Someone to lean on when problems appear,

Someone on whom you'd depend,

Someone who'll lift you when you're down in the dumps,

That someone is truly a friend.

- Karl and Joanna Fuchs

Elena's P.O.V

"Hey" Cal face lit up as she saw me entering inside the grill. She was sitting in her usual table, we had been almost having our rights on, for past four years, almost since the grill came to existence. It was a corner sit, facing the street. A large glass window stood by the wall with two beautiful pots of lovely daisies and carnations giving life to the coziness of this side table. There are times, when we just sit and watch out of the window, smiling, as we see the outside world, busy in it's everyday life. The clear blue sky of the day, the beautiful gracious tall tress charming the streets from both sides, people walking by as they laugh and talk or wait for the cab. How we used to adore it and still do. If there is one thing that has stayed unaffected by my past, is my love for Mystic grill. Not even the bitterness that crept inside me, after the way things went with Me and Stefan, could affect this warmth, I feel here. Even though, I used to come here with him. And, this place has lots of memories of us spending time here. Maybe, I am so more loyal to this place that a part of my brain is blocked to feel anything bad about this place, ever.

I waved at Cal as I walked by the tables, to reach ours. "Hey, how are you?" I said on reaching our table and Cal rose and hugged me.

"I am good and so happy to see you" She said, looking pretty in pink top and white mini skirt. But then, Caroline is beautiful no matter what she chose to wear. She looks remarkably beautiful, with her pale complexion, sea-colored - a combo of blue-green eyes and a lustrous, shiny shoulder-length blonde hair. She has a slim and toned figure and she looks every bit of the modern age girl she wants to be.

"You talk as if you're meeting me after a long time." I commented happily too.

"A week i guess." She said. "And, then there has been lots of development in your life lately and i was eager to know, you do know" She said in a funny way, giving a bright smile as she made a happy face at me.

I laughed. "I am not telling any tale's, okay!"

"As if..." She laughed and i joined her because we both knew she wouldn't let me go until i told her every bit of it.

We sat down on our sofa. I had a quick view out of the window, and centered my gaze at Cal, who been fiddling with her mobile, as she looked at me with questioning eyes "So?" She said as she moved her blonde hair away from her face, shifting it to her back.

"So, what?" I said as I played with my black pearl bracelet i had on my wrist. This bracelet looks good with the navy blue dress i was wearing.

"Let go of that bracelet and tell me if you talked with Damien or not?" Cal voiced in impatiently, waiting for me to say something on the matter.

"DAMON" I corrected.

She bit her lips and repeated "Damon, yeah. So, you did talked with 'The DAMON Salvatore"?

It was my turn to bit my lip but i avoided doing that. She didn't realized that i hate to hear that title.

I better get use to it. Again. Ultimately, my thoughts ran to Stefan , i controlled my feelings and made myself understand that i really should get used to this because i have two with these title in my life now and i have to work with them. Uncle Sal and Damon Salvatore.

I tried to keep my happy mood intact as i said, "Yeah." I purposely didn't answered straight-away just to evoke her reaction as I keep up the suspense. It's fun to see Cal going inquisitive. Her eyes sparkles and her face carries these expression of curiosity that makes her look so adorable.

"And you did?" She said pretending to be irritated knowing I was doing that on purpose.

Without delaying it any further, I nodded to confirm, I did. She gave a satisfying smile as I said ""I am not the one who backs away from their words. I promised I will, and I did"

"He must have been impressed with you." She said with a wink which I ignored. I know how Cal tries to push me to make friendly contacts with people just so I enjoy life more and maybe all that speech about work and Damon was aimed at to achieve one such motive but I don't care. I did what she said, only because I felt that was right thing to do, and I did genuinely for I wanted to. Yet, now when she talk about how ti had been, reminded me of the eye-locking I had with Damon on our first meet that left me nervous. I felt agitated to talk about it. Cal sensed something was wrong and she hurriedly said , "Hey, hey... Relax. I am indicating anything. I just asked...." She cleared her throat and asked, "How it went"?

"Skip the tale, Cal, we know each other too well, to know and understand each other's intentions even if one of us is silent about something" She then smiled and fluttered her lashes to make me laugh. She does this silly things whenever she knows I have caught her. She would just act silly to make me laugh and make me give up on my reservations and share with her whatever she intends to know.

