Cannonball
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from The Vampire Diaries.
Ah I am so happy to finally get this chapter posted! I hit a few roadblocks and mind-blanks with this one, which was frustrating, but I got it back on track in the end I hope!
Hope you enjoy it...
December 15th 2012.
Saturday 10:00am.
Mystic Falls
I pepper small kisses onto Damon's bare chest as we lay lazily on his bed, the covers wrapped around us tightly as I snuggle into him on this cold December morning, wishing that we could just stay like this all day and not have to move out into the real world.
"I love you." Damon smiles slightly as he plays with my hair, his other arm wrapped tightly and protectively around my waist as I rest my head against his chest.
"And I love you." I grin widely, butterflies erupting in my stomach at the words because even though it's been over a week since our mutual confession where we both realized the extent of our true feelings, or at least I did, Damon apparently had figured it out a little while before me, but each time he says those three words to me it still makes me giddy.
I don't think I have ever felt happier in my entire life.
"I am rather lovable." he smirks that Damon smirk and I let out a small laugh as I run my hand slowly down his chest and sigh blissfully at his toned body underneath my fingers.
"Don't push it Salvatore." I tilt my head up to give him a pointed look and he chuckles softly and I feel his chest shake gently against me. "God I wish we could stay here all day."
"Me too." he leans down and presses a soft kiss onto my forehead. "Why aren't we again?"
"I told you, I promised I'd spend the day with Bonnie and Caroline."
"Oh right yes, tweedle dee and tweedle dumb." he rolls his eyes.
"Hey don't be mean, they are my best friends." I frown slightly but it doesn't offend me, I know Damon has his own reasons for not liking Caroline, her last name simply being the main one.
The irony in that considering where we are right now!
"I know, I know." he presses another kiss to my head.
"Besides, I need to spend some more time with them, it's been a while." I frown for a moment as I think of the last time that I spent time with either of them that wasn't at school. Caroline would have been at the Winter Formal and Bonnie was even before then. "Caroline has been acting weird too, I feel like she's been giving me the cold shoulder a little bit at school and when she does say something I feel like there is some sort of hidden meaning behind her words."
Ever since the Winter Formal, Caroline has been distant with me. I don't really know why, well, actually no, I have an idea. I think she's pissed that I ditched her and left without saying goodbye, or more so, without saying goodbye to Mason.
She probably still has that silly idea in her head that there is some sort of spark going on there, because trust me, there really really isn't.
"I don't even know why you're friends with her, she clearly makes you miserable." Damon shrugs casually and I sit up and look at him a little offended.
"What? No she doesn't!"
"Elena baby, I have seen you at school with her and the rest of your preppy little popular friends and you look absolutely miserable!" he says seriously with a shrug. "You can't be yourself around them and you know it."
"That's not Bonnie and Caroline though..." I frown slightly at his words. "And besides, these days it seems like you are the only person that I can be myself around, my real self anyway."
He smiles softly at me and presses a finger under my chin. "I feel the same." I feel my stomach explode again with those damn butterflies.
"I know." I push some of his fallen messy hair back. "This is tough, we both know that. But it's not Bonnie and Caroline's fault that I am lying to them and keeping the most important part of my life a secret from them." I watch as Damon's smile widens and he raises an eyebrow at me and I look at him a little confused. "What?" I ask paranoid.
"I'm the most important part of your life, huh?" he grins and I immediately blush.
Damn it.
"I...that's not..." I sigh loudly and give in because I know there is no point in trying to deny it now. "You know that you are."
"Good." He replies almost smugly as he rolls over so he is on top of me. I watch almost nervously as he caresses my face softly, his fingers lightly tracing my skin. "Because you are the most important part of mine too, you are the most important thing to me, Elena, don't you ever dare question that." he looks down at me intently, the smugness gone and I can see how serious he is.
I gulp slightly, the tension in the room sky high. "I won't." I whisper back and his lips tilt slightly in a half smile before he dips his head down to press his lips upon my awaiting ones.
