Chapter 2:
To say that she was tired was an understatement . Right after the founder's day disaster, she got no break. She was on the school debate team and Mrs. Hart had handed her so many books on Friday for her research. That was on top of the sources she had already kept for herself.
She was losing her mind with all the waking up. To make things worse, she hadn't had any time to talk to Matt. But Bonnie did text her and said that she met up with him.
She was making coffee for another session when Miranda startled her, "Honey, did you drop the transcripts to Mrs. Fell yet?"
Elena ran a hand through her rough hair, "Nope, I have some more work, I'll drop them tomorrow, does that work?"
Her mother's head dropped to her side, "Elena, you were suppose to do it yesterday. Look- I need to go to Richmond, your dad is working late. And god knows where Jeremy is."
"Right here!" spoke Jeremy in his 'hung over' tone. Miranda groaned, "Elena, take care of whatever this is. I have to leave." She said picking up her bag from the table and planting a kiss to Elena's hair.
Once the door closed after her. Elena put her hands on her hips as she weakly made her way to the living room, "Jer, this is getting old."
He sat up, all grouchy and grumpy, "Can't you just bask in the fact that me being a disappointment puts you in a good light."
She scoffed, "I put myself in the good light, you only put a load on my responsibilities."
Jeremy flipped her as he went towards the stairs, "You're not my mother."
"Like you listen to her!" she shouted. As she was walking back to the kitchen, she stub her toe on the couch and cried, "Ouch, damn it!"
The doorbell rang just then and Elena cursed as she went towards the door. Her boyfriend Matt was standing there, looking up and down at her rough appearance that wasn't usually the case.
"Elena, you okay?"
She put her foot down that she was still massaging , "Oh Matt, hi. Yeah I am good."
He hugged her that instance and Elena frowned in confusion as he started apologizing, "I can't believe I ignored you all day yesterday, Bonnie just met me and told me about how you were at the party when the place got on fire."
She hugged him back, "I am fine Matt, I hurt my hand a little but that's okay too."
He pull back to cup her face, "I am sorry. I just- I never should have left you there."
"Matt , I am totally okay." She chuckled.
"No, I am making it up to you." He said completely determined. "I have to drive Vikki to the airport but after that I want to take you out to a movie. I just want to be close to you right now."
Elena's body tensed up, the things on her to do list were swimming before her eyes in big bold letters but she knew that if she said anything about the debate team or her mother's chores, not to mention sobering up Jeremy for school tomorrow, Matt was definitely going to get mad again. At this point her boyfriend was no less than a task.
"Umm okay, I'll get ready by- when's the movie?"
"8. And maybe we can catch dinner after that." He suggested.
Elena only nodded her head. He kissed her on the lips before leaving. Elena closed the door and raced to the kitchen to get coffee.
First things first. She got her car keys and delivered the transcripts to Mrs. Fell. Who as predicted, did stop her for a chat.
"You are a known name in town, so I really want our youth to connect with this event. The boys are hardly interested in any of this if Elena Gilbert isn't there. And well you know the girls compete with you." She went on and on about her idea of this charity event.
The girls will have to be pretty, fill out an info card and let the anonymous bid happen, later the couples chosen will answer some questions and answers, couples with the most compatibility will go on dates. However, the guys will have to pay for their entry forms, even the screening process and then the dates.
It was all very sexist but she had to bare with this woman because of her mother, "Sure, when is it?"
"I am thinking 16 October."
Elena bit her lip, her mind was a mess, she couldn't even remember if there was any event on her calendar on that date. She needed sleep. "Okay, I am in." Anything to leave this place.
After the chat, she reached home. Got in the shower to clean up, she had exactly two hours to get ready.
She called Caroline, "I need you at my house now!"
The blonde was soon at her house with her actual luggage full of make up. Elena was in the chair preparing her arguments for the debate rehearsal while Caroline was curling her hair, Bonnie was asking her some questions that she had written earlier for herself to prepare for Mrs. Hart.
"What are your ideas about the wild beast test?"
Elena cleared her throat, as Caroline put powder on her face, "The test varies from case to case like in R V Madfield we can see that the wild beast test was not- Ouch Caroline!" she screeched when Caroline got the eyeliner brush in her eye, "You've been studying all day Elena , can we please just get this over with."
"I am so tired." Elena let out a sigh, she was wearing a black dress that ended above her knees and hugged her around her waist for a cinched effect. Her hair were curled, she was wearing high knee boots, "Then stay home, you and Matt can probably watch a movie downstairs." Bonnie suggested.
"No, If I tell him to dial back even a bit he's going to just get mad at me and I don't need any more drama. By the way, you both are now running in 'Mystic Falls Young Love Night' with me. Signed you up."
Bonnie groaned, "It's not another game where we end up in some wannabe frat boy's lap right?"
