Hello Delena fans!

Firstly - WOW! How awesome was the finale? I'm still getting over that scene between Damon and Elena. Did anyone else scream like a total loon? Haha!

Secondly, I apologize for not updating sooner. I hate it when fics aren't updated regularly but I do have my reasons. My poor mama has broken her left foot and right arm so she's a little incapacitated at the moment! I'm playing the role of mum in the house. Quickly appreciating how hard mums work to look after us, ha. However I managed to sway a little time to update Love Lessons and this is my favourite chapter to write so far.

And just as a few reminders, John is Elena's Uncle in this story. She is in no way related to Isobel. Her parents were those whom died in a car accident.

And in reply to some reviews I understand Elena is young at 16, but doesn't that make it allllll the more scandalous ;-) mehehe.

Anyway, enough rambling, on with the show!

I own nothing... not even a wolf-bitten, rabid Damon. (btw, how hot did he look with all that sweat... or is that just me?)

Damon's POV

The friday night teacher get-together was quickly shaping out to be one of the most tedious and painful evenings of Damon Salvatore's life.

Sat opposite from Jonathan Gilbert at the dinner table, Damon continuously found the man to be glaring at him. Damon would be talking, joking and laughing with the others, yet John was always watching with an inquisitive glare. It was impossible to ignore, and Damon found himself refraining from bringing the issue forward multiple times. Instead, if John wanted to play that game, then so be it.

"And I swear to fucking God, I couldn't wait to see the back of that kid,' Damon heard Alaric joke, causing several other members of staff to laugh out aloud while he turned his full attention to John, who surprise surprise, was staring directly back at him.

A hand playfully slapped on Damon's arm, "sorry you've got Tyler Lockwood this year Damon, he'll probably be the most difficult son of a bitch you'll encounter for a while."

"Not likely" came Damon's low response while his eyes narrowed on John, who blinked away and casually took a sip from his red wine.

"What was that? You're calling me a bitch?" slurred Alaric, slightly drunk after several buds, yet it amused the entire table to no end. Damon smirked and slowly raised from his seat.

"Not at all my friend, but I am calling the next round. Same again everyone?"

He received several nods and murmurs of approval as he turned to make his way to the bar. No sooner had he caught the bartenders attention, John appeared by his side.

"Thought you may want a hand with the drinks,"

Before Damon could reply, the bartender slapped his hands on the bar for his attention. Damon reeled off the list of drinks fairly quickly and turned back to John.

"I appreciate the gesture," he said, but in a tone that spoke otherwise.

"So how have you found your first week at Mystic Falls High, Damon?"

"Very rewarding, the kids are amazing and the staff have been very welcoming."

"Is that right?"

"Well.." rouse Damon, coking his head to the side and arching one of his perfect eyebrows, "most of the staff have been welcoming."

"Ah.. you see I was referring to the kids."

"Sure you were" said Damon with a half grin. The stony look he received from John didn't phase him in his slightly intoxicated state. Yet he knew he'd probably regret saying that come monday morning. He was clearly already in the dog house for overstaying his welcome in the faculty lounge when John was speaking with Elena. But thankfully for Damon, John hadn't raised that issue. It was a wise choice really, because Damon knew he's have trouble holding back his tongue if John decided to shit stir about it.

""So I understand you're teaching my niece, Elena Gilbert."

Fucking typical, Damon thought.

"I am indeed," he replied, shifting on his feet.

"How is she doing?" John asked, each of his questions no less demanding than the last.

"Very well from what I've seen so far, she's a bright girl. Why do you ask?"

"Well I'm not sure if you know the circumstances of which she is under at the moment..."

John suddenly stopped speaking, and Damon didn't know how to react to his pause. Whether to answer or wait for him to continue speaking. The man was insufferable and a natural at creating an awkward atmosphere from absolutely nothing. Damon finally furrowed his brow and shook his head, hoping John would continue revealing what would probably be ridiculous and useless informa-

"Her parents were killed in a car accident earlier this year,"

A deafening silence fell between the two men. John stood with his usual unreadable expression while Damon remained hunched over the bar, frowning as he processed the information. He didn't know what to say, but he couldn't shake away the picture of Elena's grief-stricken face from his mind the day before. Was she crying about her parents?

"Here's your change, sir."

