Tonight was the big night! Damon Salvatore would be at my house at 7 pm to take me to The Grill! I could hardly contain my excitement and Elena, who quickly got over how mad she was for not going home with her, offered to do my hair and makeup. At that moment, I was so incredibly grateful to have an older sister who was 10 times more gorgeous than I was…if you saw her in the morning, you wouldn't think that though! So she knew what she was doing. I was going to wear a peasant blue shirt with pearl rhinestones along the oval neckline. The sleeves went down to my elbows. I was also wearing denim jeans with denim flats. Elena wanted me to wear heels but I knew what a disaster I would cause if I wore them. Hell, I could trip over a spec of sand so I wasn't about to tempt fate by wearing shoes I could hardly walk in. As for earrings, I opted for pearl white; sea-shell shaped dangly ones to go with the gold bracelet on my wrist. Elena put brown eye shadow on me, black liner and curled my eyelashes to put mascara on. I looked like a complete stranger and she hadn't started curling my hair yet.

"You are so pretty, Lyssa," Elena said as she brushed my long hair.

"Thanks. I'm so nervous," I confessed.

"Well, don't be. Any guy who is willing to clean red paint of the face of a stranger is a keeper. He is obviously interested."

I laughed. "Easy for you to say; all guys are interested in you all the time. You're gorgeous and I'm just the lump gliding on your coattails."

"You aren't a lump!" She exclaimed.

"Elena, you wouldn't know a lump if you fell over one. Have you seen him? He's gorgeous."

"And so are you." She declared. "You are smart, funny and kind even if you have been grouchy lately. Of course this Damon would be interested in you! If you didn't send him running for the hills after the paint incident, I guarantee you guys have something."

"You really think so?" I asked, voice small.

"Of course! And especially now. Look in the mirror."

I gasped at what I saw. I didn't even recognize myself. Elena smiled triumphantly from behind me.

"You look just like Mom."

I smiled and leaned into her.

"Thank you," I said.

She hugged me and looked at her watch.

"It's almost 7. Now I want you to promise me you'll be careful, okay. Older guys can be pushy and I don't want him to pressure you to do anything you don't want to do."

"What, like SEX?" I blurted loudly.

"Who said something about sex?" Jeremy asked from the doorway.

"I was just informing Alyssa about what is on the mindset of older boys on dates."

"Forget older, try all," Jeremy said and went to walk off. "You look good, Lys."

"Thanks, Jer," I called after him, smiling.

I looked at my sister.

"Elena, Damon isn't like that."

"You don't know that. All I am saying is be careful. Guys like to see how far they can go as fast as they can go. Let him work for it."

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. She sounded so much like Mom. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. We both grinned at each other like Cheshire cats.

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed. "He's here, he's here!"

"Well, yeah, go answer the door before Jeremy does!"

I ran down the stairs as quietly as I could and thrust the door open. There stood Damon, gorgeous in his customary black shirt and dark pants. I felt the air go out of me. He smiled at me and whistled.

"Look at you, Miss Alyssa, you look gorgeous."

I thought my heart was going to melt. Elena came up behind me.

"Hi, I'm Elena." She said, offering him her hand.

He took it and leaned down to kiss it. My blood boiled in jealousy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My brother talks about you all the time." He said breezily.

Brother? I thought.

"Stefan," Damon continued.

"Oh, my God!" Elena squealed. "I didn't know Stefan even had a brother."

They were smiling at each other and I felt like a third wheel; I had no idea what to say.

"Well, you take good care of my little sister," she said to him, sensing the tension.

She sort of had a knack for that.

He looked at me fondly and pulled me into his arms. My whole body felt like it was full of helium.

"Don't worry, I will. But I can't promise she will come back unscathed with the way she attracts trouble." He winked down at me.

I rolled my eyes and pretended to be annoyed; but in reality I was still on cloud 9 just being in his grasp. He let go of me as if on cue.

"You ready to go, princess?" He asked.

I nodded. He offered me his elbow as we walked out the door. I really felt like a princess, especially when he opened the car door for me.

"Thank you, good sir," I said with a grin.

"You're welcome, my lady," he grinned back as he got into the car.

"Here, let me raise the hood for you," he mumbled as he fiddled with the remote.

"Oh, you don't have to…" I began but it was too late.

"And mess up your pretty hair?" He teased with a raised brow.

"I'm not vain like you," I said with a smile.

He guffawed. "I'm offended."

I laughed and shook my head as he started the car. It already felt so, I don't know, easy being with him.

"So are you ready?" He asked mysteriously as we drove down the street.

"Ready?" I parroted.

Sex, my mind automatically remembered from my talk with Jeremy and Elena. Calm your fricken hormones, Alyssa!

"To wipe the floor with me," he said as if I should have known.

"Still lost," I confessed.

"We're going to play pool, remember. You said you could beat me. It's on now."

