Elena:

Since Elijah gave me no choice in the matter, I find myself sitting here, beside him no less as we interview Rose Connor's mother. While I'm forced to be here, I make sure to keep ample distance between us so no part of our bodies are touching each other. We're sitting in her living room in the small town of Chilton Forge, Virginia. After offering us some refreshments, she tells us that growing up, one of Rose's best friends had moved here from Mystic Falls. Apparently her friend had very fond memories of my hometown and that's why Rose decided to move.

"Did she know anyone in Mystic Falls? Was she pregnant when she left here?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Rose had a couple of boyfriends in high school but neither romance was very serious from what she told me. She and I were very close so I don't know why she wouldn't have shared her pregnancy with me. Once she left our home to take up residence in Mystic Falls, we didn't hear much from her which was so out of character for her. If she was embarrassed or afraid to come to us with her pregnancy, we'll never know but her father and I would've welcomed her back with open arms."

"So you don't know anything about the father?"

"No, absolutely nothing. It's possible that she was pregnant before she left and maybe that played a part in her decision to leave here, I just don't know," she says, raking her hand nervously through her hair.

"I really hope that we can help you get some closure, Mrs. Connor. What about the boyfriends in high school? Are they still around that we could speak with them?"

"Andy Havens works at the grocery store. I could give him a call to see if he'd be willing to speak with you. The police did interview him after Rose's body was found. He swore up and down that he never slept with Rose. From what the police told us, they did take a DNA sample from the baby if they ever arrest a suspect. Just because there was a baby involved here doesn't mean that the killer was the father. That's the premise they seem to be hanging their hat on though. Andy did consent to having a DNA test done. The child wasn't his."

"What about the other guy? You said there were a couple of high school boyfriends?"

"Yes, the other was Matt Jeffers. He works at a car dealership in Roanoke. They did a DNA test on him too which was also negative so I have no idea whatsoever who the father of her baby could've been. It's all so frustrating, you know?"

"Aberley, who's here?" a voice rings out.

"That's my husband, Jensen," she says before calling aloud for him to join us.

"Jensen, this is Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert. They're the people I told you about. You know the ones from Mystic Falls who are reopening Rose's case?"

"Hello," he says, shaking both Damon's and my hands.

"I really hope you can find the motherfucker who killed my daughter. I want him to pay."

"I hope we can too, Mr. Connor," I tell him.

After we speak with him for awhile, the two of us thank them and say goodbye. We walk side by side back to Damon's car. Deep in thought, I don't say anything when he opens the passenger side for me. Sliding in, I grab my notebook to look over the notes I took while interviewing the Connors.

"So what do you think?" he asks, turning on the ignition and pulling away from the curb.

"It's all very mysterious. Mrs. Connor is right, just because someone fathered her child, it doesn't necessarily mean that the father is the guilty party. I wonder if Brady ever put the DNA through CODIS?"

"CODIS?"

"CODIS is the acronym for the "Combined DNA Index System" and is the generic term used to describe the FBI's program of support for criminal justice DNA databases as well as the software used to run these databases. The National DNA Index System or NDIS is considered one part of CODIS, the national level, containing the DNA profiles contributed by federal, state, and local participating forensic laboratories."

"Wow, you've been doing your homework."

"Haven't you? I mean as long as we're being forced to do this, we should be up to speed on things like this."

"You're right. Thank you for telling me about it. When we get home, depending on what time it is of course, we'll run by the police station and ask Brady about it. He's the consummate professional and so was my dad. I would think that it's a given that they would've submitted the baby's DNA to NDIS."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right."

"So... Elena?"

"Are you just going to leave it at that or are you going to finish your sentence?" I scoff, raising an eyebrow at him.

"I was just wondering if we could find some neutral ground so we're not always at each other's throats?"

"Really Damon, if you think that I'm ever going to give you an opening to drive the dagger in again, you're delusional?"

"Come on, Elena," he says, shaking his head.

"Oh no you don't. No come on, Elena's are going to work. If I give an inch, you'll take a yard and I don't trust you."

"Pullease?" he snaps, looking at me angrily before continuing, "If you hate me so much, why didn't you drive yourself?"

"Because, why should I waste my gas when you so kindly volunteered to drive," I tell him matter of factly.

"This is never going to work if we're constantly at each other's throats. You do know that, right?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," I tell him then reach forward to turn on the radio. With the music playing, I scan my notes again for a bit. Feeling his beady eyes boring into me, I fist my hands then turn to face him.

