"Shut up guys! I was drunk!" I defended myself yet again. We were all seated around a warm campfire, the garden around us dark. Tyler ans Klaus decided to bring up the story of when I over estimated my abilities and attempted to backtuck into the massive lake. The actual move was not the problem though, it was the fact that it was minus something degrees outside and the lake was starting to freeze over. Luckily the ice was thin and only on the surface, or I would've ended up with injuries far worse than a few bruises.
"I will never forget that, especially because the guys had to fish you out afterwards." Caroline added in between her giggles. Care was seated between Tyler and Klaus, next to Klaus seated was Damon and I couldn't help but sneakily glance at him.
Surprisingly, he looked content and wad joining in on the laughs. It was Rose that didn't fit in. She sat next to Damon, a distant look on her face. She barely contributed to the conversation but I don't blame her. It's not like she has any memories from past lake trips with us. As I traced my eyes of her her expression, her eyes snapped to mine. I immediately looked away, embarrassed to get caught staring but she kept her icy glare on me, i could feel it.
"Who remembers last spring when Damon was caught sneaking a bottle of bourbon into the cinema?" Rose asked. Everyone nodded in agreement and a conversation about the event sprung to life. Everyone seemed oblivious to the stone gaze gaze set on me. It was evident that Rose was attempting to make me feel excluded, bad for leaving and missing making memories. However, it would take a lot more to make me feel bad. I have had enough sadness in my life to know how to minimise it - block it out.
We spent a few more hours exchanging stories and fond memories, eventually most people disappeared off to their respective rooms. Now it was only me, Caroline, Klaus and Damon left.
I managed to keep awkward contact with Damon to a bare minimum. We didn't personally exchange conversations but on a few occasions actively participate in a group discussion. This meant that when Klaus strutted to his room and Caroline decided it was bedtime for her too, I became very anxious.
"I think it's time for me too." I said, standing up from the log I was sitting on, pulling my coat closer around me as the chilly winter air made it's presence known.
"Wait." Damon spoke out. My brows rose in surprise. He was fidgeting with his hands, a sign of his stress and his eyes were looking down at the floor. He took a deep breath and added, " I think we should talk."
"I'm not sure that is a good idea." I answered. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin both of our holidays. However, when Damon's blue eyes bore into mine, I realised that I owed him some answers. At least a few. So I sat back down and sighed.
"Thank you." He began, "Why are you back?"
"What do you mean why? I missed Mystic Falls."
"You were gone for 5 years, surely if you missed it that much you would've been back multiple times." He challenged, leaning against a tree trunk behind the log. His arms were crossed in front of his muscly chest.
"I was working a lot, I still am. It's not that easy to leave for a week or two when you have a company to manage." I replied. Not giving in to the suggestive questions he proposed.
My eyes narrowed at his next response, "You still have a company now but you are still here. We both know you can easily work from a different place if needed."
"Damon, I'm not sure what you want me to say." I was completely confused, he wanted answers. I gave them to him. Yet, he questioned every single one of my responses.
"Don't lie Elena, you know exactly what I'm talking about." I barely took notice of what he said, I was too concentrated on the way my name rolled of his tongue. When I failed to respond immediately, he added, " You were avoiding me."
"No, I wasn't avoiding you." Even I wasn't fooled by my words, he was the reason I didn't come back.
"For God's sake just admit the truth Elena! You never cane back because of me!" His tone changed from a broken soft voice to one filled with much hatred and anger.
"Do you want me to agree? You want me to say that i avoided you? Well I did! I was terrified of ever seeing you again. It hurt me to think about you let alone have to be in the same room as you Damon. It killed me." I shouted back. Tears prickled my eyes but I refused to seem so weak in front of him. So I blinked them right back to where they came from.
"It hurt you? I spent months thinking you were just gone for a break. I turned up to your favourite restaurant on your birthday because I remembered the reservation we made a few weeks before. I loved you so much that I believed you loved me back. Clearly that wasn't the case because you ran off the first chance you got." His words stung more than anything. I was going to add something more but was interrupted by a sleepy Mason shouting my name.
"Go on. Let your fiancé enjoy his time with you, no one knows how long he has left before you run off." That crossed the line. I was filled with so much anger that it blinded me. Before I knew what was happening I was standing right in front of Damon, who stood up following his insult, and my right hand connected with his cheek. After slapping him, i swiftly turned on my heels and walked off into the direction of the lake house.
The next morning was hell. I woke up to an empty bed and cold as hell. There must've been a big temperature drop from the day before. I groggily pulled myself out of bed and into the shower. Appreciating how the hot water warmed up my icy skin. The bad thing about it was that it gave me time to think. I thought back to last night's events - then it hit me. The utter humiliation flooded my brain, I slapped Damon. What a great way to solve the awkwardness between us.
10 minutes later I was making my way down the wooden stairs, a cloud of chatter could be heard coming from the larger kitchen. I walked towards it when a figure slipped out of the door next to me, blocking my way. I nearly crashed into a chest dressed up in a black button up, my eyes made their way up the body until they finally found a pair of blue pools.
