Right after getting hired I went looking for a place to sleep, my first impulse was to go to a hotel, but I thought it was way too risky, too many people would be able to see me; so I headed towards the nicest apartments I could find.

It only took a couple of seconds, after saying the magic words, the owner agreed it was a good idea to give me the penthouse for free, without asking for any type of paperwork.

I felt bad for robbing him, although it wasn't exactly like that, then I remembered all I've been through, and with that painful flashback it seemed fair. This was my time to live happily ever after.

There was no furniture, but it didn't matter, the kitchen was HUUGE, enough for me to run around the island over and over again, like an excited puppy, and the view… was simply breathtaking.

It wasn't night yet, I could still see the people walking around, minding their own business, like little ants to which I was invisible. This was the perfect place for me; it was ironic, that this sunny and beautiful city was meant to be my home, a vampire's haven.

I felt some tears running down my cheek, the first tears of happiness that I had in a long time.

I dried them down quickly, in my mind only one word was echoing: FUN.

I left the building and went to the biggest bookstore I could find. Not exactly the synonym of fun for most, but to me it meant entering worlds so fantastic they made our own look like crap.

Its name was the Pendulum.

Inside it was like heaven, every section had a wide variety of authors and themes, the employees were kind and patient, and knew a lot about the books.

I ran towards the fantasy bookshelves, and just when I was going to reach them, I accidentally bumped into someone.

Again, I thanked God I had a new control over my emotions, otherwise I would've blushed like crazy, instead I only blushed a little, well, at least I hope it was a little.

The guy I ran over looked dazed, and cute too, but I'll get to that in a minute. He was on the floor, in a sitting position, and slowly began getting up, rubbing his butt with a pained face.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I said sincerely. "Are you hurt?"

He finally regarded me and smiled awkwardly.

"Nah, this type of thing happens to me all the time, my butt is now made of steel," he patted his behind grinning. "I didn't feel a thing."

"Really?" I continued the conversation, forgetting my embarrassment. "Then, you should go to a doctor, I heard that an insensible butt is a symptom to a terrible sickness."

He put on a very 'worried' face.

"What sickness would that be?" he played along.

"Um… Cheeksofsteel… tritis," it was difficult to keep a straight face saying that, trust me, it was hard work.

He chuckled.

"You're funny." Like I didn't already know that. "My name's Jared, what's yours?"

"Elena," we shook hands without taking our eyes off each other.

Jared was blonde and tanned, his eyes were pure green, and he had the cutest smile I've ever seen. He wasn't buff, like all of my previous boyfriends; this guy was just a regular boy, not older than me, maybe even younger.

He cleared his throat and let go off my hand, my stare was probably too much for him.

"And, well, Elena, would you like to have coffee with me?" Jared went straight to the point. He actually surprised me, in Mystic Falls guys usually waited at least fourteen years to ask girls out.

"…" I didn't know what to answer.

Jared seemed slightly disappointed. I had to say something quick.

"I'd love to," he lit up a little. "But not right now, you know, I threw you to the ground for a reason…"

He looked at me confused.

"I've been wanting to come to buy books for a long time, and I'm not going to let anything get in my way," I pointed at the shelves with determination.

"So you're a book fanatic. Great, me too," Jared grinned. "Maybe someday you can recommend me something."

My cool factor was starting to melt.

"Yeah, but…"

"Not today," he completed. "Fine, see you tomorrow, here at five o'clock, don't be late."

Jared smiled to me one last time and left me almost hyperventilating.

I frowned, angry with myself.

Seriously! What was wrong with me? How come this guy made me swoon like an inexpert fifteen-year-old? Not even godly-like Jose made me feel this way! I was for sure not going to fall again for someone, at least not so easily… And I was for sure not going to arrive late to my date.

Sorry for taking so long to publish this... I guess I was simply not feeling it, but now I have lots of ideas, so expect a new chapter soon!

Thank you so much for reading this, it really does help knowing people are at least curious about this fanfic^^

Feel free to write your opinion on this, feedback is always good.