Chapter 4 - LA or Bust

Now: Elena's POV

August came quickly, but the heat didn't go anywhere. The five of us usually resorted to staying in the air-conditioned apartment of ours. I even let Aubree run around the apartment naked a few days since it was too hot for clothes for her. One of the perks of being two. For Matt, Caroline, and Tyler, college doesn't start up until September. And since I didn't start my job until now, we had a few weeks of laziness. Meaning, sleeping in until ten, eating nonstop takeout, and having movie marathons, which of course included some of Aubree's favorite movies. I'm pretty sure I can recite all the words of The Little Mermaid.

"Are you sure she'll be okay?" I ask the morning of August 3rd, AKA the day when I'm being forced back into the land of adulthood. Since Matt doesn't start college yet, he offered to watch her until his classes started. Of course, I happily agreed. Daycares are expensive and I'm not looking forward for the huge bill and having to drop my baby girl off with strangers.

Matt nods. "Of course, Elena. You know that I won't let anything happen to her." Matt assures me as he places his sweaty hand on the small of my back. It's strange being in my official work uniform: black tight leggings, another tight black V-neck, and red heels that weren't too high. I borrowed the heels from Caroline since my shoe wardrobe only consisted of sneakers, flats, and flip-flops. My long, thick hair is pulled up from my neck in a high pony tail.

I take a deep breath. This is the longest I'll ever be away from Aubree. "I'll call you on my breaks, alright? And I'll have my phone with me at all times, if there's a problem just text me and I'll be home in-"

"Everything will be fine." He cuts me off. I turn my head and look over into our apartment living room where Aubree is playing innocently with her toys. The heat isn't so bad today, but I think that's because of the rainy weather. You know, it's the most miserable type of rainy weather because it's not really raining, but the air is wet and sticky and it feels like it's raining. The TV is on and playing some kid show that I have yet to learn the name of. Biting my lip, I walk over to Aubree and kneel down next to her.

"Hey, sweetie." I say soothingly as I run my fingers lightly through her mahogany hair. She looks up at him, her blue eyes somehow making the day brighter for me. That's the amazing ability children have. I smile at her. "Whatcha' doing?" I ask curiously.

Aubree answers, "I playin' with me dollies. Dis one is-" She holds up one of her Barbie Dolls that has long, choppy blonde hair. "Maddie. And dis one-" She points to her other doll, the one that's lying half naked on her stomach on the furry carpet. "is Sally." I recognize both of the names from some television show that greatly amuses her. "Want to play with me, Mommy?"

I sigh heavily. I told her I had work, but I don't think she knew what I met by that. "I can't. I have to work, remember? Matt is going to watch you." I look over my shoulder at Matt, sweet like honey. He's smiling at us. I can't help but to think that this should be my life. I should be going off to work, saying goodbye to my daughter, living in our apartment in New York City, while my husband, or in this case, Matt, watches us. Damon should be in Matt's position. My heart skips a beat at his name. Damon. When was the last time I said his name aloud?

"Oh. Okay." She replies like it's nothing that I'm leaving her. I can't help but feel a bit sad. I kind of wanted her to cling to my leg, screaming and crying and begging me not to go. Jenna says that once she's older, leaving her will get harder until she hits around 8 or 9 then she'll want to leave. If she can't be a Daddy's Girl, then I at least want her to be a Mommy's Girl. So, I plant a gentle kiss on the top of her head, grab my bag, thank Matt one last time, then head off to Half Life for my first day as an official working adult.

[...]

"Ah, you must be Miss Gilbert?" Stan, the owner of Half Life, says to me as I enter his office, which is in the back of the restaurant right next to the kitchen. I'm sitting uncomfortably in the hard cherry chair that was right in front of his desk. Stan was a big man and I don't mean muscular. Fat was packed on his bones thickly, but I guess that's what happens when you're the owner of a restaurant. It's like a free all-you-can-eat-buffet all the time.

