Chapter 5:
"So Elena," Miranda started as they sat around the dinner table. "I was wondering, if it were okay with you, to have a party here. Kind of a welcome home party, even though you're already here." Miranda babbled nervously. "I just thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to everyone."
"Oh that would be great." Elena said, noticing the worrisome and nervousness in Miranda's voice. "I'd love to get to know more people in Mystic Falls."
"Oh great." Miranda said happily. "What do you think about Saturday David, at five o'clock." Miranda said. "It will give us five days to contact everyone and make preparations."
"That sounds perfect hunny." David commented.
"Damon, you have to talk to all your friends, invite them so Elena can get to know people her age." Miranda told him.
"Yes Ma, of course." Damon said chuckling lightly. His mother loved her party's and throwing Elena one was sure to put her in a great mood the rest of the week. Damon had to admit, her party's were the best and biggest in town, next to the Lockwood's that is.
The rest of the dinner was spent with Miranda discussing different aspects of the party. Damon could see the hint of worry on Elena's features as she sat and listened, overwhelmed by the steps and adjustments that would be happening for a party that was for her.
After dinner Elena took her cane from her bag and traveled into the gardens of the manor. She loved how the air seemed so sweet and the birds sang as if they were singing just for her. Everything was so different than what she was used to.
Elena found a stone bench in the garden and sat down, thinking about her life and how on earth she ended up in such a warm and loving place.
Elena thought back to the first home she lived in. She shuddered remembering the dark and damp closet of the basement. She was forced to sit on a stone floor going three or four days at a time without food or water. She remembers the feeling in the pit of her stomach that she might actually die living in the darkness. She was only four. She was still scared of the dark, and more precisely the things that hide in it.
Elena remembers the chain of houses she went through after that. Every single time the social workers promised they checked out the families and every time they were wrong. The third house Elena went to held second place in her heart for the worst point of her life, second only to her home with her stepfather. The couple living in that house took the five year old Elena and acted as if she was their personal stress reliever. If they had a bad day at work, she would be hit. If they got a speeding ticket, she'd be kicked. When the 'father' got fired, Elena swore it was one of the worst days of her life. That was the cause of many of her broken bones, sprained wrist and a concussion.
Elena couldn't help the tears overflowing down her cheeks remembering the horrible nights she spent leaning against the door of closets, or lying on the dirty floors of houses or in her tiny little bed of the foster home just praying that someone might actually care about her, just once, even if it was just for a little while.
She finally got that and Elena knew she would cherish it for as long as she could.
After sitting for a while, deep in thought, with tear tracks down her cheeks, the silence was broken. "Are you okay?" Damon's sweet voice asked.
Elena turned her head towards the sound and instantly Damon was beside her his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his chest.
"What's wrong 'Lena?" He asked concerned.
Elena sniffled, determined to pull herself together. She swallowed a fresh wave of tears, forcing them back before starting.
"I was just thinking about the past." Elena replied.
"That stuff is never going to happen again, I promise." Damon said, tucking a stand of hair behind her ear. "Did you want to talk about it? I don't know sometimes that helps people." Damon mumbled, quite unsure of what to do in the situation.
"I-I was just thinking of how perfect everything is here, which got me to thinking how lucky I am. I've been through some pretty rough situations and just, it's like an onslaught of memories, every single one consists of pain, heartbreak, loneliness. Everything normal kids don't have to go through." Elena said in a broken voice. "I prayed Damon, every single night I prayed and it never got better. I tried to be good, thinking if God didn't work, maybe karma would, but it didn't. As I got older I started shutting everyone out. I thought I was getting better, but I just got used to the pain." She nearly choked on her tears as the sob broke from her chest.
Damon moved on reflex, wrapping his arms around Elena and pulling her onto his lap. She buried her face into his chest and cried.
Damon rested his chin on her head, just wanting to be as close to her as possible in anyway. "There's only so much pain a heart can take." He whispered into her hair. "You, my dear, exceed the limits." With that he planted a kiss on her forehead, just holding her until her sobs were silenced.
