He froze. His face returned to normal.
"Let him go." Elena whispered. He did.
"Now back away."
It was almost funny to watch, the way Damon yielded to her orders like puppy. He backed away and Elena's eyes flashed to me.
"Go." She whispered. I nodded and ran.
DPOV
I wasn't looking at her, I couldn't. I loved her, and she'd crushed my feelings. She'd acted as if I meant nothing to her, said Stefan was the hero, the good guy.
"Damon. Look at me." I didn't.
"Damon James Salvatore, look at me right now." A laugh escaped me. She sounded like my mother when I'd gotten caught stealing from the kitchen before supper.
I turned, and wished I hadn't. She was mad.
"Why?" She asked.
"I'm protecting her."
"Stefan said-" I cut her off.
"Stefan is a child, Elena. He doesn't get it. He doesn't know her." I stopped. "It's hurts her. To be around him, to feel his presence, to smell his scent. She was so close, almost over him.
But I wasn't here for her. I had to go. And Stefan, he didn't help. He couldn't. He doesn't know how she works. I do. I should have been here."
"It's not your fault, Damon." Elena whispered coming towards me. I stepped back.
"No, it's yours." I whispered. Confusion hit her face.
"What? How?"
"I fell in love with you, Elena. I put my heart out, opened up to you, and you chose him! You acted as if he were a hero, when I did all the work. You hurt me, and I left."
"You ran. You didn't say goodbye or anything. Stefan, Bella, and I woke up one morning and you had just vanished."
"I don't handle rejection well." I muttered. "Not that you care."
"Excuse me?"
"As long as St. Stefan isn't involved , you're fine, right?"
She walked up to me and slapped me. Hard.
"How dare you? After everything we've been through!" Elena looked beautiful angry. Her eyes had a new light in them. I leaned down and kissed her.
She looked dazed when I pulled back.
"What was that?" She asked, when the shock faded.
"I...I don't really know. I'm wasted, right now." I whispered.
Elena sighed and looked at the house. I pulled her face back to mine.
"Don't fight it." I whispered. She looked at me for a long moment, then kissed me softly.
We spent all night out there, kissing and hugging each other.
I didn't think of Bella's troubles for the rest of the night.
