"Hey you" she smiles up at me brightly from behind the coffee counter
"Hey back" I smirk
"How's your day going so far?" she turns around and starts pouring me a cup of coffee
"It's good" I take the cup from her "I just finished up an appointment with my therapist"
"Damon, that's great" she smiles widely
"Yeah, so I'm officially a therapist attending crazy man again" I laugh
"Seeing a therapist does not make you crazy" she corrects
"How about smashing all of the glassware in my kitchen where does that land me on the crazy scale?"
She looks at me in confusion "Yeah, that's a little crazy" she slowly nods
"Well then, someone should have me committed" I hold my wrists out for her to cuff me
She burst out laughing "did you really?"
"Yeah" I laugh "after you left the other night something inside of me just snapped, and I ended up breaking every single dish in the kitchen"
"Why?" she tries, and fails to stop her giggling
"I don't know, but it felt good" I shrug
"That's good"
"For me yes, for the dishes, not so much" I shake my head
"What have you been using to eating on?" she asks
"Well Elena, many years ago this thing called a paper plate was invented" I say sarcastically
"You're such a jackass" she playfully shoves my shoulder
On my way here I was worried about how this would play out now that everything is out in the open, would things be awkward or would it be easy to go back to just being friends, I'm glad that so far it seems to be the latter.
"I mean, you did kind of walk right into that one" I smirk
"No excuses Salvatore" she points at me
"Hey what are you doing later?" I ask
"Nothing" she shakes her head "why, what's up?"
"Well I'm getting low on those newfangled paper plates, I could use a woman's opinion on picking out some real ones" I offer
"OK" she nods "but only if you stop the paper plate jokes, they're not funny"
"Come on, they're a little funny"
"Not even in the slightest" she shakes her head
"OK deal" I smile
"I'm off in thirty minutes, do you wanna wait for me or meet somewhere?" she asks
"Nah, I'll hang here"
"Ok, well I have to sweep and wipe off the tables before we go" she starts wiping down the counter with a wet towel before moving on to the tables behind me
I spot a broom in the corner behind the counter so I grab it and start sweeping the floors
"Damon, you don't have to do that"
"I want to" I smile and continue my sweeping
"Lawyer turned maintenance man" she smiles
"I wouldn't go that far" I laugh
I move around the counter and continue sweeping around the tables, I glance at Elena who's bending over to wipe down a long table, I can't help but look down at her ass, god it's a beautiful sight. I remember all too well what it looks like naked, her tan long legs leading you that perfectly round ass and perfect curves.
I know I said I wouldn't go there, and I won't, but I'm a man and there's nothing wrong with appreciating something so obviously gorgeous. Well except for the fact that I now have a bulge in my pants.
I focus my attention back on the floor and beg my dick to go back to normal.
"It's so hard" she groans
"Excuse me?" I choke it out
She looks back at me, clearly confused by my reaction "whatever dried on this table, I can't get it off"
"Oh, the table, yeah, uh…maybe just let it soak?" I stutter
"Ok, weirdo" she laughs
After she finishes wiping all of the tables down and I hang the broom back up she goes into the back to clock out.
"You ready?" she returns coat and purse in hand
"Yeah" I nod
"What about these?" she holds up a square plate with swirly lines running through it
"I shake my head "too modern"
"Wow, I thought most men didn't care about all that, as long as it's a plate that they can eat on it's usually good enough"
"well A, I'm not most men and B this is my first time ever shopping for plates, Andie always did that stuff, so I'm actually excited to be doing this"
"Ok" she nods "then we'll keep searching for the perfect ones"
"Thank you" I smile "I originally asked Stefan to come with me but then I realized that this is probably one of those things that a woman is just much better at"
"Probably" she smiles
"And you're not the worst company in the world Elena" I smirk
"Back at ya" she nudges me "oh, what about these?"
I shake my head
"Ok "she sets it back down "So how did it go with the therapist today?"
"It was good" I nod "I realized that I've been holding in anger that I didn't even know was there, hence the dish breaking. So he gave me some writing exercises to do, I guess they're supposed to be cathartic" I shrug
"Oh I know all about those" she smiles "writing letters to yourself and then burning them and what not"
"Something like that" I nod
"Sometimes they can seem silly, but they really do help"
"I hope so" I pick up and plate and hold it out to her "What about this one?"
"It screams bachelor, so I guess it depends on what you're going for"
I just shake my head and place it back down
"So, I applied for a journalism job at a small news publishing company downtown" she says
"You did?! Elena that's amazing!"
"I haven't gotten in yet, so don't get to excited"
"I'm just so proud of you for trying, this is huge!"
