I apologize for my long absence, when I lost everything I wrote before I couldn't write anything that would match up to the original chapters. However, I will finish this story even if it kills me. I would like to thank the amazing Tottyo7 for inspiring me to continue as well as agreeing to be my beta. Make sure to check out some of their stories they are brilliant.
I pull up to the Gilbert house and Jeremy immediately gets out. Before I get out of the car as well, I reach into the glove compartment and bring out a vial of Vervain. I pour a drop into my stab wound so that it will stay open. I cannot help but hiss slightly as it burns my wound, I quickly put it back before joining Jeremy.
Once I'm out of the car I make my way up the steps as Jeremy runs ahead, he begins pounding on the door loudly until it is opened by Miranda Gilbert. She looks at her son and then when I reach the top of the steps, she glances at me, taking in my dishevelled appearance.
"My dear Lord! What has happened to you Damon?" she gasps in shock.
"It was Mason Lockwood, mom. He stabbed Damon in the shoulder with a knife. He needs medical help, but he didn't want to go to a hospital." Little Gilbert explains. Her face turns stone hard, and yet not a single ounce of surprise when Mason's name is mentioned.
"I see. Come inside you too. Honey!" she calls out, making room for us to come in. I watch by the foot of the stairs as Grayson comes out of a room from upstairs and into my view.
"What is it Miranda dear?" he says bounding down the stairs, midway down his eyes find me and his expression softens. "Mr Salvatore what can I do for you?" he asks in a calm voice as he reaches the bottom of the stairs.
"Grayson, Mason Lockwood has attacked Damon here with a knife." Miranda begins to explain in a hurried and slightly panicky voice.
"HE DID WHAT!" Grayson yells in outrage, his face turning beet red and his eyes widening.
"I've had worse Mr Gilbert but, Jeremy here saw what happened and said you could help since I don't want to go to the hospital," I elaborate trying to make my voice slightly shaky as if the wound is hurting me, but still quelling his anger at the same time.
"Of course, anything. Please go sit down on a chair in the kitchen and I'll bring out the necessary equipment to patch you up." he tells me gesturing to the kitchen, Jeremy leads me through.
"Do you want anything to drink?" Jeremy asks politely
"Just a glass of water would be good." I answer giving him a smile as I take my seat on the chair, he places a glass in front of me and I take a sip as Grayson comes in. He places a kit down on the table and pulls up another chair opposite to my own.
"Jeremy, go to your room and take a shower, I need you up early tomorrow," Miranda says to her son sternly.
"What for? I haven't done anything." he complains flapping his arms around like an immature child.
"I never said you did, but I want to go see Elena in the morning and there's a chance she could come home as well." she explains to her son and he nods his head in understanding.
"Thanks Damon, get better, alright." he says to me as he walks out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his room. It's then that Miranda turns to me with her arms folded and a quizzical look on her face. Oh great.
"So Damon would you care to explain why Mason Lockwood stabbed you, why my son has brought you here and why you have not gone straight to a hospital." she questions me with a judgemental frown on her face.
"Mason invited me to a party by the falls and I went, simply because I thought it would be a good opportunity to put to rest any remaining tension between us. However, I went only to find out that him and his friends were armed with crow bars, baseball bats, and knives so that they could beat me up. From my understanding Mason doesn't like me because of the budding friendship between Elena and myself. Jeremy just so happened to be hanging around the falls. He told me he was thinking and likes to go there sometimes, I don't know, but he saw the whole thing and then helped me. Finally, to answer your last question I have had a phobia of hospitals since my mother died so I try to steer clear of them. I do believe it's called nosocomephobia," I explain letting the lies roll off my tongue so easily. Well some of them were truths anyway.
"Oh my word, he did all that?" Grayson asks with a shocked expression, the shock is evident in his voice.
"Yes, it has come to my attention that Mason is extremely possessive of your daughter, and that's fine however, sometimes it comes across like he's controlling her. In all fairness I worry for her. I apologise if it is not my place, Mr and Mrs Gilbert, but I feel the need to express my concern to you as you are her parents and that kind of relationship for a young girl, such as Elena, seems unhealthy." I explain in a soft voice trying to help them understand how he is manipulating their daughter but in a subtle way.
