Disclaimer: I DO NOT own The Vampire Diaries, I own NOTHING but my plot.


Previously...

He turns and leaves her, Elena lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding, watching him walking away and makes a move to head to her first class when she hears someone with a feminine voice that is a few octaves too loud, "Who are you and why are you here with Damon Salvatore ?!."

Oh boy… now what?

Elena is startled for a second and turns to see a pretty, dark skinned girl with hazel green eyes looking at her with what she presumes is shock.

She's in designer clothing from head to toe, her hair styled in a chic bob to show her beauty.

Elena smiles timidly at her "Um…I'm Elena, nice to meet you." She waits for the girl to say her name.

"It's Bonnie, Bonnie Bennett. Again I ask, why are you here with Damon?"

"Well, it's nice to meet you Bonnie. But I don't see why me being here with Damon is any of your concern, now if you don't mind I have class." Elena answers sweetly and turn to leave shaking her head, is the world here is all about Damon Salvatore?! Elena thinks as she walks away from Bonnie.

Bennett, where have I heard that name before? She asks herself as she gets to her first class.


As Elena walked away from Bonnie, Damon made his way to Bonnie, "What the hell was that?" He asks as he comes to stand in front of her way, blocking her.

"Good morning to you too Damon, how was your vacation? And what are you talking about?" Bonnie smiles, knowing exactly what he meant but not missing the opportunity to rile him up a little.

"My vacation was just fine. You know what, why did you attack Elena like that?"

"I didn't attack anyone, I just asked her why she was here with you. You should know better than to be seen with your sluts around campus Damon."

Bonnie answers heatedly, and is about to leave when Damon grabs her arm, "Why Do you care anyway? Leave her alone Bon, she's not one of them and she won't be." Damon says with an air of finality.

Bonnie pulls her arm out of his hand, "I care because I'm your friend Damon, and if you want, I'll apologize to her when I see her again." She says, her tone softening, while walking away, leaving Damon to his own messy thoughts and wondering just what is Elena's deal to make Damon come to her rescue.


As Elena leaves her final class for the day, she sees Damon between his friends and, as if he can feel her eyes on him, he looks up and their eyes lock for a few seconds before Elena looks away and almost runs to one of the benches far away from his sight.

She had managed to avoid him all day, she tried not to have any reason that would cause any physical contact between them. She had mingled and got to know a couple of girls. And though Elena got a few dirty looks from other girls, and immediately knowing it was because of Damon, she was so far successful. But the peace of that knowledge was gone when she saw who sat next to her.

"What? Came to see who I talked to today?" Elena says irritated as Bonnie turns to her and she laughs.

"No, I'm sorry. I know we got off on the wrong foot earlier and I just wanted to apologize for the rude way I was acting." She finishes with sincerity lacing her voice.

And Elena, being Elena she smiled, nodded and let it go. "Can I ask you why though?" She asks hesitatingly, wanting to know why would she treat someone like that just merely because they arrived with Damon.

Bonnie sighed, and looked like she wasn't going to answer, but she did "Because I thought you were another one of his girls, but it's obvious you're not." Elena purses her lips, before saying; "Like Andie you mean."

"Yeah. Wait, you met Andie?" Bonnie's shocked expression tells her that she wasn't supposed to meet Andie in that way.

Elena shrugs "Yes, I did. She came over to his apartment this weekend."

"And why were you at the apartment?" Bonnie asks with furrowed brows, and Elena realizes that she just dug herself a hole and didn't know how to get out of it. She had decided that no one would know she lived with Damon, because the situation was temporary. But she figured that Bonnie knowing wouldn't hurt anyone.

And so she told Bonnie about how she got stuck with Damon for a month, how she met Andie, "I can't believe you live with him, I mean, I did hear about that dorm accident but now you two live together! Let's hope Damon can handle it."

Bonnie exclaimed after Elena finished telling her about this weekend turn out, but her last comment Alarmed Elena, "Should I be worried?"

Bonnie shook her head and smiled, "No, but just to be on the safe side, lock your bedroom at night."


Damon spotted Elena and Bonnie sitting together, laughing at something. Probably about him, he thought bitterly.

Elena has been avoiding him all day, he knew it. Every time she hurried past him, the way she avoided any eye contact between them.

He had heard every girl he passed by whispering about the 'new girl', and how she came with Damon Salvatore. He overheard two girls saying; "I think she's his new girlfriend or something." One mumbled, "I don't know about that, Damon isn't one for girlfriends. But obviously Bonnie doesn't like her by the way she talked to her." The other had said.

