Just wanted to let you know that in the last chapter I made a name mistake. When I said Ethan, I of course meant to say Elijah. I just wanted to clear that up. Anyway, here's the third chapter. It's meant to be more fun and light-hearted before all the hell breaks loose in Mystic Falls. So enjoy the calm before the storm.
Elena walked into the bar as Damon trailed closely behind and looked around curiously at her surroundings. The walls were painted a dark red and were adorned with various old alcoholic and beer memorabilia. Various occupied chipped wooden tables surrounded the bar where loud young men and women occupied most of the available stools. A rowdy group of women were gathered around one of the back pool table where not too far away a group of men watched on occasionally calling out when a particularly nice shot was made. The rest of the patrons stood with cups in hand as they talked and swayed slowly to the classic rock music playing overhead. The last observation Elena made was that she didn't recognize a single person.
"Where are we?" Elena shouted over her shoulder.
"Some out-of-town college hang out. Does it really matter?" Damon shrugged.
"Actually, it's kind of perfect," she announced. She thought they would be heading to The Grill, but this was better—no chance of running into anyone she knew.
"Well, I'm glad you approve," Damon smirked as he clutched her arm and weaved his way through the crowd towards the bar. Although it went completely unnoticed by Elena, Damon certainly noticed the heads that turned as she made her entrance. He had have a mind to snap the heads of every single one of these leering, suggestive males, but had to remind himself that he was in fact one of those very males himself. After all, when had he not stared when she entered a room? The girl truly had no idea the things she could do to the opposite sex. He found her innocence sexy as hell.
When they finally found two available seats, Damon immediately caught the bartender's eye and asked for two shots of whiskey. Elena too busy still taking in the new bar's atmosphere didn't even realize he had ordered until two shots of the dark liquid rolled down the counter towards her and Damon. She picked up the shot and sniffed it suspiciously which quickly resulted in a wrinkle in her nose. Damon was already preparing a snarky, yet convincing argument on why he ordered whiskey and not a beer, when he was thoroughly surprised to find her downing the shot like a pro.
"What? Surprised? No repercussions, remember?" she explained as she shook her head at the slight burn bubbling in her throat.
"Of course I do. I just thought I'd have to do some more convincing on my part," Damon announced with half a smirk. He wasted no time in tilting his own head and copying her earlier actions.
"My dad used to come home after a hard day of work and poor himself a glass. I once caught him doing so, and he made me promise I wouldn't tell my mom. I told him I wouldn't tell if he let me have a taste," Elena reminisced with a far away stare.
"Did he?"
"Yep, I coughed until I was red in the face. I've never seen my dad laugh harder," she finished smiling as she looked back to Damon. He was giving her a serious look that suggested he was about to ask her more about her parents which was a topic she wanted to avoid entirely. In fact, Elena wasn't even sure why she brought up her father in the first place. She wasn't here for more heartache. She was here to let loose, let out her inner bitch. As a result, she found herself spitting out a sarcastic taunt. "You're going to have to do a lot better than whiskey I'm afraid."
"Don't tempt me, Elena. I could have you on the floor in a matter of minutes if I wanted," he whispered suggestively as he leaned down to her ear. Elena didn't miss the innuendo and on any other day would have warned him to knock it off, but tonight she decided she didn't care. She was tired of being responsible so she decided to engage in the banter.
"Really? If I remember correctly, I kicked your ass in Georgia when it came to drinking," she answered brazenly with a twinkle in her eye.
"Who's to say I wasn't letting you win?" he countered with a quirk of the eye.
"Who's to say I was even bringing my A game?" she said staring him down.
Damon had his next sarcastic comment on the tip of his tongue when Elena took him by surprise leaning extremely close across his body. He had no idea what she was doing until she began speaking, surprisingly not to him.
"I'm Elena. Are you going to stare, or are you going to buy me a drink?" she purred as she batted her doe lashes at the innocent male bystander that she had caught throwing glances at her behind Damon.
"I'm James," the blond haired boy who looked to be in his early twenties introduced. "What's your poison?"
Damon wanted to be jealous, even pissed off at this guy's nerve, but was far too intrigued at what Elena was up to.
"I have expensive tastes. What can you afford?" she flirted. No sooner had she said the words, the young man was ordering her a shot of the bar's oldest rum. Elena shot the well-built man a sexy wink as he passed her the glass. She downed it immediately and smacked her lips before grasping Damon's arm and pulling him from his seat. Smiling one last time at the bewildered man, she tugged Damon across the room. Damon couldn't help but shoot his own arrogant grin at the man as well.