"No, no thank you Damon for telling us, I knew he was protective of her but to the extent that he would organise an attack on you is absolutely ridiculous. In fact he should be thanking you for saving her life as the rest of us are." he tells me in a completely empathetic tone. "Anyway I need to start on this wound. Would you mind taking off your shirt, please?" he asks me suddenly, getting to business straight away. I remove my shirt with my uninjured arm and feign a wince as I did so.
He comes closer to me and starts to lightly touch the wound and observe, I make myself breathe unevenly and heavily to show human discomfort.
"Good news is that it is not too severe and should heal nicely once stitched up. Bad news is that because of your phobia I will need to clean and stitch up the wound myself and, the only pain killers I have are aspirin." Grayson tells me.
"Thanks Doc, I'm sure I can take it, I have gotten worse wounds in the army." I tell him and he nods at me before beginning to clean the wound. Soon after he begins stitching it up and I have to add a few grimaces here and there to pass it off that I am in pain. He begins making idle chit chat as a way to distract me from the 'pain'. Before long he dresses my wound and then we are done.
"There you go, all patched up." he says in a lighter tone.
"Thank you Mr Gilbert,"
"Please my name is Grayson you don't have to address me so formerly now." he tells me with a smile.
"Would you like a cup of tea or a coffee?" Miranda asks me
"Yes please a coffee would be lovely and, thank you Grayson for helping me at such an ungodly hour, it really is appreciated." I tell him expressing my gratitude.
"I'll be honest with you Damon, I didn't like you at first but it has come to my attention that you are a good man. You fixed my daughters car, you help us with the vervain and you saved her life. If there is anything I can ever do for you please do not hesitate to ask." he confesses and I feel slightly guilty because, he wouldn't think I was such a good man if he knew what I am. Let alone if he knew the fantasies I have of his very attractive and very underage daughter.
"There's no need. You have just patched me up Doc." I laugh and he joins in too.
"Damon, Elena wouldn't even be breathing right now if it weren't for you and no amount of patched up wounds will ever amount to that." he sincerely explains and I smile genuinely back at him.
"I dropped off the vervain to Carol Lockwood's this morning. Elena did a good job sorting them. How is she by the way?" I ask wanting to know that she is fine. I haven't had time to fully worry about how she's doing but suddenly it hits me that she could be severely injured even though I saved her.
"She is doing well there isn't any effects on her organs and she hasn't shown any signs of hypothermia. I think she will be released tomorrow." he informs me as Miranda places hot cups of coffee in front of us and takes her own seat across from me. I let out a soft sigh of relief, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I know she will be fine.
"Yes I need to make sure Jeremy gets out of bed tomorrow." Miranda adds in.
"So she doesn't have any injuries?" I inquire.
"Besides a few broken ribs and some bruising no." Miranda answers while nursing her cup, I take a sip of my own coffee.
"That's good to hear. I must say you have raised some brilliant children very bright and intelligent." I say and Miranda beams with pride whilst Grayson huffs.
"Elena is, yes, bless her she tries so hard and I put so much pressure on her, however Jeremy is another story." Grayson says, I can hear the worry in his tone as he speaks of Jeremy.
"How so?" I ask slightly baffled.
"Jeremy skips all of his classes, gets detentions all the time and is hanging around with the wrong crowd." he tells me downheartedly.
"Well actually you will be pleased to know that on the drive here Jeremy and I had a little chat." I say and this makes him perk up a little.
"What sort of a chat?" Miranda asks.
"Jeremy was saying how much he wants to ace history and I just so happen to be a history expert. I said to him that I would lend him a hand and let him use my library." I explain and the amazed look on their faces is priceless.
"Really?" Grayson asks
"Of course, I hardly use the library or the study, at least then it will get some use. But, I did have one condition which he has agreed to," I tell them
"And what's that?" he questions further.
"That he stops smoking pot," I say and they are absolutely gobsmacked.
