Why was he trying to stop this when it was so tempting to give in but he knew better than that, he wasn't her type at all. She expected something 'better' and that's what she kept insinuating with her conversation all the time. His hands slid down her face, her eyes still questioning him but he didn't want to talk anymore. "This doesn't change anything , Elena, Just because I haven't been brutal like my father doesn't make me any better, in fact- he inspires the way I live. The way I live is what you hate." He clarified. She looked at him in confusion, why was he so adamant on the fact that he had no redeeming qualities, as if he hated hope or any sort of effort done for him. What in the world was wrong about feeling for him?
She didn't say anything to him because she felt like if she said another word he would blow up, he looked far too done to argue about this, all she wanted to do was prove him wrong about his self-image. It seemed as if he hated to be himself and yet he was forced to live like this because he felt like he wasn't worth a better life. Or maybe she was just thinking about it way too much. Maybe he just really didn't want her and she was pretty sure that if they had given in, she might have regretted it later. He got up and before she could utter a word, he walked out of the room, leaving her feeling ashamed for her bold advances on him. How the hell does someone go from despising someone so deeply to feeling such an intense attraction towards them. Closing her eyes didn't help, all she could think about was his sparkling blues, his firm touch, how good his lips felt on hers, every thought that followed was shame how could she think about him when he didn't even want her? When he literally pushed her away from him? how could she not have any self-respect?
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They hadn't talked all morning, he was somewhat relieved that they weren't talking about last night, he barely slept , throughout the night he kept thinking about her, not that he didn't think about her any other day but it had been different, he kept re-imagining the whole thing, each ending with her kissing him despite anything he'd say. Though it never ended on a kiss in his head. She was reading a book, acting like they weren't next to each other in the plane. Why did he want to talk to her? It baffled him how the urge to hear her voice was eating him, what the hell was wrong with him. Maybe this was a reverse psychology trick. She was ignoring him so he could talk to her! That was not going to work on him ever, "So are you going to school tomorrow?" he asked acting all cool and calm, she didn't look up from her book and simply nodded, "What about work? Will you show up?"
"Ahuh." She said before reverting to her reading, then there was no conversation for the next few moments, when she felt like his stare was not penetrating her anymore, she peeked from the corner of her book to catch a glimpse of him, he was now writing something down in a notebook, could it be a diary? She was surprised- but on looking carefully, it wasn't a diary, he was writing down some locations that were surrounding Mystic falls, trying to form some sort of map. However, what caught her attention was a picture that was placed near the cover of the notebook, like a bookmark. She could see long raven hair, which got her curious and she pulled it out. A woman, her striking blue eyes were what made her so mysteriously stunning. She had a light smile on her red lips and a necklace around her long neck. She didn't realize she had been staring at this picture for so long. "Who's she?" she asked above a whisper. Once he saw the picture in her hand, he wasn't too happy about it, he had a frown and she felt as if she crossed a line, "I-"
"That's Lily Salvatore." He said taking the picture back and folding it roughly before pushing it back, she would have never thought that he looked so much like his mother, he definitely got his good looks from her, but he acted like he was ashamed of her, or maybe he just didn't want to discuss his mother with her specifically.
"She's gorgeous." Elena complimented any way.
He gave a nod but she could tell he didn't want to hear anything positive about her, he had some kind of hate towards her, he was annoyed. "You wouldn't have liked her if you met her, she is a selfish bitch."
Her eyes widened at his description of his own mother, "Ouch."
"Just so you know you aren't missing out on anything special." He winked, she huffed at his attitude, "You don't have to compensate for keeping her picture by saying all this."
"I am not keeping her picture, maybe I just forgot it here." He got defensive quickly, "I don't care about her." He snapped, she took the hint and settled back in her seat with her book, maybe he didn't want to talk after all, after a few minutes of reading the same paragraph over and over and the lack of concentration she put her book down and looked at him. "What if you see her one day?"
