It's short but it picks up next chapter with DE. This chapter is a little slow but I hope you enjoy it regardless. Let me know what you think.
"I own nothing but my ideas.
"I thought she was going with Matt?" Damon asked confused.
"She was, but now she isn't. You're going with her and she isn't going to find out." Caroline said gleefully.
"She's not going to like this." Damon said shaking his head.
"What, do you have a better plan?" Caroline asked glaring pointedly at him.
"No." Damon admitted.
"I thought so." Caroline stated satisfied.
"What about Matt? What are you going to do with him?" Bonnie asked voicing the question that was in hers and Damon's heads.
"I am going to take him. I can dump my poor excuse of a date so I can dance with Matt." Caroline said shrugging her shoulders.
"You have this all thought out don't you?" Damon asked.
"Yep. She is going to think that Matt is her date until your name is called at the competition. She will continue practising with Matt until that moment. Do you know that dance?" Caroline asked hopefully.
"I do. I've been to this thing I time or two. It's all about the near touch." he said.
"Good work." Caroline said smiling.
"Do you think this is going to work?" Damon asked.
"I'll be honest here, the only thing this plan has going for it is that fact that she cant just run off. She'll have to stay there and while you dance you can tell her how sorry you are, and blah blah blah." Caroline stated.
"That's a better plan than I had." Damon noted
"Exactly. But we've got to go. I have a rehearsal in an hour." Caroline said standing up. Bonnie followed her out of the house and Damon sat down in his chair again sighing in relief. At least now he had a plan, and something to look forward to. It was nice knowing that she wouldn't be able to run from him this time.
Elena plastered a smile to her face as her and Matt practised the Miss Mystic Falls dance over and over again. Matt was a pretty good dancer all things considered, and if she had to have any escort there was no one better than Matt Donovan. He was a great friend.
"So how is it going with you and Damon?" he whispered, it was still a tough subject for them, but he was trying.
"There is no me and Damon anymore. Can I tell you something Matty?" she asked.
"You can tell me anything Elena." he assured her.
"You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even Bonnie and Caroline." she said.
"What's going on Elena?" he asked wearily.
"Right after the competition on Saturday, I'm leaving." she whispered so no one else could hear her.
"What do you mean you're leaving?" he asked worried.
"I'm leaving Mystic Falls for good. I'm moving in with my brother. I cant take this anymore. I need to get out." she said.
"Are you sure you have to just leave? Why cant you stay here?" he asked.
"Because I'm not happy. I hate my life here. I hate living under my parents rule, and I hate missing Damon all the time. I cant see him around town and not be able to walk up to him. I need to get away from him." she said trying to explain to him.
"What happened between you two?" Matt asked.
"Let's just say its over. That was one thing my father was right about. He is a bad guy." she told Matt sadly.
"Let's just dance. I wont mention him again." Matt promised. Elena smiled at her friend before putting all her attention back on the dance they were performing. When they were done Elena walked over to where her mom was standing with Carol Lockwood.
"How was that?" Elena asked her mom.
"It was perfect dear. You and Matt are the perfect couple." she said.
"Thank you." Elena said smiling softly.
"Are you ready to head home?" Miranda asked.
"Yes." Elena answered following her mom out to the car.
"Elena dear, is something the matter?" she asked.
"No, why would there be?" Elena asked.
"You just seem different?" Miranda said not sure how to put her feelings into words.
"I'm just focused on winning now mom. I decided that you and grandma were right, I should care more about our families legacy." she said.
"But dear, its not only that. It's your entire attitude. You're almost cold. Are you sure nothing happened that you would like to tell me?" Miranda asked.
"I talk to you about everything Miss Mystic, and almost everything else in my life. I let you choose my clothes and run every other aspect of my life. I am not talking about this with you." Elena hissed.
"Just know that I am here if you need me." her mom said taken aback by Elena's attitude. When they arrived home Elena immediately walked up to her room and laid down on her bed. She was quickly losing it, she was having a hard time trying to keep up this charade. Just one more week, then she would be free. Free from her mom, free from her dad, and free from the all consuming feelings she had for Damon.
The rest of the week was filled with charity appearances, and speech practices with her mom and grandma. The night before Miss Mystic she did her formal interview for Miss Mystic and was told she did very well. Just one more day and then she could finally be done. On the morning of Miss Mystic Falls Miranda got Elena out of bed at 8 am for preparation.
"Eat your breakfast dear. You're going to need the energy." her mom said shoving the grapefruit and toast and orange juice across the table. Elena nodded and glanced around the room just taking everything in. She was leaving today after the competition and she wanted to remember the things in this house. It was still her home, she just couldn't stand living there any longer. It was time to move on. She had to move on from everything in her life. The only thing that hurt right now was leaving Bonnie and Caroline. They had been there for her through everything, and now she was leaving them. Of course she would keep in touch and everything, it just wouldn't be the same as it was before.
"Are you coming with me this afternoon? Or are you driving yourself over?" Miranda asked.
"I'll drive myself over." Elena stated.
"Are you sure? You can come with me if you'd like. I just have to be there a little early." Miranda said secretly hoping her daughter would ride with her.
