"You said yes right?"Bonnie's small, fragile voice on the other line was filled with excitement that Elena could imagine her fiery red hair and pink face.
"Yes."
"Wait, repeat that again."Meredith spoke on the other line and Elena broke into a broad beam.
"Yes!"She exclaimed and both girls broke into loud shrieks and squeals.
"I can't believe you're getting married Elena!"Bonnie exclaimed and Elena swirled her dressing chair to look into the dressing mirror. She fixed her tousled bed hair and smiled to herself when she saw him in the mirror.
Stefan was watching her as he leaned against the door frame with both arms crossed over his chest. His sparkling teal green eyes were shining as though overwhelmed with contentment. Stefan's crooked smile grew broader when he heard his fiancée's best friends squeal on the phone. To him, it was amusing but he was glad to see how excited Elena was.
"So when is it?"
"Oh Stefan and I wanted a small, private one. We're having it this weekend." All her life, Elena had dreamed of big, fancy Cinderella weddings in the backyard but she guessed, as people grew older, they tend to change and surprisingly, she was okay with Stefan's idea of a small, secluded wedding. In his words 'weddings bring greater meanings when they aren't bought'. Whatever that meant.
"Good. The earlier the better right?" Bonnie suggested and everyone agreed.
"Okay Elena. Just remember, getting married isn't all about the fun. You've got to learn to always be by each other's side and….."
"Oh for once Meredith!"Bonnie laughed. It was very like Meredith to be so methodical at times.
Elena grinned. She sensed the happiness in her friends' voice and that was enough to make her happy.
"We are going to be the hottest bridesmaid ever!" Bonnie's small voice spoke.
"Of course."Meredith agreed and Elena could imagine her piercing blue eyes as she spoke into the phone. "Oh and every bridesmaid has to have their man." Her voice wasn't as tiny or vulnerable like Bonnie but rather motherly and in a way, raucous. "Hey, Elena. You wouldn't mind if I brought Alaric right?"
But Elena wasn't listening. She was too busy staring at Stefan as he slipped into his slim cut, Armani blazer. The way he dressed was almost too graceful for Elena's eyes. After slipping into the jacket, Elena watched him put on his Italian shoes, then fix his silver watch before finally, slipping those sunglasses on. It was almost illegal to gawk at her own fiancé but she couldn't help it. He was simply a God.
"Elena?"
"Yeah…of course."She muttered dreamingly and beamed when their eyes met.
"What about you Bonnie?"Meredith was asking. There was a short pause before she spoke again. "Wait! Elena, Damon's going to be there right? As the best man, obviously."
"Oh yeah. Forgot all about that."Elena admitted. "Hold on, let me ask Stefan."
Stefan buckled his belt on and slowly bent down to make sure his hair was in place. "No, he won't be there." He began after listening to their conversation. It wasn't his fault. Their excitement was too strong to be blocked out of his mind.
"What?" Stefan found it surprising that Elena was surprised. "What do you mean Stefan, he's your brother?"
"We're not the best brothers in the world Elena."Stefan admitted and leaned down to plant a kiss on her cheek. "Besides, if an invitation isn't enough to convince him, I'm not going to start groveling just to have my older brother at my own wedding."
Elena clutched the phone to her ear and watched as Stefan rummaged through the drawers to look for his car keys.
"I'm going to the library for a while. I'll see you later." Stefan planted a soft kiss on her lips, then her forehead. "Bye."
Elena watched as he slowly disappeared behind the door then peered to look into the mirror again.
"Stefan's gone?"Meredith asked and Elena nodded, not realizing that Meredith couldn't see her.
"Are you thinking what we think you're thinking?"Bonnie sounded and Elena bit her lip.
"What am I supposed to be thinking?"Elena asked.
"That you've got some Salvatore ass to kick and he isn't Stefan."Meredith chirped in.
Elena beamed and stood up to get dressed. "You guys know me to well."
Looking for Damon wasn't as hard as Elena expected. In fact, it was almost like he wasn't making an effort to hide and was hoping someone or something would find him. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans and white camisole, Elena made her way through the forest and down to the river bank where the older Salvatore brother stood with his back facing her. He was leaning against the old, maple tree watching the river flow. Like Stefan, he was dressed in black but unlike Stefan, Damon never wore any other colours.
Damon had a hand placed on his left hip so that his jacket stood out and not cling to his muscular, lean body. His spiked up hair would once in a while, blow with the wind as though letting his gentler side escape. He didn't move but Elena knew he sensed her presence.
"Elena."His voice was deep and mysterious. "Morning." Damon slowly turned and Elena noticed how creamy rich his skin was. Obviously, he had just fed.
"So um, Stefan told you about our wedding?"Elena asked.
"Oh yeah."Damon clicked his tongue. "Congratulations."
"If only that enthusiasm was real."Elena sighed and crossed her arms across her chest. "Sadly, it's only sarcasm right?"
