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DAMON
I'm cursing my alarm when it goes off way too early Friday morning.
Half asleep, I fumble for my phone, and it takes me an entire two minutes to figure out how to turn the damn noise off.
Then I check the time.
Shit. I'm gonna be late for school if I don't get up now, but I really don't want to crawl out of bed.
I'd stayed up too late last night; talking with Elena well into the a.m.
I wonder if she's suffering from the lack of sleep, too.
Of course, she would have been up anyway, thanks to those fucking nightmares.
I wish I could take them away for her, but the crap Kai pulled seemed to stir all that shit up in her head, making them worse.
At least she had called this time, when the dreams had scared her awake.
And Kai was expelled until further notice, thanks to what happened on Wednesday, so Elena wouldn't have to worry about seeing him at school.
Just thinking about that asshole makes me see red, and suddenly I'm not tired at all.
The way he had talked about Elena, insulting and degrading her...it makes me want to punch him all over again.
And the fact that Elena had gotten hurt makes it even worse.
She lied to her Aunt and Uncle that night, when I dropped her off, claiming that she had slipped at work and caught the edge of a counter, and according to her, they believed it and Dr. Gilbert had checked out her injury.
Nothing life threatening, but seeing the red mark Thursday at school had turned my stomach into a pit.
Elena told me it was fine.
Enzo told me that it wasn't my fault and that we'd done what we could.
Hell, even Dad told me he was glad I'd handled Kai and that he'd had done no differently.
But still, Elena should never have gotten hurt and she was in the car with me when Kai started his shit.
In fact, she'd nearly been in the car on me, if the bastard had waited another five minutes.
There was no way I wasn't going to kiss her, and everything on her face had said she was going to let me.
And the way Elena and I are when we're around each other, I have no doubt that the moment we go there, there'll be no turning back and no slowing down.
I want her too badly, and the way she teases and flirts makes it seem as if she wants me too.
It feels inevitable. Like every conversation with her is the best damn foreplay I've ever had, and the second we allow it to become more, we'll combust.
Maybe it's a good thing, that we'd been interrupted when we had; because I doubt Mom would have been too happy about us defacing her delivery car.
I sigh, and force myself from the bed.
Elena beats me to her locker this morning, but I don't entirely mind, since it gives me a moment to admire how her low waist jeans hug the curve of her ass and flash hints of her tanned skin.
When she's through shifting some books around, I force my gaze to behave, and walk over to her.
The fact that Elena doesn't even notice when I lean against the locker next to her tells me just how exhausted she is.
Either that, or she's lost in her thoughts again.
I've noticed that it happens when she thinks about the past; she gets an empty, almost sad look on her face, and loses awareness of everything around her.
The slight vulnerability from someone who was literally ready to throw down with me at three against two odds makes me admire her even more.
It also makes me want to protect her; hide her away from everything in her head that causes that small frown on her lips.
"Elena."
I say her name and she jumps a little, her eyes firing over to me as she abandons whatever thought she'd been entertaining.
"Hey," she returns, shaking her head a little, "When did you get here."
"Not long ago," I say so she doesn't feel awkward, and I tilt my head, "You get any sleep last night?"
"A little," she finishes up at her locker and closes the thing, "Thanks for staying on the phone with me."
"I'm glad you called me," I admit, reaching for her hand and interlacing our fingers, "Wish there was more I could have done.
Elena shrugs and leans back against her locker, "You did plenty. Talking helped. And it's quiet when I'm with you."
"Quiet?"
She brushes off my question by motioning toward the hall, "We're gonna be late."
I humor her and let her pull me into the small crowd of students, and when it's clear she isn't going to breach our topic again, I change it.
"You're still staying with Caroline tonight, right? Coming to the clubhouse?"
Elena nods, "Yeah, I'm riding home with her after school today and I think we're heading over as soon as her Mom leaves for work."
"Good," I squeeze her hand, "It wouldn't be as fun without you there."
She smiles a little at the compliment, but it doesn't reach her eyes.
"Well, you did mention that there was cheap alcohol," she reminds me, "And after this week, I'm not about to turn that down. Just promise you'll talk me out of any stupid ideas I get after I'm drunk."
I laugh, "I promise to do my best. But arguing with you has proven to be dangerous and I like the goods right where they are, thanks."