Damon shook out of his trance to take what little cash he had left the from bartender and shoved the crumpled notes into his pocket.

"If she ever appears to be upset or struggling to focus i'd like to think you'll keep this information in mind."

"Of course," Damon nodded, all cockiness aside, "that's a terrible thing to happen for someone so young."

"You have no idea," added John, grabbing as many bottle necks as he could and making his way back to the crowded table of laughing teachers. Damon watched over his shoulder, feeling a great amount of sorrow swell in his heart for Elena.

"Actually, I think you'll find I do" muttered Damon under his bourbon laced breath, all the while glaring at John who had returned to his seat.

Elena's POV

"Oh my Gosh! Elena, that dress is gorgeous!"

"You think so?" said Elena, adjusting the fitted, cobalt blue bodycon dress that hugged her body perfectly.

"Seriously, you look awesome!" screeched Caroline, clearly excited and eager to go out and enjoy a night with the girls. Even Elena felt a sliver of excitement about the evening ahead. It had been her first night out since the accident and she was ready to at least attempt to enjoy herself again. She took the glass of wine that Caroline held in front of her and took a quick sip.

""So do we know anyone else who is going out?" Elena asked while Caroline tottered over in her incredibly high heels to turn up the radio.

"Eugh, I heard Tyler might be out with Matt, but we'll avoid them." She took a long swig from her wine and her emerald eyes twinkled over at Elena, "strictly no boys tonight. Just us girls!"

Elena smiled warmly, secretly pleased there was no mentioning of Stefan, and that it would be just herself, Caroline and Bonnie. And as though Caroline could read her mind, she huffed and stomped over to the window.

"And where the Hell is Bonnie, exactly?"

"She'll be here," said Elena, sipping at the bitter tasting wine Caroline gave her.

"Ooh! Doorbell!"

Caroline clapped her freshly manicured hands and teetered passed Elena to answer what she assumed was Bonnie at the front door. Elena giggled, feeling her phone buzz for her attention in her bag.

*1 new msg*

*Stefan*

* GOING TO 'THE FONT' WITH MATT AND TYLER. WILL I C U THERE? X*

As Elena rolled her eyes and flipped her phone shut, Bonnie and Caroline wandered into the room.

"Uh oh, what's that look for?" asked Bonnie.

"Stefan's going" huffed Elena, scratching a hand through her tumble of brunette curls with frustration. "So much for the boy free night."

"Well, we could go to Factory? That place is meant to be awesome." suggested Caroline.

"That's way out on the edge of town," moaned Bonnie.

"Yeah, Jenna would freak if she found out" added Elena.

"Oh c'mon!" Caroline flailed her arms in the air, "what are we, twelve? No one will find out, who cares if it'll cost us a little extra for the cab on the way home? We're meant to be having a girly night, and no pig-headed boys are going to stop that."

Elena looked to Bonnie who grinned in agreement with Caroline's little speech.

"Okay," said Elena, "lets go for it."

"Brilliant," Caroline bared her pearly white teeth with a beaming smile and quickly left the room to go order a cab.

"So Stefan's still not getting the message?" said Bonnie, sipping at the glass of dry red wine that Caroline had forced into her hand. Needless to say, neither of the girls were enjoying the taste of it. It was probably something Caroline stole from the back of the alcohol cupboard that her mother wouldn't realize had gone.

"Nope, he still thinks were going to get back together eventually."

"Do you think that?"

Elena stopped to think about Bonnie's words carefully. Stefan wasn't a bad guy. He was very much perfect. As perfect as a boyfriend could possibly get. But with the death of her parents, Elena just didn't need the added pressure of a boyfriend in her life. And Stefan's constant coddling and treating of her like a fragile doll was not helping. She had to end it. For now anyway.

"I dunno. We'll just take each day as it comes," Elena said with a sigh as Caroline returned to the room.

"Cab's here already! Everyone got their fake ID's?"

Bonnie waved hers between her polished nails and Elena mumbled an affirmation.

"I'm going to get drunk enough until someone is hot enough to make out with" sniggered Caroline.

"What happened to the 'no boys' evening?" laughed Elena as the three girls climbed into the cab.

"Oh that still stands. But I didn't say anything about the men now did I?" winked Caroline.

Elena looked to Bonnie with a gasp and laughed.

