A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews! I can't explain how much I love them all! I always love to hear what you guys want to see and what you guys think about it! Definitely encourages me to write! I can't wait till I hit season 3! Thank you all so much!

A Reluctant Date:

Beth shifted, tiredly in her sleep, trying to get a few minutes more of sleep. She finally opened her eyes to see Damon with his hands behind his head, smirking at her. She jumped and sat up, seeing him. She grabbed his pillow and hit him hard. "What the hell? You scared me!" She yelled at him. He laughed as she flopped back on her side, pulling the covers up on her more, to keep warm. But then she remembered. "Oh Alaric!" She cried out looking around for her phone and Damon dangled it in front of her face and she took it.

"Don't worry, I told him you fell asleep cause you were too tired to drive home and he was just glad you were okay. You're welcome!" He smirked at her again and she thanked him. "Come on! Let's go! I have a murder to plan and I can't have you sleeping in all day." He tossed the covers off of her and she chucked a pillow at his head and it hit the door. "Missed me!" He taunted and she groaned and got up as he left the room.

"Stefan and Elena are going to stay at the lake house for a little while. Oh and you should head over to the grill later, I think you might find something interesting." Damon hinted as she came down the stairs. She stopped as soon as she saw him holding a dagger.

"Please, tell me you're not trying to kill Elijah, when you know fully well he will kill you if you try." Beth asked coming down the rest of the stairs. "Do you even know if that thing will work? Or even where he is? It's too risky!" She argued when he shrugged.

"He should be with Jenna who's showing her Mystic Falls property and Ric already called and said he was going to tag along. What a jealous boyfriend, huh?" He joked as he took a drink of blood. He saw the look on her face. "Listen, he always intended to kill Elena and I'm going to stop him before that happens."

"Yeah, well what if he kills you first?"

"I'm going to get him before he gets me." He smirked twirling the dagger in his hands. She rolled her eyes. She knew it was no use to argue with him. She would have to try later. Her phone buzzed and she read a text message from Matt, asking if they could talk at the grill.

"We're not done talking but I have to get home and change clothes. I have to go help a friend. I'll see you later." She said to a distracted Damon. She walked to the entryway of the living room. She stopped. "Just, don't do anything yet. Please? I don't want you to get hurt." She told him. He looked up, surprised. No one really voiced concern for him and he could see in her eyes she was really worried about what Elijah could do to him. He slowly nodded, agreeing. "Thank you." She turned and walked out of the house.

An hour later, Beth walked through the doors of the grill. She saw Damon with Alaric talking. She was secretly dreading the talk with Matt. He's the one that leaned in right? But she was going to let him. She walked up to an empty table, to wait for him to show. She had just finished a chapter of her Algebra book when he walked up to her table. "Hi." She got out.

"Hey." He replied, just as nervous. "Can we talk?" She nodded and he sat across from her. She saw Jenna coming in to the grill with Elijah with her. He glanced over at her before walking over to the table where Alaric and Damon were with his girlfriend. "Um, listen about last night…"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Alaric needed me and I uh had to leave." She explained quickly. She thought he wanted to talk about her abruptly leaving, even though it was more about them almost kissing.

"Well it's less about you leaving and uh, more about us almost kissing." He said softly.

"Oh, yeah that…" She mumbled looking down at the table. She really wanted to avoid this talk. "I'm sorry about that. I guess we were just caught up in the moment and one thing led to another. Listen, I don't want things to be awkward between us. We can just forget about." She suggested. She saw Damon standing up and walking over to her and she viciously shook her head at him but he just smiled and kept walking.

"That's the thing. I really like you, Beth." He admitted to her. She looked at him, surprised at his confession. She thought that he still liked Caroline and the almost kiss was an impulse. "I don't want to forget about it." He was serious and Beth didn't know what to say. She liked him, yes but Caroline was her best friend and she couldn't play on those feelings. Luckily, Damon got there before she could reply.

"Hey! I thought you were going to meet up with us?" He asked, giving a smirk to Matt. Matt gave him a small wave. Damon gave Beth a knowing look and she got up.

"Right, I forgot." She apologized and then turned to Matt. "I have to go. I-I'll catch up with you later." Damon led her away and towards the table where, Alaric, Jenna. Elijah and Andie were.

"Really? You almost kissed him? The quarterback? I almost would have preferred the mutt." He muttered. Beth elbowed him hard in his ribs as they came to the table. "Look who I found, wandering around." He smiled as he slid back into his seat, next to Andie. Jenna gave her a small wave and smile as Alaric was glaring daggers at the Damon for bringing her over here.

"I don't believe we've met." Elijah turned to her. He gave her a small mysterious smile and held out his hand to her. "I'm Elijah." She shook his hand.

