Elena held onto Damon's offered arm. She was feeling unsteady on her feet. Her legs felt wobbly and her heart was still beating pretty fast against her chest.

Damon sure knew how to ride a motorcycle! It was a crazy experience that Elena found herself enjoying. It was embarrassing to say, but she felt more at ease when she was holding onto Damon on the back of his Harley Davidson. Damon was right, Elena knew she could trust him if she was willing to climb on the back of his bike.

During the entire ride, Elena felt anxious mixed in with a whirl of adrenaline rushing through her veins. It was like nothing she had ever encountered before, and surprisingly enough; she couldn't wait to get back on the motorcycle and go for another ride with the guitarist. She never thought she had it in her to hop on the back of one of those motorbikes, but thanks to Damon, Elena had a lifechanging experience.

Elena tilted her head up to look at Damon. He was walking right beside her with his head held high. Damon had an easy-going smile that made dimples pop up at the corners of his mouth.

"Um…"

Damon turned his head and gave Elena his full attention. Seeing the full force of his smile, along with those dimples, made Elena even more aware of how handsome Damon was. His smile was aimed at her and not at his adoring fans; it appeared to be a genuine smile, and not one of those teasing, mocking grins he usually sends her way. She almost tripped over her feet when one corner of his mouth titled upwards into one of his signature smirks that, in no doubt, has the girls swooning off of their feet. "Hmm?"

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." Damon winked at Elena.

"I really am not one for surprises," Elena grumbled. She ran one of her hands down his arm. The cold leather of his black jacket felt smooth under her fingertips. "The last time I was surprised, I found out that I was adopted."

Damon's brows raised up, causing his forehead to frown. "That is… a horrible surprise."

Elena scoffed. "You have no idea." Elena didn't want to get into that deep, dark, and horrifying memory with Damon right now – she would have to have had a couple of drinks to loosen the yellow caution tape inside of her brain to reminisce those gut-wrenching ten minutes of her life.

Elena stilled for a moment when Damon wiggled his arm out of her hold and snaked his hand around her waist. His hand curled around her hip and pulled her closer to his side. She could feel the warmth of his palm through her loose long sleeve black shirt. The slight pressure of his palm pressed against her side awoke the butterflies in her belly again. Turning her head, she looked up at Damon with a question in her doe brown eyes.

Damon rolled his eyes at Elena. His arm loosened against her as he said in an annoyed tone, "Relax, I am not going to hurt you. I am just holding you up since you can barely walk."

Elena could tell he was lying. He wasn't looking her in the eye – instead, Damon was looking above her head as if watching the cars that were going 30 miles/hour were the most interesting thing he has ever seen. She noticed that Damon engaged in contact with her when she mentioned that she was adopted. Maybe he is trying to comfort me?

Shaking her head, Elena lifted her arm up and slowly wrapped her arm around Damon. She looked straight ahead when she felt his hold on her tighten back to its original pressure. Elena's lips formed into a small smile, she was feeling good that she was getting to spend some time with Damon, who wasn't the man on stage rocking his guitar, but the man who was walking right beside her.

Damon led Elena around a corner when they reached a stoplight. They were passing chain restaurants and a couple of night clubs. Elena could hear the loud thumping of dance music coming from a nearby club. There were barely any cars parked in the club's parking lot since it was only 9:45. In bright, electric pink and green letters, the night club name was called, 'Watermelon Punch'.

"Don't go in there," Damon mumbled, his chin pressed on top of Elena's head. "The floor is incredibly sticky, they replay the same ten songs that are from the 2000's, it constantly smells like watermelons, and their drinks are fucking watered down. I know other clubs that are way better than…"

Elena didn't seem to catch the rest of what Damon said. His extended neck was leaning towards her, and she took a chance to get another smell from him. Not creepy at all. When she inhaled, Elena got a better whiff of his old spice cologne; it made her sense of smell become highly activated. She could smell the overpowering scent of cinnamon jumbled in with a hint of rich jasmine. With Damon's male scent mixed in along with the spicy cologne, Damon smelled…exotic.

"Elena?"

"…Yes?"

"Why are you smelling me?"

