She sat on the stairs looking down at Jenna gripping the banister. "What can you say to me that someone else hasn't said today? That I picked the wrong brother? That Damon can't be trusted? That he's just using me? That I'm going to end up with my heart broken? I've heard it all."
"Well, if everyone's saying it then maybe you should start listening." said Jenna leaning on the wall.
"So I should give into peer pressure? Wow, great parenting." said Elena sarcastically crossing her wrists over her knees.
"I'm just saying your friends want to look out for you and maybe you should listen to what they have to say."
"Look none of my friends know Damon the way I do. They think what they see is all there is to him. Did you expect him to be the kind of guy who makes a girl dinner and watches Gone with the Wind?"
"Well no-"
"Exactly." said Elena standing up. "There is so much more to Damon then the 'bad boy' everyone sees. He takes care of me when he sees I'm hurting, he talks me through whatever I need-"
"Like what your break up with Stefan? I'm so sure he worked so hard to save that relationship-"
"No." said Elena. "Like the accident. Do you know Stefan never once asked about them or how the accident affected me? Or Bonnie or Caroline or Matt. Or you,"
"I tried to talk to you-"
"Once, two weeks after their funeral, at a Starbucks. Yeah you really pushed that talk."
"I don't know what you needed to hear-"
"That's just it. I didn't need to hear anything, I needed someone to listen. Damon listened to me." Elena dropped her head looking down at the pendant, twisting it between her fingers. "I need someone who can listen to me, Jenna."
"You need someone you can count on, someone you can trust."
"And that's Damon, not Stefan." She reached down and grabbed her book bag."I'm not going to sit here repeating myself. I know I chose right." She turned up the stairs and walked to her room surprised Jenna didn't protest any further. She walked into her room quickly closing the door slowly and leaned on it, sliding to the floor. She dropped her head into her hands.
"I'm sorry your plan didn't work." said Damon. Elena looked up and saw him sitting in her window.
"Did you hear all of that?" she said crossing her arms over her knees pulling them into her chest.
"Yeah." he said walking down and sitting down in front of her. "Did you mean all of it?" Elena nodded.
"What part of it surprised you?" She said.
"About the accident." he said. "How can no one have talked to you? It's been over a year."
"By the time I was ready to talk everyone figured I had already moved on." She reached out and he grabbed her hand pulling her up to her feet. "When you talked to me about that and could listen to me, that's when I knew I had definitely chosen right." She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her. He felt her chest start to quake as tears rolled silently down her cheeks. "What if-"
"Don't." he said brushing her cheeks. "Things aren't going to be easy but that's not going to stop us."
"But if Jenna doesn't want us to be together then what are we going to do?" said Elena looking up at him.
"Are you really going to let that be the thing that threatens this? We're fighting off my brother and Katherine and Jenna is the one you're afraid of?"
"Well Jenna can make it very difficult for us to see each other."
"That's what lunchtime and windows are for." he said squeezing her gently. A slight smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. "That's more like it." He said tweaking the corner of her mouth.
"You always find a way to make me smile." she said.
"One way or another." he said sliding his hand along her waist. Elena closed her eyes sighing softly.
"You don't know how much I want you right now." she said.
"Same here." he said kissing her neck and shoulder.
"Can I ask you a favor?" she said turning her head to give him better access to her skin.
"Anything." he said brushing his lips over her collarbone and up the other side of her neck.
"Can I feed from you?" she said pulling back to look up at him. He looked down at her, slightly confused. "I don't wanna risk it. If Stefan is as angry as I think he is then theres a good chance he'll kill me in my sleep. Or Katherine. If they do, then at least I'll have an eternity with you to look forward to during my slow torturous murder." He looked down at her smirking at her quip.
"I am rubbing off on you." he said. He bit down on his wrist and offered it to her. Before she pressed it against her mouth she looked up at him.
"I'm not purely selfish." she said. "I can reciprocate." She pulled off her bracelet and lifted her wrist up to his mouth. "And I won't take no for an answer. I know how much you love the way I taste. And how much you like drinking my blood." She smirked again as she ran her tongue along his open wound then kissed it gently. She finally pressed her lips against his wrist sucking softly.
He stared his mouth slightly agape as she alternated between soft kisses and deep slow swallows. She drank for a few seconds before she pulled back her mouth tinged red as she licked her lips. "You gonna bite me or not?" she said. She pushed her lips against him again resuming her slow drinking.
