Chapter 12

I had refused to get ready at the Salvatore home; I have a house for a reason. I had curled my wig into soft waves and had applied light eyeliner as well as lip-gloss. There's no need to paint myself a new face.

I was now currently standing in the middle of my room, wearing a red strapless bra and matching underwear. After thoroughly rubbing lotion on every part of my body, I sprayed some perfume and began to slip into my dress. Once I was one, I put on gold earrings and a huge necklace.

I step back and glance in the mirror to examine my work. The dress had a sweetheart neckline and was tight until my calf. It then flared out to make a slight train behind me. All in all, it was a magnificent dress and hugged my curves in all the right places.

Picking up a gold and red clutch, I shoved my phone, black eyeliner, a lighter, some smokes and my credit card in it; necessities, really.

"Caroline? Damon's here," called out Wes nervously.

Wes hadn't really had to do much acting since I so rarely brought people home. Today was one of the rare days when he wasn't working a night shift. How typical for both my fictional and real father to not have time to spend with me. It was funny to see Wes size up Damon, attempting to look like a protective father. What was funnier was the fact that Damon actually seemed scared. I snorted, causing all eyes to fall on me.

Both sets of eyes widened, causing my smile to do just that. I make my way down the stairs and into Damon waiting arms, handing Wes a camera. Wes grumbles incoherently before asking us to smile and clicking down for several pictures. I thank him and reach over to give Wes a gentle hug. Wes smiled at me before heading off to the kitchen muttering something similar to 'beer'.

I shook my head, amused before glancing up at the man whose arms I was currently in. Pressing my lips to his, I mumbled a "hi" before getting lost in his embrace.

"God, Caroline. You look stunning."

I giggle at the look of pure euphoria on Damon face and we leave my house. Damon leads me towards an Aston Martin Vanquish and I grin at him.

"What happened to the Volvo?"

Damon looks at me shocked, and I bite my lip aware that I had slipped somehow. Suddenly, I'm in Damon's arms, he's hugging me with every fiber of his body and I allow myself to melt into the embrace.

"I lead you to a car worth half a million dollars with all its upgrades and you don't even react. Thank you, Caroline. Any other girl would have lusted just at the thought of how much money went into this car. But not you, no you truly don't care about how rich I am."

I don't have the heart to tell him that I had gotten that my father had bought me that car so I could practice driving without worrying about crashing the car. I don't have the will to break his heart and tell him that I really do care about money, but that the amount that his family has will never be enough to impress me.

I simply raise my head and smile up at him, before getting into the car and enjoying the ride. No need to break any innocent hearts tonight.

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Red, gold and silver balloons stood proudly in an arch-like shape in front of the gymnasium entrance. Balloons were also scattered around the gym floor. There was a red carpet leading to a photo booth and dance floor, lined with red velvet rope. A wide table had been set on the far left of the gymnasium, filled with tons of food and a DJ booth was set right beside it blaring some kind of club music.

Despite the perseverance and tremendous efforts of the Homecoming Committee, nothing can mask the horrid smell of sweaty guys in gym shorts that the gym forever carries.

Circular tables are set throughout the gymnasium, seating about six people per table. Damon and I make our way to the photographer and take a few pictures before making our way to our table. Lena stood up to hug me and I grinned at the pretty blonde. Elena and I had become very close this past month, and she looked gorgeous in the dress I had picked her. It was very similar to mine, except it didn't flare out at the bottom, it just loosely pooled at her feet. I was about to compliment her when a squeal made me turn around.

Rebekah and Jeremy had just arrived, and Rebekah looked stunning. Her dark green dress flowed down her body making her seem much taller than she already was. Although, her six-inch heels probably had something to do with that.

"I heard a few seniors spiked the punch with Whiskey," informed Rebekah, causing Stefan, Jeremy and I to share amused looks.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?"

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"Caroline, you are the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on."

"What do you want, Damon?"

Damon glanced up at me sheepishly. "Can I have this dance?"