The two have stopped walking. They must have stopped when Elena decided that she wanted to inhale as much of Damon's scent as she could. She didn't realize that she had moved her hands up to the collar of his jacket to pull himself closer to her so she could get a better angle of him. Her lips were parted against his neck, right under his jawline. Elena could feel people walk around them; when she pulled away from Damon's neck she could see them sending her icy glares. Her ears felt hot and she was sure that her neck and cheeks were red from embarrassment and shame.

What has come over me?!

"Come here," Damon mumbled. He grabbed Elena's hand and walked a couple of steps forward until he turned into an alleyway. Elena noticed that the temperature dropped a couple of degrees when they entered the narrow passageway. Damon and Elena were now standing in between two moldy brick buildings; one of them plastered with old graffiti with large, bubbly words in loud, faded colors.

Elena noted the dumpster hanging out on the far back of the alley by a chain link fence. She could hear some kind of animal rummaging in the garbage. "Damon, why did you drag me back here-?"

Damon strode towards her until her back hit the hard brick wall, causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Damon planted both of his hands on either side of Elena's head, trapping her in-between him and the side of the brick building. Elena didn't have time to think when Damon placed his fingers underneath her chin and tilted her head up just as his face leaned down towards hers. His lips parted as he came closer and his eyes zeroed in on her; Elena thought Damon was going to kiss her. Her thoughts were a jumbled, foggy mess and her feet were anchored to the ground.

"My turn," Damon whispered hungrily like a predator. His head whipped down until his face was pressed against Elena's neck. Elena had to stand on her tiptoes through her black slip-on sneakers as Damon's warm lips brushed against her skin while he breathed in deeply though his nose. Shivers ran down Elena's spine when he exhaled through his mouth on her neck. "Mhmmm…you smell like vanilla." Gooseflesh manifested on her skin as Damon breathed her in again.

And again.

And again.

"Damon," Elena breathed out, her fingers digging into Damon's shoulders. Her face felt hot as Damon held her tightly against him. He had managed to lift Elena off of the ground as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck. She could feel his devilish smirk against her collar. His breath tickled the sensitive skin, and her entire body trembled as he placed his lips on the crook of her neck and gently breathed on it. "P-Put me down," she said as firmly as she could. She couldn't stop the quiver in her voice. "Now."

"Alright," Damon groaned up against her. He raised his face up until he was looking her right in the eye. His blue orbs glowed with desire in them. "Just let me do this first."

Elena didn't know what to expect when Damon bit and tugged on the outer part of her ear. Her stomach clenched and her eyes widened in shock as hugged her body close, placing her feet back on the ground. She found herself wrapping her arms around Damon's neck as his lips ran down where her neck met her shoulder. His warm breath brushed against her bare skin when he shoved the collar of her shirt down.

"You smell really good," he growled lowly. "I want to know what you-"

Elena grabbed a fistful of Damon's hair and gave it a good yank. The sound of his scream echoed in the alley, scaring the animal out of the dumpster; its claws scraped on the ground as it scurried away.

"You made it!"

Elena walked past Damon who was holding the door for her. She thanked him as he closed the door behind her. Elena spotted Stefan leaning against the wall, waiting for his brother and Elena to arrive. She addressed Stefan with a friendly smile. "Hey." Once again, she was comforted at Stefan's warm and approachable presence.

Stefan nodded at Damon as he placed his hand on Elena's back in greeting. She stayed quiet as she followed after the two brothers through a small, cramped hallway. They were inside a bar that had grunge music playing from a couple of speakers. It smelled like cigarettes and cheap beer the further Elena walked through.

The walls were painted black and the ground they walk on was a metallic gray marble epoxy flooring that shined under the dim lighting. Artistically drawn pictures of various breeds of dogs were nailed to the walls along with dog bowls painted red, blue, pink, and yellow. In the middle of the room was a rectangular wooden bar filled with ash trays, green plaid baskets filled with fresh peanuts and M&M's, and coasters to place mugs on. One side of the bar contained customers sitting on matching wooden bar stools with a green plaid comforters; the other side of the bar had two busy bartenders filling up orders for the night.

