Chapter 15

Elena

Everything felt too god to be true. Elena was smiling as she pulled the covers up to her chin. Damon had taken her home straight away; not wanting Aunt Jenna to get even more anxious than she already was about Elena's whereabouts. They had talked all the way in the car, from small, unimportant things like the rain that day to their feelings. Elena's throat actually felt a little dry from all the talking. She never thought Damon as the loquacious type, but maybe that was just because they never talked like they did tonight.

Tonight, the masks, the pretenses, the façades; everything fell away, and their mutual feelings for each other were finally revealed. Elena smiled again. She had never had such a conversation with Stefan. They had talked plenty of times, sure, but with Stefan, those talks remained, well, talks. They weren't as meaningful as what she experienced tonight. To say the truth, they didn't even come close.

She knew she wasn't supposed to compare. That wouldn't be fair to either Damon or Stefan. But she couldn't help it: she had something special with Damon; something she never had with Stefan, though she can't really explain it.

Elena never thought of herself as the gooey, mushy type of girl when in a relationship. But right now, she was feeling like a lead actress in one of those lame, romantic comedies. And she liked that feeling. It was something new, something so exciting and exhilarating that her breath quickens every time she thinks about Damon. It was like…like…Elena searched her head for the word. It was like fate.

She hadn't predicted for this to happen. Three months ago, if anyone had told her she'd fall in love with Damon, she would've been in disbelief. But now, all of that was reality. She had fallen in love with Damon, and nothing could have stopped her. A twist of events with the fake spell brought out all her feelings for him. Maybe she's always loved him, she just needed a catalyzer.

Elena sighed happily and rolled over on her bed. She didn't know how long she had been awake. Even though everything that happened today made her exhausted, she wasn't sleepy at all. Instead, she kept on playing the moments with Damon over and over again in her head; like playing a movie. She'd pause at some moments and re-live them again, feeling happier and happier each time she was finished.

She couldn't wait to see him again. She actually missed him, which was just ridiculous, because she just saw him a few hours ago. Unable to wait any longer, Elena took her cell phone from the nightstand and dialed Damon's number.

He picked up on the first ring, "Lonely already?" He teased.

Elena smiled even though she knew he couldn't see her, "Hey. I thought you'd be asleep. It's two in the morning."

"Couldn't sleep." He replied simply and truthfully.

Elena's heart leapt at the answer. Was he thinking over what happened to them as well? "Me neither." She admitted. "I miss you." She added after a short pause.

Damon was silent for a moment before he spoke, "Wait there, I'll be over in s second."

"Oh, no, I didn't mean –" Elena didn't even finish her sentence as a tap on her window interrupted her. Stunned by his speed, she hurried to the window to open it.

Grinning wickedly at her, Damon climbed in and embraced her tightly, breathing in her scent.

Elena hugged back. It was amazing that a simple hug said everything. She felt so close to him.

"That was quick." She commented. It had taken him literally only a second.

"I was just outside your house." Damon admitted.

"You were?"

"Yeah, I…didn't want to leave," Damon muttered, looking even a little abashed now, "I was on the roof, looking at the stars." He finished sheepishly.

Elena's eyes lit up, "I've never done that." She said in awe.

"Come on up with me." Damon suggested, wiggling his eyebrows at her playfully.

Nodding enthusiastically, Elena hurried over to her dresser to find a pair of socks. Damon looked over her shoulder and swiftly caught hold of one of her red, lacy bras and pulled it out.

Holding the straps in both hands, Damon smirked at her, "Oooh, fancy. I like this."

Elena snatched the bra from him hands and rolled her eyes. Typical Damon. Pulling on a pair of socks, she reached for her shoes.

"None of that," Damon stopped her, "I don't want you to slip. Socks provide more friction."

Elena nodded and waited by the window as Damon fetched an old quilt from her closet. He rolled it up under his arm and climbed out of the window. Elena followed him. She was feeling giddy as he helped her up to the roof. This was one of the craziest things she's ever done with a boyfriend. Boyfriend. She said to herself again to get used to the term of words. He was her boyfriend now. Damon Salvatore.

Elena shrieked with laughter as Damon caught her wrist firmly to stop her from slipping. He had already unfolded the quilt. Elena has never seen something so appealing right now. She laid down next to him. Sure enough, there were a million stars in the sky. Elena wondered why she never noticed how beautiful the night sky was. Or maybe all things are beautiful as long as she was with Damon.

"This is beautiful." Elena whispered. Turning her head so her chin touched Damon's shoulder, she found out that Damon was not looking at the sky, but at her. A faint blush crept upon her cheeks.

"Yeah," Damon agreed absently, "Beautiful." He said, while staring at her.

Elena looked into those startling blue eyes. How could anyone refrain from falling in love with him? It seemed impossible to her right now. She was turning into a romantic. Looking at stars on the roof? She never thought she'd do that, yet here she was.

"There's a lot to face tomorrow, you know." She said softly.

"Like what?"

"Like telling everyone we are together." Elena replied, "I have a feeling Aunt Jenna and Jeremy wouldn't be so supportive."

"Don't worry about that," Damon said reassuringly with a wink, "I can be very charming."

"I'm sure," Elena laughed. She snuggled closer to Damon on the old quilt and stared up at the glittering sky. This was definitely one of her favorite moments ever. "We've come a long way." She said to no one in particular.

