Sides
Rebekah picked up her dress, to prevent it from sweeping the dirt, and hurried along the street. After getting the full name from Elena, it had been easy enough to find his address. She ignored the looks she was getting from people in the street, after all, she was used to people staring at her, since she was the sister of a Lord. Though normally the looks were for a different reason. Eventually she found the right house, and knocked on the door. The door swung open after a few minutes, and she entered the small living room.
"Sit." Damon said to her, gesturing to one of the seats. He didn't seem surprised to see her; he had probably been expecting this.
She shook her head, the manners she had been brought up with automatically kicking in. "No thank you. This won't take long."
She looked at him, as he waited to hear what she had to say. He was a handsome man, she had to admit. Though he wouldn't have stood out to her in a crowd. Growing up amongst all the wealth and opulence she was used to, meant that she had never spoken to, or been associated with anyone from a lower social standing than herself. Damon's lack of money was now evident to her, and the gap between their standings was making her uncomfortable.
She took the bundle of notes she had been carrying out from her bag, and pressed it into Damon's hand. He looked down at it, his face completely expressionless. She idly wondered if Elena could work out what he was thinking, or if he just had an incredible poker face.
"What's this for?" He asked.
"Please, stay away from Elena." She told him. She expected understanding or something to dawn on his face, but he betrayed no emotions.
"You're buying me off?" He said, smiling humorlessly.
"No!" She said, shocked by the directness of his accusation. "I'm just helping you out. If you're hoping she'll help your…situation, then I can do that for you." She said, trying to be delicate.
"You think I'm with her for the money?" He asked, disbelievingly. She noticed he was finally showing an emotion. It was anger.
"No, no! I'm sure you really like her. But she's engaged. To my brother."
"Ah, so this is another message from your brother? To stay away from his fiancée?"
She shook her head. "You've heard about him, haven't you? Trust me, if he knew about this, he would not be showing you as much kindness as I am."
"So this is kindness?" He asked, shaking the money at her, his voice sharp.
"Bribing me away to stay away?"
"Please, do it for her." She begged him. He didn't seem to understand the danger either he, or Elena, were in.
"Keep your money." He said, throwing the bundle at her. She scrambled to catch it before it fell, stunned by his rudeness. No one had ever spoken to her like this before. "Get out."
He turned away from her. Embarrassed and angry, she ran out, back to her side of town.
(**)
The next month flew past for Elena. She met Damon almost every day, and she was happier than she could ever remember being. They mostly met up in the night; it was easier for her to sneak out that way. However sometimes they would take a picnic up the hill that was situated right outside the town. Being outside of the town meant the risk of being seen was greatly reduced. Those were her favorite days. He would lean against the tree, and she would lie down, her head in his lap. And they would talk, as he gently stroked her hair. One day, they were lying side-by-side, gazing up at the sky. She rolled onto her side, and watched him. He had his eyes closed, so she could study him, without him noticing. He was so beautiful.
"My wedding is in one week." She said, softly.
His eyes flicked open, and he rolled over too, so he was facing her as well. He shuffled over, to move closer to her, and she laughed at the movement. He was normally so graceful, so it amused her when he wasn't.
"So?" He raised one eyebrow.
"I don't love Klaus." She said.
"Me neither. Good, now we don't have to fight over him." He said, then he grabbed her hand, pulled her onto him and kissed her, the sounds of her laughter mingling with his.
That was the only time they mentioned the wedding.
(**)
"You're getting married tomorrow!" Miranda beamed at her daughter.
Elena smiled back, she liked seeing her mother happy, thought the thought of her upcoming wedding made her want to throw up.
She was in her bedroom, getting final adjustments made to her wedding dress.
"Turn around." The dressmaker instructed her, and she did as she was told.
She looked down at the white lace she was wearing, and ran her hands over it. The dress was gorgeous, she had to admit.
"I'll go help out Esther." Miranda said, kissing her on the cheek, and then heading downstairs.
Miranda had barely been gone five minutes, when there was another knock on her door. Elena had her back to it, so she couldn't see who it was.
