TRACKS

"Where are we going?" I asked for what felt like the first time but to Damon it was the hundredth time. I could tell with how his jaw clenched and he tautly glared at me.

"We are going to have some fun" he replied and turned to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "You need some fun because you're sad" he noted and lowered his voice to my ear. "I don't think he made you happy"

I wriggled my way out his touch, distancing myself. "Don't talk about him. You don't know him or me"

"Touchy subject. Got it" he backed off and I sighed in gratitude. "Anyway, no one stays in their hotel room when in Vegas. Last time I was here, I never even made it back to my room"

"Too busy sleeping in others?" I retorted dryly.

He rolled his eyes and squeezed my shoulders again. I almost moaned at the surprisingly gentle touch of his brief massage. "You're too uptight. Do you even know how to have fun?" he teased.

I turned to him, determined to stop him from looking at me like a wallflower. "Bring it"

Damon stopped and held up a hand, gesturing towards the large sign. When he said he had something in mind, I was instantly scared. Turns out I was right to be. "Ready?" he challenged and began to pull me towards the entrance.

I shook my head and stepped back, turning to leave. "I am not getting on that thing" I argued and stopped to disgustedly stare at the death-trap. Only it wasn't as easy to escape as he walked over to me. "Damon…" I warned but didn't expect for him to wrap his arms around my waist and go caveman on me when throwing me over his shoulder. "What are you doing?" I yelped, beating at his back.

"Showing you a good time" he replied and marched towards the entrance.

I crossed my arms, feeling sick with how high I was from the ground. "No"

Finally we passed through the gates and he set me down, blocking my path. "Why not?" he urged, stubbornly but I was distracted with the figures over his shoulder.

"Well for one, I think your brother and the love of your life hate me" I pointed out to the arm in arm couple now approaching us. "Second, it's completely dangerous" I spat out, now fixated onto the sign beside the rentals.

SunBuggy Off Road Tour

"You run with wolves and hang out with vampires but you're scared of a buggy?" he arched a brow at me and I felt silly. When he put it like that, of course it sounded ridiculous.

"Are you coming on not?" Elena yelled and we watched as she and her boyfriend stepped into their own buggy. Other tourists had also rented their own and were getting ready for the tour.

Damon pulled me back and forced me to face him. "Come on Bella. Just live a little" he pleaded and I could tell he really wanted this. His eyes were gleaming with his excitement and he was smiling…nor smirking or frowning. "You've been sheltered inside your precious bubble but it's time to pop"

I sighed, not wanting to disappoint him and finally relented with a nod. "If I die, I'm haunting your ass" I replied and pushed him to the side. He simply grabbed me hand and led me to the large green ugly contraption. Instantly, I feared for my life.

"Buckle up" he said and I sent one last prayer before stepping into the mouth of the beast. He only waited until the last second of me buckling in, before he stepped on the gas, following the tour. "This is the best way to get a tour of Vegas" he replied.

I was thankful that he was matching the 40mph speed. The soft breeze billowing through my hair and cooling my flushed cheeks. The speed was slow enough, allowing me to take out my phone and snap a few pictures.

"Smile" I nudged Damon and he turned, complying with a cheesy grin. Snap!

"Told you this would be fun" he grinned.

"I should have trus-"

My words were interrupted with my yell as he swerved the car around. "Wait - where are you going?" I panicked, grabbing his arm with the sudden movement.

"There's a better view on the other side" he replied and I watched as the dial rose as he accelerated. His foot angrily pressing on the pedal and his movements becoming more frenzied but stopping when we had turned. "Ready?" he questioned

"Damon, don't you da-"

It was too late as we jerked forward, the desert dust curling around the tyres as we sped off.

"Hey! Hey you two! Stop the kart" I turned my head, breathing heavily at the sight of the tour guides calling us back.

"No can do" Damon yelled back, accelerating further.

"You have to stay with the group!"

