Any Other World

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

Hey guys, sorry for the slight delay with this chapter! Hope you enjoy it and big big thank you to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter! I really appreciate it!

As soon as I see the cop car parked on the edge of the driveway I know that I'm in serious trouble.

My head hurts, and my stomach is squeamish and all I want to do is go straight to bed but I know that's not going to be possible. I run my fingers through my messy hair and make a slow walk up the long pathway that leads to their front door.

I unlock it and slowly creep inside. Before I can even close the door Isobel rushes into the hallway and her shoulders deflate in relief when she sees me.

"Elena!" Her arms are wrapped around me tightly. "Thank God!" I reluctantly hug her back but quickly pull away. Her eyes are red and heavy, she looks tired and I immediately feel guilty for causing this.

I wasn't supposed to be gone all night but obviously things escalated a lot further than originally excepted when I turned up at the old courts and found Damon sitting alone nursing a bottle of whiskey.

"Where the hell have you been? We have been so worried! Why didn't you answer your phone when we called? Are you okay? Did something happen?" She asks me a billion questions in one and I look over her shoulder to see a lady in uniform watching us.

"I'm fine." I take a step back. "I'm sorry I…I just…I lost track of time and…I'm sorry." I glance at the police officer and she must sense my nerves because she slowly approaches us.

"I'm just glad you're home safe, Elena." She smiles gently at me and I can't help but wonder why she looks so familiar.

"Thank you Sheriff Forbes, we are really sorry to waste your time like this." John appears out of nowhere and his eyes are cold and angry. I tense immediately.

Sheriff Forbes – crap, that's Caroline's Mom.

"It's okay John, I'm just happy she's home safe." She presses her hand against my arm before smiling at Isobel. "I'll see you at book club on Tuesday?" Isobel nods silently and the Sheriff excuses herself and leaves the house.

The silence that is left is brimming with tension.

"Where the hell have you been?" John speaks up first, his voice is cold and harsh and I jump, startled by his tone.

"John…" Isobel tries to calm him down but he doesn't listen.

"Do you have any idea how many people we have out looking for you? Katherine told us she last saw you at the pep rally but some people went to a party at The Falls afterwards, we were terrified in case you were one of them and had fallen in the water and drowned!" His voice rises with every word and I cringe guiltily.

In hindsight, maybe even a text to Katherine might have been better than nothing at all.

"I'm sorry…I just…I went for a walk and I sat down and I must have fell asleep because when I woke up it was daylight and my battery was dead on my phone…" the lie falls out of my lips a lot easier than I thought it would. Isobel looks at me sympathetically but John still looks furious. "I didn't mean for it to happen." It's a terrible excuse, it's almost laughable, but one of the perks of being an orphan means sometimes people will just accept what you say with no other explanation.

Isobel nods in understanding, her hand reaching out to rub my arm soothingly.

"Well you're grounded." John interrupts her actions and orders me sternly. My jaw drops.

"John…"

"No Isobel, she is living under our house now and she has to live under our rules."

I want to argue that their own daughter isn't exactly perfect. I want to argue that she sneaks out of the house all of the time, that she even sneaks boys into her bedroom. However as tempting as that may be, I know it will cause a lot more trouble than necessary, plus the last thing I want to do right now is piss off Katherine even more.

Especially if she finds out I just slept with her ex-boyfriend.

"Go to your room, Elena." John sighs and shakes his head somewhat tiredly. I want to argue with him that I'm not a child and he should stop treating me like one.

He is not my father.

However I am exhausted, and I am not going to stay down here for another second longer than necessary.

Katherine's door is shut when I walk up the stairs, thank god, because the last thing I want to do is run into her right now.

I quickly change out of my clothes, closing my curtains to block out as much sunlight as possible before crashing onto my bed.

I pull the quilt over me and take a deep breath before it finally sinks in.

I just had sex with Damon Salvatore.

I take a deep breath as I stand outside of the staff entrance. I finish my cigarette before throwing it down on to the floor and stubbing it out. I check my watch, I'm five minutes late even though I've been standing out here for ten.

I know the second I walk in there I am going to met with pity stares and I don't know if I can handle it.

I didn't want to come back, but money is tight, especially since we had to cover the costs for Stefan's funeral. My Dad isn't going to get a job anytime soon so someone has to bring some money in.

I take another deep breath and push the door open stepping inside. Mary spots me straight away, her lips twisting into a sad smile as she approaches me.

"Hey sweetheart, how are you?" She wraps her arms around me in a hug which I awkwardly return.