"I won't." he sighed, "She didn't leave to come back." His voice though was laced with hatred for her but Elena could feel the slight tinge of pain and it honestly made her feel sorry for him, he obviously felt something for her other than hate. "I use to think the same about my parents, I use to think whatever the reason must be for them to leave me alone in this world, with no explanation, did they want me to die? Or just not want me? but I think there must be more than that, I grew up with Jeremy and the wonderful people who adopted me, Grayson and Miranda Gilbert, and though sometimes it hurts to feel that I might never know who my parents are, I'll give it the possibility that maybe it was necessary, maybe they were in trouble."
"It's not as easy for me." he said after a moment of silence, "I am not like you." He pursed his lips and sat back, "I remember her hating me and my brother, that is the reason she ran away, because she wanted a life for herself." She bit the inside of her cheek and placed her hand on his, with a deep breath, she squeezed his hand. "I am sorry." There was no sarcasm or seeming ill intention behind her words so he couldn't even be mad at her for being sorry about it. He simply nodded and looked forward, he wished she wouldn't let go of his hand and keep hers there that way, it seemed comforting, for the first time in a while, he was allowing someone close to himself other than his brother and it was a woman, a woman he despised initially. He was shocked at how 'changed' he was, was it because of this trip? Because of last night? But he felt like the credit went to her, she was something else. It felt nice to be around her. Surprisingly her hand stayed on top of his as she started to read her book again, he too sat back and closed the notebook, he didn't want to throw away Lily's one picture that he had, seeing her face was a sort of a reminder of what she did to him, but at the same time it was his precious memory, he remembered his early childhood when she actually cared about him, they use to be inseparable- his eyes closed as he laid his head back on the seat thinking about the time his mother was making him a butter cake that he enjoyed so much as a kid, she would let him spread all the chocolate he wanted on top. It was a fun activity they did along with many other, he used to love doing oil paintings, he'd make her obnoxious paintings that she still cherished and appreciated. His mother, what happened to her? How could she leave him on his own? How could she leave him to be disciplined by Giuseppe in such a way.
Elena bit her lip seeing him napping on his seat without a care in the world, the note book still clutched in his other hand which made her somewhat sad, she reached for it and took it from him placing it in the pocket of the seat.
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She was so tired after school yet she didn't skip her day at the office, she had even skipped lunch but on the way there she stopped by her house and Miranda had luckily baked some muffins which she packed for herself in case she was too hungry as she headed out again, she didn't know what to do further from this, her father has practically asked her to move out and she had no place to crash as of now, she had asked Caroline and that was a good possibility because she lived with her mom and her mom wasn't even home all day, so she could live there but she couldn't just stay there she wanted to pay some rent if she was going to live there. When she parked her car in the parking lot she saw Damon's car parked there and her heart starting beating, damn it, yesterday it had been so awkward when he woke up and they had to pick up their luggage at the airport together, they looked like a couple way too much- they even shook hands at good bye. She had never been so awkward around anyone. She could say she didn't want to run into him but she kind of wanted to. That's the reason she put waves in her hair at six in the morning today, she refreshed her gloss and entered the building, first she could meet with Elijah and next she could see if Damon was around. Thankfully, Elijah was in his office for a change, he was mostly out on sites with the sole purpose of ignoring Klaus. She entered his office a bit hesitantly, "Good evening, I wanted to talk about something, hope I am not disturbing you."
"Not at all." He replied casually and pointed at the seat in front of his large dark desk, she nodded and walked over to sit there, "The other day when you told me about the woman from the investigation team, she's currently in town, you must be aware."
"Mmm Yes." He said a bit confused.
"I called her here because I wanted her to investigate about The Salvatore family." She admitted, "She told me about you a long time ago, she wanted me to research about Klaus as well while I worked here. We needed a solid proof."
He pursed his lips while trying to process the information, "So Katherine sent you? Why is she still on this case? Her being on this is dangerous, Klaus can murder her."
"She knows that, but it is necessary for us, the people in this town are tired of being ruled, including me, I am tired of living my life by their rules." She snapped, "They just can't do whatever they want."
