Cannonball
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from The Vampire Diaries.
A big thank you again to anglcdmn1986 for being my awesome beta! Even when she's super busy she still takes the time to read over this for me so thank you! You're awesome!
Also, there is an important AN at the bottom of this chapter, so make sure you check that out!
April 5th 2013.
Friday 12:35pm
Mystic Falls
I smile when Elena giggles against my mouth, barely able to return the kiss I planted on her lips out of nowhere once I successfully snuck up on her where she was waiting for me outside by the football field bleachers.
Her arms wrap around my neck and I use the opportunity of her holding onto me to grip my arms around her waist and lift her up, throwing her over my shoulder.
"Damon!" she squeals with another giggle and it makes my heart flutter. "What are you doing?!" I playfully slap her ass before lifting her higher.
I walk around the bleachers so now we are under it, reluctantly dropping her down to her feet. "Just making sure we have some privacy." I grin before pressing my lips back against hers before she can properly regain her balance.
"Mmm." She moans into my opening mouth, her finger sliding through my hair as I deepen the kiss. I slide my hand down her back to land on her ass, squeezing it gently before pulling her even closer against me.
I pull away breathlessly, my lips trailing from her lips to her neck as I kiss, suck and nibble on her skin. "You're wearing a skirt." I point out.
"Mhm." She breathlessly moans, her fingers gripping me tightly. I slide my hand down her side before moving into the inside of her thigh. Her grip around me tightens as my hand travels and higher and higher. "Stop," she pulls back with a smile, one of her hands gripping my wrist tightly. "Someone might see." She looks briefly over my shoulder towards the three guy's running track across the field but I know that the bleachers are blocking anyone's view of us.
"There's no one close enough to see us." I kiss her quickly and pull back, "and I'm still trying to teach you how to be quiet," I press another kiss to the corner of her mouth, "and discreet."
"I can be both things." Her hand on my wrist is still tight, holding my own hand in place and unable to go any higher.
"Then prove it." I smirk naughtily, knowing that Elena cannot resist a challenge, especially when it's coming from me.
"Fine." She raises her eyebrow and removes her hand from my wrist but before I get a chance to react she takes control and presses both of her hands on my shoulders, lowering me down onto the grass underneath the tall bleachers.
I comply without argument and grin when she climbs on top of me so she is straddling me. I raise my eyebrow at her curiously, almost like I am daring her to continue and just liked I hoped she reacts to my dare.
Her lips crashes against mine roughly, her mouth opening as she kisses me feverishly. One of her hands slides underneath my t-shirt and she strokes my abs slowly, a complete contrast to our kiss. Her other hand is gripping my hair, her nails against my scalp and I moan against her, my hands sliding up her thighs surrounding me.
"God Elena," I moan, my eyes clenching shut as she grinds against me, the bulge in my jeans getting tighter and tighter as she moves her weight against me.
"Ah ah," she shakes her head with a smirk, her hand sliding from around the back of my head so she can press her finger against my swollen lips. "No talking, remember? Practice what you preach, Salvatore." She kisses me again and I slide my hand up the back of her top, my fingers dancing on her skin. She giggles against my lips and pulls away a centimeter. "You're vibrating." She smirks and I look at her startled for a moment, breathless and confused and it takes me a moment to regain my composure before I realize that my phone is ringing.
"Fuck." I mutter in annoyance at being interrupted, I slide my phone out of my pocket, Elena shifting slightly so I'm able to get it out but I'm thankful when she shifts straight back down on my lap. I turn over my phone and go to answer but freeze when I see the caller ID.
"Who is it?" Elena asks confused and I watch as her face falls when I show her.
It's Zach.
"Don't answer it." She frowns and I follow her order because I wasn't going to do so anyway. I haven't seen or heard from my Uncle since that day in my apartment when he kicked me out.
The playful mood that was around us has suddenly disappeared and that just makes me more pissed off with my uncle, because even when he's still not in my life he is ruining things for me.
We fall into a tense silence, and I put my phone onto the grass beside me, my arms circling Elena as I tilt my head back to look at her properly. Her eyes are glistened with uneasiness and I know immediately what is going through her head.