"You knew?" Miranda asks and I nod in response.
"I could smell it on him, however I think being his study buddy will be beneficial for him because, now he's going to pass history, stop doing drugs and stop hanging around with the wrong crowd." I elaborate in a trustworthy tone. If only they knew what we would really be doing.
"It's beneficial for Jeremy but how is it beneficial to you?" Miranda questions.
"I get to know some more about the youth in the town and can help someone out. To be honest I am quite bored and will be for another few weeks, it will give something to occupy my time with." I explain and she smiles at me like I'm God's gift (which isn't far off).
"You might just be the best thing that's ever happened to this town! You saved Elena's life, you're helping Jeremy and you're helping protect its citizens from Vampires." Miranda exclaims excitedly.
"Well you never know when they're going to come back so we need to be prepared. I'm sure the coffee will taste better with vervain in it, knowing that one of those bloodsuckers can't mess with my mind." I say and they nod in agreement.
"Are you going to press charges against Mason?" Grayson asks inquisitively.
"No, he's only a child and I did put them all flat on the floor to prove a point. I think that's more than enough. Hopefully he has learnt his lesson and won't try to pull another stunt like that again." I explain and he gives me an unsure look.
"Fair enough but you might want to speak with Richard about the whole fiasco, I like the kid and even I think he was way out of line." he voices
"Yes but I am a strong believer in second chances."
After I leave the Gilberts I drive home and park the limo before putting all the tapes into the study and make copies of it. I stash them away securely before going upstairs to wash all the blood off of me and clean up. I get dressed again before sneaking my way into Elena's hospital room.
Her hair is sprawled out onto the pillow, her full lips are slightly ajar as she breathes lightly in her sleep. I step towards her bed and look at all the cards that have been given to her. I read some of them, ones from her parents, Jeremy, her aunt and other members of the town. I sit down on a chair beside her bed and place my head next to hers tiredly. Looking up at her I wonder if this is what I would see if I woke up during the night to her in my arms, by my side, in my bed. I move to touch her soft delicate skin, grazing my hand lightly over her cheek, admiring her beauty. I close my eyes, savouring this moment with her.
"Damon." her sweet voice sings to me and I need to remember to wake up. I peel open my eyes and am surprised to see her chocolate ones looking at me.
"Elena, you're awake." I say gaining my bearings and lifting my head.
"Damon you know visiting hours are over right? How did you get in here?" she questions whilst rubbing her eyes.
"Er, yeah but I wanted to see that you're okay." I explain and a ghost of a smile plants itself on her face.
"Can you help me sit up please?" she asks and I place my hand under her back and help her lift herself up so she can sit. "Thanks, I'm too much of a wimp to sit up myself." she tells me and I just shake my head in disagreement.
"You're injured, not a wimp there's a difference," I tells her and this time she smiles properly.
"Thank you for saving me by the way, I… um… I want to find a way to make it up to you, so if there's anything that comes to mind just say so." she says to me and I honestly can think of many things however, I don't think that it would be very appropriate.
"Well Salvatore does mean saviour in Italian so I'm just living up to my family name." I say with a smirk and she giggles in response.
"So is that why you saved my life?" she asks and I frown, not really wanting to think about why I saved her life.
"No, I saved your life because, your life is worth saving." I tell her calmly and she gives me an odd expression.
"Why do you bother with me?" she asks me and my heart clenches, how could I not bother with her?
"Because princess, you are a beautiful person who is affectionate and tender-hearted. You're selfless and charitable as well as intelligent and motivated." I confess speaking slowly so she can hear every last word.
"You're making me sound perfect." she laughs and I smile genuinely.
"That's because you are." I say and her laughter dies into a silence. Her eyes are looking straight into my own, watching for any signs of dishonesty but she will find none.
"I'm not perfect but I'm working on it." she says before turning away from me. I grab her hand and pull her chin towards me.
"No you're not perfect, because you're naïve and you don't know how to cook, but besides that you pretty much tick the box." I tell her forcing those brown orbs to look into mine.