I will myself to be polite. This is the same woman who was friends with my Mom, the same woman who sneaks the twins free meals and ice cream whenever she can.

"I'm fine, thank you." My voice comes out a lot more politer than even I expected.

"How is your father doing? I have been meaning to drop by to see him."

I tense. "He's coping." I nod slowly. "There's no need for that, but thank you anyway. I will tell him you said hello." I push past her before she can say anything else. I grab my apron and wrap it around my waist.

I walk out of the kitchen door and my manager looks surprised to see me. I nod at him in greeting, hoping to walk past him but he side steps in front of me.

"Damon," he clears his throat. "Good to see you back, son."

I nod silently and he pats my shoulder briefly before letting me go. I make my way to my section and start clearing plates from an empty table. I keep my head low and my eyes down.

I notice a few people from school darted around the restaurant but I manage to avoid them. I can hear the odd whispers and see them staring but I block them out.

That is until Elena Gilbert walks through the door and I freeze.

I haven't seen her since that night a week ago.

I've gone back to the park to see if she would show up but she never did. I swallow and quickly head into the kitchen on the ruse to check if there are any meals ready to take out.

I just pray that when I eventually have to leave that Elena isn't sitting in my section.

After hiding out for far too long, one of the kitchen staff hands me two plates to serve. I take them without argument and don't look anywhere else other than my destination.

When I turn around I almost jump when I see Elena standing beside me. "Hi," she smiles but I can tell that she's nervous.

"Hi," I brush past her and start to wipe down the table beside her. I need a distraction.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here…"

"So you have been avoiding me then?" I look up for a second and her eyes widen shocked.

"No. No…I haven't." She shakes her head. "I got grounded for staying out all night." She explains and I slowly lean up, the table long forgotten.

"Oh yeah? The Gilbert's grounded you?" I ask a little amused. "I find that ironic considering who their daughter is."

"Tell me about it." Elena mutters but then smiles. "Today's my first day out apart from school. I wasn't going to come but I'm glad that I did now."

I return her smile and my eyes unintentionally trail over her body, because now I know what is underneath those clothes and damn if that doesn't make her even more beautiful.

Elena must notice my staring because when my eyes trail back up to her face her cheeks are blushed.

"I finish at nine." I inform her. "Think you could sneak out?"

Her lips twitch. "Considering this is my first day ungrounded I don't think that would be wise."

I take a step closer to her. "For some reason, I don't think you will have a problem with breaking the rules a little bit."

"I guess you'll just have to wait until you finish your shift to find out, huh?" She smirks at me and my smile widens.

"Looks like it, huh?" I brush past her, my fingers gently trailing along her waist discreetly on my way and head back towards the kitchen.

I look over my shoulder to see Elena still watching me with a tiny smile on her face.

"Oh God," Elena shudders underneath me as I thrust in and out of her hard and fast. Her eyes are clenched tightly shut as she orgasms. Her fingernails scratch down my back, no doubt drawing blood, but I don't mind. She shakes beneath me, her body clutched to mine and then I'm coming too.

I crash into the crook of her neck, pressing a sloppy kiss against her skin. I pant breathlessly for a few moments before sliding out of her and rolling onto my back into the grass. It's colder tonight, a lot colder than the last time so we both get dressed quickly.

"You know, I would like to do this in a bed sometime soon." I smirk as Elena pulls her sweatshirt over her head. I lick my lips as she looks over her shoulder at me, her hair messy.

"Invite me over then." She winks at me and I smirk despite knowing that will never happen.

"Or I could sneak into your bedroom." I slide my sneakers onto my feet. "I've had plenty of practice climbing into windows in that house." I see Elena tense and I immediately regret my words. I cringe. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay." Elena replies but I know that it's not. She stands up, pulling up her jeans with her. "Are you still sleeping with her?"

My eyes widen and I gawk at her in disbelief. "No, of course not!"

She shrugs casually. "It would be okay if you were, we aren't exactly exclusive or anything." Her words surprise me.

"Well I'm not, even if we weren't…"I trail off because I'm not quite sure what this is nor do I have the capacity to label it right now either. "You know, whatever, I can't stand Katherine. We're done – for good."

Elena nods, seemingly accepting my answer. "I should go."

"Do you not want to stay and hang out for a little bit?"

" I can't." She shakes her head. "If John and Isobel find out I'm not in my bedroom they will go crazy and I've only just been ungrounded."

I nod slowly. "Okay, fair enough. Do you want me to walk you home?"

She lets out a laugh and shakes her head. "No, it's okay, Damon. I'll manage." And with that she's gone.

