Okay, so before I get to the next chapter there are a few things I need to say. First off, a huge thank you goes out to Jadedlily1478 for helping me through my little writer's crisis. Also thank you to all of my faithful reviewers who provide me with such inspiration. Also, you might notice that this chapter has a point of view change. I know this might be strange after 16 chapters from Future Elena's perspective, but I think I need to show Damon's perspective if I want to show the love story develop with him and Current Elena. I am trying this out to see how it works. I would really LOVE some feedback on this chapter, because I have never felt as confident in writing from Damon's perspective. So please if it seems out of character, tell me so. If this POV change goes well, I may try changing it to Current Elena's POV as well. Starting with this chapter, I will have the POV posted at the top of each chapter. I hope you enjoy.
Damon's POV
Surreal doesn't even begin to cover the weirdness that has consumed my past few days. To recap, the woman that I loved for almost a century and a half came back only to rip out the remains of my broken heart. A future version of Elena came back in time to tell me that she loved me and that her future included my brutal demise. And to top it all off, current Elena was back on the market after a crushing rejection from my brother. All the women in my life are making my head spin. No one more than the two matching beauties standing in front of me. Even looking at their identical shocked faces, it is still difficult to see the future and the current Elena as one person. They both are so dissimilar, more like sisters than copies of the same human being.
My relationships with both also hold vastly differing meanings to me. With future Elena, it is about an undeniable craving and fire that threatens to consume us both. Our time is spent in passionate embraces and fiery kisses that make my heart feel like it can beat again. It is as if any moment could be our last, and we both need just one more second in each other's arms before we meet our tragic end.
With current Elena, it is about longing and a more simmering passion that lurks just beneath the surface. Every accidental touch or pining glare holds such significance. I spend the majority of my days analyzing every word like I am still a love struck teenager. Given my track record for unrequited love, I may never have stopped being a love struck teenager. No amount of time seems capable of changing that. All I know for certain is that with every passing day, I fall deeper for them, both of them. In other words, I am totally and completely screwed. Decades of therapy could not erase the fucked up shit going on in my life at present. The only certainty that still burns in my heart is an emotion I had thought died out the night the tomb was opened, hope.
It has been too long since I'd dared to hope things, dared to hope that my life could be different. From the second future Elena kissed me back at the hospital, that hope reignited into an inferno. She picked me over Stefan. Someone finally chose me. Even though it wasn't who I had hoped, that acceptance was something that no one could ever take away.
This thought however brings me back to memories of my conversation with Katherine. A part of me knows that it was weak to throw myself at her again, especially after what Elena and I had shared in the past couple of days, but Katherine was my first love. She held a power over me that couldn't be broken even after 145 years of separation. Memories of the past year that Elena spent head over heels in love with Stefan might have further exacerbated my fears about trusting this new relationship. But whatever fears I once held, they all vanished when I heard Elena's rather loud defense of my honor. She spoke of me which such reverence and love. It seemed ridiculous that I could have questioned her devotion for even an instant. Future Elena loved me. That much was undeniable, but I still had to work out my own feelings, and decide how I was going to juggle loving both Elenas. What would even happen to future Elena once she fixed everything? I never even thought to ask. I try to break myself out of my deep philosophical ponderings as I realize no one has spoken since Stefan left.
Five painfully long minutes pass without any of us uttering a word. The silence is anything but comfortable, and I struggle to come up with a witty quip to break the ice. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that someone could make my already morose brother even broodier, but somehow you managed it," I awkwardly joke, plastering my signature smirk on my face to really sell it. This earns me a smile and a small chuckle from future Elena, but current Elena clearly is not amused. She is once again glaring daggers at her future self. Apparently she is not as impressed by Elena's little speech as I was.
Her rage starts to spill over until she erupts in a volcano of self-righteous loathing directed at her future self. "Did you really need to pile on," Elena questions angrily? "He came here to apologize and you responded by screaming at him. God, every time I think I see a little bit of myself in you, something happens, and you prove that we are nothing alike."
Future Elena doesn't get defensive or start screaming back. She maintains an eerie calm as she asks her past self one question. "Was I wrong," Elena questions curiously?
"Excuse me," current Elena responds clearly confused?
Future Elena keeps her calm composure as she elaborates. "Did I make some factual error in what I was saying to Stefan? If you can tell me one thing that I said that wasn't true, I will go right now and beg Stefan's forgiveness. If you can't think of anything, then I have nothing to feel guilty about," Future Elena logically concludes.
I search my own mind for any tiny mistake that she might have made, anything that would force Elena to find my guilt ridden brother and relieve him of his heavy burden. The big brother in me hopes she comes up with something, because the heart wrenching look on Stefan's face as he left actually made me feel guilty for some inexplicable reason, as if I was to blame for his suffering. However, the selfish part of me hopes current Elena can see the truth in the accusations thrown at Stefan's feet. It would be a small vindication that even Elena's current self sees through Stefan's façade as the perfect noble brother.
While Elena fails to find any fault in her future self's reasoning, she refuses to lose this argument without a greater fight. "Just because something's true doesn't mean it needs to be said. It certainly doesn't need to be shouted. Stefan is fragile enough right now. Was it really necessary to add to his pain," Elena demands emitting a combination of judgment, sadness, and irritation in every word?
