A/N: Hello again! I would just like to dedicate this chapter to Siberia21 for the lovely review I received! I was having a bitch of a week and that review completely turned it around. I would love to thank all my fave/story alerters and other reviewers as well- you guys are the bomb really! No need to tell you how much you all mean to me! Now on with the show!

Chapter 4

I awoke early the next morning to the incessant buzzing of my alarm clock which read 6:45 am. I realised that I must have set it by mistake as I didn't have school until tomorrow. I yawned widely before deciding that I couldn't sleep any longer and flung my covers off me. The cool air hit my pyjama clad legs and shivered slightly remembering the wind whipping through my hair as Elijah carried me on his back. Elijah. I shook my head furiously, having decided the previous night that I would have an Elijah-free day. 'Yeah, good luck with that,' my traitorous brain reminded me, 'it's not yet seven am and you're already thinking about him!' I stood up and looked around to see a mound of tissues forming on my bedside table. They must have been from my epic sobbing session last night! I decided that if I was really serious about having a day away from him, this house was not what I needed. Everywhere I turned there was some reminder of his presence. I quickly got dressed into denim shorts and a white singlet top with silver chains and brushed my slightly wavy hair before practically running out of my bedroom. I had not gotten five steps out of my house before my phone began to ring.

"Hello?" I answered. Who calls at seven in the morning?

"Elena! So glad you picked up. I was just heading for an early breakfast and was hoping you would join me?" Caroline giggled and I heard a bush rustle a few feet away.

"Care, how did you know I was awake? And who eats breakfast at this time anyway?" I laughed as I heard a sigh on the other end before glancing over at the bush to find my best friend emerging from it. I laughed into the phone as I saw her trying to pick leaves out of her hair. I hung up and walked across the road to meet her.

"If you must know I was stalking you! I haven't heard from you since yesterday! Did you get my note?" Caroline questioned while sloppily pulling herself out of the shrub's tangles. I shuddered slightly, thinking about how foolish I was to not expect an interrogation. She looked at me expectantly and I found my throat dry. I nodded profusely, hoping she'd get the message.

"Elena are you alright? Oh, wait, stupid question, of course you're not! If you were then I wouldn't have left you that note concerning Elijah," I looked up sharply at the mention of his name and watched Caroline smirk, having received the reaction she wanted. I huffed at her and she steered me in a different direction.

"Well if you must know, I'm not okay. And yes, Elijah has played some part in this but that's to be expected! I was kidnapped for god sakes!" I sighed and averted my eyes knowing that if I looked at her, she would find the truth behind my eyes.

"See I think it's something else entirely." I could feel her radiating happiness as she knew she was right. She was never wrong.

"Caroline, can we not talk about it here please?" I murmured, my voice braking faintly.

"Alright then" She then proceeded to hoist me onto her back and run off at the speed of light. By then I had reached braking point and proceeded to weep in my friend's arms, with her not knowing it was another pair I craved. She set me down gently sometime later and handed me a tissue to dry my eyes. This only made me think about last night even more and as I slid the tissue around the area where his lips had brushed my skin I erupted in another bout of tears. I hadn't yet noticed where we were, I only felt a pair of strong arms literally lifting me onto a picnic blanket and a muesli bar being shoved into my hand. Caroline rubbed soothing patterns into my back until I calmed down. She then proceeded to sit opposite me and stare at me. Hard.

"Explanation please!" She demanded. I cringed at her tone. I decided to just bit the bullet and get it over with.

"Well, ever since a while ago I've been having these dreams about Elijah. Dreams I shouldn't be having because I love Stefan and you know that right?" She nodded and I noted dismally that the more I said that the less it meant anything. "So Jenna invited me to this Historical Society event last night and he was there. Anyway a lot of stuff went on and we basically made an agreement that I can't go anywhere without anyone and to stay put while he finds Klaus to kill him." I conveniently left out the part about my safety eventually being at risk but I couldn't bring myself to care about that now-I had bigger issues.

"Okay, so you made a deal with the devil that will keep you safe. That's nothing new considering who you are, Elena." Caroline smiled and I took a shaky breath before continuing.

"Anyway once that was over he lead me onto the dance floor basically demanded that I dance with him," Lies, lies and more lies. "And he ended up kissing me on the cheek at the end!" I said the last part rather quickly and quietly but Caroline was a vampire and I know she heard every word by the stunned look on her face as I finished. I tentatively looked around and saw that we were in a park of some kind, and that my muesli bar had chocolate chips in it.

"So wait, you have feelings for Elijah?" She asked, slightly taken back. I nodded again, not trusting my voice. Unfortunately it seemed I couldn't control it today as I slipped out:

"And the worst part is he didn't even kiss me properly!" I then promptly gasped and settled my head between my legs, blushing furiously and hearing Caroline's laughter.

