Hi everyone! First off, WHO IS FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT TVD TOMORROW!? EEP! We've waited five months! I'm ecstatic. Anyway. So I finally finished with this chapter, and I love this chapter. It's mostly a fill in on what happens next. But thank you so much for the lovely comments and the subscribers. You guys are amazing and make me smile so much! The only thing I can really say about this chapter without giving it completely away is listen to "Begin Again" by Taylor Swift. Later in the chapter, it explains how Elena feels.
Don't forget about Elena's outfits on my polyvore: lexosmolderhalderx dot polyvore dot com
LOVE YOU ALL xo
As she turned to leave the office, she caught his sweet grin staring back at her. The feelings that were thrown out from him made her happy. It was the only thing on her mind, as she found Caroline waiting for her leaned up against her desk; Elena felt a smile come across her face.
"Did you give it to him?" she asked immediately.
Elena chuckled and nodded grabbing her purse from the wooden desk. "Yes I did, and in front of Katherine."
Caroline smiled with approval. Elena knew her best friend all too well to know what she was thinking.
"Damon said thanks, by the way." Elena saw Caroline's eyes roll with a laugh.
"Shut up, Care."
Elena sat on cushioned bench in front of the large mirrors. The beige walls were lined with beautiful wedding dresses of all sorts. She glanced around admiring many dresses. They were extraordinary. She grasped her Starbucks' freshly brewed coffee cup. The chandelier hanging above them was draping beautifully as love songs of all sorts began to play continuously.
She waited for Caroline to finish with dress number five. This was a long night for Elena, the fact that many things were on her mind didn't make it go by any faster.
The aura of the bridal shop was different, as she continued to glance around. She found herself pacing the floor, looking at the beautiful selection of dresses.
She was suddenly startled by a high-pitched squeal. "Don't you love it?" Caroline squealed coming out of the dressing room in dress number 5.
Elena stared at the lovely ruffled long white dress Caroline twirled around slowly. "Caroline, that is it," she commented. It had to be, it was gorgeous. The way it flowed around Caroline was enchanting. She could actually admit her best friend looked like a princess.
"Are you excited?" Elena smiled as Caroline continued to fantasize and fall more in love with the choice she had made.
Caroline shook her head without a doubt. "I'm so excited, 'Lena! I've dreamed of this day for a very long time," she answered ecstatically.
Her bubbly personality bled through as Elena laughed at her friend's excitement. "I'm glad he makes you happy."
"He does, Lena. Nik is something. He challenges me, and he respects me. He makes me feel like I'm the only person on Earth, and when that happens, I was told to never let that go," Caroline smiled in a whisper. The beautiful smile and gaze showed how in love Caroline was.
Elena was dumbfounded. Being in love? It still hadn't struck her in the way she assumed it would.
As Caroline finished the paperwork for purchasing her dress, Elena found herself captivated in the beautiful dresses still. Not much was on her mind now.
"What are you looking at?" Caroline smiled nudging Elena with her elbow shoving the papers in her large purse.
"Just these dresses," Elena answered bluntly pointing to a couple of her favorites.
Caroline cocked an eyebrow and sighed. "Is something bothering you?"
Elena perked up out of her daydream and shook her head defensively with a quick 'no.' "Why would you say something like that? Nothing is bothering me!"
As defensive Caroline gets, she knew not to trust Elena's well-known fibbing. They walked out of the bridal store and headed down the sidewalk.
"Tell me the truth, right now, Elena Gilbert! I will get the truth out whether you like it or not!" Caroline spat. "It's Damon isn't it!?"
Elena lowered her head trying to keep her secrets in her mind. "No. Y-Yes."
"What did he do?" she attacked the touchy subject which was Damon.
Sighing, Elena began to speak, even though she wasn't ready. "He saved my life the other night. Remember when we were firing people the other day, and then I left early?"
Caroline nodded.
"Well, Derek tried to rape me, because he blamed Damon for everything, and took it out on me, so I have bruises all over my body, and I'm hurting, Caroline, and then he brings me flowers. It's not right, Caroline."
"He what!? Why didn't you tell me?" Caroline began becoming hostile.
"I didn't want to worry you. I'm fine; Damon took care of me that night. That's why we showed up to work together. He acted as my bodyguard, but then he brought Katherine in. I think he wants me to quit the company for a while so I can recuperate." Elena let out a painful sigh, sipping the rest of her coffee.
"I'm your best friend, you should have told me, and now the flowers…Make more sense than ever! What did the note say?" Caroline asked playing Scooby Doo, putting all the pieces together.
Elena shuffled through her coat pocket and found the note that was attached. "You will find exactly what you are looking for, but for now, I'm always here."
"Wow, talk about the shark turning over a new leaf!" Caroline giggled.
Elena tilted her head and nodded. "I guess so. There's still this gut in my stomach to not trust his doings."
