Hello readers,

The thirteenth chapter is here. Enjoy reading.

I do not own TVD, neither the characters, but this story is mine.

"Hello, Elena?"

"Hey Damon, I know I'm late. Sorry, I got caught up at the restaurant, but I will be there soon..."

"Umm... Actually I am sorry Elena... I hate to say this, but I have to cancel today. Something important came up..."

"Oh... I thought... you were...

Nevermind! ... So, see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow. Bye."

Ugh...God I hated this! I was on the way to the Salvatore house, almost halfway there, but just then Damon had called and cancelled the session! How ridiculous was that?

He kept texting me all throughout the day about some surprise that he had planned, and then he told me not to come at all! It was so disheartening for me because not only was I looking forward to meet Damon throughout the day, but also I wanted to ask him about coming to the party with me.

The edgy feeling which had been constantly pricking at my heart from the morning, was now, increasing by the minute. I just wanted to feel peaceful, but that would only be possible when I would see him again. Or possibly when I would be able to talk to him, because now I was also wondering why he had cancelled the session.

The call from Damon had almost stupefied me. I literally had to stop the car at the side of the road and take deep breaths to clear my mind and not end up driving rashly. When Bonnie had told me to ask Damon to be my date I had said no, but when she suggested that this could give me hints about his feelings for me, I couldn't think straight. I just hurried out, driving towards Damon's home with some serious anxiety running through my mind.

I hadn't even stopped to contemplate about what Damon would have thought, if I would have crossed that bridge and asked him about escorting me. I mean of course no one understood my physical limitations better than him so I was sure he wouldn't be confused how to act around me if he had to take me to a ball. Also, I had a feeling that we would have a great time, talking, laughing, joking... but was that all that a person would expect to do at a ball? Would Damon not expect anything else?

Wouldn't he want a perfect date who would be in his arms all throughout the night, dancing, twirling out of it with the rhythm of the music and once again landing into his arms with a swift tug? Someone who would stare into his oceanic blues with a certain amount of devotion and both of them would end the night with a mind numbing kiss filled with passion and love...

Ugh... why was I imagining myself in that position? I couldn't even stand, let alone dance! I would never be a perfect partner for a ball party, so why would Damon even want to go with me? Maybe he would say yes to my question so that I don't feel bad, because we were friends now, or maybe also because he would think that I have no one else to take me. Though I didn't even want to go with anyone else, but this wasn't right. I couldn't do that to him, asking him to come with me would mean taking away his choice, and I didn't want to force him for anything.

But the question that was troubling me more was, what could have happened that Damon had to cancel the session? Was he in some trouble? Or was it just an emergency he couldn't avoid? Because his voice had seemed quite bummed when he had called me. I think he wasn't happy about it, maybe not for the same reasons as mine... but he had planned something which didn't work out, and from how much I had come to know him in the past week, I could bet he might be pissed that things didn't turn out according to his liking.

Like the incident where we had fought over the best pizza place in Mystic Falls. He was hell bent to prove that he could cook a better pizza than whichever place it was that I loved. I didn't agree with him, of course that was just to piss him off, and Damon was so instigated that he literally challenged me that he would make me one, the next day and prove himself.

I shrugged giving an indifferent expression and that agitated him more.

"Tut tut tut, Elena you are making a mistake, just wait until tomorrow and I am going to show you who makes the best pizza in Mystic Falls and then you are going to be begging me for more."

It was becoming difficult to control my smirk, as I knew that Damon was a great cook and undoubtedly would make an amazing pizza, but what fun would it be if I just accepted it, he loved challenges so a challenge it would be.

"Yeah, I will believe all that when you place a plate of hot, cheesy, melting-in-my-mouth, delicious pizza in front of me. Until then, I am winning this discussion Damon and you know it, the Grill makes the best pizza in town and no one can top it."

He tightened his fists and almost growled at this but kept a fake smile on his lips and I pursed my lips to hide the smile that was desperate to expose itself.

The next day, I had the best pizza of my life, made by the one and only Damon Salvatore. Oh I still remember the burst of flavors in my mouth and how it had made me feel like I was tasting heaven. I couldn't stop the moans from pouring out of my lips and didn't care about what he would think cause it was his talent that had made me reel.

"God it is delicious!" I said closing my eyes.

"The name is Damon and from your expression I have to say, 'told you'... I am the best!" He said rolling the word 'best' on his tongue, showing off his victory.