"Smart girl." He nodded, impressed.
"Damon, why can't you just accept the fact that your brother and I are in love?"
"What do you want now? My blessing?"Damon raised an eyebrow and Elena groaned.
"Damon. It's your brother's wedding. I know it would mean the world to Stefan if you could be there as his best man." Elena shivered from the sudden breeze and rubbed her arms.
"Perhaps, you don't know my brother well."Damon suggested and looked down at his watch. "We live with the 'if you stay away I'll stay away motto." Damon paused and rubbed the stubble on his chin. "There are lots about the Salvatore brother's you need to find out Elena."He looked up at her and Elena noticed the beauty of his cheekbones. "Considering you're part of the family now aren't you?"
Damon took a few strides down the river bank and Elena followed him.
"Yeah and every time I think about it, I think of the possible giant mess I'm getting myself in."
Damon bent down to pick up a few pebbles and threw them into the water. He watched them skip and leap like flying fishes before slowly disappearing into the glistening water. Elena stared too and couldn't help but notice how much it reminded her of Damon. He was like the fleeting stone that always had the energy and power to sprint everywhere but eventually he would die out and simply sink to the bottom.
"Mess?"Damon raised an eyebrow out and tossed another stone.
"You know."Elena shrugged. "Family of secrets… Italian ancestry. Secretive brotherhood." She turned to Damon and spoke sarcastically. "Demanding and stubborn brother-in-law."
For the first time in a long time, Elena saw the corner of Damon's mouth break into a smile when he chuckled. He handed Elena a stone and the both of them threw it at the same time. Elena watched Damon's go twice the length hers was able to.
"Come on."She tried again and crossed her arms. "What have you got to lose by coming to your own brother's wedding?"
"That's easy." Damon stepped away from the river and sprinted towards the nearest oak tree. In a blink of an eye, he was there. "My dignity." It sounded more like a warning than a remark.
"You know what I would want for my wedding present?"Elena challenged and Damon narrowed his eyes at her. "I want a piece of your ego."
"Nice, Elena."He spoke with that raucous voice and leaned against the oak tree.
"Admit Damon. You're not as evil as everyone thinks you are." She gripped one of the branches above him and climbed it.
"Correct."He looked up with the mischievous look of an eleven year old boy. "I'm worse."
Elena rolled her eyes and plucked a rare purple flower from the tree.
"I don't get it Damon."She sat up and looked at the beautiful flower. "It's normal for people to want to emanate a good impression or good profile of themselves but you seem to think vice versa."
"Because, dear sister-in-law to be."He snickered and Elena felt the chills when he muttered the words 'sister-in-law to be'. It was almost impossible to believe that she was, indeed, going to be a Salvatore woman. "That's what normal humans do."
"Are you saying you aren't normal?"
"Did I say I was human either?"
"Inhumane sounds more like it." She suggested and Damon seemed pleased with the nickname.
"What are you? Challenging me Elena?" He made her sound like a young girl getting mocked and teased by an older teen. She hated it.
"You know, I'm not afraid of you Damon." She spoke and hoped off the tree.
"So I've been told."He turned to face her and broke into an awry smile.
Grinning, Elena wiped her dusty hands against her jeans and paused when she noticed her chalk-white hands.
"Somebody's hungry."Damon commented, amused at the fact that his future sister-in-law was just as stubborn and insane as his own Tofu brother.
"Whatever but Damon, please come."Elena found herself begging and Stefan was right, groveling to Damon was embarrassing.
"What's in it for me?"
"A once in a life time experience of seeing your brother get married."
Damon shrugged and curled his lips. "I'll think about it."
"It's good enough." Elena thought. After all, it was better than the 'No' Stefan received. "Anyway, I'm off to feed."
"I'll come with you."
Elena paused and raised an eyebrow. That, was unexpected.
"I know lots of girls downtown who are…."
Obviously, that was his intention. Elena pulled a face of disgust and Damon broke into an evil, amused chuckle.
"Kidding."He licked his lips and motioned the forest. "Let's go get your Tofu breakfast."
Elena took his hand when he offered it but immediately let go when she saw a flash of white light.
Damon's face was suddenly a blur and the face of a familiar figure appeared.
"What?"
Elena blinked only to find herself staring at a confused looking Damon.
"Nothing." She mumbled and he disappeared into the forest. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head and followed after him.
Stefan pulled out the final Volume of the Book of edicts from the book shelf and opened a specific page. He scrolled down until he found the 'consequences' section and began reading.
It was worse than he thought, and Elena didn't know a single thing.
----------------------
Thanks so much for the reviews, story favs and story alerts (:
Hope you like it!
R&R much appreciated: D
Spoiler alert!
PS: In my story, Bonnie never kissed Damon (yeah, I know that happened in NightFall but ew xD)
So there's no Bonnie/Damon history. They're…normal :D