A/N: Epoch is defined as a beginning of a distinctive period in someone's life.
Okay... When you read this chapter – and all other chapters, for that matter – please, please, PLEASE, don't read it the irritating way Nina acted out Elena's character. Don't get me wrong, I adore Elena – and Nina – (and hugely support any 'ship that results in Damon's happiness), but not all the time. Her constant whining, neediness, and inability to make a decision (and stick to it!) gives me excuses to re-write a ton of script to better fit the growing relationship between my OC and Damon's character. Hopefully none of you hate me now lol. Rant over :)
Shout outs!
Favorites/Follows: BestUsernameEver54321, xxDarkDemonicAngelxx, EllieGirl123, Aurora Sky1995, irisdietrich, kimboik, and RisingPhoenix89 - y'all are amazing! thank you so much!
all other readers: you are just as appreciated!
reviewers: Guest - I'm still trying to figure out the Jerica (Jeremy/Danica) pairing. For now, and no matter what may or may not develop between the two, they will be friends! I do love some of the Beremy moments from the show and don't really want to mess with them, so if anything, I'll tweak some of my least favorite parts to make their relationship stronger, or to help build up Dani and Jeremy. If anything, Dani can be someone that both Jer and Bonnie need for each point you touched on.
Savage Kill - Hell of a week - Hell Week - I see what you did there ;) I hope Dani's reaction lived up to your expectations. It'll be touched upon more in the next chapter lol
BestUsernameEver54321 - What do you think of these Damica moments? :D Also, I will do my best to include Stefan as often as the story will allow. I don't want to leave him out too much or write him out completely as he's such a big part of Damon's life, but I can't promise he'll be around as much as some of the other characters. Who knows? That may change. Once an author starts writing, the story takes over completely ;)
The sun goes down, the stars come out
And all that counts is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came
*Glad You Came – The Wanted (Boyce Avenue cover)*
A familiar combination of cologne and aftershave – mixed with a heavy dose of leather – filled my sense of smell as I awoke to a gentle purr of an engine. Without opening my eyes, I knew by the sensations I felt that I was in a moving vehicle. The Editors were playing through the speakers, but the level to which the music was turned down did nothing to ease the pounding in my head – a throb that only worsened as my eyes slowly opened to take in my surroundings.
"Ugh," I moaned, rubbing my forehead. There must have been a cut there, because I felt a sting when I touched the spot just above my left eyebrow.
"Morning." Damon greeted from the driver's seat.
"You are way too chipper."
"And you are starting to have a horrible habit of near-death experiences."
The memories of yesterday came flooding back. School, Logan, almost dying – twice. And, of course, being rescued by Damon both times. I had a feeling the mystery caller from last night would've succeeded in killing me had Damon not shown up when he had.
"Trust me, it's not by choice."
Glancing out the window, my eyes took in the unfamiliar countryside we were driving through. It was pretty much all fields and trees, aside from a few random farm houses.
"Where are we?!"
"Georgia." Damon answered, dragging out the 'r' sound. "How ya feelin'?"
"Georgia?" I asked, ignoring his question and looking out the window. "Why are we in Georgia?"
"I have some things to take care of."
"But I – I hit someone... my car... it's –"
"Pulled off to the side of the road, where it won't be bothered by anyone."
"And that vampire?"
"Gone. Disappeared. Ran off when I got there. You might want to check your phone. It's been going off like crazy for the last hour."
He was right. Ten missed calls, each with a voicemail to match, and over twenty text messages. Nothing from Ryan, thankfully, otherwise I knew he'd be in Mystic Falls by nightfall. Most of the messages were from Elena, a few from Stefan. I stuffed my phone back into my pocket.
"Can we pull over for a sec? I need to stretch out my legs."
He nodded, slowing down before stopping by a large piece of fenced-in land. Birds chirped from somewhere nearby as I climbed out of the car, wincing and hissing from pain I hadn't yet felt.
Damon was by my side before I finished taking my first step. "You okay?"
"I'm – I'm fine. Just a little stiff." I told him, walking down the road a little further. Damon was leaning against his car when I turned back around. "We have to go back."
"Oh, come on! Look, we've already come this far!"
"I wrecked my car, Damon. I – I have to contact the police –"
"And tell them what? 'I totaled my car crashing into a vampire'?"
