AN: I really struggled to try and keep Elena with her own personality in this chapter. I had to redo the whole chapter because she was acting a lot more like Katherine than herself. Did I end up getting it right? Review and let me know.

~Elena's POV~

As I walked into the cottage planning on changing out of my wet clothes into some dry ones, I got sidetracked remembering that I should probably text Jeremy to let him know that I'm fine. As I reached into my pocket and I realized my phone was soaked. Damn it Damon! I thought angrily. Throwing me in the water while my phone was in my pocket is unacceptable especially since it now isn't even working. If he wants to get back on my good side, he's going to have to earn it. How is Stefan going to get ahold of me if something happens? Better yet, how am I supposed to get ahold of Jeremy to let him know I'm okay! I thought warily.

"Elena, are you just going to stand in the doorway all day and make a bigger puddle for me to clean up?" Damon said bringing me out of my current train of thought.

"My phone is ruined!" I whined as I turned around to face him. "What if something happens to Jeremy and he isn't able to reach me?"

"Elena calm down, give me your phone and I'll put it in a bag of rice. Hopefully that will absorb all the water out of it and fix it. Anyway, I still have my phone. If you want to call him just use mine." Damon reasoned. Realizing that I could just use his phone put my mind at ease.

"Fine…" I smiled as I handed over my phone and walked further inside, "I'm thinking about taking a shower…" I trailed off with a smirk playing across my lips. Watching Damon's face light up and I could see the gears turning in his head realizing what I was implying. "Alone." I finished, as I watched his smile disappear as he slowly walked over to me. He was looking at me as if I was his prey and he was waiting for me to show him a moment of weakness. I was determined to show him I had none.

"Are you sure? You might need help washing the sand off your back." Damon speculated doing that eye thing he did so well.

"I'm sure I can manage just fine on my own thank you." I said as I turned and walked away in hopes it was the right direction of the shower.

After my shower, I got dressed and straightened my hair. Then deciding that I wanted to avoid Damon a little longer, I took out my diary.

Dear Diary,

I'm pretty much loving this vacation so far (with a few glitches), Damon was right this was exactly what I needed. Even though I could tell by the way he told me that we were going on vacation together that the whole idea of this trip is to seduce me. I wish that he wouldn't… I will always love Stefan, even if we do fight. Damon is like the best friend I've always wanted; he's easy to talk to, fun to be around, and I feel as though, unlike Stefan, I can always tell him anything without fear of judgment. Stefan wants me to be perfect, but lately I've been feeling like his idealism of me, and the actual me are two completely different people. Meanwhile Damon knows I'm capable of making mistakes, and doesn't try and change me. When I mess things up, Damon is always there to help me pick up the pieces, no matter what. I don't feel the judgment radiating off of Damon like I do Stefan. For example the time I made the agreement with Elijah that he could use me for the sacrifice if he kept all my loved ones safe. Stefan was furious with me, meanwhile Damon brought the dagger for me to kill Elijah with. Maybe Damon is the better choice for me, but Stefan helped me through a time when I felt so dead that I didn't even care anymore. I love Stefan and I always will, but I feel like my feelings for Damon as a friend are turning into something more. I don't want to be like Katherine and string both boys along. Which is why I can't believe for a moment I almost let Damon kiss me. I love Stefan, which is why I can't let Damon get to me. I can't let him get in my head. I'm afraid that if he does I won't be able to get him back out. I should probably go; I think I've avoided Damon long enough.

E.G.

As I closed my diary and pushed it in between the mattresses of the bed I would be sleeping in, I realized it was almost dinnertime. Apparently dinner was ready because I could smell it as I walked out of my bedroom. "Dinner smells good." I commented as I walked into the kitchen noticing Damon was cooking over a hot stove.

"Fettuccini Alfredo, I hope you like it." Damon said worried, as he scooped me a bowl and handed it to me. He was probably trying to make it up to me for ruining my phone. Which I admit, I may have overreacted. The fact that he had taken the time and effort to make me dinner was enough to get back on my good side.

"Yeah sounds great!" I replied enthusiastically as we sat down at the table. The silence during dinner wasn't awkward or unnerving, it was actually quite peaceful. We finished dinner, and I cleared my plate and put it in the sink.

"Elena, I'm really sorry about your phone. It was an accident, I didn't know it was in your pocket." Damon admitted.

"It's fine Damon… I overreacted, I just really hope that the rice works." I fretted, as I walked outside on the porch to sit on the swing. Damon sat down beside me and put his arm around me comfortingly. I decided to choose my battles wisely so I let his arm stay there.

"I'm sure it will work Elena." Damon promised. I leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes. We sat in a comfortable silence until the stars were up in the sky. By this time I was so tired from today's drive here that I was seconds away from falling asleep. Damon must have realized this because I felt him pick me up, bridal style, and carry me back into the house towards my bedroom. I tried to argue but I was too tired to form words. Damon must have felt me trying to protest because he whispered "Shh… Go back to sleep princess," as he laid me down on the bed and took off my shoes and pulled the covers up around me. As I faded into sleep I thought I heard him murmur "goodnight my sweet Elena."