"Stop worrying," I smile slightly and run a finger down her cheek but she still looks completely terrified and I hate that this is all down to me.
My first reaction after the whole Connor/Vaughn threat situation was to initially keep this from Elena, but only because I knew that she wouldn't be able to stop stressing about it. However the moment she saw the bruise on my forehead and the fingerprints on my neck, I couldn't bear to lie to her when she was so upset.
I'd tried to downplay it as much as possible; stressing that it really isn't a big deal and that it's most likely an empty threat to scare me off. I mean, I haven't even heard or seen anything from Connor, Vaughn or Andie since and it's not like I am about to go and seek them out myself.
Elena is looking down, her eyebrows pressed together and it sends a painful flutter through my heart. "Hey," I whisper softly, my finger and thumb clutching her chin and under her jaw to tilt her head up to face me. "It's going to be okay."
"You don't know that." She snaps.
"Yes I do." I bring her lips against mine briefly. "I'm out of all that shit now, Elena. I'm out of that world, that lifestyle. All I care about is being with you."
"They can still come after you, Damon." Her voice cracks as she tries to keep herself together. I press a kiss to her forehead, before nuzzling my nose against hers playfully, a small smile creeping onto my lips that I hope she matches.
Thankfully, she does.
"We've done the hard part." I press a kiss to the corner of her mouth, Elena's hands sliding back into my hair. "It's all up from here."
She smiles and nods and I feel relief from the lightness that is back in her beautiful brown eyes.
"You're so beautiful." I grin as a blush creeps onto her cheeks.
"Stop it," she mumbles shyly.
"No, you are." I tip my head to one side and take her all in, noticing that her cheeks brighten even further.
"You're a sap." She laughs nervously and pushes my shoulders so I fall backwards onto the grass. I laugh as she falls on top of me, her head resting into the crook of my neck, her hand landing on my heart.
We lie completely still; the only sounds being heard are cars in the distance and the sound of a whistle being blown from the track field.
"This is nice." Elena sighs blissfully, her hand sliding underneath my shirt to land on my bare chest.
"This is nice." I agree with a smile, my fingers playing with her hair lazily. I press a kiss to the top of her head. "How was your morning?" I ask curiously, knowing that she's been having a tougher time in school than I have been since we were officially outed to the world last week.
"It was okay." Her lips lightly touch my neck as she speaks. "Bonnie actually asked me how I was, which is progress. Caroline is still ignoring me though."
I let out a small laugh despite myself. The whole thing is ridiculous to me, Elena could murder a thousand people and I'd still want her in my life. I don't know how anyone else can even think about shutting her out. The thought of it is impossible to me.
"I still think you should let me talk to them."
"No!" she protests for the billionth time since I first brought up the idea three days ago. "Absolutely not!"
"Why not?" I let out another laugh. "Am I that bad?"
"Yes! Yes you are." She shifts slightly so her chin is now resting on my chest, her legs lapping over mine so half of her body is resting on top of me. "You're awful." She tells me with a smirk. "Bonnie and Caroline are nowhere near ready to experience your snarky-ness and devilish ways. I'm still trying to convince them that you're a half decent person." I smile and she pushes herself up to kiss me softly. "You're just lucky that I love you so I allow the majority for your ass-like behavior slide." I chuckle and press another quick kiss to her lips before she slides back down against my chest.
"What if I promised to be on my best behavior?" I offer. "I'd be super nice."
"They're not ready for that yet," she says a little more serious this time, "and I'd like to actually be there when you do meet them officially. If it ever happens." She frowns slightly.
"It will." I tell her reassuringly. "Time, remember?" I remind her of the valuable word because that's all this situation needs.
Time heals everything, right?
At least that's what I'm counting on.
"Someone needs to tell my parents that," she mutters coldly. "I'm still grounded."
I sigh because it's really starting to piss me off now. Elena is almost an adult; she shouldn't be treated this way. At first I got it, they were mad but I really thought that they would calm down after a couple of days and at least rescind her grounding punishment. Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect them to start supporting us, hell I don't think that will ever happen, but I was hoping that they would at least start to go a little easier on Elena.
