Here is the continuation of the 'date' chapter. I hope you guys like it, because I was a little unsure about how everyone will feel about certain parts. For starters, I don't know where this came from, but I felt the need to bash Stefan again in this chapter. You can blame it on last week's episode where Stefan was mostly an ass. This is new territory for me. In all of my other stories, Stefan is the exact opposite and in fact uncharacteristically understanding and nice, so if it feels like I am taking it too far let me know. I hope to get into a pattern where I can update this story at least once a week, so I don't have another long break without updating. Thanks always to those who read and reviewed the last chapter. Enjoy!
Current Elena's POV
When the music stops, the crowd goes wild. Damon bows and waves to his adoring fans. I can't stop giggling at Damon's obvious attempts at showing off. Before I know it, I am bowing to the crowd as well. If you can't beat them, might as well join them. The applause dies down and we exit the stage only to run into a near murderous looking Stefan. His hand is now firmly grasping Katherine's. Apparently anything Damon does, Stefan thinks he can do better. Katherine doesn't appear pleased at Stefan's blatant attempts to make me jealous, but she seems to enjoy Stefan's company too much to walk away.
My first moment in front of Katherine is rather jarring. I expect her to look just like future Elena, a slight variation on myself. But I find that, while Katherine's physical appearance is similar to my own, her personality, confidence, and way of carrying herself is something foreign to my eyes. Katherine gives me a once over, sizing me up before she speaks. "Well that was quite a show," Katherine admits, only mildly sarcastic, trying to cut the tension of the moment.
Her attempts at breaking the ice fail, because my anger at Stefan boils over and I lash out fiercely. "What is she doing here, Stefan," I question furiously?
Stefan maintains an uncaring mask as he responds with a tone of indifference. "We're just enjoying the carnival. I heard about your big date and thought that you had the right idea. One day really is quite long enough to be in mourning over a loving committed relationship. Luckily for me, Katherine was kind enough to offer her company," Stefan answers with a gloating smile on his face.
I want to punch him, slap him. He's acting like a petulant teenager, and I briefly wonder what it truly means for a vampire to be eternally stuck in the body of a seventeen year old. My first instinct is to correct Stefan's assumption that Damon and I are on a date, but I know that this will please Stefan to no end, so I decide against it. Instead I merely address the giant problem that Stefan has created by bringing her here. "You do realize that you brought my doppelganger to a school function in which most of the town is in attendance? The leaders of Mystic Falls might not be the brightest, but I think they might notice and ask questions when they start seeing double," I point out
Katherine fields this question effortlessly. "Don't worry on that account. I compelled a few of your classmates to start a rumor that we were twins separated at birth and that we recently reunited via Facebook," Katherine explains casually.
Stefan interjects abruptly before I have time to offer a reply. "Well as fun as this has been, my date and I have better places to be. So now that we've got the pesky human problems out of the way, I think we'll be going," Stefan states while putting his arm around Katherine.
They both turn to leave before I call out his name. "Stefan, wait," I command. He turns only halfway back around, his body midway between staying and going. I look for some sign of the man that I love, but all I see in his eyes is emptiness, no good, no kindness, and no love. This realization only reignites my anger. "Is this how it's going to be from now on, I hurt your feelings and this is how you lash out at me," I inquire attempting to fight back tears of betrayal?
For a second I see a flicker of remorse, similar to the one that I saw at the house after future Elena yelled at him about Damon, but it vanishes as quickly as it appears. Stefan's face holds none of its former goodness or compassion as he attempts to hurt me even further. "I don't really care enough about your little human feelings to try to upset you. You're just not worth it. But Katherine was right, your performance was great. I almost believed that you genuinely like him," Stefan remarks cruelly.