"Oh," I exclaimed, blushing. "Yeah, right, of course."

I secretly wondered if I should just tell him I had never played a game of pool in my life. I decided against it when I heard him chuckling next to me.

"What's so funny?" I asked, blushing.

"You." He said plainly, smirking from the driver's seat. "Did you know that whenever you get nervous, you fiddle with your hair?"

I was about to deny it when I realized that was exactly what I was doing. My face must have gone scarlet…I didn't even know I was doing it. I thrust it over my shoulder quickly.

"Don't be embarrassed. It's adorable really."

Adorable, my mind bellowed. What am I, a baby? A puppy? Why not hot?

"Thanks," I squeaked.

That's why, muttered my mind. So much for things being easy.

"Not a problem, honey," he said as pulled into The Grill.

It was a pretty big place, white on the outside with a wooden sign on top. He whipped into a parking space with ease. Before I knew it, he was out of the car and holding the door open for me.

"Wow, and people say chivalry is dead," I teased.

"Mmm, we will see about that when we get in there, sweetheart." He said voice husky in my ear.

I could feel arousal erupting everywhere in my body. He put his hand on my shoulder and led me inside. It was dimly lit, with a bar on one side and regular tables on the other. Off to one side there was a dart board, pool table and whatever that game was with the stupid wooden men and the ball. I've always hated that game. Wow, so many ways to humiliate myself all in one place.

"So, I'm guessing you want a regular table, huh?" He asked.

"Whatever you want is fine," I stammered.

He laughed again. I almost grabbed my hair but I stopped myself short. I hope he didn't notice even though I was sure he probably did.

"You're too young to drink, silly," he teased, tapping my nose. "Can I get a table please," he yelled.

Suddenly Matt Donovan, one of Elena's old friends, appeared in front of us.

"Alyssa," he said, his voice coming out as a question.

He eyed Damon suspiciously.

"Hi," I said with a smile. "I didn't know you work here."

"Yeah, just started," he said, smiling at me. "Let me grab you guys a table," he said, shooting Damon another look. "Follow me."

"What was that about?" Damon asked when we sat down and Matt begrudgingly left.

"I don't know. That's Elena's friend, not mine. Sorry about that."

"No need," he said. "He's probably just protective of you. I would be too, if you were my sister."

"But I'm not his sister." I informed him. "And why should he be protective?"

Thankfully another server came and gave us our menus, taking our drink orders. I didn't need my sister's friend ruining my date.

"Because," he smirked, "I'm dangerous."

My heart picked up.

"Really? Is that so?"

He leaned in closer.

"Yep. Very."

I could play along too, I thought. Be flirty, Alyssa. I leaned in close too.

"Hm, I guess I should run then."

"I think that would be best." He said back.

I shook my head and pursed my lips.

"Yeah, but I don't really want to."

He mimicked my face, inching his hand near mine.

"Good because I don't want you to."

I imagined myself leaping over the table and kissing him right then, especially since he kept inching his way closer to me.

"Can I take your order?" A peppy waitress boomed, snapping me out of my lust.

I sat up straight. Shit, I didn't even look at the menu. Damn it! Damon ordered a cheeseburger, rare with extra pickles. When both of their eyes turned to me expectantly, my whole body heated up. I wanted a burger too but I didn't want something that would be messy and I also didn't want to seem like a fat-ass by ordering something massive.

"Ummm," I stuttered. "I'll have the house salad please."

Every restaurant has a house salad, right?

The waitress smiled, lingering hers on Damon a little too long and, thankfully, left. Damon raised his eyebrows at me and cocked his head.

"Really?" He asked.

"What?" I croaked.

"Alyssa, I can practically feel your stomach growling and yet you order a measly salad. What is wrong with you?"

I blushed and looked at the floor. I was already messing things up. Damn it, I just wanted to play it cool.

"Don't worry, when the waitress comes around again, just ask for some food. What, are you afraid of getting fat? Or are you just trying to impress me?"

His bluntness made me want to crawl into the nearest hole and die. I didn't answer him and I had no idea where to look.

"Look at me," he commanded.

I reluctantly met his gaze, trying to appear to not be completely flustered on the inside.

"You don't need to worry about either." He said.

Jesus, why did he have the ability to make me feel like a complete child? But truthfully, I was starving. When the flirty waitress fluttered by again, I gave her my new order with a surprisingly calm voice. Damon smirked in victory.

"See, that wasn't so hard." He mocked.

I could have thrown my cup at him.

"So, tell me about yourself." He said.

"What do you want to know?" I asked.

"Everything!" He exclaimed, widening his eyes.

I laughed nervously.

"Well, um, I live with my aunt, sister and brother. My parents died not too long ago in a car accident."

"I'm sorry," he said earnestly.

"Me too," I mumbled. "I was there. We all were. Only they didn't make it."