Hell she still has to use the pay-as-you-go cell phone that I bought her, her own still being confiscated.
"So, what are you doing tonight?" she asks curiously.
"I don't know." I admit, because usually my Friday nights are reserved for her. I've snuck in a couple of times over the last week and a half but not as much as I would like. We don't want to risk getting caught, especially when her Dad is home. "I'll probably just hang out with Klaus…the usual."
She stays silent for a moment. "You'll be staying in Mystic Falls, right?" she asks trying to sound casual but I can hear the fear in her voice.
"Yes." I tell her firmly. "We'll probably just end up in The Grill. Rock 'N Roll, right?" I smile but she doesn't find it funny.
"I'd rather you be boring than risk getting another battering or God forbid something worse," her voice is quiet and nervous and I don't miss the edge to it.
"I told you," I sit up, Elena shifting slightly and following my lead. "Nothing bad is going to happen."
"But you don't know that." She argues. "You're forgetting that I was there Damon when Will told us about Connor and Vaughn's threats and the kind of things they are capable of. Do you really think that I wouldn't have worked out that the fire that Zach started wasn't connected?"
I frown, because honestly I was kind of stupidly hoping that she wouldn't connect the dots. The thought has crossed my mind many times since that night that maybe the mystery guy that Zach was working for is in fact Vaughn. But every time I do think about that, I remember that Vaughn used to be the one working for Zach and it doesn't make sense that the tables are turned. You can't deny the odd timing between Vaughn's threats to Will and the fire started by Zach, but it just doesn't make any sense.
"Will is a complicated guy…" I explain skeptically. "He has his eggs in a lot of baskets; he works for a lot of different people and with lots of different ventures. The guy is an addict, I'm sure Vaughn isn't the only person he owes money too. Heck it might not have even been about money."
"But we don't know that for sure!" she stresses in frustration. "Please. I wish you'd take this more seriously."
"I am." I tell her almost painfully when I see the tears glistening in her eyes. "I just hate that yet again a mistake from my past is coming back to haunt us."
"People make mistakes. God knows I've made enough of them. I just want you to be safe," she looks me straight in the eye and I feel myself gulp from the intensity. "I love you. I don't ever want to lose you, we've come so far."
"I know." I whisper. "Nothing bad is going to happen, okay? I won't let it." I pull her against me in a tight hug, her arms clinging to me as I hold her.
If only I had known that those words would eventually come back to haunt me.
I move my food around on my plate absentmindedly as I sit through yet another tense and awkward family dinner. I'm still getting the silent treatment from my Dad and my Mom has now resorted to the technique that everything is normal and Damon just doesn't exist.
I glance at my watch to see that it's almost 7pm and I can't help but wonder what Damon is doing right now. I can't help it. I don't want to be one of those annoying girlfriends that wants her boyfriend to tell her where he is at all times of the day, but how can I not be when some psycho attacked and threatened him in a bar?
It's not like I can even get my phone out to check. The cell that Damon bought me is tucked safely away in one of my drawers in my bedroom out of sight from my parents. I'm going to have to wait until I'm allowed to be excused before I spend the evening sulking alone in my room all evening worrying about Damon.
"Elena, aren't you hungry?" My Mom snaps me out of my thoughts and I look up to see her watching me with a mixture of concern and suspicion.
"I don't feel well." The lie falls easily from my lips. "May I be excused?"
"Not until everyone is finished, dear." She tells me sternly and I sigh and go back to shuffling my food around with my fork.
We fall back into a tense silence, and I feel Jeremy watching me from across the table but I don't even bother to acknowledge him. He's pretty much been giving me the silent treatment too, but when he does bother to speak to me it's not like he has anything nice to say.
Honestly, I'm just so fed up of all of this.
"So when am I allowed out of this house exactly?" I slam my fork down onto my plate in frustration, my thoughts spilling out from my lips as all my frustrations come out to the core, "because I'm seventeen years old and this is the second Friday night I've spent here at home in a row because my parents have grounded me for loving a boy who comes from a family that they immaturely carry on a generational feud with."
"Not now, Elena." My Mom hisses at me through gritted teeth.