"I could always call and tell them I was kidnapped by a vampire."
"That's a little melodramatic, don't you think?"
"Not funny, Damon. I can't go to Georgia."
"Well, you're already in Georgia, so you don't have to worry about that. What you should worry about, though, is that your magical little necklace fell off while your car was rolling around last night." His words made my hand fly to my throat, only to leave my fingers empty. No vial. No vervain.
"No. No, no, no, no, no. I can't lose that necklace!"
"Relax. I'm not going to compel you."
"No, you don't understand. That necklace is the last thing I have from my mom! Everything else burned in the fire. We need to go back. I have to find it!"
Damon covered the distance between us, placed one hand on my shoulder and the other under my chin. "Deep breaths, Danica. Calm down. It'll still be there when we get back."
Any further protesting was cut off as my phone started ringing. I chose to ignore it after glancing at the screen. Damon pulled his own cell phone out when it went off.
"Mmm. Elena Gilbert. Trouble in friendship-paradise?"
"Not exactly."
"Should I answer this?"
"Up to you." I shrugged.
He did.
I tried not to listen in as they exchanged words, but he put the phone on speaker.
"What's up, Buttercup?"
"Where is she?"
"Where is who?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Damon. You know who I'm talking about. Why hasn't she shown up to school?"
"If you're referring to my BFF Dani, she's right here. And, before you ask, she's... fine." He told her, saying 'fine' as if with an alternate meaning behind the word. I scowled at him. "As for why she's not in school... Well, that's our little secret."
"If she's okay, then why isn't she answering her phone?"
"My guess is she doesn't want to deal with being bombarded with questions and accusations. Or with judgment."
"Let me speak to her."
"Hang on." He said, attention turning to me. "Do you want to talk to her?" I shook my head. "Hmm... She doesn't seem to wanna chat at the moment. Sorry." He hung up, not sounding very apologetic.
"What are we doing in Georgia, Damon?" I asked again.
"I told you –"
"You have stuff to take care of, yeah. I get it. But why am I here?"
"You need a break from life." The look I gave him made him laugh. "Look, we're almost there."
"And where, exactly, is 'there'?"
"A little place right outside of Atlanta."
"Atlanta?!"
"Oh come on, Danica. You don't really wanna go back right now, do you? What's the rush? Time-out. Trust me. Your problems are still going to be there when you get home." He pointed out. "One day. Just one day."
I took a moment to think it over, and realized... he was right. I had no reason to be in Mystic Falls – other than school, of course, but after all that took place yesterday, didn't I deserve a break? I sighed, giving in, rolling my eyes at the smirk on his face.
He nodded towards the Camaro. "Get in."
"What is this song?" I asked the vampire next to me, watching his fingers tap against the steering wheel as he bobbed his head a little to the beat. We'd just passed a sign that read: ATLANTA – 6 MILES.
"'On A Mission'. The Dandelions." He answered.
"Never heard of them."
"80's grunge band. Not that great." He said, his tone a dead giveaway that he secretly loved the song. I turned the volume up a few notches.
"It's got a good beat." I told him, shrugging when he gave me a strange look. When the song ended, I asked, "Did you know him?"
"Hmm?"
"The vampire?"
"Never met him."
"Isn't there a Vamp Bar & Grill that you all hang out at – like Fangtasia in True Blood?" I joked, earning a laugh from Damon as he rolled his eyes.
"Knows the world is full of vampires, still watches TV shows about the supernatural. A little odd, don't you think?"
"It'll take a lot more than a few close-calls with creatures of the night to make me stop loving them."
He repeated 'creatures of the night' in a mumble, throwing a quick glance out his window. I took the opportunity to approach a more serious topic.
"You don't think Stefan would tell Elena about Adam, do you?"
"Stefan doesn't share stories that aren't his to tell."
"Are you going to?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Not exactly, but... It's not fair to any of my friends to keep it hidden from them – I know that. Matt, Jeremy, Elena... They should all know. At least if I tell Jeremy or Elena, I'll have a place to go if and when he decides to make a house call."
"That won't be necessary, because he won't be making it anywhere near your front door."
"You can't look after me 24/7, Damon."
