Disclaimer: I do not own/associate with Vampire Diaries nor any of the fictional characters. This is merely just a fanfiction.

- Chapter One -

Erroneous Dream

The wind was serenading love song; the clouds were diligently piling up to cover up the blue sky. Birds were dancing elegantly with their wings flapping up and down, their beaks opened and closed repeatedly, leaving chirps behind as they flew. The leaves started to dry up a little, merging green and yellow.

It was another new school year. Summer holiday had just ended but the air was still fresh with summer scent. Students were bolting to the school, not because they were keen to the new school year (well, at least not for most of the students), it was because they had reached school at the eleventh-hour. At Mystic Falls High School's hallway, students were hustling each other; slamming metal noises were heard as the students put their possessions into the lockers.

She was wearing a plain violet round neck t-shirt and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans. A bag was dangling on her right shoulder, her left arm was carrying two thick text books; the book on top had "History of Mystic Falls, by Georgia Jenner" inscribed on the cover. She slowly brushed her dark brown hair behind her ear as wind puffed onto her head.

"Elena!" a blonde called. "Finally, you're here!"

She marched towards the blonde. "I'm so sorry. I had a rough night and I had to prepare breakfast for Jeremy and-"

"Let me guess, you and Stefan were busy the whole night." She raised an eyebrow mischievously. Her tone was eager. "You know, se-"

"No!" She quickly differed, while slapping onto Caroline's arm playfully. "It's just this… dream."

"What did I miss?" A dark skinned girl appeared, which startled both the girls.

"Nothing. Let's just get into class, we're late."

It was dark, it was midnight. She was sitting by the window as the wind stroke on her face gently. She swept her hair back and tied it with a black hair tie. She was not surprised at all that there was a man sitting on the stool near her vanity table.

"So, what now?" she asked, while her gaze was directed to that man.

His light blue eyes ogled back intently. His slightly curly hair swayed back and forth as the wind from the window blew at him. He stood upright and moved his steps closer to hers. His robust arms grabbed onto the back of her neck, and then slowly he caressed her face.

He frowned as his rose-coloured lips parted. "I love you."

She giggled. "That escalated quickly. We just met-"

Without hesitation, he pressed his lips onto hers. She returned the favour while closing her eyes slowly. It seemed like forever before he broke the kiss. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her farther away from him.

"I'm sorry, I can't be this selfish. I can't be selfish to you."

"What are you saying? I don't understand." She still kept her smile, even though she was at utter confusion.

His eyes fixated on hers. This time the gaze was completely different. His irises were different, dilated. She was as though in trance. She could not hear a single word that was delivered from his lips. All she could see was the look of his face, his lips moving, but no voice was heard.

"Miss Gilbert," was the only voice she heard.

"Miss Gilbert." Again.

"Gilbert!"

Her surrounding changed, from the dim lighted bedroom to a direct-sunlight classroom. She was surrounded by her classmates, their gazes were consumed on her. For a moment, she was baffled.

"Miss Gilbert," Mr. Saltzman called for the fourth time with slight sigh, or at least it was the fourth time she heard.

"Yes Ala-" she stammered. "I mean, Mr. Saltzman."

He looked concerned. His brows puckered. He moistened his lips with his tongue. "I hope your soul is still here with us in history class, and not wander off to year 1897."

The whole class burst a chuckle.

Ring!

"I guess that's it for today. Class dismissed." He slammed the book close. Students rushed out of class without a second thought.

"Elena," Stefan had been sitting beside of her all this while, and yet she did not realise. Her mind was devoured into her dream. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She replied. She pushed her chair backwards and stood up.

"I know, things had been messy and unexpected," Saltzman appeared. "Just be strong."

Things were tough, really. With the originals appearing, the hybrid's sister's threats, nonstop deaths, Damon… She just wanted a normal life, a normal human life, not events revolve around supernatural.

"I'm fine, Alaric." She pursed on her lips. She continued to walk out of the classroom. Stefan followed her at the back. She went to her locker and put the books back into the locker. As she shut her locker, there appeared a blonde, whose eyes widened.

"What took you guys so long?" Caroline asked. "Come on, we have to discuss about our new school year party!"

"Do we even have that?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm Miss Mystic Falls," Caroline grinned. "So I get to pioneer any parties I want."

"Sorry, I will have to pass," Elena replied. "I don't feel that well today."

"Are you alright?" Stefan asked. "You look sapped the whole day."

Elena only nodded lightly.

"Come, I'll get you a ride home."

Elena waved goodbye to Bonnie and Caroline. The couple then headed towards a Red Porsche 356B Karmann Coupe.

"Hey there." A man's arm blocked Elena's way into the Porsche. His light blue eyes beamed. His lips pursed with a smirk. His tone body was invisible over the tight-fitting black t-shirt.

"What are you doing here, Damon?" Her voice was filled with uneasiness. Her heartbeat was unevenly throbbing.

