You'll Always be Eighteen
I decided to challenge myself a while back to write something in the 2nd person perspective. This has been sitting on my computer for a while now. It does have a storyline, I do intend to continue it some day, but for now I figured I'd post this almost as a one shot.
PS. Can anyone help me learn how to format stuff on here. I'm like formatting challenged.
I was only 22, coming home for my baby brother's high school graduation, when I met you.
I was fresh out of a relationship that was based on lies. I thought I loved Katherine. I thought she loved me, but I was seriously mistaken. Turns out, a two year relationship wasn't enough to keep her from going for my roommate, Mason. I had to admit, seeing them in my bed together had to be the pinnacle of rejection. Especially when I had just returned from the jewelry store, trying to find the perfect ring to symbolize my love for Katherine.
What a load of bull.
So, I swore off all serious relationships and instead took to bedding as many women as possible. Most of them knew I was only in it for a one night stand, but some didn't. I had to admit, it felt good hurting them. Watching the pain sweep across their features when I refused to hold them afterward, deciding instead, to gather my clothes and leave without a word. It was low, it was volatile, but I didn't care. I would never care for a woman like I cared for Katherine, and look what she did. She smashed me into a million pieces just because she could.
Stefan's graduation went way too long and I had no desire to attend the extravagant party at the Lockwood's Mansion afterwards, but he begged and pleaded and I caved. I always caved when it came to Stefan. He was my baby brother and I practically raised him after our mother died since our father couldn't be bothered to do so.
I stood in the corner at the bar most of the night, chatting it up with my old friend, Alaric. I moved to Mystic Falls in the middle of my senior year. I didn't make a single friend, save for Ric. All I wanted was to graduate and get the hell out of that town and away from my father. Which I did. I graduated top of my class and was accepted into Yale School of Management. I knew I was destined to take over my father's company, and despite hating the man, I was okay with that. I wanted to take over. Maybe the little boy in me still wanted to please my father.
Alaric was telling me all about his escapades at Duke, when I saw you for the first time. You were, hands down, the most beautiful woman in the room. Your brown hair was long and wavy, you looked so much like Katherine, but when you smiled at something your friend said, I could see a warmth in you I'd never seen in Katherine. Our eyes locked and I could feel a gravitational pull toward you. One that my body naturally wanted to fight.
"Earth to Damon," I registered Alaric's voice, but I couldn't take my eyes off you. I assumed he followed my gaze because the next thing out of his mouth was a muffled snort followed by, "Ah, Elena Gilbert."
That caught my attention.
"You know her?" I asked as I reluctantly tore my gaze from you.
"She was in the class I did my student teaching in," Alaric said with a chuckle, which I assumed was at my bulging eyes.
"She's in high school? Fuck," I chastised myself. I was looking for a good roll in the sack, sure, but I was not looking to get thrown in jail.
Hell no.
"As of," Ric paused and checked his watch dramatically, "Four hours ago, she is no longer a high school student."
He must have seen my ears perk up because he was already shaking his head. "Oh no, Damon. She's a good girl, she's not going to be one of your conquests."
I threw my hands up in mock innocence, so it did cross my mind. Sue me. Actually, I take that back.
"Who said I was going after her?" I asked, feigning offense.
"You are aware that I've known you almost six years now? I know that look," Ric said seriously.
I shot him a dirty glare, but the DJ interrupted my snide remark.
"Alright, this is the last song of the night folks. Your last chance to ask that girl you've been eyeing all night to dance."
"If you'll excuse me, Ric," I mused as I set my empty tumbler on the bar, "I believe there is a lady I've been eyeing all night that needs to be asked to dance."
I could feel Alaric's nasty glare burning into my back as I walked away.
I caught your gaze once more and held it until I was standing right in front of you. Being so close to you made my head a little woozy, but I quickly pushed it aside and gave you one of my signature smirks.
"I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you. Would you like to dance?" I held my hand to you like a perfect southern gentleman and took pleasure in the red that tinted your cheeks. I had this in the bag.
"What if I said no," you replied cheekily. I was not expecting that. This girl has fire. You'd probably be a hellcat in bed. The thoughts only make my blood rush to my other brain.
"You won't," I shrugged and gave you The Smirk. Oh yeah, it's that good. You would crumble at any second. Any second, now. I could see your resolve weakening. I could see it coming down. Any minute now, you'll be putty in my hands. My very, very talented hands.
