salvatore school } { of first days and strong feelings on romcoms

[braveandstupid]

Elena: [first day of med school and she's got a weird kind of fluttering anxiety that she's never had before. Caroline's accused her of running away to Indiana to escape her problems in Mystic Falls, and she's not wrong about that, but what Elena's needed more than anything is a fresh start. So she finishes her courses at Whitmore online to get her degree and off she goes to Indiana University where she hopefully won't feel like the oldest person in the room. Stepping into her first class, she takes a seat somewhere in the middle and gets her laptop out, ready to take notes]

Ben: [and she just happens to take a seat behind a guy with a flannel shirt over his scrubs, leaning back and listening to music while waiting for class to start. He has his eyes closed, humming to himself, not a care in the world. His tablet is set up already to the online classroom and there is a beat up leather notebook next to it filled with tabs made of post-it notes, paperclips, and the occasional receipt. He's tapping his pen on it to the beat of the music.]

Elena: [and it makes her smile, because ah, to be that blissfully carefree. Elena's never really been that in her life, so allow her to enjoy it for the moment as she gets herself set up]

Ben: [he gets that feeling he's being watched, so he will crack an eye open and look at the screen reflection to see who had sat down behind him]

Elena: [her attention's gone back to her screen at this point, but he can still see her in it, new short haircut pulled up into a no-nonsense ponytail and Mystic Falls High hoodie she probably stole from Matt back when they were dating]

Ben: [hmm, she's cute. He's debating on introducing himself just as the teacher walks in. Instead, he turns off his music and sits up, going into serious student mode.]

Elena: [and she does the same. She'll even speak up and answer a few questions when she happens to know the answer. this is her life now. she's an academic]

Ben: [smart too. He'll look over his shoulder and smile at her when listening to her responses.]

Elena: [doesn't really notice, trying to focus on class, but eventually things will wrap up, and she'll start packing up to move on]

Ben: [which he will do the same quickly, then turns in her direction] Hey, you had some really good answers today.

Elena: [glances up and smiles. make some friends Elena. That's what you're here for] Thanks. So did you.

Ben: I tend to read ahead out of habit. I feel less stressed that way, and god knows med school is going to be stressful, am i right?

Elena: Oh, I'm sure it will be. [but oddly enough, not the most stressful thing she's ever been through] But odds are high it probably won't kill us?

Ben: And if it does, at least all our classmates know CPR.

Elena: [she laughs] A very good point.

Ben: [grins and holds out hand] Hi, I'm Ben.

Elena: [shifts her bag enough to shake it] Elena. Nice to meet you.

Ben: Same here. [and he will nod for her to join him in walking to the next class] So what's your focus going to be in?

Elena: Family medicine? My dad ran the practice in my hometown and I want to take it over. [because she's not going to be sad and heartbroken forever, and Mystic Falls is her home, even if right now it hurts] We're a small town but a boarding school is starting there, so there'll definitely be enough to form a practice.

Ben: That's totally rad. It's awesome you want to connect to your dad like that.

Elena: Yeah. I didn't always, but once I decided to head that way, it felt really good, so I'm leaning into it.

Ben: Sweet.

Elena: [nods] What about you?

Ben: Physiology and Virology.

Elena: Looking to create the next big vaccine?

Ben: Maybe? I mean, there are so many apocalypse books out there. Eventually I may need to help stop a zombie hoard! [laughs]

Elena: [laughs ... maybe a little too hard] Sometimes those movies can be ... a little too real.

Ben: Yeah. Authors actually work with the CDC to think up worst case scenarios on stuff

Elena: Which is great for them, but I think I've had enough horror movies in my life.

Ben: Not a fan?

Elena: Not really, no. [her life kind of was one for a long time] I'm more of a romcom kinda girl.

Ben: I can handle a good romcom.

Elena: That so?

Ben: Yeah. They've gotten better at not making the guys completely whipped. Even playing field for both sides.

Elena: What's wrong with a guy who's a little whipped? [she's mostly teasing, it's not a serious question] Maybe I'm kind of biased, but I like it when a guy's not afraid to show he cares.

Ben: Oh, that's not what I mean. Guy should always show he cares. But It isn't realistic is the guys gives up everything for the woman. Just like no woman should give up her life for a dude.

Elena: Fair enough. But would you call any action movie where one man takes down an entire organization and saving the day all by his lonesome realistic?

Ben: No, but action movies aren't meant to be realistic.

Elena: Exactly. It's a fantasy. And so are romcoms. [she shrugs] Sometimes, a woman wants to see a story where she's the thing that matters. That love matters and that someone will choose her. That she won't be the only one to have to compromise. [which is also hitting a little closer to home than it probably should but Elena has a long history of ... not being chosen for the right reasons]

Ben: [blinks, because he can see she's taking this personally] Okay. But hey, can we both agree that musicals are just awesome all around. Well, except for Cats.

Elena: [shakes her head] Yes. Definitely. Musicals are a good time. [a beat] I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ... go quite that hard.

Ben: You've got strong feelings about romcoms. [shrugs] It's cool.

Elena: I guess I just ... wanted to be Elle Woods, and in the end my life was a little more Mina Harker.

Ben: Your life isn't over yet, you know. [he stops and smiles at her] You're barely in your twenties. Fuck whatever guy made you feel like this. You wanna be Elle Woods, go be fucken Elle Woods and don't stop until you're there.

Elena: [hesitates because she's more on the almost thirty side of things but that's more baggage than she's ready to get into and she just nods] That's what I'm trying to do.

Ben: Good. Well, I need to jet. I told my mom I'd grab lunch with her before my afternoon class.

Elena: [she nods] Well, it was nice meeting you. See you around?

Ben: Oh yeah. If nothing else, I'll see you in class.

Elena: Great. [and with that, she will head off to find lunch herself]