"Beth. It's nice to meet you." She smiled back at him, playing along. She didn't know why, but she knew that there was a reason Damon brought her over here. She dropped her hand from his.

"Well as much as I'd like to continue you this, I've got papers to grade." Alaric quickly made up an excuse as he stood up. He knew that Damon was up to something and he didn't want Beth anymore involved then she already was.

"No, you know what?" Andie spoke up, next to Damon. "We should continue this. Let's have a dinner party!" She suggested with a smile.

"Ooh, my girl! Full of good ideas." Damon smirked, praising her. "I'll be happy to host. Say, tonight. Maybe?" Beth glared at him. She knew exactly what he was trying to do. Elijah had his suspicions also.

"It's good for me. Jenna?" Andie asked her. Alaric was just as reluctant as Beth was.

"I don't know if tonight works…."

"I'm free!" Jenna said with a forced smile on her face. Beth could feel the tension between them but she didn't have much time to concentrate on that. Damon turned to her.

"Beth?"

"I'm sure you guys wouldn't want me hanging around." She smiled pleasantly while Damon glared right at her. He said he would tell her and she was caught off guard. She wasn't going to help get himself killed when he tried and failed to kill Elijah.

"I'd be happy to escort you." Elijah offered. Damon stopped glaring and smiled. He was getting exactly what he wanted. Elijah would of course want her there. Damon knew that. He elaborated. "I'm a bit old fashioned." He explained to the group. "I wouldn't let a lady go without a date."

Jenna smiled at him. She found him it charming how he would take Beth to the dinner. Elijah gave her a knowing look. This was her end of the deal. Beth knew that she wouldn't get out of this. She would completely chew Damon out when they were alone though. "Okay, sounds great." He smiled back at her.

"Perfect!" Damon smiled happily.

xxxxx

"Are you insane? What the hell do you think you're doing?" Beth asked Damon when everyone else left to get ready. He leaned over and took one of her fries off her plate. "Are you going to try and kill him at the party?"

"It's just a getting to know you thing." Beth looked skeptically at him. Just this morning he was talking about a plan to kill him. "Listen, I thought about what you said and you're right. It would be too soon. I have to know more about his plan."

She just shook her head. "And why do I have to be there?"

"Cause he likes you." Beth didn't deny it. There had to be some reason why he saved her life and the vision she had, made sense. "He was probably in love with you in the past. I want him to be in a good mood. Besides, would you really leave Alaric there by himself, knowing what Elijah was capable of?" He asked her. She kicked his shin. "Ouch!"

"You're an ass!" She hissed at him crossing her arms over her chest. She would go cause she owed Elijah for saving them and Alaric was going to be there. Damon could see the apparent anger she had. He pulled the guilt trip card on her.

"El, I should have told you and I'm sorry." He apologized to her. She refused to look at him. He leaned forward so she had no choice but to look at him. "I promise that I won't let him hurt you, ever. I'll be there and I'll protect you."

Beth saw he was sincere. He wouldn't knowingly put her in danger. He saw how Elijah looked at her. It was how Stefan looked at Elena and how he used to look at Katherine. He wouldn't hurt her. She nodded. She trusted Damon and she knew that he wouldn't let anything happen. "Okay, fine. I'll go." She agreed. She got up to leave. "But you owe me one." She told him as she left. He smiled as she walked away, now he just needed to confirm the dagger would work.

"Just go!" Beth said pushing Alaric towards the door. He was supposed to pick Jenna up and go ahead of Beth to the boarding house. He was lenient to leave her alone with Elijah though. He was an original, more dangerous than an ordinary vampire.

"I can stay though! I don't like you being there with him. Damon shouldn't have involved you." He told her as she grabbed his jacket off the coat hanger and gave it to him.

"Well, it's too late to back out now and I can take care of myself. Ric, don't worry. I promise I'll be okay." She assured him. She gave him a smile and he couldn't help but smile back. He kissed the top of her head. She knew he would argue you again so she started to push him out the door. "Now, go! I'll see you there." He finally left, reluctantly and she went back to her room to find an outfit.

A half an hour later the doorbell rang. Beth finally found a dress that would work for the party. She grabbed her bag and walked to the door. She opened it to reveal, Elijah standing there in a suit as always. He was astonished at her. Her black scoop line dress came down to her knees, which she paired that with ballet flats. "You look as beautiful as ever, Elizabeth." He complimented her. Beth couldn't help but smile a little at his flattering remark as he offered her his arm.

"Thank you, Elijah." She thanked him as she shut the apartment door behind her and took his arm that he offered her, graciously. It was time for the dinner party.