Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by L.J. Smith, as portrayed in the TV series created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. All rights to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

ELENA'S ESCAPE

~ Loose Tongues ~

"So, for the next three weeks, we'll be immersing ourselves in the romance genre", Damon announced to the class. Elena couldn't help but notice the excited giggling coming from the girls behind her. She smiled. Yes, Damon was gorgeous and she couldn't blame the girls for swooning. He caught her smile and winked at her, clearly mistaking it for something else than amusement.

"Many medieval romances recount the marvellous adventures of a chivalrous, heroic knight, often of super-human ability, who, abiding chivalry's strict codes of honour and demeanour, goes on a quest, and fights and defeats monsters and giants, thereby winning favour with a lady. The story of the medieval romance focuses not upon love and sentiment, but upon adventure." Damon recited. "This describes an early form of romance as a genre. Does anyone have an example of a story that meets these criterias?"

After class, Damon was surrounded by female students, giggling and talking all at once. Elena could catch a question here and there, and Damon tried to patiently answer their queries. Elena cleared the material and went into the office that Damon had been temporarily assigned. The shelves in the room were lined with books on literary criticism and history, as well as anthologies with short stories, poems and plays. Elena ran her index finger along the spines, reading the different titles.

"See anything you like?" Damon's velvety voice came from the doorway, where he was lounging against the doorpost with his arms crossed and an amused look on his face.

"You're back already? I thought for sure your groupies would have kept you occupied for much longer," Elena teased.

"Jealous?"

"Yeah… you got me… I've always wanted to be surrounded by giggling girls," Elena mocked.

"You said you liked reading," Damon said, walking over to the bookcase, "why don't you borrow something?"

"From here?"

"Sure, why not?"

"It's not a library, Damon."

"No, but I trust you."

"Any suggestions, professor?"

"Well… on Wednesday we're going over the 'damsel in distress' stereotype. So I suggest you read… this," he said, pulling out a book and handing it over.

"European fairy tales and Greek mythology?"

"Fairy tales aren't just for children, you know."

"Ok… thanks."

"You're welcome. So what did you think about class today?"

"Does it matter? I mean, you heard those girls, right? They love you."

"But I'm asking you."

"Come on, stop fishing for compliments. You know you're a good teacher."

"But there's always room for improvement. And I appreciate constructive criticism."

"I'm not your girl. I don't have any critique to give. In case you've forgotten, I haven't gone to college."

"I'm not asking for a professional opinion, I'm asking you as a student – what would you like to learn?"

"I'm not your student."

"You might as well be."

"How so?"

"You act like you're beneath these students, and you're not. It's all about commitment. If you wanted, you could go to college."

"No, I couldn't."

"Why not? You have a high school diploma, right?"

Yeah, in another name. "I don't have the grades."

"You could go to summer school. Night class."

"I can't afford it."

"There are scholarships you can apply for. I have friends who put themselves through college working double jobs. If you want something, you just have to go get it."

"Thank you for the book, Damon," Elena said, grabbing her purse and heading out.

"What? What did I say?" Damon asked, throwing his hands up, but Elena was already gone.

When Damon came home, Elena was sitting in the parlor, reading. She looked up when he entered, but immediately turned her attention back to her book. Damon desperately wanted to confront her, but despite what she had asked him to do whenever he was frustrated with her, he couldn't. He didn't want to fight with her.

"How do you like it so far?" he said casually, pouring himself a drink and sitting down opposite her.

"I've read Rapunzel, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, and I do see the theme you talked about. I grew up reading these stories, or, my mom read them to me, and I identified with those girls. I suppose every little girl does."

"And now?"

"I don't want to be the damsel in distress. I don't want to sit around and wait for my prince to come and rescue me. I don't want someone else to fix my life for me."

"And me pushing you about college is making you feel like I'm trying to run your life?"

"How insightful of you, professor Salvatore."

"I have my moments," Damon shrugged, earning himself a chuckle from Elena. "Did we actually come to an understanding without yelling at each other?" he said, feigning being impressed.

"Don't get too used to it," Elena retorted but shot him a small smile.

"Hey! How'd it go this weekend?" Lexi asked as Elena walked into the break room before her shift.

"Hi. Um… it was… busy. But I think I did ok."

"Ok? Matt said you're the best waitress he's seen since… well, me," Lexi chuckled. "Actually, I was curious how your driving lesson with Damon went…"

"Oh. Well, good, I guess."

"Where'd you go? Did you drive somewhere?"

"Yeah, he showed me the falls."

"Oh, really?" Lexi raised an eyebrow, a smile spreading across her face.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," Lexi shrugged but didn't lose the smile.

"What?" Elena chuckled.

"We should get out there. Our shift's starting."

"Lexi…"

"Come on, Kat," Lexi said and practically bounced out of the break room.

Elena shook her head and followed Lexi out into the restaurant.