Her eyes roll, but her smile is brighter this time, making me feel as if I'd won the fricken lottery, "I'm not a violent drunk."
"Not sure violent sober is much better, babe."
She drops the hand that she was letting me hold and punches me with it, "I only get brutal when people are being assholes and deserve it. So don't be a dick and we won't have to worry about your pretty face getting messed up."
I smirk at her as we reach Mrs. Davis's room, "You think it's pretty?"
Elena gives me an unamused look, "I'm going to class now."
"Try to behave!"
She flips me off and I chuckle, before making my way to my own homeroom.
The school day is over in what feels like a blink, and before I know it, I'm on the porch swing at my house, waiting for Tyler to arrive.
It's late enough now for Sheriff Forbes to at the station, so I'd sent him to pick up Caroline and Elena.
My own concern, on top of Dad's warning that Elena not be left alone, warrants the need for those girls to have an escort here tonight, and I figured Caroline would mind the least if it was Tyler.
The sun's gone down now, and the air is warmer than it's been in a while, as bike after bike pulls up into the yard and parks near the clubhouse.
Music is blaring out of the thing, and the lull of it blending with loud conversation and laughter is a familiar hum.
Me, Stefan, Enzo, Tyler, and even Lexi had all grown up here, with this scene the acting soundtrack to our lives as we learned to crawl on that sticky clubhouse floor.
Leather jackets were used more often than baby blankets to warm us, and I'd seen enough of the Brotherhood's Crow to have the emblem memorized perfectly.
Everything around me now was all I'd ever wanted.
Free beer, lots of willing girls, company of the Brothers...and yet, tonight, my head is nowhere near what's going down in the clubhouse.
Instead, I'm too focused on the road that leads to our house, hoping to see a double set of headlights that would mean Elena had arrived.
I'm joined on the porch as I play the waiting game, and look up to see Rose.
She's holding two beers and offers me one.
I accept it.
"Took me a minute to find you," she says after taking a drink of hers, "Aren't you usually a couple shots in and on a pussy hunt by now?"
Usually.
I shrug as nonchalantly as I can, "My wingman's late. I'm waiting for him."
She settles into the empty space next to me, pushing with her feet to give the swing some momentum.
"You don't need Lockwood to help you bag a one-nighter," she points out, knowing me a little too well to buy my bullshit, "So why are you really avoiding the party?"
"I'm not," I snap, maybe a little too defensively, and sigh, "I really am waiting for Ty."
I feel her gaze on me, and take a drink of the beer she'd brought me for something to do.
"I'm getting the feeling that maybe Tyler isn't coming alone?"
Damn. She's good.
"He's picking up Caroline and Elena."
"Ah," she's smiling now, I know it.
Annoyed, I turn to meet her stare, and sure enough, there's a smirk in place on her lips, "Now it makes sense."
"If you got something to say, Rose, just say it."
Her brow arches softly at my tone, and I curse internally.
"You like a girl," she rocks us back and forth, "That's hardly a crime."
"Then why are you looking at me like I'm on trial?" I challenge, and she chuckles, "Dramatic much?"
When I don't respond, she rolls her eyes, "I'm not grilling you here, Damon. I actually like Elena. Not so sure that you'd be great for her, but truth be told, maybe it's time someone got your attention."
I lean back into she swing and take another drink, "I don't know what the fuck I'm doing."
Rose rests her hand on my knee, "You're overthinking this. It's a crush, Damon; not marriage."
It's more than that.
But I can't tell Rose exactly why Elena is important, not just to me, but to the club, or how the feelings I get when I'm around her are entirely different than anything I've ever felt.
I've never really been one for dates or romance and all that lovey shit.
I could flirt, and I could fuck, but Elena is more than just another name to add to a list I've mostly forgotten.
"Holy shit," Rose's laugh breaks the almost silence that has fallen between us, "You really are twisted up over this girl, aren't you?"
I pull myself to my feet so that I tower over her when I answer, "It's just a crush, remember?"
She gives me a dry look, but I catch sight of a car out of the corner of my vision, and it grabs my attention.
Tyler gets out of the driver's seat, and I briefly notice Blondie, before my gaze lands on Elena.
God, she looks good.
Her hair is down in loose waves, and she's wearing a black leather jacket over a flowy blue tank that zips in the front.