"What?"

"Not a thing, Elena. You've obviously made up your mind and there's no changing it. I'll ask Elijah to kindly relieve you of being forced to work so closely with me."

"You will do no such thing. If I cause a ruckus, he'll give me that look that has disappointment written all over it. I hate that look."

"Well, then you need to get a grip because we're going to be stuck together for the foreseeable future so get over it," he snaps, slamming his palm against the steering wheel.

"Fine," I mumble, turning away to look out of the passenger side window, my head a maelstrom of conflicting thoughts, all of which are swirling around him...


It's been a few days since we talked to Rose Connor's parents. Damon hasn't been at the station this week. He's been spending most of his time with Brady from what I've been told. Since it's the Founder's week celebration in Mystic Falls, I've spent my time interviewing visitors and carnival workers and what not for my anchor position. Come next week, I'll have to work alongside Damon again. Just as I put my coffee cup to my mouth, I hear a rap on my office door. Looking up, I see Ric who looks a bit displeased with me.

"Elena, can I have a word with you?"

"Will it do any good to say no?"

"Absolutely not. Why didn't you show up for the picnic the other night? Jenna had planned to show off the first sonogram photo and she did do that but she was incredibly disappointed that you pulled a disappearing act."

"Maybe if you didn't include him in everything, I might make myself more accessible. Did you ever give that a thought?"

"Are you still hung up on Damon?"

"I'm related to Jenna by blood, he isn't. Just whose side are you on anyway?"

"I'm not taking sides, Elena. He's my best friend and you're my niece in law. I care about both of you. But you need to grow up and stop acting like a spoiled brat."

"How dare you?" I snap, standing up to go toe to toe with him.

"Calm down."

"Don't you dare tell me what to do after you called me a spoiled brat. Why don't you make yourself scarce before I say something that I'll no doubt regret?"

"Elena, enough. You're a grown woman, not a child. You were both kids when he teased you, how long are you going to continue to let this fester?"

"I'm not talking to you about this anymore so unless there's something else, you need to leave."

"Fine, but you will not continue to upset Jenna or this isn't the last conversation we'll be having about this. Do you understand?"

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out," I mumble under my breath, slamming the door behind him. Blowing out a frustrated puff of air, I slide down the door, anger raging inside of me like a volcano ready to erupt.


"Oh come on, Kol. Ride on the Ferris Wheel with me, please?" I beg, smiling as widely as I can.

"Okay, fine. Then you have to go on the Scrambler and the Tilt-a-Whirl with me."

"Fine," I concede since I really don't have a choice in the matter.

Taking my hand, we walk up the midway till we get to the funnel cake stand. Knowing they're my weakness, he insists on buying me one. Once the clerk hands us the plate sized hunk of an ooey, gooey, blend of powdered sugar, whipped cream, strawberries and funnel cake oh my. With my mouth literally watering, we carry it over to one of the picnic tables, plop down and start to dig in as soon as Kol retrieves a couple of forks and napkins. Since my eyes are only on my confection, I don't even notice him till I hear his voice.

"Elena, Elena, I can already see a little bit of a pooch there," he smirks, pointing at my abdomen. And as luck would have it, my mouth is covered in powdered sugar. Taking the back of my hand, I wipe my mouth dramatically before standing up and stalking towards him. Determined to make him eat his words, I lift my tee shirt up and show him my kicking abs.

"Pouch, my ass!"

"Um, uh," he stutters, not taking his eyes from my midsection. With an air of confidence, I pull my shirt down, turn on my heels and sit back down beside Kol who's trying his hardest not to erupt in giggles.

"Don't play with the big girls, Damon. You're going to get burned," he teases him before a gut busting fit of laughter escapes his mouth.

When I stick another bite in my mouth, I turn to face Damon. Using all the sex appeal I can, I melodramatically chew my food and seductively lick my lips as I'm doing so. Having seen enough, he huffs loudly before stalking off, nearly bowling over Andie Starr. He stops long enough to say something to her. After raising an eyebrow at me, he wraps an arm around her middle and then the two of them disappear into the crowd.

"Ooh," Kol scoffs, sticking out his tongue as he watches them disappear right along with me.

"That man is so infuriating," I utter, stabbing another bite of funnel cake with my fork. After sticking it in my mouth, I chew slowly, my mind taking me all kinds of places I don't want it to go.


