A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad you guys like the concept. I can't wait for you to get further into it, I'm super excited about this story.

A special thanks to Scarlett2112 for making my cover image for this story! She is amazing!

Enjoy!

DPOV

I scooped up the cereal with my spoon and shoved it into my mouth. "You're not doing this because I teased you last night right?"

"Call it an epiphany," Elena was turned facing me while she also munched on some cereal. "I had a flashforward into my future, and it was lonely, boring, and involving a lot of cats."

"That isn't going to be your future," I assured her.

"Because you're going to help me," she nodded her head. "So, what's the lesson for today? What's the first lesson to being like every other girl on the planet?"

"Friends," I stated simply. "You need to make friends with a girl"-

"Wait a second," Elena held up a finger, hoping off the barstool. She disappeared for a minute, returning with a piece of paper and a pencil. "Ok, continue."

"What's that for?" I asked.

"I'm taking notes," she looked at me like it was obvious.

"Ok, scratch that," I grabbed the piece of paper. "Lesson number one, no more nerdy shit, like taking notes for everything." I crumpled the paper up and threw it into the trash can next to me like a basketball player.

Elena frowned but kept listening.

"When you get to college you need to find a girl who is bubbly and outgoing. She must be hot, and a social butterfly. She will be your ticket into parties, sororities, and overall social success."

"There is no way I can make friends with someone like that," Elena's eyes held nothing but worry.

"That's why I'm going to teach you," I assured her. "By the time I leave and go back you will be an expert. Just in time for your final exam."

"Final exam?"

"A party," I wiggled my eyebrows. "We will see if you can turn some heads."

"Damon… I can't," She shook her head.

"Yes, you can," I promised. "I know you can."

I gave Elena more basic notes before I convinced her she needed a new wardrobe. She had been saving money since she was in the womb, and I knew she could drop a few bucks on something she wasn't drowning in.

We walked through the mall the following day and we entered the stores I knew every basic girl shopped. "I may not know much about girls' fashion, but I think anything you get here will work." Elena followed me as we combed the racks.

A young pretty sales lady approached us, "Can I help you?"

"Yes," I smiled at the lady. "My friend here," I put my hands on Elena's shoulders in front of me. "Could use something that isn't so… frumpy. So, if you could just put some items in a changing room, that'd be great."

"Ok," She smiled as she scanned Elena up and down.

Elena blew out a breath as a dragged her to the changing area, while I continued on with my advice.

"Parties," I started. "There will be drinking, and probably some drugs. Stay away from the drugs. But as far as the alcohol, start off small. You will have zero tolerance and trust me you don't want to regret your first drinking experience. Start with a beer. You'll know the amount of alcohol in a beer as opposed to a cocktail drink that a bunch of college kids have mixed up."

Elena nodded her head, but I could tell the thought of drinking made her feel uncomfortable.

"You don't have to drink," I told her. "But it is fun. I'd encourage you to try it. You don't have to do it again, if you don't like it."

The young sales lady came back with her first set of options for Elena to try on. Elena walked into the dressing room, and I continued talking to her through the door.

"I'm sure you know this already but watch out when you drink. Don't take a drink from a stranger unless it's a sealed container, and always watch your drink once you've opened it," It made me mad that I even had to say this. I hated the males in the world that made women have to fear the rest of us decent male beings. "Same with drinking too much. If you feel like you are drunk, make sure you stick around your girlfriends and don't let any guys take you home alone."

I could hear Elena shuffle around on the other side, so I kept going. "You can always call me if you feel like you're in trouble," I reminded her. "But the police might be more helpful since I'm hundreds of miles away."

She was still silent on the other side, and I worried I had scared her. "Did I scare you?"

"No," she finally spoke. "I just… It's weird seeing myself in these clothes."

"You're dressed already?" I stepped away from the door. "Come out. I want to see."

"No!" She said quickly.

"What? Why not?"

"Because… I look weird," I could hear all the insecurity in her voice.

I made a mental note to assure her she looked great no matter what she looked like when she came out. You could tell she was way out of her comfort zone, and she needed a major boost in her confidence. "Just come out."

After a few seconds the door handle turned, and Elena emerged from the dressing room. Her hands were fumbling down in front of her as I took in the sight before me. I literally stumbled backwards when I saw her. I've known her, pretty much my entire life and I had never really seen her before. She always wore clothes that were two sizes too big, and not flattering at all.

But now she stood before me, in a black cropped strapless bando, with a few inches of her flat stomach. Her pants were high waisted, fitted in the hips and waist, and they flared out slightly at the ends. They were vertically striped down the legs cutting off around the ankle. I never understood women's fashion these days, but it looked great on her. More than great.

I was never even sure if Elena had boobs or not, she was never in anything shapely. But seeing her like this, made me feel something I never felt before with Elena.

I always loved her heart, and she was my best friend who I enjoyed being around more than anyone else. That's why when I came home, she was the first person I came to see. I enjoyed the fact that she was a dork. We were complete opposites, but there was something so endearing about that to me.

But now there was an attraction to seeing her and it freaked me out. I mean I knew she was pretty. She had beautiful tan skin, and gorgeous dark chocolate doe eyes. She had a nice smile. I noticed all those things about her before, but she always hid behind it all. She always had her hair pulled back, and her giant glasses taking up her face.

Seeing her now… seeing her body for the first time. It scared me. I almost didn't want to see her without her glasses. I didn't want to see her with a nice new haircut. She was Elena. The girl who I made mud pies with when I was 7.

"Wow," I finally spoke. "You look unbelievable."

Elena's eyes were on me. Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion, "Is that good?"

