The Things I Do For You
Hello everyone! Firstly I'd like to thank everyone who left reviews, I truly appreciate them! They make me want to keep writing. As far as this chapter goes, I was having a hard time getting out what I wanted to say, but I hope you like it. It's a little bit shorter than my other chapters, but I will make up for it in the next one. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Vampire Diaries. This is just for fun.
Summary: I'm still making it up as I go along, but... Damon enlists the help of Elena and Stefan to release Katherine from the tomb, but when a series of unexpected events and feelings develop between himself and Elena, the future of his plans hang in the air.
Rated: M for future lemons.
Chapter Four
It had been a long week. School was a drag, as per usual, and having Damon standing outside every class she had didn't help things. Though having him around so much was a pain, it was almost a welcoming pain. She never felt safer. Odd to think a vampire who feeds off humans can make one feel safe, but he did. Knowing the strength he had, and his protective nature of her, even if just because of the journal he thought she had, made her feel safe.
Stefan and she had kept in contact throughout the week, but no progress was really being made on finding the key to Katherine's release. He'd gone pretty much everywhere trying to find it, interrogating people and having to compel them to get the truth. Still though, he had not uncovered the much sought after journal.
Stefan liked this arrangement with Damon just as much as she did, which wasn't saying much. He wanted to just tell Damon they had no intention of actually helping him succeed in getting Katherine back so he'd stop following Elena around, but there was no saying how Damon would lash out, or what he'd do. Either way, the journal would still be out there, and Damon would still be looking for it. They needed to be rid of the book, for good, so there would be no possibility of Katherine coming back, or worse, the rest of the vampires in the tomb escaping. They were stuck in this arrangement. Until Stefan destroyed the book, things would have to stay this way.
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Finally it was Friday night, the dance. Elena was elated that she'd see Stefan tonight. He was going to be her escort for the themed 'Around the World' dance, where everyone was to dress a different ethnicity from their own. Elena was happy with the outfit she'd picked out when she went shopping with Caroline, and was excited to put it on. Caroline and Bonnie went over to Elena's to get ready together, each helping one another with their hair and makeup. They put on some old boy-band music and reminisced about the 'old days'. Each of them had a glass of champagne (illegal, I know), and was glad to be back altogether. With Stefan and Damon always around, it had been a long time since they had some girl-only time.
Earlier Damon had surprisingly allowed Elena to have the night to get ready with her girlfriends. He was probably lurking around somewhere, but so long as she couldn't see him, and he wasn't piping in with his little remarks, she was content thinking he was nowhere around.
After all the girls were ready, they piled into Caroline's car and headed for the dance. Along the way, Elena's phone rang. She pulled out her new phone her, and looked at the caller id. It was Stefan.
"Hello?"
"Elena? It's Stefan. Listen, I don't have much time to talk, but I think I have a lead on the journal."
"That's great!"
"But, if I waste any time right now, I could lose the trail for good. Elena, I don't think I'll be able to meet you tonight."
"Oh," Elena took a long pause then continued, "well thanks for letting me know I guess. And good luck."
"I'm so sorry. I know you were looking forward to this."
"I understand."
"I have to go. I love you."
"Goodnight Stefan."
Bonnie and Caroline shared a look with each other that Elena didn't miss. It was clear on their faces that they overheard the conversation, and they weren't sure what to say, and it was good that they didn't say anything at all. Elena was borderline tears, and talking about it would just result in them coming to the surface.
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The dance looked amazing. No way would you have guessed that it was your basic old, grungy gym. Deep rich colors covered every inch of the large space. Chinese-style paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, and various booths lined the outskirts with foods from a variety of cultures. It definitely held up to the theme of 'Around the World.' The costumes were amazing. To her surprise, everyone seemed to really go all out in their costumes, even the boys.
Elena stood in the center of the gym amazed by her surroundings, just as Damon was amazed by his. He stood off to the side, taking in the sight before him. She was beautiful, breathtaking even, words Damon had only reserved for his beloved Katherine. There she stood, her long brown hair pulled tightly back into a low perfectly styled bun, with a deep red flower clipped in behind her right ear. She wore a knee length, skin-tight black dress, complete with thin straps, and a diagonal cut hem that drew the eye to her black stilettos. On the hem of the dress was a red fringe matching the flower in her hair. She wore light makeup with bright red lips and a thin layer of foundation spread over her golden brown skin. Her Latin inspired outfit accentuated Elena's sex appeal, something Damon definitely noticed. She had an effect on him that left an overwhelming tingling sensation. He couldn't take his eyes off her. His face was serious, focused, and concentrated on her every curve. Elena turned to see Damon off to the side. She walked towards him, her hips swaying back and forth.