"I won't comment." Elena closed her notes as she heard the doorbell. "I just hope I don't fall asleep in his car."
…
..
Elena was barely listening to anything , thank god Bonnie had agreed to stay home with Jeremy until she came back. When they arrived at the movies. Elena made sure to not seem too tired.
"What are we watching?" she asked him. He pointed towards the poster of what seemed like an action film that looked like adaptation of a video game Jeremy would play. She wanted to die right then and there. Now she had to sit for a good two hours to watch grown men pretend to fight zombies or robots with guns and helicopters in a CGI universe and act like she enjoyed it.
Could this day get any worse?
And right when she said it couldn't. She saw Damon Salvatore near the entrance. She turned around so he wouldn't spot her. And great , Matt was in line to get their tickets.
Elena tried to hide but he walked right up to her, "Elena Gilbert, first time spending her precious time at a place she can't put on her resume."
Elena bit the inside of her cheek, "Speaking of, yours is perfect for making popcorn here."
He smirked, "I love how I am always on your mind."
"I think of you every time they mention the devil at Sunday Church service." She said not waiting for a breath.
He laughed at her comeback, "Woah your off your game today, you used that one last week."
Elena narrowed her eyes as he went on, "I see you're here for the culture." He pointed at the movie poster with his eyes, "Should I get us tickets?"
"My boyfriend is getting me tickets." She gritted out.
He looked over to the line and huffed, "This guy again? I swear every time I look at him, he's blonder."
"Well at least he's not alone at the movies tonight." Elena said in a petty tone. Damon raised a brow, "Oh you mean me? No I am with them." He gestured towards the three girls that were standing near the popcorn line, Elena was pretty sure they were in her year. Abby, Cindy and Meg.
Were they all on a date with him? How much insecure do you have to be to settle for that? Elena shook her head in disappointment.
Watching her judgement, he chuckled, "No need to be jealous, they have nothing on you." He said as he leaned down to whisper in her ear, she pushed at his chest, "Stay away from me. You disgust me. This is- disgusting."
Right then Matt showed up, putting his arm around her, "Babe, is there a problem?"
Damon rolled his eyes, "Okay jock step down before someone hands your ass back to you."
Elena held Matt's arm, "Let's go watch the movie. He's just being a dick."
Matt glared at Damon for a whole half minute before leaving with Elena. Damon turned back to look at the three girls, "Slight change of plan, we are watching this one." He pointed to the tacky action film.
…
..
The movie was just about to get started , Matt was telling her all the 'game' background of it. Elena felt that if her brain hears and stored another word it would start to disintegrate. When the movie started, she sighed of relief. At least now Matt would be engrossed in the movie and she can maybe get a few minutes of rest.
"What the fuck?" Matt whispered loudly when Damon and his 'friends' got in the back row, just behind them. Elena clutched her curls at her temple with one hand in frustration as Damon leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "You have to give me some credit for keeping three girls satisfied at once when this one can't even keep one." He said not caring that Matt was glaring at him.
She pushed her hand against his face, "Stay in your seat, Salvatore."
"God I wanna punch him." Matt said clutching the arm rest. Elena sat back with a sigh, "Get in line."
After a good five minutes of being quiet. The movie had started and Elena was starting to doze off when Matt leaned closer, "Is he interested in you?"
"huh?"
"Damon Salvatore, is he interested in you?"
Was Matt really that blind?
"Duh." She said as she picked some popcorn and ate them.
He was quiet for a while, Elena was trying to understand the movie that was defying all laws of physics. She just didn't like complete brain dead trash entertainment.
"Hey. You look really hot." Matt whispered loudly. She turned her head to look at him and smiled, "Thanks babe."
"Can I kiss you?"
"Now?" she looked around.
He nodded eagerly, she shrugged giving in. Matt wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. He crashed his lips against hers, instantly making her open her mouth for him. She gasped when he put his hands down her hair, cupping her breasts.
Damon knew Matt was putting on the show to "Mark his territory", a part of him knew that if Elena ever became his , she would never even remember losers like Matt Donovan. Yet he couldn't help but feel bitter, disappointed- almost angry. Of course he was.
She never spoke to him without a threat yet she was here making out with the biggest loser she could find in Mystic Falls.
"Oh do you want to make out too?, this movie is so boring. "Cindy asked putting her hand on his thigh. He huffed as he sat back.
"Not with you I don't. Her on the other hand-" He muttered but Matt heard for sure because he pulled back from Elena, "Do you want to take this outside, Salvatore?"
Elena pushed back her hair, "Ignore him, Matt."
Matt got up almost growling, "Ignore him? He's fucking with us!"
She gritted her teeth, holding his jacket, "Sit down! People are watching, he does this all the time, just ignore him."
