There was someone following me…I knew that for sure. You can always tell when someone's watching you…just from that feeling you get. Everyone's felt it before; sometimes you don't realise that's what it is but you'll know it.

I was in the supermarket…the oversized American supermarket with the whole wall dedicated to Nutella or Oreos or Peanut Butter…we have our priorities sorted. Those just so happened to be my favourite aisles. Mum had invited some family over for dinner (which meant I was missing one of Tyler Lockwood's woods parties…not that they'd let me go anyway but still) and had sent me out to buy the food…I seized any opportunity to leave the house at the moment. Three weeks on and they were still being ridiculously over-protective. You want to know what was sitting at the bottom of my bag? A gun…a fucking gun. And pepper spray. They refused to let me go anywhere without it. I mean…I understand where they were coming from…but they were taking it a bit far.

As the feeling grew though, I started to think that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Glancing around the empty aisles once again, I picked up the pace a little to get to the main centre aisle that ran through the whole shop. These places were way too big. The cashiers were right on the other side of this warehouse of a shop and there were practically any people around since it was a Tuesday morning. Yes…I should be at school; but I was taking a sick day. Sure they made sure I was armed just in case someone attacked me but it didn't matter that I had such a raging headache it hurt to stand? No…no I could still drive to the supermarket and buy their food. My parents were odd people.

I'd just passed the end of the aisle when someone jumped out and grabbed me from behind, letting out a scream that was quickly muffled by a hand and struggling before I felt the person laughing.

Damon fucking Salvatore.

He released my mouth and I took a minute to regain control of my heart before saying very calmly, "I am going to fucking murder you."

He looked like he could hardly contain his laughter as I whirled around and whacked his arm, pummelling his chest until he grabbed my hands to stop me, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it."

"You asshole! I thought you were gonna kill me or abduct me or something!" I shouted, not amused though he apparently was.

"Aww come on its Mystic Falls." He chuckled, reaching out to smooth down my hair but I ducked away and slapped his hand, trying my best to stay mad.

"Yes! Mystic Falls where I just got attacked three weeks ago! Bad things do happen here!"

He grinned and leaned down to press a kiss to my cheek. Stay mad, stay mad! "Not when I'm around." He assured me, "Why aren't you at school?"

We began walking down the aisle again, him falling into step beside me. I leant my elbows on the trolley and glanced at the list, looking for chilli sardines, "Sick day."

At that he frowned, looking me over, "You're sick? Why the hell are you shopping? You should be in bed or something!"

"That's what I said but my parents don't agree. We have family round tonight so someone has to buy the food and they're all busy. I was just lounging around in bed so of course I could do it." I was cut off by his hand moving to my forehead, sighing, "I haven't got a temperature…just a splitting headache."

"Well you should still be in bed." He muttered, clearly not happy about the situation.

"Oh well, I'm here now. Why are you here?" I asked, spotting the sardines and crossing the floor to grab three tins. I have no idea what we'd be eating but I had no doubt in my mind that I'd enjoy it; my mother was an exceptional cook.

He shrugged, "I was passing, saw your car and thought I'd come find you."

I paused at that, smiling as I looked up at him, "Really?" He nodded and smirked, playing with the end of my ponytail absent-mindedly, "Well that was nice of you. What if I'd been with my parents or brother?"

"Then it would have been a coincidence! Besides, we're getting low on beer at home."

With a big smile on both our faces, we made our way around the aisles, picking up things as we went and talking all the way. I wished it was always this easy. Eventually I found myself standing on the small kiddie platform above the wheels and being pushed around all too fast by Damon, just like Jeremy used to do when I was little. Neither of us could stop laughing, even when one of the few shop assistants hunted us down and told us off for acting like 'immature children'. Caged against the trolley by his arms, I turned once she'd stalked off, facing him with a grin on my face. He laughed quietly before leaning down and pressing his lips to mine and my arms slid up to his shoulders. After a few minutes we broke away, "We should do this more often."

"Definitely. Every week." He agreed, "Though I think my parents might suspect something if I offer to do the shopping every week…"

"Mine too…Oh well…they can just think we've had personality transplants."

"Good plan."

The family dinner was, as per usual, an uncomfortable affair…for Jeremy and me at least. For starters Uncle John was there and I truly despised that man. He acted like he was are second father or something; always going on at us about life and what we should be doing or the like. Then there was the fact that dad hated Aunt Jenna (who we both adored). She was quite a lot younger than our mum, only 28 so not that much older than Jeremy; she wasn't immature as such but she sure knew how to have fun. Neither John nor my dad were too happy with her 'encouraging' us drinking alcohol since we'd once had a tad too much with her last New Year's. We were both adults…we could do whatever we wanted.

Thirdly our grandparents on our mum's side were there. Don't get me wrong I loved them both, Grandpa George especially, he was hilarious, but I swear after half an hour of 'Granny' (yes that's what she insisted on us calling her) going on about my appearance and my attitude…I was close to murdering someone. She'd only ever be happy once I was in floor length dresses with long sleeves and as little skin as possible on show. I tell you the woman was stuck in the middle ages.

By the time dessert was served the tension was literally suffocating me. How could no-one else but Jeremy be aware of it? They all conversed happily…how! Afterwards the women remained in the kitchen while the men (or lads as Jeremy joked) moved to the living room. This was such an old fashioned house.

