Impassioned

Chapter 1

Elena

"I can't believe is just dead. It all feels so surreal." Matt sighs as him and Elena walk home together, holding hands. One week ago , their psychology teacher, was found murdered in the school parking lot. It was the night of the pep rally for the football team.

"Have they found a new psych teacher? Football coach?" Asks Elena, tightening the grip she has on Matt's hand in a comforting manner. He gives her a soft smile.

"I don't think they've found a new football coach yet but I heard a rumor that they've hired a new psych teacher." Matt answers, Elena nods at him and they spend the rest of the walk home in silence.

Matt and her have been friends since kindergarten. Sophomore year, Matt became Elena's first boyfriend. Matt loves her more than life itself, he'd do anything for her. But lately Elena has been feeling differently, she knows that she cares for Matt as a friend but when it comes to spending the rest of her life with him, she's not so sure.

They reach Elena's front door, Matt plants a chaste kiss on her lips, bids her goodbye and then starts on his walk home. Thoughts swarm through Elena's mind as she walks inside. Is he the one? Do I love him? Is there someone better out there for me? She shakes her head at the last one, Matt treats her like royalty, how could there be someone better?

"Jenna? Jeremy?" She calls out for them as she closes the door, no response.

"I guess they must be out, looks like I'll have to make dinner myself." Elena mutters to herself, hanging up her jacket and purse on the hooks beside the door.

Elena's father had taught her to cook, just like her mother had taught her to write. The memories of her parents teaching her to cook and write are the best memories she has of them. Those were the moments when it was just them and her, the closeness she felt with them had always been magnified in those moments.

Elena enters the kitchen, sliding open the glass back door to let the warm breeze into the house. As she turns to open the fridge, Elena hears a high pitched bark come from close by, then the clickity clack of claws causes her to spin around. She finds a small, German Shepard puppy looking up at her. It's tongue hangs out as it pants heavily.

"Where did you come from cutie?" Elena laughs softly as she steps closer to the puppy, bending down to pet it on the head a few times. The puppy barks again, turning its head to the back door.

"Sorry, I just moved in and i haven't got a fence up yet." A man's voice draws her attention to the back door. Elena draws a sharp breath as the man standing before her comes into view. His raven black hair has a shiny quality to it as the bright sun shines in the sky, his pale skin seems pourless, but when her eyes meet his she can't look away. His eyes remind Elena of an icy ocean in the storm, they have an amused glint to them, they seem to consume her, piercing into her dark brown doe eyes.

"It's alright, I enjoy having such a cutie in my home." Elena smiles as she stands up, the German Shepherd puppy runs to the blue eyed man.

"I'm Damon." Damon introduces himself, walking a few steps into the house, the small puppy trails behind him.

"Elena." Elena's smile grows wider as she smells Damon's alluring cologne.

"Is anyone else home, Elena?" The way he says her name makes Elena feel something she's never felt before, an indescribable feeling that makes her heart race.

"No, it's just me. Why do you ask?" Elena cocks an eyebrow at Damon, suddenly becoming wary of the stranger that is inside her house, with her, alone. No one else is around them.

"Oh, sorry if that was a weird question, I promise I'm not a serial killer or anything. Just a new neighbor that could really use some help with the last of the furniture." Elena breaths a sigh of relief at Damon's words, her cheeks begin to warm at how rude she just was, judging him right away.

"I'd love to help." Elena looks up into his eyes, seeing a softness in them that she's never seen in anyone before.

"Great, I'll even buy you dinner." Without another word the man turns on his heels and walks out of the house, with only a second more of hesitation, Elena follows him. It's not wrong to help a neighbor when you have a boyfriend is it?

The house Damon moved into is the one right next to Elena's, it has a similar style, two story, porch in the front, large back yard. Damon leads Elena to the moving truck.

"I just need help moving my coffee table and a few boxes." Damon admits, jumping up into the truck. He reaches for Elena's hand, stretching out his arm, Elena places her hand in his. His touch sends shivers up her body that Matt's touch never has. She tries to ignore the way it feels but it's nearly impossible.

He helps her into the truck, they stand shoulder to shoulder, this is the closest they've ever been to each other.

"So, where did you move from?" Elena asks him as he lifts up one side of the coffee table, she lifts the other side. He doesn't answer until they make their way out of the truck, taking careful steps.

"Salvatore, Italy. I was born here, then I moved there because my father lives there but now I'm back here again." Elena's always wanted to go to Salvatore, Italy so this impresses her.

"Is it nice there?" Elena asks as they walk to the house, coffee table in hand. A few more steps and Damon signals for Elena to put the coffee table down. Elena looks around and only the furniture is in place, but the house is much larger than hers. "Whatever he does it must make a lot of money.", Elena thinks.

"It's beautiful, but I like it here much better." Admits Damon, throwing her a little off guard. Someone likes her small town more than Italy? How?

"Why?" Is all she can say, baffled by his proclamation.

"I find the woman here to be more beautiful." Damon's eyes meet hers and for a full minute he just stares into her eyes, Elena doesn't break the gaze. But a gut feeling inside of her tells her that she should. The feelings is warning her almost, telling her that this guy is dangerous. Elena is never one to ignore her gut but this time she decides she has no reason to feel this way. Damon is completely harmless.

"We should go get the other boxes." Damon himself breaks away from the gaze, Elena nods and they both go back out to the truck.

The rest of the time is spent by Damon asking Elena questions about herself. Her age, her family, her hobbies. All in all, nothing too personal. But whenever she asks him about himself the answer he gives always seems vague.

"Do you have a job yet?" Elena asks him as they stand in the kitchen, Damon pouring both of them a glass of lemonade.

"I have a teaching job at Mystic Falls High School, I'm replacing the psych teacher." Damon hands her the glass but she nearly drops it, placing it on the counter so she doesn't do so.

"Oh umm, than I guess you've already met one of your students." She manages to choke out, for a second she thinks she saw disappointment on his face but it disappears as quickly as it came.

"Well than, Elena, it will be a pleasure to have a woman such as you in my class. So helpful, I'm sure you'll become the top student in no time." Damon smiles as he sips his lemonade.

"You better watch out, Damon. I'm the top student in all of my classes so far." Elena laughs softly. His eyes widen slightly at her words but then they go back to normal. She wishes desperately that she could know what he's thinking.

"I'm sure my class will be no exception." He places his glass beside hers, moving a few inches closer to her.

"I think I should go, my Aunt will be wondering where I am by now." Elena is second guessing if it's okay to be here. Damon makes her feel things she shouldn't. There are two very good reasons she shouldn't be around him, in his house, alone.

"Alright, but it will be your loss, I make a pretty mean lasagna." Damon backs away, picking up his glass and taking another sip.

"I will have to take you up on that offer another time, Damon. Wait..should I call you Damon or ?" She had been pleased to find out that his last name is the name of the town she wants to visit so badly.

"Damon is fine, but the other students might question you if you use it in class." Damon chuckles, Elena laughs as well.

"Bye." Elena says while laughing, Damon watches her walk away and then moves to the window so he can watch her walk all the way back inside her house.

Elena practically runs into her house and all the way up to her room, slumping against her door as she closes it. Her heart races wildly, her breathing is rapid and oddly, she wishes she stayed at Damon's. But that would be wrong, totally, completely, wrong. But being around him didn't feel wrong. It felt right, it felt incredible, it felt dangerous and adventurous. It felt different.

So what did you guys think? Review, tell me your opinions and ideas! I love to hear them. By the way, incase anyone was wondering, "Impassioned", is a synonym for Erotic. So that can kinda tell you where everything is going.