Chapter Text
After almost drowning one another, we finally go back to the shore.
“You hungry?” I ask, when we’re about to sit down on the blanket that we putted on the ground.
“You won’t believe how much.” It takes only one look at her face to see the hungry stare from her to know she’s indeed serious about her current appetite.
“Oh, Elena, I know a thing or two about hunger.” I point out, since I am a vampire that has to calm down his hunger for human’s blood, since I tend to hang out with said human’s. And some of them I even like. More than other. So, I wouldn’t want to become over obsessed with blood and eat the person I like. More like kill, but that’s just phrasing. Eating out the person on the other hand, or dare I say tongue… Khmm… not the time for such thoughts. Not yet.
“Then I guess it’s time for dinner.” I say and reach out to whatever the food we brought here.
“Even though we completely skipped lunch.” Elena adds.
“Ah! That’s why you were such a cry-baby. You were just hungry. I should’ve known. Next time there will be no fights. I’ll just shut you up with food.” I grin when I finish my sentence.
“I see you’re back to your annoying self.” Elena comments.
“He never left. Just went for a little swim.”
“And got drown. Five times.” She whispers.
“Hey! It was only four!” I argue.
“So, you counted.” Elena smirks at me, making me proud. She starts picking up my habits. “But, I gotta tell, I don’t mind you shutting me up with food.”
“Noted.” I nod at her with my head.
We spent the next half an hour, eating, drinking and chatting. Surprisingly but the conversation is very friendly.
“So, Elena, tell me, do you want to read a book to me?” She looks at me confused at first and about to respond with “no” or something else, but then remembers why we’re here. Although that’s not exactly the only one reason we’re here.
“Pff, I guess, yeah.” She answers and I reach out for the duffel bag to take out the book I brought with me.
“I swear Damon if that’s fifty shades you’ll make me read to you. I’ll kick you in the nuts.” She promises harshly.
“Dammit! Now I’m upset I didn’t take that one with me. Tsk… Why I didn’t come up with this idea myself? You’re so smart Elena. We’ll do that next time.” I tease her.
“Like hell we will.” She huffs out.
“See, you’re even excited about it.” I keep going, smiling openly.
“I am not. I’m annoyed. And mad. At myself. For playing this stupid card game, that almost cost me my reputation.”
“What are you, Taylor Swift? Care about your reputation as well?”
“I’m not her. But I’m sure, she wouldn’t support you and your shenanigans with those games.”
“Oh, come on, that lady knows how to have fun. I’m sure she would love it.”
“That’s that. I gotta agree with you here. Not on the games though.” She says and then adds. “Who would’ve thought, you,” she points out at me with her hand, “being a Swiftie. That’s new.”
“Well, what can I say I have an unflinching ability to listen to her. So, that’s that.”
“I’m sure you’re secretly a swiftie.” Elena says with a smile on her face.
“I am not.” Seriously, I’m not. But if she is, I would become a swiftie or whatever she needs me to.
“Here, for you to read.” I say giving her a book.
“The Hating Game?” She asks, looking at me in question.
“What? Don’t look at me like that. I stole it from Stefan. He’s a fan of girl’s stuff.” I joke. I just bought some random romance book for fun.
“Whatever.” Elena mumbles and proceeds to open the book and starts reading.
Either a book was that boring or Elena just got tired. Nevertheless, the reader has fallen asleep. I take the book from her hands and keep reading it, in silence. Cause, what else am I supposed to do? And to be honest I’m really interested on how the date Lucy is going to will end up for her. More I’m excited to see what Josh will do.
Time passes by and I’m on chapter fourteen and oh, my god! They’re about to go to his apartment. I don’t know what’s happening between these two but I’m invested. As Lucy explores Josh’s living room and takes a sit on the couch, something touches my right arm, distracting me from the scene I was imagining.
I turn my head and see the cutest scene. Elena has turn on her left side, facing me, her hand now is wrapped around my arm and she clings to it like a koala, while laying in fetus position. And her hair looks like a little nest, since they were wet before that and now it’s just looks fun.
