Chapter 16 (Day 20-Day 22)

"Hey, how was your day? Your finals went okay?"

Jenna, who's dressed down only in a pair of sweat pants and a worn black t-shirt, asks her niece as soon as she gets to the kitchen from school.

"Went great, you don't have to worry about my grades," Elena waves the subject off as she takes a glass of water from the sink. When her phone goes off, she taps some button to open the message. Whatever the message is, it creates a big silly smile on her face.

The aunt continues chopping down some tomatoes and carrots as she notices the smile on her niece's face. "What's got you so excited?"

"Damon." Her eyes widens as is she doesn't realize she has said it out loud. "Uh… I mean—"

"Damon's texting you? The same Damon who joined us for breakfast on Saturday?"

"Yes?" She answers, unsure of what's her aunt going to think and say.

Jenna stops her activity, looking straight at her niece, "Why?"

Elena goes silent as she contemplates whether to tell her aunt or not, "Um… Damon and I… we're kind of dating."

Elena's aunt's eyes widens but she starts to form a happy grin on her face, which she quickly replace with bite down on her lower lip. "You are?"

"Wait." Elena's eyebrows furrow. "You're okay about me dating him? I mean, he's an older guy." Much older, Elena adds.

"Oh, what's three, four years older even mean?" Jenna comes around to stand in front of her niece and hugs her tight, "As long as you're happy."

Elena hugs her back, quiet confused but happy that her aunt is okay with him dating Damon. "Thanks, Aunt Jenna."

She lets go of her hug but keeps her arms on Elena's. "But he's treating you right, right?"

"Yeah, he is. He's so… I don't know. He's a pain in my ass sometimes, but he's the one who makes me happy. I just… like being near him. He makes me feel all kinds of things I thought I would never feel again after… you know." Elena gushes. Her blush is becoming visible and she isn't sure if the blush going to stay permanent on her cheeks since she's been doing a lot of that lately.

"I'm so happy for you!" Jenna exclaims. "Why don't you invite him tomorrow for dinner? I'll invite Alaric as well. I mean, I know Friday is the last day of finals, but –"

"It's okay. I only have Arts on Friday. I'll talk to him about it."

"Just so you know, if he keeps putting a smile on your face everyday, I'll let him marry you someday," Jenna winks, walking back to her chopping board.

"Aunt Jenna!"

"Hey, Smiley Face," Alaric hollers when he sees Damon whistling into the kitchen. He's making toasts for him and Damon, knowing breakfast will get him to his good side.

Damon looks around, as if he doesn't just being called. "You're talking to me?"

"Who else sporting a permanent happy face since a couple of days ago?" he smirks, putting down two toasts in front of Damon.

"Thanks, Wifey," Damon grins.

"So, what's got you so happy?" the teacher asks as he plops down in front of the vampire, the same toasts but with blueberry jam on it is in front of him.

"We're a couple of old ladies now? We gossip?"

"What, I'm just curious. You've been brooding lately yet you've been like a kid on Christmas morning since—"

"Aw, am I starting to grow on you, Ric?" Damon takes a bit of his toast, fluttering his long dark lashes to the man that he's starting to consider as his friend.

"Just saying, you're like bipolar or something. You're not on drugs, are you?" Alaric quirks an eyebrow.

The vampire rolls his clear blues, ignoring his remarks. They eat in silent, but Damon can see from the corner of his eyes that his housemate's been eyeing him.

"Seriously, what the fuck is your problem?" Damon demands.

"I just hope you know what you're doing," the teacher shrugs, finishing off his toasts then gulping his cold OJ. "With Elena and everything. She's a good kid."

Damon's eyes snaps, glaring at the man in front of him, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Alaric looks straight into Damon's direction, "I know, Damon. I know everything."

Damon frowns, hiding his surprise. He really wants to rip his heart through his eyes if he doesn't say what he means in a second. "What do you know exactly?"

Alaric lets out a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Just so you know, you don't have to pretend around me. I've been in your shoes. I'm actually kind of tired by beating around the bush for the past three weeks. I think it's time you know the truth."

Damon and Alaric come five minutes before seven. They've come in separate car, mostly because Alaric's Sedan is not as cool as Damon's –stolen—Camaro, Elena thinks.

"Hi, baby," Elena greets her vampire soul mate, dragging him to the den while Alaric goes straight to the kitchen for Jenna. She stands on her tip toes, lightly kissing him. She sighs contently as soon as Damon reciprocates. He suddenly turns her innocent kisses to something more intense with his arms around her back, pulling her closer. He kisses her once more before tips his mouth a little to peck her forehead.

"Hey, beautiful." He grins, keeping her in his arms.

"Jenna knows," Elena informs. "Apparently, she'd let you marry me if you keep me this happy everyday." She feels him tense for a second before goes normal as usual.

"Really? She's okay with us? So, she wants me to marry you, huh?" He smirks down at her, kissing her head lovingly.

Elena laughs. "I've got college before I can think about marriage, Damon."

"But you want to marry me someday?" His question catches her off guard. It sounds like a joke but she realizes the meaning behind it, with his facial expression right now, she can tell that his question speaks louder. His eyes show vulnerability and adoration that only directed at her. No matter what Damon does, Elena feels special.

"I don't know, I may meet some badass hunks in college," she teases, trying to ease whatever going in his head.

Damon stares at her. He knows that she's just trying to make him feel better by taking his question as a joke, but he needs to know. He barely has eight days to make her love him. Sure, they are in a relationship right now and Damon can't be happier if he tried. Sure, Elena's affections toward him make him believe that his feelings for her would be reciprocated one day. But he still isn't sure if she's going to return it in time, before he has to go.

