The lyrics are from the song Hands Up by Hedley. The story title is from the song by The Pretty Reckless.
Rated M for language, sexual content, sensitive matter, and dark themes.
Without you I don't got a reason! Without you I don't got a soul!
It was Thanksgiving, and everyone had returned to Mystic Falls for the holiday. Jenna had invited the Salvatore's over for dinner, where she and Alaric announced their engagement. It was in the wake of this that Elena found herself outside, on her front porch, alone.
It had become harder and harder to try and suppress her feelings for Damon. She was sure that she had already destroyed any chance of a relationship between them, and tried valiantly to accept this as the reality. Unfortunately, every time he walked into a room, her heart rate skyrocketed, and the constant pressure in her body became a pounding need.
Even Cole had noticed, and had opted to stay at school for Thanksgiving rather than join Elena in Mystic Falls. He had told her that he would give her time to think about whether she really wanted to continue with him, or whether she would be happier with Damon.
For all my days I live to praise you!
When she had asked him why he would say that, he laughed with hardly a trace of bitterness.
"Well, among other things, you practically tear my clothes off the second he leaves. I'm pretty sure I know the effect that he has on you."
Make me wanna scream and shout it out, it's all I gotta say!
"Where's the boyfriend?"
Elena turned and found herself nose to nose with Damon. She leaned back and swallowed thickly before answering.
"He had to stay at school to… study for an exam."
"Oh really? Or has he noticed that you just aren't that into him?"
She scowled at him. "I am into him, he just –"
"Oh-ho right! That's why you're practically crawling out of your skin half the time. Do you remember telling me how you felt since Katherine, or is that all just a blur of horny?"
She slapped him, and tried to push him back from her, but he stayed put for a moment before chuckling a little and walking back into the house.
Hands up! Take it all away! If I got you then I'll be ok.
When she returned to school, she broke it off with Cole, and he nodded calmly before pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. She had no idea what she would do now, given her decision to not tell Damon how she felt, coupled with her almost constant state of desire.
I know. Now everybody say, "If I got you I like it that way!"
She found herself at Stefan and Damon's more and more, lounging with Stefan, and arguing endlessly with Damon. Stefan had started excusing himself the second Damon walked into the room, leaving the house to avoid listening to the inane fight that was to come. He noticed as time went on that things were getting broken during the times that Damon antagonized her, and he knew that his brother found it endlessly entertaining to get her angry when she was already riled up.
"If I got you then I'll be ok! If I got you I like it that way!"
A few weeks before Christmas break, Damon had been poking around the campus coffee shop, looking either for Elena, regretting how far he had pushed her the night before, or for any random female student to have some fun with. He spun around when he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Cole.
"Hi," the vampire said awkwardly.
"I just wanted you to know, because I know that she won't say it, that she has feelings for you." The young man clapped Damon on the shoulder, and smiled neutrally.
Damon simply looked bemused as he nodded and walked away.