I don't own VD!

The boutique. It was a famous store that sold beautiful dresses for special occasions like proms and such. I stood outside the store, admiring the pretty dresses in the window case.

"C'mon, let's go in En," urged Aunt Carole.

After breakfast, Aunt Carol left me to attend to some work. I walked around in town, visiting random shops. The town wasn't much crowded. I figured it must have been because school was still in session.

I bet as soon as school is over, this place would be crawling with teens, I thought.

A little past one, I met up with Aunt Carol at our decided spot, in the town square, and we immediately set off to hunt for a dress, which led us straight to this pretty shop.

I followed Aunt Carole inside the store. We were greeted by a brunette.

"Hello Aisha," greeted Aunt Carole. "This is En."

"Hello Mayor." Aisha turned to me with a smile, "Hello En."

I nodded and smiled in return.

"Aisha, we need dresses for the upcoming Masquerade."

Aisha smiled, "Who doesn't. You guys are my umpteenth customers today."

"Must be good for business," I said.

"It's great for business. We should have more of these parties, Mayor." She joked.

"Oh please no. As much as I'd also enjoy it, it would be a whole lot of work and probably trouble too," she replied darkly.

I eyed Aunt Carol, wondering what that was about. Aunt Carol realized what she had said.

"I meant... we wouldn't want the kids to get carried away with all the partying, now do we," she said hastily in an attempt cover up her previous slip.

"Oh, this dress seems lovely." Aunt Carole changed the topic. She walked up to a dress. "I'll go and change into it."

She rushed away with the dress. Something is up. Even at breakfast, I felt the trio were hiding something. Whatever it was, Damon was also a part of it. Not just a part, but a big part of it. I just knew it.

"Now, let's see what dress would fit you best."

Aisha turned to me, all professional. She gave me a look-over, from top to bottom. I looked down at myself, self-consciously.

"You are a very beautiful lady, miss."

After pausing to think, she said, "I've got just the thing for you."

"Uhh...Okay..," I said awkwardly.

She disappeared at the back of the store. After a while, she came out holding a black dress.

"Here you are. I wondered where you two had gone. So, what do you think?"

Aunt Carole came in a chocolate brown evening gown. It had long sleeves. The fabric was gathered tightly at her waist, showing her still maintained figure, and flowed to the ground. The waistline was decorated with gold sequences which complimented her blondish brown hair. She wore a matching coloured mask, which covered her upper face, decorated with the same golden sequences.

"Gosh Aunt Carol, you look very pretty," I complimented wide-eyed.

Aunt Carol laughed at my expression.

"I guess I've found my dress and it only took me one try. That's a shocker," she said with a laugh. "Have you found anything you like?"

I looked at the dress in my hand.

"Maybe, maybe not," Aisha answered for me. "Let's see you try that dress En."

She ushered me into the changing room. I took the dress out of its transparent bag and I took a good look at it. I caught my breath. It was all satin and so soft. It wasn't entirely strap-less because on one side the sleeve was vine-like entwined till the wrist. I carefully changed into the dress. I looked in the full-length mirror and gasped. It was a simple dress but the satin gave it a feeling of flowing water. The black colour was the exact dark colour of my hair and my onyx eyes. It even complimented my light brown skin. The dress hugged my body at the right places, showing off my curves delicately. It was a perfect fit.

I walked out of the changing-room. Aunt Carol and Aisha looked at me in awe. Aisha came and spun me around for a better look.

"En, it seems that this dress was made just for you."

"You look stunning En," said Aunt Carole. She then grinned. "This must be our lucky day. We didn't have to go through truck full of dresses. The first one won the ticket."

Aisha came over and handed me a beautiful black mask. It was made in the same entwined pattern as my dress and was decorated with golden patterns. It covered almost whole of my face.

"Just perfect," said Aisha, with a smile.

I beamed at the two ladies. The dress was absolutely beautiful.

I guess I am going to enjoy the party after all.