"Stop that, it's no longer helpful" I said in-between my laugh

"Really?" She fluttered her lashes twice, again. And we both laughed, as others looked at us with confusion wrapped on their faces.

We straightened and ignored the glares as we giggled turning our face on the other side. My mind reminded me to tell thank you to life for this day while I write my diary. It's long since I had a perfect day as today. My first speech for my first project gone well, I am prepared to meet "The Mr Johanson" tomorrow, My best friend is with me, and we are having a good time, a good laugh, like old times.

"Minus my "whatever intentions" , I am still curious to know how Shy and Reserved version of Elena took this step of fermenting this new relationship.." She looked at me and added "work relationship of course" Fighting back her giggle.

When I gave her a cornered look she gave a look back to me , which said 'please' as she encouraged me to speak, saying : "Tell Me..."

"There is nothing to say Cal. I went to Uncle Sal's cabin, knowing I'll find him there.."

"Oh, he has not a cabin for him yet?" She asked cutting in what I was saying.

"No, he just joined today. The room he has chosen needs a little furnishing....office furniture basically."

"That might not take too long, I guess."

"Yeah, a few days at the most. The decorator came and I think things have been finalized today itself"

"Wow, he is quick" I smiled as she said it.

See, I am not the only one who feels that.

"What?" She asked as she saw the mischievousness in my eyes.

"Nothing, I had the same reaction as yours, to it. I told Bonnie that he is fast" but I stopped right there, withholding what Bonnie replied to that. Not that I want to hide from her, but she is already too intrigued about Damon and me, I don't want to spice up her imaginations. It will only befall on me if I do so. I hid my sly smile.

"Well, we are on the same track then. So, basically you said thank you and returned for Uncle Sal was there. And, the poor guy didn't even got to know that you have given him benefit of doubt and is trying to change your views about him. What a pity!"

"Wait on, girl. If you keep cutting my word down you would never know and end up with your own assumptions." She made a face at that. I laughed as I said "It wasn't that simple because Uncle was not in his office."

"Oh, really, sorry sorry, tell me, I won't say a word until you stop" She promised, making a face to show me that she really intends to be quiet.

Her excitement about this was warning me for a lot of things but I know she will not give up until I share with her "Cal, I am again telling you...give a hold to your imaginative horses. No Cooking anything out of it"

"Hmm. Continue.. Please" She said smugly and looked interestingly at me as if I am going to share some spicy story with her.

Huh! "Well, i was feeling awkward going like that, so I decided to hand him these files which I planned to send through Bonnie. I thought Uncle was there so it wouldn't be so bad but as my luck would have it, he wasn't." I saw a smile forming in Cal's face. "It was... I don't what to say....so awkward... But then we started talking about things and...." And I remembered what he said about Regrets. My face must have let out something for Cal's eyes was giving me a questioning look. "You might be right. Maybe it's my over-thinking and over assumption about everyone and everything. Maybe he is not as bad as I felt yesterday, as those strange thoughts made me feel all this time." Cal got more interested and she was patiently fighting this urge to bury me with questions I know. On,y if I could make up some story and delay that but as I said it would all fall on me so I decided I better not and told her exactly what happened.

"I told him thank you and apologize for him for my yesterday's behavior. He had been quite understanding about it, In fact he admitted he been wrong too, for staring at me that way, which un-nerved me." I said , making a 'see-i-told-you-look' and then said "So well, we decided to let it go and give our best shot at this project, together"

I stopped. She looked at me, waiting to say if I have to say anything more which made me laugh at her "Shoot" I said, expecting the list of questions.

Cal let out a breath. "Thank God, you both ended it so short or I had no idea how long I would have managed my urge to hit you with all the things forming in my mind" She said as we laughed together. "But first, let's get something to eat. I feel thirsty"

She waved at Jeremy, a teenager who works part time at the grill. He was standing with a guy as he saw Cal waving at him, he excused himself from that guy and started coming towards us.

Jeremy treats me like a sister, so whenever we are here we make sure we meet him and he insists on getting our orders. He is one nice person and the only guy friend i have in my life at present but we hardly get to meet much as i stopped coming here. We exchange messages sometimes.

