Jeremy takes the lead as he and Elena are attempting a free climb up the side of the mountain.
The sun is a cruel mistress today, beating down on them in her relentless way. Sweat trickles down Elena's face and tastes salty on her lips. Her hands are dirty from the rocks but she takes her hat off then wipes her forehead with the back of her arm.
Blowing out a breath, she reaches up to take ahold of a ledge. When some rocks fall away beneath her feet, Elena moves to another one to plant her left foot on. Already she can feel the adrenaline surging unchecked through her body, urging her forward.
She looks below and to up to where her brother has reached the summit. With her hand firmly on the outcropping, she pushes herself until she joins him at the top. Looking out over the landscape, Elena exhales slowly. It's absolutely gorgeous here. The late summer breeze is refreshing, the fragrant wildflowers and pine trees fill her senses. Flecks of golden sunshine mingle with the few wispy clouds in the sky.
Rocks spring up from the ground as if they're reaching for the heavens. They trace the line of the horizon and pause on the broad mountains towering above it. Elena in awe of the nature's beauty. She allows her eyes to wander along the meadow and valley below, following the stream that lays before them like a broad belt of black and silver brocade.
Far above, wheeling on the thermals is a big bird perhaps a falcon? Elena squints upward, her hand above her brow. She watches it swoop down toward the grass, rising almost immediately with a snake clutched in its talons.
"Did you see that?" Jeremy asks, watching the raptor till it disappears behind a clump of tall trees.
Nodding, Elena takes a seat on one of the big boulders.
"It's good to be here, Jer."
Knowing his sister as well as he does, Jeremy is certain something is off.
"Why don't you tell me what's bothering you?"
"Is it that obvious?" she locks her eyes with his.
"To someone who knows you inside and out, yes," he sits down on an adjacent boulder.
"I'm in love with a man that I can never have."
"So why can't you have him? He's with another woman?"
"Not that I know of but that's not the point. The point is I'm in love with him and it drives me crazy. I'm not in control."
"You don't trust yourself around him?"
"No, I can't keep my hands off of him-" she can feel the heat growing in her cheeks. "This isn't me."
"Well, maybe this is who you are now. Love does that Elena, it changes us."
"I thought I was in love with Aaron but this feels so much different, Damon makes me feel alive."
"So, what's the problem? Why can't you be with him?"
"He's seventeen!"
"Oh," Jeremy's mouth drops for a millisecond and then goes quiet.
"See, you're appalled too. Vincent accused me of dating a child," she glances up at the sky.
"No, I'm not 'appalled'- your words not mine. If this young man makes you happy, Elena, I want that for you. I know what the age of consent is, he's old enough to be with you."
"I don't understand?" she picks a weed and starts to roll it between her fingers.
"Why do you think mom and dad made me break up with Anna till she was old enough? Dad didn't want to give Pearl any ammunition to press charges against me for having sex with a minor."
"I never knew."
"Dad thought it best to keep it between the three of us."
"I love him...I think he feels the same. But the guilt is like gasoline in my gut. It's not that I feel guilty about being with Damon, I don't. What's gnawing at me is that now I don't know if I really loved Aaron...it feels like a betrayal to his memory."
"You loved Aaron in your own way. I know that, he knew that, you know that. Maybe it is different this time but they're two very different people."
Elena's heart throbs in her throat. "I want Damon to finish high school and go to college. I don't want to be the reason he gives up his hopes and dreams."
"I think that's admirable but aren't you making the decision for him? It's his life, Elena, he deserves to have a seat at the table. Did he tell you his hopes and dreams? Maybe that's what you are to him?"
"The Salvatore's are powerful people, they could ruin me if I "defile" their son."
"Yes, they are, but you're strong and resilient. You'll triumph over whatever obstacle may come. And please, you're not defiling anyone."
"But what if they tell the bank manager not to make me a loan or tell some of the people who buy my hay to find another seller?"
"Elena, listen to yourself, you're making excuses. If you love this man, sit him down and talk it out. If it's real, it will withstand whatever life throws at the two of you."
She smiles, "When did you get so smart?"
"When you become a parent, you grow up fast. And speaking of, let's go home, you promised to read the storybook you brought him," Jeremy extends his arm and pulls Elena to her feet.
"I love you, Jeremy," she gives him a hug and then they begin their descent down the mountain.
Caroline parks in front of the school and watches the front doors, hoping to get a glimpse of Damon.
Several groups of kids come out but she has yet to see him. Having been a student here, she's knows there's more than one exit and if she doesn't see him, she'll drive around to the back of the building and wait there tomorrow.
Her eyes drop to the letter sitting in the passenger seat, the one Elena asked Vincent to give him. Bonnie brought it to her, asking if she'd deliver it since he didn't want to talk to Damon after he showed up at the farm to look for her.
Picking it up, she slaps it against her other hand as her thoughts drift. When she looks up, her eyes widen to see Damon crossing the street in front of her with another guy walking beside him.
Leaning to the passenger side, she quickly lowers the window. "Damon Salvatore?"
Damon looks around and seeing no one, continues walking.
Caroline rolls her eyes and jumps out of the car to catch him.
"Damon wait!"
He stops, and turns around, only then laying his eyes on Caroline.
"You want me?" he looks at her perplexed.
"Yes, I'm Elena's best friend. I have something for you," she raises her elbow and points her thumb back towards her car.
"Where is she? I went to the farm but Vincent said she was gone."
"She's visiting her brother and his family. She wanted you to have this," Caroline hands him the letter once they reach her vehicle.