I watch her go bemused – wondering for a moment if maybe I am her booty call?

"Where have you been?"

"Jesus Christ!" I nearly fall back out of the window I just climbed into. Katherine is sitting on the edge of my bed, a suspicious look on her face. "What are you doing in here?" I ask her harshly as I close the window behind me.

"What were you doing not in here?" She asks me again and I try to act as blasé as possible.

"Nothing. I was just hanging out with Bonnie."

"That's why you snuck out? To hang out with Bonnie."

"Yup."

"Who's the boy?" She asks again bluntly.

I force a laugh. "There is no boy."

"Right…do you know who you are talking to here?" Katherine stands up and approaches me but I hold my ground.

I will not be intimidated by her.

"Last week you stayed out all night, and don't think I didn't notice that hickey on your neck either." She tells me pointedly and I feel my cheeks redden. "Now tonight you're sneaking in hours after curfew. I know the signs, trust me. Who's the boy?"

"It's no one you know." I push past her and walk towards my closet, pulling out my PJs.

"I know everyone in this town."

"He's not from this town." I turn around. "It's my sort of ex, Liam, back from my old town."

Katherine's eyes widen surprised. "He's in Mystic Falls?"

"No." I shake my head. "I meet him halfway, in some motel he found."

"How do you get there? You don't have a car."

"I get the bus and he picks me up from the stop." I reply, surprised at how confident I sound. I am getting surprisingly good at this whole lying thing. "Don't tell your parents, okay?"

Katherine stares at me long and hard and I swear it feels like she is reading through my soul. However I stand my ground and hold her gaze, refusing to back down.

The alternative of her finding out I'm sleeping with Damon is so much worse.

"Okay." I try not let my relief show. She nods again, "Okay." She repeats before walking right out of my bedroom.

I let out a breath of relief and drop down onto the bed behind me. I blow some air onto my face.

I don't even know what is going on with Damon. I doubt he has any feelings for me. I know that he's just using me as a way to distract him from his brother's death and that's okay with me because I also need the distraction.

I just hope it doesn't end up blowing up in both of our faces.

"Damon, can you come over for a minute sweetheart?" I sigh and slowly make my way to Mrs Stevens who is sitting out on her small porch.

I force a fake smile which I know she sees straight through but she doesn't question it. "Hey, is everything okay? Are the twins okay?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." She pats the wooden bench she is sitting on and I reluctantly take a seat beside her. "They miss their brother, Damon."

I tense. "Yeah well…there's nothing I can do about that."

She shakes her head and slowly takes my hand in hers. I freeze, but I don't pull away, nor do I hold hers back either. "I'm not just talking about Stefan."

I clench my jaw tightly. "I've been working a lot lately."

"Damon, I saw Mary from The Grill tonight and she told me you finished your shift hours ago. They need you to be around, Damon. They've already lost one brother, they can't lose you too."

"I'm not their father."

"No, you're not." She replies sternly. "But you're the best damn thing they have in their life right now and you are pushing them away."

"They are just kids."

"You know that means nothing. They need you. They miss you."

"I just…" I shake my head in annoyance. "Stefan used to look after them a lot…okay…he was better at it than I was."

"Damon," she lets out a small laugh. "You know that is not true. Stefan was amazing with them, we both know that, but we also both know that you are just as amazing with them too. I know it's difficult, I know you're grieving and you have every right to be struggling right now. He wasn't just your brother but he was your twin, you two were a team. He was part of you and now he's gone."

"I don't need you to tell me how I feel." I pull my hand out of her grasp harshly and stand up. "I appreciate your help," I turn to face her, ignoring the hurt look on her face. "I really do. The twins love you and you do so much for us and I can't thank you enough for that but I'm not six years old - I don't need you to look after me."

"Damon…"

"I'm going to bed because I'm exhausted. Don't worry about the twins tomorrow, I'll take them and pick them up from school." I don't turn to see her face, I don't think my conscious can take it so I head back into my trailer without looking back.

I walk through the woods hurriedly as I try for the billionth time to ring Enzo but he's not answering.

I received a text message to tell me to meet him at the spot we used to camp when we were younger in the middle of the woods. He told me it was an 'emergency' but nothing to worry about – whatever that means.

At first I was going to ignore it, but even I'm not that much of an asshole. Mrs Steven's has the twins tonight for a sleepover and I already worked the afternoon shift in The Grill so I'm actually available for once.

Whatever Enzo needs, it better be good!

I mutter in annoyance underneath my breath as I accidentally step into a pile of wet mud, the dirty water splashing against my jeans.