"Come in." She called out, expecting it to be Bonnie, or her mother. The voice that greeted her sent a chill down her spine.
"Get out." Klaus's soft voice reached her almost immediately. She turned her head, but he was looking down at the man crouched by her skirts.
"But my lord, the dress…" The dressmaker started to object, but one look at Klaus's icy glare made him change his mind. He hurried out, quietly shutting the door behind him. She tried to turn around, but the way her dress was draped, made it difficult.
Klaus walked around her, looking her up and down.
"The dress is satisfactory." He said, nodding slightly.
She didn't reply. Even though she was standing on a box, he was still slightly taller than her. He moved in front of her, and her heartbeat immediately quickened with fear.
"You think I wouldn't find out?" He said quietly. He was standing so close to her, she could feel his breath on her cheek.
"Find out what?" She asked.
"DON'T LIE TO ME!"
The sudden rise in volume made her jump back. He grabbed her arm, to stop her from falling backwards.
"I let you have your month, with that peasant. Now the fun is over. We are to be wed tomorrow morning, and after that, if I ever see him around you again, I will kill him. Have I made myself clear?"
His voice had gone quiet again. She didn't know which was scarier.
"Yes." She replied, avoiding his piercing gaze.
He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Good." He leaned in, and planted a soft kiss on her lips. She gritted her teeth to force herself not to recoil.
He opened the door to leave, and then paused.
"And you won't tell him about this conversation. Ok?" He added.
"Why not?" She asked, and then bit her lip, regretting it. She didn't want to make him angry again.
She held her breath, waiting for his reaction. Fortunately he just shrugged.
"More fun that way. So, deal?"
She nodded her agreement, and he walked out, leaving her shaking in fear.
(**)
She looked at herself in the mirror. The girl she saw looked calm, composed, even determined. It was a total contrast to how she felt on the inside. Her normally straight hair had been curled stylishly, and fell to her shoulders in soft waves. She was in a room, at the back of the church, with fifteen minutes to go until her wedding. She had seen the people file in. There were hundreds. Their wedding had been announced in the newspaper, since the wedding of a Lord was a big deal. This meant there were even bigger crowds outside the church, waiting for a glimpse of the happy couple.
She saw a figure appear behind her, and she turned slowly, already knowing who it was, before she had seen him. She wasn't even surprised or curious about how he got in. She knew him too well by now. If he wanted to get in, he would find a way to get in.
"Wow." Damon said, looking her up and down.
"Is that a good wow, or a bad wow?" She asked, smiling slightly.
"It's a 'don't marry him' wow."
Her smile faded. "Damon, you knew we only had a month." She told him softly.
"That was before I knew I was in love with you." He replied, equally softly.
She paused, stunned. He stepped closer to her.
"Before I knew you were in love with me."
A tear ran down her cheek, and he stepped closer, brushing it away gently with his thumb.
"Don't marry him." He repeated.
She shook her head. "I – I can't."
"We could run away. He wouldn't find us." He told her, she could tell he wanted this badly. She wanted it badly too.
"I couldn't do that to my family. They want this. They wouldn't be able to cope with the humiliation, if I did that to them."
"I love you." He pleaded.
There was a slow clapping from the corner of the room. Elena jumped backwards from Damon, as they both looked towards the source of the sound.
Klaus stepped towards them. She hadn't even heard him enter the room.
"How heartwarming." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Elena tried to step in front of Damon, but he moved past her, and walked over to Klaus.
"Looks like I'll have to give you the message myself, this time." Klaus said to him.
Elena had barely taken one step, before Klaus launched himself at Damon.
"Stop it!" Elena yelled at them, but they paid her no notice.
Damon fought well, he was faster and smarter, but Klaus was bigger, so his punches did more damage.
"Please, Klaus, stop it!" Elena cried. She stepped forward, trying to pull Klaus off, but he shoved her backwards, and she stumbled.
Damon turned, to check she was alright, and Klaus took advantage. He pushed him to the ground, kicking him a few times.
