Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by L.J. Smith, as portrayed in the TV series created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. All rights to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's Note: This turned out very differently from what I expected… And it ended up being the final chapter… who knew? Hope you've enjoyed my little story : )

LINE BY LINE

~ Final Edition ~

"Will you please talk to me?" Damon pleaded from outside her door. "Elena, I swear it wasn't what it looked like!" The door flew open.

"She doesn't wanna talk to you," Caroline said coldly and slammed the door shut again. She went over to the bed where Elena was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chin, sobbing. "Aw, sweetie," Caroline said sympathetically, wrapping her arms around her friend.

"This isn't me," Elena sobbed. "I don't fall apart over some guy. I don't do that."

"So don't. Move on. Come on, let's go out."

"Yeah, because that went so well last time…"

"Hear me out, ok? The Omega Kappas are having a speed-dating event tomorrow night at the Owl. It's the perfect opportunity to get your mind off Damon."

"How? By meeting other guys just like him?"

"Exactly."

"How is that supposed to help?"

"It'll make you see that he's nothing special – that he doesn't deserve your tears."

"I don't know, Caroline…"

"Trust me. You'll thank me for it later."

When Caroline was done with her, Elena was wearing a short black dress, strappy sandals and had her hair curled, teased and pinned into a bob.

"I only have one word to describe you right now," Caroline said, eyeing her work proudly. "Bombshell."

Elena laughed. "Thanks, Care."

"Come on, let's go. Frat boys await!"

Elena rolled her eyes but let Caroline pull her out the door.

"Can I have your attention, please?" an ash blonde sorority girl called out. "If you take a look around, you'll see a rose on all the tables that we've booked for tonight. At each of those tables, there are girls waiting for you guys to sweep them off their feet. You'll get ten minutes to talk, and when I ring this bell, you rotate tables. Everyone clear?"

There was a murmur of affirmation in the crowd, and the sorority girl, Amber, rung the bell to indicate the night had started. Elena looked over to Caroline, who was seated at one of the other tables, and gave her a nervous look. Caroline smiled broadly, giving her a thumbs-up and turning her attention to the guy sitting down at her table. Elena sighed and turned to look at the sandy blonde frat guy who had taken a seat opposite her.

"Hi, I'm Steve. And you are?"

"Elena."

"Well, nice to meet you, Elena. Is this your first go at speed-dating?"

"Yep."

"I can't imagine someone like you ever needing to go to one of these things to find a date," he said, looking her over appreciatively.

"My friend dragged me here," Elena shrugged.

"I should thank her," he winked.

"Go ahead. She's right over there," Elena pointed to Caroline, who was laughing at something her date had said. Clearly, the drinks she'd had before they headed out were doing the trick.

Steve's eyes practically popped out of his head when he saw Caroline. He turned back to Elena, a glimmer in his eye. "Uh… are you two close?"

"She's my best friend," Elena said, not really seeing the point of his question.

"Well… what would you say to a private party – just you, me, and your hot little friend?"

"Eww!" Elena exclaimed, disgusted with his suggestion. "Creep," she huffed and strode off to the bar.

As she was walking away, Amber rung the bell and the guys changed seats. The next guy in line to talk to Elena caught a glimpse of her walking away and followed her to the bar.

"Hey! You're not running away, are you?" he said. Elena turned around to meet grey eyes with an amused glimmer in them.

"I just needed a break," Elena said.

"I saw you talking to Steve. He's a bit of a douche."

"Yeah… I kinda got that,"

"I'm Mike, by the way," he said, extending his hand.

"I'm Elena."

"Can I get you a drink?"

"Oh, I was actually… um… yeah, thanks."

"What's your poison?"

"Screwdriver."

"Ah, vodka and orange juice. A classic."

"What can I say? I'm a classy girl," Elena shrugged with a smile on her face.

"I can tell," he winked, ordering their drinks.

They found a table that was not marked with a rose and spent what seemed like hours talking about everything from childhood memories to favorite movies. Elena felt herself relax in Mike's company and when he suggested they hit the downstairs dance floor, she gladly followed him. By this time, the speed-dating had broken up and Caroline was dancing with one of the guys she had talked to.

After a few dances, Elena felt flushed and they ordered more drinks. Mike's hand on her buttocks as she leaned over the bar to order made her slightly uncomfortable, but she shrugged it off. As the night went on and the DJ played slower paced songs, Mike held her tighter and when she leaned her head against his shoulder, his hands cupped her cheeks. Even in her slightly inebriated state, Elena was aware where this was headed, and she wasn't into it. She firmly grabbed his hands and pulled them higher to rest on the small of her back. They soon found their way back, though, and Elena tried pulling away.

"Hey, watch the hands, buddy," she said, trying to sound chipper and not totally freaked out.

"Oh, come on, baby," he whispered in her ear, "You know you want this."

"I know no such thing," Elena said, removing his hands once again.

Mike refused to let go, though, and spun them into a dark corner of the room, where he pushed her up against the wall. Elena struggled to get free, but as she opened her mouth to scream, he covered it with his own. His hands roamed her body, pushing up her dress. Elena couldn't believe this was happening to her. She tried wriggling loose, but Mike's athletic body pressed against hers, keeping her in place. Tears were streaming down her face and she squeezed her eyes shut. Then suddenly the weight was lifted off her and her dress fell back into place. She slowly opened her eyes and threw herself into the arms of her rescuer.

