Cannonball

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from The Vampire Diaries.

Yikes so it seems like I'm starting to piss one or two of you off with my many updates for this story and not so many for Feel This Moment, and since you're a Guest reviewer I can't PM you to explain so gonna have to do it here: I apologize for the long updates and I'm not doing it on purpose, I've had a bit of writers block with it to be honest but I think it's getting a little better.

I haven't given up on it, but that's a series of one shots of a sequel that I wasn't even gonna do at first, whereas this is a continuing flowing story so it's easier to continue on from that. I'll try and make the updates more even from now on though as best as I can.

But in the mean time here is another fairly long one for you all!

Enjoy...


October 20th 2012.

Saturday 7:45pm.

Mystic Falls.

"It's Saturday night, what the hell do you mean you don't want to do anything?!" Klaus looks at me in disbelief as he lights up a cigarette from his place on my couch.

"I'm quite happy to chill out here, have a few beers, smoke a few joints, play Xbox with the boys." I motion to the video games that Stefan and Kol are currently competing against each other on, on the edge of their seats as they snipe competitive words back and forth.

"Mate this is simply pre-fun, we need to go find a party, or a club. Get drunk, find some hot girls! I'm not staying here all night!" Klaus tells me firmly. "And neither are you."

"That sounds good to me." Kol joins in our conversation, his eyes glued to my TV screen as his fingers tap furiously against the controller.

"And me actually." Stefan agrees and I groan when I realize I'm now totally outnumbered.

Klaus turns to face me with a smirk and I sigh loudly and mutter under my breath in annoyance. "Fine." I huff.

"Great!" Klaus grins. "Any suggestions?"

"Don't look at me." I mutter unenthusiastic.

"Man what is up with you lately?" Stefan throws his controller down and I realize that their game is finished. "You've been moody for over a week now."

"No I haven't." I scowl at him defensively.

"Yes you have, you're worse than a girl on her period." Kol smirks and I look at him with a cringe.

"Gross."

"He's right though." Klaus joins in and I wonder why the hell I am suddenly being ganged up on tonight. "You've been angry at everyone for no reason, hell you've barely left your apartment except for school or the odd job for Zach! What's wrong with you mate?"

"Nothing is fucking wrong with me!" I snap in frustration, but furthermore, proving their point.

Damn it.

"Ok fine." I sigh giving in. "I'm just a little fed up with school and Zach and everything."

"Which is why we need to go out tonight and unwind!" Klaus tells me enthusiastically. "All you need Damon, is some drinks and a girl and you'll be happy as Larry!"

I cringe as I think about what going out tonight will mean, I have no doubt in my mind that I will have Klaus in my ear pointing out girls to me and Kol will be using his British accent to bring them over to our table or to where we are standing, I then will have them both pushing them onto me and that's when I'd have to work my own magic.

That used to appeal to me. Hell, I used to love it.

Not tonight though.

"What about that club in Castleton? Viva Viva is it called?" Stefan suggests.

"Nah we can't go there, me and Damon are banned." Klaus smirks and I let out a chuckle as I think about it. "Got into a fight with some punk, the bouncer tried to kick us out but Damon decided to lamp him one, soon the owner got involved and Damon also thought it would be a good idea to smack him too! Hell, we had to run for a fucking mile to hide from the cops!" he laughs at the memory of the event that happened about six months ago.

"I have an idea!" Kol smirks almost evilly and we all look at him intrigued. "It's The Grill's reopening tonight, right?" I freeze immediately, knowing about that but it's not exactly somewhere I want to be after the last time I was there.

Memories of the fire cloud my mind and I find myself back to that night, that night that has changed so much in my life. Mostly to do with-

"-Gilbert's birthday so we can crash that." Kol finishes with a grin and I blink, totally not hearing a word he said after spacing out.

"Wait sorry, what?"

Kol rolls his eyes but apparently me spacing out and not paying attention to what is going on has been a regular occurrence lately so he just ignores me and repeats himself. "Not only is it The Grill's grand reopening, but I heard that it's also being used as a celebration for Jeremy Gilbert's birthday so we can crash that."

"Oh can you imagine the look on Grayson's face when we turn up?" Stefan quickly jumps on the idea with a grin of his own.

