Brightened Days [Kol Mikaelson]

Breathe In. Breathe Out • PROLOGUE

"I remember when we felt too deep to feel.
I remember when the real became too real.
I remember when it hurt too much to heal."

• P r o l o g u e •
Breathe In. Breathe Out

Damon Salvatore. The name alone sent a delightful shiver down my spine. And his eyes. Oh, his eyes were like crystals. They saw right through me. And his lips. Plump pink, easily tugged into a smirk or pressed against mine making my knees go weak. I can't forget his big hands. Rough at touch, but always gentle yet firm when he grabbed me. Pulling me away from danger, tugging me closer to him seductively, or just holding me still.

Damon Salvatore was the man I was hopelessly in love with, devoted to, and desperately in need of. He was my boyfriend, my lover. My everything. 13 months ago he stole my heart, and his was mine. And it all started 14 months ago. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I still remember the look on his face, when I first laid eyes on him. I remember the first time I heard his deep voice. And the time he stopped me from walking away, asking me out. I remember the chaste kiss on my cheek as I turned my head when he walked me to my front door after that first date. I remember our very first kiss, and the way he tasted like spearmint and coffee we had prior. I remember when he said I love you. And the same night told me he was a vampire. I remember the kiss I gave him after, while he begged me not to be afraid, and before I said those three little words right back to him.

• 14 months ago •

I sighed softly, watching my best friend Bonnie Bennett take our completely wasted and sobbing friend, Caroline Forbes to the bathroom. Caroline was crying over her other best friend, Elena Gilbert, getting the cute new guy's attention. Despite how desperate, forward, and inappropriate Caroline behaved.

I took a sip of my hot chocolate, enjoying my few minutes of silence. Besides the song playing through the speakers in the Bar & Grill. They were playing Never Say Never by The Fray: "don't let me go. Don't let me go..." Either way that was a thousand times better and more calm than tonight had been. The back to school bonfire shindig got pretty hectic. My older sister got hurt, bit by a wild animal, we're assuming, and was rushed off with my twin brother in an ambulance. Only one of us could go, cause only one person could stay overnight at the hospital so he took that responsibility. So I was driving his truck to take myself back home. But Bonnie was stuck taking Caroline home, whose mom was the sheriff. So she couldn't exactly drop her off drunk, out of her mind.

I shook my head, clearing tonight's events from my mind. My eyes landing on the guy that apparently was hidden behind where Bonnie previously sat. He turned and looked at me and my breath nearly caught.

Beautiful light blue yet cloudy eyes stared back at me. The handsome man with the messy dark hair and sharpest jaw I've ever seen, pulled his lips into a half smirk, half smile. I felt myself begin to smile and blush too. He tilted his head cutely and a full on grin blew onto my face. I sent him a shy wave and he raised a brow.

He raised a hand to beckon me over with his finger. I shook my head. He seemed to chuckle before sliding his chair back and going to stand up. "Hey, you ready to go?" Someone suddenly asked.

I looked to see it was Bonnie and Caroline right at the side of our table. "Um, yeah," I said, sliding back in my chair and standing up. Bonnie led Caroline towards the exit and I followed, looking over my shoulder and sending the handsome stranger an apology look. He simply waved at me and I smiled, turning away from him.