Since I promised my grandma that I'd stop over, Kol drops me off at her house. I don't live that far away so I can walk home. Although I invited him to come in, the coward refuses because he knows as well as I do that grandma is going to have some choice words for me.

"Hi grandma," I say aloud once I step inside the house.

"I'm in the kitchen," I hear her yell back. After setting my bag down, I go to find her. Her back is to me while she does the dishes. Picking up a towel, I start to dry them and put them away as I do so.

"So, what did you want to say to me?" I ask, as I reach up to put a glass in the cupboard.

"I'm tired of your childish behavior, young lady. I raised you better than this."

"But grandma, did you give Damon a piece of your mind too or better yet, did your boyfriend have a word with his grandson?" I sing song, not wanting to listen to her.

"Elena Josephine Gilbert, you will not speak to me that way," she demands, her eyes boring into mine with lethal intensity.

"Alright, I'm sorry but do you even have a clue as to how he taunted me and terrorized me when we were kids? His picture is beside the word bully in the dictionary."

"Elena, that was a long time ago. I'm sorry if I didn't pay as close attention as I should've back then. I had no idea that he had hurt you so deeply that you can't seem to let it go."

"You're right, I can't and don't want to let it go," I say, turning my back to her when I feel moisture beginning to prick at my eyes.

"Oh sweetheart," she whispers then places her hands on my shoulders to turn me around. With her hand, she cradles my cheek then leans forward to press a kiss to my forehead. Since she's taller than me, she can do that.

"He hurt me, grandma. Neither you, nor Jenna, nor Ric have any idea how much it hurt."

"I'm so sorry, baby girl. Do you want me to have a talk with James and Damon?"

"No, no way, grandma. He'll just turn that around and make me feel weak."

"He wouldn't do that. He's been nothing but a gentleman to me. I'm sure he probably feels as bad about that as you do."

"I doubt it. If he were truly sorry, why is he still taunting and teasing me. Just the other day, I happened to have my glasses on and what did he do..., he called me four eyes again."

"Elena, that's juvenile stuff. He probably only did it because you've been so hostile towards him. I will tell you that James said he was a little shyster growing up but that he grew up a lot when Joe got sick."

"Yeah well, I'll believe it when I see some real, positive change. Until then, I don't trust him and I really don't know if I can forgive him, grandma."

"Can you at least try for my sake, please? And if he still gives you grief, I won't mention it again. Deal?"

"Fine," I utter. Shaking my head, I reach for another plate to dry. When our eyes meet, she gives me a loving smile then turns back to the sink to wash more dishes. A part of me wants to forgive him and another part of me wants to stay angry with him. My head feels like a battlefield. Blowing out a frustrated puff of air, I grab another plate to dry.


Damon:

Although I don't know why, I'm feeling a little anxious. We're about to go live with our first show. Elena will be on location from the area where Rose's body was found. We'll also be talking to her parents and I really, really hope we can make a difference here. Elena and I are still at each other's throats for lack of a better word. As attracted as I am to her, she pushes everyone of my buttons and being the asshole that I am, I give it right back to her in spades. Aside from working together on this show, we barely communicate and I hate being at odds with her like this. In a way, I feel partly responsible for Elena being a no show at Ric and Jenna's picnic. There's no doubt in my mind that she was absent because of me. I just wish the two of us could move beyond the pettiness but it seems whenever either of us has the opportunity to lob a grenade at the other, there's no hesitation. I want to make things right with her but she makes it so damn difficult. And then there's her whole Kol fascination. I don't know if those two are an item or not but what I do know is that the two of them are as thick as thieves.

"Are you ready, Damon?"

"Yeah," I utter, then quickly walk onto my set.

"Damon.. one - two -three, you're on," my TV producer, Enzo says, pointing at me.

"Hello everyone, my name is Damon Salvatore. I'd like to tell you a little bit about my show. We're doing sort of an unsolved mysteries type format here. I along with my co-worker, Elena Gilbert, hope to bring you a new case each week and we hope with your help that we'll be able to give the families of these cold case victims some closure. This show won't just focus on missing persons and unsolved crimes, it'll also deal with some of the myths and legends surrounding Mystic Falls and the surrounding areas. I hope you'll be a part of this. Right now at the bottom of your TV screen, there is a toll free number to call. We have people here ready to take your calls. If you know anything, please call. Even if you think it's insignificant, please call? Detective Brady Williams is also working with us to try to solve these cases."

Looking up, I see Enzo motioning that we have a commercial break coming up.

