moving on - damon salvatore [1]

TEN

Caroline rushed through the Salvatore mansion, looking for one in particular. "I can't find him." She spoke into the phone, the urgency in her voice rising.
"You're sure he's not at the grill?"

"I'm sure." Bonnie's voice echoed from the phone. "He really is gone for good this time."

Caroline sighed in disappointment and disbelief. Caroline had hoped and prayed for so many nights that Damon would get up and walk out of her life. Now that he had, for some reason she couldn't help but feel sad. Probably because he had changed, and they had grown slightly fond of each other these past few weeks. And she wanted to say goodbye.

"Maybe there's a clue around here as to where he went. I'll keep looking for a while."

Caroline knew Bonnie well, after all, they were best friends their entire lives. She could read that girl like the back of her hand, and a phone visually impairing her sight was not gonna change that. That's exactly why Caroline rolled her eyes when Bonnie spoke next, knowing she must have been wearing a deep grin on her face. And she was right.

"If it means that much to you." Bonnie said slyly, while Caroline rolled her eyes again.

"It doesn't mean that much to me, I'm just looking becau-" The low hum of the handheld told Caroline Bonnie had already hung up, annoying her in the process.

Caroline huffed and pulled out her phone, debating whether to call Bonnie back, but decided not to, as she ventured through the mansion in search of Damon.

She made her way down to the cellar, an uneasy chill running through her spine. "Damon?" She called out, but no answer was returned.

"Stefan?" Her heart was beating wildly out of her chest but she could still hear someone breathing loudly, grunting animal-like. It was almost scary.

As she creeped further down the cellar she was relieved to see a familiar figure in front of her.

In front of the fridge drinking greedily from a blood bag was no other than...

"Katherine?"

"What?" Elena laughed, almost spitting back blood.
"Ew, get out of here."

"I'm sorry Elena," Caroline laughed at herself. "I guess I was just surprised to see you drinking from a blood bag, that's all."

"That's okay." Elena smiled, throwing the pint back in the fridge. "Me too. But ever since the other day, things have just been easier. I dunno, it's kind of hard to explain."

"No explanation needed. I'm just glad to see you're doing better." Elena smiled as Caroline pulled her in for another too tight hug of hers.

"Thanks Care."

"I wish I could stay and talk, but I'm looking for Damon." Caroline said pulling away, causing the smile to disappear from Elena's face entirely. "Do you know where he is?"

"No..." Elena looked unsure. "Why?"

"To say goodbye." Caroline answered simply.

"Goodbye?" Elena went to focus on the freezer. "He's in Mystic Falls, he's not going anywhere."

Now it was Caroline's turn to be confused. "Yeah he is! He's leaving town today."

Elena still looked skeptical. "He is? Well how do you know?"

Caroline pulled the letter out from her pocket and handed it to Caroline. Her face grew somber as her eyes scanned the page until she was all finished.
"Oh." She spoke softly. "I didn't know."

Caroline slid the letter back into her pocket and turned to Elena with a smile, bidding her farewell.
"I can catch him if I hurry."

Caroline was halfway out the door before Elena raced in front of her, blocking her path.

"Elena!" Caroline sighed exspaspered. "Move!"

"I'm sorry Caroline, it's just are you sure that this is a good idea? I mean this is Damon we're talking about after all."

"I'll be fine." Caroline rolled her eyes as she tried to sidestep Elena, who blocked her again.

"He's not safe." Elena continued, but this time there was an urgency in her voice. "You should stay away from him." Her eyes were pleading but her voice was, demanding, threatening almost. And Caroline did not like it one bit.

"Why do you even care?" Caroline asked, her eyes twinkling in a mix of curiosity and amusement. She's never seen Elena so riled before.

"I care because you're supposed to be my friend." Elena countered. "And friends don't agree around with other friends exes, remember?"

"You have Stefan." She says quietly, noticing Elena's eyes flicker towards Stefan, who was walking up to them in the yard. "You can't have them both." Caroline added in a whisper.

He's on his way to Yeager Airport." Stefan said as he strode up to the pair, wrapping his arm around Elena, happily. Elena however, looked anything but.

"How do you know that?" Elena demanded but he shrugged in reply. "Fastest way out of town."

"He's right, I can catch him if I hurry."

Stefan smiled at Caroline's excitement as she rushed to her car, but Elena said something that made everyone freeze in their tracks.

"Are you seriously that desperate?"

Caroline turned to face Elena, a startled expression taking over her face.

"Elena!" Stefan exclaimed shocked, but she shrugged out of his grasp and inched closer to the blonde girl.

"All the times you've said how much you hated him, all the lectures you gave ME, all for you to go running into his arms? One kiss, that's really all it takes?"

Caroline looked over at Stefan, his eyes ashamed as they avoided hers. He told her?

"At least he treats me well now." Caroline countered, focusing her attention back to Elena. "That can't be said for some people."

An angry tear fell from Caroline's eyes as she stormed to her car. The nerve of those two, to call them her friend, and treat her this way. She didn't turn back, she didn't care to see if their faces held one of remorse and pity, or not. It wouldn't change the fact that Elena was selfish and Stefan betrayed her trust.

She makes a quick pit stop which involves beeping her horn crazily and unnecessarily, while neighbors shoot her death flares from their windows.
It's a couple minutes before a new passenger enters the shotgun side with a slight scowl on her face.

"I'm here, sheesh. Where we going?"

"That Bonnie." Caroline smirks as she shifts the car into park and slides her foot on the gas pedal.
"Is for me to know and you to dot-dot-dot."

***

Hello! Sorry this chapter took so long but it's finally here. Hope you're liking the story so far.

There will be a guest star next chapter, can you guess who? Is there anyone you'd like to see? Put your guesses in the replies! 😉

Thanks for reading! ❤️