A.N. This is not my best work but I wanted to give you something. I have some drama planed but I'm having some trouble with the context. Love you all and you know I'm open to suggestion. You can contact me by PM, Twitter on (Joana4Delena) or on Facebook on (face book joana . g . Rodrigues . 3). But please Review.

This past week past by like crazy. Between classes, trying to spend time with Damon and the writing workshop, I've been really busy. Speaking of writing workshop, Mason is an amazing teacher and he seems to think I'm really talented. I don't want to sound conceded but he gives me more attention than he gives the other students he even insists that I call him Mason instead of Mr. Lockwood. But truth be told most of the people attending the workshop are there to have one more thing on the curriculum. Mason is Tyler's uncle but when I asked him Tyler seemed surprised that Mason was back in town, apparently Mason is he Mayor's baby brother, he has a degree of English Lit from Harvard and he is kind of a womanizer. This doesn't surprise me thought, I mean Mason is gorgeous with those green eyes and dashing smile… he is nowhere near as attractive as Damon but I could see woman paying a closer look at Mason.

I'm currently waiting for Caroline, Bonnie and Anna so we can go shopping for the masquerade ball. To think the ball is just this Friday…My usually boring life as turned out really hectic but I wouldn't change a thing.

While I finish getting ready I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket and I grin seeing the ID caller.

"Good morning Damon" I say smiling like a crazy people.

"Morning beautiful. How are you?" He asked

"I'm good but I would be better if you were here with me" I said

"I know sweetheart, I would love to be there to but I have so many things I have to take care with the clients… You were right when you said doing this in 3 weeks was crazy…" He said and I have to keep myself from laughing.

"It turned out good. I just hate spending my Saturdays away from you" I said

"Me too kitten. But I'm coming by tonight okay?" Damon asked

"Sure, why don't you have dinner here?"

"I can do that but I cook!" He said and I have to roll my eyes.

"I know how to cook Damon" I objected

"Sure you do… You can make some kick ass sandwich…" He said and I just know he is smirking in the other side of the phone.

"Maybe I'll spend more time improving my cooking skills and less time fucking you…" I said putting a smirk of my own.

"Ok ok, your cooking is delicious honey. But I'll cook tonight, you do so much for me already…" He said trying to make me not cook without making me angry and I can't say I complain, I'm not that much into cooking…

"Fine, but just because that means you have to come by earlier to make dinner..."

"I miss you too sweetheart. Oh can Alaric come tonight? He is spending the day with me and he doesn't know anyone in Mystic Falls… It sucks being alone on a Saturday night…" He explains and my heart harms. Damon would never admit to Alaric that he cared that he shouldn't be alone but he did care.

"Of course he can, I love hearing the embarrassing stories Ric has about you…"

"Oh Lord what did I put myself into?" He said dramatically and I laugh. I heard Caroline's car horn.

"Look Damon I have to go, Caroline is here. See you later babe." I said and I wish I could keep talking to him.

"Okay, Alaric is waiting for me anyway so… Love you babe. See you later"

"Love you to" I said and hung up.

I walk down stairs and into Caroline's car.

"Good morning girls" I say

"Hi Lena, aren't you excited?" Caroline said bubbly as always.

"I am, I want to find a dress that is going to blow Damon's mind" I said with the grin I wear every time I talk about Damon.

"Ok, Tyler and Matt are going to meet us at the mall" Bonnie said

"That's good… It's been a while we don't have Caroline and Tyler fighting about dresses" I said and I see Caroline rolling her eyes. We all love each other like brothers but joining Caroline and Tyler in a mall is a rick. Only two things can come out of it, or they agree on an outfit and they corner you until you bought it or they disagree and it's a full blown fight.

"You guys are over reacting… Tyler and I are not that bad" She said and Bonnie and I exchange a look before starting to laugh hysterically.

"You guys!" Caroline said and Anna seemed kind of scared about our interaction and I flashed her a smile.

"Oh I love this song" Bonnie said turning the volume up so we can sing along to Bruno Mars "When I was your man".

We acted like crazy people until we got to the mall and saw Matt and Tyler waiting for us.

"Hey girls, we are so excited about shopping with you guys" Tyler said and Matt nodded.

"He is been talking about this nonstop since Caroline texted us" Matt said and we all laugh.

"Finally someone that actually likes shopping. I've been so stressed out planning this ball that I need some shopping therapy" Caroline said linking arms with Tyler and walking into the mall. The four of us just followed them in.

I have to admit that I like this, this feeling of spending time with my friends like I haven't done in so long… So much as changed since we last did this but this union and friendship is never going to change.