"Great," I grumble as I keep walking. If I remember correctly, I should be here any second.

That's when I hear the voices, and when I finally walk into the clearing after what feels like hours I find Enzo there waiting for me but he's not alone. He's joined by Klaus, Marcel and Kol, as well as two tents…

"What is this?"

"Glad you joined us, mate." Klaus speaks up first with his British drawl. "Took you long enough."

I frown confused and look at Enzo. "Let me guess, there is no emergency?"

He shrugs with a smirk and throws away the cigarette that was previously hanging between his lips. "I had to do something to get you out here." He motions behind him and that's when I see the many crates of beer. "We're camping. You're staying. We have lots of junk food, beer, cigarettes and even some pot. No excuses, I know the twins are being looked after and Kol sweet-talked Mary into telling him you weren't working tomorrow."

"I'm not in the mood for this, Enzo." I sigh loudly.

"Tough shit." He snaps back and I raise my eyebrow at him questionably. "You need your friends right now whether you want us or not. So stop whining like a little bitch and grab yourself a beer."

I stare at him for a moment, the rest of the boys stand tense but don't say anything. After a few more seconds I give in. Enzo smirks as I cross the small clearing and pick up a beer.

Klaus chuckles and taps his bottle against mine and winks. "Welcome back, brother."

"Here," Enzo passes me another beer as we sit on a log at the edge of the clearing. Kol is passed out in his tent and Marcel and Klaus are both completely stoned and attempting to play a card game.

I'm glad I stayed. Enzo was right, I did need this and being surrounded by my friends has made me feel a lot better.

"I think I'm going to go back to school on Monday." The words leave my lips and now I can't take it back. Enzo smiles and taps his bottle against mine.

"Good."

I'm not drunk, but I'm not exactly sober either and now is my only chance to get this off my chest.

"I've been sleeping with a girl who deserves to be more than a fuck-buddy but I think that's all we are." I blurt out and Enzo almost chokes on his drink.

"What?" He looks at me surprised.

I shrug and take a huge swig of my beer before continuing. "We've slept together twice. The first time we were both drunk, the second we were completely sober. Both times were…without sounding like a sappy girl, it was amazing. She is amazing." I stare down at my feet as I think about Elena.

She is beautiful.

"Okay…" Enzo looks at me bemused. "So what's the problem?"

"The problem is my brother just died. The problem is I don't have time for a girlfriend. The problem is she won't ever date me. The problem is I'm not good enough for her."

Enzo stays silent and I shake my head in annoyance.

"She deserves a lot more than to just be a quick fuck, you know?" I cringe slightly because as much as I enjoy having sex with Elena, and trust me, I really really enjoy it, she deserves more than that. "I don't regret sleeping with her but I wish it wasn't so…" I shake my head and let out a dry laugh. "Jesus christ, this is not me talking right now."

"Maybe it is you." Enzo shrugs. "But you know, you're right. You have so much going on in your life right now, not just because of Stefan but everything else too. I'm sure whoever she is she's great but you don't need something else fucking around in that warped mind of yours right now."

I chuckle but nod my head in agreement.

"But I am curious to know who has got you feeling like a thirteen year old girl." He elbows me in the ribs and I groan and shove him back.

"If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay? Not even Bonnie." I warn him because the last thing I want is this getting out. Besides, Elena might have already told Bonnie but I don't want to test that theory out just in case.

"Scouts honour." He holds up his hand and I shake my head with a smile but tell him anyway.

"It's Elena Gilbert."

Enzo's face is a picture. His eyes widen and his jaw drops. "No way!"

"Yes way." I smirk.

"Wow dude, well done she is hot." He smirks and I glare back at him in response. "Calm down, I'm a one woman man you know that."

"So do you see my other dilemma?" I ask him with a cringe and it takes him a moment to realize.

"Shit." He sucks in a breath and looks at me sympathetically. "Katherine."

"Yep, the evil bitch is the bane of my existence yet again." I shake my head in disbelief.

"Well of course the one girl you actually start to have genuine feelings for happens to be related to your psycho, evil ex-girlfriend." He pats me on the back and shakes his head. A sarcastic laugh leaving both of our lips. "Good luck with that one."

"Thanks." I mutter somewhat bitterly.

It's the story of my damn life.

Thanks for reading guys! Hope you liked this one too! Don't forget to review and let me know your thoughts :)

PS how great is it that Nina is coming back for the finale? Fingers crossed it means we get a happy DE ending!

Thanks again!

Until next time!