Stop talking about this, I thought. He didn't say anything; just patiently waited for me to elaborate.

"I haven't cried since." I admitted.

"You blame yourself?" He asked.

I nodded slowly. "Sometimes."

"Well, don't! There was nothing you could have done to save them. It was just bad luck, unfortunately. Blaming yourself doesn't do any good, sweetheart. You're only hurting yourself; you're not God."

I looked down. "I know."

"And as for the crying; don't be afraid to let it out. I promise you'll feel better after."

I could feel a lump in my throat. If I didn't steer this conversation, then I would start sobbing. This was supposed to be a date, for God sakes.

"Can we change the subject please?" I all but demanded just as our food got to the table.

"Of course, I was just trying to get you talking." The teasing was back in his voice, making me want to sing in relief.

"So, tell me about your brother." I prodded. "I didn't even know Elena knew him."

"There's nothing to tell." He said, almost darkly. "We aren't exactly close."

"Neither are me and Elena." I said.

"No, you guys are the Brady Bunch compared to us. We have a bad history. He goes to school with you guys too."

"Don't you?" I asked, bewildered.

"I'm a drop-out." He stated. "I don't do school. I was only there for one day and as luck would have it, met a beautiful girl."

I giggled impulsively.

"That doesn't bother you, does it?"

"That you dropped…no, not really." I said honestly. "So how old are you really?"

"119! God, don't you listen," he teased.

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine! I'm 20." He said. "A regular dumb-ass."

"Was that so hard?" I mocked back. "And you aren't dumb."

He watched me curiously as I dismantled my burger. I never ate burgers with my hands. Instead I picked apart the bread and ate the middle with a fork. He looked at me like I was a caveman.

"You are a strange one." He said.

"At least I'm not vain!" I exclaimed, sticking my tongue out.

"Stick that thing out at me again and I swear, I will get you." He playfully taunted, making my body tauten up again. "And at least I'm not a klutz."

"Hey, I didn't spill anything!" I informed him.

"Yet," he pointed out. "The night is still young."

I laughed. I noticed he was wearing a blue, silver ring on his right finger.

"I like your ring," I commented.

"Family heirloom," he explained. "My brother has one too. Don't worry; I'm not secretly married."

I laughed and continued to pick at my burger. He had already devoured his.

"God, you're slow." He fake-groaned. "Hurry up so we can play."

"Fine, impatient, I'm done!" I giggled.

"No rush," he said, hands raised.

I was turning into a giggly mess.

"No, I'm done." I said between giggles.

"Alright," he clapped his hands. "Prepare to die."

I followed him over to the pool table.

"Do you want to set it up?" He asked.

"Um, you can." I said as nonchalantly as I could.

He smirked, like he knew I was bluffing. As he set up the balls, I grabbed the first pool stick I could find. It was taller than me but I pretended not to notice.

"Uh, you might want a smaller stick, there, sweetheart," he teased, winking.

"God, you make it sound so dirty!" I exclaimed. "And its fine, I can play with this one. I like it long."

The reality of what I just said sank it as he yowled with laughter.

"You are so innocent; it's adorable."

I rolled my eyes. "Can we just play?"

"Fine, testy testy," he teased. "You want to break?"

Break? What the hell did that mean? Break what? He wants me to break something?

"You should go," I insisted. "It's only fair to let the loser go first."

"You are asking for it," he whispered in my ear.

Chills ran down my spine. He raised his pool stick and knocked the white ball into the perfect triangle of multicolored ones. They scattered across the table like a band of bees, falling over themselves into the padded holes.

"Stripes," he said.

He did the same thing again, aiming for the red-striped ball in the corner. It went in. Then he did it again. The black striped one went sailing in. It was like magnets. It didn't look hard. This time, he missed.

"Looks like it's your turn, Alyssa," he grinned. "Show me what you got."

Great, my turn. Luckily, with my genius intuition, I concluded that if he was stripes I was the solids. There; potential humiliation number one was out. Now all I had to do was actually hit the ball. I awkwardly tried to mimic the way I saw him holding his pole, trying not to look at him. I thrust the pole stick towards the white ball and missed completely. I tried again quickly, missing it again. Except this time, I managed to slam the pole against the wall and rattle a picture from the hanger. Perfect. Damon struggled to contain his laughter.

"I told you; you need a smaller one. One that isn't taller than you, smart one." He laughed as he picked up the picture and handed me another pool stick.

"I'll even let you try again." He said.

"Aren't you nice?" I teased.

"Just go, sassy," he playfully scolded, tickling my sides as he walked over to the other side. Well, more like sauntered but…focus.

This time, I sent the white ball sailing completely off the pool table and directly into the shoulder of an old man at a nearby table. My face went blood red. Damon went and got it, apologizing to the man profusely before coming back up to me. He shook his head.