Damon and Stefan took their seats by the end of the bar, away from the other patrons. Elena sat next to Stefan and folded her hands on top of the counter. There were multiple small flat screen televisions hanging above the bar. A couple of them had on a rerun of an old UFC fight featuring a well-known Irish fighter with a tiger tattooed over his abdomen. Football and basketball games were playing on other screens. Elena was surprised to see The Simpsons on a couple of the T.V.'s; she thought that most bars just showed sports.

"Welcome to the Barking Dog, what can I get you guys?" The bartender asked. He smiled kindly at Elena and said, "Ladies drink free tonight."

"I will have a Jack Daniels on ice," Stefan said.

"Apple beer, please," Elena said.

"Water," Damon said absentmindedly, his face squished against his hand with his elbow on the counter.

The bartender took their orders and walked away to fix them up.

"Even though I could really use a drink right now," Damon continued, "I am going to be a good little boy scout and have just plain, boring, non-alcoholic water."

"Good for you, Damon," Stefan said. He turned so he was facing Elena. A warm smile presented itself across Stefan's face as he said, "Welcome to the band."

"Thank you," Elena said, smiling back.

"I am sure that you don't need to me to tell you how your performance went. Now... I am sure you are wondering why Damon dragged you over here to this bar." Stefan cleared his throat and gestured to the far back wall of the bar with his chin. "You see that?"

Elena followed where Stefan was indicating to. She noticed that the bar's employees were setting up a large and used-up drum set with the word, 'Originals' on the bass drum in big, bold, red and black letters. The microphones, bass, and guitar were all in their stands along with a keyboard. "Is a band going to be playing here?"

"Yes," Stefan said. He thanked the bartender when their drinks have arrived. The bass player took a slow, lingering sip of his drink. Elena waited for him to finish, clenching the cold beer bottle in her hands. Smacking his lips, Stefan looked back at Elena and continued, "They are called, 'The Originals'. The Mikaelson family plays in the band." He took another sip of his drink. "I want you to pay attention to them tonight."

"Why?" Elena tilted her head in curiosity as swallowed her beer. It tasted crisp and fill of sugar.

"We are going to be competing against them in Battle of the Bands in two months," Stefan answered.

"We are going to kick their British asses," Damon called out from Stefan's other side. "They think they are so much better than us just because they like to drink with their pinkies out-"

"I see that we have visitors."

Elena spun around on her chair to see who interrupted Damon.

The man who spoke stood over Damon threateningly, but in a calm manner. He had his hands in his navy blue slacks. The sleeves of his cream V-neck shirt were pulled up to his elbows. Around his neck were three rubber necklaces. His curly blond hair and blue eyes made a sharp distinction against his pale skin; it appears he doesn't go out in the sun. "You know, Damon, your words could hurt others."

Damon smirked up at the blond man. "Oh, that was my intention, Klaus."

The man called Klaus only smiled coolly down at Damon. "You're funny."

"I try to be."

Klaus looks to Stefan. "Why don't you control your brother, mate?"

Stefan sighed, his shoulders raising up in expiration. "Damon, quit being a smart ass. I really don't want to get kicked out of another bar again because of your antics with Klaus and his siblings."

Damon opened his mouth, about to protest, when Stefan shoved his palm over his older brother's face. Damon's voice was muffled under Stefan's strong hand. "I apologize, Klaus, please don't mind my brother."

"It's not a problem, Stefan," Klaus said, leaning back. "I am just glad that you guys could make it to our little show here at this fine establishment." He slowly blinked when he spotted Elena next to Stefan. "And who might you be?"

"Oh- My name is Elena. You're…. Klaus, right?" Elena almost forgot what the man's name was; she was distracted by Damon's sudden change in attitude. Why did this man make Damon so upset?

"You are correct, my dear. The name is Klaus." Klaus offered Elena his hand. Elena took it and let Klaus shake her hand in greeting. "I sincerely apologize that you are in the company of Damon Salvatore- Ah, he seems gets his rocks off by quarrelling with my kin."

"Only because you guys are asking for it-"Damon cursed when Stefan shoved his shoulder rather hard. "Quit putting your damn hands on me, Stefan!"

"I would if you learned how to behave yourself! The bartender is already giving us strange looks because you always want to challenge Klaus. If you get us kicked out tonight-"

"Gentlemen, it is all water under the bridge," Klaus said smoothly, raising his hands up in peace. "I am willing to forget if you are."

