This is how I see Damon, before he really admitted how he felt about Elena. Marley is his distraction because Stefan and Elena are still very much together. And Marley is us, all the ladies out there who would love some time with Damon! What is it about the bad boys huh? I know nothing about cars so all car related and grammar errors are all my own. As to VD itself, I own nothing!

Anyway, thanks for reading :)

Chapter 1 – The Middle of Nowhere

Marley gave a huge sigh and banged her head repeatedly against the steering wheel. "I knew I should've just stayed home tonight" she thought to herself as she hopped out of the car and opened the bonnet, pretending for a moment she knew something about car repairs. The knocking noise in her car had been happening for months, she'd been sure it would somehow just vanish over time. Apparently that wasn't the case. Twiddling a few knobs and knocking on a couple of pipes, Marley sighed again and leaned against the car checking her watch. 8.45pm. She'd told Emma that she'd be there by 8pm and even though Emma knew she was always late, she really should call to let her know it didn't look like she'd make it at all tonight.

She pulled out her cell and rolled her eyes when she saw the No Signal message written across the front. The GPS had sent her on some crazy diversion when she came to a bunch of roadworks, she had no idea where she was and no cell to call for help."Excellent, this night is shaping up to be awesome" she groaned to herself, kicking the tyre nearest to her and then wincing as her toes protested inside her heels.

The night was starting to encroach on the sky, darkening behind the trees in the distance and a breeze swirled her hair lightly around her face. Folding her arms across her chest, she glared left and right, looking to see what was around. She could see lights in the distance, too far to walk in heels though but it was the only option unless she wanted to sit here all night as behind her the other way was all darkness.

Ducking back inside the car, Marley found a discarded hairtie in the glovebox and tied her hair back off her face. Rumaging on the floor of the back of the car, she looked for an old pair of trainers that she thought were buried there somewhere. Pulling them out from under a couple of takeaway wrappers, she stuck her legs out the door and leaned over to remove her heels and stick on the sneakers. Then she gasped in surprise and stood up, bumping her head on the edge of the doorframe as she did.

A man was standing a little way in front of her, face hidden in the shadows by the purple sky. He stepped forward and she sucked her breath in even more when she saw him clearly. Dressed in a tight fitting casual jacket and dark top, there was no hiding the muscles underneath the clothes. Dark, slightly messy hair drew her attention before she noticed the defined cheek bones which led to lips curled into a confident, lazy smile. He was beautiful.

Ice blue eyes locked with hers when she managed to draw her eyes away from his mouth and her heart gave a quick flutter of fear. "Where had he come from, why didn't I hear him?" she wondered, heartbeat escalating as she realised the danger of her situation. Noone knew where she was or what had happened to her, she had no way of letting them know and now a stranger was standing metres from her with a look on his face that sent her adrenaline racing.

"It looks like you could use a hand" he said softly, standing motionless and staring at her.

Gulping and fighting the urge to run she spoke quickly "Car people coming to help me, I mean, repair men and they're only round the corner, I just called them" she indicated, lifting the cellphone slightly and hoping her breath wouldn't become trapped inside her body. He raised his eyebrows at this and cocked his head to the side, his smile increasing but not making it all the way to his eyes. Slowly reaching behind her to the open door, she assessed how long it would take to jump back into the car and lock the doors. "Probably longer than it would take for him to reach me" she thought, fear gripping her body and locking her to the spot.

"I'll have a look while you wait in case it's something simple" he said, walking slowly forward and causing her heart to pound faster. "Why don't you wait in the car out of the cold?" he finished with a smirk and he reached for the door, opening it fully so she could step quickly inside. As he closed it behind her he added "and you might want to do something about your head, it's bleeding where you banged it."

Quickly, she touched the lock on her door and listened as all the doors locked behind her. Was she mistaken or did she hear a soft chuckle as he strode around to the front of the car and dissapeared behind the raised bonnet?

Marley felt her chest rise and fall, her breathing still not back to normal even though she was locked inside the car.

She reached up and touched the side of her head which she hadn't even noticed was throbbing a little. Her fingers came away slightly damp from the blood that was attempting to dry there. It was just a small wound, how did he even know it was there? And what was he doing here in the first place, out in the middle of almost nowhere? Marley chewed on her lip in confusion as she listened to the small bangs and thuds coming from the front of the car. Looking down at her hands, she noticed they were trembling slightly and she tightened them into fists, pressing them against her thighs.

A knock at her window made her look up with a gasp. He stood there with that smirk on his face again. "It should be working now, the cap had come off the alternator and was banging around in there. Easily fixed. You should come take a look so if it happens again you can fix it yourself, it's not that difficult to do."

"No, that's ok, I appreciate that but I'll just be on my way now" she stuttered out. Years of parental lectures on manners made her hastily add "oh and thank you."

He looked directly into her eyes and said again "I want you to come take a look, get out of the car and come see."

As if in a trance, Marley opened the door and followed him to the still open bonnet, heart escalating as she did. Standing slightly behind him, she watched as he leaned into the bonnet to show her the loose cap. His jacket and top rode up a little, showing the skin of his lower back above his jeans. And the jeans themselves were pulled deliciously tight around his butt. He really was gorgeous but her heart was racing in fear not desire.

"I'm still afraid of him, why am I standing this close?" she wondered even as she traced his body with her eyes.

Turning and catching her in the act of looking at him, he spoke again. "You really shouldn't be out here on your own you know" he said, leaning back on the car.

"Wasn't my choice and anyway, what are you doing out here then?" she asked, lips still trembling slightly in fear.

"I was out taking a walk, looking for some...refreshments" he finished with a grin. "Good thing I wasn't very thirsty when I met you."

"What does that mean" wondered Marley "and why am I still standing here when my heart is still beating way too fast and I am scared to be near him?"

He stepped close so they were only inches apart. Reaching towards her hair and sending her body into full panic mode, he touched near where she had hit it before pulling his fingers back and rubbing them lightly together underneath his nose.

"Yes, a good thing I'm not thirsty" he repeated seemingly lost in thought."Oh and you can go now, go have fun" he said, almost as an after thought, looking directly into her eyes again and instantly she took two steps back and round towards her car door. As she fumbled for the handle, he spoke again.

"and when I see you next, I will remember that you owe me a favour".

As she closed and locked her doors, turning the key quickly in the ignition, he stood near the car door, arms crossed against his chest. The engine leaped into action and she sped quickly forward, glancing to the side as she did. That strange smile was still fixed firmly to his lips.

Thanks for reading chapter one. I have a few chapters written of this and look forward to sharing them with you, if there are reviews to show you want more. hint hint :P