"Why not?" I argue. "Why not now? You're treating me like I'm some kind of awful human being." I turn to my Dad who is staring at his bottle of beer like it's the most important thing in the world. "You won't even talk to me," I scoff in disbelief when he doesn't even flinch. "And you," I look at Jeremy who at least has the decency to look a little guilty. "You're acting like I've killed someone," I look back at my Mom. "You're just trying to pretend that everything is all sunshine and roses and yet you still manage to give me the cold shoulder! Well, you know what? I don't deserve this treatment from any of you and I'm not going to take it anymore." I shove my chair back and stand up.
"Sit down, Elena." My Mom hisses at me furiously.
"No I will not! You don't get to tell me what to do!" I shout at her irritably, my Mom's eyes widening almost comically.
"Do not talk to your mother with that tone young lady!" My Dad snaps at me angrily and I let out a dry laugh.
"Oh wow, so you do speak." I hiss at him sarcastically.
My Dad slams his fist against the table hard, causing everything on it to shake. "Clearly you hanging around with that Salvatore boy has caused you to lose your manners and respect! I will not have you behaving like this under my roof."
"Behaving like what? Behaving like a child? I'm sorry, is that not how you want me to act? It's just a little bit confusing because that's how you all seem to be treating me lately. Well guess what, I'm not a child and I'm done with you all treating me like I am some sort of fifteen year old going through a rebellious phase! I know what I want, I know who I love! None of you get to tell me any different!" I turn on my heel and head towards the door and I can feel my Dad quick on my heels.
"Do not walk away from me, Elena!" he grabs my arm just as I open the front door. "You're grounded! You're not allowed to leave this house!"
I pull my arm out of his grasp furiously and I can feel my entire body tremble with a mixture of rage and fear because I have never ever done something like this before.
This disobedience thing is more Jeremy's style. I'm the one who follows the rules and obeys my parents' wishes and rules. I don't argue back or storm out of family meals.
But they've pushed me too far and I've reached my limit.
I deserve better than this.
"I'm un-grounding myself." I inform my Dad confidently just as my Mom walks into the hallway.
"I don't think so!" my Dad's nostrils flare with rage.
"Try and stop me." I hiss before quickly running out of the door and down the path.
"Elena!" he shouts after me. "Elena Gilbert you get back here right now!"
I brace myself to stay strong and keep on going; I don't turn back because if I do my bravado might crumble.
I know that my Dad won't chase after me, there is no way my Mom would allow such a public indecency to happen, especially since I have apparently ruined her reputation and image so much this past week or so.
I curse when I realize about two blocks away that I don't have a phone or any money. My resolve is starting to dwindle and now I can't stop thinking that I've just made things ten times worse.
I never do things like that, ever.
Still, there is a feeling of adrenaline that is coursing through my veins and I suddenly get that excited giddy feeling to tell Damon all about what just happened, knowing that he'd be extremely proud of the way I stood up for myself tonight. I know that he has been getting really annoyed and agitated from the treatment I have been getting from my family lately.
I take the risk that he will be at The Grill like he said he would be and I pick up my pace to get there quickly, shivering slightly as the cold air attacks my bare arms and legs.
It's times like these that I'm grateful that Mystic Falls is a small town because it doesn't take me much longer to arrive at my destination. I push open the doors to The Grill, the loud rumblings of chatter and background music attacking my ears as I push my way through the small crowd by the door.
It's a typical Friday night and it's as busy as always. As I push my way further in, I don't miss the way that some people's eyes turn to face me, watching me as I walk past. I do my best to ignore them, knowing that Damon and me are still the number one topic of conversation around here and it's extended from just the High School.
I guess that is one thing I am grateful about being grounded. I didn't have to deal with the intensity of the entire town knowing about my relationship.
I stand on my tip toes and look around to see if I can spot Damon but it's too busy. I sigh in annoyance, wishing that I had a phone to call him from. I see someone from my school stood alone at the bar, he's a senior, I think, and I know that he will know who Damon is.
"Hi…" I stand beside him awkwardly, watching as his eyes widen when he glances at me, doing a double take. His jaw opening and shutting as he fumbles clumsily to find his voice.