"We're going to break for a commercial and then we'll be back to discuss the Rose Connor case. We'll see you back here in a few minutes," I tell them just before the camera pulls away for a moment. As soon as Enzo points to me, I turn to face the camera again. Pointing to the monitor behind me which shows a smiling and seemingly very happy Rose Connor, I start to tell her story.

"On the monitor behind me is our Rose Connor. She was a very lovely young girl. She was 21 when she disappeared six years ago. Noticeably pregnant, she had moved to Mystic Falls just three months before she vanished. Rose's body was discovered by some hikers near the quarry. Unfortunately the police didn't find any biological material under her fingernails, nor were any hairs or fibers found on her body. It isn't even known who the father of the child was. We're now going to go our remote location where Elena Gilbert is standing by."

Turning around, I face the monitor which now has Elena's beauty front and center.

"Hello Elena, what can you tell us tonight?"

"Damon, I'm here at the quarry where Rose's body was found. I have Jensen and Aberley and their son Trevor here."

Turning her to face them, she holds the microphone up so they can speak. Once they relay the whole sordid story of Rose's life and untimely death, the camera fades from Elena and focuses on me again.

"I'd also like to introduce, Detective Brady Williams of the Mystic Falls Police Department. He'd like to say a few words to you too." When I stand back slightly, Brady joins me on the set then tells the audience how important their participation will be if we're to be successful in our lofty endeavor. By the time he's done, this week's show is over.

"Before we close our tonight's show, I just want to thank you all and please, please, no matter how seemingly inane you think your information is, do call us and let the police decide. Thank you so much for joining us tonight and we'll see you next week when we focus on the Ben Bradley case. Goodnight now," I tell them, smiling till the camera fades out.

"Great job, Damon."

"Thank you, Elijah. It went well I think."

When I look over at our phone bank, I see all three of them are taking calls which brings a smile to my face. I really want this venture to be successful personally, professionally and for the families of the victims. After Brady and I look over the tips, he shakes my hand exuberantly before leaving to head back to the police station. Afterwards I go to my office for a little down time. Once inside, I loosen my tie and drop into my comfortable overstuffed chair. This chair in particular was one of my demands when negotiating my contract with Elijah. I'm not a diva like some musicians and movie stars but I did want the comfortable chair, a good computer, a private office and a refrigerator. Since my chair has wheels, I scoot over to my fridge and grab a diet coke, savoring the taste as it goes down my parched throat. The studio lights are very hot and boy does this taste good. Feeling fatigued, I put my feet on my desk top, recline in my chair and close my eyes.

Feeling something soft on my face, I open my eyes. They widen to the size of saucers at the same time a terrified scream escapes from my mouth. Flying back in my chair, I quickly stand up and back off while continuing to scream like a little girl. My eyes are fixated on the intruder till I hear my office door open. When I look up I see Elena, her arms crossed over her chest and asking me why the hell I'm screaming. Unable to speak, I point a shaky hand at my interloper.

"Oh for heaven's sakes, Damon. It's just Ulysses," she says, walking over to my desk to have a look at the creature. It's a gigantic boa constrictor or a python or something. Whatever, it's monstrous.

"Are you afraid of snakes, Damon?" she asks, trying with everything in her to hold in her laughter.

"I hate snakes, I hate them, do you hear me? Now get it out of here," I yell, pointing towards my office door.

"Stop being such a baby," she says, picking it up. For every step she takes towards me, I take one backwards till I'm pinned against the wall. My stomach literally turns when she kiss its head.

"See, he won't bite." I know my facial expression is one of stark terror when she lifts the snake to my face. As if it's happening in slow motion, she inches it closer and closer till I can almost feel it's forked tongue as it sticks it out.

"STOP ELENA," I scream, trying to push myself farther into the wall even though I know it's impossible. Just then, the door slams open. Elena steps back, allowing me to breath when we see that it's Elijah followed close behind by Kol.

"What in God's name is going on in here?" he demands to know, looking none to pleased.

"I'm really sorry, Elijah. He somehow got out of his cage," Kol says, while walking towards Elena to take it out of her hands.

"Why on earth would you have that reptile here?"

"I... I wanted to show him to some of the guys."

"Never again, Kol. If you ever bring that snake in this buiding again, you'll be out of a job."

"I said I was sorry, Elijah. I never dreamed Damon would scream like a little girl around a harmless reptile."

