The song for this chapter: Bright by Echosmith.

(also, I might expand this one in it's own fic I really like this one)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything

It's a week after graduation, and Rebekah planned a ball to celebrate. Elena is thrilled, one last taste of Mystic Falls before she has to think seriously, and figure out what she wants to do with her life.

So she goes with Caroline, arriving a little early so they could talk to Rebekah. The Original looks flawless, like always. She grins when she sees them.

"I told you that dress was meant for you." She says, and Elena gives a small smile, looking at the dress Rebekah had bought when she hadn't been sure about it. She had forced it into Elena's arms, insisting that she wear it to the ball. Rebekah begins to talk to Caroline and an almost familiar sight catches Elena's eye.

"Excuse me." She says, and walks away. She doesn't hear Rebekah and Caroline bet money that it was Elijah.

"Elijah." She says, hoping to catch his attention. The figure turns around. It's still odd to see him in anything other than a suit, even though a tux is similar.

"Elena." He greets. She looks so beautiful that his lips part as he looks at her dress. It looks like the night sky, with little rhinestones look like stars in the dark fabric.

"Elena." He begins, unsure how to phrase it. She looks at him expectantly.

"At the risk of being "Captain Obvious" as Kol would say, you look absolutely stunning." The words slip out without a filter, and she gives him the biggest smile he's ever seen grace her lips.

"Thank you. You look very handsome." The words are genuine, and a lie. He doesn't just look handsome, he looks too good to be real, but she bites her tongue, they're just friends and allies.

"Elena, may I request something of you?" He inquires, and she wonders what he could ask, but she nods anyway, and he asks her to save him a dance.

"Of course." Escapes her lips and he looks pleased at that, and she's not going to worry about the fact she likes him more than a friend, she's just going to have fun and try not to kiss him, and she watches him turn his head slightly.

"I have to go give the opening speech." He tells her, and she nods.

She goes a different way than he does, but his eyes find hers for a brief moment during the speech. As soon as it's over, he walks over to her.

"May I have this dance?" He asks politely.

"You may." She says, and it's polite as well, with an undercurrent of a joke. He leads her into the ballroom, and there are other pairs of people dancing, but she barely notices. They're dancing and close and she can smell his cologne, and she almost misses his question.

"Do you know what you're doing after this summer?" He asks and she gives a graceful shake of her head, no.

"I have an offer, if you're willing to make a deal." He says lightly.

"Are there any strings?" She jokes.

"You are free to accept or decline, lovely Elena. I will not hold either against you." He promises.

"Let's hear it, then." She says, and they pause for a moment, the steps-

"I am planning on leaving Mystic Falls by the end of the summer. Rebekah is going to Paris with Caroline, she had mentioned something about fashion design-Kol is going with Niklaus to New Orleans, and Finn and Sage are still in Switzerland. None of us will be here for a few years. I find myself in need of company, a traveling partner-if you will. I would like that person to be you." He finishes and she has to give it thought. They continue dancing, the song changes-something familiar, about stars and fate. She had been thinking about a leap year, and traveling-but the offer is too tempting.

It's a few minutes until she gives him an answer-Jeremy will be in Colorado with a baseball scholarship in a year-after he left, Jenna and Alaric were going to keep the house, but move. Bonnie was off with her mom and a coven she had been excited about-there wouldn't be much reason to stay.

"Where would you be traveling?" She asks, and he answers honestly.

"Anywhere you want." She takes a deep breath, and a new song starts as they pause.

"What do I do in exchange?" She asks.

"Keep me company. Be my traveling partner. That's it." He says, and for one, long moment, she doesn't say anything.

"Yes. We have a deal." She decides and he gives her a satisfied grin. He can't think of anyone he'd rather have next to him, traveling to see beautiful places.