It had been a few months since Elena and Damon had talked at that small coffee shop. After that meeting, they waited a few days before seeing each other again. As much as they enjoyed each others company, they still were still merely acquaintances. Elena found herself calling Damon after a hard day at school or if she just needed someone to talk to about anything other than her parents' death. As time passed, there was less time between phone calls. They went to movies, drank coffee, and ate food. Sometimes, they find themselves at one of their houses and spend an entire afternoon talking. Soon, it was not abnormal to see each other every day. Instead of being strangers who had met under odd circumstances, they were friends.

Elena juggled the hot bag of popcorn with her fingers before pouring it into a bowl. "What movie do you want to watch?" she called into the living room.

"Anything but a chick flick," Damon replied. Elena snorted and rolled her eyes as she came into the living room and plopped down on the couch next to Damon.

"Oh, please. You consider anything that doesn't have guns, blood, or any type of violence a chick flick." Elena popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth and gave Damon a look that clearly stated, 'I am right and you know it.'

Damon mumbled something under his breath grudgingly. Elena grinned at his inability to admit that she was correct.

She was about to begin suggesting movies when the door swung open to reveal Jenna. She was struggling to carry three grocery bags without dropping one while opening the door. Elena and Damon both stood up to help. Damon took two of the bags from Jenna's hands. "I've got it. You don't have to do that," Elena protested as she grabbed the other bag from Jenna.

"Of course I do. What kind of gentleman would I be if I let a lady struggle?" Damon smirked at her. Elena rolled her eyes.

"Well, what would I do without you to help me?" Elena smiled widely in response.

Jenna, who neither Damon nor Elena had been paying attention to, sighed and said sharply, "I'm sure Elena would survive carrying a grocery bag." Jenna clearly was not Damon's biggest fan.

Elena gave Jenna a look but the only thing she said was "Come on, Damon. We can put these in the kitchen."

"I'm really sorry about Jenna." Damon and Elena were putting the groceries away when Elena blurted out her apology.

Damon narrowed his eyes. "Why is it you apologize for things that you have no control over? Don't worry about it." Elena was amazed at how Damon could make her feel so much better with such little effort.

"Well, I still feel bad, so why don't you stay for dinner so I can make it up to you."

Damon raised his eyebrows. "Jenna and Jeremy won't mind?" Elena pursed her lips.

"Jenna will deal. And I don't think Jeremy will be joining us." She busied herself with putting a box of granola bars into a cupboard to avoid looking at Damon.

"He still struggling?" Damon asked softly. Elena only nodded in response. "It's his way of grieving, Elena. It may not be the healthiest way, but he'll get through it."

Elena grimaced and turned to face Damon. "I'm just worried about him. He's so young, and he's already turning to drugs. I get that this is hard for him, but... I mean, he has so many people left to support him. I wish he could see that." She sighed and leaned onto the counter.

Damon placed his hand on top of hers. "He will see that, eventually. It may just take him some time." Elena gave him a small smile. Damon always seemed to know the right thing to say.

Just as Damon and Elena finished putting away all the groceries, Jenna came into the kitchen. The conversation the two had been having came to a sudden halt. An awkward silence infiltrated the room. Elena was the first to break it.

"So, who's read for dinner?" Jenna looked over at Damon.

"Uh, actually, I think I'm going to head home." With a departing wave, Damon exited the room.

Elena followed after him. "I'll walk you out." Damon gave her a small smirk as the two walked to his car.

When they got outside, Elena turned to Damon. "I'd apologize for Jenna, but you made your thoughts about that pretty clear." They two shared a smile. Damon leaned over and kissed Elena on the cheek.

He lingered near her before whispering into her ear, "I'll see you tomorrow, Elena." With that, he got into his car, and Elena watched breathlessly as he drove away.

By the time Elena managed to make her feet carry her inside, Jenna was already cutting up ingredients for dinner. leaned on the counter next to Jenna.

"Why don't you like Damon?" Elena decided the best way to get answers was to just come right out and ask the questions. Jenna sighed and put down the knife she had been holding.

"Elena... I don't have anything against him. He's just... The whole situation strikes me as odd."

Elena frowned."What situation?"

Jenna sighed again. "Elena, how did you meet Damon?" Elena stayed silent as she remembered the day of her parents funeral.

"Why does it matter?" she finally asked.

"Because you were hurt and vulnerable! You were a weak target!"

Elena could feel her anger boiling inside her. "Target? Target for what?"

"Guys like that only want one thing. You need to be careful around him."

Elena laughed humorlessly. "Damon is my friend," she hissed. "He's helped me so much. More than anyone else. Everybody else looks at me like I'm suddenly incapable since my parents died. He treats me like a person!"

"That's why I'm concerned. He's always with you. Your leaning on him too much, and all he's going to end up doing is disappoint you!"

Elena couldn't believe this. She knew she would regret anything she said at that moment, so she didn't say anything. Instead, she walked out of the kitchen and grabbed her car keys. She could hear Jenna following her.

"Elena, wait!" She stormed out of the house and got in her car. As she started the car, she couldn't help but think about the similarities between today and the day she had first met Damon. That day she felt confused and numb. Today, she felt pure outrage. Without even thinking about it, she knew she would end up in the same place as she had that day.

She would go to the only place that made her she feel secure.

She would go to the only person that made her feel secure.