"Tonight isn't going to end well," said Elena, though the excitement was coming in waves through her body.

Damon's POV

"I thought he'd never leave" slurred Alaric as he, Damon, Isobel and a few others watched John Gilbert exit the parking lot in his flashy BMW, driving en route to his home.

"So where are we going?" mused Isobel, slinking her way around to Damon's side and eyeing him with her big, brown eyes.

"I'll leave that decision to Saltzy over here" joked Damon, not entirely sure where in Mystic Falls, guaranteed them a good night out.

"How about Factory? It's pretty easy-going and not running amuck with fifteen year olds with fake ID's" said Alaric.

Damon nodded in agreement, not really caring where they went, so long as it was busy enough to lose Isobel who had happily attached herself to him like a leech.

The group clambered into a cab and made their way through the brightly lit streets of Mystic Falls. Damon tried to escape Isobel's company, but found himself against the window with her sat right next to him. The cab so was dark inside and no body noticed as she snaked her hand across his jean, clad thigh, squeezing at the hard muscle beneath her fingers.

Damon shuffled around, not in a way to disguise an arousal, because there was none there at all. He was attempting to writhe out of her grasp as he continued to talk to the others, trying to show her he wasn't interested. As her fingers grazed further to reach her goal, the taxi juddered to an abrupt stop.

"We're here!" announced Alaric, like no one had experienced the slight whip lash after the cab's sudden halt.

Damon was quick to jump out of the cab and walk alongside Alaric towards the club entrance. Enjoying the freedom of having the right side of his body to himself once again.

No ID was necessary as the two, twenty-something men entered the dark, smokey cave that was Factory without a problem. Damon whipped off his worn, leather jacket and handed it into the cloakroom for the evening, sincerely hoping it would still be there by the end of the night. It was his favourite item of clothing.

After ordering their drinks at the bar, Damon and Alaric made sure to hide themselves in a dark corner near the bar where Isobel and the others couldn't see them. She was pretty blatant when it came to her advances on Damon. A little too bold for his taste and he'd decided from the moment she helped him retrieve his brief case on his first day at work, that he was going to steer clear of her. He preferred someone who was a little more modest, someone endearing, someone warm and gentle..

Someone like Elena... echoed his thoughts.

He tightened his grip around his drink and took a large gulp, cursing himself for STILL thinking about Elena Gilbert. It scared him. He was undoubtedly disgusted with himself for becoming so attracted to one of his students. But there was just something so captivating about her. It haunted him.

"So what did John want you for?" asked Alaric over the thundering music.

"Oh nothing much," said Damon, grimacing a little, "just being his usual self."

"Like I said, just ignore it, s'the way he is"

Damon opened his mouth and closed it again, unsure of whether to mention John's questioning of Elena, or what he saw the day before. He opted to take another drink, needing to forget about her.

"Has anyone caught your attention yet?" asked Alaric who browsed the crowd of heaving bodies.

"Not at all," said Damon, his mind flashing to see Elena's dark, almond shaped eyes staring up at him from her desk. "What about you?"

"Maybe the blonde over there, but red heads are more my thing. Not enough red heads these days."

Damon chuckled, glancing around the dark room to find Isobel looking at him from the other side of the bar.

"Oh shit," he muttered. Alaric noticed where he was looking and groaned.

"She wants you, Salvatore. No denying that."

"I know, I'm pretty scared."

Alaric laughed and elbowed Damon in the arm quite painfully.

"Don't worry, we'll work as a team to protect your family jewels from that one."

"A team huh?"

Alaric swallowed his drink hard and nodded, "yeah, we'll pick a name for it and everything."

"Yeah, like what?"

Alaric shrugged comically, "how 'bout Team Badass?"

Damon threw his head back with laughter. Alaric joined him, though looked slightly hurt that his efforts of a team name were shot down.

"How about we forget the name and just get hammered?"

Elena's POV

Elena smoothed down the delicate fabric of her dress as she stepped onto the side walk, enjoying the cool night air on her skin after sitting in the stuffy cab for almost half an hour. She found herself sandwiched between Caroline and Bonnie as they strutted towards the club entrance, receiving various glances of envy from other girls who passed them.

"ID's please, ladies" droned the hulking bouncer at the doorway.

The three girls flipped out their fake ID's and watched the guard study each and every one carefully. He nodded and handed them back, gesturing them to enter the nightclub without question.