That made me open my eyes and I saw that the beautiful man was giving me one of his most smug smirks. Shaking my head I said, "You know the room is too small to fit in all your arrogance, right?."

He shrugged indifferently, "Can't help it, comes naturally, after all I have proved myself and now you have to accept that this is the best pizza you have ever had."

I chuckled at his attitude, it was not that he didn't deserve to be proud of himself, cause I was so very proud of him, so I thought a little flattery wouldn't be harmful.

"Yes Damon you are the best cook, and you have made the most mouth watering pizza ever!"

"Why, thank you Elena. It was my pleasure."

That was how Damon was with me playful, genuine, hard working and in all these days we had shared some beautiful moments. In fact, that was the reason I had thought about asking him to come with me to the party, because we had become great friends in no time and nothing would be better than him being my date for the evening.

But whatever, now I would have to wait until tomorrow to ask him, so be it. First thing in the morning, I would drive to his house and tell him that I hated him for making me suffer all this anticipation. However, for that I would have to sleep first, but that seemed quite impossible now.

I picked up my phone from the bed side table and started scrolling through my gallery. There were some photos of Bonnie, Caroline and me from today that we had taken in the coffee shop, some pics of the different random things that I found interesting, then the pictures of Damon and me started appearing on the screen. There were not many because Damon didn't like posing for pictures, just some that I had clicked at random moments. That I had mainly clicked, to see them when I missed him afterwards.

I smiled thinking about one evening when we had just completed the session and I wanted to click a picture of us sitting together. He was being his usual self, not wanting to surrender for a picture. But I was stubborn too, so I kept nagging until he said yes. He had come to sit behind me so that I would be sitting up with the support of his chest. Barely had we clicked a selfie or two when he took the phone from my hand and started clicking my pictures instead.

"Damon don't!" I said laughing, covering my face with a hand. While with the other, I was trying to put his camera clad hand down.

*click* *click* *click*

"Hey! Why are you clicking my pictures? Stop!"

Now I had both my palms on my face, resting my weight totally on him. I was still giggling away, but he continued clicking without any care.

*click* *click*

"Damon please... Okay I promise I won't ask you for pictures again. Now stop clicking mine."

I turned my head sideways to look up at him. At first he was still holding the phone in front of his face, his eyes were hidden by it but he had a mischievous smile on lips. So I held the phone with one hand and pulled it away.

"Damon... please."

He was now gazing into my eyes, his mystical blues made my heart flutter in my chest. A hint of a smile playing on his lips, every inch of which looked so kissable, it was difficult to think about anything else. I was getting lost in him, and the outcome wouldn't be good, so I took the phone back from his hands.

"I just wanted a picture of us you know, didn't think it would instigate your inner child or must I say photographer?"

He chuckled, "In my defense, I just wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine, but then you looked too cute for me to give it up."

I think that made me blush.

"What Elena?" He said bringing his lips close to my ears. I tensed up a bit and he took the opportunity.

"Believe it or not, you just can't resist my charm, my style, my good looks and my unflinching ability to rile you up."

"Damon!" I hit his chest and he gave out a short laugh, "You are so annoying!" I said scrunching my nose up.

"Yet you love me."

I stared at him with wide eyes, struck by that word, feeling as if I had been caught red handed for some crime.

"What? Cat got your tongue? I was joking Elena!"

"I... I know..."

Picking me up from the ground he started walking towards the wheelchair. I was still reeling from the conversation, gazing at his perfect face, when he said, "But you don't hate me right?"

I furrowed my brows, "Why would you even ask that?"

He just shook his head with a serious expression, so I chuckled, "Is the mighty Damon Salvatore feeling anxious? Cause that means I have finally become successful at pushing your buttons right."

"Ha Ha Elena, very funny." he deadpanned placing me on the wheelchair, and I laughed harder.

"Yes, you should have seen your face, it was quite funny."

"You were not laughing when I told you about your face earlier... " He was looking at me with a 'no nonsense' look on his face.

"What about it?"

"That you were looking cute, adorable, cheery, beautiful..."

"Please, shut up, I know what you are trying to do Damon. You are telling me this, so that I blush again and you can tease me about it."

"Oh I see there was a first time too?" He said and I gasped. "It's getting easier to get on your nerves Miss. Gilbert." He smirked at me doing that 'eye thing' he always does, and I could swear I was drooling.

"Don't make me regret being you friend Damon." I said giving him my mock angry face.

"We'll see about that."

"Yes we will."

