A/N: First and foremost, I want to say thank you all so much for the overwhelming love and all of the amazing reviews. You are SO awesome! Secondly, I desperately appreciate all of your favorites. Your words have been so encouraging. Damon is so much fun to write and I am really glad that you're all enjoying what I have come up with. There is a lot more in store, so I hope you're all ready!!!


Alone

And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone?

Alone by Heart


Stefan was far too worked up to sleep that night. After the awkward conversation with Elena and the infuriating conversation with Damon, Stefan's thoughts were running rampant and he knew that he needed to find something to do with himself. He glanced around the room, eyes stopping briefly on the journal that he thought about taking the time to write in. But after what Damon had done tonight, Stefan didn't feel much like writing. He felt like taking action. Gracefully leaping from his bedroom window and silently landing on the soft earth below, Stefan took off into the dark forest for a quick dinner and then some serious tracking. He wasn't sure what his plan was yet, he would figure that out when the time came, but he knew that he would need to find the vampires that were in the area sooner rather than later, especially since Damon seemed to have no plans involving getting rid of them. Or at the very least finding out what they wanted.

The deer deep in the woods was noisy and easy to spot, especially by Stefan. He overtook it quickly and drained the animal within a few minutes, discarding it before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Something about the evening was nagging at his mind, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Something that Damon had said earlier, something that Stefan had overlooked during the heat of the argument was now was trying to break free from its storage space in his mind. As many times as he replayed the conversation in his head, he couldn't remember what it was that Damon had said that had gotten to him so badly. Something that had caused him to think of a moment long ago; the betrayal of his first love. But no matter which part of the day he pulled into his mind, Stefan couldn't place the reason for the uneasy feeling.

Growing more and more annoyed by the second, Stefan steered himself to a place further in the woods and came across a fresh scent near the old church ruins. Had it been merely Damon's or Bonnie's or Elena's he would have dismissed it, knowing that the four of them had been there just a few weeks ago. But this scent was something new and different and far fresher than it should have been. Someone had been at the old ruins since the last rain two days prior. Stefan crouched down, taking some of the loose earth in his hands and bringing it to his face, smelling it thoroughly. Perhaps this was the reason Damon had been so elusive with him about the vampires that were in town. Whoever it was, they were interested in the church ruins. And that thought did not bode well for Stefan or the secret he was trying to protect of that particular place.


Waking up the next morning, Bonnie Bennett had little idea of what to expect. For one thing, she still had yet to talk to Elena and find out what was going on with her feelings for Stefan. And then there was the overwhelming problem with Caroline, who did things far too quickly and rashly. On the plus side, it was Saturday, which meant that she wouldn't have to worry about school getting in the way of getting to the bottom of whatever was going on with her friends. The only downside would be that Caroline and Elena would probably be more difficult to find.

Bonnie groaned as her phone rang too loudly in her ear and she rolled over, picking it up before answering.

"Hello?"

"I didn't really get anywhere on the Matt problem last night," her friend answered quickly

"Hello to you too, Care. I'm assuming you've got some Tylenol and water in your system."

"Yeah, one raging headache later and I'm no closer to fixing things with Matt."

"Oh I don't know about that," Bonnie said cryptically, a smile playing on her lips.

"Huh? Spit it out, Bon. We're not all psychically gifted."

"I'm not psychic," Bonnie said, shaking her head and then raking fingers through her bed-head. "I just meant that I wouldn't write Matt off yet. He did bring you home."

"He did?" The blonde questioned from the other end of the line.

Bonnie giggled. "You don't remember? God girl, how much did you drink last night?"

"Matt brought me home?"

"Carried you to the car and everything."

"But he didn't stay…"

Bonnie raised a brow. "I didn't know you two were that close."

Caroline scoffed. "We're not. Last time though… he brought me home and stayed the night. We kind of… cuddled."

"Ohhh, you're so going to get it!" Bonnie said excitedly, her voice going up an entire octave in the course of those 8 words. By the end it sounded more like a squeal than anything else. "I can't believe you've been holding out on me! And so many juicy details too!"