I’m about to get back to the chapter after admiring Elena’s calm state when she’s not mad with me or sad because of my stupid brother but I hear a small sound on the background. I turn my head to the right and hear a small startle once again. It’s Elena’s. She doesn’t look so calm and relaxed anymore. Instead she has a worried frown on her face. I decide there’s nothing better than to wake her up, rather than let her suffer in her sleep.
“Elena.” I whisper to her at first, softly shaking her shoulder, so she won’t get scared. But she just mumbles and keeps frowning, as if me touching her is a part of her dream.
“Elena!” I now almost shout so she’ll hear me.
“Ahh…What?” She suddenly sits up, looking everywhere around her, still being in sleepy mode.
“As much as it pains me to wake you up, especially when you were getting comfortable with wrapping yourself all around me, I still got to wake you up, Elena.” There. That got her attention, judging by an annoying look she gives me.
“Bad dream?” I ask, dismissing her reaction since I’m used to those looks.
“Yeah, dreamed about some guy that made me play card games with him and then I had to do his dirty wishes, cause I lost.” She says, visibly shaking. This is from cold I guess. Even though as a vampire I have better tolerance, pretty much to everything, temperature as well, I feel that it’s getting colder since it’s already evening and the wind is very cold. It’s getting dark too.
“So, you’re saying you were dreaming about me?” I can’t say no to the little teasing, especially when she’s giving me such great opportunities.
“Ugh! Just forget about it.” With that I stand up and go back to the car that isn’t parked too far away from where we’re sitting.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Elena shouts to me.
I ignore her and search through my trunk stuff. When I find what I need I come back to her.
“Here. So, you won't be shaking like the leaves on the trees in fall.” I say and give her my big hoodie.
“Oh… Thank you, Damon. That’s actually really thoughtful of you.” She drawls out, looking at me like I’m the eighth wonder of the world aka confused.
“What? Are you surprised that I know how to take care of the lady?” I raise my eyebrows at her.
“Um…Well…Duh…” She says and looks at me with cockiness.
“Pff.. Whatever.” I dismiss her.
“So, did Lucy went on a date with that guy?” Elena asks me after she puts on her shorts and my hoodie.
“Oh, yes. You wouldn’t believe what happened next. That dude Josh is so weird.” I answer, surprisingly excited to talk about romance book with Elena. Weird things happen.
“Right. He’s so passive aggressive coded.” We talk a little about what happened in the book and just a storyline itself, Elena makes me promise that I will lend her book when I’ll finish reading it myself since ain’t no way I’m letting this story go without knowing how these two weirdos with their “hate” will end up.
Elena suggests that we start packing our stuff since it’s already dark and cold outside. I putted on some music in my car, so it won’t be that boring while we’re cleaning up and all. And silence creeps me out. So, we do our stuff while there plays a song “Last Friday Night” by Katy Perry.
When the song “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris starts playing I just can’t ignore good hits anymore.
“We’re already finished, so do you want to dance, Elena?” I ask as I put our bags back in my trunk.
“No.” She for the first time today refuses. I just look at her, my eyebrows raised.
“Damon.” She pleads.
“Elena, I’m not asking you to strip for me naked or give me a lap dance. All I’m asking you is to just have fun with me. Come on, it’s such a cool song.” I explain and then add. “Want a beer? Maybe that’ll ease you up.” I suggest.
“Do you have a beer?” She asks, getting distracted from her grumpiness.
“Let me check my fridge.” I answer.
“You have a fridge?” She exclaims, staring at me in shock.
“Oh, please, Elena. I have everything you need.” I’m not joking. “Maybe except of that properness my brother has. Have no idea what you, people, see in the goodness of goods. That’s so boring.”
“How about we don’t talk about Stefan?” Elena states.
“You mean how about we don’t talk about your ex?” Can’t say no to the moment when I can finally enjoy saying this phrase out loud, not just daydreaming about it.
“Damon.” She says with a serious tone.
“Fiiiiine…” I drawl out and shut up, about Stefan of course, not just shutting up in general, nope, I wouldn’t.
“So, how about dancing? And I don’t have beer, but I do have red wine. So what do you say to that?”
“You just can’t let it go, can you?” She questions.
“Of course I can’t, I’m not Elsa.” That reference makes Elena laugh.
