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Chapter 2

Blue eyes. That's all Elena remembered when she woke up that day. Those hypnotic, deep ocean blue eyes. And the way they held her gaze... A pleasant shiver ran down her body.

She sluggishly threw off her covers and got out of bed, making her way over to the bathroom. She was planning on having a bubble bath, but then she remembered that she had to get to class in an hour and groaned. She was sick of having to wake up in the mornings. That's all she did before when she was in high school, and she had promised herself that when she graduated, she would never wake up before 8am again. Unless it was an emergency, of course. She narrowed her eyes at her bathroom clock; 10:30 it said. She had an hour before she had to leave her house.

Elena was just about to get into the shower when a she heard a familiar chime coming from the living room. She hastily threw on a robe and ran to find her cell phone.

"Hello?" She asked, a little out of breath.

"Woah, were are YOU running from?" a cheery voice came from the other line.

"Caroline." Elena said, surprised. "What are you doing up so early? You usually don't wake up until at least 12am!"

"Well, some things have changed, you know" Caroline said mysteriously.

"Huh. So what's the real reason?" Elena said, knowing her friend too well.

She heard a sigh on the other end. "Well, if you MUST know, let's just say...I met a boy. And don't worry, he is completely different from Tyler. He's...sweet"

Elena could hear her smiling over the phone.

"Well, I'm glad you did, Care. It's about time, you know. I hated it when you guys fought. It's like when my parents fought. When they were still alive..."

"Oh, Elena." Caroline said sadly. "I know it's still hard. I wish I was face to face with you, because then I could give you a hug."

"It's okay Care." Elena said, trying to pull herself together and smile. She exhaled determinately. "It's been a year, and I've had time to get over everything."

"Yeah, I guess." Caroline said sadly and switched subjects. "So, I was calling to make sure you actually go to your art class today. By the way, did you like your first day?"

Elena groaned internally. "It was okay, I guess. It was just really unexpected, you know?"

"Well...not really." Caroline said honestly. "But it sounds like it was good for you. Meet any hot boys?" Elena's best friend asked.

"Oh, well look at the time!" Elena said suddenly. "Gotta go shower so I can get to class on time! Bye, Care! Love you!"

"But wait! You never answered me! Elena, don't you dare hang up without telling me about - "

Elena never got to hear the rest of Caroline's words. She quickly hung up and went back to go take a shower. She would call her cheery friend back later to tell her all about her blue eyed stranger.

The bus had left. She had run to the bus stop, only to see it leave without her. She cursed her luck and sat down at the stop, wondering what she would do next. Well, she could either walk there (which would take at least an hour) or she could wait for the next bus. Either way, she would be late for class. She cursed her luck again and started walking, thinking that she could get there faster if she speed walked.

After about five minutes of speed walking, she noticed a taxi slowing down beside her. Creepy, she thought. Very creepy. She was momentarily relieved when the black window rolled down and she saw no one other than the raven haired mystery man from yesterday. As her relief passed, she was quickly filled with dread. What the hell was he doing? Weren't they supposed to meet after class?

"Well hello there, stranger." He called out. "Need a lift?" He asked doing this sexy thing with his eyes.

"Oh," Elena said, a little out of breath, and looked at her watch. This was going to be one awkward car ride if she said yes. But if she said no, she would be late for sure. "Uh," she said looking around, "you know what? Yeah, I actually could use the ride. Thanks." She said with a smile and opened the car door and quickly got in.

Damon moved over to make room for her and told their driver their new destination.

"Oh," Elena said, "You don't have to do that. The diver can just drop you off first. Really, I don't mind," she said with another smile.

"Oh, its fine. I don't mind. It's not like it matters if I'm late anyways." He said, looking away as he grimaced.

Elena saw his reaction and before she could stop herself, her curiosity got the best of her. "Where are you headed to?" She mentally cursed herself for wording it so bluntly.

Damon just looked at her for a couple of moments as a look of curiosity mixed with a trace of faint amusement played across his face. "Well, that's for me to know and for you to...hopefully never find out." He said as he smirked at her.

Just as she was going to reply to his odd answer, the car stopped.

"Miss, we have arrived." The driver said.

"Oh, thank you." Elena replied. "How much do I owe you?" she asked Damon.

"Nothing." He said with another one of his trademark smirks. "I'm sure you can pay me back another day some way." He added as he winked at her suggestively.