Before I know what's happening, unexpected words gush from my mouth without my consent. "Elena's right," I admit not really thinking about how confusing my statement might be. Both Elenas stare at me trying to decipher which side I had taken in their little argument. They keep pointing at each other and themselves hoping for further clarification. I curse my impulsive nature and my inability to keep my mouth shut. Without considering the consequences, I placed myself in a lose-lose situation. No matter whose side I took, the other Elena would feel angry and hurt that I didn't agree with her point of view.
Since I can't take the words back, I decide to explain, hoping it will free me from the hot water I foolishly jumped head first into. "You shouldn't have yelled at Stefan," I confess, observing Elena's face for a reaction. Predictably, her face falls a little and her shoulders slump. I feel terrible for hurting her feelings. She spent the past several days defending me, and at my first opportunity to return the favor, I don't back her up. It isn't because I'm ungrateful, but what Elena did went too far, and she needed me to tell her that. "Regardless of whatever facts are on your side, your little rant had little to do with me. You've been punishing Stefan ever since you returned, and today you seized an opportunity to unleash a cathartic explosion of hurt feelings and blame at his feet. You are a better person than that," I reassure her.
Elena stares down at her feet looking more like a guilty child facing reprimand than the strong grown woman I know she is inside. The only upside of this little argument is that current Elena smiles at me noticeably grateful for seeing her side of things. She mouths a thank you and kisses me on the cheek. It seems silly feeling excited about a kiss on the cheek when I have done a lot more with future Elena. But I still feel the familiar tingling sensation where her lips once were, and my breath catches in my throat as her gaze lingers for longer than it probably should.
We barely notice that future Elena is speaking until I hear the words, "you're right," pass through Elena's lips. She concedes and says, "I'll try to talk to Stefan today and apologize, on one condition," Elena stipulates with a downright diabolical grin gracing her lovely features. All evidence of her previous guilt vanishes.
Current Elena groans slightly annoyed that the promise of an apology comes with strings. "What condition," Elena questions aggravated?
The evil smirk hasn't left future Elena's face, and it's starting to get creepy. Her playful tone as she answers only adds to the effect. "You two have to go to the carnival together, tonight."
I'm torn between being terrified and turned on at this new side of Elena. Her plan is masterfully executed and brilliantly manipulative. Current Elena is far too tender hearted to let Stefan suffer when she is offered a chance to help him. After a beat, current Elena questions the nature of our little outing. "You're setting me and Damon up on a date? That is your condition," Elena asks in disbelief? I feel a tiny stab of rejection at the tone of her voice. You would think Elena asked her to walk across hot coals or eat a bug by the horror in her tone.
Future Elena puts on her best angelic doe eyed look before she replies in a faux innocent voice. "Of course not, that would be so inconsiderate after your boyfriend just broke up with you. You guys are going as friends. Damon will be a great buffer for all of your school friends who will ask a million stupid questions about your relationship status. There isn't a problem is there? Aren't you guys friends?"
"Yes," Elena and I quickly respond in unison. One look at either of our faces would make the most trusting person skeptical of the sincerity of our previous words, but future Elena doesn't question it.
Her smile only gets wider as she claps her hands together and excitedly exclaims, "Perfect, you two will have so much fun. Meet her at the carnival at 7. She has to help set up with Bonnie," Elena informs me happily. I struggle not to laugh as Elena sighs a doubtful "fine" under her breath and trudges up the stairs.
Once current Elena is out of sight and ear shot, I accuse her future counterpart of mischief in orchestrating this setup. "You did that on purpose," I suggest.
She produces a coy smile, "maybe," she replies while swaying playfully from side to side.
My suspicions are quickly confirmed, but I wonder why she simply didn't ask me herself. I know she wants me to fall for her past self, but I hate the thought of her sitting alone, while everyone else is having fun tonight. "What may I ask are your plans for this evening, since you obviously cannot attend the carnival yourself without raising a few eyebrows," I ask concerned.
"Don't you worry about me. I am spending the evening with a perfect gentleman. We will have tea and talk about old times. It will be delightful," Elena responds as if she is not baiting me.
Under normal circumstances, I would fall for her trap easily, but I have seen today that she likes to watch me squirm. I resolve not to give her the satisfaction. I nonchalantly question, "Should I be worried that you've grown tired of me already?" While I try to keep the edge of fear out of my voice, I fear I'm only moderately successful.
Apparently she has grown rapidly tired of this little game or she has taken pity on me, because she puts my insecurities for bed as quickly as they appeared. "He's just an old friend," she promises as her hand comes up to caress my cheek. "I need him to help me take down Klaus, and don't worry about my safety, because he will be doing most of the work," Elena swears. This woman knows me too well I think to myself. She recognizes exactly what I need to hear to feel secure. Her next assurances are just further proof of that fact. "Just in case you need any further reassurances, there was nothing romantic between us ever," Elena tells me definitively. I feel so much better until she adds one last comment before racing out the door. "He learned his lesson about falling for Petrova doppelgangers 500 years ago," Elena replies half-jokingly. It's the half part that worries me. Before I have a chance to ask any more questions, Elena mumbles some pathetic excuse to leave, and I am left again confounded by these crazy women who keep complicating my life.
As Always Please Read and Review! Pretty, Pretty Please With Cherries On Top, At Least For This Chapter!