InsaneJournal

Who: Elena and Caroline
What: Secrets are spilled
When: Recently
Where: Elena’s place
Status: Complete
Rating:</b> Low



Elena couldn’t keep secrets from Caroline. Even if she had wanted to, they were too close for her to even consider it. She needed to tell her friend, even if she knew that Caroline would not hold back in voicing her displeasure. Damon was a sore point, in this world and the dream world. Elena didn’t seem to be able to stay away from him, try though she might and she needed to tell her friend before she found out on her own.

So she had made plans with Caroline for a girl’s day. An ulterior motive to get together and gossip. And, since Tyler had been staying with Caroline, Elena had volunteered her house. She had the makings of mimosas chilling in the fridge, and mani/pedi supplies on the table.

At the knock, Elena sprang forward, smiling brightly. “Hey…. I’m glad we’re getting a chance to do this.” They hadn’t had enough of a chance lately.

As usual Caroline’s life was beyond busy. Between work, and Tyler staying with her, and Marguerite’s birthday, she had barely had time to see Elena. Of course she told her best friend Tyler had been staying with her. And that they were basically together now. But she left out the part where Tyler was forced to go on a killing spree thanks to Klaus. She wouldn’t betray him like that. But now that she knew about the sire bond she couldn’t help but be constantly worried about Tyler. What else would that psychopath make him do?

Caroline needed a break. And she needed some time with her best friend. So when Elena invited her over for mani/pedis and mimosas? How could Caroline say no?

“Hey!” she greeted wrapping her arms around Elena in a hug before walking inside. “Me too. It’s been too long.”

Hugging her tightly a moment, Elena stepped back to let her come in, closing the door behind her. “Everything is ready in the kitchen. And I can’t wait to get caught up on everything that has happened since the last time we talked.”

Offering a teasing smile, she led the way. “I’m sure you have so much more news than me. All of the exciting events, Tyler…” And Elena had medical school. And a flirtation or two.

Caroline made her way into Elena’s kitchen with her friend. She knew the place so well, she was perfectly comfortable here, but that’s what happened when you were best friends with someone almost your entire life.

“Well,” Caroline said opening the fridge to grab them each a mimosa. “The events are always fun. Even though I am running around like a crazy person half the time trying to make sure everything is perfect.” Which of course it never was. Even with all her meticulous planning there was always at least one minor thing that was less than perfect. “Tyler’s… good,” she couldn’t help the smile on her face. She had wanted this for so long. Hell she hadn’t even wanted to break up with him in the first place all those years ago. “But what about you? You’re done with finals right?”

“With you in charge, I’m sure everything is perfect,” Elena teased, moving to sit at the table and sorting through the dozen or so shades of nail polish she had. It was important to select the right one, after all. “You wouldn’t accept anything less.”

She offered a nod of thanks to Caroline as the other girl brought mimosas over. “And I’m glad that you and Tyler managed to work things out. I’m sure you’ll be very happy.” They loved each other, that much was clear. And Tyler had cared so much when he thought that he had completely messed things up.

“But yes. Finals are over and done with, thank goodness. I have a few summer classes, but I will have some time to relax this summer, too. Other than that, though…”. Well there was Damon but maybe she should let Caroline have a drink first before that topic came up.

“I did go on something of a date or two with a guy but...he was really weird the last time I saw him. He was at Tyler’s place, actually. Klaus?”

Sitting down at the table, Caroline selected a bright pink for herself. It was summer after all. Time for bright colors! She couldn’t keep the grin off her face when they talked about Tyler. “I hope so! I don’t want to jinx it.” There was so much history between them. From high school. And she had a feeling there was something between them in the dreams too. Even though she was dating Matt, she knew Tyler was interested in her.

“Good,” Caroline said taking a sip of her drink. “You deserve to relax at least a little bit.” However what Elena said next cased Caroline’s face to pale. Klaus. She didn’t know much of him from the dreams. Other than that he kidnapped her and Tyler and planned to use them for some sacrificial ceremony. But she tried not to judge people too much based on how they acted in the dreams. However, what she knew of him here? It was nothing good. He forced Tyler to kill people with his freaky sire bond. Caroline did not condone murder. And she hated what he had put Tyler through.

“He’s not good news,” Caroline finally said. She’d rather Elena be with Damon, the asshole cheater. It beat a psychopath murderer at least.

From the way Caroline reacted, Elena knew even before she spoke that this would not be good. And then no details, just a blanket statement that he was bad? Something was definitely up.

She paused, hands stilling. “What aren’t you telling me? It must be really bad.”

As much as Caroline wanted to warn Elena of just how evil Klaus was. It wasn’t her place. She couldn’t tell Elena what he made Tyler do. What Tyler had gone through. She wasn’t going to betray his trust like that.

“Maybe you should talk to Tyler about it. About why he was staying at Tyler’s apartment.” That was all she could really say.

Yeah, it was definitely bad. Elena sighed softly. “You probably think I have the worst taste in guys.” Because first Damon and now Klaus. Though she could at least say that Klaus had never done anything to her specifically. But she was a glutton for punishment, it seemed, giving Damon a second chance.

“Of course not,” Caroline replied. Though if she being honest Damon wasn’t exactly great taste, especially given what he put her through. And Klaus, well, yeah he just seemed like bad news all around. “You just have a thing for bad boys.” Or murderous psychopaths. “I can see the appeal.”

“Because I’m a thrill seeker?” At least Elena laughed as she said it. “...there’s something about them...maybe I’m an optimist and I think I can change them.” Because that logic never went wrong. But there was something about knowing a man could be wicked and wouldn’t.

A shake of her head as she settled on a nail polish and started filing her nails in preparation. “It doesn’t seem like my dream self is really all that different.”

