Chapter 5

Elena angrily turned her phone off after seeing the seventeenth message Stefan sent her. If she was going on this trip with the guy who had the biggest ego ever, she might as well enjoy herself. She's always wanted to go to Italy, and she wasn't about to let Stefan ruin it for her.

They were already five hours into their flight, and before they reached Italy they had to make a quick pit stop to refill on gas. "Just five more hours to go." mumbled Elena to herself.

"And when we get there you will love what I have in store for you." Elena turned her head towards Damon who was grinning.

"Can't wait." she replied dully.

Damon looked at her seriously. "What's wrong?"

Elena sighed. "I'm scared Damon. I'm afraid that Stefan will do something to someone."

Damon laughed. "What's so bad about that? Little brother is finally realizing that the world doesn't revolve around eating little woodland creatures."

Elena glared sharply at him. "Forget I said anything."

Damon sighed. "Listen, I'm sure your friends are fine. You're making a big deal out of nothing."

Elena smiled a little. "Maybe you're right."

"I'm always right."

Elena rolled her eyes and took a sip of her apple juice. She glanced over to the window to see pink and orange colors in the sky. She yawned absentmindedly. Damon looked over at her. "You should get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Elena nodded, laying her head on the soft pillow and was drifting off to sleep. Damon put his arm around her head and moved it to where it was laying on his shoulder. Elena sighed and snuggled into his body. "You're a great pillow Damon."

Damon smiled. "I thought you would be asleep."

She smiled to herself. "I was about to when I felt you moving me. Don't worry, I'll kill you tomorrow."

Damon smirked mischievously. "I look forward to that."

Elena moaned softly. "You are such a pompous jerk."

"I know."

Elena said nothing as her weariness finally won her over and she was pulled into the depths of darkness.

A hard jolt woke Elena out of her seat and she looked up towards Damon who was sitting calmly in his seat. "We're here."

Elena looked out her window to see beautiful, round shaped buildings and lush glowing trees. The plane skidded across the burning concrete until it came to a stop. "Welcome to Italy. Please enjoy your stay." an Italian voice purred over the intercom.

Damon flashed Elena a smirk as he got up and grabbed his stuff from the overhead compartment and handed Elena her bags. "Let's go." He swung his blue bag over his shoulder and walked off the plane with Elena following him.

After going through security, Damon and Elena finally were able to rent a car. Damon smirked as they walked out the sliding doors and to the yellow Porsche that awaited them. Elena's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the fine car infront of her. "Damon, how did you get this?"

He smirked, walking over to the driver's side and opening the door. "Money isn't an object for me Elena."

Elena sighed. She was going to have to get used to this. Damon loved going out in style. "So, where are we going?"

Damon sniggered as he got in and revved the engine, causing a soft purr to emit from the car. "That's for me to know and for you to dot dot dot."

Elena rolled her eyes and got in, slamming the door behind her. Damon checked the luggage to make sure it was in properly and soon they were driving on the golden brown dirt of Italy. Shadows covered the road from the houses and other sorts of buildings as they zoomed down the smooth dirt road. Elena couldn't help but smile as she caught a glimpse of the shining water in the distance. This place was everything she had imagined. The sky was clear, sun was beaming down on them, and misty water flew up from the ocean to touch the blue sky. "This place is beautiful."

Damon grinned. "What did I tell you? I told you that you would love it."

Elena faced Damon and offered him a small smile. "Despite being taken here against my will, I really am enjoying it here."

"Then you will love what I have planned for us today." Damon made a sharp turn into a narrow road and continued on the narrow pathway. Elena laid her head back into the seat and relaxed. Soon, the car came to a stop and Elena looked up as Damon opened the door and got out. She opened her door and got out while looking at the fancy restaurant they were infront of. "Pizzeria?"

"Yep." replied Damon as he started walking toward the place with Elena.

"Wow, I've heard so much about Italy's pizza. I heard it's the best."

Damon smirked. "It is the best. You won't find better pizza then here."

They opened the door and walked in the crowded place. People were waiting anxiously to be seated and all of the chairs were taken up. Damon rolled his eyes. "Great, we come here and it's crowded. No worries. I can make this fly by faster." Elena watched as Damon went up to the person standing behind the booth and talked to her without breaking eye contact. The girl slowly nodded at him and he went back to Elena. "Piece of cake."

"Do you have to do that?" Elena hissed angrily.

"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you would want to bypass the crowd and eat?"

Elena rubbed her temple. "Not like this. Damon that's not fair to the people waiting for hours."

"Well, it's not my fault that they can't control minds." replied Damon.

