Chapter Six

Gestation: Eight weeks pregnant

Elena POV:

"Ugh! Caroline, stop giving me such tight shirts," I complain from behind the changing curtain.

Not surprisingly, when I peek out from behind the barrier, Caroline is happily sorting through mountains of clothes for me to try on. She looks up with a confused expression before checking the tags of the clothes.

"I got them all in size small, they shouldn't be...oh, no. I'm sorry. I guess I forgot about...," She trails off, gesturing apologetically to my still small but continually rounding belly.

"It's okay. It had to happen at some point. The way I've been eating lately...," I laugh with false cheer before pulling the curtain back.

A week ago, I ate something special at the boardinghouse, and I realized that I nearly always kept down Italian food! Since then, pasta, fresh basil bread, and pizza have been my greatest comforts. Those of my friends who don't know about my current situation keep poking fun at how I seem to be vacuuming down my lunch and snacking in between classes at school. In response, I just laugh and tell them that I've been working out and need the calories.

Another unfortunate part of pregnancies are the hormones. I've been especially touchy about my weight and honestly any comment pointed towards me. The other day, Matt told me that I was really "filling out"-totally harmless statement, right? No, I promptly burst into tears and ran from the room, which Caroline and Bonnie explained away by saying that I was on my period. Even though I know that weight gain at seven weeks is normal, I feel so scrutinized, like someone is holding a huge magnifying glass above me. I'm nowhere close to showing unless I wear something skin-tight, but I constantly worry about when I'll have to tell people. It's even worse being in such a small town. People will have so many assumptions and hurtful comments. My parents' old friends will surely feel disappointed in me. I know if my parents were alive today, they wouldn't be super excited about the fact that I'm going to be a teenage mom. Hopefully, the baby will stay inside me later rather than earlier so I'll have more time to get homework done before graduating. I guess college is kind of out of the picture since all my money will be dedicated to raising the baby.

"Elena? I'm sorry! Don't be sad! You still look really great," Caroline knowingly offers from outside.

I nod and brush away my errant tears and chide myself for letting my hormones get so out of control. I didn't even cry this much when my parents died, so people will really start to think I've completely lost it. Quickly, I redress and exit the store in the midst of Caroline's speech about how beautiful I am and how every guy in high school will still want me, but I ignore her. I'm in a weird mood now because I don't care what any high school guy thinks of me. I want someone much older than a high school boy. I want someone extremely old to care about me. I shake my head and chuckle at how irreparable my relationship with Damon has become. The look in his eyes when he figured out I was pregnant will always be seared into my eyelids. I lay awake at night and cry, imagining the scene over and over again.

"Elena! Wait up!" Caroline calls, catching up to me.

She looks so remorseful, and I immediately feel bad.

"Sorry. I just needed to be out of there," I whisper with tears in my eyes.

Caroline immediately hugs me close and runs her hands down my back in a comforting manner.

"No problem, mama," She murmurs, hooking our arms together and walking beside me.

"Stop calling me that!" I laugh, pushing her lightly with my elbow.

She sends me a cheeky grin. We stroll leisurely down the street and across town towards my house. I'm hungry again, and Caroline promises me she'll make me something at my house while I do some homework and work on unfreezing my parents' trust fund that I'll inherit on my 21st birthday before the baby gets here. All these medical bills will pile up eventually, and I do not want to be in debt while I raise this kid. When we reach my house, I see someone lounging in my porch swing. Caroline, being a vampire, of course, knows who it is and softly unlocks her arm from my grasp. She whispers in my ear to call her if I need anything, and I nod silently, my throat too scratchy to reply before she zooms off.

Slowly, I ascend to the porch and stand numbly in front of my visitor.

"Damon," I greet sourly.

"Sit?" He offers, waving his hand over the empty side of the swing, but I cross my arms and give him an annoyed glare.

He nods with a wry smile.

"I guess I deserve that," Damon concedes gently, moving to stand up.

Instinctively, I take a few steps back, and I notice how his face falls at my actions. I would feel bad for doing it, but the last time I saw him, he scared the hell out of me by acting so intimidating. Plus it's not only me that I need to protect anymore. I can't be taking any risks.

"You do," I confirm with an angry huff, turning to unlock the front door.

"Look-I'm sorry. I may have overreacted, but imagine my surprise, Elena," He apologizes softly, trying to get me to turn and look into his desolate expression.

I push the door open and enter, turning to face his mirrored pose of facing into my house. I know he wants to come in, but I'm still so disappointed and mad at his reaction. I refuse to make him feel better, so I simply stand in the doorway and stare him down.

"Think about how I feel, Elena. One moment, it's like...my brother is gone. I could have really made you mine, but...I had no idea you were even seeing someone," He explains, gesturing towards my stomach.

I blush and pull my jacket closer over my midsection without thinking.

"I'm not seeing anyone," I respond before I can stop myself.

"Then...? Who is the-?" He asks with bewilderment.

"None of your business! God! You can't just show up hear after you completely rip me to shreds at your house and expect me to forgive you! I was so scared, I still am. I have no idea what I'm doing, and I...I needed a friend, Damon!" I screech angrily and then immediately shut my lips together as I feel tears coming back.

Sensing this, Damon steps forward and cups my face, sweetly giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"Don't cry. I'll help you," He promises, tilting my face up towards his.

This makes me feel even more conflicted, and I start crying more earnestly instead.

"Damon, I'm sorry," I whisper with my face buried in his dampened shirt.

"Shh. We're a team. I'm not leaving you alone. Ever."