Soooooooooo sorry this took this long. I've been super busy. I hope it doesn't suck!

"Is he here yet?"

Alice had just opened the door, to reveal Amelia dressed to the nines in a almost too-short shiny strapless dress and heels Alice had never seen so high. She stifled a chuckle, "Not yet. His parents are though." She didn't want to say the rest out loud, He's probably not coming.

Amelia sighed and stepped into her house. She dropped her fur coat into the arms of Maryanne, Alice's maid, and took one look at the 'party'. "No one's dressed up."

Alice looked down at her floor length semi-casual pink and floral dress. Of course they weren't dressed super fancy like Amelia, it was simply a dinner party. "Well, I suppose they aren't quite as formal as you are, but you look great."

Amelia smiled at Alice, patted her on the shoulder, and stepped into the party. Alice chuckled to herself and followed her friend.

She had been so busy all afternoon getting herself ready and helping Maryanne clean the house (because obviously Audrey wasn't going to help), that she'd hardly given any thought to Amelia being at the party. Amelia was a handful at parties, always craving attention and making sure the spotlight was on her. And even though tonight was not a party, as much as Alice wasn't to remind her, Amelia would continue to treat it as though it was one.

"Alice!" As if on a cue, Amelia waved her forward. Alice smiled to herself, picked up the bottom of her dress and walked toward her friend. "So I found my ring."

"Oh that's great!" Alice tried to sound enthusiastic, but it just rang out monotone. Alice turned, trying to hide herself from Amelia's reaction. "Where was it?"

"In my pocket," Amelia explained, laughed, and then went on and on about how she found it. Alice nodded along, letting her mind drift.

She thought about the homework she still had to do, and was inevitably procrastinating on. She thought about how she was definitely not going to get to bed at a decent hour, and therefore wouldn't be able to spend the entire day doing homework like she needed. Alice hated it when she didn't get her homework done. She felt embarrassed.

Alice focused back into reality and her eyes caught her father trying to subtly call her over. He was dressed in one of his finer suits and was standing elegantly across from Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood. Alice noticed their smiling glances at her and she quickly smiled back.

She didn't even excuse herself from Amelia as she made her way over to her father and his friends.

"Ah there you are Alice, I was just telling Charles about your work for the Boys and Girls Club."

"He was," Mayor Lockwood continued, "And I was just telling your father that I was looking for someone to head the section here in Mystic Falls. I'd have Nancy do it, but she's much too busy with her own philanthropy."

Alice knew her place here, "That is a impressive role to uphold, is it not? It would benefit our community immensely."

"And that's what your father was saying," the Mayor added. "He was also hinting that you would be splendid at the job."

"Oh Charles," Mrs. Lockwood laughed, smacking her husband lightly in the arm. "Now that talks not appropriate for dinner! Why don't you come over to Charles' office sometime next week and we'll get everything straightened out."

Alice blushed, "Of course, I would love to."

"Well then!" Her father laughed, wrapping his arm lightly around her shoulders. Alice moved closer, leaning her head against his arm for a moment. "Would you two like another glass of wine? Maryanne-"

"Oh no Roscoe, that isn't necessary at the moment. As you can see our glasses are still half full!" The Mayor proclaimed. Alice tried to chuckle with him. He turned to her, "Isn't this just a wonderful time. Aren't you glad your father decided to invite you children?"

Alice tried not to grimace at being called a child, "Of course I am. I'm having a great time. My father did a beautiful job planning this."

"It's a shame Tyler couldn't be here, his car broke down." Mrs. Lockwood mused. "He would have enjoyed this."

Yeah right, Alice thought. Tyler would have been complaining the entire time.

She nodded. And hoped to God this party would be over in the next ten seconds.

She waited.

Nope, it was still going.

---

Damon sat up, startled. There was someone at his house.

Stefan was out at some get together with Elena and that pretty African American girl whose name Damon kept forgetting. Zach was at that Founder's Council party.

He furrowed his brow and pushed himself off of the vintage green couch he was lying on. Walking slowly past the rest of his living room, he peered out the window. He sighed when he saw who it was.

"Caroline," he stated, monotone as he opened the door to reveal the pretty, but annoying blonde girl he was toying with. His eyes bore into hers. "What are you doing here?"

"Well," she took a deep breathe, almost as if to prepare for her long speech ahead, "I was supposed to go to the Founder's Council dinner at the Vreer's house, but I was just not into it. And I know what you're thinking, Caroline not wanting to dress up and look pretty? I know, it's crazy. But I just couldn't be away from your for one night! And I'm not one of those girls who depend on a guy for happiness! But you and I just-"

Damon cut her off, using compulsion, "Go home Caroline."

"Okay!" She smiled brightly, blew a key, and stated walking the opposite way down the steps. Damon watched her muscular body until it was gone from his sight. Then, he closed the door with a slam and went back to plotting.

