I pull off my deathtrap as I walk out the back kitchen door of the Salvatore house, check that, mansion. I walk along the large patio and survey the area. There is a fire pit and a huge outdoor kitchen unit. Someone in this family definitely likes to cook. As I approach the grass, I take off the death traps that are my shoes and place them on the ground. The sun is just above the horizon line as I walk; it warms my body and only adds to my blissful feelings. I'm in Tuscany! After a few minutes of walking among assorted fruit trees, I come across a gated area. I peek around the white fence to see a very large garden. It's filled with different types of fruit trees and plants. I smile as I think of the small vegetable garden my mother used to have behind my house. I unlatched the gate and walked along the stone path stopping to look at the labeled cards. In the middle of the garden there was a wrought iron bench which was covered by an arched Trellis of roses. It was so beautiful and fragrant. What a beautiful place to live. I looked around m, there was quite a variety of plants. Someone had a knack for gardening. I bend down and look at all the veggies wondering if the Salvatore's even had to go grocery shopping with all of this fresh produce. After a few minutes I stand from the bench and begin making my way out of the garden on the opposite side. I pass by a few lettuce heads, cabbage, eggplants and a variety of other vegetables. I squat down next to a tomato plant and touch the leaves. Everything here is in remarkably good shape. I take a ripe cherry tomato off of the vine and pop it in my mouth. This is literally perfect, under the Italian sun, eating tomatoes off the vine. I don't think life could currently get any better. I chuckle and grab another one and pop it in my mouth.
"You know in Italy that's considered stealing." A voice calls out.
I jump and snap my head to the sound. Someone is standing just outside the fence area on the opposite side of the garden. The owner of the velvet voice opens the gate and comes into view. I can just make out a slender form coming my way. He continues to walk closer and just like that I'm staring into the bluest set of eyes I have seen in my entire life. A small gasp escapes my lips as I take in the man in front of me, if I thought Stefan was an angel this man was a god. My eyes raked over his face and then his body and it appears he was doing the same to me. His skin was pale and offset by a mess of inky black hair. His perfect mouth curved into a smirk and his sea blue eyes danced with amusement.
"Or do they not have any rules in America?" he asks cocking his head to the side. I faltered. I must have heard him wrong.
"Excuse me?" I said offended. He smirked again and set down the wicker basket he was carrying.
"Oh I'm sorry are you slow?" he probed. You have got to be kidding me. My perfect day just took a turn for the worse.
"Are you seriously talking to someone you just met like that? Who the hell do you think you are?" I asked angrily.
He shrugs his shoulders and narrows his eyes. He picks four small eggplants and makes his rounds to the other plants. I stand there waiting for a response. He bends his slim body over and picks up a few full size tomatoes. My gaze travels down to his bare feet and where his black pants are rolled up to the base of his strong calves.
"I was just picking vegetables, following orders when I saw someone breaking the law. Part of my citizenship is to uphold the law. But I see they don't do that where you're from."
Wow. I can't remember the last time I was this angry. Who the hell is this guy? Who does he think he is walking in here all accusatory? Any attraction he had vanished when he opened his mouth and said his snarky comments.
"If it's that much of an offense to you, I'll pay the owner of the house back. How much can two cherry tomatoes cost?" I ask sarcastically. His eyes scour me up and down.
"You probably couldn't afford it." And I'm done. Without another word, I turn on my heel and stalk out of the garden. Seeing, I walk back to the house and try to calm myself down knowing that I'll just project it on everyone else. That wouldn't be the best thing to do on my first day. I take a few deep breaths and reenter the house through the backdoor. There is a small mudroom which leads into the kitchen. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Stefan perched on a bar stool at the breakfast bar. He turns around and smiles at me.
"Hey Elena. How do you like the house?" he asked kindly and I finally relax. This is how you treat people, with kindness. Stefan should give that asshole outside some notes on social cues. Who was that guy anyway? He must be a landscaper, worker or something. I think for a second maybe I should say something to Stefan but decide against it.
"It's beautiful thank you. I was just walking the grounds. I don't think getting bored in a place like this is an easy task." He shook his head in agreement.
"My father would like to see you when you are ready." He said sympathetically.
I nodded my head yes and he directed me down another hall. After a sharp knock on the large mahogany door a voice told me to come in. I carefully opened the door and took in my surroundings; it was what you would expect of an office. Except tripled in size, a desk sat in the middle of a book shelf lined wall. Behind a desk in the back of the room was a man who looked very much like Stefan, they had the same copper hair and green eyes. He smiled at me and pushed his glasses up onto his head.
"You must be Elena Gilbert. I am Giuseppe Salvatore." He extends his hand and I shake it firmly. I sit in the chair opposite of him and clear my throat.
