A/N: I'm excited to write the next chapter, it's going to show something we've all been waiting for: the bond between Damon and Elena. This will be a pivotal point in the story because it really shows that you can only go against something for so long, before it catches up to. Anyways, I hope you like this update. I'm aiming to have the next one finished between Thursday and next Tuesday... oh and for it to be the longest chapter yet. Enjoy this slightly filler chapter! Review please! :) they make me happy.
Silence. Silence was endless in this moment, as I stared at Damon staring at me. Not one word daring to leap from our mouths—we just stood motionless, waiting. I wasn't sure what we were waiting on, but waiting we were. I'd dreamed about this moment, literally, for months. That day in LA had haunted me and sometimes, if I let it, it would cause my chest to ache so bad, I grew physically sick. A few times I had to leave the office or leave Ashton hanging because I just couldn't function.
The thought of Damon had been pushed so far down in my heart and mind, that somehow I had deluded myself into thinking that I no longer missed him, that I know longer cared for him. But obviously the feeling that was agonizingly gripping ahold of me currently, was reenforcing just how stupid and naïve I had been.
"Can I come in?" he asked, so inaudibly, that if my anxiety wasn't forcing me to be hyper-aware, I probably would have not heard it. Stepping back, I motioned for him to come in to what had once and still, in a way, was his home.
You think being a writer would have been beneficial to me right now, that I would have some profound words to shout at this man, or would be familiar with how this very scene played out... naturally though, I wasn't. If anything, I was unprepared and overwhelmed by his sheer presence. Ten minutes hadn't even passed, and already my mind had abandoned me, leaving only my heart to do the thinking.
His longer fingers skimmed the foyer furniture as he looked around, a nostalgic look up on his features. Casually, he scooped up a cookie and took a seat on the large, decorative couch . I followed his lead and sat opposite of him, staring idly at the patterns of the hardwood floor.
"So how have you been, 'Lena?" he questioned, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Cut the crap, Damon. Why are you here?" I snapped, finding myself suddenly full of anger and bitterness. It just stunned me he was going to act like this situation at hand was perfectly fine.
"I'm in town for a couple of days surveying work to be done on the Lockwood Manor and I thought I'd visit my house and my friends. Besides, Stefan's got to fly out in the morning for work, just made sense to already have the jet here."
"Well that's nice. Walk around, see the house, Caroline and Bonnie are in the living room watching a movie." I said nothing more as I stood and shuffled up the stairs towards my room. Thirty seconds passed before heavy footsteps could be heard, indicating Damon was mobile.
"I came to see you, too," he breathed out beside me.
"You made it perfectly clear we were no longer friends Damon, and if you don't mind, I'd like to keep it as such. Good night, Mr. Salvatore," I said icily. He looked at me dumfounded and I took the moment to run into my room and lock the door, sealing him out.
A single tear slid down my rosy cheek, signaling my resolve that I'd done so well to maintain over the last four months, was cracking. The mattress sunk beneath me as I reached for my worn out teddy bear, burying my face in the dingy fuzz that still clung to him. Quietly, I sobbed, allowing the ache to overtake me.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Someone was knocking at my door. I brushed the tears from my face, took several deep breaths, and attempted to compose myself the best I could. "Who is it?"
"It's me." Goodness, the damn guy just couldn't take a hint.
"I told you to leave me alone, Damon. Take the hint, I don't want to talk to you."
"Elena, I'm sorry okay. I was wrong... super-massively-idiotically-wrong, and I know I can't take back what I said or how I acted-" he paused, trying to articulate what he wanted to say. "I just, ugh, you just have to know how sorry I am, okay? I miss you more now than I ever did while I was away at college or while you were away, and to be honest, I don't understand why. It's been hell seeing Caroline and hearing here talk about how happy you are. I shouldn't have to hear how my best friend is doing through someone else or by reading every article she writes. It just isn't how it's supposed to be."
