A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update. I've just had this massive writer's block lately. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter.
I was only trying to bury the pain.
But I made you cry.
And I can't stop the crying.
Was only trying to save me.
But I lost you again.
Now, there's only lying.
Wish I could say it's only me.
It Is What It Is – Lifehouse
The rain pattered around Caroline. She shivered as the cool rain chilled her. Almost painfully cold. She walked. And walked. Until she stopped, gravel crunching underfoot, in the driveway of the Salvatore Boardinghouse.
She gazed up at the vast, gothic, masculine building with a mixture of horror and fascination. Taking a deep breath, she walked towards the front door with trembling legs. Swallowing thickly, Caroline knocked on the front door.
She took another deep breath and rehearsed her speech. The wild, fleeting, thought that she could claim that her car broke down. No.. that sounds lame. Even I don't believe that… She thought. Just as she had her excuse, perfectly written, the door swung open.
"Listen, Damon," She began. "Damon's not here." The words made her freeze. Her mouth dropped open. "Stefan?" She whispered, her heart pounding painfully against her rib cage. "I'm sorry." The younger Salvatore whispered.
Caroline swallowed thickly. "Where…?" Her words trailed off, hanging in the air between them. Stefan paused, thinking deeply. "I think he's gone to… Detroit." Detroit. The word seemed so heavy. It carried a weight that almost crushed Caroline's heart.
"B-but he was here just a few hours ago…" She whispered. "I know. He left just recently." "So.." "There's a chance that you can catch him." Stefan nodded. "Thank you!" The petite blonde threw her arms around the young vampire's neck. "Thank you so much, Stefan."
With that, she turned and darted down the driveway. Running as fast as she possibly could in a skirt and heels. Caroline staggered to a stop, pulling the heels off she held them in one hand before she continued to run.
A rumble of an engine made her jump and drew her attention. "Get in." Stefan pushed the door of his convertible open, chuckling. Caroline leapt into his car gratefully. She smiled her thanks at him before looking out the window.
They drove out of Mystic Falls; Stefan drove with the expertise of a racecar driver. Which was saying something, because Caroline spent most of the drive gripping the edge of the seat, her eyes closed.
When they came to a stop, for which Caroline was thankful, she looked around, not recognizing her surroundings. "Umm… Stefan?" She whispered. "Yes?" Stefan replied with an almost fatherly-like patience.
"Where are we?" "Airport." Stefan replied laconically. Caroline shot him a reproving glance before climbing out of the car. She raced into the airport, looking around for Damon wildly.
"Damon!" She called, pushing through the crowd. "Caroline?" A stunned voice inquired. Caroline whipped around to see Damon standing behind her, his head cocked to the side, confusion clouding his cyan depths.
She took a trembling step towards him, saying softly, "What were we to each other?" She paused, drawing in a shaky breath before continuing, "I mean, I just – I need to know. Please, tell me."
Damon paused, shifting his ticket to his other hand before responding softly, "You were – are – everything, Caroline. Everything I wanted." He stopped, uttering a low, self-deprecating laugh.
"I mean, it took me years to realize what I had before me." Damon took a step closer to her, "A young woman who's suffered through hell and came out stronger." Caroline lowered her aquatic orbs, a faint blush tinting her cheeks a bright pink.
"Someone who's strong, caring, forgiving." He reached towards her, lifting her chin with two fingers, concluding, "A young woman who's challenged me and never backed down. The woman that I love." "Why me?" Caroline breathed out, her blush darkening.
"I just gave you the reasons." Damon inclined his head in a nod. "But, Elena…" She stepped back, watching his hand drop back to his side. "What about her?" His words carried a hint of an edge. "She's beautiful." "You're beautiful."
"She's smart." "You've outwitted me more times than I can count." "She's caring." "I've never met anyone more giving or more caring than you." "She's kind." "You're unbelievably kind." "She's loving." "When I'm with you, I've never felt such love and warmth."
