"Elena, baby what's wrong?"

Damon

My eyes adjust to the dark room and I look around, taking in my surroundings.

King size bed, blood red sheets draping over it.

"Come on baby talk to me."

It takes me a minute to recognise where I am but a wave of relief washes over me when I do.

I'm sat up now, sitting with my legs loosely crossed and wearing Damon's sleep set I had worn on Saturday. My body covered by a black blanket. Damon himself was sat next to my legs but is now wrapping his arms around my shoulders and moving to sit behind me. I lay my head on his chest and fall back into a deep slumber, listening to the sound of his heart beat.

A bright light shone in through the large glass window next to his bed. My eyes flutter open to see Damon still asleep next to me, his chest raising and dropping in a comforting rhythm. I twist onto my side and prop my head on my arm while resting on my elbow to stare at his features in this rare still moment. I reached up to push a rogue strand of raven black hair from his face but just as I twisted it around my finger, his right eye opened slowly and looked right at me, a sly smirk appeared on his perfect face.

"Morning."

He spoke with such arrogance, I couldn't help but crack a smile.

I retracted my hand from his face and pulled back the blanket so I could get dressed. I made my side of the bed while talking to him.

"So how long have you been awake?"

He opened both eyes and stared up at me before closing them again and replying after much hesitation.

"That's a bit of a trick question actually because I was never actually asleep to begin with."

He opened his eyes and sat up against the headboard. Things escalated quickly after that.

"Do you really think I was going to let my guard down after the hectic few days you've had?"

"Yeah, I remember Atla-"

The events that took place less than 48hrs ago hit me at 100 miles. At this, my eyes widened in disbelief and my hands flew up to cover my 'O'-shaped mouth.

"Oh my god, what the hell happened in Atlanta? I mean, at first I was a bit anxious, obviously, but then the panic set in when I got called up and I panicked even more but I tried to leave and then-"

Tyler

Memories littered my vision until unconsciously threw my hands up to hold the side of my head. A panic attack stirred inside of me and tears prickled my waterline, threatening to spill over.

I collapsed to my knees next to the bed, screams fighting to be freed. A voice called out to me but it seemed miles away.

"Breathe. That's it, in and out. You're doing great baby, keep going."

Damon knelt down behind me and took my hands away from my head and firmly wrapped my arms around my waist using his own.

In

Out

In

Out

A full blown panic attack made my blood course through my body, my heart race and I was hyperventilating violently. From past experiences, I knew what was soon to follow; screaming, crying and the uncontrollable urge to bleed myself dry with the sharpest thing I could find.

But this was far from other times, I wasn't alone, I wasn't at home, sat in the dark and I didn't have to stifle my cries incase my neighbours heard.

involuntarily, heaving sobs followed by a series of loud cries spilled from my trembling lips.

Damon was quick to pull me into his warm embrace and stroked my hair in an attempt to calm me. Tears streamed down my face while I cried loudly into his shirt. Without warning, I jumped up, pushing Damon away from me while he followed along and backed away, his hands up in surrender. I screamed out in frustration;

"WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STILL HELPING ME? CLEARLY IM A PSYCHOTIC MESS THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE RID OF. MY LITTLE BROTHER IS IN COLLEGE FOUR STATES OVER IN OKLAHOMA DOING AMAZING WITHOUT ME AND IM BARELY KEEPING IT TOGETHER HERE, IN MYSTIC FALLS"

My sudden rant caught Damon by surprise as he stood and watched me, wide eyed. He said nothing for a few moments while I caught my breath.

"Are you done yet?"

His blunt question sparked rage inside of me and I charged. All I could see was red as I swung my arms around with as much force as I could muster, hoping to hit him. I pounded his chest with weak fists, Damon didn't flinch at all. His void reaction only adding to my anger. He let me go on for what felt like hours until I collapsed on the floor in a hot, tired mess. I wiped beads of sweat from my hairline and thick tears fell from my eyes. I didn't even need to look up at him to know he was staring down at me. I could feel his stare baring into the top of my head. He repeats his question a second time, expecting an answer, with a more stern tone than before, enunciating every word.

"Are you done yet?"

I work up the courage to look up at him.

Big mistake.

He stands there, flawlessly unfazed by my violent actions with his hands resting in his pockets. Staring down at me with those crystal blue orbs of his. I crack under his intimidating glare and start crying again. He speaks up, no emotion present;

"Stop crying Elena."

I close my eyes, hold my breath and count to ten, hoping to stop the tears that tip over the edge of my eyes. I mumble quietly.

"I'm sorry."

That's all I manage to say through the thick tension. I'm not even sure he heard me, even as a vampire. But before I get the chance to say it again he speaks in the same emotionless tone;

"I'm going to get something to eat. I'll be back soon."

I know what that means.

'Something to eat'.

He needs to feed.

But before I can reply, a breeze hits me and he's gone before I even look up to acknowledge his absence.

I scream out in sadness and frustration.

I'm sorry.