"Mr. Salvatore I would like to thank you for this opportunity and your unflinching hospitality. I am so grateful to be here." His firm expression seems to warm at my words.
"It is my pleasure Elena. We will be living together for the next few months so I would prefer if you called me Giuseppe. "
I nodded my head and smiled.
"Now" he said pulling his glasses down on his head. "I know you have received my letter regarding rules of the household. I would just like to briefly go over them, if you have any questions you may stop me. There are no set rules of this household, all I ask is that you act with decorum and don't do anything you wouldn't do in your own house. You are a reflection of this family. If I find out you are stealing, drinking to excess or doing any illegal activities you will be out of this house. Is that clear?" he asks his face stern. I can tell you don't want to get on Giuseppe's Salvatore's bad side. I could tell a lot of people find him intimidating.
"Yes sir. I would never jeopardize this opportunity for something as worthless as the things you mentioned." I answered honestly. I haven't been much of a drinker since my parent's accident and I had never done any drugs or stolen anything. He nods in agreement and continues.
"I would like to be frank with you Elena if I may. Upon receiving you as the student to be living here I did a background check and compiled information on you. "
Uhhhh What? I think. He must have sensed my dismay because he offered a small reassuring smile.
"Only because I needed to know who was living under my roof. I know a lot about you Elena and I promise to keep that confidential and under wraps as long as you offer my family the same respect." He stated gently.
"Mr. Salvatore…" I started and rephrased my words when I saw his eyebrows rise. "Giuseppe I would never do you or your son the disservice of disclosing any of your personal details. You have shown me only kindness and I intend to show you the same. I hold family very close to my heart and I understand where you are coming from. You have my word." I decided there that Giuseppe wasn't intimidating; he was just a man who wanted to protect his family, he was a worrier.
He cocked his head to the side in a way that looked familiar to me and seemed to be thinking. He smiled and shook his head.
"All right Elena I'm sure you are quite hungry after a day of travel and new things and I will let you leave in a moment but one last thing please. This is your home now just as much as it is mine; you can do what you wish here. Most necessities will be provided for you and I beg you not to object, we are a wealthy family and money is doing no good sitting in a bank. You can go out and bring people to the house if you wish your mentor has briefed me on your situation and told me to stress to you the importance of living a normal life. If I may be so bold to say it, you are a beautiful twenty one year old woman who needs to act like one. I know you have had a difficult few years and I want you to enjoy your experience here and a fresh start. I hope I haven't over stepped my boundaries." He said.
I couldn't help the shy smile that grew on my lips. I can tell he was putting himself out there for me and I was very grateful for it. I'm actually glad he knew about my parents and Mason, it saves me an extremely awkward conversation.
"Thank you again Giuseppe." I smile at him.
"I look forward to getting to know you better Elena. I have only raised boys so a young woman in the house will be a refreshing change. I'll see you at dinner." His eyes were unfocused and he was obviously thinking about something else. With his dismissal I rise from the chair and walk back out to where the staircase was. I decided I better not explore anything else today; I will have plenty of time for that in the months to come. I walk about the bottom floor until I find the staircase. I quickly make my way to my room and take out my laptop shooting Bonnie a quick email. Forty five minutes later the smell of something delicious brings me down from my room. Stefan is setting the table in what looks like is a second dining room, there are four place settings. I guess Antonio will be joining us for dinner.
"Need any help?" I ask as I watch Stefan arrange the cutlery. He looks up and back down at the table.
"Sure, thanks. If you want to fold these napkins you can." He said as he slides me the pile. "How did the talk with Dad go?" His attempt to sound uninterested was unsuccessful.
"It went really good actually; your father is a very nice man." I stated matter of factly. It was true, it wasn't exactly the usual politeness but he was gentle in a rugged kind of way. Stefan gawked at me.
"Nice?" he asked disbelieving.
"Yes. My first impression of him is he tries to be indifferent but I think he is a very kind man."
Stefan gaped at me but dropped the subject as his father entered the room.
He nodded at both me and Stefan and stood at the head of the table.
"Will you need any help with dinner?" I ask and he shakes his head no. He is a man of very few words I have found. Stefan however never seems to never run out of words. He spoke up to keep the conversation going.
"Damon should have it all under control." He said. "Do you cook Elena?" He seemed genuinely interested.
I smirked; cooking was definitely not my forte. "Well if you want to call burning everything I touch cooking then yes I do." I reply. Stefan chuckles and I think I see the ghost of a smirk on Giuseppe's lips. Suddenly another voice adds to the conversation, "well then Ms. Gilbert you picked the wrong house to live in." This has got to be a joke.
My eyes followed the familiar voice to the entrance to see that smirk. That god damn smirk and two blue eyes looking back at me. My mouth opens in protest and then closes again. I can't decide whether I should yell at him or slap that look off of his beautiful face. He strolls to the table and places a covered pot on a potholder and walks to my side of the table.