After a couple hours of sitting quietly and whispering to each other about nothing, the stars finally came out. "I wish I could see the stars." Elena admitted. "I've had Jenna read me some romance novels, and every single author described them as amazing and beautiful." Elena whispered.
Damon looked at her, wishing to himself that she could see their beauty.
"I can't wait until I can see again." Elena said in an excited voice. "I can't wait to see you." She said lowering her voice and turning her head down, blushing.
"I'm not that impressive." Damon said chuckling. "And trust me, next to you-the stars are nothing." He said in a low, seductive voice.
Elena rose her head and shoved where she knew his shoulder was. "Could you be any more corny?" She laughed.
He chuckled with her, glad on finally breaking her mask of tears and heartbreak.
"We should go in." Damon whispered quietly, noticing the chilled night air and Elena's small tank top.
"That sounds good to me." Elena said in response.
Damon walked her to her room, set out a pair of new PJ's that his mom suggested and left her to get some sleep.
It took Damon a long time to get to sleep. He was kept on the verge of tears into hours of the night. He could clearly picture Elena's face as she flinched when the plate shattered. He knew she was expecting a beating and it broke his heart realizing the extent of what she went through.
His mind kept replaying the image of her looking up at him, her glasses free from her face, and in those big, brown eyes he could see how much pain and sadness was being held.
In the room right below Elena was tossing and turning in fear. The days events, the reminders of her past, caught up with her in the night. She was dreaming of every hit, every kick, every beating and burn and fight that left her scarred, if not physically mentally, just flashing over and over through her mind. Finally her dream takes on one scene. She's standing in the little, rugged room in her original home.
Her mom was sick today, too much of her medication or maybe she drank too much of the smelly stuff in the bottle, Elena's little mind pieced together.
Her 'dad' would be home soon. He always came home when the small clock in the kitchen started flashing.
Elena ran to her room in hopes of hiding, but soon she heard the gravel shifting under his truck and quickly his boots were pounding up the stairs.
"Get out here!" he yelled. Elena flinched, holding back the whimper in her throat. Her arms and legs still stung and her little ribs couldn't take anymore.
She had no more time to think as the wooden door swung open, unleashing the furious man onto her.
The kicks came in doubles, the punches were endless. Her crying seemed to urge him on. Finally he looked towards the window that Elena was looking out when he came in. He smirked down at her small, helpless body on the floor.
"Finally we'll be done with ya." He muttered.
He grabbed her arm and dragged her to the window. She wasn't even able to stand, let alone walk so he dragged her against the carpet, giving her new burns over the previous ones.
He easily took both of her arms in a tight grip and held her out the window, relishing in her fear as she realized how high she was up. A small, rundown shack like there's didn't have a large main level so the window wasn't really too high, but to a three year old it looked like miles.
He let out a throaty chuckle before releasing her.
She screamed as loud as she could in fear, knowing the pain that would follow.
Elena woke with an ear-piercing scream breaking from her lungs.
Damon hadn't been asleep in the first place so when he heard the scream he was quickly on alert. His eyes shot open and his stomach clenched in fear. He was quickly up and running down the stairs to Elena's room.
He ran through Elena's door and flicked on the light and find her sitting on her bed, her body racking from the sobs that were bursting from her mouth. Tears were pouring down her cheeks as if they wouldn't stop. Her arms were wrapped around her shaking form and at that moment, Damon knew he never saw anyone look more terrified.
"Hey, hey, you're okay." Damon whispered sitting on her bed. Elena flinched at the movement but quickly recognized the voice.
She flung her body towards him. He easily caught her and wrapped his arms around her back. She just cried into his neck, whimpering incoherently.
Miranda and David arrived a few moments later. Miranda covered her mouth in shock and sympathy. David felt his own tears welling up. Anyone could see the pain that caused Elena's whole body to shake.
"Elena hunny, Miranda and David are here. They want to make sure you're okay." Damon whispered into her ear.
Elena's checked kept constricting as she forced the words from her throat. "I-I-I'm sor-ry." She whimpered trying to get a hold of her tears. "I did-didn't mean t-to wake you u-up." Elena said. "I-it was just a n-nightmare. I-I'll be okay." She tried to assure them.