"I love you." he murmurs against my lips before kissing me again and I just let myself get wrapped back up in this beautiful little bubble of ours.
Wrapped up in him.
After saying a reluctant goodbye to Elena this morning I decide to at least try and make something up of my Saturday and head round to the Salvatore mansion to go and bug my baby brother.
I haven't really spent much time with him lately, with spending most of my time with Elena in secret, I'm aware that I have kind of thrown myself off the radar.
"Knock knock Stef." I walk into his room without knocking despite my words and laugh as he groans in annoyance and covers his head with his blanket. "Oh come in! It's lunch time, get your lazy ass out of bed!"
"Fuck off!" he grunts almost angrily and I frown but don't think much of it before I lean down and pull the covers off him in one swift quick movement. "Damon!" he barks at me angrily, immediately sitting up and I watch amused as his morning hair sticks up messily.
"Now that is not a pleasant way to greet your big bro." I tease him but Stefan does not look impressed. "Oh quit pouting! Go shower! We can head over to The Grill or something, I'm starved and you owe me lunch."
"How the hell did you work that one out?" he grumbles but follows my instructions and reluctantly stands up from his bed. "I don't owe you anything."
"Um you owe me for a lot of things." I casually wave him off. "But lets not get into that right now, go on, chop chop!"
He glares at me and goes and grabs a towel from his closet before heading towards the door but he slowly stops and turns around, his eyebrows pressed together slightly.
"Why are you really here?"
Now I am the one frowning. "What? What kind of question is that?"
He shrugs. "A reasonable one. You've been kind of...distracted lately. I'm just curious, is all." there is something in the tone of his voice that I just do not like.
But I guess I can understand his suspicions, I mean I have been MIA lately, especially since the Winter Formal, I've blown Stefan off anytime he asked me to do something, always in favor of spending time with Elena. We've pretty much spent every night together since, which means that I haven't had a moment alone with Stefan except for the odd lunch hour in school but even then we were surrounded by our friends.
"I've been doing my own thing lately, I know. But...I'm here now, so I'm sorry if I've been a sucky brother but you just need to stop being so pissy about it and go shower so we can go eat."
Stefan shakes his head at me but follows my instructions anyway and I let out a loud sigh before leaving his bedroom and heading back downstairs into the main parlor where my Dad is currently residing with a glass of scotch in his hands.
"A bit early isn't it?" I comment casually.
"Damon." he turns around to face me, his usual neutral expression on his face. "What brings you here to grace us with your wonderful presence." he mutters almost sarcastically and I roll my eyes.
Clearly this is where I get my snarky attitude from.
"Pulling Stefan out of his smelly pit." I breeze past him and take a seat on the couch, leaning back and stretching my legs onto the glass coffee table in front of me, knowing that if Marie was around she would be having a fit right now about my feet being on the furniture. "How come you're not in the office?" I ask confused, because despite it being the weekend, Giuseppe is always working.
He shrugs and takes a small sip from his tumbler. "I've got a meeting."
"Here?" I ask confused.
"With my lawyer." he explains and I immediately tense.
Oh yes.
Sometimes it slips my mind that my father is currently slap bang in the middle of a fraud investigation and I am the unknown reason behind it.
"Oh..."
"It's just procedure really, but it seems that Mystic Falls finest have finally set a court date."
"Oh yeah?" I ask surprised, immediately sitting up as a nervous guilty feeling hits the pit of my stomach. "When?"
"Sometime in February."
"Oh. So not until the New Year?" I ask and he slowly nods his head. "How are you feeling about it?"
He lets out a deep chuckle and I wait almost anxiously for his answer. "Damon, someday you will learn that feelings make you weak." I frown slightly at his words but they aren't unfamiliar too me. "Whatever will be, will be, but I'm a confident man and I am determined to not let a self-righteous asshole like Grayson Gilbert bring me down. I am made of stellar stronger stuff."
I stay silent as I let his words sink in, because he really doesn't seem at all worried and I wonder how he can be so confident about this, because when this goes to court this will be no longer be up to Grayson. There will be a judge, and even possibly a jury, and those will be the people to decide his fate, not Grayson Gilbert.