"You could just stay at the boarding house until he's dealt with." Damon suggested, smirking.
"For my protection, or for your entertainment?"
"Why not both? As the saying goes, the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody else." He said, winking at me as he parked against a curb. He exited the car, blurring to my side to help me out. I took his offered hand, ignoring the flutter I felt at his touch, and looked at a building across the street. 'Bree's Bar' was on a canopy sign above the door.
Damon squeezed my hand before sliding his arm up mine and linking them together. "Shall we?"
The second we stepped inside, loud music and the smacking of pool balls hit my ears. A woman was wiping down the counters behind the bar. Hearing our footsteps, she looked our way, pausing for a beat when her eyes landed on Damon.
"No. No, it can't be. Damon?" She asked, stunned. The rag was discarded as she jumped onto the bar and swung her legs over, hopped down, and came up to us. She let out a sigh before she grabbed Damon's face and planted a kiss on his lips.
I couldn't tell what was more weird: the significant height difference between the two (the woman's high-heeled boots didn't help any), or the moans they were both eliciting. Either way, I was uncomfortable and cleared my throat, fidgeting with the sleeve of my shirt.
"Oh! How rude of me. I'm Bree, owner of this fine establishment." The woman announced after pulling away. I warily eyed the hand she held out to me before giving it a slight shake.
"Danica. Unwilling new patron who desperately needs a drink."
Bree laughed, slid her eyes to Damon, and admitted, "I like her." She returned to her place behind the bar and asked for my order.
"Surprise me." I told her, sitting on a bar stool next to Damon.
"Listen up everybody!" She shouted, picking up a bottle of tequila. The few people in the bar formed a small crowd around us. Bree moved over to a line of tall shot glasses, filling them up and placing them in front of everyone. "Here's to the man that broke my heart, crushed my soul, destroyed my life, and ruined any and all chances of happiness. Drink up!"
I slammed my shot back as Damon and Bree gulped down their own. Bree immediately poured more alcohol in our glasses as she used her left hand to discard hers into a bin hidden on a shelf under the counter.
"So, how'd he rope you in?"
"I'm not 'roped in'. Actually, last night –"
"Honey, if you're not roped, you're whipped. Doesn't matter. Either way, just enjoy the ride."
"Okay... So, how did you two meet?" I asked her, downing the second shot and getting a third.
"College."
Shocked, I swiveled my seat towards Damon. "You went to college?"
"I've been on a college campus, yes." He worded carefully with a smirk, also taking his second shot.
Bree explained further. "About twenty years ago, when I was a sweet, young freshman, I met this beautiful man, and I fell in love. And then he told me about his little secret... made me love him even more. 'Cause, you see, I had a little secret of my own that, uh, I was dying to share with somebody."
"She's a witch." Damon whispered in my ear. My eyes widened as I continued to look at Bree.
"Changed my world, you know." She admitted to him.
"I rocked your world." He corrected.
"He is good in the sack, isn't he?"
"I wouldn't know." I answered.
"Uh-huh. Sure, honey. Anyway, a little heads-up? Damon here... He's mostly just a – a Walk-Away Joe." She finished bitterly, swallowing a mouthful of the tequila before putting it back on its shelf. "So, you come into my bar after all these years... What is it that you want?"
"Well, right now, I could go for a big juicy cheeseburger. With bacon. And fries. Lots of fries. And I'm sure Dani's hungry, too."
Bree gave a quick nod. "Two bacon cheeseburgers, coming right up."
I sat in silence with Damon until Elena called me again. Biting my lip, I met Damon's stare. "I'll be outside."
"I'll be here." He said, mocking me. I wrinkled my nose at him and then answered the incoming call.
"'lena, hey... Sorry about earlier."
"Where are you? Why wouldn't you talk to me?"
"After last night – Logan, and then the accident –"
"Wait – What accident? Are you okay?!"
Shit. "I'm fine. I'll explain when I get home. I just needed a time-out."
"With Damon?!"
"Yes, Elena, I'm with Damon." I responded, not bothering to hide my annoyance. She fell silent, no doubt irritatingly confused as to why I was so unhappy with her at the moment. "Something you wanna say?"
"I don't understand why you're with him when he attacked Bonnie –"
"Emily, Elena, he thought he was attacking Emily."
