Elena paced around her room anxiously, unsure of what attitude Damon would arrive with. Fear and nausea swirled around inside her stomach as she turned to stare out the window. Would Damon be angry, or sad? She didnt know which was worse, just that she didnt want to lose him because she was lost inside herself.

Her stomach growled in starving protest, but she ignored it. It was too hard for her to eat right now. Flopping down on her bed she stared at the ceiling, anticipating Damon's arrival. Elena didn't know what to say to Damon; she was scared. The anger Damon had displayed in his room only reminded her of Jason, but she knew Damon wouldn't hurt her, though she feared his anger.

She loved Damon, but Elena wasn't positive he wouldn't be able to see past her problems. Hearing a sound emit from the window, she looked up to see Damon knocking softly. She got up and walked slowly to him. Before she had opened the window all the way, Damon was already inside. He turned to Elena, his expression unreadable.

"Elena, how long, and why?" He was referring to her anorexia. Elena wrung her hands together nervously and timidly said, "Look at me, I'm fat, Damon." Pain and pity showed on Damon's face as his mouth turned to a frown. "Elena, i see you. You're not fat, you're barely what people call skinny, i can see your ribs sticking out, Elena. That's not fat. You were perfect just the way you were."

Elena looked down in shame, a single tear trailing down her gaunt cheek. "I didn't feel perfect, i just can't stop, Damon, i'm scared to stop." She buried her face in her frail hands and sobbed silently. Striding over to her, Damon collected her into his arms and lay her down on the bed with him.

"I'll help you get through this, Princess, no matter how it pains me to see you go through this. I swear to you, i'll help you." Elena turned around so she was facing Damon, and murmured softly, sadly, "I'm sorry you have to keep saving me, Damon."

Damon kissed the top of her head and his lips formed a little smile. "It's always a pleasure coming to your rescue, 'Lena. Anything for you, Princess." She snuggled into his chest, her tears staining his shirt, but he didn't care, he just wanted Elena to get better. Her welfare was all that mattered to him.

Elena fell asleep in his arms and Damon couldn't think of anything that would make him happier. He stroked her hair absent-mindedly, pondering on what he would do to help Elena in the morning. She needed breakfast, and she was going to eat this time.

He knew she was stronger than this, all she needed to do was hear it. Damon wished he could kiss her pain away, that he could end her nightmares, but he couldn't. She had to be strong, but he would be there for when she became weak again. He looked down at her, sleeping so peacefully, and smiled.

She wouldn't have to worry about that sick bastard Jason, as he ripped out his throat and heart at the same time. He could have made his death even longer, but the prick wasn't worth his energy, so Damon didn't waste his time in ending his life. Of course he gave the guy a good beating like the moron had Elena, but Jason hadn't lived.

Touching Elena was the guy's worst mistake ever, and he paid for it with his worthless life. Damon was going to make sure he was always near or with Elena so she would never have to go through with that again. He was her guardian and she was his angel. She stirred in her sleep, and led Damon to leave his thoughts and look over at her clock. Wow, 7:30 am.

Elena was going to be late for school, and he wouldn't have that. He nudged her softly, urging her to wake up. Her sleepy eyes opened reluctantly, her voice thick with sleep. "D'mon.. what time's it?" He looked down at her, eyes lit with amusement. "Time for humans to go to school." She punched his arm weakly, before she realized what he said and shot up and raced to her closet.

Picking out a violet long sleeved top and a dark blue pair of jeans, she scurried into the bathroom to get ready. Damon chuckled at her rush to get ready, and nearly 15 minutes later, she stood in front of him, gorgeous. "Will you drive me to school?" She asked shyly.

A half smirk spread on his face. "I was afraid you'd never ask." With that, he got up and took Elena's hand in his. Together they left the house and entered the car, him driving her to Mystic Falls High. As they pulled up in front of the entrance, Damon turned to kiss her full on the lips before snarkily saying, "Okay, Princess, this is where i leave you. Learn something today and try not to think about me too much! Bye." Elena smacked him playfully, retorting, "Ass." before leaving the car.

Damon pulled away and drove off, leaving Elena to face her school. Leaving her to face a new hell. As she walked down the hall, she noticed people staring at her, and whispering, "Do you think she has cancer?" "No, i heard she was trying to become a model but was too fat." "Yeah? Well, i heard she was pregnant and was trying to lose weight so it didn't look like she was." "I heard she's dating Damon now, AND she's a cutter. Make her pull up her sleeves."

Tears formed in Elena's eyes, and her cheeks flushed crimson in embarrassment. She rushed down the hall, not caring they know she heard. Running into the bathroom, she hurried into a stall and closed it behind her. What she saw on the back of this door only crushed her further.

In big, bold, black sharpie, were the words: "ELENA GILBERT IS A DIRTY, BROTHER HOPPING SLUT. LET'S HOPE SHE CUTS HERSELF TO DEATH!" Elena cried, agonized. How could people be so cruel when they knew nothing about her? She couldn't do this anymore. Not this time.

What if her own friends thought of her like that? What if Damon...? No. He couldn't. Not after he saved her. But these people were right, she left Stefan for his brother. Bile rose from her stomach into her mouth, and she heaved.

She heaved up all the stress, the anger, and the agony she dealt with. She heaved until the bile turned red, but she couldn't stop. Scarlet rivulets trickled out of her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock, and a new, white-hot pain spread from her stomach throughout her body. What was happening?

She struggled to get her phone out of her pocket. When she did, she called Damon, frantic. He answered immediately, as if he knew something was wrong. "What's wrong, Elena? Talk to me". Elena gasped in pain before breathlessly answering. "I-i- need help, Damon. The blood, it's-it's coming out." She moaned softly. "Please...Bathroom" She whispered.

Damon understood and told her he would be right there before hanging up. He brought Stefan with him because he would need help. Both brothers were worried about her. As Elena sat propped against the toilet, stars danced around in her eyelids and her vision blurred.

She moaned again, more painfully as her stomach twisted in knots. She screwed up this time, and she finally realized that she had to stop, the bulimia and anorexia, that is. It was killing her and now that she knew she had Damon, she didn't want to die anymore. She wanted to be with him, more than anything. He was her world, she loved him. As she found her vision fading, Elena felt herself being scooped into strong arms, and she smiled serenely as she surrendered to darkness.