"That's not what everyone else thinks." she mumbles looking sad as I let go of her, I instantly miss the contact.
"By everyone else, do you mean Mason and his friends?" I ask and she nods a tear escaping her eye. "Hey don't cry over him princess, he is an idiot and I will prove it to you one way or another." I reassure her however, it only seems to worsen her state.
"It's all… m…m… my fault." she stutters and I begin to worry.
"What's all your fault princess?" I query more paranoid now.
"I'm… s… so s… s… sorry Damon. I d…didn't mean too," she sobs, tears freely streaming from her eyes.
"There's nothing to be sorry for I'm sure you haven't done anything," I tell her cupping her face in my palms and her eyes reach mine. It is only then that I see the true sorrow and guilt in them.
"I have, I'm a h… h… horrible person." she weeps and I couldn't disagree more.
"Whoever told you that needs their head kicked in,"
"Damon?"
"Yes Elena?" I return.
"I tried to protect you, I… I really d…d…did but, you wouldn't s… stay away." she tries to explain but I am more confused than ever by her confession. She wasn't supposed to protect me, that's what I'm supposed to be doing for her.
"Protect me from what, princess?"
"From M…M…Mason," she snivels more tears leaving those alluring eyes. My heart turns cold when she speaks his name because I feel as if we've taken 5 steps back. He is still manipulating her and making her feel awful. "He's going to h…h…hurt you, Damon. He's going to hurt you b…b…because of me." she admits and suddenly the pieces fall together. She knew that Mason was going to attack me but what she doesn't know is that he's already tried.
"Hey you, it's going to take more than Mason Lockwood to take me down." I tell her and she smiles for a second before it begins to falter.
"I really tried to keep you away Damon, I never want to see you hurt. Please I'm not worth it." she begs, clasping a hold of my shirt like a scared child.
"Yes you are. You are worth everything, Elena, and I just wish you would see it."
"Please, if you promise never to come near me again or speak to me, he might leave you alone." Elena pleads trying to convince me but the mere thought sends shivers down my spine. I can't stay away from her, I want her. All of her.
"Elena, I know what Mason is capable of and it doesn't matter. Now you can stop trying to be a martyr because, there is nothing that is going to keep me away." I state to her sternly making sure that she knows that nothing will change my mind.
"You're making a mistake Damon." she snivels but her message is loud and clear. She doesn't think that she is worth saving.
"I want you to be happy Elena, and if you're not happy with Mason then you need to leave him."
"I love Mason I do but, you have made me re-think everything. I know I'm not happy and I know that he can be an asshole but I don't know what I would do without him."
"Live."
"What?" she asks confoundedly.
"You would live. There would be no fear that he wouldn't like your friends, and you would be able to talk to whoever you want. I promise you Elena, you will be happier if you leave him," I tell her, trying my best to persuade her. I feel dismayed when she shakes her head.
"He wouldn't ever let me leave him even if I wanted too." she explains and I just sigh in defeat.
"There's no point in trying to convince you yet but I need you to make me a promise." I ask her
"Anything." she says
"Make yourself happy, Elena." I tell her.
"I'm trying Damon, but it's so hard." I explain to him, wiping the traitorous tears from my eyes. He looks at me like I'm an angel; like I just fell from the sky but I'm no angel. I'm evil. All I've done is hurt him and he still keeps trying to save me.
"The summer's going to start in a few weeks." he says to me
"I know I was thinking of getting a summer job to pass the time." I tell him and a smirks spreads across his gorgeous face.
"Think I might have one lined up for you." he says lightly.
"What a job?" I ask confused at what he was saying.
"I intend on opening a restaurant in the square and I could use an extra chef."
"But Damon I can't cook, wouldn't you want someone who's more qualified?" I inquire even more confused than I was before however, he just shakes his head.
"I don't want some prick in my kitchen who thinks they know how to cook. No, I want to share my mom's recipes with someone I trust. I'm buying the place tomorrow if you're interested." he explains and I feel a surge of euphoria.
"I would be honoured, really Damon." I answer a little too quickly.