"Um…" he frowns slightly and clears his throat. "Hi?"
"Have you seen Damon Salvatore in here tonight?" I ask him with a sweet smile and I don't miss the way a small blush creeps onto his cheeks.
"Uh um," he stutters for a moment before nodding. "I think I saw him earlier by the pool tables with that guy…the British one."
"Great." I smile widely at him. "Thank you." His blush deepens and I turn my heel, heading towards the back of The Grill.
"Uh…you're welcome!" he calls after me and I roll my eyes slightly.
Boys.
I see Damon with his back to me, a pool cue in his hand as he taunts Klaus who is trying to take his shot. I take advantage of his unaware sight and decide to pay him back for sneaking up on me at lunch today.
When I finally step right behind him, I reach up and press both of my hands against his eyes. He tenses immediately, clearly not expecting the action and he quickly swings around, removing my hands from his eyes all in one go before I can even blink.
Wow, his reaction time is quick.
His eyes widen in surprise when he sees me, not expecting to see me tonight and I can't fight the grin that creeps onto my lips.
"Elena!" his smile grows to match mine. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to see you, obviously." I tell him in a duh tone, my hands escaping his grasp to land on his shoulders. "Aren't you going to say hello?" I smirk with a raised eyebrow.
He gawps at me for a moment before shaking himself out of it and smiling again, bending down to press a kiss against my lips that quickly intensifies. My hands move from his shoulders to his neck and I play with the ends of his hair, moaning into his mouth when one of his hands slides underneath my top.
"Oh come on!" Klaus calls out to us in a mixture of disgust and amusement. "You're in public, guys! My eyes are burning."
Damon ignores him and I give him the finger without pulling away, smiling against Damon's mouth when I hear him laugh in the background.
Unfortunately breathing becomes an issue and I reluctantly pull away, smiling when Damon's hand moves to rest on my cheek before moving into my hair, twirling around a piece of my hair with his fingers.
"Did your parents finally let you out?" he asks with a smile that I quickly match.
"Um…Not exactly." I grin slightly, feeling my cheeks reddening. "I may not have actually given them a choice."
"Oh yeah?" he raises his eyebrow intrigued, a smirk crossing his lips. "Have you been a naughty girl, Miss Gilbert?" he teases me, his other hand squeezing my hip playfully.
"Let's just say that I did something very Damon like." I grin before deciding to just dive in and tell him the whole short story. It may not be a big deal to anyone else, I mean disobeying your parents is the supposed typical teenage behavior but it's something that I have never done before, and to me it feels like a big deal.
Damon chuckles once I finish about how I pretty much ran from my house, a wide smile on his face and I feel my stomach explode with butterflies when he nuzzles my nose playfully. "I'm proud of you, beautiful." He speaks quietly and I feel my smile widen, my cheeks feeling like they are turning into a permanent shade of pink. "It's about damn time you started sticking up for yourself."
I feel myself beam at his words and I kiss him again sweetly. I pull away feeling giddy, Klaus calling for Damon to hurry up so they can finish their game of pool. Damon rolls his eyes and I squeal when he unexpectedly picks me up before placing me on a stool by the wall. He presses his lips back again for too quickly before going to finish his game with Klaus.
I sit content and watch, trying to distract Damon as much as possible and I smirk when it works. Klaus wins and then it's my go.
Klaus is good, I'll give him that but he certainly wasn't expecting me to be able to match him.
"She's a sneaky one, isn't she?" Damon chuckles when Klaus watches in shock as I pot two balls at once, his jaw hanging open.
"You certainly have a hidden side to you Gilbert." Klaus tells me pointedly and I shrug innocently but the smirk on my lips gives me away.
I start to get too cocky, and I accidentally flick the ball off the table and cringe when it slams against the wood floor and rolls away.
Both Klaus and Damon howl with laughter and I send them both a quick glare before chasing after the escaped ball. I go to bend down and pick it up but freeze when someone else's foot lands on top of it. I look up, still in a crouched position to see Stefan looking down at me.
I gulp and slowly rise to my feet. Stefan looks at me with an unreadable expression on his face before he bends down and picks up the stray ball. I stay still, unsure of what to do or if I should say anything.