"And he can't exactly kick us out since The Grill is a public place and it isn't a closed event." Klaus joins in and I inwardly groan, because yet again they are all agreeing on something that I'm not.

"I don't know if that's a good idea..."

"Are you serious? You normally jump at the chance to piss off Detective Gilbert!" Stefan frowns at me. "Seriously brother, are you alright?"

I stay silent because he's right, I normally do jump at the chance to get a reaction out of Grayson, but there is something, or should I say someone who is clouding my judgement these days.

But then another thought takes over me as I realize just who exactly will be there tonight since it's Jeremy's birthday.

Elena.

"Fuck it, ignore me I don't know what I'm thinking! You're right, let's go to The Grill tonight." I grin, feeling oddly satisfied by all the smiles that cross their faces at my agreement.


"Come on Elena, smile." My Mom comes to stand beside me in the packed out Mystic Grill, a fake smile of her own on her lips as she scans the crowd, always more than aware of who might be watching.

Got to keep up our appearances after all.

"It's not like I have anything to smile about." I mutter coldly as I take a sip from my lemonade.

"You're here aren't you?" My Mom snipes at me under her breath, the smile still plastered on her face. "Your Dad wasn't even going to let you come at all! You're still supposed to be grounded."

"You don't need to remind me, you've kept me locked in doors for nearly two weeks now!"

"Well what did you expect after the stunt you pulled? Coming home after 2am without any kind of explanation of where you'd been? Or at least telling us that you were going to be back late! Do you know how worried we were? And then we find out from your teachers that you've been skipping school! This isn't like you, Elena! Add all that up together plus your out of the blue break up with Matt then you can't be surprised about why your father and I want to keep a closer eye on you."

"Matt has nothing to do with it." I hiss. "I'm sorry that I didn't call, I told you that I had lost track of time. And as for the school thing, ok I shouldn't have skipped, but it's not like I did it on purpose to make you and Dad mad at me."

"That's not the point, Elena. Skipping school, breaking hearts? That's not you. For God's sake Elena I overheard Amanda Fell and Carol Lockwood gossiping about you in book club last week! And not the good kind of gossip either."

"Well gee, I'm sorry that I'm causing friction between all your townsfolk gossiping friends at your book club." I roll my eyes.

"You see, this is what I mean, this new snarky attitude of yours." she shakes her head at me disapproving. "This isn't you, Elena."

God if I have to hear one more person tell me that I'm not being me one more time lately then I'm going to scream.

"Now please, it's your brothers birthday, at least try and pretend that you're having fun." she orders me with a hint of anger to her tone before walking away, the fake smile straight back onto her lips.

"Ouch." I jump slightly in fright and turn around to see Mason Lockwood stood beside me with a grin.

I cringe. "How much of that did you hear?"

"Just from the part of you having a new snarky attitude." he grins at me and I let out a small laugh despite myself. "Can't say I've witnessed this new attitude of yours just yet."

"Oh I'm sure if you stick around long enough you'll be on the receiving end, or at least that's what everyone seems to be saying to me these days."

"I'll take the risk." he smirks and I smile and shake my head. "So how have you been? I heard about your break up with Matt."

"The entire town has heard about my break up with Matt." I mutter and my eyes automatically scan the room to where Matt is currently playing pool with Tyler, I notice the smile on his face isn't as wide as it usually is and I feel a pang of guilt knowing that I'm probably the reason for that.

"I know right, I mean, breakups are hard enough without the entire population of Mystic Falls talking about it and throwing in their own thoughts and opinions. Trust me, I know all about that." he smiles softly and I'm reminded back to his fairly recent break up with Katherine.

"Tell me it gets better?"

He lets out an amused chuckle before nodding his head and placing his hand on my arm reassuringly. "It gets better, I promise."

"Mason! How's it going champ?" My Dad interrupts us, eyeing us both with a curious smile on his face.

"Mr Gilbert, good to see you." he shakes my father's hand firmly.

"Oh come on son, you know to call me Grayson by now." My Dad waves him off with a smile and I roll my eyes because he never ever offered Matt to call him Grayson.

In fact, unlike my Mom, my Dad never liked the idea of Matt and I together, simply because of the fact that he wasn't a founding family member. I'm pretty sure if it were up to my Dad I would be dating a Lockwood, most likely Mason, or worse, Tyler.

