AN: Hi all! Words can't express how sorry I am for my absence here on FF. I could write you all a paragraph expressing my sorrows and reasons for my absence, but it's 4:30 in the morning here and I've been working on this story for surely 4 or 5 hours straight. Saying that, I can hardly write this AN but I need to get this little blurb out there. Anyway, i'm sorry again. If you read this story recently, you will have seen the update chapter which went into depth why I've been gone lately. I'm so sorry again and in advance I give my apologies with the lack of decent writing this time around, but as i said i've been up all night writing this because I vowed to myself that I'd get something up here on FF. Thus, this is surely not my best work, but again, time and all. Final thought, I hope it was worth waiting for, and i will write something as soon as i can. I have some of the next It's Complicated written, so that might likely be the next update, then I will come back to this. However, Who knows where my mind will be this weekend. Best wishes, apologies and xoxo x1000! You all amaze me with your continued support of my stories despite my absence. Here's hoping! Write again soon, I promise!

~*Chapter Eleven*~

When It Rains, It Pours

"Katherine!"

Elena's slumber bubble was popped immediately as the roaring voice of Caroline registered in her mind. As she glanced over at the flashing red numbers to the side of her, she noticed the early hour of the day and moaned silently. Did this girl ever sleep?

"What the hell is this?"

As Caroline's voice appeared at the edge of the bed, Elena shot upright. Taking in Caroline's anguished face, red alerts flashed across her eyes as she took recognition of the papers in her now-reddening hands.

Oh, no.

"What's with all the shouting?" A familiar voice groaned as it entered the room, and Elena didn't need to glance up to know that it was Nadia. " Honestly, I can hear you both even with the shower on."

Could this get any worse? Elena wondered as she glanced back at Caroline and Nadia, both of whom wore looks of utter confusion.

"What's going on?" Nadia asked, and it didn't take a beat for Caroline to respond.

"That's what I'd like to know," she said icily as she plopped the papers into Elena's lap. Looking up through the threads of her chocolate hair, Elena saw Nadia inch closer toward her to examine the contents of the paper. And before she could send a message to her still sleepy brain to wake up, Nadia fetched a stray paper at the end of the bed.

"Why do you have an application for UCLA?" She gasped, immediately shooting her gaze at Elena.

And for the first time in her life, Elena felt like she was trapped in a six-foot hole with no way of escaping.

"It's a great school," Elena defended quickly. Her mind was no where to be found.

"Yes, I know," Nadia snapped as if the comment had somehow bruised her. She held up the paper. "What I don't get is why you have this. You're Katherine Pierce. You don't need college."

"That doesn't mean that it's not valuable." Elena countered, but when she heard a sharp intake of breath, her eyes turned to Caroline, who looked absolutely bewildered.

"What the hell is up with you?" Caroline snapped, and Elena flinched in shock. Even though she wasn't easily offended, she couldn't ignore the bite in Caroline's words.

"What are you talking about?" Elena asked, fighting with every will in her body to remain nonchalant. She hadn't come this far to blow it right now.

"I'm talking about the fact that instead of filming the next blockbuster movie, you'd rather sit in on some boring class about biology and write a thesis!" Caroline shouted, and if Elena hadn't been so hellbent on dodging this bullet, she would've been more affected by her harsh words. Even if she wasn't Katherine.

"I'm not going to college," Elena reassured calmly. "I was just-"

Think!

"Researching because I considered following in the paths of the great Natalie Portman and Emma Watson in furthering my education while remaining an actress for the purpose of advancing my career."

That ought to lay this to rest.

With a weighted sigh, Elena took in the faces of Caroline and Nadia, who looked absolutely stunned. Hopefully she was able to pull this off. As she waited what seemed like decades, Nadia let out a retired sigh.

"I think that's a wise choice," she said. "But however, I do think it's a major gamble, especially at this point in your career-"

"A major gamble!" Caroline exclaimed, but was immediately silenced by Nadia's palm, to which Caroline made a face at.

Good thing palms don't have eyes, Elena thought.

"Just know," Nadia said softly as she sad beside Elena on the bed. "That I will support you in whichever choice you make."

Well how 'bout them apples?

"Thank you," Elena said hazily, not expecting such a sincere, delicate response after the events of the last five minutes. Before Elena could risk a look from Caroline, her phone rang, breaking the silence. A reluctant Caroline then excused herself as she retreated the room.

"I should get going," Nadia sighed as she rose from the bed. "I'm meeting a friend for lunch."

"Okay," Elena nodded, sighing in defeat. Just the last five minutes alone sufficed for an entire day's worth. All she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and wish away the morning.