The tears easily told everyone otherwise. "I'll take it. You two have to get up for work in the morning."
They both nodded, casting a look of concern at Elena and went up the stairs.
"Shh, everything's okay now." Damon whispered.
"P-please stay with me tonight." Elena whimpered dissolving into tears.
"Of course." Damon whispered back. "I'm just going to turn off the light."
He got back to the bed and pulled back the covers, guiding her in and in turn, crawling in himself.
As soon as his skin made contact with hers, she had herself wrapped around him, close as possible. He got the message and wrapped his arms around her small, quivering frame. Holding her like this, it made her seem just that more fragile, and that much more in need of his protection.
Elena woke the next morning and quickly became aware of her head resting on a bare, muscular chest. Last night's events came rushing to the surface and she turned red in embarrassment. She couldn't believe she broke down and woke everyone in the house up.
She heard the yawn from Damon and felt his chest rise with the deep breath.
"Morning." She whispered.
"Good morning." Damon said in a tired voice.
"I'm sorry for waking you up last night." She said quietly.
"I was up already." Damon assured her.
"Oh, well thanks for staying with me anyways." Elena said with a small smile.
Damon let his own smile play on his lips. "Anything for you my lady." He said in a mock gentlemanly tone.
Elena chuckled, and shook her head playfully. Damon slowly pulled her up so they were sitting against the headboard, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"Did you want to talk about last night?" He asked quietly.
"It was a really, really bad dream-or memory or whatever." Elena said in a shaky voice.
"What happened?" Damon asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
"It was the time m-my stepfather came home drunk. He beat me up really bad." Elena said quietly. "Um, he ended up dropping me out of the window. I could imagine it so clearly and-I don't-Damon I don't want that to happen again. I don't want to be hurt." She said a fresh wave of tears blooming.
"I-I'm sorry Elena." Damon said squeezing her tighter in a protective embrace.
"Damon, I-I really like you but you get me so scared." Elena whimpered. "I-I know you won't purposely hurt me, but what if it's an accident? What if you find someone better, because trust me Damon there is some perfect girl out there that will fall for you. I-I just don't see how someone so perfect can be with me… Damon I'm damaged goods." Elena whispered.
Damon bit his lip, feeling his heart clench at her words. "Elena you can't even begin to understand how much I've become to care for you these last few days."
Elena let the tears roll down her cheeks. For her whole life she had to be strong and she was tired of it. She just wanted to cry and scream and show exactly how she was feeling for once.
"We fell for each other fast Damon. What if you change your mind just as fast? I don't want to be hurt again." Elena said. "Once you've been hurt really badly, you have this fear that everyone you start to care about, will break you."
"I couldn't do that to you Elena." Damon admitted.
"You say that now." Elena whispered burying herself into the chest of the very guy she was trying to convince herself to run from. "I have so many feelings I haven't told anyone and I need to." Elena stressed. "But if I unload them onto you then that's one more thing that could push you away and I-I really need you."
Damon once again squeezed her tighter, wishing he could stop the flow of tears that seemed constant since last night. He realized that she was having the breakdown she needed for the last 17 years.
"You can tell me everything Elena, I won't judge you." Damon assured her honestly. "If you want to you can talk to a therapist, or counselor but you should talk to someone."
"Would you come with me? Hold my hand?" Elena asked quietly, feeling embarrassed for being so dependant.
"You know I will." He whispered planting a kiss on her forehead.
For awhile longer they just lied in bed. She could feel all the doubts surfacing. She knew how easily people could inflict pain, and how easily people left her. What if this perfect, amazing, loving family did too? What if they decided they didn't like her? She just squeezed Damon a bit tighter in response, too afraid to let go of how her life could be.
He knew the doubts that were running through her mind. They were all valid after what she's experienced. He figured helping her talk to a therapist would not only be good for her, which he knew was the most important, but also could help her trust in him more.
"I was thinking of going to the Grill today. You could meet some of the girls from around here. They hang out there a lot and I figure you may need some girl time eventually." Damon mentioned as they got out of bed.
"That sounds good. I'd like to get to know the people around here." Elena said.