Luckily I don't have to actually make a decision because soon Damon is stood at my side.
"Brother." Damon looks at him calmly. "Do you think maybe you could give my girl her ball back?" his tone is completely neutral, just like Stefan he is giving nothing away and suddenly I feel like I shouldn't even be standing here.
Stefan's expression slowly changes, a smirk creeping onto his lips. "Only if she gives you back yours?"
Damon lets out a dry laugh and pats Stefan on the shoulder. "Points for originality, Stef." He says mockingly, Stefan's smirk instantly being wiped off his face.
"I need to talk to you." He says coldly.
"So talk?"
"Alone." He sends me a dirty look and I cringe slightly, going to move away but Damon grabs my wrist.
"Anything you need to say to me you can say it to Elena too." He says firmly and I know immediately that Damon is doing this now to prove a part.
We come as a pair.
I try to keep the smile off my face.
"Damon," he says his name pointedly but Damon doesn't play along. Stefan falters for a moment and looks briefly at me with cold eyes before sighing and taking a short step forward. "It's about Vaughn." He mutters quietly but I still hear it and I immediately tense.
Damon stills for a moment and I see his jaw clench but he quickly tries to hide it. "Elena knows all about Vaughn." He replies confidently. Stefan actually looks stunned by this and looks at me a little put out, clearly not expecting me to know so much about what goes on over in that side of Damon's life.
"Well then can we at least take this outside?" Stefan hisses coldly and Damon nods.
"Sure." He slides his hand from my wrist into my hand, linking my fingers through his and motioning for Stefan to take the lead.
Stefan looks down at her locked hands for a moment before letting out a huffed breath and heading towards the back fire exit.
"What do you think this is going to be about?" I murmur curiously, a nervous pit in my stomach.
"Honestly?" Damon whispers into my ear. "I have absolutely no idea."
When we step out into the dark alleyway behind The Grill, Stefan turns around to face us and I feel a presence at my other side.
It's Klaus.
He pulls out a cigarette and shoves it between his lips casually, holding out the pack for me and I scrunch my eyebrows together and decline quickly.
He chuckles lightly before lighting up and I feel the smoke instantly attack my senses.
"I didn't think you'd need so much back up to talk to your own brother." Stefan scowls unimpressed.
Damon laughs. "Oh so we're brothers now, are we? I thought I was banished."
Stefan frowns and looks away for a moment, his eyes looking away as he speaks. "I had nothing to do with Zach kicking you out." He mutters quietly but we all hear it. "I didn't even know about it until Kol told me you'd moved in with them."
"My brother sure knows how to run his mouth." Klaus muses as he moves to lean back against the wall. "Maybe it's a younger sibling thing?" he smirks slightly and Stefan sends him a quick glare.
"Look, that doesn't even matter, okay?" He holds out his hand in annoyance. "I'm trying to help you out here."
"Well then get on with it because I don't have all night…" Damon makes a hurry-up motion with his spare hand and I wonder if this is what it's like all the time between the Salvatore brothers. I know that Damon loves Stefan, I've seen the lengths he went too to protect him in the past but I don't actually know how well they get on, or at least how well they used to before I came along.
"You don't need to be an ass about it."
"Now I'm the ass?" Damon snipes back immediately.
"Ladies please." Klaus interrupts with a bored tone. "Can we move this along?"
Damon mutters something under his breath that I can't understand but doesn't say anything else, giving Stefan the opportunity to finally get out what he wanted to say. I'm not going to lie; I am very anxious and nervous to hear it.
"Zach told me that Vaughn knows about you and Andie," Stefan explains, sending a brief glance at me.
"Old news," Damon replies nonchalantly causing Stefan to scowl. "Anything else?"
Before Stefan can answer the sound of car doors slamming interrupt us and I turn to see two men walking towards us. One is bald with dark skin, muscular with a cold look on his face that I can see from here despite the darkness. It makes me immediately feel uneasy. The other one is smaller, a little less built with blonde hair but he still carries an edge about him, like he's someone not to be messed with.
Damon's hand immediately tightens and I instantly know this isn't good.
