Hey guys I know it's been a while and I'm sorry about that! Go back and reread if you need a refresher and I will do my best to update as soon as I can I promise! Done with my first semester of college though so yay! anyways, enjoy!

Damon's POV:

"Elena.." he breathed before her lips could come any closer. What he wouldn't give to have her lips on his. Her chocolate breath was intoxicating from the ice cream at the restaurant. Her body was intoxicating. She was intoxicating... but he couldn't. Damon backed away looking down.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "Don't you want to kiss me?" Elena paused before drawing her own insane conclusion. "I'm not pretty like this.." She looked down. "Outside of school where I don't have makeup and killer outfits. Now I look like trash right?" Her hoarse voice raised in anger.

"You're unbelievable. You think I wouldn't kiss you because of how you look right now?" He scoffed standing. "Maybe it never occurred to you that I am choosing this because I respect you? Or maybe that I will not be someone's sloppy seconds?" Damon asked mentioning Elijah.

"Now you're choosing to be moral?" She laughed. Damon took a step towards her in a harsh way. She took a step back gasping. She was afraid? He took another step forward. Elena stayed put.

"Don't you dare forget who saved you. Who pulled you off the bed and made sure you were covered? Who broke their hand pummeling the men who were hurting you? Who has stayed with you this entire time?" Damon paused lifting his hand to graze the back of his finger down her cheek. She relaxed at his touch looking up at him with those chocolate eyes. "You really think I'd hurt you?" He chuckled darkly taking a step back packing his guitar in his case. "You don't know me at all, Princess," he shook his head before walking towards the door. "And to be fair I actually prefer you without makeup," he added walking out of the hospital room.

"Damon!" She called after him. "I'm sorry!" She yelled.

Damon awoke for the second time in the middle of the night. He had been having the same dream every night. It had been a week since he had seen Elena in the hospital. She was out by now of course. He had been staying in his house avoiding her. She had sent texts apologizing. Elena had even come herself to the house to apologize, but Damon had refused to open the door. He avoided talking to her in the halls between classes and began focusing more on his studies.

In lack of sleep due to studying and the dreams, Damon drove late to campus nearly speeding through every stop light.

Abnormal Psychology was boring as hell. Especially at eight in the morning. Enzo kept nudging Damon as he dozed off multiple times. After class, they walked together across campus. Damon yawned. He needed coffee if he was going to retain anything from today.

Midterms were coming up shortly, and Damon was going to be damned if he was going to get anything lower than an A. He wanted to prove to his father that he didn't need the family's legacy to fall back on. He could make his own future.

The only class kicking his ass was theology... a religion class. It was required for every student to graduate from the university. It had nothing to do with his major, but still, Damon had to overachieve, and he was getting a B in that class.

"Damon!" He snapped out of it.

"What?" Damon asked looking to Enzo. They had been walking to go get coffee by the campus library.

"Quit spacing off I'm trying to talk to you about what I'm getting Bonnie for Christmas!" He rolled his eyes.

"Enzo, it's only November first, you have so much time to figure out what to get your girl for Christmas," Damon shrugged. "Quit stressin'."

"I bet you've been thinking on what to get Elena ever since what happened in the hospital," Enzo snickered causing Damon to roll his eyes once more.

"Would you fucking drop that subject. I'm already irritated from lack of sleep. I don't need you hounding me on the woman whom I denied once already.." Damon scoffed as they came up to the library.

"Damon... women kiss you all the time and you have no issue with it, but as soon as Elena tries to kiss you after she kissed Elijah, you immediately come to me and rant." Damon opened his mouth to reply, but Enzo held up a finger. "No no no, don't you tell me that "I-will-not-be-sloppy-seconds" bullshit again. Do you remember those French girls last year before Bonnie was in the picture? How you banged that brunette right after I-"

"Yes, Yes I remember. You don't have to be a dick about it." Damon shut him up before too much detail would be announced to the world.

"Literally sloppy seconds. I don't think you give a shit if you're someone's sloppy seconds.. only hers. She's not like other women. With her, you want it to mean something. I'm just saying if there's something you feel for her, go for it... that's all. You two seem to have a connection."

"The last lecture you gave me about Elena is how I need to be careful around her because of what Rose did to me," Damon raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah but she's also been talking about you a lot you know-"

"I mean can you blame her?" Damon chuckled to himself before pausing. "Wait... how the fuck do you know that?" Damon interrupted him.

