A/N: Welcome to my new story :) I'm SO EXCITED for you to read this one. I've had this written for at least six months. I'm really proud of this one so I hope you guys like it as much as I do. It has many layers, which I love.

Enjoy!

"Honey I'm home!" Damon opened the playhouse door.

"How was work my husband?" Elena bounced her doll in one arm, while setting up a nice plastic dinner on small plastic plates.

"It was wonderful!" Damon beamed. "I got to feed the monkeys and give the Tigers a bath."

Damon's imaginary profession was a zookeeper that day. While Elena decided to be a stay-at-home mom by day and a dance teacher by night. "Ugh!" Elena put her hands on her hips, accidently dropping her doll to the floor. "I thought we agreed that you were an astronaut?"

"Yeah…" he sighed. "But I like a zookeeper better."

Elena picked up her doll and sighed. "Fine, but tomorrow you have to be an astronaut."

"Ok," Damon agreed with a shrug.

"Will you call the boys for dinner? It's almost ready." Elena asked as she finished putting an assortment of food on the small table. "You also forgot to kiss me when you came in." Elena stuck out her hip as she crossed her little arms.

"Oh, right," Damon face palmed his forehead. "Let me try again."

Damon opened up the door and closed it before waiting a few seconds.

"Honey I'm home!" he announced again as he walked in. He shuffled his feet towards Elena as he bent down, for a brief kiss to her lips. He was whole head and half taller than her.

Elena smiled; glad he remembered this time. She was quite the bossy thing when it came to playing house.

Damon leaned out the window, "Dinner's ready!"

Elena set her doll in the chair next to her, as the two boys barreled through the door, Stefan holding Jeremy in a choke hold.

"Enough with the wrestling twins," Elena sat up straight, pointing to the two empty chairs. "Sit." Jeremy and Stefan always played as Damon and Elena's twins. But most of the time they had to play outside the playhouse, because they didn't follow Elena's rules very well.

Magically all three boys pretended to chew on the plastic food for all of sixty seconds before Stefan kicked Damon under the table, and Jeremy pinched Stefan. And in 3 seconds flat the table of food was flipped over, and the playhouse was a disaster.

Elena stood up, crossed her arms, "You boys ruin everything!" She stomped her foot, and marched back into the house.

EPOV

I tapped my pencil over my notebook for several minutes. I was sitting at my kitchen table, with my legs tucked under me. It was a Friday afternoon, and I was making a list for things I needed for my college dorm. I had no plans for the day, so my hair was in a loose ponytail, glasses on, an old ratty t-short, and sweatpants that were worn at the ankles.

The front door of my house opened, and I assumed it was probably Jeremy coming home. Or maybe even my parents.

"What's up nerd?" A voice appeared from behind me.

Before I had time to register, he had leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.

"You're home?" My head followed him as he sat down in the chair next to me.

"Got in a few hours ago," he leaned back against the chair, making himself comfortable.

Damon enlisted in the Army right out of high school. It made me really sad at first because he was like a best friend to me. Even though we were complete opposites, he never made it seem that way. When he was a senior, I was a sophomore. He was captain of the football team, prom king, everybody knew him, and everybody loved him.

Ever seen Princess Diaries? Yeah, I was Mia, minus the whole princess thing. I was practically a ghost roaming the halls because no one knew I existed. I hid behind my glasses and books stacked up to my chin. Even when Damon would walk me to class or talk to me, people would still run into me. I was invisible. It made me furious and sad all at the same time. But sometimes I enjoyed it. At least when you're invisible people don't bother making fun of you. I was able to coast through school without scrutiny. But that's all it was… coasting.

"You didn't tell me you were coming home."

"Surprise," he waved his hands in fake enthusiasm. "I'm home for two weeks."

Damon usually came home twice a year. For a short two weeks at a time. He had lots of friends and family excited to see him, so my time with him in those 14 days was pretty tight. But he always made time.

"Got any plans those 2 weeks yet?" I asked.

"Yes," he nodded. "You are going to make me your famous chicken and cheese quesadillas."

"Really?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Please?" He pouted. "I'm starving. I haven't eaten since I left for the airport at eight this morning."

I huffed pushing away from the table. I started buttering two tortilla shells when Damon snatched my notebook. "Isn't school over for you?" He curiously read through my notes.

"I'm making a list of things I need for my dorm," I flushed, wishing he wouldn't be so nosey.

