Three years later...
Tired after a long day at school, Damon walks down the long gravel road that leads to their place. Catching a glimpse of Stefan's car, he picks up the pace a bit. When he reaches the house, Stefan steps outside with a smile on his face.
"Hello brother. How did your tests go?"
"Trig sucks, bio was easy, English, don't even ask," Damon laughs, taking a swallow from the soda can that Stefan offers.
"Have you put any of your college applications in? You know mom wants more for you and so would dad."
"I know, Stef but I like it here."
"You can stay here and go to college in Spearfish or Rapid?"
"You're right. I really haven't decided on a career though."
"Damon, just take the required courses while you decide...and about the graduation present, don't expect a car or anything big. She's planning a little get together though."
"I don't need a party," Damon shakes his head.
"Sure, you do. Oh, hey Elena," Stefan waves when he sees her approaching them.
"Hi Stefan, how is married life?"
"It's great Elena, you'll have to try it someday," he teases, winking at her.
"Maybe... I will, maybe I won't," she shrugs.
"Listen, I have to get home. I'll see you tomorrow, little brother." He gives Damon a pat on the shoulder, jumps in his car and drives away.
"Let's go inside, I have to see if mom needs me to do anything."
Elena nods and follows him into the house. He lowers his backpack and sets in the foyer then he leads her to the kitchen where they find Martha baking cookies.
"You're home," she acknowledges, swatting his hand when he attempts to pick up a cookie.
"Ouch," he adds in a rather melodramatic fashion earning a giggle from both Elena and his mom.
"Hi Elena."
"Hi Martha, can I have one?"
"Yes, of course, there's milk in the fridge if you want to dunk."
"So, she can have a cookie and I get a hand slap. I see how it is," Damon rolls his eyes then reaches for a couple of glasses. Elena fills them with milk while Martha plates a few cookies for them. They happily eat the delicious morsels and have an enjoyable conversation with his mom.
He likes seeing this side of Elena, the smiling happy one, the one who isn't carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
He hopes his wish will someday come true...he imagines them sharing cookies and milk in their own home.
As soon as they help his mom clean up, he sees the familiar melancholy wash over Elena. He knows she's upset about something. Together they go outside to the barn to feed the horse and their few chickens.
Elena picks up the pitchfork herself and lifts some hay for McKinley. He's a silky looking black horse. He's been part of the family since before Damon was a young boy. Elena has always loved riding him. While tossing some food to the birds, he has an idea. He walks over to her, pulls the saddle down and secures it to the horse.
Elena stares at him, mounting the horse when Damon gestures for her to do so. Smiling, he takes the reins and starts to walk them outside and into sloping hills behind his place. When they reach a rocky outcropping, he helps her down, secures McKinley's reins on a tree and then takes her hand in his.
"What's wrong, Elena? Is it something at home?"
"I left because my mom's boyfriend showed up. And I still haven't heard anything about the tapes I sent out. I worked hard to save enough money to make them and what good has it done?"
He knows it's a sore spot for her. He wants her to realize her dream even if it takes her away from him. "Don't give up, you'll hear from one of them. You have a beautiful voice and if anyone can do it, you can."
She gives his hand a squeeze and smiles tightly. He knows she doesn't believe him. Their silence is broken when McKinley whinnies. Looking up at the sky, Damon sees some dark clouds beginning to gather. Since it's probably going to storm, they go back to his place. The grey sky restlessly grumbles. The thick black clouds are dragged down by the heavy rain. The sound of emptiness is disrupted by the loud gregarious boom of thunder.
Elena watches the storm from Damon's window and joins them for supper. They do their homework while the thunderstorm blows through. When the rain stops, she sighs and closes up the book. "I suppose I better get home."
"Do you want me to walk with you?"
"No, I just live next door."
"I know but it's dark outside."
"Damon, I'm not afraid of the dark."
"Yeah, I know, just humor me okay?" he waggles his brows at her teasingly.
"You can walk me outside," she picks up her book and then trots down the stairs with Damon following.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he calls from behind her.
