Winding down with maybe one more chapter. This was a fun little story to write. Glad you guys have seemed to enjoy it!

PS, posting kinda late, so sorry if there are any mistakes. My final review wasn't as thorough as usual lol

:)

Elena woke up Saturday morning in bed with Damon, two bags of chips, a paper plate that had once held her half of a microwavable pizza, and an empty whiskey bottle.

Sunlight peeked through the blinds, casting a glow of light across the room that still felt too bright for the early hour.

Or maybe it was the pounding in her head telling her that?

Ugh, she had drank way too much last night.

It took a few moments for the thickness of sleep to ease off and for her surroundings to really come into focus.

She was in the middle of the bed, her bare back against Damon's bare chest, and his hand was on her thigh, making slow strokes against her skin.

So he was awake too.

Elena closed her eyes and relaxed, deciding that the headache wasn't too bad after all.

The details of last night were only a little blurry; she remembered trying to call Stefan.

She remembered Damon stopping her, and thank God he had, because that was definitely a talk she needed to have in person...and probably 100% sober.

But mostly, she remembered the way Damon had kissed her, after taking her phone away.

The possessiveness, the warmth, the desire…

Something had changed the moment she had chosen to text him last night, and she knew that this wasn't about their "lessons" or even about the need for a distraction from all the chaos in their lives.

This was something else; something real, and that last kiss had tasted like validation.

It felt like hours before they had parted, so wrapped up in each other that they hadn't wanted to let go.

Eventually, Damon had stopped them though, only because she had been willing to cross a line that she might not be too happy about now that she was thinking clearly.

Though...a part of her wasn't so sure anymore.

Everything with Damon felt so good, it wasn't a stretch to consider taking that final step and giving into him completely.

She trusted him. She wanted him.

And he certainly wanted her.

But she also knew that there was more to consider, and despite how much she enjoyed kissing him, they needed to step back and figure out what the hell they were doing.

Except, when they had pulled apart, her phone started ringing; Stefan calling her back.

They had both stared at the thing, then at each other.

Damon's face had lacked any emotion, any hint as to what was going on in his head, so she hit ignore and sent Stefan a short text that they would talk later.

Right then, she really wanted to know what Damon was thinking.

However, before she could say anything, he had moved away, asking her if she was hungry.

He was changing the topic, or more accurately, avoiding it, so Elena simply nodded, deciding that they could have at least this one night to themselves before complicating things further.

Half an hour later, they were back in Damon's bed, chips and pizza between them, discussing the likelihood that the school's mean old janitor was hoarding all the random pom poms that had gone missing over the years in some hidden back room supply closet where he definitely had a shrine set up for cheerleaders of years past.

There was also a debate that he himself had tried out for the squad back in the sixties, but had sadly been turned down, and existed in a state of regret for dreams unlived.

It was stupid and funny, and exactly the kind of wild conspiracy Elena had needed to ease the tension of the night.

She wasn't sure when they started finishing off the bottle, only that it was emptied and she had gotten warm and sleepy and Damon had pulled her close to his body.

He didn't mention the kiss, or her impending break up, or anything else as she drifted off; just pecked the top of her head before succumbing to sleep himself.

But now, they were both awake.

And Damon was still touching her in a way that was far less than innocent, his fingers drifting further and further toward her inner thigh with each sweep up her leg.

Elena let out a slow exhale, then turned around in the sheets to face him; the motion causing her headache to resurge a little.

As she had predicted, Damon was wide awake; eyes open and aware.

"Good morning," he told her gravelly, those bright blue irises searching her face.

"It would be," she couldn't help but grimace a little, "If we hadn't killed the entire bottle of Kentucky Straight last night."

Damon chuckled softly, "Hangover?"

"Pounding headache, light sensitivity, dry mouth," she ticked off the symptoms, "I'd say that's a fair assumption."

He smirked and kissed her forehead, "Well, you're in luck. I happen to have the best hangover cure known to man."

"Of course you do," she smiled back, "I'm just hoping it's not coffee spiked with Jameson."

Damon laughed, then detangled himself to roll out of bed, "Actually it's a smoothie. Lots of electrolytes and hydrating fruits and vegetables. I'm warning you though, it tastes like death."