"Sorry, Grayson. Habit." Mason smiles politely.

"Hey, good game last night." My Dad points out and I sigh and go back to my boredom stage as Mason and my Dad start to talk about football.

My eyes flicker to the door and my heart skips a beat when I see that familiar dark figure walk inside, a devils smirk on his face.

I gulp slightly as his eyes lands on mine and I feel my cheeks reddening and I don't know why.

This is the first time I've seen Damon since that night nearly two weeks ago when we spent the afternoon leading to the night together. The same night that got me grounded.

His eyes stay on my own as he walks towards the bar and I don't even notice if he's alone or not, instead he winks at me, a smirk still on his lips and I bite on my bottom lip nervously.

"Oh great, here comes trouble." I hear Mason hiss out coldly from beside me and I break Damon's gaze just in time to see my Dad turn around, his face immediately hardening.

"Those damn Salvatore's, always turning up where they aren't wanted." he sounds angry and he sure looks it too.

"Can't you kick them out?" Mason offers and I do my best to bite my tongue to stop myself from saying something.

"Unfortunately not son, this isn't a private party I'm afraid." My Dad mutters almost bitterly. "Don't worry though, the second they even attempt to cause trouble I'll make sure they are out of those doors."

Again I bite my tongue, because Damon hasn't even done anything, as far as they know he might just be here for some food and to hang out.

But then again, it is Damon.


I frown from my place at the bar as I watch Elena laugh at something that Mason fucking Lockwood is saying and I feel my fists clenching tightly by my sides.

What the fuck is up with that asshole? First Katherine and now Elena? Can't he find girls of his own?

God I hate that guy.

I feel stupid for even coming here, I mean I only came to see Elena because I hadn't seen her since she got grounded over a week ago. I knew I probably wouldn't have really been able to speak to her, but I was hoping for a couple of cheeky smiles when no one was watching or to maybe even share a brief conversation around hidden corners or in the washroom.

But since I've had to stand here for the last 30 minutes as Mason fucking Lockwood stays glued to her side, I know none of that will be happening anytime soon.

Why the hell is Elena bothering to waste her time with him anyway? Surely she can't be interested...

He clearly is.

I frown as Jeremy joins them and they all share smiles and laughs and I'm reminded of how I could never be like that with her. Elena and I would never be able to share laughs with anyone but each other, and even though that appeals to me, a lot, I know that she'll probably feel different.

Why would she not want to be with someone like Mason Lockwood? The Mayor's nephew, one of the star football players, the good guy.

Anyone with eyes can see how much she is enjoying his company right now.

I shake my head and turn away, not bothering to torture myself for any longer and seriously regret showing up here, even if the glares I'd been receiving from Grayson, Jeremy and even Miranda Gilbert did leave me with feelings of satisfaction and amusement.

It's not worth it to see Elena flirting with another guy.

And I don't even want to think about why the hell that bothers me so much tight now so instead I push it out of my mind.

I mean she's single now, right? So essentially, she can flirt whoever the hell she wants.

I don't care.

I don't.

"I need a drink, a real one." I huff to Klaus who is stood beside me chatting to a girl from school, I watch as he grunts a little in annoyance at being interrupted before pulling out a flask from his jacket and pouring a lengthy amount into my then half glass of coke, the extra liquid filling it straight back up to the brim.

Unfortunately being in a small town like Mystic Falls everyone seems to know everyone somehow, therefore fake ID's don't exactly work around here so we have to come up with our own resources.

"Thanks." I mutter before wondering away, deciding to leave Klaus too it, he was clearly looking to hook up with that girl tonight and I didn't want to get in his way.

I walk around the crowded place looking for Stefan or Kol but I can't seem to find either of them and I grumble in annoyance at another reason as to why I just should have stayed home.

"You know, Salvatore, you're not exactly welcome here."

I turn around to see Jeremy Gilbert stood behind me, a glare on his face as he eyes me up and down, a look of disgust and self importance on his face and I just want to wipe it straight off with my fist.

Unfortunately there are too many eyes around for that. So instead I go with a different approach.

"You know, Gilbert, that I really don't give a shit about what you think or say. Ta ta." I hiss back at him coldly and continue walking, not even bothering to stay to try and get a reaction out of him like I normally would.