"Two black coffees.. large," he said to the barista giving them his campus card and snatching Damon's from his hand. "Bonnie is her best friend, Damon. Let's just say you come up a lot in conversation. Plus, your shit is still in her dorm. You kinda live with her you know.." Enzo scoffed as they stepped aside waiting for their coffees.

"I haven't been there lately."

"Yeah I know. Kinda sad I know more about Elena than you do.. and you live with her. Quit being a loner living in that mansion by yourself. You walk into class late everyday because your stubborn lazy ass doesn't live on campus." Enzo chuckled.

"Don't pull that shit on me. Don't you forget who got you and Bonnie hooked up. You were too much of a pussy to swoop in at the bars on your own, so I had to play the drunk guy to make you look like you had some sort of game." Damon laughed causing Enzo to smile a little bit.

"You're avoiding the situation at hand, Damon. The thing is, now the situation is reversed. I can help you win this girl over. Trust me. With Bonnie's help-"

"No way is that girl in on this... and neither are you. Wait! I don't even have feelings for her in the first place. Her and Elijah have a thing, and I don't give a fuck. I'm going to the bars tonight to get laid and moving back into campus just to prove you wrong." Damon narrowed his eyes before picking up their drinks handing Enzo one.

"You're my brother, Damon," Enzo laughed starting to walk alongside Damon. "One look from that girl, and you completely buckle. Fifty bucks says after you get laid you'll feel guilty."

"Deal," Damon stuck out his hand shaking Enzo's. They never lied to each other, so Enzo knew he would follow through.

"Her and Elijah may be "talking", but he is never in her conversation. Elena may rant about you but do you remember what you told me about that?"

"When someone is hurt and ranting about you that means they care about you, otherwise they would have brushed it off and moved on," Damon sighed. "You're welcome with Bonnie by the way," he shrugged.

"Dick," Enzo laughed. "Go make your move, brother," he smiled before looking over Damon's shoulder behind him. "Speaking of.." Damon rolled his eyes.

"I don't have feelings for-" Damon began before getting cut off.

"Damon!" A familiar feminine voice shouted behind him. Closing his eyes, he took a breath knowing exactly who was calling for him. Rolling his eyes, Damon turned to see none other than Elena Gilbert herself.

"Good luck, Damon," Enzo chuckled patting Damon's shoulder walking away.

"Hey," Damon sighed still not really wanting to talk to her.

"Where have you been? I've been trying to get ahold of you for a week!" Elena crossed her arms.

"I know," Damon shrugged with an attitude.

"Oh don't act like a child. I wanted to talk to you... I wanted to apologize for my behavior in the hospital. I thought that moment was special, and I thought you liked me.." Elena looked down. "Why wouldn't you answer my texts or open the door to talk?"

"I had nothing to say," Damon said bluntly taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well I do. I wanted to say I'm sorry, and what I did was stupid. I shouldn't have tried to kiss you. You're right. We've barely known each other, and I still owe you from saving my ass that night." Elena rested her hand on his arm adding a smile.

"It's fine. You don't need to apologize. No harm done, honestly." Damon nodded taking a step to walk away before pausing looking over his shoulder. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm feeling better. I'm still sore of course, but no complications. I got out Friday," She smiled softly.

"That's good.." Damon nodded before looking down to his hand in a cast. "Still broken over here," he waved it at her causing her to chuckle. "Oh and I'm coming back to the dorm by the way," Damon added before walking away unable to get the stupid smile off his face.

Walking to his car to reach his final class at 2:00, Damon headed to Stefan's car... well... his car. If Stefan wanted it back, he would have to pay him or win it back. Damon snickered to himself twirling the keys around his first finger. Just before stepping into the car, he felt a burning sensation on his shoulder. Gasping and jumping out of the way, he looked behind him.

Rebekah Mikaelson had just spilled coffee all over the back of him after tripping over her two left feet.

"Oh my God Damon!" She yelled as Damon thrashed trying to get his thin jacket off.

"What the fuck, Rebekah?!" He yelled trying to peel away his shirt from touching his back. Only his luck that his favorite black Calvin Klein shirt was ruined.

"I'm so so sorry, I just tripped over-"

"Your own fucking feet Rebekah. God! Can you not text and walk at the same time, or is that just impossible for you?" Damon gestures at the phone in her hand.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"You owe me a shirt," Damon claimed angrily before getting in the red Porsche, slamming the door and driving off. This was not a good day.