We stood there for a few moments, no one too eager to speak up. I gave out a sigh before speaking up.
"Im sorry. I shouldn't have slapped you, I was tired and - " I didn't get to finish before I was interrupted.
"No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have said that, it was a low blow. " his eyes screamed with sincerity and I found myself wondering how I could ever have lied to such a good person.
"You don't have to apologise. If that is what you think of me, I'm glad we hot it out." I continued, not allowing him to take the blame.
"God no. I don't think you are playing anyone. I just got angry. Elena, don't take it personally, I don't mean it." He pleaded for me to understand that what he said was really just an outburst of anger, so I nodded solemnly. "We should probably get down there, before they eat all of the brekfast." Damon gestured in the direction of the kitchen, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, forming something similar to smile. I returned the favour and followed him into the next room.
We received a few weird glances from Caroline but no one else took notice of us. I made my way over to where Mason was sat and pulled out a chair next to him.
"How long have you been up for?" I asked my fiancé.
"An hour or so. I helped Tyler cook the breakfast. Sorry I left without telling you but I didn't want to wake you" He turned so that he was facing me and brought his hand to my cheek before planting a soft peck on my lips.
"It's okay, I needed some more sleep anyway. The whole drive tired me out." I replied. I noticed a change in Mase since we came here. He was once again the Mason I fell in love with, the caring one. It's a side of him I saw little of while we were in Mystic Falls.
"oh my gosh it's snowing!" Caroline was beaming as she stood by the large french doors that led out into the garden, glancing in awe at the white puff that fell from the grey sky.
Klaus didn't seem to share Caroline's opinion on the event, as he said "Let's just hope we don't get snowed in."
We spent the next few hours playing a few party games along the lines of pictionary. It was girls vs boys and even though we had a disadvantage as to the number of us on the team, we still managed to beat the guys.
"you are sore losers. Just accept the fact we are too good for you at pictionary, it runs in our genes." I teased the men who were arguing over the result of the game.
"Well why don't we play a game where the guys have an advantage." Klaus suggested with a smirk.
"I'm not sure it's possible for you to have any advantage over us, but go on. What is this game you are thinking of?" Caroline chipped in.
"Never have I ever... Points edition." Klaus answered confidently.
"Lets go for it." Rose accepted the challenge, the rest of our team nodding in agreement.
"Ok then, the rules are the team with the least people who take a drink gets a point. " Klaus confirmed the rules and the game started.
We won.
Most people decided to take a walk through the forest but I was against having to walk through wet and cold snow. Hence why I stayed behind. I was sat on the sofa with a view on the lake, on my laptop, catching up on any work emails, when the couch dipped. I turned my head to the left where Damon was sat.
"Can I ask you a question?" He asked me, his brows were furrowed showing his concentration.
"Sure." I replied. I lied though, I don't want him to ask questions.
"Were you happy after you left?" He avoided my eye sight, afraid to hear my response.
"Why do you want to know? You've moved on so why visit the past?"
"Just answer the damn question Elena."
"No. No, of course I wasn't happy. I hated myself for running." I finally replied.
"If you got another chance, would you have done things differently?" He pressed.
"No." At that his eyes snapped to mine, filled with hurt and anger, I don't think he understood why I said that so I decided to elaborate, "You are happy now, you've moved on why would I do anything differently? "
"I can't believe what you just said. You would leave me again if you were given the chance to stay." He laughed without a trace of humour. "I don't know who you are, the Elena I used to know would never have left her loved ones behind. I hate you. Maybe you have moved on, you had 5 years of closure. I spent those 5 years trying to make sense of why you ran. I asked myself what did I do wrong every single day when I awoke to find your side of the bed empty. You killed me. I thought I could put the past behind me and try to be you friend, but every time I see you I replay the painful events that hurt me so bad. I can't stand being near you anymore. I hate you Elena Gillbert." As he spoke my eyes pooled with tears but I blinked them back and stayed strong. I made a choice because I know that was the best for him. He hates me and I accept that. At least I know that he doesn't have feeling for me anymore, it makes it so much easier to mask mine.
"I will leave tonight. I don't want to cause you any more discomfort, it was never my intention." I stood up and as I turned a tear escaped my eye.
I packed my bag and sent a text to Mason and Caroline that I had a work emergency.
As I passed the living room, I could see Damon leaning against the fireplace with his back to me. His black shirt rose slightly, revealing a slither of skin. I could see a mark right above where his jeans ended. It took me a second to process what the shape was, eventually it clicked. It was a small E. He tattooed my initial onto his back. I knew it must've been after I left, he never had tattoos before that.
I quickly walked out the door and into the car before letting my sobs break free. I started the car and drove in the direction of Mystic Falls, halfway through the journey the snow storm started again but I continued driving ahead.
More tears came over me, blurring my vision, I nearly didn't see the other car coming from the opposite direction. Abruptly, I steered my car to the side.
The impact of the metal vehicle hitting another object sent me forward in my seat until I hit the steering wheel. Pain pierced through my chest as I struggled to breathe. Quickly after, my vision started to darken as my eyes shut close, burying me in an unknown darkness.