I nod once, smiling nervously. "Yes, that's mean. But you can call me Elena." I offer quickly. He reaches his flabby hand out and I raise my slender arm and we shake hands. I'm scared that my palms are going to be all sweaty due to nerves, but he doesn't grimace or anything as our flesh touches so I guess I'm good.

Stan smiles, the apples of his cheeks are constantly rosy. He seems like a sweet man, probably in his mid-50s. Not the type of boss you should be nervous about, but I am anyway. "Very well, then, Elena." I didn't even know it was possible for him to smile wider, but he does. "Anyway, I'm going to have one of my best waiters show you the trade." I didn't know waitressing would count as a trade, but I of course wasn't going to say anything.

There's a knock at the door and before Stan could welcome the person in the room, the door flung open and a male, no older than twenty-two stood in the doorway. He had dark blond hair and piercing brown eyes. I watch him as he strolls casually into the room. "You wanted to see me, Stan?" The guys says. I'm surprised that he called our boss by his first name. This mystery man is obviously a waiter here since he's dressed in the Half Life uniform.

"Yes, Liam, we have a new worker here, Elena Gilbert. I was hoping that you would be able to let her shadow you for the day." Stan says. Liam watches me as Stan speaks to him and once Stan's finished talking, Liam nods but never looking in Stan's direction. Liam smiles at me, revealing his straight, pearly white teeth.

I stand up quickly. If my palms weren't sweating before, they definitely are now. Liam is beyond handsome. He isn't hot, like most girls would describe guys. He is handsome, the kind of handsome that princes in Disney movies are described. He has a stocky built, wide shoulders and strong arms. He looks like the type of guy you don't want to get pissed off, but something in his creamy brown eyes tell me he's gentle. "Hi," I flash him a smile.

"Hey," Liam smiles back. Together, we leave Stan's office and go out towards the part of the restaurant where the guests dine. I think he can tell how nervous I am because he says, "This job is pretty easy. The customers are nice, most of the time. Plus, they're all rich since they're shopping on Fifth Avenue. Makes for some lovely tips." Immediately, I knew I liked Liam's laidback attitude. I'm sure he was that guy in high school who rarely attended his classes, but all the teachers loved him anyway.

I manage out a thick chuckle. "Yeah, big tips are always nice." I chew my bottom lip, a nervous habit of mine. Despite Liam's looks and personality, I wasn't too excited about following him around all day like a lost puppy. I want to be independent. It's waitressing, how hard could it possibly be? But, of course, I wasn't going to argue Stan and I'm eager to talking to Liam more, which is just icing on the cake.

He nods as he rests his elbows behind him back on the bar. The restaurant was empty since it wasn't even opened yet, it was still pretty early in the morning. A few other workers hustle around to get things ready for the day. I think that Liam and I should be doing something to help them, but Liam just pretends that they aren't doing anything so I don't say anything. "So, are you part of the college rush?" He asks.

"The what?" I arch one of my dark eyebrows at him.

"The college rush. You know, the huge group of people who move up here to the city for college and are in the desperate need of jobs." He says casually. I wonder how long he's been working here. Probably a while since he's on a first name basis with our boss.

I shake my head. "Oh, uh, no. Well, not really. My friends and I moved up here from Virginia. They're going to college, I'm not." Great, I think, I just made myself sound like a total idiot. Like he really cares where I moved from? And he probably thinks I'm stupid for not attending college like the rest of my friends. I'm tempted to talk about Aubree with him, but I don't want him to know I'm a young mom just yet. I'm not ashamed of Aubree, I just don't think it's an ideal topic for a first conversation.

Liam simply shrugs and nods. "Ah, a southern girl. You don't have an accent, which is quite a bummer because southern accents are pretty cute. As long as the person with the accent still has all their teeth." I laugh a little. I'm relieved that he didn't ask me why I'm not going to college. But then I realize it's probably just because he doesn't care. He probably helped a lot of newbies at Half Life. To him, I'm probably just another new worker. Nothing special.

