breaking the bond [ elena , the mikaelson brothers ] ✔️

10

"Elena! Oh my God! Where have you been? I've missed you so much!" Caroline grabbed Elena in a bear hug, cutting off her air supply.

Elena awkwardly hugged the blonde back, "I missed you, too, Care. But you're breaking my ribs."

Caroline jumped back and grinned at Elena sheepishly, "I'm just so happy to see you!"

The pair walked back into the Salvatore living room, joining a drinking Damon.

"So when's the party?" Damon asked, swirling his bourbon around in his glass.

Caroline clasped her hands together, "Tonight! I've already made all the plans and the decorators will be here soon!"

Elena sighed internally. Of course Caroline wouldn't waste any time in alerting the whole damned town that she had returned. She hadn't even been back for twelve hours and already a party was being prepared in her honor. She managed to tune out Caroline as she let her thoughts wander to Kol. Kol. She didn't want to admit it, but she missed him so much she was physically sick. When she woke up this morning, she had barely made it to the bathroom before the blood bag she drank when she arrived came up with a vengeance.

She shook her head, effectively shaking the thoughts away. It was probably just nerves.

"Earth to Elena?" Caroline's voice flitted through her thoughts, "Do you have a dress? Or do I need to take you shopping? Oh, but I have to wait here for the flowers..."

Damon stood up, tipping his glass back and finishing his bourbon, "I'll take her. That way I don't have to be here while you transform my beautiful home into party central."

"Oh be quiet, Damon," Caroline chided, smacking his arm lightly, "Everyone knows you enjoy party central."

Damon smirked and looked at Elena, "You ready to go now? The faster we're out of the house, the better."

"Yeah, let me grab a coat."

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"Damon, what about this one?" Elena exited the dressing room in a stunning red dress. It was modest with a beaded bodice and a flared skirt that reached just below her knees.

He considered, "I love red, but I think you'd look better in the one I chose."

She sighed, returning to the dressing room and shimmying out of the dress. She held up the one that Damon picked out and quickly put it on. It was black and fell just above her knees, made out of a type of silk that seemed to hug her body perfectly.

"Alright, if this isn't good enough then I'm not going," she stated as she walked out of the dressing room for, hopefully, the final time.

She watched Damon's eyes light up as he took her in, "Perfect."

She changed back into her street clothes and walked to the register, Damon in tow. She handed the dress to the cashier who smiled brightly.

"Did you find everything you were looking for?"

Elena nodded, "Yes, thank you."

"That's great," the cashier said as she rung up the dress and placed it in a bag, "That'll be $72.85. Will you be using cash or credit?"

Elena fumbled, suddenly realizing she forgot her purse at the boarding house. She reached into her coat pocket as a last attempt. She smiled as she pulled out a credit card that had long been forgotten to be returned. She handed it over to the cashier.

"Thank you, Mrs. Mikaelson. Have a great rest of the day!"

"Thanks," Elena mumbled as she took her bag and Kol's card, very aware of Damon's ice blue eyes boring into her.