"Will Rebekah be singing tonight?" Stefan asked politely, changing the subject.

"Yes, my little sister will be debuting tonight. I hope you guys will tell me what you think of her." Klaus said in a proud voice.

"Would you like to sit down?" Elena gestured to the empty seat next to her. She didn't want the poor man to keep standing during the whole conversation. What was strange was that he couldn't seem to keep his away from her. Elena would catch him sneaking glances during their little chat.

"Thank you, my dear, but no. I have to get the band ready. We will be performing in about fifteen." He smiled down at Elena. "We are doing covers tonight, so if you have a request, I will be happy to play it for you." He told Elena a list of bands and singers his band would be able to sing.

Elena didn't have to think long. "How about, 'Starboy' from The Weekend?"

"Perfect," Klaus answered. "Let me go tell the members. I hope you do stay for the afterparty." He nodded his head at Elena and the Salvatore brothers before he made his way down the cramped hallway to the back of the bar.

"He seems nice," Elena commented as she faced the bar again, taking a drink from her beer.

Damon laughed loudly without any humor. "Klaus is anything but nice, Elena. He is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. You better watch out for him and don't give him anything he can use against you."

"Damon is exaggerating," Stefan said, narrowing his eyes as Damon. "I've been friends with Klaus and his family for years. You're the only one with a stick up your ass about the Mikaelson's, Damon."

"Am not!" Damon's brow furrowed in anger. "Look, you clearly see what you only want to see, little brother; I am not blindsided like you—"

"Enough!" Stefan raised his voice, surprising Elena. He faced Damon and began speaking in hush voices so Elena couldn't hear what words was being passed between the two brothers.

Elena felt awkward, witnessing the two brothers fight. She had no clue on what was going on. What did Damon have against Klaus? He clearly thought that Klaus was not a good person. Elena had no right to judge—she just met the guy a mere minute ago. She thought he seemed like a good person. He was well-mannered and polite to her. Maybe there was an off chance that the two of them had met before this very moment.

Damon sulked in his seat. He drank the rest of his water and Elena could tell by his mannerisms that he earned himself a brain freeze. His hands clenched in his hair by his temples as he moaned in pain. He was gritting his teeth and was cursing at how cold the ice water was.

Closing her eyes, she thought back at what happened between Damon and her in the alley.

…

"What the hell was that for?!" Damon yelled in pain; his hand immediately went to the spot where Elena pulled at his hair. "I usually love the hair-pulling game, but come on! That was way over the top! You could have ripped my hair from its scalp!" Damon was now standing at the other end of the alley. His lips were pressed firmly together as he stared at Elena, his nostrils flaring.

"You were way too close!" Elena said weakly. She had her arms wrapped around herself in a protective stance.

"What do you mean? You were all over me out there!" Damon shoved his arm outwards towards the opening of the alley, pointing a finger out at the sidewalk. "I brought us in here for some privacy. You were getting a little handsy with me out there, Elena!"

"Excuse me—no I was not!" Elena hissed. "I would never do anything like that; especially with you!"

Damon eyes widened in anger. "Please don't act all high and mighty in front of me, princess. You were all up in my business, sniffing me like there was no tomorrow. I had to drag your eager hands off of me."

"Don't be so full of yourself, Damon."

"Let me show you something." Damon walked towards Elena and lowered the collar of his jacket. He angled his neck until Elena could see what appears to be… a bite mark. "You bit me while you were getting a good whiff of me. I believe you can even see that pretty shade of lipstick you have on there."

Damon was right. Elena could indeed see her dark purple lipstick on Damon's neck around a small red area where she apparently bit him.

Her hands covered her open mouth in shock. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, hoping to disappear into herself. She wished a dark hole would suck her into nothingness to avoid this awkward dilemma. Why did she bite him?! What came over her?! Did she believe just because Damon smelt amazing that he must taste just as great?

Damon grabbed a hold of her wrists and brought them down to her sides. "Oh, you don't get to hide behind your hands from this." His black brows creased as he looked down at Elena. Elena sucked in a deep breath, mentally pulling on her big girl panties, and stared back up at him.

"Let's just continue on to our destination," Elena said dismissively. "I apologize for...biting you. It will never happen again." She pulled her wrists out from his hands and began walking away from the alley. Damon's footsteps could be heard seconds later behind her.