"No, no one from where I'm from has an accent. That's farther south, like Oklahoma or Alabama." I smile at him. "But, in all honesty, when I think of a southern accent, I think of an old, wrinkly guy with a messy beard and missing teeth who thinks the Civil War is still going on." I say. I wonder what Caroline would think when he finds out I have a handsome new coworker. Shag him already, Elena! I imagine her saying.

This wins a laugh from Liam. "Now, that's very stereotypical. Especially of your own kind."

"My own kind?" I raise both eyebrows at him. "Southerners aren't some type of animal you find at the zoo. We're the best people you'll ever meet. Didn't you ever hear of southern hospitality?" I grin at him, gently nudging him with my elbow in his rib.

He jokingly scoffs. "Southerners aren't the best people you'll ever meet! New Yorkers are! I should know because I'm one of them," He grins too and also nudges me in my ribs with his elbow.

I'm surprised at how easily I can talk with another guy. I can joke around with him, be myself. I wasn't able to do this since Damon. During that day, the thought of dating Liam crossed my mind plenty of times. But who would go for a damaged girl like me? I come with too much baggage, too much pain, too much heartbreak. Besides, Liam is the type of guy a model can get.


Now: Damon's POV

"Damon!" Katherine squeals. "Get off of me! We have to finish packing-" She erupts into a cascade of giggles before she can even finish her sentence. That's thanks of me, of course. We're laying in our bed together as I tickle her stomach, the part on her body that is the most ticklish. Her giggle is like a child's and I can't help but smirk at my beautiful girlfriend, her dark curls knotting together as we roll around on our bed together.

She really is the most beautiful girl in the world. From her tiny toes to her slender curves, to her dark curly mane. She looks gorgeous without even trying. She considers herself ugly when she's lying around the house in yoga pants, a tight camisole, and when her hair is twisted up in a knot. But that's when she's most gorgeous. It has to be a sin for someone as mesmerizing as her to call themselves ugly. I know, though, that she knows she isn't ugly. Her confidence is through the roof, she is a Victoria's Secret model. It's just a clever trick of hers so I can give her more attention, as if I didn't already sell my soul to her.

"Stop staring at me," She giggles more. "It's creepy." I reach up and gently brush away a piece of curly hair that was trapped in her long, thick, black eyelashes and just still stare at her, admiring her beauty. She rolls her catlike brown eyes and sits up, crosses her arms right beneath her black lacy bra, where her nipples are peaking through the mesh material. "We're going to be late for our plane all because of you."

I simply chuckle and sit up too, wrapping my arms around her thin body. "Hey, it's not all my fault. You are perfectly capable of climbing out of our bed and packing for yourself. But, you choose to stay here with me and I can't complain." I grin.

"But, seriously, we can lay around like this all day if we want in LA. We really have to finish packing." Finally, she pushes the puffy white duvet from her tan body and gets up, walking around our room in her bra and panties like it was nothing. I'm not complaining, obviously. I stand up too, and I'm just wearing my underwear as well.

Katherine goes over to her walk-in closet and comes out with two pairs of high heels. One is extremely high red shoes with plenty of straps and the other one is almost identical but it's a hot pink color instead. "Which ones?" She asks, holding them both up so I can see.

"Red." I smirk.

[...]

The next day, we were lounging carelessly on the beach chairs that line the in ground pool at our hotel in Los Angeles. Katherine is wearing a navy blue bikini, the top is strapless with sequins between her breasts, which only make them look bigger. I'm wearing a black speedo, at Kat's request. She lays on the beach chair, her body oily with tanning lotion and long waves resting down against her arms and across her shoulders. It's hot in LA and I'm really considering going for a quick dip in the pool, even though it's rare for me to swim.

We decided to go out to LA for a few days and Katherine has some photo shoots she has to attend here, plus a party on Friday night that her and all the other Victoria's Secret models will be attending. It should be a nice little vacation for me, but my father made sure that I brought my brief case with me so I can work on cases while I'm away. As if I don't already work full time while I'm not on vacation. So, while Katherine is off taking photos in nothing but a bra and underwear, a show that I would very much enjoy, I'll be sitting in our hotel room cursing my father while working on cases. Oh, joy.

