Previously on Flightmate...
E, C and B are on a flight to Europe. D&E bond. Plane crashes. D&E are stranded on an island. D makes a hammock 100ft in the air, challenges E to climb all the way. E declines, then gives in, beginning her climb.
Chapter 12: Looking Forward To It
Elena slowly climbed the tree, taking short breaks at every branch. Sweat poured down her face. Her breathing was difficult. She concentrated on seeing the look on Damon's face when she did make it to the hammock. The happy thought boosted her. She staved off looking down since she might stop, panic and then lose her grip.
The bark was shiny and had a clean look but was incredibly rough to touch. There were bruises and cuts all over her elbows, hands, face, legs and knees. She was still dressed in her flight outfit. Blue jeans and a white tank top. They were decorated in tiny rips and slits. Elena glanced up. She was confident that she climbed at least 75% the way by now. Come on Elena. She called on her last reserves of energy.
Panting and heaving, she peered under her eyelashes at the hammock. Why was I doing this again? Right, because I am stubborn and like proving a point.
This time when she looked up, she saw the hammock just a few feet above her head. She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the food. She couldn't sight it. Maybe it was on the second hammock on its right. Swinging with all her might, she flung herself off the branch into the surprisingly soft and empty hammock. Breathing hard, she let her head stay buried in the hammock. She had no energy to turn on her back.
Without warning, she felt something moving under her stomach.
Springing up, Elena observed. Realizing with a pang of shame, Elena sat up. She'd landed on Damon's torso. Her face was just under his groin. His lips on her tanktop clad stomach.
'Well well... Ele-'
'Shut up,' she interrupted, spinning to face him.
He grinned at her. 'Not bad Gilbert. That was very good for someone who hasn't climbed a tree before.'
Elena smiled back. 'I am a quick learner. Plus, I had a lot of motivation. What with you taunting me and manhandling me and treating me like I'm a bloody child. I had to climb, didn't I? Keep climbing or the self-serving psychopath mocks you forever.'
'Well consider this psychopath's feelings hurt.'
Elena narrowed her eyes at him. Turning around, she spotted the food.
'Well glad to know you weren't lying,' Elena chided him. 'Let's eat.'
Damon vamp-sped away and returned about three seconds later with a basket full of green apples, pears, peaches, cherries and others of which she did not know the name. Elena stared at the basket, wide eyed.
'Damon, when did you get all these fruits?'
'Oh don't worry. The forest is full of them. You just haven't gotten to see all of it yet.'
Elena wanted to yell at him about being too locked up to explore but she held it in. She didn't want to ruin breakfast time. So she said, 'Well I'm looking forward to it.'
Instantly, Elena cringed. Looking forward to it? Why did I have to say that? She met Damon's astonished gaze and immediately looked down at her crossed legs. She did not want to know what he was thinking.
She mumbled thanks, and carefully avoiding his eyes, pulled the basket towards her. As she stuffed her mouth with fruits, Damon watched her with amusement.
'What?' Her mouth made that noise it did when filled with food.
'Nothing. I've just never seen a glutton eat before.'
Elena threw an orange at Damon. He caught it.
'Have you seen yourself eat, Damon? You are a much bigger glutton than I am.'
'I beg to disagree ma'am. I don't unhinge my jaw like a snake to consume an apple.'
'Whatever.'
Throwing her a smirk, he slowly peeled the orange, separated the crescent pieces and popped one in his mouth. It was Elena's turn to stare at him. How can he make eating an orange…not innocent? How can he even consume regular human food? Now that she knew about him, it made the whole situation weirder.
'Okay spill it Gilbert.'
Elena snapped out of it and quickly came up with a logical explanation that explained her staring.
'How can you even eat if technically you're supposed to be…'
'Dead? It's not such a bad word. As long as I keep a healthy diet of blood in my system, my body functions pretty normally.'
She gulped at 'diet of blood'. Shoving handfuls of fruit in her mouth, she made the mistake of looking outside the hammock. It looked more than a hundred feet. As the height raised the nausea levels; she swallowed the fruit painfully, trying her hardest to not throw up.
