Chapter 14: Identical

A/N: Yes, I am back FOR GOOD this time. Writers block is a bitch. *Shaking head* Anyway, I decided on updating this story first since everyone seems to like this a hell of a lot and I left it on a huge cliffhanger. Until I start getting my writing back to normal, then I will be bringing out a chapter a day. :D I've missed you, thank you for waiting so long. Anyway, enjoy my return :)

Sometimes a week is long. Majorly long in fact. Especially when it comes to school, college or work. The days seem to drag, just waiting for the weekend to come again. It was total agony just thinking about a break which made the days seem longer and it drove you insane. This week, however was still an agony, but it was a different kind. It had been a week since Elena seen the broken soul of Damon Salvatore and the crystal blue eyes that held sadness. She hadn't reported into work all week, she'd called in sick every chance she got. She didn't want to have to see him yet and face everything that was going to be thrown at her. Was she fired? Was Damon going to hate her? What else had Stefan told him? What happened when she left his apartment that day? So many unanswered questions which she found herself not wanting to know.

Elena lay on the bed in the middle of her room, which looked like it had been hit by a bomb. Clothes around the floor, tissues all over the bed and night stand. It wasn't like the Elena at all, but in the mist of depression, she didn't want to do anything. She didn't want to think of anything, including the blue eyes that continued to haunt her dreams, no matter how hard she tried to not think, she did.

"Elena Gilbert!" Caroline stormed into the room, pulling the curtains apart as the light flooded in.
"Uh...it burns, what are you doing?" She whined in annoyance, hugging the pillow as she pulled the covers over her head.
"I'm getting you out of this pit, which by the way, needs a MAJOR clean up. A complete new makeover."
"I'm staying here...alone...forever."

"Girl, you are REALLY depressed and a little delusional. Come on." Pulling the covers off of her, she threw them off of the bed.
"What?" Elena groaned, leaning up on her elbows as she glared at her.
"You'll thank me later, come on! I've booked US girls in for a spa day!" The blonde clapped, grinning, "So get your ass up, NOW!"

Caroline skipped out with a grin as she clapped her hands together, only causing Elena to moan and throw herself back on the bed. Was she trying to kill her and send her to an early grave? Pushing herself up, she winced. The last time she moved was two days ago. Lying for straight days had strained her body.

Circling her shoulders, she walked into the bathroom, beginning to brush her teeth as she looked into the mirror. Who was the stranger staring back at her? Rinsing, she let out a breath and stared into the mirror. Caroline was right, she needed to get herself together. She was strong and she would fight this like everything else in her life.

The smell of varnish invaded her senses as she let out a breath and relaxed, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she stared at the ceiling. See, it wasn't so bad, was it? Getting a whole makeover had been suggested by Caroline. She couldn't help but agree, she had nothing to lose, well not now anyway. So nails and hair it was. She already had her hair cut and a couple of pink highlights put in. It was more stylish now instead of straight and boring. She loved it. It had spunk. It felt good to be pampered. Somewhat new. Caroline grinned and laughed happily as she stretched her legs, keeping her hands still. It was a girls day out and she was enjoying every minute of it, especially Elena surprisingly.

"Thank you Caroline." Elena spoke gently and opened her eyes, watching the worker paint her nails over in a french coat.
"For what?" Looking over, she raised an eyebrow.
"Waking me up. This past week has been...so...devastatingly bad," Letting out a breath, she shrugged, "I need to move on and face what is done."
"You think you are finished then?" Biting her lip, she watched the brunette as she swallowed and cleared her throat.
"I wouldn't be surprised. A bomb was thrown onto him all at once. Everything out in the open. Too much...at once."
"Damon...what was it, that you had with him?" Caroline asked, genuinely interested as she bit her lip.
"I think I was falling in love with him." Elena choked, rubbing her throat as she let out a breath and looked over, her eyes filled with tears.

"You were falling for him?" She questioned in shock, her eyes wide. This was a new turn.
"Yes! I mean, everything was just so different with him. The simple things, they meant something. Everything meant something with us. It was just... right."
"And you've decided to give up on...right?"
"No, I've decided to give up on everything. It isn't worth it anymore, not now that he knows my secret. I'll be in ruins."
"Do you really think Damon is like that? He wouldn't put you out of a job Elena. He's crazy about you."
"Crazy enough to want to ruin me?"
"No, crazy enough...that he'd turn from his own brother and the shit you have done, to be with you." Caroline told her, smiling softly.

The worker moved after finished their nails and Elena looked down at them, her eyes holding back un-shed tears. Why did she have to get herself into so much trouble. Why couldn't she have a normal, simple life where she just worked, ate and slept. The easiest life she could have. Licking her lip, she nodded.

"I guess we will never know, will we?" Elena looked at her, shrugging carelessly as she drummed her hands on the arm rests, waiting for her nails to dry.
"Are you never going to return to work?" Caroline questioned, raising a curious eyebrow.
"Not unless I'm dragged kicking and screaming."
"Has Damon called you at all?" Biting her lip, she tilted her head.
"Uh," The brunette exhaled and nodded slowly, "More than a few."
"WHAT!? Why aren't you answering him!? Have you suddenly got hit by a train and bumped you head!? HELLO! He's making contact!"
"To probably yell and tell me I'm fired! I'm not answering! I'd rather him think I've been hit by a car. I don't want to face it."
"The Elena I know would face anything with her head held high!"
"That Elena died the day Stefan walked back into my life."

Hearing the shrilling ringing of her phone, she sighed, digging into her bag, trying to be careful of her nails as she fished her iPhone out and pressed it against her ear with a sigh, not bothering to check the ID. If it was him, then it was him. After all, there was always an option to throw her phone if she wanted.

"Hello Elena." Exhaling, she glared out into the distance.
"Stefan." The brunette hissed, sitting forward in the chair, her whole body suddenly tensing.
"Miss me, huh? Hey, how's my brother by the ways, WHOOPS. You don't know," Laughing, he walked down the street, "I crack myself up sometimes."

"I'm glad to see that at least your alter ego finds you funny." Gripping the arm rest, she looked over at Caroline as she looked back in confusion.
"Tut tut. That's not very nice now, is it Lena?"
"Uh, Stefan, what do you want? I'm wasting more breath on you than I really should."
"Just wanted a small word. Checking up on you, making sure your miserable," He chuckled, "Just that sorta thing."
"Well you got what you wanted, to ruin my life and your brothers."
"My brothers? NO, his life hadn't been ruined yet. Or yours for that matter. But they will be, but that's the endgame." He laughed as the line went dead.

Pulling the phone away from her ear slowly, she felt a sudden amount of shivers go through her body. Hasn't happened...yet? What the hell did that mean?

"Lena?" Looking around, she seen Caroline giving her a look of confusion.
"I think it's time to go home." Elena told her, letting out a sigh as she looked around. Endgame?

Pushing the door open, Caroline walked in after unlocking it and froze in her steps as Elena banged into her, gasping out in shock. She glared at the back of her head as the blonde pointed over towards the other side of the room. Elena stepped past her, seeing a girl standing there.

"Hey, how did you get in here? Who are you?" Elena dropped her shopping bags and gasped as she turned around.
"You must be Elena." She looked her over, a smile on her face.
"Uh, ho...how..?" They looked identical, the same, but...how?
"I'm sure you have heard of me, I'm Katherine. Katherine Pierce"
"Katherine?" She went wide-eyed as everything fell into place and clicked in her head.

Stefan's ex before her was in her apartment and they looked identical. FUCK.

A/N: Well, I hope this was worth waiting for :D Again, sorry for the wait, let me know what you thought :)

Shauna
xxx