Elena suddenly felt her cheeks heat up as she grew uncomfortable. "Okay, and that's my cue." She said as she opened the door and stepped out.

"I'll see you at five, Elena." She heard as she closed the door. Weren't they supposed to meet at four thirty? Oh well, she thought, more time for me. As she walked to the school doors, she heard the taxi speed away and she let out relieved breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding until now.

Damon let out a short laugh as he saw Elena practically sprint to the doors of the college. There was something about her, he thought as the car pulled away. Something that intrigued him. Something that made him want to get to know more about her. She was one of those girls that were shy and quiet to strangers, but when you got to know them they were fun and adventurous, he realized. He would have fun with her, he thought as he smirked at the thought.

"Sir, we have arrived," Michael called out.

Damon smiled at his driver. Michael was his driver, after all, even though he was a taxi driver. But Giuseppe wouldn't have it any other way - he wouldn't trust anyone but Michael driving his son anywhere. Damon's face darkened at the thought. His father was a powerful man. He was the owner of one of the biggest, if not the biggest, law firms in all of the country. Too bad his oldest son didn't want to join him. Damon hated his father, and hated his father's job. He would never want to run that company, no matter how much his father tried to bribe him. His younger brother, Stefan, was more easily bribed though. His brother was so naive. Well of course he's naive, Damon thought coldly, with no mother to raise him, he was grown up on the bullshit that his father fed them. He shook his head in disgust, thanked Michael, got out of the taxi, and looked up at the tall building in front of him. As if his father thought this would be his future. Damon would do anything to make sure he didn't end up here.

Elena rushed to the art room and noticed that everyone had set up already. She took a seat beside the chocolate-coloured skinned girl from yesterday. Just as she was setting out her easel, her brushes dropped to the floor. Elena cursed and bent down to pick them up, and the girl beside her bent down to help her.

Once the girls had gathered all the brushes, they stood up and Elena thanked her.

"Oh, it was no problem," the girl said with a smile and then stuck out her hand. "I'm Bonnie. Bonnie Bennet."

"Elena Gilbert," Elena replied, shaking Bonnie's hand.

"So Elena, what brings you to this class?" Bonnie asked .

"Well actually my friend suggested I join this class," Elena told her truthfully. "Caroline said it would be 'good' for me." Little did she know I would meet an incredibly sexy yet egotistical guy on the very first day, Elena thought. "What about you?"

"I just love to paint," Bonnie said and shrugged. "I just it's just always been a passion of mine," she added with a smile.

"Yeah, it's always been a passion of mine too." Elena said with a returning smile.

"That's awesome!" Bonnie said "When did you start?"

"Oh, when my parents died.." Elena tailed off and started arranging her paints so she wouldn't have to look at her new friend.

"Oh my god, Elena. I'm so sorry." Bonnie put a caring hand on Elena's arm and gave her an understanding smile.

"It's okay," Elena said, giving her a sad smile. "After they passed away, it was a thing that I did to get away from the sadness, and I guess it kind of just stuck. I started dancing too. Dancing and painting just took the misery away, I guess." She said and shrugged.

Elena was surprised when her new friend got up from her stool and hugged her. It meant a lot to her and Elena felt that somehow, she had gained another good friend that she felt she could trust. She smiled and hugged the girl back.

Their hug was cut short when Alaric walked into the room just as the bell rang. The girls let go and went back to sitting at their stools.

The bell rang, signalling the end of the class. Bonnie stood up and packed up her things, and then waited for Elena to finish packing up their things so that they could leave together. Once Elena saw that Bonnie was waiting for her, she rushed to join her friend. Just as she had finished packing up, she remembered that she was supposed to meet Damon and mentally cursed herself for forgetting.

"You know what, Bonnie? You can go ahead without me." Elena said with a smile.

"Oh, okay." Bonnie's face fell.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean it that way!" Elena quickly said when she realized that her friend had taken what she had said the wrong way. "I just want to stay behind and finish painting. But if you want, we can hang out tomorrow! Maybe grab some coffee after class?" Elena said hopefully.

"Sure!" Bonnie's face brightened. "Tomorrow it is!" She smiled and left.

As soon as Bonnie left, Elena checked the time. She still had ten minutes until Damon came.

