Chapter Four
You may have noticed that, yes, I've just watched/read 'Atonement' and yes, I do rather like it. Although it is frustrating as hell and I severely dislike Briony Tallis to put it mildly
And so I will just say now, no copyright infringement intended on either.
Ahh mi larrd! Just doing some bored browsing…ELENA'S BIRTHDAY (according to the Vampire Diaries Wiki page) IS 22ND JUNE! Now that's six days before Damon's…I think it's a sign Too late to include that in the story though so sorry. That does also mean they skipped it out in the show which sucks.
Hope you enjoy
His eyes were on me as I descended the stairs five minutes later, box in hand. I somehow managed to break the gaze and focused instead on not falling down the stairs. Their conversation was still going but he wasn't listening, I could tell that instantly. That only made the nerves worse.
I didn't say anything as I approached the sofa and, after a moment's hesitation, passed him the box. He barely spared it a glance while watching me with that puzzled look. He could probably feel my anxiety. I guess I'd already told him that he might hate me for this so there wasn't really anything to say at the moment.
Everyone else fell quiet as he slowly unwrapped it, taking much more care than he had with the gifts before. I didn't sit down, just leant against the sofas arm and picked at my nails, watching him uneasily. There was a deep frown on his face as he unveiled the box, then it deepened further when he unhooked the intricate gold clasp and found the old journal. I wondered if he knew it was his fathers, but his expression gave nothing away…that just made me more apprehensive and I bit my lip, scared almost.
I'd put a red ribbon through the pages, so he'd open it up on the first entry I'd found. He did so…silence followed. No-one else was talking in the room; instead they were all just staring at him. I could tell that Caroline was trying to get my attention to find out what it was but I couldn't look away from the silent vampire before me. From here I couldn't see his face since it was cast down to read the decaying pages but I knew he was reading it.
This was not good.
After a moment I heard him let out a somewhat shaky sigh before turning the page to the second ribbon…more silence.
This was the one I thought worse to be honest. Better…but worse. The first he probably had had a decent relationship with his father. The second would be unexpected.
The minutes seemed to stretch on and on and on and he just kept staring at the page. Then he placed the box and the book carefully on the sofa beside him. Shit…
And next, very slowly, he turned his head to face me. I winced slightly, shocked up his glazed over eyes. The tears threatening only enhanced the incredible blue and he was striking. "Damon-"I began quietly, pretty sure that I was going to apologize. But before I could he was moving, standing up and walking the small distance to stand in front of me. I didn't even get a chance to take it in before he'd wrapped his arms around me and was hugging me tight to his chest, his head buried in my hair. I sighed and rested my forehead against his chest, relief washing through me. So he didn't completely hate me.
I knew that everyone was beyond confused but right now I didn't care. I could feel a slight dampness through my hair and reached a hand up to brush through his hair, gently pulling his head away a little so I could see his face. His eyes were still full of tears but some have spilled over; the sight had my own eyes watering slightly, "Sorry." I murmured.
He frowned at that, shaking his head a little, "Why?"
"Bad idea." I offered, dropping my gaze for a moment.
The words had barely left my mouth when he brought my face back up, "No…" he said, "It's perfect."
For a moment we just stared at each other. I'd noticed that over the pass few months this tended to happen more and more…just getting lost in each other, but never like this. It shouldn't happen; we couldn't be any more than friends. But those blue orbs were just so deep; bottomless…it was difficult not to drown in them. It wasn't a conscious decision when I reached up one hand to cup his face, my thumb brushing away the tear stains there but never breaking eye contact.
And we were only shaken out of this trance-like state when someone cleared their throat from behind him. I blinked and that broke it; feeling the heat rise to my cheeks I looked down at the floor as he let me go, seemingly a little reluctant but that could just be me reading into things. He turned around a second later to face everyone else, grin in place, "Well someone definitely knows how to make my day." He announced, clearly to lighten the mood and I smiled a little, hearing laughter. Before I knew it conversation had started again and Caroline was telling them about her birthday a few years ago when we'd all gone paintballing in the woods. But I couldn't concentrate; I could barely even hear what they were all saying. How could the mood change that quickly? How could I just pretend that that moment didn't happen?
This room was suffocating; the whole house was…I needed to get out…get some air. I didn't say anything, knowing that they were all laughing at someone or other, I lifted the front of my dress slightly so I wouldn't trip and left the room as fast as I could without looking like I was running. I heard someone call my name but for some reason I just couldn't turn around.
Before I knew it I was outside and standing on the gravel driveway. I paused, taking in a deep breath of fresh air. The night was warm, being summertime, but I still shivered a little. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I losing it now? Maybe it was because of what Bonnie said…about me loving him. I guess it was true. I knew it was true. I did love him. But as I said, I couldn't admit that.
I could feel that I wasn't alone anymore, that he was there. I don't know why but I started walking again, feeling restless; I couldn't stay still. A second later I felt his fingers brush my arm, "Lena-"
And that was all it took.
Without any warning or knowledge, I spun round and crushed my lips to his, my hand snaking around his neck. He froze, shocked by the move. I pulled back, a little more than surprised myself. We'd kissed before, yes. But almost every time has been him angry or drunk or dying…except for that one after he compelled Jeremy…But nevertheless…I'd never been the one to make the move. And I didn't regret it this time. I stared into his stunned wide eyes for a second before smiling a tiny bit, shaking my head slightly and stepping back, turning away. But before I could get two steps in I felt his hand clasp around my arm and brought me spinning back and before I knew it he was kissing me properly.
Now it was my time to freeze for a second before I smiled into the kiss and, as his arms pulled me closer around my waist, deepening the kiss, mine wound around his neck and my hands in his hair. It had never been like this before. Not with Matt or Stefan. It'd been nice, sure…but this was…there weren't words…but their were fireworks…
There were definitely fireworks.
Very, very short I know but I'll make the next one longer…and the one before seemed to never end.
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