After scanning the place one more time for my brother, I've noticed that I've finished my drink and head back towards the bar. I'm not even thirsty, but I need something to do to pass the time before I can slip out of here without Klaus asking questions.

I stand at the bar as I wait to be served, but turn my head when I see Elena stood just a few feet down from me and I don't think she's spotted me yet. I side step until we are almost stood shoulder to shoulder, knowing that it's a risky move but hopefully we'll get away with it.

"You and Mason Lockwood huh?" I question simply, trying my best to keep my voice neutral.

"Damon," she says her name with a warning tone and I watch as she quickly looks around nervously. "You need to walk away, now."

"Why? I'm stood at the bar getting a drink. No law against that is there? I mean you should know, right?"

"Someone will see us." she hisses under her breath, trying to keep her lips from moving as much as to not look like she's talking to me. "My Dad is here!"

"And like I said, I'm not doing anything wrong." I answer back but even I notice the iciness to my tone.

I see Elena frowning from the corner of my eye and I watch as she tries her best not to say anything but just like always, she can't resist and she bites back to my earlier remark. "Me and Mason what?"

"Looked cosy, didn't know he was your type." I try to sound aloof but I'm not sure if it's working.

"Cosy? My type? Whatever you're trying to get at, now isn't exactly the time to do it, Damon." she sounds pissed and I decide it would be best to just drop the subject for now.

"Fine, whatever." I roll my eyes and look down at the wooden bar and suddenly a thought takes over me. "You ok? Being back here since that night..."

"Yeah." she answers and I see the softest and smallest of smiles on her lips from the corner of my eye. "Thanks."

I just shrug and when the barman eventually walks over to our side of the bar I casually order a coke, he hands it to me and I pay him and I stand still for a moment, before noticing the a small vase of flowers on the counter, a handful of red roses placed inside.

I pick it out and sniff it briefly before my eyes scan the room around me to make sure no one is watching.

"Here." I hand it over to Elena before walking away, just briefly catching her surprised reaction as I do so.

I risk a look over my shoulder and watch as she holds the rose between her fingers, a small smile on her lips before she discreetly slips it inside her purse before heading back off towards her friends.

I sigh and turn back around, deciding to just get out of here while I have the chance. Klaus is too preoccupied right now too notice and God only knows where Stefan and Kol have disappeared to.

I walk outside, stopping to light up a cigarette and go to walk home and pass a back alleyway that falls at the back of The Grill, freezing when I see a recognizable figure stood alone in the darkness and I smirk and slowly approach her, throwing my newly lit cig onto the concrete ground.

"What are you doing stood out here all on your lonesome huh?" I keep my tone light as I get closer and watch as she jumps slightly and turns around, her entire body deflating when she sees that it's just me.

Just me.

Mistake number one.

"You scared me." Vicki smirks slightly before lifting up a small packet of cocaine. "You want some?"

"Now where did you get this from?" I ask curiously, taking the packet from her hand and eyeing it. "I haven't sold to you in weeks."

"Yes, and I'm still pissed at you about that by the way." she says but doesn't sound it. "But tonight I'll make an exception." I think back to all those weeks ago when I told her that I wouldn't deal to her anymore until she paid up. Honestly, it totally slipped from my mind since she never bothered me again to try and buy some.

Now I know why.

"Whose your dealer?" I ask, ignoring her statement.

"None of your business." her tone ices up now and I look back at the white powder and eye it up.

"This isn't from Zach, is it?"

"No."

"Then who?" I ask, taking a step forward. "You should know by now that you only go to one person in this town." I say with a threat to my tone and I watch as her entire demur changes from defensiveness to fear. "Who?"

"I...I can't say." she gulps and I let out a cold laugh before grabbing her wrist tightly. "Please Damon! I didn't have a choice, you refused to sell to me unless I paid up and I couldn't afford it! I had to go somewhere else, I'm sorry!"

I grip her wrist even tighter and watch satisfied as she squirms under my intense gaze.

She has no idea that this isn't even about the drugs.

I don't give a crap about who she buys from, that's Zach's problem not mine. I mean sure, I'll let him know that someone else in Mystic Falls is dealing, and I'll even help him find out who if needs be and he asks me too.