He turns to look at her and his eyes are full of obvious torment. "Is she coming back?" Damon asks hoarsely.
Caroline nods. "Yes, she'll be back. I'm sorry Damon, I kind of owe you an apology, I encouraged her, thinking it was just a summer fling, I had no idea that she felt so strongly for you."
"Does she? Running away doesn't exactly scream that sentiment," he points out.
She can hear the sarcasm in his voice, along with the underlying hurt. "You don't know, Elena. She cares deeply, too much sometimes I think. Knowing her as well as I do - since we were kids - she probably has convinced herself she'll hold you back," Caroline explains.
He looks down at the envelope in in front of him with her handwriting. It's like he can't tear his eyes away from it. "Thank you for bringing me this," he flicks it on his other palm.
"You're welcome."
Damon gives her a nod and starts to walk back towards his friend who's waiting on the other side of the road.
"Damon," comes from behind him and he turns to look at her again.
"We don't really know each other but here's my card," she hurries over and hands him one, "if you want to talk?"
"Thanks," he stuffs it in his pocket then jogs over to Enzo.
Caroline watches his departing form until he turns the corner and is no longer in sight.
Elena packs the last few things she has in the room with tears beginning to form in her eyes. Her two weeks with Jeremy extended into five but now she has to go home. She's enjoyed being with him and Anna, reading and playing with Micah.
Once she lugs her suitcase downstairs, she approaches Anna to give her a hug.
"You're welcome here anytime, Elena. Don't make yourself so scarce," she gives her a peck on the cheek.
"I have no intention of doing that. I'll be back but right now you guys need to get your lives back," she laughs, giving Anna another hug.
"You ready to go?" Jeremy appears, carrying Micah who is rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists, having just woke up.
"Give me that boy," Elena takes him from Jeremy. "
"I'm going to miss you, little man," she kisses his fist.
"Aunty Ena, go bye, bye," he pouts.
"Yes, I have to go bye. But I will come back to see you or you can come to my house? I have a horse, a doggy named Zeus and a kitty named Mischa."
"Kee, kee?"
"Yes, I have a kitty," Elena gives him a squeeze then hands him to his mama.
"You ready?" Jeremy picks up her suitcase.
Elena nods, takes a breath and follows Jeremy outside. When he backs out of the driveway, she lowers her window and waves goodbye to Anna and her nephew...
Taking a breath, Katherine raps lightly on Damon's door and then enters to find him shirtless, slouched on the bed and staring at the ceiling.
"Do you want to talk?" she walks around to the other side and sits down beside him.
He turns his head to the side as he arches an eyebrow, "Did mom and dad send for reinforcements?"
"No, Elijah and I are here for supper. Actually, she said your grades are stellar and that you have a football game Friday night."
"What were you expecting? Am I supposed to be pining for my lost love?"
"You're uncharacteristically hostile, what's going on with you?" she glowers at him.
"Not a thing, as a matter of fact, I have a date tonight so I need to get ready."
"Who with?"
"That's for me to know and you to dot. dot. dot," Damon waggles his brows teasingly, swings his legs over the side and jumps to his feet. "Now shoo, I have to get dressed," he nudges her out of his room.
After showering, Damon gets dressed, grabs his car keys and trots down the steps.
"Where are you going?" Lillian's standing at the foot of the stairs with her hands on her hips.
"I have a date. I'll see you later," he starts for the door.
"With whom? It better not be with her!"
"I haven't seen her since the festival. Are you satisfied?"
She considers her son for a moment then steps back. "I expect you home by midnight, you have school tomorrow."
"Sure, whatever," he rolls his eyes and walks out of the house.
"Hi Damon," Caroline waves her arm to get his attention.
"Thanks for meeting me," he slides into the booth.
"Of course. I have something for you," she pulls an envelope out of her purse and hands it to him.
"What's this?" he looks at her curiously.
"Open it," she sits forward in her seat.
"A Starbucks gift card? Thank you."
'It's a birthday gift. I know it's coming up."
"You didn't have to do that, you don't even know me."
"That's true but I wanted to. I really don't know what you like but everyone seems to like Starbucks," she smiles at him.
"Um," he sets the card on the table. "Have you heard from her?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact," she glances at her watch, "I have to leave for the airport in a half an hour."
"She's coming home?" he looks hopeful.
"She is," Caroline bobs her head.
"I know she felt something for me. You can't fake shit like that," Damon stares at her.
Caroline lays her hands over his knotted ones. "Damon..."
"Why did she leave?"
"I already told you that we've known each other since we were toddlers, Damon. She needs time to work things out in her head away from all the distractions. Back then, she'd sit in her window seat and write in her journal or just stare outside. I don't know what - if any - decisions she might have made but I'm asking you not to pressure her. Don't run out to the farm right away, let her reach out to you."
Damon blinks and Caroline gasps silently at the fire burning in his eyes. He pushes back from the table. "I need out of here."
"Wait," Caroline asks, "Where are you going?"
"Does it matter?" he asks, bitterly.
Caroline opens her mouth but she isn't sure what to say but finally settles on, "She cares about you, Damon."
"Running away doesn't exactly scream caring," he pauses. "Thank you, though, for wanting to help me. You didn't have to do that."
"Take care of yourself..." she throws some cash on the table and walks outside with him. When they reach her car, Caroline hooks her hand around his shoulder.
"Don't give up, okay?"
He sucks in a breath and looks at the sky. The stars hang above them, as if strung in the air by invisible strings.
After a moment passes, he simply walks away...
Thanks everyone.
Chapter title: 'The Flame' by Cheap Trick.
Have an amazing day.