Wow, thank you so much for all of your reviews. For some strange reason though, Fan fiction is not letting me see any of my reviews, luckily a friend helped me to read them, but it is not showing up on my actual account when I click on the story. that's why I haven't replied to any of them! On with the story

Chapter Two

Elena had passed out a few times in her young life, mostly due to how she abused her body or not eating enough. She had even been taken to hospital to have her stomach pumped, not a great experience, very embarrassing and one she wanted to forget, but it hadn't stopped her doing all the things that were bad for her. None of those times had she wanted to faint, it had always been a mistake when she took things too far and it felt horrible. But now she wanted nothing more than to collapse into sweet oblivion.

Damon Salvatore. God, how long had it been since they had last seen each other? Seven years, was it really that long? How must she look to him right this second? A complete and utter mess, that's how. What was happening to her? The old Elena that she had been only a few seconds ago, the girl who, although everyone wanted to be around her, never had a close friend or emotional ties with anyone, who although she wanted to lose control all the time always knew exactly what she was doing, she was turning in to a nervous wreck. The Elena who wouldn't think twice about using a guy or a friend to get what she wanted actually had that unfamiliar feeling of butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.

"So, I heard you were back in town and I thought we could catch up?" he asked her lightly, his eyes looking up and down her half naked body, a flicker of a movement, very subtle and she couldn't quite read him clearly. She used to be good at knowing what he was thinking and feeling, and now it was all just so, awkward. It was for her anyway, how should she start a let's get to know each other conversation? She had always had such big plans of leaving Mystic Fall and being a famous singer or actress or dancer or writer or model, someone who made a difference somehow and all she could say now was, well Damon, I royally screwed up my life what have you been up to lately?

"This isn't really a good time," she said, knowing her voice was a little cold, a lot distant, and hardly how you would great an old friend from the past at all. She could sense the hurt in him and hesitated. "Ok but, I should probably get changed," The old Elena wouldn't have said that at all. Once, she had even opened up the door to a sales guy, thought he was cute, invited him in and next thing you know they were fucking all over her apartment and even in the Jacuzzi. But she somehow couldn't be that way with Damon. When they had been teenagers, she had always appreciated the Salvatore charm. He had had a way about him that girls couldn't resist, and that was partly the reason she had begun to hang out with the brother's in the first place. But she wasn't that shallow. She had gotten to know a side to Damon he hardly ever showed anyone else, but she had fallen into the deadly friend trap. They had kissed once, but nothing had ever come of it and she had just assumed it was better that way.

Now though, he had turned into an even more stunning human being and she felt pale in comparison. He had obviously worked hard at becoming the best he could be.

"You don't have to," he started to say and she smiled. Maybe he had his flaws too, because she could instantly tell he hadn't meant to say those words.

"Shit, Elena I'm sorry. I just meant, hell, I'm just going to say it. You look good."

She laughed, starting to relax as she invited him in. "I'm glad you think so because I sure don't feel like it. I hate long flights."

He nodded. "I won't stay long I promise. I just wanted to make sure you were ok. See if we could arrange a night out or a dinner or something more appropriate."

She stared at him in wonder "Since when did you care about appropriate?"

"I guess I've grown up a lot."

There was a silence and she felt worse than ever. She may have grown up too, but some people would say she acted like a sixteen year old still.

"Total head fuck," she muttered as she rushed up the stairs to put on some jeans. How was it that nothing her parents had ever said had made her think about anything and just a look from her one time best friend had her falling to pieces?

Soon she was back downstairs and pouring him coffee, wanting to make a good impression. Since when had she cared what other people thought about her?

"So I'm the sheriff now," he dropped the bomb shell quickly and it almost made her drop the kettle as she was pouring.

"Excuse me?"

He smiled at her reaction. "I'm just getting the big life changing stuff out the way. Now it's your turn"

Ok, she thought. You don't want to spend the next few months or weeks or whatever lying to him and pretending to be someone you're not, do you?

"Go on 'Lena. You must have loads of stories about New York?"

She grimaced. Deep breaths, deep breaths. "I've got a few. But you might not want to hear about them."

He raised an eye brow. "It can't be all that bad right?"

She shrugged. "Well, since you're all about doing what's right these days, we might not be able to be seen being friends. It might not be good for your reputation." She hadn't meant that to sound as harsh as it did but she couldn't help it. Suddenly she knew exactly what to say to distract him and she knew it was lousy of her to avoid the truth, but she really wasn't ready yet. She just couldn't bring herself to do it.

"My parents died in a car crash a few days ago," she said abruptly. "That's part of the reason I've come back here."

He was shocked. "Jesus I'm sorry. I don't know what to say."

"There's nothing you can say. What's done is done and you can't change it."

"But if you need to talk, you know where I am, ok?"

She sensed that she had made him feel bad, but why wasn't he leaving? Most guy when they sensed a girl was in a fragile state of mind tended to run away as fast as they could. Damon wasn't running anywhere.

"Ok," she whispered.

"Let's watch a film," he said suddenly.

Elena's eyes widened in surprise "A film?"

"Yeah, you know, one of your favourite films."

"I didn't exactly own many DVD' in New York Damon."

He looked puzzled. "What kind of person doesn't own DVD's? Ok, we'll go rent one. I don't even mind if it's a chick flick but that way we can spend the day together, as it's my day off. And sooner or later, you're going to tell me the rest of what' bothering you. "

"Why are you being so damned nice?" no guy was ever this nice to her, ever. It was always just sex; she never bothered with anything else, unless they had drugs to offer her as well. Then she let them stay...for a few hours, never a whole day. How could she tell Damon that was who she was now and that the reason he didn't have any books or DVD's with her, or even many photograph's of her and her parent's was because she was out all the time with stranger's?

Damon was looking at her intently and even though they were right next to each other, it felt like they were miles apart and would have to get to know each other all over again. Did she want that effort?

"Come one, you know you want to, all the popcorn? It's very tempting."

She didn't know what she wanted. With her parent's dead she had inherited everything they owned but she hadn't even wanted any of it, so she had still come here because that had been the last thing they had wanted. It must have meant a small part of her wanted to change but she wouldn't admit it yet. Maybe it was good that she had come home, not about her parent's death, but now she had met Damon again...she wondered if he felt the same intense attraction that she felt for him, or if he still thought of her as reliable, agony Aunt Elena? Maybe he should make the effort to be his friend again; she needed all the friends she could get. But this time, hopefully, they could get passed the friend zone and become, something more. If he wasn't so messed up that she ended up pushing him away completely. Unless he was so freaked out by what she had to tell him. He was a sheriff though, surely he could handle it?

"Popcorn sounds good to me," slipping on her shoes and grabbing her bag, she followed him out of the house.

He glanced back at her with that grin that could melt even the coldest person's heart. "Then you'll tell me?"

She nodded with determination. "Then I'll tell you."

TBC I really hope you like this chapter, can't write anymore because I'm off out soon, but there should be another update hopefully soon. Pretty please continue reviewing and let me know what you think!