doing, Salvatore." He said out loud into the mirror. "And now you're talking to yourself to.
He shook his head and headed downstairs where his parents were waiting for him.
The lavish landscape of the Lockwood estate seemed even brighter and bigger. Even Damon could appreciate the beauty of it. He didn't see any other cars out front yet. His dad parked the car and Damon couldn't help but make his irritation known as they exited the car.
"No one is even here yet." He whined.
"Damon please." Giuseppe rolled his eyes and started inside.
"It's just a brunch, two hours tops." Maria comforted him.
Grayson and Miranda pulled up next and walked up to the porch with them. Grayson looked beat.
The women headed inside to talk to Carol and he, his dad and Grayson joined Tyler on the porch who was sipping on coffee.
"You drink coffee now?" Damon asked, it was hard to get over how much to get over how much time had changed everyone.
A big loud black truck pulled up into the yard and parked away from all the cars, parking near the gardens.
"In case he needs to make a quick exit." Tyler rolled his eyes.
"Mason?" Damon guessed. Here we go, he thought bracing himself as Tyler nodded.
The passenger door opened and Elena stepped out, he froze again. She was clad in a beautiful dark blue sundress that hugged every curve she was tantalizing him with, and made her olive skin beg to be touched. Her rich chestnut hair was straightened and shiny pulled up into a high ponytail. She had sunglasses on and he couldn't tell if she was looking towards them or not. She stopped after she got out like she was waiting… wait got out, of Mason's truck? Why was she in his truck? Oh no...no, no, no…he could feel his body getting hot.
Mason jumped out and stepped up beside her and put his arm around her. A rage settled inside his chest and he could feel his whole body tightening up. The closer they got the closer he was to exploding, but his dad and Elena's dad were right there. It took every ounce of self-control to shove the rage down into his stomach and stand still.
"Damon Salvatore." Mason said in a booming voice. He still looked the same, a little bigger maybe, and his hair was a little darker but it was pretty much the same curly prep style he had in high school. He was dressed in khakis and a button up white shirt, with flip flops. Apparently he still thought he was surfing in Florida.
"Wow, what's it been five years?" Mason asked. His tone seemed friendly but Damon could see the challenge glinting in his hazel eyes.
"Not long enough." Damon said. His eyes meeting Mason's head on.
"Man he was always so funny." Mason said with a fake little laugh, "It's good to see you man, I appreciate what you did out there, I really do." He extended his hand for a handshake, a cocky self-satisfied expression rested on his face.
Damon gritted his teeth and returned his handshake taking the opportunity to shoot him a dark look and squeezed his hand hard in warning. Mason pretended not to notice. Keeping up his show face for what Damon imagined was present company.
His eyes fell on Elena who was standing awkwardly next to Mason. She had taken her sunglasses off and looked sort of nervous. She was avoiding direct eye contact with him.
"Mason, I expected you at the party last night." Giuseppe said.
It's good thing he's still a flake because if he had shown up with her last night. Damon wasn't so sure what he would have done.
"I am truly sorry about that." He said. "Honest it was..."
"A super long story." Damon spat out, his hardened eyes falling on Elena. She seemed to flinch a little under his stare. He couldn't help it, it just came out. He knew it wasn't like she had to tell him. She had no idea what had been running through his mind since the second he set eyes on her again, but she saw his reaction to being blindsided about Mason working with him. They were friends, at the very least she could have warned him.
"Yeah...well…anyway, I am sorry." Mason said glancing at her and then back at Damon.
"I'm sure." Grayson spit out.
Mason looked relieved when a few cars started pulling in.
"Duty calls." He walked down to the bottom of the steps to greet people and Tyler joined him looking at his watch, probably waiting on Caroline.
Grayson nodded at Elena and went inside and his father followed him in. Grayson just nodded at her? Not even a hug or a hello? Damon thought, then decided to stop wondering, he was done. She was with that moron and he needed to just forget about her.
Elena stood there awkwardly and looked up at him nervously
"I just never got a chance to mention Mason..." She started.
"Sure, whatever Lena," He said in a cool tone quick to feign indifference.
"I'm sorry it came out like this, I guess. I didn't think…" She trailed off.
"You better just run along; your boyfriend needs you at his post, Elena." He said. He managed to keep his face impassive but he knew his words were dripping with sarcasm and some bitterness. "Wouldn't want to keep him waiting."
She looked at him oddly and sighed before turning to join her ridiculous boyfriend at said post. It took every ounce of self-control not to run down there and rip Mason's head off. He turned and went inside wondering what he could have done to deserve this homecoming surprise. He walked over towards his dad and Grayson and prayed for time to speed up.
"See Damon I know he didn't have a real excuse for missing the party, but he was gracious and he apologized to you." Giuseppe whispered.
