A/N: Hi! So it's been a hot second since I've actually written anything that I've wanted to post but after falling down a TVD re-watch rabbit hole, this happened. It's very different to what I've done in the past but I'm enjoying it so far. Please tell me what you think!
1: Lonely One
The low morning sun glared menacingly through the curtain-less bedroom window of Elena Gilbert, illuminating the bare walls of her dorm room. She had been so eager to move away to college, to start a fresh life away from everyone who knew her and her daunting past, but the callous reality did not live anywhere up to the dream. New York City was horrifyingly expensive and she had to share an apartment with two invasive strangers, just to (barely) afford the rent. It wasn't the worst though. Yes, her space needed some personal touches to make it her own, but her room was a half decent size. I had squeezed a double bed, a wardrobe and a dresser/come desk/come any kind of crap storage and there was no damp. After living in her fair share of foster homes and various other housing situations, this was a win. She was fully expecting to land herself in a total shit heap with what she could actually afford with the financial aid she received but this wasn't that.
The dull pounding in her head was what brought her out of her slumber. She groaned rolled over, burrowing her face back into her pillow but there was no chance she was going to go back to sleep. She really needed to get herself a blind to cover that window. Or a sheet. Even a piece of cardboard would do, to be honest. Her headache was more than likely the result of drinking the entirety of a bottle of cheap red wine last night on an empty stomach. After a good fifteen minutes of plucking up the courage, she swung her legs out of bed and sat up. Okay, big mistake...Hello there spinning room. After further deliberation, she finally managed to wrap her robe around herself, slip her slippers onto her feet and stumble out of her room.
She ventured into the kitchen in search of water, glad to find the place silent. She couldn't face interacting with another human just yet. Grabbing a clean glass from the draining board, she filled it with water and downed it in one, desperate to get rid of this red wine hangover. Catching sight of leftover Chinese takeout all over the kitchen counter in various open containers made her stomach turn at the mere sight of it. Rebekah she presumed.
Rebekah Mikaelson was one of her two housemates. Messy, Lazy and an all-round nightmare. And with Rebekah came her boyfriend Matt. She knew his name was Matt because of the things she had heard through her bedroom wall. Things she really didn't want to hear. He was always here, definitely didn't contribute to anything and enjoyed taking long, expensive showers, whenever Elena needed to use the bathroom it seemed. And to top it off, it always smelled of weed when you passed their room. Sometimes it even crept into her room. Smoking definitely wasn't allowed in the house. Especially that.
Elena poured another glass of water from the tap and drank it along with two paracetamol tablets before returning to her room. She sat herself on her bed, still firmly wrapped in her robe and pulled out her laptop from under her bed. Yesterday she had planned to complete her assignment that was due the following Monday, however her housemates had other plans, deciding to throw a rager of a party. Her own hangover hadn't been the result of the party, however. More like drinking in her room, alone. Sad but true, she mused.
She opened the document for her Creative Writing class, staring at the almost blank page. Her assignment was to write about a significant event in her life. It seemed so simple but for someone like Elena Gilbert, it was so far from that. At eighteen, Elena had experienced more in life that some people in their mid-thirties. And she really didn't want to open that door that she firmly locked when she left Chicago.
She picked up her phone, toying with it in her hands before selecting a contact and pressing call.
"Elena, hey!" The girl on the other end of the line exclaimed.
Bonnie Bennet was her best and only friend. The raven eyed, caramel skinned girl had been her saviour when she transferred to yet another school on a long string of schools; too many to even count on both hands. The two had hit it off almost straight away and she had eventually opened up to Bonnie about things she hadn't even told to a therapist.
"Bon Bon!" Elena replied. "How are you? I miss you!"
"I miss you too! I'm at my Grams right now. She's been droning on about the healing properties of herbal medicine for the last hour but I'm good." Elena giggled, practically hearing the other girl roll her eyes. "How is the Big Apple?"
"Great!" She replied, trying her best to sound enthusiastic. I mean, it was great, she was just a bit lonely. "But classes are kicking my butt. I've got an assignment due tomorrow and I've barely made a dent."
Bonnie laughed. "What do you have to do for it?"
"Write about something significant that's happened in my life…" Elena trailed off.
"And you don't know what to write about?"
"Well, unless I want my professor to slit his wrists…" She answered narcissistically before changing her tone. "I'm kidding. But seriously, what do I write?"
"I don't know, me?" Bonnie suggested in a joking tone, grinning.
"Oh ha-ha. Very funny Bon."
The two continued talking on the phone and catching up. Elena had only moved to New York two weeks ago but still the two had plenty to talk about. When they eventually hung up, something to do with Bonnie's Grams and some gardening emergency, Elena sighed and threw her head back against the wall, letting out a deep sigh, the blinking of the text cursor taunting her.
And an idea hit her. Bonnie. She would write about Bonnie. Yes, her friend was joking but she could actually write about Bonnie and the significance of friendship in her life. She began tapping away on the keyboard, forgetting about drafting an outline and dove straight in. There was hardly time for that anyway, with the deadline looming above her head. I mean, it was hardly a good idea if she was to fail her first assignment after all.
