Damon's POV

I leave the bathroom and look at the group in the corner to make sure she's not there before I go looking for her, she's not but her little blonde friend is and she doesn't look to happy with me. I don't have time to play twenty questions so I head for the exit.

She's not outside, she must have began walking. I have no idea where she lives so I take a guess on which direction to go and start running I can see her in the distance, her body is shaking which tells me she's crying, I'm still far away and the thought of her crying because of me makes my heart sink, I run faster and catch up with her.

''Elena please talk to me'' I shout as I approach her. She turns to face me, her tear stained face makes me want to hold her and not let go, I hardly know this girl but I can feel it inside me that I would do anything for her.

''No Damon go away I don't want to speak to you'' her words are full of sadness and hate it feels like a punch to the gut. I can hear a car in the distance but I don't even care that we are standing in the middle of the road I just need to fix this.

''Elena, please I need you to talk to me. I know you felt it too you wouldn't have run of otherwise'' I try to reach for her but she backs away from me, the car is getting closer now but I still don't care.

''Don't do this Damon'' she tells me as more tears roll out of her gorgeous brown eyes. The sight of her crying is heart breaking and not being able to comfort her makes it worse.

''Elena please tell me why you won't just talk to me I need to know'' I beg her as the car finally reaches us and stops. I realise its blondie, she puts down the window and tells Elena to get in while giving me and angry look.

''Elena please don't go'' I try once more hearing desperation in my voice, she goes to the passenger side still crying and gives me once last look before shouting '' I can't'' and gets into the car which leaves me standing in the middle of the road alone and confused, what does she mean she can't?

Elena's POV

''Thank you Caroline'' I tell my best friend who just saved me from breaking down. Anymore of Damon's pushing and I would have broke down in the street with him left to stare at me. I couldn't do that, I couldn't have anyone else thinking I'm weak. I'm not prepared to repeat New York.

''What's going on Elena?'' Caroline asks me. I don't know what she saw tonight between Damon and me. I never told her what happened between the two of us ten years ago. She deserves to know I haven't told her much about my life since I left.

''can you take me home? I'll tell you everything'' she just nods and we sit in a comfortable silence until we reach my house and enter my room.

'' okay spill'' Caroline says and she closes the door. I sit down and she joins me, I begin to tell her what he said ten years ago and how I felt about it. I told her the reason I left was to get away from being who I was, I didn't want to be the girl who adults fussed over every time she left the house or the girl kids laughed at because he had no parents, I knew kids were cruel and I didn't want to go through every day with being the towns freak and having everyone stare and make comments. I didn't want my life to be like that, I was given the opportunity to change my life and I took it, I moved to New York on an internship at the New York Times. I had always wanted to be a writer, and discovered through receiving a letter in the mail telling me that I had been accepted that before she died, my mother had given some of my work to a friend and had gotten me the internship. I took that as a sign that my mother knew I was struggling not having them in my life and she helped me to change it. I left out the details of my life in New York because I'm not ready to talk about that yet.

''Wow Elena, I didn't know it was that bad for you, you always had on a brave face and seemed like you were coping, and just so you know no one ever laughed at you in fact everyone admired how strong you were and how you just got on with everything as for Damon, he's always been an ass, he was just a sixteen year old kid showing off in front of his friends, and by the looks of what I saw tonight I'd say he's sorry''

''See that's the thing Care, he doesn't know who I am, I don't look like I did when I was fifteen remember'' I say as we look at the picture of me in the middle of her and Bonnie I had short hair back then. I cut it down to above my shoulders because it reminded me of the accident and having my hair matted with blood.'' He doesn't know the reason why I won't talk to him''

'' And why won't you?'' she asks me

''Because I've spent so long telling myself I hated him for what he said and how I did nothing about it, I just got up and walked away, I've felt guilty for so long because I didn't stick up for my parents and for myself, but tonight when we danced it felt like I wasn't tied down with guilt, I could move, it felt comfortable then I found out it was him and I was angry with myself because I let him touch me after telling myself I wouldn't even talk to him. I tried to walk away then before I knew it he was kissing me.

''And how do you feel about that, I saw you run to the bathroom I'm guessing that's why''

''Honestly? I don't even know how to explain it I was so angry at him then, nothing, everything around me went quiet and my lips started to tingle, his hands felt like fire on my cheeks and then it stopped. I looked into his eyes and didn't know what to do. I didn't want to hit him or push him away, all the hatred I had seemed to disappear and I tried so hard to hate him but I couldn't. So I ran''

''You should have seen him Elena, he ran into the girls bathroom, he's never chased anyone before never mind a girl. I saw the look on his face when he came out without you, he looked depressed, your little kiss must have affected him the same way it sounds like it effected you''

'' I don't want to feel this way about him and anyway he won't feel anything and if he does its his determination to get what he was rejected.'' I tell Caroline as she crosses her legs and takes my hands into hers.

''But you do feel something Elena, I can see I in your eyes, no one will hate you if you stop hating him, your parents wouldn't want you to be unhappy by holding a grudge on something he said when he was a stupid teenager, especially if you feel something for him, maybe you should let it go Elena, you've been making yourself hate him when deep down you really don't, let it go and move on, you knew the sixteen year old Damon. Maybe he's changed, maybe you'll like him, give it a shot and if he hasn't changed you can go back to hating him. No matter what happens, I'll be here for you''

''Thanks Care, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up when you did'' I tell her as I reach for a hug.

''That sounds like me, always saving the day'' she says with a grin on her face. Caroline gets up and gives me another hug and says ''get some sleep Elena, I'll call you tomorrow, goodnight.''

''Okay, I'm going for a shower first though but I will call you tomorrow goodnight Care'' After that Caroline leaves and I head for the shower.

Damon's POV

I returned to the Grill to get my car, normally I would take one or two of the woman that have themselves rested against it home but tonight I don't even want to see any other woman.

''Not tonight girls'' I tell them as I push past and into the car. After a silent drive home, I pull up outside my house and just sit for a while not having the energy to pull myself from this seat. The air starts to get cold and I finally make a move. Opening the door I realise Stefan is still at the Grill and I was supposed to be his ride, oh well he's a big boy, I'm sure he'll figure something out. My mind keeps replaying that kiss, it felt magical, I don't understand why she won't talk to me. I feel like I hurt her but I don't even know who she is. I would have remembered those eyes and her long brown hair. God what is happening to me, I'm Damon Salvatore, I shouldn't care about what girls think of me or how they feel or what I feel for them, I have never felt anything for any woman I've been with never mind cared about them. So why her? Why do I feel like I need her to like me? Why do I care about how she feels?

I finally reach my room and go to the place I love most about this house. The big tree. Sitting in these branches with the rustle of the trees above me makes me feel calm. I've sat here so many times over the years when I needed to get away and just watch the quiet street, it may seem childish that a fully grown man still sits in trees but this tree is one of the reasons I bought the house four years ago. The tree is in the middle of two houses. As I look to the house next door I see the window is open, as far as I can remember the window has always been closed and there has never been a light on, now as I watch the room I see a woman standing with her back to me, she has pyjama shorts and a tank top on, her hair is wrapped in a towel, from behind her body looks amazing, any other night I would have gone over and introduced myself. The tree is close enough to her window that if I spoke she would hear me, but not tonight all I can think about is Elena.

Please review and let me know what you guys think I'll update as soon as I can, sorry it took so long it won't take as long this time