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed.

"You are a disaster." He remarked. "And you have never played pool before, have you?"

I shook my head. My goose was cooked.

"I know." He winked. "Come here."

"What?"

"Come. Here." He said as if I were slow. "Let me show you how to hold it."

I went over to him and he stood behind me. Suddenly, his front was against my back, his arms locked around either side of me. His face was hovering against my left shoulder and he placed his hands on mine.

"Alright," he whispered. "Put this hand against the table," he said, placing my left hand down. "You're gonna want to bend your body down a little more."

He pulled my waist against his. "Like that. Relax your fingers."

It was hard to relax ANYTHING when he was literally against me. He repositioned my fingers and they felt so awkward.

"Okay, this is how you're gonna want to hold it." He whispered. "Now, lightly move it back and forward."

I tried.

"Good. Now try to aim."

With his guiding hands, I managed to hit the white ball into the purple one and it went into the pouch.

"Very nice!" He breathed.

He smelled so good; just like the scent of Abercrombie and Fitch. My heart thudded in my chest as I felt his warm lips press against my cheek. This was it. I leaned in and our lips met. Some people say they see stars when they kiss the man of their dreams. All I could feel was heat. His tongue gently eased its way in as he kissed me from behind. I dropped the pool stick and it fell with a thud.

"I think you got it now," he whispered.

He slowly released me. My heart thumped hard through my chest and I was sure the whole place could hear it. My legs got all wobbly and I felt like Bambi when he tried to walk for the first time.

"Let's take a walk." He said.

I didn't even care that we hadn't finished our game. I wanted him to kiss me again. He led me back to the car and opened the door for me.

"Are we leaving?" I asked, suddenly afraid.

He nodded. Oh God, what did I do? Was I a bad kisser? Was my breath bad? Oh, no, he doesn't like me! He got in on his side and smiled at me.

"Relax, honey. I can hear your brain cooking. I'm just gonna take you somewhere more private."

I wasn't sure if this was good or bad. My rational side said this was trouble. But my girl side wanted him and wanted him NOW.

"Okay," I said.

He drove down the road and into a little trail in the woods. It was getting dark. He turned the car completely off and everything around us was completely silent. He turned and stared at me. It was hard to breath and I fiddled with a lock of curled hair, straightening it with my clammy hand.

"Nervous?" He asked.

He took my hand in his.

"You really are beautiful, Alyssa. Did you know that?"

I swallowed audibly. He leaned in and pulled me close to him. He pressed his lips to mine again, his hands on either side of my face, holding me in place. His tongue explored my mouth and I liked the taste. This was nice. I got a light-headed feeling; like the world was spinning off its axis. He wanted me. His kisses got deeper and harder and I could feel his leg rub against mine. He pulled away and smiled. He pushed the hair out of my face and kissed my forehead, my eyelids, my cheeks and the tip of my nose. He trailed kisses up and down my neck, making me giggle. I had never been kissed like that before in my life! I felt his hands move towards my breasts and then under my shirt. His hands tickled my bare skin and I squirmed a little. He chuckled as he kissed me some more. His hand moved up again and as I tried to move back, his other arm stopped me.

"Relax," he whispered.

I tried to but I felt weird. This was happening way too fast. Instead of his hand moving upwards, I could feel it move down past my bellybutton. I knew where he was going and I tried to pull away.

"No," I whispered.

"Relax, you want this," he whispered, looking into my eyes. "You want me to do this."

His pupils looked strange, which only scared me more.

"No!" I said more forcefully, afraid now.

He kissed me again, holding me still. I managed to push him away and I nearly jumped out of the car, panting.

"Jesus, Alyssa, I thought that's what you wanted!" He said when he got out of the car.

My eyes stung shamefully. He was just like every other guy I knew. I didn't know why I thought he would be different. He cursed under his breath harshly and I looked away.

"Get in the car." He commanded.

I shook my head.

"For Christ sakes, let me take you home. You can't walk in the dark and I'm not leaving you. Come on!"

I reluctantly got back in the car and squeezed my eyes shut. This was not how I envisioned this date going. He sighed and he started the engine, making me jump. The ride to my house was silent and painful. It felt like my heart was breaking. I really thought he liked me; but it was clear now he only wanted one thing. Elena was right. Maybe I should have let him, my mind said. Now it was too late. I wanted to cry but I was too proud to let him see. I still liked him and my brain was busy making excuses for his actions. Thankfully, he had driven me home without saying a word. He parked against the curb and sat in his seat. I bit my lip and went for the door handle.

"Alyssa," he began, his voice thick. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

I looked into his eyes, hoping that he would say he still wanted to see me.

"Do me a favor and forget this ever happened." he said, his voice weary and absent.

I swallowed and nodded, awkwardly opening the door and jumping out. His car immediately sped off, leaving me alone on the curb.