Reflection [Damon Salvatore x Reader]

3. Noon

You learned Elena was at school the next day when she stopped at your locker to give you a hug and say thank you. Relieved to see her safe and whole, you went to English with a considerably lighter step.

You didn't see Elena again until History. Sadly, there wasn't time to ask what, exactly, had happened before class started. Elena promised to fill you in at lunch as you both grabbed your books from your bags.

Ric was in the middle of a lecture on McCarthyism when the classroom door opened. An unfamiliar student entered and approached him. You waited until you'd finished putting your note to paper to watch the pair, but by that time their exchanged had ended. The boy disappeared back out the door a moment before Ric called your name. "They want you up at the office," he said.

Murmuring your assent, you gathered everything into your bag before sliding out of your seat. Curious stares followed you out of the classroom.

The halls were deserted but for the echo of your footsteps. The whole way, you wondered if this was about your absence the day before. Your stomach tightened as you approached the door to the main office, dreading what you might hear inside.

Stepping inside, you started. Damon. Leaning against the long counter separating the room between the administration staff and the students. A woman with dark hair and a ready smile glanced at you before turning back to her computer. Gripping the doorknob, you frowned. "What—"

"Road trip," Damon announced.

You stared, squinting as you tried finding some clearer explanation in his expression. Not that it helped. It was his typical cocky mien that only told you what a smarmy dick he was. You already knew that. "What?"

Damon smiled at the woman, as if to say a silent, 'kids,' before turning back to you. "C'mon," he said, motioning with a hand. "Get your stuff and meet me in the SUV outside."

You gazed helplessly around, from the plastic chairs lining the wall to the fake plant sitting on a windowsill at the back. No answers jumped out at you. "It's the middle of the school day, Damon."

"Yeah, 'cause missing the rest is really going to affect your grades," he scoffed.

You glared. "That's not the—"

Two steps took him to your side. He lowered his voice to a murmur. "We're tracking down the vampire the kidnappers tried to sell Elena to." His brows lifted.

"You and me?" You met his silvery-blue gaze with uncertainty in your own.

"And someone else I don't trust," Damon admitted. "If her way turns out to be some trap or wild goose chase, I'm hoping you'll know." One eyebrow ticked higher. "You found Elena, after all."

Someone else? You considered who that might be. It didn't take long to figure who Damon would bring along with that kind of information despite a lack of trust in the source. Lips pressing together, you aimed a flat stare up at him. "You brought Elena's kidnappers?"

"The one still nonliving—living."

"And you want me to skip school, with a kidnapping vampire, to go who-knows-where to find more dangerous vampires," you further clarified.

Damon's smile remained stubbornly fixed on his face. "Yep."

You glared. "I hate you."

Damon swatted your declaration away as if it were an annoying fly. "We'll stop for ice cream."

"Do I look five to you?" You realized your mistake when Damon's stare turned appraising. His sights roamed down your body in a casual leer that had all your muscles tensing. His mouth began to open—which was never good, but you were especially dreading what might come out of it—so you hurried to add, "Don't answer that."