"It was still Bonnie! Look, that's not all he's done. You know what else."
"You're right. He has done some bad things, but listen up, because I'm only going to say this once: He hasn't done anything that has directly affected me. In fact, I'm only with him now because he found me last night." I told her, before steering the conversation in a direction I knew she'd fall for. "What about you? Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah. I'm okay."
"Elena, you are a terrible liar. What happened?"
"You know, Stefan and stuff."
"Yeah, I know... These damn Salvatores, huh?"
She let out a soft laugh before launching into a story about how she and Stefan slept together for the first time last night, thankfully sparing me the details, but then went on to tell me about the photograph of Katherine she'd found sitting on his desk.
"I look just like her, Dani. She-she could be my twin, but it was dated 1864! How is that even possible?"
"I don't know. Coincidence?"
"I don't think I believe in coincidences anymore. I just – I don't know what to do."
"Have you asked Stefan about it?"
"I can't. He's been calling me all day, but I can't talk to him. Not yet."
"You need to, Elena."
"And you need to get back inside, before I pick you up and carry you in." Damon announced. I whirled around in a slight panic, not having heard his approach.
"Gotta go, 'lena. I'll call you later." I promised, hanging up the phone. To Damon, I asked, "You really like to scare people, don't you?"
"You're just an easy target. Now come on... Food's getting cold."
"So, what did you come to see Bree about?"
"And you care... why?"
"In case you forgot, I'm not exactly here by choice. You at least owe me an explanation."
"Fine. I came to see if she could cast a little spell to fix my tomb problem."
"We're here about Katherine?" I exclaimed, dropping the fry I was about to eat. "Seriously?"
"Why? Jealous?" He smirked, amused.
"You wish." I pushed my plate forward an inch. "So? What'd you find out?"
He narrowed his eyes in calculation before saying, "Still working on it."
"Since you brought her up... I know you were listening in on that phone call. You heard everything. Hypothetically, if Elena were related to Katherine somehow, what would that make her?"
"Human. Vampires can't procreate." He explained, stealing a fry from my plate. He'd already finished his. "But we love to try." He smirked. I shook my head and smiled back at him. The smirk dropped as he continued. "If Elena were descended from Katherine, that would mean Katherine had a child before she was turned."
"What's the story behind you three, anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... I know she compelled you and Stefan into being with her, and I know she turned you. What I don't know is the how."
"Meaning?"
"How you and your brother ended up as vampires." I answered. He looked at me skeptically.
"You're awfully curious."
"Come on, Damon. You know most of my life story." I practically begged. "I'll even buy you a drink."
"Tempting..." He said, raising an eyebrow. I gave him a pout in hopes of getting him to cave. It must have worked, because he called Bree over to order us beers. After she set them down in front of us and walked away, he started back in on my fries. "First thing you need to know: I was never compelled."
"And the second?"
"The truth is much darker and not at all what you probably think it is."
"Enlighten me then."
"What part of 'break from reality' do you not understand?" He asked, clearly not wanting to discuss this any further. I decided not to push him.
"Okay... What else did you come here to talk about?"
"Hmm?"
"I was on the phone with Elena for a long time, Damon."
"Perceptive little thing, aren't you?" He sighed in annoyance. "I asked her about you. Or rather, what Lexi said about you."
"And...?"
"And it's nothing you need to worry about today."
"Fine." I huffed, aware that I was pouting like a child. The glare I shot at Damon when he chuckled at my expression certainly didn't help.
"How about another round of shots?" He suggested, signaling for Bree.
My throat still felt the burn from earlier, but I slammed the shot back anyway. Bree offered me a refill, which I declined. I did, however, take a moment to slip away for a much needed bathroom break. After reclaiming my seat next to Damon, a text came through on my cell phone.
'Oh no...' It was from Ryan.
'The school called. You didn't show up today, so I'll be there to take you in the morning. You can explain when I pick you up tomorrow afternoon.'
Great. Just what I wanted to deal with. I tried calling him, but it went to voicemail. He was already on his way to Virginia.
"I changed my mind." I announced as I slipped the phone in my pocket. Bree raised an eyebrow at me. "Every time the vampire orders a drink, I'll have one too."