He finally pulled her wrist up to his mouth biting down slowly as she moaned slightly. This was the first time she had tasted Damon's blood as he had bitten her. The sensation of his fangs pressed into her as she felt his blood pour down her throat made her knees go weak. She had never felt so deliciously close to him. They stood in silence gazing into each others eyes, their mouths both moving slowly against the others skin. Damon ran his hand down her side slowly and her pulse leapt. He moaned at the increased flow of her blood sucking harder for a few moments before he pulled back. "I'm going to drain you if I don't stop now." He said panting his fangs still dripping with her blood. She pulled back slowly, her mouth lingering as she looked up at him, her lips even redder. She stared up at him for a moment then gripped the back of his head pulling his mouth against hers. Their blood mingled as their tongues twisted together as he tangled his hands in her hair.
"Don't go." she whispered into his mouth pressing her chest into him.
"I don't want to." he said back gripping her tightly.
"Then don't."she said cupping his face. "Stay."
"I can't." he said. "If we want Jenna to give us a chance she can't find us like this."
"Like this?" she said pressing her hips into him as she ran her hands down his chest.
"Well no." he said. "But I was referring more to us being covered in blood." She looked up at him then over her shoulder at her mirror and smiled as she saw their mouths smeared in blood.
"I guess that could be kind of jarring." she said turning back to him.
"I'm gonna go so you can clean up ok?"
"Ok." she said finally pulling back from him. "I'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Yeah." he said. "But I don't think I can give you a ride in the morning again. I'll just meet you in the parking lot."
"Why can't you give me a- Oh Jenna." she said soon realizing his reason.
"Exactly." he said.
"As long as we can meet up at lunch again." she said. "If we don't have that time together I'll lose it."
"Of course." he said brushing her hair back. "I think with all the threats going on I need to check in at least once a day."
"I also think I should always have some of your blood in my system." she said.
"I think that's a good idea." he said. "And not just because you feeding from me is one of the sexiest things I've ever seen." She smiled up at him licking her teeth.
"You taste pretty damn good." she said. "Whenever someone gives me crap about us tomorrow or Stefan tries to talk to me I'm just going to remember how you taste."
"I've got something else to help you out." he said. He reached down beside her bed and pulled up his leather jacket. "Just to make sure everyone knows who you're with. I'd give you my ring but it'd be kind of awkward when I came to pick you up and my flesh ignited." Elena smiled taking his jacket.
"Then no one could deny I had a hot boyfriend." she said pulling his jacket up to her face inhaling deeply.
"Oh god." he said. "You did not just say that."
"I did." she said. "But you think it's just a little cute don't you."
"Yeah." he said. "Damn those eyes of yours, they do things to me." She leaned into the jacket inhaling deeply.
"I know." she said looking up from the jacket. "Is there any chance we could meet before school?"
"Where?"
"School parking lot." she said. "I could drop my car off in the parking lot around the corner. Then I come riding up in your car, wearing your jacket. If you want to lend me your shirt I'm sure we could make a cheerleaders head explode." She ran her hands down his chest then slid them back up under his shirt.
"Let's stick with the jacket for now." he said catching her hands. "Why are you so determined to make everyone so crazy?"
"They want to make up rumors about me, I might as well be as crazy as they think I am. Plus it's kind of fun to see the look on Stefan's face when he wants to attack us but he can't because we're in public."
"I can tell you from experience that after 140 years that look never gets old."
"So is that a yes?" she said biting her lip as she looked up at him hugging his jacket to her chest.
"The answer is always yes when it comes to you." he said brushing her hair back.
"Good." she said. "Now all I need is a pair of leather pants."
"Ok calm down Sandra Dee, let's not go too far."
"Fine." she said. "I'll stick with the jacket for now."
"I'll see you tomorrow morning." He kissed her softly and she closed her eyes.
"How do you calm me down so easily?" she said her eyes still shut. "Five seconds ago I was thinking about Stefan and all those idiots at school and my blood was pounding in my ears." She opened her eyes looking up at him a slight smile on her lips. "And now I couldn't care less."
"Now just try to stay in that mood and it'll all be fine."
"Only if you keep kissing me like that." she said closing her eyes again. He leaned in kissing her lightly again.
"Can that hold you over until tomorrow?" he said. She nodded her eyes still closed. "You going to open your eyes?" She shook her head, her eyes still closed.
"If I look at you much longer I'm going to tackle you."
"Then I'll go." he said. "Call me if things get too bad." She nodded again still not opening her eyes. She heard her window slide shut and opened her eyes. Her room was empty and she held Damon's jacket up inhaling deeply.
"Elena?" she heard Jenna calling for her up the stairs. "What do you want for dinner?"
"Anything, I don't care." She called back falling onto her back holding the jacket twisting the chain of the pendant between her fingers. She tucked the jacket behind her pillow knowing it would give her good dreams. She lay back on her bed sliding her shoes off and they slid to the floor.