As they settled into a table in the corner, Damon couldn't resist commenting, "That was the bitchiest move I've ever seen you make."
"You must be rubbing off on me," she answered nonchalantly. In truth, she couldn't believe she had actually just done that herself. She didn't toy with boys. She didn't use people. Tonight, though, it felt good. She was in control, and she couldn't remember the last time she was in control.
"Possibly, I just didn't realize being an ass meant being a tease. I didn't know you had it in you. I'm proud of you," Damon answered as he knocked her lightly on her shoulder as a way of congratulations.
"Well, thank you," she dramatically bowed her head. "So I thought you said you were going to teach me, oh-wise-one."
"Mm'hmm, I did, didn't I?" his eyes twinkled as he let his eyes roam her body unabashedly. Her bright eyes watched him intently as she held a mocking smile clearly challenging him. As the moments passed, Damon knew he was making her uncomfortable, but she held her own. She didn't bat one dark eyelash nor did her gaze waver. Elena didn't for one second squirm and her determination had him chuckling. Before she knew what he was doing, he was in front of her catching her arm in his hand pulling her onto her feet again.
"Damon, what are you…?" she question as she stumbled on behind him.
"Teaching you," he finally supplied as he stood in front of a pool table.
"Only one problem. Tables taken," she said as she glanced around at the men surrounding the table.
"Why Elena, what happened to that sassy little girl at the bar?" he called to her as he made his way to the man at the head of the table lining up his next shot. Elena had an idea about what he was about to do, but held back her protests. Damon had moved directly in front of the man and looked deeply and darkly into his eyes and within a matter of moments the man was announcing that he didn't feel like playing anymore and wanted to buy his friends a round at the bar on him.
"Problem solved," Damon whispered cheekily into her ear before moving to grab two pool sticks before turning to rack the balls. "You wanna break or should I?"
"You're teaching remember?" she answered stepping back letting him take the reins.
Damon broke the rack with ease and quickly sunk four balls before Elena got a turn. He took his time showing her how to properly hold the stick and aim. When she took a shot she sadly missed.
"Don't worry, not everyone can be as good as me," he laughed at her which earned him a glare.
"You're right. Playing pool does make you into a bigger jackass," she shot back.
"Hmm, spoil-sport much?" he chided.
They continued taking their shots both on the table and off, and soon the game was over. Damon swaggered over and hooked his arm around Elena's shoulders before asking, "How badass was that?"
Shrugging Elena twirled a ball in her hand while leaning back on the pool table with a look of boredom before commenting, "It was alright. I just thought with your vampire skills, you would be able to clear the table all in one turn. If I'm being honest, I'm a bit disappointed."
Elena made her way towards the bar with a broad grin on her face as Damon gave her an annoyed smile in return. By the time she had made it back with two drinks in her hand, he had reset the table.
"Do I wanna know how you got those drinks?" he asked. "Please tell me you didn't offer any sexual favors in trade for alcohol because even you are too classy for that I hope."
"No need. The bartender said the drinks were on him," she stated victoriously before passing him one of the glasses. "Drink up."
"Should I be worried about what's in this?" he paused while peering over his glass at Elena choosing to ignore that Elena had rounded up yet another admirer. "I've seen the way you've been looking at me. I wouldn't put it passed you to drug me and have your wicked way with me."
"Oh Damon, I wouldn't have to drug you to have my wicked way with you," she laughed. "I think you've made it quite obvious that you want me," she finished as she slipped by him to take her stick.
Damon was floored. Was she flirting with him? The whole night had been playful, but this comment was definitely taking it to a new level. It definitely had his blood boiling. He had promised to let her go for his brother, but when she said things like this it made it awfully difficult. Sure, he hadn't stopped with the banter and flirty comments, but he only did so in fun. Damn, she was making it hard.
"You think too highly of yourself, Elena," he said choosing to play it safe. He had a number of other retorts that were entirely inappropriate and naughty, but he knew going down that road would only result in him alone at the end of the night with a number of cold-shower worthy dreams. No matter how sassy and bold she was being now, at the end of the night Elena would return to her morals and high standards. In the end, she was a good girl—a good girl with a surprisingly edgy side—but a good girl all the same.
"My turn to break," she exclaimed breaking him from his reverie.