But that's not what this is about.

Oh no.

This is about Elena.

And that stupid fucking stunt she pulled in the cafeteria two weeks ago. I certainly haven't forgotten about it, or the way she cruelly humiliated her in front of everyone.

So I let go of her wrist, watching amused as her entire body relaxes with relief.

Mistake number two.

She should know better.

I take just the smallest step back before I lift up the bag of coke in my hands and unseal it, watching as her eyes widen as she susses correctly what I'm about to do.

"No...Damon...please!"

I turn over the packet and watch as all the powder slips from the packet, landing on the ground below us and disappearing into the breeze.

"Oops." I smirk at her and she tenses her jaw angrily, but that reaction totally gives herself away.

Mistake number three.

I pin her against the wall behind her before she even realizes it.

"Damon! Get off me!" She tries to break free but I press my entire body against her firmly so she can't move, one of my hands gripping her arm painfully tight as her other hand attempts to push me off her but I'm too strong. I slip my hand into her right jean pocket, nothing, but then to the left.

Bingo.

I pull out another two packets of the white powder and watch as her head immediately starts to shake, the panic clear.

"Damon I'm sorry! I swear I'll pay you back! I'll only buy from Zach from now on! But please, don't! It's the last of my stash! I don't have anymore and I don't have any money, please!" she pleads with me in desperation, her hands shaking like a true desperate addict.

But all I can see is Elena's face that day in the cafeteria, the hurt, the embarrassment, the shame.

So I split both bags open at once and let the powder fall, Vicki goes for me then, her hand slaps across my face, her nails clawing into my skin as she lashes out.

"YOU BASTARD!" she screams at me but I quickly collect myself and grab both of her wrists again and slam her back against the wall with a thud, and I watch as her face scrunches up with pain from the impact.

"Make that a lesson for you, Vicki!" I snarl directly into her face angrily. "Maybe you should be a little nicer to people, huh? Treat people with a bit more respect! Then maybe, just maybe shit like this wouldn't happen!" I push her further against the bricks, watching satisfied as she winces in pain before finally letting her go and taking a giant step back. "You just remember that in the future, ok?" I glare at her before turning around and walking away without looking back.

Revenge is sweet.


"You know, you could always just go over and talk to him?" Caroline comes up beside me as I stand alone, again, in The Grill just waiting for this party to end.

"To who?" I ask confused as to who she is talking about.

"Matt." Caroline says in a duh tone. "You are stood here all alone looking absolutely miserable and we all know why." she smiles slightly and I do my best to hold in my laugh.

We all know why? Oh no, you all certainly don't.

In fact, the only similarity between Matt and the person I am really thinking about is the fact that they both have blue eyes, and even then it's the wrong shade, the wrong tone.

The wrong guy.

"Matt and I are over, Caroline." I tell her with a fed up sigh because they all think that my disappearing act the other week is a cry for help, or some sort of post-break-up funk.

It's not.

There was nothing sinister or sad, or depressive about me skipping school and then missing my curfew. Damon offered me a way to escape from my life, I took it, twice, and then I lost track of time because we were having fun.

It's that simple.

It's just a shame that I can't explain that to everyone and I realize that I can no longer face standing here around all these people, putting on an act.

Pretending.

"I'm gonna go."

"Elena." Caroline looks at me sadly. "Come on, we haven't seen you properly since you got grounded! This party was our perfect excuse."

"I'm only grounded for a couple more days, Care, I'll see you at the start of the next week, ok? If you see my parents or Jeremy tell them I wasn't feeling well so I went home."

"Ok, fine. If that's what you want." she sounds disappointed but it doesn't seem to faze me as much as it usually would have.

"It is." I send her a smile for good measure. "I'll see you on Monday." I push my way out of the crowded bar and step outside, shivering slightly as the late October weather immediately nips at my skin.

I wrap my arms around myself and shiver again, cursing myself for not bringing a jacket and wearing a skirt but at least I don't have far to walk. I start to move, but immediately come to a halt when I hear someone screaming in the distance.

"YOU BASTARD!"