"Well, Miss All-Time-Goodie," he raised both of his eyebrows. "I came here to look for my little brother."

She puzzled for a moment. Her heart had been racing ever since he appeared. It may be caused by the shock from his sudden appearance. It must be.

"Uhm, Stefan." She swallowed that thick lump in her throat.

"I heard him," Stefan stood out from his car. He rolled his eyes while asking, "What do you want from me, brother?"

"Oh, here's our all-time-favourite Salvatore."

"Spit it out, Damon." Stefan crossed his arms.

"What did you do, Elena? He's all fired up." He walked to the other side of the car then grabbed Stefan to a side nearby the tree.

She was curious about their conversation. Their looks were peculiar, and she noticed Stefan and Damon gave her that "look" at different times. It was the only time she wished she had vampire hearing. She was getting impatient. Her feet automatically moved towards them but Damon laid his feet off first.

"My job is done," his arms lifted mid-air as though he surrendered. He smirked and then went into his sky blue Ford Mustang.

"What were you discussing?" Elena gave a doubtful look. "You two looked anxious."

"It's nothing." Both of them entered the Porsche. "Just some family business."

"You know there shouldn't be any secrets between us, right?"

"I know." He breathed in deeply then let out a sigh. "It's really nothing."

"But from what I see, it's not that easy."

"Elena, it's nothi-"

"Fine, you don't want to talk about it, we'll just end it here. OK?" Elena shut her mouth, crossed her arms. Her eyesight fixated over the window. After a moment of rational thoughts, she started to feel the sense of guilt that was pushed from her guts, or wherever it came from. She knew she was being a little unpleasant and unreasonable, but somehow her pride forbad her to apologise, or even to start a conversation.

As they reached her house, she opened the car door abruptly before Stefan could park the car properly. Her pace was swift.

"Elena!" Stefan called, but Elena was already walking into the house.

"I'm fine!" She shouted from the inside.

Stefan was still standing beside of his car. Strangely, he did not follow Elena to enter her house. He went back into his car and drove off. Elena walked out of the house, and the only thing she saw was the smoke left from the exhaust pipe of the Porsche.

"Seriously, Stefan?" She squeaked in disbelief. She took her cell phone out from her pocket. She dialled onto Damon's number. That dream was driving her crazy, but it was just a dream. She could not even remember much of the details. However, without that dream, she would not be so perplexed the whole day; she would not keep trying to recall that dream all the time; she would not get so sensitive on Stefan… Everything seemed so Inception-feel. Placing an idea into a dream and fulfilling the idea through dream. Maybe Elena had too much movies.

"This is really strange, but what can I do for you, Miss I-Love-Stefan-forever?" Damon's voice could be heard over the phone.

She was not really ready for this conversation, actually. "Uhm... Uh…"

"I assume you misdialled my number." Damon continued calmly.

"What did you tell Stefan?"

"Secrets that should be kept from unicorns like you," she could imagine that evil smirk on his face, even though she only heard words over the phone.

"What did you do?" Her voice was firm and stern.

"I sense accusation here," Damon spoke. "So, what's my accusation, judge?"

"Whatever you do, there'll never be an 'us' thing. OK?"

Damon remained silent. Was I too harsh?

The muteness on the phone was getting awkward and perturbed.

"Hello?"

"I'm leaving town." Damon spat.

"What?" Elena gulped. "Oh."

"Better for me the leave than being the troublemaker between two love birds."

"It's great. I mean, it is really a great idea for you to leave." Her mind was absolutely directionless. "I mean, new exploration, self-discovery, whatever-"

"I'm leaving because I can't stand looking at you two lovey-dovey, listening to your moaning when you two have sex, and repeatedly telling each other how much you love each other." Damon sounded really upset and irritated. "Don't misunderstand, I really did try my best not to hear all your undisclosed desires but you two really sounded like you were holding a concert."

"I'm… I'm speechless," Elena was puzzled. Was he trying to make her feel guilty, remorseful? "I'm sorry we never consider your feelings."

"Pfft, I don't need you to repent." He did not sound like he was in distraught, though it could be just an act. "I'm not that pathetic."

"OK."

"Bye." He responded as quickly as possible.

Doot.

He ended.

Her eyes wandered, her mind wondered. What exactly happened? She knew how he felt for her, and she rejected him numerous times. But this time, it just felt weird. It did not look like Damon's signature to spatter his feelings and complaints even if he was on exasperation. Damon Salvatore, leaving Mystic Falls? Impossible. Well, unless he really meant what he said. He could not endure watching the couple together. Then, didn't it mean the couple was at fault for not being considerable? However, if he could not endure such ache, then he should leave. It was the best solution. Somehow, there was a prickle in Elena's heart for Damon's sudden departure, even though she was not really convinced that Damon would really leave town. Maybe that surreal dream had really gotten to her.

That dream is just a dream. Forget about it, Elena!