"Oh come on, the jackass is full of it." Grayson said. "I can't believe the way you let him kiss up to you."
"I do no such thing. He does show some promise and you have personal reasons for disliking him. I understand that." Giuseppe said. "I'm not asking Damon to like him, just be professional."
"Okay?" He gave Damon a hard look.
"Yeah dad," Damon muttered. Giuseppe nodded and left to go find his mother.
"Consider this, Mason has the job because his big brother gave your dad a loan. If he turns over some huge profit isn't he just writing off his own job? The kids is a complete idiot, but he is good at doing nothing and making it appear otherwise." Grayson said.
Damon didn't doubt a word of it and was glad someone saw things his way.
"Not anymore." Damon said. "I'm not working with that clown."
"Right now you don't have a choice son." Grayson said. "Just keep an eye on him, be smarter than him."
Damon was just focusing on not hitting him as he kept his eyes on the ground and walked over to the table where coffee was set up. He busied himself with getting a cup and avoided glancing at the door. Anything, to avoid the scene when Tyler and Caroline along with Mason and Elena would walk in.
"Just stay calm, it will get easier." His mom was behind him suddenly.
"Yeah I get it. I'll be professional." He muttered, and he did get it he can't screw up this loan deal, they just didn't get that it was about so much more than that.
"Just be calm and be patient. Things will look up. I'm sure of it." She said.
"Mom, you don't even understand half of it now…" He stopped, how does he explain that Mason's got something he never even realized he wanted so badly until it was too late.
"Just be smarter than him. I know you are." She said.
"That's what Grayson said." Damon said.
"He didn't take his own advice." Maria said wisely.
"What do you mean?" Damon asked.
"Grayson put her in constant positions where she had to defend him and the tension mounted, they hardly speak now, be smarter than that." She said.
"I uh..." He rubbed the back of his head unsure of what to say. Clearly she was referring to the star of his every recent thought, but how did she, and why was she...he stopped thinking when she started speaking again.
"She's young and maybe a bit naive, he's charming and quite worldly for a girl like her, but she's wise and the infatuation will fade." She added with a knowing look before joining her table.
Damon watched her walk off, his eyebrows arched. He had seriously underestimated his mother's ability to read him.
Elena picked at her food at the Lockwood table as Mason talked about all the great stuff he was doing at the bank. Elena wanted nothing more than some greasy fries and a burger. Her hangover was off the charts, and then Damon and his reaction to Mason. He shut her out, he put his walls up and now he had avoided even glancing at her ever since. Was he that upset about her dating Mason?
She didn't understand what this bad blood was between them but she didn't want to be in the middle of it. Damon was one of the most important people in her life and she didn't know what she would do if she lost him. What if he shut her out forever?
She honestly meant to tell him, she got nervous she was afraid he'd get mad and tell her Mason was no good like her dad always did, she was afraid they would fight about it. She didn't think he'd shut her out like he did though, she bit her lip.
The other reason she didn't tell him was she got caught up in his presence again and for a few moments she forgot Mason existed. She felt a terrible stab of guilt at that thought. What was wrong with her? She read Mason the riot act last night and here she was obsessing over Damon behind his back. Or right next to him actually, even worse.
I love Mason, these are just left over tween angst feelings, she told herself.
Mason leaned down and kissed her head, he was taking about their recent trip to, Cancun Mexico, and she snapped back to reality, laughing as she took over the story about how she made Mason keep riding the dolphin until she could get a good picture snapped of him. He kept falling off he was so big and awkward looking on it. Everyone laughed when she showed them the pictures she had transferred to her phone.
She felt eyes on her and looked up, her eyes fell right on Damon who was looking down at his plate. Ignoring her just like he had been all morning. She bit her lip and got back to the conversation, Tyler was talking about his classes now. Mason looked bored but both Elena and Caroline were impressed with how seriously Tyler was taking school. He didn't want to be handed his life, he wanted to work his way up. He had really grown up and changed a lot over the few years out of high school. Elena thinks falling in love with Caroline had a lot to do with that.
She kind of hoped in time Mason would grow up a little too like Tyler had. He was twenty three and sometimes still acted like, well a nineteen year old, perhaps that was the initial appeal, but with school and work and moving into her own place last year, Elena started to grow out of that. At least he was working now with Giuseppe, instead of living off his trust fund. She thought her dad would like that but he accused Mason of using his brother's clout to get his way. She sighed, wishing things were just easier.
"I'll be right back, babe." Mason whispered when his phone went off, she nodded noticing Damon walk outside, her heart started racing but she knew she had to make sure they were okay. She couldn't leave things like this. This was Damon.
He was standing on the porch seeming to be gripping the railing staring off into space.