"Nerd," he snickered. "Don't you have better things to do on a Friday night?"

I didn't dare tell him I was excited that Jeopardy was having a marathon tonight that I was planning on watching while I reorganized my closet during the commercials.

"Not this Friday," I shrugged, sprinkling the cheese over a tortilla. "But I'm sure you do."

He tossed my notebook back down as he stood up. "Mason is throwing a little party for me tonight. I figured I'd hang out with you tonight, until you go to bed at a whopping eight o'clock, and then I'd go over there." He stuck his hand in the bag of cheese and threw some in his mouth. "You should come."

"No thanks," I shrugged casually.

"Figures," he was prepared for my answer. He always invited me to things. "Got a hot date with Harry Potter tonight?"

I rolled my eyes, "Jeopardy actually."

Damon groaned, "Are you really going to make me watch that?"

"Yes," I smiled. "One Quesadilla for one hour of jeopardy."

"Fine," he rolled his eyes. "I don't understand why you would rather spend your night alone than at a party celebrating my service for this country."

"You mean why would I rather not be around a bunch of douche bags that I went to high school with that don't even know my first name? While everyone drinks cheap beer and plays spin the bottle…" I eyed Damon. "No thanks. My comfy couch and popcorn sound so much better."

"Spin the bottle is so seventh grade," Damon rolled his eyes. "You know I don't have to play any games to make out with girls." He casually threw his arms over my shoulder, steeling the spatula with his free hand, and flipping the quesadilla.

This was normal to me. Damon was very affectionate with me in a strictly friends' way. Sure, he was incredibly gorgeous I wasn't blind. But we were friends. I didn't feel anything more than that… I couldn't.

And even if there were moments, I let my mind wander and think of him in a different light, I always reminded myself that he was Damon. And I was just plain, and boring Elena. I was his neighbor he was forced to play with because for a long time we had no other kids in the neighborhood. I was the one who helped his with his chemistry homework, while he helped me pass gym class. I was the one he liked to hide out with when he didn't feel like going to a party. He was my only friend. The only reason I could say I had a social life. It was strictly friends. That's it.

"Alright," Damon stole the remote, "It's been an hour. I can't stand this shit."

He scrolled through his options, finally settling on MTV. "Really? This is so trashy."

"You could learn a thing or two," he grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl in my lap. "This is how you have fun Elena."

"I have fun," I glared at him.

"No, you don't," he shook his head.

"Yes, I do!" I argued.

"What is fun to you?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Homework? Studying? Choir class?"

"I enjoy excelling in academics, ok? But that's not all."

He looked at me, patiently waiting for an answer.

As I racked my brain trying to think of other things I enjoyed doing. I was stunned in silence as I couldn't come up with anything. Not one thing. There was not one activity I enjoyed that didn't have to do with school or didn't involve me being alone.

Once I realized that I had nothing, I felt my heart sink. I already had so many insecurities that I wasn't popular or pretty. Now I felt insecure thinking that once I was finished with college, I'd have nothing. Nothing but a job. And probably 27 cats to come home to.

I sank back into the couch cushions, as I vacantly shoved a piece of popcorn in my mouth.

"Elena," I heard Damon's voice turn apologetic. Something I didn't hear often. He was always sarcastic, lighthearted, almost never serious. "I was just kidding," he explained.

I wasn't upset with him, because he was right. I didn't know how to have fun.

I was fixed on the TV as I watched a bunch of young people who were probably close to my age, and they were reckless, and outrageously crazy, but they looked like they were having a blast. I studied their faces, and their actions. It was all so foreign to me. It was reality TV, but it was all fictional to me, because it was so out of the ordinary.

"Hey," Damon shook my shoulder. "I didn't mean it."

I looked at him, finally broken free from my trance. "I know," I gave him a half smile. I didn't want him to feel bad. He was the only person that didn't care where I stood on the totem pole. "I'm kind of tired," I lied. Truthfully, I just wanted to lie in bed, and cry feeling bad for myself. And I couldn't do that with Damon here.

"I'm sorry," He slightly frowned. "Forget what I said, I was just teasing you like usual."

"Damon, it's fine," I gave him the best smile I could manage. Even though on the inside I was dying. "Really. I'm just tired."

I stood up off the couch and switched off the TV. I stretched my limbs as he stood up.

"I don't buy it," he eyes me suspiciously. "But I know you won't tell me either way."

I pushed him towards the door, as I tried assuring him, I was fine one last time.