•••••

Kol had agreed to join Damon at the bars since they were both single. Damon had stopped by his dorm room shared by Elena to take some of his things back, however, she had never come home in the short amount of time Damon was there.

"What are you looking for tonight, Damon?" Kol asked raising his shot glass. "One night stand, or do you plan on drinking with me tonight?" He asked with a raise of his eyebrows. Damon wrinkled his eyebrows before drawing a conclusion.

"Dammit! Enzo told you," Damon sighed before picking up his shot glass and throwing his head back guzzling it down quickly.

"Hell yeah he did," Kol smirked. "I guess we will actually see if you have a heart tonight, or if you truly are dead inside," he laughed. Damon's mouth curved in a small smile before shoving him.

"Don't be a dick. This is just like usual, Kol. I'm here to get laid and so are you," he shrugged. "We do this all the time remember?" He asked.

"We can't play the field forever, Damon," he raised his eyebrows. "At one point we have to grow up and learn how to be men." He downed another shot.

"Who the fuck are you and what did you do with my wingman?" Damon asked genuinely concerned for Kol's well being. Kol would never in one million lifetimes say something that genuine.

"Look... I know it's been hard for you lately. She reminds you of-"

"Don't," Damon interrupted him threateningly. "She does not. They are completely different people. I am different now... it's better this way," he rolled his eyes waving at the bartender for two more shots.

"Very well. I am going to the restroom. Then I'm going to fuck that woman tonight," he pointed to a brunette woman with a toned body structure, shoulder length brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin and freckles across her nose. She was drop dead gorgeous. I looked to her hand.

"She's married you dumb fuck," Damon nodded his head to her left hand.

"Finally... a challenge," Kol wiggled his eyebrows.

"So much for that speech," Damon laughed.

"I'm younger than you old man.. I still have a couple more years to be a dumb fuck," he laughed before walking off.

After a couple of minutes, the bartender slid him two shots. Damon downed them quickly before glancing around the bar. Spotting Kol's older sister Rebekah talking to some friends, Damon nearly growled. Still pissed she ruined his favorite shirt, he immediately grabbed Kol's remaining whiskey before walking over there.

"Come up with the money to pay for my shirt, or are you spending it all on booze?" Damon pointed to her hand narrowing his eyes.

"Enough with the snarky tone, Damon," Rebekah chuckled before looking at her girlfriends.

They seemed to have gotten the message, as they scattered when Damon got there.

"You know you find it sexy," Damon smirked.

"Hey, where's Elena?" She smirked. "Oh that's right, my brother snatched her up because you were too much of a pussy to kiss her," Rebekah stood nearly getting in Damon's face. Downing the rest of Kol's bourbon, he laughed.

"What makes you think I want a relationship when I could just pick up a new bitch just like you every night? No commitment and no responsibilities," Damon laughed. "I will never be tied down, so don't think for a minute Elena has any control over me," he warned.

"Prove it," Rebekah raised an eyebrow twirling the tiny straw from her drink around her tongue.

"Fine," Damon sighed grabbing her arm and beginning to walk. Kol had already begun talking with the brunette girl and seemed to be getting somewhere, so he wouldn't be searching for Damon a whole lot that night.

Nearly dragging her to the women's restroom, Rebekah shoved him in and up against the door forcing her mouth on his. Knowing this would be quick and rough, Damon flipped them shoving her against the door face first shimmying her dress above her hips and doing what he knew he would regret later.

•••

"You look like a mess," Stefan chuckled as Damon stepped into the house after walking in with his hair a mess and his buttons ripped from his shirt.

"Here," Damon tossed Stefan his keys to the Porsche.

"You're giving me my car back?" He asked. "What's got you in a giving mood?" He asked.

"I owe Enzo fifty dollars," he said with a huff.

"Money's not a problem Damon, you know that. What's really going on?" He chuckled.

"None of your fucking business," he claimed before going upstairs to get his belongings.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"None of your fucking business," he claimed once more before storming out and to his blue Camaro.

It was time for him to move back in. Elena didn't have any power over him.

••••

As he walked into the dorm, Elena was sitting on the couch with Caroline watching American Horror Story: Murder House on Netflix.

Shit. Caroline. Damon really fucked up. Fucking not only Kol's sister, buy Nik's and Caroline's.. in a way. Elena would eventually find out as she was also Elijah's sister. Wow, Damon. You know how to pick 'em.

Elena turned to look at him pausing the show and glancing at Caroline. Damon put all of his suitcases in the kitchen as Caroline got up and left giving them time to talk.

