Hello lovely readers so here's chapter 12! I'm sorry it took me longer to post than expected, I was going to do it yesterday, but it was my birthday and my friend came home from her college to surprise me so I was a little distracted. Anyways, I'm going to post the next chapter in a few days so I won't make you wait so long, and it's pretty much finished anyways so I promising you guys it will only be a few days, but if I get enough reviews maybe it'll be even sooner! Thanks again to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, please don't stop your comments are so great I live for them! Anyways, enjoy chapter 12!


Chapter 12

EPOV

"I'm dying of anticipation I can't believe Miss Mystic is coming up so soon," Caroline squealed excitedly during lunch on Thursday.

"Yeah I'm not really looking forward to it," I said cringing.

"Oh come on Elena it's going to be awesome," she said smiling.

"Yeah because prancing around in some lame dress and doing a moronic dance all to please a bunch uppity housewife judges screams fun," Damon said sarcastically.

"Being named Miss Mystic Falls is one of the highest honors in this town," she said pointedly," and I intend on taking that title."

"Well Care I hope you win," I said with an encouraging smile.

"Barbie isn't your escort gay," Damon asked smirking at her.

"Ugh Jacob Fell isn't gay," she said gawking at him," he's just a little feminine, but he has a girlfriend. I have to have a founding family member on my arm if I want to win, so I don't have much of a choice anyways."

"And Klaus is really okay with that," he asked skeptically.

"Well after enough sexual favors he's fine," she said proudly.

"And now I'm done eating," he said frowning and pushing his lunch tray away.

"Well what about you guys have you planned everything yet," she asked looking between us.

"Well my mom has my dress and his tux," I said shrugging," what else is there to do?"

"Oh my god so much," Caroline said gasping," you have to have an interview outfit ready, plus your speech prepared, and know about your hair and makeup. Plus there's the party on Friday night for all the contestants and their escorts, it's the judges first chance to see you before the actual event."

"Well my mom will handle all that," I said shrugging," and I already know what I'm wearing on for everything."

"So you guys are ready for the dance lessons next week too," she asked with a serious expression on her face.

"I've got moves you've never seen," Damon said smirking and wiggling his eyebrows. The thought of dancing with Damon just reminds me of the way we danced in Colorado, when his hands were all over my body. Although, the traditional Miss Mystic Falls dance doesn't exactly fulfill my fantasy considering half of it is spent not even touching your partner's hands.

"So after the pageant are you guys ending this whole fake relationship thing," she asked looking between us.

"Uh yeah that was the plan," I said with an awkward smile. I hate that we have to end this thing we've had, because truthfully I've really enjoyed it.

"Well I should go," Damon said standing up from the table," I have to get something out of my car."

"That was weird," Caroline said when Damon had walked away.

"What," I asked puzzled.

"Oh please Lena that totally awkward moment between you and Damon when I brought up you guys breaking up or whatever," she said raising her eyebrows at me," one might even say he was upset."

"He's not upset Caroline," I said rolling my eyes," we said from the start that the pageant was the end of our little tryst."

"Uh huh," she said smirking at me.

"What are you thinking Caroline," I asked her with a heavy sigh.

"Okay fine I think that he's hurt about having to end this little fake relationship because he likes you," she said grinning," he wants to be with you, and this is the closest you've come."

"Well I think you're being ridiculous," I said standing up as the bell rang. There's no way Damon actually likes this whole fake relationship enough to not want it to end. Admittedly, I do, but there's no way he does. This is Damon Salvatore we're talking about he doesn't do relationships and he was skeptical about this from the start. There's just no way.

"Elena I need to make sure you're going to be ready for the Miss Mystic contestants party next Friday night," my mom said walking into my room later in the afternoon.

"I know I already told you I picked out a dress and shoes and Damon's already got a suit he can wear," I said sighing. She's been peppering me with Miss Mystic shit since the second she got home from her spa trip, it's ridiculous to try so hard when there's no chance of me even winning. The judges include members of founding families, and they're all aware of my reputation for having difficulty staying out of trouble. Not to mention the fact that my escort is Damon, who isn't exactly an upstanding citizen in their eyes. I'm only entering to get my mom off my back. Truthfully I hope Caroline wins, it really matters to her.

"Okay well we need to go over some of your interview questions," she said walking further into the room.

"Mom I can answer questions about my life I don't need to practice this isn't Miss America they won't be asking me questions about world peace or the problem in Syria," I said annoyed.