"Hey," She walked over slowly, he glanced at her looking horrified for a second before turning away quickly.
"Look Damon...I really did mean too tell you." She started.
"Mason Lockwood? Why would you want to…" He started then stopped they stared at each other for a second.
"He's not a good guy Elena, but I'm sure you've heard that already." He said his voice hard and cold.
"I..I don't want to fight with you about it, about him. It's my life Damon." She said her eyes pleading with him to look at her but he avoided direct eye contact with her.
"Then do what you're going to do, I won't fight you about it. I won't say a damn word." He snapped.
"I didn't say that." She said, feeling flustered.
They were quiet for a while standing side by side in similar positions to each other both gripping the railing with a few feet in between them.
"I didn't even know you guys hated each other or anything." She finally said, feeling tears start to form in her eyes. "But that isn't my fault and now you don't even want to be my friend, because I'm with Mason?"
His face broke into a frown and he stepped closer to her. "I didn't say that Elena."
"But you're so mad and you're shutting me out." She stammered.
"I'm not mad at you." He stepped closer and a tear slipped down her cheek. He gently traced it away with his thumb.
"I was just blindsided and I don't trust him." He added with a sigh. "He's not and never will be a good guy."
"Damon," She looked up with pleading eyes. "Don't go there."
"I'm not going to." He said. "You're right. It's your life and your choice, however, little darling, this is one choice I'm not behind you on."
"You and everyone else in town, I think they have a club you can join." She said dryly and he laughed a little.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I really did plan on it and then the booze came out." She said sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, I got all grumpy." He held out his arms and she stepped forward her worries all seemed to vanish when he wrapped her up into a hug. He smelled so good, better then she even remembered, she felt sort of drunk all over again. She pulled away and gave him a small smile he smiled back looking happier than he did before.
"What's going on out here?" Mason's voice made her jump and she turned to glance at him, he was looking directly through her to Damon with narrowed eyes.
"We were just talking." Elena said.
"Then why does it look like you were crying?" He tilted her chin up with his hand.
"What did you do to her?" He glared at Damon.
"Mason please." She rolled her eyes at the toned implication of what he asked. "Damon would never hurt me."
"Just stay the hell away from her, you got it?" Mason continued to glare at Damon.
"Excuse me the her is right here and I think I get to decide who is around me." Elena stomped her foot to get his attention and she heard Damon chuckle behind her.
"Elena, why don't we take off and talk?" Mason suggested looking annoyed.
"Actually I'm in the middle of talking to Damon right now." She said feeling really annoyed and embarrassed over this macho boyfriend act he was trying to pull in front of Damon.
"Well I need to leave and I'm not leaving you here alone." He said.
"Since when?" She laughed dryly.
"I can give you a ride home if you need one, Lena." Damon offered casually, seeming to fuel Mason even further.
"No that's not happening. Let's go Elena." Mason said.
She scoffed at the tone and look in his eyes and crossed her arms.
"I think she's perfectly capable of making her own decisions." Damon's cool voice spoke out again from directly behind her now and she had to bite back a smirk.
"Elena could you please give me and Damon a second." Mason said his eyes wider now as his muscles tensing as he continued to glare at Damon.
She turned around to find Damon smirking but his face was hard and his eyes were cold with a twinkle of danger. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable directly in the middle of them as they glared at each other over her head. She stepped aside so she was standing to the side of both of them opening her mouth to try and say something to calm this down. But words escaped her she was so stunned by the incredible tension alone on the porch.
"You sure you want to do that." Damon said in a low voice.
"Oh I'm sure." Mason said his voice icy and laced with threats he stepped closer to Damon. Elena watched from the sidelines her mouth slightly open, this wasn't good…
"Hey everything okay out here?" Her dad came out just in time. She breathed in relief, he looked over at her, she shrugged helplessly and shook her head no, not taking her eyes from the two very rived up men.
"Everything's under control." Damon said his eyes not leaving Mason. "Why don't you take Elena out of here?"
"No I don't think so." Grayson actually chuckled a little and grabbed Damon's shoulders pulling him back, far away from Mason to other end of the porch. He started talking to Damon in a calm easy voice until he listened. "Not worth it, think of your dad's company…" He was saying.
"Nice to see where the loyalties lie," Mason spat out angrily and stomped off.
Elena stood there for a long moment, her dad was speaking so low now she couldn't hear him and Damon looked liked he calmed down. Mason had already made it to the truck and she heard his door slam hard but he didn't start it. She knew he wouldn't leave without her and she didn't want him to come back up here to start any more trouble. She took a deep calming breath and then left to join Mason, glancing back once at her dad and Damon. They were headed inside, but Damon turned and looked in her direction for a few seconds. She exhaled a breath she didn't even realize she was holding when he turned away and went back inside.