"I'll call you tomorrow," he opened the front door.

"K," I leaned up against the wall, next to the open door.

He gave me his signature smirk, "Goodnight, my wife."

It was an inside joke between the two of us. He likes to tease me for all the times I bossed him into playing house when we were kids. I forced him to call me wife, and I called him husband. He was my first (and only) kiss. And we kissed every day from the time I was five and he was seven, until I was about eight.

Now he just does it, to make me smile. It's not all that often, but it still happens. He waits until I respond, and instead of a kiss on the lips, it's on the cheek.

I rolled my eyes, and replied unenthusiastically, as I tried hiding my smile. Because just saying it, made me feel so stupid, "Goodnight, husband." We quickly kissed each other on the cheek, before he trotted off into the night.

The next morning, I woke up and looked in the mirror. Yep. I looked like a zombie. I cried myself until I was so exhausted, I fell asleep. I brushed my hair, put on my glasses, changed into jeans and a t-shirt. I grabbed my phone and fell on to my bed. I didn't have social media, but I knew you could download Tik Tok and look through them, and not have to have one.

I downloaded it a while ago when my brother promised me, I wouldn't be disappointed. But I found it to be out of my element. It made me feel so out of touch with the world. I didn't know the trends, when it came to fashion, music, lingo. So, I was disappointed.

But maybe I could learn…

I scrolled through videos of girls dancing, pranking… and it clicked. I could rebrand myself. I could go to college, and I could reinvent myself. I could have fun. I could be visible…

I sat up throwing my phone in my pocket and running down the stairs. I opened the front door, shutting it behind me as I ran next door. I opened the door to my second home, seeing Damon's mom cooking in the kitchen.

"Elena," Lily smiled unsurprised by my intrusion. I haven't knocked on their door since 2003, and I wasn't going to start now.

"Morning Lily," I called, as I took the stairs two at a time.

I charged down the hall, finding Damon's door on the end. I burst through knowing he'd still be asleep, so I didn't worry about walking in on him naked.

"I need your help," I shut the door behind me.

Damon was laying on his stomach shirtless, his blankets covering his lower half as he peered over his shoulder at me. "What the fuck Elena?" He groaned throwing himself back in the pillow.

I kicked off my shoes, and jumped on his bed, laying on the empty side. "I need you to reinvent me."

He turned his head away from me to look at his phone on the nightstand. "It's 6AM, Elena," he growled. He threw the covers over his head, pissed that I woke him up so early.

"Oh, come on you're used to early mornings, solider," I reminded him.

"That's why I get two weeks off," I heard him huff, under the covers. "So, I can sleep in. Especially since I was up until 2 last night drinking my ass off."

"Not my fault," I reminded him.

After a moment of silence, he threw the covers off his head, and looked at me through hooded eyes. "What are you even talking about? Reinventing you?"

"I want you to teach me to be fun," I threw my hands up. Not knowing how else to put it.

"You are fun," he closed his eyes again.

"I mean like fun, fun," I clarified. "Like all the girls the guys want. The one who's the life of the party. Like this"-

I showed him my phone with a typical girl my age.

He opened his eyes to glance at the video. "I'm a guy Elena."

"Exactly," I pointed out. "Which means you know exactly what guys like. Which is why I want you to teach me."

"And what do I get out of this?" He ran his hands through his hair, as he adjusted to waking up.

"You owe me for all those papers I wrote for you, your junior year in English," I reminded him.

"Fine," he sat up on his elbows. "We have to start right away though. I only have two weeks, and…" he looked me up and down. "I'm going to need all the time I can get."

"Ugh!" I scoffed. "Gee thanks…"

His smile indicated he was just teasing. "I want to go back to sleep first though."

"Fine," I sighed. "You get two more hours."

"You could sleep with me," he reached over and grabbed me around my waist, trapping my arms. He pulled me up and over him, onto his other side.

"No, Damon," I giggled, barely able to get out the words.

"But you're so snuggly," he nuzzled his head into my shoulder. "Like a teddy bear."

"You know I don't sleep in," I kept giggling.

"Well, this is your first lesson," he said into my shoulder. "Sleeping in, is fun."

I laughed again but didn't argue. After all his bed was comfortable… and he smelt nice. NO. Don't go there Elena. He's your best friend. You're just friends. Friends. That's all.

A/N: What do you think of the start so far? Are you interested? Please leave a review and I will see you next week ;)