I still and turn around, unsure of whether or not to follow the sound or to keep on walking. I make the decision to slowly follow the voice, and I walk back hesitantly and warily to the back of The Grill and stop in the dark shadows when I see Damon walking in my direction, and when I look over his shoulder I'm surprised to find Vicki Donovan hitting the bricked wall behind her angrily, sobs escaping her lips as she looks around in some kind of desperation.

What the hell is going on there?

Damon gets closer and I quickly move around The Grill back to the front to hide out of sight but it's too late.

"Elena?"

I still and turn back around, just as Damon rounds the bend and comes face to face with me, a wary expression on his face. "What are you doing?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing." I eye him up and down unsure of what I just witnessed and that's when I notice the blood. "You're face..."

He frowns confused before lifting his hand and pressing his finger against the scratches on his cheek and winces slightly. "Ah that bitch."

"What were you doing to her, Damon? I heard her screaming at you." I eye him with suspicion, but for some reason, despite what I just witnessed, despite the state he has seemed to have left Vicki in, I don't feel scared.

"I didn't do anything," he defends himself immediately. "I'm the one with the cuts on my face, that bitch is crazy!" he rolls his eyes.

"Well clearly she hit you for a reason?" I push and watch as he lets out a loud sigh before shrugging.

"She hurt you, so I hurt her back." my eyes widen at his words but he continues with a smirk. "She's an addict, so I hit her where it really hurt and threw away the last of her drugs, ergo, me getting a nice slap to the face."

I blink once, twice, three times, as I try to process what he is telling me. "You did that because of what happened the other week?" I ask slowly, the shock evident in my voice.

"Yeah." he says simply like it's no big deal, like I shouldn't even be questioning it. Like this is normal. "She was a bitch to you, she humiliated you. She deserved it." he states before looking around and it's then that I realize that anyone could walk out and see us stood here at any moment. "What are you doing out here anyway? And talking to me no less, we are in public after all." he widens his eyes at me slightly in mocking and I scowl, knowing that he doesn't want to get caught just as much as me, he's just better at hiding it.

"I'm going home." I state.

"Oh? Ditching your brothers birthday early? You are on a roll for being the best sister ever." I roll my eyes at his reply and turn around to keep walking, hiding the smirk from my face as I feel him follow me.

"I'm probably doing him a favor, I'm not being the most fun sister in the world lately." I admit.

"No pity parties here Gilbert." I hear the smirk in his voice and I turn my head over my shoulder to glare at him as he continues to walk a few steps behind me. "Besides, you looked like you were having fun, you and Mason."

I groan. "Oh God, please don't do this again."

"Do what?" he sounds innocent but I know that he is anything but. "I'm just going by what I'm seeing, Elena."

"Well clearly you need to get your eyes tested because there is no me and Mason."

"Hmm."

I roll my eyes and ignore him, knowing that no matter what I say about this he is always going to have something to say back to me.

He always does.

So I keep walking, and I still feel him just a few feet behind me, matching my pace and I don't even question it.

In fact, it's actually kind of nice.

Eventually though we reach my house and I sigh and stop outside, looking as it stands lifeless and dark, a clear sign that there is no one home.

"Thanks for stalking me home." I turn to face Damon who is leaning against a tree a few feet down the road, a smile on my face that I don't even bother to fight.

He shrugs, half a smile on his face as the glow from the street light shines down onto him, lighting up his eyes.

"You're welcome." he says simply, the smile not leaving his lips.

I nod my head and walk up the small pathway to my porch before I stop and turn back around, Damon still stood in the same spot watching me.

I look back briefly at my dark empty house before turning back to face him again, an idea crossing my mind.

A very dangerous one.

"Damon?" I call out to him and watch as he leans up off the tree and makes just one step forward. "Do you want to come inside?"

His eyes light up surprised and he looks around carefully before closing the distance between us, a smirk on his lips as his body stands close to mine.

"I thought you'd never ask." he grins before pushing past me and I let out a small laugh before catching up to him and unlocking the door.

"So...this is what Detective Gilbert's house looks like huh?" he looks around my hallway once I turn the light on, and I watch as he takes a few steps forward and peeks into the living room. "Hmm." he muses, an amused look on his face as he turns back to face me. "Am I the first Salvatore to ever step foot onto this holy ground? I mean, surely I am breaking the biggest rule of all."