I was halfway to my escape before a shrill voice rang out from behind me, "Oh, Elena dear," Shoot me.

Turning with a forced smile on my face, "Yes Granny?" Eugh, it sounded so fake.

"Don't you want to help clear up?"

I love my family…they're such lovely, kind, not annoying people. I promise you…I could spend just hours with them and never get at all annoyed. Because I love them…

Deep breath…

Nearly midnight and I'd only just been released from her evil clutches. First it had been more on my clothes, then on my non-existent religion, my friends even which of course led onto boyfriends. It was a long night to say the least. Why they were all so set on me and Sebastian Fell was beyond me. Jeremy shot me sympathetic looks occasionally and I had to refrain from giving an 'unladylike' gesture in return…such as my middle finger. She would have had a heart attack I swear.

The relief when I got to my room later on was astounding. I'd just changed into my pyjamas when my phone erupted into sound on my dressing table. I jumped and grabbed it before evil granny could come and investigate. I could just imagine; 'polite ladies do not accept calls at such an ungodly hour! Nor do they associate with people who do!' It killed me.

I didn't look at the name on the screen, in too much of a rush to stop the sound, so the voice that sounded did shock me a little, "Hey gorgeous."

I melted a little, "Hey yourself handsome."

"Go to your window."

Frowning a little in confusion, I did as he asked, looking out into the dark night, "What am I looking for?"

"Down by the tree."

There was a massive oak that stood just outside my window, a strategically placed branch hanging just a metre or so from the edge of the roof, a significant drop between. It sure was useful when sneaking out at night…which I had done too many times. Looking down, it didn't take long to spot the figure just in the shadows, a phone to his ear. My eyes widened and I pulled the window open, "Damon what are you doing here!?"

"Encouraging my girlfriend to sneak out. Fulfilling my role as the bad boyfriend."

I couldn't help but laugh, "If we get caught I'll murder you."

"I'm sure you will. Can you climb down?"

"Yeah, give me a minute." I hung up and ran across my room to pull on some old black plimsolls. My pyjamas were only a thin baggy white T-shirt and some dark blue short shorts over my underwear but I didn't have the time or energy to change, too eager to go meet him. Whipping my hair up into a high messy bun, I locked both my doors as I always did when going to sleep (habit I guess), slipped my phone into my bra and headed for the window. I hadn't done this for so long but it came back to me almost instantly. Bringing the window to behind me, I stepped to the edge of the roof, hearing Damon quietly tell me to be careful. Reaching out I grabbed hold of the branch, around the same level as the roof, and once my grip was secure, pushed myself off the roof so I swung for a moment.

"Elena! Please be careful!" he whisper-shouted, stepping closer. I glanced down at him and smiled at the panicked look on his face. He had absolutely no faith in me.

"Chill, I've done this a million times."

"That does not make me feel remotely better."

I laughed a little, moving along the branch like monkey bars till I could set my feet on the one below, holding onto the trunk to keep my balance. Finally I reached the last one, about two and a half to three metres high, I swung for a minute before letting go and dropping to the ground. It would have been great if I hadn't landed on a root and fallen into the tree. He was by my side in a second and I couldn't stop giggling, "You have no faith in me."
"You're not a monkey! You could kill yourself doing that. Are you okay?"

I nodded, pushing myself straight, "Your fault, you made me sneak out." I teased, winding my arm around his waist, then realised where we were, "Ooh crap, let's get away from the house." If evil granny was to look out of their window right now they'd be able to see us…I couldn't think of anything worse happening. He nodded and we started running away, laughing quietly at the ridiculousness and cliché of it. His car was parked around the corner from the house and we both jumped in, he was pulling away from the curb before I'd even shut the door.

"So where are we going at this ridiculous hour?"

"I want to show you something." I raised an eyebrow in question but he just gave a secretive smirk…damn him. "Hey are you feeling okay…you were sick."

"Much better."

The streets were completely deserted as we sped through the town. Eventually the houses fell away to give room for thick forests and the comforting row of street lights came to an end, the road out of town stretching out ahead of us. I glanced at him, both excited and slightly nervous at the same time.

"Damon where are we going?" I asked again. Don't get me wrong I trusted him completely…but it was half midnight and we were heading out of town and I really couldn't be found out.

He glanced over, smiling and squeezing my hand over the centre console, "Relax, it's just a ten minute drive."

My nerves only mounted again when we turned off into a forest road, seemingly unused, "Fuck Damon this is creepy." I muttered, looking out the window at the trees all around us save ahead and behind and being unable to see anything.

He had a slight frown on his face, "Hey…don't worry, there's a place just up here I used to come with my mum when I was a kid, you'll love it."

I smiled a little, angling my body to face him, "You know if I didn't know you better I might suspect you were a psycho and you were going to kill me out here." He laughed, rolling his eyes. I put on a mock serious face, as convincing as I could, "Damon please don't be a psycho and murder me out here."

Apparently I was convincing because the car jerked to a halt and he looked at me incredulously, "Are you joking?" I refused to let my smile slip through, "Elena! I would never-"
I couldn't do it, the grin forced its way onto my face and I leant across to press a kiss to his lips, "I'm only joking, I know you're not a psycho murdering lunatic. If I thought that I would have jumped out the car by now and started running."

He scowled at me and re-started the car again, "Well you wouldn't get far in these woods."

"That's what I imagine the murderer would say."