Chapter Fifteen

Elena groans and rolls over, only to fall off the couch and onto the floor. She holds her head as she sits up.

"Damn hangover," Elena mutters quietly, careful not to disturb the others who are sleeping. She tiptoes away from the group and then practically runs into the bathroom to puke her guts out.

Entering the kitchen, she sees that Stefan's already up. She gives him a smile and then starts looking through the cupboards.

"It's the one above the sink, 'Lena."

"Oh, right. Thanks," Elena replies appreciatively before opening the door and pulling out the aspirin. Stefan had already prepared her some water so she throws back a pill and washes it down. Rubbing her eyes, Elena walks over to Stefan, who's sitting at the table with a newspaper, and plucks and peach out of the bowl.

"Mmm," Elena groans in satisfaction when she bites into the peach. "You always had the best fruit."

"I couldn't agree more," Stefan nods before going back to the paper, slightly grimacing when he reads an article.

"What's with the frown? Are you reading a really bad comic in the Funnies or something?" Elena questions, snatching the paper away from him.

When Elena scans the article, a hint of anger and sadness flicker on her face before she sets the paper down and goes to the fridge.

"So, what do you want for breakfast? It looks like you're out of lot of stuff, but I can make you some french toast. It'll be a first come, first serve kind of thing, since I don't feel like making it for everyone. And don't worry about time, I'll have enough…" Elena says while pulling ingredients out of the fridge.

"Elena...I get it. Honestly, we both feel the same way, so you don't have to hide what you're really thinking right now," Stefan tells her in an empathetic voice.

"What I think is that you need to go to the store. You can not live off of fruit for the rest of your life, as much as we'd all like to. Promise me that you'll buy yourself some food when I'm gone so you don't look like a stick figure when I visit."

"You're dodging. Denial isn't going to get you anywhere. You can tell me what you think about him, Elena."

"He's your brother, Stefan. I can't tell you how I really feel about him," Elena deadpans.

"You want to know what I think of him? I think he's being a dumbass. He lost whatever good he had in his life by going down this road. And yes, I wasn't there to hear what he said to you that night, but him acting like a dick was the last straw for you, and I completely respect it. He's my brother, but there's no excuse here."

"I hate him, Stefan. I hate him for what he said, how I screwed him over by keeping him from becoming a homicidal maniac. I hate him for ditching me on Miss Mystic Falls for some shitty vampire buddy. I hate him for becoming this person. But really...I hate myself for believing him. For believing that he thought I was worth fighting for, that he would keep his promise, and that our relationship wasn't on its final lifeline when he died. I can't keep doing this to myself because I know I'll go insane, so that's why I have to cut him out of my life," Elena admits while her eyes water. "And I know that I can't trust him again, at least not with my heart."

Stefan wordlessly embraces Elena while tears silently run down her face. She closes her stinging eyes and clears her mind from the toxic thoughts of Damon Salvatore. Elena pulls away and wipes her eyes.

"Do you still love him…?" Stefan questions quietly.

Elena sighs deeply, "I'm can't go down that road, Stefan. I'm too messed up in the head right now as it is to think about it." She slightly shakes her head and gives Stefan an utterly false smile. "So…french toast." Elena turns back to fridge and rifles through it while Stefan looks at her disbelievingly. He picks up the paper from the table and throws it in the recycling bin, showing the top article headline of how two students are in the hospital for extreme blood loss, both in hypovolemic shock.

—-

"Oh, Elena, we're going to miss you so much! Ahh, you have to call us at least three times a week! And you have to visit, like, super often!" Caroline cries while hugging Elena.

"Care, I'm not going across the world. And, yeah, I'll come visit as much as I can, but you guys can visit me, too. Plus, this'll only be for a few years, eight at the most," Elena assures her.

"A lot can change in eight years, 'Lena. But don't worry, we'll all still be best friends! Take care of yourself."

"You, too," Elena smiles tearfully before moving to Bonnie. They wordlessly wrap their arms around each other in a tight hug.

