AN: Hi, everyone! First, sorry for the late update! As most know, one of my family members passed away last month, and so my family and I took some time to adjust and celebrate the holidays without them. However, I've found myself back writing, and I managed to get some work onto this chapter, and I finally have enough to update! Sorry, it's a bit short, but the next chapter is their weekend together! Hopefully it will be out in the next week or so! Thanks all and Enjoy! Xoxo
CHAPTER 14:
"Wait," Nadia says softly. "My parents knew your parents?"
I nod. "And really well by the looks of it," I say as I observe the photo. When I saw this photo in my parent's things, I knew that there was something off about it.
"They worked together, no?" Nadia asks, and I return my entire attention to her.
"I think so," I tell her.
"Wow," Nadia sighs as she leans back in her chair. "That is a lot to take in."
I nod in agreement. "I'm still confused about why this was at some woman's house that you've never even heard of,"
Nadia leans forward again. "That is very odd," she says softly. Suddenly, a loud vibration echoes, and as I'm about to reach for my phone, Nadia pulls out her purse, and I watch her sigh as she picks up the phone.
"Gregor," Nadia bites into the phone. I watch her features acutely as she listens to the other line. Suddenly, her eyes widen and her mouth is hanging open.
"What?" She hisses. "But, that's-"
I lean in further as she becomes more agitated.
"Alright," she says quickly as she scrambles to her feet. I look up in confusion. "I'm on my way."
"What's wrong?" I ask once Nadia stuffs her phone into her oversized purse.
"Listen, I'm so sorry," Nadia hastily explains as she gathers her belongings. "But I have to go. Thank you, and I hope to see you soon."
With that, I'm not even aloud to get in a syllable as I watch her race out the door. I understand why she didn't tell me what had called her away, but I still wish she did.
Just then, I feel a small nugde at my stomach, and I dig into my purse for my phone. When I see the name flash in front of me, I decide not to answer as I instead gather my things and head out to the parking lot.
When I spot Matt's blue pick-up, I catch his confused expression, and I brace myself for his words.
"Why didn't you pick up?" he asks as I slide into the passenger seat.
"I thought it'd be pointless as I was just about ready to come out." I shrug.
"So?"
Sighing, I turn to Matt, who's eyeing me suspiciously.
"Do you remember that photo that I told you about?" I ask him, and he blinks. "The one of my parents with some other couple?"
Matt nods in realization, and I clear my throat. "Well, that other couple was Nadia's parents." I say, and Matt's mouth falls open.
"You're kidding," He breathes in shock.
"No," I shake my head. "Can you take me home?"
Matt continues to stare at me in shock, and just when I think he's going to say something, he turns away and shifts the truck into reverse.
Even though the restaurant is not five minutes away from my house, the car ride feels as if it were five times that long. Just as we're heading down my street, I gather my purse and jacket in my lap, ready to hop out the second he pulls into my driveway.
As I gaze out of the side window, I spot a woman I recognize as Meredith Fell tending to her lawn. The rest of the street smears through my view, and just when I turn to see my house, it too blurs by.
"Matt, where are you-?" I ask, frowning.
"We need to talk," he says firmly, and I blink in confusion.
"About what?" I ask, trying to think of any reason why we'd need to talk.
"About you," he says, and just when I'm about to ask him to elaborate, he clears his throat. "And Damon."
"Excuse me?" I breathe, failing to attempt nonchalance as Matt turns to me, eyeing me with a 'let's be real' look.
"Don't play dumb, Elena," he scoffs as he turns down another street. I assume he's not parked yet because he knows that I'll jump out the second he's in park.
"I'm not," I sigh, knowing an attempt at doing so will only frustrate both of us. "I just-How do you know?"
"We all came to visit you in the hospital," Matt says, "And almost every time I went to see how you were, Damon was there. It looked like he'd been there for a long time. He seemed so occupied, he didn't even notice me. I put two and two together. Him being there so much so late and alone was enough of a tell. And it was a lot more suspicious because he wasn't even with Katherine, his fiancé."
"Look, I know that you two are seeing each other. And in all honesty, I don't have any opinion of it. But that will change when Katherine finds out. Because eventually, she will."
"I know," I tell him, tears swelling my eyes. I've spent so long trying not to tell myself what he has just said out loud. And I know he's right. "And I know that you do have an opinion of it. You have every right to. It's completely wrong, and I'm sure that it's the last thing that you'd ever think I'd do, but I just can't explain it. The connection that Damon and I have is something that I've never felt with anyone before. It's indescribable. We just gave in. He and I knew that the longer we tried to fight it, the stronger it got over time."
"So, you just decided to go for it?" Matt asks.
"It's not like that," I shake my head. "I didn't expect for this to happen. Damon just got under my skin, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I got every time I was around him. No matter how hard I tried. And believe me, I tried. I know what you and Bonnie think. And like I said, I never saw myself in this situation before. I frowned upon those girls who broke up marriages. But I just could not fight it anymore. And neither could he."
"Look," Matt sighs as he rubs his forehead. " I get it. I do. But I just want you to remember that he's still engaged to your sister."
Just as I'm about to say something, I realize that Matt's in my driveway, and I gather my stuff.
"For now," I say, and Matt blinks, surely not expecting the confidence I now have after our talk. "Thanks for the ride."
Twenty minutes after I arrived home, I'd received a text from Damon saying that he was on his way. I'm in the family room with my bag packed at my feet. Thankfully I'm the only one in the house right now/ I don't want to have to tell any of them that I'm going away for the weekend to their faces; considering I'd be lying.