"I've worked too damn hard to build this family where we are today, to make the money that we have, to build my reputation. It's not going to fall over a damn fraud charge that's for sure." he almost smirks and I can admire his confidence and arrogance, because he really isn't letting this affect him.
It sure helps me ease my guilt, if only just a little.
"Damon!" I look to my right just in time to see Stefan grumpily walking down the stairs. "You coming or what then?" he shouts impatiently and I roll my eyes before pulling myself to my feet.
"Coming baby bro, chill." I roll my eyes, giving a quick nod to my Dad before following Stefan out of the house.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Huh?" I snap my head up out of my trance from the daydream I was previously enjoying as I thought back to the night and morning spent with Damon, and most recently the very delayed distracting shower that we shared before we were forced into parting ways.
Unfortunately my mind has been taken away from those precious enjoyable memories to the real world, where Caroline is currently looking at me expectantly over a rack of clothing in one of the stores in the mall.
"Well?" she asks impatiently and I swear I hear a hint of iciness to her tone.
"Oh...nothing." I answer lamely.
"Well it clearly isn't nothing." she rolls her eyes slightly at me and I glance at Bonnie who just shrugs almost helplessly.
"I was just thinking about something, that's all." I try and sound as casual as I can. "Nothing important."
"Right." she scoffs and I frown at her attitude as she turns her back to me and I look again over at Bonnie who is chewing on her bottom lip before I turn back to Caroline.
"Have I done something to upset you, Care? Because I have been getting some really cold vibes from you lately." I decide to just go out and get this over with, because she has been making jabs at me from the moment we met up two hours ago.
"Nope. You have done absolutely nothing at all, Elena."
"Well clearly I must have done something." I push.
She swings around to face me, a look of annoyance on her face. "Maybe you have done something." she lifts up her arms. "Maybe you haven't, but it doesn't matter because you won't care either way. Now excuse me, I need to go and try on this dress, I have a date with Tyler tonight." she practically storms away and I watch her go astonished at what has just happened.
What is wrong with her?
I turn back to face Bonnie who looks just as baffled as I feel.
"What the hell was that?"
"I have absolutely no idea." Bonnie frowns confused.
"Have I done something to upset her?" I ask honestly. "Because if I have, Bon, just tell me."
"I...I don't know, Elena." she shrugs. "I have no idea what is wrong with her."
"Do you think it's maybe because of what happened at the formal? I already apologized to her for leaving without saying goodbye, and I even apologized to Mason personally too. What else does she want me to do? It was just a freaking dance! It doesn't mean anything!" I whine in frustration.
All I want to do is gush and tell my girlfriends the real reason I left the formal early, and not the lame headache excuse that I used instead. I want to tell them that Damon told me he loved me, I want to tell them that I have fallen in love with him too. I want to sit up late and do each others hair and paint our nails as I give them little cheeky hints about our sex life, giggling into the early hours of the morning.
I want to do all of that with them but I just can't.
"You know what Caroline is like, she takes those things so seriously." Bonnie tells me reassuringly. "Just let it go, she'll get over it in a few days, she always does."
I sigh and reluctantly nod my head, because Bonnie does have a point.
"Besides, now that we have this moment to ourselves, want to tell me something?" she asks with a smile on her face and I instantly feel myself blush.
"What is there to tell?"
"OH come on Elena!" she practically jumps on her feet. "Tell me about your mystery man in Richmond! It's clear that he's been who you have been spending most of your time with lately, I mean it must be going well because you are practically glowing!"
Again I blush at her words and I bite on my bottom lip as I try to hide my smile. "Is it that obvious, huh?"
"Only to people looking for the signs, like me! So come on, spill!"
"There's nothing much to say really." I reply coyly much to Bonnie's disappointment. "We're spending a lot of time together but we're taking things slow, I mean it's nothing that is really serious, we're just having fun."
Oh the lies just keep on coming.
"So does that mean I can't meet him?" she asks with a pout.
