New York, 1987
It's so easy when everybody's trying to please me, baby.
Charlotte moaned, but the sounds got lost in the loud music and screams. Roger (or was his name Steven? She couldn't remember, they had all merged into a mass of faces, places, and sensations over the last years) stood still, dazed. His eyes were fixed on nothing in particular, smiling blissfully. Nobody paid attention to their odd actions. To anyone who looked at them, they were just another couple intoxicated by alcohol, sweat, and rock.
So easy but nothing seems to please me.
A man bumped into her, almost making them fall down. As a vampire, anger easily became rage; so she was wiping the blood off her face and tapping his shoulder before she could think about it twice.
"You spilled my drink."
It all fits so right when I fade into the night.
He didn't have time to apologize because her face turned into its vampire form as she pounced on his neck.
"Care if I join you?"
Charlotte looked up at her friend and licked the blood on her lips before answering.
"I'm always up for a duet."
Sage smirked and bit on the other side of the man's neck. She pulled away when they had taken enough.
"You won't remember any of this. Now stay the hell out of my way this time."-She compelled him and he nodded.
"Don't compel the boy toys to stay away. Have I taught you nothing?"
"I'm your worst student, remember?"
"I think it's time to try cooperative learning."
Charlotte frowned, but then understood Sage's comment as she saw him; drinking from a hip flask and laughing from the distance. She recognized him instantly.
"Damon Salvatore: sexy, careless, fun."-Sage whispered in her ear-"How many years has it been? Two centuries?"
"He looks different."
"He is different."
Charlotte smiled and watched him as the night went on. She remembered their friendship, her love, everything that kept her from being able to forget him. She wondered if he would be surprised or happy to see her.
Her smile faded when she realized he would talk to her about Katherine. He would apologize, say he missed her. She would tell him that Katherine was alive. He would ask her where she was, and she would answer, because she couldn't stand to watch him suffer. He would run to Katherine. Katherine would lie to him and fool him into thinking she loved him.
"Have fun."
"I'm not going with Damon. It's not the right time. He needs to find out about Katherine by himself first."
Sage contemplated her words for a moment and then grinned mischievously.
"If you're not going with Damon, I am."
Charlotte knew they had already been together, but it was still difficult to accept it.
"Fine, just don't tell him anything about me."
"Let's dance."-Charlotte pouted.
"I'm not a dancer."-Stefan replied.
Damon eavesdropped on them while he danced with Elena. Of course Stefan would refuse to dance with Charlotte – he only did it for Elena.
"Matty?"-She turned to her friend. They were all in a group "date"; she was with Stefan, Caroline (who was too busy being in charge to enjoy the night) with Matt, and Bonnie with an actual date.
"Me either."
He watched her sink in her place once again. Damn morons. Her independence kicked in and she strolled to the dance floor by herself. Her hips swayed to the music, taking the attention of the people around her... Every move she made seemed deliberate but spontaneous. There was no doubt she had gotten to know her body during all those years she had lived.
Stefan caught him looking at Charlotte. He had to suppress a groan when his younger brother stood up to dance with her.
"I know what you're doing and I feel used."-Their fight for dominance was so obvious; they were trying to make each other jealous.
"What are you talking about?"-Stefan faked a frown and then grinned.
"You're mean."
"Time to switch patners."-Damon appeared, interrupting them by putting his hand on Stefan's shoulder. Elena didn't have time to protest as she was led by Stefan to the opposite end of the dance floor.
"I'm going to look for Caroline."-Elena announced, but Stefan refused to let go of her hand.
"Are you that scared of me?"
"Stefan, we broke up."-She sighed.
"I thought we were on a break."-He cocked his eyebrow playfully.-"One dance, that's all I'm asking for."
"I never thought I'd see you so eager to dance."
"People change."
"Clearly, since I heard you saying you were not a dancer ten minutes ago."
"Fifteen minutes..."-He corrected her as he spun her around and whispered in her ear.-"There's clearly a difference."
She giggled as their eyes met.
"I'm glad you're doing fine."