Damon was just sitting back and smirking until he started shouting at Elena, "So he does this and you let him , are you into this guy?"
"What? No." Elena flinched. Matt held her wrist to make her stand up, people around them were telling them to leave but he wasn't listening.
"Is that why you avoid me all the time? Are you fucking him behind my back, is this you making a fool out of me?" he said shaking her, Elena pushed against him, "Stop it!"
Damon was also up from his seat, "God, you're as insecure as a ballerina. If you want to fight someone then I am right here."
"Oh I will-" before Matt could launch at him, Elena pushed him back, "You know what? I am done with you because you're a complete Neanderthal. I can't fight you anymore Matt, I have work, and a god damn life that doesn't surround you. So fight each other to death. I don't care." She said as she walked out from the seats .
Instantly, she went to the rest room and poured water on her face, she knew Matt was making out with her to make a statement in front of Damon and normally she wouldn't let his hands under her dress in public but she wanted to make it up to him for the past few days. But lately he was over sensitive about everything and she didn't need that when she had so much on her plate. She sat down against the wall, resting her heart for a bit. Her body was tired and she had to go to school tomorrow. Her life was a 24 hour job.
The next time she opened her eyes , she saw Damon's crystal blue eyes staring back at her, "Elena, wake up." He was patting her face.
Elena frowned as she sat up, "Did i-"
"Yeah Meg said you were sleeping in here." He tucked some hair behind her ear.
She nodded her head before resting it against his arm, closing her eyes, "I am so tired, I can't even talk."
"I'll take you home." He offered, surprisingly gentle.
"Matt." She muttered.
"He left." Damon said as he picked her up. Elena rested her head against his shoulder as he took her to his car.
Elena was mumbling about her debate the whole way home. He figured she was sleep talking. When he saw her house, he stopped the car and picked her up from her seat. She slipped right into his arms, "According to Doctor Melanie's research-"
He shook his head, "It was Doctor Edward. Melanie is the test patient." He had heard Elena circle back on her arguments two times now.
Elena nodded with closed eyes, "Good note. Good note." She mumbled. He couldn't help but smile a bit as she rubbed her cheek against his shirt. When he rang the bell, Bonnie came to the front door she gasped seeing them, "You drugged her!"
Damon's eyes widened dramatically, "Yeah because then I would deliver her home."
"What happened?" Bonnie asked as she got out of the way.
"She fell asleep. Matt bailed. I was there so yeah. That's the short version."
"Then what's the long version?" Bonnie asked with an eye brow raised.
Elena groggily sleep talked, "By taking all three tests, we could lower any propaganda or controversy that may follow any public cases-"
Damon whispered, "Apparently long version is a trigger. Where's her room?"
"You can't go to her room!" Bonnie protested. Damon blinked his eyes, making a mock pout, "Please." She thought for a minute before surrenders.
"Argh it's not like I can take her upstairs." She lead him to Elena's room. Damon looked around the space. It's all he had expected. Girlish, bookish- slightly messy but a Elena-like bedroom. He put her on her bed, Bonnie took off her shoes. "Thanks for dropping her home."
"I am full of favors." He said as he got one last look at her, "So Bonnie, right? What are you doing Tuesday night?"
"Thanking God that I wasn't seduced by you so you can creep close to my friend." She said with a fake smile.
He huffed, "Guess the whole bunch loves to play hard to get."
"You bet, pretty boy." She said as she shut the door on his face.
..
…
Her Monday debate practice was all like a fever dream but one thing had struck her like a nightmare. Damon fucking Salvatore took her home. According to Bonnie, he carried her upstairs which meant he now knew about the Nine Inch Nails poster she had in her room. Fuck, did he see her stupid teddy bear? Was all her underwear in the drawers? She wanted to kill Bonnie.
The whole day she successfully avoided him and even Matt. Then came lunch hour. Caroline was re-telling her Stefan Salvatore story for the third time.
"He sent me a friend request. You know the kind of guy he is. And then at the same time I hear that he's not dating Lexi, they were just 'hanging out'. So I accept his friend request. He doesn't even wait a minute before texting me." Her pitch got narrower as she reached the end.
Elena stabbed her fork into the sandwich's plastic wrap. Bonnie tutted, "The nerve."
Caroline nodded, "Exactly, he's being all vague but I know, he just wants to hook-up with the cheerleader."
Elena shrugged, "So don't hook with him."
Caroline bit her lip as she stared down at her salad, "But he's so hot and I haven't dated any bad boys yet. Its like a rite of passage."
Elena chuckled, "For someone with daddy issues." Bonnie laughed as Caroline picked a cucumber slice from her salad and threw it her way, "Hey, my gay dad left us for his boyfriend. If anything, the universe owes me one Salvatore."