Her pants are the same ones from this morning, and the smile on her face is sexy as hell.
She glances around the property, before her gaze finds mine and she raises her hand in an acknowledging wave.
That smile widens, almost blindingly, and I have to remind myself to breathe.
"Yeah," Rose's voice comes from somewhere next to me, "Just a crush."
I return her dirty look, she sticks her tongue out at me, and we join the others.
Elena walks over next to me, excitement rolling off of her in waves, "You might have to stop me from literally drooling. There's a Magna 750 over there with custom work that I am all about. And that Dyna we parked next to? It's oh-my-god gorgeous."
I smile at the happiness in her voice, "There will be plenty for you to admire, don't worry. And the Dyna's my Dad's. Play nice and he might let you go for a ride."
Her eyes spark, and her hand finds mine, "I want to see the rest."
Getting the feeling that she isn't just talking about the bikes, I motion toward the clubhouse, "Let's go."
Inside, the party is still mildly tame.
It's late, but not so late that all the minors are gone, so nobody is piss drunk or fucking in the corners yet.
Elena's head is turning every which direction as she takes in the scene, and I wonder how much of it feels familiar to her.
"Caroline! Elena!" Bonnie rushes over, having spotted us from the bar, and Enzo is close behind her.
He and I knock fists, and he does the same with Tyler as the girls start talking.
"It's gonna get crazy tonight," Enzo warns, "Taz and Mike are riding in with some of their crew."
"Oh shit, the Nomads?" They only show about once a year, unless Dad requests otherwise, and when they do, it's a hell of a party.
"That's the buzz," he nods and turns to the girls, "You ladies drinking? I'll buy first rounds."
Caroline and Rose answer back with their orders, but Elena's gaze shifts to me, "Maybe I should wait? I still need to talk to your Dad."
Oh shit. I'd almost forgotten about that.
Elena's supposed to tell him about the incident with the Kings, so he can let the club know exactly how far this shit goes.
Probably a conversation best had sober, but…
"One shot won't hurt," I reason, "Hell, maybe it'll even help take the edge off."
She nods in agreement, because telling a near stranger about that time a guy died in your arms can't be the most thrilling thing in the world.
A little liquid courage was perfectly reasonable.
It's actually two rounds of shots later that we find my father; he's on one of the couches, near the back of the room, with my mother sitting in his lap.
They're watching what appears to be an intense dart game between some other club members, but both of their heads raise when we approach.
"Dad," I address him first, "We need to talk."
Elena is quiet beside me, and she keeps glancing back to the bar, where our friends are.
Probably wishing we could still be over there with them.
Luckily, Dad can read body language quite well, and nods without prying further, patting my Mom's leg so she would move.
"I'll be right back, baby," he kisses her cheek, "Watch my beer."
"You'll be lucky if I don't drink it," she fires back.
He smiles, but it fades as he turns to me and Elena.
"Upstairs," he says, and I nod, falling into step behind him as we head that way, Elena's palm in my own.
"What's wrong?" Dad jumps straight to the point, once we are closed up in one of the dorm rooms down the upstairs hall.
I open my mouth, to try and explain the situation, but Elena finds a bolt of confidence and beats me to the punch, "I know about my Uncle's request...that the Brotherhood wants to keep me safe, in case the Highway Kings track me here to Virginia."
Dad stares at her, then his eyes shift to me.
They aren't angry, necessarily, but he definitely isn't happy.
"There's more to the story than what Grayson told us," I explain in a hurry, "More than even he knew."
Elena's hand trembles in mine, but her eyes do not leave my father, "There's a reason the Kings would happily see me dead."
She launches into her story, the same one she'd told me that day in the meadow, and part of me feels relief that the asshole that had wanted to hurt her had paid with his life.
Not that I want Elena to have to live with that guilt, but the guy deserved everything he got, and worse.
Dad listens, his expression unchanging, until she finishes.
"Damn," he mutters after a moment, "Just...goddamn."
His stare pins me now, "You find out any more shit like this and you come straight to the club."
"He didn't know until a few days ago," Elena jumps to my defense, "And I asked him to let me be the one to tell you."
I drop her hand and move between her and my dad, "I had to make a call, and I did what kept her safe. I'm not fucking around with this, I promise, but we also have to respect that this was a hell of a lot more than we'd anticipated. This is her life. Not some possible, idle threat. If they find out she's here...they're coming."