"Could be better."
She avoided his gaze and ignored the poor distance between them.
"The song is over... I'm going to look for Caroline."
"Elena..."-he stopped her again as she was about to leave.
"Yes?"
"I still choose us."
Meanwhile, Charlotte couldn't resist laughing at the faces Damon made while dancing.
"Nice moves... I didn't know Madonna provoked such strong feelings in you."
"She doesn't... You do."
"Your mood swings are becoming exhausting."-She said and Damon smirked.-"But I'm happy to see you."
Neither of them would admit it, but they both missed each other greatly. Their own eyes gave them away. He pulled her closer as a slow song started playing.
"Come home."
"I don't have a home."
"You could have it... with me."
She chuckled humorlessly.
"You don't know just how much I wish to believe that."
"Then do it. There is enough place for everything."-his breath tickled her earlobe and she closed her eyes, inhaling his intoxicating charm-"For example, your hair belongs to my pillow; wild, tangled, spread with the tips of your curls falling from it… Your hands can rest on my chest, or they can also reclaim their freedom and run through it like stallions, making traces of figures and words."
She opened her eyes again as he tilted her chin up.
"Now your eyes, I will give them shelter with one condition: they should settle next to a window, because I want to admire the rare glimpse of green in them."
"Damon…"
"Your mouth… That is not negotiable. I want your lips on mine; every day."
She broke free of his hold and left the building, taking a breath of fresh air as soon as she opened the door. She was shaking (Why was she shaking?!), feeling as if she was choking.
"Would you stop running away from me?"-He snapped. He was being everything he thought he would never be and there she was, ignoring him.
"You did it once. Why can't I?"-She started growing angrier with every word she spoke.
"I abandoned you, it was wrong, I was a dick; we've been through this. Can we flip the damn page already?"
"I don't want to listen to you."-She started walking away again.
"You got to be kidding me!"-He pulled her back by her arm-"What do you want from me, Charlotte? Tell me what the hell do you want me to be, because I'm fucking pouring out my feelings in a high school dance and it's obviously not enough."
"Just leave me alone!"-she screamed.
"I want my arm around your waist, your body against mine, your laugh echoing in the air…"-She shook her head furiously, repeating that she didn't want to hear it as he kept talking, equally mad.-"Can you listen to me?!"
"No, I have to escape from you."
"Why is it so hard to believe me?"
"Let's start with the fact that you brought the woman you're in love with as a date! So there's space for every part of me… Now where are we going to put Elena? Next to the other window so you can catch the green in her eyes too?"
"I haven't even mentioned Elena!"
"Did you fall out of love with her?"
Damon stayed quiet.
"Then you don't have to mention her."-She calmed down, her anger turning into sadness and hopelessness.-"Go tell her you love her, tell her all those great things you just said to me. She's right there, dancing with Stefan."
"I knew it. This is not about me… This is about Stefan. You don't want her near him. "
That was the only explanation. He was truly trying to be good enough for her. He was showing her they could be together; that everything didn't have to be so difficult. How could she keep rejecting him that way if it wasn't because she had feelings for Stefan?
"You're just like them."
"Is that what you think?"
"It's the truth."
"You're right."-she was crossing her arms and acting out of impulse before she could stop herself, aiming to hurt him; to be the one to walk away victorious, instead of being broken. Even if she would hate herself later, at that moment, it was satisfying. -"I thought I loved you, but Stefan... He is the one. I understand why they all chose him. You're just not worth it. I was an idiot for not realizing it before."
"No, I was the idiot."-He didn't take his eyes off her, hoping she would take back her words; but she didn't flinch. He couldn't had lost her.
"You are."-She said drily.
She had been the replacement for too long. She wanted to be loved. She didn't want a man thinking about another woman when he was with her.
"I apologize for wasting your time, Ms. Pierce."-He bowed mockingly, bitterly.
"Apology accepted, Sir... If you'll excuse me, I have a date."
New York, 1987
"…My favorite teacher."
"My best student."
Charlotte concentrated on their voices as she walked out of the building.