"Salvatore, Salvatore and Mikealson." The blonde guy speaks up, and it takes me a moment to figure out his accent before I realize that it's Scottish. "Fancy seeing you all here." He smirks.
No.
It can't be.
My heart starts pounding fearfully in my chest and I feel sick, because if this is who I think it is then things aren't going to go smoothly.
Klaus immediately stands up straight and Damon looks at Stefan in astonishment, letting go of my hand to approach his brother. "You set me up?!" he hisses furiously.
"What?" Stefan actually looks truly shocked by the accusation. "No of course not!"
"Now now kids," they are interrupted by the other guy. "There's no need for tattle tales." He grins before his eyes fall on me and I cringe as he takes a step forward so we are almost toe to toe. "Well, who do we have here?" he eyes me up and down with a smirk on his lips. I gulp under his intense gaze, and flinch when he raises his hand to my hair however before he touches it I feel a pair of hands on my hips and soon I'm being pulled backwards and Damon is stood in front of me. "Ooooh. Is this your girl, Damon?" he asks amused.
"Back the fuck off, Connor." Damon spits out at him furiously and my heart continues to pound painfully against my chest.
Connor chuckles in amusement and glances at Vaughn who smiles and this just makes me feel ten times worse.
I reach a hand out onto Damon's back, looking around the dark alleyway nervously noticing that there is no one else in sight.
"What do you want Vaughn?" Klaus confirms my earlier worries, interrupting the tension between Damon and Connor and I'm relieved when Connor takes a swift step back. However it doesn't last long because before I even blink Connor's fist is in Damon's stomach causing him to groan and drop down onto his knees.
"Damon!" I immediately fall down beside him, my arms wrapping around him worriedly. Damon coughs and splutters, clearly winded from the punch and Connor looks down at him in amusement and I feel a rage of anger take over me. "Just leave him alone!" I shout at him furiously.
"I'm sorry?" Connor raises his eyebrow at me. "You haven't even told me your name, sweetheart, and now you're trying to give me orders?" he looks down at me condescendingly and I feel my cheeks flame.
I'm about to snipe back another angry reply but I'm shocked when Stefan beats me too it.
"You don't need to know her name, she's nobody." He glares at me and I look at him in disbelief. Is he really going there right now?
However my jaw drops when Damon pushes me away from him. "He's right." He says breathlessly, standing back up and I look up at him in shock. "What are you still even doing here?" he looks at me with cold eyes and it takes me a moment to see the truth in his blue irises.
I slowly come back up to my feet shakily, pleading with him with my eyes not to do this because I know exactly what he's doing.
"If she's nobody then maybe you can share her, huh, Damon? You like sharing girls don't you? It's not like you and I haven't done it before." Vaughn approaches me and I choke on my own breath. Fear radiating over my skin as he gets closer.
Just like Connor he raises his hand but this time Damon doesn't push him away. I close my eyes and hold my breath when he twirls a pierce of hair around with his finger, his warm breath which smells like a mixture of smoke, ash and stale beer, attacking my nostrils and making me want to gag. I immediately flinch away once his finger lands on my cheek and clearly that's all Damon can take.
My body is shoved backwards as Damon shoves Vaughn out of the way, taking his place back in front of me and I feel a combination of relief and fear.
Vaughn doesn't say anything, instead he looks at Damon with flickering eyes, a smile on his face and I gulp as he motions Connor over.
"Look, it's three against two here." Klaus speaks up again, side stepping so he is now stood beside Damon, blocking most of my view. "If it's a fight you want, we'll give you one hell of a one."
"Damn right." Damon snarls at them and I cringe, my hand going to tug on his arm because I do not want him to get hurt.
Stefan comes to Damon's other side and for a moment they don't look like three teenagers, they look like men and I'm reminded that they have all probably been in situations like this before.
Unlike me, who is completely inexperienced and I feel like I am about to have a heart attack. I glance again at the exit doors to the back of The Grill, willing and pleading with my eyes for someone to come out, a member of staff or even just a customer wanting a smoke, just someone who can see what is going on here and call the cops.
"Well isn't this sweet." Connor laughs amused. "The three of you all together, protecting the girl."