The remainder of the walk continued on in silence. Damon quietly slid his arm around Elena again, making an excuse that it was to keep her safe from the drunk creatures of the night. Elena didn't shrug his arm off of her, instead, she leaned into him and placed her arm back around him.

"I am sorry," Damon muttered in apology. "Just to let you know, I don't say those three words lightly."

"Thank you," Elena said. "Let's just forget the whole thing. I think I have some makeup in mu purse that could help cover that up."

"There's no need for that, Elena," Damon smirked cockily. "I do have a reputation to uphold."

Elena scoffed in disgust as she moved out of Damon's arm. "You are something else." Of course Damon would love to parade around the bite mark. He wasn't ashamed of it like how Elena is. She is completely embarrassed by her actions, and here is Damon who wants to show it off to the people around him. Elena shouldn't be this surprised, Damon loves to be in the company of women. She should remember that because she witnessed him having dirty closet sex backstage with one of the band's fans.

…

"How about we play some foosball," Elena suggested to the Salvatore brothers. There was a little area in the bar that had some games available. A group of men were playing pool and throwing darts. The only game unclaimed was the foosball table. Elena wanted to claim it before another lot took it.

"Sure, that sounds like fun," Stefan's face brightened up at the mention of foosball. "How about it, Damon? Want to play a couple of rounds?"

Damon narrowed his eyes at Stefan. "I will…if I can order a drink."

"Damon, I never forbid you from drinking. Go ahead and order yourself one."

Elena told the two brothers that she was going to set up the game. Ordering another beer, Elena made her way to the foosball table. Placing her purse on a chair next to her, Elena looked down at the game. The metal rods contained little men wearing football uniforms. One team was red while the other was blue. Wrapping her fingers around white handle over the ends of the rods, Elena experimentally began to move around the players, trying to get a feel for the game.

Thanking the waiter who handed Elena her a new beer, Elena drank from the cool bottle as Stefan and Damon headed towards her. Damon had a glass filled with amber liquid in his hand and looked as happy as a kid with cotton candy. Stefan was still finishing his first drink of Jack Daniels. "Who wants to play first?" she asked the two men.

It took five minutes for Damon to lose the first goal against Stefan. Elena and Stefan stared at one another from across the foosball table with a challenge in their gazes. "Don't think I won't go easy on you because you're a girl," Stefan taunted Elena.

Elena stayed quiet. She will not banter with the younger Salvatore brother; she plays to win! Stefan and Damon shared an amused look before Stefan started the game. Elena had to admit, Stefan was quite skilled at the little game. He knew exactly where to place his hands, how to maneuver the players, and when to roll the ball. "Is this your first time playing?" Stefan couldn't help but ask Elena when he scored a goal.

"No," Elena said as she and Damon switched spots. "I played this game when I was a kid with my Dad."

"Ah, child's-play," Stefan chuckles good naturedly. "Now you get to play with the big boys."

Damon laughed at his brother as he placed his hands on the black wooden foosball table, leaning forward with his head bowed. "I only see one big boy here, Stefan, and it is not you."

"Ready to lose for a second time, brother?" Stefan teased Damon with a large grin.

In return, Damon sent Stefan two middle fingers. "Try me."

Elena watched the two brother play against one another. The ball clicked against the little football men as fast as lightening. The first round between the two Salvatores was nothing like this round. Damon was actually giving it his all. His eyes were narrowed in concentration and he sucked in his bottom lip when he reached down to move the rod with the goal so he could block one of Stefan's many scores. "Ha!" Damon yelled out in victory when he managed to block it, now moving on to gain control of the ball.

"I let you do that," Stefan told Damon as he pulled a rod out to the left, making sure to block Damon's players.

"You keep telling yourself that, little bro," Damon smirked. "How about we start a little wager?"

"What do you have in mind?" Stefan grunted as he managed to pass the ball and was now leading his players towards the goal.

Damon didn't lose focus; he got the ball back and was now dodging Stefan's players and passing the ball to his team. "The loser has to jump off of the Wickery Bridge into the water…naked."

With no hesitation, Stefan said, "Deal."

A/N: Who do you want to see naked?

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