"Didn't expect to find you here."
"Then let's make the most of this reunion."
"I've never had sex on a stage before."
"You've been missing out on a lot of fun, Salvatore."
"Lilyana?"
She lost her focus when she heard her real name. It was always odd to hear it now that everyone would call her Charlotte. She found Elijah looking worriedly at her.
"I'm sorry, my mind drifted away."
He kissed her lips, smiling. She was fascinating. They began walking away from the venue.
"Was the concert entertaining?"
"Very."
"Where is Sage?"
"She..."-She considered lying to him, but decided to be honest.-"She is with Damon."
"And you call that friendship?"-He asked and she kept quiet. Even if he wanted to be with her and they had some kind of relationship; he wasn't oblivious to the fact that she loved Damon.-
"I couldn't talk to him, alright? I got scared."
"Sage obviously didn't."
"Don't lecture me... Not tonight."
He agreed silently.
"Shall I take you home?"
"What is home, Lijah?"
"The mansion, of course."
"That's just a building... Soon we'll move out to another place and won't even look back to take a last glance."
He nodded his head understandingly.
"Bulgaria then?"
"No, I haven't been there in ages."-she shook her head.
"It's where you came from..."
"But there's nothing waiting for me there anymore."
She could still hear them, haunting her thoughts... She wasn't sure if it was really her vampire hearing or her mind playing tricks.
"I will miss you, Lilyana."
"I'm still here."-she frowned.-
"But you will leave... You never stay for long when you receive news about him. I would ask if I could go with you, but I already know the answer."
"It's not because of you, Elijah... I will always thank you for everything you've done for me. You've been a brother, a lover, a friend..."
"I understand."
"No, let me finish."-His arms received her in a tight embrace.- "I don't mind being with you; but I want to experience the world by myself, too. I want to be able to stand in front of Damon Salvatore without running away from him. With Katherine, everything I learnt was filtered by her judgement. You've already lived all those moments that I crave, they are the ones who have shaped you into the man you are... I want that too."
"I understand."-He repeated and kissed her tenderly. It was always tender, soft, delicate between them; much like friends, never passionate. She knew he thought of Katherine sometimes... But she accepted it; it was the least she could do for him. She wished she could close her eyes and pretend the same way, but she couldn't find Damon in the taste of Elijah's mouth (or any other mouth). Elijah tasted too sweet, too prudent; agreeing to every decision she made, never screaming, never discussing.
What she hadn't told Elijah was that every time Damon appeared, she was reminded of the docile relationship she had. She remembered the flame of desire and the pain of love... And, suddenly, tender kisses weren't enough anymore.
So every time she would leave his bed before dawn, buy a ticket, and leave.
The air was filled by an uncomfortable silence as Damon drove Elena to her house.
He crashed his lips against hers madly as they said their goodbyes. He had kissed her before, but that time was a completely different sensation. He couldn't focus on her tongue, or the softness of her lips, or her petite hands pulling his hair.
"Do you..."-She tried to catch her breath-"want to come in?"
He threw her bedroom door shut, never breaking away from her lips. He couldn't help noticing that Charlotte was obviously not there. Was she at the boarding house?
Elena, although she was barely able to keep up his pace, pulled his shirt over his head to caress his naked chest.
Was she with Stefan?
Elena spoke to him, but he didn't hear her. All he could picture were Stefan and Charlotte together.
Were they kissing?
His fangs elongated.
Were they making love?
"Damon?"
He growled against Elena's neck. He was no longer a lover, but a predator.
Were they falling in it?
"Damon, stop!"-She pushed him away.
He came to his senses, finally noticing Elena's preoccupied expression. She watched him as he lay down on the other side of the bed, looking at the ceiling with a horrified expression.
"This isn't working."
Thank you for reading!
SomebodyWhoCares, Sabine Christensen, Tvdlover87654, tefi96, , and Krissie: Thank you for your amazing reviews.
I'm sorry for the wait! I'll be able to update a lot sooner now that I don't have classes for the next months. I apologize for any mistakes... I'm half asleep.