A/N: Hey guys! Sorry It's a bit later than usual, but I've been soo busy this week. Had an entire week of work experience and haven't even been able to start on my history essays that are due in for this week. Hopefully not tomorrow; but oh well. :L As you know, you guys and this fan fic are a real priority right now and I'm definitely not going to let anything stop this story's flow. And as for the latest reviews... You guys know how much i love them. *wink, wink* I'm really glad you guys are starting to piece together things and comment on the stuff I write; it means a lot to know you care. ^^ Well, right now I guess It's onto the next chapter. (; Enjoy. :B

Chapter 12: This is a war, this is a heart.

EPOV

'Oh man, Elena! Talk about catching up on beauty sleep,' Bonnie mumbled sleepily when she finally picked up the phone.

I sighed.

'Yeah, sorry about this Bonnie, I...' I inhaled deeply, scolding mentally to get myself together.

Her answer, despite her fatigue-ruled state was immediate.

'What is it, Elena?'

With my free hand, I swiped at my still-crying eyes in an attempt to calm myself. I swallowed hard.

'I just needed to talk to you about something. Well, about a lot of things,' my voice thankfully didn't sound as desperate as I felt.

'And I'm assuming by you calling me in the very early hours of the morning that it couldn't wait until... Oh, let's say about the time normal people wake up and decide to have a cha-'

'Bonnie, I'm serious.'

I could practically hear her smiling then.

'Oh, I know. But I bet I got your eyes rolling.'

And then I did roll my eyes. This was a side to Bonnie that I absolutely adored, her happy-go-lucky attitude made me smile. Even now, tired as she was I was so glad to see she seemed to be back to her old self again. At the ball she really had scared me; I hated seeing Bonnie or any of my friends that way. I laughed away a small sob. And Bonnie noticed.

'Elena, are you crying?' Bonnie's sudden concerned tone caught me off guard and I couldn't hide from her anymore.

'Oh, Bonnie. Everything is such a mess!' I blubbered.

Her voice automatically switched from concerned friend to concerned-friend-meaning-business. She knew I didn't cry over things that weren't uber important.

'Elena, calm down and start from the start.'

And then I started at the start and followed through directly through to the end. After I had finished despairing and explaining, Bonnie was quiet for a very long time. I felt as though I should say something, break the silence, but just as i opened my mouth I heard her exhale.

'Well, that is quite a big problem.'

I couldn't think of what to say, so I replied with a 'Mhmm.'

'But, Elena. Why were you in Damon's bed?'

Oh great, she picked up on it. Well, it was Bonnie, of course she would've. This time when i sighed, I leant back into the sofa.

'I already told you Bonnie. I just woke up there. Damon said I fainted and he must have carried me here or something. That's one of the points where my memory has completely copped out on me.'

'Wait, wait wait... You say here? You mean you're still at the boarding house? Whoa, Jenna's gonna' be worried sick.'

'I haven't been awake for long. In fact, Damon was here when i woke up. As always, he didn't tell me much.'

'Ahh. Where is Damon now?'

I snapped at her, I didn't mean to. I just hated talking about Damon right now; it was a touchy subject for me.

'Bonnie, how in the hell am I supposed to know? It's not like he tells me everywhere he decides to disappear off to now is it?'

I heard her scuffle slightly at the other side of the line and surprisingly her voice was pretty calm.

'You're not happy with him? What's he done now? Oh my gosh! Did he try and kiss you? He did, didn't he?' It worried me slightly at how enthusiastic she sounded, but even more that I was somehow disappointed that he hadn't.

'STOP IT, ELENA!' was my mental voice.

'No, Bonnie. He did not try to kiss me.' I replied in a very monotone voice, but then quickly changed the subject 'And Bonnie, are we seriously going to waste time talking about Damon?'

Bonnie muttered something that sounded like complimenting his hotness – but I didn't comment.

'Well, I suppose you're right. But what could be messing with your memory? I don't get it. It's like that vampire compulsion thing.'

My ears pricked up slightly then, and I realised I wasn't crying anymore.

'Yeah, I guess it sorta is,' I said, raising my hand and touching my vervain-laced necklace. 'But I'm wearing my vervain necklace; I always where it,' I said, defiant.

'No, no. I know that, Elena. I was just commenting on the similarity. But It's just weird how there's been vampire attacks and somehow you're losing your memory? Seems a bit creepy to me.'

I just nodded, refusing to even think anything like that.

'Yeah, or maybe It's just because I'm tired. I mean, I fainted right? It had to have been a long day or something,' I said it out-loud, seeing if it helped in any way to convincing myself also.

Bonnie grunted, but it wasn't a sure-I-believe-you grunt. It was more in the sarcasm realm.

'Well, if you're sure, Elena.'

'Of course I am, It's the only logical explanation for this.'

'Hmm. Logic. Logic's not always as straight-forward as you think, you know,' she tutored, I knew she was still worrying.

