Who does he think he is? Though Stefan has only told me the jist of his family history, I've picked up on the fact that Damon is not the ideal brother. He'd left deep emotional scars on a man whose heart is as pure as snow. All I ever tried to do was heal him, give him some relief. I refuse to let Damon come in and undo all the progress Stefan has made.

I know Damon left Stefan in foster care and didn't contact him for several years, but that's about it. That was enough, though. All Stefan ever wants is to be cared for and to be assured of affection. I need that too. That's probably how we found each other so quickly.

There has to be more to the story. And why is Damon calling this guest bedroom his own? Did Stefan really put me up in his prodigal brother's former bedroom? That sure as hell isn't comforting. I'm getting the chills just thinking about it.

My introduction to Damon was anything but normal. The way he stared at me was unnatural, but intriguing. Though we're in separate rooms now, I still feel locked in his icy blue stare. His gaze was intoxicating, but not in a bad way exactly. It's probably better to keep my distance than to try and have a conversation. I can't let him reel me in, but I do need to say something. I want him gone for Stefan's sake, even though I'm desperately interested in knowing the rest of their complicated past.

I nervously knock on my door to collect my belongings and once more plead with the mysterious stranger to leave.

Once again, his mystifying stare appears. I can't see anything else. Did we really need words? He knows what I want. Despite the fact, he begins speaking.

"Listen, this is a lot more complicated than you'll ever know. I plan on staying here for a bit. I'll stay out of yours and Stefan's hair as much as I can, despite how much I love messing with him."

As he spoke, his eyes traversed my whole self, not as if he was sizing me up, but like he was trying to understand who I am, memorize every part of me. I wouldn't doubt that he has the Salvatore trait of being able to understand a person at first glance. Luckily, there's more to me than meets the eye. Uncomfortable and nervous, I work up the courage to confront him.

"No, you listen. I see the effect you have on Stefan and I don't like it. He's in a good place. Let that be."

He watches me speak and for a moment, a twinge of sympathy crosses his face, and then it seems a memory comes to mind. Maybe his struggles are similar and maybe he really is more than meets the eye as well, but that's not of my concern. It shouldn't be. Then he returns to a blank, cocky stare.

"Elena," his voice breathes softly.

I barely even listened to what he had to say after that. The way he said my name was so strange; as if he understood everything I am trying to do, my best intentions and my worst.

"I'm sure you're one of Stefan's many admirers who will tirelessly defend his honor. He's the sun, all you live and breathe, etcetera. I understand. I'm not here to destroy that. I have my reasons, but they don't involve Stefan. You can be sure of that."

I didn't believe him. I didn't want to, at least.

"Then why are you here? There aren't many tourist attractions in Briarview."

"That's kind of a personal question, isn't it?"

"Not when it's sending someone I love into disarray."

Love. It's funny how I spent my morning in chaos trying to figure out how I'm going to stay with this man while still being able to grow. I do love him, though.

He dons a questioning expression for a brief moment. He seems to be moved by some emotion each time I mention Stefan's mental state. Once again, his blank expression resumes and all signs of humanity cease.

"He really should man up. Let bygones be bygones and whatnot."

Damon looks to his left a bit awkwardly, but then continues.

"I've got somewhere to be. It was a pleasure to meet you, Elena."

As he begins to exit, he carefully takes my hand and places a small kiss between my middle and forefinger. This may have been a bit eccentric, but his gentlemanly charm is enthralling. This is not me swooning. I don't swoon, not anymore at least. But I do sense some sort of respect between the two of us. He knows I'm trying to protect Stefan, and I think he'll abide by my wishes.

I hope behind his mysterious front there is some sort of compassion: a man who will take pity on his orphaned brother. If he has any of the same qualities as Stefan, then I believe he'll do what he has to do and then leave.

I watch this puzzling figure grab an old leather jacket and walk out the door. Why do I want to follow him? I have a strong desire to discover the secret of his return. So, I grab my own jacket, seize my keys, and sneak to the garage. I wait a few minutes until I see he's turned the corner. Then, I start the car and follow after the stranger.

He turns down Clifton Avenue and then continues straight for a good eight minutes. The car abruptly stops in front of a large Victorian home, much similar to that of his own. He doesn't get out, just sits for a while. For about ten minutes, we sit, fifty feet apart, staring at the white home. It's ornately built with large white columns and an extending white porch. The porch swing looks welcoming but unused. In fact, the whole home seems abandoned. Who lives here?

The house was much too large to belong to a small family, and I like to think that I know most of the people in town. But this wooded area is foreign to me. My eyes catch sight of a playground in the back of the home. It's littered with old swings and monkey bars, but they looked dilapidated and abandoned.

Suddenly, a thought strikes me. Is this the foster home that the two estranged brothers grew up in? Before I can finish that thought, Damon turns his car around and continues back up the street.

Crap. What can I do but duck?

He slowly drives by, catching one last glimpse of the decaying residence and then stops. He's caught me.

"Stefan's had the same car since the last time I visited, Elena. Subtlety isn't your forté."

"I just," I stutter and then stop.

"You're curious. Didn't anyone tell you that curiosity killed the cat?"

"Isn't that a bit cliché?"

"My point is that I'm pretty sure Stefan wants his past and his present far apart."

"Is this….where you two.."

"Where we grew up? The placed I left him to "rot?" You seem intelligent, you tell me."

He makes conversation so difficult. Talking with Stefan isn't a riddle. But every brief word I've had with Damon thus far has kept me in a tailspin, trying to analyze what's behind his vague statements. Maybe he's only being so vague because I'm being quite similar. I haven't been upfront or asked him the questions I'm dying to know. Look at me sneaking around like an alley cat. I'm trying to be more assertive, so why not try it out on a stranger?

"What happened here, Damon? Stefan's never mentioned that the place was so close."

He looks around slowly and refrains from answering.

"I know it's really personal, but I'm looking for a way to understand Stefan. This is me putting all my cards on the table. Stefan and I have been very naïve with one another."

Though he is looking the other way, I can tell he's listening. So, I continue.

"We found each other when we were both suffering. We just took that as our binding thread, but I want to understand what it all means. There's so much buried beneath that I don't understand and I'm tired of not talking about these things."

This time, Damon cocks his head and stares intently at me. Maybe he sees something he didn't see before. Maybe he will open up, but why should he? I haven't exactly given him the warmest welcome. I'm changing my mind. I should get to know Damon, just a small bit, so maybe I can learn more about Stefan. I think Stefan and I need this. We don't understand enough about each other. He doesn't understand what I'm dealing with, so maybe I need to first understand what he's dealing with. I wait for Damon to say something, but no words are said.

"I'd really like to learn about your past. Yours and Stefan's."

He gives an accepting nod and finally begins to say something.

"I didn't come here for Stefan."

"Here as in Briarview, or here as in this house?"

"Both."

This time I believe him. He really isn't here for any reason involving Stefan, so I doubt he plans on helping me understand their relationship. This isn't going to go anywhere. Just as I begin to ask him another question, he slowly drives off down the street, heightening the mystery to a new level.

I'm scared, but I'm still intrigued. Even if his reasons for coming back to Briarview have nothing to do with Stefan, I still want to know more. Maybe this is the adventure I've been looking for, but is it worth the cost of Stefan's feelings? If I search for answers about Damon's reappearance, that'll only bring Damon closer to our lives than Stefan can handle. It seems that I'll either have to shake the notion from my head, or try and conceal my search from Stefan. Either way, someone's bound to get burned.

I hope you're enjoying the story. It's a work in progress. I'd really appreciate any reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. Thanks for reading!

-Liz