"Hardly." There was a quick pause. And then an abrupt change of topic. "You see Elena at all yesterday? She was acting super sketchy at lunch and she never got back to me about the party over at Mason tonight."

Bonnie paused. "No. Haven't seen her. I need to talk to her though… I was thinking about going over there for breakfast."

"Oh we should make a day of it! Pick me up on the way and we can all go shopping after for clothes for the party. Please Bonnie? Please, please, please?! I need a distraction from all this boy stuff. It's exhausting."

"Uh, yeah I guess so. I mean if Elena doesn't have any plans or anything."

"So you're going to come to the party with me tonight? I need some backup. I can't do a college soiree alone."

"Haven't you done enough partying this week?"

"I'll see ya in ten!" Click.

Bonnie fell back down into bed and covered her face with a pillow, resisting the urge to scream. The conversation that she wanted to have with Elena wasn't exactly something she had wanted Caroline there for. She loved Caroline, but the girl did have a tendency to blurt things out. And with something as sensitive as this, Bonnie wasn't sure it would be best if Caroline was present.


Elena's eyes slid open slowly as she awoke from her slumber. It had been a peaceful and dreamless night, once she had finally gotten around to sleeping, which was considerably later than when she had gotten into bed. A smile spread across her face thinking about the night before and everything that had transpired in her bed with Damon. She had surprised herself when she had asked him to make love to her. It had surprised her even more when he had obliged, taking everything she had to give tenderly and passionately. Damon was different than she had expected him to be. Even when he had taken the first taste of her blood, Elena could sense something inside of him that was finally opening up; not that she would call notice to it. She had always known that Damon was passionate, every flair of anger and stabbing quip made it clear that he had deep emotions. But Elena knew better than to think that Damon would be comfortable sharing them. But when he made love to her, staring deep into her eyes like he was looking past her, deeper than her, she could sense the change in him. And she had taken his own blood when he offered it to her, and the high that she felt afterward was more enticing and exciting than anything she had felt before.

Laying in bed now, part of her wondered why she had waited so long to pursue Damon, but the nagging feeling in the back of her mind reminded her of Stefan. The pang of guilt and remorse she felt faded quickly when a strong arm tightened around her waist, pulling her back flush against him between the sheets.

Elena wiggled free enough to roll over and face him. "You're still here," she said quietly.

Damon shrugged. "I figured I could make you your breakfast after you give me mine." He ticked up an eyebrow and gave her an expectant grin.

Elena flushed. "After last night, I don't think I have much left to give."

Damon's smile broadened. "Well, you are looking rather pale," he replied, feigning concern. And then he lifted up the sheets and examined her exposed flesh. "Would you like me to get your blood circulating a little better for you?"

Damon rolled them both over until he was on top of her, his knee parting her legs the slightest bit. He dipped his head down until his lips brushed her ear. "You know, every part of you smells positively mouth-watering."

Elena's blush deepened until her face was crimson. She blatantly changed the subject, pulling a hand to her neck, running her fingers along the smooth skin. "Why don't I have any… you know, bite marks?"

Damon's eyes glinted with mischief and fervor. "My blood. It healed the wounds."

Elena smiled and nodded.

"But, if you'd like a token reminder, I would be more than happy to oblige."

"Maybe later," Elena admitted. "I can't let you have it all."

"Mmm," he hummed in her ear. "That's not what you said last night."

Elena rolled her eyes and pushed herself up to lean on her elbows, Damon still perched atop her. "That's not what I meant. But I do have things to do today, Damon."

"Are you denying me morning-after sex…" he questioned, his brow furrowing. "AND kicking me out?"

"Unless you really want Jenna finding you here. And trust me, I know you're strong, but you'd be no match for an angry aunt who is trying to prove herself as a 'parental figure'."

Damon gave her a sideways glance. "She wouldn't have to remember a thing."

Elena smacked him. "You will NOT compel her." She stood up from the bed and ran a hand through her hair, grabbing a hair tie and pulling her hair into a messy ponytail.

Damon raised his right hand. "Scouts honor."