Several minutes passed and I heard not a single peep further, leading me to wonder if he had left or if he was just standing in the hallway, awaiting a reply. It still floored me that he was here, doing exactly what I had wanted him to do since the night I left him sitting on the rocks. I thought I'd feel satisfied after hearing his plea, but the only thing I could even manage to feel, was whole. Nothing more, nothing less.
It felt like coming home. The unbearable ache was gone.
Registering this, I sprung from my bed and threw open the door, thanking Jesus that he was standing there. Without another thought, my arms encircled his waist, allowing me to cling to him for dear life. After a beat or two, his arms found their way around me, somehow pulling me even closer to him. His familiar cinnamon and warm scent radiated into my nose and his heartbeat pounded loudly into my ears.
"Elena! What happened to you and our cookies, I was dying of hunger," chimed Caroline from somewhere in the house. Still afraid to let Damon go, fearing he'd disappear into thin air, I chose not to answer. If she was truly interested in my whereabouts, she would find me soon enough.
"El-" the blonde began to say angrily, but finished with a gasp instead. "I didn't get the memo you were dropping by," fished Care, staring hard at us, still hugging each other.
"Me either, Caroline," I offered up, laughing a bit.
She smiled sweetly at me but then began death glaring at the older Salvatore brother. "I swear to everliving God, if you pull some stupid shit again, I will cut off your favorite anatomy part, feed it to rabid dogs, and them murder you brutally, all with a smile on my face."
Damon coughed awkwardly, stepping away from me. "I promise I'm not leaving my best friend again, it's too hard."
"That promise better last, or else," threatened Caroline, slightly jumping in Damon's direction with raised fists. He laughed and draped an arm around my shoulders, tugging me into his side.
"Let's watch a movie and eat those cookies Blondie never got. The one I had was quite tasty," Damon said, pushing us down the hallway. He grabbed the plate of cookies and followed us into the living room, plopping down on the couch next to me. A small smile inched my lips up as Bonnie gestured behind Damon, asking what the heck was going on. I mouthed back at her that I'd tell her later.
"So what's on the menu for tonight, kids? Sappy chick-flicks?"
"Yep, you're just in time for The Lucky One," chimed Bonnie enthusiastically. She loved this movie more than she loved my brother, which was saying something. Nicholas Sparks' books were her downfall.
"Eh, not too bad, Kat made me watch it one day with her... not that she even paid attention. She was too busy texting or something, kinda pissed me off." It took every ounce of self restraint I had not to ask why he was with someone like that, who didn't even appreciate the fact that they could have quality time with this amazing man.
Slowly, I sunk into Damon's side, inhaling once again a scent that was uniquely him. I'd loved in high school when he'd lay on my bed for hours with me, watching movies or just talking, because when he left it still was like he was there. I'd slept many a night in his spot, reveling in the comfort I felt by his lingering presence.
The loud slam of the front door jolted me awake. I looked around the room, that was bathed in the light from the DVD menu—everyone was sound asleep. The time on my phone said 1:38. Shit that's late, the guys must be back. Immediately, I tried untangle myself from Caroline's legs and Damon's body; this would look very bad if Ashton saw me pressed into some other guy's side.
Regrettably, I didn't make the escape soon enough and could only smile as the guys walked in. "What's up, how was the bar? I inquired, trying to deter and distract Damon's presence.
"Fun," snorted Jeremy. Stefan chuckled in agreement, but Ashton remained silence.
"I missed you, Ash." I stood and wrapped my arms around him, kissing his chest.
"Doesn't look like it to me. Looks like that guy was giving you everything you needed," he spat.
"That's just Damon, he's my best friend and Stefan's big brother. He's in town on business." I just needed to shut up, I could feel the hole I was in getting deeper with each word.
"Whatever, I'll talk to you tomorrow or something. I'm tired." With that, my boyfriend excused himself out of the room, slamming the door loudly on his way out.
"Hmm, that wasn't very good," mumbled Damon sleepily.
"Thanks for that observation, Sherlock." Great, just what I needed, NOT.