"Katherine, you've got a photo shoot at 10, a press appearance at 4 and a meeting with your agent at 6."

You don't always get what you want, Elena sighed inwardly. Even if you're Katherine Pierce.

Could she please just die right now?

As her eyes fought to stay open, Katherine heard the buzzing sound if Aaron beside her, pointing to something in the textbook that she couldn't make out for the life of her.

"...And you just divide by the number you took out ..."

Please... Kill...

"I'm so sorry," Katherine leaned her head on her hand, trying her darndest to sit up like she's been paying some attention. "Can you just explain that to me one..."

All she could see was pitch black as her eyes shut.

"Katherine."

What?!

"What did you just say?" Katherine shot upright, eyeing Aaron intently.

"I said 'Elena'" he responded hesitantly as his eyebrows knit together. "You were falling asleep."

Oh, thank goodness, Katherine sighed in relief at the sound of Elena's name.

There was no way she could afford a third strike.

"I'm sorry," She sighed, her heartbeat slowing as her panic dissolved. "I'm just so...tired. I was up all night studying,"

"You're telling me," Aaron nodded in agreement, and Katherine chuckled softly as Aaron shifted in his seat to lean in closer. "I heard that Econ test is gonna be a killer."

"Great." Katherine scoffed as she resigned herself to near-slumber. "That's just what I need."

"Well, we better get finished here soon so we can both go home and get some sleep for the test tomorrow."

Katherine couldn't agree more.

It was a go.

She had been back and forth all day in between takes and hand-shakes. To tell or not to tell. To lie or not to lie. This entire debate was more complicated than a Rubik's cube. While she could not live a lie, she couldn't help but wonder if this was the right thing to do. There was no doubt that this was going to set Damon off, and worst of all, hurt him. And hurting Damon was the last thing she wanted to do. But she was already hurting him by lying to him. So if she could take away any pain at all, she would do so in a beat. And if that meant ripping of the metaphorical band-aid, then so be it. Just as long as he might be able to heal sooner.

So immediately at 7:30, right after she got finished with Katherine's agent, Elena bucked up the courage to dial Damon's phone. On the first ring, she heard his velvet voice drip through the phone, which did wonders to her. But she couldn't be selfish anymore.

After three minutes, she'd hung up the phone and excused herself from Caroline and Nadia, claiming to be heading out on a "late night run". One of the few things that Elena did know about Katherine was that she needed to stay in shape. She was a model after all. A model who just so happened to be notoriously known for her night strolls.

At about quarter past 8, Elena stepped out of the limo and onto the familiar concrete grounds of Mystic Falls High. Immediately, she was hit with a wave of familiarity. The name-calling. The teasing. The laughing. All of it was coming back as if her memories were simply the images of an early morning dream. As she clenched her fists together, she waved the driver off and climbed the stone steps up to the building. It was all so familiar, yet there was a knew atmosphere around, something strange. Almost alien.

"Katherine."

When Damon's voice made it's way to her mind, Elena whipped around to see him standing at the edge of the sidewalk. But the mere sight of Damon wasn't what caused her heart to stop.

It was what he was wearing that did the trick.

An ebony black leather jacket hugged his toned body perfectly, and as he strode toward her, Elena's mind wiped blank, replaced by only one thing.

Desire.

As Damon slowed to a stop in front of her, Elena scrambled her mind for the reason she'd called Damon there tonight.

"Damon," she breathed softly, hoping that she didn't sound as sultry as she thought. Things would take a different direction otherwise.

"What are you wearing?" He frowned as he took in her outfit: a wine-toned tank-top, an oversized brown cardigan, denim bootcut jeans and a pair of black converse.

Not the traditional Katherine Pierce getup.

"And why'd you straighten your hair?"

"It's not important," she said, her nerves seething through her words. "I need to tell you something."

Silence.

Still silence.

"Well, that's a coincidence." He spoke suddenly, and Elena met his eyes with wild shock. She didn't think he would ever speak.

"What?" Was all she could say.

"I have some news I'd like to share as well." He explained.

"Well, you can go first then." She needed to stall. If she said it now, she would be telling him in between heaves.

"So, my agent contacted me today,"

Go figure.

"He said Steven Spielberg called." Damon didn't attempt to hold back his smile. "He wants to offer me the lead in his next movie."

"Oh, my god!" Elena squealed, totally blindsided by Damon's incredible news to fret about her impending doom. "That's incredible!"

"And that's not the best part," he shook his head. At that, Elena blinked in shock.

"It's in Amsterdam." Damon nearly shouts. "He wants me to fly out a week from tomorrow."

Elena didn't know which part hit her first: The fact that Damon would be spending God-knows-how-long in not only another country, but another continent, or the fact that he was leaving in less than a week to said country.

