I think you might like this one...
Apart from the end...oh twist, you'll HATE the end...
I'd already shed a few happy tears tonight. I don't think I'd ever understand how some people could be so generous! Because I sure as hell didn't deserve the presents I was receiving. I was about as good as receiving presents as I was at accepting compliments. So crap…basically. And by the time our plates were taken away everyone was laughing at the tears I was trying to hold back, a frustrated hand wiping them away but unable not to laugh with them. They were so mean. But the nicest people I could ever know at the same time. If I was in Denver right now, most of the people would be present solely for the prospect of a good night out, a free night out more to the point.
How my life had changed.
It was almost one before we were leaving; my father paying the bill (an amount he refused to share), and everyone rising from their seats. Still chattering away with mon amis, I barely noticed my parents approaching until they were right there. Off Caroline went and grinned at my parents, "Have you had a good night darling?"
"Of course, amazing! Thank you so much."
"Our pleasure," Dad said with a smile, "Should we take your presents back for you?"
Pausing in confusion at that, I looked up at them and frowned a little, "I can do it; we're all going to the same place…" Weren't we? Where else would I be going? Stupid question, right?
Mum smiled, my father shifting slightly and looking more awkward than I'd ever seen him. Of course he'd be somewhat uncomfortable with the idea. It was his job. "Isadora insists that your room is all set up at the Salvatore's. I think they have a little surprise for you themselves."
Was it right for me to be utterly baffled by this turn of events? "What type of surprise?"
She just rolled her eyes, "Just a surprise! You'll like it, I promise. It's kind of from all of us, the parents at least."
Oh god not more presents. I couldn't have more presents! Why was everyone so bloody nice around here? That said, maybe I felt a twinge of guilt for not being at home with them on my birthday, but I wasn't going to say no to this alternative. And so twenty or so minutes later, after many 'happy birthday's' and 'thank you's', I found myself in Damon's Camaro, following his parents car back to the boarding house. Neither of us said anything though, our hands just loosely linked over the central console. The only thought on my mind was what this surprise could possibly be. They made it seem like a pretty big one, but how big could it be? They wouldn't have spent a lot of money on me…right? God I hope they hadn't…
We entered at just the same time as them, walking through to the parlour and I stayed quiet as they had their usual little conversations: 'Stefan put your shoes away', 'don't just dump your coat anywhere boys, we have a cloakroom for a reason,'…you know the type. Isadora was undoubtedly the leader of this clan.
Reaching the parlour, Damon made his way straight for the stairs, me trailing along behind him with our hands linked; only pausing when our names were called by his mother, beckoning us to return. Trying not to laugh at my boyfriends exasperated sigh, I tugged gently on his hand and went to join his family.
"One last present, then you can go to sleep." She assured me with a secretive smile. I had to dig my nails into Damon's hand as he made a little scoffing noise. Oh lore…
Giuseppe spoke next, commanding full attention, "It's from both your parents, your aunt, uncle and us…more of a surprise than a present." What could it possibly be? Completely baffled, I accepted the white envelope Stefan passed me, smiles all around as I tentatively opened it, if a little wary. What could be in an envelope? Oh god, I hope they hadn't spent any money. I know they were rolling in it but I'd feel so bad-
-what the…?
The standard birthday card slipped out…except on the front there was a photograph of a huge villa; they type you see in films with balconies and ivy growing all over the walls. It was taken from the lake just a little way beneath, the setting sun casting a gorgeous amber hue over the building…why was I going into so much detail about this dream-like place? It took me all of a minute to figure it out, reading the inside…
"Oh my god…"Laughter sounded from around me but I couldn't function, shock and excitement flooding through me, "Are you serious?!"
"Deadly, two weeks, this summer, all of us." I was sure I was going to faint. I mean, this had to be a dream…right? It couldn't possibly be real…there was no way in hell that they were really taking me to Italy…how I'd always dreamt of going there.
"How-…wha…no…oh my-"
Apparently my loss for words was hysterical to them, Damon speaking through his laughter, "Use your words Len. You're going to Italy. It's our house anyway…and you did say you wanted to go."
"I know but I didn't expect this! Thank you so much! Oh my god it's amazing!" I all but squealed, looking between them all, still in complete shock. I couldn't help but hug them all, uttering thank you after thank you because they were taking me to Italy! Sure it was a family holiday but still!
I was still speechless by the time Damon pulled me into his room ten minute later, muttering quiet comments of 'I can't believe this' as he shut the door, chuckling quietly. "Stop laughing at me. You're parents are way too nice for their own good."
"Oh it's a family trait." Rolling my eyes at the comment, the smile on my face wouldn't be going anywhere for a while as I dropped down on the end of his bed, leaning against the post in the corner as he made his way across to the dresser.
"Hmm that is true, Stefan is very nice. Did it skip a sibling?" Laughing at his mock-affronted gasp, I pushed myself up and practically skipped over to him, heels and all. Sliding my arms around his waist, I pressed myself flush against his back, pressing a kiss to his shoulder and smiling contently, "Nice isn't a strong enough word to describe you. It's just too mediocre and you're anything but."
"Oh flatter me, feel free."
Smirking, I squeezed him a little tighter for a moment, "I will. You're perfect. You're the most perfect person I know and people don't say it enough. Because you're also a cocky shit and they don't feel the need…but I'm serious. You're perfect."