Damon winces at the insult, probably because it hits at the heart of all of his insecurities. I feel the need to get the last word in, if not for myself, then at least for Damon's sake. "How dare you talk to him that way," I scream expressively. "Did you truly learn nothing from this morning? Damon may not be perfect, but at least he's not a child. Right now I feel a whole lot better with him by my side then you. So trust me when I say that my performance is nothing compared to yours. I at least have real feelings for my date," I admit in a rage.
The words tumble out without my consent, and when I look up, I see three pairs of stunned eyes staring back at me. Katherine looks in a fury and about to confront me, when Damon steps between us. His voice holds a dangerous warning in its tone, and if it was directed at me, I would be terrified. "If you take one more step near her, you better be prepared to kill me, because you are not harming one hair on her head while I'm still breathing," Damon threatens seriously. Katherine takes a beat to consider her options and opts to walk away, dragging Stefan along with her. Damon releases a sigh of relief once they're gone. "Are you okay," Damon asks concerned. His blue eyes convey such emotion that it takes my breath away. I nod my head signaling my answer.
"I know that tonight is supposed to be a time out from our regularly scheduled drama, and I know you need that as much as I do right now, but can I have five minutes just to be a messed up teenager and bitch about my ass of an ex-boyfriend," I question hopefully?
Damon keeps surprising me tonight, because he doesn't make a sarcastic remark. He doesn't question me further. He simply answers, "of course," and leads me to a secluded bench away from the crowds.
Once everyone else is out of earshot, I feel like I can breathe again, and I feel free to ask a question that I'm not sure I want the answer to. "From almost the moment we met, you've tried to convince me that Stefan isn't who he pretends to be. You told me several times that I didn't have the rest of the story. Is this what you meant? Is this the real Stefan," I ask terrified of his answer?
Damon breathes out a heavy sigh and I see how carefully he chooses his words as if he is afraid of saying the wrong thing. "It's not quite that simple, Elena. I'm not sure it's my place to say which side of Stefan is his true self. Anything I say against my brother will just sound petty and childish. The best I can tell you is that guy, that ass that you just saw, that isn't the brother that I grew up with. When we were kids, Stefan could be selfish at times, he could be juvenile, but he never relished inflicting suffering like he did tonight. My opinion, for whatever its worth, is that Stefan feels more than he's letting on. He's in pain and he doesn't want to deal, so he's shutting it out. Right now, Stefan wants to be hated, because it's just easier that way," Damon explains undoubtedly.
"You really think that Damon," I question expectantly?
He smiles sadly and speaks gently while rubbing my arm in a comforting gesture. "I have a little bit of experience in this area," Damon whispers regretfully. My heart constricts thinking of all the times that I saw Damon shutting people out, myself included. It wasn't because he didn't feel. I was because he felt too much.
My instincts take over and I wrap my arms tightly around Damon, never wanting to let go. He relaxes immediately into the hug and I feel a peace envelope me again. "I'm so sorry," I tell him unhappily.
Damon pulls out of the hug and stares back at me confused at my sentiment. "You my dear have nothing to be sorry for," he tells me softly.
"I know that this isn't my fault, but I'm just sorry that this happened to you. It's not just my heart that Stefan was trying to break. It was yours, and for that I'm so sorry," I repeat again.
"Strangely enough, that almost makes the rest of it okay. You don't have to worry about me. I've been around for a long time. I'm not going to be beaten just because some selfish bitch never loved me," Damon assures me flashing his signature smirk just to prove that he was alright.
He must know that he's not fooling me. This is an act that he is used to putting up to keep people from getting close to him, and I'm not gonna let him get away with it. "I do worry though," I admit honestly. "Doesn't it make it harder for you to see Stefan with her so soon?"