"Why don't you go and change back while I pay for our purchases", Aunt Carol suggested.

I was about to protest that there was no need to pay for me when she said, "Go and change En, I'll pay for this." She saw me about to argue back. "Don't argue. I have the right to pay for my daughter, don't I?"

That shut me up and I reluctantly let her pay for the dress. It was heart-warming to know Aunt Carol thought of me as a daughter. For someone like me who never knew her mother, it was extremely touching. I went in and changed back to my top and skirt. I came out of the changing room ad saw that Aunt Carol was nowhere to be seen. I handed the dress to Aisha for packing.

"Where is Aunt Carol?" I asked, looking around the shop.

"Oh Sheriff Forbes came and they went outside to talk."

I nodded at the information.

I went outside and immediately spotted Liz in her Sheriff uniform talking to Aunt Carol. They were standing in the small park opposite the shop. They were almost hidden by a huge tree in the corner of the park. If it weren't for Liz's Sheriff uniform, I wouldn't have been able to spot them easily. I thought to go and greet her.

As I went near something in their expressions stopped me. They seemed anxious and were frowning. I was about to turn back to give them privacy when something stopped me again.

"Does she suspect anything?" Liz seemed anxious.

"No, Liz. It's her second day here in Mystic falls. I don't think there's any reason for her to suspect anything," Aunt Carol replied. "I am just worried she doesn't get caught up in this."

I had a very good idea about whom they were talking about. I inched closer to them, still hiding in the shadows, so that I could hear them more clearly. I kind of felt guilty about eavesdropping, but I couldn't help myself. Something told me it wasn't just curiosity but that it was something I had to know, something very important.

"I understand Carol, but there are more pressing matters at the moment. This can't go on. We need to talk to them."

"You can't be serious Liz." Aunt Carol sounded shocked. "Do you really expect them to listen?"

Liz sighed. "I don't know what to expect anymore."

Both of the ladies were silent for a minute or two. Then Liz spoke.

"I don't know about you but I am going to speak with Damon and Stefan. These killings just can't go on. We can't keep on pinning them as 'animal attacks'. The council is not stupid."

Whoa! Did they say 'killings', I thought in shock.

"Okay." Aunt Carol sighed in defeat. "You go talk to them. I need to get En home. I can't let her get involved in this."

I guessed that was my cue. I tip-toed back into the shop and patiently waited for Aunt Carol to return. I was still reeling from the shock of the conversation.

"Oh good, you're ready En." Aunt Carol sounded tired. "Let's go."

I silently nodded and followed her out of the shop.

"Are you hungry?" Aunt Carol asked absentmindedly.

It was then I realized that lunch was long over. After what I heard a while ago, I felt nauseous.

"No…it's okay Aunt Carol. I don't have an appetite."

She turned and looked at me. For a second I thought that she knew I had heard her conversation.

"Then I'll drop you home. I need to attend to some urgent matter." She looked worried.

I nodded and smiled nervously. I was pretty sure what that matter was. She didn't notice my nervousness as she was busy with her own worries.

The trip back home was silent and uneventful.I dropped my shopping bags on my bed. I went and sat on the window seat and sighed deeply.

I thought back to the conversation I had overheard.

Just what is going on around here? I thought. What are Aunt Carol and Liz hiding?

I wondered if what I had seen in the morning, near the woods, was somehow related to the 'killings' Liz was talking about.

Hmm...Animal attacks, I thought.

Then it meant the victims were bitten or something, otherwise they wouldn't have used 'animal attacks' as a cover. My eyes widened as a thought passed in my mind.

"There is no way there is a so-called vampire roaming around in Mystic Falls!"

I chewed on my bottom lip anxiously. Something was seriously wrong here and I didn't know why but I wanted to get to the bottom of it. With my mind made up, I started putting away my beautiful dress.

Wow..my main character's finally realizing that something is up and Vampires might exist.

Took her long enough..lol. ;)