She sent the ball strong and straight and managed to break open the game sinking three balls right off the bat. With a flip of the hair, she maneuvered across the table where she sunk yet another ball in the right pocket. Elena gave him a smug look before sinking yet another two balls before finally missing. She sauntered over to Damon where she picked up her glass and swallowed nearly half of its contents.
"Your turn," she announced innocently.
Damon rounded on her invading her personal space and said, "You hustled me," with an intimidating gleam in his eye
"What if I did?" she countered not moving an inch.
"Do you know what I do to hustlers, little girl?" he whispered as his warm breath wisped across her face.
She stood statue still trying not to let on that his intense gaze was starting to get to her. She knew without a doubt he wouldn't hurt her, so why was his gaze unnerving her. A sudden glimpse of those very eyes with a single tear dropping from them passed through her mind as she was hit by s sudden wave of déjà vu. The odd sensation had her quickly dropping her gaze and taking a step back to catch her breath, but before she knew what was happening Damon was lifting her in his arms and whipping her around. In the next instance, she was sat on top of the pool table and was looking into Damon's now smug gaze. Just like that the thought and eerie sense of déjà vu was gone.
"Miss Gilbert, you backed down! What a shame. Just when I thought you were on a roll," he tisked with merriment. "Lesson number one: A true ass, stands his ground."
"I guess I'm not as good at this as I thought," she conceded trying to hold onto a memory that was ultimately lost.
"Hey, you okay?" Damon asked sensing Elena's loss of bravado.
Elena hopped down and shook her head answering "Yeah, I'm fine." She searched her mind one last time before spinning back to face Damon emitting defeat. "I believe it's your turn, or were you going to make good on your threat about what you do to hustlers?" she asked trying to fall back into their banter.
Although Damon wanted to question her sudden loss of concentration, he chose to let it go. Whatever it was, it could wait till later. Not to mention, he was worried it was probably about his brother, the love of her life. That was something he definitely didn't want to talk about no matter how insensitive that made him. Besides, they were having fun. He didn't want to let that go just yet.
"Later. I have a table to clear," he finally answered.
They continued their game, and even though Elena was undoubtedly skilled, Damon still took the game. After a few more drinks, silly stories, and witty banter, they finally left the bar late that night.
"Shoot, I never called Jeremy or Jenna, they're probably worried sick about me," she cried after getting into the car.
"No worries, I texted Jeremy and told him not to expect you till later," he reassured.
"Really? You being responsible? How unpredictable of you," she laughed.
"Your lack of faith wounds me. I have my moments."
Elena let his comment linger for awhile before answering, "Yes you do."
The rest of the ride home, they remained silent. It wasn't an awkward silent. It was rather comfortable actually, and in no time Damon was pulling up to her house. All lights were out clearly indicating that all were sleeping. Elena didn't immediately reach for the door which intrigued Damon.
"I've hated you for the last few months," she suddenly announced out of the blue.
"I know," he said simply eagerly awaiting where this was going.
"You killed my brother without so much as a second thought," she explained as silence followed once again.
Several minutes later she started speaking again. "Yet tonight you let me forget about the horror that has become my life, and a part of me wants to trust you again," Elena admitted while peering in his eyes with the most intense questioning gaze Damon had ever seen her wear. "Can I?" she finally asked with a crack in her voice.
He knew she was vulnerable, probably the most vulnerable she had ever been with him. She was giving him a second chance, and she wasn't sure if she should be doing so. Damon absolutely hated that she had doubt in him. If he wanted anyone to hold trust in him, it was her. Call him whipped, but Elena was the only thing that kept him from flipping that switch. He could go back to his old, vicious ways, but where had that gotten him? One hundred and some odd years chasing after some vindictive bitch that didn't love him. No, he was done with that. Elena may never love him, but she gave his life purpose. She gave him his brother back. Hell, she gave him his town back. That was something worth fighting for. He wouldn't mess it up this time.
Damon laced his hand with hers and squeezed it tightly before finally answering, "Yes. You can trust me. I know what it's like to lose you now," he paused before finishing with, "I'm not capable of that again."
His stare penetrated right through her and somehow without knowing exactly why, she believed him. There was no need for threats if he went back on his word. She knew Damon understood. If he hurt her like that again, he'd lose her forever.
She leaned forward and gave him a strong hug and whispered, "Thank you for tonight," before finally exiting his car.