What Lies Beneath

Chapter 47: Under Twinkling Lights

Elena Gilbert did not consider herself a bad person. If anything she often thought that she cared too much and that it got her into trouble. Still she couldn't seem to kick the habit and really she wouldn't even if she could. She liked having a big heart. She liked being able to be there for the people she cared about, which now included Alaric of course. She liked that he was slowly morphing into another part of her family. It was nice having him around now that Jeremy was gone. She didn't care that he brought home pretty doctors and drunk dialed them at two am as long as he was happy.

However if this new Meredith Fell was stabbing people with stakes he probably wouldn't be for long. But she just didn't think Dr. Fell was capable of something like that. She liked to save people, not kill them. Damon wasn't as convinced though—he figured since the dead person was once the doctor's ex that naturally she was the main suspect. It made sense but she didn't want to go there.

She had enough on her plate right now.

Pulling a chair out from underneath the dining room table, she sat down and watched Alaric look at all of his weapons. "Um, can I get your advice on something?"

He nodded. "Sure. What's up?"

She sighed. "I did something really bad and—and now I don't know how to fix it."

He arched a brow. "What did you do?"

"I kissed Damon." She said in one short breath. "And I know it was possibly the stupidest thing I could ever do, but I did it. I feel horrible."

Alaric turned his full attention to her. "Does Bonnie know?" She nodded slowly and he continued. "Well that's uh—that's got to be putting a strain on your friendship."

"Yeah. I know she's upset with me and that she's playing it all low key because of everything that is going on." She bit her lower lip hard. "She's a much better person than I am."

He smiled a little. "Why in the world would you kiss Damon?"

Elena frowned. "I don't know! It—he's been really cool lately as you know. Looking out for me and everything. After Jeremy left I was feeling like shit and there he was again, offering support. To be honest he sort of reminded me of Stefan. Things just kinda happened. One minute I was telling him how great he was and the next my lips were on his." Pause. "The second horrible part of this is that it wasn't terrible. I didn't…hate it."

His eyes stretched wider. "Elena… I know I haven't known you very long but you don't seem like the type to go after your friend's boyfriend."

She shook her head quickly. "I'm not! I swear I am totally not that girl. But I would be lying if I said my feelings for him were strictly friendly now. At the very least I think I have a small crush and believe me when I say I don't want it. You know I saw how upset Bonnie was when Damon thought he was into me. I don't want her feeling like that."

Leaning back in his chair, Alaric rubbed at his chin. "What about Stefan? Where does he fit into all of this?"

She glanced down at the table. "I thought I knew him so well but now he's like a stranger to me. Still I—I'm not a vampire so I can't just turn off what I feel. Besides everything that has happened to him is partly my fault. He left with Klaus to protect me and Damon. I know he's trying to get revenge for everything that Klaus has taken from him." Her voice grew softer. "But honestly I—I—I know we're not done with each other. I'm just having a hard time reconciling the man he is now with the Stefan I fell in love with."

Her friend appeared to understand. "Well I think the first thing you need to do is make sure what happened with Damon neverhappens again, and not just for Bonnie's sake. Believe me when I say love triangles do not work out."