My eyes spring open when I feel Katherine's nudge. I look over at her, but she's looking across the pool. I follow her gaze over to a little girl, her dark hair tied up in a pony tail and her eyes are big and brown. "She's cute, huh?" Katherine smiles as she looks over at me.

"The cutest." I confirm, still watching the little girl as she jumps into the pool with her big, orange floaties on. I swallow hard, I can't help but imaging that that little girl should be Aubree. That the woman laying next to be should be Elena. A perfect little family on a perfect little vacation living the perfect little life. Sounds perfect, huh? But I can't think those thoughts because that isn't my life, that isn't what I want my life to be. I have Katherine and she's all that I need for now.

"In a few years, maybe we'll be back here with our little girl." Katherine smiles. That's her not-so-subtle way of saying, "We're getting married and you better knock me up soon." I just nod, still watching that little girl as she swims around the pool, laughing as her father splashes her gently. Then I feel this weird sensation in my chest.

Katherine doesn't know about Aubree, doesn't know about Elena. All she thinks is that my high school years were filled with parties and drinking and friends and sex. Which they were, but only for the first three years. The last year was dedicated to my pregnant girlfriend and saving up cash to buy a crib and stock up on diapers. That last year wasn't bad, though, not at all. Elena has this sort of liveliness to her while she was pregnant, something that she didn't have when we first met. When they lowered the caskets of her parents into the ground, a part of her went with them. She was like a shell of a human when we met. Then, we started talking and fell in love and created Aubree and she laughed. She laughed all the time and smiled and giggled and her eyes lit up whenever I would talk babies. But I can't reminiscence on the past because the past is dead.

"Maybe," I nod, finally answering Katherine back after being deep in thought.

Once again, I think about telling her about Aubree and Elena. Obviously, I will assure her that what Elena and I had doesn't compare at all to what we have and that I have no feelings left over to Elena whatsoever. No, that doesn't make me a bad guy for saying that because go on, ask any man in their twenties who is in her love with their girlfriend about a high school sweetheart of theirs. I can almost guarantee that they will all say that they don't love their high school sweetheart anymore. Because people grow up and feelings change and that's life. What would Katherine think if I told her that I fathered a little girl? Would she be angry, upset, happy? She can't possibly be mad at me for having a kid with someone I knew long before I met her, she knows that I was a bit of a man-whore in my high school years. Same goes for her, I might add. She might be angry or upset that I didn't tell her. But how do you even tell someone that? "Oh, by the way, I knocked up a girl in high school and I forgot to tell you that we have a daughter together. Sorry. Look, the game's on." Maybe I'll tell her one day, eventually. But, today, nothing is going to ruin our lovely atmosphere.


Then: Elena's POV

My heart was beating quickly in my chest, even though the reason was pretty stupid. Damon Salvatore, A.K.A my official boyfriend, was coming over today. We've been dating for a while now and Jenna and Jeremy have been dying to meet him. I'm cautious when it comes to spending time with him, and I think that gets on his nerves. He wants to spend some alone time with me in his bedroom. The thought of laying on a bed with Damon makes my sweat glands over work and my heart race.

The doorbell rings and I practically jump. Jeremy runs in from the kitchen. "Your boyfriend is here!" He grins, he's eager to make a fool out of me. I get up quickly and try to beat my younger brother to the door but since he's a football player, he's faster and swings the door open before me, just as I grab onto his arm, an unsuccessful try to stop him.

Damon sees us and smiles while I quickly blush and drop my grip on Jeremy's arm. God, I must look like such an idiot. "Hello, Elena." He says and gives me a quick peck on my lips. Then, before Jeremy can say anything about our small smooch, Damon turns to him and says, "You must be Jeremy, Elena's brother." He holds out his hand. "I'm Damon Salvatore."

The two boys shake their hands when Jenna comes into the kitchen. She smiles and I try not to look so nervous. I let the little fact that Damon's a senior slide, not wanting to listen to her warn me about dating older men. But I liked dating older men. Dating is experimenting. You learn what you do and what you don't like in a partner. "Hello, Damon. It's so nice to meet, Elena has told me a lot about you." Jenna smiles as she too shakes hands with Damon.

