action;
[ it's not her fault; it's not, and she looks him and his warm smile over trying to tell herself that. but whether it is her fault or not, he's still here, and she's sorry because he doesn't deserve it. maybe elena has thought, is thinking, knowing that perhaps she deserves to be here too, she recognizes it for what it is: self-flagellation. this isn't the way to atone for what she's done or what her existence has wrought. and therefore it's not ric's fault he's here either.
fault is something she's been thinking a lot about. and so she's troubled at his words, just for a moment, shaking her head once to the side. smiling again and squeezing his hand momentarily, her expression only slipping further into a smile -- a grimace, that he'd rather be here with her. (the problem is she'd rather it too, and seeing him reminds her of jeremy. reminds her of how much she misses him, and wants to see him. home or here or anywhere; that's how she knows she's wrong to want it.)
she turns around halfway then, remembers damon just as he speaks --
and there he is, in all his painfully and carefully not-caring glory. didn't miss him, sure. her brow quirks up. she not even going to say 'be nice.' ]