Sorry for the slight delay in this chapter, have an assessment coming up at uni and it's taking it's toll. Portfolio's are awful things. That said it's not that late, and this is my procrastination in the form of your entertainment; I hope it's worth it :)

Anyway, here goes

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The Mystic Bar and Grill was crowded that Saturday night. I put it down to luck that we'd arrived just as a family were leaving and so managed to get a reasonably big booth to the side of the restaurant for the three of us.

It was quite amusing to me how utterly in awe they were of the small town, being so moulded by the city that we grew up in. I suppose it was just like how I was when I first got here, but they seemed to find it hilarious how well adapted to it I now was. They kept teasing about the change and I played along to keep them happy, laughing at it myself. Even the perfectly sized mountain of burger and chips we ordered were a source of hilarity though you could find the exact same in the diner across the street from my apartment back in the city. I think we were all a little drunk…or perhaps it was just the excitement of being all together again after what felt like years. It had been far too long, of that I had no doubt.

They were just telling me about some more drama in the city when suddenly a voice half yelled, half sang my name and, my head snapping in the direction of the sound, I was met with a blur of blonde hair and a massive grin as I was dragged into a hug. Laughing at her everlasting enthusiasm, I greeted my newer friend in kind, "Heya Care,"

"Len-Len, you have friends?!"

Apparently we weren't the only tipsy ones here. Glancing at the other two, I relented, "Yeah this is Lexi and Rose, they're from New York. Guys this is Caroline, from here."

They exchanged the usual friendly greetings before the waiting got too much for the blonde and she gave up holding it in, "Okay I don't want to interrupt your dinner slash reunion thing but Lennie you need to tell me what happened last night."

Eyes widening, I shifted over on the bench to allow her room to sit down next to me, "What do you mean what happened? We went to that party-"

She waved her hand to cut me off and a smile grew at the corner of my mouth at her frustrated impatience, "No I mean after you left! Early...might I add."

Hesitating for a second, I could feel the other two's eyes burning into the side of my face, holding back laughter as I thought of what was the best thing to say. I guess they sort of knew the truth so lying wouldn't quite be an option, "I went home…Mason was a jerk and I was kinda tired." If I told her the truth she'd erupt into squeals and draw loads of attention and no doubt blow it all out of proportion. I wasn't lying per se...just...withholding some of the truth...

I'd tell her next time I see her.

"How did you get back?"

Oh, that look in her eyes…she already knew how I got home...So I spoke in an exhale, biting back my smile and filling my tone with exasperation, "Damon drove me, as you clearly already know. Stop being sneaky Care, nothing happened." Well…nothing really.

My attempts to hide a smile gave me away in seconds and…yep, there was the scream. More of a squeal, "Oh my god you two are so cute! You have to tell me everything! But not right now, you guys are having dinner." She said, standing up, doing a little dance of excitement as we all laughed, "Call me!" And off she went.

Looking back to the other two, I gave a shrug, motioning towards the retreating figure, "Caroline Forbes…what can I say? She's more excitable than Lexi on sugar."

Rose was the first to speak, a grin on her face as she nudged my arm with hers, "Naw, antisocial Lennie has friends."

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We ended up going on something like a mini-road trip the next day; their things all packed in the boot with plans to head in the direction of Richmond where they could catch their train back to the city. Deciding to make a day of it, we had playlists aplenty, food in abundance and the windows wide open, catching the cool wind of the sunniest sky I'd seen in months, albeit a cold one.

Completely lost somewhere in the depths of Virginia, we were having a fabulous time; speeding down the deserted, wide open roads with everything from Busted to Scroobius Pip blasting out the windows, singing along at the top of our voices and dancing as we went. I think it was a good thing there was no one else around; we could have caused some serious damage to their poor eardrums. But we used to do this all the time; at least twice a year…sometimes you just needed to get out of the city and let loose a little. To get away from the drama...the rumours and the gossips.

Winding up in some dead end town in the middle of nowhere, we found the most perfect little diner, ordering three milkshakes and some snacks for a clichéd lunch before slipping into one of the red leather booths.

"Hey Len," Lexi piped up, slurping up her strawberry milkshake through the straw before continuing thoughtfully, "Have you heard anything from Jeremy recently?"

Not answering for a moment, I ate another chip before shaking my head slowly, swallowing, then speaking, "No…you know what we're like though; we don't talk a lot."

