Author's Note: This is an AU world, no supernatural. Damon and Stefan are not brothers. Jeremy is Elena's older brother in college. Her parents are alive.
Growing up is hard on any teenager and the transition into High School is really scary. Many guys are jerks after sex and girls are bitches trying to tear you down. You're fifteen years old and you're trying to find yourself and fit in with others, some kids will do anything to fit in. I'm not like that or at least I wasn't. I grew up with very little friends because I'd rather have one best friend than tons of fake friends. I always thought it'd be easier coming to High School and having my best friend by my side but it isn't. You still need somewhere to fit in or you became a target for people to make fun one. It's sad because I've never grew up wanting popularity or anything like that. It's hard trying to find who you're supposed to be at fifteen.
I was a freshman when I met him. Damon Salvatore, my best friend with his black hair and dreamy blue eyes. The melt in your shoes head over heels kind of eyes. He was a junior and the sweetest jock I have ever met. Damon was a football star and really popular. Which was a surprise to everyone when he befriended me. I'm just a regular fifteen year old girl. I'm not too girly or a tomboy, not popular, not a so called 'geek', not bad in school but not the best. I wasn't busty or skinny. I'm average. So why did he want to be my friend? I have no idea I'm ordinary.
The day we became friends was a really awful day for me. I was new to the school like the rest of my class I was still trying to find my way and settle in. The normal things freshmen feel in their first few weeks at school. Emotions run high and all you want to do it have everything be familiar and easy but it takes time. I never really loved school but I didn't hate it either. I dreaded being stuck in the house all day when it was summer but once I go back I wanted it to be over again. It's the same routine every year but this year I'm in a new place. It's much different than starting Middle School. In High School it's bigger and there's more people. All kinds of people and all different ages. In the movies it looked way more scarier than it actually is. High School wasn't bad at all but it's still new and I was still having a hard time adjusting.
The lockers were bigger which made it hard to open. I had finally gotten my locker opened and another member on Damon's team came over to me in empty the hall. It was during lunch time so everyone was gone. His name was Stefan Lyle and he was a jerk with brown hair and green eyes and yes, he was cute. Very cocky in the typical ways of a jock. Not surprising.
"Hi?" I asked looking him up from head to toe wondering whether my predictions are right.
He cocked his eyebrow. "Hey sexy what's your name?" Yes, cocky was the right word.
"Why do you want to know?" I asked not fully knowing why he was talking to me. I wasn't going to give up my name to some random guy hitting on me in school. I didn't care if he was kind of cute it's still weird.
"I'm Stefan." He said skipping my question. I've never been hit on before except one time on vacation but that was innocent.
"Nice to meet you Stefan." I said looking away.
He got a little closer and it freaked me out. "You know I haven't seen you around." Stefan drew a smile. I usually don't get paranoid or anything if a guy is talking to me but this felt weird.
I looked back at him. "I'm a freshman."
"Oh that's it?" Stefan smiled and I nodded my head. "You want to go out sometime?" He wasn't shy about it either. I'm was only fifteen and not allowed to date till I'm sixteen and maybe he was a little too pushy or extremely too pushy.
"No sorry." I said with a fake frown I was about to explain why but he spoke first.
"What?" He was surprised and annoyed. His tone made me uneasy, I turned away to leave. Stefan didn't like that he grabbed my arm right as I turned away. When I turned back he tightened the grip.
"OW!" I softly yelled. He wasn't use to being turned down he held a tight grip on my arm and I was scared. Luckily for me my knight in shining armor was there and saw the whole thing.
"Let her go Stefan." Damon Salvatore said walking over to us with a stern voice. Stefan laughed knowing it was his voice.
"Stay out of this Damon." Stefan turned to look at Damon with his cocky attitude.
"Make me." Damon got closer. They were practically face to face if I didn't know any better I would have thought maybe there would be a fight.
"Whatever." Stefan let go of me and turned his head. "You're not worth it." He said, and walked away. What I meant by that was Stefan seemed afraid of Damon.
Damon had turned to me. "Are you okay?" I looked up rubbing my sore arm. I was stunned at his kindness after what I just encountered with the last jock I just met.
"Yeah I'm fine." It didn't hurt that badly. It was just more on the line that it scared me.
"Good, I'm glad." He smiled sweetly. He was so gorgeous.
"Thank you for that." I smiled back at him.
"No need to thank me that guy Stefan's a real jerk." He laughed while I still had a goofy smile plastered on my face. "Here let me see that." Damon gently took my hand and looked at the mark. "I don't think it'll leave a bruise." I felt a connection when he touched my hand. He was so nice and handsome. I'd seen him in the hallway sometimes in the past few days and I thought he was so good looking. I knew he was really popular with the way people treat him. I didn't think I'd be talking to him a few days later. I also didn't think he'd be so friendly. "I'm Damon Salvatore." He looked into my eyes.
"Elena Gilbert." I smiled as he shook my hand I didn't want to let go so quickly. That day sealed the start of our friendship.