"I'll just put my stuff in my room," Damon said after a couple minutes of silence. Beginning to drag his stuff to his room, Elena got up.

"Wait.. Damon?" She asked.

"Yeah?" He looked at her setting his stuff back down. Elena walked over to him embracing him. Damon was startled, but hugged her back. This was something he had never felt before.. not even with Rose. She fit in his arms so perfectly. Like a glove almost. Like she was made for him.

"Thanks for coming home. Thank you for saving my life..." she said into his shirt.

"Of course," Damon smiled.

"You wanna watch this with me?" She pointed to the screen. Damon nodded.

"Yeah I love American Horror Story. It's probably one of my favorite shows. Murder House is my favorite. I would have to say Roanoke is the scariest with all the gore and shit, but I like the Murder House plot line better," he shrugged. "I brought booze by the way."

"Let me guess... bourbon?" She asked. Damon nodded pulling out one of his favorite brands with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "When don't you drink?" She laughed.

"Hey, I may or may not be an alcoholic, but this is tradition over finals week," he smiled as Elena giggled at his joke.

"I guess that makes sense," she giggled taking the bottle. "Why don't you go get settled in and I'll pour us drinks?" She suggested.

"You sure you wanna do this? You look exhausted." Damon claimed. The bags under her eyes were worse than they were in the hospital, and she had gotten a tad bit skinnier. He could see it in her cheek bones and her collar bone.

"I'm sure. I'm fine don't worry about me..." she smiled.

"Very well. Take my drink to the top of the glass," Damon nodded taking his suitcases into his room. As soon as he closed the door, Damon leaned against it closing his eyes and letting out a huff.

He owed Enzo fifty dollars.

•••••

As soon as Damon was done unpacking, he joined Elena in the living room and began watching the Halloween episode of Murder House.

"So I'm kind of curious.." Damon began bringing his drink to his lips. Elena looked to him. "I know Bonnie doesn't like me, but what about Barbie?" He asked referring to Caroline.

"They're okay around you since you know you saved my life," she shrugged with a smile. "Have you always had problems with Bonnie?" She asked.

"Yeah. She never did like me much. Never got why I act the way I act. I don't give a fuck. She makes Enzo happy, so I can put up with her," Damon brought the glass to his lips finishing the drink.

"Jesus," Elena raised her eyebrows.

"What? Oh yeah... I drink it a lot, so I'm used to it," Damon shrugged pouring himself another glass. It was quiet for a minute until Elena raised her drink to her mouth before coughing.

"Damn," Elena shook her head.

"Yeah I know. It's strong... Well, I assume Bonnie told you my reputation after she forced you out of the party at the beginning of the semester," Damon sipped his drink again.

"The one where we were hammered and grinding on each other?" Elena laughed.

"Hey, you drug me to the dance floor. I was an innocent, yet consenting victim," he laughed as she joined.

"Yes they told me a lot about you, why do you ask?" Elena raised an eyebrow finishing her glass. She made a face. "I don't know how you drink this. Bourbon is fucking disgusting," she laughed. Damon brought a hand up to his chest looking offended.

"You better take that back," he laughed.

"I'm going to get a Mike's," Elena claimed with a stand walking over to her mini fridge.

"A fru-fru drink? Really? I expect more out of you Gilbert," he shook his head disappointed. Watching her walk away to the mini fridge, Damon stiffened.

She was wearing short shorts and a black camisole. Bending over to open the fridge nearly killed Damon. He had seen her in this outfit before in the hospital, but this was of different circumstances. Looking away, he sipped his drink. Was she doing this on purpose?

"You're avoiding my question."

"Huh?" He asked looking back as she walked back to the couch. Her hips swayed as she walked back, and Damon raised the glass to his lips yet again.

"Why did you ask what my friends think of you?"

"I don't know... I consider you a friend, and those girls are good at convincing people to think or do whatever they want." Damon shrugged.

"You consider me one of your friends?" She asked scrunching up her forehead.

"Yeah. I mean I did save your life. Anyone's life I save I consider a friend," he smirked as she giggled. "I'm a little drunk so you can't hold this conversation over my head," Damon pointed his finger at her.

"No promises," she smiled. "Even if Bonnie and Caroline are strong willed, so am I. I'm good at reading people," Elena shrugged.

"Oh you are are you?" Damon chuckled. "How'd you read me?"

"You're a dick, Damon," she raised her eyebrows. Damon nodded raising his glass to his lips and finishing his drink. "The thing is, though, you're a dick because you're damaged... which I understand. I didn't learn that from reading you though," Elena nodded raising the Mike's to her lips.