Damon really didn't feel like going anywhere, but Andie had dragged him out to the Owl. She insisted it would help him get over Elena. He didn't see how anything would, but he let himself be persuaded all the same. He had drunk himself into a stupor by the end of the night and when Andie insisted they at least have one dance, he followed her downstairs.

By chance, Damon and Andie's dancing placed them in the vicinity where Elena was being assaulted. Damon caught a glimpse of what looked like an intimate scene and was about to turn away when he saw the woman wriggling. He acted instinctively, grabbing a hold of the man by the neck and pulling him off the woman. The surge of adrenaline gave him increased strength and he succeeded in separating the two. All the color drained from his face when he recognized the woman as a crying Elena. He wanted to beat the offender senseless, but when she threw herself in his arms the man disappeared into the crowd.

"It's ok, I'm here, I'm here," Damon whispered soothingly, stroking her hair.

"Damon," Elena whimpered.

"Let's get you out of here, ok?" He gently guided her through the dance floor and out of the bar, shrugging off his leather jacket and slipping it over her shoulders.

Andie, having witnessed the altercation, followed them outside. "Is she gonna be ok?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna get her home. Can I call you a cab?"

"No, I'm fine. I saw my friend Charlotte in there, I'm gonna go find her."

"Ok." He waited until Andie had gone back inside and then he turned his attention to Elena, holding her at arm's length, trying to assess the damage. "Are you ok to walk or should I get a cab?"

"No, I'm fine," Elena shook her head, "I'm fine."

"Let's just get you home, ok?"

"No. I don't wanna go home. Please, Damon. I don't want Caroline to see me like this. She'll blame herself. Will you take me to your place?"

"Elena…"

"Please?"

"Ok."

Damon held open his door for her and Elena walked straight over to the couch. "I'm just gonna text Caroline."

"What will you tell her?"

"That I met someone, I guess."

"And that won't sound weird to her?"

"A little, maybe. But it's what she wanted, so…"

"I'm gonna get you some tea," Damon said, heading over to the kitchen nook. Elena simply nodded and curled up on the couch, texting her friend.

"Thank you," Elena said as Damon handed her a cup.

"Just some hot water and a tea bag," Damon shrugged.

"No… I meant… for before. I don't know what would have happened if…"

"Hey, don't think about that. You're safe, that's all that matters."

"I was stupid," Elena said, looking down.

"Why would you say that?"

"I let him get too close. I should have said something sooner, I…"

"Nothing you could ever do would give him the right to attack you like that. We should talk to campus police. "

"No! No, I don't want anyone to know this."

"But Elena…"

"I said no. Just… drop it, ok?"

"So… you wanna borrow some clothes?" Damon said, getting off the couch to rummage through his closet. He held out a black T-shirt and a pair of grey sweat pants.

"Thank you," Elena said as she took the clothes from his and went to the bathroom to change.

Elena looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't believe her eyes. She looked pale, her lips were swollen and her mascara had left dark streaks on her cheeks. Not to mention her hair was a mess. She was in desperate need of a shower.

When she emerged from the bathroom, her hair swept up in a towel, Damon had made up the couch and changed into a pair of sweatpants himself.

"Thank you," Elena said, heading for the couch.

"No," Damon said, surprising her, "the couch is for me. You take the bed."

"No, I couldn't…" Elena objected

"Of course you can."

"I'm sorry I ruined your night," Elena said, eyes on the floor.

"You did no such thing," Damon said fiercely.

"But you and Andie…"

"Are friends. That's all."

"But last night…"

"I didn't have sex with her."

Elena gave him a puzzled look.

"I was trying to get you out of my head, so I tried burying myself in women… uh… metaphorically."

"Yeah, right…"

"But I couldn't. Every time I tried, I saw your face – looking at me with those beautiful doe eyes filled with disappointment."

Elena couldn't believe her ears. Playboy Damon Salvatore was giving up on women – because of her.

"Damon, I…"

"Don't worry about it. We should get some sleep," he shrugged, climbing under the covers of the sofa, leaving the bed for her.

Elena dried her hair and climbed into bed. As she turned off the lights, she found the courage to speak again. "Caroline tried to get me to do the same. That's why I went to speed-dating night – to see that there are other guys just as bad as you and that I shouldn't be wasting my tears on you."

"How'd that work out for you?"

"Well, I met two people. The first guy suggested a threesome, and the second one basically tried to rape me, so… not great."

"I'm so sorry, Elena."

"I am too. I'm sorry I was stupid enough to think I could get over you."

Elena heard rustling of sheets and then felt the weight in the bed shift.

"Why do we fight it?" Damon's velvety voice came from inches away.

Elena turned to her side to face him. "I guess I was just scared…"

"Of me?"

"No. Of falling in love with you and getting my heart broken."

"And now?"

"Did you mean what you said? About giving commitment a chance?"

"It's a gamble for me, but it's a risk I'm willing to take to be with you. Trust me, I am all in."

"Please, no poker references – I'm terrible at poker."

"I'll teach you," Damon smiled and as their lips met, Elena knew that this was a game worth playing.