"It's a constrictor, you ass. There's nothing harmless about it," I yell, releasing the breath I've been holding. Feeling like my knees are about to give out, I reach for my chair, sit down and drop my face into my hands for a few seconds. Once I've composed myself, I look at Elena as she starts to slink off to try to avoid my fury. Feeling so much fury that I'm literally shaking, I watch as Kol finally takes the reptile out of my office, followed closely by Elijah who continues to berate him for bringing his pet to work. Just as Elena reaches my door, I quickly grab onto her wrist stopping her in her tracks. Feeling unfamiliar crackles and pops, I'm too irate right now to focus on what they mean. When she turns around, I quickly drop her arm and launch into her.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"It was sheer coincidence that he ended up in here."

"Bullshit, Elena. You're not a very good liar. I know that you and Kol pulled this prank on purpose. I HATE SNAKES!"

"Gees, chill," she says, rolling her eyes.

"I may have been an ass to you more often than not when we were growing up but I never went after you with spiders or toads or frogs or anything else for that matter. You know that I hate snakes and yet you do this. God, what's the matter with you?" I snarl at her, twisting my lips viciously.

"How on earth was I supposed to know that big, bad Damon Salvatore is afraid of snakes? It's not like we're friends or anything. And no, I didn't conspire with Kol to put the Ulysses in here, Damon."

"Again I call bullshit."

"You're such a damn hypocrite. Or have you forgotten that party?" she snaps, blasting me back with a lethal stare. Not wanting to let her get the last word in, I get right into her face and glare at her till she blinks. As soon as she does, I grab my valise, turn on my heels and walk out of my office, slamming the door shut on her face as I walk away without bothering to look back.


"Damon is that you?" I hear as soon as I walk in the house. My hands are fucking shaking from being up close and personal with that damn reptile. After putting my valise down, I go to find him.

"Hey, Jim and I watched the show. You and Elena did a great job."

"I suppose," I utter, dropping onto the couch beside him.

"Okay, what's wrong?"

"Elena and I had a rather ugly fight."

"Damon? What happened this time?"

"The show went great but afterwards I went to my office to close my eyes for a few minutes. I dozed off, waking up eye to eye with some kind of a constrictor," I still shudder as I relay the whole sordid story.

"What do you mean a constrictor?"

"I mean a great big snake as in Python or Boa. It was fucking right in my face," I add. Still a nervous wreck, I get up and start to pace the living room floor.

"Calm down, Damon."

"That's easy for you to say. You know that I've been terrified of those damn slithering creatures since I was a little boy."

Blowing out a puff of air, I sit back down and drop my face into my hands.

Daddy was working on a construction site for his second job. Since it was a Saturday afternoon, I rode along with him to check it out. Although he told me to stay close, I wandered off to chase a Monarch butterfly. Since all I could think about was catching it, I didn't pay any attention to where I was running until I disappeared, falling about into a hole about six feet deep. I didn't know why the ground felt squishy at first until I looked down, my eyes practically bulging out of my head when I see several garter snakes slithering over my shoes. With a sense of panic filling every cell in my body, I was so scared that I couldn't even scream for several seconds, my mouth opening and closing with no sound coming out. My chest was pounding against my rib cage till I could finally make a sound.

"Daddy, daddy, help me, daddy, I'm scared, please daddy," I scream as loud as I can. Although it seems like a lifetime, he finally finds me and pulls me out. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I wouldn't even put my feet on the ground till we got to the car.

"You're white as a sheet, Damon. What happened?"

"Sn.. sna.. snakes," I scream, hyperventilating so much that I can feel my lips getting numb. Afraid I'd pass out, daddy took me to the emergency room. I don't remember much else.

"You were remembering the snake pit weren't you?"

"Yeah, I've never been so scared in my life."

"I saved you."

Smiling, I blow out a breath of air and excuse myself to go upstairs. Suddenly feeling exhausted, I strip out of my clothes, shower and crawl into bed, falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. But much to my dismay, my sleep is anything but peaceful.

Dad said I could have a high school party for my eighteen birthday. Since I've been seeing Caroline on the sly, I know that she and Bonnie and Elena are going to be here tonight. I can hardly wait to spring my trap on my number one nemesis tonight. I don't even know what sparked our rivalry but it doesn't matter. She's just too easy of a target.

Using the knowledge, I learned in shop class, I place a hidden microphone in one of the more obscure bathrooms. I slather up the toilet seat with Vaseline and then get a really low watt lightbulb so she won't be able to see the sticky seat. Once my trap is set, I lock the bathroom door. I'm not going to unlock it till I have Elena right where I want her.

