A/N to clarify, last chapter we found out that Damon had "cheated on Elena with Katherine...that was prior to her parents death, although she found out about it afterwards. Also, cheated does not mean anything more than a kiss. I hope you enjoy!
As I was leaving my house for the airport my phone started buzzing, I glanced down hurriedly before answering the call. "hey babe." I said, smiling into the phone as I waited for his response. "I just wanted to tell you to have a safe flight and come home soon...I love you Elena." Elijah replied. "I'll miss you too, love you." I said before hanging up the phone and continuing to get in my car.
Elijah and I had only been dating for about a year, but I had known him since I moved to florida. We had met in my Shakespearean Lit class. I had like him from the very first moment I met him; he was so sweet and caring, and he wasn't bad looking either. He wasn't the sexy bad boy type that I usually went for...he wasn't Damon, but he was cute just the same.
The airport was packed with people, probably because it was 4 days before Christmas. "what's a beautiful girl like you doing alone in an airport?"I heard someone say from behind me. I groaned, trying to restrain from making a smart ass remark. "my friends wedding is in 13 days." I replied indifferently, hoping he would go away. I wasn't so lucky, "so where are you heading?" he asked, obviously not picking up on the fact that he wasn't wanted here. "Virginia, now if you don't mind I'd like to be left alone." I stated, before turning abruptly to walk off. Before I could take a step he had grabbed my arm, "at least give me your number." he smiled and gave me a wink. I glared at him, "I have a boyfriend, dam-" I stopped myself, oh god I had not just said that, "Elijah." I finished quickly before heading in the opposite direction; I heard him laughing behind me, but I didn't turn around. I need some air, and fast.
The flight to Mystic Falls had to have been the longest flight of my life; in all actuality it was no more than two hours, but with my mind running at 100 miles an hour it seemed like a lifetime. I couldn't stop thinking about Damon; I wondered what he would be like, if he had moved on, and I know it's horrible, but there was a part of me that hoped he hadn't. ELIJAH ELIJAH ELIJAH ELIJAH! I chanted in my head, trying to keep the thoughts of Damon far away, but it didn't help.
Finally the plane landed and the flight attendant allowed us to exit. I braced myself for the next two weeks, everything was going to be fine, I was going to spend Christmas with Caroline and help prepare for her wedding, and then I was going to leave Mystic Falls forever, and this would all just be a bad dream.
As we filed out of the plane I scanned the crowd for a peppy blond Caroline, but I was instead greeted with a smirking Damon, clothed in his dark jeans and black leather jacket as usual; I gasped, my mouth falling open in suprise. He waved me over to him, but I couldn't move, I was frozen completely still. Nothing had changed, he looked the exact same as he had three years ago. We stood, our eyes locked in an intense stare, the shock of seeing eachother after all of this time was overwelming.
He shook his head, seeming to snap out of the trance, and I quickly began walking towards him. He met me halfway and his arms wrapped around me before I had time to protest. I smiled, hugging him back tightly, "Damon". I murmured the greeting quietly, almost inaudibly. "I missed you!" he said, releasing me from the embrace. I struggled to wipe the goofy smile off of my face. "How are you?" I asked, trying to control the rush of emotions that had enveloped me at seeing him. "my brother is marrying Caroline Forbes." he stated sarcastically, "how do you think I'm doing?" I rolled my eyes.
Damon and Caroline had never gotten along. They were complete opposites; Caroline was the peppy cheerleader, and Damon was the sarcastic bad boy. When Damon and I had dated back in high school, Caroline had been completely disgusted, she had begged me to break things off. Damon had always had a reputation for liking a 'good time', and Caroline had warned me about getting my heart broken, but I had always thought that things were different between us, apparently they weren't.
I looked up at him, guilt rushing over me for never returning his phone calls, his texts, hell I hadn't even agreed to see him when he came to Florida, and yet he was still here, smiling at me as if I hadn't been a complete bitch for the past three years. "I'm sorry." I said, meaning it with my whole heart. He looked down at me, his face crumpling in confusion, before he let out a rueful laugh. "No Elena, i'm sorry, it was the worst mistake of my life, I swear to God." he replied urgently, his eyes a stormy blue, as he desperately tried to make me understand. I smiled at him, thinking back to high school, "it's okay, I understand!" I insisted, I couldn't stand to see him upset. "friends?" I asked, giving him a genuine smile. He shook his head and we headed out of the airport and to his blue 1987 mustang.
"God I've missed this car!" I screamed rushing towards the passenger side, and jumping in. Damon eyed me, trying not to laugh at my stupidity, "I'm hurt Elena! You missed my car more than you missed me!" I gave him a smirk, "this car is like my child." I said with a serious expression before breaking out into a fit of giggles. He grinned at me, a laugh escaping from his lips.
"So how was Florida?" Damon asked, and I had to think for a minute before answering. "Florida's good.." I started, and I realized that I would have to tell him about Elijah; it wasn't fair to lead him on like this. "I actually have a boyfriend... Elijah." I finished, hesitantly. His mask of sarcasm fell from his face for an instant, and I saw the hurt that was painted across his face, but as soon as it fell it was back in place. His fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, and his lips twitched as he tried to find words to say. "That's great, Elena." He said, trying to seem happy for my sake, but I could see the disgust he was hiding behind the mask.
We drove in silence for a long time before either one of us worked up the courage to speak. "I told you about the change of plans, right?" He asked, and I raised a eyebrow at him curiously. He smirked at me before continuing, "you're going to be staying at the boarding house instead of Caroline's." my mouth opened in shock, I could hardly keep myself in check when I was in a car with him, there was no way that I could stay at the boarding house. I sighed, and he gave me a confused look, "am I really that bad of company?" He asked in a fake hurt tone. "I don't think that's the best idea Damon." He rolled his eyes, "you're staying in my house, not in my bed!" "That is not why!" I insisted, trying to be as convincing as possible. He cocked an eyebrow at me, "oh really? Why then?" A smirk spreading across his face as he saw my defeated expression. I glared at him before turning to look out the window.
It was about 10 minutes before we arrived at the boarding house; when it came into view I smiled, remembering all of the great memory's I had in this house. I couldn't take my eyes off of it; it had been so long...to long. "Blast from the past?" Damon asked, smiling at me from the drivers seat. I couldn't respond, I was overwhelmed. So much of my life had been spent here; I felt like a part of me had been missing for the past 3 years, and it was just now being restored. "It's been so long.." I whispered, trailing off at the end, and I could feel the tears welding up unthreaded corners of my eyes.
I turned away, not wanting Damon to see how much seeing the house had affected me. "Elena?" He questioned soothingly, trying to figure out the reason a for the tears that had begun to gently fall down my checks. In an instant his hands were on either side of my face, and he was staring deep into my eyes, a stare that made me feel as I'd he could see straight into my soul. "Elena, what's wrong?" I couldn't form a single sentence, the only words I could manage were "to long" Before I burst into another fit of hysterics. He pulled me across the seat and into his arms; I knew it wasn't right, but I didn't have the strength to object, and even if I had I wouldn't have. This felt right, like I was meant to wrapped in his arms with my head Buried into his chest, and him whispering sweet nothing's into my ear, calming me.
A/N okay so obviously the feelings between fain and Elena are still intact, but is Elena willing to act on them?