"No, the biggest rule of all that you broke was sleeping with me." the words come out before I even think about it and I watch as a surprised look crosses Damon's face and I immediately feel myself blush, however he quickly recovers and the smirk is back.

"I knew you were a bad girl all along, Gilbert." he winks at me, breaking the short tension that overtook us just there at my mention of our history.

"Whatever, come on!" I grab his hand and pull him up the stairs and into my room, rolling my eyes yet again as Damon looks around with an amused grin before throwing himself onto my bed, picking up my teddy bear, which I am now feeling extremely embarrassed about leaving it there, and placing it on his lap.

I have to say, it's a sight I'd never ever though I'd see.

"So what happens if your parents come back and I'm still here?" Damon questions me and I frown because I actually haven't thought that far ahead, I turn my head and eye my window before turning back to Damon, he must note what I was looking at and his eyes immediately widen. "Nah uh, no way! We're on the second floor!"

"There's a trellis that goes down the side of the wall!" I laugh. "I've climbed down it loads of times, don't be a scaredy cat!"

"Pfft!" Damon scoffs. "I am anything but scared! I'm not scared of anything."

"Right, well then you'll have no problem then." I grin. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom, I'll be right back."

He nods and I walk into my connecting bathroom and quickly relieve my bladder before standing before the mirror.

Damon Salvatore is in my bedroom.

Damon Salvatore is in my bedroom.

This is the biggest risk I have ever taken with him except for the first time we slept together.

I pour some cold water into my hands and splash it against my face as I think about what this all means.

"Pull yourself together." I whisper to myself firmly, feeling my hands shake and the butterflies erupting in my stomach. "It's just Damon." my heart pounds against my chest as I close my eyes and give myself a few minutes to calm down.

I take a deep breath, give myself the once over in the mirror and run my fingers through my wavy hair before letting out another breath and walking back over to the door, knowing that I have been in here a questionable amount of time already, and God knows what he's been doing in my room all this time alone and left to his own devices, hell, he's probably already found my underwear drawer.

"There you are, I thought you got lost or something." he smirks at me as I walk back into my bedroom, and I notice that he is now sat on the edge of my bed.

"Lost in my own house?" I ask amused, tentatively taking a seat beside him.

"Well, it is you." he teases and pats my leg with his hand jokingly, however after the second pat his hand stills and I feel my breathing quicken up as it slowly starts to trace up and down on my bare skin, stopping as he reaches the hem of my skirt.

"Damon..." I breathe his name out, unsure of whether it's a warning for him to stop or to continue.

I'm not entirely sure.

"I missed you." he states simply, his hand now resting still on my bare thigh, his fingers setting my entire body alight.

"I missed you too." the words leave my mouth like I'm on auto-pilot, but I mean them, of course I do, but all I can think about right now is Damon's hand on my thigh.

"You surprised me." he continues. "I never thought I'd miss..." he trails off before starting again. "I've never...I mean..."

"I know." I finish for him with a smile of my own.

Because I do.

There are no words to explain this.

He turns his head to face me and I turn mine too and I hold in a gasp as his intense blue eyes gaze into my own.

"Seeing you tonight with Mason," he begins. "It pissed me off, I hated seeing the way he looked at you, the way he smiled at you." his hand starts to grip my thigh. "It should never have been him, he should know not to look at you like that and-" I go to cut him off but he stops me. "I know, I know, it wasn't returned, but I still hated every single second of it, Elena." he shakes his head and I stay silent. "No one should be able to look at you like that, no one else but me."

My mouth is dry and I have no words, I don't know what to say but then Damon speaks again, his voice so deep and low.

"I think you're ready." he murmurs quietly, his eyes gazing into mine and my cheeks continue to heat up.

"Ready for what?" I breathe out nervously, in barely a whisper, my eyes flickering down to his lips.

"For my request." he states and my mind is briefly drawn back to the bet we made those couple of weeks ago.

"And I have to do it, right?" I ask even though I already know the answer. He nods his head, his hand still gripping my thigh, his fingers digging into my skin. "And if I don't?"

"You will." his lips twitch like they want to smile but he doesn't let them.

"So then what is it?" I feel like I can barely breathe, the air is so thick with tension and I swallow hard as he dips his head so our foreheads are touching.

