Elena's POV

The bar that Caroline takes me too is jam-packed and unlike anywhere I've been before. A huge dance floor with pounding music and dark lighting, and a long glass bar lit from underneath. It's amazing looking and I can feel myself getting more excited by the second. Caroline is quick to compel the bouncer into thinking we're both 21 and once that's out of the way, we're home free.

I'm experiencing the music in a way I never have before, like it's literally moving through my body. It's incredible. I need this night more then I realized before. Ever since things with Stefan had taken a pause, I'd been thinking through my entire relationship with him, beginning to end. And, because I can't seem to not, I compare it with my relationship with Damon. Start to finish.

There are differences in them that I'm not too quick to point out, but I know they're there. For instance, while Damon is crazy, he's never lost control around me or hurt me. I can't say the same for Stefan. Damon is always honest with me, even when I don't want to hear it. Stefan is...not. It's hard for me to look at him the same way sometimes.

Some nights I just remember the gym on prank night. The way he viciously attacked me was unlike anything I'd experienced before. It may be the most horrifying memory I have. I didn't let Damon take it away, but sometimes I wish I had.

"Two shots of patron, please," Carline says, getting the bartenders attention immediately. We do look pretty amazing.

"Aren't those kind of expensive?" I ask, my voice unintentionally incredulous. Caroline's mouth stretches into a wide grin.

"They don't have to be," she says, nodding towards the bartender. I can feel myself start to smile, but I shake my head, too scared to do it. What if I ruin this guy's life just by compelling him?

"Elena, not all things are life and death. Some decisions can just be about fun," Caroline says, moving over so I can come closer to the bar. I absorb what she says and take the opportunity. I haven't gotten to use my new vampire status in very many fun ways, and tonight is as good a night as any to start. I square my shoulders and prepare myself. When the guy comes back and sets down our shots, I put my hand on his arm, stilling him instantly.

"These are free, thank you," I say with conviction, making sure to believe it. His eyes dilate and shift, and I know I've been successful. He smiles and walks away to tend to other customers. I feel victorious, triumphant—and I love it.

That's another thing. When I fed at the frat house Damon was happy for me. He was proud of me and glad to help. Stefan just seemed so ashamed of me, like his way is the only way to do it. I can't live with those restrictions. The guilt will eat me alive.

"To being friends, literally, forever," she says, raising my shot glass to tap mine. I smile and tap hers with mine. We take the shots easily and get refills. A couple, refills. When a good song comes on we make our way to the dance floor without ever agreeing to. We find a good spot and let the music move us. The alcohol keeps me from getting too hungry, but I can still feel a burn in the back of my throat like I want blood. But I always want blood.

"This is really fun, Caroline. I'm glad you suggested it," I say, giggling and smiling wider then I have in a while. Maybe it's the alcohol in my system, but I feel good—happy—like maybe there is something good about being a vampire. Before Caroline can respond two guys walk up next to us. That's when it dawns on me that we're both single at the same time.

The guys are fairly attractive, but with dark brown hair. Neither of them are as attractive as Damon.

Why would you think that? I think, shaking the thought from my head. They offer shots to Caroline and I and we take them graciously.

"Ladies night?" he asks conversationally, giving me a suave smile. His friend is scoping Caroline hard. Caroline giggles and raises her shot glass before downing it easily.

"You could say that," she says, winking at me when she catches my eye.

I smirk, feeling the hunter instinct rise up in me. I can't fight it, but for once I don't feel like I have to. Caroline is embracing it and she's still an in-control person. Damon feeds this way all the time and there's nothing wrong with that...right?

"You guys are hot, I'm sorry. I just had to say it," the one who's scoping Caroline says.

We both laugh like we're flattered when really I'm thinking how this guy survives in the real world with lines like that. Caroline nudges me with her elbow so quickly they probably don't notice.

"We're going to step off to the restroom. Will you gentlemen save our seats?" Caroline asks, gesturing to the stools we were occupying.

"As long as you repay us with a dance," the guy says, holding eye contact with me longer than necessary.

"Absolutely," I say. I give him a flirtatious smile, enjoying the game of it all. I feel wrong about it suddenly, but then Caroline is tugging me with her to the bathroom. Once she's sure no one's in there with us she locks the main door and turns towards me.

"This is a prime opportunity, but we won't take it if you're not comfortable," she says, giving me an encouraging smile. I try to remember the things Caroline has told me, and what Damon has said too. I can do this and still be a good person. It's possible.

I don't want blood to own me. I want to control my needs and I can't do that if I don't try.

"Where should we take them?" I ask, not sure how we're going to pull it off. Caroline's smile widens and she arranges her hair carefully in the mirror. It looks fine, I think she's fussing with it out of habit.

"We tell them we're going out to the car for a smoke. They'll probably come with, and if not we just compel them. It's easy as that," she says, her voice so calm and matter of fact. She has the sense of confidence that I want to have about my feeding habits one day. I try to embody her, mimic how comfortable she is with herself and square my shoulders.

Stefan will be disappointed in you, I start to think, but I squash the thought instantly

I don't care that he'll be disappointed in me. By doing this I'm saving myself from being disappointed in my choices for the rest of my immortal existence. If he can't respect that then fine.

We walk back out, and Caroline does the talking to get them to follow us to the car—they weren't resistant. Our car is parked around the back—since we're not exactly fragile there was no need to park in perfect lighting. I do wonder whether Caroline purposefully parked in such a secluded area though.