Elena stretched out in the space he left behind, before sitting up, "Might be worth it, just in case one of my parents happens to be home later. Doctors tend to have strong opinions about teenagers and alcohol."

"No doubt they have strong opinions about a lot of things," he agreed, then gave her a once over, "Steam from a hot shower might help too, if you're interested. You are already halfway undressed."

Elena glanced down, realized she was still only in her underwear, and blushed.

She grabbed the sheet and yanked it up to her chest as Damon grinned shamelessly.

"My shirt was off all night, wasn't it?" she briefly recalled throwing it somewhere on the floor as things between the two of them had heated up, and afterwards, she had been too in her head, and in the bottle, to much care that she and Damon were chatting and lounging in the near nude.

"I wasn't complaining," he assured her, "And for a long while, neither were you."

Her blush deepened as she remembered his mouth on her breasts, teeth nipping and teasing, and she dropped her gaze.

Silence fell heavy between them, until Damon cleared his throat, "Has that guilt train arrived at Regret Station yet?"

Elena pushed away her slight embarrassment and met his gaze, "No."

"Oh. Well, it's still early."

The doubt was all over his expression, and she hated it.

"Damon-"

"No," He shook his head, stopping her, "No, don't do that. You don't have to say anything. I have this morning with you. Just let me have that. There's no need to explain anything."

Except, yes, there was.

"I was just going to say that I remember what I said last night," she promised him, "And I'm going to talk to Stefan today."

She thought he would be relieved, but instead, his gaze dropped and he leaned closer toward the door, "Yeah...that's what I'm worried about. That you'll see him...and..."

He trailed off, but didn't lift his eyes, and Elena felt a jolt of shock run down her spine.

Damon was nervous. About her seeing Stefan?

She wasn't naive. She knew that she had to end things with Stefan, but that had just as much to do with being honest with herself as it did with wanting Damon.

Wanting Damon.

She wanted Damon. Last night had proven that in spades.

The silent admission was consuming and her mouth was suddenly even drier than before as she realized that breaking up with Stefan didn't mean that she would get to be with his brother.

Damon was notorious for his disdain of relationships, and just because he acted differently with her didn't mean he was going to change his opinion on long term girlfriends.

And Elena wasn't a casual, non commitment kind of girl.

"I'll see him and what?" she prodded gently, praying that somehow he had changed his mind...that he felt the same thing she did when they kissed and was willing to take a chance on it.

But Damon merely shook his head, "Nothing."

It wasn't nothing though. He wouldn't have said anything, otherwise.

"I'll go get that smoothie started," he decided, before she could press further, "You can take a shower...or not. Your clothes are over there by the foot of the bed."

He started toward the door, but Elena was faster, shooting up of the mattress, all thoughts of nudity abandoned, and grabbed his arm.

"Wait."

When he stopped, she tugged on him until he looked at her, "You never answered my question last night."

Damon paused, then swallowed, "Which one?"

"I asked you if you wanted me to break up with Stefan."

She wanted him to say yes.

She wanted him to admit that he wanted to be with her.

But things were never that simple, especially with Damon.

"I want you to be happy," he stated, "The choice of how is yours to make. This is about what you want."

Vague enough to be infuriating, but open enough to give her hope.

Elena sighed as she dropped her gaze, "What if...what if I'm not sure I can have what I want?"

He didn't answer right away, falling so silent that she worried he might have actually left the room.

She risked a glance up to see that he was still there in front of her, his expression pensive.

"How will you ever know," he challenged, "If you don't take the chance to find out?"

What did that mean?

Did he even realize what she was talking about?

Was he trying to say that there might be a chance for whatever this thing was between them to become something even more evolved?

"I want…"

His breath seemed to stop, same as hers.

"What," he urged in a whisper, "What do you want?"

She started to answer, but a sudden banging on the door made them both jump, and the single syllable word died on her lips.

"Damon? Are you awake?"

Stefan's voice was barely muffled by the wood that separated them and Elena's eyes widened in immediate panic.

Yes, she planned on breaking up with him, but him finding her almost naked in his brother's bedroom was not part of that plan.

"Closet," Damon mouthed, quickly grabbing her things and shoving them into her hands.

She took them and let herself be ushered through the door across from the bathroom that proved to be a large walk in.

