Chapter 2

"There's something I want to talk to you about before we arrive at the mansion, Dace." They had to get off the subject of Max because all it did was upset both of them and that wouldn't help matters.

"What is it?"

"I know you and Caroline Forbes haven't seen eye to eye lately, but you have to try to be on your best behavior tonight." Dahna said, pulling into the driveway that lead to the mansion, slowing down so they could have this conversation before going inside. "I know you've been fighting with her because of your friendship with Elena and I'm telling you that Elena won't choose her over you. So there's no reason for you to rip each other's throats out over something that trivial."

Rolling her eyes, Dacia didn't appreciate her sister turning into mother hen mode and snorted. "I'm sorry sis, but Caroline Forbes is a whiny bitch and that's putting it as nicely as I can. I'm not going to kiss her ass, not tonight or any night. She thinks just because she's a cheerleader and on every freaking committee in this town that it automatically makes her the boss of everyone. There's only one person who can boss me around and that's you. Everyone else can kiss my ass. Just worry about the stupid ball and let me deal with her. As long as I don't talk to her and she doesn't talk to me, we'll both be just fine." She stared out the window and watched as the trees passed by, Dahna finding a parking spot a moment later. "Besides, I do just fine on my own. You've gotta realize I'll probably never be friends with Caroline, no matter if Elena is."

Signing resignedly, Dahna shook her head and didn't know what else to say. "Dace, you and Caroline used to be best friends, so I don't understand what happened to drive a wedge between the two of you this deep. Don't forget, you were once on the cheerleading squad as well. Now you have this attitude that I don't even recognize and I'm telling you right now: Fighting over a boy like Tyler Lockwood isn't worth your friendship." Dahna wasn't blind or stupid, she knew exactly why her sister and Caroline weren't friends and it was because of the mayor's son. "Tyler Lockwood is a dick and he's got both of you fighting over him for whatever reason. Let me tell you something, Dace, he's going to wind up a washed up nobody with a nine-to-five job struggling for the rest of his natural born life. He'll go to the best schools and get the best education, sure, but he'll flush it all down the toilet because he thinks with the wrong head. You need to stay away from him, Dace. I mean it; I don't condone you having anything to do with that boy."

"I don't even talk to Tyler, Dahna." Dacia said somewhat defensively, wondering who would put that into her sister's head that she wanted anything to do with the jockstrap football player of the Mystic Falls High team. "For some reason, Caroline got it into her bleach blonde brain that Tyler broke up with her because he wants me now. Not that Tyler would ever be stupid enough to ask someone like me out." Dacia's self-esteem had flown right out the window after their parents' died too, though it was slowly building back up. "And yes, I admit at one point, I WAS on the cheerleading squad until they all turned into a bunch of superficial bitches. That's why Elena quit the squad too because Caroline acts like it's some kind of crime that I started working at the grill. Like it's suddenly beneath her for someone the same age as her to have a job and make money instead of sponging off their…guardians." To this day, Dacia still had a hard time mentioning the word parents because she no longer had any and neither did Dahna. "Whatever, I don't expect you to understand because you're not even around during school when I'm getting the stink eye from cheerleader Barbie. Telling me I didn't have enough pep, I didn't make the cut – I couldn't have had any more pep if I lit a firecracker and shoved it up my ass."

Dahna couldn't help laughing at her little sister's spunk and cut the ignition of the car, reaching over to take her hand. "High school isn't easy for anyone, Dace. I know that, I'm not stupid. I had to go through high school as the BIGGEST misfit with just a handful of friends. I was an outsider. I wasn't on the cheerleading squad and it wasn't because I couldn't be either. I could've done any of those pathetic sports and events, but I chose NOT too because it wasn't for me. I wanted to focus on my art and writing, which is why I'm now going for my Associate's degree in journalism. That's all I've ever wanted for you, Dace, and you're slowly but surely finding your own way. Mom and Dad tried pushing you to do so many things because they didn't want you 'missing out' like I did. How do you think I felt when Mom would always gush over your abilities while I was busy drawing or writing in my room? It hurt, I'll admit it, and only the people who cared most about me stuck by my side through it all. I know Caroline can be a little eccentric and run her mouth, I'm not deaf, but you have to be the bigger person, Dace. Let her think whatever she wants, say hurtful things and brush it off. I'm not going to lecture you about it anymore, but it pains me to see you two at odds."

Caroline and Elena had gotten Dacia through the five stages of grief from their parents' death, which Dahna was extremely grateful for. Dahna was only being truthful with her little sister and hoped Dacia didn't resent her for speaking her mind. Dacia was more than just her little sister and the girl she had guardianship over, they were best friends.

Ever since their family tragedy, Dahna vowed to be there for Dacia through anything and everything, completely devoting herself. Max couldn't stand that Dahna always put Dacia before their relationship, but Dahna let him know beforehand what kind of baggage she carried. Now she wanted to fix this problem between Caroline and her sister, but honestly, if they didn't want to be friends anymore, than who was she to try pushing the issue?

"I'm always on your side, remember that, Dace."

Dacia appreciated Dahna opening up to her like this because it just made their relationship closer. "It's not a matter of high school being tough or you even being on my side. Your lectures I'm getting used to. Caroline changed a lot over the past year between our sophomore and junior year and it's almost summer before our senior year. She's gotten worse. Bonnie and Elena are the same, they never change. I know I changed too and I'm supposed to. I just see things differently than I used to and maybe it's because of Mom and Dad's death. I don't know, but all I DO know is I can't stand Caroline Forbes anymore. She's judgmental and two-faced because she says things she shouldn't behind others backs." They really had to get inside and Dacia decided it was time to end this conversation for now. "Let's just drop it for now before we end up spending the night in the car instead of going inside. I just want to do the same thing at this stupid party that I do at all of them, which is ignoring everyone and be left alone until it's time leave." Stepping out of the vehicle, Dacia shut the door and headed down the path that lead to the mansion, leaving Dahna trailing behind her.