"You girls ought to be careful parking somewhere so separated," one of the guys says as we walk. I giggle and toss my hair like a ditzy girl that needs protection—I can tell that's what he's hoping for. I'm enjoying the lie I'm letting him believe.

"Well that's why we brought you strong guys to protect us," Caroline says, luring them closer to the car and further into the shadows easily. The guy who's been scoping her the whole night is close behind. I walk to the passenger side, taking the guys hand and trailing it behind me. We're not fully consumed in shadows and he puts his hands on my hips. I can feel him leaning forward, his mouth searching for mine.

I push him, his back making a hollow sound when it hits the car. He looks at me, surprised by my strength, but then smiles like it excites him. I'm wearing a seductive smile, and not because I'm forcing it. The hunt is making me feel sexy. I don't want to admit it, but it feels good.

Next I make sure to lock his eyes with mine, mustering conviction to pour into the following words.

"Don't scream. This isn't going to hurt. You'll like it," I say, believing it with every ounce of my being. His face is in a soft smile, and the way his pupils pulsed makes me pretty sure I am successful in my attempt to compel him.

I sink my teeth through his throat easily, gliding through softer then I ever imagined they would before I turned. I let the blood course over my tongue, washing the burn from my throat and making my muscles feel replenished. I feel incredible. Strong. Blood drunk is a real thing, and I'm getting a strong buzz. I'm assaulted by a memory that makes my stomach stir.

"Try it again," Damon said, gesturing to where I sat across from some poor human girl. Damon had compelled her into helping me learn how to effectively compel someone. She was sitting in front of me attentively, her face open and waiting for my command. She hadn't been hurt in any way.

"Damon I've tried it twenty times," I said, feeling the anger boil up. I got up and started pacing angrily, my hands on my hips. My emotions were raging and I didn't know how to control it. When I turned to complete my pace I ran into Damon's chest. His glacial eyes had mine pinned and I couldn't move away.

Not even if I had wanted to.

"Elena, you have to believe it. Every fiber of your being has to be invested in what you're saying. If you want them to feel sad then get sad, if you want them to feel happiness, be happy. If you want them to feel passion," he said. That word from his mouth sounded like a sin. It rolled, like it would wrap around any willing participant.

"Then you embody passion."

I had almost forgotten that he was finishing a sentence, I was so awed by him. His eyes were piercing through mine and when he finally nodded to the girl sitting on the couch it took all my power to pull myself back to the task at hand.

I had gotten it down the next try.

I cut through the distractions and focus on his pulse, stopping as soon as I hear it slow.

Caroline has told me that I can go longer without causing damage, but it makes me too nervous. I get a tissue out of the car and wipe the blood off his throat, buttoning his shirt up the rest of the way. I bit low so that it wouldn't be visible when I'm through. I'm glad I thought ahead.

The guy who followed Caroline out here comes wandering up from the other side of the car, and they both go back inside in a daze. I'm standing next to the car smiling broadly. I want to celebrate the fact that I successfully fed, but it almost seems foolish to do so.

"You did great! A total natural," Caroline says, her voice ecstatic and her blue eyes wearing the same blood drunk glaze as mine. I want to tell Damon—I know he'd be proud of me. I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket and start composing a text to Damon. I'm drunk on both alcohol and blood and I might regret this later, but right now I want someone to be happy with me.

"Who are you texting?" Caroline asks, a softness to her face that makes me think she already knows.

"I was just going to tell Damon how successful I was," I say with an innocent smile. She grins widely and I know she isn't judging me. Caroline and I have been friends for so long, and now we'll be friends forever.

"Are you going to tell Stefan?" she asks, a hint of seriousness to her voice.

I haven't thought that far ahead. I can't imagine talking to him now. He's a liar, and I can't live the way he wants me to. If he can't accept that about me, then it's his loss.

"Uh, not yet..." I say, letting my voice trail off. I'm chewing my bottom lip, waiting for her to start in with a lecture or something but nothing happens. Instead she smiles and kind of nods like she understands. I hit send and hear the bleeping of a phone. It's too close together to be a coincidence. I turn towards the sound and my mouth drops open in surprise. I hear Caroline practically squeak next to me.

"Am I being summoned?" Damon asks, pulling his phone from his pocket with a smirk.

"How the...what are you doing here?" I ask, my words spilling out. I realize I have a huge grin on my face and I tame it a little—it's not gone though.

"You boob dialed me about three times. I finally just tracked your phone," he says with a shrug.

"Boob dial?" Caroline asks with a scoff. How did he know I'm keeping my phone in my bra?

"Oh yeah, it sent pictures. Lots of 'em," Damon says, his voice that sarcastic kind of playful. I roll my eyes, knowing that can't possibly be true—I'm also having a mini panic attack.

Klaus appears next to Damon, practically coming out of the darkness.

Hah, isn't that fitting? I think to myself. I can feel Caroline stiffen next to me.

"Well, what do we have here?" he asks, his lips pulling into a smile. It almost looks genuine.

"Uh..." Caroline is at a loss for words. This must be a first.

I have a feeling that things are about to get...strange.

A/N: A small Delena segment for you guys! Reviews would be HIGHLY appreciated because I have no idea how this is going right now. First TVD fanfic and I'm a little nervous. Anyway, more fun to be had next chapter! 3