Damon pondered what she said, "Yeah, and every step was worth it." The words had already left his mouth before he realized how corny he sounded. Was he turning into Stefan? Or was he like this because it's Elena? He couldn't remember the last time he had a relationship with anyone. The closest he'd ever come to love was with Katherine, but Katherine was juggling both him and Stefan at the same time, so that couldn't really be counted as a relationship, could it? That meant that what he had with Elena right now was the first relationship he's ever been in all his life. And all his death.

"I'm thankful for the fake spell." Elena said, and meaning it too.

"Remind me to send Bonnie a fruit basket for that." Damon chuckled lowly.

"I love you." She said again.

It wasn't the first time he'd heard this, but he was surprised all the same, "I love you too." He replied quickly, feeling like he's been hugged inside out.

Elena smiled and closed her eyes, finally falling into a deep asleep on Damon's shoulder.

Damon watched her as her breathing slowed. He hugged her tighter. He loved her so much that those three words could not express his feelings. It all seemed very unreal to him. He was with Elena. Elena. And it wasn't a dream, it was all real.

Elena

When Elena woke up the next morning, she found herself safe and sound in her own bed, and the old quilt folded neatly at the foot of her bed. She smiled as recollections of last night's events played before her eyes.

Humming joyously, she pushed the bathroom door open to find Jeremy rinsing.

"Oh, sorry," She apologized quickly.

"Yeah, no prob," Jeremy replied. Then he caught her reflection in the mirror. She looked like she hadn't slept all night. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes looked a little blood-shot. But the weirdest thing was she was practically glowing. She was beaming at him, and she looked beautiful; dark circles and all.

"Somebody's in a good mood," Jeremy raised his eyebrow at her.

Elena laughed, her laughter bouncing off the walls, "Yeah, I suppose I am."

"What, good dream?"

"Something like that." Elena replied mysteriously and said no more as she backed out of the bathroom.

The whole day went by perfectly. She couldn't stop smiling at everyone, and she was in such a good mood that it felt like nothing could bring her down. There was a surprise quiz in History, but that did not affect her at all, instead, she did fairly well in it. Both Caroline and Bonnie were afraid how she'd react, since they didn't know what happened after she left the Boarding House to find Damon, but upon seeing her bright smile, they knew everything worked out fine.

Caroline was happy for her (and just a tad jealous she was so happy), but Bonnie was a little doubtful. Elena didn't blame her. It was going to be hard to get Bonnie to accept the fact that they were a couple now, but she was sure Bonnie would come around.

The only setback to this would-have-been perfect day was when Stefan pulled her away as soon as school was over to talk to her.

"Elena," He said seriously.

Elena looked up at him. He looked even worse than she did, which was hard because he was a vampire. But he looked so tired that she was afraid he would fall asleep talking to her.

"Elena, are you happy with him?" He asked. His voice was desperate, as if wishing for her to answer that she wasn't.

"I am." She replied truthfully, "I'm sorry, Stefan."

He shook his head, "Don't be." He slurred his words, "It's not your fault. I don't blame you."

The way he said it made Elena think there was something more. "Are you blaming Damon?" She asked quietly.

Stefan said nothing.

"Stefan, that's not fair," Elena said, "He didn't ask for this."

"If he hadn't asked Bonnie to cast the spell in the first place…"

"But there was no spell," Elena said hastily, "We just assumed there was."

Stefan looked at her sadly, "Yes, but if that spell didn't happen, maybe we'd still be…together." He finished with a sigh.

"Some things happen for a reason, Stefan," Elena replied gently.

Stefan nodded. He stared into Elena's eyes for a long time before pulling her into a friendly hug, "Well, if you're happy, I'm happy for you." He said and caressed her face before pressing a soft kiss on her smooth cheek.

Damon

Across the pavement from Stefan and Elena, Damon watched in horror as his little brother kissed Elena. They were wrapped in a tight embrace, which looked suspiciously like they were making out.

He felt like swearing. He felt like rushing over there and throw Stefan across the road. He was so angry and so hurt that his hands were shaking. Elena wouldn't do that, would she? She was no Katherine; she couldn't possibly want to be with the both of them.

He whirled around and got back into his car. So much for his plan to surprise Elena by showing up and taking her out for dinner. He was fuming as he started the engine and drove away, catching another glimpse of Stefan and Elena pressed together in the rear view mirror.

Suddenly, all the reasons that he refrained from relationships, especially monogamous ones, came rushing back to him. He closed his heart after Katherine because he never wanted another experience like that. He closed his heart to protect it, and for 145 years, it had worked too. Falling in love with Elena wasn't planned, it was just something that happened which he couldn't explain.

For nearly a year, he was frustrated with himself for loving again, but he couldn't help it. He sank deeper and deeper. Yet she was Stefan's girlfriend. Even though she's with him now, she was Stefan's ex-girlfriend.

Would she seriously choose him over Stefan? He remembered all he'd done to her and that wouldn't be forgiven easily. But last night was so…magical. She wouldn't be thinking about getting back together with Stefan, would she? This was Elena. One of the many qualities she had was loyalty.

Maybe she just needed time to get used to the idea of him. He comforted himself. Maybe old habits die hard. Maybe a kiss on the lips doesn't necessarily mean anything. Maybe…

He shook his head.

Maybe it was just too hard for her to love someone like, well, like him.

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So close to the ending! :) I can't believe I'm about to finish this. We have exams next week, so again, I'm busy. Sorry about the delay!

I already came up with the ending. I hope all of you read it and like it!

Please REVIEW! And if you want, add me to your author alert so you can read my next story coming as soon as I finish this one. :P