Much to my dismay (and utter shock) you only crossed her arms over your chest and narrowed your eyes at me, scrutinizing me. What the hell is there to scrutinize about me?
"Cocky, I see," you said with her own smirk. A smirk that could very well rival mine, much to my chagrin.
"Oh honey, you ain't seen nothing yet," I said with a wiggle of my eyebrows. That one was always a winner, too. "Now, what about that dance?"
You eyed me suspiciously before you let out a long sigh and placed your small hand in mine. Your skin against mine sent a surge of heat straight through my body and by the way your eyes darkened, I had the same effect on you.
I tried to ignore it the best I could, I wasn't big on butterflies, sparks, or anything else that's mushy. I was more of a hit it and quit it. Especially after Hurricane Katherine.
I spun you under my arm before I pulled you flush against me, one arm held tight around your waist while I kept your hand in mine. The little gasp of surprise that slipped past your lips had me putting a little distance between our bodies to make room for the other Damon who was making its appearance known.
"So your Stefan's brother?" you asked nonchalantly.
"I see you've done your research," I answered playfully.
"It's a small town, people talk," you laughed with a dramatic eye roll. I was mesmerized by you. There was something so infectious in the way you smiled and laughed, as if she hadn't a care in the world.
"So what all did you hear about me?" I pressed, mostly to be annoying, but a little out of curiosity.
"That you are arrogant and callous and you'd screw anything that has a vagina," you shot back without a hint of hesitation.
"Well, two out of three isn't bad," I said with a shrug.
"So you don't screw anything with a vagina?" you asked, looking more than a little shocked.
"That's for me to know and you to dot, dot, dot," I shot right back. The answering smirk on your face told me that you knew better than to argue with that.
Instead, you took a small step closer, closing the barely-there space between them, and laid your head on my shoulder. Something akin to care wedged its way into my heart and I could hardly shake it.
And that was the start of something beautiful.
I didn't want a relationship. I wanted to use women and then move to the next one. I wanted to fuck Katherine from my mind.
But you walked into my life with your big brown eyes, those long sexy legs, and your stubborn as hell attitude. You swept me away like a hurricane. Bit by bit, you tore through my three-foot thick brick walls and crawled into my heart.
That summer was magical. I never thought I'd get over Katherine's deceit, but you took my shattered heart and mended it, permanently banishing Katherine from it altogether. You made me whole. You made me realize that what I felt for Katherine was nowhere near love, because what I felt for you was so much stronger than anything I felt for her.
You challenged me, made me laugh, and loved me despite all my fucked up baggage. You were the first person who loved me for who I was, not what you wanted me to be. You trusted me. You trusted me with your secrets, with the pain you felt when you lost your parents when you were only sixteen. You trusted me enough to give me the most special part of you, a part of you that you hadn't given to any man. You trusted me completely, and in turn, I trusted you.
I told you about my father, about the borderline abusive relationship we had. I told you about my mother, about how much I loved her and how devastated I was when she died. I told you about Stefan, how I basically raised him. And as the last of my defenses came down, I told you all about Katherine. I told you how I thought I loved her, how I thought I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and how much it hurt when I caught her cheating on me. Finally, I told you that I loved you.
We had a gorgeous summer. We spent every waking and sleeping minute together. We were inseparable. I hung out with your friends and you would hang out with Ric and me. You would drag me to all the town events and in return, I got to drag you into my bed that night. I took pride in being the only man you'd ever slept with. I loved that I was the only one who got to see you in the throes of passion. I was the only one who got to hold you afterward, completely sated, with sex hair to boot. God, you were so sexy.
Sex with you was nothing like I'd ever had, and I had my fair share. It was like you were made for me to look at, made for me to taste, just made for me. We were puzzle pieces, fitting perfectly in every way. The way you fit in my arms when we danced, the way your lips formed against mine, the way our breath would mingle, the way I fit inside you. We moved together like we'd been doing it all our lives, rather than only a couple of months.
But then September came and you went off to Georgia for school, and I headed back to Connecticut with the promise that we'd see each other as often as possible. We swore to talk on the phone everyday and to see each other during every break. But life seemed to have other plans. After a few months, the calls started coming less often. Then you were too busy to come home for Thanksgiving break and I was tied up at work over Christmas. And by the end of the school year we were calling it quits. Not because we didn't love each other, because we did, but the physical space between us soon turned into emotional space and it just couldn't be bridged.