Once the party is in full swing, I'm dancing with one of the freshman, I don't even know her name but she's pretty and provocative. I don't know if I'll go there with her but it would be fun to get a little farther than first base. While I'm swaying back on forth with the red head, I hear her voice. When I look up, my eyes meet Caroline's. She licks her lips and winks at me. Feeling a twitch south of the belt buckle, I let the ginger go using my head to signal Caroline to join me in the study. Ditching Elena, she practically knocks me over when she leaps towards me, smashing her mouth against mine. Copping a feel, I inch my hand up under her tee shirt and give her boobs a squeeze. Smiling when she moans, I deepen the kiss. Just as I'm about to push my hand into her jeans, Elena decides to break up our fun.

"Caroline, do you know where a bathroom is?" After giving Care the key and telling her to take Elena to the private one, I hurry out of the room so Elena doesn't see us together. I hurry to turn on the microphone. I hooked it into my dad's stereo system so everyone will be able to hear. I smile like the Grinch who stole Christmas when her voice echoes loud and clear telling Caroline that she'll be right out. Suddenly the air is filled with a stream of colorful metaphors. Unable to control myself, I laugh like a hyena. This could not have worked out any better. When she steps out of the bathroom, she turns around to show Caroline her pert little bottom that's covered with Vaseline ointment. As soon as she and Caroline join everyone else, I start to replay Elena in all of her glory.

Stunned and humiliated, she looks at me. Swallowing thickly when I see her tears, I realize then that I went a little too far with this prank. Screaming that she hates me and will never forgive me, she runs out of my house. I have always felt guilty because she got sick walking home in the inclement weather. She ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and missed a couple of weeks of school. After that, every time we saw each other, the look in her eyes was so full of venom that it would literally sent a chill up my spine.

"Damon?"

When I hear dad's voice, I lurch upright, waking up in a cold sweat.

"Are you okay, son?"

"I just had a bad dream."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. How did you ever put up with me when I was a teenager? I was an ass."

"Why would you say that?"

"I dreamt about my eighteenth birthday party. I pulled a not very nice prank on Elena that night. I don't know if you remember that but she ended up getting sick because when I humiliated her, she ran off into the cold and rainy night."

"What?" he asks incredulously.

After telling him all about it, I see a look of disapproval on his face. Unable to hold his stare, I scrub my palms over my face.

"Is that why she's so reluctant to be around you?"

"That and many other things," I admit, raising my eyes to his.

"Since your grandpa and her grandma are a thing, you two need to find a way to move beyond the past. Perhaps if you didn't keep provoking her, she might see that you have indeed grown up?"

"She's beautiful, dad. I want nothing more than to put the past behind us but... but for whatever reason, when I'm with her, I just feel so discombobulated and then I act like an ass all over again. I know full well that I'll never make any inroads at the rate I'm going but I don't know how to fix it."

"You'll figure it out," he says, giving my knee a squeeze.

Nodding, I give him a tight smile. "Thanks for listening and I'm really sorry that I woke you up."

"No worries," he says, getting up and walking out of my room, pulling the door closed behind him. Shaking my head, I lay back down, close my eyes and try to go back to sleep. It proves to be a futile gesture. Rolling onto my back, I stare at the ceiling for a good long time, wondering what is it about Elena Gilbert that turns my gut inside out and makes me act like a complete and utter asshole in her presence. After blowing out a frustrating puff of air, I get up and go to the bathroom. Even though I showered earlier, I get back in hoping the hot water will help me relax enough to sleep. With my hands planted firmly against the shower stall, I close my eyes and let her fill my subconscious. With her everywhere inside my head, I grab onto my length, pretending it's her when I release with Elena's name on my lips.


Thank you so much, Eva. Love you lots.

A big thanks to all of you as well for your follows, favorites and especially those of you who take the few seconds to review. And you will eventually get a look at the roots of the Elena and Andie discord too.

Chapter title: 'Jar of Hearts' by Christina Perri

I just posted a one-shot 'IF'. It's a tear-jerker if you like stories that make you cry. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. 'The Dating Game', 'Seven Year Ache' and 'Nothing Left to Fear' are still in progress. I have another one-shot, 'Where Have All the Cowboys Gone' ready to post at some point too.

Please remember to click that review button. They really spur Eva and I to keep the creative juices flowing. Thank you.

Be safe and have a phenomenal day. Thank you again for your support.