"Elena the interview is the most important part," she said astonished at my lack of enthusiasm.

"Mom I can handle it I promise," I said trying not to get angry with her. I really am making an effort to fight with her less, plus she's been popping Xanax and anti-anxiety medication like crazy lately, mainly because of her problems with her and my dad. After that colossal dinner with Ric and Jenna they've fought about anything and everything. Last night during dinner they got into a screaming match about whether or not we should've gone out to eat. It's making being at home worse than it usually is, especially because my mom has thrown herself into all of my Miss Mystic preparations as a distraction.

"Elena I don't think you understand the importance of how you come off in the interview," she said rubbing her temple between her thumb and forefinger.

"Look I get it I just don't think I need to practice talking," I said sighing," all they're going to do is ask me questions about myself, and luckily I've grown up in a family that's taught me how to withhold the truth so I know how to make myself look good."

"Elena that wasn't a nice thing to say," she said crossly.

"It's true though," I said crossing my arms.

"Elena please just humor me," she said with a deep sigh.

"I can't I'm going to Damon's so we can work on our physics homework," I said grabbing my backpack and preparing to leave.

"Elena I wasn't born yesterday," she said rolling her eyes," he's your boyfriend I highly doubt you're going to his apartment to work on homework."

"Actually we are I'm failing physics and he's helping me get my grade up," I said biting my lip nervously.

"Elena you're failing," she said with wide eyes.

"Well hopefully not after Damon helps me," I said annoyed," he's really good at science, he explains it better than the teacher."

"Okay fine but I want you home by 10 it's a school night," she said as her expression softened.

"I promise I won't miss curfew," I said smiling at her and walking out to my car. I drove the short distance to Damon's and walked up to his apartment letting myself in.

DPOV

I'm in my own private hell. At lunch I couldn't stand it any longer, sitting with Elena and listening to her talk about the end of our deal. I don't want to stop being her fake boyfriend, actually I'd like to step it up and be her real boyfriend. It's getting harder and harder to push these feelings aside when I want her so badly. I've been putting on a show for everyone, pretending I just want to be her friend, and I feel like I'm on the verge of snapping. When she walked into my apartment later that afternoon I felt my heart rate go up at the sight of her.

"Hey," I said looking at her from the couch.

"Hey," she said with a small smile as she walked over to sit with me.

"So how's mommy dearest today," I asked trying to make conversation.

"She's losing her mind slowly but surely," she said with a small laugh," but she let me come over, which is a good sign I guess considering she thinks we're dating. At least Miss Mystic is next weekend and then we can go back to our normal lives, no more fake relationship."

"Right," I said with a slightly uncomfortable smile. As far as I can tell she wants nothing more than for this to end, because she doesn't like me like that. It sucks, but there's not much more I can do. I just wish she could understand how I feel.

"Are you okay," she asked me skeptically.

"Yeah I'm fine," I said nodding, but she doesn't look convinced. We started working on our physics assignment, but I can't shake off what she said about finally ending everything. I just want to flash back to Colorado and be the bad guy who took what he wanted, at least then I could've been with her for real one time. Now I'm back to square one, but with my feelings amplified.

"Well you should probably get going," I said around 9 o'clock.

"I don't have to be home until 10," she said confused.

"Well we're done with physics so you should probably get going," I said firmly. I can't be with her any more; I need her to leave before I lose my mind.

"Okay am I missing something," she asked me puzzled," what's wrong Damon?"

"Nothing I just have some stuff to do," I lied.

"Damon I've known you my whole life since when have you ever had stuff to do," she asked me smirking.

"Well I do," I said crossing my arms defiantly.

"This is about Colorado isn't it," she said sadly. Of course she's bringing this up.

"Why would you even think that," I asked in an irritated tone. This is the second time she's brought up Colorado, and I don't get why she thinks I'm mad at her about any of it. Is it really so crazy to think that we'd actually get together?

"Because ever since that night things have changed between us," she said with a sad look on her face," and I know you're mad at me. I knew you would be."

"Elena I'm not mad about Colorado it wasn't your fault," I said trying to make my voice return to a normal volume.

"I was the one who threw myself at you like some kind of desperate whore," she said piteously," you had to physically push me off of you. I know you didn't want anything to happen between us, and you resent me for putting you in that position."

"Elena when is it going to dawn on you that I pushed you away to prevent you from being mad at me," I said raising his voice again," you would've killed me if I took advantage of you like that. I know you know I did the right thing no matter how much it destroyed me. I wanted you so bad, but I decided to be the good guy for once and not take it."