I actually have a fridge, well, not an actual fridge but a cooling box that I use to save my favourite food aka blood. I find the wine I bought recently laying there, open and give it to Elena. We don’t really drink too much of it, but somehow it sets the mood. I decide to take a second chance in asking Elena to dance.
“It sounds like a good song to dance Elena, is it?” I ask as a song “Don’t Worry” by Madcon, Ray Dalton plays.
“Huh, okay fine, yes it does. I like that song.” She admits.
Them bright big lights are shinin' on us (Uh-huh)
That beat so tight it makes you wanna (Get up)
Get up, get down, like there's no tomorrow
Like there's no tomorrow (Nah, nah)
Like there's no tomorrow
Ooh, we can own the night
Don't worry 'bout a thing
Don't worry 'bout a thing
Don't worry 'bout a thing (Hey)
I know we'll be alright
Don't worry 'bout a thing
Don't worry 'bout a thing
At first Elena’s bit awkward and I don’t judge but as the chorus plays on and on, she starts jumping and dancing appearing happy. I obviously do the same. We keep dancing till the song ends.
I love it when you call me señorita
I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya
But every touch is ooh, la-la-la
It's true, la-la-la
Ooh, I should be running
Ooh, you keep me coming for ya
The song “Señorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello starts playing next and I just can’t help myself.
“Fancy a dance, Elena?” I ask, holding out my hand to her in suggestion.
To my big surprise she accepts it and now we’re both dancing.
Land in Miami
The air was hot from summer rain
Sweat dripping off me
Before I even knew her name, la-la-la
It felt like ooh, la-la-la
As I twirled her across our imaginary dance floor, her laughter filled the air, reaching my ears like sweet music. Her radiant smile was contagious, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. The world around us faded away, and it felt as if it was just the two of us, lost in the rhythm of the music. Like we were on a different planet. In the different world. Where pain and sadness didn’t exist.
Her hand rested lightly in mine, our fingers entwined, as we moved together in perfect harmony. With each step, I could feel the warmth of her presence, and our connection grew stronger with every sway and spin. The gentle touch of her fingertips sent shivers down my spine, igniting a fire within me.
You say we're just friends
But friends don't know the way you taste, la-la-la
'Cause you know it's been a long time coming
Don't you let me fall, oh
Ooh, when your lips undress me
Hooked on your tongue
Ooh, love, your kiss is deadly
Don't stop
As the song reached its crescendo, our bodies moved in sync, effortlessly gliding across the ground. The energy between us was palpable, an unspoken language that only we understood. That unspoken language somehow made me spoke more than I could with words.
I caught a glimpse of her eyes, sparkling with joy and a hint of mischief, and I couldn't help but be captivated by her. By her chocolate eyes that I wanted to dive in and never go back to the surface. I wanted to see the world through her eyes. Maybe then I would be able to understand why “goodness” matters to her so much. Maybe then I would be able to become better for her.
Time seemed to stand still as we danced, lost in the moment. The world outside ceased to exist, and all that mattered was the electricity between us. With every dip and turn, I held her close, cherishing the feeling of her in my arms.
We once upon a time have danced. And I know that dance was the first time she noticed me. The real me. I hope. I still remember that look on her face. That was the first time she realised she can trust me.
But now. It’s deeper. More emotional.
When the morning came we were cleaning incense off your vinyl shelf
'Cause we lost track of time again
Laughing with my feet in your lap
Like you were my closest friend
"How'd we end up on the floor anyway?" You say
"Your roommate's cheap-ass screw-top rosé, that's how"
I see you every day now
As the song ended, another one started.
And I chose you
The one I was dancin' with
In New York, no shoes
Looked up at the sky and it was
In that fleeting moment, as we stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, I realized that dancing with her was more than just steps and movements. It was an expression of our chemistry. And in her presence, I found the rhythm of my heart.
The burgundy on my T-shirt when you splashed your wine into me
And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet, it was
The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones
The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon
“Elena. I have a question.” I rasp, my voice is hoarse.
“Mmm?” She responds.
“Will you go on a date with me?” I ask, staring straight into her eyes and then add one little thing she needs to know.
“Oh, and by the way, it’s Midnight. The day of saying “only yes” has ended.” I whisper into her ear.
The end.