"You know, we should have a girl's night," Caroline said as Elena brought her her lunch order.

"A girl's night?"

"Yeah, like rent a bunch of movies, eat a ton of popcorn, paint each other's nails, you know, just hang out."

"I guess… yeah, it sounds like fun."

"Great! Matt's going out of town for the weekend with Damon and Lee; they're meeting up with some of Damon's old college buddies. We could have a sleepover!"

"Ok… sure. So… what are they going to do?"

"Ugh, don't ask. Seeing as how Damon's involved, I'm sure they're going to some casino or strip club. I really don't want to know."

"And you're ok with Matt going?"

"Why not? I trust him completely."

"So… what time should I stop by?"

"Well, you and Lexi don't have the late shift this weekend, right?"

"No, we get off around six."

"Perfect. You guys can come right over. Ooh, we could do facials," Caroline beamed with excitement.

"So… I hear you're hanging out with Caroline this weekend," Damon said as they were putting the dishes away after Friday night dinner.

"So… I hear you're going to a strip club with Matt," Elena said as she handed him a plate to put in the dishwasher.

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Caroline," they said in unison.

"Well, aren't you?" Elena said casually.

"Now, why would I want to go someplace where women take their clothes off for money?"

"No, I guess it's pretty stupid to pay for it when your students are more than willing to throw theirs off for free," Elena said, only half-joking.

"I take it this bothers you? The fact that I'm this total chick magnet?" he smirked.

"Chick magnet? Seriously? How old is that expression, anyways?"

"Nice try dodging my question," Damon noted.

"No, it doesn't bother me. Why would it?" Elena said, distant.

"You tell me," Damon shrugged.

"It doesn't." Elena shrugged and got a bottle of water from the fridge.

"For the record…" Damon came up behind her. He wasn't touching her, but Elena could feel his body heat. "... I have no interest in watching strangers take their clothes off."

Elena suddenly felt her mouth go dry at the sound of his velvety voice in her ear and his hot breath on her neck.

"We're going camping," he said in a light tone, moving away from her. "All very manly," he quipped as he left the kitchen.

"Yay! You're here!" Caroline was practically jumping up and down and the new arrivals exchanged looks.

"Um… yeah, Caroline… we said we would come," Lexi said, walking in the door.

Caroline wrapped her arms around both girls and squealed, "Oh, we're gonna have so much fun!"

"Someone started the party early," Lexi commented under her breath.

"Who wants shots?" Caroline beamed, holding out two glasses.

"Oh, what the hell," Lexi rolled her eyes and tossed back a shot.

Elena hesitated, but with both girls looking at her expectantly, she raised her glass and downed the drink.

"Kat, I want you to meet my best friend, Bonnie," Caroline said, dragging Elena with her to the living room.

A young woman rose from the couch and extended her hand. She had almond-shaped green eyes that complemented her dark complexion and her dark curly hair framed her face. Elena wondered briefly if there was one single person in this town that didn't look like they stepped right out of a television show.

"Hi," Bonnie said, "it's nice to meet you. Caroline's told me all about you."

"Which wasn't much, to be frank," Caroline pouted. "We'll have to remedy that tonight."

Elena did not like the sound of that.

The four girls ordered pizza for dinner and then Caroline brought out her beauty box. It was a really big box.

As Elena looked at herself in the mirror, all covered in green goo, she realized this was the first time since she was in high school that she truly felt like a girl. She was genuinely enjoying herself, not having to worry about getting through the day, not walking around with a grey cloud over her head.

"We should play a game," Caroline said.

"Like what?" Bonnie asked.

"Something to help us get to know each other."

"We already know each other, Caroline," Lexi said.

"Not Kat," Caroline objected.

"Oh, no… I'm not that interesting," Elena objected.

"We could play Never Have I Ever!" Caroline exclaimed, getting up to get a bottle of vodka.

"She always does this," Lexi rolled her eyes. "Before Matt, her passion for games was legendary among the guys."

"Let's hope she settles for the PG-version tonight," Bonnie said.

"I'm just happy she didn't say Truth or Dare," Lexi said, and whispered to Elena, "You do not want to do her dares."

After several rounds, the girls were giggling like crazy. When it was Bonnie's turn, she thought for a moment, then said, "Never have I ever… slept with Damon Salvatore." Elena's eyes widened as both Lexi and Caroline took a drink.

"Your turn," Caroline said to Elena.

"Um… never have I ever… shoplifted," Elena shrugged, running out of ideas. Caroline shrugged and tossed back a shot. After a glare from Caroline, so did Bonnie.

"What? You are such little delinquents," Lexi laughed.

"We were like eight… this new beauty store had just opened and the shop was packed. We were looking at the lip glosses and, knowing our parents would never let us buy them, we pocketed them," Caroline said.

"But your mom's the sheriff!" Lexi gawked.

"And you know how well we get along," Caroline rolled her eyes.

