CHAPTER 1

Stella sighed as she turned the alarm clock off. A brand new day was about to begin in the small town if Mystic Falls. A day with all the supernatural creatures roaming around the earth: vampires, werewolves, doppelgangers and now, as if it wasn't enough, the Original family of vampires and a creature who was half vampire- half wolf. Madness right?

After she was finally awake, she headed to the bathroom. Before she washed her face, she took a good look of her reflection in the mirror. Dirty blond hair, long and wavy reached the end of her shoulders, bright, green eyes with long, thick eye-lashes and small full lips.

She was naturally beautiful, but she didn't really care. All that mattered to her was the personality of someone and not their appearance.

She didn't bother choosing the outfit that she would wear today at school, so she just put on her skinny jeans, her favourite hoodie ( it was cold after all) and her pair of Dr. Martens booties. She was about to look one last time in the mirror when she heard her mother calling her from downstairs.

" Stella! Come on honey we have to go, or else we'll be late!"

" Coming mom!" she yelled back as she took her school bag.

At school….

" Good morning Stella, how are you?", Elena Gilbert, one of her friends asked. Elena was probably her only real friend so far. Not that Stella wasn't a sociable person, but when your life revolves around the supernatural and you've cheated death a couple of times, it's not easy to make new acquaintances without putting their life in danger.

" Hello Elena! You know, everything's still the same. Nothing new. How about you?" she asked casually.

" Actually, there is something I need to tell you…"

" Did something happen? Are Damon and Stefan ok? Is it about Caroline? 'Cause if it's about her, I think I just saw her talking to Matt…"

" Calm down girl! Everyone is fine. It's just that the Original family, the Mikaelsons you know? They are throwing an actual ball this Saturday at Klaus' mansion." Elena said with a hint of worry in her voice. Truth to be told, there was definitely something more in this ball, but Stella couldn't even think of the reason.

" That's really strange. So, are you going? Did you receive an invitation or something?" asked Stella.

" It's quite crazy, but I did! Caroline got one as well. So did Matt. I bet that Rebekah couldn't keep her hands off of him, that's why she invited him."

" I never liked her either" added Stella. " She's always so rude to everyone. Not to mention that she hitted on Tyler and constantly tries to bring Caroline down."

" So did you get an invitation after all? The only reason that I will set my foot in this ball is that I'll finally have the chance to speak to Esther alone, without Damon and Stefan trying to prevent me from doing so." Elena said.

" No I didn't. They don't even know me Elena. Besides, I am not someone special that they want to use like you, no offence, and none of the Originals is trying to seduce me, like Matt and Caroline. Therefore, I don't have a reason to go or an invitation for all that matters." Stella said. Although she would never admit it to anyone, she was a little jealous of her friends. She had never been to a ball, worn a gown or danced with a handsome man like in fairy tails. Who was she kidding? Her life wasn't even close to one of a fairy tail. It was full of danger and worry. Worry that she will lose her mother or her friends, because of all this vampire mess. She had already lost her father and she didn't intend to lose another one who was close to her.

" None taken" said Elena with a small laugh, " But you should know though, that you are very special to your friends and family and that's the most important thing."

" Thanks Elena. That really made my day. See you around!"

" See ya! Oh! I almost forgot. Would you like to hang out after school today?" Elena asked.

" Sure thing! At the Grill like as always right?"

" Right. Bye!"

" Bye."

Later at the Grill….

" Hey Stella. What's up?" Matt Donovan asked his friend.

" Oh, hello Mattie! May I have a cheeseburger with French-fries and a soda?"

" The usual then? By the way a boy came over and gave me an envelope. He said it was for you, but when I asked him who sent him, he said that he couldn't remember."

" Hmm, somebody compelled him." Stella said, " May I have it?"

" Here you are. But who could have done it? And most importantly why? He's just a kid after all." Matt said while he was thinking which vampire compelled the young boy.

" Maybe we'll figure it out if we see what the letter says" said Stella as she proceeded to open the envelope.

" Well, what does the letter say?" asked Matt.

" Matt, it's not a letter." Stella said surprised.

" Then what is it? Are you trying to freak me out or something, 'cause it's working."

" It's an invitation to the Mikaelsons' ball!" was all that Stella could say, because for some weird reason she couldn't help but feel scared and excited at the same time.