"Okay, well it's almost noon." Damon said laughing. "Jeez the time went by fast. Anyways we could go for lunch?"
"Yeah, great. I'm just going to get a shower and get dressed." Elena said stepping into her on suite bathroom.
They both got ready and met at the front door. "Did you want to bring your cane, or will my hand work?" Damon said with a smirk.
Elena rolled her eyes but took the hand he gave her. He led her to the car, helping her in, before getting in and driving them to the Grill.
The place had enough people in it so that it wasn't boring, but not enough to make it overwhelming.
"I see Caroline over there with some other girls. She's pretty funny, really enthusiastic and maybe a bit of a bubble-brain but she's sweet. I think you'd like her." Damon admitted.
"Okay, will you introduce me?" Elena asked him shyly.
"Yeah, she's just over this way." Damon said leading her to one of the booths to the right.
"Hey Caroline, Rose, Anna." Damon said, nodding at each girl in turn. "This is Elena. She's living with my family now and I thought I'd let her meet some of the girls from town." Damon said.
"Oh, well hi there, I'm Caroline." A sweet, excited voice pitched out.
Caroline stuck out her hand, but after a few moments with no reaction from Elena she took it back with a frown, scoffing at the rude display.
"Sorry, I didn't know how to bring it up, er Elena?" Damon said, figuring she would want to explain herself.
"What happened? I'm sorry, did I miss something. I'm pretty much blind." Elena said feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Um, pretty much blind?" Rose said rudely, eyeing Damon and Elena's hands locked together. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Elena was taken aback by the harshness in either Rose or Anna's voice.
"Rose," Caroline said in a warning tone.
Elena missed Rose rolling her eyes, but Damon didn't, and eyed her sharply.
"It means I can see colours but they all blend together in one big blur, which is one reason I wear glasses. It mutes the colours, weakening them so they aren't as annoying on my eyes. I also don't like how people have to watch my eyes flickering everywhere." Elena explained.
Caroline and Anna nodded in understanding while Rose was picking at her fingernails.
"Um, Damon, Bonnie is on her way, so I didn't know if…" Caroline trailed off, unsure of what to say.
A cold voice broke the awkward silence. "Damon." A clipped voice said from behind.
Elena just followed Damon's lead turning slightly towards the addition. She wanted to ask who Bonnie was but she could guess that she was about to find out.
"Bonnie." Damon said in a polite tone, although it was quite warmer than hers.
"So, you have another new play thing?" She said, feigning curiosity.
Damon glared daggers at Bonnie and Elena just looked to the ground.
"Bonnie, maybe you should just leave." Caroline snapped, her loyalty pushing towards Damon and his new friend.
Bonnie's eyes widened and she looked to Caroline in surprise. "Me? Seriously Caroline. You know what he did and you're sticking up for him? What the hell happened to 'best friends'?
"Attacking an innocent girl isn't the best friend I knew." Caroline snapped back.
Bonnie looked at the three girls baffled. Caroline was glaring at her intently, while Rose was indifferent. Anna seemed to keep her respect to Caroline, not bothering to look in Bonnie's direction.
"Wow guys." Bonnie said raising her eyebrows. "Some friends you are." She said coldly, turning on a heel and leaving.
"I'm sorry about her Elena." Caroline said waving her hand. "She holds a wee bit of a grudge."
"No, no I should apologize." Damon said sheepishly. "I'll explain everything later." He whispered in her ear.
Elena nodded, knowing that he better explain it all later, but for now she just wanted to spend sometime hanging out with the girls. Caroline seemed fun and loyal although quite headstrong. Anna, Elena learned, was quiet but such a sweet girl, intelligent too. Rose seemed to be quiet and clipped, at least towards Elena. By her sickingly sweet tone towards Damon, she figured that Rose was either an ex, or quite interested in Damon. Elena didn't like either option.
Overall the afternoon went well, but Elena had a nagging feeling at the back of her mind telling her that when they got home, she needed to talk to Damon.
Sorry, I know Bonnie is a little OOC, but I need her to be for the plot I have in mind. You can pretty much tell I'm not a big fan of hers and nor was I a fan of Rose.
Please Please Please leave a review! They mean a lot.!