The moment Caroline stormed in through the doors of the library; Elena knew what was in store for her. She groaned inwardly bracing herself for what was about to come. She watched Caroline's eyes scan the room until they landed on Elena, narrowing them fiercely she made a bee-line towards her, dropping herself into the vacant seat beside her friend.
"You broke up with Matt?!" she exclaimed loudly, leading to a few people around them to throw them a curious glance.
"Shh!" the librarian hissed.
"Sorry," Caroline told her apologetically before turning back to Elena again. "Have you gone completely insane?"
"Caroline, please. Don't start."
"I just can't believe that you didn't even tell me, I mean I had to find out from Matt!"
"I didn't tell you because I was ashamed. I cheated on my boyfriend, that's not exactly something I want to shout from the roof tops."
"But I'm your best friend, if you can't talk about it with me, who can you talk about it with?"
"I just—lately I feel like I don't even know who I am," she admitted lamely dropping her pen onto her unwritten notepad.
"You're Elena Gilbert. You're strong, your kind, you're caring and gorgeous. You're also a big pain in the ass—ouch!" she yelped as Elena lay a punch on her upper arm, they both turned around to check if they had yet again caught the attention of the scowling librarian but were glad to see her nowhere in sight.
"I've missed you," Elena admitted placing an arm on Caroline's wrist. For the past few months, she had felt drawn away from her friends. Like there was a big divide between their worlds, but she realised now that it had all been in her head. Caroline had been beside her just the way she always was, she had just been too blind to realise it.
"I was never gone."
"I know," Elena replied biting her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Can you sleep over tonight?"
"Yes of course, I'll just tell—"Caroline's words cut off as she stared at the two figures approaching them darkly. Elena's heart leaped in her chest at the sight of Damon with his dark tousled hair, wearing jeans that hung dangerously low on his hips and a snug black shirt that hugged his muscles in all the right places. Averting her gaze in a manner she hoped was nonchalant she picked up her pen and pretended to be concentrating on her history essay.
"Well, well, what a pleasant surprise," Klaus told them cheerily dropping into a seat on their table, opposite from Caroline.
"What an unpleasant surprise from my perspective," Caroline retorted her tone blunt.
Appearing unaffected, he flashed her a dazzling smile whilst placing a hand on the left side of his chest where his heart lay. "Ouch."
"Why don't you two stop antagonizing each other?" Damon asked dropping into the seat beside Elena giving her a friendly nod. Suddenly feeling very aware of her every movement, she tucked her hair behind her ear giving him a shy smile.
"What do you two want?" Caroline retorted directing the question at Klaus who looked relaxed with his hands behind his head.
"Depends on what's on offer love," he told her with a wolfish grin, Elena watched her friends eyes flare with anger but she also noticed the colour in her cheeks. She was blushing!
"Go away."
"It's a public library sweetheart."
"I said go away!"
"Silence!" the librarian snapped narrowing her eyes at Caroline and Klaus; whilst Caroline sported an embarrassed and an apologetic look—Klaus merely grinned and raised both of his hands to the level of his shoulders showing his innocence before pointing at Caroline and mouthing "It's all her." He jolted upwards in his seat before narrowing his eyes at Caroline, she must have kicked him under the table Elena realised.
"Both of you shut up," Elena finally piped in shaking her head at them. "I have an assignment that is due tomorrow, and so far I have written about zero words. So if you could take this little party elsewhere that'd be great."
"You still haven't done the essay?! You can't fail this module otherwise they won't let you complete the course" Caroline gasped her eyes widening making Elena feel even more anxious. She was usually an A grade student, she never let things slip but these past few months things had gotten way out of control.
"She's not going to fail," Damon told Caroline coolly the tone of his voice confident. "That's where I come in."
"You…are offering me help with doing my assignment?" Elena questioned incredulously unable to believe her ears. When she had texted him earlier explaining why she couldn't make the training, it had never even crossed her mind to ask him for help which was crazy since the topic was history.
"Nothing in this world comes for free, you will owe me big time." He stretched his long legs in front of him watching her with a playful expression. It surprised her to think how close she'd grown to him in the past few days. Previously, she would have rather died than accept his offer but things had changed.
"Deal."
"Elena are you insane—I don't like this," Caroline hissed with a worried expression on her features.
"Why? Because we're the big bad vampires?" Klaus mocked but for the first time Elena noticed a hint of annoyance in his eyes.
"Yes!" Caroline retorted just as irritated.
"Is there a problem here?" they all turned around to find the librarian standing behind them, her arm crossed with a stern look on her face.
"Um….no. We're sorry—"
"Save your apologies Miss Forbes, I've heard enough. Last chance before I kick you all out," and with that she stormed away angrily.
"Get out, both of you," Damon told them firmly.
"Excuse me?"
"Caroline, he's right. I just need to get this done then I'll be home. I'll see you there I swear," Elena gave her friend an apologetic look feeling disloyal.
Caroline widened her eyes at her friend momentarily as if to yell "You can't stay alone with this monster" but when Elena gave her a nod, she started retrieving her stuff uncertainly, Klaus also pulled himself lazily to his feet stretching his arms out as his eyes followed Caroline. She came towards Elena giving her a quick hug before whispering. "Call me if you need me," and with that her friend flounced away with Klaus quick on tail.
