LOVE LESSONS

ELENA GILBERT: STUDENT. DAMON SALVATORE: TEACHER. NEW TO MYSTIC FALLS HIGH, DAMON SALVATORE IS BOTH EXCITED AND HORRIFIED TO FIND HE IS FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIS STUDENT ELENA GILBERT. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY OVERSTEP THE BOUNDARIES AND SLOWLY BUT SURELY, THEIR FRIENDS AND ENEMIES DISCOVER THEIR ILLICIT SECRET?

*Breathes* okay.. this story is not only my first Delena fan fiction, but it is also my first EVER attempt at writing fan fiction. So as much as I love constructive criticism, please be nice to start with!

So this story is AU, which means no insanely hot, vamped-out Damon. But that doesn't necessarily mean he won't be insanely hot throughout this fic anyways ;-) So yep, no vamps, no witches and no werewolves at all. Another important matter is Damon and Stefan - they are not related in this story at all, nor are Elena and Isobel. So basically, just take the characterization at it comes, hehe.

Finally I've tried to Americanize this story as much as possible in terms of school and laws etc. I'm from the UK, so if anything seems a little out of place or off, don't hesitate to let me know. (For example the students were going to be in school uniforms, but I decided against it.. good decision I think...) aaaannd I think that covers everything.

I don't own TVD in any way shape or form, although I would like to own Damon Salvatore for at least five minutes...

Anyway, on with the story and happy reading to all you lovely Delena fans out there!

Elena's POV

Elena Gilbert stared down at her shaking hands, feeling slightly nauseous at the prospect of leaving the house for school. So much had changed in her life since the last time she had walked through the bustling hallways of Mystic Falls High.

Caroline would be arriving any minute to walk with her and Elena wanted nothing more than to fake an illness, crawl back into bed and hibernate there for the next year or so.

It wasn't just the idea of bumping into Stefan that scared her, it was more to do with the endless amount of people who'll say 'I'm sorry about your loss' and 'if you need anything, just let me know' throughout the entire day and what could last for weeks that worried her. No doubt she would just fall to pieces, just like she did every time she spoke to Jenna, or Caroline and Bonnie, who knew not to mention a word of her parents' death. It was still too raw in her mind.

Elena sighed deeply and raked her fingertips through her long, brunette locks.

"You have to do this" she told herself sternly, looking hard at her reflection, "just smile, make it believable and people will leave you alone."

She heard a light knocking from downstairs, followed by her Aunt Jenna opening the front door.

"Elena, Caroline's here!"

"I'm coming!" she called back, taking one last look in the mirror before she made her way down stairs to find Caroline beaming at the front door.

The bubbly blonde smiled and waved,"Hey Elena! Oh my God, are you excited!'

Elena pulled a face, "Excited for school? I'm bouncing off the walls, Caroline."

"Oh don't be like that" flitted Caroline while Elena slipped on her converse, "it's our last year before college, so we've got make it a good one!"

Elena smiled as she pulled on her jacket, it never ceased to amaze her how excited Caroline could be over almost everything. But she loved her for it, and it instantly made her feel a little better.

"Have you got everything?" rushed Jenna's voice from the hallway. Elena turned around to find her Aunt looking flushed amid her busy, morning schedule.

"Yes Aunt Jenna, and it's really not me you should be worrying about."

"Whadd'you mean?"

"Have you triple checked Jeremy's got out of bed?"

Jenna's eyes widened and she quickly marched upstairs to her nephews bedroom. Elena giggled, called out her goodbyes and left the house.

So far so good. Perhaps today wouldn't be as bad as she thought.

Damon's POV

Damon Salvatore tapped his fingers on his briefcase, glancing up at the clock every 5 to 6 seconds. He let out a breath, trying to calm his raging nerves. Just relax he told himself.

He hoped he was keeping his cool, calm exterior. He didn't want to look riddled with nerves, even if he was feeling it. First impressions were always important to him. He did not want to mess up his first day as a fully qualified teacher.

