Chapter 15

Damon was pretty sure that if vampirism didn't come with anti-ageing properties then he would surely have a head full of grey hairs. Peyton had been ignoring his calls, texts and threats. Then again he should have figured that the woman had a mind of her own – she was extremely free willed and could not be controlled easily. Qualities that he admired and loathed at the same time.

He figured that Alaric was having a good chuckle at him now. He always seemed to love it when Damon couldn't get a hold of a female situation. If anything he probably would have suggested to Damon that they head off to the Grill and take a night cap – which probably would have been emptying the Grill's liquor stock. It happened, not so often but occasionally enough that it would turn into a habit where he would think of his friend. He missed Alaric and sometimes he just needed someone to remind him of who he was.

Damon's cell rang, breaking his inner turmoil and depression of losing the closest thing he had to a friend. He didn't recognize the number but he answered it anyway.

"Hello?" He answered.

"You just couldn't stay away?" Peyton's voice rang through down the line.

"Peyton!" Damon hissed before continuing, "Why haven't you been answering my calls or texts?"

Peyton laughed.

"Quid pro quo Damon."

"Don't start with that shit. I've had enough of the whole theological, mystical fantasy world. It's time that we got down to the bare facts." Damon retorted.

"Bare facts huh? Well I'm wearing nighties at the moment, what are you wearing?" Peyton whispered out using her best seductive voice.

"I uh …," Damon stuttered before getting a grip on himself, "You know that's not what I meant right?"

"Oh but it could be so much fun if you did mean it that way."

Damon sighed out in aggravation.

"Look we have to hash this out and I'd prefer if it was just you and me. Nobody else. You obviously want revenge so I'm giving you a chance to take out all your anger on me."

"How chivalrous of you Damon. Elena has really turned you into a sap. Just like Katherine did. Isn't that odd?" Peyton added maliciously, trying to hit a nerve in Damon's so called suit of armor that voided him from having any emotion.

"I'm not a sap and Katherine nor Elena did not turn me into one." He replied defensively.

Peyton clicked her tongue before speaking:

"That's what you think but deep down we both know you're acting like such a wimp. Caving down to the pressure."

"What do you mean?"

"You've changed because you had to. It was the only way Elena would ever be able to look at you. You've had to slip on a face and pretend you're something you're not."

Damon swallowed before replying.

"This is me." He said hesitantly

"Really? You don't sound so sure."

"Look Peyton what can I do to get you to stop with this vendetta thing you have going on?" Damon asked.

"Now that's what I'm talking about. The real Damon wouldn't hesitate he would act. So come and get me." Peyton purred out.

"Are you talking about me killing you or sleeping with you?" He queried.

"Maybe both could work for you. Get a chance to have some real fun in the sack without holding back on the kink that I know you like and then you can kill me afterwards knowing that you'll regret it for the rest of your miserable life."

"Maybe I'll just skip to the killing part?"

"If that's the way you want it?" Peyton coyly asked.

"I do."

"I'll come buy tomorrow evening. We can butt heads and then you can make your choice."

"Fine."

"Night Damon. I'm looking forward to seeing you." Peyton ended the call.

Damon growled out in frustration as he tossed his phone against the wall and watched as it detracted into small shards of plastic. Elena who had just entered the boarding house, heard the noise and decided to go and investigate. She came across a very distraught Damon and his precious cell that now lay scattered around his bedroom floor.

"What's going on?" Elena asked as she moved forward towards Damon.

Damon ran a hand through his hair – a tell-tale sign that something was bothering him.

"Nothing." He answered gruffly.

"This can't be nothing Damon!" Elena whined out as she gestured towards the floor.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Damon spat out as he began collecting his cell's parts off the floor.

"I'm your girlfriend." Elena spoke quietly.

"So?" Damon straightened up and deposited the shards of plastic onto his bedside table.

Elena crossed her arms defensively.

"What do you mean so? Do you not want me here?"

Damon hesitated. He didn't want her here for a lot of reasons, seeing that she was the cause for his current dilemma. So no, he did not want her here but how could he tell her that?

"Of course I do but I just have a lot on my plate." He lied as he sat down on his bed.

Elena took a seat next to him and reached for his hand.

"You've been acting different for a while now." She stroked his hand lovingly, however Damon did not return the gesture.

"Have I?" He answered sarcastically.

"I know it has something to do with Stefan." She asked as she tried to goad an answer from him that was genuine and sincere.

Damon pulled his hand out of hers and glared at her.

"I'm sure you would just love it to be all about Stefan?"

"What?" She asked puzzled.

"Stefan this, Stefan that and we can't let Stefan go. Why can't you let him go? Why the hell do you need him to stick around? I thought you chose me?" Damon shouted as he stood up, the adrenalin was coursing through his veins now.

"I did choose you, but it doesn't mean things with me and Stefan have ended properly."

"What the hell does that mean? You broke up with him then the next day you and I slept together. That pretty much severed anything that you had going on with him."

Elena stood and hugged herself.

"It's not like that. I loved him, I still love him but I love you more and it's just confusing." She whispered out.

"Why is it so confusing then?" Damon asked

Elena didn't reply as she looked down at the carpet beneath her feet.

"Do you think the sire bond made you like this? Are you hoping that if you take the cure you will realize that maybe you never really loved me and it was Stefan all this time?"

Elena glanced up at him.

"I don't know." She replied quietly.

Damon frowned before he made his way towards the door. Elena's voice stopped him before he could exit.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

Damon didn't turn back when he replied:

"Get in touch with me when you realize what you want. I'm done being strung along." He exited leaving Elena standing in the middle of his room, all on her own.

An: No Steroline in this chapter …. But I promise next chapter will be nothing but Steroline and hopefully it doesn't disappoint. Thank you to all my amazing readers on the last chapter Next chapter coming up soon