A life in the shadows

60

The next morning Elijah came to the boarding house.
"I'm leaving." He told Siobhan. "I'm not the man I thought I was. Mother was half right. We're monsters. Not you, the rest of us. For all my talk of nobility, I only ever do more harm. I wielded Rebekah as though she were simply a sword, used her hatred for Elena. And you- my sins against you are monumental. I don't like this man I've become, and I suppose I have a lot to reflect upon."
"You're not a monster. There is no hope for a monster, but there's hope for you."
"I'm truly sorry, little sister."
"You can't call me little anymore. I'm not thirteen."
"No matter how much you've grown, you're still younger than me. I can call you little sister." Elijah smiled before opening his arms for a hug. Siobhan walked into them. After a few moments he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Be happy, sister. You deserve it."
"Thank you, 'Lijah." She smiled and he walked away. She walked back into the boarding house to the kitchen where Matteo was.

Upstairs, Lacey was putting her dress away. Damon knocked on her open door.
"Going somewhere?"
"Home."
"Why not stay a while?" She threw him a look.
"Really?"
"Look, I like you. And you're right. What I did, well I wouldn't want to be near me either. I got so focused on revenge, I didn't stop to think about anyone else. I've been selfish for the longest time, I forgot that this wasn't about just me. But I'm going to be- I have to be selfish one last time, and ask you to stay here a little longer. With me."
"Damon-"
"Just please."
"Look, I think we should have some space between us. Before we get too attached to each other. I just got my heart broken and I don't want to delve right into another relationship. Not when I might get hurt again. I just need some time."
"I get it."
"I'm sorry." She offered a smile.
"Friends?" He asked. "For now, at least."
"Sure. Friends." He nodded and walked out. She sighed looking down at her phone. Picking up her bag, she left the room.
"You don't have to go." Matteo stopped her at the front door.
"Yes. I do."
"Don't leave because you're afraid and don't leave because of me."
"I thought you were anti me being here and anti me and Damon?"
"I don't like it, and your being here puts you in danger, but this is also your life and you're right. You aren't a little girl anymore. And if you want to be with Damon, what I think shouldn't matter."
"Thanks, Matt. But I still need to go back home. For me."
"In that case, I hope you have a safe journey." He said. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a hug.
"I'll see you soon." She walked out and to her car.

A few hours later, Damon was at the Grill, drinking. Elena walked up to him.
"What's with you?" She asked Caroline at her side.
"What do you mean?"
"You're upset."
"You were right. We shouldn't have gone after the Mikaelsons. No matter how much I hate Klaus, I shouldn't have been so indifferent to Siobhan's pain." The girls exchanged glances.
"Matteo?" Elena asked.
"No. He didn't say anything to me. And neither has Siobhan."
"Did that girl?"
"What girl?" Caroline asked her friend.
"I don't know. She was at the boarding house."
"Her name's Lacey. She came to see Matt."
"And you're showing a real interest in someone other than yourself?"
"Please. She's already gone."
"I don't blame her." Caroline shrugged, indifferent.
"Caroline!" Elena scolded. "Sorry, Damon."
"Maybe Caroline is right. Maybe I am a heartless dick." He shrugged. Elena looked pointedly at Caroline.
"No you're not." She sighed, frowning a little. "Otherwise you wouldn't be so affected by what this girl thinks."
"I'm not."
"Really?" Caroline asked. "That's why you're drinking? Where's Alaric?"
"I don't know." Damon's phone chimed with a text. He got out his phone and saw it was a message from Lacey.
You better not be moping around at the bar drinking to what could have been ~ L
He smiled and rolled his eyes.
Course not. Off doing evil things and such ~ D
"My bad, Damon. You aren't affected by what she thinks. What could possibly have made me think that you had feelings for her." Caroline said sarcastically.
"We're just friends."
"Didn't you sleep with Rebekah that night anyways?" Elena asked.
"No. You assumed I did."
"And you let me think you did."
"Well I'm not the only guy living in the boarding house, you know."
"What, you mean Stefan?"
"Guess again."
"Matt wouldn't cheat on Siobhan."
"There's someone else."
"Who?"
"Olly. Matteo's friend. He came with Jessamine."
"I thought those two were together?"
"No, they're friends. With some benefits."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Well, you know what they say about when you assume. Makes an ass out of you not me."
"That's- that's not how the saying goes." Caroline turned to him. "Look, if you really like her this much, we'll help you."
"Help me?" He scoffed.
"Yes. Help you."
"With what?"
"Winning her over."
"She needs time. We're just friends. For now."
"Friend zoned?"
"I was the one to suggest it, actually."
"You were friend zoned. You really need help if you ever want to be more. Time never means time."
"Please enlighten me."
"Okay, no offence Elena but you're going to be my example. When Elena broke up with Matt, she told him she needed time to deal with her parents' death."
"I did." Elena protested.
"That is true. You did. But that wasn't the only reason. You didn't feel the same about him, anymore and you didn't want to be mean, so you just kept saying you needed space and time."
"Okay, that's a little true." Elena nodded reluctantly.
"And when summer was over and Stefan got to town, you liked him and you didn't want space or time. You wanted a relationship."
"No, not exactly, but he was what I needed."
"So you're saying she doesn't really need time and space?"
"Exactly."
"Can we get Siobhan's opinion on this? She actually knows Lacey and I don't want to mess everything up."
"Good call." Elena nodded. "And she's awesome at the whole girl talk thing."

When Damon got home that night, he was slightly buzzed. The girls kept talking and talking and he kept drinking and drinking to drown them out. Matteo and Siobhan however weren't home. They didn't come back until dawn the next morning.