"You don't have to lie to me Damon," she said pleadingly," I know you regret what happened, hell I regret it too. It was wrong, you're my best friend and I shouldn't have thrown myself at you like that. We got caught up in the moment, and I obviously had way too much to drink. I'm okay with the fact that you pushed me away okay, I get it."

"Elena you literally have no idea what you're even saying," I said shaking my head," I did want you, I still do. Every fucking time I look at you I want you. I care about you too much to let you wake up next to me naked and confused like I've done to so many other girls so I pushed you away. Believe it or not I was being a gentleman."

"Oh okay I get it," she said in a condescending tone," so you're totally willing to take some skank, but you couldn't take me because it would've been wrong? That doesn't even make any sense."

"How does it not make sense," I said angrily," like I said Elena I care about you too much to take advantage of you. You could barely even walk that night, you weren't in your right mind, and I realized that you only did that because you were drunk not because you actually liked me. I couldn't do that to you, and frankly I couldn't do that to myself either."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I actually did want it without the alcohol," she said looking into my deep blue eyes. What? There's no way.

"No Elena it didn't," I said irritated," because you've moved from one loser to the other, and I've been here all along. You had me fucking pose as your fake boyfriend, but don't worry because that'll end soon too."

"Oh my god you can't honestly pretend this is my fault," she said furiously," you're the biggest womanizer in this entire fucking city. You've slept with triple the amount of people I have, and you were never afraid to tell me about it. If pretending to be my boyfriend was really so horrible you could've said no, but you didn't. I can't fucking read your mind Damon."

"Don't you get that I can't say no to you Elena," I said throwing my hands up in defeat," god you have me wrapped around your little finger, and I don't even care. Now here you are getting angry with me for doing the right thing, I'm sorry I didn't have sex with you even though you were slobbering drunk and would've regretted it in the morning. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Fuck you Damon," she spat angrily before grabbing her bag and storming out of the apartment. I couldn't even move, I was paralyzed as I watched her leave, and all I could do was stare at the door and pray to god I had been dreaming. Every ounce of hope I have left just walked out that door. When did everything get so fucking complicated? Her words keep playing over and over again in my head, "did it ever occur to you that maybe I actually did want it without the alcohol." Could she really mean that? I suppose at this point it doesn't matter, because she's pissed at me. It's like all these thoughts and feelings are so jumbled between us that they turned into a screaming match.

"I need a drink," I mumbled to myself before walking to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of scotch, and downing it as fast as possible until I was drunk enough to forget about my problems and go to sleep. I woke up late in a shitty mood with a horrible hangover. Then, I went out to my car, which of course didn't start because my life is simply that fucking fabulous. Then there's the fact that the person I would normally call wants me to go fuck myself. Now I have to call Klaus.

"Damon," Klaus said answering his phone confused," why are you calling me in the morning? Did somebody die?"

"Nobody died I need a ride to school my car is out again," I said walking back into my apartment and out of the rain.

"Oh why don't you call Elena she'd get there sooner," he said confused," I mean I don't mind picking you up, but she lives closer."

"We're not really speaking at the moment," I said sighing," it's a long story I just need a ride."

"Ah okay mate I'll be there in 20," he said before hanging up the phone. Depending on Klaus for anything is completely useless, he showed up about 45 minutes later than he said he would, and I walked into physics over halfway through class. Mr. Simon tossed me a dirty look, but it's not like this is my fault. I love my car more than anything in the world; it's my most prized possession, but the fact that it was built over 50 years ago makes it a little difficult sometimes. I remember the day I got it so vividly; Elena helped me pick it out. I had originally wanted a Mustang, but she helped me change my mind. She's not even here today, which I guess is a bit of a relief. I snapped last night, and I knew it was going to happen eventually, I knew there was no way we could go on without ultimately getting into a stupid fight, but last night was way worse than I ever imagined. We both said horrible things, and yet here I am still thinking about her, still loving her.

"Hey Salvatore," Caroline said pulling me from my thoughts during chemistry," aren't you going to set up the Bunsen burner? That's the only thing I ask of you in this partnership."

"Right sorry," I said getting the burner, hooking it up, and lighting it.

"You look like hell you know," she said as she held the metal over the flame.

"I didn't ask Barbie," I spat angrily.

"Maybe not but you still look like hell," she said narrowing her eyes at me," let me guess. You were upset about your fight with Elena and you spent the night with a bottle of booze, huh?"