We enter several shops where Tyler and Caroline make us try on dress after dress. Tyler and Caroline seemed very in sync with one another so I think today is going to be a war free day.

When the morning is over we decide to go to the food court and look for the remaining items after lunch. Bonnie, Anna and Matt have already found the perfect outfit. Bonnie bought a cetin long sleeve boat neck emerald green dress with see-through green lace from the bra line until the neck line and the sleeves. The dress is gorgeous on her and it brings out her eyes. She also bought a pair of silver sandals.

Anna's dress was cetin white with an imperial waist and a square neckline almost like and Egyptian neck line adorned with a gold band and gold and brown gemstones.

Matt's suit was a simple black suit and grey tie because Tyler insists he wants a grey suit like Christian Grey's suit from fifty shades of gray…

"So Elena, you manage to escape Damon's sexy time this Saturday?" Tyler asks and everyone laughs with the term sexy time.

"Damon is with Alaric finishing something for the ball. Believe me if it was up to me he would be here with us…" I said

"You are so wiped" Caroline said and I smile

"And I wouldn't change it for the world…" I said with a grin and they all made Oohh sounds until we were all laughing.

"Speaking of wiped, who are you bringing to the party Bonnie?" Caroline asked

"Caroline it's the 21st century… I can go to the party by myself…" Bonnie said confidently

"But that is no fun Bonnie… Who are you going to dance to? Who will bring you home if you get drunk?" Caroline asked making this sound like a huge problem.

"Matt and I will dance with you" Tyler said with a smile and Matt nodded.

"And Jeremy and I can take you home if you get drunk, I don't like drinking…" Anna said.

"Caroline leave Bonnie alone…" I instructed

"You should let me get you on a blind date… I mean who knows you better than Elena and I" Caroline asked with a huge grin on her face with the idea.

"No, no, no…" Bonnie said shaking her head.

"Elena, come on, help me out!" Caroline said with pleading eyes.

"Sorry Care I'm with Bonnie on this… I don't think blind dates make since. I mean the point of finding someone is having someone who complements you, not someone who is exactly like you… And no one can find that person except you. Caroline and I know Bonnie but we can't say if that person is it for her. I believe that when you really find the one you don't find the person that everyone else sees, you have to love them for the person they are when they are alone with you and you fall in love with the chemistry only you two feel for each other…" I said finishing my speech and everyone was looking at me like I just grew two heads…

"You really love Damon don't you? I mean that type of love from fairytales…" Matt asked honestly and I shrugged with a smile on my lips.

"Okay fine, I agree with you Elena. But you guys are no fun!" Caroline stated with a pout.

"Come on people, let's shop…" I said standing up and waling to the clothes stores.

After about an hour we still haven't found anything.

"FOUND IT!" I heard Caroline yelled and we all run there. She was looking to a princess looking dress. The dress was blue but it was covered with a see-through silver tulle with matching handles. It had a heart shaped neckline and a silver embroidery with small diamonds that hugged her frame since the neckline until her belly button line. The dress was complemented with a pair of long sliver gloves and a pair of silver 4inch peep toes. It was absolutely gorgeous.

"Try it on Caroline" I said excited with this beautiful dress.

Caroline ran to the changing rooms and we all just gather around waiting for her. We were stuck in a dress induced haze. When Caroline disappeared with that dress we just stay there waiting like we were under a spell. After 10 minutes Caroline opened the door and I swear it brought tears to my eyes. Caroline locked like a princess.

"What do you guys think?" Caroline asked with a huge grin on her face. I thought about lying to her and tell her it looked horrendous just to see the expression on her face but I don't think I could do that to her.

"Wow" I heard Matt say

"I think you could turn me straight on that dress" Tyler said and I smiled

"You look magnificent" I said hugging Caroline.

"You are going to have your princess moment this Friday" Bonnie asked and we all nodded.

"You guys, I love you… I think Klaus is going to like this dress. It matches her eyes" Caroline said

"He is going to love this dress Caroline. It's impossible not to" I said

Caroline paid for the dress and we got out of the shop. This new found dress really improved the mood and we all had a new hope to find the remaining outfits.

In the next shop Tyler found a gorgeous tailor made grey suit that looked that fitted him like a glove.

"Come on Elena, I have a feeling we are going to find you dress in the next store" Caroline said

"I don't know Caroline we've been doing this for an entire day and I haven't found anything" I said

"Come on, just one more store…" Caroline asked with puppy dog eyes and I agreed.

I had seen almost every dress on the store and I didn't found anything I liked.