I have other friends like my best friend Caroline and our friend Matt. Caroline and I have been friends since preschool and she's more like my sister than my best friend. For a while years ago she lived with me while her parents went through their divorce. So if we were really close before that you can see why she's a lot like a sister to me. Matt is Caroline's boyfriend. They've been together for years. I like them together but I do feel like a third wheel sometimes. Mostly when we go to the movies, the mall or hanging out in my bedroom. They end up making out while I sit and watch TV. That's why growing apart from them a bit. I think it's okay to have some distance in friendships. It's also why I call Caroline my sister since she isn't my best friend. That's Damon.
Damon and I started to grow closer after he rescued me from Stefan. The night after it happened I couldn't stop thinking about him. The way I felt touching his hand and the way he cared about me. Damon is the most caring person I've ever met. What other guy would go against his teammate for a stranger? Not many. It is hard being friends with someone you like. Every high five, hand touch, or hug I get chills.
Becoming Damon's friend was pretty instantly Damon saw me in the hallway the next day when Stefan walked over to me. Stefan was probably going to repeat the same thing again but Damon interrupted.
"Hey Elena!" Damon smiled greeted me before glaring at Stefan, who was backing away. Damon looked back at me and invited me to eat lunch with his friends. I was caught off guard didn't know if it was sincere or just because he saw Stefan but I agreed. I tried to not overthink it because I thought maybe he just didn't want to see Stefan hurt me. It still proves he's a really amazing. I was trying to find an explanation the only thing I could come up with is that he's just a really nice guy.
This was the day I realized how popular he actually really was. I knew he was a jock and well liked but that was an understatement. Damon was loved. When we walked into the cafeteria people kept congratulating him on football stuff. The lunch was packed with people all around but two spots for us.
"Hey guys, This is Elena." I waved dorkily and we sat down and everyone politely smiled but they didn't care.
It was completely awkward eating with jocks they kept staring down my shirt. Their girlfriends kept whispering to each other laughing and it's really uncomfortable. I didn't fit in here. There were one or two subtle comments about me. Imagine trying to eat lunch when five cheerleaders drinking only water are staring at you laughing. I've never been as self conscious about my body as I did in that moment. I don't really have a figure yet but it's still enough to make anyone uncomfortable. Damon picked up on that and found me walking home later in the day.
"Hey stranger." He yelled from behind, I smiled hearing his voice.
"Hey Damon." Every time I see him I get chills, in a good way.
"Where are you going?" Damon said wondering which direction I was heading in.
"Home." I pointed towards my upcoming street.
"You walk home?" He asked me.
"Yeah the bus gets smelly in the afternoon." I giggled as he laughed.
"I like your smile." He grinned at me, I blushed.
"Thanks. I like yours too." We laughed.
We kept walking in the same direction. It felt natural being around him. I enjoyed his company, I assumed he enjoyed mine or else he would've left by now.
"Where do you live?" I asked him. I wondered if he lived nearby or was just walking me home to be nice.
"Maple Street."
My eyes widened. "Me too!" I said with excitement.
"Really?" Damon was surprised. "That's cool I'm surprised I never saw you before." I could tell he was wondering why we only met this school year.
"I'm always inside." I looked around trying to avoid the question I knew he was about to ask.
"Why?" He asked me, trying to understand.
"I just like to be home." I said sighing. It was true, I liked being home but I also had intense anxiety.
"I don't buy it." He chuckled while putting his hands into his pockets.
"I open my balcony doors and let the breeze in draw. It's the most peaceful feeling I know. It makes me feel alive if that makes sense." I looked at him.
"It makes perfect sense." He smiled and I blushed once again. "Maybe I can join you one day." He added.
"Yeah maybe." We got to our street and my house.
"It was nice walking with you." I said dorkily he chuckled. I walked towards my doorstep.
"Elena, Wait!" He asked.
"Yeah?" I said turning around looking at him.
"I'm sorry about lunch today. I saw how uncomfortable you were and it wasn't cool of me." He explained. Wow what a gentleman, to apologize for something that wasn't his fault.
"No no! It's perfectly fine you were nice enough to let me sit with you." I would've been fine if all he ever did was stand up to Stefan for me. If he never talked to me again it still would've been him treating me better than most boys treat girls these days.
"No, I should have realized what would happen." He paused. "I don't want you to think I was like them when i'm not." He was disappointed in himself. I could tell it was very important to him to be an upstanding guy.
"Damon it's okay, I would never think you were like your friends after you've shown me such kindness this past week" I walked over to him and hugged him. He hugged me tightly. It was warm and comforting.
"I only hang out with them because that's what teammates do." I didn't think Damon would care about what I thought of him. It meant a lot to me that he valued my opinion.
"I understand." I pulled away and looked up at him. "For what it's worth I think you're great." I smiled as I watched his face light up.
