A Month
She thought back to the kiss often. The way it had felt when she ran her fingers through his wet hair. The way he had pressed her into the wall, his hands skimming her waist. She had felt an explosion of passion inside her, as she had pulled him closer, savoring the taste of him. He awakened feelings within her that she didn't even know were there. And the rain getting heavier and heavier every second had just added to the intensity of the whole moment. But most of all, she thought about the way it had ended. And she wished more than anything, it had gone differently.
She had felt herself falling, and she knew she couldn't let it happen. She could taste the rainwater on his lips, and she felt her heartbeat quicken. But the small voice in her head, reminding her how bad this was, was getting louder every second. Until finally she couldn't take it any longer. She shoved him hard, and he stumbled backwards, surprised. She barely looked at the bewildered expression on his face, before she slapped him hard, across the face. His head swung sideways from the force of the slap, and his cheek started to redden almost immediately.
"Elena, I-" Damon started to say, looking confused.
"Don't." She cut in, sharply. "How dare you? I'm engaged. And if that wasn't enough, you're no one. I shouldn't even be seen with you, never mind talk to you, never mind this."
She started to leave, to walk away from him, but he caught her wrist.
"Elena, don't do this." He said. She turned to look at him, and while she had expected him to look completely taken aback, or hurt, or angry, instead his face was expressionless. There was something in his eyes, but she couldn't make out exactly what it was.
"Stay away from me." She told him, before lifting up her dress and running down the street. She heard him shouting her name behind her, and for a second, she couldn't tell if the water on her face was her tears or the rain.
Elena shook herself out of the past, and tuned back into her mother's talk of wedding dresses and flowers. It had been over a week since she had last seen Damon, and she knew she shouldn't have said those things to him. But he shouldn't have kissed her. They had crossed the line, so she had shouted at him for his own protection. Klaus had almost killed him when they had just been spending time together, she couldn't imagine what he would do if he found out they had kissed.
"Which one do you think?" Miranda asked, holding out two different flowers.
Elena barely glanced at them. "That one." She said, pointing to one of them. The truth was that she really didn't care which one, but with her mother, she had learnt things would go more smoothly if she pretended to choose.
"Yes, yes. That's what I was thinking too." Her mother said, nodding enthusiastically.
Elena wondered what Damon was doing. Would he be working in the shop? Or hanging out with his brother? She reprimanded herself again. She really needed to stop thinking about him. She had asked him for adventure, and she had got it. And now with her wedding in less than a month, and Klaus acting even more dangerous, she knew she should put him out of her mind, and start focusing on her future life as a Lady.
"Oh and Elena, Lady Esther is throwing a ball tomorrow evening, in celebration of your engagement to Klaus." Her mother gushed, excitedly. "She's having a dress made for you specifically, too. She's so generous!"
Elena smiled slightly at her mother's happiness. This was why she was doing this, she reminded herself, for her family.
(**)
Elena entered the ballroom, on the arm of Klaus. She had to admit, the place looked beautiful. The room was filled with handsome gentleman, making conversation with pretty, young ladies. Elena couldn't help but compare this to the pubs he had visited with Damon. Though the people here were better dressed, had better manners and were much more civilized, she could see that the people at the pub had seemed to be enjoying themselves more.
"Elena, I'd like you to meet my sister, Rebekah." Klaus said, gesturing to a young woman standing in front of them.
She had long, blonde hair, which fell in soft waves down to her shoulders, and the same mesmerizing blue eyes as her brother. She was wearing an elegant dark green dress, which complemented her hair.
"It's lovely to meet you." Rebekah said, taking her hands and smiling at her. She smiled in a similar way to Klaus, though Elena felt that Rebekah's smile was a lot warmer than his.
"The pleasure is all mine." Elena replied, curtsying slightly.
At that moment, Lady Esther joined them.
"Klaus, Elena, come." She said, taking their hands and leading them halfway up the grand staircase situated in the center of the room, so they were looking down at everyone gathered in the room.
Esther handed them both glasses of wine, and then raised her own up high.
"I am pleased to welcome Elena Gilbert into our family. She will make a lovely daughter, and an even lovelier wife to my son." Esther said, her voice ringing loud across the room. "To Klaus and Elena." She ended the toast.
"Klaus and Elena." Everyone else echoed, raising their own glasses. Klaus smiled, leaned over to her, kissing her lightly on the cheek while she tried not to flinch at the feel of his cold lips. Elena gazed out at the sea of people, and though she knew she was surrounded by all these people, who were here to celebrate her happiness, she felt extremely alone.
She felt the despair rising inside her, and her breathing rate started to increase when she saw a flash of familiar dark hair. Damon. Her mind filled with questions. How had he got in here? And who's clothes was he wearing? Because while he was technically dressed correctly, they clearly weren't his own clothes. He was wearing a black dress-jacket and waistcoat, both which were definitely too big for him, and ill-fitting pants. He was looking up at her, with an unreadable expression. He raised his glass towards her.
