Ch. 4

I mean, what did I expect?

There was no way on earth that these two would co-operate. It was like getting stick in between a war. I knew Aiden's cool facade would crack sooner or later, especially with Damon around? Yeah, he would crash soon enough.

Insults fired away and I was pretty sure this was going to turn into a brawl instead of a friendly discussion.

"I mean seriously you can act all high and superior all you want, but trust me, you're fooling no one!" Aiden snapped again.

Damon was suddenly in his face, glaring at him ferociously. "You don't know anything about me."

Aiden faltered a tiny bit but kept his ground. He was about to snipe another comeback when my head finally exploded. "Would you guys just cut it OUT?!" I threw my hands up in the air and nearly shrieked my lungs out. They looked at each other, before Damon started to laugh hysterically.

I stared at him with astonishment. "I don't find anything remotely funny about this."

"God Elena, the expression on your face-priceless." Damon sneered dramatically.

"I'm not going to take back anything I said about this nuthead," Aiden started. "But I am going to apologize for upsetting the lovely lady."

Damon's eyes turned from amusement to lethal in a fraction of a second. Aiden strode over to where I was standing, all the while capturing my eyes with his –I had to admit- irresistible gaze. We were so close now that I could feel our breath mingle together. I could feel hotness creeping up, across my cheek, turning me beet red. I managed to tear my gaze away from his and stared at the ground instead.

I went stiff as Aiden took hold of my left hand and brought his lips down to it. His soft lips brushed my hand lightly before he pulled away. His touch sent shivers up and down my arm, raising goose-bumps all over me. I shot Damon a small peak, expecting him to be a bull, ready for an attack.

Instead, his face was composed perfectly, no trace of emotion at all. My eyebrows shot to the sky. Okay, this is getting a wee bit awkward. Aiden gave me a smile and I returned one to him. He winked at me and turned to the Jaguar.

I stood there a few moments before sighing and turning to face Damon's wrath. The spot where he stood was now empty. A few leaves just stopped rustling, indicating he had taken off. I didn't want to dwell on it so I let it go. He was coming back anyways; whether he liked it or not.

Matt and Aiden were having a light talk with each other when I reached them. Matt offered me a granola bar that I refused politely. He shook his head at me and pushed the bar onto my hand. "You have to eat something Elena," he scolded.

I mumbled something about just eating but otherwise peeled the wrapper halfway. It turns out that I was pretty hungry. I wolfed down the bar in less than a minute. Aiden smirked at me and I gave him my famous eye-roll. I didn't feel like writing much in my diary. Even if I could fill the whole book with what happened in my recent life(s), I just felt too tired.

Matt sprawled on a piece of shady ground. The sounds of his snoring drifted over to Aiden and me, leaving both of us in a fit of chuckles and giggles. I blew pieces of hair out of my eyes and slid to the ground, resting my back against the side of my car. I felt Aiden do the same and turned my head to face him.

"Are you really Damon's girlfriend?" He suddenly asked.

I choked on my laugh, "nope." He nodded and made a popping noise with his mouth.

"Can I ask what you guys are doing here anyways?" He murmured with a small bit of hesitation. Well, he did seem to be a nice guy. But, I would have to leave out the stuff about vampires, spirits, angles and everything that involves questioning the beliefs of the human mind about superstitions.

I settled with telling him that we were trying to find my real boyfriend. I explained that he was 'locked' up and we had to bail him out. I also didn't tell him about Damon's brain washing and the key. Aiden obviously had trouble taking in the story. I couldn't blame him, I was a bad liar.

After all the talking, he simply nodded and looked into the distance, something currently on his mind. He laid his head back, too tired to puzzle everything out right now. His eyes dropped close, declaring sleep had taken over him. An hour later, my eyes finally started to give away when Damon emerged from the trees.

I snapped my eyes shut, trying to pretend sleep. I barely made out his footsteps as he walked over to me. I made myself stir as his fingertips brushed the tinniest bit across my cheek. He probably knew I was only half asleep anyways. I was about to tell him he could at least say sorry for being a jerk but my body refused to let me.

It was too tired to do anything at the time. Just like that, I heard his steps retreating. When I was absolutely, positively sure that Damon had gone, I peered open my eyes and checked if Aiden was still, well, 'in tact'. I sighed satisfyingly and was about to close my eyes when I noticed something on the ground beside me. This time, I forced my eyes to open all the way and picked up the object.

It was a rose.

I twirled it in my fingers, admiring the delicate petals and the beauty radiating from it. A small smile appeared on my face as I finally realized, this is his sorry.

And then questions popped in my mind.

Where the heck does he find a rose in the middle of here? Did he steal it? Cause I recall seeing a flower shop in the gas station. Shaking out the negativity in my head, I focused on the fact that at least, Damon said sorry. In a way. I sighed and let myself succumb into a deep slumber.

-----------------------

"Elena, wake up," someone said while shaking my shoulder lightly. I groaned and heard him sigh. "Come on Elena, it's starting to get dark."

My eyes flickered open to see Matt gazing at me expectantly. He smirked at me and helped me up. I stretched and felt my joints pop happily. I gave a huge yawn at Matt and trudged over to where Aiden was standing.

"Have a good nap?" He asked even before I made it to him.

"Fine," I replied. He turned around and smiled. I couldn't help but do the same to him.

