Elena watched Damon as he sat beside her, leaving a polite amount of space between them. She shifted slightly so she could face him more, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. It was strange that she felt so much more bare, in just the bikini, now that Damon was there. She had a good body, she knew, and everyone else on the beach was wearing swimming costumes or shorts, but Damon had a way of making her feel exposed like no one else could. "It's better now," she said with a little smile. "I didn't like sitting here looking like I had no friends." That wasn't the only reason why she was glad Damon was there, but she wouldn't say it.