FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
The morning was misty and gray. Elena felt the cold breeze rush through her body and the cold water splash on her feet as the steeped into a puddle. She was on her way to the bookstore to find a book she needed for the quickly approaching school year. She arrived at the door and noticed the sign; Open from 10am to 8pm. It was 9:30. With a sigh she turned and entered the nearest restaurant.
She sat down and with a smile greeted the young waiter. He offered her a menu and with a slightly flirtatious smile then left. Elena had spent the whole summer travelling and now being back in Mystic Falls made her feel cozy and at home. Over the three months that her summer vacation had lasted, she'd been in Italy, France, Spain, and England and then her last stop had been New York. She'd seen much and met amazing people, but it had all felt like a dream. Elena was ready to get back to reality, as gloomy as it might be.
When she had left Mystic Falls after the school year, she had just recently broken up with Stefan Salvatore. The reason for their break-up had not been a lack of love, but rather Stefan going to live in Australia with his mother, who needed his help. She had also left her friendship with Caroline unclear because, just before Stefan had announced that he was leaving Caroline told her that she loves him, even though nothing has ever happened between the two. So when Elena's parents asked her if she wanted to join them on their trip, she gladly said yes. During the summer Jeremy had been interning for an architect, so he couldn't come on their trip, so she was very glad to see him, now that she was back.
Elena ate her morning croissant and drank her cappuccino all the while thinking about Stefan and how her life would now be, that he was not here anymore. When she finished her breakfast it was already 10:20, so she paid and took her things, ready to leave. Then she noticed someone. Someone she thought she knew. The man, tall, with dark hair, beautiful watery blue eyes, was standing at the bar and looking around as if waiting for someone. He noticed Elena looking at him and met her eyes, with a surprised look. Elena looked away, feeling foolish, and quickly left the restaurant.
At the bookshop, Elena browsed through the shelves and instead of just buying the book she needed for school, she bought four others, that she just couldn't resist buying. Just when she was walking over to the cashier, she bumped into somebody, but rather than focus on the person she looked down to see all her books on the floor. Leaning down to pick them up, she heard a quiet: I'm sorry, and saw the person leaning down, to help her. She met his eyes and noticed they were the same ones, she had had the pleasure of meeting at the restaurant.
"Thank you," She said, finally getting up and giving the man a shy smile. Everything about him intimidated her. It was clear that he was older than her. He had an air about him that made Elena's hair stand on end. He handed her a book and smiled awkwardly.
"I see you are a real Fitzgerald fan or have you not read his work yet?" He asked. Elena could not help but feel like she saw sadness in his eyes. She swiped a hair from her face and responded;
"I have read two of his books, and I find him to be very honest,"
"I like that," He smiled and moved a step closer, "I'm Damon,"
"Elena Gilbert. I'm sorry, but have we met?"
"That was my first question," Damon said quietly to himself and then with the same sad look in his eyes, gave her a smile and moved past her, turning around to say:
"I hope we meet again sometime, Elena Gilbert," Elena nodded and then rushed to the cashier, to pay for her books, and left in a hurry. This had truly been a very curious encounter and Elena didn't understand what it was, that led her to believe that she had met him.
When she got home, she made herself a cup of tea and went straight to her new book 'Tender is the night' and after reading it intensely for an hour, fell into a deep sleep.
The day before school started, Elena had been determined to not feel stressed. She cleaned her room, washed dishes, read her book, but none of it seemed to be helping. She knew that she would get an infinite amount of questions from people, as to why Stefan left, and where did he go, and would she go with him. To clear her head Elena decided to go for a walk. She walked from her house to the center of the town, seeing familiar faces all along the way. She felt like they were all staring at her, judging her silently for something she had not done. Elena always felt this way. Ever since she became the talk of the town, after starting to date Stefan Salvatore, who was the most popular guy in town.
Elena arrived at the town park, after half an hour, granted she had been taking many different turns and going into little side streets only to avoid meeting anyone, who would want to talk to her. The park was silent. Only the birds chirped to announce their presence and the rain drizzled on the already wet grass. Elena went to the gazebo that was found between the maple trees in the park. She sat down on the bench and looked at all the carvings, which had been made on it by lovers. She wondered how many were still together and how many, like her and Stefan, had been ripped apart by the injustice that was present in all their lives. Suddenly, she felt her body shiver without any explanation. She turned around to see a person leaning on one of the pillars of the gazebo.
"Damon?" She asked, but was not sure, because the light present in the gazebo, was only shining upon her. Was it really him that had sent the cold through her body, just a second ago? How did she feel him, standing there?
"It's me," He came into the light, "Is this seat taken?" Elena moved to one side of the bench leaving plenty of space for Damon on the other side, but instead of taking the designated place, he sat down right next to her. Elena looked at him, confused and bewildered. He made her feel insecure, but at the same time, he managed to touch every nerve in her body with his presence.
"How's the book?" He asked, noticing the Fitzgerald in her hand.
"It's lovely," Elena responded quietly, because once the question had been asked, Damon turned away from her and stared out of the gazebo into the wilderness of the trees.
"I remember reading somewhere that water is supposed to wash away all our sins," He slowly continued. Elena remained silent, staring at him, wondering what he was going to say next, but instead of speaking he turned to her quickly and taking her face in his strong hands, kissed her so intensely that he had to stop when he lost his breath. Elena completely stunned looked into his eyes, to finally see a hint of happiness appear. This made her beam and she slowly moved her lips to his once again. They lost themselves in the kiss and when they opened their eyes once again, the rain had disappeared and the gazebo was now filled with rays of sunlight.
Elena gave him a glowing look and getting up walked away soundlessly, looking back at Damon, from far away, knowing that he was looking at her. She walked home, the sun radiating on her beautiful face and her eyes telling the story of what had happened not a moment ago.
Elena entered the school and seeing all the same faces look back at her, that she had seen the year before, made her face contort. She walked over to the classroom, she had spent all of her previous school years in, and saw Caroline leaning against the first desk to be found. She was so obviously trying to get the attention of someone in that class, but Elena did not preoccupy herself with trying to figure out who it was, that Caroline was so desperately trying to attract, since they were not on speaking terms. But when Elena sat down and saw the look that Tyler Lockwood was giving Caroline, it was clear, that something had happened over the summer between the two of them and quite possibly still happening now. Elena took out her diary and began writing, knowing that it would take a long time for her English teacher to appear. She was a woman of about 45 years of age and always took her time. Elena did not feel like she was the right choice for an English teacher, because her knowledge of literature seemed to be limited and she did not take into account anyone's opinion, but her own.
Elena was concentrating on her diary entry, looking only at her written words, because she knew that if she would look up, she would find people looking at her. She could hear whispers like I bet she drove him away and Stefan was always too good for her, and then she heard Caroline stand up for her to someone. Elena looked up from her desk and gave Caroline a kind smile and mouthed Thank you, and Caroline responded with the same friendly smile and then mouthed We should talk later, and Elena nodded.
She heard someone walk into the class, but paid no attention when she suddenly heard a familiar voice say:
"Hello, everyone. I am your new English teacher, Damon Salvatore," Elena looked up and met Damon's eyes. They expressed the same confusion that hers did. Elena's lips parted in surprise and she slowly put down her pen and closed her diary. Damon stood still looking amazed and then turned around to face the blackboard, and closing his eyes, tried to block out the memory of their kiss.
Note/ First chapter! How very exciting! I am feeling very in touch with my romantic side at the moment and I think that this story shows that. I really feel inspired to write this story and I think that already by this first chapter you can tell that there is a lot of drama ahead, but all I can say is that I will see where my inspiration takes me. I hope you like it and please review!