"Not quite yet Bon, sorry." I smile apologetically but she just waves me off with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, I understand, he's your little hidden away secret and you want to keep him to yourself, I get it." she smirks.
Oh how right she is about that, she just doesn't realize the seriousness of the situation.
"You got me." I grin slightly and she lets out a small laugh.
"One day though I will find out who he is!" she teases me with a smile and I force one back because she will most likely be definitely not smiling when she finds out who my real mystery man is.
I don't think anyone will be.
I watch Stefan carefully as he sips on his drink across the table from me in The Grill, his eyes glued down to his phone but I can see that he's not even paying attention to that either.
He's been acting weird all day and I just can't work out why.
"So...got any plans for tonight?" I decide to try and break this awkward silence that has once again descended onto us.
Stefan shrugs and finally places his phone back into his pocket. "Don't know, will probably just hang with Kol and the guys."
"Right..." I nod my head slowly.
"You?"
I stay silent for a moment because at some point during this awkward lunch I received a text from Will informing me of a party he is throwing tonight, but I can't exactly mention this to my brother since I'm planning on taking Elena.
"Nah, will probably just have a night in to myself."
Stefan stares at me for a moment. "You seem to be doing that a lot lately."
"Maybe I just like my own company." I fire back quickly before deciding to just bite the bullet. "What the hell are you getting at today Stefan? You've been making digs at me from the moment I woke you up."
"I'm not making digs." he defends himself immediately. "Why are you so paranoid? Nothing is wrong with me."
Before I get the chance to argue my point further, a pair of hands slam down onto the table and I turn my head to see Kol looking between us with a smirk.
"Well if it isn't the Salvatore brothers! Mind if I join?" he sits down without waiting for our answer and I roll my eyes slightly. "So, what are you two up to on this fine day?"
Stefan shrugs and I shake my head with a sigh. "Nothing, I was just leaving." I mutter before standing up. "Call me when you've stopped being a little bitch." I glare at my brother before leaving, hearing Kol snicker as I go.
Stefan can act like an asshole for all I care, I'm just not in the mood to deal with him right now.
I walk outside of The Grill, the cold December air immediately attacking my cheeks and I slip out my cellphone and immediately tap for Elena.
"Hey." she greets me almost quietly and I realize she is probably still with her friends.
"Can you talk?"
"Uh...not really." she replies slowly.
"Come over to my place when you're done?"
"Ok will do, bye." she hangs up quickly but I know it's only because she has too. It would have been to risky to stay on the line for a moment longer.
I take a slow walk to my car before climbing inside and heading home, deciding that so far today has been a complete waste of a day but hopefully tonight will be able to make up for it. As I park up I hear my phone ringing from my pocket and I mutter under my breath as I slip it out of my jeans and frown when I see that the call is from my Uncle Zach.
I stare down at it for a moment because I know exactly what he will want from me and I just don't want to do that tonight.
So I hit ignore and climb out of the car, quickly heading up to my apartment where I would wait for Elena before we head off to Will's party tonight.
"Ahh Damon! Elena!" Will literally struts up towards us with that stupid Cheshire grin on his face. "Welcome! So good to see you again beautiful." Will winks at my girl and takes her hand in his to kiss her knuckles.
"Hey, none of that now." I slap his hand away and watch as he chuckles and slaps his hand across my back.
"You're funny. It's unusual to see Damon Salvatore bring around the same girl twice, even if she is as stunning as you Elena."
"Yeah well, I'm blackmailing him." she jokes with a smile as she taps my chest. "He doesn't have a choice."
"Or a chance!" Will smirks before looking back at me. "You better keep her around."
"Oh I'm going too." I pull Elena even closer against me and jokingly nuzzle her neck.
"Stop!" Elena pushes me back slightly with a giggle but still keeps close as she pushes back some of her long flowing hair. "So Will, we're about to die of thirst here."
Will grins and turns his body around slightly. "Drinks are in the kitchen, go on in and help yourself. You know the way."
"Sure do, see you around buddy." I take a hold of Elena's hand and pull her towards the direction of the kitchen, pushing past annoying drunks on our way.