"Great I'm having an interior designer do the place up and until the summer you can come around my house and I can teach you some basic dishes," he tells me and I smile.
"Thank you Damon, what's it going to be called?" I ask
"I don't know yet. I might call it Elena." he says with a grin and I can't help the laughter which escapes me and refuses to die down.
"No seriously, what are you calling it?"
"I don't' know yet I was thinking Il Luce Salvatore," he replies and I furrow my brows.
"What does it mean?"
"The Salvatore light. But Salvatore means saviour in Italian so technically it's the saviour's light." he answers with a smile on his face that says that he knows something that I don't.
"That's an unusual name for a restaurant," I say and his smirk widens.
"I want my restaurant to shine like the person it is named after," he explains cheerfully whilst giving me an intense look.
"And who did you name it after?"
"One day I'll tell you, but until then I want to teach you how to cook so how are Mondays for you?"
"Can't I have cheerleading," I tell him knowing how much I would love to skip cheerleading for cooking with Damon.
"What about Tuesdays?" he quires and I nod.
"Yeah I can free them up and if you want to we could do Sunday mornings as well." I offer eager to spend more time with this inquisitive and fascinating man.
"I would love that Elena," he tells me with so much passion in his voice as he holds my gaze. I feel him leaning in closer slowly as the air gets thicker between us. He gets so close that I can distinctly smell his cologne and how enticing it is. I want nothing more than to let my lips touch his but I know it isn't right.
"Damon." I interrupt in a scarcely audible voice that is barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry but I'm with Mason and if I go there with you then…"
"It will make you no better than he is. I understand, it was wrong of me to try such a thing please accept my apology I wouldn't want this to come between us." he tells me his voice much deeper and most definitely sexier.
"No definitely not, I want to but it's just wrong timing." I say quickly to try and disperse the awkward tension between us.
"You want to?" He asks and his eyes brow raise as his lip quirks.
"I… um…" I stumble on my words not really knowing what to say.
"Do you find me attractive Elena," he questions with a 250 kilowatt smirk.
"Very." I answer quickly and simply.
"If it makes you feel any better I find you extremely attractive to. Your long chestnut hair and doe brown eyes are so entrancing and, you have lovely, soft, olive skin that smells of cocoa butter. Your figure is absolutely stunning and since the very moment I saw you, your beauty captivated me."
And just like that all my worst fears were confirmed. Mason was right he didn't want to get to know me because of my personality, I am just a nice piece of ass to him that would look good in his bed. I feel fresh tears pool in my eyes again but I turn away before he can see them. How could I be so naïve and stupid! Why else would he want me? I breathed in shakily trying to calm myself down as my heart clenches painfully, constricting my chest.
"Elena, did I say something wrong?" he asks me but I don't have the courage to answer him. To tell him that he just confirmed my very worst nightmares. I am all alone, no one will help me face Mason unless they themselves have an ulterior motive.
"I'm sorry if I was too forward, it's just I find it hard to control myself around you," he explains himself but I have heard all I need to. He doesn't want me for who I am or my personality. He wants me to warm his bed and spread my legs.
"Damon I want you to go,"
"Go? As in leave?" he asks clearly shocked.
"Yes, I want you to leave." I tell him trying to sound firm and brave but my lip is trembling and my breath is shaking.
"I'm sorry Elena please don't…" he begins but I can't let him sweet talk me. I have proven to myself that I need to be stronger.
"Now, Damon. I don't want you here anymore," I tell him more demandingly finally looking at him.
"Alright I'll go but you can't tell anyone that I was here," he says more like an order and I instantly feel myself unwilling to tell anybody that Damon ever came to visit me. "Goodnight, Princess," he tells me before disappearing before my eyes like a magician.
Once he's gone I let the tears fall again letting out a cry as my body shakes. I reach out to the bedside table for my phone that's on charge. I pull the battery out and unlock it before scrolling through my contacts until I reach the one I want. I tap on the device so that it dials the number, it only rings a few times before the other line picks up.
"Hello," his voice comes through.
"I'm so sorry, you were right all along. Please help me, you were right. I love you, Mason."