Damon Salvatore didn't do girlfriends! That was well known about him, and for some girl to come and ruin his reputation as bad boy Salvatore –even if not on purpose- is not good. He felt that he needed a drink or he might do something stupid.

Elena and Bonnie were talking and laughing, Damon-related subjects forgotten. She learned that Bonnie was into journalism, "...My dad is Jason Bennett, editor-in-chief of the New York Times. So he's going to help me with getting a job after college." Bonnie says and Elena remembers that earlier she thought about how Bonnie's last name was familiar.

"Oh, I've heard of him. I knew that I have heard your last name before." Elena says smiling before turning her head because of the feeling that someone was burning holes through her head, unsurprisingly, it was Damon.

He started walking towards them and Elena turned to Bonnie while getting up and collecting her things, "Look at that, Damon finally remembered to come and get me. Thought I was gonna walk back to the apartment." She said chuckling.

"Hey Bon Bon, ready to leave Elena?" Damon said sounding a bit impatient, Elena nodded, her eyes going between Damon and Bonnie as they were having a staring contest. "Can you go to the car? I'll be right after you." Damon said while handing her the keys. Elena took them and waved to Bonnie before walking to the car thinking what's with these two?!..


"What were two talking about?." Damon asked heatedly.

Bonnie smirked, "Oh don't worry your pretty little head Damon, not every conversation between girls here is about you, you know?." She answered sweetly, too sweetly for Damon's liking.

Yeah right... He thought while coming to sit next to her, "So, no funny business, right?"

"Why are you so interested Damon? Because one; it's not like you and two; it's not like I'm gonna spill your darkest secrets in one talk with her!" She said while turning to him before realization dawned on her, " You like her, don't you?" Bonnie asked accusingly.

Almost like a deer caught in headlights, Damon snorted, "I don't like anyone Bonnie, especially not the new girl with attitude. And right now I don't like you either." He added for good effect. But Bonnie wasn't buying it, "Oh come on Damon! I've known you since forever. You can't lie to me of all people." She exclaimed, "Besides, I've seen the way you were looking at her today. It's not that bad to have a thing for the girl, she's not that bad as you want her to be." She continued pointedly. He opened his mouth to say something, anything but nothing came out.

Bonnie hugged him and got up saying her final words, "It's not a bad thing Damon. Just don't hurt her, or yourself. Bye Damon." Those were her parting words, words that might change Damon Salvatore's life as he knew it.

Damon walked back to the car and got in quietly, startling Elena because she didn't see him coming. "I'm sorry." He mumbled before starting the car.

Trying to start a conversation instead of feeling the electricity between them in the small confines of the car, Elena turned to him though the words died on her lips once her eyes fell on his profile, a fallen jet black lock of hair on his forehead, long lashes and his chiseled jaw line. He looked tense and he was steel-gripping the steering wheel, but beautiful all the same, still off-limits for you... She thought bitterly, "All that's missing right now is you driving like a mad man, if it weren't for traffic."

He turned to her slightly confused, she pointed to his hands on the steering wheel, "You're white-knuckling the wheel, what's wrong?" She asked, concern itched on her face thinking you can't be feeling what I'm feeling...

Smiling lightly, he loosened his grip and shook his head, "Nothing, just thinking about something Bon Bon said." Like how I like you, which can't be true because you don't think of me that way and neither should I really, right?!..

"You and her look pretty close, did you know each other for long?" Elena asked him.

"Yeah, our mothers were best friends. Neighbors"

"So, you didn't date her?" She questioned with a hint of surprise on her face and in her voice.

And Damon caught on to that surprise, "No, I didn't, she's my best friend. Why so surprised?" He asked, glancing to her side to see her shrug her response.

"It's just hard to imagine you can be just friends with a girl."

As he parked the car, he felt slightly angry at her judgmental tone and told her right before they got out of the car; "You don't get to judge me Elena before the week is even finished." And that was the end of their conversation.

Back in the apartment, both Elena and Damon stormed into their rooms and as Damon got back out he caught sight of her closing the bathroom door. He sat and opened his laptop to get a research for college started. And he tried, really tried to not let his thoughts drift to the girl under the shower, the attraction is there, I think. Even if it's just physical at the moment, and for that one moment when she kissed me back that day, I knew she felt it too but, why can't we act on it?! He thought, no girl was a challenge to him before, if there was lust they'd have sex and that's it but with Elena he felt it was more than lust because if a kiss had him wanting more, then the one-time sex thing wasn't going to be enough. And he didn't think she was the one night stand type of a girl, don't hurt her... Bonnie's words were ringing in his ears, could there be a chance for love again? And after so long? Love?! No! No way! He shook his head to clear it of any thought Elena. He was almost finished with his research when his cell started ringing and seeing it was Ric, he answered, "Ric buddy! How's it going?"