Apparently this party is already kicked into full gear.
"Ooo, bourbon I'll take that!" I grab the bottle straight away and pour some into the plastic cup I found, handing one to Elena who immediately grimaces in disgust.
"How can you drink that stuff? It tastes awful."
"It's a required taste." I smirk at her before taking another sip. "What do you want? Beer?" she nods her head and I walk towards the fridge before pulling out a chilled bottle, opening it before handing it to her. "There you go."
"Thanks." she smiles and gives me a quick peck on the lips before swinging back a large chug and I watch impressed as she almost downs half the bottle in one go.
"Not bad Gilbert." I smirk and she looks surprised for a moment before her own smirk crosses her lips.
"Oh please, I was thirsty, that wasn't even me trying honey."
"Oh right, really?"
"Ahuh."
"Ok then."
"Damon!"
"Hmm?"
"Urgh don't do that!" she swats me on the arm.
"Do what?" I laugh innocently, pulling back slightly from her swing.
"Try and get me into a bet! Don't think I haven't noticed your tricks, Salvatore! You taunt me secretly so I end up making a bet that you know you will win, and when you do, you pull out the innocent card claiming that it's not your fault because it was my idea to make the bet in the first place!"
"Well it usually is your idea." I tell her pointedly, my eyebrows raised amused and I laugh as she groans in frustration as I quickly down my drink in one go and throw away the plastic cup.
"You are so infuriating!"
"Oh come on," I grab her hips and pull her against me, fighting her strength for a moment as she tries to pull away but I just pin her back against the counter behind her. "You know you love it." I smirk as I press myself further against her, noticing that she isn't really putting much up of a fight anymore.
"No." she glares at me, but the way that her eyes keep drifting down to my lips speak otherwise.
"Yes." I slide a hand underneath her top and caress her soft skin for a moment before I let it slide higher towards her breast, smirking as I hear her breath hitch as I cup her right breast in my large hand, palming it slowly.
"No..." she closes her eyes, her lips parting slightly and I take the opportunity to press my own against her and kiss her hungrily, my tongue immediately sliding into her mouth as I grind my hips against her as one of her arms slides around my waist, the other gripping my hair tightly as she tugs me even closer against her.
I pull away slightly breathlessly, her dark eyes fluttering open and for a moment I get lost in her chocolate pools before I press my lips back against hers.
God she is ridiculous.
No really, it is ridiculous to be able to feel this way about someone. No one has ever made me feel this way over kissing, over touching. I feel like my entire body feels like it's on fire.
"Ahum."
Unfortunately the sound of someone clearing their throat is the bucket of ice cold water being poured over my head.
I groan in frustration before pulling away, swinging around in annoyance but freeze when I see that it's Klaus who is stood there, his arms folded against his chest as he looks between us with a somewhat snarky smirk on his face.
"Damon." he greets me before his eyes slowly drift to Elena. "Gilbert."
"Klaus." I frown confused. "What are you doing here?" I feel Elena rest one of her hands on my back but apart from that she stays silent, standing behind my shoulder so her view isn't totally blocked but she is still behind me.
"It's a party...I was invited, so I came." He shrugs casually. "Do you have a problem with that?"
I press my eyebrows together. "Well that depends."
"Depends on what?"
"If you have a problem with us being here."
"Us?"
"Yes." I wrap my arm around Elena's waist bringing her to my side. "Us."
He chuckles slightly before turning his gaze onto my girlfriend and I feel Elena immediately tense in my arms but I stroke her waist soothingly to try and reassure her that I won't let anything bad happen.
"Elena Gilbert." Klaus eyes her up and down slowly. "I don't think we have ever actually officially met."
"No, I don't actually think we have." Elena replies and I'm a little surprised to hear the confidence in her voice and I'm even more shocked when she takes a step forwards and holds out her hand. "Let's do this properly, shall we?"
I watch as a wave of surprise crosses over Klaus' face but he quickly recovers and eyes me for a moment before his smirk creeps back onto his lips and he shakes Elena's hand.
