Chapter Six.
I'm just another thing for you
To roll your eyes at, honey
You might have him but haven't you heard?
I'm just another thing for you
To roll your eyes at, honey
You might have him but I always get the last word
"He's doing what?" Elena screeched at her best friend while she, Ric and Caroline sat in the studio.
"He's sleeping with Katherine Pierce again." The blonde answered softly, trying to calm Elena down.
"That selfish son of a bitch! Doesn't he know how this will look if the press find out?" The dark haired girl screamed as she paced around the room.
Caroline and Alaric shared a worried look, they both knew Elena cared about this more than she was saying.
"You sure that it's not the fact that he's in bed with someone, but who he did it with?" Ric asked her and immediately regretted it after the look Elena gave him.
"This is Katherine fucking Pierce we're talking about. The reincarnation of the devil. That snide little bitch comes so much as near me and I'll rip the stuffing right out of her bra." She spat out as Caroline let out a light giggle.
"Okay honey, calm down." Elena took a deep breath and sat down on Caroline's knee.
"Comfortable?" The blonde teased.
"Very." Elena winked and threw her legs over the chair, making it clear that she wasn't going to move.
Caroline sighed and played with Elena's hair, she didn't throw Elena off like she normally would have. Her best friend needed all the comfort she could get right now.
"So what's the plan for today?" Elena asked,
"You are going to take that ball of emotion you have right now, and you're going to write a song with it." Ric said strongly and just as she was about to protest Caroline decided to butt in.
"Think of it this way, Elena. You're getting one over on Damon; two actually if you think about it."
"And how is that?" Elena huffed with her arms folded.
"You are going to have new material to sing on tour, not counting your duets. And plus, make it obvious what your singing about to him; make him feel like shit when he hears it."
Elena smirked and jumped off the blonde's knee.
"Caroline Forbes you are a genius."
. . .
"I almost forgot how good you are." Katherine Pierce purred and rolled onto her side on Damon's bed.
"Well now you remember. Get out Kat." He growled pulled on his pants.
"Just like always." She grumbled and threw on her dress and heels from the night before.
"That's the way you like it. No emotions."
"Call me when you need a little release." She leaned over to bite the lobe of his ear before walking to the door.
"Who says I'll call?" He raised an eyebrow as Katherine let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Because as long as you're in the company of Elena Gilbert you need me. That hasn't changed."
God he had forgotten how much of a bitch she was. Almost as much as the girl he was trying to stay away from.
"Just get out of here."
He heard the clacking of her heels and then slam of the door. He sighed and leaned back on the bed, and thought about what he had done. He thought about the abuse he was going to get when he went into the studio later.
He had made the mistake of telling Ric that he was inviting Katherine over for a drink. Alaric knew exactly what that meant. Alaric would have told Elena by now, and she was going to kill him. Literally kill him. The girl was going to have a fit.
But why should she care? He reminded himself. She won't, if that night a few days ago was any indication. She didn't care about hurting him, so why should her care about hurting her?
He did up the buttons on his shirt and locked the door, making his way to the Camaro. As he was driving down the road he felt sort of, empty. Like he always did after sex with Katherine. He missed it when sex meant something, when it was a way of showing someone how much you loved them.
Not that he was complaining about Kat, she was great in bed, but there was a part of them that wished she was Elena. Elena doesn't want you, you idiot, and she definitely won't after she finds out that slept with Katherine again, he told himself. Needless to say his heart didn't listen.
He pulled up outside SaltzLake Studios and locked his car. Damon was more than a little reluctant to step inside the studio he knew they would be in, he didn't want to see Elena's face so soon after what had happened.
"So what did I miss?" Damon said casually as he strolled into the room.
Elena stood up from where she was curled up on one if the seats, her notepad on the table.
"I'm surprised you're even here. Shouldn't you be with your precious Katherine?" She spat out with her arms folded under her chest.
"Are you jealous, Elena Gilbert?"
He smirked as he saw the anger in her eyes. She was jealous. Was it twisted that he felt good that she was that angry because of him? That she was feeling something because of something he had done?
"Jealous? Are you kidding me? Why in hell would I be jealous of her?"
She wasn't jealous. She just wasn't. She had made it in this business, and she hadn't had to claw her way to the top like the others. Katherine Pierce was nothing more than a slut, Elena was more than that. Despite what Damon thought of her.
"Oh honey we both know why."
He didn't just go there, Elena thought. Did he honestly just bring that up?
"I can't do this." She muttered before throwing her notepad in bag and storming out.
Elena ran to her car and locked herself in, driving as far as she could. Not that she made it far, she couldn't see through the tears.
