Reckless Love (Elena & Damon)

3 - Moving

Even the prettiest flower can be poisonous.

Frantic knocks at her door woke Elena out of her deep, peaceful slumber. For a moment, as she lay on her couch with the New York sun glistening through the window and warming up her body, she could've sworn the knocks were merely a dream. However, it wasn't long until the knocks began again, cutting through the silence in her apartment.

Elena stumbled towards the door, stretching and yawning as she went. She opened the door and immediately felt her relaxation drain from her body. 'Tell me something, how come almost every time I open my door, you're on the other side?'

Caroline didn't wait for an invitation to come in and moved straight past Elena. 'Because you never answer your phone, so you leave me with no choice.'

'You know, some might think that when one is not answering their phone, that person is busy.'

'Some. Not me.'

'Clearly,' Elena replied, raising her eyebrows and moving to Caroline, who was now making herself comfortable on Elena's couch, that less than two minutes ago had been her bed. 'So, what's so urgent?'

'Stefan asked me to move in with him,' Caroline blurted out, as she nervously picked at her nail beds and fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

Before she could even think, Elena's jaw dropped at the news. Out of all the things she could've predicted to come out of Caroline's mouth at that point, Stefan asking her to move in was not even on the list. She was well aware that Caroline and Stefan were beyond crazy about each other, but they had been dating for just over four months and even for Caroline, this was fast.

'Stop looking like you've been told the most terrible news in the world,' Caroline said, sadly frowning at Elena.

'I'm sorry it's just, I wasn't expecting that.' Elena sat down on the couch next to Caroline and placed her hand over Caroline's. 'What did you say?'

'I haven't given him an answer yet. I kind of ran out and I came straight here.'

'Caroline,' Elena sighed sympathetically.

'I know I should've said something, just anything, but I was scared. And I didn't know what to say. Four months Elena, we've only been dating for four months. I've haven't met his father yet. And I only just met Damon.' 

Elena tried with all her might to remain focused on the issue at hand instead of becoming distracted by the mention of Damon. 'I understand Caroline, you don't need to explain yourself to me. This is a really big decision to make. I mean, it's your future. It's both Stefan's and your future.'

'That doesn't really help Elena.'

'I know it doesn't. I just want you to be aware of what you're saying yes to, or alternatively, what you're saying no to.'

Caroline looked down at her hands again. 'Do you think if I say no, he'll break up with me?'

'Of course not.' Once again, Elena acted without thinking, but this time, she really didn't even need to give her answer a second thought. Whilst she had only just met Stefan, she knew that if he was that into Caroline to ask her to move in, he wouldn't end things because she didn't say yes. 'I think that he's completely, insanely, infatuated with you. And you saying no, wouldn't change that.'

'I don't know, he could be too upset, and he could think I don't want to be with him at all. And if he doesn't feel wanted, why wouldn't he end it?'

'See, Caroline, in the nicest way possible, this is when you have to use your voice. If you're going to say no, you have to reassure him that you still love him, and it's not about not wanting to be with him, but rather that you feel like its too fast.'