I haven't told you about Jeremy yet. That's bad of me, because he's one of the most important people in my life without the shadow of a doubt. He's my older brother, twenty years old. Three years ago he'd joined the army…I still couldn't be sure if it was a decision based on being something that he wanted to do or simply to piss of my parents who wanted him to follow in their footsteps and become either a lawyer or a politician (something for them to boast to their friends about); god knows I wouldn't be able to meet their expectations. I couldn't say I loved the decision but it suited him; that lifestyle…he enjoyed it. That wasn't to say I didn't worry...

Right now though, he was nearing the end of a fifteen month tour in Afghanistan and, since his last short leave and excluding our Skype calls, I hadn't actually seen him for more than a day in almost a year. It was the longest we'd ever gone without seeing each other (obviously) and, although we tended to not talk weekly or sometimes even monthly, and even when he was here we didn't spend a massive amount of time together...it was a little weird having been so long. I hated it, to tell the truth. We were close, very close, but we didn't always need to see one another all the time, and although it was weird I'd accepted it by now. Besides, they absence makes the heart grow stronger; our usual sibling bickering was rarer and far more intense where it did occur.

That wasn't to say I didn't miss him.

"When's he back?"

Looking up, I didn't even have to think about the answer, "Early December…so not long now."

"Bet you're excited."

Now at that I shouldn't have hesitated, wincing a little before forcing a quiet laugh, "No I am…it's just he's not gonna be happy to see me at all."

They looked confused, but then realisation sunk over Rose's face and her mouth fell open, "You still haven't told him!?"

"I told him I was sick…!" As if it made up for it

Speechless…that's what they were. I know! It was terrible of me, but I knew he'd just come home straight away and he couldn't do that. Hell, he'd probably go MIA and just imagine what that'd do to his reputation. No, I didn't tell him the things that I should have told him. Besides, it wasn't entirely my decision not to share the information; our parents had started it.

"You didn't tell him it was cancer?! Oh my god Elena he's your brother!"

Rolling my eyes at the reaction, I rushed on, "I had my reasons! My parents started it; I just never mentioned the 'c' word when we spoke…it wasn't really a conscious decision. I did tell him that I was sick though, and that I was getting treatment and all that, he knew it was worse than your average illness but no I didn't mention the word 'cancer'. You know him; you know he'd have come home straight away no matter what his...people, said." Generals? Lieutenants? Commanders- whatever they were. I'd never get my head around it all.

"But still-"

"He'll be furious."

Now I couldn't argue with that, giving a guilty shrug, "He'll understand…eventually." I added, seeing the look on Lexi's face, "I also didn't tell him that I left New York, so the reunion isn't exactly going to be a happy one."

"You idiot"

"Complete knob, don't come crying to us when he doesn't talk to you for a month because of it."

Cracking a smile, I looked down in partly sincere remorse, "I take full responsibility for any arguments that we'll have." And there will be arguments, no doubt about it. "But for now, let's just accept my idiocy and enjoy these last few hours before you abandon me again."

"Hey! You're the one who left us!"

"It wasn't by choice!"

"Irrelevant, what do ya say about buying a cheesecake for the road?" Lexi suggested, eyes glued to the tasty desert on the other side of the glass display a few metres away.

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Mystic Falls was an hour's drive from Richmond if you didn't run into traffic. The road was mostly straight, until you got to the state capital, but all in all it was a pretty pleasant drive. Of course getting there (from wherever we'd been) seemed to pass in seconds with the company and atmosphere, even though we went on a six hour detour.

The hour back seemed to last forever.

When I first moved here it was so sudden and didn't seem so permanent so I guess I didn't really think I would need to miss my friends. Naturally it was a bit of a shock when I realised that I would but it was never so bad…I wasn't really that type of person. But having seen them again, I think I'd be having withdrawals.

Parking outside my building, I got all the way to the main door when my phone buzzed to alert me to a text from Caroline, informing me that she had three types of Ben & Jerry's and films to be watched if I came over then. Translation? She wanted to know what happened. Tired or no, it was a much more tempting offer than going up to that freezing apartment on my own…but then again I didn't really want to drive again. Compromise? I decided to walk the twenty minute journey instead.

Finally arriving, I reached her front door just as her mum was leaving, smiling as she saw me and held open the door, "Elena, nice to see you."

