No price is set on the lavish summer;
June may be had by the poorest comer.
- James Russell Lowell
Elena looked between the brothers. Damon was wincing in an over exaggerated pain, though she saw the panic in his eyes, while Stefan had one eye brow raised and a small, mysterious smirk on his lips. She was suddenly aware of how little clothing she was wearing, so she looked to Damon.
"I'm gonna go." She said, heading upstairs to change and gather her belongings. Stefan turned to Damon when she was finally out of earshot.
"So you're dating Elena now?" He asked, walking passed his brother to grab a pancake off one of the plates. "I thought you two always hated each other."
"We're not dating." Damon replied, stepping away from his brother curiously. "Why are you back in town, Stef?" He asked, leaning against the kitchen counter. When Stefan didn't answer, Damon nodded, gazing towards the stairs. "I'm going to go change." He said, going the same way Elena had exited.
"You're pancakes are burning!" Stefan called up the stairs after his brother.
As soon as Damon entered the room, his eyes hit Elena, who was bending over to grab her underwear from the floor. She looked up at Damon and her eyes held complete rage. She stepped into her lacy booty shorts and righted her body to look at Damon, who was sliding jeans on. "What the hell, Damon? Why is Stefan here?" She asked, running hands through her hair and she re-straightened the dress she wore the night before. Damon rifled through his drawers for a clean shirt to wear.
"I don't know!" he whispered loudly, rolling his eyes. "I haven't seen, or spoke to him in half a year, Elena." He stated, pulling a black v-neck over his head. "He's not even supposed to be here, he was living with our Uncle Zach. Who I now have to have a word with." Elena ignored any of Damon's attempts to be remotely calm in this situation. She would have to now deal with Stefan's knowledge of the two's hidden relationship. This ran the risk of someone slipping the word to Caroline or Tyler, who Elena had obtained a steady relationship with in the past week or so. There was too many emotions entering Elena's mind at once and she didn't know how to deal with it all.
"Damon, I don't know if we can do this anymore." Elena said, looking up at him, and she watched as his eyes darkened slightly.
"We just have to be more careful." Damon said, and she looked up at him sadly. She saw through his mask of hatred towards his brother and right to the sadness of her leaving him.
"Okay, fine." She said, "But you're taking me out for lunch." He nodded, watching her pick up her bag and leave the room. Stefan was still in the kitchen, and he gave her a little wave before turning around to open the fridge. Elena hesitated, but continued out of the house, and to her car.
"I have a problem! A really big problem!" Bonnie called from inside Elena's closet.
"Mhmm?" Elena sounded uninterested, sprawled out on her bed, reading a magazine, while Caroline's head rested on her stomach, texting someone on her phone. Caroline giggled when she felt the vibration of Elena's voice shudder through her own body.
"I have no dress and no date." Bonnie said, throwing a couple of Elena's dresses to the ground.
"Why don't you go with Jeremy?" Caroline asked, and Elena shot her a pointed look, but Caroline only shrugged.
Bonnie walked out of the closet to look at the two girls on the bed. "Would that be okay, Elena?" Elena hesitated, looking up at Bonnie's hopeful face.
"Sure, why wouldn't it be?" Elena smiled briefly. "That takes care of one problem, how about the other? Do you want to go shopping?"
"Not enough time." Bonnie complained. "Caroline, do you have any dresses I could wear?" Caroline had to think this one through, going through her mental wardrobe to find something for Bonnie.
"Yes!" Caroline stood immediately and Elena sat up on her bed. "Come with me." Caroline said, grabbing Bonnie's hand. "Elena, are you joining?" They turned back and Elena shook her head briefly.
"Can't. Lunch date with Tyler." The girls nodded and left the house. Elena needed a shower since she only had time to change when she got home. She hopped into the shower quickly, and when she got out, Damon sat conveniently on her bed, waiting for her. She jumped slightly when she saw him, and he smiled up at her towel-clad form.
"You're early." She said, bending over to kiss him on the lips. He smiled into her lips, and he slyly pulled on the knot in her towel and it fell to the ground. "Damon!" She complained, pushing him backwards onto the bed and grabbing her towel again. He laughed, sitting back up and fixing his leather jacket.