Alaric's story increases his confident that anything's possible. He is a walking, breathing, human proof after all. Then again, it didn't take him a whole month for him and Jenna to be together and for her to say 'I love you'. For the first time in his life after his brother died, Damon is scared.

"Damon?"

Elena's deep yet soft voice calls him back to reality, "Yeah?"

"You okay? I lost you for a moment."

"Just thinking." He lets her go, trying to make a move to the couch to create some space between them but her grasp on his hand unable him to do it.

"About what?" Elena asks softly.

Before he gets a chance to answer, Jenna calls from the kitchen, telling them that dinner is served. He immediately sees this as an opportunity to stop her for asking more questions, he goes to the kitchen, tugging Elena's hand. They are seated next to each other with Jenna and Alaric sit across from them. Silently the four of them help themselves with the food.

"So, Damon, Elena told me you guys are dating now," Jenna calls out with a playful gleam in her eyes.

Damon smirks, while Elena chokes slightly on her spaghetti. "Why, yes, Jenna. We're courting."

"Courting? I believe no one uses that word anymore."

"Well, I was brought up in a more formal… environment." Damon smiles tightly.

"Okay," Jenna bit on her garlic bread, "I just wanted you to know, you hurt her and you got me to answer to. I've taken Tea Kwon Do in college, I may be a little rusty, but I know a thing or two about balls kicking."

"Aunt Jenna," Elena chides.

"What? I'm just looking out for you."

Under the table, Elena squeezes Damon's hand, which he squeezes right back, to let him know to not pay attention to her not-so-subtle aunt.

When dinner is done, the four of them go to the den. Jenna and Alaric take a seat on the love seat while Damon takes the armchair. Elena doesn't even hesitate to sit on Damon's lap now that their relationship is in the open. Damon puts his right hand on her thighs, while the other hand holding a glass of red wine that Jenna just poured.

"You're taking Elena to prom tomorrow?" Jenna asks, turning her head to her niece's boyfriend.

"That's the plan. Unless this one here got asked by someone today," Damon tickles her die earning him her gleeful laugh. Seeing this, Jenna is grateful that her niece soul mate is Damon, someone who can make her laugh no matter what the situation.

"Nope, I think Matt already spreading the news that I'm not single anymore so no one dared to even come up to me today," Elena mumbles, putting her head down on Damon's shoulder and in a second she feels the pressure of his head on hers, as well as his kiss on her crown.

Little did they know, Jenna and Alaric share a look that tells each other louder than words.

"Damon will lose his mind tonight. You look so beautiful, Elena." Jenna beams, looking proudly at her niece in her prom dress.

A week ago, Jenna has bought her a brand new dress for prom, knowing that prom is in the future. She has kept it a surprise before tonight, though. She knows Jenna and her have the same taste when it comes to fashion so she doesn't really care about the dress. But Jenna has outdone herself. The dress is stunning. It's a two-piece dress with a deep red v-neck top adorned by flower ribbon bodice that stops at her abdomen, showing her toned abs a little to tease anyone who looks at her, though Damon is the lucky guy who can do more than look at her. The skirt itself is also red, princess ball gown style that stops at her feet. Jenna has said she got it from Sherri Hill so it must have cost a fortune and when she starts to tell her that it's too much, Jenna has dismissed her. Elena completes her look with her old Louboutin's black pumps and a matching black purse. Jenna straightens her usually wavy hair, adding a tiny butterfly clips on her hair to tuck her long bangs to the back of her head. Rebekah helps her with make-up since Jenna also has to get ready for Alaric to pick her up in fifteen since she is his companion as chaperone. Rebekah swipes her matte neutral chocolate on her eyes, adds a swipe of basic eyeliner and two coats of mascara since Elena doesn't need falsies. Rebekah finishes her best friend's look with a Mary Jo matte lipstick from Kylie Cosmetics.

"Jenna was right, Damon will lose his mind tonight," Rebekah grins, proud of her work.

"Aw, don't make me tear up, that'll ruin my make-up."

Rebekah herself is wearing a black mermaid gown with her blonde locks is in chignon. Her make-up is quiet simple, but the deep red on her lip from the color Vixen also from the same brand Elena is using, is making her literally looks like a vixen.

"Well, I think I'll be going now. I just have to text Jeremy to come pick me up here. I swear I wouldn't say yes to be a prom committee if I have to come this early. I hate event organizing," Rebekah whines.

"Just remember that Jeremy will be there and basically no one will be at school yet so you can… fool around a bit," Elena winks.

Rebekah stares dumbfounded at her best friend, "Okay, who are you and what have you done to my sweet, innocent best friend?"

"Huh?"

"Fool around? What has Damon done to you? You've become this… this—I don't even know the word I'm looking for."

"Guess he brings out the playful and adventurous side in me." She sighs softly.

"I'm happy for you, 'Lena." Rebekah says softly, taking Elena's hands in hers, "He's good for you."

"He's amazing," she smiles. "He hasn't called or texted me all day though."

"Maybe he's just trying to give you some space since he knows how a girl is on prom night. You know how girls dress up. It's taken you almost three hours after all," Rebekah reasons, punching a few keys on her phone, texting her date to pick her up at Elena's.

Elena nods, Rebekah has a good point. "I'll see you in an hour and a half?"

"Sure."

So, Damon knows about Jenna and Alaric. I just love writing Elena and Damon especially when she's the one who initiate the kiss or something.

I think this story will wrap up soon, probably to chapter 20 or something. After this one is finished, I'll be focused on Blind Date and Something Like Fate since I've been abandoned the stories for a while now.

Thanks for your reviews for the previous chapter. Care to do it again for this one? ;)

Have a great day!