He shut her in as quietly as possible, and she fumbled in the darkness to get her clothes back on.

Crap, was her tank top on backwards?

Her panic increased as she heard another door open, and suddenly Stefan was in Damon's bedroom.

The oxygen around her seemed to disappear and her breath caught in her throat as he spoke.

"Sorry if I woke you...was just wondering if we could talk?"

"Sure," Damon answered, sounding as casually uninterested as ever, "But you look awful. Long night? Maybe you should go shower and change. I can meet you downstairs for breakfast?"

She had no idea how he was managing that level of calm when she personally felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

"A shower can wait," Stefan brushed off the suggestion, and some muffled shifting made her think he had moved to sit on the edge of Damon's bed, "I really need your help."

More diluted sounds, "With what?"

There was a pregnant pause, then Damon began to urge, "Stefa-"

"I hooked up with Caroline."

An even longer pause, and Elena stopped breathing entirely.

Wow.

Just...wow.

When had he even-

"Last night?" Damon asked the question bouncing in her brain.

Stefan must have nodded, because Damon let out the same heavy, "Wow," still echoing in her head.

"I know," Stefan said quietly, "I...I didn't mean...I screwed up man; she wants to get together, and she threatened to tell Elena."

Thudding on the floor made Elena think Damon had begun pacing, "There would be nothing to tell if you cared enough about her to keep it in your pants."

"Hey, I didn't plan for it to happen, alright?" Stefan's voice rose, and Damon scoffed, "Apparently you never do."

"I didn't! But Caroline...she came up to the Grill after Elena left last night, and she said she just wanted to talk. But she's so, well, you know, and next thing I know we were in the bathroom and she was naked under her cheer skirt and-"

"And you're just the victim here," Damon mocked, "Is that really the story you're going with? Do you really think Elena is that stupid?"

Stefan groaned, "Of course not! But that's why I need your help. If Elena finds out about this, she'll dump me this time, I know it. That can't happen."

"Oh for fucks sake," There was renewed exasperation in Damon's voice, "If you don't love her enough not to fuck other girls, then she should dump your ass! In fact, she should have dumped you the first time she caught you with Caroline."

Stefan hesitated before answering, "I thought you were supposed to support me here, Damon. You're my big brother!"

"Yeah, I am," Damon agreed, "Which means I can tell you candidly that you're being a total douche. If you want to screw Caroline, why not just date Caroline?"

A heavy sigh, "Because I'd have to dump Elena to be with her and...and that can't happen right now. We can't break up yet."

When Damon spoke, the same frown that Elena knew was on her face, was in his voice, "What the hell does that mean? Why can't you break up with Elena?"

Silence.

Elena took a few shallow breaths, waiting for the answer with a pit in her stomach that told her she wasn't going to like it.

And she was right.

"The internship at the hospital."

Damon blinked at the words Stefan muttered, trying to decipher what some wageless summer job had to do with anything.

Then his brother's eyes lifted, and the hint of guilt drove the revelation home.

Grayson Gilbert had founded that internship, and was responsible for Stefan's entrance.

"If I break up with Elena," Stefan continued, sounding impossibly worried, "Then her parents will find out, and-"

"Shut up," Damon growled out as his mind churned.

He could not believe what he was hearing.

Stefan's desperation to win Elena back, his pleas for forgiveness...it was all a farce for his own selfishness.

He didn't give a damn about her.

He was using her.

And she was hearing every word of it on the other side of the closet door.

"Do not finish that sentence," Damon warned when Stefan opened his mouth, but the idiot went on anyway.

"Look, I know it's bad," he rushed, "But I can't risk losing the slot in the summer program that Dr. Gilbert secured for me, or his letter of recommendation."

As if that was a good enough excuse for treating Elena like shit for his own personal gain.

That increasingly familiar rage boiled in Damon's veins and his hands clenched into fist, "You won't let her go...for a letter."

"I might lose my chance at Harvard without it," Stefan actually tried to defend his actions, "I just need until summer. I'll do the right thing and break up with her after we-"

Damon hit him.

With a solid swing, he clocked his brother in the face, and knocked him on his ass.

Stefan cried out at the impact, and groaned into the floor, "What the hell, Damon?!"