I snorted and rolled my eyes. Grabbing Damon's hands I lead him to the center of the dance floor, where most people were standing and we start a slow dance, not really moving much. Damon pulls me impossibly closer and I have to resist a shudder at how awful our form is. My ballroom teacher would be appalled.

Relax, Caroline.

I take a long, deep breath in and relax my whole body, allowing myself to really get in the spirit of the dance with Damon. I raised my eyes to meet him and was shockingly scared of the burning emotion I found within them.

I had never really understood what people meant when they were talking about seeing emotions in people's eyes. I never really paid any attention, I guess. Whenever I was forced to read cheesy novels in English Lit, they always spoke of burning emotions being seen in people's eyes. For years, I thought it was all a bunch of BS, but now looking into Damon's eyes, I saw something; something that scared me.

I couldn't really identify the emotion, I sort of didn't want to either. This moment, in Damon's arms reminded me oddly of a scene in 'A Walk to Remember' and that wasn't a good thing. I grabbed the back of Damon's head and pulled his lips to mine, kissing him softly. Without moving away, I mumble onto his lips. "Please don't fall in love me."

I felt oddly less like a loser once I had said it. I was sure I'd feel somehow pathetic, borrowing a line from a Nicholas Sparks movie, but it couldn't have been better suited. What broke my heart though, was when Damon replied in an equally muffled manner. "I think I already have."

Shit.

Is that what Landon had said in the movie? No, I don' think so. I'm pretty sure pretty boy laughed. Crap, why couldn't Damon have laughed! "Are you okay?" Damon asks, bringing me out of my reverie. I reassure him with a kiss and a smile before the music cuts off and signals the end of the song.

"Alright, Mystic Falls High, are you ready to crown your Homecoming King and Queen?" Vicky's announcement is met backed up by thunderous cheering causing me to smirk at how cliché the whole setting really is. I grinned when they called out the names of the lucky guys that were nominated to be King of the tiny high school that is Forks High. "Mason Lockwood, Diego, Richard, Enzo and Aaron Whitmore, give them a round of applause guys!" Vicky's squeal is contagious and soon the whole gymnasium is proudly clapping for the five guys.

Vicky claps enthusiastically before motioning for the crowd to settle down. She grabs the microphone and proudly starts announcing the names of the five girls that would be competing. One weird thing about Forks is that the nominees don't even know that they're nominated until the night of the dance. I laugh internally at the thought of Elena being nominated and having to dance with one of the five guys on stage.

"-Andy Start and Caroline Maxfield!"

I start to politely clap, until I hear Stefan's familiar booming laugh from somewhere behind me. "Caroline? You got nominated! Go on stage!" I frown, not at all amused with the situation. However, mother had always told me to thankful for any kind of award, no matter how unwanted it may be.

I keep my head high as I walk towards the stage and stand proudly beside Andy Start. This time, I opt to actually pay attention to what Vicky is saying so to not get blindsided again. "And your King and Queen for 2014 are …Enzo and Caroline Maxfield!"

Un-fucking-believable.

I fake a glorious smile and walk over to Vicky as she puts an obviously plastic crown on top of my head. "It's time for the Royal dance!" she squeals happily. At first, I'm confused, until I saw that a huge circle had been made for Enzo and me to dance. I contemplated running away, but Vicky had promptly placed herself between the door and me.

Enzo leads me to the dance floor and I place my hand on his shoulder. To my utmost surprise, Enzo has perfect ballroom stance. "My mother insisted that I take ballroom lessons when I was kid," he huffed, causing me to laugh at his face. I grin at Enzo and with that, we're spinning and twirling around the dance floor area that they have made for us. The train of my red dress flares out to follow us in an intricate dance. Unlike my emotional dances with Damon, this one is just really fun. In an instant I totally forget that this is the same guy that tried to get me to hook up with him on Halloween. I had forgiven him the moment it had happened; we were drunk after all.

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Damon and I shared several more dances during the night; for once I had allowed myself to not worry about the future, and to focus more on what was happening. With Damon, now, it felt like we were a team. And there is no 'I' in team.

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