Outside Looking In
DG32173

Sarah: here's Chapter 2. This is Caroline's first chapter. As I haven't written very much with her, I hope everyone will tell me how I do. I hope everyone enjoys.

CREDIT
I've gotten a new beta since I last updated this. Credit goes to crzykittyfangirl for putting up with me and helping me with my stories. Thanks for the help.

REVIEW REPLIES

amazing Aisha: I noticed that this happened in the show, but I'm having it take place a lot sooner than the show and in a S3 AU. I'm glad you enjoyed it so far. Here's Chapter 2.

Guest 1 of Chapter 1: I wish you had left a name for me to call you by. Thanks so much for the compliments. Here's the update.

shnicky87: so glad you have enjoyed so far. Poor Stefan but Delena is endgame.

detvd: let me guess, your name stands for Damon/Elena The Vampire Diaries, right? Love it. Well, your wait is over, here's Chapter 2.

Guest 2 of Chapter 1: I wish you had left a name for me to call you by. Glad you enjoyed it so far. Here's Chapter 2.

Guest 3 of Chapter 1: Couldn't you have left a name for me to call you by? Anyways, glad I got your attention. Here's more.

Guest 4 of Chapter 1: I really wish you guest reviewers would leave a name to call you by. Glad you're enjoying this.

PhoenixGirl1714: thanks so much. That's high praise indeed, since I know who you are.

Imarifirst: huh, I was wondering if anyone would catch onto the fact that Stefan did something unforgivable and wonder about it. I might or might not put a flashback in one of the chapters of the event, but it'll probably be a Stefan chapter if I do so, so it'll be me trying to get into The Ripper's mindset during the flashback. And yes, I love having small towns like Mystic Falls have a betting board where the whole town can place bets on any event happening in town. I know it's a little rude, but I came from a small town and the cohesiveness of the town was such that I wouldn't be surprised if such things did happen in some small towns. As for Damon placing a bet, who's to say he hasn't already taken your idea and run with it a couple different ways? Thanks for the review and here's Chapter 2.

HoneySexy: you don't have to wait any longer. Here's the update.

Satoru Ryoma: yeah, even Bonnie now realizes Delena is endgame. Glad you laughed at the bet. Here's more.

: your wish has come true. Here's another chapter.

Chapter 2
I Thought I Understood Her

Before this past year and a half, I had always thought I understood Elena. She's one of my best friends, after all. But upon realizing that she's fallen in love with Damon, I realized that there were hidden depths to her that I had never known about. I can understand why she would break up with Stefan after everything he did while under Klaus' thumb, but the fact that she's slowly moving on to Damon has thrown me a curveball. And I never did enjoy baseball.

But as much as the thought of Elena ending up with Damon is distasteful, I won't stand in their way. Not when I've finally realized just how happy Damon makes her. I have never seen her as happy as she is when she's just spending time with Damon. Not even before her parents had died. And as my best friend, what makes Elena happy makes me happy for her, even if it is Damon.

Sure, I'll forever give Damon a rough time for what he did to me when he first got to Mystic Falls. That's natural for me. But I won't hold onto the resentment any longer. Not when he makes one of my lifelong best friends so ridiculously happy.

But what I want answered is this: when the hell Elena is going to finally give in to what's between her and Damon? She officially broke up with Stefan three months ago. She's past the stage where people could blame her relationship with Damon as being on the rebound. But she and Damon are still dancing around each other, each afraid to make the first move to take their relationship to the next level.

No matter how much I want to intercede and get them to face the fact that they're in love with each other, I have Bonnie's threat of a magical migraine to keep me in check. Yeah, I so don't want to know what that's like.

Bonnie's already predicted that they would get together eventually and that Damon will eventually wear down Elena's resistance to becoming a vampire. I just want them to stop with this awkward dancing around the truth!

Even I can see that Elena brings the man that Damon once was out from behind the monstrous façade he hid his humanity behind. It took a while for me to pick up on it. But dammit, if even I can see it now, why the hell is Elena still twiddling her thumbs when it's obvious they both are desperate to take their relationship to the next level?

But over the past couple of days, I've seen signs that Damon's not going to let things stagnate between them for much longer. I look forward to seeing what plan he puts into motion to get Elena to be his. Damon's plans are always so wickedly good, at least the ones that I have seen him enact.

I hope whatever plan he's working on works fast. I'm eager to see just how much happier Elena will be as Damon's girl than she is just as his friend. Sure, I may never be Damon's biggest fan. There's too much between us for that. But I will always be one of Elena's biggest fans. We've been best friends since infancy after all.

I always thought I understood Elena. But I've come to realize I don't need to understand her completely to wish for her eternal happiness.