Chapter 5 – Sweetheart?

The next few weeks flew past, a whirlwind of unfamiliar faces and places. Gradually I settled in, and then I could name many of the faces and find my own way to the places. Before I knew it, I had been living with Jenna for two months. Her home had become my home, not just a house that I was living in. My life had adjusted. I can't say that it was back to normal, but maybe it had become a new normal, one for this new life.

My life was still far from perfect. T.J. (the girl I sat next to on the first day), took every opportunity to make my life hell, and she was not the only one.

"Hello there, and how may I be of assistance?" The voice came from across the phone. I groaned.

"For God's sake Damon, pass me over to Elena – why are you answering her phone anyway?"

"Well, as I'm sure you know, she is round my house at the minute, and when Stefan swept her up to the bedroom, she forgot her phone. It was the last thing on her mind, I'd bet."

I silently cursed. "So when exactly did Stefan sweep her away?"

"Last night – about 10ish."

"Do you reckon they've … finished yet?" I could hardly believe I was asking this question, and asking Damon of all people.

"Well, the noise stopped about midnight, so I'm guessing they're sleeping now."

"Riiighht." Damon was really not making this easy. "Will you go whack on the door and ask Elena to come to the phone?"

"I won't whack – I'll break the door down and I'm sure there are things in there that I don't want to see. I will go and politely knock. Hold on."

I rolled my eyes. How the hell could Damon be so serious when he was taking the piss? It was beyond me. I heard him calling through the door, then his voice sounded right in my ear, making me jump.

"She wants me to put her phone under the door – you might hear some … strange noises." I scoffed at the innuendo.

"Thanks Damon, I think."

"Don't mention it." There were some scuffling noises then Elena came to the phone, sounding embarrassed.

"Hello?"

"Hey Elena. Enjoy yourself last night?" I asked dryly. I could almost hear her blush.

"Yes, as a matter of fact…" I grinned. "What do you want anyway?"

"Jenna says you have to come back now."

"Did she give a reason?"

"Um, well it might be something to do with the fact that Jeremy is in hospital." My voice shook.

"WHAT!" Elena shrieked. I heard her pulling her jeans on. Nice!

"It's nothing to serious. He got a bit drunk last night and may or may not have fell into someone's empty pool."

"Oh my God, is he okay?"

"He's broken his leg and a couple of ribs. Asides from that and a bit of concussion, he's fine."

"Okay, I'm on my way now." I heard the phone drop to the floor. Then, another voice came into my ear.

"Why did Elena just run from my house without her phone and looking a bit crazed – and ruffled!" Damon sounded amused.

"Oh for fuck's sake not you again!"

"Ooooh, touchy! So what is it?"

"Nothing. Her little brothers only in hospital!" I hung up. Damon was seriously trying to make me kill myself. The way he was going, he was going to succeed!

Later that day, after we'd got Jeremy home and tucked up in bed, I went to my room and turned my music up full blast. Green Day – Basket Case vibrated round the room. I'd personalised my room a bit now – there were several posters up now and I had given one wall over to my graffiti. My back pocket started vibrating and I pulled my phone out. An unfamiliar number was calling me. Cautiously, I answered the call.

"Hello?" My voice was hesitant.

"Hello to you to, gorgeous."

"ARGH!" Bloody Damon. The guy was obsessed … or possessed … or maybe even both. "What the hell do you want now?"

"Well, I liberated your number from Elena's phone earlier, and thought I'd call you up to see how Jeremy was. I can hardly call Elena seeing as her phone is on the table in front of me." Why is it that his voice sounded so damn sexy? It really is very distracting.

"Jeremy is fine, thank you very much. Is that all?" I sounded pissed off. Then again, I was.

"Nearly … is that Green Day I hear?" I shot a look at my speakers, which were now blasting 21st Century Breakdown very loud.

"Umm, yes?"

"You have good taste."

"Thank you?" He was really creeping me out now.

"No need to sound scared, sweetheart, it's a compliment." SWEETHEART?

"Ok, I've gotta go now."

"When will Elena be round to pick up her phone? Or shall I ask Stefan to bring it round?"

"Elena's grounded, and Stefan isn't allowed here for a week." I smiled a bit at the memory.

"Why? I sense a story here." Damon was teasing me. Damn you, you sexy voiced beast.

"Well, once we'd put Jeremy to bed, Jenna had a go at Elena."

"Why?"

"For having sex with Stefan without letting Jenna know before that she was going to." All I could hear was Damon laughing loudly. I let a couple of giggles slip myself. Just the memory of Elena's face and then Jeremy's exclamation – it was pretty funny. When Damon calmed down enough to talk, it wasn't to make some stupid sick joke or anything, which I found surprising.

"So shall I bring her phone over? Bearing in mind I have already looked through all the messages and man are some of them dirty." I laughed.

"I think the ban is Salvatore's in general – I'll come over."

"Do you know the way?" I could hear the laughter in Damon's voice.

"Umm."

"I'll give you directions. Can you come now? Only I have to go out later."

"Okay, I'll go get my moped. Call me back in three and you can give me directions as I'm driving."

"Okay – 2 minutes 59, 2 minutes 58, 2 minutes 57 …" He was still counting as I hung up. I ran through to Elena's room. She was sprawled on her bed, sulking.

"Hey. You left your phone round Stefan's house, so I'm going over to get it." She looked up.

"Do you know the way?"

"Damon's calling me in a mo. Cya later!" I ran our of the room, ignoring her questions. I checked with Jenna that it was okay, clipped on my Bluetooth headset and got my helmet. Sure enough, I got the ringing tone through my ear just as I was settling myself on the seat.

"Hey Damon. Three minutes exactly, I presume?"

"Naturally. You ready?"

"Yup." I fired up the engine.

"Okay, you need to go right our of your drive, and then right when you reach the end of the road."

"Gotcha." Throughout the whole journey (which lasted about half an hour) Damon kept up a steady stream of instructions, interspersed with witty and clever comments. I found myself becoming more comfortable as I went along, and by the time I reached the house, I was laughing along with him and singing "The Grouch" with him. I pulled my helmet off and there he was, standing on the porch, looking like a god. I smiled at him, before taking in my surroundings. Bloody hell, it was huge! It looked Elizabethan in design, with pillars and white stone balconies, set in red brick. It was gorgeous.

"Hi." Damon smiled at me, and for the first time, the smile reached his eyes. "Helmet hair suits you." My hand immediately jumped to my hair. He laughed, an easy laugh, not a mocking one, or one that was laughing at my expense. "Joking. Your hair is fine."

"Very funny Damon." I tried to look severe, but failed miserably. He laughed again, and turned back towards the door of the house, beckoning for me to follow. I took a deep breath, and followed.

So there you go. Damon and Rhiannon are 'friends' now, and Elena got in trouble XD. The next chapter will be from Damon's POV, and I'm not quite sure how that will work out. If it doesn't go well, I'll give up and post a different one.

Thanks to all those people who have Story Alerted me – it makes me feel loved! Please review – I know I'm not the best, and I'm sure that there are people out there who can help me improve, so give me feedback and advice, I need it!

Till next time, my beauties.

Loveeee

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