"I know that Damon doesn't have the likes for me, but do you think I could still maybe tag along with you guys anyways?" The look on his face nearly melted my heart. I nodded helplessly as he held my gaze a bit longer before leaning down-

"Ahem,"

I snapped out of my gaze as Matt came into the picture. Knowing me, I probably blushed like crazy. I met Matt's disapproving gaze and mentally rolled my eyes.

Geez, I wasn't that irresponsible.

I strode past him and sat in my new favourite spot: the log.

Stefan.

His named came to my mind. It's actually been quite some time before I've thought of Stefan. I hoped he was safe, wherever he was. I mean Shinichi or whoever was keeping him captive couldn't be that cruel. They would let him feed eventually right?

Consequences for knowing and living too much in the paranormal world, Elena.

In a couple of days we'll start our search again. This time with a new companion. Probably. The sky changed from indigo to purple and orange. I sent Matt and Aiden to buy some food. I bet you any money the clerks at the store will remember these two. I mean come on, three times we visit in what? A day? I assured them that I would be safe and that Damon was close anyways. That earned me two grimaces.

Darkness came quickly, although there was still enough light to see where you were going. Crickets chirped and leaves rustled in the wind. I looked around and noticed something moving in the shadows of the trees. I squinted my eyes trying to see better, when Damon hopped out. I kept my face as straight as I could manage but failed, especially when he winked at me.

I was about to tell him that nothing was going on between Aiden and me when he held out his hand and murmured, "Come with me, I want to show you something."

Now on a regular basis, I would probably refuse but something surprised me at the change in his behaviour, but otherwise grabbed hold of his offered hand.

"We can't be long, Damon, Matt and Aiden will start looking for us."

"I know, I know, I just thought you'd like to see this." We were farther from where the Jaguar was now and I could see nothing but trees ahead.

"What exactly are you showing me?" As if on cue an opening appeared and Damon told me to be quiet. I gasped silently as we stepped on a large piece of rock, overlooking a pond filled with cattails and water flowers. Ripples were created as breezes made their way down to the pond. I smiled as I took in the whole scene. Fireflies glowed, flying from the surrounding trees, looking like fallen stars as the danced in the air. Everything was so peaceful.

I looked at Damon and gave him the biggest smile I could show. What surprised me even more was how...kind and gentle he looked. I let him hold my hand as we sat on the edge of the rock, letting our feet dangle in the air. Damon let go off my hand and brushed a loose strand of hair to the side.

Yet in that single touch, my heart felt like it skipped a beat. Sure that Damon and I have had...er...physical contact; but in this one simple gesture, I realized that lying won't do much good for me.

Yes, I did love Stefan, but I also loved...Damon. This exact moment, the way his eyes glazed at me adoringly, like I was the most important person in the world proved just how much he truly loved me. Small waves of guilt coursed through me as I remembered how Stefan and I would always show our love for each other...even in front of Damon.

I never actually took the time to think how he would feel about this. Yet I praise him, for being understanding and patient. Trust me, jealousy can be a pain. I looked away after realizing I'd been staring at him this whole time. I had to admit, he was handsome.

The way his hair looked in the moonlight and his dark mysterious eyes-He was like a darker, sexier version of Stefan. No way. Did I actually just think that?

I shook my head and focused my attention back to Damon. As his smile faded, his hand began to move up and down my arm, creating goose-bumps along the way. My breathing came out faster and faster. My whole mind was on Damon. His eyes, his lips, his hair. I drank in ever feature of him. He started to lean down staring at my lips while doing so.

When Aiden had attempted to kiss me, I was pretty grateful after wards when Matt had interrupted. But now, I wanted Damon. I wanted his kiss like never before. As our lips met, my hunger turned up the fire between us. It would be one kiss. One measly kiss that would do no one any harm.

Only that it wasn't just one peck.

Things increased and our kisses became fiercer and hotter. My hands tangled in his hair as Damon moved his mouth down my neck, murmuring my name again and again. I stiffened for a second and was about to pull away when he noticed and pulled my face away to look at me. "You should be able to figure by yourself how I feel," he whispered with a smirk.

I let out a shaky laugh, my head dizzy and feelings totally confused. He stood up and was about to walk back when he slipped on a pebble and fell backwards.

And off the rock.

I yelled his name and heard a gigantic splash shooting tons of water into the air. Oh God, let him be okay.

Even though he was a vampire, I still wanted him safe. The pond wasn't that far down so I jumped into the air and landed with a splash as big as his. My eyes were clouded with water but it didn't take that much to realize his body floating a few feet from me.

"Damon," I whispered frantically. I waded over to him and turned him over. His eyes were closed shut. I sobbed and hugged him close to me.

He started laughing.

I pulled away from him and gaped surprisingly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist it," he managed to say between fits of hysterical laughter. I splashed him and turned the other direction. I folded my arms across my chest and started to get really worked up.

Suddenly, his arms wrapped around me and despite what he did, I smiled. He leaned down, pressed his lips to my temple and whispered in my ear, "You know, that I've always loved you since our eyes met, let me prove to you I can be your new dark prince. Besides, I still need a princess of darkness."

I bit my lip and didn't say anything. Damon turned me so we were face-to-face and kissed my forehead. He rested his chin on top of my head as I snuggled into the curve of his neck. I sighed and murmured, "This complicates things."