Dad's thoughts dart through his eyes so fast I can't keep up, until finally, he sighs.
"You're too young to bear this shit," he tells Elena, "I'm sorry you have to. But we can protect you. We will protect you."
Elena's nod is small, "I know. That's what Damon told me. I believe him."
"Good," Dad's attention is back on me, "You don't let her out of your fucking sight until I talk to the club."
Not a problem.
"Yes, sir," I say aloud, and he curses quietly again, "Fucking outlaws...okay, you two stick close to the house tonight. I'll let you know what the plan is after Church tomorrow."
He waits until we both nod our agreement, then he's gone, still shaking his head.
I wonder what the club will decide to do, but realize that it doesn't really matter.
I know what I'm going to do, and it's exactly what my Dad told me.
Keep Elena in my sights at all times until this threat is no longer an issue.
The brunette in question exhales slowly from beside me, and her brown eyes glow from under thick lashes as she says breathily, "I think I need another drink."
Turns out that "another drink" loosely translates to six shots of tequila, two Jagger-bombs, and a swig of Fireball straight from the nearly empty bottle.
Elena is downing each drink like they're water, and I'm not sure if I should be concerned or impressed.
"Girl, you should be on the floor!" Rose is clearly going with impressed, though she is also a bit tipsy, so probably not the best person to judge by.
"Oh, please!" Elena waves her off, "I'm not even a little bit drunk! My tolerance is like .here!"
She jumps as if to indicate just how high said tolerance is, and it's the cutest thing I've ever seen when paired with that soft giggle.
Part of me knows that there is more behind her smile than just trying to have a good time.
She is running from the conversation we'd had with my Dad upstairs.
Hiding from the truth of her past, of her very real present, by drinking it all away and pretending it doesn't exist.
Not entirely healthy, sure, but after everything, the least Elena deserves is one night where she doesn't have to worry about death, doom, and despair.
She's safe tonight, and she's laughing and having fun, and I'm not about to take that away from her.
Not even as the music changes and Bon Jovi's "Shot Through the Heart" comes on, making Elena's eyes go wide.
"I love this song!" she looks over at me and a devilish smirk crosses her lips, "Didn't you mention something about bar dancing?"
Before I can answer, she's hoisting herself up onto said bar, and her body is moving in ways that make my pants tight.
Holy shit, even fully dressed she's the best tease I've ever had.
The show draws the attention of some of the other members, and soon the bar is being surrounded, cheers calling out and a few whoops and hollers following.
Elena's laughing as she dances, her hair flashing when she spins.
"Oh god," Caroline shakes her head with a laugh, "What is she doing?"
"Having fun," I smile, not taking my eyes from the girl turning our danky little bar into her own personal runway.
Then her leather jacket is being unzipped and she flings the thing at me with a wink.
I catch it easily, and the sight of Elena in that tank top is drool worthy.
"Maybe it's time to cut her off," someone suggests, and I glance over to see Mom standing next to me.
She looks mildly amused more than upset, but then again, she's had her bar dancing days.
She also has a good point, "I'll take her to the house once the song's over. Let her sober up without the crowd."
Mom pats my cheek, "Good idea."
The song does end, much to many of the guy's disappointment, and I maneuver through the group to the bar to help Elena jump down.
She does, right into my arms.
And instead of pulling away to steady herself on her feet, she lets me hold her, brown eyes finding mine.
"Let's go up to the house," I say, "Get you some water?"
She nods her agreement, but doesn't move, so I do what any gentleman would do.
I hoist the lady up and carry her.
Thankfully, once we get past the few smokers on the front porch, the house is empty.
And once the thick oak door shuts behind us, the noise from the party is muffled and the silence that follows is almost heavy.
"I think I need that water now," Elena says when I set her down on one of the bar stools.
I chuckle, "That's a safe bet. Ice?"
"Yes, please."
She sits there, gorgeous as hell, as I make her a glass.
"Let the alcohol pass and I'll get you something for the headache I'm sure you're gonna have."
Elena shakes her head before taking the drink I give her, "Don't get hangovers."
"Ever?"
She shakes her head again, "Nope. But Dad also used to rub Jack Daniels on my gums when I was teething, so maybe my I can blame it on that?"
"Seems reasonable."