"Oh you know, same old stuff here at work." His friend answered mock enthusiastically.

Damon smirked at that," So Daddy Dearest is still successfully handling cases while you handle the paperwork? It must be fun."

"You would know just how fun it is if you got your ass here!" Damon thought his friend was being ridiculous, "Is there any reason that you called Ric? Besides a futile attempt at getting me back to work?" He asked, hearing the blow drier running in the bathroom.

"You must really enjoy playing the college bachelor. Anyway I was thinking about going to that bar near your place, you in?" And just as Damon was about to answer his friend, he saw Elena coming out of the bathroom dressed in a white figure-hugging tank top paired with probably the shortest short he'd ever seen. Again, he was drawn to her legs that stretched for miles and his eyes kept going higher, tracing every curve until they finally reached her face which was a bit flushed from her hot shower and was surrounded by sexy, wavy tresses of hair.

She gave him no mind and turned towards the kitchen, a slight sway in her hips and he was given an idea of just how curve hugging her attire was.

Damon turned his back on her and gulped, little Ms. Tease! She was testing his will power, which was barely existent in the first place. Completely forgetting his friend is still waiting his answer, "Yeah, yeah meet you there in 30 minutes, Okay?"

"Okay, see ya." Click.

Now just turn, act normal and try keeping it in your pants Salvatore! He ordered himself in his head, turning slowly, he saw Elena with her feet propped up on the table and her laptop open on her lap. "So, do you need anything from me?" He asked quickly focusing on her face instead of her soft looking legs.

Elena lifted her head to answer him, but she could never prepare herself for his shocking baby blue eyes damn! "No, thanks. Going somewhere?" She asks, still transfixed by his eyes.

"I'm just going to that bar where we were yesterday, meeting a friend there."

Another friend of his, they never run out? "Oh. Well have fun." Lowering her eyes back to the laptop, hoping he would take the hint and just leave because she doesn't need any details about his 'Friend'.

"He works with my dad in the firm." Feeling the need to explain, putting emphasis on the 'He' because of the brief look of disappointment he saw on her face, she must really think I'm a man-whore...wanting to do some damage control, "Maybe you could meet me there, grab a bite to eat after you finish what ever it is you're doing?." He asks, all he's met with is raised eyebrows, blank stare and a quiet "Yeah, sure." From Elena before she goes back to typing on her keyboard.

He went back to his room to grab his jacket and hurriedly made his way to the door, turning in the last second to say goodbye and regretting doing so, as he was met with her sexy side profile. She was a vision with her barely there shorts and tank, hair that was being pulled up in messy bun to reveal long beautiful neck that he wanted to kiss all over. Yup! That's it Salvatore, get out before you do something you'll regret! You need that drink now! Damon noticed that Elena was looking at him expectantly, "Umm, yeah bye." He said in a rush and slammed the door behind him, I wonder how much alcohol would it take to get me drunk in 20 minutes?! He thought on his way to the bar, maybe if I down a whole bottle of bourbon in one gulp that might do it...

If Elena thought about Damon in anyway right now, it would be about how weird he became all of a sudden, ever since that conversation about Bonnie in the car things became tense. She was just trying to make a conversation to ignore the sexually charged car ride, and then he went and got angry about how she was judging him. Normally, she wasn't one to judge people before knowing them but hey! What did he expect if his reputation preceded him?! Almost every girl she passed today was talking about him and some even called a 'sex god'. If Mr. Kisses-for-everyone didn't want people judging him then he shouldn't paint the image of college playboy! And she didn't even think about him dressing her the night before when she was drunk all day long, because the only time she actually thought about it resulted in her wondering what underwear was wearing? Was I wearing a matching set?! And right when she saw where her train of thought was headed she slammed the breaks on it and went back to the here and now where she was sitting in her second class that day. If she can't even get angry at him for doing that when normally, she would've killed any other human being that wasn't blood-related to her if they did that to her, how was she going to get through a month with him in the same living space?! Thank god we have separated bedrooms! Or I would have bolted by now... Elena thought as she was finishing up and shutting off the laptop.

Checking the time on her cell, she saw that she spent a good two hours on her essay and seeing it was almost dinner time, thinking it wouldn't be a bad thing to take Damon up on his offer to 'grab a bite.' Elena applied some lip gloss, sprayed a little bit of perfume and grabbed her jacket and headed to meet him at the bar.