"They actually can Elena, they have forged 'proofs' like this a million times before this and they can again, think about it, Klaus was in jail for fraud- his fraud had killed people, yet who was unable to produce evidence , the opposition, Giuseppe- I don't know much but he is too a very rotten man and no matter what you produce against him is not going to finish him. The only thing that can finish them is them." He said with a frown, "If they both ever kill each other, but that's never going to happen, even if you throw Klaus out of the equation, even if Giuseppe is trapped- there is Damon, and he will save his narcissistic father, that's the kind of man he is."
She didn't know how but she jumped to his defense, "That's not true, Damon has been emotionally abused by his parents for years, he is emotionally incapable of going against them or he would, he knows what the right thing is."
"I am sure he does." Elijah said sarcastically, "I don't know what story he told you but Damon is not a good man, he is just like his father, Giuseppe has been training him for years so he could take control even if Giuseppe is gone." Elena shook her head, this wasn't the case at all, this idea about him was probably the reason he thought that about himself, "Giuseppe isn't training Damon so he could take control after him, Giuseppe is training Damon so he could he his little watch dog while he gets to enjoy all the wealth and power and he doesn't realize that yet, like you said Giuseppe is a narcissist. Once Damon realizes this, Giuseppe is weak."
He got up and huffed, "Don't count on it, Elena. I can't believe Katherine pulled you into her game." He said sounding a bit angry, Elena too got up because of the impact, "Mister Michaelson I trust you, that's the reason I shared this with you, I don't want you to freak out over this and take it out on Katherine, it was me who called her in the first place."
He didn't respond positively, Elena bit her lip and moved forward to pour him a glass of water, she put the glass on the table and looked up at him, "I am sorry Mister Michaelson but I have to do this, you should decide if you are on our side or Klaus's side."
She left his cabin and quickly took the elevator to the lower floor, Giuseppe was a narcissist and he was using Damon for himself , somehow the thought infuriated her, how can Damon of all people not figure that out, he always acted like he was too smart for everyone and here he was- making a fool out of himself thinking that his father was inspiring his life, his hatred for his mother had blinded him from what his father was doing to him, she didn't realize how far she had come, when she looked around, the two people that were in the elevator had left and she was in the basement now, she huffed, God knows who pushed this button even if they didn't have to be here, but as if fate, a sound made her curious, she was sure she had heard that voice before, she walked out of the elevator into the slightly lit corridor , it was very chilly down here, she had never been down here more than once or twice that too in broad daylight accompanied by usually two or three people, but she was alone today, she took careful steps towards the room not wanting to be discovered, how did she not recognize the voice instantly, it was Giuseppe, Elena stayed stuck to the wall on the side and tried to hear the conversation, "I don't think it's suitable." His voice was rather slow and composed as he talked , he didn't look in a rush but the other men with him seemed to be a bit agitated. "We need to act immediately- would you look at the numbers they are crying." He showed him a file to which Giuseppe huffed, "You worry too much and it's not good for your damn health, I have promised you the turn over you are going to get it this season."
"How the fuck is that possible."
"Gentleman, all we need is a scandal, if the product sold is a bit low in quality, kills a few- it'll be right back to us, now at the life prism, I talked to a few people, a very righteous man was causing some issues so he was sent to our old Tigmon site for some repairing, he didn't want to cooperate or whatever. It will all be sorted in a few days." He said as if it didn't matter. Elena pulled out her phone slowly and opened the camera to record the conversation but right then she heard the bell from the elevator, now unlike before there was no noise from the room so the bell was clearly heard this time by everyone, she quickly put her phone back and jumped to the nearest room not making any noise, she peeked through the window and saw Enzo walking towards the room, wiping the nervous sweat from her forehead she started to walk out of the corridor after Enzo went inside the room, she took the stairs this time making as less noise with her steps as possible but she was shaking with every step as she got to the first floor, she opened the door carefully and stepped out, her heart nearly jumped out her chest when she saw Damon standing right in front of her and by the look of his face he didn't seem to amused to see her, she swallowed thick trying to get away from him but he held her arm, "I saw you." His voice in a high whisper sent shivers down her spine while he pulled her into the first room from the stairs, she felt as if she was going to pass out, as he closed the door after himself, "I followed you from Elijah's cabin but you disappeared, were you trying to avoid me?" she felt as if her soul returned to her body, so he only saw her leave Elijah's office, "Uh No- it's just." She ran her hand through her hair, "It was awkward after yesterday."
