Hello dearies, thank you so much for your follows and reviews. You guys are my inspiration. I've been out of it lately and it's been a long time since I wrote, so I'm lacking my usual flow but I'm hoping I'll get past it.

So here's chapter two and it's definitely dark. And to answer a few of your questions, yes, this is definitely a Delena fanfiction. It's leading up to that. There might be a few Alarena moments but it's safe to say that they're quite platonic.

TRIGGER WARNING: Self harm. Please do not read if it triggers you.

Hope you enjoy it :)

It was Monday morning, and Alaric was sitting across from Elena at the table, doing the daily crossword puzzle with a leaky pen and drinking a glass of scotch for breakfast. He had spent most of the weekend at Damon's bachelor pad, giving himself some much needed space from the sudden change in his life- or the person responsible for it, who was now examining a pancake like she had never seen one before in her life.

After their talk that had followed the stunt she had pulled a couple of nights ago, things had gone quiet. A bit too quiet, it was unsettling and Damon's relentless banter about what he thought might be up with Elena wasn't too comforting either.

Elena had her earphones plugged in and seemed resigned which was utterly normal given the circumstances. Losing her home and her parents for the bazillionth time was definitely a blow too many but knowing what little he knew about her, Alaric was positive that this was not the Elena Gilbert method of dealing with things. He couldn't help but fear that this was just the calm before the storm.

Alaric cleared his throat noisily, earning a glance from Elena. "Just so you know people usually just eat it."

Elena hadn't had homemade pancakes in a decade. She closed her eyes, taking in the smell of the fresh buttermilk batter, a smile distantly playing on her lips.

Alaric hesitated and then poured some apricot syrup on to her pancakes, watching her eyes light up. He sighed internally wondering how long it had been since the girl had had a proper breakfast. His watch beeped, saving him from feeding it to her himself.

He grabbed the papers he had spent the night grading, stuffing them into his bag haphazardly and reached for the door when Elena finally unplugged the earphones and spoke up. "I need you to write me an excuse note for P.E."

Alaric frowned, "But I wrote you one last week."

"Yea," Elena dragged, "But I don't feel like-"

"No," Alaric said assertively, cutting her off. "You will attend P.E. today unless you have a good reason not to." What is with kids these days wanting to forgo P.E.?

Elena picked at her food clearly displeased.

"Anything else?"

She pouted, reluctant to meet his eyes and went back to her earphones, completely evading his existence. If Alaric wouldn't write her one, she would do it herself. It was not like she hadn't done it before. His signature wasn't the hardest to come by either, him being a teacher and all.

The students councilor's office was at the end of the hall, next to the lockers. Elena stopped in the doorway and scanned the room before she pushed the heavy door to step in.

The councilor, Miss. Sommers, who customarily had a wide smile plastered to her mouth, shot her a look of disapproval and signaled her to wait as she continued to speak about protein drinks on the phone.

Elena plopped herself into the couch by the window. The room was small and cozy- definitely not what she had expected. She had pictured notice boards pinned with cheap flyers about safe sex and baskets full of papers rather than potted plants and a fish tank. She stuck her face into her bag to avoid Miss. Sommers' piercing glare. Looked like she was in major trouble but worst case scenario, they'd just detain her right? Swell.

Miss. Sommers finally replaced the receiver and turned her focus on Elena. "I thought you'd last longer," she shook her head.

Elena struggled to keep a straight face as she feigned remorse. She had forged a signature after all and it was in all likelihood considered a felony to precisely quote Coach Lynton.

"You have to understand the seriousness of your actions."

"Jenna?" Alaric scurried in, looking strained and edgy.

The councilor's face broke into her usual smile as she greeted him in. Alaric refused to acknowledge Elena's presence and instead sank in the couch next to her.

He and Miss. Sommers began talking intently as Elena fidgeted with her scarf. Alaric was leaning forward listening to Miss. Sommers' every word and she in turn was clearly at ease with him. Perhaps she even fancied him. Most women did. He was very charming apparently as Greyson had mentioned several times but Elena honestly didn't see it.

Elena registered the end of a sentence, "… I'll give you a few minutes alone." Miss. Sommers stood up and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Elena prepared herself for the onslaught coming her way and stared pointedly at Alaric.

He had the look that she was beginning to think he specifically reserved for her. The what- were- you- thinking look. "I figured you were brighter than this," Alaric muttered. "I do work in this school, you know? People find out."

"Things would've been a whole lot easier if you had just written me a note."

Alaric was trying hard to keep his cool. "Reason?" he said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, I don't know, swine flu? Fractured spine?" Elena scoffed, fixing her curls.

"Is that all you're bloody capable of?" Alaric got up to pace in an attempt to compose himself. "Lying?"

"You could've gone along and said that it was your note." Elena couldn't understand why he was making such a big deal out of it. "May be if you had-"

"Maybe fuck!" Alaric lost it, making Elena flinch. "Why does everything have to be so hard with you? Since I've picked you up from New York, all you've done is made me regret my damn decision."

Elena was well acquainted with those words to not know what would follow. In fact, she was surprised it had taken him so long to admit it to himself. "Well," she stood, "Took you long enough."

Alaric stopped pacing, Elena's words sinking in. She thought that he was giving up on her so soon? She did have trust issues, didn't she? "You're dysfunctional," he said, his eyes icy blue.

Elena laughed derisively. "What about you? You're an alcoholic. You turn the spotlight on me just so you could go another day avoiding your own issues."

Alaric growled in frustration. Was his alcoholism that evident? He never meant for her to find out but it was bound to happen one day or another.

"I'm just trying to get close to you but every time I do, you push me away." Alaric could see that he was trying too hard with this girl. He knew deep down that he wasn't doing it for the right reasons. His motives weren't completely selfless and may be Elena was sensing it too.

"I don't want you to get close to me."

"Why not?"

"Because there's an awful lot of darkness inside of me," Elena felt her eyes sting from unshed tears. She swallowed to prevent them from showing. She wouldn't cry in front of him. "And if you come too close, I'm afraid you'll see it."

"Show me," Alaric's eyes implored her. "Let me in."

What Elena did next completely took him by surprise. In a fraction of a second, her scarf was on the floor along with her black t- shirt and she stood topless in front of him. Alaric stumbled back a couple of steps and was about to ask her to put her clothes back on when he saw it.

"Jesus!" He bit his tongue. Elena's stomach was in shreds. Her entire torso was covered in cuts ranging from fresh red gashes to faint pink scars. Just the sight was painful enough it felt like sand paper being dragged against his skin.

"You wanted in," Elena said impassive.

Alaric couldn't control the mortification, anger and the helplessness that was choking him all at once. What kind of a demon would do that to a child? "Who did this to you?"

"I did."

"What?" He asked baffled. Elena stared past him, her eyes vacant and void of any emotion.

Fuck! Alaric turned away, his stomach in knots and his eyes flooding. He couldn't process everything that she was throwing at him in one go. He inhaled sharply before he could speak. "Put your shirt back on."

"That's what I thought," Elena's voice cracked. She was such a moron. He was the first person she had willingly exposed her scars to and this was his reaction. To shut her away. She gathered her clothing and fled from the office, her tears ripping through her resolve.

I'm sorry if the chapter is too small but I'll update soon I promise. So Elena cuts. She's damaged and hurt. Her past is darker than it seems and Alaric is practically the first person she has opened up to. You might ask if Kol hadn't seen her scars but you'll get the answer to that in the next chapter.

Damon will show up in the next chapter but will he redeem her from her demons or bury her deeper? I'm such a tease, I know. ;) Let me know what you guys think. Cheers! :D