'Come on, Bonnie. You sound like my grandma; stop worrying. I'll call Jenna, go home and sleep some more. It'll come back to me tomorrow.'

'Today,' she corrected.

'Whatever,' I muttered.

We laughed for a few seconds, easening out some of the tension that'd been growing between us.

'I think I'm gonna' let you sleep now; I'm real sorry for waking you. It's just one of those things that I couldn't make sense of on my own.'

'Ah huh. You know I'm always here when you need me, El. And I'm glad I could help.'

'I'll catch you later, Bonnie!'

'Seeya, Elena.'

After a second or two, I disconnected the line.

DPOV

"I tried calling Bonnie, but I couldn't get through."

"Well, why not try again? She's gotta pick up some time or another."

"Or maybe she's asleep like we all should be."

I sighed heavily, turning on my heel and I looked back to the three of them. I averted my eyes to the two despairing humans and spoke.

"Are you two still here? I'm sure tonight's events have been a lot for you to handle. Why not call it a night and let the vampires deal with it from now on?"

As I suspected, Mutt had something to say about that.

"Elena's my friend," he replied stiffly.

"And she's my girlfriend. But, Damon's right. You two should get some rest. I'll go over to Elena's in the morning and we'll talk," Stefan interjected and after a moment or two, they looked to one another and nodded.

"There's nothing more that we can do tonight, I'll see you tomorrow Matt," she turned to Stefan and mumbled his name.

He nodded and I caught her eye for a second, flashing my one hundred watt smile; she rolled her eyes.

"Hey, I can't let you go home on your own. Not with all of this going on. I'll drive you, my car's just back at where the ball was held," Mutt offered, smiling.

I turned from them and finally glanced over to Stefan when we were alone. He was facing away from me and staring up into the night. I smiled slightly. Poor Stefan and his clearly failing relationship with Elena. I wasn't going to deny it; I was loving it. Maybe now Elena would figure out he wasn't right for her. She belonged with me. I knew it, Stefan knew it, and hell – Elena knew it too. She was too stubborn for her own good sometimes. I had to admit though; I'd always had a thing for girls that didn't just fall into my arms.

The fire inside of Elena kept me going more than anything else any other girl had ever had. She was like an addiction, an addiction I had no intention of ever giving up on. My eyes were still fixed upon my brother's un-moving figure and my smile only continued to widen. Even if Elena was behind these attacks, (which was impossible in itself) I'd gladly claim her as my own. We'd come so close, so many times... She wanted me, deep down she wanted me more than she thought she'd ever wanted anything. That was it!

Why she resisted me so much. Because she knew what I could do to her, what I made her feel, even when I simply looked her way. I spared my brother a mere split second of a glance and chuckled lightly for a moment or two. My eyes departed from his figure the moment he spun around to face me. I could see him in the corner of my eye though, and he looked old, real old.

"What an earth could possibly be funny at a time like this, Damon?" Stefan said, his eyes now holding mine rather steadily.

Oh, this was going to be funnier than I had first expected. I flashed my eyes back to him whilst raising my eyebrows to meet his unwavering gaze.

"Funny, brother?" I questioned, playing with him naturally.

His eyes only seemed to grow darker as he spoke again.

"You laughed."

I nodded, intrigued that I was once again getting on my brother's last nerves. But as I opened my mouth once again, I didn't have a chance to speak before the foolish younger brother of mine began jumping to conclusions.

"You are really enjoying this aren't you, Damon? Let's face it – this is the perfect outcome for you..." And before I knew it, Stefan had started on a full-blown rant, coming towards me and waving his arms around like some deranged guy losing his mind. (Which I suppose wasn't too far off Stefan's condition) "-And Elena, oh, you'd love her to be behind these attacks. That's what you find so funny isn't it? The fact you think she's more like you than anyone would think. You're..."

I raised my hands, abruptly stopping his words that died on his lips. I shook my head, feeling my trademark smirk slowly appear across my own mouth.

"No, actually Stefan. I just find it funny that you'd rather be out here sulking and ranting to me than at home with your lover talking your clearly failing relationship through," I said honestly, watching him intently and awaiting his reaction.

"At home...? She's at her house. Asleep," his eyes instantly glowed a colour I didn't quite catch and his whole expression changed.

I didn't say anything, I just stared at him.

"I told you to take her home! Damn it, where is she Damon!" Stefan growled.

I rolled my eyes, un phased by his serious tone.

"Relax over-protective boyfriend. The last I saw of her she was in the hallway," I paused, well aware I was enraging him even more then continued "She'd had a pleasant sleep I assumed. Having said that, I've been told my bed is very comfortable."

I didn't hang around long enough to witness his reaction; but I was sure he would have reacted –that was a definite.

Author's note: Man, I LOVE Damon. :L Well, It's 23:50 and I've finally finished this chapter. If there are any mistakes, I apologize in advance. But I was just so desperate to get that to you. I hope you liked it, and as always, thanks for your subscriptions and reviews. :)

Jackie xxx