A/N: I was so blocked trying to write this but I think I got there! Also, sorry it's on the short side but it needed to end where it did. Some interesting revelations in this one, I hope you enjoy!

9: Kiss Me

Elena was glowing. As she admired her reflection in the mirror after her shower, she couldn't help but notice the smile plastered across her face. It had been there all night and even after Damon had left this morning, it still hadn't budged. Last night had been perfect and everything she'd wanted. And she hadn't realised just how much she'd wanted it until now. Damon hadn't pried about her scars either, which she was grateful for. Maybe she would open up to him if it developed into anything more, but for now she couldn't. Because she hated her marked and damaged body. Even though Damon wasn't repulsed by it, much like others had been in the past.

She towel dried her hair and slipped on a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater and walked into the kitchen to get herself a cup of coffee. She grabbed a clean mug and started up the coffee machine and placed a couple of slices of bread in the toaster for her breakfast.

"Someone was getting busy last night." Rebekah smirked, her voice breaking the silence and causing Elena to jump out of her skin.

"You heard?" Elena blushed, willing the coffee machine to hurry up. This was not the sort of conversation she wanted to have right now, especially with Rebekah.

"Quite the screamer you are. I saw him leave this morning, but Salvatore, really?" She moved past the brunette, helping herself to a bottle of water from the fridge.

She ignored the blonde's first comment but turned to face her when she mentioned Damon's name. "You know him?"

"I went to high school with him back in Virginia. But trust me, don't let yourself get too attached because he will break your heart." Rebekah shrugged, grabbing an apple and jumping up onto the kitchen counter, taking a bite.

Elena rolled her eyes and grabbed the toast as it popped up, buttering the slices. "Thanks for the advice, but I didn't ask for it."

"Just trust me when I tell you, I've watched him make his way through half the girls at school and no doubt he's done it here too. Why do you think he's prying on freshman meat, huh?"

Elena span around with her lips in a hard line. "Shut up, Rebekah." She snapped, grabbing her toast and coffee and returning to her room.

Well, that had caused her smile to falter. She told herself not to let Rebekah get to her but the blonde's comments kept playing in her mind. Yes, Damon had mentioned to her that he wasn't the relationship type. Elena wasn't expecting that, but hearing his past from someone else sat uneasy with her. She ate her toast in silence, letting thoughts whirl around her mind and when she was finished, she picked up her plate and returned to the kitchen to put her plate in the sink, where she found Rebekah still there, now rolling a joint.

"Really?" Elena raised her eyebrows, shooting the girl a disapproving look. "It's 10am."

"Relax, I'm not smoking it in the apartment. Although, by the sounds of it, you could do with one." She smirked, wagging the joint in Elena's direction.

"No thanks." She answered.

"Suit yourself." The blonde jumped down from the counter and headed towards the balcony, flicking a lighter in one hand to test for a flame.

Elena sighed. "Wait...what do you know about Damon?" She asked, already regretting those words passing her lips. Did she really want to know? Surely it only mattered what Damon was like now, with her, but her overthinking mind couldn't help but need to know more.

Now in the living room, Rebekah turned around and perched herself on the edge of the couch. "So like I said, I met him in school. I moved to Virginia from England when I was fifteen, it was part way through the school year and I didn't know anyone. My brother, Elijah was a senior, like Damon, so that's how I got to know him. Fifteen year old me was too caught up in the fact that an older guy was giving her attention."

"You dated him then?" Elena interrupted. Then a thought crossed her mind. "Wait, have you slept with him?"

"He took my virginity. Then dumped me." The blonde shrugged, pushing her hair back.

Elena stared at the girl, dumbfounded. She wasn't expecting that and now she didn't know what to think. Yeah, she was definitely better off not knowing but that was no use now.

"I don't know, he might be different now. But just a warning, I don't want you sniveling over Damon Salvatore if he decides to dump your ass."

"Yeah, thanks Bekah." Elena mumbled, returning to her room once again. Her mind was reeling with the new information. Sure, that was Damon four years ago, but for some reason it still played on her mind. She had opened up to him, more than she had with anyone else and she didn't want that to just go away. He was her only friend in New York but this made her realise just how little she knew him. How could she hold so much trust in someone she hardly knew?

It was almost 7pm when Elena got home from class, later that day. She was exhausted from over thinking and the fact that she had gotten very little sleep the previous night. This morning she had been so happy but now she had remembered why she needed to keep her guard up. A little Damon detox would probably be good for her she mused, as she stalked towards her room, desperate to lay down. What she didn't expect, however, was to find Damon there, sprawled out on her bed, playing with her teddy bear.

"Hey!" He grinned, using the teddy's paw to wave at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, dropping her bag on the floor and kicking her shoes off.

"Rebekah let me in, said you wouldn't be long. Plus, teddy here has been keeping me entertained." He explained. "Does teddy have a name?"

"Give me that." She grabbed the bear from him, hugging him to her chest and let a small smile pass her lips. "His name is Bear. Original, I know, but my dad gave him to me…" She trailed off, realising her guard was slipping.

Damon chuckled. "It's cute. Now, do I get to kiss you?" He reached out to her and pulled her towards him, sitting on the bed with Elena stood in front of him.

Elena couldn't help but giggle at his pout, pressing her lips to his for a moment before pulling away. "Damon, can I ask you something?"

"Anything." He replied, pulling her into his lap.

She put her hand round the back on his neck, settling into his lap, playing with the hairs on the nape of his neck. "Why me?"

He furrowed his brow, wrapping his arms around her waist. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you here with me, when you could be with anyone else?" She spoke softly. She still didn't understand why he was here with her. There were so many better girls out there, who didn't have scars all over their bodies or spent half their spare time having mental breakdowns.

"I told you. It's because you're beautiful, sweet and funny and I like spending time with you." He hooked his finger under her chin, kissing her softly.

Elena pulled away from the kiss after a moment, looking down, not sure if she wanted to know the answer. "So I'm not just the next in your long line of conquests?"

"Hey," He started, cupping her cheek. "What's brought all this on?"

"I spoke to Rebekah today. She had some...choice words to say about you." She looked down, playing with the hem of her shorts and found herself looking at the scars on her thighs. Some were still quite red and some had faded to a paler colour but they were still there. She hated them almost as much as the reasons that they were there.

"Oh." He sighed, beginning to understand. "And exactly did she say?"

"It doesn't matter." She shrugged, wiggling out of Damon's arms and standing up, walking to the other side of the room.

"Elena, if it bothers you, it matters." He sighed before continuing. "I was stupid back then, I didn't realise how young she was. And when her brother found out, he punched me and I broke it off with her. I'm sorry you had to find out like that, but it was years ago."

Elena turned around, folding her arms across her chest. "It's okay." She murmured, looking down. "I just don't know how to do this." She gestured between the two of them, looking back up at him.

Damon stood up and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "If I'm being absolutely honest with you, nor do I. I'm scared, Elena. Because I like you a lot. But we can figure it out together, if that's what you want."

She nodded, her big doe eyes meeting his bright blue pools. She exposed everything to him in that gaze, dropping her guard; everything she had sworn she wouldn't do. But the way he looked at her, she couldn't help it. Because he already had the capacity to break her heart, but she hadn't quite realised it yet.

"Stay with me tonight?" She whispered, reaching up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. It was slow and tender and everything she needed right now. He kissed her back, holding her close and she wrapped her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go.

I hope you enjoyed and if you did (or even if you didn't), leave me a little review. Ideas are always welcome! Lots of love!

-P x