"Well, I see you didn't dress up." Elena took in Damon's all black attire. He wore his trademark leather jacket, t-shirt, and his perfectly fitting pants. "You know there are clothes that come in colors other than black, Damon."
"But I look so good in black."
"Point is, you could've gotten somewhat dressed up. This is a theme dance you know."
"I'm not here to take part in a high school dance. I'm here to watch you, to ensure I get the journal, remember?"
"Either way, you wouldn't stand out so much if you'd put a little effort in." Elena placed one hand on her hi p.
"Of course I would. Dressing up would do no good. Costume or no costume, this face is not one that blends in. It's much too pretty," he smiled.
Elena left the comment hanging in the air.
"So where's the white knight?"
"Excuse me?"
"My baby brother. You know, the Saint."
Elena's eyes dropped to the floor, and a pang struck her chest. Damon immediately regretted asking.
"He couldn't make it."
"Busy off brooding about something for a change?"
"He's off looking for the journal you want so badly."
Damon felt a sense of guilt wash over him. "Well, seeing as how he isn't here to escort you, I will."
"You will what?"
"Be your date for the evening."
Elena was taken aback. "My date? I'm not Katherine 2.0 Damon."
"It's a school dance Elena. We're not getting married."
"Thank God for that."
Damon smirked sarcastically. "Now, now, now. There's no need to be rude, little girl."
"Little girl? Please." Elena turned to walk away, but was turned around by Damon's firm grip on her arm.
"May I have this dance?"
Elena was sure he was just relishing in Stefan letting her down, but when they're eyes locked she saw a sense of sincerity in them. Hesitantly she nodded her head. Damon grabbed her hand in his and led her towards the dance floor.
As they made their way to the center of the gym, a slow song came on. Elena turned towards Damon and there was a moment of intense awkwardness. She wasn't sure how it was they were going to dance. Would she put both her arms around his neck, or one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand? She lifted her right hand up but brought it down when Damon made no attempt to move. Elena looked down embarrassed. He lifted her chin to look her in the eye, took her right hand in his left and held up their arms at a ninety degree angle. He put his hand on her waist, and hers on his shoulder. They stood as far away from each other as they could, while still trying to pull off the illusion of an actual dance. Slowly they began to move, both looking in every direction but at each other.
More and more people began to crowd the dance floor. The lack of space pushed the two of them together until Elena and Damon's bodies were pressed up against one another's. She looked up into his eyes to see him staring down at her intently. Her hands moved to wrap around his neck, their eyes not breaking contact.
Bonnie and Caroline noticed the two and stopped their conversation suddenly. Their mouths were left open and no words were surfacing. What was Elena doing dancing with Damon? And dancing with Damon like that. They shared a look that was one of shock and concern.
All of a sudden, there was intensity in the air. Something was happening between them. Elena wrapped her fingers in the back of Damon's hair, to both their surprise. Damon looked confused, uncertain of what to think. Without thinking he tightened his arms around her waist and pulled her face to his, touching his lips softly to hers. At first she had no reaction, her lips unmoving. He pulled away to gage her facial expression but never got the chance; She was quick to close the distance. She crashed her lips to his, pulling his head as close to hers as she could manage. Elena pulled away, never taking her eyes off of his, now red, lips. Unconsciously she lifted her index finger to them and drag it across his bottom lip.
The song ended, breaking their trance. They took a step away from each other. Surprisingly, shock was not a reaction they shared, but rather a look of longing. It had been a week since they shared their moment on the couch, and for the most part Elena had been able to push the memory to the back of her mind, but the kiss they just shared brought it all back. It was wrong, the way they were feeling about each other. They weren't even really sure what it was they were actually feeling, but they both knew it just wasn't right. For Damon, it was Katherine, for Elena, it was Stefan. As torn as they felt, they were caught in a daze, and right then there was no getting out of it. Damon took a hold of her hand and led her out of gym and towards the entrance doors of the school, right where Stefan stood.