"You think that's a good idea?" Damon questioned, smirking. "You won't be able to keep up with me."
"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I can't try."
"Honey, you should be on the floor!" Bree shouted, earning a chuckle from Damon and cheers from the other patrons currently surrounding us.
"No way! I am not even drunk. My tolerance is like, way up here!" I jumped in the air, throwing my hand up as far as I could reach it to emphasize my point. "Another round?"
"All right. Here ya go."
I swallowed the tequila down, not even wincing as it burned my throat. Damon mirrored me before glancing at me with an eyebrow raised.
"What?"
"Do you not feel that?"
"Feel what?"
"Your phone is vibrating."
"It is?" I questioned, pulling out the device to reveal it was indeed going off. I tried to answer the call but ended up dropping my phone. Bending over to pick it up, I burst out laughing when my head collided with Damon's, who'd apparently had the same idea. I was still laughing when I finally managed to hit 'accept'.
"Hello?"
"Danica! I'm at the house. Where are you?"
"Ryan! Um, hang on a sec. It's a little loud in here."
"Are you – are you at a party?!"
"What? No! I'm – just let me get outside." I told him, grabbing my jacket and making my way to the door.
"Tell me where you are. I'm coming to get you."
"No!" I shouted, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "I mean – that's not necessary. I'm okay. Everything's all right."
"No, it's not all right! I just drove ten hours to get here, and you're out partying! I'm missing work to be here right now. Why'd you miss school today?"
Just as I was about to try explaining my disappearance away, my foot got caught on the railing just outside the door, and I fell, losing my hold on the phone and sending it scattering away. Standing up and wiping the dirt from my hands, I took a step towards the phone, only to be wrapped up in an unbreakable embrace. Before I could scream, a hand was clamped over my mouth. I struggled, bringing my elbow back to hit the person's stomach, but it was no use. My captor's mouth rested against my ear long enough to breathe out, "I don't want to hurt you, but I will knock you out if you don't calm down."
I kept fighting, ceasing only after being flipped around. The sudden movement made me feel nauseous. It took all my will power to keep the liquor down. When the world stopped spinning and I could focus, I realized that I didn't recognize the man I was now face to face with.
"Who are you?" I tried to demand, but my voice was small and weak.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you're my leverage."
"Leverage?"
I knew within the next two seconds that I wouldn't get any more information from this man. I also realized, as his eyes locked on mine and it became impossible to look away, that he wasn't human. And I knew what was going to come next.
"Here's the deal: I don't want you. That guy you're with? He's my target. So you're going to stop fighting me, and you're going to stay completely silent until he shows up looking for you. Nod if you understand."
I'd like to say that I had great mental strength, that I'd been able to resist the vampire's compulsion, but I'd be lying if I did. I couldn't break through, no matter how hard I tried. Instead, I was dragged behind the bar to a small fenced-in electrical substation, with only the bar and a painted-white brick building in sight. No people, no way of being saved.
The vampire tossed me on top of the hard dirt in front of the fence, and then started walking away. The second his back was turned, I shot up and took off running - which, if I'd been sober, I would have known that trick wasn't going to work with a vampire with a grudge on my ass. I didn't make it ten feet before I was thrown back towards the fence, the vampire in my face and obviously very pissed off.
"I was hoping not to have to restrain you, but I'm not wasting any more time or compulsion on you." He said, picking up a couple of ropes I hadn't seen.
A million questions ran through my mind, unable to be asked, as first my hands and then my feet were bound. I tried like hell to break free, but he was much too strong and much too fast. So, that's how Damon found me - compelled into silence and tied up against a fence.
"Finally! I've been looking for you for ten minutes." He nearly shouted as he flashed to my side, bemused at my less-than-fortunate state. "Who did this to you?"
"I don't know, but Damon - it's a trap! You have to get out of here. Run!"
"And leave you here?" He chuckled, ripping apart the ropes around my wrists and ankles. "Not a chance."
There was no time to argue, because the other vampire appeared next to us, holding a metal baseball bat. He swung at the back of Damon's left knee with enough force that knocked him to the ground. Three more times I heard the sickening cracks as the man continued his attack on Damon.
"What the hell?!" Damon exclaimed through painful moans. The vampire disappeared, only to reappear with a gas can, which he began pouring all over Damon's body.
