In a world of just in time

Chapter 19

Damon's POV

The drive home felt long. I sat in the back with Elena but she pressed herself against the door away from me. I guess she's uneasy about moving in. After everything she's been through I can't expect her to be okay. Once we got home I walked Elena into the house showing her to her room. My mum is following close behind us as we approach the spare bedroom opposite my own. I wrap my arm tighter around her waist as I open the door.

Once I open the door I'm surprised by what I see. The desk at the far side of the room has been cleared with a new chair, a selection of books on the side shelves and stationary on top. The shelves above the desk have been cleared. The double bed has new bedding on it. Very flowery. My mums choice I assume. I can see other small decorations such as a small plant by the window and a mirror on the wall.

I walk Elena to the bed and sit down on the edge. She sits next to me. Once she's down she looks around the room and reached for photo frame which is on the bed stand. I look down and see it's a sonogram photo of our baby.

My mum watched us before she speaks, "Elena dear there are clothes in the closet and in the en suite are towels and any toiletries you may need. And here..." from inside the closet my mum brings out a fluffy blanket and places it next to Elena. "Just in case you get cold. I am going to get some food cooked up for us so I will let Damon help you settle in and please if you need anything come find me and ask."

With that my mum walks out of the room. Leaving the door slightly open behind her.

"Your mum is too kind to me." I hear Elena whisper. "She loves you as her own. And if you don't feel comfortable asking her or talking to her about anything my room is directly opposite and the door will always be open for you." I press my lips on the top of her head.

As I hold Elena, from downstairs I hear someone knocking on the door and my mothers voice. "Damon can you come to the door please?" I hear after a few minutes.

I sigh out loud, "I will be right back Elena, get some sleep if you want and when I come back I will set up the old TV so you can watch films." Elena doesn't respond but I rise from the bed and make my way downstairs. What could be so important and my mother would want me to leave Elena alone.

Once at the door I see Bonnie. "Hi." I say surprised to see her here. My mother quickly walks away back to the kitchen as I walk slowly over to the door. "Hi. That's all I get. You've been MIA for like forever! What the hell has happened?" She whisper shouts. "It's a family problem. I can't talk about it right now." I'm inwardly begging her to stop with the questions. Bonnie rolls her eyes and walks into my house past me. I close the door and grab her by the elbow to stop her going any further.

"You know this town is not that big. People talk and everyone hears." She says matter of factly. "Okay. But you need to go. I will see you on Monday." She needs to go. It's awkward her being here when Elena is upstairs.

"There are rumours going around town about Elena." At the mention of her name I freeze and Bonnie definitely notices. "About her and her dad. No one knows if it's true but it explains a lot. The police came to the school asking for friends of Elena's and if they have seen her dad. Something weird is going on. And I know you must be involved because you've been acting even weirder and you freaked when the principle went in her locker. Can you tell me what's going on? I am your friend and I care about you. I just want to help."

"I can't say anything right now." Or maybe I should? Bonnie is my best friend and would never say anything.

"Are you with Elena?" She asks. I am not sure if she is asking if I am helping her, if she is here or if we are dating but I need her to do right now. "Yes." I answer quickly. She must be sensing my annoyance now and she holds the strap of her shoulder bag tighter and looks towards the ground rather than straight at me. "Damon can you please tell me what is going on?"

"Not right now Bonnie but soon."

She nods. I can see she is displeased with my answer but at least she understands I am not going to tell her anything. "Well I will leave. But I am worried about you. Are you coming to school on Monday?" She asks me. "Yeah my parents are making me."

She opens the front door and turns back to me, "I will see you then and I hope things will go back to normal. You know you can always talk to me, Matt, Tyler and even Caroline."

"I know." I answer. I will talk to them just not now. "I hope things are back to normal soon". And with that she walks out, closing the door behind her. Little does she know things will never be how they were. I've taken on the role of caring for Elena who so happens to be carrying my child.

I walk back to Elena's bedroom and see her sitting in the same position I left her in. She's put the photo frame back on the bedside table but it is not stood up rather its laying flat with the picture down. I stand in back up and take a seat next to Elena. "You have changed so much." I hear her delicate voice whisper. "I don't think so. I'm the same Damon I have always been."

Elena's POV

I could hear the conversation he had downstairs, Damon has changed. He had the perfect life with great friends and school records. I am ruining his life. "You used to care about school and your friends. You had a life before me."

"And I have one now Elena just with more meaning and if I wanted to go hang out with my friends, get drunk... well I could but I don't want to so don't be worrying about me, okay?"

I look up into his eyes. His deep ocean blue eyes, pupils dilated. I can see them pleading with me to be okay. To not be whatever I am now. I tentatively reach up arms up and wrap them awkwardly around Damon's shoulders, resting my cheek against him. Damon realises a sign and turns towards me, wrapping him strong arms around my waist. I'm comfortable like this. "Thank you for being my friend." My only friend.