Her best friend knew something was wrong with the grimace setting in her face as she spoke about Damon's actions. The best thing right now was for Elena to change the subject back to Caroline so the Damon subject would drop. "So, what's on the agenda now?" she asked attentively.
"Well, invitations need to be sent out, and I need to finish with the music and everything…" she began to name off a few things on the top of her head to Elena. Caroline continued to ramble through the many details left of her wedding planning. It was the only thing that was on Caroline's mind. Elena didn't want to talk about the things going on in her life, but instead focus on the bigger picture of Caroline right now.
She nodded to her friend. "Sounds good, do you want to grab a bite to eat before we do anything?" Elena asked trying her best to be perky.
Caroline shrugged, "Chinese maybe? I love this place's take out."
Elena smiled and agreed. "That's a good idea. I haven't had Chinese in such a long time!"
Even though she blew off the Damon subject, Elena was glad that Caroline had become more preoccupied with her wedding then Elena's problems.
"We're home!" Caroline smiled unlocking the door and pushing it open, while flipping on a nearby light. Her house was beautiful, actually it was Klaus's house, or mansion; whatever you wanted to call the monstrosity that he called a house.
Elena followed Caroline in while carrying the bags of Chinese take-out. "So the invitations are in here," she said with a smile walking into the dining room, and turning on another light.
"So do you have the music picked out?" Elena asked pulling out the small boxes filled with Chinese cuisine. She watched Caroline shrug, and sit down next to her at the large dining table.
"We really haven't chosen anything, except the date, he hasn't been around. He's been working all this week," Caroline whispered in a disheartening tone.
"Oh. Well, if you want, we can listen to some stuff and you can pick everything but the important ones!" Elena volunteered. Caroline perked up with much excitement, and ran to another room, and returned with her laptop firing up.
"I have lots of love songs! I'm a sucker, you know that!" Caroline smiled sitting back down at the table. Elena watched carefully while still trying to scoop some food out on the plate. There were plenty. "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," was the first choice to play on shuffle.
Caroline's smile became bigger. "First song we ever danced to. Klaus is a horrible dancer sometimes, but he sang it to me," she gushed.
This was a first for Elena. Songs were making her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time. Caroline decides soon after that song needs to be played, but soon after it switches to a familiar song to Elena. Frank Sinatra's familiar tune played again in Elena's ears, making her wince at the luncheon she had shared with Damon.
She felt her body freeze immediately.
"Do you like this one, Elena?" Caroline questioned a very nervous Elena now.
Elena nodded quickly, not even realizing her actions. "Oh, is this song special to you?" Caroline poked her nose where it did not belong again. Elena rolled her eyes.
"Seems like it," Elena stabbed her fork creating a big bite of food. Caroline cocked her eyebrow in question, trying to figure out exactly what Elena meant.
In Elena's eyes though, songs never had bothered her this much before. "You think you can pick the songs for the DJ to play, 'Lena?" Caroline begged her best friend, but sadly knocking Elena out of her daydream.
Elena sat up quickly and looked at her friend, and nodded quickly; not even sure what she had just agreed on. The invitation caught her eyes. It was just beautiful in the beautiful calligraphy.
Together with their families and friends:
Caroline Michelle Forbes
Niklaus Edward Mikaelson
Invite you to share in the joy of their marriage
on Thursday, the ninetieth of July
two-thousand and twelve
at six o clock in the evening
Hudson Terrance
New York, NY
"You ok?" Caroline said finally calming down enough to check on her best friend's odd actions.
Lying wasn't something Elena was necessary good at. "Yeah, fine," she smiled.
"Liar, liar pants on fire!" Caroline teased rolling her eyes moving her chair closer to Elena as her friend looked up from the invitations.
"I am not a liar!" Elena spat.
Caroline rolled her eyes and threw her arms up. "No, I am definitely not listening to this. I know that man has a hold on you! Something is wrong, so spill! Didn't we just go through this?!" She pushed hard this time as Elena groaned.
Elena finished licking an envelope as her phone played a cheesy love song as she scurried quickly to get it out of her pocket. It was a text, but she knew the song well to match it with its recipient.
"Elena, what's wrong?" Caroline asked furrowing her eyebrows staring at her best friend.
"I just got a text message that's all!" Elena smiled nervously trying her best to open the text. As it loaded, she was caught off guard by the text, which made her anxious and confused.
Coffee? – D.S.
Elena found her heart racing which could only go so far without bothering her. She never believed in love, after her last break-up, it didn't exist, but suddenly after all this time; her butterflies had returned. It wasn't the first time she got butterflies inside. Damon knew how to reopen her heart without her even knowing. She breathed out; ignoring the fact Caroline was probably gawking at her every move, and hit reply.
Sure, what did you have in mind? – Lena.
As she stared blankly at the text message and she found herself waiting impatiently for his response. The sudden text message came through as the love song played once again to remind her of the new text message.
Modern's, East 3rd street; 7:00pm? – D.S.
Elena suddenly found herself gazing at the kitchen clock on the wall, seeing what time it was. The old clock read just passed 6:20 pm. She removed herself from the table and started texting him back in a hastily decision.