"She's got everything." "You're everything." Damon stepped closer to her, his face looming over hers. "I-I," Caroline whispered, stammering. Damon's fingers brushed along her jawline, causing her blush to increase.
"Damon…" She breathed out. "Yes?" He answered, his gaze locked on her. "If I asked you to lift the compulsion…" His attention snapped to the present. "I can't." His words carried a sense of finality.
"Damon…" Caroline reached for him. He stepped back, saying stiffly, "I couldn't even if I wanted to." "But –" "No buts. I can't. I made a deal." "I know." Her words took him aback. "What?" "Bonnie told me." "That little witch." Damon hissed, angry. Caroline recoiled with the force of his words.
They weren't directed at her. But they hurt. "I should've known." He growled out. Caroline reached towards him cautiously before he brushed past her abruptly. She stood there, dazed and bewildered by what just happened. Caroline turned and followed Damon out of the airport silently.
Damon rapped on the door of the Bennett residence impatiently. "Damon, calm down." Caroline placed her hand on his arm comfortingly. Damon shrugged her hand off, his mouth set in a thin line. A silent warning for her to remain quiet.
Bonnie answered the door. The familiar annoyed expression she wears in Damon's presence on her face. "What, Damon?" She snapped. "You told Caroline?" The words were growled more than spoken. "You told Caroline?" He roared, "How could you?"
"It was quite simple, really." Bonnie said nonchalantly. "She asked. And I told." "I could rip your throat out right now." Damon ground out through gritted teeth. "Aww." Bonnie cooed with a smirk. "I love you too."
"Okay." Caroline slipped between them. "Ease up, guys." Damon's gaze flickered to the petite blonde. His expression noticeably softened. "Okay." Damon stepped back and leapt off the porch, walking down the driveway, waiting for Caroline at the edge of the road.
"Okay," Bonnie tugged the blonde close. "What the hell is going on with you and the Prince of Darkness?" She whispered; her eyes wide. "I mean, you came to me, scared out of your mind of him. Now, today you're all over each other!"
Caroline bit her lip before casting a desirous glance in Damon's glance, the vampire in question oblivious of her lustful gaze. "Well, I am afraid of him. But, I suppose part of me is simply afraid of how he makes me feel. Who he makes me into."
She sighed softly. "I know it doesn't make sense. But, I'm not afraid of Damon. I'm afraid of myself. Because when I'm with him, he awakens this side of me. This side that's daring and… I don't know. I'm just… myself with him. The me I'm afraid to show anyone. You know?"
Caroline laughed nervously, "Does that make sense?" The witch nodded slowly, her eyes still wide as saucers. "I don't know how to explain it." The young blonde woman leaned against the banister of the porch, "But being around Damon. Kissing him. Breathing in the air of the room he's in, breathing in his scent, it's just… it's like being caught in a wind tunnel. It's dizzying. Terrifying. Exciting. Shocking. Exhilarating. Wild. It's.. Damon. You know?"
She brushed a flaxen lock away from her face. "I think I'm in love with him…" She whispered, shocked. Bonnie looked away, and said, "You were. Are." Caroline's gaze shifted to Bonnie. "You knew?" She breathed. "I knew a lot of things."
"Why didn't you tell me?" "Because I didn't want – " "Didn't want what, Bonnie? For me to find out?" "No." Bonnie stepped out onto the porch. "No, I didn't. Because you were safer when you didn't know." "Safe from what?" "You know what. Klaus."
Caroline brushed past Damon, her eyes cast to the ground. "Hey, you okay?" Damon asked, falling in step beside her. "No. I'm far from it." The blue-eyed vampire grasped her wrist, whirling her to face him. "Hey. Talk to me."
"Damon, tell me. I think I earned it." "Tell you what?" Damon asked, perplexed. "Everything." He sighed, nodding, his oceanic spheres staring sightlessly at the ground. "Okay." Damon said finally. "It's time. You need to know the truth."
