Chapter 9

Damon's POV

Why was she running? She had felt scared, but wouldn't explain why. I was trying to search her mind for the answer when I car door was slammed shut. I forced myself to turn my gaze away from her diamond-like eyes. An ex-boyfriend was what he could tell from Elena's mind, her body stiffened. Elena only a moment ago thought of his name, was it Mark, Mac? Why does it matter anyway, soon Elena will run away with me, hopefully, so we never have to even think about little boys like him.

"Why don't I show you around the school?" Elena said in a rushed voice indicating the front entrance.

"Why not?" she was smart to try avoiding the fight Marc was looking for, I couldn't help but smile at her worried face. Martian was advancing dangerously close, for his own good.

Elena turned on her heel, trying to force a smile to look relaxed.

"Elena?" his voice was shaking with rage.

"Hi Matt, this is Damon Salvatore, he just started today", she tried to sound happy to lighten the mood.

"Could you not even wait a fortnight?" he said harshly, his face twisted in disgust.

I tried to gather my strength, to not reach out to rip his throat out right there; he probably would have if Elena wasn't there.

"Matt, I think your misunderstanding…" Elena said looking about, students were now filing up the parking lot and looking over at them hoping for something to make their Tuesdays a little less insufferable, and people think I'm bloodthirsty.

"No, I don't think I am misunderstanding, you'll never change, will you?"

That's when, I snapped. No one talked to my Elena like that, Elena was hurt by his words, and I couldn't just stand there and let him insult her.

…

Damon stepped forward, creating a barrier between Elena and Matt, he towered over Matt. "Mutt, is it?" Damon's eyes were cold to match his serious-looking face.

"No, it's Matt, exactly", Matt said loudly, even though he was intimidated.

"Good for you, now why don't you walk away, now unless you have a death wish" Damon said in such a low murmur only Matt could hear, he could feel Elena's fear exuding from her already and didn't want her to have to watch this.

Matt hesitated for a second then stood in a defensive stance and said "Are you going to make me?"

Damon was taken back a bit, he had used mind control when threatening Matt, but it didn't effect him, that's when he smelt it, vervain, Matt was probably drinking it to ease aches or pains since he was a football player, Damon guessed, Great, now I have to beat up a senseless footballer in front of Elena.

"Don't you know it's not nice to fight in front of ladies?" Damon said feeling annoyed at his persistence.

"Stay away from Elena, she's mine"

Pure fury flashed through Damon's eyes, "No", he said with unnerving force.

Matt's teeth grinded together, his arm drew back then came hurdling towards Damon's faces. Elena screamed just before Damon stopped it single-handedly just centimetres from his face. Damon wasn't going to forget this anytime soon. He dropped Matt's hand, Matt grabbed it with his other one, and with Damon's grip it was most likely broken. He looked stunned like all the other students that wee gathered around them. Damon turned and walked over to Elena. "Are you ok?" he asked looking concerned at her relieved expression. "Me? You're the one who nearly got hit. Are you ok?"

"Couldn't be better" he flashed a brilliant smile at her…