Not that she could even see him. Surely her and Kat would be back to their old ways. Not only that, but she was certain that after tonight, after what had to be said was said, that Damon wouldn't want anything to do with her.

"Why are you telling me this?" She could only say.

Damon's eyes gleamed with a look of optimism.

"Come with me."

With those words, Elena knew that she had to do it. Now.

"Damon-"

"Now, before you say no-"

"Damon, just stop!" Elena cried, raising her hands in plea. "Please, just-Just let me tell you what I need to. You might take back your offer."

"What do you mean?" Damon frowned, inching closer to Elena.

After forcing herself to calm down before she blurted the truth out, Elena looked up into those ever-familiar cerulean blue eyes and saw a strike of worry. She had no idea how she would say this. Only that she needed to.

"What's going on? Why did you want to meet here?" Damon asked softly. Elena knew that he was ready to hear whatever it was.

Boy, if he knew.

"I, uh, I like to come here." She sighed as she looked up at the brick building. A large sign above the doors boasted "Mystic Falls High School", a sign that Elena remembered taking a picture in front of with Bonnie on their first day of high school. Suddenly, tears began to well up in her eyes. She didn't know if it was nostalgia, worry, or a mix. What she did know, however, was that she needed to say it.

"Why?" Damon asked, and Elena couldn't mistake the genuine curiosity in his voice.

"I like to imagine what my life would be like if only..." She trailed off absentmindedly, and when she turned to Damon, he eyed her with hesitance.

"What's going on, Kat?" He asked softly as he willed Elena to look at him.

"Follow me," she said, taking his hand. The two of them walked around the building and toward a back door. As they inched closer, Damon slowed down. Refusing to let anything stop her from her mission, Elena bent down and found the key that the Janitor left underneath a pipeline in case of an emergency. As she unlocked the back door, Damon let out a gasp.

"How did you know where that was?" he asked in bewilderment as Elena placed the key back into the pipe. Ignoring his question, Elena led Damon through the door and into a narrow hallway.

"If I die, then I swear you better write me a good eulogy." Damon muttered at a volume that a bird might have a hard time hearing. Refusing to respond, Elena squeezed through the hall and when the door up ahead was within reach, she slowly pushed on it and slid into the main entrance.

"What the hell is going on, Katherine?" Damon hissed quietly, but instead of responding, Elena simply reached into her pocket and pulled out her spare pair of glasses.

"What are you doing?" Damon breathed as Elena eyed the glasses with great intensity. Without giving herself a chance to chicken out of this, Elena slid the glasses on her head, adjusting them to the fit that made her most comfortable. When she looked up into Damon's eye's he looked more confused than when he arrived.

"Is this a muse?" Damon asked carefully as he took in her appearance.

Elena shook her head. "No, it's not a muse. I-"

As the squeak of a distant door sounded, Elena whipped around searching for the noise. Once nothing evident turned up, she turned back to Damon.

"We should probably get out of here." he said quietly, taking her hand. Elena shook her head.

"Wait."

As Damon frowned in confusion, Elena leaned up and pulled him down to her lips. She would never see him again after tonight. He'd go home upset, and she'd never see him again. Only in People Magazine or on talk shows. He would simply be a distant memory. All she wanted right now was to be lost in him.

"Hey, I though I was coming over instead-"

Oh, God.

Everything happened so quick. One minute she was lost in Damon, and the next, she was staring into the pained eyes of Stefan Lockwood. And the only other times she saw his eyes were when they were full of Rebekah. Only this time, they were filled with her.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked with a visible pain.

"Stefan-" She gasped, shaking her head as everything made sense.

He was upset with her for kissing someone.

Which meant that Katherine had gotten to him.

Which meant that she had gotten to him.

And she was kissing someone else.

Oh, no.

"You know what?" He scoffed as he backed away. "I didn't think you of all people were capable of this."

Her bottom lip trembled as she watched him walk away. Not because she had any sort of feeling for him anymore, but because she knew that his presence would put what seemed like two and two together for Damon, yet it was anything but.

"Is that what you dragged me out here for?" Damon snapped, and Elena whipped around to face him with tears at the base of her eyes. "To tell me that you're seeing some other guy?"

"What?" Elena squeaked. "No! No, Damon-Please let me explain-"

"Forget it," he shook his head. "I have an audition to prepare for."

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak. All she could do was sit there and cry, knowing full well that she did this to herself.

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(THEME SONG) I Want You To Want Me ~KSM

Soundtrack that inspired/mentioned in this chapter:

Fancy (feat. Charli XCX) ~ Iggy Azalea

Poison & Wine ~ The Civil Wars