"How the hell would you know about Elena and I," I asked her irritated.

"She told me Sherlock," she said rolling her eyes.

"Elena isn't even here today," I said confused.

"Yes she is," she said glaring at me," she missed her first two classes because she was up all night crying herself to sleep because of you."

"You need to stop being so damn nosey," I said as I wrote down the chemical reaction on my paper.

"I'm not being nosey I just care about my friend okay," she said sighing. For the first time I actually understand Caroline Forbes, I see that she does really care about Elena. For once I actually understand where she's coming from.

"Did she really cry herself to sleep," I asked sadly after a long pause in the conversation.

"Yeah she's a wreck not that you care," she said as she mixed a chemical solution," and if you tell her I told you that I will literally kill you Salvatore."

"I won't say anything," I said running my hand through my hair," but don't fucking judge me, you weren't there, and I get that you care about Elena, but this really is something you'll never understand. This is between her and I, and you can do whatever girly shit you need to make her feel better when you're with her, but don't talk shit to my face when you don't know what you're talking about."

"Okay fine I'm sorry," she said with a huffy breath," I just want to make sure Elena's happy, that's why I got involved."

"Look Barbie just mind your own business," I said effectively ending the conversation. I know I'm being harsh and Caroline does mean well, but I'm just not in the mood for this shit right now.

EPOV

The second I walked through my front door Friday afternoon I breathed a sigh of relief. I was up most of the night crying over my fight with Damon, and then I was late to school and Mr. Simon assigned me after-school detention for missing class because he hates me so much. I just want to crawl into bed and forget about everything. I hate fighting with Damon, and it's something that we rarely do. Usually we have stupid disagreements that we get over in a matter of minutes, but our argument last night was different. I feel like complete shit, and I wish it had never happened. I suppose after Colorado and the lingering sexual tension between us something was bound to happen, I just didn't expect it to be so dramatic and severe. I think this is the first time I've gone a whole school day without talking to him since kindergarten, and I didn't like it at all. He's my person, I don't want him to be angry with me, and I don't want to have to get through life without him because I don't think I could if I tried.

"Hey Jer I'm home," I called out when I made it to the top of the stairs, but the house was silent.

"Is anyone home," I called out from the top of the banister, but the only sounds were the light pattering of raindrops coming from outside. Since I had to stay an hour late for detention my mom picked Jeremy up, but they should be home by now. Too tired to worry about it I slowly made my way to my bedroom changing into sweats and a hoodie and crawling into my comfortable bed before falling asleep instantly.

When I woke up in the early evening I had a bunch of texts from Caroline begging me to go to Klaus' for a party, but I'm not in the mood to socialize so I said no. She responded informing me that Damon wasn't going either, and I have to admit it's slightly comforting knowing he's obviously upset about our fight too. Everything he said to me keeps replaying over and over again. He told me that he wanted me, he basically admitted to having feelings for me, so why did I get so angry? I have feelings for him too, I want him, and I liked our fake relationship because I got to kiss him and be with him and it made me realize how much I really want that to be a constant part of my life. The problem is that I'm scared. I'm afraid that if we take that step it'll ruin everything. What if we end up being the worst couple ever and then I don't have him as a friend anymore? I couldn't take that, but then again what's life without a little risk? I know I was unreasonable last night, and I said things I didn't mean.

"Oh Ms. Elena I'm sorry," Gloria, our maid, said walking into my bedroom," I didn't realize you were home I was coming up to get your laundry."

"Oh that's okay," I said with a polite smile as she walked towards my hamper," have you seen my mom or Jeremy?"

"No she was supposed to come home after she picked up your brother but they never did," she said with a confused expression on her face.

"Oh I'm kind of worried," I said frowning.

"I'm sure they're fine sweetheart," she said with a warm smile before leaving my room and making her way down the stairs. It's really strange that Jeremy and my mom aren't home yet, even if they stopped somewhere it wouldn't take this long, and one of them would've texted me if they were going somewhere further away. Looking for a distraction I made my way downstairs and grabbed some leftover chicken parmesan to heat up for dinner. After I ate I watched TV in the family room for a while, but still no word from my family. I had tried calling and texting both of them, but there was no reply. As it started getting later I began growing more worried. Gloria left to go home for the night around 9, and now it's almost 11. My dad has a kind of crazy work schedule so I'm used to him not being around, I prefer it anyways, but my mom and Jeremy are almost always home. After a few more minutes went by I heard someone coming in through the front door and I hurriedly walked over to ease my nerves, but it was my dad.