Elena stepped into black silky underwear and a matching bra. Her hair was only damp now, and she sat on Damon's lap mischievously, hooking her legs around his sitting form. She kissed him passionately and slowly, and as he registered her moves, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Maybe we should skip lunch." He mumbled, as she kissed his neck. Just as her hands reached his belt buckle, she stopped and pushed his body backwards again, getting off of him.
"Nah, I'm hungry." She smirked, walking around her room to find something to wear. She threw on jean shorts and a tank top as he recovered from her teasing.
She picked up her diary, quickly jotting something down. "Writing about me? Damon asked, getting off her bed.
"Mmm, just about to." She smiled. "Dear diary, have I ever mentioned how much I hate Damon Salvatore?" She said aloud, pretending to write that in her book.
"Don't lie now." Damon warned playfully.
"All I've done is lie, Damon. To Caroline, Tyler…"
"You're not dating Tyler. You know he's just a prop to make me mad." Damon cut her off immediately.
"Oh is he?" she asked, standing up and closing her diary, setting it down on her bed. She moved closer to him seductively. "Let's see just how mad I can get you." She was so close, but when he dipped into kiss her, she moved away so his lips met the corner of her lips.
"Elena! Tyler's here!" Aunt Jenna called from the bottom of the stairs, and she could hear Jeremy shuffling around the room next to hers because he was going to be late for picking up Bonnie. Elena looked herself over one more time in the mirror. Her hair fell in gentle ringlets down her back and over her shoulders. She wore a bright red dress that started out in a sweetheart neckline and hugged her body reaching a few centimeters above her knees. She wore red lipstick, and black high heels, which only elongated her legs even more. There was no doubt Elena Gilbert would be the most beautiful girl at the party. With her doe eyes and lush brown hair, who wouldn't be in awe at her beauty?
Tyler looked up at her, and Elena never realized how dashing he looked in a suit. He smiled as she walked down the stairs, coming to a stop right before him. He could smell her light perfume and it smelled just like her. He placed his hands on her hips and kissed her calmly on the lips, and Tyler was never really good with calm and gentle. She smiled as he pulled away.
"You looked beautiful." He said, releasing her from his grip.
"And you look quite handsome yourself." She smiled, fixing his tie. "You know, you didn't have to come all this way just to pick me up and drive right back to your house." She said, raising and eyebrow, but taking his hand and leading him into the kitchen, where she grabbed herself a bottle of water from the fridge.
"I wanted to." He said, stealing her water for a sip. "Let's go, shall we?" He asked, and she nodded, allowing him to escort her to the car.
When they arrived, music was already playing loudly throughout the house and tons of people were gathered all over the estate. Elena looked around, taking Tyler's arm as they stepped onto the property. As they neared the house, the first set of eyes that fell on her belonged to Caroline. She smiled at her best friend and continued her conversation with a couple other girls. The only words that were audible were "…and Damon was so good about it…" and Elena did her best to ignore the rest of what Caroline was saying. Tyler tugged her inside the house, where she was greeted by Carol Lockwood. As they entered the hall, there were twenty or so people around, some dancing while other were grouped together conversing.
Elena spotted Liz Forbes, the town's deputy, and Elena almost went to say hi until her eyes met cold blue ones. Damon was talking to the sheriff, and he looked up and couldn't help but gawk for a few seconds. One of his eyebrows rose, and he held up his glass of champagne at her. She smirked, her eyes flashing to Tyler, then back to Damon in one swift movement. Neither Liz nor Tyler spotted their actions, and Damon smirked back at her, once again turning his attention to Liz.
The property was filled with numerous drunken people but most sober just trying to make themselves visible in this town. Although this was a highly exclusive party primarily for the founding families, the town always invited the most prestigious people in the city for a few hours, and then they leave when dinner is being served.