She pulled up at some gas station and let herself sob heavily. How could I say how much he had missed her a few days ago, begged for her to remember what it had been like. And then do this? To hop into bed with that bitch? Katherine Pierce had ruined her life, and yet there was Damon; acting as if nothing was wrong.
God, he hadn't changed, she thought to herself. She thought he had, just for a little while, it seemed like he was good, and cared about her. Even if she completely dismissed it. But the reasons for their break up still hung in the air around them, and there was no way Elena could still be around him.
Not after this. Not after she found out how much he was capable of hurting her. It wasn't fair that he could still reduce her to tears. She shouldn't have to be the one to suffer.
Elena had made herself strong for a reason. She only did the things that made her happy, at least that's what she told herself. And she was only accepting the fact now that doing this tour with Damon was only going to hurt her.
She couldn't let him get to her. But he knew how to, and she hated it. Hated him. But she could make it right, stop herself from hurting more than she already had.
She knew what to do.
. . .
"Where did she run off to?" Damon smirked and sat himself down on a chair, looking far too comfortable for someone who had just been in a fight.
"Away from you. God you really are a selfish son of a bitch aren't you? When you came here I thought you were so different from what Elena had told me. But I see it now, I see what she sees. And it's far from the shiny exterior you show everyone else." Caroline spat at him.
Caroline couldn't believe that she'd let herself think that Elena would be safe with him, that he could bring back their torn relationship.
Had she been so blind that she couldn't even see what Damon was capable of? That she had let Elena spend time with him and write with him, only for him to try and break her all over again?
"And I'm sure you would be surprised to hear my side of the story, Caroline. She's not the wounded little bird you all think. She's the bitch who can never seem to stop lying to me or herself. So excuse me, if I'm tired of playing another one of her games."
Damon didn't think he could deal with this right now. Yes, he was beyond happy at Elena's jealousy. It was exactly what he wanted to happen when he had tracked down Katherine. And besides, Elena deserved the hurt she was feeling, after everything that she had put him through. She deserved everything she got.
"Say what you want Damon. But you will always be the one that messed it up. Always the one who will never be good enough for her, you understand that? The end of your relationship was the best thing to ever happen to Elena. And I swear, if you think that you can get back at her by sleeping with Katherine Pierce then you need to think of another big master plan."
"You saw how she reacted, she's hurt. Probably the first emotion she's had in years."
"Elena's hurt now, but she'll get over it. Don't flatter yourself Damon. She's used to you letting her down by now."
Damon would never admit how much Caroline's words had just hurt him.
"Cut it out you two," Ric stepped in, ever the responsible one.
"Ric's right Care, don't waste your breath on something like him." Elena's cold voice came from behind the three of them.
"Can we talk please Alaric? It's important." Elena asked and titled her head back to his office on the opposite side of the corridor.
"Of course we can 'Lena." Ric said gently and placed a hand on her back, guiding her to his office.
Damon sighed heavily, she hadn't even turned to look at him.
"Maybe you're right," He said to Caroline, who raised an eyebrow at him.
"Maybe she really is used to me letting her down."
. . .
"What do you want Elena?" Ric asked gently, knowing how delicate her mind set must have been right now.
"I want this tour to end." She said shortly and Ric chuckled.
"Believe me we all want this tour to end. We haven't even started yet though, 'Lena. You're in for a long ride."
"No, that's not what I mean,"
"I don't want to do this anymore, Ric. I can't."
"But Elena-"
"I know what the consequences are. And believe me, I would do anything to save this place. You know how much I love it here. How much I love you. But I can't do this anymore. I can't sit here and pretend that everything's alright, I can't look at him and pretend that my heart doesn't break a little every time he so much as looks at me," She looks away from her manager as she lets a tear fall from her eye.
"Damon sleeping with Katherine is the push I needed to realise that I'm not strong enough for this. I thought I was, but I'm still the broken little girl you found at the Bluebird. She's buried deep, but she's in there. And she can't deal with him all over again."
Elena knew it was selfish. Ruining everyone's career and life just because she was scared of her feelings. But for once, she needed to do something for her. Something that she wanted, without other people's wants to.
"I can't force you to do this tour Elena. Go home and think about what you want, call me in the morning with you final decision." He placed a hand on Elena's shoulder and pulled her in for a hug.
"Please don't be angry with me, I don't have a lot left and I can't lose you too." She cried into his shoulder as he rubbed her back.
"You'll always have me. Me, Jenna, Caroline, your parents. We are never going to leave you, you got that? No matter what the circumstances."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Think about it though, Elena. Think about what you're throwing away."
