STEFANS POINT OF VIEW

I hop out of the car and push the button on my keys to hear the beep that indicates my car is safely locked. I put my keys in my pocket and open the door leading me into the lobby of my condo building. Walking down the hallway I nod to anyone and everyone I pass, feeling in a wonderful mood. As I am approaching the south tower, I make a sharp right heading towards the mailroom. I dig in my deep pocket for my keys and open the door at the same time.

7359, I think to myself as I look for my mailbox. Which is funny because I know exactly where it is, guess it is just a habit. I put the key in the lock and turn it to the left twice, then pull open. Not much is in there, so I grab what mail I have, put the door back and lock it up.

I'm looking through the envelopes when I get to a particularly fancy one. I begin to open but instantly stop because I realize I have bumped into someone. I look up and…

"Oh my gosh. You have got to be kidding me! You again?" I practically yell at her. She looks up from her phone and all I can see on her face is shock and, yes, anger.

"Look, Mr. Salvatore, I am really sorry. I was preoccupied with something for work on my phone. I am sorry." She replies to me nervously, I can see her fidgeting. Cracking her knuckles, tossing her phone back and forth between each hand.

"Whatever. Just… watch out where you are going, Miss…" I inform her. Come to think of it I don't really know her name. It's probably something nerdy like Beatrice or Norman. After the name pops in my head, I mentally slap myself. No that wouldn't make sense she is a girl. What the hell, Stefan?

"Elena Gilbert! Look I really have to go. Once again, I am so sorry for bumping into you… twice." She tells me. She goes back to her phone and begins to walk down the hall.

As she passes me, I turn around and let my eyes wander for a second. Then it hits me, Elena Gilbert, the statistics keeper for the Dodgers! Wow a girl does all that work? She must be pretty smart.

I turn back around and head to the entrance of the south tower building and nod to my doorman, Bill.

"Night, Bill!" I tell him just as I am about to walk through the doors toward the elevators. As he starts to speak I roll my eyes, because I really don't care for what he has to say. I just want to go to bed.

"Nice game! Goodnight, Mr. Salvatore." He tells me as he waves, then he is out of sight and I am in front of two gold elevators.

I press the button to go up and it instantly opens. I walk in and take my place next to the wall. I take a deep breath while the doors close then press the number 47, highest floor in the building.

I walk off of the elevator and turn left, going all the way to the end of the hall to my condo. I pull out my keys and search for the correct one. Once I find it, I unlock my door and walk in. I head towards the kitchen realizing that I am terribly hungry.

After tossing my keys on the kitchen counter and grabbing a piece of left over pizza, I go back to my mail. Picking up on the letter I left of on, I rip open the envelope and look at the crème colored piece of stationary paper that reads:

Stefan Salvatore,

You are invited to the Players Gala on October 27

At

The Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Drive, Los Angeles California

Starting at 7:30

I finish reading the invitation and remember that this is the gala where the MLB association picks your date. Stupidest thing I have ever heard. I think, as I flip the paper over to see who my date is, I immediately gasp.

"Oh no." I whisper to myself. I can't possibly go to this thing if I am going with her. Well like it or not, I have to call her.

ELENAS POINT OF VIEW

As I open up the door to my condo, I smell something cooking. I walk into my kitchen and see Caroline slaving over the stove.

"Hey Care." I say, indicating that I am home because she obviously didn't hear the door open. She still doesn't say or do anything so I go over to her and tap her shoulder gently. She jumps and turns around then instantly lets out a breath. I see that she has headphones in and I can hear her music blaring from the speaker.

"Elena! Holy crap, you scared me!" She says pulling out the earbuds. Then she goes back to cooking.

"So what are you making for us?" I ask leaning over her shoulder to get a peek. After I see spaghetti in the bowl I let out a sigh of relief. Caroline was never a good cook, but she knew how to make some things correctly. Unlike me, who can't even boil a pot of water. But over the years of living with her she has mastered the art of spaghetti.

Caroline is a really good roommate. We both decided to go into the baseball business for number crunching after college, her for the San Francisco Giants and me for the Los Angeles Dodgers. I really can't imagine a life without Caroline. Sure she is one of my best friends, other than Bonnie Bennett, but also because she always has such a bright attitude. I remember the day we met in kindergarten. I fell down at recess and she ran right up to help me.

Ever since that day she left a mark on me and I have never been able to shake her. But why would I want to?

I turn around and head for a cupboard with the plates in it. Realizing it has been quiet for way too long, I decide to start a conversation.

"So how was your day, Miss. Caroline Forbes?" I ask her pulling out two plates and setting them on the counter.

"It was wonderful! I obviously got a half day, because I had an afternoon baseball game that ended pretty quickly. But you'll never guess what happened!" She says with excitement, but as she finished the sentence she instantly became sad.

I go to my left and open a cabinet that contains the cups. After setting two perfectly clean glasses on the counter, I turn around to face a sad, but mad, Caroline.

"What happened today?" I ask her moving towards the fridge.

"Okay, so you know the Players Gala is coming soon, right?" I nod and she continues, "Well I wanted Klaus Mikaelson to be my date, but with the whole stupid assigned dates thing, I ended up with, wait for it… Tyler Lockwood!" She lets out a grunt after his name is spoken.

"You're kidding! That's ridiculous! He is such a player. Caroline, I am so sorry!" I say to her as she turns back toward the spaghetti.

She is about to say something when I hear my phone ring in the other room and tell her that I will be right back. After I walk into my room and dig through my purse to find my phone, I look at my screen and it's an unknown number. For some odd reason, I answer it.

"Hello?" I say hesitantly. Wondering if I should have left the call to my voicemail or just ignored it totally.

"Elena Gilbert?" I hear from the other line. And I would know that voice anywhere. Deciding I should quickly get back to Caroline, I speed up the conversation.

"Hey! Sorry, I didn't recognize the number!" I tell him quickly. Hearing Caroline call my name telling me dinner is ready, I ignore her, which is a very bad idea.

"Yeah, new phone! I just wanted to tell you that I am your date for the Players Gala! But hey, I got to go! I will pick you up on the 27th at around 6? Because The Riviera is about an hour away and we don't want to be late!" I can hear that he is in a hurry so I end the conversation.

"That's fine! I'll be ready! Bye." I tell him and hit the end button. Thinking that this was a horrible idea on the association's part, I throw my phone on my bed and walk back out to Caroline, who has already set the table.

"Who was that?" She asks me as she sits down and puts her napkin in her lap.

"I guess I am going to the Players Gala, with someone I thought I would never see again." I say with a fake smile as I dig into my spaghetti.

Out of all people who I could be going with… Why does it have to be him?