"I'm not damaged," Damon argued getting serious.

"Damon, you're drunk on a Monday night. Enzo told me about your father and Rose... and I'm sorry about that," Elena looked down. Damon set his drink down roughly.

"He told you what?" He almost yelled.

"Damon honestly it's nothing to be ashamed of.." she claimed as Damon stood.

"Fuck off," Damon snipped walking to his room and slamming the door.

Elena didn't come in for the rest of the night. Damon had to cool down anyhow. He didn't know how he would live here or if he even should. Bedsides, he was not about to get lectured over drinking let alone what his shitty life was like and how he coped.

He laid in bed strumming his guitar randomly plucking chords. Pretty soon he was playing an Ed Sheeran song called "Kiss Me" while quietly singing along.

Damon must have passed out because the next thing he remembered was waking up to screaming. His guitar was still on top of him or next to him because when he jolted awake it fell to the floor snapping one of the strings from the impact.

Ignoring the guitar, Damon slid some sweat pants on since he slept naked. Running out his door, he knew the sound was coming through Elena's door. She was screaming. Nearly sprinting, Damon turned the handle, but it was locked.

"Dammit, Elena!" Damon yelled before backing up and body slamming the door open. Elena was in her bed thrashing in her sleep. She was having a nightmare.

"Get off!" She cried over and over again.

"Elena!" Damon said coming to her bedside resting a hand on her shoulder. She didn't wake. He shook her. "Elena! Wake up!" He kept shaking getting louder with his voice until her eyes opened.

"What?! What's going on?" She asked frantically looking from the door to Damon.

"You were screaming, Elena.." Damon huffed trying to get his own heart rate to slow down.

"Dammit.. I thought it had stopped.." she began to tear up.

"How long has this been going on?" Damon asked.

"Since the hospital." A single tear fell from her eye. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand.

"Damn. How much sleep do you get a night, Elena?" He asked sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm fine, okay?" Elena claimed as her eyes pooled with tears.

"Elena. Tell me," Damon ordered.

"About three to four hours a night," she looked down not wanting to see his reaction.

"Jesus, Elena." He paused. "What do you mean you thought it had stopped?" He asked.

"It didn't happen at all last night, but Caroline spent the night with me in here to help me sleep," she muttered. "I think it was the show.. it triggered it from the rubb- from the-" she burst into tears hugging her knees.

"The rubber suit man?" Damon asked. Dammit. He should have known. The rubber suit man walked around in a rubber suit and raped women to impregnate them with the spawn of the devil or the anti christ. Elena nodded and cried even harder. "Fuck. Elena I'm so fucking sorry," he said hesitating before enveloping her in his arms. "You're not watching that show any more do you understand?" He asked her. Elena nodded.

"I-I'm s-sorry," she cried into his shoulder tightening her arms around his neck.

"For what? Being scared? Elena you're allowed to be scared. The situation you were put in was traumatic," Damon said rubbing her back.

"Please don't leave me tonight," she cried burying her head further into his shoulder. Damon hesitated.

"Elena..."

"Please!" She cried.

"Okay fine," he claimed standing.

"Where are you going?" She asked as he walked to the door.

"To get a throw blanket from my room. I'll be right back," he promised jogging to get his throw blanket.

This was going to be so fucking awkward.

Coming up to the broken down door, Damon pointed at it.

"Yeah, we might have to put in a maintenance request tomorrow for this," he scratched the top of his head. The door was broken in half, so it wasn't as if he needed to fix the lock or hinges alone.

Elena began to giggle... well, a crying giggle.

Damon laid down over her comforter and pulled his throw blanket over him.

Hesitating once more, he swung his arm around Elena's shoulders landing on her back.

"Get as much sleep as you can do you understand?" He asked. Elena nodded closing her eyes.

"You're kinda like my guardian angel you know?" Elena asked before she dozed off on his bare chest. Once she was completely knocked out, Damon wiped her tears away under her eyes.

"If anyone's the angel it's you, I'm anything but an angel," he mumbled before dozing off himself.

Yo guys. I know it's been a long time. My first semester of college is over so I'm on break for about three 1/2 weeks. I'll be updating and writing a lot more during this time. I hope you guys are having a great holiday so far! Anyways, I hope you like the chapter. Don't worry, the happiness won't last too long. Damon will be Damon and Elena will be Elena. Please review! Thanks guys! -Syd

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