"All good, I hope." Damon smiles. He told me not to worry about his little meeting with my family. He says that all adults love him and that his father is a lawyer, so he's good with words and manipulating people. The four of us move into the living room. Jenna sits on the chair, Jeremy sits on the other chair, both are facing the couch at Damon and I are sitting on.

"So, Damon, tell me about yourself." Jenna says, trying to be the typical mother figure. I bite my lip so hard I have a feeling I might taste blood. I adjust my position so I'm sitting on my hands so they won't shake. Something about Damon just makes me so nervous, I can't imagine that every guy I date is going to be this way. My heart is beating so loudly I'm afraid they'll hear it.

"Well, Miss Sommers, I'm a senior at Mystic Falls and after I'm done school, I plan on going to Harvard like my father did and become a lawyer." Damon says and Jenna nods in instant approval. I know what she must be thinking; A Harvard boyfriend, you have an amazing choice in men, Elena. "Oh, and I don't mean to brag or anything, but I'm pretty good in Call of Duty." He chuckles.

That gained Jeremy's approval. "Prove it." He points to his Xbox 360. I roll my eyes, I should've known that Jeremy would somehow manage to find a gamer in my new lawyer boyfriend.

[...]

Two hours later, after I force Damon to get away from the controller, we go upstairs to my bed together. Jeremy has another friend over to play Call of Duty with and Jenna is in the kitchen with her boyfriend, probably making out while they cook dinner. As nervous as I am around him, I want to be with him more. I want to be closer to Damon. I want to feel the gentle touch of his big hands on my small hips. I want him to kiss me.

"Sorry about my brother," I say. "I know he's pretty annoying." Damon wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. His eyes are intense and makes me feel like I could erupt into flames at a moment's notice. Gently, he brushes down my hair on the side of my face. I hope that all my dirty clothes are picked up from the floor.

"Don't apologize. Your brother is cool. Your aunt is sweet. And you're unbelievably gorgeous," He whispers then kisses me gently. I kiss him back, my hands moving and they wrap around his body so our bodies are entwining.

We kiss for a while then his lips slowly trace my jawline and down my neck, planting sweet kisses down and he eventually gets to my chest. We move to my bed and we lay down on in, him laying on top of me. His breathing fastens and my heart beat fastens, which I didn't even know was possible. Without asking for my permission, he slowly pulls my shift off and tosses it to the ground. I'm glad I chose to wear my light pink lacy bra today, it's the sexiest one I own. Caroline was with me when I bought it.

Since my shirt is off, it's only right to take his shirt off too. So, I do. Then I look at his muscles that look sculpted, like his lips. He kisses his way down my body until he comes to a stop at the beginning of my jeans. Slowly, his hands reach out to unbutton them but my hands quickly interrupted his. I shake my head, "Don't," I whisper.

I can see the disappointment in his eyes, but he nods and moves his way back up to my lips. We kiss for a while longer, eyes closed, his hands on the sides of my stomach. But, his hands work their way up and gently squeeze my one breast. My eyes shoot open. My body is tense and I know he can sense that because he kisses me more gently, but his hand is still firm on my breast. His other hand comes down to my crotch is and he puts his hand there. It takes me a few minutes to relax, but his touch feels amazing. Enough to make me want more, but there's a nagging part in me that tells me not to go any farther. Not tonight, at least.

Damon leaves at around ten that night. After he left, I put on my pajama short shorts, a camisole, and pulled on my Mystic Falls Timberwolves hoodie then I climbed into bed. He had this way of making me feel like I'm the only woman in the world. He makes me feel special, like I deserve to be loved. I love Damon, I really do. I don't care if we've only been dating for a few weeks, I love him.

Sorry it took me so long to update! Honestly, I had horrible writer's block with this chapter. I'm officially done school so if I don't update faster, you have full permission to scream at me until I do.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Every review I get makes me feel much better about my writing and this story.

Next chapter - ACTION! If you know what I mean... Hehe.