It was an hour after reaching the camping sight when the students began setting their tents. Dusk was approaching that's why the students were told to hurry up with their tent settlements or else it would be a difficult task at hand.

Damon sat at the edge of a rock hopelessly, looking at Elena struggling with her tent. Mr. Saltzman had come up to them 15 minutes ago and especially told Damon not to help Elena, as it was an essential part of the camping trip for her to learn how to set up her tent by herself.

She tried setting it up one more time but failed again. She huffed and sat down on the ground next to it.

Damon looked around and noticed happily that not many kids were having any luck at it. 'Seriously did they teach anything in schools these days.' He thought. Suddenly an idea popped in his mind and he called out to Elena.

"Miss Gilbert, follow me step by step."

Realization dawned on Elena as she saw him standing next to his pile of tent equipment. He was gonna help her, without actually helping her! His setup was laid just two steps away from where Elena's tent's opening was going to be so that his opening and Elena's were facing each other and close enough for Damon to block her opening if necessary.

He started forming his tent step by step, giving Elena enough time after each step to let her follow his lead and finish what he did. If she made a mistake or got stuck at some point he repeated his actions, no matter how many retakes it took Elena to get it right.

Approximately after an hour's hard work Damon and Elena accomplished what they started.

"God I thought this would never end." Elena said as she sat down. Smiling Damon sat next to her and said, "So did I."

Elena looked around and then back at Damon. "So do you think this place is safe Damon?"

"What exactly do you have in mind Miss Gilbert?"

"I mean, is it really safe from supernatural creatures?"

Damon chuckled like the very few times that he did. "Don't tell me Miss Gilbert, that you actually believed Mr. Michelson's theory about the Zombies?"

Shaking her head she replied, "No Damon, what I meant was Ghosts and stuff you know."

"Seriously Miss Gilbert, now where did you get that idea from?"

"Just a thought Damon, just never mind. So tell me do you feel good to be here, with me?" As Elena said this she moved closer to him, who in turn moved slightly away to maintain the distance.

Noticing this Elena stopped moving. Getting up from his spot Damon indicated, "Miss Gilbert your class mates are approaching, you should spend some time with them."

Before Elena could object, Damon walked away from her and Stefan, Klaus, Caroline and Bonnie reached her. Elena sighed and smiled at them, "Well I believe you guys got done with your tents too."

"Yeah we did, these boys really helped." Caroline replied especially smiling at Klaus. Klaus in turn pretended that he didn't notice and all of a sudden got really interested in the ground.

Stefan took the opportunity of Damon not being around and slumped next to Elena. "So Elena wanna camp with me?" He grinned at her, "If you know what I mean?"

Elena awkwardly frowned at him and replied, "No I'm camping with Damon. If you know what I mean." As if to emphasize her point, she pointed at her and Damon's tents.

"Oh come on Elena get over him, he doesn't even care about you, you're just his job, now me-

"Stefan I really don't care what you or he does or doesn't, but what I do care about is, is that you should keep your opinion to yourself."

"Don't bother Stefan, she's too far gone; it's impossible to reason with her, cause somehow that cunning manipulator has messed up her rational mind." Bonnie intervened scornfully.

"Bonnie! That's so mean, apologize to Elena!" Caroline screamed in Elena's defense.

Elena simply smiled and said, "It's alright Care, I've gotten used to her behavior by now. It doesn't even affect me like it did before."

"Come on guys what the hell is happening here! I never thought this would happen on our trip. Bonnie you need to apologize."

"Sorry Caroline I would have apologized if I were wrong." Bonnie responded and turned around abruptly to walk away. Caroline turned towards Stefan and said,"I think Stefan you should go to your tent too."

Stefan tried to protest but Caroline glared at him and he dragged Klaus along with him. Caroline started saying something to Elena but she smiled and said, "Its okay Care, I'll be fine you go get some rest." With that Caroline also went away, leaving Elena alone to think about the hurt that she really did feel at Bonnie's behavior. Honestly she couldn't comprehend what was wrong with her one time best friend.

She stood rooted to the spot for a moment and a few minutes later she felt him behind her. A smile took over Elena's face replacing the sadness that was there moments ago.

"You're back, already? I thought you'd take your time?"

"Not really Miss Gilbert." Damon responded. "Just took a stroll around nearby."

"Hmm."

"Anything the matter Miss Gilbert," asked Damon in a rare protective tone, "Did you get hurt?" Elena's eyes widened at his question, and at that time she wanted to do nothing more than to jump in his arms and cry her heart out and tell him how hurt she had gotten, but instead she refrained herself from doing that. She knew that even if she mentions, what went down. he'd try to keep even more distance from her than he already did and she didn't want that.

She sighed and finally answered, "How can I be hurt Damon, when you're around."

"Good than Miss Gilbert. I think you should take rest now." And with that Damon moved closer to their tents and held Elena's flap door for her. Sighing she went inside her tent and noticed that Damon let her flap door close and most probably had his open, a form of her protection perhaps.

After settling inside her sleeping bag and before giving herself fully to the dream world, Elena let a few words escape her lips quietly, "How can I be hurt when your around Damon, at least not in the way that matters to you.."

To be continued.