"Come here Elena" I heard Bonnie say and I walked over.

Bonnie was holding a gold dress covered with sparkly black see-through tulle. The bottom of the dress was puffy but the upper half was a strapless corsage also with a heart shaped neck line. The dress, like Caroline's was complemented with long black gloves and black 4inch peep toes. I fell in love with the dress the moment I saw it.

"Bonnie I think it's it" I said with a huge grin.

"Go try it on" Caroline said repeating my words from earlier and I happily oblige.

I tried the dress on and I felt like it was it. I know people use to say this about weeding dresses but I feel like a princess in this dress.

I opened the door and everyone was waiting for me.

"Elena it's amazing" Caroline said jumping up and down I looked to the rest of my friends and they were all nodding with a smile.

"I love it" I said with a grin

"Damon is going to be blown away" Tyler said.

"Oh, I know" I said with a smirk.

"You've been spending way too much time with Damon…" Bonnie said and we all just laugh.

"I want an Ice cream" Caroline said after I finished paying.

"Me too" Anna said

"Well you guys go and I meet you in a few moments. I just want to go to a store I saw" I said.

"Okay Lena, don't take long" Matt said and I nodded.

I walked over to the Victoria Secrets and started looking for sexy lingerie. I want to surprise Damon after the party. I know he is going to love the dress and he is going to be on the edge when we got home and I want to see his eyes pop out when I show him this.

I went directly to the black and red part of the store because I know these are the colors capable of drive Damon crazy.

I found a black corselet with red lace that circled my breasts and run in parallel to the end of the corsage. The set had a matching tong and a gather belt and black stockings. This set was going to blow Damon's mind I'm sure of it.

I had just paid when I heard her voice.

"Oh Damon is going to love that" She said and I felt goose bumps appear in my back as I turned around.

"Katherine, I would say it's a pleasure to meet you here but my parents thought me not to lie…" I tried to smirk and pass past her but she stepped in front of me.

"You know you had me fooled" She said with a mean smirk in her face, not at all sexy like Damon's.

"Excuse me?" I asked in confusion

"I really thought you loved Damon. You are a hell of an actress sweaty, not as good as me but bravo" she said clapping her hands

"What the hell are you talking about" I asked, this seemed crazy talk.

"Oh you can stop acting… I know you just trying to have attention darling. I mean if you really loved Damon you wouldn't agree hosting the company masquerade ball with him…" She said matter-of-factly.

"And why not?" I asked

"You didn't think how this was going to look bad for him? I mean let's talk about credibility… What do you think is clients are going to think when they see you two? Damon is supposed to be a business man not a babysitter… Don't you think having a high school girl by his arm is going to look bad for him?" She said and I just stayed there shocked.

"Oh well, maybe it's the punishment he deserves for letting me go… Go job on the lingerie thought… Good to see you aren't as saint as everyone thinks" She said and walked away.

Was she right? Was I being selfish for wanting to be by Damon's side? Maybe it was best if he host this party alone with Alaric. I know Damon is going to be mad when I tell him but maybe he'll understand when I explain this to him…

I walked out of the store to find my friends eating ice cream and joking around. I tried to push this bad feeling away and be happy but it was proving to be a hard task. I decided to go to the bathroom before I meet them to try and appear normal. I practiced a few smiles in the mirror but they didn't reach my eyes. I picked the most honest smile I could muster and walked out.

"Elena what toke you so long?" Caroline asked

"Oh nothing I just couldn't decide what to bought" I lied.

"Ok, let's go now, it's almost 6pm" Bonnie said and I nodded.

The car drive was silent and I could since Caroline and Bonnie's eyes on me but my head was on what Katherine told me. I hated that she had this influence on me but what if she was right? What is Damon lost clients for this? I don't want him to have resentment towards me, ever.

The car stopped in front of my house and Anna and I got out.

"Thanks for letting me go with you guys, it was so much fun" Anna said to Bonnie and Caroline

"yeah I really liked it" I said.

"We should do this more often" Caroline said but sent me a interrogative look and I just smiled and shook my head.

"See you later guys" I said.

Once inside the house Anna went to Jeremy's room and I went into the kitchen to find Jenna sited in the counter with a bunch of papers in front of her.

"Hey Elena, how was your shopping trip?" Jenna asked with a smile.

"It was awesome. I found a dress" I said trying to smile as honestly as I could.

"Elena what's wrong?" Jenna asked

"Nothing Jenna, I'm just tired" I lied

"Elena, you are a terrible liar. Do you want to talk about it?" Jenna asked and I nodded.