Caroline planted a kiss on her ID and giggled, "thank the maker for these bad boys."

Elena rolled her eyes as she clasped at her clutch bag, feeling a little nervous at the idea of entering the main dance room of the club. It felt like a million years ago that she had set foot in one. A time when she was carefree and happy. It was becoming more clear with every step to the bar that she had become a shadow of the fun, exciting girl she used to be. Tears stung at her eyes.

"What's wrong?" asked Bonnie, placing a gentle hand on Elena's shoulder.

"Oh nothing, it's the smoke making my eyes water" lied Elena, plastering a fake smile on her face as Bonnie turned around to the bar.

"I'll get the first round in," said Caroline, flicking her bouncing blonde hair over her bare shoulders. "How about shots?" she said mischievously.

"Go for it," grinned Bonnie, curling her arm around Elena's to squeeze her closer to the bar. It was so busy, Elena could barely raise her arms to slide her way through to the girls. Her foot stood on another's, causing them to yelp an over-exaggerated 'ouch.'

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" blurted Elena, turning to find she'd stood on the foot of none other than Miss Flemming.

Elena felt her cheeks blaze a bright pink colour as Miss Flemming looked her up and down with a less than approving look, while also trying to disguise her less than sober appearance.

"Elena what are you doing here?" she said in her authoritative tone.

The sound of her voice caused Caroline and Bonnie to look over their shoulders and quickly turn back again, hoping the weren't detected but Elena knew full well that they were busted.

"Please don't tell my uncle" Elena pleaded, her mind coming out blank for anything else to say.

Isobel pursed her lipstick coated lips in thought and gave the young student a quick smile of approval.

"Okay, I haven't seen you" she stated playfully.

"Thank you, Miss Flemming" chuckled Elena, watching as her teacher from two years previous wandered through the crowd and out of sight. That was a close one. Elena finally allowed herself to relax her tense shoulders.

"What the Hell was that?"

"She's not saying anything, Care, don't worry" said Elena, resting her elbow on the bar and fingering the shot glass that was filled to the rim.

"I hope so. God, of all the places to find a teacher it would be here" moaned Caroline, curling her fingertips around the glass and facing her friends. "Anyway, here's to an amaaazing night."

"Cheers!"

They threw back their heads and felt the sharp, burning liquid trail down their throats. Bonnie spluttered once she swallowed, clearly hating whatever it was Caroline had ordered. She'd ordered two more of the same, and the trio shot them back one after another, ending the last one in a fit of giggles.

"Whoo!" yelled Caroline, clapping her hands above her head and swaying to the thundering dance track that thrummed around the room. "Another round before we show 'em what we got on that dance floor?"

"Sounds good to me," said Elena. She curled her slender fingertips through her hair and from the corner of her vision, her eyes caught a very familiar figure descending the stairs of the club.

It was Stefan.

"Oh no" she mumbled, burying her head in her hands.

"What is it? Ohh.." the realization quickly drifted into Bonnie's voice and Elena squinted her eyes shut. She just knew he was coming over to them.

"How did he find out I was here?" Elena hissed to her, Bonnie shrugged, biting her lip and moving away slightly as Stefan skulked over to the three girls.

Elena stood up properly to face him. As usual, the puppy-dog look was staring back at her with full force. He closed in on her a little, making her shrink backwards towards the bar.

"How did you know we were here?" Elena found herself saying. Stefan briefly looked to his shoes, clearly trying to fabricate an answer, but coming out empty. Elena raised her eyebrows with realization. "You followed us?"

"I knew you wouldn't go to Font if I were there" he stated, slowly furrowing his brow as she shook her head.

"Seriously Stefan, you need to get a grip" butted Caroline.

"Shut up, Caroline." Stefan spat.

"Hey, don't talk to her like that!" snapped Elena, feeling her annoyance and anger quickly rise to the surface for the first time. He was getting on her very last nerve, and Elena was always one for having patience. Stefan, taken back by her outburst, attempted to grab for her hands.

"Can we talk in private?" he asked as she slipped her hands away from his.

"Stefan we're on a girls night out," explained Bonnie. Elena was thankful that at least one of them was calm in the situation.