"Bye Damon," she breaks out into a jog. He watches till he can't see her anymore then closes the door and goes back to his room. Looking out the window at the now clear sky, he's mesmerized by it as if waiting for another star to fall.
When she sees Damon's porch light go out, she quickly sneaks around her own house to climb the tree to go inside. When she rounds the corner, she runs straight into her mom's boyfriend. Her dad finally left three years ago and divorced her mother. She sees his truck parked in front of Saloon #10 where Wild Bill was murdered by Jack McCall and in casino parking lots once in awhile. Elena's not really sure where he lives other than it's in Belle Fourche. Although she doesn't like her dad, at least he never eyed her like a panther circling its prey.
She hates the way this man ogles her; it feels like he's undressing her with his eyes. Her mother seems oblivious to it.
"Elena, do you think you can get your mom's ATM card for me?"
"No," she shakes her head back and forth vigorously. She attempts to dart around a tree but he grabs onto her ankle. When he starts to crawl up her body, she kicks him off and runs into the house, locking the door behind her. Since her mother will let him in the house if he can wake her, she doesn't shower, instead she crawls into bed after putting on her pajamas. Rolling on her side, she folds her hands under cheek and stares at the stars twinkling above. Her mind drifts back to the night she and Damon made their wishes while lying on the grass. It was so long ago and still he's never told her what it was. Although she knows him pretty well, she doesn't have a clue as to what he might have wished for back then?
She falls asleep hoping school will be over soon, that someone will help her get out of this town and put her on the path to becoming a star.
In the morning, Damon picks her up, drives them to school as he always does. They see John Gilbert on the opposite side of the street. Damon knows there's a lot unresolved between them and he suggests they talk to him.
"You're his flesh and blood! At the very least, he should give you some money for support."
"No, I don't want anything and I especially don't want him to show up at some point and demand it back," she's adamant in her refusal.
"But you could use it to get out of here, that's what you want."
"No, Damon, I won't," she glares at him. When he stops at a red light, she jumps out of the car and runs off to school, knowing full well her dad will never give her anything.
After pulling her things out of her locker, Elena heads to her first class. She sits down and opens her book, staring at the blackboard in front of her. She and Damon are close enough, she relaxes knowing that he won't be mad at her.
When class ends, she finds him at his locker. As it's always been with him, it's like he has sixth sense where she's concerned. He turns around and gives her a smile. He starts to approach her when another girl engages him in conversation.
Damon is no longer the outsider he used to be. He's grown very handsome with his jet-black hair and fierce blue eyes. Even the darkest of sapphires can't hold light to the electric fire that burns each rim and shimmer under his glossy gaze.
She's overheard girls saying he's hot and the fact that he isn't really conversive, he actually more glib and teasing - all of which gives him an air of mystery.
Elena smiles herself but feels a sting of sadness. Their lives were a lot less complicated when they were children. She looks up again, catching Damon's piercing stare from across the room. He winks at her and in that moment, everything is right in the world.
After school, they go to his place, have a little something to eat and Elena thinks about Damon's mom. If not for her, she probably would have dropped out of school freshman year. Martha's always supported her, so unlike her own parents. Not wanting to disappoint her, she promised her that she would get her diploma.
Having sent some recordings that Damon helped her with, she's anxious to check her email although she's not quite sure if the agent would contact her by email, regular mail or by phone. Elena thanks Martha for the snack and then they go to Damon's room. He powers up his laptop and then hands it to her.
Suddenly he sees her eyes widen and her mouth drop.
"It's here, Damon. They want to hear me sing. I'm supposed to inform them when I'm going to perform again so they can send someone. Can you believe it?" she squeals and leaps at Damon, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him as if she never wants to let go.
Although he smiles on the outside, he has a heavy heart when he drives her downtown for a local talent show at one of the casinos. Elena's been practicing her song day and night. She's insanely nervous, he can tell by the way her leg is bouncing up and down.
He parks the car and then walks inside with her, his palm gently nudging her forward. They go directly to the room that the show is taking place, she looks around, sees several locals and some she doesn't know but she also has no idea which if any of them are here to see her.