"Hiya Sheriff," I said with a smile, using the usual term in the town for the post, "How're you?"

She motioned to her uniform, then to the squad car in the drive, "Night shift, it's as good as it sounds." Laughing with her, I glanced indoors to the hallway for a second, "She's up in her room, help yourself to the kitchen."

Saying thanks and exchanging goodbyes, I made my way inside and towards the kitchen. Having spent such a considerable amount of time here already, I knew my way around the various cupboards pretty well so it didn't take me any longer than it would at my own house to make two mugs of tea. Heading through the large bungalow with the drinks in tow, I used my foot to open her door, "Heya."

"Ooh tea!"

Rolling my eyes with a quiet laugh, I passed her the mug and kicked off my converses before settling down on her bed, folding my legs under me and taking a sip. "Hello to you too."

She giggled…literally, "'Ello, 'ello," she said in what could only be described as a poor attempt at a cockney accent, "How was ya road trip?"

Sinking back into the pillows and headboard as she continued painting her toenails on the chaise type chair at the end of the bed, "It was good, really nice to see them again. We got so lost though."

"You say it like that's possible. With an iPhone and internet connection it's impossible to get lost."

Laughing at the sad truth of the comment, I took another gulp of the tea, "What did you do today?"

She looked up at me, raising an eyebrow in a pointed way that made me know I wasn't going to get around this, "Stop trying to side-track me! Tell me what happened on Friday and in return I'll tell you all about my comparatively uneventful weekend."

Grinning at her words, I shrugged, "I told you what happened, he drove me home…" hesitating, she gave me a look to carry on, "Fine, he came inside." Her eyes shot wide and I rushed on as if I needed to explain myself, "It was late, I made him coffee so he didn't crash on the way home but…"

"But…?! I can't believe you invited Damon Salvatore into your house. Why but?" She was hanging on to my every word, eyes wide and sitting up straight, nail polish forgotten, waiting for the big reveal.

I decided to go backwards, biting my lip as my nerves started to grow, "I didn't sleep with him. I promise you, we didn't-"

"Oh my god-"

"-He did stay over but we didn't do that-"

"Oh my god!"

"And he slept on the couch!" Ignoring her with her mouth hanging open, I thought about that, revising it, "Well, he did at first, but then he moved into my room…I didn't tell him too! And we didn't-"

"You slut!"

"Care!"

The grin on her face ruined any sincerity in her offences, "I knew this was going to happen; as soon as you said you were going together. It's so…Damon Salvatore."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She rolled her eyes, shrugging one shoulder though clearly still excited about the news, "Just that the boys a sly bastard."

Narrowing my eyes, I thought on that for a moment, "You mean you think he knew what would happen…?"

"No...no I mean I think he knew what he wanted to happen. I think he knows that you like him and I think he knows how to act to get what he wants because no matter how he behaves or what he does everyone in this town knows he's an asshole. He treats girls like dirt. I think either he likes you enough to treat you with some respect, because he does treat you with respect...or he just really wants to get in your pants."

I had to say I was almost surprised by her explanation. I mean, of course I knew he wasn't the nicest guy to a lot of girls…when we first met I very nearly hated him but it had changed, as you know. But I suppose at the same time I should have those doubts, because maybe it was all just a façade to get laid. Maybe he was just all about the chase…what a cliché. But the fact remained that I did like him…

"It won't happen again." The promise left my mouth before I could stop it, or so much as think about it even. I wondered how long it would last.

She gave me one of those looks, bordering on pity because she knew exactly what was going on, "Honestly I think he likes you. I won't promise anything because it is Damon Salvatore we're talking about but I've known him a long time and I've never seen him treat a girl like he treats you before. Don't be too pessimistic."

Well that would be difficult after you've said that… "It probably wasn't anything," I said without thinking, finding myself making excuses, "We'll just see, I don't have any expectations."

She raised a disbelieving eyebrow and I tried to commit to the thought, "But you like him, it's obvious, and you've admitted it."

"I've liked people before," Not entirely true. Well it was, but it wasn't the same. "It's no big deal. Now let's watch this movie! Enough boy talk unless you've got something to say about Klaus."

"He's so hot-"

"-Movie."

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Ooh did you see that coming? Don't get mad at me; it can't all be easy

Hope you enjoyed it and please review!

Thanks for reading

M