"Just for five minutes, that's all I'm asking,"

"Oh for goodness sake Stefan will you just-"

"Wait, Care, it's okay" Elena said, raising her hand in front of her antsy friend and looking over to Stefan. "Five minutes" she stated.

He smiled and raised his hand for hers to take. She was tempted, but kept her hands firmly to her sides as she made her way to a quieter area of the club. There was no way she was leaving the building. He'd only guilt her into letting him take her home early. Suddenly she felt her hands being grasped by Stefan, pulling her back towards him.

"Lets talk outside," he demanded.

Damon's POV

"I thought i'd never find you guys,"

"Oh really" quirked Damon with an exasperated edge to his voice, watching her with a clenched jaw as Isobel magnetized herself to his side once more. He looked over to Alaric who looked back with raised eyebrows. Some Team Badass... Damon thought with a slanted grin.

"What's so funny?" asked an irate Isobel.

Alaric was right, she was one to avoid if a simple grin got her paranoid.

"Nothing, just a funny thought" he replied lowly, taking a drink from his warm beer.

"Any other thoughts rolling around in that gorgeous head of yours?" she said, her voice husky and surprisingly sensual. But still, she had an invisible 'warning, stay away' sign flashing right above her head. Damon shrugged,

"I was just wondering what came first; the chicken or the egg."

"What?"

"Or how about this riddle; what gets wetter as it dries?"

Damon looked down at her, biting back his laughter only to suddenly fear for his life with the less than amused expression etched onto her face.

"I'm gonna get another drink" Isobel said with a defeated attitude. As Damon watched her with a grin, he found he was lost of all expression, thought and movement when his eyes landed on none other than Elena Gilbert not six feet away from him.

Although the music was deafening, Damon could hear his own heartbeat thunder through his ears, and felt his blood ignite with heat through his body. She looked incredible. Her olive skin clashed beautifully with a rich, blue dress that hugged her body in a way that accentuated her curves just right and bared her tiny, soft-to-the-touch looking shoulders. He'd only ever seen her with her hair poker-straight, but tonight it was a cascade of dark curls that made her look incredibly sexy. It was hard for him to believe she was only sixteen years old. It seemed wrong somehow, and an unbearable tease.

It took him a few moments to look passed the aesthetics to see she was in the middle of a heated argument with her fellow student Stefan. Her button nose was wrinkled in disgust as Stefan spoke over her, his towering frame causing her to bend backwards slightly. Damon couldn't make out a single word over the powerful music, even though the argument was getting worse, catching the attention of the dancing bodies around them.

Damon suddenly found himself torn; should he intervene and calm the situation down, or just remain where he was next to Alaric, who was busying himself talking to a red-headed girl who went by the name of Jessica? When his sharp eyesight caught Stefan yanking on Elena's wrist, Damon made his move to break the teens up.

However a very familiar Blonde stormed forward and snaked in between the feuding couple to poke her finger repetitively into Stefan's chest, calling him what was probably all the names under the sun. Damon backed away a little, seeing the feisty Blonde had everything under her control while Bonnie rushed to Elena's side. As he slipped back into the shadows, Damon noticed Elena was beginning to weep through her waves of brunette hair. His hearts strings tugged a little, and he grabbed for his drink which he'd placed on the beer soaked table, taking a large swig until he'd sucked the bottle dry.

Elena's POV

Elena desperately tried to hold back her tears, she didn't want to ruin their girls night, or her make-up, but most of all she didn't want to ruin what confidence and strength she had reclaimed after so long just because Stefan was still longing for her. She felt Bonnie gently swipe her thumbs across her cheeks, wiping away the tears that managed to escape.

"Do you want to leave?" she asked softly.

Elena forcefully shook her head.

"No way. C'mon, it's my round."

As Elena pushed through the crowds she accidently stumbled into a guy on her left.

"Oops! I'm sorry!" she said, wondering when she had become so clumsy.

He chuckled heartily to himself, and gently helped her to stand firmly back on her feet. As Elena twisted around to face him she saw he was rather cute.

"No worries. I'm Mike,"

"Elena" she said, curling a stray hair between her fingers flirtatiously.

"Have you been crying?" he asked sweetly.

"Oh," Elena battered her hand away, "it was nothing. I'm all better now."

"In that case, how about I buy you a drink?"

