His name is Damon.

Old versus New

We were meeting my friends at an ice cream joint on Main Street. Stefan was driving with Damon sitting next to him. Care and Elena sat in front of me and Bonnie. We were coming over the bridge that connects Illinois to Indiana. Caroline and Elena peeked over the seat. "So are you nervous to see Owen?" Elena whispered ever so lightly.

I was cowering below the top of the seat so I didn't notice Damon looking conspicuously into the rearview mirror. "Yes!" I said.

"Well you don't still like him do you?" Bonnie asked with concern.

 I shrugged with a 'don't-blame-me!' look. They all gave me wide eyes. Slowly creeping down Main Street to park across the road from the ice cream place, Damon casually clears his throat and asks if I'm ready to see my friends but I had a feeling he overheard and was gesturing towards Owen.

 I replied with a quick "Yep" and hopped out of the van. We walked in and the bell jingled. My eyes strained to the back of the building and I see familiar, smiling faces staring back at me. I grinned from ear to ear, practically teary-eyed, and ran halfway to Mae, Anna, and Bradley. We all screeched high-pitched noises, group hugging. Then I went all the way to the back room to hug the rest of my friends: Hope, Cole, Ethan, Faye, Sean, Justin, Carly, Rachel, Leah, aaaaand Owen. I hugged everyone, but Owen's hug was moy awkwardo. We shared equally awkward smiles and "heys". Then he softly said, "It's really good to see you again." It felt really weird to look him in the eyes...and I had flashbacks of the fictional kiss we ALMOST shared.

Ok...onto the introductions. "Guys," I stated, "This is Carlone, Bonnie, Elena, her boyfriend Stefan, and Damon..." I was panicking. I couldn't say the words "my boyfriend." It's not just because my former love/still-kinda-crush Owen is standing next to me, but I've always felt like I was bragging...oh crap...I noticed Caroline giving me an 'are-you-crazy?' look. "Her boyfriend!" Caroline spat out and giving an awkward chuckle afterward when everyone eyes her. I took a cautious peek at Damon who was looking annoyed, uncomfortable, and a bit angry.

I introduced my old friends to my new friends. When I got to the last person, it was an odd "and Owen." Again, I peeked at Damon and he looked tense. His jaw looked slightly clenched. Ugh! This was weird but exhilarating to be with everyone. I sat down and chatted with my old pals. Still standing, arms crossed next to Stefan and Elena, Damon stared semi-hatefully at Owen. His eyes started to turn black. Stefan said "Calm down Damon."

Elena stepped forward to look at him. "Damon, don't get jealous," she advised.

"Jealous?" he sneered. "What's there to be jealous of? Look at him. He's short and stubby."

Stefan patted Damon's shoulder twice. "Come on, let's go sit down," he suggested. Those two sat alone at a table while Elena went to mingle. I was playing catch-up. I felt jubilant. Sean asked if it was time for cake, so I watched Bradley, Mae, and Anna get up to get the ice-cream cake. They started off the birthday song and I blushed while everyone sang. I said thank you and while Mae started cutting the cake, I stepped over to Damon's table and asked if they wanted some. Stefan agreed to a piece, but Damon said no thanks. Of course. He saw my frown and changed his mind. "A small piece," he stated. I smiled at him, bent down and kissed him. "I love you," I said and headed for the plates.

"See Damon," Stefan said. "She kissed you while he was watching. She can't be that into him."Damon "hmmmed". I came back with the two slices. They both said thanks. I chuckled when I noticed that Justin, Cole, Sean, and Owen sat with the Salvatore brothers. It made me feel nervous. Damon looked unpleased. "So..." began Bradley mid-bite. "Are you getting any birthday sex?" she raised her eyebrows and at that moment, I heard a loud went-down-the-wrong-pipe cough. I turned around and it was Damon. Oh shoot....He heard that. Stefan was smirking and I quickly glanced at the other table to see the girls slightly grinning. Eyes back on Bradley, then my cake, I answered, "uhm...noo...probably not."

"What? Why!" she cried.I placed three fingers on my left temple and gave her 'be quiet' eyes. She lowered her voice. "Do you think you'll wait a long time?"

I shrugged and peeked over my shoulder back at Damon. I knew he was still listening even though he pretended not too. "I don't know."

"Well how far have you gotten?" piped up Faye. Ugh. If only they knew he could hear us! I sipped my juice. "Not very."

I was relieved when Anna changed the subject but it did get me wondering...