She took her time pulling out her easel from yesterday and arranging her paints. When she was done, she checked the time again. He was five minutes late. Elena felt a little annoyed. Now what was she supposed to do? She looked around the room and spotted a CD player. Well, it's not like she had anything better to do. She pulled out a CD that she had in her bag. The CD was one that she usually carried around from when she started dancing. She put the round disc into the machine and Latin music started blaring out. Elena was glad she had worn leggings today - she could move better in them than in her normal skinny jeans. She went to stand in the middle of the classroom and let herself feel the music. She started with simple cha-cha steps and then got into the more complicated Samba and Salsa steps. Even without a partner, it was exhilarating. She felt herself moving across the floor with such ease and grace, it was freeing. She let her hair down and started making her own moves to the intoxicating beat. She started twirling feeling more free than she had in a while. Her spell was broken, though, when she heard a laugh come from the entrance.

Damon stood there, leaning on the doorframe with amusement and a trace of lust in his eyes. "Me gusta." He said as he raised his eyebrow at her suggestively.

Elena right about died of embarrassment right there. She quickly moved to turn off the music, and returned to her easel and paints. Her cheeks were a flaming tomato red, and her heart was racing. As she looked at her watch, she refused to look up at him. "You're twenty minutes late, Damon."

"I got held up." He said, shrugging. It was enough of an explanation, he thought. Then, after a pause he said, "but you kept yourself entertained, I see." He said, smirking at her.

"OKAY. So, I guess we'll just start when you're ready then?" Elena said, desperate to change the direction in which this conversation seemed to be headed.

"Okay, fine, change the topic," she heard him say as he came up behind her. "But you were pretty good, if I may say so myself" he said as she felt his hot breath in her ear. Her whole body tingled at his proximity.

"Thanks." She said a little breathily and cleared her throat. "Ready?"

Damon laughed as he moved away and removed his clothes. "Yeah, I'm ready." He smirked as he went to go stand on the block in front of her, enjoying her flustered state. It made him want her. It made him want to-

What am I thinking? he asked himself. He couldn't let himself think those thoughts while he was stand in front of her, naked. Least of all now. He tried to think of other non-arousing thoughts as she painted him.

Elena looked up and started giggling at his pained expression. When she started giggling, though, she found she couldn't stop. His expression was just so...priceless. He noticed she was laughing at him, and he got annoyed. No one - especially a girl he was naked in front of - laughed at him.

He huffed. "Well, I think this session's over." He said as he got off his block and made his way back to his clothes.

Elena calmed herself. "Oh, stop," she said, walking to him and putting a hand on his chest, halting him. "I was only laughing at you because of your expression. That's all." She said, looking up at him with her big brown doe eyes.

Curse those eyes, Damon thought as his expression softened. "Fine." He said as he looked away and walked back up on the block in front of Elena's easel. Elena looked amused as she walked back to her easel, and then grew serious as she studied her unfinished sketch. Damon couldn't help but smile as her studious expression. Suddenly, he was overcome with the feeling that he had to see her again. He didn't know what that meant, but before he could question it he looked at her and said: "It's your turn."

"Excuse me?" Elena asked him, clearly baffled.

"Well, I need someone to paint too, you know. And tomorrow, I'm painting you." He smirked at her.

No way. No way José was he painting her. Especially not naked. "Uhm, I don't think so, Salvatore." She told him.

"Well I do think so, Gilbert." He told her, matter-of-factly.

"And why is that?" She said absentmindedly while sketching him.

"Because you still owe me, in case it slipped your mind." Damon smirked.

Elena almost dropped her pen. Oh, right. How could she have forgotten? "Fine, but not tomorrow. I'm meeting a friend after class."

A friend? Damon thought. He wondered if it was a boy or a girl. "Okay, then how about in two days? Let's say.. 8 o'clock? Call me when you're done...whatever it is you'll be doing and I'll come by and pick you up."

"Fine. But only because I owe you one." Elena glared at him as he walked off his block, took her phone, and put his number in.

This is going to be fun, Damon smirked at he walked back onto his block.

AN: So, that was chapter 2 (: I hope you guys liked it! I'm also really sorry for making you guys wait - its just that I had so much to do and so little time! But with this long winter break I think I'll have another one done soon ;) I'd also like to thank everyone for leaving reviews! I really didn't expect so many and when i got them i litterally couldnt stop smiling for the whole day. Thank you so so much! It really motivated me to write more too!

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas!

*hugs you all*