It's already hard knowing what I'm doing to Katherine. I love my sister, don't get me wrong. But if I thought for a second that he would actually marry Katherine after everything he's told me about their relationship, I wouldn't be doing this. Despite both Matt and Bonnie's words of wisdom, I want to be alone with Damon this weekend. Even if their is a shadow of doubt in regards to damon, I need to figure out what this is. If I'm right about him.
As I contemplate what this weekend will be like, I stare down at my contacts list, and when my eyes land on Nadia, I'm tempted to call her. I need to know more. I feel that our meeting was so open-ended, and I still haven't fully processed the information that I've learned.
When the sound of a horn emerges, my stomach releases a swarm of butterflies as I hop off of the couch and rush over to the front window. As I peer out into the world, a baby blue Camaro steals my focus. When I search for Damon in the front seat, I don't see anyone. Where is he?
As the doorbell rings, I realize he's at the front door. This is it. I'm finally going to have Damon all to myself this weekend. And when the thought soothes me enough, I walk over and open the front door.
"Hey," I smile shyly.
"Hey back," he smirks, and I can't suppress my blush. "Ready?"
I nod as I turn and reach down for my duffel. "Yep."
As Damon cruises down Interstate 64, I feel the wind caress my face as I poke my head out of the window. The sun couldn't be more friendly to the day as it shines down brilliantly. My mind is completely empty and at ease as The Black Keys' "Lonely Boy" blasts from the radio.
"Didn't this win an award?" I ask as I pull my head back inside.
"A grammy, I think," Damon nods as I look over toward him. When I see his fully focused on driving, as he should be. Impulsively, I eject the CD, curious to what he's listening to. When the blank Memorex CD spits itself out, I grab hold of it just as Damon reaches for it. As I look closer, there's words on it.
"Eyes on the road, Grandma," I joke as I point at the view ahead. Once Damon's eyes are on the road, I read the words written in sharpie across the CD.
FAVORITES OF THE 90'S
"You have a 90's mix CD?" I ask as I look at him in shock. I knew Damon was a fan of retro music, but I honestly didn't expect to find a mix CD containing what he thought was the best of the nineties in his car.
"Why, yes, Elena," A smirk plays on the corner of his lips. Suddenly, I'm struck with curiosity and place the CD into the player with excitement. I wonder what songs he's dubbed worthy of the CD.
As I listen carefully, a song that I recognize as one of the most iconic of the nineties blends into the car's atmosphere.
"No," I shake my head in amusement. "You do not have this song,"
Damon nods with a sly grin, and before I can say anything, he's singing the opening lyrics.
Yo, VIP, Let's kick it!
Ice Ice Baby, Ice Ice Baby
All right stop, Collaborate and listen
Ice is back with my brand new invention
Something grabs a hold of me tightly
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly
Will it ever stop? Yo – I don't know
Turn off the lights and I'll glow
To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal
Light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle.
I don't attempt to suppress the fit of laughter as I see Damon bobbing his head to the song as he recites the words with much enthusiasm.
I don't know what comes over me, but I reach for the 'forward' button, and as a new song comes on, Damon jumps into the words.
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
When you take me by the hand,
Tell me I'm your loving man,
When you give me all your love,
And do it the very best you can,
"Well, alright, then," I smirk as I get ready to switch the song again. "If that's the way it's gonna be..."
Just as my finger presses the button, a new song comes on, and I remember that my parents loved this song.
When a man loves a woman
Can't keep his mind on nothin' else
He'd trade the world
For a good thing he's found
If she is bad, he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he puts her down
Click.
You are my fire
The one desire
Believe when I say
I want it that way
But we are two worlds apart
Can't reach to your heart
When you say
That I want it that way
As I join in the chorus, Damon and I exchange a look of amusement as we laugh.
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way
"Alright," he sighs with a smile. "How about we listen to some current songs?"
As he switches the radio to a station, I perk up as one of my favorite songs at the moment comes on. And I can't resist as I mouth the words.
You think I'm pretty
Without any makeup on
You think I'm funny
When I tell the punchline wrong
I know you get me
So I let my walls come down, down
Before you met me
I was alright but things
Were kinda heavy
You brought me to life
Now every February
You'll be my Valentine, Valentine
Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance, until we die
You and I, will be young forever
As I begin the chorus, Damon jumps in to my surprise. I feel like I'm in high school again as I belt out the words.
You make me feel
Like I'm livin' a
Teenage dream
The way you turn me on
I can't sleep
Let's run away and
Don't ever look back,
Don't ever look back
My heart stops
When you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby I believe
This is real
So take a chance and
Don't ever look back,
Don't ever look back
"I love that song," I breathe as I attempt to calm my laughter down.
"It's a good one," Damon agrees as the song drowns out, followed by a calming alternative song.
"How long?" I wonder as I look out at the scenery smear by.
"About half an hour," he says as he merges into the left lane. And I glue my gaze on the landscape outside of the window as the radio drowns my thoughts.
AN: If you've not guessed, the "Ice Ice Baby" idea came from Ian and Paul singing it at TVD Con last year! :) I just thought that that video/story was absolutely hilarious and wanted to include the song when I wrote the singing scene. Anyway, sorry for the rambling :)
Review for more! Love to hear your thoughts! They're greatly appreciated/welcome and strongly motivate updates! :)
PS: Feel free to check out my other stories! They're all DE!
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~*Songs that were mentioned or that inspired this chapter*~
THEME: Bad Things / Meiko
Hurricane / MS MR
My Darling / Lucy Schwartz
Bad Things / Meiko
La La / The Cab
Best Day Of My Life / American Authors
Ice Ice Baby / Vanilla Ice
That's The Way (I Like It) / KC & The Sunshine Band
When A Man Loves A Woman / Michael Bolton
I Want It That Way / Backstreet Boys
Teenage Dream / Katy Perry