"Be careful in New York, 'Lena. It's pretty crazy up in the Big Apple," Bonnie warns.

"I think Mystic Falls can give New York a run for their money, but don't worry about me. I'll be alright. Just be your usual mother-hen-self around here, okay?"

"Deal," Bonnie winks at her.

Elena turns to Matt and gives him a quick peck on the cheek. "Keep up the good work at the Grill, Matt. Try not to faint on the job anymore. I'll be sure to buy you lunch on one of my visits back here," Elena says lightheartedly.

"Will do, 'Lena. You get your medical degree, okay?"

"I'll do my best," She teases before looking at Alaric. "Bye, Ric," Elena gives Alaric a hug. "Try not to get yourself killed with all of the vampire hunting business you do."

"Eh, odds of survival are in my favor," Alaric remarks with a smile. "Be happy, Elena. You deserve it after all the crap you've been through."

Elena chuckles, "It'll take a while for me to reach that point, but I'll give it a shot." She moves over to Stefan who ends up picking her up and keeps her dangling in the air for a minute. Caroline sneakily takes a picture and then shoots Elena an innocent smile.

"I'll send it to your mom," Caroline promises cheekily.

"Great," Elena grumbles. "Stefan, make sure all of these idiots here get to college in one piece as well. You're categorized in that, too."

"Hah, we'll all be at Whitmore, 'Lena. It's too bad I won't have my personal chef around for a while."

"Pfft, I knew that was why you tolerated me," Elena laughs. "And I know this'll be a sore subject around here for a while, but…could you keep your brother from falling too far? I may turn into a ball of rage every time I see him, but I don't want to see him get any worse…"

"I can try, but that requires him to show his face. He hasn't exactly been around…" Stefan replies quietly. "He hasn't exactly been a good role model, but he's the only family I've got left, so...I'll try to knock some sense into him."

Elena grins and nods, "That's all I ask." She finally looks at her brother and tackles him in a big hug. "Aww, Jer, I'm gonna miss you, but if you move into my room, I will castrate you. Got it?"

"Alright, alright. I'll miss you too, 'Lena. You better be down for my graduation," Jeremy ruffles her hair.

"Yeah, yeah. I'd never miss my little bro in a cap and gown. Um, so...I guess I'll see you all around throughout the next few years. Heh, I guess I'm going to go home and get my suitcase...and then I'll be off."

Caroline and Bonnie blew kisses, Matt and Alaric waved, Stefan gave a wink, and Jeremy gave her a thumbs up. She drew a shaky breath and gave a smile wave back before turning to the door and opening it.

She sighed deeply, wishing she'd left a little earlier. Anything to prevent what was going to happen. Shaking her head, Elena backed up a little, still staring at the ground. "If you're here to yell or something, please save it for another time."

"You're really leaving?" Damon questioned in a quiet voice.

Most of the people gathered behind Elena edged forward to block her from Damon but she held up a hand. Looking up, Elena saw how worse for wear he appeared. His disheveled hair paired with messy clothes took nothing away from how prominent the depression showed on his face. He looked utterly lost.

"Mhm," Elena murmurs quietly. "Excuse me, I have a plane to catch and I still have to say goodbye to my parents."

"Is this my fault…?"

He sounded so broken that Elena wanted to throw her arms around him, but she scolded herself that he was out of chances. "It's college," She shortly replies.

"I'm messed up, I know. I practically threw everything we had down the disposal. It's all my fault, but please don't leave like this, Elena. I screwed up and I wish I could take it all back."

She wanted nothing more than to believe him, but she couldn't. Not after everything that she just went through. "I can't do this now. I...I have to go," Elena mutters.

"I don't know how to live the right way anymore. Everything that I do is a mistake and I know that. I need a little bit of good in my life. Just...god, I need you, Elena."

"There's nothing left of my heart to give, Damon. You have friends and family who care about you, who can give you what I can't. Talk to Stefan. Hell, talk to Ric. I can't be a rebound for all of the wrong decisions you make. I'm sorry that things ended like this…" Elena can see the hurt and sadness as clear as day on Damon's face. She closes her eyes, allowing tears run down her face and walks through the door, letting out one last "Goodbye."

