A/N: Hello! Sorry I haven't been online in a while, I've been traveling overseas to stay with my dad for the summer, but now that I'm here and have settled in, we can get back to business.

Thank you for the reviews! I'm so grateful to all of you who read and favourite and follow.

Happy reading! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries. All rights belong to L.J. Smith and the CW.

xxxxx

Chapter 5:

This isn't working. This just really isn't working.

Damon is two seconds away from burning this canvas. Seriously, the thing's been haunting him forever and he can't believe he hasn't thought of a single thing to paint. Not one. He's convinced there's something wrong with his brain, because it's never taken this long to find his inspiration for a piece. But this time feels different, and he's not sure how.

Sighing, Damon places his brush down and takes a seat in the recliner across from the empty fireplace. He doesn't get it. How can he not have any ideas? He has everything he needs. His cottage, his peanubutter and honey sandwiches and even the old radio's on, playing the usual tunes. His mind's got to be playing some kind of trick on him - giving him some kind of mental test.

"Ugh," he mutters under his breath.

He stands and wanders into the bedroom, freezing just inside the doorway. This is where he'd met Elena.

His eyes land on the dresser, and he walks to it, running his fingers across the picture frames on top. He smiles at the photo in the middle, the one that Elena had seemed to think stuck out more than the others. It's funny, because it's Damon's favourite too.

"I miss you," he whispers out loud. He''s not yet sure who he's saying it to.

xxxxx

Elena wakes up pleasantly warm and cozy in bed. She feels like a big cuddly blanket, with her head on a cloud and arms wrapped safely around her-

Arms?

She jolts and sits straight up, her heart pounding furiously in her chest. A second goes by before she hears the low rumble of laughter beside her and she twists around, eyeing the space beside her that had been unoccupied last time she'd checked.

"What do you want?" she snaps, scowling at the smug grin on Mason's face. He's tracing the shape of her body with his eyes, lingering on the bits of skin that are uncovered. It makes Elena shudder.

"I came in to wake you earlier," he tells her, crossing his arms behind his head. "You just looked so peaceful, I couldn't resist lying down beside you."

"Right, because ruining people's peace is what you're good at."

"Now, now." Elena feels the bed shift in weight and she shoots Mason a glare as he sits up and pats her back gently. "We're making the announcement today, so you have half an hour to make yourself presentable."

"Announcement?" she repeats, confusion written over her features.

"Sweetheart, the town still thinks you're dead."

Maybe it should stay that way. "Oh."

"Mhmm, so-," Mason stands from the bed and fixes the collar of his too-expensive-to-be-worth-buying dress shirt, "-be ready."

He leaves the room. Elena immediately bolts to the closet, searching for a large duffle bag. There's no way in hell she's staying here. She'd thought she could take this - being here again- but it's proven to be the worst idea she's ever had. If that announcement is made, she'll have to start making appearances again, and be dragged to important events and meetings with Mason. She doesn't want that, doesn't want this life anymore. It's bad enough she's had to deal with all of his shit for who-knows-how-many years, but Bonnie's experienced his wrath as well, and she-

"Bonnie," Elena whispers, freezing her actions. If she's getting out of here, Bonnie is too. It would be unfair and downright cruel to leave her here when they both have a chance to escape. If everything goes right, they can both live happier lives. Elena has no time to think about the possible consequences of being caught trying to leave again.

She cracks open the bedroom door and peers out into the hallway. It's quiet. She fist-pumps the air as she steps out, remembering to tip-toe since her bare feet usually stick to the marble flooring otherwise. On her way to Bonnie's room, she catches the sound of a voice coming from the master bedroom, and Elena realizes Mason's left the door open after he'd walked in.

She gets closer, leans her head against the wall by the doorjamb.

"Of course she won't know about this, dear," she hears. "'Lena's as brainless as a rock, she wouldn't find out about us if our videotape hit her straight in the face."

Elena stumbles back, her mind not quite grasping the information it has just received. Mason's cheated on her. Cheated.

She can't believe she'd never seen this coming. It's only the next step in tearing them apart altogether, and it's not like he's ever shown he truly cares anymore. This is simply the icing on the cake.

Elena shakes her head and steps away from the wall, quickly running to Bonnie's door as to not draw Mason's attention. She peers inside and finds that Bonnie isn't there, so she heads for the staircase instead. Halfway down, something tickles her chin and she reaches up, only to discover it's wet and she's started crying, again.

A strangled noise emits from her throat and suddenly she can't breathe, and she's willing herself not to choke out the sobs that are clogging her chest. She runs into the kitchen and thankfully spots Bonnie there, wiping the countertop with a Swiffer cloth.

"B-Bonnie," she says brokenly, trying to catch her breath.

The woman looks up at her and gasps, hurrying to hold Elena together before she crumbles completely. She's ushered into the walk-in pantry as the door's locked behind them and a lightbulb flickers on above their heads.

"My god," Bonnie cries, petting Elena's hair softly and wiping her tears, "what's he done to you?"

"H-he's ch-cheated," she heaves, exhaling heavily in attempts to control her lungs. "He's cheated and I-I don't even know how long it's been going on for."

"Oh dear..."

"I j-just don't know what to d-do anymore, he's-"

"He's an ass," Bonnie concludes, and just by the way she says it so calmly and straight-forward, Elena bursts out laughing.

"Now hear this," she murmurs, tucking a strand of hair behind Elena's ear. "Men are rats. Listen, they're fleas on rats. Worse than that, they're amoebas on fleas on rats." She smiles warmly. "I mean, they're too low for even the dogs to bite."

Elena giggles, sniffling quietly. "You remembered my favourite quote."

"Of course I did!" Bonnie says brightly, mocking offense. "We only watched the movie about a hundred times."

They both share a laugh, before Elena sighs and fiddles her thumbs in thought.

"Bon," she says, "I really don't know what to do anymore."

"Run."

She stares wide-eyed. "What?"

"Run," Bonnie encourages. "Do what you need to do and get out of here. You deserve more than this."

"If I'm getting out of here, so are you."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are! I'm not leaving you!"

"'Lena," Bonnie chides, frowning. "I'll be fine. I want you to get out of here and live your life. I'll get out when the time is right."

There's hesitancy in Elena's eyes, but they glow in a blend of gratitude and love. "You promise?" she whispers, grabbing Bonnie's hand to squeeze.

The woman nods and lets out a laugh, sniffling as a lone teardrop drops to the floor. "I promise."

xxxxx

A/N: So... Mason's a total jackass, if you haven't picked that up yet. I liked his character in the show a little I guess, but somehow I felt like there was this other side to him that was darker. I dunno, maybe it's just me. I'm kind of strange.

Anyway, hope it was okay! Next chapter's the last, and very short like this one. But it's totally worth it (I hope). :)

Love you! xx