Elena glared darkly at him. "Mr Salvatore, your table is ready." Damon nodded at the pretty woman standing infront of them and followed her to their booth. Elena cast one last glance at the people waiting before following Damon. "Here is your table." The lady smiled at them kindly before leaving.

Elena's fingers slowly grazed the soft red fabric under her fingertips, awestruck that she was even in a place like this. Damon held out a bottle of wine to her. "Wine?"

Elena looked at the bottle shyly for a minute before taking it and pouring herself a drink. "This is a really nice place Damon." Elena commented.

Damon nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "That's why I choose this place. After we have our dinner I will take you out by the river. It's really nice at night."

Elena could've sworn that he just winked at her but she brushed it off. "What brought all this romantic stuff on?"

Damon smiled innocently. "What? I'm just being nice. You deserve a day to relax Elena. What better person to do it then with me?"

"The devil." Elena replied coolly, taking a sip from her wine glass.

Damon softly laughed and looked up as the waitress brought them their salad and bread. "Thank you." Elena said nicely as she took a piece of bread and some salad.

"Do you guys know what you want?" asked the waitress as she got out a pen and paper.

Damon nodded. "We'll both have the BBQ pizza."

The waitress nodded, scribbling the orders on her pad and putting it away. "Your food will be here momentarily."

Damon took a drink of his wine while Elena ate her salad. Elena looked up at Damon smiled widely at her. "You really are enjoying this aren't you?"

"Enjoying what?"

"This. Bringing me here and having a romantic dinner with me, then taking me out to the river so we can watch the sunset together."

Damon raised his eyebrows. "Wow you catch on fast Elena." He smirked. "Not that I'm surprised."

Elena sighed deeply and looked into his sky blue eyes. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'm actually having a great time with you. The food here so far is amazing. How do you know how to pick these places?"

"Have you forgotten that I have lived for over a hundred years? I've been to Italy numerous times. In fact, this Is the place where most vampires live."

Elena nodded. "Go on."

"For centuries this has been a home to all vampires because there's not much exposure to the sunlight, there's alot of buildings that you can hide in, plus the italian taste pretty good."

Elena laughed a little. "So why didn't you stay here and not go back to Mystic Falls?"

Damon's eyes darkened for a second. "I think you know the answer to that."

"Oh." Elena replied, a feeling of guilt rushing in her body.

A steaming hot plate of pizza was set infront of Elena and Damon. They turned their attention to the waitress who was smiling at them. "I hope you enjoy your food."

Elena nodded her thanks and watched as the waitress disappeared into a crowd of people. She smiled. "I think I need to wait a little long for my pizza to cool off."

Damon picked up his and starting eating it while Elena just stared at him. "How did you do that?"

Damon smiled sarcastically. "Well first, you reach down with your hands-"

Elena glared. "No not that! How did you pick it up so quickly without burning yourself?"

Damon laughed. "It's because I'm colder then you are and I can take the heat. It doesn't bother me as much."

Elena picked up her now cooled off pizza and took a small bite, savoring the delicious flavor in her mouth. "They have the best pizza here."

"I know." Damon replied with a wink which caused Elena to laugh.

"You really go to lengths to impress a girl."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"I guess not." Elena replied while trying not to laugh.

Soon, they had finished their food and walked out, seeing that the sky had darkened and lampposts were now illuminating the city. They walked a little ways over to a bridge and stopped. Clear, running water covered the weathering rocks and lush trees covered the sides of the river. Damon smiled as he stared at it, his mind flickering back to when he was younger and he would come here everyday just to look at the pure water gliding down the smooth rocks. It was the perfect place to be in the 1900s. Elena sat down on a bench and listened to the soft lullaby of the water rushing through the clear stream. Damon sat down next to her and put his arm around her. He reached behind him and pulled out a rose and gave it to her. Elena stared at him for a second before taking the rose and softly inhaling its sweet scent.

Elena didn't know what to say. Her mouth felt like it was clamped shut and she couldn't get it open to speak. It was a rare thing to see Damon act like this with anyone. She never expected to see this side of him, ever. "Thank you Damon." she said at last, her mind still recovering from shock.

Damon leaned down and kissed her on the hand. "Why, the pleasure is all mine. I brought you here and said we were going to have a good time. So that's what we're going to do."

For the first time, a tiny spark ignited between them. A soft kindling feeling brushed up Elena's skin, warming her body.

Little did she know, that as much as she wanted to deny it, she was falling for Damon Salvatore.

A/N: I hope this chap was good! Really need to start updating my other stories so be on the lookout for them!

As a side note, I will be leaving in three days to go to Hawaii for vacation so this might be my last story update until I get back. I will try to squeeze one more in before then but if I can't then I will see you guys in three weeks:)