**Chapter ten**

It's a date

*Hailey*

The guilt from lying to Elena mixed with the fear that my dream vision might be real kept me up half the night. So, when my alarm went off the next morning, I really wanted to hit the snooze button.

Still, I sluggishly got up and took a shower. I managed to get the energy to put on makeup and do my hair, since I might be seeing Damon today. I put on the jeans that looked really good on me, and a red shirt that managed to show the right amount of cleavage without making me look like a slut. I felt a little embarrassed, that I was making myself look good for a guy that I promised my best friend I'd stay away from.

The Elena situation still gnawed at my stomach, like some sort of disease that ate you alive. I felt incredibly guilty, lying to her, but there was just something about Damon Salvatore that made it worth it.

I walked down the stairs, only stopping in the kitchen to get the coffee I desperately needed. I ignored my mother, who stared at my outfit like it was personally offending her.

"Hailey, I need to talk-"she started to say, but I cut her off.

"Sorry, mom. Don't wanna be late for school." I said walking, towards the door.

"Hailey Anne!" she shouted after me. "Don't you walk away from me! I am your mother!"

Ignoring my mom, I slammed the front door shut. I was about to walk to my car, when I realized that there was a familiar blue one parked right next to it.

"And you said that your car was better than mine."

I grinned when I saw Damon leaning against his car, smirking. I was suddenly very glad that I made myself look good instead of going to school in sweatpants and with no makeup on like I wanted to.

"It is." I said, walking up to him. I absentmindedly smoothed my hair down.

"Want a ride to school? I'll buy you breakfast." He said, like the breakfast was the enticing part of the deal, and not being with him. I mentally slapped myself; only Damon had the ability to change me into a self-conscious, boy-obsessed school girl.

"Hmm…" I said, acting like I really had to think about it. Damon raised his eyebrows at me, knowing that I was just teasing him.

"I suppose school can wait…" I smirked, before walking to the passenger side of his car. But before I could open the door, Damon grabbed my shoulder, and spun me around.

Before I could even raise my eyebrows, he kissed me. It was fierce and passionate, and left me wanting more, and Damon pulled away before I could even kiss him back.

I frowned at him, and he just smirked, walking away to the driver's side of car.

"I told you I would get you back." He smirked, turning on his car.

"Well, now you've started a war, Salvatore." I said, getting into the passenger's side.

A kissing war with Damon- that didn't sound fun at all.

It was 8:00 and I was munching on bacon at a pancake house, with Damon across the table from me. I should be in History right now, but I'd much rather be here.

My phone rang, and I answered it. I expected to hear Elena's voice, nagging me on how I should be in class.

"Yeah?" I asked, chewing on bacon.

"Hailey! If you ever walk away from me while I'm talking to you, I'm sending you to a catholic private school!" my mother's voice threatened, and I sighed.

"Ugh, what mom? I'm busy." I asked. Hearing her voice ruined my Damon buzz.

"I want to talk to you."

"We all want things- doesn't mean that we're going to get them." I said, ready to hang up.

"Hailey, if you hang up this phone, I'm going to sell your cat." she threatened.

I froze, and narrowed my eyes. "You wouldn't."

"I would."

"I won't let you."

"She'll be gone by the time you get home."

I sighed, knowing that I had no choice. "Fine, speak."

"The annual Founder's Ball is tonight, and you need to go-"

I cut her off. "Wait, they're having a party the day after a girl died? Don't you think that's in poor taste, mom?"

"It's not my decision, Hailey. The council believes that it would help take everyone's mind off of the tragedy. Besides the ball was planned months in advance, and we can't change it now."

"Isn't there something you can do? You are a member of the council. There has to be something you can do to stop this party." I said, desperate not to go to the party.

"No, there isn't actually. And even if there was, I think we should have this party. Why do you care anyways? Did you even like Carly Fell?" she asked, and I sighed.

"No, not really, but that doesn't matter. We should be mourning, not celebrating." I tried again, and I could see Damon smirking at my desperation.

"You just don't want to go- which you have to, or I'll get rid of the cat. But I really don't understand why you wouldn't want to go, you love parties." My mom said, and I rolled my eyes.

"Mom, I love parties with kegs, beer pong, and quarters. Not parties with gross music and me having to pretend that I like half the people there." I said, already shuddering at the thought.

"Hailey-"

"'You're a disgrace to this family' or 'Hailey, why can't you act like a normal teenage girl' or 'why, oh, why did I drink during my pregnancy?' take your pick, I like them all." I smirked at Damon, and he laughed silently.

"Why can't I have a daughter who's not a smartass?" she complained.

"I like that one too." I said, and she growled.

"You need a date. Arnold Fell is in town for Carly's funeral, and has agreed to go with you. He's a political science major in college, and is really excited to go with you." My mom said, and I glared up at the ceiling.

Arnold Fell was a greasy hair nerd, who always liked to flirt with me at parties. Of course he agreed to go with me.

"Gross, I'm not going to go with a nerd that my mom set me up with. I can find my own date, thank you very much." I said, my nose wrinkling.

"Fine, Hailey. Just no tattoos or police records. He has to be decent, and if either of you embarrass me, the cat goes." She said, reading my mind.

Damn it, I thought. "Well, as much fun as this conversation has been, my bacon's getting cold." I said, then hung up on my mom.

I looked at Damon, and raised an eyebrow. "There's no way you can get this party canceled, is there?" I asked, remembering that he was in the council.

"I already tried." He said, as I sipped my coffee. "Kissing ass is as fun for me as it is for you."

I sighed, I guess I was stuck. Now I had to find a date, probably a boring one too. I could ask Tyler, only that would please my mother too much.

I looked at Damon again, and then a thought struck me. I could ask him.

"You're going to the party, right?" I asked him, hoping that I didn't embarrass myself by asking him.

"Yeah, I guess I have to." He said, then looked at me and raised his eyebrow.

"Why?" he asked with a slow smirk.

"No reason." I shrugged, hoping that I wasn't blushing.

"Are you asking me out, Miss Ellis?" he smirked, and I grinned.

"Depends." I said.

"On what?" he asked.

"Your answer."

Damon laughed, as he paid the bill and we walked to his car. I was nervous, and felt my heart start to pound in my chest.

"Well, if you asking me out, I'd say-" he suddenly cut himself off and kissed me, leaving me breathless.

I gasped for air as he pulled away. He smirked at me, before continuing the walk to his car. I ran to catch up to him.

"What would you say?" I asked, impatient. He laughed, sensing this.

"I'd say that it's a date."

A/N: thank you to: charmedgirl92 and aireagle92 for reviewing!

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