She's both convinced and disappointed, certain that they found someone else but Damon tells her to do her best for him. Several times she scans the crowd and he tries to give her support as much as he can with a mere look, it seems to be working, she calms down when their eyes meet. It feels like she's singing for him and it's the best feeling in the world. He doesn't need more, seeing her so happy is enough to last him for a lifetime if necessary.
After the performance, she joins Damon. A few people who know who she is, greet her and wish her well.
Damon congratulates her on the exceptional performance which makes her happy but she's disappointed until she eyes someone approaching them.
"Miss Gilbert, that was really something."
"Thank you."
"Forgive me, I'm Tyler Lockwood... from Lockwood Entertainment. "I was very impressed with your performance and I would very much like to work with you. I truly believe you have what it takes to be a successful recording artist."
Elena is beyond happy and Damon's heart is breaking, she'll leave here and be out of his life soon. Despite how he feels inside, he won't allow his mood to put a damper on her happiness so he puts the most cheerful face he can muster to celebrate her triumph.
Damon escorts Elena down the aisle. Pomp and circumstance plays to the crowd assembled at the high school. He should have graduated last year but he had to have open heart surgery when he was a child so his mother held him back till she no longer feared he'd die from catching a common cold or something.
After the ceremony, Elena is on cloud 9. She's at the Salvatore home because her mother is already drunk and her boyfriend is lurking around.
Damon's mom takes her hands, "I'm so proud of both of you. What are you going to do with your life now, Elena?"
She's chatty and excited as she tells them about the contract she signed. "I'm leaving next week. I can hardly wait." When she picks up her glass of punch, she notices the concerned look Martha gives Damon but it passes too quickly for her to discern it.
He tries to cover his feelings when he joins in on the conversation. "When you're a big star are you still going to remember your friends back home?"
"Damon, you're always going to be my best friend."
He wants so much more.
In her excitement, she finishes what's left in her glass. She doesn't notice the sad look that washes over Damon's face. They talk about other things, things that are important to him but the conversation keeps veering back to her and the new life she's about to embark on.
When she notices both Damon and Martha yawning, she says goodnight and leaves to go home, breathing easily when she finds the house empty.
Elena goes straight to her room, peels off her clothes and takes a nice hot bubble bath. It feels so good, the lap of the water against the sides of the tub lull her to sleep. When she hears the front door slam shut, she jumps out of the tub, slips on her robe, grabs a towel for her hair and runs to her room, locking the door behind her.
Later when she's laying in bed staring a the ceiling and feeling a bit nostalgic, Elena wonders what Seattle will be like with all the lights and the big city noises. She knows her that neither parent will miss her... and then it hits her like a ton of bricks, she'll be leaving Damon behind too.
Her stomach starts to twist and churn, she thinks she might lose what little is in her stomach. How will she ever find someone else like him? If she were to stay home, they might become... Would he want that? Does he feel more too?
But she can't stay here, she just can't, she's going to become a big star. She'll leave this town and her miserable life behind. Miserable except for the one person who's made it worthwhile. It can't end like this, not with Damon.
She carefully sneaks out of her house and to Damon's like she's done a thousand times before. Damon's not at all surprised and lets her in. They're not concerned, Stefan isn't there anymore and his mom's room is downstairs. Damon looks sleepy, she probably woke him and the warmth radiates from his body. It must have been chilly outside despite the fact that it's almost summer.
She can't do this.
But she wants to.
He finally focuses on her, fully awake now. "What happened, Elena?"
"Nothing, I can't just leave and.." she falls silent for a moment. "I just need to do this" and without hesitation, she attacks his mouth, kissing him like there's no tomorrow...
And actually, there isn't one...
Chapter title: 'Look For a Star' by Gary Miles.
For trivia purposes - Jack McCall was hung in Yankton, SD for killing Wild Bill Hickok. There's a plaque downtown to commemorate the spot.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Hope you all have an amazing day. We'll see you next week.