Elena stuck her tongue out at him. "They didn't even have boy scouts when you were a kid."

"Completely irrelevant," Damon replied, catching Elena's hand and pulling her back into bed, locking her hands over her head as he laid her back down. Biting gently at her neck, Damon teased her by soothing each bite with his tongue before moving to a new place on her exposed flesh.

Elena moaned quietly before struggling again. "Damon…" she whimpered. "I really have to get in the shower."

Damon sighed against her pulse point and then rubbed his nose along her skin gently. "Yeah, yeah."

She raised a brow. "I thought you liked that I didn't give you what you wanted when you wanted all the time. I thought you appreciated my 'spark'."

Damon was off of her in the next instant, fully dressed before she even had a chance to sit up.

"Damon, I-"

He sat beside her on the bed and placed a chaste kiss on her pouting lips. And then he was gone.


Bonnie parked her car along the curb outside of Elena's house. She glanced over at Caroline, who was busy re-applying her lip gloss in the mirror.

"What if she already has plans? Or doesn't feel like going?" Bonnie asked, turning off the engine and pulling the key from the ignition.

Caroline shrugged. "Do some crazy hoodoo on her or something."

Bonnie smacked her friend. "Not funny! I'm not even going to try another spell for a really long time."

"Good. I'm pretty sure your last one didn't work so well. And if she doesn't want to go then I guess we'll just have to team up on her. It will be good for her. I mean, after everything that happened with Stefan, she needs some girl time."

Bonnie nodded. "Don't we all…"

Caroline smacked her lips together and closed the mirror. "Exactly my point."

Bonnie nodded grimly and got out of the car, closing the door behind her. With Caroline close behind her, Bonnie made her way to the door and knocked. "Maybe we should have called first."

"Please. It's 10 in the morning. I am sure Elena is already up and dressed with two loads of laundry done and folded. Besides, her car is right there, so it's not like she went anywhere."

Bonnie sighed but was relieved when the door swung open and Elena stood there dressed and hair wet.

"Hey guys, what's up?" She asked, smiling.

"Just wanted to stop by and see what you were up to today," Caroline practically sang. "We were thinking shopping at the mall before the party tonight."

Elena's eyes danced- something that both girls in the doorway found a little curious. "Oh yeah! I completely forgot. Come on in, I just have to finish getting ready and we can go."

Bonnie and Caroline exchanged a glance before entering the house. "See, I told you." Caroline whispered; a triumphant smile on her face.

"But Elena, we never made plans to go shopping." Bonnie replied, confused about what had gotten into her friend. Was this how the spell was affecting her?

"Oh, I know. But Caroline and I talked about the party thing yesterday. I thought it over and I really think getting out of Mystic Falls for a night sounds like a great idea."

"You do?" Bonnie asked, still not used to Elena acting this way.

"Yeah. Definitely. It sounds exciting, ya know?"

Bonnie nodded, gulping. Had Elena gotten herself into any trouble the day before? Talking about this was worrying Bonnie when she thought about what could have transpired over the last 24 hours when she hadn't been in communication with Elena.

"What's got a spring in your step?" Caroline blurted out, following Elena upstairs.

Elena shrugged. "I don't know what you mean."

Caroline gasped. "You and Stefan totally got back together and did it last night!!"

Elena raised a brow. "Not even close. There's no spring. I'm just in a good mood."

"Hmmm…" Caroline said, sitting on Elena's bed and putting her fist under her chin. "I'm not buying it."

Elena laughed. "Well, don't strain yourself thinking about it, Care. I promise there's nothing going on with Stefan and I."

"Uh huh," Caroline replied, still not completely convinced.

Elena turned back from the mirror after applying eye shadow and lip gloss. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out, seeing a text message from a number she didn't recognize. When she opened the message, she smiled reading the words.

"See you tonight, kitten."

Elena grinned, feeling something almost devious inside her. "So, Caroline. Tell me about this party…"


A/N: So, what did you all think?! I've got the next few chapters mapped out already in my head and will be starting on getting them written and proofed ASAP. So, keep checking back for more updates! As always… reviews are the stars in my sky!