To Change or Not To Change: Time Traveling AU

Chapter 7: Dinner for Two

The Grille was bursting with energy. Music played in the background and laughter could be heard through the door.

Elena took in a deep breath, readying herself for what would be inside. She knew once she went in, her life would be forever changed in some sort of way. You have got this Gilbert. It'll all be okay! She told her mind firmly, before pulling open the door. The smell of beer and alcohol hit her nose, and she felt drawn back to her past.

It felt like so long ago since she had been happy. She walked inside and headed for a small booth that was away from most people. Vicki walked over and asked what she could get her. "What can I get you?" She popped a bubble from her gum.

"I'm waiting for someone; I'll have a water though." Elena said calmly.

Vicki nodded, "Suit yourself." She left to get Elena her glass of water.

Elena settled into the seat and waited for Damon to appear. Five minutes later, Vicki dropped off her water and then left to help someone else. Elena sighed and looked at her water, pulling out some extra vervain and putting it into her water secretly. As much as she loved Damon (who did not know), she did not want to risk her life! She drank her water and relaxed. Ah yes, vervain laced water.

It was almost thirty minutes later when Damon appeared, looking slightly off and this made her wish she was a vampire. She didn't understand what was wrong with Damon.

"Sorry I'm late darling," Damon said smoothly as he plopped down in front of her. "Saint Stefan couldn't part with me."

He misses him. Elena realized. "It's okay. Is Stefan okay?"

"Girl problems," Damon waved his hand in reply. "He doesn't understand how this girl, who he's been trying to court for awhile, isn't interested. He's pulled out all of his Saint Stefan tricks but nothing is working."

Elena winced. Of course nothing's working. Stefan, I don't love you. I'm in love with Damon… Elena thought. She smiled sadly. "Why do you call him 'Saint Stefan' instead of just plain Stefan?" She asked, trying to get off the awkward topic of Stefan's effort to try and get Elena to be his girlfriend.

Damon chuckled, "I call him that because he's always considered himself better than other people. He always tries to play hero even when he should be the bad guy. People dig the hero." He tried to explain.

"The hero is never fun though," Elena flashed him a wicked smirk. "They only play aside the rules and what fun is that? No, I find the 'bad guy' is so much more fun!"

Damon chuckled once more, "We're on the same page." He grinned. "And I think the term you're looking for is villain."

Vicki came over a few minutes later, eyeballing Damon as clearly Damon was the most attractive man there. "Hello, what can I get you both?"

"Bourbon, please," Damon said calmly. "Elena?"

"I'd like bourbon as while." Elena hoped Vicki wouldn't say anything.

"Anything else?" Vicki asked, staring at the dark haired stranger. Vicki would know if she had seen him before.

"No thank you," Damon said smoothly. Vicki left and Damon turned his eyes onto Elena. "I didn't know you had such fine tastes."

She flashed him a smile. "I had a good friend who taught me well."

"Your friend had very fine tastes then," Damon praised, unknowingly praising himself.

Elena sat there, looking at him for a short period of time. She smiled. "Yes he does,"

"Oh so your friend is a boy. Shall I expect a jealous hormonal teenage boy coming here, screaming at me how you are his?" Damon asked calmly.

"Nope," Elena popped the p. "I'm as single as a Pringle!"

"You can never have just one Pringle." Damon flirted.

She laughed softly, agreeing, her water long forgotten in choice of her bourbon, placed in front of her by Vicki, who took great care in bending over so her cleavage could be seen by Damon. Elena felt jealous. If you weren't so important to Matt, I'd kill you myself! Elena thought bitterly. Damon clearly let his eyes wander, which added fuel to the fire in Elena's jealousy, but he seemed uninterested. His eyes went to her and she swore she had never seen Damon's eyes so dark blue before.

That of course was a lie, as they went this blue every time Damon became lustful and wanted her. Those eyes better only be for me! She thought.

Vicki once more asked if they needed anything, not bothering to look at Elena as she settled on staring at Damon, drinking him in. Ugh, why does he have to look like a freaking GOD? Elena wondered.

"We're fine, thank you." Damon said smoothly. He never took his eyes off Elena, causing a heat to fill her being and in her lower belly. They both wanted each other.

Shit, I'm a virgin in this time line, aren't I? She realized with her heart sinking in her chest.

|x|

Twenty minutes later, Elena's phone buzzed for the fifth time in five minutes, letting her know her parents were both worried and annoyed that she wasn't home yet. However, checking the time she found it was Aunt Jenna whom was texting her. Then, her phone buzzed in a way that meant a phone call.

"Can you excuse me for just one minute?"

"Of course, I'll get Vicki to refill our drinks."

"Sounds good to me," Elena smiled and left the Grille for a moment, answering the phone. "Aunt Jenna?"

"Elena! Why haven't you answered any of my texts? Are you okay?" Aunt Jenna tended to worry a lot, as she could be overemotional. She also had trouble keeping Jeremy and her in line when her parents were away, trying to be cool Aunt Jenna but worried something would happen to them while they were out.

And that Grayson would have her head if something happened to either Jeremy or Elena.

Elena smiled, "I'm fine Aunt Jenna. I'm just at the Grille. Jeremy was here just a little while ago. I saw him playing pool with Matt. What's wrong?"

Aunt Jenna let out a breath of air. "I was worried sick! Stefan came by and was asking about you. He said you two had plans?"

Ugh. Elena winced slightly, "Err no. I haven't spoken to Stefan in awhile. I actually have plans with someone else."

"Who?" Aunt Jenna asked curiously. She always was curious about Elena's lack of boyfriends and relationships.

"His name is Damon," Elena sighed softly. "Now I'm going to hang up. Are you okay now?"

"Yes I am," Aunt Jenna reassured, "You miss owe me some details when you get home. Okay? Love you! Enjoy your date!"

"It's not a- you know what? Never mind, love you too Aunt Jenna, bye." She hung up. She was wearing a fond smile as she went back inside and found Damon where she had left him, now with filled glasses of bourbon. "You didn't run off."

"Why would I?" Damon asked as he took a sip of his drink.

Elena shrugged. "To get away from me, I don't know."

He cracked a grin. "I could never do something like that." She sat down and let out a soft sigh. "So what did your aunt want?"

"She was worried about where I was." Elena shrugged. Damon gave her a look and she simply smiled. "I told her where I was, and that I'd be home later."

Damon nodded calmly. "Ah. Well, when do you wish to be home, princess?"

Elena shrugged. "Not yet,"

He chuckled and the two enjoyed their drinks, talking about anything and everything.

|x|

So THERE! God, it took me like THREE tries to get this chapter put together and I had so many ideas. One was getting a flash into the future/present, where people are wondering where Elena is. Another was having Damon drink Elena's blood, finding out she's on vervain and thus wondering how she knows. I believe another was possibly having Elena and Damon sleep together, but it's too soon. UGH! So you all got this shitty chapter. And its still Wednesday so YEAH Sorry it seems late but I had a major writer's block. Next chapter I'm not sure what will happen, but I figure I'll watch the rest of the episode to find out. If you have any ideas, let me know. And please review! Bye!

Nerdy~