There wasn't a day that passed that I didn't think about you. You were my first love in every sense of the word.
They always say that first loves are never forgotten.
PS. Can anyone help me learn how to format stuff on here. I'm like formatting challenged.
I was only 22, coming home for my baby brother's high school graduation, when I met you.
I was fresh out of a relationship that was based on lies. I thought I loved Katherine. I thought she loved me, but I was seriously mistaken. Turns out, a two year relationship wasn't enough to keep her from going for my roommate, Mason. I had to admit, seeing them in my bed together had to be the pinnacle of rejection. Especially when I had just returned from the jewelry store, trying to find the perfect ring to symbolize my love for Katherine.
What a load of bull.
So, I swore off all serious relationships and instead took to bedding as many women as possible. Most of them knew I was only in it for a one night stand, but some didn't. I had to admit, it felt good hurting them. Watching the pain sweep across their features when I refused to hold them afterward, deciding instead, to gather my clothes and leave without a word. It was low, it was volatile, but I didn't care. I would never care for a woman like I cared for Katherine, and look what she did. She smashed me into a million pieces just because she could.
Stefan's graduation went way too long and I had no desire to attend the extravagant party at the Lockwood's Mansion afterwards, but he begged and pleaded and I caved. I always caved when it came to Stefan. He was my baby brother and I practically raised him after our mother died since our father couldn't be bothered to do so.
I stood in the corner at the bar most of the night, chatting it up with my old friend, Alaric. I moved to Mystic Falls in the middle of my senior year. I didn't make a single friend, save for Ric. All I wanted was to graduate and get the hell out of that town and away from my father. Which I did. I graduated top of my class and was accepted into Yale School of Management. I knew I was destined to take over my father's company, and despite hating the man, I was okay with that. I wanted to take over. Maybe the little boy in me still wanted to please my father.
Alaric was telling me all about his escapades at Duke, when I saw you for the first time. You were, hands down, the most beautiful woman in the room. Your brown hair was long and wavy, you looked so much like Katherine, but when you smiled at something your friend said, I could see a warmth in you I'd never seen in Katherine. Our eyes locked and I could feel a gravitational pull toward you. One that my body naturally wanted to fight.
"Earth to Damon," I registered Alaric's voice, but I couldn't take my eyes off you. I assumed he followed my gaze because the next thing out of his mouth was a muffled snort followed by, "Ah, Elena Gilbert."
That caught my attention.
"You know her?" I asked as I reluctantly tore my gaze from you.
"She was in the class I did my student teaching in," Alaric said with a chuckle, which I assumed was at my bulging eyes.
"She's in high school? Fuck," I chastised myself. I was looking for a good roll in the sack, sure, but I was not looking to get thrown in jail.
Hell no.
"As of," Ric paused and checked his watch dramatically, "Four hours ago, she is no longer a high school student."
He must have seen my ears perk up because he was already shaking his head. "Oh no, Damon. She's a good girl, she's not going to be one of your conquests."
I threw my hands up in mock innocence, so it did cross my mind. Sue me. Actually, I take that back.
"Who said I was going after her?" I asked, feigning offense.
"You are aware that I've known you almost six years now? I know that look," Ric said seriously.
I shot him a dirty glare, but the DJ interrupted my snide remark.
"Alright, this is the last song of the night folks. Your last chance to ask that girl you've been eyeing all night to dance."
"If you'll excuse me, Ric," I mused as I set my empty tumbler on the bar, "I believe there is a lady I've been eyeing all night that needs to be asked to dance."
I could feel Alaric's nasty glare burning into my back as I walked away.
I caught your gaze once more and held it until I was standing right in front of you. Being so close to you made my head a little woozy, but I quickly pushed it aside and gave you one of my signature smirks.
"I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you. Would you like to dance?" I held my hand to you like a perfect southern gentleman and took pleasure in the red that tinted your cheeks. I had this in the bag.
"What if I said no," you replied cheekily. I was not expecting that. This girl has fire. You'd probably be a hellcat in bed. The thoughts only make my blood rush to my other brain.
"You won't," I shrugged and gave you The Smirk. Oh yeah, it's that good. You would crumble at any second. Any second, now. I could see your resolve weakening. I could see it coming down. Any minute now, you'll be putty in my hands. My very, very talented hands.
Much to my dismay (and utter shock) you only crossed her arms over your chest and narrowed your eyes at me, scrutinizing me. What the hell is there to scrutinize about me?