“Stefan doesn’t seem like much of a bad boy.” In fact other than Matt he was probably the most ‘good’ guy in their dreams. Hell maybe even more so than Matt with how he tricked Caroline and spied on her for Liz.

“That’s true,” Elena allowed, glancing up at Caroline. “In both worlds. We talked, Stefan and I. About the dream world. He said that he wants to be friends here, and with no expectations about anything more.” It was actually nice, to know exactly where she stood with him.

“But he let me know some vague things about the future. Damon, too. More detailed, though.”

Caroline merely raised a brow at that. She didn’t talk much about what happened in the future of her dreams. She knew Tyler was so far ahead his had started over with a new set, where she was apparently a red head. And he had told her that in the current sent her mom stopped hating vampires. But that was it. She knew nothing else of the future. As curious as she was about what else happened, she knew it was better for her to just experience it herself.

“You’ve been talking to Damon?” she finally said taking a sip of her mimosa.

“He asked me to meet him,” Elena answered. “Just the one time.” One time in addition to the drinks she’d already had with him, that was.

“He wanted to tell me about something he’d done in the dreams. Something I haven’t dreamed about yet.” Pausing in her work, Elena looked more fully up at Caroline.

“It was bad but I’m glad I know it’s coming.” And if Caroline wanted more information, Elena could tell her. She was just a bit hesitant to spoil her future without knowing Caroline was okay with it.

“You mean just two times.” Caroline remembered how they had met at Purgatory not too long ago. “Why do I have a feeling there are going to be a lot more of these ‘just one times’?” Caroline asked even as going as far as to use air quotes for the phrase. She knew she was being a little harsh. But she didn’t want Elena to get hurt again. Once a cheater, always a cheater.

“Why does that not surprise me?” Damon did a lot of bad things in the dreams. At least from what Caroline had seen so far.

“Care…” Elena had been hoping that it wouldn’t come to the judgment quite so quickly but it had been a bit naive to even hope for something else.

“I’m not jumping into bed with him. But I do think that the dreams might explain some things. I didn’t know…. He was transitioning when we were together. It doesn’t excuse anything but it adds another layer to the picture.” It wasn’t just that Damon was a douchebag. Of all people Caroline could understand the heightened emotions.

“And yes, he did a lot of bad things.” Elena wouldn’t rehash the discussion she and Caroline had had previously about Damon’s abuse and his attempts to change. It didn’t change the past, after all.

“So?” Caroline questioned. “Transitioning doesn’t make you a cheater.” Caroline knew. She had gone through it. Although she had been single at the time. She knew she wouldn’t have cheated. “Why are you making excuses for him?”

“I know that,” Elena nodded, dropping any pretense of doing anything other than having this discussion, focusing entirely on her friend.

“And I’m not making excuses for him. He still hurt me deeply, Caroline. But transitioning is an emotional roller coaster. He told me that he had to take cold showers before going out with me because all he could think about was blood. And I think he torpedoed our relationship.”

Before Caroline could say anything about Elena giving Damon purer motives than he probably had, Elena rushed on. “Not consciously. And the end result is the same. He cheated. But it helps me. Understanding his mental state at the time… I know it was never my fault but...it helps kind of…cement that.”

If Damon had confided in her, things might have been different. But he had made the decision to hide what he was going through. To not share with her. And there was nothing she could have done differently if he hadn’t wanted to share. Even being more observant wouldn’t have changed things if he didn’t want to talk to her about becoming a vampire.

Somehow she didn’t think Caroline would give her a pass on any of it but at least she had tried to explain her own mental thought process.

“Of course it wasn’t your fault,” Caroline replied. “Damon is just selfish.” There was no excuse for cheating. Not being drunk. Not becoming a vampire. Not the death of a loved one. Nothing. But the way Elena was talking… “You’re making it sound like it’s not his fault either. It is.”

Caroline wouldn’t be doing her duty as a best friend if she didn’t try to keep Elena from getting hurt. Even if it had been a few years, she didn’t trust Damon to not hurt Elena again. And if she kept up with these ‘just one time’ meetings it was only a matter of time before Damon broke her heart again.

“I know. But there’s always that little voice that questions if there was something that I could have done differently. Would I have realized something was wrong before and ended the relationship or something. The 3am thoughts that keep you awake in the middle of the night.”

“And I didn’t say that,” Elena continued with a shake of her head. “Just because I understand more of his motivation doesn’t mean that he is blameless or that I approve. All it does is give me context of what led to him making that decision.”

“Well now you have your context and your answers,” Caroline replied. “You don’t need to see him anymore.” Though she had a feeling Elena had already been sucked back in. It sure as hell seemed like she had at least, with the way she was talking about Damon. But she said her peace. Elena knew how she felt. There wasn’t much else she could do at this point. So with that said she opened up the polish she selected and started on her nails.

Caroline had stated her mind but it was clear she was less than thrilled with the way this had turned out. Not that Elena could blame her, really. Damon hadn’t exactly been a model boyfriend. But there was no changing what had happened. And she really did think he was trying to be a better person. Even if Caroline doubted that there actually was a better Damon to be found.

“I know you don’t want me to have any sort of interaction with him. But don’t hate me if I do. Please?” She didn’t want their friendship to suffer.

Caroline looked up at her friend. “I could never hate you,” she replied honestly. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know you don’t.” And she loved Caroline for it. Leaning in, arms wound around her shoulders in a loose hug. “And if I regret this decision, I know I can count on you to tell me ‘I told you so’ and remind me that you always know best.” Elena was only slightly teasing.

Caroline returned the hug with a small smile on her face. “I think I can agree to those terms,” she teased right back. Caroline really wouldn’t remind Elena of either of those things. Even if they were true.

“Enough talk about Damon. Let’s get back to our day.”