moving on - damon salvatore [1]

ONE

It's been a week since Damon showed up at Caroline's door, asking her to help Elena. She was confused at first. Why her? Damon was usually so possessive with Elena, and he hated her. And she hated him. So why was she the one to ask? It became pretty clear after a few sessions with Elena. She was out of control. And Damon was nowhere to be found.

It wasn't until about a week later, that Caroline saw him again. It was an empty Friday at the grill. She sat down at the bar, ordering a shot, no, bottle of vodka, and started swigging it heavily. It was a long, lonely week, and she needed this. Normally she might worry that people would talk, but not today. She was too sad to care. Besides, what kind of pathetic loser hung out in bars on Friday mornings?

"Shouldn't you be in school?" An obnoxious voice called out to her and she sighed. Of course. What kind of pathetic loser hung out in bars on Friday mornings? "Damon." She rolled her eyes as he sat on the stool beside her. "Blondie." He smirked. "What're you drinking over here..." he grabbed the bottle from her hands and took a big swig of it.

"Hey!" Caroline exclaimed, taking it back.
"That's disgusting." Damon replied, making a face. "Here, try this." He disappeared behind the bar, and emerged a moment later, holding a large bottle of bourbon, and two glasses.

"Seriously?" Caroline raised an eyebrow at Damon. "Since when do you drink from a glass?"

Damon did something pretty unexpected after that. He actually laughed.

"Since today, I guess." He said as he poured the bourbon into their glasses, a faint smile still on his lips. Caroline couldn't help but stare at him. Why was he here? She wondered. Whatever was so wrong in his life this time that he was yet again, drinking alone? And with her, of all people.

"She dumped me." Damon broke their silence after a few sips of their drink. "Elena?" Caroline asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Damon just nodded. "Whatever was going on between us before, it's over. For good I think. That's why I wanted you to help her. You're good when it comes to this sort of stuff, and-"

"It hurts to see her." Caroline finished. "I know the feeling." Damon looked up at her quizzically and she sighed, feeling compelled to continue. "It's Tyler. We broke up." She sighed again, lightly stirring the bourbon around in her glass, watching as the cheap drink drifted together like a whirlpool.

"Why?" Damon asked, his voice unbelievably soft, surprising Caroline. "Why do you care?" She asked, probably a bit harsher than she meant to, because Damon looked surprised and almost, hurt? But Caroline was genuinely confused, and it was a valid question after all. He'd never cared about her in the past. What was so different now?

"I don't care." Damon said quietly, and a little bit too quickly. "I'm just curious."

Caroline looked back to her glass, before answering again in an empty voice. "Revenge. That's why. He's been on a quest all summer, unsiring Klaus's hybrids, one by one."

Damon looked at the blonde, noticing her sad frown. "He didn't come back?"

Caroline shook her head, no. "He sent me a letter last week. The first one in months, and it was to say that he's staying. He didn't even say for how long. So I sent him one back. Saying if he did, that I wouldn't be waiting for him when he gets back. He still hasn't answered. I don't even know if he's seen it or not but...." She trailed off with a sigh before downing the rest of her glass in a large gulp.

"Tyler's an idiot." Damon said, exhaling heavily. "I mean if I had Elena- I'd never let her go."

"Is that what you're doing now?" Caroline asked softly. "Letting her go?"

Damon nodded with a sad smile. "It's what she wants." Caroline was unsure if Damon meant it. He'd been chasing after her for all this time and all of a sudden he's going to let her go? After she'd become a vampire? It was selfless, it was thoughtful. It was the right thing to do. It was why Caroline didn't buy it, not for a second.

"I'm leaving town." Damon said, surprising the blonde yet again.

"What?"

"It doesn't make sense for me to stay anymore." He said with a shrug.

Caroline didn't blame him. The girl he loved and his brother were back together, for good this time. She knew she wouldn't want to be around if she were him. Suddenly it all made sense. Why he distanced himself, why he asked her for help. It all made sense except one part.

"Why are you telling me all this?" She wondered aloud. Damon looked confused as he answered.

"I figured you'd be happy." And he walked away, as the words sunk in. He was right, Caroline thought. She should be happy. Normally she would be happy. So why did she feel the exact opposite??

***

End of chapter 1. How are you liking the book so far, is it living up to your expectations? I'd love to read your thoughts and comments! Please don't forget to vote and comment, it means so much to me!! Thanks for reading!