Their voices grew more distant as we raced on. I turned back around and found that Stefan's buggy was racing after us. "Race you to the top brother" Damon screamed to him. I tried to catch my breath as I watched my driver swerve to the right and we hurtled over the bump.

One hand flew up to grab the roof while the other frenziedly landed on his arm. "Isabella" Damon's genteel voice made everything still. "I can hear your heart beating" he added and I stared at him, wide-eyed and fearful. "You need to relax and stop thinking" he whispered, still staring at me.

I nodded, gulping down my fears and drawing in a deep breath. My eyelids fluttered as I squeezed them shut and tried to do as he said…relax.

In that moment, I could feel the vibrations of the vehicle and how my body moved along with the car. Upon opening my eyes, I grew more fearless, relieving a pleased gasp as we went over more bumps. The gasps grew into laughs as I grew more exhilarated.

"Told you so" he replied knowingly.

I laughed boisterously as he found the courage to increase the speed. Only it subdued when I caught the other red buggy in front of us. "They're getting ahead"

"Not for long" Damon assured me calmly. We then turned and began to tumble down hill, the sand dunes growing more aggressive. My teeth chattered and I bumped my head several times but it only made it more exciting. When looking back, the adrenaline high kicked in as I realised we had completely lost the group.

I turned back to read Damon and found that he had left the wheel. "What the hell!" I screamed and slammed my hands onto it. "Oh God" I yelled and he chuckled, making me glare at him. "That wasn't funny" I glared when he continued to laugh.

"It was hilarious" he countered and I found myself giving in and laughing with him. I also grew more confident in driving and became reluctant in giving it to him.

We began to drive up again and I saw that Stefan was drawing up close too. The engine revved and spluttered as he grew more forceful until we finally reached the top. We beat the others by what felt like two seconds.

Both of us jumped out and I stumbled when rounding the buggy towards him. "You won!" I exclaimed, warmly embracing him as he spun me around.

"We won" Damon corrected and hugged me tighter.

I rolled my eyes when he set me back down and steadied myself by holding his shoulders. "That was so thrilling…so amazing" I sighed and my hands slipped up to his cheeks while the other fell onto my chest. "My heart is racing and I may still be in shock but that was…"

Another laugh left me and before I could rethink about it, I kissed him. My lips pressed against his, welcoming the unfamiliar warmth in contrast to the icy marble. My mind numbing as I moulded my mouth against his and wove my fingers through his hair.

When my thoughts grew connected, I began to pull back but he surprised me when holding me close. One hand still on the small of my back, tightening around me. Finally I stepped back and rested my forehead against his and tried to tranquilize my erratic thoughts.

What was I doing? Less than hours ago I had broken up with a man I had intended to marry. Then again, he had also abandoned me.

"You're welcome" he murmured and I felt his thumb brush over my cheek.

"You guys cheated"

We whipped around to watch as Elena and Stefan left their ride. "That was insane" I stepped back and offered with a grin, hoping to put it all aside. Only the animosity had somehow grown stronger than ever.

"Stefan – they cheated" Elena screeched but everyone seemed to ignore her childish antics.

Damon furrowed his eyebrows, looking away from her and down at me, "We should get lunch" he suggested. "The Horse makes great pasta" he added and I slapped the back of his head at the mention of the strip club.

He smirked again and took my hand, pulling me back towards the death-trap. "You can take the wheel this time" he redirected my steps.

I paused and turned to him. "But I'll kill you"

"I'll take my chances" he shrugged and slipped into the other side. "We better hurry up, they're probably looking for us" he called out when I didn't make a move to get inside. "Isabella…?" he arched a brow, waiting for me to enter.

I studied him for one more second before smiling widely. "I'm happy. Thank you for making me happy" I breathed, leaning on the side of the door.

He was stunned by my revelation and peered up at me. "Get in" he said with a small urging nod.

A/N: Damon made her happy – are you happy? Anyone ever gone go-art racing or even had the Buggy experience?