It only took a moment for him to scramble back to his feet, holding his nose which was leaking blood, "Why did you do that?!"

Damon grabbed him by the shirt front, "To make sure you do the right thing. Today. You don't deserve Elena, and she's better off without you. You have to let her go."

He pushed Stefan away with enough force to make him stumble, "Now go shower. I'll text Elena personally and let her know that you want to meet up. And you can tell her to her face exactly why you've been stringing her along."

His brother just stared at him with incredulity, but Damon felt no guilt for his actions.

When Stefan didn't move, he arched a brow, "What? Do you think I'm bluffing?"

"You...you have a thing for her...don't you?"

Damon stopped short, "What?"

"Elena," Stefan exhaled in disbelief, "You're into her, aren't you? That's what this is really about."

How the hell had he come to that conclusion?

"I've always cared about Elena," Damon redirected, "Our families are close. But this is about you, doing the right thing."

Stefan wiped his bloodied nose on the sleeve of his shirt and laughed roughly, "Right. Since when have you cared about doing the right thing? Huh? No...this is more than that. Don't think I haven't seen the way you look at her."

Damon grit his teeth and took a step closer to his brother, "And how exactly do I look at her?"

"The same way you look at most girls," Stefan spat, "Like you're trying to figure out the fastest way to get their clothes off. And you know what, that's your business, but seriously Damon? Elena? She wouldn't go there with me; what makes you think she'd put out for you?"

Anger spiked again and Damon exhaled slowly, "What makes you think sex is all I want from her?"

"Because you're incapable of anything else," Stefan fired back, "Isn't that what you've always told me? Love is a myth, hearts can lie, relationships are wastes of time? Screw em and leave em? God, you know, maybe I am a douche for what I did, but at least I had a reason! To make sure I have a better future. But you," he pointed a finger at Damon's chest, "You'd use her as a quick lay, same as all the others, to try and convince yourself that it doesn't matter that the only woman you ever actually loved, abandoned you!"

They were both breathing hard now and Damon shook his head.

"Our mother has nothing to do with this."

"She has everything to do with it! Because you're just like her; always running, always leaving before you're left. But that doesn't matter. You want to try and work out your issues on Elena, be my guest, but then you're just as selfish as I am. Because you're right, she's probably better off without me...but she is sure as hell better off without you."

With that, he stormed from the room, and Damon stayed frozen in place, listening to his footsteps echo down the hall.

Elena waited a moment after Stefan's departure to be sure the coast was clear.

Then she carefully pushed the closet door open and stepped out.

Damon was standing near his bed, his gaze fixed on the door Stefan had left out of, but he didn't appear to be seeing it.

She was so angry for him, and for herself.

Not that she had been exactly handling things great, lately, but she would never sink the the level Stefan just had.

She walked over and closed the door before turning back to Damon.

There were so many things she wanted to say, so many things she didn't know how to say...but all she could do was reach for his hand and squeeze.

Slowly, he thawed and his gaze moved to hers.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

She wasn't sure if he was apologizing for what she had overheard; that Stefan was a complete tool that had only stayed with her for her family connections, or for hitting Stefan, if that was in fact what that flesh on flesh noise had been that had made her now definitely ex boyfriend cry out in pain.

Or maybe he was apologizing for something else entirely.

Maybe he didn't even know.

It didn't matter.

She reached up a hand and cupped Damon's cheek, "Let's leave. I'll text Stefan and tell him it's over, I don't care. I can run home and change, then we can get breakfast in town and just forget that-"

"No," Damon pulled away from her and her brows drew together in confusion.

"You don't want breakfast?"

He leaned back against his footboard and his eyes closed, "You should go home."

But…"Why?"

Damon made a harsh sound in his throat, "Well we aren't going to fuck, and apparently I'm incapable of anything else, so it's probably for the best if we just call this what it is."

She flinched at his tone, "You don't mean that."

"Don't I?" he said coldly, meeting her gaze now with dead eyes, "It was just a bargain. You said you wouldn't sleep with me, I took it as a challenge, we had some fun. But it's over now. Like Stefan said, you aren't going to put out, I'll get bored, and frankly, you do deserve better, so yeah...I think I mean it."

"Damon."