"Elena?" she turned as Jenna opened the door.
"What?" she said still laying on her back.
"I was just-"
"Checking to make sure Damon didn't sneak in my window?" She said rolling her eyes.
"Making sure you were ok." said Jenna crossing her arms and leaning in the door.
"I'm fine." she said.
"I'll admit I was quick to judge-"
"Understatement of the century." said Elena staring at the ceiling.
"But," said Jenna sitting on the bed. "I know you're a smart girl and you wouldn't dive into something like this unless you were really sure. I'll admit I don't know much about Damon, but I'm willing to learn."
"Thank you." said Elena sitting up rubbing the chain of the pendant.
"That's a pretty necklace." said Jenna.
"Damon gave it to me." said Elena smiling as she looked down at it.
"For what?" said Jenna pulling it up to her, running her fingers over the engraved surface.
"He bought it a while ago and his mother told him to wait until he found someone special enough to give it to." She looked down smiling at it.
"Wow." Jenna said.
"Yeah." said Elena taking the pendant from Jenna and looking down at it. "I really care about him. And he cares about me too. If you could just see-"
"I'm starting to. Or at least I'll try to." said Jenna resting a hand on her knee. "I'll call you when I finish making dinner." She stood up and headed out the door. "And by finish dinner I mean when the delivery guy gets here." Elena laughed slightly. She fell back into bed reaching into her bag and pulling out her phone.
"Hey." she said.
"Are you chucking things at each other already." said Damon.
"No." said Elena smiling. "Things are getting better. Jenna is willing to try and get to know you."
"What changed her mind?"
"Well I think she calmed down from the initial shock and she started to actually listen." said Elena pulling her diary off from her desk. "And I told her the story about the necklace. That really won her over."
"Good." he said. "I didn't want to worry about you fighting with her all night."
"I don't know if she's completely accepted us yet but she's trying. Anyway I think this means you can pick me up tomorrow morning without her head exploding."
"Well then I'll see you tomorrow morning in front of your house."
"Actually, why don't you knock on the door and actually come inside." said Elena. "Unless that freaks you out too much."
"Nothing scares me." he said.
"Good." she said. "I'll see you in the morning."
"If I can hold off that long." he said.
"If you really can't I'll leave my window unlocked."
"Don't." he said his voice suddenly serious. "Katherine may want to murder you but you don't have to make it easy for her."
"I was kidding." she said shocked. "And by the way,
I doubt that a half inch thick strip of metal would keep her out."
"Still." he said. "Keep your windows and doors locked."
"I will." she said. "Goodnight." She said.
"I love you." he said. There was a short pause where Elena exhaled quietly.
"I know." she said. "I'll see you tomorrow." She closed her phone and lay back on her bed. It was true every time Damon said he loved her, that she did feel a little bit closer to saying it back. But it also made her feel incredibly guilty. A part of her wanted to say it back just so she wouldn't torture him anymore but she wanted to wait and say it when she was really ready.
...
Elena stood in the bathroom washing her face smiling as the warm water washed over her skin. Jenna hadn't said anything more about Damon, good or bad and seemed to be trying to avoid the subject. Jeremy had eaten in silence which had become the norm. As a whole, the night had gone better then she could have expected. "Elena?" she heard her brother knock at the door as she dried her face.
"All yours." she said opening the door.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you." he said.
"Ok." said Elena scrunching her eyebrows in confusion.
"So I heard about you and Damon at school today." He said crossing his arms.
"Yeah, we're sorta dating now." said Elena.
"From what I heard you're doing a little more 'sorta dating'."
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Elena.
"It means I heard he took you off campus for lunch and you came back wearing different clothes."
"So?" she said.
"So you just started dating him. What the hell are you thinking?"
"Jeremy it's none of your business who I date or what I do with them." said Elena crossing her arms.
"I know that." said Jeremy. "I know you can do whatever you want with anyone you want. I'm just saying be careful."
"Why would I need to be careful?" said Elena. "I can trust Damon."
"It's just..." said Jeremy dropping his head.
"Just what?" she said.
"Nothing." muttered Jeremy. "I need to brush my teeth." He shoved past Elena and she heard the door lock. She looked at the door, wanting to knock and insist he tell her what he was going to say but instead she just went back to her room.
...
Damon knocked on Elena's door the next morning and leaned against one of the posts on the porch. He expected Elena to open the door but it was Jenna who came to the door. "Damon." she said sounding surprised. "What are you-"
"I just thought I'd give Elena a ride to school and I thought it'd be better to knock on the door rather than pull up to your driveway and honk." He said flashing his signature grin.