'Klaus and Elena.' He mouthed, and then gulped down his wine. Terrified, she looked over at Klaus, but he was talking to his mother, and hadn't noticed. Everyone else had returned to their own conversations, and nobody seemed to be paying her any attention, so she went down the stairs, back into the sea of people. Trying to be as polite as possible, she pushed her way through the crowd to where she had last seen Damon, while murmuring her thanks to the people congratulating her. She emerged from the crowd next to the table, where he had been standing, but there was no sign of him. She turned slowly around, scanning the crowd. She thought she saw a glimpse of dark hair, and started to move in that direction when she felt a hand slide around her waist.
"Looking for someone?" Klaus's smooth voice murmured in her ear.
Trying to maintain her composure and catch her breath, she shook her head.
"May I have this dance?" He asked, watching her suspiciously.
"Of course, my lord." She told him, placing her hand in his, and accompanying him to the center of the room.
She danced two dances with him, before his mother glared at him disapprovingly, and he went to ask one of the other ladies to dance. As soon as he was gone, she let out a shaky breath, and fanned herself. She hated being in such close proximity to him, and now she felt like she couldn't breathe. Making sure his attention was elsewhere, she slipped out the room and stepped outside into the cool, night air.
"Nice party."
She spun around, and saw Damon standing there, his face expressionless.
"It's a ball, not a party." She corrected, remaining calm, even though her heart had jumped at the sight of him. She hadn't realized she'd missed him until she had seen him.
He shrugged. "Nice dress." He said, nodding towards the pale pink gown her future mother-in-law had gifted her.
"I can't say the same for you." Elena said, holding back a smile, as Damon looked down at his baggy suit, and smirked.
"How did you get in there?" She asked, impressed, despite herself.
He shrugged again. "It's easy when you're wearing the right costume." There was something about the way he said the word costume, it made her think he was looking down on her, and her social circle.
"You're still with him." He said, looking back over to Klaus's large mansion.
"He's my fiancée."
"What does that make me?" He asked. She opened her mouth to reply, but she didn't really know what to say. A few weeks ago, she would have said friend, but the word just felt wrong now. They weren't friends. But what were they?
He nodded. "Nothing. I got it." He started to walk away, and she realized that's the last thing she wanted him to do.
"Wait." She said, reaching out to stop him.
He sighed, and shook his head angrily. "Elena, what do you want from me? You walked away last time, and I let you. Now I'm just doing the same."
She paused, her hand stretched out towards him, unsure what to do or say.
"You don't understand." She said finally, letting her arm drop back down to her side.
A few minutes passed in silence, as he gazed at her thoughtfully.
"Ok then." He said, and then took her hand, pulling her into one of the side streets, away from the lights of the ball that was still in full swing.
"Explain it to me." He said, leaning against the opposite wall, facing her.
She chewed on her lip for a couple of seconds, unsure where to start. "We come from two different worlds." She finally began. He didn't say anything, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. "It may seem odd to you, but reputation is important to my family. Very important. This marriage to Klaus would really cement our status in society, and that's all my mother has ever wanted. I'm doing this for her."
Damon's expression was unreadable again, and Elena realized that it was very difficult to read him. She wished she knew what he was thinking. When he didn't say anything for a while, she thought she should add some more.
"I don't want to hurt my parents, and my engagement breaking up would do exactly that. Klaus may frighten me, but I don't believe he would ever actually hurt me. And if I act properly, and be a good wife to him, I'm sure my life won't be that bad. He will provide for me, and he will look after my family. That's good enough for me."
She paused again, not really sure what other explanation he was looking for. She looked into his deep blue eyes, and felt herself drowning. He was so handsome, and the way he looked at her just made her want to run to him. But no. She was to be a lady, and that was not how ladies behaved.
"Do you love him?" He asked, after what felt like an eternity of silence.
She laughed at the possibility. "Of course not."
He pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against, and took a step towards her.
"Do you even like him?"
"Not even a little bit." She said, smiling confusedly.
He took another step towards her.
"Do you like me?" He asked, his voice unusually quiet.
She took a breath of air before answering softly. "I-I don't know."
He took one more step closer to her. "Liar." He whispered, but he was close enough to her now that she could hear easily.
Was it a lie? Well yes, she enjoyed spending time with him. And yes he was very handsome. And yes, her heartbeat quickened when she saw him, and she often felt her mind drifting towards thoughts about him. And that kiss, well that kiss had been spectacular. She couldn't ever imagine feeling this way about Klaus. But did that mean she liked him?
He was so close to her now, she could feel herself start to blush. She tried to step away, but she had her back to the wall. There was nowhere to go.
"What are you worried about?" He asked, softly.
She looked up into his sparkling blue eyes, and thought to herself. What was she worried about? Honestly?
"I'm worried I'll fall for you." She finally replied.
He sighed, and took her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips, and placing a soft, gentle kiss there.
"Elena, I have fallen for you."
His words sent a shiver of excitement down her spine, and she tried to hold back a smile. Because this is what she had dreaded. And he could see that too.
"You're not scared because you might fall for me." He said, reading her like a book. "You're scared because you already have." He finished.
How was it possible for him to know her this well?
"I know it's only been a month, I know this has happened fast, and I know it doesn't make any sense. I don't understand it myself, how someone like you, could possibly like someone like me. We're so different." He murmured into her ear.
