Author's Note: If anyone who reads this (probably not a lot of people) has any suggestions for future chapters or interaction between the two, feel free to say so. And if you do like it, could you pretty please (with a cherry on top) leave a review/constructive criticism? Thank you. It honestly makes my day.

"Order up!" Elle chimed to the kitchen as she placed her first order of the day.

If she wasn't in such a down right horrible mood, she may have been able to laugh at the irony of the situation. She could vaguely recall Bennet once suggesting to her that she get a job as a waitress. If he was someone she felt like she could truly trust, she may have called him up to tell him about the situation; her new job, her new apartment, her new life. But alas, Bennet was and would always be morally grey and Elle knew better than to trust him. She knew better than to trust anyone. So that left Elle alone, in the dismally small town of Mystic Falls, living day to day as she struggled with her new completely normal and completely boring life.

"Umm, excuse me?"

With a little bit of difficulty, she smiled and turned to the annoying teenager who had just spoken.

"How may I help you?" Elle asked.

The blond girl in the booth smiled and began to place her order, oblivious to Elle's fake helpfulness. Elle was a good actor; every company girl was.

"Can I get the Caesar salad please and an iced tea, and…" The girl gestured to her friend and Elle turned expectantly on the dark-skinned girl beside her.

"I'll just have a coke, thanks." The brunette replied sullenly.

"Sure thing." Elle replied with chipper enthusiasm, overtly ignoring the fact that the second girl was obviously depressed. Not her business, nor did she care. As she was about to walk away the blonde stopped her again.

"Oh, and can you tell Matt that I say "hi"?"

Elle barely nodded and headed off again, placed the order and walked over to Matt, the bartender.

"Blondie over there wanted to say "hi"."

He looked over to where Blondie sat and gave a quick wave to her enthusiastic one, then laughed.

"Yeah, that's Caroline, my girlfriend."

Matt had a good sense of humour so Elle felt no need to apologize for the name-calling.

"She seems… dumb." Elle continued while she was ahead.

"Ouch." Matt laughed then turned to Elle. "Are you always this judgemental?"

"Mostly." Elle shrugged.

She grabbed a coke and an iced tea and returned to the table.

"…I mean, it was soooooo awkward. Can you imagine? Bonnie? Bonnie? Are you even listening to me?" Caroline questioned.

"Yeah, I'm listening. That sounds really awkward. Sorry."

Caroline continued, unfazed by Bonnie's lack of interest. "Not like I care right? Damon and I, well, that was obviously purely a physical attraction, but I feel sorry for Matt. I mean, his mom, right? He left straight after that, and I had to get a ride with Elena, which was also weird… we got into a little bit of a fight earlier in the night."

"Here's your drinks." Elle announced as she placed their drinks on the table, hoping that by announcing her presence they would stop talking about personal things in such loud voices.

Her hope went unanswered as Caroline resumed her conversation as soon as the two girls had given their thanks. Elle turned to clean up another table. Just as she was picking up a pair of glasses, the front door opened. The new customer was a man who looked to be about Elle's age, dressed in a completely black outfit, leather jacket included. He was the complete definition of tall, dark and handsome, Elle could not deny that. But while his attractiveness may have been the reason for her initial attention, it was the darkness brooding underneath that held her eye for a second too long. The man caught Elle staring and gave her a smirk, but instead of casting her glance away, embarrassed at being caught, Elle returned the gesture with her own little smirk.

"Would you look at that? Speak of the devil…"

The man's smile widened at Caroline's comment, almost as if he had heard it, then he headed towards the bar. Elle followed, cued by Matt's obvious discomfort. Matt met her half way.

"Hey, I'm going to take my break now. Would you mind covering for me?" Matt begged.

"Sure."

Elle walked behind the bar and greeted the man, who she assumed to be the Damon that Caroline had spoken of earlier.

"What can I do for you?" Elle asked flirtatiously, as she leaned across the bar.

"Bourbon… rocks."

Elle tried for another second to grab his attention. When that failed, she stood upright and started to prepare his drink. She was a little thrown off by the fact that her flirting had failed to grab his attention, because she was used to getting what she wanted. Most men did fall for her charm. Most men were easy. But she didn't allow it to deter her. She would just simply have to try a different approach.

"You're new here. Miss Rains, I presume." He added smugly.

Elle placed his drink in front of him. "Am I supposed to be worried that you've heard about me?"

"Well that depends…" He took a drink. "…on what I've heard."

"If I were you, I would be more concerned about what people say about you in this town."

He glanced over his shoulder at the table where the two girls sat.

"Caroline? She seems kind of… dumb, don't you think? I wouldn't take what she says at face value."

Elle hid her shock at his choice of words. Maybe he was telepathic.

"So you didn't sleep with Matt's mother?" She jeered back.

"Nope."

Elle's cheeks started to flush with embarrassment, as she chastised herself for believing Blondie's gossip.

"I didn't have the chance after my brother's little slumber party crashed the night."

Elle shook her head but smiled. When she glanced back at him, she caught a glimpse of something in his eyes before he quickly returned to his cool façade.

"Elle Bishop." She offered as she stuck out her hand.

"Damon Salvatore."

He took her hand in his own and kissed her hand lightly. He released her hand and finished up his drink, before depositing a bill on the counter.

"Pleasure to meet you… Miss Bishop." Damon said as he stood up.

It wasn't until Damon Salvatore left the bar, it wasn't until Elle registered the coldness of her own hand, it wasn't until the kitchen bell rang, signifying that the food was up, that Elle realized her mistake; she had introduced herself by her real name.

Dun dun duuunnnn!