A couple hours passed and Elena had actually managed to throw out something half decent. Deciding to take a break and read over it later, she closed the lid of her laptop and climbed off her bed, grabbing a towel, deciding a shower would be a good idea. It was almost four in the afternoon after all.
She stood under the steady flow of water, letting it wash over her. She shampooed through her long chestnut tresses and rinsed it out until the soapy water ran clear, contemplating what to do with the rest of her day. Food was probably a good idea, she pondered. The majority of her hangover had now subsided and she was getting pretty hungry. As if on cue, her stomach growled so the brunette turned off the water and reached for her towel, drying herself off before wrapping her hair up in a towel turban, slipping her robe on and exiting the bathroom to return to her room.
As she stepped out of the bathroom, her body collided into the chest of none other than that of Matt Donovan. She looked up, noticing his eyes red drooped. Of course he was high.
"Sorry, uh…can I get to my room please?" She mumbled, trying to manoeuvre round his broad frame. She watched as his eyed wandered down her body, smirking to himself and suddenly she felt very self-conscious, pulling her robe tighter around her slender frame.
"We're having another party tonight, you should maybe join us this time." Matt suggested, still watching her.
Elena shook her head. "Uhm, no thanks." How had she ended up in a party house, seriously?!
"Oh come on Lena, it'll be fun. No need to be boring, this is what College is about!" He pleaded.
"I said no." She replied sternly, entering her bedroom firmly closing the door behind, clicking the lock shut. Once inside, she threw herself onto her bed and let out a groan. Another party, fucking yay.
Around 10pm, she could her a pulsing beat from down the hall and choruses of chatter as people tried to make themselves heard over the deafening music. She let out a deep breath. There was absolutely zero chance of her getting to sleep right now, no thanks to the party animals that overran her apartment. She glanced at her closet, debating the idea of just biting the bullet and joining them. After all, what else was she going to do until everyone had either left or passed out somewhere?
She opted on dressing herself in a pair of faded blue skinny jeans, a black tank top tucked into them and a simple belt around her waist. She left her hair in its natural wave having dried that way after her earlier shower and applied minimal makeup; some mascara, brow gel and lip balm. Taking a deep breath, she gave her appearance a once over and exited the safe confines of her room. Now outside, the music was even louder. She navigated herself through the groups of drunk college kids and proceeded to the kitchen to get herself a drink. Once she had a drink in hand, she gazed over the room. Their place was hardly huge but there were somehow probably over fifty people in their apartment. There were groups standing around chatting and drinking, grinding on a makeshift dancefloor and smoking god knows what.
It was then that she saw Rebekah making her way over to Elena in the kitchen.
"Who's idea was this?" She questioned, gesturing to the scene in front of her.
"Jeez, lighten up Elena, it's a party." The blonde answered, her British accent coming through thick.
"Some of us have class in the morning." The brunette growled, walking off.
"No need to be such an up-tight bitch!" Rebekah called after her, refilling her own drink.
Elena ignored her, not having the energy to have an argument with her. In the short two weeks since they had met, they had already had a number of indifferences regarding drugs, parties and mess, just to name a few. Maybe she could speak to someone tomorrow and see if she could be moved into another apartment, preferably one that didn't like to party into the early hours of the next morning.
Several drinks later, it was safe to say she was a little buzzed. She had been chatting to a girl in one of her classes and had been knocking back more drinks than she could recall, anything to make this party bearable. It was then that someone pushed into her, sending her flying, but instead of hitting the floor as she was expecting, someone caught her. She looked at the guy as he placed her back onto her feet, quickly aware the strong pair of arms that were wrapped around her waist.
"Easy there…here, let me get you another drink. And a cloth."
Elena just stood there as he took her empty cup from her and observed the contents now spilled down the front of her jeans, following him into the kitchen. Now in better light, she could see her perpetrator fully. He had raven dark hair, styled messily on the top of his head and wore a tight black t-shirt showing off the extensive tattoos on his arms. Where else did he have tattoos, she mused, immediately snapping herself out of that thought thereafter.
"So, I haven't seen you at a party before." He stated, producing a bottle of Bourbon and pouring them both a glass. Elena accepted the drink, taking a sip and grimacing at the taste as it burned its way down her throat. He chuckled at her expression. "It's an acquired taste, you get used to it."
Elena nodded, letting the burning subside. "I don't really do parties."
"Why not? It's fun and you're gorgeous." He smirked and that's when she noticed his eyes. They were a bright piercing shade of blue. Almost hypnotising.
She realised she should probably get out of there and at least attempt to get some sleep. "I'm flattered, but I should really go…" She turned to leave but he grabbed her hand, pulling her back to him.
"At least stay for another drink. I didn't even catch your name." He begged, refilling her cup.
Elena sighed. How could she say no to those eyes, even though she was positive he had an ulterior motive? "Sure. And I'm Elena."
"Damon." He replied, handing her a second glass of Bourbon with a smile. She took a drink, her mouth almost numbed by the liquor now, sure she was going to regret this by the morning.
I'm sure we all want to know what Damon is up to there! Chapter two should follow soon.
Please review and tell me what you think. Suggestions are very welcome!
-P x