"You must be Elena Gilbert. I'm Damon. Stefan's brother." He says. He is mocking me. I narrow my eyes at him as he sticks his hand out to shake mine. I place my hand in his and instead of shaking it he pulls it up to his lips and kisses it. My face flushes red with a mixture of embarrassment and anger as I try to gather myself and politely respond.
"Stefan didn't say he had a brother." I say with a fake smile, putting the pieces together in my head. His half smile only grows wider as he watches me struggle to keep my cool.
"Steffie isn't one to brag." he said as he pulls the chair out for me and I sit. The rest of the Salvatore's simultaneously seat themselves. They have exceptional manors. He quickly sits down in the chair opposite of me as Stefan sits beside me. Damon uncovers the pot on the table and starts dishing out on each plate the heavenly smelling food. I start compiling a list of qualities for the man sitting across from me. Right now it reads beautiful, abhorrent, cocky and rude. I wonder what his excuse is; most people usually have an excuse for their behavior. That or he's just an ass; I'd prefer to believe the latter.
"What exactly is this?" I ask looking down at the plate. It looks like a bunch of vegetables covered in Marinara sauce.
"It is Ratatouille. This is an essentially roasted vegetables covered in red sauce. It has tomato in it Elena, you'll like it." He says bringing up the garden incident. I flush beet red at the comment and take a bite. I feel Stefan's gaze and look up. He is looking between Damon and me.
"So Elena, where does your family live?" Stefan asked.
"I live in a small town in Virginia called Mystic Falls with my brother and aunt. " I say and take a bite of the food in front of me. It is surprisingly delicious and I curse the chef internally for being such an ass.
"Where are your parents?" Stefan asks quizzically.
I work to swallow down the lump in my throat and the sob that threatens to escape me. "They died a few years ago." I respond quietly.
"I'm sorry I.." Stefan started but was cut off by Damon.
"Don't mind him Elena. I lost my mother when I was six and I'm sure we know more then everyone how the "I'm sorry's" and "are you Okay's" do nothing but add pain."
I stared in shock as he spoke. Was this the same guy in the garden who insulted me in every way possible? Now he was coming to my aid because something his brother said would make my pain worse. Talk about mixed signals. I threw a thankful glance at him as his beautiful blue eyes met mine. His head bowed a fraction of an inch in an almost imperceptible nod. I decided to start a new topic instead of dwelling on the inner workings of the beautiful man sitting across from me.
"It's alright. I have been living with my Aunt Jenna for the past four almost five years. My brother Jeremy is eighteen years old and is going to school for art. We live in a very small and very tightly knit town. There are no secrets in Mystic Falls." A shudder runs up my spine as I think of Mason, the Mayor's nephew, my now deceased ex-boyfriend. I stab a few circles of eggplant and balance them on the prongs of my fork, dutifully waiting for the next question before I put food in my mouth.
"Where did you go to school?"
Giuseppe clears his throat. "Let the girl eat for goodness sake Stefan." He says sternly, Stefan looks down at his plate embarrassed as I try to suppress my smile.
"You will have to excuse my son Elena. When there is someone or something new to talk to he will go on for days. Trust me, the more familiar you get with him, the less he will ask." Giuseppe says with an eye roll. I feel kind of guilty now; Giuseppe seems harsh on his sons.
I take a bite of the food in front of me and swallow. "It's okay. I don't mind talking. I will be graduating from Duke University in North Carolina in a few months. From there I hope to get an internship or job internationally and eventually start my own business." In my peripheral vision, I see a pair of blue eyes appraising me.
"That's a very ambitious plan. How old are you Elena?" Damon asks and cocks his head. Aha! That's why that looked so familiar!
"I am twenty one." I cautiously said. He nodded and continued eating his dinner. The rest of dinner passed in light conversation. I waited until everyone was finished with their plates and helped clear the table. I thanked Giuseppe and brought the plates to the sink. I feel a presence behind me and carefully turn around. It's Damon; I roll my eyes and continue loading the dishwasher.
"Elena. I would like to apologize for the way I acted before, there is no excuse." He said with his blue eyes burning into mine as I looked up at him. Talk about mercurial, his moods swung like a pendulum. Yea there is no excuse I thought. Stefan walks up behind me and carefully puts the glasses in the sink.
"Allow me to take you on a full tour of the grounds tomorrow to properly repay you." He asks politely. I stop loading the dishwasher and look up at him. Stefan seems to be doing the same thing with a shocked look on his face. I stare up at the beautiful man before me and nod my head, unable to form words when I look into his crystalline eyes. He smiles a breath taking toothy smile and retires to his room. Once I finish the dishes, I say good night to the remaining Salvatore's and snuggle deep into the huge bed and drift off to sleep.