Jeremy is handsome and young. Tall, almost 6', well-built and he looks adorable. He removes his cap away from his dark brown hair and look at us with the same color eyes, as he smiled and walked towards us.

"Hi Jer" I said as he smiled at me. I am happy to see him, it's good to see familiar people around. "All's good?"

"Hi Elena, Pleased to see you, again" He said giving his cute smile. He is like those cute next-door boys type of a guy and he looked really sweet in his red jacket and faded blue denims.

"Me too, Jer" I said as my lips formed a smile for him.

"Hi Cal" He said looking at Caroline.

"Elena, always has to be first hmm" She teased him for talking to me first. Cal shares a very friendly relation with him and always teases him.

"Well, she is my sister, i want to greet her first" He said as he winked at me, and we laughed as Cal made a face at us.

Someone called for him and he turned around , waved a hand and tuned to look at us again. "As usual, I guess." He said, confirming our orders.

I nodded and Cal confirmed "Yes." He smiled at us, looked at me once again, smiling, and headed towards the counter.

"See the affect you have on people, yet you chose to lock yourself away" Cal's word cut in the silence as I looked at her, caught by surprise for what she said.

"I know what you mean, but i have the same thing to say that, 'I'm Trying" i replied.

"I am glad you are" She said, looking pleased.

I know why she is saying that, for she thinks something can brew between me and Damon as we work together, our father are partner's, she had heard praises of him from everyone... and she has some Bollywood approach to such things but such things happens only in movies not in real life.She didn't even met Damon, how can she even be sure i would even think of such a thing to happen, surpasses my reasoning.

"So, are you going to tell me about what happened or not?" She asked again.

"You already know most of the details, so i will keep it short by saying that I was nervous when dad told me that he is about to come, you know how it is with strangers"

"But, he isn't a stranger. You knew he exist."

"Yeah, But i never met him and all those bottled up strange feelings i had related to him, surfaced up yesterday and well, i just..i don't made a mess of our first meeting."

"So, you regret?'

Again, Regret! I thought.

"Maybe, What i feel bad about is excluding his stares that made me wary of him, he been trying to make conversations, and though i tried, but it was a failed attempt, each time something or other hits my mind or make me conscious and i reacted in the most silly ways."

She kept looking at me, without saying anything.

"I don't how know i wanted our first meeting to be. Of course i knew someday i will meet him, but i wasn't prepared yesterday, i reacted on the way i been programmed by these strange feelings and...."

"And?" Her brows lifted.

"And, i don't know the way he kept staring at me during the day and at night when we were walking on the beach..."

"You went with him to a beach?" Cal bubbled with excitement, her face revealing that she feels glad to hear this.

"Yeah, to avoid him but as my luck goes, Uncle Sal asked him to accompany me. But stop reading into it. It was nothing."

"Yeah, yeah, as you say." She said giggling. "Tell me how he is. Hearing about him from Bonnie, left me curious. Now that you finally met him, what do you think about him?" She asked, her eyes fixed upon me with some sort of wonderment in them.

There...This is what she actually intends to know rather than what i felt!

"To be honest, when i my eyes saw him ,my mind wandered to the things you and Bonnie put in my head and i was so embarrassed and i hate you that moment!" I told her with some sort of fierceness in my expression.

She laughed. "You find it funny? I still can't forget the moment when instead of asking him In, i was stupidly looking at him, without blinking." I was glad the topic about beach was closed, i feel uneasy to talk about the way we were and then my warning him later. Anyways, i apologised for it, so why dig into it nay futher. But, the way he looked at me then, send sone shivers in me. Fear, i guess. I hardly knew him and i was with him on a beach, of all place. It was strange!

"My My, that confirms he is hot, good-looking and every bit of A Demi-God, Bonnie described him as, and i feel he is attracted to you, with all those looks and stuff" She giggled.

"You are being over-imaginative, Cal. it's nothing like that."

"I know that sort of looks, Elena. The way you said Damon looked at you, it's so obvious, he just might be attracted to you." I gulped down a breath as she continued to speak, "Picture this, that he heard so much about you and he was curious to see you and then he saw you and BAMN!, His world started to spin because of course no one can deny that you are one beautiful woman on this planet and he is a man, he ought to be attracted by you" She said convincingly and happily as if i will be glad to hear these things.