I stand back tense, waiting for something to happen because I'm not quite sure where this is going to go.
"Nice to finally meet you." Klaus speaks almost charmingly.
"You too." Elena replies with a short smile but I can tell that it is not completely genuine, just like me, she is probably trying to figure out Klaus' true intentions.
I watch as Klaus takes a short step back and looks between the both of us amused. "Oh come on! Don't look so terrified! What do you think I'm going to do?" he chuckles amused and Elena glances at me.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" I question him suspiciously.
"Oh don't get me wrong, I still think this is a bad idea and it's going to blow up in both of your faces." he smirks and I glare at him and take a step forward but Elena places her hand in mine to stop me from going any further. "Relax," Klaus rolls his eyes at me. "Like I said, I still think you are both insane, but who am I to judge? You can do whatever the hell you like."
"That's that?" I frown, not sure if I should buy it.
"That's that, Damon." he tells me firmly, the smirk suddenly gone. "You know I've always got your back."
I stare back at him for a moment and I can feel the tension building in the room but before it can get anymore awkward Klaus slaps my shoulder in a somewhat friendly manner before taking a step back.
"So I came here with a girl, I best go find her before Will decides to nab her for himself." he smirks slightly and I force a smile as he nods his head before turning and leaving.
I stay silent as I watch the empty space where he just stood but then Elena steps in front of me, a worried look on her face.
"Do you think that was genuine?" she asks almost nervously, her previous confidence no longer as present.
I feel my forehead crease as I think back to that very odd meeting but I do actually think Klaus was being honest. "He's not someone to beat around the bush, I suppose." I say truthfully. "He tells it like it is, I think if he was determined not to accept us then he would flat out say so."
"You think?"
"Yeah." I nod my head, pulling her against me in a hug. "Don't sweat it babe, we don't need to worry about Klaus." I run a hand through her hair, twirling the ends of her soft locks through my fingers. "Promise." I kiss her forehead and pull back to kiss her nose, then her cheeks before finally landing my lips against her own. "What did I do to deserve you huh?" I murmur against her and she grins.
"Oh stop it!" she pushes me back slightly and I laugh before pulling her back against me and crashing my mouth back against hers.
We spend the rest of the party dividing our time between drinking, making out and socializing with Will and some other guys who I see as familiar. Elena stays by my side through all of it, and I'm a little surprised, but happy, to see how well she fits in with these people.
They are so unlike her regular group of friends, everyone here is a misfit in some way or another, and I guess that includes Elena herself, except her world doesn't know it yet.
Elena is confident here, she is being herself and it is incredible to see. It is incredible to witness other people seeing the Elena that I am privileged to see almost on a daily basis.
I don't believe in anyone being perfect, but I do believe that people can be perfect for each other, flaws, warts and all, and that's what Elena is too me.
Of course I'll never tell her that, she wouldn't let me hear the end of it and I'm sure she'd bask in it for all it's worth.
I'll keep it to myself, because really, no one else really needs to know.
It's not until towards the end of the party when things take yet another surprising turn. I'm a little drunk, and Elena is drunk, and the party is drastically dwindling down and people are making their moves to leave.
So when I pull out my cellphone to drunkenly call a cab, my other arm wrapped around Elena's waist as I balance her steadily beside me in her more than tipsy state as she talks to one of the girls who are here about God knows what, a hand covers mine and pulls my phone away.
I'm about to go mad and drop kick the idiot who has the nerve to even attempt to take my phone off me, but when I look up I see Klaus stood in front of me with a smirk on his face and a pair of keys in his hands.
"You two drunkards want a ride?"
So that's how I end up sitting in the front seat of Klaus' range rover with Elena in the back.
I have to say, I never ever thought this scenario would ever happen.
And the even weirder thing?
Klaus and Elena haven't shut up the entire ride.
No I'm serious, from the moment we stepped inside the car, the two of them have been chatting to each other none stop, and I haven't even been able to get a single word in.
Of course, the biggest topic of their conversation is me, and to my dismay they aren't talking about how amazing I am, which is a travesty in itself really, no, they are comparing my flaws.
