Author's Note-You guys are AMAZING! Six reviews in only a span of a day blows my mind. I didn't think anyone would like this story, but I figured I'd give it a shot because I love teenage romance/drama, and I love Elena and Damon.
In this chapter the italics are obviously flashbacks because I love creating moments that happened between them and then regular font is obviously present day. Let me know what you think!
Elena walks up the path to the Salvatore mansion. It seems every house in their neighborhood has a similar build. One long driveway that winds up to a massive front door, at least four bedrooms with three bathrooms, a kitchen filled with stainless steel appliances, and an enormous backyard that the Salvatores were finally able to convince Giuseppe to fill with a pool
It was already the end of September, the temperatures should be dropping soon, but global warming was in full effect and the temperature is hot. Plain hot. Ninety degrees with sweltering heat that makes school unbearable-hot.
Elena usually loves school. It's the place that she gets to see half of her friends while the other half attend North High. The friends that go to North High she is able to see after school and on the weekends-like Stefan and Damon.
Although they are only separated by one house, that house just happens to be the borderline for schools. Elena's house falls right on the edge of the South border. If her dad wasn't so adamant that she go to South to make 'new friends' and not just guy friends then she would have enrolled at North. Not that her father didn't love Damon and Stefan like his own two sons, but he wanted Elena to have variety.
And now she is on the cheerleading squad, making friends with girls who she never would have talked to before, and the coach who is in charge of cheerleading already has her eye on her for track that following Spring.
Adjusting her shoulder bag she swipes at the moisture gathering on her forehead. Even though she was barely wearing clothes-only a sun dress with a bikini underneath-she is melting.
A small smile graces her face as she thinks about the swim suit she's wearing. Her mother bought it with her, making Elena promise that she won't tell her father just yet or else he would never let her wear it; especially around Damon. Elena doesn't know why it's just Damon that her father is concerned about, since it really is Stefan that everyone says she's going to end up marrying, but Elena brushes it off. She's gone swimming with both of them before in a two piece, but this time she feels more confident than before.
For the first time, she knows she actually does look great in it. No longer an awkward teenager who is just beginning to get breasts. And now because of cheerleading practice her stomach is nice and toned. Her body is developing nicely and she wants to show off for once.
"Took you long enough!" Stefan calls out from the pool; already lounging on a blow up tube with sunglasses on.
Elena walks up the porch deck stairs and places her bag on a glass table. Giuseppe Salvatore doesn't waste money, teaching Damon and Stefan at a young age they have to work for what they want to spend, however when he does spend money, Giuseppe makes it worth it. Everything they added to their backyard that summer has Lily's elegance and great taste.
She instantly notices that Damon isn't there. "Where's the other one?" She calls out while slowly drawing her dress over her head.
Elena can feel Stefan's green eyes pass over her body, and when she drops her dress carelessly on the wooden deck she pops her hip and rests her hand on her waist, waiting for Stefan to pick his jaw up from the floor.
Her tan is still vibrant on her body and the pure white of her suit makes her skin glow even more. Her hair is in a messy bun atop her head, showing off more of her neck compared to having her hair down and shielding her.
"Well?" She smirks.
Stefan seems to shake out of it once he realizes that he's staring at his best friend like a creep. He blushes instantly and looks down at the water for a moment before collecting himself.
"The other one's right here," Damon answers, calling out from the back sliding door and when Elena turns she can see that he's carrying a black tray filled with cold sodas and water bottles. "At your service, m'lady," he charms smoothly.
Damon is three months into being fifteen whereas Stefan had just turned fourteen the month before. Although they are all in the same grade, it's apparent that Damon is more comfortable being flirty with girls rather than Stefan who bashfully smiles.
And when Elena turns she herself blushes at the intense look that is clouding Damon's face. She was expecting to tease him a little. He likes to take jabs at her anytime he can, and so teasing him for once was going to be fun. Yet, his hardened eyes make her throat close up and any witty comment she was going to make dies on her tongue.
She isn't the only one who developed into their body over the summer. Damon may only be a freshmen but he is on the varsity football team as their backup running back. The coach says that if he works hard, Damon will be starting mid-season already. His body shows off his hard work, a six pack already forming and an outline of a 'v' leading below his dark blue swim trunks is apparent.