Meanwhile at the bar…

Damon sat nursing his glass of bourbon while his friend Alaric was talking his ears off, "...and she's just gonna stay with you for a month? Can't you do anything about it? You don't have to put up with her attitude!" He listened to his friend talk about his new 'roomie' situation as if he was the living it. It all started when Alaric saw his friend making his way through a bottle of gold liquid that he questioned his state of mind, and then Damon proceeded to tell him about his current 'situation' and the cause of it. Alaric was being a good friend but he didn't understand that Damon wasn't in the mood for talking about Elena freakin' Gilbert, Bonnie had done enough of that.

"Ric, buddy, I know what you're trying to do but seriously, you need to stop talking about her." Damon cut his friend short, "I ran to the bar as if running a marathon so I could start drinking early and maybe forget about her. Talk about anything but her please." He finished, downed the rest of his glass before ordering another and shaking his head at his stupidity maybe I should've just shut up and not tell Ric anything, it is a temporary thing after all...

Alaric nodded in understanding and took a sip of his drink, but Alaric being Alaric changed the subject to something Damon hated even more, "So, when are you planning to drop this college bachelor act and get back to work?"

He asked and Damon groaned, he should've known that Ric would bring this up again, "Drop it Ric, it's not happening." Damon answered him and hoped that it would get his friend off the topic, but that wasn't happening, "No! Listen to me damn it Damon, you need to get your shit together and get back to work! You were good at it. You are good at it, so don't waste your life reliving college just because you feel like it!"

The conversation was getting heated instead of just a relaxing drinking hour with his friend, and Damon was getting fed up, "No! You listen to me," he poked his friend's chest to make a point, "You all wonder why I gave up my job and went back to college?! Let me tell you why; it's because back then it was simple, no trying to be a successful lawyer, no trials, no criminals escaping Federal prison and killing the love of life! That's why Ric! So drop it!" With every word his voice got louder until he attracted a few dirty looks here and there.

Alaric sighed and nodded, he wasn't one to add salt to the still open wound of his friend's emotional injury, but still adding "You don't have to keep doing this to yourself Damon, Katherine's death wasn't you fault. All I want for you is to live while you can, enjoy what's left of your life and don't drink yourself to death." He finished quietly, though Damon didn't reply, he didn't lash out at him again.

They drank a few more glasses, talking about meaningless things before Ric decided to call it a night, and as he was about to get off his chair he saw an attractive brunette walk in their direction, "Who is that?" He whispered to Damon who had his back to whomever Alaric was talking about, and as he turned around to see who Alaric meant, he saw it no other than Elena Gilbert.

"That my friend is Miss Elena, my roommate." Damon smirked answering his friend, Elena came to them and Damon introduced the two of them, "Elena, hey! This is my friend and hot shot lawyer, Alaric Saltzman. Alaric this is Elena Gilbert."

They shook hands, "Hi, nice to meet you Alaric." She smiled politely at him while he was flustered.

"Huh? Yeah, nice to meet you too and please, call me Ric." He answered dumbfounded while Damon resisted laughing at his friend and turned to Elena when she started talking to him, "I came to see if you're up for dinner now, but if you're busy it's okay." Her eyes darting back to Ric.

"No, it's okay. Alaric was just leaving anyway, why don't you get us a table and I'll be right with you?" He answered her, Elena nodded and left them.

"Please Ric, don't forget to collect your jaw of the floor before you leave." Damon said sarcastically to his gaping friend, though he didn't blame him one bit, seeing Elena in her too short and too fitted attire would do that to a guy and not just Ric seeing as she attracted a few glances from other males around the place. He wasn't immune to her looks but he wouldn't be drooling anytime soon.

"Can I just ask you a question?" Ric turned to him, "You have her as a roommate and you're complaining, WHY?"

Damon chuckled at his question, "Because it's one thing to live with her without actually having her, and another to have to put up with her 'Holier than thou' behavior, buddy." He answered his friend and saw Elena sit at a table. "Look, I have to go. Walk home Ric and sober up before tomorrow Mr. Smooth talker, bye." He smirked at Ric and dodged his chain of keys that he threw aiming at his head, and went to Elena.

Seeing Elena was already seated and ordering, he slid in the chair in front of her as she finished her order before the waitress, blonde, green-eyed Jessica turned to him and automatically smiled flirtatiously at him, "Damon, what can I get you? The usual?" Damon smiled back nodding, "And bourbon." Jessica scribbled his order on her note pad before turning and walking with just the right sway of her hips - emphasized by her tight jeans- to make any guy fall at her feet.

And although she wasn't the one doing it for him at the moment, he couldn't help but check her out until she disappeared behind the counter. Then his eyes caught Elena shaking her head before looking at anyone and anything but him.