"I'm sure mom. I will drive myself over." she said closing the subject.
"Alright dear. Just don't be late." she said sternly. Elena nodded and turned back to her breakfast. When she was done eating Elena walked back upstairs and grabbed some new clothes so she could take a shower. Walking into her bathroom and closing the door she leaned against the door for a moment. This was harder than she thought it would be. Leaving her family, leaving her entire life behind. Everything she had ever known was in this house and now she was starting all over. She wasn't sure how to start over. She had never had to do it before. But Jeremy had done it, so she should be able to too. Once she had regained her composure she undressed and slipped under the hot spray of the shower to be alone with her thoughts. Her thoughts went wild when she was in the shower. She went from hating Damon Salvatore with a passion, and remembering the night he had told her he had essentially cheated on her, to remembering every precious moment they had together. She remembered his lips on her skin, and the way he held her while they made love. She shook her head trying to dislodge the feelings from her head. She couldn't afford to forgive him. When she was done showering, she turned off the water and stepped out wrapping a towel around her breasts. She wrapped another towel into her hair to allow it to dry while she dried her body off and slipped into a pair of jeans and a t shirt. She knew even her mom would approve of her apparel choice for this. All she was doing was sitting in her car and driving to Miss Mystic. Once she was finished she walked downstairs where her mom was speaking to someone on the phone.
"Alright, no problem. I will be there soon Carol. Thank you." Miranda said through the phone. When Miranda hung up she turned to Elena.
"I am going to head over there. I will help you with your makeup and hair when you get there." she told her daughter.
"I'll just be a few minutes." Elena stated.
"Sounds good. Your father is going to meet us there." she said as she grabbed her purse and headed out. Elena nodded and once her mom was gone, she walked upstairs and grabbed a box before taking it out to the car. When she had her few boxes and suitcases loaded into the backseat and trunk of the car she grabbed her keys and left the house. She took one last look at the house before getting into the car and not looking back.
Damon pulled his suit on and glanced in the mirror. In around an hour he would find out if he lost her permanently or if he still had a chance. It would all depend on her expression when his name was called. If she displayed any sort of emotion then that was a good thing, it meant she still cared. If she looked stoic and calm then he was a goner. If she was mad, then he still had a chance. When he was ready he grabbed his car keys and drove the hall. He walked through the doors when he arrived and seen all the people who had already arrived. He seen Matt Donovan standing off with a group of guys and he kept his distance from them. Matt looked confused as if he wasn't entirely put in the plan.
When Elena arrived she parked near the back of the parking lot so no one would question the boxes in the back seat of her car. She walked in and found her dressing room upstairs.
"There you are. I was afraid you'd bailed on us already." Caroline accused.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't know how." Elena defended.
"You just do. You're just lucky I know of the crap you've been through. I don't blame you for wanting to run." Caroline told her friend. Elena hugged Caroline before being ushered into her dressing room. When she had the long white dress on with cap sleeves her mom came in and brushed her long brown hair into a side chignon. She had diamond studs in her ears and a diamond bracelet on her wrist along with a locket she had received from her grandfather before he had died years earlier. When she was ready she exited her dressing room and took her spot beside Caroline.
"You look great." Caroline assured her.
"Thank you. So do you. The dress is so you." she told her friend smiling slightly.
"That dress is so not you." Caroline noted.
"I actually like it. It's very demure and pretty. I love the sleeves." she said.
"I do to. If you like it maybe it is you then." she said.
"The best part is it hides my tattoos. I'm really regretting getting them." she whispered so no one else heard their conversation.
"Don't regret them. Don't even regret getting Damon's initials. He was your first love and he'll always be in your heart." Caroline told her.
"I know he will be. It's just I wish he wasn't on my skin as well." she sighed.
"That was a decision you made. You fell hard enough to want his initials on your body permanently. It was so romantic Elena." Caroline assured her.
"Elena dear are you ready for this?" Miranda asked seeing her daughter talking to Caroline.
"I aced the interview, what do you have to worry about?" she asked.
"There is something different about you dear. And I just don't know what it is." Miranda sighed before walking off.
"For the first time in her life, my mother is trying to pay attention to me. But too little too late." Elena said. Caroline hugged her friend once more before the other girls formed into a line. The first three girls were called and Elena took a deep breath knowing that after Caroline it was her turn.
"Miss Caroline Forbes, escorted by Mr Matt Donovan." Carol Lockwood presented. Elena's eyes snapped open when she saw Caroline descend the stairs to meet up with Matt. If Caroline was with Matt, then who was she with. She hoped to God it wasn't Evan, the guy that Caroline was supposed to be with. That would surely ruin any chance for victory she had. Maybe it would be poetic justice if she lost here tonight. But then it would totally ruin the whole dramatic goodbye she had planned. She wouldn't have to wait long because Elena moved up to the mouth of the staircase. She could see her father looking on confused as Matt and Caroline walked outside.
"Miss Elena Gilbert being escorted by... Damon Salvatore?" Carol Lockwood said confused. Elena's mouth dropped.