"No! What are you doing? Stop!" I practically begged, gripping the man's arm and trying to pull him back. His head snapped in my direction, fangs bared, causing me to take a few involuntary steps back, only able to watch as he continued dousing Damon in more gasoline.
"Who are you?!" Damon managed through his gasping.
"That's perfect..." The other vampire spat out. "You have no idea."
Confused, I chanced going a step closer. "Can somebody please fill me in?"
"Lee. My name is Lee." This time, when the vampire standing in front of me turned to face me, the only thing I saw was his despair as he softly explained, "He killed my girlfriend." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Damon shrug his shoulders, gaining back the attention of his attacker. "What did she do to you, huh? What did she do to you?!" He yelled, emptying the rest of the can's contents on Damon before tossing it aside.
In typical Damon style, he smirked and, tone smug, responded with, "Nothin'."
"I don't understand. Who was she?" I asked, trying to buy Damon more time to heal and either fight back or defend himself.
"She was friends with Stefan. She went to visit him, and Damon killed her. Got it?" Lee answered, throwing Damon back the few inches he'd managed to sit up with a kick to the chin.
"Wait... Lexi? Lexi was your girlfriend?! She told me about you... but I thought..."
"That I was human? Yeah, well – I was." He said in a broken voice. As Damon struggled to crawl away, Lee produced a book of matches from the pocket of his jeans.
I froze. The gas, the matches - his intentions were clear. 'But that means that Damon will be...' I was hit with so much fear that my legs almost gave out. Trying to distract him, I kept talking.
"So Lexi turned you?"
"If you want to be with someone forever, you have to live forever." He explained. My eyes met Damon's before the other vampire kicked him again, breaking his nose. I flinched. 'God I hate that sound.'
"She loved you!" I said in a rush as Lee started to open the matchbook. "She said that... that when it's real, you can't walk away."
"Well, that's a choice you're not going to have to make."
"Please – I'm begging you... Don't do this."
"I'm doing you a favor!"
The smell of sulfur and burning wood came through to my senses, alerting me to the fact that he'd lit one of the matches. Now desperate and full-on frightened, I made one last attempt to convince him to stop.
"I'm not asking you to let him live for me." I told him, practically whispering. It was a lie, mostly, but it was enough to make him freeze for a moment. "I'm asking you to let him live for you. For Lexi. She – she was good, caring – and she fell in love with you. Which means you're good, too." I said, making my voice stronger, hoping like hell Damon wouldn't take this next part to heart. "Be better than him."
After a moment, Lee grabbed Damon, lifting him by the lapels of his jacket, and threw him against the brick building.
"You're lucky she was here." Lee declared.
Relief coursed through my veins as he turned his back on Damon and ran off. Without hesitation, I ran forward and helped Damon up.
"Now look who's saving who." I sighed, feeling exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the last few days. "Ugh, you smell horrible!"
Damon let out a weak chuckle. "Don't think this makes us even." He took a step forward, and I had to rush to catch him before he fell.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be. There's a blood bag in my car. Be a doll, would you?"
"I save your life, and you don't even say 'Thank you'?"
"Save me a few more times, then we'll talk. Keys are in my jacket, inside the bar."
"You could just drink from me."
"Hmm?" Damon asked, clearly shocked.
"Don't act like it didn't cross your mind."
"It did – I just didn't think it was an option... willingly, I mean."
"Well, for tonight, it is. One-time offer only, though."
Not needing to be told again, Damon slid an arm around my waist, pressing our bodies together. After moving my hair to one side, I tilted my head to give him access to my neck, resting my hands on his chest. His other hand came up to tangle in my hair as our eyes locked.
Slowly – so, so, slowly – Damon leaned in. Expecting the sting of his bite, I braced myself and allowed my eyes to close, only for them to fly open when his lips brushed mine in the lightest of touches.
"What are you doing?!" I half-squealed, trying to pull back. His hand was still wrapped in my hair.
"Something I should've done weeks ago." He said, leaning in again.
"Damon, stop. We shouldn't be doing this."
"Don't act like it didn't cross your mind." He repeated my words in a low voice, bringing both hands to cup my cheeks.
