Chapter 10: News

This was it. The beginning of a new story. The news was all about them. The scene that they had caused in the Mall was all over the news and the internet. It had already hit 100,000 views in the last hour. When they finally escaped the crowd and the commotion, they headed to Elena's house, which is where they were. Crowded in the kitchen, they all stared at the television in silence, the news playing before their eyes.

"And enough about that for now, the subject of the news today is-"

"Yes, enough of that." Miranda turned the television off with a sigh as she began pacing back and forward, talking to herself "Its okay, we can handle this. Its going to be alright now. We are going to straighten things out and everything will be-"

"Miranda, relax. It will be okay." Caroline smiled at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Caroline, I'm fine really."

Staring at the floor, Elena took a deep breath and chanced a glance at Damon who was already staring back at her. Biting her lip, her heart skipped a beat as she laced her fingers together and watched her mom dig herself into a panic. This has been going on for the last half an hour now with Damon and Elena sharing subtle looks with each other, trying to ignore everything going on around them. The phone rang again as Miranda turned it off, massaging her temples.

"We can just-" Caroline began.

The front door was heard opening as the screams and shouts from the press flooded into the house, causing Elena and Damon to cringe in annoyance. Were they really not going to give up and leave them in peace? Were they going to stay in here forever? Finally, silence overwhelmed them as the door was shut and footsteps were heard as a familiar face walked into the kitchen.

"Hey everyone." Alaric waved, smiling and looked over at Elena, "Hey you."

Elena bit her lip, smiling softly as she waved at him, not even attempting to speak at the moment. She was overwhelmed with emotions, she really couldn't get her head straight. What else was going to happen next? It was one of those days where anything could happen. Hearing more footsteps, she frowned and looked up as Jenna walked in behind Alaric.

"Jenna?" Miranda raised her eyebrows shocked as she looked between her and Alaric.
"Hey Miranda!" Jenna smiled big, pulling her into a tight hug, "I bet you're surprised to see me huh?"
"Considering you live in New York, I'd say." Miranda smiled, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh! I'm with this fella!"

Jenna elbowed Alaric slightly as he grinned down at her, adoration in his eyes. Huh? When did that happen? Damon and Elena looked at each other, raising their eyebrows asking the same question. How the hell did they know each other?

"Uh, how?" Damon uttered, the first time he'd spoken in half an hour.
"Oh, this?" Alaric ushered between him and Jenna, "While we were in New York, me and Jenna bumped into each other and kinda...hit it off."
"Kind of is an understatement." She finished for him, grinning.
"We have been seeing each other for...well...a little while."

Well, this was without a doubt one of those days. Everything was coming out and being threw out to the world as free knowledge. Letting out a deep breath, Elena slowly moved off the stool while everyone was deep in conversation and made a quick escape out of the room, jogging up the stairs, feeling safe enough to walk when she got closer to her room. Slipping inside, she shut the door, toeing her converses off and hanging her coat up as she made her way over to the window. This was beyond ridiculous. Breathing deeply, she crossed her arms and closed her eyes, the sound of the paparazzi, bringing her back to a memory.

"Elena! Elena! Over here! You look beautiful, who are you wearing!?"

The biggest award ceremony of the year was in play. Everyone who could have been there was. It was full of celebrity's from all over the globe coming together for this big event to celebrate it together for the night. The flashes hit the brunette over and over as she smiled, waving kindly, trying to get along the carpet fast as it wasn't exactly warm outside. She wanted to get inside, to feel the warmth wrapping around her like a blanket.

Hearing screams, she looked up, her heart stuttering in motion as Damon walked along the carpet, his usual stubbornness coating him as he nodded at paparazzi and screaming fans. Always hiding the true Damon Salvatore hid behind the stone of man.

Suddenly, he looked around, his eyes meeting hers and it felt like the world had stopped, like it was just them two on the carpet and they could run to each other without causing a scene or running into anyone. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. They were on the basis of what people call a secret, which was a deal between them two of them to save any unwanted hassle from the paparazzi while they discover what this is between them.

Blushing, she bit her lip, forcing her eyes away from his as she walked quick, making her way inside the building, a sigh of relief leaving her. God, he made her feel things she'd never felt before. It was quite strange and something she couldn't exactly handle. Rubbing her neck, she greeted people politely as she made her way through to the back and towards the bathrooms. She needed some alone time to get her head together before the show began.

Going into the bathroom, she stared into the mirror, a beautiful reflection staring back at her as she had been dolled up to a T. That being to Caroline's make up, hair and dressing skills. Swallowing, she bit her lip, studying her outfit as she looked herself over. She was wearing a beautiful red dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. It was strapless and pooled right down to her feet. Her curls were locked into a tight bun, red flowers decorating her hair. The make up was all her though, just the way she liked it, not too over the top, but not too natural, just in the middle. She had her bronze, mascara, blusher and red lip gloss. It was just a shame she and Damon couldn't really be seen together, then at least she would know what he thought.

