Author's Notes: Hello to everyone who's reading this. I know that I have a story posted titled "Quirky", and yes, this story will have the same basic idea except for a few differences.

I didn't think that I did my original story to the best of my ability and eventually, this revised edition will replace the old one. Most characters will stay, others will go. I will try to make this version more detailed and I plan on taking my time on developing the relationship between Dani and Damon, which felt a bit rushed in the original.

I would like to thank those that posted comments on the original "Quirky" and hope that you enjoy this one just as much.

Additionally, my original took place near the end of season one of the Vampire Diaries, which will not be the case in this story. I will actually not be leaning on the show for most of the structure of this story and will be trying to be a little more original so that I have more room to develop ideas.

Chapter 1

Danielle Court yawned as she drove into Mystic Falls. She'd been driving for two days from her native town in Canada, all of her things stuffed into the trunk and back seat of her Mini Cooper, and all for a teaching job.

She had signed up with a company that sent English teachers to other countries to teach English. She had just graduated from university with her degree, but she did not picture her first teaching experience to be in an American classroom.

But she had been informed that she would not only be teaching English, but she would be covering a Spanish class as well, so that was something.

Looking around, she saw that she was on Main Street, and she needed to go to Cornell. She received the address of where she was staying a week before she left and that was all. She pulled out her phone and pulled up her mapping app.

She saw that the GPS on her phone had picked up her location and that she needed to take the next road over to get to the address.

She made a turn at the next street and followed it until she came to Cornell. She didn't see anything that looked like an apartment building. The street just had houses lined up on both sides.

Dani frowned, thinking that this must be the wrong road when she spotted the address she was supposedly looking for.

Dani pulled up to the curb and shut off the engine. Stepping out, she sighed in pleasure as she stretched. The sun shone brightly above her and a cool breeze blew her hair into her face. Annoyed, Dani pushed it away and made her way up the front steps of the house in front of her.

It looked like a modest house. White with green shutters and trim, it had two floors and seemed quite clean.

It was the address that she had, so she would see if this was the right place.

Going up the porch steps, she knocked on the door.

She stood there for a few minutes than knocked again. Glancing at the driveway, she noticed that there were no cars parked there. She puckered her lips nervously. Hopefully there was someone home.

The door opened quite suddenly and an old woman looked out at her sourly. "If you're selling something, I don't want it."

Dani shook her head and smiled. "No ma'am, I'm not here to sell you anything. My name is Danielle Court and I was given this address by my-"

"Oh, you're the teacher!" In an astounding transformation, the old woman's sour expression turned into the sweetest smile.

"You must forgive my rude behavior. I hate salesmen and religious kooks. Please come in. What did you say your name was again dear?"

"Uh, Danielle Court."

"What a lovely name for a lovely girl," the woman crooned. "You may call me Tabby or Ms. Tabby if you prefer. I'll show you around the house and where to put your things."

Ms. Tabby beckoned her in, and Dani stepped gingerly through the door frame.

"Now," Ms. Tabby began, "I live on this floor, my room is just down the hall next to the kitchen. I'm not as young as I used to be so I can't keep going up and down the stairs everyday. You'll be upstairs with your own room and bathroom. You're responsible for keeping the top floor clean, supplies are in the hall closet down here."

Ms. Tabby gestured to a narrow door in the wall and Dani nodded to say that she understood.

Ms. Tabby continued, "I go to the store every Wednesday, so if you want anything, you can tell me or write me a list of what you would like me to pick up for you. I will provide breakfast but you'll have to make your own lunch and dinner."

Dani nodded again.

"The main TV is in the living room down here, but if you have your own, there is a cable hookup in your room. There is to be no excessive noise however, please keep the volume at an appropriate level."

"Of course," Dani said.

Ms Tabby smiled. "You seem like a very nice girl. I've decided to like you. Oh, and I must also ask that you don't bring any 'company' home with you without asking first. I had this one girl stay with me and she was such a little whore, she had a different man going into her room every night. I thank God that I'm deaf in one ear, otherwise her screaming would have kept me up at all hours."

Dani chuckled uncomfortably. "You don't need to worry about that with me Ms. Tabby. I promise."

"Well dear, I'm not asking you to be a nun while you stay here with me!" Ms. Tabby laughed. "You can bring some male friends over for some fun, unless you're from the other side of the tracks."

It took a moment for Dani to catch onto what Ms. Tabby had just said. She sputtered and hurriedly explained that she was not from 'the other side of the tracks'.

Ms. Tabby shrugged it off. "It wouldn't matter to me dear. One of my granddaughters is a lesbian and she's a perfectly nice girl. A bit of a tart, but a nice one none the less."