His expression was bitter, "Go home, Elena, before I try to use you as a quick lay to work out my mommy issues."

He turned away from her, reached for the bottle on the bed and cursed when he realized it was empty and tossed it back on the mattress.

Elena scoffed, "So this is really how you want to do this? Stefan acts like an ass, says something that upsets you, and you're just going to push me away? Act like there's nothing more between us? Like what we've been doing hasn't meant a thing? Nice."

His back was still to her, so she saw the way his muscles tensed before he spoke, "Maybe he's right. You've always known what I am. Maybe it was your mistake to think I was capable of more."

Elena was having none of this.

It had taken her too long to figure out what she truly wanted, and now that she was through with the plastic masks, she wasn't going to let him hide behind one.

She reached forward and grabbed Damon's arm, forcing him to turn and look at her, "No. We're not doing this. You're going to listen to me, because I'm not the one making the mistake right now; you are."

His jaw set, like he was getting pissed, but she didn't care.

She got as close to him as possible, taking his face in both of her hands, digging her fingers into the back of his neck, "Earlier, you asked me what I wanted-"

"Elena, don't-"

"It's you," she said firmly, her stare burning into his, making sure he had no doubt about what she felt, "I want you, Damon. And it doesn't make sense, and it's probably not smart, and I guess I just don't care, because you are all I can think about anymore. You're the one that makes me happy, that makes me want more than the petty little lives of our families. That makes me believe I can do what I want and that the world won't come crashing down if I disappoint someone. You surprise me and make me question my life and every moment I'm with you just consumes me and you just...you get me. You and I understand each other in a way I never thought was possible. You can't tell me that everything we've been feeling has just been about you trying to get into my pants. Because it's not. I know it's not."

Elena swallowed back tears as her thumbs brushed against his cheeks, "So don't give up on this just because Stefan felt cornered and lashed out at you. Don't do this, don't push me away."

"I don't want to do that," Damon admitted, though it seemed as if the words were being pulled from his tongue against his will, "But I'm not the good guy, remember? I'm the rebel, the troublemaker, the black sheep. I lie to my brother, I fall for his girl, I don't do the right thing!"

Elena jerked at the admission that fell from his lips and Damon took her hands from his face, squeezing them in his palms, "But I have to do the right thing by you...because you do deserve better, Elena. You deserve better than both of us."

She swallowed the lump that had jumped in her throat, "So you do have feelings for me? Real feelings?"

"Christ," he exhaled, "Did you not hear what I just said? I don't deserve-"

"You're falling in love with me," she repeated, stronger this time, "That's what I heard you say."

His teeth clamped together and she took a settling breath, "Am I wrong?"

"That's not the point-"

"Am I?" she demanded again, drawing out each word, and Damon cursed.

"Fuck. No, you aren't. You want the truth? Fine! I love you, Elena. I love you so damn much it's making me sick, but it doesn't change the fact that-"

She didn't let him finish.

With a hard pull, Elena forced his head down and she kissed him with everything she had.

Damon froze, then melted into her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders, lifting her so that their chests were flush against each other and she moaned into his mouth.

His hands were everywhere, squeezing, tugging, feeling, and she returned the favor, until they both ran out of breath.

"It changes everything," Elena murmured when she pulled away, just far enough that their forehead remained connected, "Because I spent last night, practically naked in your bed, and that wasn't about sex. That was you and that was me, just being together. You're capable of so much more than you think. And deep down, you know that."

They were so close, all she could see was his eyes, all that blue boring into her.

"What if I'm not," he whispered, "What if I really am just like my mother? I don't want to hurt you, but what if all I'm good for is leaving?"

Elena smiled gently, and threw his own words from earlier back at him, "How will you ever know, if you don't take the chance to find out?"

Damon seemed to recognize the phrase and his gaze softened, "And you're willing to take that chance with me?"

She leaned away so he could see her whole face and know she was serious.

"I'm willing to take a chance on loving you, yes. Because, despite what you want people to think, you are not a bad person. Trouble, sometimes. Black sheep, definitely. But that's what I like about you. You aren't afraid to be yourself and you make me want to do the same," her smile deepend, "I know how I feel when I'm with you. I know what I'm signing up for, and I'm all in. The question is...are you?"

