"Okay Elena! You have only had one drink and you were the one who was all, 'I need to live a little'" Caroline was starting to be a boss again.

"I know, I know. I just was waiting to eat. I don't want to be a drunken mess before it's even 9."

"I'm hoping no one will be a drunken mess." Bonnie interjected.

"No, absolutely no drunken messes. I spent a lot of time on my outfit. We just want to be drunk enough to have fun, but sober enough to remember we are ladies." Leave it to Caroline to know a happy medium between wild and ladylike.

Next thing Elena knew Damon Salvatore was standing before her giving her that same look she remembered. The eyes piercing her and the eyebrows cocked making her heart stutter as he smiled right into her brown eyes. She hadn't seen him in years and he had only become something that Bonnie teased her about when attempting to set her up with other guys. They had even had an inside joke about it and Bonnie had been right about Elena's first college boyfriend, Silas, he was "No Damon Salvatore". Damon was looking at her right now like she had always dreamed about, but he must not remember her because his face showed no recognition. She could only revert back to her teenage self and gaze at all his unearthly beauty.

"Hello ladies. Who was sharing the pizza?" Damon asked as Caroline raised her hand. "And the Chicken Parmesan?" He made searing eye contact with Elena. All Elena could do was nod her head in response. She caught Bonnie giggling across the table and shot her daggers.

"I think it would be great if we could all have refills on our drinks." Caroline noticed Elena's tension and tried to save the day.

"Ok, well if I could see some ID I'd be happy to get those for you." Damon smirked. He knew this was the perfect way to learn her name without seeming too eager. He was trying to keep his confidence in place. It was damn near impossible to remain level headed when he'd gotten up close and been able to fully appreciate this bombshell with legs for days. He had never seen anyone this beautiful and he was silently reminding himself not to be a douche. Damon knew Caroline Forbes and he wasn't in the mood to deal with her bossy attitude, but he would bring drinks if it meant he could get this gorgeous girl's number.

Elena fumbled through her clutch to pull out her driver's license and slid it across the table toward him trying to maintain her composure. All Damon could manage was to not drool as she looked up at him through her lashes and coyly slid the ID. He at least accomplished not lingering on her cleavage for too long. He had already assessed Caroline's and Bonnie's, but he hadn't really checked them. Damon had noticed "Bennett" and remembered her briefly from the Mystic Falls public library when he had been a part of Big Brother Big Sister and he used to take Jeremy Gilbert, his "little brother" there. He picked up Elena's ID and shock was written across his features. Elena immediately knew he had remembered her, but she was disappointed. She had hoped he wouldn't remember the broken girl from Mystic Falls with the troubled little brother. He had spent some time mentoring Jeremy after their parent's died, but Elena had been a gangly girl with glasses. The most interaction they had was when she went by the coffee shop after school or he came to pick up Jeremy.

"Elena Gilbert, all grown up, and hanging out with Blondie and Bennett. I guess time doesn't change much. I've been wondering what Jeremy's been up to? He emailed me asking me what I thought about VCU and I saw on Facebook he was accepted. I see he was making a family tradition of it. It's good to see you again Elena. I'll tell Klaus you guys want round two. " Damon walked away from the table just as quickly as he had appeared.

Elena started into her food to avoid Bonnie's teasing and Caroline's questioning, but friends can be evil.

"The Damon Salvatore! My, oh my! Elena's very own ideal man and rendering her speechless just like old times." Bonnie sang.

" Elena!" Caroline screeched, " How have I never been told of your man crush? And it's Man Crush Monday no less!"

" I don't know. I mean he is just sexy as hell and nothing but a schoolgirl crush. I mean he was just always around after my parents died, taking Jeremy out and making a difference in his attitude. It was a silly infatuation. No big deal. Bonnie just likes to joke about it." Elena shrugged it off and continued to eat. This food was amazing and she'd keep eating it as long as she could avoid any embarrassing questions from Caroline.

"Damon Salvatore is bad news. He may have been a help to your brother, but he has problems of his own. He certainly isn't boyfriend material. He left a line of broken hearts my freshman year. I think he has calmed down now, but I still wouldn't trust him. He isn't the one woman type." Caroline was never one to beat around the bush, but Elena frowned all the same.

"Care, he just brought me my food. I don't think that is grounds for getting married. I just want to have fun tonight we don't need to analyze my lack of a love life. Silas was a cheater and I have no intention of starting anything until I'm good and ready, and certainly not with Damon." Elena was trying to be light, but Bonnie could tell the topic was stressing her.

Elena had dated Silas almost all through college, but she had walked in on him with another girl right before finals last year. Elena had refused every match Bonnie suggested ever since. She had a long line of guys ready to impress her, including Matt Donovan, but Elena's standards were higher than ever.

"It's okay, we get it. It's Girls Night. No more talking about relationships. " Bonnie interjected ending the Damon discussion for Elena.

"I can drink to that." Caroline said as she tipped back the rest of her drink. As if on cue Klaus returned with another round.

"These are on the house girls, compliments of Damon."

"Free drinks. Yes, that is what we need." Caroline smiled up at Klaus.