I've Had This Story In My Notes For A While Now, And Thoughts Have Come And Gone, So I Hope You Enjoy My Alter-Universe.
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Said Characters! All Rights Go To LJ Smith & The Writers/Producers Of TVD!
I was going to be late.
Not just late. I mean, late, late; with a hint of "almost expulsion." I have no clue why, but for the third time this week my alarm clock decided to be a total bitch, and refused to go off until 8:30, instead of 8:15. There was no time to look pretty; I threw on sweatpants, and a halter top. I put a bit of mascara on so I wouldn't look like a complete monster when people saw me. Then I found myself walking out into the blinding sun.
"Son of a..." I was saying as I slipped a pair of sunglasses on; I was cut off when somebody run up and bumped me in the side, I looked up to see my best friend Bonnie.
"Damn it Bonnie!" I screeched and smacked her on the shoulder; she burst out into a total laughing fit, her curly black hair falling down in front of her shoulders.
"Oh come on! It's a week before spring break! You could be a little more excited, Ms. Monster." She tasseled my hair, which was half brushed, and I ran my fingers through it.
"Oh, well aren't you enlightening." I rolled my eyes and she sighed. Maybe I was being a little too sour, but I couldn't help it, I could be expelled today.
"El, just be a little more upbeat, please? You never know, it might brighten someone's day! And you don't look like a total monster, at least not enough to scare the kids." She winked and laughed, taking a different path than I as we split apart. "Bye girl!" She waved.
I couldn't help but laugh at that last remark, and I waved back at her, smiling. "Bye Bonnie!"
I got to my class just after the bell rang, surprisingly, and Professor Smith wasn't at all a buzz. Everyone was still mingling around the lecture hall and I found myself headed straight to my usual seat, which was around the middle row of the lecture hall. When I got there, someone was sitting in my seat.
Well, it wasn't just someone, it was a rather handsome guy; tall, dark, and yummy as I would describe it. He had dark black hair and piercing hazel eyes, he was an almost exact replica of the features Abercrombie model this month. Even he couldn't take me out of my bitchy mood, though.
"Excuse me." I said in my snobbiest tone, and that got his attention. "You're in my seat." I pointed to the desk he was sitting at, he just smirked at me.
"Well, sorry ma'am, but I didn't know we had assigned seats." He said in a quiet, but sarcastic voice. Oh, no he didn't, I thought to myself and shot him a glare.
"We don't, smartass, but-" he cut me off in the middle of my sentence and I clenched my jaw.
"My point exactly; technically, I have the right to sit here if I please." Damn it, he was good at this. I took a seat at the desk beside him, pretty much accepting defeat, but I turned away from him.
There were a couple minutes of silence before I heard his voice coming from beside me; I knew it was his voice, just by the tone. Plus, it was directed at me.
"I'm Damon, Damon Salvatore; if you were wondering." I debated looking over at him before I finally did.
"Elena Gilbert." I said softly and turned toward him. He had this smile on his face; it was bright, and soft. He was staring right at me. I quickly turned away for fear that he'd see me blushing, and he chuckled softly.
"I'm not looking to be such a smartass; I'm new to the university; to be in the engineering program."
The University of Kentucky had an extensive engineering program. I should know, that's what I was currently enrolled in, but only because it would help prompt me into a career in healthcare. I looked back at him, trying not to be so rude, and hoping my cheeks weren't red anymore.
"That's what I'm in. Only to get into a higher medical school, though. I don't really have interest in engineering otherwise. I kind of figured you were new, no one ever sits in my seat." I looked at him and he just laughed again.
"Oh come on, it's just a seat." He grinned at me. "You could've sat in my lap; I would've been perfectly fine with that."
I rolled my eyes, even though it did sound inviting, I wasn't the type to fall for a player, especially since that's what Damon was coming across as. He might've been handsome, and I might babble on and on about it; but he didn't fool me.
"What brings you to Kentucky?" I asked softly, I was guessing it was because of the engineering program, since we had the 5th ranking program in the nation, but I got a totally different answer.
"My ex-girlfriend's parents invited me to stay in their home which is just off campus, and they gave me a full ride here, so I couldn't refuse."
Wow, prompts with the ex's parents? He must be pretty convincing. I previously lived in rural Virginia and managed to get a scholarship, there was no way my aunt could provide me a full-ride to college with the financial situation we were stuck in after the death of my parents.
He stared at me for a long while, and then he spoke again. When I was thinking, I was unusually quiet.
"I'm sure you've got a good reason for being here." He said and I looked up at him, snapping out of my thoughts. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go through explaining or not, it wasn't exactly the happiest story you could explain to someone.
"Well, I lived in Virginia and got a scholarship here. That's pretty much it." He looked at me; his eyes were full of curiosity, just like mine were when he explained his story, but mine was far more complicated.
"Why didn't you just apply to a college in Virginia? It'd seem much closer to home. That's what I would've done if I would've had the choice." I sensed the slightest amount of despair in his voice, but I ignored it.
"To be honest, I really don't have a home left. My parents died a couple of years back; I only have my aunt and my brother left. My aunt tried her best to look after my brother and me, but he turned into a drug addict, and she just gave up." I was hoping I didn't burst into tears telling the story, and I managed to pull it off.
Damon's expression had changed; from one of a sarcastic look to a compassionate look, he probably figured I was some rich slut whose daddy paid her way through life. He turned his body toward me.
"Wow," he ran his hand through his hair and looked at me. For some reason, I couldn't look back. "I'm sorry to hear that. It's not every day that you meet someone that's had a hard a life as that."
I quickly shook my head, looking up at him now. I didn't like pity. I didn't like 'I'm sorry' or 'they're in a better place now' I just couldn't stand it.
"It's fine. It's in the past now anyway." I offered a weak smile and then heard the bell ring. We'd wasted a whole class period just talking. I didn't regret it, though. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
I stood up and so did Damon, I was wondering what class he had next, but I didn't want to pry. I started to walk out of the lecture hall, and he chased after me.
"Elena! Wait up." He caught up to me and walked by my side, "What class do you have next?" I knew my schedule by heart, so I immediately answered him.
"Introduction to engineering, it's the freshman class." Since I was a freshman, most of my classes were introductory classes, but I didn't mind.
"Same here, I think." Damon said as he checked his schedule, and then he nodded, I found myself smiling. "I'm supposed to be a sophomore since I transferred, but the engineering director said I had to have the introduction to UK's program so I guess you're stuck with me for another hour."
"I guess I am." This time, I was the one who ended up laughing.
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