"Oh come on Miss Prude! I merely looked. I usually do a lot more." Wriggling his eyebrows at her and stage whispering the last part, seeing her blush made him feel a small satisfaction in knowing he had an effect on her but she regained her composure quickly.

Shrugging, "I just don't see the appeal." Elena said, "She's flirting with you and knows your order. Every single lady is checking you out as if her life depended on it, like those two." Pointing to two girls sitting a couple of table to their left, Damon waved his hand to them and they blushed red before turning away, he chuckled.

"And your point being?" Not really seeing where she was going with this but indulging her.

"They're too easy." She told him, plain and simple.

"And you're not?" raising his eyebrows, challenging her.

But she didn't take the bait and act all indignant, "I like to think that I'm not." She answered, looking him straight in the eyes. Oh I know you're not, but can't you make an exception for me? He thought, and in seconds he was back to wanting her on every surface as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Reminding him that she was wearing an excuse for a top that barely left anything to the imagination, her jacket barely offering coverage and he tried not to think about her legs hidden from his eyes by the table and those shorts she was wearing...

Jessica chose that moment to come back with their order, both let out a sigh of relief from the sexual tension as they started eating, Elena feeling his eyes on her during their meal, which they ate in an almost comfortable silence.

After arguing about who gets to pay the bill, Damon swatting her hand as she tried to. Telling her that a gentleman never lets a lady pay for anything, including dinner, they left.

Walking next to each other on the sidewalk, each lost in thought. Though not lost enough to not feel the electricity crackling in the air between them.

When they got inside the apartment, the tension doubled as Damon said quietly, "I like the attention Elena." She stopped in her tracks, and turned to him as he, slowly but surely, advanced on her before continuing, "That's why I like them easy. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good challenge every once in a while." He almost whispered the last part. Having backed her against the back of the couch and she felt like a deer caught in headlights, mesmerizing blue kind of headlights.

As she white- knuckled the edge of the couch, Elena held her breath as it became clear that he wasn't backing away. She didn't know how to respond to him but he saved the trouble of answering because suddenly he backed away and as he was about to head for his bedroom, she finally said, "I'm not a challenge Damon, and I don't intend on being one for you to enjoy." She said to his back.

He looked over his shoulder at her narrowing his eyes at her before turning fully to face her and asking, " Then what are you, Elena?"

She wasn't expecting that but still she answered, "I'm your temporary roommate, and despite the tension, I could be a friend, if you want. But nothing more." She said determinately. And while anyone in their sane mind would either run the opposite direction when they see Damon or simply fall at his feet, she wasn't going to do either of these things. Offering him friendship could be good for them both.

And she noticed that he looked shocked for about three seconds before masking it with indifference, his eyes and expression giving nothing away. The silence stretched as they stared each other down, and Elena almost regretted saying anything when he opened his mouth to speak, "You're right, you are my roommate and nothing more. But why would you want to be my friend?" His answer was simple, but the answer he was looking for was anything but simple.

Raising her eyebrow, "Would you rather I judge?" Not really answering his question, but giving him a choice. Take it or leave it Salvatore, but quickly! She thought, annoyed with the way they're dragging it for too long without any need.

"Fine, friends it is. Good night Elena." Relenting and accepting her offer before going into his room without a glance backwards.

Elena then proceeded to mentally chide herself all the way to her room, collapsing on the bed from emotional rather than physical exhaustion. Realization downed on her that she, Elena Gilbert, has offered friendship to Damon Salvatore and he had accepted. And also she had to live through a month of sexual frustration courtesy of none other than the same Damon Salvatore while being friends with him.

Her thoughts were on over-drive as she changed and got dressed in her PJs and laid back on the bed and as she fell asleep, her last thought was God do I need help!


LOOONG author note, skip if you want but don't forget to review ;)

First off, I want to apologize for the seriously long wait I've put you through, it's been more than a year and I'm sooo sorry for that. Life happened and then when it was looking up TVD stuff happened.. As DE fans, you know what I'm talking about so it was one messy thing to another and I just lost the inspiration. I'm not making excuses, those are my reasons.

Secondly, this chapter is sort of a filler chapter and it was hard to write. But it was finished a month ago but I was late emailing it to my beta and when I finally got to it she was busy with college but bless her she found time and for that I'm SOO grateful. I had it almost three days now just on my laptop but I was travelling and visiting family so the minute I was free I got to posting it and here it is!.

Off-Topic, are you as excited as I am for TVD?! Tell me in your reviews what's the thing you're most excited about

XOXO

Jasmine.