He was smiling, so was I. It was a good thing that we were friends. I was glad to be here, at this moment with him and I felt my heart filling with contentment. This was my happy place, Damon was, and I loved him.

The next morning I woke up a little late, no thanks to the dreams about my blue-eyed man. (Correction- Not mine!) So I rushed with my everyday routine, and thanks to Aunt Jenna, I was on my way to the Salvatore House sooner than I had anticipated.

On the way, I kept planning about the way I was going to ask Damon about being my date, I mean my escort. As I went closer, it was becoming increasingly difficult to stay calm. God knows why I was worrying that much... even if he would say something unexpected, I was prepared to handle it! Wasn't I? I mean there was no worst case scenario about this... nothing could go wrong.

Once I was at the door of the Salvatore house, there was a lingering nervousness in my mind but I was glad to be there. Yesterday, when I had to return home from half way I was really upset. God knows why Damon had cancelled our session... but finally it was time to get some answers.

But even before I could knock on it, Damon opened the door, his hair sticking out at all angles and eyes tired, looking like he had just gotten out of bed. However I wasn't affected by this at all, because the beautiful blonde woman standing beside him had stolen all my attention.

If you could feel a punch without being physically touched, then maybe that was what I was feeling. Like someone had punched me so hard, that I had been knocked out of my stupid haze. Party? Date? Guess what! This was the worst case scenario, that I couldn't even imagine!

I kept staring at the woman, standing tall beside Damon, her height almost matching his, her straight blonde locks flowing down to her hips. She was so pretty, that I couldn't feel angry, I was just numb. She was wearing an ivory jacket with black pants that were molded to her long legs, making her look so very attractive. They would make a handsome couple, Damon and her, perfect for each other, not like me. I would never be perfect, neither for Damon, nor for anyone else.

"Elena? When did you arrive? Lex was just leaving." Damon looked at me and then turned to the woman beside him.

"Ouch... not even an introduction Damon? Really? I thought I deserved better!" She said pouting and gave him an offended expression.

"Lex, I suppose you were getting late?" he said widening his eyes at her. I think he didn't want me to see her, so he was prompting her to take the hint and leave. I kept staring at both of them, not sure what to say, it was like watching a couple bicker.

"Okay fine I'll be on my way... Anyway, it was nice meeting you Elena, you are really very pretty, now I see what my boyfriend was talking about."

"Lex..." Damon kept taking her name like she was bound to hear what he was asking her to do, like he had a certain right on her actions. Of course! Didn't she just use the word boyfriend? I felt like someone was squeezing my heart and twisting it painfully slow. I didn't know if I should reply something, so I just nodded.

"Fine, just one last thing..." She said turning towards Damon who was looking clueless, then she went forward and squeezed him into a hug, and I felt my eyes stinging with tears. Damon was chuckling and hugging her back. Finally she gave me a little wave and left.

"Don't mind her, she's a bit bossy!" Damon told me, opening the door wide so that I could enter. I didn't respond and he continued walking beside me till we reached the gym room. He kept telling me what exercises we were going to do today, but I just couldn't focus on his words. Did he cancel yesterday because of her? Didn't he think he should tell me the reason why he told me not to come after texting me about some surprise all throughout the day? Or was this the surprise...more like a shock for me!

"Hey, what's wrong? You are awfully quite today..." Damon asked looking at me.

"Nothing..." I croaked out, but he furrowed his brows and came near, "What is it Elena?"

"It's nothing Damon..."

"You must be thinking that I am such an ass for telling you not to come yesterday... I know there is no excuse but believe me, it was an emergency or I wouldn't have cancelled."

"I am sure it was."

"I value our sessions more than anything Elena and you must know that."

"I know that Damon. Don't worry, I am not upset okay? Let's just start."

He nodded and we continued with our session. If Damon felt like telling me about whatever that had happened yesterday, then he would. When he told me that he values our session a lot, I believed him. This was not the first time he was telling that to me, so I didn't ask him anything. I had promised myself not to be upset or tamper our friendship for anything, and I wanted to keep my word.

After the session, he helped me to my wheelchair and we went into the hall, I was fidgeting with my towel, all this silence was making me feel awkward. To say that I hadn't been so unsure of what to say to him since the past week, felt like a joke now. This woman, Lex, she had just crushed my hopes of asking Damon to be my escort for the Mikaelson party. Even if they weren't dating, I didn't want to bring anything up, because my day was already ruined and I didn't want to feel more pathetic.