"Yeah, I guess it is" she smiles sheepishly
"We're celebrating as soon as you get it"
"If I get it" she corrects
"When" I argue
"You're so stubborn sometimes" she laughs
"Not stubborn, just optimistic"
"The fact that you're arguing with me about being stubborn proves just how stubborn you really are"
"These?" I pick up a plate to show her
"Those are actually really nice. Manly but they don't say 'I'm gonna be a bachelor forever, no women allowed' like the other ones"
I try to remain unfazed but I don't fool her, she must've seen my smile falter because she quickly amends what she said
"Which is fine I you want to be, or if you don't want to be" she stutters
I can't help but laugh at her nervous babble "Ok, well I like them, no matter what they think my relationship status should be" I smirk "Man who knew dishes had so much philosophical insight"
"I guess all I was trying to say is that I like them too" she nods
"Then it's settled" I grab two boxes of the dish set, load them into the cart and head toward the checkout
"Thank you for coming with me" I say after paying the cashier
"No problem, I'm glad I could help" she smiles "well, I'm this way" she points to the right "But you know that already" she says awkwardly, her face starts to turn light red, she must be thinking about the last time I was at her apartment
"Right and I'm this way" I point to the subway sign on the left
"Ok, well I'll see you soon" she says
'Yeah, definitely" I smile and pull her in for a hug
Her body freezes for a moment before she quickly hugs me back
"See ya" she waves and turns toward her home
Once I'm seated on the subway I pull out my phone and send a text to Stefan
Are you and blondie fully clothed, if so I'm coming over
My phone chimes, signaling his response
It's just me, and yes I'm fully clothed.
Thank god. I'm on the subway, see you in a few
My mind wanders back to how Elena stiffened when I hugged her. Before everything happened we were all flirty touches and hugs, then I had to go and ruin it. It kills me that she has to put up those defenses with me, even though I know it's what I deserve.
The subway chimes informing the next stop; I get off and head to Stefan's place
Once there I walk in without knocking
"You don't live here anymore you know, maybe it's time to start knocking like a polite visitor would do" he says from where he's sitting on the couch
"Eh, being polite is over rated" I shrug, and sit down across from him
"Why were you on the subway?" he asks
"I went to see Elena at work and then she helped me pick out some new plates"
"Thank god, I really didn't want to do that"
"Well gee, thanks Stef"
"Really though, you never used to take the subway. You think you'll want to start driving again soon?" he asks
"No" I shake my head
"Why not?"
"Are you really asking me that? Think back to the last time I was in a car and the answer should be fairly obvious… besides this is New York City, there is no need for a driving"
He nods, "Ok, so listen I'm actually really glad you're here because I could use your help" he chews the inside of his lip nervously, a habit that he's had for as long as I can remember
"Sure, what's up?"
Instead of answering me he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a little black velvet box
"Is that what I think it is?" I ask
He nods, and opens the little box revealing a 2 carat solitaire diamond ring "I've been thinking about it for awhile now and yesterday I was walking down the street and passed a jewelry store that had it in the window, and I thought it was perfect for Caroline"
"Wow"
"I know it's soon, but I really do think she's the one Damon, she's smart, and funny, and beautiful, and she gets me, she's the complete package" he smiles
I nod "I think you're right"
"Really, you don't think it's too soon?"
"No, I've never seen you so happy before Stefan, and if there's one thing I've learned from everything it's that life is too short to worry about what society says is politically correct. If you feel like this is the right time then that's all that matters"
"Thanks brother" he nods
"So, how are you going to do it?"
"I don't know, that's actually what I needed your help figuring out"
I nod "well, do you think Caroline is more of the private type or will she want her friends and family there?"
"Definitely friends and family" he nods
"Ok so that narrows it down quite a bit"
"It does?"
"Well yeah, I mean you want it to be at an event that everyone would have already been attending, otherwise she'll be suspicious"
"Her birthday is a couple weeks" he suggests
"That's perfect" I nod "maybe tell one of her friends beforehand so they can have a camera ready" I suggest
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, trust me Caroline is going to want pictures" I nod "Girls eat that shit up"
"OK" he smiles
I think back to when I purposed to Andie on a deserted beach not another person in sight for miles, It was the definition of romantic, but she didn't get any pictures, she said she was fine with it, but every time another one of her friends showed her pictures of their own engagement I could see how much she wished she had her own to look back on.
"Let's see… what else…" I think about it "Oh! Don't read your proposal from a piece of paper. If you have to write it down fine, but memorize that shit"
He laughs "Got it"
"And don't forget to ask her dad for permission"
"He's not around, but she's really close with her mom"
"Then you should ask"
"Are you sure, do people even do that anymore?"
"It doesn't matter what other people do, it's what a man should do. Trust me, it'll show Caroline how serious you are about her, and it will show her mom that her daughter hit the jackpot with you"
"Ok" he nods
"Does Elena know?" I ask
"No" he shakes his head "No one knows except you"
"She'd be good for the pictures" I suggest
"I was thinking the same thing" he nods "Thank you Damon, for helping me with this; I know that it has to bring back some bad memories for you"
I think back again to the night I purposed to Andie and wait for the sadness to come, but it doesn't.
I shake my head "Only happy ones" I smile "Thank you for letting me be your big brother again and help you with this. This is huge Stefan" I clap him on the shoulder "I'm proud of you"
"Thanks" he smiles
"Oh! Has dad met her yet?"
"No"
"Maybe I should hold off on the congratulations" I smirk
"That's not funny…" he frowns "What should I do?"
"Now that dear brother you're on your own with"
"Come on Damon…" he laughs
"No way, not gonna happen" I laugh
Tonight my brother came to me for help and it felt good to pass my experiences on to him, without feeling sorry for myself, or envious towards him, the world is starting to feel like its back on its axis.
I may not be the man I used to be and I may not ever be him again, but I can say that I like who I'm becoming. The future is finally starting to look bright again and I can't wait to see what's next.
A/N: Hi guys! My muse really sucks right now, this was definitely more of a filler chapter, I just couldn't seem to get out what I wanted to get out. I hope you still enjoy it though and please let me know what you think in the reviews; I read them all and love all of your suggestions. Have a goof week! Xoxo