A/N: Sorry I hadn't updated for a long time; I had so much homework and I have been so extremely tired lately. It's not even funny. Plus, I was storing up on my vampire diaries, since there hasn't been a new episode in weeks. Today is what I hope to be a Delena turning point, and I finished off this chapter in complete angst and excitement. So here it is now, the next chapter in Elena's memory lane. Last time, I asked you guys what you thought of this new Elena and if your think Stefan will find out. I'm really routing for it; means more drama for me to write and for you, my awesome readers, to read AND review on. But I haven't written lately and this chapter is all I have so far!
~Narito ang kuwento (Filipino for Here's the Story!)~
Elena and Damon were doing absolutely nothing yet the were perfectly fine with it. Damon just sat on his bed while Elena wondered around. "I had a question," she announced. "What's with this necklace around my neck?" She held high the chain Stefan had given her and the pendant started to dangle.
"Oh, that? You got it to protect your mind from compulsion," he clarified.
"Compulsion?"
"It's a term for a vampire's powers like mind control or telepathy or something to that effect. There's vervain on it—which is this plant that is harmful to us." His explanation mad Elena thirsty for more knowledge about who she used to be
"Why can't you just tell me anything else? I know that there's more to the story than vervain and compulsion. And I know Stefan didn't just change. I have this gut feeling that you are not telling me everything. Damon, I have the right to know."
"Elena, I understand that you feel confuses and angry, but let's take baby steps. Right now, stick with what I have told you. Trouble will come if you don't."
"Like what?" she asked with interest.
"Well, you'll get hurt finding out the truth about Stefan, for one thing."
"Damon, just tell me. Whatever it is, I can handle it. I'm a big girl, you know."
"No you can't Elena. You broke the first time; you wouldn't admit it, but you did. And I couldn't stand it if you broke again."
Elena's eyes were calmer. "Really?" she asked. She thought about it for another moment. "Was it that bad?"
"Elena, it was terrible to watch. You were in denial. It hurt to know how much you were hurting yet you tried to be strong and put on a good show."
"I get that you are worried about me. But I'm not going to break a second time. This is a new me, and whatever it is you're keeping from me won't affect me as much as it would have because I don't have the experience and memories that the old Elena had. I couldn't physically connect the information to a past situation because I have only lived a day. Yes, I part of me will be able to understand, but I would only be able to process words to create an idea of what you would be talking about. I wouldn't know exactly; I couldn't put it to an image. And besides that, you do realize that you just gave away tons of valuable information?"
"Eh, yeah I knew what you were aiming for," Damon admitted. "But that's all I am willing to tell you."
Well, that's actually all I need. I think I have the full story—or at least the basics," Elena bragged. She looked at Damon deviously. "Do you want to hear what I have come up with? I think it's pretty good for just meeting Stefan the one time and for only living through this for a day, like I said before."
Damon counted the time in his head. "Wow. It's only been a day."
"Yeah…so is that a yes?"
"I am sort of interested in how much you have come up with, so yes it is a yes."
Elena took a deep breath before starting. "I figure that I like you. I liked you more than anyone knew, except you knew. But I also cared deeply for your brother. He was either a really good friend who hid a crush on me and I just happened to like him back or we were actually dating. Either way, I was your brother's girl when you started to like me. That's when your sibling rivalry began—and since you guys are vampires, I can figure it to be really violent. Then, something made Stefan swap to the state he is in right now. I think I broke up with him or something to that effect. I probably couldn't decode my feelings and I did it to spare his if I were to choose you instead of him." As she talked, she didn't once meet Damon's eyes, though she felt their watch on her the whole time. It was awkward; they had just clarified that she had only spent a day with him, yet she was already talking about her feelings, and the drama, and the supposed love triangles in her life. It was all too crazy to comprehend. And she honestly didn't think that any of it was real. When she finally finished explaining her conclusion, she looked up. His face was straight, yet his eyes looked at her with amazement.
"You were really close," he told her. "Are you sure you don't remember?"
"Like I said, when I woke up, the only thing I could remember was my name and your face. Then, when you asked me what I remembered, I saw Stefan drinking blood—but at the time I thought it was jelly fill," she looked down and smiled in embarrassment before she continued. "Well, it looked like Stefan and it looked like jelly fill. It was like I got a surge followed by a sudden glimpse of the past that got ripped away from me as soon as it came. But that story was just something that I pieced together. I've been paying really close attention."
"I can tell."
There was a moment of awkward silence then, until Elena looked at him with adoring eyes that would have made him blush if he wasn't a vampire, but the color would have quickly faded into the pale of his skin if he could. "Thank you," she rushed. It came out in one word. "For what has been going on, it's good to know who I can or used to trust." Elena looked down and frowned. "What if I never get my memory back? I'll always be this clueless girl that can hardly remember yesterday."
"Hey! I won't have you thinking like that," Damon replied. HE took her by the hand and forced her to return his gaze. "We'll get through this. We always get through these things, Elena. And so what if your memory never returns? We'll make new ones."