Smiling to herself, she felt giddy and laughed, shaking her head at the thought of him. Oh this was never good. Letting out a breath, she walked out, gasping in shock when she was pulled back into a dark corridor around the corner. Breathing heavily, she looked up, her heart relaxing when she seen the ocean blue eyes staring down at her.

"Damon, god! You scared the crap out of me!" Elena scolded, her hands automatically finding their way around his neck.
"I didn't mean to, I just-God Elena-"

The next moment, his lips were pressed against hers, his hips pressed to hers as he pinned her back against the wall, his hands sliding around her waist as he held her close, a moan of surprise leaving her lips as she tip toed, pulling herself deeper into the kiss, wanting to get lost in it.

"Mmh." Damon swallowed, pulling back and looked her over, "I couldn't begin this night without...without...god...telling you how absolutely beautiful you look Elena. You're a vision in red," Stroking his thumb against the corner of her mouth softly, a smirk tilted at the corner of his lips, "Lips are smudged, must mean mine are a bit red."

"Oh Damon." Smiling adoringly, she wiped her thumb over his lips, being gentle and taking her time getting all the red off. The more time she had with him, the better for her. She loved spending time with him, "I'm a vision? Have you looked in a mirror? I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

"Right back at you." Grinning goofy, he stroked his knuckles across her cheek, "Come to mine after...please? I just need to have some...uh," Blushing embarrassed, he looked away, "Me and you-"

"Me and you time?" Elena finished for him, smiling big as she tilted her head, teasing, "Mr Salvatore, are you blushing? I believe you're blushing."
"Oh stop," He groaned, biting his lip, "Don't tease."
"Sorry," She whispered, smiling bigger as she tilted his chin, looking into his eyes, "I'd love to."
"Good." He replied, his tone just as hushed as he stared down at her, getting lost in her doe eyes, "I better go."
"Uh huh. I think you should and...I suppose I better do the same."

Slowly moving away, Damon looked her over again and into her eyes as he smiled big, biting his lip, an emotion crossing his eyes that she had never seen before he turned back to cold stone and left her in the corridor, going back to the main event. Swallowing, she slowly followed, not making it obvious as she thought about what just happened. That look in his eyes, what was that? That's one she hadn't seen before?

The sound of her door creaking open pulled her out of dream world as she shook her head, turning around to see the same blue eyes she had just been thinking about. Biting her lip, she watched as he stepped in, slowly closing the door shut tight. He must have seen her walk out and followed her. Well, this was the first time they were alone since the big announcement in the Mall. Yikes. They stared at each other, brown meeting blue, storm meeting dirt.

"So," Clearing her throat, she averted her eyes to the ground, realizing this is the first time she had spoken since they had got into the house, "Pretty romantic what you did back there in the Mall huh?"

"Oh that?" He shrugged it off, nonchalantly as he took a few steps closer, "That was nothing. Just think of it as a scene from a movie if you will."

Staring up at each other, they burst into the laughter, the whole situation bubbling down on them as their emotions were flooding out of them from all of the events that had been happening around them lately. They were like drawn magnets to trouble, would they ever not be in trouble?

"So, I...Did," Breathing deeply, Elena waited until her laughter had died down and stared at him, "Were you serious? About...what you said? About us?"
"Elena, I've never...ever been more serious in my whole life. Everything I said...in the Mall or here on out, I am 100% dead ser-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Elena was in his arms, her arms twined around his waist and head buried into his chest as he took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her tight, leaning his chin on top of her head as he closed her eyes. This was it. The best part of it all. How they both relaxed each other and forgot about all of their problems in that moment.

"Are you-" Elena pulled back slightly, staring up at him, her doe eyes full of worry, "Are you sure about this now? Me? Us? Its gonna be a rough ride."
"Sweetheart," He leaned down closer, their foreheads pressed against each other as she blushed, "Whatever made you think that I liked a gentle ride?"
"So, this is...official? Were together?" Swallowing, she felt him moving slightly as his hands cupped her face lightly, staring down at her.
"After I ask the outstanding question that is." Stroking his thumb over her cheek, he stared into her eyes, "Will you Elena Gilbert be my girlfriend?"
"Yes." She whispered, her heart pounding in her ears.

Giving her a loving smile, he ducked his head and pressed his lips against hers as she held onto his wrists, not wanting the moment to end. This was perfect. At the beginning, she wasn't sure what was going on, if she wanted to be near him, if she wanted to give him the time of the day or trust him, but now...? This was perfect. She was happy that she had given him the chance because its the best chance that had ever happened to her.

"What do you say we go and put them out of their misery?" Damon whispered softly against her lips, kissing her once again.
"Mmh, I think that's the best idea I have heard in a while." Elena replied sweetly, smiling brightly as he took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
"Lets go then."

Hand in hand, they left the comforts of her room, their shelter, their privacy as they went downstairs to face the music of the world that was waiting outside for them. They wanted news? They were going to get news.

A/N: Hey everyone, how are you? :) I hope all is well. I'm sorry I'm a bit late with this one, Work has been busting my chops since I've returned full-time. Bloody nuts, well I hope you enjoy!

Thank you for reading!

Shauna
xx