I'm pulled out of my thoughts from Connor's words and I realize that he's right. All three of them, even Stefan, are stood in front of me, blocking me off from both Connor and Vaughn.
But I'm not the one who needs protecting.
"But regrettably we're not here to play and she isn't on the menu tonight," Connor who stands the tallest out of the lot of us looks over Stefan's shoulder at me with a sick grin. "Unfortunately." Damon tenses immediately, a growl escaping from his lips and again I tug on his arm to stop him from doing anything stupid. "So," he looks at Vaughn. "Shall we get started?" Vaughn nods his head silently and I gasp as Connor pulls out a gun.
Oh God.
Oh God.
This is not happening. This cannot be happening.
Damon immediately steps back, as Stefan and Klaus following his movements and my hands clutch onto his waist tightly as my mouth goes dry.
"Mate, there's no need for that." Klaus attempts to sweet talk but Connor isn't interested and instead snarls at him to shut up.
Damon's hand is reached back and clutched on one of mine that rests on his waist and I feel my eyes clouding with tears.
"Klaus, Stefan!" Connor barks at them coldly. "Take the girl and move over there."
No one moves.
"NOW!" he shouts angrily and I jump, my eyes squeezing shut tightly as I clutch onto Damon even tighter.
"Elena, come on love," Klaus attempts to pull me away but I can't. I can't let go even if I wanted to.
"Hurry up!" Connor's deep voice demands.
"Elena," Damon's voice brings me back and I slowly open up my watering eyes, a tear escaping and sliding down my cheek as I realize he has turned around in my arms and is looking at me with a determined look on his face. "Go."
I shake my head furiously. "No, no." I stutter out shakily. "I'm not leaving you."
"Elena please," his eyes are wide and I see the fear. "Go." He orders me, removing my hands from him roughly and before I can argue further Klaus has me wrapped in a tight embrace and is pulling me off to the side.
"No! Get off me!"
"Elena," Stefan holds my shoulder still as I try to fight my way out of Klaus' grip.
"Elena stop," he hushes into my ear. "Calm down love."
"Calm down?!" I scream at him in disbelief. "He's got a gun!"
"Yes I have!" Connor shouts at me in annoyance. "And if you don't shut the fuck up I'm going to have to use it!"
"You hurt her and I swear to God I will kill you!" Damon roars angrily, his body shaking as I watch him with a blurred vision, tears falling from my face.
"I don't think you're in a position to make threats, kid!" Connor turns the gun on him and I gasp.
"Do something," I hiss at Klaus desperately but deep down I know that he can't. Instead all I can do is stand and watch as Connor holds up his gun right in Damon's face, my boyfriend doing nothing but looking Connor straight in the eye, his fists clenched tightly by his side.
"Here's what's going to happen." Vaughn speaks up while rolling up his sleeves. "I'm going to beat the living shit out of you for thinking you can fuck my girlfriend and get away with it." He smirks slightly and I shudder. "If any of you," he turns to face us. "Try and stop me then my friend Connor here is going to shoot Damon's girl right there." He points at me with a smirk.
Damon turns to face me with wide eyes and I see his face pale to match my own. I shake my head, tears running freely down my cheeks and a sob tears from my lips as I watch Vaughn's fist connect straight into Damon's face.
Damon just silently takes it, and when he falls to the floor and Vaughn keeps on attacking him with his fist and then his feet I can't stand to watch anymore and I turn around with my eyes clenched, my head digging into Klaus' chest as he wraps his arms around me tightly.
"Stop please, stop, just stop it." I whimper against him, my entire body shaking as I try and block out the sounds that are coming from behind me.
I pretend that I'm not here. I pretend that this isn't happening and I pray that this is all just going to end.
I just need it to stop.
Hope you liked the chapter :)
Just TWO more chapters until we reach the prologue! Then unfortunately (fortunately?) this story will be coming to an end, there's not long left now and can I just say a big thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing and giving me lots of support and amazing feedback! You are all awesome and I wish I could send you all cookies or a Nandos or something aha ;)
Thanks again for reading, hope you liked the chapter!
Until next time :)