At this point in time he was two plans for his own personal virgin prey.

First, he was going to drink her sweet, pure blood. Then, he was going to take her virginity.

Not rape, because as much of a killer as he was, he wasn't much into the unwilling taking of sex from a woman. Because that made him look like he wasn't getting any. And he could get some, without compulsion.

No, that simple girl would fall into his bed at a drop of a hat.

They all did.

---

Alice was surprised was Tyler actually showed up.

She wasn't surprised when she realized he was stoned.

"Hey how's it going?" He slurred at her when she opened the front door. He had his hands shoved into his pockets and was leaning sloppily against the doorframe.

"Just peachy," she replied, not bothering to conceal her disappointment. She shouldn't have been disappointed, she knew better than to expect nothing less than perfection from anyone but herself.

Actually, she was doing a lot of disappointing herself lately.

Tyler grinned and stepped into the house, "You know your awful cute Alice, 'cept for the fact that your clothes cover up those sexy parts of yours. I bet you'd look great in a bikini." He was so chaotic, and Alice tried not to slap him across the face.

"Well thanks for that Tyler," she patted him on the side of the arm. She personally didn't want to see him get into trouble, she never did. But the kid was seriously misguided, and Alice thought it might do him some good to get yelled yet once in a while.

He didn't seem as high as a kite than she'd seem him before. Which obviously meant he was coming down. Alice was glad, and hoped she could keep him away from the party as long as possible.

Thankfully, Amelia showed up, glass of sparkling champagne in one hand and another glass in the other. "Hi Tyler!" she greeted happily, "Oh and here's the glass you asked for." She handed it to Alice, giving her a stern look.

Alice took it as, 'don't-you-mess-this-up-for-me'.

"Hello Ameana," Tyler laughed playfully. "It's Ameana right?"

"Amelia actually," she was frowning. Amelia looked nervously at Alice, who shrugged helplessly. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Just peachy," Tyler mocked, sending a glance at Alice, who tried her best to not laugh. But she couldn't help it.

Alice smiled and when she looked at Amelia, it was almost like she was growling.

---

An hour or two later Alice was sitting on her front porch. Most everyone had left the party except a few stragglers. Amelia was long gone, headed home in embarrassment. Alice tried to explain to her that Tyler was high, and he probably would have gotten her name wrong also. But Amelia would have none of it.

She was swinging lightly in the wooden rocker, thinking over the night. It had all happened so strangely, first Mayor Lockwood wanting her to get into town politics, then Tyler coming in stoned. It took him only twenty minutes to get back to sober, which at that point allowed him to become his usual moody self. And as more events unfolded, like Zach Salvatore giving them all some kind of jewelry that 'symbolized their future in the council'.

Alice had received a pretty bracelet and she was self consciously spinning it around on her wrist. She didn't usually wear bracelets, they made her skin break out. She'd just wear it until Zach left and then take it off.

She really didn't want a rash.

---

The front door opened and Tyler emerged, looking more upset then before. He swore to himself and turned to his left to see Alice sitting alone on the swing. She had her skinny legs crossed and her gladiator sandals were lying on the ground next to her. He knew he had to be polite, especially to her, "Thanks for the party." He mumbled. Hey, at least it was a start.

Alice turned to look at him, her eyes showing no emotions. "You're welcome."

Tyler hated that about Alice. Because as pretty and kind as she was, he never knew what she was thinking. She was so reserved, unlike most girls at his school. Hell, he barely even conversed with anyone like her. She was sort of intriguing. Just sort of.

But he wasn't going to stay much longer, Vicki would be swinging by to pick him up in Matt's truck and then they'd go and fuck until the sun came up.

As the blue pickup drove up to her driveway, Tyler gave one last look at Alice. She was staring at the car, almost like she was reading it. Like there were words on the car. He looked at her for a moment longer and then walked toward the truck, not looking back.

"Hey baby," Vicki greeted sexily as he opened the passenger door. He grinned at her wolfishly and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. "Mm, that was worth waiting for."

"Wait until you see what's next," Tyler continued, "Let's go."

"Going," Vicki chuckled and put the car into drive. Just as she hit the gas Tyler looked behind him, only to find a tall figure standing in the way, blocking his view of Alice.

This was shorter than normal, but I wanted to get something out. AND a CLIFFHANGER. Sort of. Well you guys already know who it is anyway. It's obvious. I think. Anyway one more chapter and then it's the events from the first chapter/preview thing. Then I can actually get into the main plot instead of this boring background crap. Let me guys know if you like the Tyler parts in here, or if they are so boring you can't even stand them. I like his character a lot, so I kind of feel this need to add him in. But reviews are the BEST and if you do it now, I'll seriously love you forever!