"Elena? Do you want to tell me something?" Damon asked looking at me with curiosity. How was it even possible? I hadn't even tried to tell him anything and he had already guessed something was wrong. So I didn't let myself ponder anymore. Glancing up at him, I just gave a damn to all my worries and spoke up.

"Just that... Will you be busy tonight?" I used my confident tone.

"Tonight? No, I am as free as a bird!" He said in a sing-song voice, trying to make me laugh just like everyday.

"Great! Then would you like to go with me to a party?"

Damon had his eye brows raised and lips parted, then he blinked and lifted his lips to one side... "Is this your way of asking me out on a date Elena? Cause I expected better from you..."

I was in no mood for his jokes today, so I shook my head and said, "I just need a partner, someone to escort me, because it's a ball. Since you are my friend, I thought of asking you, but it's completely up to you. There is no pressure and you can say 'no' if you want to, I wouldn't mind." Saying all that in one go I huffed loudly but kept my face straight.

The glimmer in his eyes from earlier had dimmed. Maybe he hated the idea, maybe he felt burdened... It was stupid of me to ask him in the first place. I should have just let it go. Was seeing him with another woman not enough proof that he never thought about me in any other way? He teased and flirted sometimes, but it was because we had become great friends, it was healthy not romantic.

I felt restless, why wasn't he just answering, then it would be over. I wouldn't have to feel embarrassed any more and could be on my way home, immersed in thought about what I had imagined this morning to be and what it had become... a disappointment! So I spoke again, "You know what, just forget I asked, it's stupid, I shouldn't have..."

"I will go."

I looked up at him, trying to read his expression, but his face was neutral. Then he told, "Text me the time, I'll pick you up."

I kept gazing at him, he didn't even ask where we would go, or anything else, just agreed to come with me. Was it really that easy or was I missing something? Whatever it was, there was no reason to think about it anymore, I had asked him to come with me and he had said yes. Now I had a date for the ball! At least one problem was solved for the timing, however short lived that may be. Other matters, or in this case 'questions' could wait. First of all, I would just have to focus on this.

I nodded and turned to leave but Damon called out my name, "Elena... "

Looking back I saw him walking towards me. I braced myself for whatever it was he wanted to say. But when he reached my wheelchair, he knelt down, coming face to face with me. His eyes were looking full of something, I couldn't place it... Concern? Care?

"I am not doing this halfheartedly, not out of obligation or anything else, specially not because of our friendship nor out of pity for you. So I want to know, do you genuinely want me to escort you or is it just for the sake of going?"

I felt bad now for being so stern with him, did he deserve it? No, he deserves the truth, Elena!

"No, Damon. I really want you to come with me, actually I can't think of anyone better than you that I would be happy to be accompanied by... I just wasn't sure if you would say yes, because as you can see I am not the best partner for a ball party." I said pointing to my legs with both my hands, giving him a crooked smile.

He caught them instantly, "Hey! None of that. You can't pull out the self pity card on me Elena. I have seen you working hard everyday, and I know Elena Gilbert doesn't wallow in grief, she fights to get better, so don't give that 'I am broken' crap to me. You will go to the party and rock it, and I'll come with you to be your muse, what say partner?"

One of his palms was splayed out in front of me, for me to take it... He looked so genuine, an outstanding smirk on his perfectly sculpted lips and eyes wide enough for me to drown in them. I was feeling the urge to reach out and touch his face and caress it for saying such heartfelt words to me, but it wouldn't be right. So I nodded swiftly and gave my hand in his.

He gave me a wide grin and raised my palm to kiss at the back of it and I felt my heart making somersaults at his innocent gesture.

It didn't take him more than a few seconds to transform me into a puddle of goo even after everything had almost gone downhill, and I couldn't imagine what I would be doing if he wasn't here. This was what this raven haired man was doing to me, making me fall for him a bit more everyday, though there was no hope for this, for us, ever getting a chance at a happy ending.

Why couldn't things be simple? Why couldn't it just be a typical story? Where a girl meets a boy, falls in love and gets to live together forever...Okay! That sounded off and was way too simple to be true, actually I might have skipped some steps in between.

But now that I thought of it, were my problems and situations equivalent to these 'steps' that I had missed in my typical story? Maybe these were just stepping stones for our story? First, hating him, then suppressing my feelings for him, then trying to be his friend, and now seeing him with someone else. Would it ever end? Or would I just have to be okay with it and let him be happy with someone other than me? Only time would have an answer for this.

Please like, follow and review.

The next chapter will be about the Mikaelson Ball, promise!