Once Mike had successfully made it to the bar, Elena and the girls had been introduced to his friends, all of whom, were pretty good-looking and a little older, which made them more attractive. Elena thanked Mike as he proceeded to buy her drinks. As the conscientious girl she was raised to be, she made sure to watch he didn't tamper with her drinks while he purchased them. He was sweet, but you just never know. She thanked him with a winning smile as he placed a bottle of bud in her hand, making sure to brush her fingers as he did so. A warm buzz flowed through Elena's body. The night had thankfully been saved after Stefan's little cameo appearance.

"Dance with me!" blared Caroline, her hands reaching for the first two people in sight. One was Elena, the other was Mike.

The beat to the music was catchy and dark, with strobes of red and white lights flashing through the expanse of the underground club, sending everyone on the dance floor into a frenzy. Elena swayed her hips to the beat and threw her head back to the music in perfect timing, causing more than several pairs of eyes to take notice of herself and Caroline. Now in full swing on the dance floor, the alcohol had finally hit her system and she was loving every minute.

As she twirled, she bumped her back against Mike's chest and he held her close,

"You look amazing," he breathed hotly against her ear. Elena smirked, and rolled her hips in time with his lower body. When she felt it was getting a little too raunchy, she twirled out of his hold and made sure she was still with Caroline.

But on this one particular time, Caroline was no where in sight.

"Care!" Elena called through the crowd, only to have Mike pull her playfully back to his body.

She smiled back up into his hazel eyes through the blinding strobe lights, "I have to find my friends!" she shouted to him.

"They're at the bar, we're fine" he replied, entwining her fingers with his and yanking her flush against his body. Elena felt like she had no choice but to comply, and the alcohol spurred her on. He was fun, her friends were near by, she was having a good time - why stop?

Damon's POV

Damon watched on with a close eye. Fury was slowly bubbling up behind his cool, calm exterior as he kept his eyes fixed on the three older guys who were surrounding his three students. It was bad enough watching them buy drinks, but when he saw one of them hold Elena firm against his body on the dance floor, sliding his hands down her hips while she rolled her body against his, Damon couldn't help but grind his teeth with anger, uncertainly and most of all... with worry.

"I got your little riddle," he heard Isobel say.

Damon dragged his eyes away from the dance floor for a split second to acknowledged her.

"What?" he said, he little harsher than he intended.

"What gets wetter as it dries - a towel!"

He smiled with fake surprise, "well done!"

His attention instantly snapped back to the dance floor where he found Elena alone with the prick who had relentlessly bought her drinks for a good half hour. She looked wasted as he twisted her around, causing her to stumble against his frame for support. Damon didn't like this one bit. He was again, so tempted to intervene but it was a risk. What if he landed himself in trouble? What if Elena was perfectly fine? What if she was worried her English teacher was spying on her and called the police? The list was endless as Damon watched helplessly from his corner of the club. Feeling fear and anxiety tremor through him whenever he lost her through the crowds.

The guy had Elena's back firmly pressed against his chest, his head nuzzling against her shoulder and neck while his hands snaked down the curve of her breasts and down to her hips. Damon felt his fist clench under the table. When the guy's hands squeezed Elena's behind tightly between his fingers, Damon was close to snapping. He watched as Elena motioned to stand away after his wandering hands offended her. Damon smirked, pleased she wasn't allowing him to go so far.

He allowed his attentive gaze to rove across to the bar area to find Caroline or Bonnie. Bonnie was stood chatting to one of the guys against the bar, while Caroline was dancing farther away with one of the boys, clearly in more control of the proximity than what Elena currently was. Speaking of which, he looked back to find Elena and the guy talking in whispers. She was barely able to stand at this point without having to lean on the guys body. And then suddenly, he was directing her towards the exit of the club.

There was no way in Hell Damon was going to just stand there and watch her leave with him.

DUN, DUN, DUUUUUUN!

Will Damon make it to Elena on time? Will Alaric make it through the night without throwing up? Review and you'll find out all in good time. (Very, very good time if I get plenty of them!)

I also had a little music playlist on the go for the dance club moments. Here it is incase you're interested:

"Don't Think " - The Chemical Brothers (highly recommend this one - the music played in the Black Swan club scene. Fantastic)

"Sweat" - Snoop Dogg + David Guetta

"S&M" - Rihanna

"Enjoy the Silence" - Anberlin.