This next kiss was no gentle kiss. It was feverish, uncontrolled, and exciting. But that didn't change anything. I couldn't feel anything for Damon. He was a vampire in search of a way to free his former lover from a cursed tomb so that they could be together, and I was a human girl in need of a way to be free from my controlling and abusive ex-boyfriend.
But I couldn't deny he was right - the thought of kissing him had crossed my mind many times since the day he'd healed my sprained ankle. 'That was also the day that Vicki almost killed me.' And it was the first time that Damon had saved my life - even if I would've come back as a vampire.
So I gave in. I kissed him back. But for some unknown reason - or maybe for all of the obvious reasons - I felt guilty for it.
"I think I'll take that drink now." Damon said after allowing me to breathe. I bit back a groan when his fangs broke through the skin on my neck, but I wasn't able to fight the shiver that ran down my spine when he kissed the wound afterward.
I waited by the car as he retrieved his jacket from the bar and gave his farewell to Bree. Now that I was alone and able to process the past 48 hours, anxiety was starting to settle over me. I'd have to deal with Ryan, and call the police about my car, while also constantly looking over my shoulder for Adam and for anyone who could be the psycho vampire who, for whatever purpose, wanted to kill me last night. And yet, despite all that, my mind kept replaying that damned kiss.
"Ready to go?" Damon asked, opening up his car door.
"Yeah. Damon?"
"Mmhmm?"
"Did it mean anything, or was it because he almost killed you?"
Narrowing his eyes, Damon slammed the door shut and was by my side in an instant, pulling me to him. "Who says it isn't both?" He asked, lowering his lips to mine. I sighed into the kiss, returning it almost immediately. I decided in that moment to not let everything waiting back in Mystic Falls ruin the rest of this trip. I could hold off the cloud of regret for a few more hours.
"Is this why you brought me with you - so you could make a move on me?" I joked, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"That, and you're not the worst company in the world. And I knew it would piss off Elena." He teased, rubbing his nose against mine. "I also meant what I said earlier. You needed a break."
"You were right. Though I didn't really get one. How did Lee even find us?"
"Who knows?" Damon responded, dropping his arms and moving to open the passenger door for me. "I should've given you more credit, though. Everything life's thrown at you lately, and you're just as strong as ever."
I frowned at the thought. "I don't feel strong."
"Trust me, you are."
"I guess you never know just how strong you are until you have to be. I still wish I was stronger. Not mentally, or whatever." I whispered, earning a raised brow from Damon. "I'm not saying I want to be a vampire, just... A little extra strength would've been nice against Lee - and Logan."
"You did all right."
"Promise me next time you'll take me somewhere quiet? No bars, no old friends, no homicidal vampires with a grudge."
"We could always stop at a motel and have a night to ourselves." He suggested, wearing his usual smirk.
"As appealing as that sounds," I said, pretending to seriously think about it, "I'll have to pass. People are waiting for our return."
"They can wait until morning."
"Ryan's at my house. No doubt he's tracking me now."
"We'll shut off our phones."
"So I can be in even more of a mess with him later? No thanks."
"I'll compel him to forget you were gone."
"No, Damon." I said, adamantly. "No compulsion. I want to keep him away from this life."
"Have it your way." He shrugged, walking back to the driver's side of the Camaro.
Once we were buckled in and back on the road, I studied the scenery passing by as I replayed the day I first met the vampire currently driving almost twenty miles faster than the speed limit. Something about that day had been bugging me since finding out what he was.
Damon must have noticed, because he glanced at me before asking, "What's on your mind?"
"I have just one question for you that I need an answer to. Just one."
"Well then, ask away."
"You have to promise me that you will answer it."
"Fine." He sighed. "I promise."
"Bumping into you in that liquor store - it wasn't an accident."
"That's not a question."
"Damon, please."
For a few moments, I was afraid he wasn't going to respond. After what looked like a heated mental argument with himself, he finally whispered, "No."
"And you showing up at Ryan's the day after?"
"I followed you."
"Why?" I asked, the truth becoming obvious when he didn't say anything. "But you changed your mind." I pointed out, surprised at how accepting I was about the fact that he'd planned to kill me.
He nodded. "I did."
"I'm glad." I admitted, voice low. Damon flashed me a dazzling half-smile.
"Me too."