When did you stop understanding me , Cal? I thought to myself.

Or, Maybe she is being practical with her thoughts as she wants i move on with my life and blah blah blah

I didn't spurted out what I thought. I gave a denial expression by turning my face left to right, smiling at her observations and to what she said now.

"You are so busy ignoring the rest of the world, you don't even notice when a hot guy is trying to charm you." She said, refusing to accept what i think.

"For one thing, i find such things Crass not hot and you must stop talking like that, He is my colleague, I have to work with him. Stop influencing me with your crazy ideas and such silly comments"

"So what? Whoever said that you can't bond with a person from work?"

"I am not not doing so at all, Its Strictly Business, Completely Professional, that is what i said to him yesterday and i intend to keep it the same"

"You apologized, decided to let yesterday go and yet you say the same?" Cal said with confusion.

"Yes, i did let go, we did, but that's not going to change the fact that i don't want any personal thing developing from there." I looked at her , with determination and said "No attraction, no friendship thing, Cal, so don't keep your hopes to high with this"

She made a face but stayed quiet. She didn't even met the guy, all she knows of him is from what she heard from me and Bonnie and she feels i should ....i should what..actually!?! No. It has to be strictly Professional. I looked at her and said "Don't worry, i will behave in a very civil manner if that is what you're thinking, i will not be rude and judging him on anything but that's just it. Nothing from there."

She heaved a sigh of relief but her eyes were sparkling as if she has some thought in her mind regarding this. But she didn't said anything. I shared with her about that funny moment when i said his name in James Bond Style and we both laughed at it. But then, she got into serious conversation.

"All i expect is you be good with him. I know, you told me about him staring at you and all, but that is what all guys do, when you don't bother or notice others then you should also not react to Damon's. Makes sense, Right?"

Oh, Great! Is she trying to say that just because i observed and reacted to Damon, there be some chance... Hell, Not with Damon, Never. He reminds me of Stefan, with him is attached those haunting feelings... with him is attached ... What? I asked myself. Am i prejudiced against him? Is it so? If not, then why everyone been trying to make me feel this way and is guiding me on how i should behave with him. I can understand Dad's concern, Maybe even Bonnie's too But Cal... She is my friend. She is suppose to be on my side. But she is, in his and that too without even meeting him.

I understand, she wants i make friends and chill around, maybe i will do those things again in my life,someday, but nothing of those sort are ever going to happen with Damon, because i might put it all aside but i cannot deny the existence of those strange feelings, the fears that grabs me whenever my mind thinks about him and then what i faced from life... I am not ready to trust anyone to the level of even good friendship at the moment. I just can't. The scars are too deep to be healed and let me forget what happened.

"Things are little messy, Cal. Yesterday, had been not a good one. Understand, if you can and don't try to reason me out in this, Please"

She reached for my hands, holding them "Elena, i understand. All i want is that you see the bright side of things instead of judging everything on the basis of...your past and those thoughts that makes you feel negative about everything. You wouldn't be able to move peacefully unless you do so, being on the same track might make things more complicated for you."

"I know Cal, that's is why i reasoned with what you told me today and i talked with him and we decided we let yesterday go"

Cal nodded "Yeah, right, I am sorry if i was being pushy, but i do want your good, hmm"

Jeremy was back with our order. The three of us sat together, as always, and carried on with our conversations. Jeremy been working in the grill for past two year since he joined college. He gets off time in-between shifts, so when we are here, he inter-change his shifts with others to spend time with us, without being called again and again.

"So, How are things with you Elena?" He said as he offered me the drink he brought. Cal laughed as he did so. Well, we like each other like brother and sister, so its okay if he gives me attention. I thought to myself and raised my eye-brows at Cal, which made the three of us laugh.

"Your sissy, has made an achievement." Cal said , looking at Jer, who was now laughing and handing her the mug of drink, he brought for her.

His eyebrows lifted in a questioning way at me. I told him about the project i will be handling and he looked pleased to here. But, Cal meant something else.

"I was talking about taking a first step to talking to a stranger-for-her" She winked as i eyed her, giving her a warning glare but it was too late.

"Seriously, that is amazing" Jeremy gleefully.

