TW - SH

Elena's POV

When I got home from my date with Damon last night no one was home. I was relieved and by the time John did get home he was so drunk that he passed out. I was happy not to deal with him for one night. It was sunday morning and I got up early and made John his breakfast. I was hoping if I woke up early enough I could avoid seeing him. It worked and I made it back up to my room before anyone was awake. I sat in my bed and I got a text from Damon saying good morning. It made me smile. I called him and we talked for a few minutes.

A knock at my door interrupted us. My door slammed open and it was John. My eyes widen as he looked angry. "I have to call you back later." I said before hanging up the phone. "What?" I asked my uncle.

"Who were you on the phone with?" He yelled.

"A friend from school." I backed up on my bed till my back was touching the headboard.

John shook his head. 'It didn't sound like you were talking to a friend." He walked closer. "You were talking to some guy weren't you?"

"No!" I yelled.

"Tell me the truth!" He pulled me by my hair, dragging me off my bed.

"Fine okay! I was talking to a guy from school about a project." I cried.

"Fucking lying slut!" He let go and threw me into my dresser.

I fell to the ground. "Please John I'm sorry!" I apologized weakly.

John kicked me a few times. I screamed and with each kick he went in harder and harder. The front door opened and John immediately stopped and left me there in pain on the middle of my floor. I cried silently as I heard my brother go into his room. I assumed he snuck out this morning to buy more drugs. I couldn't move for about an hour. I was physically weak and emotionally distraught. When I gained enough energy I managed to crawl onto my bed. I cried there for awhile then I ran out of tears. I was in so much pain. I needed a release. I reached for the knife under my mattress. I rolled up my sleeve and stared at the scars on my arm. I thought of Damon and the promise I made to him. I wanted to badly to keep it but I couldn't do it. I pressed the blade to my skin and made several fresh cuts. I laid there as the blood rolled down my arm. I was numb.

Damon's POV

I got off the phone with Elena. I was worried about her but I didn't want to overwhelm her so I texted her that I hoped everything was okay. I walked into the kitchen and made lunch for myself. Stefan wasn't home but I knew he'd be hungry so I made a second sandwich and stuck it in the fridge. I started doing the homework the was due next week. I had to write an essay about my family. I was dreading it all week since it was due. I tried to start it five times but I kept deleting it. I looked over at the living room and flashes of my dad flooded my head. I rubbed my eyes but it didn't help. I stood up and grabbed my notebook. I couldn't be here right now. I couldn't write this here. I got in my car and drove around before I knew it I was at the bar down the street. I walked in and showed the bartender my fake id and she brought me bourbon. I wasn't much of a drinker but I needed to be drunk to write this essay.

"Damon?" I heard my name as I finished the end of my drink.

"Alaric." My eyes widen as I saw him here.

"What are you doing here?" He was confused as to why I was in the bar.

"Nothing I was just leaving." I grabbed my notebook.

The bartender came over. "Want another refill Mr. Brooks?" She asked me.

Alaric chuckled. "Yeah do you want another refill Mr. Brooks?" He raised his eyebrow.

I shook my head. "I'm good." I felt like a jackass.

"Let's go sit down. I think we need to talk." He suggested.

I followed him to the booth and sat down. "Listen it's been a rough day and I needed an escape." I sighed.

"What's going on with you?" He asked me with concern.

"It's this essay. The prompt is 'What makes your family special.' but I can't answer it." I felt defeated. "I sat in my living room starting at it and I nearly lost my damn mind thinking about all the pain my family has put me through Rick."

His face softened. "I know you're going through hell kid but you can't do this. You can't go back to the way you were before. You have to do better and if you need help then you have to ask for it." Alaric advised me.

"I know and I don't want to go back. I want to move forward but how can I do that and still answer this question?" I asked him.

"Who is family to you. Family isn't just the people that are related to you. Family is the people you choose to be in your life." Alaric looked at me. "You can answer this. I believe in you kid."

"Thanks for that. For everything. You're always having my back and you have no idea how much that means to me." I smiled.

"Anytime buddy." We stood up and he patted my back. "I'm going to need that fake id now."

I chuckled. "Fine." I took it out of my wallet and handed it to him.

Elena's POV

I woke up in pain everywhere. I sat up slowly and crawled to the bathroom. I got into the tub and ran the water. I laid in the pain completely broken inside and out. I watched as the dried blood from my arm washed off. The burning water numbed the pain I felt from being kicked in the back and stomach. I couldn't take this anymore. I felt like I was screaming inside but no one can hear me and I can't turn it off. I needed help I knew I needed someone. I eventually worked up the strength to get out of the tub and I wrapped myself in a towel. I looked in the mirror and it was scary. I wrapped my hair in a towel and put on black sweats. A long sleeve blush pink shirt. It was five in the morning. I couldn't handle the pain anymore. I wish I could take something to fix it. I walked out of my room very slowly and into my brother's room. He was sleeping. I dig through his bag and looked for his white pills. I knew they were oxy. I found a whole bag of it. I glanced over at him. He was sleeping peacefully. I opened the bag and took a hand full. I put the bag back and went into my room. I took one and put a couple in my purse and then the rest under my bed in a box. I dried my hair and put on a little mascara and lipstick.

I felt the oxy kick in and I felt so much better. Damon texted me that he was outside. I grabbed my bookbag and went outside. I smiled when I saw him. "I didn't know you were going to be driving me to school today?" I said as I sat down.

"Well I couldn't not pick my girlfriend up that would be rude." He chuckled.

"Where's Stefan? I asked, realizing he wasn't in the car.

"He already left by the time I got out of the shower." Damon pulls out of my driveway.

"Wow." I laughed. "Hey if you pick me up tomorrow can you park down the street?" I asked him.

"Yeah sure. Why?" He asked me.

"My uncle. He doesn't know about us." I was scared to know what he would do if he knew that I was dating someone after the way he reacted to me talking to a boy.

"Are you going to tell him? Is he overprotective?" Damon wondered.

"I don't think that's the best idea. He doesn't want me dating anyone." I wanted to change the subject. "So how was your sunday?"

"It was alright. Just working through some stuff with this essay due next week." He mentioned.

"Is everything okay?" I worried. "Do you need help with it?"

"Yeah yeah everything's great just have to sort some things out." Damon said as we pulled up to school.

"Okay well if you need help just ask me and I'm there." I smiled sweetly.

"You're the cutest." He kissed me.

Author's Note:

I'm not going to continue this if there isn't any readers so if you want me to please review.