I got upstairs to my room and looked out my balcony. I saw Damon walking to a house across the street four houses down. I remember growing up watching that house. This house is big and beautiful. It always had the perfect grass and there were always tons of cars there on holidays unlike my house. I grabbed my sketchbook and flipped to the front. There it was. A sketch from two years ago but it was his house. I opened a new pages and closed my eyes before opening and drawing Damon.
An hour later I started on my homework and went to make dinner. It sucked having to practically raise my little brother Max while I was a kid myself. I never even got a thank you. My dad left my mom when I was a kid. She remarried this asshole who dumped her when she got pregnant. My mom did her best raising my siblings and I but as a single mother to three kids, it's not easy. I don't blame her for me having to do everything around here. She has to take more hours at work after my older brother Jeremy started college. After dinner I stared into my bathroom mirror. I felt gross after looking at those beautiful cheerleaders. All the hope I had for Damon to return my feelings were so unrealistic. Why would he want me when he could have someone with a nicer body. I sighed and laid on my bed. I was so anxious about school and dealing with all of those pretty girls. I knew they didn't want me around. I was also anxious about personal things. I popped a few advil and threw on some tv to distract my mind.
The next day I got ready for school after waking up my brother and making his lunch. I didn't eat breakfast. When I walked outside I saw Damon standing there waiting for me.
"Hey!" I smiled brightly. "What are you doing here Damon?"
"Walking you to school." I could have sworn I saw a smirk on his face.
We walked to school and the whole time I had a smile glued to my face. My anxiety faded a bit while talking to him. We talked about teachers and who his favorites and least favorites were his freshmen year. Damon gave me all of the pointers. When we walked into school together Stefan looked at us with a weird look. He was probably jealous because I wasn't walking with him, not that I'm a prize that Damon one but that Stefan is a bad guy. We say our goodbyes and go off in different directions.
My day went pretty smoothly. When it was lunch I sat with Caroline and Matt like I normally would I was ready to tell them about what they missed when I wasn't sitting at our table yesterday.
"Elena where were you yesterday?" Caroline asked when I sat down next to her. She had texted me a few times but I was busy doing my homework, and maybe possibly fantasising about Damon kissing me.
"I was-" I stopped in mid-sentence when Damon walked over and sat down.
"Elena." He smiled at me and turned to my friends. "Hey I'm Damon." He extended his hand to Caroline, I was shocked.
"Damon, This is Caroline and Matt." Introduced my friends. He shook both of their hands.
"Nice to meet you guys." Damon said. Caroline and Matt both kept looking at me with confused looks as to why a popular football junior is sitting with us. Damon invited a few of his friends that weren't judgy or jocks. They were normal juniors like us, just older. It was really awesome actually. His friends were funny and nice. Damon treated us as if we weren't freshmen unlike the other popular students. There was one girl and two guys. Enzo, Liv and Luke. I didn't ever get close to them but it was nice having a friendly relationship with them. This became an everyday thing I wondered why he decided to sit with me all of a sudden, leave most of his friends to sit with me.
Later that day Damon walked me home again and when I got home Caroline was waiting for me. She was so confused about what happened.
"So when did you become so popular?" I laughed at my best friends comments.
"I'm not but Damon is." I explained to her as we sat down on my bed.
"How do you even know him Elena?" She asked, very confused.
"This creepy guy Stefan was being forceful when I rejected him and Damon helped me." I explained the full story.
"Okay he helped you but why is walking you home and sitting at our table?" Caroline said as if she was reading my mind from the past few hours.
"I don't know."
"You better be careful Elena because he's so much more experienced than you." Caroline was right but she didn't know what I knew about him. How sweet he was.
"I know that Caroline! I'm not dating him he wouldn't be interested in me." I defended myself.
"The way you two looked at each other. You need to be careful Elena." I knew she was serious.
"I will be Caroline, You don't have to worry about me." We hugged.
When she went home, I cooked dinner for Max and then went and laid in my bed and sighed.
Later on there was a knock on my balcony. I jumped and opened it to Damon standing with a smile. "You scared me!" I said.
"I'm sorry I didn't think I would." He laughed.
"No one really scales the house to get to my balcony, So yes it scared me." I let him in. "Why did you not use the front door?"
"I didn't want your parents to freak out." Reasonable.
"My parents aren't home." I mentioned as if my mother was ever home. I hadn't explained anything about my father to him yet.
"Oh" He laughed feeling like a goof.
"So, What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"I wanted to see the most peaceful place in the world to you." He smiled. That was incredibly sweet of him. "I want to watch you draw."
"Why?" I asked Damon.
"Because it's important to you." My heart melted.
I grabbed my sketchbook and started finishing the sketch I started last night. He watched me and we looked at the sunset. It was quiet and nice.
"Can I see?" Damon asked after a while. I finished up the last few details and I handed him the sketchbook. "Wow Elena, This is amazing." He was stunned.
"Thank you so much, You can have it." I smiled sweetly.
"Thanks" He hugged me gently. "You're really special. You know that?" The comfort I felt in his arms was like no other.