Damon started to answer, but before he spoke, the sound of his bedroom door opening grabbed both of their attention, and Elena spun around to see Stefan in the archway.

"Elena?" he was confused, dark brows pulling over his green eyes, "What are you-"

He noticed then, the way Damon was holding her, and that her hands were still on his chest, and those eyes widened.

"What the hell is going on?"

Resolve solidified like concrete in Elena's body as she untangled herself from Damon, who dropped his arms and let her go in defeat.

Despite all she had just said, there must be a part of him that was expecting her to explain this off and try to salvage whatever it was she and Stefan had had.

But for the first time in a long while, Elena felt certain of her choices and in control of her life.

She knew how things were going to play out and knew what she had to do.

"Stefan...I was just about to come find you."

The younger Salvatore frowned, his head still reeling, apparently, "Come find me? What are you talking about? What are you doing here? How are you here?"

The questions poured out of him, and he still seemed baffled, so she decided not to drag things out.

"I was already here," she admitted, "I actually came over last night."

Damon made a quiet noise, almost like an exhale, and she knew she had surprised him.

Stefan's head crooked, his eyes flickering between them, "Last night? What the hell does that mean? We went to the Grill and-"

"And then you fucked Caroline again after I left?" she finished suggestively, not even that shocked that the revelation didn't bother her.

Stefan turned red, "How did you-"

"I told you, I've been here since last night," she crossed her arms, "I heard everything you said to Damon. Your eye looks swollen by the way. You really should ice it."

A huff of amusement left Damon at the comment, but only seemed to confuse Stefan further.

He blinked and she could literally see the wheels of his mind turning, "You...you were here? You heard- wait, why would you be here? Where were you even-"

She arched a brow as he reached the inevitable conclusion, his gaze darting back and forth between her and his brother so fast, she thought his head might spin, "You were here with him."

"In the closet, actually," she motioned to the thing, "We weren't expecting you back so early."

Damon stared at the girl in front of him in total awe.

He'd always known she had a little fire, but it was pouring from her now unrelentlessly as she refused to give Stefan even an inch of consideration.

His brother was having a hard time understanding this side of her too, it seemed, but when the truth dawned on him, his expression suddenly cleared.

"Holy shit," Stefan stepped forward into the room, "You came over for Damon?! You...did you sleep with him?!"

He glared at Damon now, "You fucked her, didn't you? That's low brother, even for you! I can't believe-"

Elena stepped forward, shoving against Stefan's chest when he tried to get in Damon's face.

"Stop!" she shouted at him and Stefan turned on her, "Elena, tell me you didn't-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," she cut him off with a snarl that made even Damon recoil, "Not that it's any of your business, but no, I didn't sleep with him. However, if I had, you would

have no room to talk since you did sleep with Caroline."

The reminder of his infidelity drew Stefan up short, "I-"

"I'm not finished," Elena snapped, "Because I did spend the night here, with him. And you know what, I don't regret it!"

It was almost comical, to see Stefan's expression tear between guilt and anger, not knowing which to react with.

Elena made that an easier choice.

"I cared about you and I trusted you and you hurt me," she pointed out, "But I got over it. I realized that I wasn't happy with you and obviously you weren't happy with me. I heard you this morning," she reminded him when he opened his mouth to argue, "I heard all of it. I know why you wanted to keep dating me."

Damon remembered exactly what Stefan had said, about her father and the internship, and got angry for her again.

However, Elena didn't seem too upset by the news; just annoyed by this situation.

At least Stefan had the decency to look guilty now, "I...I'm sorry, Elena. I know I should have told you about that. And I do care about you, I just-"

"Cared about yourself more," she concluded, "And that's fine. I wish you had been honest with me, but it doesn't matter now."

She turned to meet Damon's eyes, as she took a stilling breath.

He saw the resolve there, the certainty, and for the first time all morning, he felt relief.

This beautiful, kindhearted girl who was sexy and innocent and had offered herself to him in a way no one else ever had, was choosing him.

She wanted to be with him, and despite his doubts, he wanted to be with her too.

She brought out the best in him and made him want to strive for even more, if only for her sake.

He could do better, be better, for her.

Good and bad were just a series of choices, after all, and he knew they were making the right one now.

Elena offered Damon a smile that he returned before she gave Stefan her attention again.