Damon wasn't sure if he was good at the whole caring thing. But the words that came out of his mouth have never been more true and have never flowed out more naturally. It was as if this was all meant to happen. Now if only he could figure out why. (?) Anyway, even if he was no good at showing his feelings, at least Elena couldn't remember the old Stefan to compare him to. He realized that he was still holding her hand and was still staring down at her beauty. If what they say about the eyes being the gateway to the soul is true, then she could see every ounce of him as he put it on the line to showcase. Her smile made his insides flutter.
Damon knew that Elena felt something for him, but she had always diminished it because she still had feelings and hope for Stefan. Her crazy in denial only made Damon want to chase her more. But it would have taken longer than expected to get a confession out of her. Then the accident happened. Not only did she mention liking him but she also called Stefan psychotic. That made him happy. She also said something about flutters in her stomach—or was he just hearing/making up things? He didn't hear anything remotely close to that when she spoke about Stefan. Look at him, he can't even tell apart these things. That must mean something, right?
"Damon," she caught his attention.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," she said. Feeling confident, Elena pecked Damon on the cheek. This definitely caught him by surprise and his stomach felt queasy and fluttery all over again.
This was so out of character for the both of them—and at the rate this scene was playing out. Both these factors were new concepts for his relationship with her. Yes, he knew that Elena wasn't herself and that he was a new concept for her (making this a whole lot worse and unexpected). Now he wished he saw the Vow like Elena wanted to, but no—he could listen to Taylor Swift but that's where he drew the line. Chick flicks had to be beneath him. He kept asking himself the same question over again as if it were a song on replay. What am I going to do?
There was a slam at the door that made Elena's head cock to the direction of the loud BOOM! it had made. "I think your brother is home," she said. Damon pulled away and practically forced her to drop hi grip on his neck. He pretty much ruined that completely intimate moment that turned her insides to mush—a feeling she liked and had already gotten used to. It felt nice to be wrapped in his arms, unafraid of the future, with all this passion pumping into her as she stared into his eyes. She honestly and literally could have stayed that way forever if Stefan hadn't walked through the front door and ruined it. Obviously, Damon didn't want him to see. At least she got one thing out of it: a proven theory.
Elena was staring at Damon even though he was staring at the door. "Hello, Stefan," he said, catching her off quard. She turned toward the direction of the door and her gaze fell upon the dirty-blond, green-eyed vampire in front of her. "Stefan," she echoed, looking at him awkwardly.
"Okay, no. Seriously, what is with you two lately?" he asked. His voice wasn't questioning as it was irritated and halfway filled with frustration.
"Nothing that involves you," Damon replied.
"Is this about Klaus?" Who? Elena thought to herself.
"Not everything is about your psychotic need for revenge, brother."
"Then tell me," he said. Then he turned to Elena. "You are awfully quiet. Why don't you tell me?"
"No, Stefan. You don't own me; you can't pull some strings and make me talk." Elena replied, semi confident.
Elena could see Stefan and how his eyes were filled with anger and frustration. He seemed to be completely buried in negative emotion but no one seemed to hear his cry for help when he's six feet underground. Looking at him made Elena feel something. It was vague but it was there. But it wasn't long before it washed away and he said something that made her regret giving him a second thought.
"You know what?" he said. "I don't know why I'm even bothering with you two—my lying and pathetic brother and my just as pathetic girlfriend."
"Take that back, you little BASTARD!" Damon cried out.
"No, Damon, it's okay," Elena said, keeping her eyes glued on Stefan. "The pathetic one is him. Just admit that you lost, Stefan. If you can't admit that and put it all behind you, then I don't want you in my life." Stefan's eyes widened as he took in her harsh words. "Get out! Stefan, go away!"
And without a word, he was gone, leaving Damon amazed at how well she handled the situation—even better that the first Elena would have in his opinion—especially considering she didn't know the story line. No, this Elena opened this book in the middle without a clue about what had already happened. That never ceased to amaze him, how she san always make the best of the situation, whether it's losing Stefan, giving herself as a sacrifice to Klaus, or…losing her memory. Just realizing and really seeing the full extent to her strength was just what Damon needed to fall in love with Elena Gilbert all over again.
But the ultimate best part about this whole thing was when he was thinking all of that, there Elena was, staring at him. And Damon could tell from the way that her eyes gazed into his that she was falling for him, too.
A/N: OH, MY GOD GUYS! Right now it's about 5:06 pm here, and I am so excited for the next episode. Even though I have been watching every episode from season on to season three all over again, I feel VDD! (vampire Diaries Deprived.) But that was my latest chapter, and I am going to try to have a weekly update from now on! I know that I probably lost my reviewers on my break, but I will do anything to get you guys back!
The question for this chapter is: HOW DID Elena KNOW THAT? Leave your reply, feedback, suggestions, or ratings by clicking that really pretty review button below! :D