"You have to kiss me." he whispers and I blink and let out a shaky breath at his request but his lips are so close to mine right now I know I wouldn't have been able to resist even if I wanted too.

So I take the plunge and lean my head ever so slightly forward, my lips pressing against his before I can chicken out.

It's different to any other kiss that we have shared before.

It's soft, and slow, and tender and gentle.

His other hand wraps around my waist and I feel my left hand land on his chest and I moan against his mouth as he starts to deepen the kiss, my lips parting as he slides his tongue across mine and soon the gentleness is gone. My other hand grips his hair tightly as I kiss him hungrily, my entire body on fire and I gasp and shudder as his hand slides further up my thigh and under my skirt.

I feel his weight press against me as I fall backwards onto the bed and our lips part for just a moment as he climbs on top of me. Immediately I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his lips back down against mine, suddenly feeling like I've just found water after being lost for years in the desert.

God I have missed his lips, his taste.

One of his hands slide underneath my top and I gasp against his lips, my moans getting lost into his mouth as he kisses me hungrily, slowly trailing his hand over my bra covered breast. I break the kiss and reach down, placing my hands on the hem of my top ready to slip it from me when the sound of the door slamming shut downstairs immediately stops us.

I look up at Damon with wide eyes and quickly jump up, Damon rolling off me quickly and standing up.

"Shit, shit." I mutter frantically as I hear the sound of my mother calling my name. I wasn't expecting anyone to be home so soon. "The window!" I order Damon watching as he silently nods his head before quickly opening it, I hold it open for him as he climbs outside and I know we've just taken a major risk here because all it takes is for a neighbor to look outside to see him.

He climbs down the first two rows and I anxiously look over my shoulder as I hear my Mom call my name again. However he stops and looks back up at me and my eyes widen as he starts to climb back up towards me.

"What are you doing?!" I whisper at him in disbelief. "You need to-" However I am cut off by his lips pressing against mine in a searing kiss and suddenly my mind goes blank and I don't even know what I was protesting for.

I kiss him back slowly, my eyes fluttering shut, and I think we both forget that he is literally hanging off the side of my house right now. However, a knock on my bedroom door pulls us back to reality and I quickly pull away and lean up straight, turning around just in time for my door to open and my Mom to step inside.

"You are home." she lets out a breath that sounds like relief and I frown confused.

"Yeah? Where else would I be...did Caroline not tell you?"

"No she did but..." she trails and my frown increases as I try to hide my nerves from Damon probably still climbing down the side of our house right now. All my Mom has to do is take a few steps forward and to look out of my window to see him. "Never mind." she smiles at me.

"No, what?"

She sighs. "I just thought maybe you'd snuck away to go somewhere."

"I'm grounded, remember." I hit back a little more coldly than I intended and watch as my Mom's smile fades a little.

"I know dear." she sighs. "But your father and I have spoken and we've decided to allow you to attend the pre-Miss Mystic tea party tomorrow."

Great. The one event I thought was worth my entire grounding for to miss, I am now being allowed special circumstances to attend?! It's worse than the real thing! It's a social event for past winners and current contestants as well as all their pushy mothers, to discuss the competition and dresses and for all the past winners to tell us how amazing they are.

It sucks, and I go every year because my Mom won when she was in High School, but I know that this year is going to be even worse now that I am actually old enough to compete.

"Ok." I reply simply, knowing better than to show my disdain. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." she smiles. "Now, I'm going to go take a nice bath and then read a good book in bed. Goodnight dear." she kisses me on the cheek and leaves and I let out a massive sigh of relief before turning back to my window.

I look out to see that Damon has luckily climbed down the trellis unharmed and I'm about to shut the window when I hear a wolf whistle in the distance. I look out and squint my eyes into the darkness and that's when I see Damon stood hidden under another tree across the street.

I can't help the smile that crosses my lips and I feel my cheeks heating up as he sends me a wave. I wave back, the butterflies continuing to erupt in my stomach.

And I know that no matter the risk of whatever the hell we have just started tonight will bring for us, no matter how dangerous it is, no matter how much trouble we will be in if we get caught.

No matter what.

It will be worth it.


Finally huh? ;)

Thanks for reading! Hope you all liked it. Didn't have time to personally respond to reviews for the last chapter but I'll see how this one goes!

Until next time :)