**Chapter forty one**

Best friend bonding time

*Hailey*

I woke up in my red bra, and Damon's boxers. Damon's arms were wrapped around my waist, and he was asleep. I kissed him lightly on the lips, before pulling away. He didn't want to let go of me, but I managed to pull his arms off of me. I laughed softly, as I got out of bed, and began looking for my clothes.

I sighed, as I found the remains of my clothes in the corner of his room. Damon opened one eye as I pulled on jeans and a shirt that I had left in his room.

"You know, if you keep ripping my clothes off of me, I'm going to run out of them soon. The fact that blood stains are a bitch to get out isn't helping that problem either." I said, as I tried to fix my sex hair.

"Try salt and cold water- works like magic." Damon said, as he stretched.

"Where do you think you're going?" Damon asked, as I put on one of Damon's leather jackets.

"Last time I checked, Elena still thinks I'm comatose. I have to go see her." I said, putting my hair up into a messy bun.

"Ugh, when will it be Damon time?" he complained with a smirk.

"It's been 'Damon time' most of this week- you know, when I wasn't busy almost dying. But I promise that you can have me this weekend." I said, as I walked over and kissed him on the lips. I pulled away before he could manage to convince me to stay.

"Love you." I called over my shoulder, a slight smile on my lips.

"Love you more." He smirked, as I walked out of his room. The sun was high in the sky as I walked outside. I got into Damon's car and drove to Elena's house- I had learned my lesson walking alone.

I pulled into Elena's driveway, and then walked straight into Elena's house like I owned it. The living room and kitchen was empty, so I walked up the stairs to Elena's room. I knocked on the door once before pushing it open. My eyes widened as I saw Stefan and Elena in a heated embrace, their lips locked.

"Oh God." I said, shutting the door.

"I swear, I have a gift when it comes to walking in on you guys." I muttered to myself.

Seconds later, Elena pulled the door open and stared wide eyed at me. I smiled slightly and hugged her tightly. "What can I say? I'm a bitch to get rid of." I joked, as Elena squeezed the life out of me.

Elena pulled away from me, and then hit me hard in the arm. I glared at her, as I rubbed the soon-to-be bruise. "Ow…" I muttered.

"You ever do that to me again Hailey, and I'll kill you myself." Elena threatened.

I rolled my eyes as Stefan shrugged on his jacket and walked out of Elena's room. "I'll let you two be alone." He said, and Elena smiled thankfully at him.

"It's good to have you back, Hailey." He said, as he walked down the stairs.

"It's good to be back, Stef." I called to him.

Elena ushered me into her room, and I sat down on her bed. Elena sat down next to me as she asked, "So when did you come out of your coma?"

"This morning," I lied. I had no excuse to make up for the time I was with Damon.

"Is it true, what Damon said? That you didn't want to come back?" Elena asked, and I saw the hurt in her eyes.

"Yes." I admitted. "It was very selfish of me, to want to leave everyone behind, but it's true."

"I don't blame you." Elena sighed. "Sometimes, I don't want to get out of bed, with everything that's happening."

I nodded, and told Elena about everything she missed. I left Damon out, though. I wasn't ready to open that can of worms. "God, who did you piss off to have such bad luck, Hailey?" Elena said, and I grinned.

"Who haven't' I pissed off, Elena?" I smirked.

"Good point." She said, and I laughed.

"Let's go to the Grill, I'm starving." I said, and Elena nodded. As we left her house, Elena spotted Damon's car, and raised her eyebrows. "Is that Damon's car?"

I nodded, trying to play it off. "He let me borrow it."

"What exactly is going on between you two?" Elena asked, as we got into her car.

I shrugged, though I was freaking out on the inside. "We're friends." I lied.

"I'm confused- one minute Damon acts like he couldn't care less if you died or not. Then the next he's risking his life to keep you safe." Elena said, as she drove.

"Well, Damon's bipolar like that." I said, uncomfortable.

"Are you sure that you don't have feelings for him, Hailey?" she asked, and I stopped breathing.

"I learned my lesson the first time, Elena. Trust me, Damon and I are nothing more than friends." I lied, hating the feeling of guilt that came over me.

Elena decided to take my word for it, and soon we were inside the Grill. We met up with Matt, Tyler, and Caroline, and I was happy to see them. I hadn't seen them since before Victoria possessed me.

"I'm totally kicked off of the cheerleading squad, aren't' I?" I asked Caroline hopefully.

"No, I managed to pull a few strings. The sight of you cheering is too good." She grinned and I scowled.

"You know, you still have to throw a party to make up for the one that got canceled." Tyler said, as he stole some of my nachos.

"Halloween's in a few weeks. How about you throw a party then, and I'll co-host it?" I offered, knocking his hand away.

"It's a deal." He grinned, and then the boys had to leave for football practice. "Let's go dress shopping!" Caroline exclaimed as Elena stared at me.

I raised an eyebrow at her, as my phone vibrated, signaling a text. It was from Damon. Where are you? I'm bored.

I grinned as I texted him back. Girl time :/ it sucks for both of us. If you manage to survive three hours without me, we can go to the movies. And I promise, I won't' make you see Footloose.

I sent the text as Caroline stared expectantly at me. "What? Uh sure, whatever." I agreed, not knowing what for.

"Yay!" she cheered, as we stood up and walked to Elena's car.

"Where are we going?" I whispered to Elena, as I got a reply from Damon.

"Dress shopping for the masquerade on Friday." She replied, and I made a face as I read the text from Damon.

Deal. Trust me, if the remake's anything like the original, neither of us would survive the first ten minutes.

I grinned as I texted him back. You were into musicals?

"Who are you texting?" Elena asked curiously.

"Some guy I met at a bar. We have a date tonight." I lied, as we got into her car.

"Oh really? I thought you were into Tyler." Elena said curiously, as she got into the driver's side.

I choked on air, as she started the car. "Tyler?"

"I think you two would make a cute couple." Caroline piped up from the back seat.

"No way." I said, shaking my head.

"You two were kind of flirting." Elena said.

"No we weren't." I argued. I knew that I had hit on Tyler only a few weeks ago, but we were good friends. Besides, I was already in love with another arrogant ass.

My phone vibrated, and I smiled as I read his reply. I could hear his sarcastic voice in my ear. Of course. Grease is the best movie ever made.

I replied quickly. I wish I could've seen you in the fifties.

"Just consider it, Hailey." Elena pushed, and I glared at her.

"No thank you, Elena." I dismissed, as we pulled into the mall parking lot. I got out of the car, just as my phone vibrated. I'm glad you didn't. The 50's were terrible. The Beatles pulled me through the 60's. The 70's- I'd prefer not to mention it. I didn't mind the 80's, but the 90's, ugh. The grunge look did not work for Stefan. Always stay away from fads, Hailey.

I laughed out loud, causing Elena and Caroline to glance questioningly at me. I just grinned at them. I knew that no matter what people thought, my heart belonged to Damon Salvatore.

~LMF~

A/N: so, I know that Footloose isn't in theaters (at least in America) but it was when I wrote this chapter.

Thank you to: vdemily, SomebodyWhoCares, HawthorneTree, and OBSESSEDwithPOWERS for reviewing!

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~Abby!