Cal nodded and i kept myself busy drinking my Faux Champagne, pretending i am not interested in their chit-chats.

Two of my favorite people, talking about me as if i am not present! Cal knows i don't mind sharing with Jeremy, he anyways knows and had witnessed many things that has happened in my life around the time i had been Stefan, and i kept myself away from him too but he did used to try his best to stay in contact with me and make me feel better with his caring messages and words we used to have whenever we talked. At times, i feel guilty for pushing away everyone away from me, because of Stefan, but i was having a hard time accepting things, and i did what i felt doing that time. I feel sorry and i regret hurting my friends feelings by doing that but i am glad now, happy that we are back to being how we were.

Caroline was telling him about how things went with me and Damon and he was chuckling all the time. I smiled as i looked at him. His innocence was one thing that brought us closer. I like his company. Now, as i see him laughing and talking with me and Caroline, i realized how much i missed all these things and let myself buried down with my scars and pain, uselessly. For the one person, responsible for them didn't even bothered to check through if or not i survived the bolt he gave me. Stefan, how i hate you!

Without further fondling over that thought, i looked straight at Cal's happy face as she talked and then it hit me that she too had something to share. I wasted no time,and i asked "Cal, you wanted to talk about something, Right?"

She hesitated. Jeremy thought it was because of him and he was about to excuse himself when she said "Sit, i am okay with having you around, Jeremy" She said giving him a warm smile. He smiled back.

"Well?" I said.

"I had a fight with Klaus" She said sadly and all the previous cheer and joy faing rom her face as she said those words. I was impressed by the way she managed to hide her feelings and tried to be happy with us. Cal is really wise and selfless, always gving other's more importance than herself.

"What you both tangoed with now?" Jer said, teasingly, to make her smile. She and Jer has their own style of pulling and teasing each other. He meant "Argued."

"Ask him, when you see him. He is a bad dancer!" Cal tried to laugh.

"Okay, now seriously tell me, what's wrong?" I asked, again.

"Nothing, he was intending i meet his parents, officially, you know what i mean" She said.

I nodded as i said, "Yeah, he wants to go on to the next step. And, i know you said you needed time, so tell him so."

"I did, but he fails to understand. And, there is no next step here, we are not a couple yet" She replied.

"Hey, liar. I heard you saying 'I love you' to him and he hugged you" Jeremy said innocently and that made Cal blushed, looking horrifically at him and shyly looking away, making me burst out laughing.

"Well He said first, and the way he was looking at me as he said it, it just came from my mouth and we hugged" She said shyly, and then giving a glare at Jer " but listen kid, even friends can say i love you's and hug each other." Jeremy made a face at that.

"My God, you're blushing" I said playfully.

"No, I am not" she winced.

"Yes, you are" I repeated as both me and Jer shared a look and laughed

She stood up in her usual 'i-don't-care' confident style and said, "Let's go shopping." Without even waiting for me to reply, she continued "It's still early, the new wall is not far-away, lets go there" I understood, she does not wants to speak more about it, maybe because she is not sure or maybe because of Jeremy, i don't know but i didn't asked because knowing her, i am sure if there is anything really needed to share and discuss, she would without hesitation. Maybe, she really isn't sure about Klaus.

We said our bye to Jeremy and i promised i will call him soon and be here again, too. And, I and Caroline went to the mall. But, my mind was busy thinking about Klaus and Cal, For i didn't another one to be hurt, as me. Rushing in into things is not good but delaying doesn't help either and Klaus and Cal has been together, without accepting their feelings, fro past 2 years now. And, now Klaus is trying to initiate but Cal isn't sure. Maybe, she is too affected by what happened with me and needs to be sure. After all, i knew Stefan for years and yet he acted in that manner, leaving me alone with these scars. It made me so wary of love, Cal has seen it, so i can understand her need to be independent first, then walk into any comittment. No one knows fate, but we all try to protect ourselves, in all ways possible, by planning for our future. At least, she has hopes.

My hopes faded beneath these scars i have.

But today, i feel proud of my scars, because they taught me and people around me a must learn lesson for our life"

I believe, Klaus loves her.

I wish, either she learns to see and reciprocate the same feelings, the same way , for Klaus is a good man , or they just stick to friendship without giving into feelings and making things complicated.