"You weren't caught?" Elena asked.

"Sure we were. Mom and Mrs. Bennett made us go back to the store, pay for the lip glosses out of our allowance, and return them. She said that was our first lesson in tort law."

"Never have I ever…" Caroline said, "gotten myself arrested."

Lexi took a drink. "I was dating this 'bad boy', and one night, he comes to pick me up in a stolen car. So, we're driving and this police car sees us and turns on the sirens, and my boyfriend floors it. They eventually catch up to us, and I spend a night in jail."

"Please tell me you dumped him," Bonnie said, appalled.

"Actually…"

"No! Lee?" Caroline gawked.

"He's reformed," Lexi shrugged and giggled.

The girls kept to the topic of bad boys and Elena got increasingly nervous. She tried to change the subject when it's her turn, but failed. The next time it was Caroline's turn, she brought up the topic Elena's dreaded most.

"Never have I ever… been abused."

Elena didn't know what to do. She didn't owe these girls anything, but she just felt she needed to get out of there. Bathroom break. Yeah, that was plausible, right? She got her opportunity to sneak away while Lexi questioned Caroline why she would bring up such a depressing topic. Elena grabbed her purse on her way to the bathroom and when she had locked the door behind her, she got out her cell phone.

"Did you tell her?" she asked, tears welling up.

"Kat? Hang on…" Damon said, getting up from the camp fire and moving out of earshot. "What's wrong?"

"Caroline just asked me… I mean, she didn't ask, but… did you tell her what I told you about my husband?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, did you tell Matt?"

"No. I promised you I wouldn't tell anyone."

"Then why would she say that?"

"Kat, listen to me… calm down, ok? Now tell me what happened to get you this upset."

"We were playing a game…"

"Oh, no, let me guess… Caroline's idea?"

"Yeah."

"Which one?"

"Never have I ever."

"So what did she say?"

"She said she had never been abused."

Damon let out a small growl. "She's fishing. She's still hung up on those bruises."

"So what do I do?"

"It's a game, Kat. You don't have to tell them anything."

"I know, but…"

"It hurts you to lie, to keep things from people you view as friends," he said softly, understanding. "Listen, it's up to you. But know this – you have nothing to be ashamed of."

Elena took a deep breath. "I should get back out there, right?"

"You're hiding in the bathroom?"

"Yeah."

"How many shots has Caroline had tonight?"

"I couldn't even begin to tell you."

"Well, good thing that house has two bathrooms, or you'd be in a lot of trouble. As it is now, I doubt she even notices you're gone."

"So… what have you been up to?" Elena said, sinking down to the floor, her head resting against the door.

"Fishing."

"You fish?"

"Why do you sound so surprised?"

"I don't know… I just… didn't picture you as someone who fishes – for anything other than compliments, that is."

"Ouch."

"But seriously, I don't see it. You and your leather jacket just don't seem to go with the outdoors."

"My buddy Ric is visiting, he's a sucker for plaid. The things we do for our friends, right?"

"I don't believe you. I'm gonna need proof."

"I'll snap a picture."

"Promise?"

"Kat! What are you doing in there? Come on, Caroline's hogging the other bathroom, and I need to pee," Lexi whined from outside the door.

"Gotta go," Elena whispered.

"Call me later?"

"Now, why would I do that?"

"Because you can't get enough of me."

"You're drunk," Elena giggled.

"Not as drunk as you are," Damon teased.

"Kat!"

"Gotta go," Elena said again and hung up before Damon could make another remark.

"Finally!" Lexi said as Elena opened the door and brushed past her.

"So, who were you talking to in the bathroom?" Lexi said to Elena when they had gone to bed. Caroline and Bonnie were in Caroline's bedroom and Lexi and Elena shared the guest room.

"What?"

"Don't act so innocent. You were sneaking off to talk to some guy, right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Elena said, trying to sound oblivious, but she couldn't keep herself from smiling.

"Come on… who's the guy?"

"There's no guy."

"It's Damon, isn't it? You're totally into him."

"No!"

"Riiight," Lexi laughed. "You've got it bad…"

"I… there's nothing going on between us."

"Would you like there to be?"

"No. No, I… I'm not ready to dive into the whole dating scene."

"For the record… I haven't seen Damon this smitten before."

"Smitten?"

"You said he took you out to the falls?"

"Yeah… but it's not like it was a moonlit night."

"You know the last time he brought someone there?"

"No."

"His ex. The same weekend he found out she was sleeping with his brother. After he dumped her, he came to the Grill, drank himself into a stupor, and I let him crash on my couch. The next morning, before he left town, he said he would never bring another girl out to the falls ever again, that place would be forever tainted by her and her betrayal. The fact that he brought you there – it means something."

Elena went to sleep that night not being able to get thoughts of Damon out of her head.

Author's Note: Literary definitions courtesy of Wikipedia.