I'm slowly breaking through his defenses, and I swear Damon looks the teensiest bit impressed that I'm not giving up. This time when he speaks to me, there is no sarcasm, no evasions. No one needs to tell me that this is the true Damon Salvatore, because this feels more real and more genuine than any other moment that we have shared together. "Honestly, if anything, they're just making it easier," Damon admits to my surprise. "Tonight I realized that the woman that I fell in love with wasn't real. She came into my life when I desperately needed someone to love me. My father hated me. The rest of the town thought me a coward after I was branded a deserter. Except for Stefan, there wasn't a person on Earth who truly cared for me. Katherine showed up and told me she loved me. She said she wanted to be with me forever, and she promised that we would both finally be free from society's expectations and disapproval. I spent 145 years yearning to feel that accepted again, and in nearly a century and a half I never did, not until I met you," Damon confesses.
My heart feels ready to burst at his words. It may have been foolish. It may have been irrational, but for one second, I was free of my own hang-ups and doubts. I act on impulse and I collide roughly with Damon's lips. For a moment, Damon remains motionless. He takes time to process that yes this really is happening. After a couple seconds, he is kissing me back. His right hand is getting tangled up in my hair. I can feel his left hand roaming my back desperate for any touch of skin. Damon's tongue invades my mouth and I suddenly feel hot and breathless and alive. The tiny click of Caroline's camera phone startles us both from our intimate embrace. She smiles somewhat evilly back at Damon and me. I groan thinking of what Caroline intends to do with that picture, but she scampers off before I have time to question her further.
Damon and I sit in silence as I catch my breath. Never in my life have I felt anything that intense. With Matt our kisses were sweet and innocent, like first kisses should be. With Stefan it felt stronger, it meant more, and I felt safe and loved. But with Damon, it felt like being on fire. Every nerve ending in my body was electric and I was consumed by desperate longing. I'm left to wonder what that means as I struggle for what to say next. Luckily, Damon is brave enough to break the silence with a joke that I'm sure is as much about protecting himself as it is about breaking the tension.
"So I don't have much experience with non-dates, but do they typically end in making out? Because if so, we should go on more of them," Damon proposes with a cocky smile.
He relaxes almost imperceptibly when I smile back at him. "I think we can officially upgrade this to an actual date," I state joyfully.
Damon can't hold back his emotions anymore. He bites down on his lip as if he futilely is trying to hold back a smile. His entire face glows with happiness, and I promise myself that I will do anything in my power to make him smile like that again. He sounds almost childlike as he speaks about what this truly means. "I love upgrades," Damon exclaims gleefully. He makes small circles on the uncovered part of my thigh, and his glorious hand makes it difficult to concentrate on his words. "Are there any new perks to this upgrade," Damon asks confidently?
"I might let you kiss me again for one," I respond coyly and place another quick kiss on his lips that makes us both yearn for more. I lean close to his ear and whisper, "If you're really lucky, I might even agree to go on a second actual date."
Damon takes this as another challenge, but this time I'm excited for whatever he has planned. A date with Damon Salvatore could never be boring. "So what must I do to convince you that I am worthy of a second date," Damon questions curiously?
"You're already worthy," I assure him as I raise my hand to caress his cheek. I know that I have said something important, because Damon's face changes to absolute adoration in an instant. "But before we get ahead of ourselves, what are we doing for the rest of our official first date? I put myself entirely in your hands Mr. Salvatore," I tell him earnestly.
"I was thinking that you need something to remember this night by, a keepsake if you will. I suggest that we head over to one of those booths that you so tirelessly put up this afternoon so I can win you a bear," Damon proposes.
I can't believe my ears. Damon Salvatore wants to participate in town sponsored activities, where people might suspect that he is becoming invested in Mystic Falls, all so he can win me a prize. "You want to win me a bear? Why, I certainly don't need anything to remember this night by," I ask in disbelief?
"That teddy bear on your bed looks lonely. He needs a lady friend. It would be too cruel to keep two stuffed bears from finding love. Don't you agree," Damon asks jokingly?
His logic is crazy, but I'm too caught up in his smile to care. "It would be inhumane," I agree ecstatically as we both walk over arms interlocked and grinning like idiots. This night is nothing like I planned. It is so much more.
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