Chapter 1

"I'm just saying." Damon holds up his hands defensively. "You should go. You're her boyfriend."

Stefan stares impassively at him for a second before rolling his eyes.

"I hate dancing."

"Please." I beg, leaning forwards.

The Salvatore living room is warm as usual; the fire blazing brightly. I love it in here, but right now, I just want to go. Stefan's being stubborn. As per usual.

"Not even for Elena?" Asks Damon, provocatively. I know what he's trying to do. His motivations are usually clear as day when it comes to me. Which is, at the moment, not as irritating as usual. Really, I just need a partner for the dance.

"Elena, they throw a dance every week, I swear to God. Is it really so important that I don't go this this specific one?" Stefan asks, a slight whinging tone creeping into his voice. I grit my teeth.

"Fine. It's not." Standing up, I shove my hands into my pockets, trying the guilt tactic. "I guess I'll just have to ask Matt, or…" Who would piss Stefan off? "Or… Elijah?"

It's a cheap shot. Even Damon laughs.

"Elijah is not going to dance with you, sweetheart." He drawls and Stefan nods.

"Ok, well I'm still going." I snap, indignantly placing my hands on my hips. Stefan raises his eyebrows.

"Really? Alone?" He asks and I square my jaw.

"Yup." And then the idea hits me. "Damon will be my partner. Won't you, Damon?" I ask, turning to the older brother, whose smug expression immediately changes. It's not often I see Damon Salvatore taken aback like this. He laughs nervously.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Town dances and me don't really mix." He declines. I groan.

"Oh come on! One of you? Please?" I beg, clasping my hands together.

"Why are you even so desperate to go?" Stefan mutters and I scowl.

"Because it's the celebration of the first ever founders meeting. Which my ancestors went to. Part of the town history; I do have to be there as well." I point out, folding my arms. "Besides," I continue, slyly. "Seeing as you two were actually on the original council, it would make sense for you to go too."

Damon smirks but Stefan's expression remains stony and unchanged.

"Fine." Damon gives in. "Seeing as I was your first choice and you asked so nicely." He adds, snarkily and I smile.

"Thank you." I nod, graciously.

"Is there a theme?"

"You remember the Mikaelson ball? Same thing, really." I shrug. "Caroline managed to find me a dress."

"Fantastic." Damon murmurs, dragging it out. Stefan looks a little like he's starting to regret his declination, but it's too late now. He was rude. I mean, so was I, but we're gonna overlook that for the sake of tonight. It's only a dance after all. Besides, even if Stefan did come, it's not as if he would really dance with me.

The little fling at the School's 50s dance was nothing more than that; a fling. Never going to happen again. He made his point about that. But screw it, I want to dance too, and if he doesn't want to, then it's only fair I find another partner. It's not like anything's going to happen. It's just a stupid founder's dance.

I actually do have many more reasons for going. Of course, we have to take into consideration that I kindly omitted that if I didn't show up, Caroline would literally kill me. Then of course there's Bonnie telling me that if I don't show up, she'll be stuck with party-Caroline (something no one wants to deal with) and that she'll kill me if I'm not there to add another panic cushion. Rebekah might attend this thing too, and it's always good to have a few of us alert and on watch. Alaric's worried I'm not being sociable enough. At least not with normal people. And Damon's been cooped up inside for the last two days; he needs a run.

"Ok, I'm gonna go to Caroline's and change. Pick me up at eight." I instruct and Damon nods smartly. Grinning, and decidedly avoiding eye contact with Stefan, I hurry to the door and leave.

"I think I heard the door." Caroline blurts, standing up and startling me and Bonnie, who were stood behind her, hands preoccupied with Caroline's bouncy blonde curls.

"Care, calm down." Bonnie grins. "I'll let them in. Let Elena finish your hair."

"But-"

"This is an up-do Care. Do you want me to screw it up?" I threaten and she sits right back down obligingly. Bonnie chuckles and goes to answer the door. We picked her dress well; black and long and silky. It suite Bonnie perfectly, given how it's both glamorous and powerful. I smile to myself as I twist the little blue flower spring things into Caroline's hair. She looks lovely too. Blue is definitely her colour, but I wonder how much impact Klaus had on her realisation. She wears it a lot now, and I can't help think that there's something in that.

I, on the contrary, am wearing a black and red ball gown, with fabrics I couldn't even name. The shape is fairly similar to the last one, but I feel... sexier in this one. Not, of course, that it would make a difference, given this is a founder's ball. Although, saying that, it does mean pretty much the whole town will be there.

I finish Caroline's hair and step back, admiring my work.

"You look beautiful." I finally remark and she squeals.

"This is going to be fantastic!"

She jumps up and practically drags me out of her room, where Bonnie is greeting Jeremy, Klaus, and Damon. Caroline almost stops dead and turns to me.

"I thought you were bringing Stefan?" She hisses and I shrug.

"He hates dancing." I remind her and her pout is almost comical.

"We can hear you." Damon drawls from the doorway. Caroline simply glares back at him.

"I know." She smiles, sweetly. I roll my eyes as we approach. Caroline isn't exactly one to lecture on the choice of partner. I could come up with dozens of better choices than Klaus.

"Your carriage awaits." Damon smirks, holing out his arm.

"You didn't get a limo, did you?" I ask him, suspiciously. This is really not the time for him to be extravagant. But I needn't worry, because he simply laughs in response.

"I'm afraid not." He replies, leading me outside. His light-blue Camaro is visible parked opposite the house, which makes me smile. It's a nice car, and I'd much rather go to the ball in that that a stupid limo.

Caroline, however, is begging to differ. Klaus is leading her towards a sleek black model and I raise my eyebrows at Bonnie, who just grins, dragging Jeremy off after the other two.

"Want to join them?" Damon asks me, our eyes both trained on the couples clambering inside the limo.

"Not particularly." I murmur and he nods, before steering me off towards his safe, normal, ageing, Camaro.

It makes a satisfying click as Damon unlocks it and graciously opens the door for me. I nod to him, and he smirks before shutting the door and getting into the driver's seat.

"So," he begins, starting the engine. "I get the feeling Caroline still isn't all that keen on me."

"Where on earth did you get that impression from?" I ask, my voice heavy with sarcasm. A slow smile spreads across his face as he pulls out of the parking space and steps on the accelerator, speeding down the road.

"She's very pro-Stefan." He adds.

"She has her reasons." I shrug. Damon is quiet for a moment before replying.

"You seem a little on the other side at the moment."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you seemed a little anti-Stefan, if anything." He observes. I turn to look at him, trying to be wary. I know how Damon logic works.

"Oh really?"

"Well, at the risk of my dear brother punishing me for this later, yes."

"In what way?"

"You were very hostile. I mean, I don't mean to sound like him, but it is just a dance." Damon says, carefully. I hum softly, looking back to the fast approaching view ahead of us.

"Well, he is like this every time. I know there are a lot of dances, but it's not like he makes all that much effort with any of them."

"You would have liked fun Stefan." Murmurs Damon. I scoff.

"You mean ripper Stefan? I don't think so."

"Well, there is that. But he used to dance all the time."

"Well good for him." I mutter and Damon sighs.

"Don't judge the guy too harshly. He's a bit of a downer in general. But tomorrow, you can go back to him after a night of dancing and fun with me. OK?" Damon smiles, brightly. I laugh softly. It's not an expression I usually see on Damon; genuine happiness. But here we are.

"OK."

This is my first Delena fanfic, so let me know what you thought! This is going to continue, and if I can get past my overall embarrassment, it will involve hotter scenes. This is the slightly passive build-up to the sex ;)

Lucy xx