"I have to marry Klaus in a month." She told him, the thought filling her with despair.
"I know." He replied quietly.
"So there's no future here, for this, for us." She told him, though the idea made her want to cry.
"I don't care." He said. He was so close now; she could feel his breath on her cheek. His lips were millimeters from hers.
"My family, they-" She started, but he cut her off.
"They won't know. No one will." He said, trying to reassure her.
"And Klaus? If he finds out, he'll-"
"I can handle Klaus." He said firmly, but she shook her head.
"That didn't go so well last time." She replied, reminding him gently of the brutal beating he had received a couple of weeks ago.
"I wasn't ready then. Now I'll be waiting for him."
He cupped her face, his thumb skimming her cheek. His touch awakened feelings in her that she didn't even know existed.
"Now, are you finished with your excuses?" He asked, the corner of his lips turning up in a grin.
She nodded, feeling scared but exhilarated. What had she gotten herself into?
"Good." He replied, and then pulled her into him, meeting his lips with hers. He tasted sweet like before, and she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him as close as she could to her. She knew this was wrong, and she knew she was making a horrible mistake. But she couldn't deny it, she had feelings for this man. This ungentlemanly, rude, arrogant man. He excited her, and thrilled her. And though they only had a month, she put the thought out of her mind, and tried to focus on the present. On the way one of his hands ran through her hair, while the other skimmed her waist. The way the touch of his lips ignited a spark within her.
She would marry Klaus in a month. But for now, Damon was the only name on her lips.
(**)
Klaus shook the gentleman's hand, kissed the lady on the cheek, and wished them a good night. And then he turned back to the rest of the ballroom. Most people had left now, but there were still a few milling around the room, enjoying the drinks and the music. But there was one face he still couldn't see.
He walked over to where his sister was laughing about something with his mother.
"Have you seen Elena?" He asked them both quietly, to make sure no one else was listening in. It wouldn't do to have rumors spreading that he didn't have his fiancée under control.
Esther shook her head, and went to say goodbye to an elderly couple who were just leaving.
Rebekah laid a hand on his arm. "Why are you so worried? She'll be fine." She said, trying to reassure him, but he shook his arm out of her grasp. He handed her his drink, and then strode away to look for her.
Rebekah sighed, but didn't follow him. She knew her brother could get angry very easily, and she only hoped Elena hadn't wandered too far away, for her sake. In fact, it would probably be better if she found Elena first, before Klaus had a chance to get angry.
She walked over to the doorman, and discretely asked him if he had seen Elena. He told her she had gone outside over fifteen minutes ago, and to his knowledge, she hadn't come back yet.
Rebekah put on a cloak, and looked to see where Klaus was. He wasn't in the ballroom, and she knew he hadn't gone out, so she assumed he was searching the rest of the house. She would bring Elena back, and then they could make up some excuse about where she had been. She knew it must be daunting to marry into this family, Klaus was so…intimidating, and if that wasn't enough, he was a Lord.
She stepped out into the cold, shivering slightly. It was summer, yet sometimes it didn't feel like it here, in England. Carriages were pulling away, and she waved goodbye to the people she knew. She took a sip of her drink and looked around, but there was no sign of Elena. Where was she? She walked a little ways along the street, but Elena wasn't there. She had probably gone home, she must have been tired. The ball had dragged on a lot longer than normal. She was about to return to the house, when she heard murmured voices coming from the side street nearest to her. Probably a young couple trying to sneak some moments alone before the ball ended. She sighed and walked into the street. She wanted to give them their privacy, but their parents would be looking for them. Better she interrupted, than them.
She walked into the street, trying not to trip over the cobbles, and looked up to see whom she was interrupting. The sight made her drop her glass. It smashed all over, and the couple looked up. It was Elena, and some other man. He was dressed as if he had been attending the ball, but the clothes hung loosely off him, and he had a dirty, ragged appearance. He clearly wasn't from a wealthy background. Elena looked terrified, but the man was showing no emotions.
"Rebekah!" Elena said, walking towards her, but she took a step back.
She looked behind her, to see if anyone had come to investigate the loud noise, but there was no one there.
"Elena. Come with me right now." She said, trying to make sure her voice didn't shake. She could only imagine Klaus's fury if he had seen what she just had.
"Rebekah, please. Don't tell him. Don't say anything." Elena begged her, taking her hands in hers.
Rebekah ignored her, and looked at the man standing behind Elena.
"Get out of here." She told him.
His face betrayed no emotions, but when he looked at Elena, she saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Elena nodded quickly. "Go, Damon."
He took one of Elena's hands, kissed it quickly, and then raced further down the street, disappearing into the darkness.
Elena turned back to Rebekah, her eyes pleading.
"Please. He'll kill him." She said, softly.
Rebekah looked into Elena's eyes, and saw the desperation there. She clearly really liked this man.
"Alright." She said quietly, and Elena's face flooded with relief. "But you can't see him again." She added, and Elena's smiled faded.
"It's for your safety, Elena. And if I'm going to lie to my brother, I need to know that this won't happen again."
"It won't." Elena said, firmly.
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