"When I was at the shopping today I ran into Damon's ex-girlfriend Katherine. She is a real bitch and I'm not saying that just because she dated Damon before me. She told me I was being selfish by accepting to host the ball with Damon. She said it was going to hurt Damon's credibility to have a high school girl by his arm. I know she was just being a bitch and bring me down but what is she is right? What if Damon loses clients because of this?" I asked fighting tears, I was being pathetic today.

"She really sound like a bitch, she used the worst kind of manipulation, the one that makes since… I can't say she doesn't have a point Elena but I also don't think you should be down because of that. If people want to work with Damon it has to be because he is good at his job and not because he loves you. If you see it from that point of view Damon can't do anything because his clients may not like it. Talk to Damon, ask him what he think he should do. Let him know that you don't mind no being by his side if that is what is best for him…" Jenna said and I felt a little bit better.

"Thanks Jenna. By the way Damon is coming over for Dinner with his friend Alaric and he is cooking" I said

"Oh thank God, I'm so tired of Take-out" Jenna said dramatically and I laugh.

"I'm going upstairs to take a quick shower " I said going to my room

I took a long hot shower and I felt my muscles relax and my worries calming down. I step out of the shower and put on jeans and a t-shirt, I straighten my hair and walked downstairs.

Five minutes later Damon nocked on the door.

"Hi kitten, I've missed you" Damon said when I opened the door

"I've missed you too" I said pulling him for a kiss. The kiss was supposed to be gentle and quick but it started to heat up until I heard Alaric clearing his throat behind us. I broke the kiss and smiled at Damon but he could tell something was wrong because his eye brow frown.

"Good evening Ric" I said hugging him.

"Nice to see you Elena" He said

"Come on in" I said

"Damon thank God you are cooking tonight" Jenna said coming out of the kitchen

"Yeah I was thinking you guys needed some home cooked meal" Damon said with a smirk.

"Jenna, this is my friend and business partner Ric. Ric, this is Elena and Jeremy's aunt" Damon said and Ric moved to shake Jenna's hands.

"Nice to meet you" Jenna said and I could see she was blushing.

"You as well. Thanks for letting me have dinner here. I'm new to town and I don't know anyone" Alaric said with a nervous grin on his face.

"I can show you around some time, we could have lunch…" Jenna said.

"That would be great" Alaric said and they went to sit on the couch while Damon and I went to the kitchen.

"So kitten, how was shopping?" Damon asked starting to put the ingredients on the counter

"It was great. I found a dress" I said this time with an honest smile.

"Ooh can I see?" Damon asked kissing me

"Nope. You will see the dress Friday." I said

"I will love having you around in my arms all night long…" Damon said and my smile broke

"Elena, what's wrong?" He asked

"Nothing, we can talk after dinner" I said not wanting to ruin the mood before dinner

"No Elena, you know I hate delaying things. What's going on?" Damon asked stopping chopping the vegetables.

"I was just thinking that maybe you could host the party with Alaric and not with me…" I said and I saw Damon's mouth open.

"Where did that come from?" Damon asked crossing his arms on his chest.

"I found Katherine at the mall today" I said and Damon tensed

"What did that bitch want Elena? Did she do anything? Said anything?" Damon asked

"She said something and I think that maybe she is right…" I said looking away from Damon

"I doubt anything that bitch says it's right…" Damon said

"Damon, don't you think it looks bad for you to have a girl my age in a business thing? " I asked

"Our age never was a problem Elena…" Damon said angrily

"I know and it's not, but don't you think your clients may not like it? I don't mind not host the party Damon, not if it was bad for you…" I said

"Elena" Damon started coming to make me look at him with a hand on each side of my face "Kitten that may be true but I don't care what my clients think. If the drop me because I love you and not because I'm bad at my job than they aren't the business men I thought they were. I love you and to hell with the rest of the world…" Damon said kissing me.

"Are you sure?" I asked

"I never been so sure of something…" Damon said.

"I don't want you hurt you in any way Damon. I know this company is your baby…" I said

"You are my baby…" He said.

The rest of dinner went by without incidents and I was pleasantly surprise to see Jenna and Ric's behavior. They were flirting with each other and I could see something coming out of it.

"So Ric who are you taking to the ball?" Damon asked

"I'm going alone Damon…" Ric said with a stare.

"You can't go alone Ric, you are my partner you can't go alone" Damon said and I was trying to hide the smile at Damon's attempt of wing man.

"I don't know no anyone Damon and in such short notice…" Ric said

"I can go with you if you want." Jenna said blushing

"You would?" Alaric asked

"I would if you want me too…" Jenna said

"I would love to"