"Oh hi," I said kind of awkwardly," I thought you'd be Jer or mom, they're not home yet."

"Yes I know there was an accident," he said taking his coat off and hanging it on the rack," they're spending the night at the hospital."

"An accident," I said as my heart started beating faster," oh my god what happened?"

"They were driving home from school in the heavy rain and started hydroplaning and crashed into a telephone pole," he said walking further into the house as I followed him," Jeremy was rushed into surgery, but he's fine. They're both fine just resting now."

"Oh my god surgery," I said concerned," and this happened earlier in the afternoon? Why didn't you call me?"

"I was busy Elena," he said sternly.

"Busy," I said angrily," you were too busy to make a 5-minute phone call to your daughter informing her that her mom and brother had been in an accident? Are you really this horrible of a person?"

"You know what if you hadn't gotten detention you could've driven Jeremy home and none of this would've happened," he said crossly.

"Are you kidding me," I said astonished at his cruelty," this isn't my fault. I can't believe you purposely didn't tell me."

"Well my son was rushed to emergency surgery I was preoccupied Elena," he said rolling his eyes.

"Too preoccupied to call your daughter," I said scoffing," god what the hell is your problem? I get that we don't have the best relationship, but this is just plain nasty. You should've called me, hell you could've at least sent me a fucking text message."

"Well maybe I didn't want you there Elena," he said with an livid expression on his face," did you ever think of that?"

"What," I spat out angry and confused," I don't understand what I've done to make you so angry."

"Elena you are the reason they were in that accident in the first place," he said pointedly," once again you wound up in detention, not that I'm surprised, but this time it resulted in two of your family members getting in an accident."

"I wasn't in detention on purpose! I didn't sleep last night so I missed a few classes this morning," I said defending myself," I didn't think they'd give me detention, mom didn't even care. She said she understood why I overslept considering I fell asleep at like 5 o'clock this morning."

"See there you go again Elena making excuses," he said annoyed," that's all you ever do. I'm sick of it, and I can't stand to look at you anymore. You've ruined your life yourself, and after what you did today I felt that you had no right to be there."

"Well that wasn't your call to make," I said crossing my arms and using all of my willpower to stop myself from crying," mom and Jeremy should've made that decision not you, and I know they would've wanted me there."

"Well they were unable to make that call today so I did it for them," he said glaring at me before leaving the room.

"Don't you dare leave we aren't done here," I said angrily as I followed him up the stairs.

"Elena I'm tired and I've had a long day I'm in no mood to get into this right now," he said annoyed.

"Well that's too bad because you brought it up," I said furiously," I'm sorry I got detention, and I'm sorry mom and Jeremy got in an accident, but the fact that you honestly think this is my fault is insane."

"You know what Elena you can leave," he said angrily pointing towards the staircase.

"What," I asked him astonished.

"I said leave," he shouted louder than I've ever heard him before," get out of my house. Go stay with one of your delinquent friends for the night, I can't stand to look at you."

"Fine," I shouted defiantly before marching towards my room quickly. I grabbed one of my Louis Vuitton luggage bags and threw a bunch of stuff into it before slipping on an old pair of combat boots and running out to my car. I sat there for a while trying to gather myself as tears began pouring out of my eyes. I don't even know where to go, but I gathered myself before driving towards the one place I always feel safe.

"Elena," Damon said with a confused expression on his face after he answered the door.

"Damon I'm so sorry I didn't know where else to go," I said as I began sobbing uncontrollably. He looked at me for a second, his features etched with concern before pulling me in against his body for a tight hug.

"It's okay it'll all be okay," he whispered against my ear pulling me in even tighter as I cried against his shirt. I started calming down as his arms enveloped me making me feel a sense of safety and relief, and I wonder why the hell I've been fighting this for so long.


So I hope you guys enjoyed that chapter, what do you think will happen next? Let me know what your thoughts are in the reviews! I have a feeling you'll like the next chapter quite a bit :)

P.S. I hope you guys enjoyed the season premiere of Vampire Diaries last week as much as I did! Ugh those Delena scenes were so great and it's nice to see them both so happy, plus those adorable Deremy scenes just melted my heart! I also must admit I'm loving Paul Wesley as Silas, even though he's a psychopath I find him very entertaining, way more interesting than boring old Stefan! Hopefully we'll get more good DEX as the season progresses!