Bonnie chimed in, "Because the other one is obsessed with her." She gestured towards Elena who rolled her eyes, "He's obsessed with everything that moves in a skirt. I'd rather date that pimply nerd who keeps running into me at the library so his 'meet cute' technique works on me."
"Aaron, yeah he sucks." Caroline groaned. "So, back to me! Stefan wants to take me out Saturday."
Bonnie sipped from her juice as she said, "To where? Crack "R" us?"
Elena laughed. "That would be some date. Though still better than being on a date with Damon." She made a scrunched up disgusted face.
"I heard my name." Damon literally scared the life out of her when he suddenly just showed up behind their table.
Elena's shoulders raised in alarm with goosebumps as he was leaning down near her neck, she muttered, "Speak of the devil."
"And he shall appear." Damon said dramatically, taking a grape from Bonnie's tray and popping it into his mouth, "So I heard date, are you already dreaming about me? Donovan's body isn't even cold yet."
Her cheeks turned crimson as he added, "I am not completely opposed to the idea considering I had a dream about being in your bedroom last night, now that I've seen it- it's much better quality. We have so much fun." She pushed his arm, "Go away Damon."
Bonnie interrupted as well, "Don't you have enough girls to harass?"
"Elena's my favorite." He said feigning a whine. "I can do dates too. And I promise no third or fourth wheels when it's you, Elena." He said reaching for her juice, she took it from his hand, "I rather-"
He interrupted, "Yeah, yeah- eat frogs, eat Nails, live on an island with snakes, adopt a 1000 cats, die of a rare disease- but don't you want to experience the best date of your life?"
She faked a smile and said, "No."
Caroline palmed her face, "Just give him a chance already."
"Exactly. Barbie is right. I won't stop until you do." He said lingering close to her face, his eyes on her lips, Elena had a hint of a smile, as she kept him waiting for an answer, she sighed, "Damon, you can try the whole week, the month, the year- hell you can try all your life. I'll never go out with you. Even if the government forces me."
His face remained unchanged, cool, smug, not even slightly disappointed as he stood straight , "Never is a very strong word to take back later when you're in love with me."
She choked on her juice as he walked away, "Douchebag." She muttered.
..
.
As Damon drove home he continuously thought about Elena Gilbert today. True, there were many others to keep him occupied throughout the school year but lately it just wasn't doing for him. Every other girl at school was instantly interested in him. They would leave their boyfriends to share his attention with four other girls at a time.
And then Elena Gilbert chooses a fucking typical jock over him. And when she's not with the jock, she's avoiding him like he's contaminated. And though he played it cool, it was driving him insane how she absolutely refused him. He wasn't used to being thrown drinks on or such rejection.
When he entered his house, he saw his brother on the bar stool, making himself a drink. Damon rolled his eyes, "Were all your buddies out of drugs today?" he said as be walked to the bar. If there was anyone whom he cared about, it was Stefan.
He huffed, "No, I am just out of money for the month."
"Yikes." Damon said taking a seat next to him, they had pretty big allowances, it was surprising to see Stefan run out so soon.
"I am not lending you any money." Damon said as he reached for the bottle. Stefan bit his lip, "I know. That's why I didn't ask."
When his phone buzzed, he took it out, staring down at his screen with a grin, "I am more focused on getting myself a cheerleader."
Damon leaned to see his phone and groaned, "Ugh, Barbie talks non-stop."
Stefan chuckled, "Yeah I know. But she's got the body to sweeten the deal." He said as he texted her back, "Now she wants me to win her at MF Love Night. One way or another I am getting lucky this weekend."
"What's that?" Damon asked as he took a sip from his scotch.
Stefan showed him the flier on his phone, "Town is doing a charity thing, guys have to win dates. Caroline's friend signed her up or she would have been available anyway this weekend." He said shaking his head.
Damon felt like God himself just realigned the stars for him. There was no way Elena wasn't participating in a stupid charity event. He knew her way too well.
"So guys win dates? Like the girls who are participating are a prize?" he asked.
"Yeah. So fucking dumb. I am one step away from writing her a poem at this point " He complained.
How ironic, Elena would go on a date with him this week without him even trying. The opportunity had knocked on his door and he'd be damned if he didn't make the most of it.
A/N: Yayyyy! Chapter 2 done. Some of you really want this to be a long story and i'll do the best I can. Thank you so so much for the beautiful reviews and messages. I have also opened a writing account twitter called @nosweetendings (connect with me there so I can let you know when i'll update or any more specifics, the way adaud does with her story redemption)
Other than that, I love you guys. Iong reviews are like love letters for me so do give a review , favourite the story or save it. Next chapter is – The charity bid. I know this is a repeated kind of trope but I never did it and I love it!
REVIEW PLEASE!!!