A small cough for his attention made his head turn to the right. The receptionist was beckoning him to come forward to her desk. He pointed to himself, as if he didn't know she meant him despite the fact he was the only other person in the room. Good going you, douche mocked his brain.

As he walked over, he noticed she was displaying her cleavage to him in the most unsubtle way. She squeezed her arms further against her breasts, resting them on her desk for his viewing pleasure as she smirked up at him. She was rather bold for someone who was clearly over the age of 40.

"Are you Damon Salvatore?" she asked, practically purring his name.

Damon furrowed his brow slightly,

"Uh yes, I gave my name to you when I walked in ten minutes ago?"

Her front faltered a little, but she quickly recovered.

"Oh silly me," she cooed, "I just needed to check for my files,"

"Okay..." said Damon, not really knowing where this was going.

"Damon Salvatore?" came a familiar voice.

"Mrs Lockwood," said Damon politely, addressing the principal with a warm smile as she extended her hand to shake his. He took it, pleased she'd rescued him from the lust-hungry receptionist.

"Oh it's so nice to finally have you with us, are you excited?"

"Very excited, though a little terrified of what the kids may have in store for me. A few tacks on my seat, perhaps?"

The principal laughed heartily as she lead the way outdoors towards the English department.

"Oh I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Have you managed to explore the grounds?"

"I have a little" Damon lied, cursing himself for setting his alarm clock too late, "though I'm sure I'll find my way around eventually."

Mrs Lockwood gave a running commentary of the schools history as they walked towards the English department. She threw a few sultry looks over her shoulder as she went, mistaking the polite smiles he returned for ones of a similar gesture to her own. Damon prayed there were male teachers in this place. The women were beginning to scare him a little.

Finally they arrived to their destination. The inescapable smell of 'school' drifted through Damon's nostrils as they walked down the empty hallways. It was a nice school; clean and the classrooms were spacious. During his university years on teaching placements, Damon remembered some of the hovels he'd taught in, with classrooms barely bigger than the cleaners closet. Thank God he was on to bigger and better things.

The sound of laughter echoed down the hallway as Mrs Lockwood directed Damon towards the faculty lounge. A tremor of fear rippled through Damon's body. He had a nightmarish vision of several older women, staring at him as though he were the springbok and they were the lions, waiting to pounce on their prey.

Mrs Lockwood slowly opened the door and the room silenced a little,

"Good morning everyone," she chirped. Damon waited out of sight, clutching to his briefcase tighter than ever before. "I have your new recruit, Damon Salvatore with me,"

She gestured for Damon to enter the room. He smiled and stepped in the doorway to meet several faces staring back in silence.

"Hey everyone" he said with a slight wave. A few sleepy hellos were given in return, some more enthusiastic than others, the women in particular seemed to brighten up a bit.

"Anyway I must get back to my office," said Mrs Lockwood, breaking the awkward silence that had blanketed the room. Damon jumped a little as she squeezed his arm, "if you need anything, I'll be in my office."

Damon swallowed down the dry lump in his throat.

"Thank you,"

With a smirk, she eyed his physique one more time and left the room without bothering to say goodbye to the rest of the staff. Damon turned back to the few who still stared at him, while some had returned to their conversations.

"Hey man, how's it going?" asked one of the guys leaning against a unit top, his arms folded lazily across his chest.

"Uh okay, so far" said Damon nervously, gingerly placing his briefcase to the floor.

The guy edged a little closer and leaned in to mumbled under his breath, "A lot of the staff are miserable old fuckers. I wouldn't take it personally."

Damon half-smiled at the comment, finally sinking in to his comfort zone.

"Good, because I was beginning to think I'd grown another head."

The guy laughed and slipped out his left hand,

"Alaric Saltzman,"

Damon took his handshake with a firm grip.

"Damon... Salvatore"

So there you have it, the first chapter! I'm sorry there is no Delena action yet, but we're a patient bunch if the show is anything to go by , so I promise to deliver DE's first meeting in the next couple of chapters.

I look forward to reading your reviews and if you have any DE fanfics of your own please let me know and I'll be sure to check them out.

Anna xxx