"Yeah," I said right away. "You… I mean- I don't…" I was stuttering like an idiot. It's like no words were coming to my brain. The English language seemed to escape me. "You look really good." I finally spoke.

Elena seemed taken aback by my compliment. Like she never heard those words before.

"I got more things for you to try on," the saleslady came back with more hangers of clothing.

Elena took the clothes, and I was thankful I had a minute to recollect myself because I felt like a puddle on the floor. There was no way I could look at my best friend like that.

Every outfit she wore was just as flattering as the next. It was nice to see her smile, I could see the confidence grow every time she stepped out of the dressing room. You could see the doubt leave her face, and she stood a little taller each time.

She ended up spending a pretty penny on a lot of clothes, but she needed to. She had to get rid of all her old clothes and start fresh.

"Ok, next stop on the to do list," we walked into a salon.

"What's wrong with my hair?" She grimaced.

"You wear it in a pony 99% of the time," I flicked her pony. "I figured you could use a haircut, and someone could teach you how to style it."

A lady at the front desk smiled as we approached her, "Can I help you?"

"Appointment for Elena Gilbert," I smiled back.

"Ah yes," the lady clicked around on the computer. "Melonie will be right with you."

Just on time my favorite blondie came through the door. "Perfect timing," I greeted Caroline. I turned towards Elena, "Caroline is going to teach you how to do your make up. She will take you home, I have other places to be."

"Damon," Elena's eyes widened. "Don't you dare leave me," she growled under her breath.

"Perfect opportunity to make a friend," I told her. "Just like we practiced."

I took Elena's bags like a gentleman. "I will leave these in your room, call me when you're all finished." I walked away with a smirk before she could attack me.

I walked into my buddy Mason's house. He always had people over, so it was always a good time. He lived in his parents' basement, and I didn't see that changing anytime soon. He didn't go to college after high school, and he worked part time at a hardware store. He mainly sat on the couch playing video games and smoking pot.

"What's up?" Mason greeted me.

I smacked him on the shoulder before sitting in the chair next to the couch, casually slinging a leg over the arm rest of the chair.

"Bored," I sighed. Even though hanging out with Elena was always fun, there was only so much girl time I could handle as a male being.

"Rebekah, Matt, and Enzo are coming over in a bit," Mason informed me.

"Ugh," I groaned.

"Don't even act like you're annoyed," Mason shook his head. "You and Rebekah will end up fucking in your car tonight and you know it."

"Yeah, after we argue for hours and hours first," I complained. Rebekah was my high school ex-girlfriend. She and I were the epitome of a toxic relationship. She was captain of the cheerleaders; I was captain of the football team. We were a match made in high school heaven. Only I don't think we actually liked each other that much. We both just enjoyed sex with each other. But for some reason we couldn't stay away. One of us was always wanting to get back together while the other wanted to stay single, and the problem was we could never be on the same page.

"Want some?" Mason handed me his blunt and I shook my head.

"Can't, remember?" Military and drugs didn't exactly go hand in hand. I would be drug tested the second I got back. I wish I could, but I can't.

"How's that going by the way?" Mason asked. "You like the army?"

"Yeah, it's good." And that was the truth. I enjoyed the military. I worked on tank mechanic, and I loved it. It was like working on cars, but way cooler. I made lots of friends out there, and it's true what they say. It really is a brotherhood. The only downfall was being away from all my friends and family here. Especially when I had to go back, because I knew it'd be at least six months before I'd be back.

"You still working at the hardware store?"

"Yeah," He sighed. "I want to quit though."

I glanced at him taking in his demeanor. I often wondered if he was depressed. He had little to no motivation, and lack of a drive. But he was a really good guy, and that's why I was his friend.

"Wanna play?" he offered me a controller.

"Sure," I slumped to the floor next to him and joined him.

For the next hour Mason and I swore at the television as our characters ran around massacring a village. Then people showed up, and by people, I mean Rebekah. She sat down next to me, and I stiffened, as she set her hand on my knee.

"Really?" She snarled. "Two nights ago, at the party you were all happy to see me."

"I was drunk Rebecca," I kept my eyes on the screen.

"So, you're using me for sex then?" She raised her voice, not keeping this conversation private at all.

"Not any more than you use me," I finally turned to her. "You don't even reach out to me when I'm gone, but once I'm back you act like were together. That's not a relationship Rebekah."

"The phone goes both ways, Damon," she said my name with a snarl.

"Oh, here we go," Matt mumbled. The boys got up and walked upstairs. I'm sure they went to make food, but we all know that Rebekah and I knew how to clear a room.

"Why do you always have to start drama?" I tossed the controller on the floor. "We couldn't have two seconds of peace before you ruined it."

"Well maybe if you weren't such an ass, I wouldn't have to!" She raised her voice.

"I'm over this shit," I stood up, ready to walk out.

"You're such a coward Damon," she said so calmly it rubbed me wrong.

I turned on my heels to face her. "You broke up with me two years ago. This is getting old. This back-and-forth bullshit I have to deal with coming back home every time is really starting to hit a nerve. We're over Rebekah, and we have been for a long time. So, quit making life so miserable, and leave me alone!"

She had that smile that was sadistic. A smile that made my skin crawl, because she felt like she had me wrapped around her finger. "We both know you like it just as much as I do Damon."

In some ways she was right. Our relationship was toxic there was no doubt, but a lot of things that are bad for you, make you feel good. Alcohol, drugs, fattening foods. Mine was just a walking talking blonde, who was good in bed, and a good time when she wanted to be. I spun back around and walked away. Glad I was able to resist her this time.

A/N: Let me know what you thought! See you next week :)