—

Sobs rack Elena's frame as she says goodbye to her parents. They're all engaged in a group hug, each letting tears loose.

"You're going to do great, sweetheart. You'll get your medical degree, and we'll be waiting for whenever you decide to come home," Miranda tells her.

"I'm going to miss you guys so much," Elena cries into their clothing.

"We will visit you as often as you'd want us around. And you can always come home for vacation. Remember that this is only for roughly eight years," Grayson reminds her.

"I'm scared," Elena admits quietly.

"And that's okay, honey. New York is a big city, but you're strong. You have the willpower to get through whatever gets thrown at you."

"As long as you always carry a can of pepper spray around with you, I trust that you'll be okay."

Sniffling, Elena nods. "I love you guys." Sniff. "I'll call you when I get there. I expect a visit soon."

"We promise. Now go kick ass, Elena. We love you."

Elena takes the handle of her suitcase and rolls it towards the door. Giving her parents one last look, she walks out of the door and gets into the waiting Uber.

—

'And this is why I hate airplanes,' Elena thinks to herself as she stares at the man currently snoring next to her on the plane. She rifles through her bag and takes out some earbuds. Listening to music, she stares out the window and looks at the passing clouds.

flashback

"I hate this. I can't believe you got me to agree. I look like an idiot," Elena huffs, trying to balance herself on the roller skates.

"If it makes you feel any better, Blondie and Stefan also look like idiots," Damon reassures her. "Look at them, tripping over each other's feet."

"Well, they somehow look elegant when they trip. I, as a matter of fact, do not," Elena replies as she wobbles on her feet. She glares at Damon when he decides it's a perfect time to start laughing at her. "Listen, bud, if you didn't have your nifty little vampire agility, then you'd be falling flat on your face. You weren't exactly the most coordinated person."

"Hey! I was more coordinated than you," Damon teases with a smirk.

"Everyone's more coordinated than me, so that's not saying much."

"Touché," Damon says before taking Elena's hand and spinning her. She shrieks and almost falls backwards but manages to grab onto Damon's shirt sleeve. There Elena dangles, literally by a thread or two.

"You're lucky you're so light, otherwise you would've ripped my sleeve," Damon murmurs before hoisting Elena back on her feet.

"Then it would've been on you, considering you're the one who spun me in the first place," Elena retorts, re-cuffing Damon's sleeve. She sticks her tongue out at him and starts making her way towards Caroline and Stefan.

Unfortunately for her, Damon manages to grab her hand and spins her again, this time against his chest. She gasps on impact and then plans to turn around to playfully smack him, but his arms are holding her in place. Elena smiles when Damon lovingly nuzzles her face and kisses her cheek.

"Oh, you're so insufferable sometimes," Elena grins lightheartedly.

"But for some reason, you still love me," Damon remarks with a raise of the eyebrow. "I wonder what that says about you."

"Hmm. It probably means that I'm just as insufferable," She replies before turning around and kissing him. He smiles and pulls her waist flush against him.

"You know," Elena whispers, "If we end up making out in the roller rink, there's a good chance I'm gonna end up falling. Weak knees or otherwise."

"It's a good thing I'll be here to support you. I'll always support you," Damon responds.

"Which means you'll always be in my life?"

"Always."

"Promise me that what we have is forever."

"I promise," Damon answers before crashing his lips against hers once again.

Elena jolts awake and ends up banging her head on the airplane window. Realizing that they're descending in New York, Elena sighs and rubs her forehead. Thinking back to her dream, she smiles and plays with the loose string hanging from her jacket. Oh, how she wished that promise would've been held up.

—

When Elena steps out of the airport with her suitcase rolling behind her, she takes a deep breath and starts waving frantically for a taxi, since whistling was not one of her specialties. A cab pulls up next to her and Elena puts her luggage in the trunk before getting in. As the car pulls away, Elena feels ready and willing for college as excitement and nervousness overtakes her. It was going to be a long eight years.