"Like what you see, Gilbert," he smirks easily and it's his cockiness that has Elena snapping out of it and rolling her eyes. She crosses her arms, and unbeknownst to her, she's just showing Damon more of her cleavage.
"You wish," she retorts saucily before running along the deck and making a perfect dive into the deep end. She purposefully splashes Stefan when she resurfaces.
She might have played it cool with Damon, but at the same time she really wants to tell him that she actually does like looking at his body. However, Elena doesn't think that would bode too well with her because if Damon ever found out that she has even the tiniest crush on him then he wouldn't let her hear the end of it.
And it isn't like she is even looking for a boyfriend at the time. She has just started her first year of high school, made new friends, and is currently doing well in new classes. She doesn't need to add a boyfriend to her list of things to do quite yet, and she definitely isn't going to be a loose girl-the type of girl Alaric and Damon mention.
"Boo," Damon whispers in her ear the moment he dives into the pool also. He had swum up behind her, and placed his hands on her lower hips, right above the hem of her bottoms.
This is new for them.
Water drips down from his hair onto her shoulder and she can feel his chest mold against her back. This is the first time that her body has touched this much of a male before. Elena decides her dad doesn't count since he's her father and it's normal for her dad to give her hugs. But nothing about Damon touching her is innocent in that moment.
"What are you doing?" She whispers so Stefan cannot hear. When she looks at the younger boy she sees that he's across the pool with his eyes shut and headphones in. He's listening to his ipod in the pool. He'll be lucky if he doesn't drop it.
"Do I make you nervous?" Damon asks.
Does he? Sure he does when she knows that she only wore a swimsuit to get a response out of him. She knows that he's getting to that age where he's trading in posters of cars for posters of naked women on them, they're all curious about parties and drinking, and the aspect of dating is new territory for basically everyone. Elena doesn't count dating Matt the year before in eighth grade because all that happened is Matt calling her every night to talk and going to the movies with their friends. Matt would hold her hand and for the one month they did date Elena had kissed him three times. It wasn't much.
But she knew Damon was kissing girls. She had heard two different girls talking about kissing Damon in the bathroom. A feeling unknown to Elena had made itself known but she quickly got over it as Stefan and she laughed at the gossip. She doesn't care who Damon kissed.
"I think I make you nervous," Elena finally says just to ease the tension between them. This obviously wasn't what he was expecting and so she has the chance to turn around to face him and push him beneath the unsuspecting water.
When Damon emerges he grins at her and like a light switch, they re back to being just friends. There is no intensity and no lingering stares. Instead, he swims after her and dunks her with ease. They go back and forth like that until Elena's mom calls her home.
Elena wants to roll her eyes as she, Bonnie, and Caroline are all riding over to the Lockwood Resort for their job interviews. It isn't the fact that she's in the backseat that has her bothered. In fact, she's glad that she's behind Bonnie so that way Caroline cannot see how disturbed she really is.
"You want to really discuss this now?" Elena groans with a slight attitude. But she really doesn't have to listen to the blonde an more because Caroline is telling her exactly what everyone tells her at South High: that she should be dating Mason or at least giving him a chance.
"You two are perfect for each other," she quips as she pulls smoothly into a parking space. The girls have been to the resort only a few times—mostly because they were either guests of Tyler or Mason.
Mason and Tyler are cousins, their fathers owned the spa and summer club together.
"Maybe there is someone else," Bonnie suggests thoughtfully.
"Believe me," Elena insists while exiting the vehicle. "If there were anyone else then I would tell you guys. But honestly, who else would I be dating?"
"There's always Stefan," Bonnie says.
Just that thought alone makes Elena shiver uncomfortably. She and Stefan are friends. That's it. Nothing more and nothing less.
"I don't know why you two are concerned with who I'm dating. It's Bonnie that is dancing around Matt."
Caroline laughs as a blush heats Bonnie's face.
"Hey!" Bonnie exclaims as they start to enter the lobby. "I wouldn't be laughing too hard since you're going to have your hands full with Klaus coming back this summer and the fact that Tyler is madly in love with you. Those two guys have it bad for you."
Caroline stops laughing and realizes that her friend is right. Elena smirks at how Bonnie can make anyone quiet when provoked. She is the reason of their group of friends, and she sees things that most kids don't. That is why she's able to point out flaws like that and make them all see reality.