"Oh, you got it bad girl!" She chuckled again and I looked up.

"This isn't funny, Caroline! I love Stefan-"

"Do you?" She cuts me off. "Do you love Stefan? Because I'm pretty sure if you loved Stefan so much you wouldn't be developing feelings for Elijah." I hated to admit it, but she had a point.

"Caroline, don't you get it? I would do anything for Stefan, but I feel like I would give myself over, body and soul to Elijah, just based on a few dreams and touches and I'm not normally that kind of girl! Not to mention he's the enemy-"

"Is he?" Caroline cut me off again, through a mouthful of apple. "I mean, do we know he's the bad guy?"

"Well, no, we don't, but that's not the point. Stefan and this absurd situation where I am falling in love with a man who tried to kidnap me is the point!"

"Aha!" Caroline cried, spotting apple everywhere. "I knew it! You love Stefan but you're falling harder for Elijah!"

"I don't know, Care, I just don't-oh my god!" I looked over Caroline's shoulder, aghast. Surely it couldn't be? The fates wouldn't be so cruel!

"Yoo-hoo, Elijah? Come over here!" Caroline called and I watched hopelessly as he strode over to where we sat. He bent down calmly so to be at Caroline's level.

"Miss Forbes, I believe? What can I do for you?" He smiled slightly as if amused by the whole situation. I was glad somebody was-I was traumatised.

"Actually it's what I can do for you!" Caroline replied with her usual charm and you could tell Elijah was really amused now. "I just heard from Elena that you negotiated an agreement regarding her safety and I was wondering who else that applied to?" Elijah looked momentarily taken back before putting on his business face.

"Well, I shall apply my protection to whomever Elena deems deserving of it. You, of course, will be on that list but I must ask you not to speak a word of it to anyone else." Caroline nodded fervently and I began to ponder the new terms of our deal. "Was there anything else you needed? A ride home, perhaps?" I would probably laugh at how awful that sounded if it was anyone else than the all-powerful original.

"Actually I have to dash, but would you mind giving Elena a lift back? Considering she doesn't actually know where she is it would be a little difficult for her to walk home." I stood there with my mouth open like a fish. Caroline you evil, evil vampire! You make Damon look like a rabbit! Elijah turned to me before uttering:

"I would be honoured." I took his outstretched hand and tried my hardest to ignore the tingle that shot up my spin at the contact. Caroline was gone by the time I regained use of my senses and Elijah was already leading me towards his car-A zenith blue Porsche Carrera. For someone with such a plain manner he sure did like fancy cars! As I was about to climb into the passenger seat Elijah spoke.

"Miss Forbes asked some strange questions before. I was wondering why she didn't ask the most obvious question." He turned towards me and I shuddered from the intensity I found in his rich brown eyes.

"What's the most obvious question?"

"What does he want?" All of a sudden I heard a colossal shout from the other side of the park and I whipped around to face the source of the racquet. I felt my hair hit Elijah in the chest and that's when I realised how close we had been standing. Odd, I hadn't even noticed myself moving forward. I promptly found Damon in my line of sight and all thoughts of nearness were vanished from my mind.

'Oi, what are you doing with Elijah? Are you insane?" Damon yelled, disturbing some birds nearby.

"I don't believe that is any of your business, Damon." I replied, coolly, before Elijah could get a word in. Damon glared down at me.

"Well I do believe that your safety is my business, Elena, especially after this man tried to kill you not weeks ago!" He looked really angry and I silently cursed Caroline for leaving me in the first place.

"Correction, I was never going to kill her, I only wanted to see her safe. We have reached an agreement now, which states-"Elijah never got to finish as Damon reared up again.

"Agreement? You struck up an agreement for your safety with the original vampire concerning his brother? Are you crazy Elena? He wants to kill you! Am I the only one around here who can see that?" He looked around wildly, thrashing his hands in the air in a deranged manner. I was almost frightened.

"Damon if you just shut up I will tell you what the damned deal states. We've agreed to-"

"Oh no, you don't! You are coming home with me right now Elena. We are taking this to Saint Stefan and we will see if he agrees with me! It was nice seeing you again, Elijah. Now piss off!" He grabbed my hand forcefully but not before I dropped my phone and my wallet at Elijah's feet, cursing and attempting to kick Damon. As he opened his car door I pulled the seat forward and sat in the backseat where I couldn't see his face. I knew I was being childish but right now I couldn't bring myself to care!

"You're an ass!" I yelled as he buckled his seatbelt. He smirked at me from behind the wheel, tilting his rear-view mirror so he could see me.

"Well you're the endangered doppelganger, so I guess that puts us both up shit creek without a paddle!" He then slammed his foot down on the accelerator and raced down the road in a huff.

A/N: Don't you just love Damon? R&R