Ms. Tabby explained a few other things and then left Dani to bring in her things.

It took a while for Dani to haul up her two big suitcases, TV, three boxes of books, five shoe boxes, a waffle iron, and a pair of laundry baskets up the narrow stairs to her new room.

It was actually quite spacious. The walls were painted a rich, deep blue. The furniture consisted of a four poster bed, a bookshelf, a vanity desk, and bedside table, all made from what looked like mahogany. She even had a window seat, like ones she'd seen in the movies.

Walking over, she saw that the window overlooked the street below. The cushions and pillows on the seat were upholstered in white and matched the white comforter and canopy on the bed. Experimentally, she reached down to lift the cushions and was delighted to find that the whole seat lifted to reveal a little storage space.

She went to inspect the closet next and gasped as she saw that it was a walk-in. Giddy now, she rushed to her bathroom to see if she could get her rising expectation higher.

Dani was not disappointed. Her bathroom was done in white and blue, just like her bedroom. She grinned as she inspected her claw-footed tub, which was the best part. The rest was pretty standard, porcelain sink and toilet, a towel rack and a small cabinet to hold her personal items.

All-in-all, Dani was very happy with the idea of living with Ms. Tabby. Her room was beautiful, her land lady was nice, although a bit eccentric, and the town seemed to be very picturesque and peaceful.

It had been late afternoon when she arrived and when she was done unpacking, the sun was setting and Dani was feeling a bit hungry.

Grabbing her jacket, she headed down the stairs and found Ms. Tabby sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

Dani knocked on the door jamb to get Ms. Tabby's attention and smiled at her when she turned to look at Dani.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'll be heading out to get something to eat. Did you need anything that I could pick up for you?"

Ms. Tabby shook her head. "No thank you Dani dear, I'm fine. But if you're going out to eat, you might want to try the Mystic Grill. It's on the main strip of town and it's where all the young people go I hear."

Dani smiled. "OK, I'll be going now. Bye Ms. Tabby."

"Goodbye Dani dear," Ms. Tabby said, then turned back to watching her show.

Dani walked out, closed the door and pocketed the house key that Ms. Tabby had given her earlier. She got into her car and pulled away from the curb. Finding her way back to Main Street, Dani looked for the place Ms. Tabby was talking about.

Dani saw a group of people, not much older than herself walk across the road. As she watched them, she saw them enter a building with the sign "Mystic Grill" on the front.

"Ah ha," she said to herself and proceeded to park her Mini.

She walked in the Mystic Grill and took a moment to take in her surroundings. It was like many bar/restaurants she'd been in before. Pool tables, booths and tables where people were eating and being served. The bar was at the back and she saw that there was a little hallway in the corner that led to the washrooms.

Dani walked up to the bar, sidestepping people on the way. The place was packed. Every table was taken and most of the bar was full.

Squeezing in between a few guys who seemed to be in high school, Dani tried to get the attention of the bartender. After a few tries, he finally saw her and came over.

"Hi there. Haven't seen you around town before. Are you new?"

Dani nodded. "Yeah, just got here today."

"Cool. What are you having?"

"Can I eat at the bar?"

The guy shrugged. "Sure, as long as you don't make a mess."

Dani studied the menu on the wall before ordering. "I'll have the Mystic Burger with everything, fries, a coke, and could I have a side of gravy with my fries?"

The bartender grinned at her. "A girl with an appetite, I like that. It should take about fifteen to twenty minutes, is that ok? I'll bring you some nachos to snack on."

Dani smiled at him. "Sure, sounds great. Thanks."

As the guy went to place her order, Dani shimmied onto a stool. She thanked the bartender again when he brought her coke and nachos.

She scooped a good dollop of salsa on a nacho and stuffed it in her mouth. She savored the tangy taste on her tongue before swallowing. Her stomach growled for more and she murmured, "Yeah yeah, I'm on it," before scooping up some more salsa.

She had finished the basket of nachos by the time her food got to her, but she was so hungry that she managed to eat everything.

She sighed contently as she watched the bartender take away her empty plate.

When the bartender came back with her bill he said, "You seemed to enjoy that."

Dani blushed. "I've been driving since seven this morning and the last time I ate was around ten."

The guy whistled. "So you were really hungry. Well, you're welcome to come back any time if you keep eating like that. It's good business."

Dani chuckled. "Deal."

"My name's Ted by the way," he said and stuck his hand to her over the bar.

Dani shook it. "I'm Dani. It's nice to meet you Ted."

"Nice to meet you Dani and welcome to Mystic Falls."