And there was no doubt in her mind when she told him, "We're done. Whatever this was, is over. Because for once, I'm choosing what makes me happy."

She couldn't help but glance at Damon again, and Stefan scoffed, his brows lifting so high, they nearly touched his hairline, "You can't be serious..."

"I am," she said simply, turning to narrow her eyes at him, "And it's my choice to make. Damon makes me happy, and despite what you may think, he's capable of feeling the same way. So I'm going to be with him. And you, you're going to be nothing but happy and supportive.

Stefan huffed in disbelief, glaring between them both, "You want me to support you making a huge mistake?"

"Being with you was the mistake," Elena told him, "And yes, you will be supportive. Because I'm going to make sure you keep that summer internship."

Apparently this was the last thing Stefan had expected her to say, because his mouth fell open and it took him a moment to regain composure, "You...you would do that?"

"Yes," she sighed, "I will. Because even though you've been a jerk, I know you aren't a completely horrible person, and that you do value your future. If that internship helps you get out of this town, I'm not going to ruin that for you."

His brows furrowed, "But...if we break up-"

"I'll tell my Dad it was amicable and remind him that you are still one of the top students in our class. That's as complicated as it has to be. We can break up. You can ask out Caroline if you want, and get the internship, and my dad's letter of recommendation, and I get to be with Damon without any sourness from you. Deal?"

She smiled before he could even formulate an answer, "Great. I knew you'd see things my way."

He gaped a little, his head shaking as he worked her offer over and as everything they had been pretending to be for years crumbled in the matter of moments.

Finally, Stefan fixed his eyes, not on her, but on Damon, "Do you actually care about her?"

Elena wanted to chide him for talking like she wasn't right there, but Damon's arm wrapping around her waist stopped her.

He pulled her into his side, but kept his stare on his brother.

"Enough to break my no girlfriend rule," he answered without hesitation, "And to be monogamous, which is more than you can say."

Stefan's jaw tensed at the jibe, but he had no room to talk,and he knew it.

So instead, he merely nodded and stepped back to the hall, "I guess that's it, then?"

Elena nodded, "I'll see you around, Stefan.

One final nod, and he left, probably heading back to his own room.

Or out to find Caroline.

Or who knew what, and who cared?

All that mattered was that it was over between them.

It was really over.

With a cheek splitting grin, Elena turned back to Damon.

His mood mirrored hers, and in less than a second he had scooped her up in his arms and was kissing her soundly.

Everything else faded away, until all that mattered was the feel of his skin and the happiness that had ceased her heart.

This was real.

This was right!

Breathlessly, she pulled away, still smiling, "How about that breakfast idea? It'll be like a first date, then we can go back to my house and you can give me my next lesson for dessert."

As if she thought his smile couldn't get any wider, Damon's eyes absolutely shone at her suggestion.

"Oh, I like you."

She giggled, "Then put on a shirt, and let's go get food!"

"Are you sure?" he teased, arms still encasing her, "It's pretty early, and we're dressed like we just crawled out of bed. Someone might see us, you know. That could be a little scandalous."

She pretended to consider his observation, "Hmm...true. But you see, I'm trying this new thing where I stop caring about what people think."

Damon laughed, "Oh really? And how does it feel?"

She smiled and kissed his lips one more time, "Freeing. Now put on a shirt."

He was still smirking as the parted, and he did as she said.

Soon they were downstairs and in her car, barely making it out of the drive because Damon's hands were all over her and she was finding it hard not to kiss him.

They laughed and joked and touched, and she knew this was how love was supposed to feel.

Sure, there were still things to work out, and their relationship was new and exciting, which could change.

But Elena had decided to just trust that it would all unfold the way it was meant to.

She was being honest with herself, and she was happier than she could remember being in a long time.

Right now, that was all that mattered.

She was going to enjoy the feelings for as long as they lasted, and go to town with her new boyfriend and eat the pancakes that the Grill served at breakfast.

And wouldn't you know, she didn't even care that her hair was a mess, that she had no makeup on, ir that she was dressed in PJ's.

Suuuper sleepy and tired from work, but I managed to get this posted!

Bit of a rollercoaster chapter with a LOT happening!

Can't wait to read your reviews :)