Dahna frowned, not meaning to upset her little sister and knew it was because she brought up Caroline. She knew Dacia hated these events and, honestly, she did too, but they had to support the town. Their parents left behind a legacy that had to be fulfilled and Dahna would not leave until Landon's murderer was caught. That was the main reason for her being in the council because she wanted to find her father's murderer and bring some kind of justice to her family.

However, being part of a Founding Family came with a huge burden and responsibility, one that Dahna would not pass down to Dacia even after she stepped down as a member. Delilah did not want Dacia having any knowledge of the council and Dahna would make sure that never happened, no matter what she had to do to hide the truth. Dahna did not want this life for her little sister; she wanted Dacia to spread her wings and fly as high and far away as she could from Mystic Falls after graduation.

"Hey Dahna!" Elena greeted enthusiastically, already spotting Dacia right as she walked inside the mansion. "How's it going?"

"As well as can be expected, Lena." That was Dahna's special nickname for Elena and smiled warmly, gesturing to her little sister. "Dacia, on the other hand, could use a friend to talk to, if you know what I mean."

Elena winked, fully understanding and could tell something was bothering Dacia. "Don't worry; I'll get her out of her funk in no time." She promised, spotting her date over Dahna's shoulder and waved him over. "Oh there he is. Stefan!"

"Good, I know I can always count on you and, may I add, how stunning you look tonight." Dahna laughed when Elena flushed just as they were joined by a rather tall boy that was at least six feet tall and had snazzy black suit on.

"There you are, I was looking everywhere for you." Stefan said, kissing the back of Elena's hand and turned his soft green eyes on the woman she was talking with. "Hello, I'm Stefan Salvatore." He extended his hand, flashing a smile when the woman immediately took it without hesitation and gave it a gentle yet firm shake. "Elena, would you care to dance?"

Elena looked conflicted because she knew Dacia was upset about something, especially since she headed straight outside like always. "I umm…" She glanced back at Dahna and smiled when she just ushered her toward the dance floor. "I'd love to."

"Great! Excuse us." Stefan said politely, guiding Elena away with his hand on the small of her back and began twirling her around on the dance floor.

Dahna sighed gently and decided a drink was definitely in order, heading toward the first waiter she spotted with glasses full of champagne. She took two and downed the first one to take the edge off her nerves. The second she simply held and took small sips, greeting people only if they acknowledged her first. It was a typical ball and Dahna felt so out of place, tempted to join her little sister outside since they were both outsiders.

"There you are!"

Just the sound of Meredith's voice made Dahna slam back her second glass of champagne, knowing she would need a third before this night ended. "I've been here for a little while now." She stated, turning around to face her Aunt and braced herself for the lecturing.

"You look radiant tonight, niece." Luke intervened, kissing Dahna's cheek softly and shot a warning look directly at Meredith, warning her to leave Dahna alone.

"Yes, you do look beautiful. Now what the hell is going on with Max?" Meredith immediately jumped into it and folded her arms in front of her chest, noticing her niece was trying like hell to hide how upset she was. "What happened?"

"Oh you know the usual: Boy meets girl. Girl falls for boy. Boy becomes an abusive dick. Girl zaps him with a taser gun she carries in her purse." Dahna's voice dripped with sarcasm as she grabbed a third glass of champagne from another waiter that passed by, trying not to slam it back like the others. "He's gone; can we change the subject please?"

Luke howled with laughter at how smarmy his niece sounded with her explanation and leaned against the wall, shaking her head. "I guess that taser gun did come in handy, eh?" He laughed harder when she nodded and pulled Dahna into his arms, hugging her. "You are definitely my blood to do something like that, kiddo."

Dahna growled, shoving him away and rolled her eyes. "Don't call me that and, yes, it did come in handy. He grabbed my arm and squeezed to the point where my fingers temporarily went numb." She gestured to her upper arm and, sure enough, there was a deep bruise forming in the shape of fingers. "I told him it was over and to get off my property. He came toward me thinking he was going to strike me down and, instead, I struck HIM down."

Frowning, Meredith examined the bruises more carefully and ran her fingertip across them to feel how bad it pulsated. "You need to put ice on this as soon as you get home. It'll help with the swelling and I would pop two Ibuprofen too." Meredith was a doctor at the local hospital, so she knew what she was talking about. "Does it hurt?"

"Meh, a little, but nothing I can't handle, Mer." Dahna assured her Aunt, who was sometimes overprotective of the girls and for good reason. "I'll take the pills and ice it, now back off."

"Is that all he did to you?" Meredith inquired, refusing to let the subject go and watched Dahna's eyes advert to the floor instantly. "Damn him. I'll kill him."

Dahna immediately grabbed Meredith's arm, stopping her from stalking away. "No you're not. Listen to me, whatever he did is in the past and you can't change it. I got out before he started hitting me." Max's form of abuse was sexually and Dahna shuddered at the memory of their final encounter together, immediately pushing it in the back of her mind. "Please promise me you won't do something stupid and go after him. He could technically press charges against me for tasing him in the balls and I really don't feel like ending up jail. Not to mention, Dacia is almost eighteen, so I just have a few months left as her guardian. Just leave me be, Auntie. Please."

Meredith groaned, knowing Dahna had a point when it came to the guardianship because Dacia could still be taken out of the home for something like this. "Damn it, fine!" She growled, not happy with these sudden turn of events and huffed indignantly. "But if he touches you again…"

"He won't. Now shut up because Sheriff Forbes is on her way over." Dahna hissed, immediately plastering on a smile and took a deep breath before turning to face Caroline's mother.