Sounds perfect. – Lena.
"I got to go…" She smiled looking at her best friend, almost forgetting she was in the same room.
Caroline smiled licking the last envelope on the table and laughed. "Damon?" she assumed. Elena nodded with a grin.
"He just wants to have coffee, no big deal right?" she said gathering her things up from the table. Elena's mind was elsewhere now.
"Nope, but maybe soon it will be a big deal!" Caroline smiled with hopeful thinking for her friend.
Maybe, but I know I don't want to be late," she shrugged her sweater on, and following grabbed her purse.
Elena walked down the street by herself, making her way to the familiar coffee shop that she stopped in occasionally. It sat on the corner of the busy street as many people came and went during the rush hour. As she opened the glass door finally she smiled looking around not even expecting him there yet. She knew he'd probably be setting her up for failure if it was the shark talking. He'd probably be late too.
She hated coffee shops in fact. Why was she even going through with this? It was just coffee. That's what she kept telling herself. They made her stomach knot because of the past that she hadn't gotten over. They echoed in her thoughts like a bad movie. Last time she went into a coffee shop, she got her heart broken by her high school sweetheart, Matt Donovan. He had finally had enough of her work ethics, and her stress level; and wanted it to end. In his eyes, he wanted Elena to be a housewife more than a businesswoman which outraged Elena even more in that discussion.
He chose to do it in a public place, as the quick break-up ended up making Elena cut off love in her life. It was heartless, because in the back of her mind, she knew he had someone else waiting for him. She felt it wasn't needed, because it seemed to only burn and break in front of her. Matt was the boy she had always dreamed of marrying, but since giving up her dreams for her father's reputation, things were never the same.
She exited her nightmare as she saw Damon standing by himself with his pockets shoved in his black pants' pockets. Immediately, she found herself walking towards him with no worries at all. He was very early, and he had even got them a table in the back away from the large groups of people.
Elena smiled gazing into his eyes. "Evening, Damon," she grinned.
"I'm glad you came," he smiles pulling a chair back, gesturing her to sit down. She tilts her head only slightly in shock. It was nice for someone to act like a respectable gentlemen; it was actually a first. She found herself watching him sit across from her. The café was lighted with a beautiful dim, almost making it secluded. For once, it didn't bother her being alone with him.
After they ordered their drinks, she found the need to speak up about his intentions. "So was there something you wanted to talk about?" She brushed a loose strand of hair out of her hair and behind her ear.
He chuckled looking down into his coffee. "I apologize for Katherine. She comes off…a little intimidating sometimes," it sounded like this was only the beginning of whatever point he was trying to make. The aura of the café put off a romantic vibe, which made Elena tense, but being trapped in his gaze made it alright.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she whispered taking a sip of her exotic drink choice.
He was flabbergasted in a way. Katherine had always been this intimidating, beautiful woman who worked for him, but knew how to make heads turn. "She… likes people to know where their place is, because she knows her place, I suppose. The fact of Katherine being a publicist, she wants things her way or none at all. It's nothing really, I'm basically telling you don't let her run over you, I will deal with her if this comes."
Elena cocked an eyebrow and chuckled nervously. "Alright, Damon; whatever you say."
"I am telling you this, because in a couple of weeks, I'm leaving."
Like a shot through the heart she almost gasped at the news coming from his mouth. Immediately though, it popped in her head that he wouldn't make the wedding most likely. "Are you coming back?" she whispered.
He smirked for the first time in a while. "I probably will. Most likely; I've never been one to leave unfinished business." She gulped at his answer.
"Why are you leaving then?" she questioned.
"You sure do ask a lot of questions don't you?" he chuckled throwing his head back like a little kid. He shrugged.
"I just wanted to know… sheesh," she defended herself.
He rolled his eyes. "I have business to take care of my other job. The one I play as CEO. Seems like my little brother isn't playing his role very well without me there," he snarled.
She nodded looking down at the table, tapping her fingernails against the ceramic cup. "When are you leaving?" she whispered.
He smiled. "For a few weeks- at least to start off; I'm not happy with the way my company is going downhill. I will probably return by the 23rd—if that was your next question," he smirked to her.
"Oh." Disappointment entered her voice knowing he wouldn't be back before Caroline's wedding. Her heart seemed to sink for once, as the blue icy look stared into her doe eyes. Caroline had planned the date as the 19th.
"Miss Gilbert is something on your mind?" he asked.
She shook her head quickly. "No, of course not; it's just been a long day, I should probably head home," Elena quickly gathered her things up and took one last sip of her drink, and started to walk out but was stopped in her tracks by Damon.
"You aren't a very good liar, that doesn't work well in the business industry, you know?" he remarked.
Elena looked down; finding she was staring at the tile floor and walking passed him. "This is personal though."
Mmm, kind of a clifthanger. I love those!
Ah, I will update soon. Reviews are love xo