"Oh." said Jenna a bit dazed by the smile. "Well Elena got powdered sugar all over her jeans so she's just changing."
"Powdered sugar?" said Damon arching an eyebrow.
"French toast." said Jeremy rounding the corner from the kitchen.
"Hey Jeremy." said Damon.
"I'm going to finish up the dishes while you wait for Elena." said Jenna heading back to the kitchen. As soon as the rush of water started loudly from the kitchen Damon turned to Jeremy.
"Do you need a ride too or-"
"So what's going on with you two?" said Jeremy his voice low as he stepped into Damon.
"What are you talking about?" said Damon taking a step back more in surprise then in fear.
"I know you're dating my sister." he said.
"And you have a problem with that?" said Damon.
"I do when you start to change her." he said.
"What are you talking about?" said Damon.
"I don't know if you know what Elena used to be like."
"I don't-"
"She's wasn't the same girl you know now." said Jeremy. "She was out every night, coming home in someone else's clothes, falling over she was so drunk, skipping school to nurse hangovers and when she did go to school she'd blow of her work until the last minute or buy papers online. Matt wasn't so much her boyfriend as someone who watched over her at parties."
"I didn't know-"
"Well you are about to." said Jeremy. "Ever since she's been going out with you I've seen her sliding back into old habits."
"I don't know what I did-"
"Look when our parents died, it changed her, for the better. It hit her really hard and it made her change. I don't know why but I think it was because she felt like it was her partying that caused the crash."
"I'm not sure what you're asking me to do." said Damon.
"I'm just asking for you not to let her backslide." said Jeremy. "I love my sister and I don't want to see her go down that road again. In the last few days I've already started to see her change."
"How has she changed?" said Damon.
"Hey." said Elena from the top of stairs. Damon turned and his breath caught. She was wearing a tight deep red top with cap sleeves. There was ribbon laced down the front making it look like a corset. His leather jacket was thrown over it and her hair was not its usual smooth sleekness. Instead it was tousled falling over her eyes and shoulders. She came down the stairs smiling.
Jeremy looked from Elena to Damon pointedly before he slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped out the door. "That's a new look for you." said Damon looking down at her tight black jeans and short studded boots.
"Not really." she said twisting the necklace between her fingers. "I've had it for a while but it was hiding in the back of my closet. Why don't you like it?" she said biting her lip. "I needed something to match your jacket."
"Oh I like it." he said looking over her
"Good. Bye Jenna." she shouted to the kitchen as she pulled Damon out the door. As soon as Damon shut the door behind them she pinned him to it. "I missed you last night." she said running her hands down his chest.
"I did too, but let's wait until we get to the car for that. Your aunt's looking out the window."
"Fine." she said. She went down the stairs and climbed into the passenger seat of his car. "What was Jeremy saying to you before?" she said. "He had his 'sullen teenager' face on."
"He was just playing protective brother." said Damon starting the car.
"Did he scare you?" she said laughing as she dropped her bag in the back of the car arching her back over the seat. Damon watched as she arched backward over the seat her shirt riding up and he saw a sliver of skin. He shuddered, leaning over to kiss the bare skin and she moaned. She gripped the back of his headrest. "If you don't stop I'm going to fall into your backseat." she said breathily.
"Fine." he said gripping her waist and pulling her back over. As she fell into her seat he pulled her face towards his but stopped an inch away from her mouth.
"What?" she said her breath catching.
"Aren't you worried Jenna will see?" he said stroking the side of her face.
"Nope." she said. "I want everyone to see." They both leaned in kissing each other gently. They pulled back smiling and Elena fell back into her seat looking at him. "Now that is the way to start a day."
"Can't argue there." he said. "To school?"
"No..." She said closing her eyes pressing the heels of her palms into her forehead. "Don't make me go."
"You have to." he said. "If you're going to live for an eternity you have to have basic knowledge."
"Exactly." she said. "I have an eternity to discuss the color of Gatsby's car. Why do I have to do it now?"
"Just get it over with." he said starting up the car. "Spend the time now, it'll give us more time together in the future." He leaned over kissing her gently before they started down the street.
"Fine." she said. "I guess you know best."
"Yes I do. That's why I chose you." He looked over at her and she grinned back biting her lip.
All together now: Awwwww...
Ok sorry for the delay and I have midterms so I don't promise another update soon. I planned out a few more chapters on the train home so you have at LEAST five more chapters if not six. I love all you reviews so very very much so please, please, PLEASE, keep them coming. The "great chapters" are nice but I don't mind criticisms either because they make me a better writer!