"You're going to have to make a decision between them—or at least tell Klaus that you moved on from him," Elena adds.
"He should already know that I moved on. He went away to college, he probably has slept with more girls than I can count, so he can't exactly expect that I waited for him."
Elena straightens her modest dress that she is wearing. It is navy blue, goes down to her knees, and she is wearing a white cardigan with it. For shoes she had decided to go with nude flats to stay comfortable. She wants to look casual, but also dressed for the job she's sure to get. They are almost all guaranteed jobs due to knowing the owners for their whole lives.
"Hey Ladies," Mason greets as he saunters away from Stefan who is slowly following behind and smiles massively at Elena. He opens his arms for a hug which Elena steps into. She lets go after a short amount of time even though she can tell that Mason is slightly put off by that. "Ready for your interviews?"
"It's really not that bad," Stefan says. "I just got out of mine five minutes ago and Damon should be finishing up. Ric is here too, but he just started his interview when I left mine."
"I still don't know why my dad is bothering with an interview," Mason snips.
"Because he's our friend?" Tyler supplies. Mason may not get along with Damon and vice versa, but everyone else did.
"Did you get a job?" Elena asks Stefan with excitement.
She feels his eyes on her and a grin slowly breaks onto his face. She has known Stefan long enough to know what he's about to say and before he can tell them she hugs him in excitement. Her arms wrap around his neck and he places his hands on her lower back, crushing her to him.
"Congratulations!" Elena wishes as everyone else joins in. He's the first to receive a job and soon they will all be working together.
"I'm so jealous," Bonnie complains. "You and Elena will be out by the pool everyday getting tan while I will be stuck inside playing the piano for guests."
"You'll get tips," Elena reminds her.
"Thanks for this opportunity. I won't let you down," Damon's voice echoes throughout the waiting area and Elena rolls her eyes at how fake he sounds while shaking hands with George Lockwood, Mason's father.
"That's good to hear Damon. And if you're anything like your old man I'm sure I won't be disappointed with your work ethics," George says as a goodbye before turning to the group of friends Damon is walking towards. "Elena, dear, just give me five minutes to finish some paperwork and I'll be right with you."
"Don't worry," Damon snickers once he's gone. "I told him wonderful things about you."
She can sense the teasing in Damon's tone mixed with sarcasm, but she bites her tongue.
"So who's up for a game of basketball?" Tyler interrupts before Damon decides to push Elena further.
"Good idea," Stefan says. "Good luck girls, but seriously, easiest interview ever."
"Hey," Mason says grabbing onto Elena's hand and pulling her off to the side for a minute. Elena glances at Bonnie and Caroline who share shocked and confused faces also, meaning they have no idea what Mason wants, but she's soon to find out.
"What's up?" Elena asks. He doesn't drop her hand, but instead she feels him lace their fingers together and immediately she goes to untangle herself from him. The last thing she needs is George Lockwood to walk out to get her and see her tangled up with his son.
"Do you think we can meet up later today? Like for dinner?" Mason's blue eyes are dull compared to the blue eyes that still haunt Elena's dreams from time to time. He has been her friend for a while now, and even though she always refutes his idea to dating, she still wants to be close to him because he makes a good shoulder to lean on. "Please?"
Elena can feel their friends watching. She wonders briefly if they can hear what Mason had just asked or if any of them knew Mason was asking her to dinner that night. It isn't uncommon for them to grab bites to eat with one another, but something about the hopeful expression on his face makes Elena really think about if she wants to go or not. It's obvious this is very important to Mason.
"I have something I want to talk to you about," he adds.
Two blue eyes are piercing the back of her head and she knows exactly who they belong too. Damon is watching her every move and hanging onto every word being said. She's silently surprised that Damon hasn't said a rude word to antagonize Mason yet.
"Sure. I didn't drive here so we can go after I'm done with my interview."
"Great," Mason says ecstatically. Elena can tell he wants to do a victory fist pump but he refrains and instead the smile on his tan face never wavers. "Come find me on the courts outback when you're ready."
"Elena," George calls.
Walking confidently, she shakes hands with George and enters his office. This was the start to her summer, and regardless of Damon working at the resort or not, it is going to be the best summer yet.
"I cannot wait until Wednesday night," Damon states as he jumps and lets go of the orange ball to watch it sail effortlessly into the hoop with nothing but net. "Caroline's party is just what we need. It's time to get laid again," he says cockily.