Distracting herself, she focused her attention on the view around her. Feeling like she was seeing a part of the forest, Elena wondered why this place wasn't on the map. Every tree was the same height: the uniformity added to the spectacular beauty surrounding her. She watched as the trees danced in the slight breeze and reflected sunlight off each other's leaves like a huge pass-the-parcel game.
'What are you staring at?' Damon asked, following my gaze.
'Just the scenery. It's beautiful.'
Elena decided whether to say what was on her mind or not. She decided to wing it.
'You may be an ass, but thank you for saving my life.' Damon choked on his food mockingly. 'Yes, well, you did save my life,' Elena rolled her eyes, trying to lighten her words. 'So thanks anyway. I appreciate the gesture. Although you did trick me, ridicule me and what not, I guess... I'm glad I'm alive.'
Damon's face split into a huge smile. It was that one, the genuine one which Elena wanted to see more on his face. The one that Damon saved for important occasions.
'You're welcome.' He said, staring into her eyes.
'But wait,' she took a deep breath. 'I forgive you as long as you don't make me stay inside the cave after we go back.' Elena negotiated. 'I know why you did it but I really don't need to be slaved.'
'As long as you don't try to escape.'
Elena pondered.
'Deal.'
She extended a hand to him. They shook on it.
Not realizing what she was doing, Elena leaned closer to him.
The most beautiful feature of his face had to be his eyes. It's like he was born with normal monocolored eyes, and then something happened. BAM! Shades of pale green, light grey, and white all swirled over a backdrop of blue. His eyes are fifty shades of blue, green and teal, she thought idly.
After a long moment, that felt like seconds, they broke eye contact. They'd been ogling.
'Alright, I'm done. What are we doing next?' Elena coughed to hide her unease.
Damon yanked the fruit basket towards him and peered inside. It was indeed, empty.
He looked at Elena with slight surprise, 'Remind me never to strain you again. You are one hungry woman. These were supposed to last for lunch and dinner too, you know.'
Elena smiled guiltily.
'Well I'm sure we can find more food to eat,' she replied, touching his arm with her hand. Damon froze. His eyes jumped to where her skin touched his. Elena pulled her hand back, realizing it was the wrong move.
'Sorry,' she yelped. Why was she incapable of not touching him?
'You didn't answer my question. What are we doing next?'
'I didn't draw up a schedule, Elena. I-' he corrected himself, 'we decide on what we do. What do you want to do?'
'I am really tired. Can we go back to the cave?'
'Come on really? The cave? Aren't you tired of being in that thing?'
'I am, but where else could I safely rest?'
'I don't know. I've only been here for three days,' Damon spoke. 'To the cave then,' he gave her his hand.
Elena took it. He pulled her, holding her tightly around the waist. Elena circled her arms around his neck. He shot her one last sultry look before vamp-speeding home.
Like the lust needed more adrenaline to confuse it.
They stopped outside the cave entrance. Light afternoon breeze brushed her hair away from her face. Elena opened her eyes and let go of Damon. She headed to the cave. A hand stopped her in her tracks.
'Elena, I have to just get some stuff for us. Fruits, wood and anything else in the forest that might be useful.'
'Okay,' Elena tried to sound cool. 'See you later.'
'See you later, Elena' he whispered her name in her ear in that signature low voice that just happened to be panty-dropping seductive. He took hold of the opportunity and hugged Elena tightly. Taken aback, she froze in his arms. Perceptibly, she molded into his figure until all she could hear, smell, feel or see was Damon. Her arms enclose around his waist as she pressed her body into his. No one was holding back in this hug. This was just the kind of relationship Elena wanted.
She was taken aback by how far her feelings have progressed. It was like her heart was way ahead of the brain, so much - it was as if they didn't work together anymore. Hopefully, only when it came to Damon.
Just as Elena was about to let go, he vanished. Elena felt the unwelcome wind fill the space that used to be Damon. She gazed off into the distance and suddenly found herself in no mood to rest. Her body was coated in such a stinky mix of dried sweat, sea water and god-knows-what that Elena found it weird Damon did not get repulsed by her odour. Since he wasn't watching, Elena decided to take a shower in the waterfall opposite the cave.