Unusually, he didn't say anything to that for a moment, just waiting a beat before turning around, not giving me any warning before dipping his head and pressing his lips to mine. Smiling into the kiss, I couldn't help but let out a little squeal as he spun us around, pressing me back against the dresser. I could hardly breathe by the time he pulled away a fraction, "You exaggerate Elle. But you…you're perfection."
Oh lore, I smiled a little, wanting to deny it but knowing that whatever I said he'd just cut me off. "Alright Casanova." I said, sliding my hand down to his chest and patting him with a smirk, "Whatever you say." He opened his mouth to object but I rushed on, "Toilet break." And I ducked under his arm, darting over to the toilet, laughing at his mumbled complaints.
Glancing in the mirror as I washed my hands, I paused for a moment, once again slipping into that 'phase'. It was the 'how had my life changed so much' slash 'when the hell did I get so lucky?' phase. I'd changed…a lot. Everything from my attitude to the clothes I wore to the way I wore my hair…hell, even the colour of my hair had changed. Maybe it was just that I'd grown up, but I felt like it was more than that. I don't know. Spotting an unsorted laundry basket through the mirror, I grabbed the freshly washed, ironed and folded black shirt sat on the top, stripping down to my underwear and pulling it on. Standard pyjamas at the Salvatore house.
Clothes in hand, I wondering back into his room, finding it empty as I laid the nights outfit over the side of the sofa, kicking off the heels that were just starting to hurt my feet and sitting down on the plush couch. My iPhone beeped by my side and I pulled it out, smiling as I read the obviously drunk-text from Caroline. Sometime as I was tapping back a reply, I heard Damon return, crossing the room to the bed and leaning against the end. Chucking the phone back onto the cushions, I looked up and smiled as I caught his eyes. He lifted his hand, waving a small black box, "What's that?"
He rolled his eyes, "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't get my girlfriend a birthday present?"
"A very good one." Clearly that wasn't going to work, "If you spent money I'll…sleep next door."
At that he just laughed, shaking his head because we both knew I'd never last the night. Time may well have passed but I was still as jumpy as ever when it came to being alone at night, "You spent money on my birthday present. A lot of money."
"It's not the same thing."
"Enlighten me…how?"
I swear to god I almost growled in frustration, standing up and crossing the floor to him, blushing a little at the way he looked me up and down, "It just is. You've done so much for me anyway-"
Cut off by his finger landing on my lips, my eyes widened for a second before sighing, "-Stop that sentence right there…and open your present." Caveman.
"I don't deserve all these presents." I muttered under my breath, taking the box from his hands and letting out a quiet sigh. It wasn't that I wasn't grateful, trust me, I was…but all this generosity was just way too much. Enough to make me cry even. I was being taken to Italy for Christ's sake!
Taking a deep breath, I lifted the black velvet lid of the box, my eyes stretching wide and a gasp leaving my mouth as I took in its contents. "Oh my god…" It was all I could quite manage at that moment. Holy mother fucker… The whole thing exuded wealth but it wasn't that that had me in such awe. It was the jewel delicately hanging from the fine gold chain, placed on the black velvet cushion. A little gold locket…tiny patterns engraved around the edges and it was just the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
"Do you like it? I can change it for something else if you don't…"
"No! Don't you dare. Damon this is amazing, I love it." Dragging my eyes from the jewel just in time to see the relief leave his eyes, I reached up and pressed a kiss to his lips without a thought.
"Well that's a relief." He murmured against my lips, making me smile before he pulled away a fraction, "You're not complaining…I'm shocked."
"Hey! No fair." Trying not to laugh, he took the box back and I turned around, lifting my hair up for him to put it on, "And you didn't give me the chance. How much did you spend?"
No answer. Relaxing into the feel of the cool metal rested against my chest and his hands sliding across my shoulders as he finished, I didn't move to turn around. "Secret. You're not allowed to ask how much a present costs."
Sighing, I wouldn't stand for that, "Damon-"
He cut me off though with a kiss to my jaw, one arm sliding around my waist and I couldn't help the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth, "Relax. I didn't spend anything."
Like that made me feel so much better. "What do you mean?"
"Jheeze you ask a lot of questions. It belonged to my grandmother-"
"-What! Damon no, I can't accept-"
"Shut up woman! You're so annoying. It's yours. She gave it to me and told me to give it to…someone else…so…now it's yours." He argued, holding my hands against my stomach with both hands to stop me from giving it back. It's not that I didn't like it. I loved it…but it was too much. And with that thought my eyes began to water slightly, letting out a little noise and he spun me around to face him again, sitting down on the edge of the bed so he was more at my eye level, "Why're you crying Len?"
Trying to scowl at him, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, settling for shaking my hands and making another incoherent noise, trying to stop my eyes filling. It all just came up at the same time, all the emotions I was feeling filtering down into three simple words. One impossibly sentiment…
"I love you…"
...Just kidding!
Like or no like?
I have to say all the reviews I'm getting, you lot have to be some of the nicest people in the world. Thank you so much!
I'll try to keep updating but I admit, my exams are kind of my priority...sorry :) Done in three weeks though! Frantic revision being done right this minute.
