Chapter-8: A Race Against Time


Several Months Later … Senior Prom, 2016


Just as quickly as they had gone up in flames after my parents death, things fall in place in the months following my reinstatement as the cheerleading captain.

I start hanging out with Bonnie again, ditching my loner status and together we hunt down her ancestors' histories as Salem witches.

When we made it to regionals, Caroline stops being a prick and dedicates herself in learning my routine so we can win; and we do. She even falls for Tyler Lockwood, giving him the push he needed to abandon his foray into becoming a stoner.

Things at home get better too once I stop pushing the boundaries. Jenna, finally not having to deal with a troubled teen, i.e., my charming self, ends up finding herself a date at Jeremy's parent-teacher conference … with none other than Vice Principal Saltzman!

Speaking of Jer, my little brother, after finding out that his role model of bad behaviour, a.k.a. Me, has mended her ways, turns to the arts. His favorite subject? Coach Young's daughter, April. When I hear that he's been making an effort in gym just to win the blessings of the coach, I can't help but laugh.

As for me? I'm not doing bad. I've made peace with my parents' death because at least I have a little brother to care for and an aunt who really does care for me. And I've got great friends who helped me become who I was once again. And then … there is Damon.

After that make out session months back, we became friends … good friends. He tutored me to help me catch up on the lessons I missed while acting out in my grief. He introduced me to his little brother, Stefan, as his friend and not his student. And we even tried reading The Da Vinci Code together. Amidst it all, I've grown to respect him as a great man, and though I had no intention of doing so, I think I've fallen in love with him.

My thoughts are met with reality when I watch him step into the gym-slash-makeshift-ballroom for the senior prom. He's decked up in a dark suit with a black button-down underneath and with a blonde beauty on his arm.

Fuck!


Keeping my promise to Jenna, I don't sneak out of the gym after seeing him. No, instead, like a deer caught in headlights, I watch him introduce her to the other faculties. I suffer in silence as I watch him bring punch to her. It's only when I see him hold his hands out to her in a silent invitation for a dance that my control snaps.

Abandoning my hiding post behind the giant balloon wreath, I approach them, my hands clenched in tight fists. "Mr. Salvatore?" I call when I'm standing right behind him, making him come to a sudden stop.

"Elena!" he greets me, turning around to face me. I don't miss the way his hand keeps holding the blonde's.

I don't try to hide my feelings because honestly, I'm tired of doing that. So I glare at their held hands and ask pointedly, "May I have a second … alone?"

The blonde's mouth opens as if in recognition and she whispers something in his ear, making me see red. Seething with hurt and anger, I turn and start walking, not looking to see whether he's coming or not.

It's only when I hear the empty classroom door click shut behind me that I know he had followed me. "Hey, I didn't see you earlier," he says, placing his hands on my shoulders.

I slip out of his hands, furious with him and myself for feeling so … broken. "You have a date," I say thickly. God! Am I going to cry over this man?

"Yeah, I didn't want to encourage the little love notes from any of the juniors anymore," he admits with a chuckle.

"You're laughing?" I can't help the way my voice shakes with unshed tears. "All of this is just a joke to you, isn't it? I am a joke to you."

He frowns, his hands reaching for me once more. "Elena, what are you saying?"

I push his hands away. "Don't touch me," I hiss. "I'm tired of being your friend, Damon. I … I can't do this anymore."

"Elena ..."

Shaking my head, I hold up a hand to shush him. "And yeah, I know that I'm being selfish right now, but I don't care. I'm selfish because I will never share you with anyone else." As I speak, my throat closes up like there's a lump in the back of it and before I can stop them, teardrops spill out of my stinging eyes.

"Elena … shit!" he swears before moving forward to take me in his arms. When I try to shake him off again, he persists and holds me tighter, bringing me to his chest. "Shh … baby, don't cry," he whispers in my ears as he hugs me to him.

"Easy for you to say ..." I mumble, trying hopelessly to stem my tears.

"Jesus!" he laughs for real this time. "You really can't shut up for a minute, can you?"

"Stop laughing at me!" I try to push him away again … feebly.

He kisses my hair and cups my face in his hands then staring right into my eyes, he says, "All I'm trying to say is that I'm utterly smitten with you, Ms. Gilbert."

My eyebrows pull together in confusion. "Smitten?"

"Smitten, enamored with, in love with ..." he explains.

"You … you love me?" I ask, feeling breathless all of a sudden.

He rolls his eyes and leans down to kiss me. "Totally, completely and utterly in love with you."

Even though I hate to break our little bubble, I have to ask. "But what about the blonde?"

"Rebekah?" he asks, his brows furrowing. "She's my cousin. She's here for moral support."

"For what?"

"For this," he says, clasping my hand in his and then before I can protest, he throws the door open and steps out into the people-packed gym.