**Chapter five**

Drinking buddies

*Hailey*

It was two hours later, and Damon and I were very drunk.

Damon was Stefan's big brother, but they didn't get along very well, I learned. But it was strange, because when Damon and I touched hands, I got the same feeling of death from him that I got from Stefan. Being drunk though, I didn't think much of it.

"So, Damon, got yourself a girlfriend?" I blurted out, doing another shot of tequila.

"Nope." he said, giving me a lazy smirk, and stealing my tequila.

"And why not? You're hot!" I exclaimed, making the bartender laugh while he was wiping glasses.

"Because my ex. She's a bitch, but I love her." he slurred, a sad look crossing his face when he mentioned her.

"Aww, so sweet. You're in loooove!" I teased, giggling in a way only a drunk person could.

"Whata bout you? Gotta boyfriend?" he asked, giving me a drunk yet sexy smirk.

"Nope, 'cause there isn't a hot enough guy for me." Till now, I thought, though I didn't say that.

He smirked at me, and I easily returned that smirk. He was going to say something to me, but was interrupted by Frank.

"Okay, you drinking buddies, I'm closing up soon. So make some phone calls, because there's no way I'm letting you two drive home as drunk as you are."

"We're not that drunk." I defended, slurring all my words.

Frank raised an eyebrow. "Half an hour ago, the two of you were singing Hannah Montana songs." he pushed the telephone my way. "Call." he ordered, before turning away.

I sighed, then gave in, and dialed Elena's cell number.

"Hello?" she answered on the 2nd ring.

"Lena bear, Hi!" I slurred.

She laughed. "Hails, you're seriously drunk."

"I know right? Well, I needs a ride, but I gots my car here."

"I'll have Stefan drive me there, then he'll follow me so I'll have a ride back."

"Okie dokie see you!" I said happily.

Elena laughed. "Hailey, you're gonna have the world's worst hangover tomorrow."

"Yep! By Lena!"

"Bye Hailey."

We hung up, and then I turned Damon, his eyes looking even bluer when I was drunk.

"Who's Lena?" he asked, his black hair messy.

"Lena is my best, best, best friend ever!" I said happily. "Her real name's Elena." I added, going for the bottle of tequila.

Damon raised both his eyebrows, and had a mischievous smirk on.

"Elena Gilbert?" he asked.

"Yeah! Do ya know her?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.

"Yeah, I do. Well, I gotta go Hailey. It was nice getting drunk with ya." he smirked again, tossed some bills on the counter, before leaving.

"Bye Damon!" I waved madly.

I could hear his arrogant laugh even after he was out the door.

Frank came back a few minutes later.

"Where'd your drinking buddy go?" he asked, taking my bottle away.

"Left, but he paid." I said, pointing to the money on the counter. He sighed but nodded, and took the money.

A few minutes later, Elena came, with Stefan following her.

"Hey Hailey." she greeted, coming over to me. I noticed her frown when she saw how drunk I was.

"Lena! Lena's boy toy!" I said, all happy and drunk like.

Elena rolled her eyes, and grabbed my hand, like I was a two year old. She said goodbye to Frank, then led me out into the parking lot.

"Hailey, I'll give you a lecture on your alcoholism in the morning, okay?" she sighed.

I shook my head rapidly, excessive giggles coming from my lips.

"Okay Lena, somebody's gotta do it!" I exclaimed, before laughing like I heard the funniest joke ever. The corner of Elena's mouth twitched up.

"Hailey and her mom aren't very close. It's a really long story." Elena explained to her boyfriend.

"She's a bitch!" I shouted into the still night air.

"We'll probably be doing this often." Elena said, as we reached my car, letting go of my hand.

She dug into my purse for my keys, and then got me situated in the passenger side. I was laughing and shaking uncontrollably, giving her a hard time.

"So, Hails, how'd dinner go?" she asked, pulling out of the parking lot, Stefan following us.

"I will not marry Tyler!" I blurted out.

She gave me a weird look. "I don't even wanna know." She said.

I suddenly looked at her, all serious. "I'm sorry I was mad at you. I just thought we were best friends." I said, losing my drunken happiness.

Elena bit her lip. "We are, Hailey." She said quietly.

"Then why didn't you tell me about your boy toy?" I asked, confused.

Elena sighed. "We'll talk about it when you're sober, okay?" she said.

"Okay!" I agreed, happy again. Elena laughed, and shook her head.

"How was getting wasted?" she asked.

"I got myself a drinking buddy, and he's hot!" Elena laughed again, just as we pulled up to my house.

Elena led me to my house, and made sure I was safely in it before getting into Stefan's car.

"Bye Lena! Bye Lena's boy toy!" I shouted, waving madly.

I made my way into my house, stumbling slightly along the way. Getting up stairs was tricky, and I hit my head on the wall twice.

My mom was asleep, as I fell into my room. I was glad, the last thing I needed wasted, was my mom to bitch me out. Though, I probably woke her up, with all my stumbling and laughter.

"Shh, we don't want to wake up the evil bitch." I whispered to my cat. I swear, she rolled her eyes at me, before going back to sleep.

I kicked off my shoes, and then burrowed under my blankets. I felt warm and safe, in the dark, under my blankets.

Sleep was taking me over, and my eyes fluttered closed. "Night Drinking buddy." I sighed into the air, before finally passing out.

A/N: thank you vdemily and aireagle92 for reviewing! Reviews inspire me 3