Elena looked around the room at the few people left. She took her seat at the large table beside Tyler and Jeremy. The table was already filled with the Fell Family, the rest of the Lockwood family, Jenna, the Forbes and then Damon, who sat across from her. Elena embraced the bottle of wine that was set out on the table, already sipping her second glass. Damon gave her a questioning look, but nonetheless she continued her drink. Jenna and Jeremy were arguing like children beside of her, Tyler was speaking to his mother in an irritated manner, the Fell twins were complaining about being vegetarian, Caroline was trying to get them to shut up, and Damon was making some witty remark about something stupid. Elena sat there quietly, enjoying her wine, and her view of Damon.
"So Damon, I hear you're thinking of joining the council." Carol Lockwood said in her creepily unnerving tone. "This city could use a man like you around here." She continued, and Damon smiled politely.
"I think that'd be lovely." He said, and Elena admired him. Although he was a total dick, he put on an amazing show. She didn't understand how he was so good at lying. Of course Damon would never willingly take up a position in Carol Lockwood's crazy committee. He hated that kind of stuff.
Tyler whispered something in Elena's ear, and Damon looked up immediately when she giggled. She looked at him smiling, yet listening intently to whatever Tyler was saying. Damon shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and she felt his feet connect with hers. Oh great, footsie. Caroline seemed totally ignorant of her surroundings as she spoke to Damon, who was clearly more focused at playing with Elena's feet under the table. Elena kicked him, watching as he frowned.
"Ow." He said quietly, and only Elena was paying attention, so she giggled again. She stood now, turning away from the guests.
"If you'll excuse me." She said, shooting a glance at Tyler, who smiled and stood too, "Me too." He followed suit and Elena couldn't help but noticed the jealous look on Damon's face as they exited the room. She grabbed his hand and ran upstairs, dragging him into his bedroom. He had her quickly against the wall, kissing her hard, and Elena realized she'd never really hard core made out with Tyler before. And she never realized how good he was at it. Tyler turned her around quickly, getting a giggle out of Elena, and she fell backwards, him on top of her, onto his bed. She quickly unbuttoned his shirt, one of her hands placed on his abs, the other holding the back of his neck. One of Tyler's hands was cupping her face, while the other was just under her dress, resting on her thigh.
Tyler kissed his way down her neck, and Elena almost didn't notice when the door flung open until she heard an embarrassed giggle. Caroline and Damon stood in the doorway, Caroline draped over Damon like a curtain. Damon's eyes instantly connected with hers, and Elena looked nervously up at Tyler. "Ooops, sorry." Caroline said, turned around and dragging Damon out of the room. Tyler fell off of her to lie down on the bed beside her.
"Well, that girl certainly knows how to ruin the moment." Tyler said, and Elena glanced at him and then stood.
"I'm gonna head home with Jenna and Jeremy. I'm super tired. I'll call you later." She said, leaving the room abruptly. She ignored the noises coming from the room over and made her way down stairs.
Jenna and Jeremy were already getting ready at the front door and at this moment, Elena felt she had impeccable timing. She grabbed her jacket and followed her family out of the house.
The knock on the door at three in the morning woke Elena up. She got up out of bed, hearing the desperate cries of annoyance from Jeremy. Elena stumbled down the stairs, not quite seeing clearly. All the lights were still, off, so when she opened the door and her eyes landed on Damon, his eyes red and his shirt half open. It was apparent that he was drunk, since he still had a bottle of rum in his hand, and he looked her up and down. Elena felt naked in front of him, wearing only a short black slip.
"What, Damon?" She asked, leaning against the doorframe with a groan. He looked at her for a few seconds, like he was hesitating.
"Can I sleep here tonight?" He asked, his lips looked slightly pouty and his eyes looked vulnerable.
"Why?" Elena questioned, concerned.
Damon looked at her legs, then back up to her face. "Caroline knows."
Well, the chapter's finally up. i'm sorry, i had a total crazy writer's block for the past week, and ive been busy with school so i didn't have time to update.
it's finally out of my system. tell me how you like the chapter. was it too soon for Caroline to find out? do you want to see Caroline comfront Damon and Elena? how do you think Caroline found out about them? WILL I EVER BRING ALARIC INTO THE STORY? (i'll just leave that to linger, 'cause me loves some Alaric)
revvieeew!