She rests her head against the counter, forgetting the water as soon as she does, "God, this feels good."
Her eyes drift and I sigh, "You want to lay down for a bit?"
And just like that, they open again.
"Can we go to your room? I'd like to see it."
Thinking that I would be most comfortable knowing that she was in my room while sleeping; it's easy to agree with her, "Sure. It's upstairs."
With some stumbling and some giggling on Elena's part, we do finally make it up to my room.
When I let her inside, Elena smiles as she looks around.
"It's very...you," she grins.
It is. The furniture is simple and there's a big bed in the center.
I have Harley posters on the wall, school books piled in the corner near the door.
There's a bookshelf with non school related books that I enjoy and a mahogany dresser to our right.
The attaching bathroom is to the left, something I turn to point out to Elena, when suddenly, she is all over me.
Her lips are hot against my face, moving, searching...kissing me.
"Elena-" I am panting now, and take two steps back to get some air between us.
"I want to kiss you," she states simply, her dark eyes focused, "I want to kiss you until I forget everything else."
Fuck, it's tempting...really, it is.
So easy to drag her tight little body back against mine and let us do what we've both been dying to for a while.
But… "You're drunk."
"Not that drunk," she argues, moving faster than I had expected her to be able to, shoving against my chest until I fall back onto the bed.
She's crawling on top of me then, her knees on either side of my hips, our chests pressed together, and her head dips into my neck, sucking the skin there.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fucking fuck.
I'm groaning, and I'm hard, and fuck, I'm thrusting up against her body, wanting more of that delicious friction.
But it's not right, it's not…
Elena's teeth graze my jaw and I verbalize the curse this time.
"Wait," I manage to exhale, the word sounding strangled, "Remember how you told me to talk you out of any stupid ideas you might get?"
She pulls away from me, sitting up now, and it's almost worse, seeing her straddling me from above.
"This isn't stupid. I want this," her hips roll and I groan, "You want this."
I couldn't lie, even if I wanted to.
She could feel me beneath her; she knew how fucking ready I was for her.
"Wanting isn't the problem," I assure her, and move quickly, untangling us so that she is on the opposite side of the bed and I can put some space between us, "This just can't happen."
Her lips drop into the sexiest pout, swollen and tempting, "Damon, please."
My name sounds so good rolling off her tongue, and the please at the end kills me.
I want her. So damn much.
"Not like this, baby."
Taking a risk, I reach over and grab her hand, "You're better than a drunk hook up."
Her lip quivers a little, and I'm worried she might start crying.
Oh god, please don't cry. I hate the idea of Elena upset.
"But I don't want you to leave," her voice is a whisper now, "It's finally quiet."
I recalled that she had said the same thing this morning, and press the matter as I return to sit next to her on the mattress.
"What do you mean? It's quiet?"
Elena leans against me, her head on my shoulder, as the heat and passion slip away, something heavy and sad taking its place.
"The noise," she murmurs, "It's so loud sometimes. So damn chaotic in my head. Kol, the Kings, my Dad, my fears, my future...they just whirl around like this constant buzzing...it doesn't shut up. It's never quiet...except with you."
She looks up at me, her eyes soft, "It all goes away with you. It's quiet."
My heart breaks for her; splits in my chest for her pain.
"Lay down," I tell her, "I'm not going anywhere."
Elena trusts me.
That's the only reason she does as I tell her and pulls back the blanket to my bed.
I help her strip her pants and she pulls off her bra until all she is left in is the tank top and black silk panties.
She's gorgeous, but I'm not thinking of sex when I trade my clothes for a pair of sweats and crawl under the blankets with her.
In fact, the only thing going through my head is how perfectly hers fits against my chest as she nestles into my side.
I hold her tightly, our bodies molded, until her breathing evens out and she falls asleep.
The moment is peaceful and completely new territory for me.
I've hooked up with plenty of girls over the past few years, but never has one stayed the night.
I've never fallen asleep with one in my arms, nor had I placed soft kisses against the top of their head as my own eyes drifted shut.
I may have lost my virginity at fifteen in the clubhouse dorm to a random hang around, but Elena is making me realize that I still have a lot of firsts left.
And I want to experience them with her; starting tonight, here in my bed, half drunk, falling asleep together as the party continues on without us next door.
Loved writing this fluff! Don't worry, the kiss is coming ;)