"Really? Seeing me was awkward?" she didn't know if he was being sarcastic or really asking the question due to some insecurity, however, he quickly asked another question, "What were you and Elijah talking about, I thought he told you to quit."
She didn't know what to say, did he hear on her conversation with Elijah, at this point she was sure about nothing, "I was just here to tell him that I didn't want to quit and then we talked about Klaus. The usual thing."
"The usual thing?" his brow arched up, "So now you're friends with Elijah?" the way he asked that question sounded rather desperate, as if he was trying to find out who her friends were. "Elijah is an okay guy, we talk sometimes." She said it while subtly indicating that yes she was in fact friends with Elijah, insinuating some interest in him while trying to get him to react some way. He bit the inside of his cheek looking her up and down as if not amused with this information, how could she be friends with everyone.
"Now can I leave? I am very hungry, I haven't eaten all day." she said a bit tense with the way he was looking at her as if she had committed a crime, "Well instead of gossiping with Elijah you should have had lunch." He added a little smirk which infuriated her but she didn't show that it did, she grinned instead, "Well I actually have to go to the mall to buy a dress for winter dance, so I will have my dinner there, now if you please." She batted her lashes, his eyes narrowed on her, winter dance? She was buying a dress, mostly when people go to these dances, they have a date- Elena must have been asked at school again. He huffed letting her go. She gave a huge made up smile as she passed him to go outside.
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Today was his lucky day, well maybe, even though his internal dialogue repeatedly stated that he didn't want to see Elena, he got to see her, not only see her but he got to touch her again, a little harshly which initially wasn't his plan but she had been so weird around him at the airport- and then she was avoiding him at the office as if he was some bacteria, it really did piss him off. And now that he was home, Stefan was here to see him, it had been months since his brother had let loose and hang out with him and deep down he thought that if Stefan hung out long enough like this every once in a while, he will convince him to move back in, he was busy on the Xbox when Damon walked into his room, Stefan had sworn not to go inside his old room so he had Damon move his Xbox here in his room- Damon didn't want to criticize the loopholes he had found for himself to have fun, "Beer?" he asked holding a chilled bottle next to him, he enthusiastically nodded and took it from his hand, gulping it down, Damon sat down on the seat next to him and sighed, "Staying tonight?"
"Can't- have an extra shift in like two hours." He said still focused on the game, Damon rolled his eyes, "You're doing extra shifts now?"
"Yeah- I like doing extra shifts, It keeps my mind occupied." He winked looking back at the game, Damon bit his lip, "Are you by any chance going to the winter dance- whatever it's called." He tried to sound cool but he knew how sketchy it sounded, Stefan was still focused on the game, "I don't know, maybe- I haven't asked anyone yet and I don't want to go alone obviously." He pursed his lips, "Oh wait, you know Elena and Matt broke up- so maybe I can take her."
"Really?" he acted surprised. "You're really going to take her."
"Of course I am, you know girls after they break up definitely need a good shoulder to cry on." he smirked and Damon immediately knew what he meant, "Did you forget how-"
"Damon do I look like I care?" he rolled his eyes and threw the controller, "Great I lost."
"I think she's already going with someone." He interrupted, he wasn't sure and he needed Stefan to make sure about Elena's new guy but here he was trying to be the guy. Nope, not his own brother. "How do you know?" he asked confused, "Are you stalking her?" he asked a bit serious, he shook his head, "No she told me, she's going to get a dress or whatever." He said now trying to dismiss the conversation, Stefan shrugged it off, "Doesn't hurt to try does it, besides- I am sure I can crush the competition." He said heading out of the room while picking up the beer bottle leaving him more irritated than he was before, great now there were two guys after Elena- two guys after what he wanted. God damn it! he felt like an idiot for even telling Stefan.