"Amen to that," Alaric agrees while rebounding the ball. He had just finished his interview also and it seemed George and Richard was hiring everyone on the spot. "I'm glad I start work Thursday evening so I don't have to show up hungover."
"You two are going to waste your whole summer being drunk and sleeping around," Stefan points out.
Damon just gives his brother a 'so what' look. It doesn't surprise him that Stefan thinks that way. His brother is too much into romance and staying with one girl to think the way that he and Alaric do about chicks.
"Awe, buck up man," Tyler insists. "There will be other girls like Lexi. Other, smarter…hotter…women like Lexi."
Stefan dribbles for a second before going in for a layup. The boys are just messing around outside before actually starting a pickup game.
"I'm going to be the only single guy this summer—Damon and Ric don't count if they continue to sleep with the whole female population," he explains.
"Not the whole female population. You couldn't pay me enough to be with Gilbert." Damon grabs the ball right from Alaric, receiving a dirty look from his best friend, before he shoots a nice three pointer.
Damon may be featured at the star football player, but overall he is pretty athletic. He just chooses to concentrate on one sport in hopes that the scouts who saw him play previous years offer him a scholarship for college. Unlike Stefan who plays baseball and football, not really caring if he receives an athletic scholarship or not. He doesn't want to play in college.
"I don't get your problem with her. You used to be best friends." Alaric jumps just as Tyler goes to shoot the ball, and blocks him effectively. "Plus she's hot in a sisterly way."
"Mason's still single. You guys can be wingmen to each other or something," Tyler suggests.
Mason had been unusually quiet, Damon notes. It's not like Lockwood to keep his mouth shut and Damon knows it has something to do with how he asked Elena to dinner earlier. It doesn't bug him, Damon tells himself, but Mason acts as if he owns Elena whenever any guy talks about her. And it irks him because even though he doesn't like her, he knows well enough that no one really owns her.
"Not for long," he reveals finally and Damon wants to ram his jaw into Mason's throat so he doesn't have to hear him talk about this.
Not bothering to stick around the group of guys to gossip, he leaves the cement court and opts to sit on the ground and take a chug of his water bottle. His shirt is the next thing to leave his body and he smirks in the directions of two female college students who are passing by. He sees one of them blush and he smirks at her.
Working at the resort over the summer is going to be good for his sex drive, that is for sure.
"I'm taking Elena to dinner tonight. I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend," Mason says.
"It's about time!" Tyler exclaims.
Damon can't help but snort. He's heard people talking even at his school about how Elena and Mason are perfect for each other. Personally, Damon doesn't understand why because Mason is a total prick.
Alaric pats Mason on the back. "Congrats man. It's been a long time coming."
Damon shakes his head and is at least a little proud that his own brother doesn't seem to be that supportive of the idea. If there is anyone on the planet that understands Elena better than Damon than that person would be Stefan.
"As long as she's ready," Stefan finally concedes.
"Dude," Mason says, "It's been two years. She's ready. It's going to be the summer of Elena and Mason."
"It's not like she's getting over a guy she dated," Stefan points out. "She was in a car accident with her father and brother. They died; she didn't. That messes people up."
"I know that," Mason is getting frustrated now. "And what's the face for Salvatore?"
Damon doesn't even know that he's making a face and it takes him a moment to realize that his eyes are narrowed and his grip on the green Gatorade bottle is tight; so tight that his knuckles are white. He tosses his drink down and stands up, the sun feeling good on his back.
"No look. Just trying to figure out why she would want to date someone like you," Damon says casually.
"Well if she can fall for someone like you freshmen year than she can certainly fall for me. After all," Mason stands nose to nose with Damon, "I'm much better than you. It won't take long before Elena realizes she wasted her time with you."
Damon doesn't think when he pulls his fist back and throws a punch to Mason's face. In that moment, it doesn't matter that he was just hired to work at the resort that Mason's father owns, it doesn't matter that he's friends with Mason's cousin, and it certainly doesn't matter to Damon that Mason was talking about dating Elena.
He tries to convince himself as Mason retaliates that he didn't hit Mason because of Elena. No, he hit Mason because he's a dick who needs to be put in his cocky place.
It wasn't for Elena, Damon says over and over again to himself.
