Chapter 14

Elena kept her head down as they walked into the Grill. She could feel people's eyes on her and she felt herself blush in humiliation. Damon gripped her arm supportively and lead her forwards, he kept his head high and stared back at anyone who looked for too long. With his vampire hearing he could pick up the whispers that were circulating.

"I heard she was a drug addict now."

"Really? No…Elena Gilbert?"

"Yes, apparently she was never the same after Jeremy's death."

"Well I heard she started started selling sex for money."

"Oh gross!"

"Damon Salvatore's as hot as ever."

"Of course he would go running to Elena as soon as he got back to town."

"Oh please, as soon as he hears what she's been up to he'll be out the door faster than you can say alcoholic."

"I don't know…look at how protective he's being of her. It looks like he really cares."

"Damon Salvatore cares about one thing and one thing only. Sex."

"Well he better be ready to pay up then!"

"Oh she wouldn't make him pay, look at how she's clinging to him. She'll give it to him for free!"

"Look at how thin she is!"

"I know; she looks like she could just collapse!"

"Maybe she's been drinking."

"What happened to the other Salvatore?"

"No one knows, apparently he just disappeared!"

"Probably decided Elena's pretty face just wasn't worth the trouble."

Damon clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to turn the Grill into a scene of carnage. He stroked Elena's arm and thanked god she didn't have super hearing.

"Would you guys shut up? You don't what you're talking about."

He smiled slightly when he recognized Matt's hushed voice. At least some people were still on her side.

They sat down at a booth towards the back and after a while people grew tired of watching them and turned back to their earlier conversations. Elena visibly relaxed when she felt the attention shift off her.

Matt took their order and smiled at Elena, telling her he was thrilled to see her and not to be a stranger. Elena felt her heart lift a little as she sat there; maybe there was hope after all…maybe she wasn't a lost cause, maybe there would be something ahead worth fighting for.

Damon picked the pickles off Elena's plate and watched her as she laughed at something he had said. For the first time since he'd arrived home, Damon could see a flicker of the old Elena come out. He could see the part of her that was still innocent and in love with life.

Elena rolled her eyes as he took another pickle.

"If you get my pickles then I get your lettuce." She said, grabbing an iceberg leaf from his plate.

"I will never understand how you can eat that stuff. It is completely tasteless." Damon said, eyeing the vegetable with distaste.

"And I will never understand how you can eat pickles." She responded with a smile.

They talked about meaningless things, keeping their easy banter light, both of them consciously staying away from all the painful subjects that awaited them.

Later they walked out arm in arm, the stares no longer bothering Elena so much.

As they walked out of the door a girl who was the year below Elena in school coughed and audibly said;

"Fuck up."

Her boyfriend snorted and pushed forward, knocking Elena slightly as he made to enter the restaurant.

Damon reacted on instinct, grabbing the lapels of the kids' jacket and roughly pulling him back.

"Apologize. Now." He spat.

Elena touched his arm.

"Damon, it's ok." She murmured.

He ignored her, staring the boy down until he swallowed and mumbled a halfhearted apology.

"And your girlfriend." Damon said, his grip tightening.

The boy looked at the girl slightly desperately and she rolled her eyes.

"Sorry." She said, flicking her eyes sideways and raising an eyebrow, her face slipping into a queen bitch look that she had obviously learned from watching too much Gossip Girl.

Damon nodded and let them go, a clear threat in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He murmured, taking Elena's arm again.

She shook her head, and let him lead her to the car.

"It's fine. I expected it."

They went back to the boarding house, the mood light again, despite the run in at the Grill. Damon put on a movie and they lay on the couch, Elena's head somehow ending up in Damon's lap.

He was stroking her hair, his fingers trailing through her soft tresses, when his eyes caught sight of something on her arm.

A sleeve of her top had ridden up to reveal scars. Lots of scars.

The movement of his hands in her hair stilled and he sat frozen for a second. Elena hadn't noticed what had caught his attention, her eyes still fixed on the screen.

He quietly reached for her arm, pulling her sleeve back completely to reveal the numerous scars that decorated her skin. She started and looked around at him, her heart stopping when she saw his eyes fixed on her bare arm.

She tried to yank out of his grip but he didn't let go, his fingers closing around her wrist in an iron grip.

Damon felt just a little bit more of him break as he stared at the damaged skin. How could it have gotten this far? How could he have let it get this far? How could his beautiful, sweet, Elena have been driven to this? This was never supposed to happen, none of it. She was supposed to live a full life, be happy, loved. She deserved so much more than what the universe had served her.

"Damon let go of me."

Her angry voice snapped him out of his thoughts but he didn't let go.

"Elena, what are these?" He asked; his voice controlled.

He knew the answer but he wanted to hear her say it.

"They're nothing. Let me go." She spat.

"They are not nothing!" He replied quickly.

She froze at the anger in his words and her eyes dropped to the floor.

"Let me go." She repeated.

"Not until you explain."

She tried to free herself again, to no avail.

"No!" She yelled.

"Elena, I can't help you if you don't talk to me." His voice rose.

She felt the walls around her heart closing in again and she didn't fight it.

"Oh please. You don't want to help me. You just want old Elena back you only liked me when I was innocent and pure!" She spat the words harshly and his fingers loosened in surprise.

She yanked her hand away from him.

"You know that's not true."

"Whatever Damon. Save it for someone who cares."

She turned and ran out of the house, tears blurring her vision as she stumbled down the drive.

Told ya there was a storm brewing... ;)