It Runs in the Family

Chapter 3

Damon clenched his fist in panic as he lowered his head hoping that this girl really didn't recognize him . How had he been that stupid to let this girl live? He knew that someday it would come back to bite him in the ass

It felt like a lifetime before the girl finally came to the seat across from him and sat down opening her text book and concentrating on the lesson before her. She didn't seem to notice that he was right by her, as if she were in a world all by herself. Thank God for the common self centered teenager phase that had no doubt saved his ass just now.

Damon concentrated on her tuning out the lesson s he took her in. How the hell was it possible that she was here right now? A feeling of dread crossed his face as a single question crossed his mind. What if Stefan had seen her already? Stefan wasn't the kind of person to forget a kill even if it hadn't been one of his own. When Damon had asked Stefan why he had never forgotten a face of one of their victims, the simplest way he had put it was that he never forgot a face because maybe one day they would mess up and he would need to take care of them personally. If Stefan had seen Elena, if he had remembered her face, then she was as good as dead.

When the bell rang, Elena gathered her stuff and looked ready to bolt when Damon stepped in front of her blocking her view and taking her aback.

"Can I help you with something?" she said obviously annoyed.

"I'm sorry I could swear that I know you from somewhere."

Elena looked up as a brief look flashed across her face, but was soon replaced with something else.

"Well I guess you must be mistaking me for someone else, but may I suggest that the next time you think you know someone you might start out by saying hi first. "

"Sorry I guess I can be socially awkward sometimes."

"Sometimes?" she asked with a laugh which made him give small chuckle of his own.

"Okay fine you got me there. I guess I need to socialize with more people from now on, but I really did think you looked vaguely familiar."

a look of vagueness passed over Elena's face as she blinked up at Damon trying to hide her pain and sorrow.

"Now that I think of it you might know me from somewhere."

"Do tell." Damon said trying to get more out of her.

"It's not really appropriate conversion for a classroom, but maybe if you learn to actually approach people then maybe you could ask me about it someday."

"Is that a challenge?" he asked a hint of mischief in his eye.

"I guess that's up to you to figure that out."

"I guess so."

With a smile Elena walked out of the classroom and Damon waited a few minutes before following her out of the classroom making sure no one had seen him follow her. After he was sure that he was at a safe distance, he followed Elena as close as possible miking sure that Stefan was also not around to see how much he had really messed up. He couldn't let that happen. He had to keep them away from each other for as long as possible.

As he followed her, he found himself once again taking in the girl whose life his family had ruined and realized that her appearance had changed since he had sen her last.

When he had first saw her for the first time, her long brown hair had been straight down to her sides. Pretty for the most part but somehow lacking in other qualities. But now he swore that she was one of the most gorgeous women he had ever seen.

Her long brown hair once straight was now curled with hints of red in it as there was a hint of sadness and damage in her eyes. He wished that his family hadn't been the ones to put that sadness there, but he knew there was nothing he could do a bout it now. He had already jeopardized his safety by helping her once. He had no clue why he was helping her again, but something inside of him felt as if it was now his job to protect her.

"Damon?"a voice asked causing him to turn around and lose sight of Elena

Caroline stood there, clipboard and pen in hand as Damon rolled his eyes. Great. This was exactly what he needed right now was Caroline getting nosy with him again. He really had no clue why Stefan bothered dating her anyway. He had once claimed it was strictly for his image, but deep down Damon knew Stefan had a soft spot for her or rather what she could do for him.

"What?" he asked rather impatiently.

"Why do you always have to act hostile around me? It's not like I've done anything to you."

"Look I'm sorry if me snapping at you offends you, but I really do have more important things to attend to."

"This will only take a second I promise. "

"Fine. What do you want?"

"I feel like Stefan is shutting down on me. Is there anything that's happening at home that might be affecting him in any way. I know if he wanted to tell me he would but I know how hard it is for him to open up to people especially me."

"Listen Caroline, I know some of Stefan's behavior can be concerning, but I know for a fact that there's nothing wrong with him."

"How could you be so sure?"

"Because he's my brother and I've known him all my life, trust me Caroline if there was something wrong with him I'd know."

"Believe it or not sometimes the people we think care about us the most still keep things from us."

"If you think Stefan is really keeping things from me then why would you bother asking? Wouldn't it just be easier to get the information out of him yourself?"

"You know what. You're right. I don't know why I would ask someone who doesn't even know what a relationship is for advice about mine. Rookie mistake I guess."

"Ouch."

"Look I'm sorry about that. I'm just really afraid that Stefan is pushing me away."

"Tell you what. I'll talk to Stefan and see what's up with him for you if you promise you'll stop pushing him on the subject."

"Deal thanks for helping me Damon."

"It's no problem really, tell you what let's go find Stefan now and we'll all skip out early for a early lunch."

"You would jeopardize your perfect 4.0 gpa so me and your brother can spend some more time together?"

"Let's just say that I don't feel like being here today. At lest not for lunch at least."

"In that case Let's go find him and get out of this place."

Damon nodded as him and Caroline roamed through the halls trying to find him as Damon's breath hitched at what he saw. No this couldn't be happening.

"Whose that girl with Stefan?" Caroline asked as Damon's eyes rested on Stefan with none other than Elena.

Shit. He was so screwed.