"I know what I'm doin'. But I'll call you tomorrow Ric. You'll know for certain by then. I know I don't deserve it, but do me one little favour?" She asked gently as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Anything."
"Don't tell Damon yet. I want to see the look on his face when I end things."
"Little vindictive don't you think?"
"It's nothing he doesn't have coming to him." Elena answered and with a peck to Alaric's cheek she left the room.
Alaric watched as she left the building and just prayed that she would change her mind.
If she didn't they were all screwed.
. . .
Elena sat in the park a few miles from her house. It was quiet enough here, no one would ever interrupt her thinking. Well, at least that was what she thought.
"What a lovely surprise. I didn't think I'd find you here."
Elena's blood ran cold as she heard the familiar voice. A voice she hadn't heard in years.
Katherine Pierce.
"I'm not in the mood to have any conversation with you Katherine." Elena said stiffly as Katherine scoffed.
"Just because I have Damon and all you have is-well- nothing." Katherine said pointedly as Elena stood up from the bench she was sat on.
There was no way she was letting Katherine having the upper-hand after all this time.
"You can have him. The two of you are well suited for each other." Elena answered with a sarcastic smile and went to walk away.
"You'll never be enough for him. You will never be enough for anyone. Eventually they'll all get bored of you and move on to someone else. Never forget that Elena." Katherine smirked at the younger girl as she watched her turn around.
Elena could never let Katherine know how her words struck something in her. If she did, well, she would be ruined.
"This coming from the woman who will never be more than a sex toy. You don't have a hope of finding real love Katherine."
Elena chuckled as she watched the other girls face pale.
"Oh, and one more thing. While you're working in a little rundown shop, waiting for some rich guy to give you the lifestyle that you think you deserve, think about how I'm the one who made it. The girl who has her own millions. You always said that you were going to be independent, you were going to be more famous than anyone would ever expect. That didn't work out to well, did it? And now, unlike you, I'm free."
And with that Elena walked away, leaving a silent and very angry Katherine behind her. She let herself smile a little as she drove back her home. She was worth far more than that slut ever would. Katherine depended on other men to get her what she wanted. All Elena needed was herself.
She wasn't doing this tour and that was that. She would be fine on her own, she was a survivor. She pulled up outsider her house and quickly locked her car and ran inside. She just wanted to be at home right now and put her iPod on shuffle and let the music take over.
Elena pulled out the notebook she had placed in her bag earlier and smiled as she read over the lyrics. Singing might actually take her mind off things right now.
The story starts when it was hot and it was summer and,
I had it all, I had him right there where I wanted him
She came along, got him alone and let's hear the applause
She took him faster than you could say "sabotage"
I never saw it coming, wouldn't have suspected it
I underestimated just who I was dealing with
She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum
She underestimated just who she was stealing from
She's not a saint
And she's not what you think
She's an actress, whoa
She's better known
For the things that she does
On the mattress, whoa
Soon she's gonna find
Stealing other people's toys
On the playground won't
Make you many friends
She should keep in mind
She should keep in mind
There is nothing I do better than revenge
She looks at life like it's a party and she's on the list
She looks at me like I'm a trend and she's so over it
I think her ever-present frown is a little troubling
And she thinks I'm psycho 'cause I like to rhyme her name with things
But sophistication isn't what you wear or who you know
Or pushing people down to get you where you wanna go
They wouldn't teach you that in prep school so it's up to me
But no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity
She's not a saint
And she's not what you think
She's an actress, whoa
She's better known
For the things that she does
On the mattress, whoa
Soon she's gonna find
Stealing other people's toys
On the playground won't
Make you many friends
She should keep in mind
She should keep in mind
There is nothing I do better than revenge
I'm just another thing for you
To roll your eyes at, honey
You might have him but haven't you heard?
I'm just another thing for you
To roll your eyes at, honey
You might have him but I always get the last word
Whoa
She's not a saint
And she's not what you think
She's an actress, whoa
She's better known
For the things that she does
On the mattress, whoa
Soon she's gonna find
Stealing other people's toys
On the playground won't
Make you many friends
She should keep in mind
She should keep in mind
There is nothing I do better than revenge
Do you still feel like you know what you're doing?
'Cause I don't think you do. Oh.
Do you still feel like you know what you're doing?
I don't think you do
I don't think you do
Let's hear the applause
Come on show me how much better you are (so much better, yeah)
So you deserve some applause 'cause you're so much better
She took him faster than you could say "sabotage"
Elena smiled to herself as sat with her legs crossed on her couch, the song let out a little of the frustration she was feeling. She felt her leg start to vibrate and pulled her phone from her pocket.
