Chapter 2: Always On My Mind

Damon and Stefan deemed the entire camping trip a complete and utter failure. Silas never showed. According to Damon, Silas was laughing at them because of their foolishness. They needed a new plan to end the bastard before more innocent people were killed. The process of profiling a psychopath who was throwing a temper tantrum because he couldn't die fast enough was infuriating, so much that everyone seemed to be snapping at one another.

Everyone but Elena. She was immune from the pressure because she couldn't think about Silas and his master plan to destroy the other side and return to his true love. No, she was too busy remembering the way his hot skin felt against her shaking body those three freezing nights in the mountains where he made sweet love to her. She didn't know whether she should call him or forget it ever happened because he certainly hadn't said anything about it since they walked down that mountain. She wanted him to say something- she needed him to say something so it didn't feel like a dream.

She knew she should feel disgusted, even self-loathing for the whole affair but she couldn't bring herself to those emotions because she didn't regret it. How can you regret the most pleasurable moments of your life? All she could think about was the way he moaned her name, "Elena" she could hear him repeating her name over and over-

"Elena!" Caroline snapped her out of her memories, "I've been trying to talk to you and you've just been sitting there smiling. It's kind of freaking me out." Elena thought of a lie before she opened her mouth to explain the smile.

Elena shook her head, "I was just thinking about graduation."

XXX

The Grill was reaching its maximum capacity during the festival. There were balloons, cotton candy machines, popcorn machines, and jump castles around town square. Elena sipped on a Dr. Pepper while sitting alone at a table. She was patiently waiting for Jeremy to get off work so they could enjoy the festival together. She was getting anxious because she hadn't seen Klaus and he hadn't called. What if he thought she was bad at sex? She knew he had plenty of experience. He'd probably been with thousands of beautiful girls…what is she was just another name on his belt?

"I'm almost finished." Jeremy walked by her, smiling sweetly as he picked up a tub of dishes and headed to the back of the restaurant. It would be 20 minutes until he returned, he had to clean the dishes and straighten up the back.

It was the smell of that cologne that sent her head turning. She met his eyes, quickly turning back to her drink- hoping he didn't see her. How could he not see her? She was wearing a brown leather jacket, a white crocheted shirt and a pair of tight jeans that he wouldn't mind taking off of her. She couldn't believe how gorgeous he looked in a black jacket, fitted jeans and a simple tan V-neck shirt. It was a classic look that had her reeling.

He approached her slowly, "Hey, love." He leaned down, whispering in her ear as he watched the back door for Jeremy. "I haven't heard from you."

"The phone works both ways…" She said, "Jeremy can't see us together. He'll get suspicious."

"Of harmless conversation?" He sat down in the chair across from her. "Are you having regrets?"

"No." She took a sip of her Dr. Pepper, swallowing hard. "The truth is-"

"Elena, is he bothering you?" Matt asked, casting a dirty look towards Klaus. Elena frowned for a microsecond because of Matt's interruption. She turned to him, shaking her head 'no'. Matt kept his eyes on Klaus for a few more seconds before he parted into the back with Jeremy.

She continued, "I can't stop thinking about you." Her words were a whisper, covered with slight embarrassment. "After everything, I should hate you and a few days ago I was convinced I hated you but now I want to be around you."

"Can you get away tonight?" She realized this was the best response he could form at the moment.

She shrugged, "It's possible."

"Let me know." Her heart pounded in her head as he pressed his lips quickly against her forehead before he departed The Grill. She was positive no one saw his affectionate act, his speed was indescribable and there was no another vampire in sight.

Elena was distracted by his words the whole time she was with Jeremy. Sure, she could laugh at Jeremy's pitiful jokes and crack smiles while they proceeded in the carnival fashioned event. Jeremy used his super strength to win her stuffed animals while she supplied a cash flow to his carefree spending spree.

Jeremy became tired of the carnival once people started to vacate in the later hours of the night. "I think I'm going to visit Bonnie." He informed her, "If that's cool with you?"

"Yeah, no problem." She told him, "I'm tired…I'm going to go back to the boarding house." Lie. They were both living in the house despite Elena's search for a better home away from her ex-boyfriends. She pulled out her phone from her back pocket while she watched Jeremy walk away towards the direction of Bonnie's house. She tapped on his name, her phone starting to call him automatically. It rang twice before he answered.

"I didn't think I would hear from you." She could hear his smile through the phone, "Did you get away?"

"He left." She informed him, "Where are you?"

"At my house." He said, "Will you join me?"

"My pleasure." She started walking towards her car. She put her phone between her ear and her shoulder as she dug in her purse for her keys.

"Sweetheart, the pleasure is all mine." Klaus told her, "What do you want to do when you get here?" He asked as if he expected more than sex to be on her mind. "I've got wine, do you drink wine?"

"Yes." She responded.