Yes, you heard me.
"Or when you wake him up too early and he is a moody bastard for the entire day!" Klaus smirks as he looks at my girlfriend through the mirror.
"Oh my god yes!" Elena drunkenly agrees. "He can be such an asshole when he's tired!"
"The biggest!" Klaus agrees with a chuckle.
"I am sitting right here guys!" I interrupt in annoyance and Elena giggles before leaning forward in her seat and wrapping her arms around my shoulders from behind.
"Aww sorry baby! Are we giving you blows to your ego?" She strokes my chest slowly.
"Oh come on, we could curse him out in the worst way and his ego would still be far too big!" Klaus cuts in amused and I give him the finger.
"I would just like to be appreciated once in a while." I tell them both pointedly. "You know? It would be nice."
Klaus snorts and I hear Elena giggle in my ear but then she leans forward and kisses my cheek. "I can appreciate you."
"Oh yeah?" I turn my head slightly and smirk at her, wiggling my eyebrows and watching as the realization crosses her face at what I'm implying.
"Not like that jackass!" she slaps my chest and goes to removes her arms but I cling onto her wrists tightly and keep them in place.
"Nah uh." I shake my head and keep her arms around me before bringing one of her hands to my lips and kissing her palm. "Love you." I mumble against her skin and I can practically feel her smile behind me.
"I love you too." she kisses my neck softly before kissing my cheek and resting her head against the back of my shoulder.
I notice Klaus still from the corner of my eye, surprise and awe on his face but he soon snaps out of it as he pulls up outside of my apartment block.
"Here's your stop kids!"
"Thanks brother." I nod at him appreciatively.
"No problem, no point in you both paying for a cab back to Mystic Falls when I'm driving back here myself." he shrugs casually.
"I didn't just mean for the ride..." I tell him seriously and watch as he slowly nods his head.
"I know." He smiles slightly before glancing back at Elena. "Love, you are going to be hungover in the morning, make sure this idiot makes you his fry up! He can actually cook and it's the perfect hangover cure."
"Oh I will." she grins, leaning back away from me and opening the door. "Thanks for the ride home, Klaus, it was good talking to you." she smiles at him sweetly and it is clear that she is being genuine.
"No problem Gilbert." he winks at her as Elena gets out of the car and I watch amused as she almost falls over but manages to keep herself up.
"Really though Klaus, thanks for giving her a shot."
He shrugs. "I watched you both tonight and...lets just say that I'm convinced." he says casually but I can sense the seriousness behind it. "Just be careful, Damon."
"We will be." I reply before climbing out myself where Elena is stood leaning against a street lamp, her arms wrapped around her to protect her in the cold air.
"Come on then you! Let's get you to bed!" I wiggle my eyebrows at her and laugh as she squeals as I bend down and throw her over my shoulder so she is hanging upside down.
"Damon!" she screams into the night air, her squeals and giggles getting lost in the quietness as I slap her ass. "Put me down!"
"Almost home!" I ignore her pleas as I carry her up the stairs and make it to my apartment. Unfortunately I have to put her down so I can pull out my keys but before I do I can't help but kiss her.
She looked so cute and flustered that I couldn't help myself.
She immediately wraps her arms around my neck to deepen the kiss, and as much as I don't want to, I pull away, if only to think of the long term.
"Inside." I mumble in a low voice as I can feel myself getting turned on immediately as I unlock the door.
"This time I will appreciate you." she smirks at me teasingly before giggling as I crash my lips back against hers, walking her backwards into my apartment and kicking the door shut behind me.
Neither of us noticing the figure sat across the street in a parked car with a camera phone in hand.
Ok, so relieved to finally get this cheeky little filler chapter out of the way! Things are really going to start to take off from the next chapter! It will be the start of the big lead up to the prologue guys!
A big big big thank you as always to all of you who were kind enough to take the time out to send me a review, I can't stress enough about how much you all really inspire me to keep writing this story and that I really do appreciate all the comments and feedback that you give! You're awesome!
Until next time :)