He had to do something before things got out of hand.
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Elena washed her face with cold water and brushed her hair slowly, she was very tired tonight, she felt so tired after the past few crazy days, she put on her moisturizer and sat down in bed, just that moment her phone started buzzing, she grinned when she saw Damon's number, he had called once before but she was getting ready for bed that time, taking a deep breath she picked up the call and spoke in her least bothered tone, "This is not the hour to call, Damon, I've told you that before."
"I know- I do." his voice was a bit snappy but she could tell he was nervous, Caroline had mentioned the dance during class and she remembered the idea just in time to shift his focus from what she was doing in the staircase to the dance, "So tell me how can I not help you?" she said in a lazy voice, "You are really going to that dance?"
It seemed ridiculous for him to ask but he couldn't sit back and watch while Stefan and some other guy was putting moves on Elena, then again it shouldn't bother him in the first place they were, at the end of the day, he knew why he was doing this because he had an attraction towards her and her giving anyone attention but him enraged him- she was undoubtedly the most gorgeous girl he had laid eyes on, when he first saw her, he still believed that she was unbelievingly beautiful with her big doe eyes, her voluminous brunette hair, her slim figure with those sharp curves- she was every man's dream. But hearing her talk, seeing her fight, the way she was full of love and passion, that fire in her eyes just made her all the more irresistible.
"You want to talk about that?" she said rolling a strand of her hair around her finger, even though she encouraged this conversation in the first place, she acted oblivious though, "How cute."
He hissed at the word she used, that's it, he knew he was walking in to a trap she set, "Yeah- I wanted to ask who you are going with? Your loser ex-boyfriend maybe?" he made a snarky comment too, she shook her head at his effort to appear cool, "No, why do you care anyway?"
"Maybe because you said you feel for me literally a day a go." He taunted, "I was right all along, what do you even know about feelings." He repeated his sentence from that night, she fisted the cell phone in her hand and swallowed thick, "At least I am not a coward and I told you what I felt- you know for a person who acts all brave you sure are a huge wimp."
He scoffed, "Aren't you quick judge? Well I just called to tell you Stefan wants to ask you out"
"Great- I'll talk to him about it, good night-" she snapped, he quickly interrupted, "Fine! Okay- what do you want?"
"Excuse me?" she arched a brow, he sounded annoyed now, "Okay Elena I don't want you to go to the dance with Stefan or that other guy- you've shortlisted." His voice trailed off, "There I said it."
"Oh thank you for your decision Mister Salvatore, but I do want to go to the dance, now I have no choice but to displease you and go, unless-" she said in a playful voice, he understood immediately, no way in fucking hell was he going to a stupid town dance to entertain her, but the consequences- another guy, Elena in a dress with some other jerk, the jerk could be Stefan, "Do you want to go with me?" his voice hardly above a whisper. She couldn't believe what she heard, Damon actually did it, he asked her to a dance- she never thought he would do it, she just wanted to push his buttons but oh lord, she was blushing- she quickly tried to control her emotions and not pass out or something, oh God what has she done? She couldn't even form words.
"Elena-?" he asked, his voice a bit louder, "You there?"
"Y-yes." She finally found her voice, "I would consider this if you'd do it rather in a nice way Damon, let's be honest you're track record with me hasn't been good, at least make up for some of that." she said trying to form a sassy voice but it wasn't happening now, "What does that mean?"
"You're a big boy, figure it out yourself, if you hadn't pushed me away the way you did-none of this wouldn't have happened." She said in a sweet tone before hanging up the phone, did she just ask him to propose her to the dance? But he wanted to do that didn't he, it meant he wanted her- a part of him wanted to give in to her like a part of her, despite everything
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A/N: Hey guys I pushed this through a big writer's blog, trust me I haven't been having a good time, especially creativity wise and it has been making me so sad however I tried, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, Stay safe.