"Cocky, I see," you said with her own smirk. A smirk that could very well rival mine, much to my chagrin.
"Oh honey, you ain't seen nothing yet," I said with a wiggle of my eyebrows. That one was always a winner, too. "Now, what about that dance?"
You eyed me suspiciously before you let out a long sigh and placed your small hand in mine. Your skin against mine sent a surge of heat straight through my body and by the way your eyes darkened, I had the same effect on you.
I tried to ignore it the best I could, I wasn't big on butterflies, sparks, or anything else that's mushy. I was more of a hit it and quit it. Especially after Hurricane Katherine.
I spun you under my arm before I pulled you flush against me, one arm held tight around your waist while I kept your hand in mine. The little gasp of surprise that slipped past your lips had me putting a little distance between our bodies to make room for the other Damon who was making its appearance known.
"So your Stefan's brother?" you asked nonchalantly.
"I see you've done your research," I answered playfully.
"It's a small town, people talk," you laughed with a dramatic eye roll. I was mesmerized by you. There was something so infectious in the way you smiled and laughed, as if she hadn't a care in the world.
"So what all did you hear about me?" I pressed, mostly to be annoying, but a little out of curiosity.
"That you are arrogant and callous and you'd screw anything that has a vagina," you shot back without a hint of hesitation.
"Well, two out of three isn't bad," I said with a shrug.
"So you don't screw anything with a vagina?" you asked, looking more than a little shocked.
"That's for me to know and you to dot, dot, dot," I shot right back. The answering smirk on your face told me that you knew better than to argue with that.
Instead, you took a small step closer, closing the barely-there space between them, and laid your head on my shoulder. Something akin to care wedged its way into my heart and I could hardly shake it.
And that was the start of something beautiful.
I didn't want a relationship. I wanted to use women and then move to the next one. I wanted to fuck Katherine from my mind.
But you walked into my life with your big brown eyes, those long sexy legs, and your stubborn as hell attitude. You swept me away like a hurricane. Bit by bit, you tore through my three-foot thick brick walls and crawled into my heart.
That summer was magical. I never thought I'd get over Katherine's deceit, but you took my shattered heart and mended it, permanently banishing Katherine from it altogether. You made me whole. You made me realize that what I felt for Katherine was nowhere near love, because what I felt for you was so much stronger than anything I felt for her.
You challenged me, made me laugh, and loved me despite all my fucked up baggage. You were the first person who loved me for who I was, not what you wanted me to be. You trusted me. You trusted me with your secrets, with the pain you felt when you lost your parents when you were only sixteen. You trusted me enough to give me the most special part of you, a part of you that you hadn't given to any man. You trusted me completely, and in turn, I trusted you.
I told you about my father, about the borderline abusive relationship we had. I told you about my mother, about how much I loved her and how devastated I was when she died. I told you about Stefan, how I basically raised him. And as the last of my defenses came down, I told you all about Katherine. I told you how I thought I loved her, how I thought I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and how much it hurt when I caught her cheating on me. Finally, I told you that I loved you.
We had a gorgeous summer. We spent every waking and sleeping minute together. We were inseparable. I hung out with your friends and you would hang out with Ric and me. You would drag me to all the town events and in return, I got to drag you into my bed that night. I took pride in being the only man you'd ever slept with. I loved that I was the only one who got to see you in the throes of passion. I was the only one who got to hold you afterward, completely sated, with sex hair to boot. God, you were so sexy.
Sex with you was nothing like I'd ever had, and I had my fair share. It was like you were made for me to look at, made for me to taste, just made for me. We were puzzle pieces, fitting perfectly in every way. The way you fit in my arms when we danced, the way your lips formed against mine, the way our breath would mingle, the way I fit inside you. We moved together like we'd been doing it all our lives, rather than only a couple of months.
But then September came and you went off to Georgia for school, and I headed back to Connecticut with the promise that we'd see each other as often as possible. We swore to talk on the phone everyday and to see each other during every break. But life seemed to have other plans. After a few months, the calls started coming less often. Then you were too busy to come home for Thanksgiving break and I was tied up at work over Christmas. And by the end of the school year we were calling it quits. Not because we didn't love each other, because we did, but the physical space between us soon turned into emotional space and it just couldn't be bridged.
There wasn't a day that passed that I didn't think about you. You were my first love in every sense of the word.
They always say that first loves are never forgotten.