Caroline.
"Hi Care," She sighed and thought that Alaric had probably spilled the beans to her publicist.
"Elena we have a problem." She could hear the worried tone of Caroline's voice and rolled her eyes.
"Look Caroline there is nothing that you can do to make me change my mind about this-"
"Please, I didn't phone about that, Ric pulled me aside as soon as you left. I know better than to try and argue with you once you have your mind made up. Don't worry though, we haven't told Damon anything. Not yet. I do have news though. Bad news." Elena immediately perked up at the end of her sentence.
She told herself not to worry though, Caroline got paranoid when she wore the wrong colour of dress.
"Elena, I don't know how to say this. But this morning, after you left, we got a letter from someone who threatened to release all this information and pictures to the press about your brother unless they got money from the company. We think that's it's someone from the rehab centre but we can't prove anything and, well-"
"Spit it out." Elena breathed out, her heart beating out of her chest.
"Elena the only way we can get that kind of money to protect Jeremy is if you go on this tour."
"I'll call you back Caroline."
"Elena wait-"
But she had already hung up and thrown the phone across the room. And for the second time that day, Elena Gilbert crawled up in a ball and cried her pretty brown eyes out.
She had done so much to protect her little brother, she couldn't let it all fall apart now. Jeremy had been an addict, had since she had been sixteen and he was only fifteen. She hadn't known until the next year. When he had finally gone to rehab, it had been a very hard time for Elena to watch her baby brother suffer like that, but she knew it was best for him. Even when he had cried and begged for his big sister as they took him in.
As soon as she was allowed to see him she had been there, right by his side, doing everything she could. And then her career had started to take off, and Jeremy told her that nothing was going to make him happier than to watch his sister become the star that he already knew she was.
The visits became fewer but she always made time for him. And every time he looked better. But as she got more famous she had to stop visiting him, it wasn't safe for either him or her. Her image would be tarnished by having a druggie brother who she supported and now that he a family member that was famous his own career, when he decided to start it, would never take off.
Elena had done everything she could to protect her little brother, and she wasn't about to stop now. Even if it meant hurting herself. She had to keep him safe.
After all, he was her biggest fan.
She dried her tears and went to pick up her phone from its place on the floor, slightly impressed that it was still intact.
"Ric?" She asked with a shaky voice,
"Elena? Are you okay? I know what happened."
"I'm fine. I'm calling to tell you that I'm back on board with the tour." She sniffed,
It was breaking her heart saying this. But it was worth it, it would all be worth it. For Jeremy.
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"This is isn't about what I want, Alaric. It's about what I need to do."
"You're feelings matter too, 'Lena. You know, I can get a loan for the company, to pay for Jeremy-"
"No. You're not doing that Ric. I'm going back on this tour and that's that."
She sighed heavily, she couldn't put Ric under more stress than he already was. The poor man was facing the breakdown of his own company along with his upcoming wedding. He didn't need to deal with financial issues because of her inability to put her feelings aside.
"Anything else you need, honey?" He asked gently and she rolled her eyes.
"Just one thing. I don't want you to tell Damon about any of this. As far as he knows, I never came to you about this tour and I don't want him told anything about Jeremy. He lost that right a long time ago."
"Of course. I'll see you soon for more tour preparations. Bye,"
"Bye Ric." She clicked off and leaned back against the cushions.
She walked into her bathroom and took out her pill bottle again. She was going to need it tonight. She should have known better than to think that her and Jeremy's secret wouldn't come out eventually.
But just because she couldn't fight the demons didn't mean that she couldn't run from them. And if there was one thing Elena Gilbert did well it was running from her problems.
A/N: Hi y'all! Thank you again for all the reviews, follows and favourites! I know there wasn't much Delena in this chapter, sorry, but this one was about seeing how Elena is unable to cope with Damon sleeping around with someone else and also a little about her brother. Jeremy will play a definite part in this story! Stick with me :).
Okay, so reviews have dropped a little, and I'm a tiny bit sad about that. I just want you all to let me know if I'm doing an alright job and to know that my little story is being supported. But to those amazing people who have reviewed I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and to let you know that you are all amazing!
What do you all think about the intro of Katherine? She's a little bitch isn't she? Well, just as much as Elena is now. But give her time, she'll come around, I mean we're already seeing improvements aren't we?
The song used was Better Than Revenge by Taylor Swift, it really fits the chapter and please go listen my dears!
Again, thank you all so much! All my love, xox.