Approaching the thudding water, she observed where the flow was inhumanly fast and where it was just perfect. Checking again to make sure no one was around, she stripped into her underwear. Placing her clothes on a rock at a dry distance from the water, she sprinted towards the waterfall.
The water was not too cold, not too war. It was the lukewarm that everyone hoped to bathe in on a regular day. It was the hot and humid island. Standing in the waterfall, Elena felt free. The water flowing on her body forced energy into the blood flowing inside. It was like the rigorous downpour of water reminded her of what happiness was - what home was.
She began scrubbing her hands and legs, finishing with her face. Elena never wanted to leave the waterfall. But Damon could be coming back any moment and her state of undress will only make things more awkward or heated, depending on which way the wind was blowing.
After a few minutes of hearing the water gush, Elena began singing We Found Love softly to herself:
Shine a light through an open door
Love and life I will divide
Turn away 'cause I need you more
Feel the heartbeat in my mind
It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny
But I've gotta let it go
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
After what Elena thought must have been at least half an hour, she stepped out of the natural shower. Walking back to her rock, she tied her hair up. But when she arrived at the rock, her clothes were no longer there.
Elena checked underneath the rocks whether the clothes were washed away. She didn't see any shreds of her white tanktop or blue jeans. Where did they go? They can't have just… disappeared.
There was a chilly wind biting her half-naked body. Elena went back to the waterfall, hoping the water will act as a coating against the cold. It worked in a way, but the chill helped Elena think the only logical explanation. Who did take her clothes?
Of course.
How was it even a question?
The answer was so obvious, Elena felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. He was the only one on this island other than her as far as she knew. It had to be him.
She puzzled over how long he had been watching her. The thought incited a deep blush with accelerated breathing as embarrassment clouded her rationale. Oh no, no, no. Oh please let it not be.
She examined her surroundings, and slowly walked backwards to the waterfall, keeping an eye out for any sudden movements. She let the water cover her like a veil for a good fifteen minutes. He wouldn't return her clothes if she wished him to, she thought. Mustering all her courage she had, she confidently stepped out of the waterfall again.
She walked into the clearance between the cave and the waterfall. If he was watching, she just gave him a 360 degree view.
'Damon? Can you return my clothes? It's not funny and I'm quite cold.'
Silence.
'Damon, seriously, I'm not joking. I need them back.'
More silence.
'Please?'
Then she heard him.
'Now she begs.'
He walked out from behind a tree nearby. Strutting towards her, her clothes bundled safely in his hands, he eyed her entire body while Elena glared at him. He halted just a few centimeters away from Elena. He can eat me up all he wants, I'm not going to be embarrassed. I'm done being embarrassed. Her hand was outstretched, silently ordering her clothes back.
'Can you repeat that?' Damon asked. It was a voice of someone who knows he's in control and loves it. 'That last little bit? I didn't quite hear you.'
'I said return my clothes Damon.'
'No,' he chided her, 'What do you say when you really want something Elena?'
'Just gi-' Elena dived for her clothes. But she wasn't fast enough to outwit Damon. His hand zoomed away from her reach, the clothes switching from hand to hand in lightning speed.
'Very funny Damon. Please hand them over.'
Crap, I begged. I said please.
Damon advanced at Elena, backing her into the waterfall. Their bodies were drenched within seconds. It didn't seem to matter at that point.
'Damon, please. It's cold and chilly and I am half-naked.'
'I know,' his eyes glowed. 'Gloriously half-naked.'
Elena crossed her arms, wondering if he'd ever give her clothes back. He wants to keep the clothes. Fine by me.
She walked back to the cave before realizing what she was doing. Hiding out in a dark, chilly place where the prat who blackmails and humiliates has access to? Not the best move.
Therefore, she spun around and headed into the forest.
'We Found Love' bit? Imagine an acoustic version. Not the original song.
6x01 promo. Oh sweet Jesus. Elena is doing witchy drugs to hallucinate Damon. Frankly, who can blame her? If I was dating Damon and he died on me, I wouldn't expect me to be stable. I hope she gets better though.
I have read so many TVDS6 interviews that I've convinced myself when Damon and Elena do reunite, it is going to be in that deserted road where they first met + rain. Don't tell me that's not the best thing ever. #DelenaRainKiss
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