Elena saw the pause in the fighting, and stepped between them.
"Just stop!" She cried.
Klaus held his hands up. "As you wish, my lady."
Elena turned to see Damon get to his feet, blood dripping from his face.
"This is who you're marrying?" He said, his voice breathless, as he looked at her in disbelief.
Klaus remained standing, silently, a small victorious smile on his face.
"You don't understand!" She told Damon, as more tears ran down her face.
Damon wiped the blood away, with the back of his hand.
"I understand fine. I don't know why I ever thought you were any different, you people are all the same at the end of the day. It comes down to one thing: money. He has it, I don't. I get it, you have to choose the comfort of the life he's offering you. I hope it's worth it." He pushed past her, past Klaus and stormed out of the room.
Klaus looked down at the time. "10 minutes, I better get cleaned up."
He left the room, like nothing had even happened, like her world hadn't just been shattered.
(**)
10 minutes later, she was standing in front of the priest, facing Klaus, the man she was about to marry.
She looked out across the crowd, sitting in the church. She was surprised about how few people she recognized. These weren't her people, but who were?
"I do."
She distantly heard Klaus say. It felt like a far off dream. This wasn't her marrying Klaus, it was someone that looked like her. She was up on a hill, somewhere far away, gazing at the man she actually loved.
At the very back of the church, there was a movement, and her eyes were immediately drawn to it. Damon slowly entered, wincing as he moved. His lip was cut, and blood was dripping from his nose. His clothes were torn and stained. His hair was rumpled, and there was another cut above his eyebrow.
"Elena? Do you?" The priest's gently voice pulled her back into the present, and she turned back to hear him repeat the marriage words he had been reciting.
She looked at Klaus, who was smiling, though she could sense the sinister edge behind it. He was completely immaculate. You wouldn't have been able to tell he had been in a big fight just minutes earlier. His suit was in pristine condition, his hair was flawless, his eyes sparkled with anticipation. She turned back to Damon. He shook his head slightly, his face showing only one emotion. Not anger, not even sadness. It was with disappointment. He was disappointed with her. He thought she was choosing wealth and comfort over him, and that killed her. He nodded at her, as if saying goodbye, and then turned and walked out of the church, out of her life.
She clenched her fists to control herself, to make sure her voice didn't break with grief.
"I do."
(**)
Damon stood in the crowd, blending in with the hundreds who had turned up for this. The wedding of the century, they were calling it. He could hear snatches of conversations all around him, surrounding him, suffocating him.
"She looked so beautiful!"
"But did you see him? So charming, so handsome!"
"I wish I could find myself a Lord, pity there's only one around here."
"I don't know why she looked so depressed, she's being welcomed into the Mikaelson family, she could look a little grateful!"
"They make a beautiful couple, their children will be fine-looking!"
"Shh! Here they come!"
He shut out the murmurs, and turned to see the church doors being pushed open. First came Elena's parents, and then Lady Esther, and her daughter Rebekah. Then finally, she came. She was on the arm of her husband, waving graciously to the crowd. She was so beautiful. The sunlight made her hair sparkle, as she smiled serenely. She looked like she had been born a Lady. She was made for this life, and he was not. They paused at the top of the steps, both of them smiling to the onlookers, their eyes sweeping across the crowd. Damon pulled his cap down further, avoiding their gazes, but Klaus saw him. He smiled, coldly, victoriously. Then he leaned down, and placed a short kiss on his bride's lips. Damon clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay still, as the horde of people around him erupted into cheers.
Damon slipped out of the crowd, and started the walk home, the loud sounds and cheers eventually dying away, as he entered his side of town again. He had no place on that side, he never did.
(**)
Hey guys, now I know that the 'pre falling in love' part moved quite fast, but it's only because now the exciting stuff is about to happen, after this marriage. And to be fair, Damon and Elena have known each other for a few months now, that's enough time to fall in love right? Romeo and Juliet took a lot less time ;) Review pleaseee, I need to know if people are actually reading this stuff!