Stefan shoots up in his bed breathing heavy after having a nightmare about Damon killing Elena.
"Bad dream? Do you know how easy it was to get into your head just now? You really need some human blood. It might even the playing field. Football reference. Too soon?" Damon asks.
Stefan runs across the room, grabs a knife, and throws it at his brother.
Damon doesn't even flinch.
"Alright, I deserved that. But I just wanted to let you know, they caught the culprit. The animal responsible for killing coach tanner and all those people."
"What are you talking about?" Stefan asks confused.
"It was a mountain lion. Really big one. It attacked a hunter this morning. It's all over the news "Deadly beast captured. All's well in Mystic Falls." Damon finishes mockingly.
Stefan stare blankly at his brother.
"Look, I'm sorry. See, I'm covering my tracks like a good little vampire. You proud?" Damon asks still being a dick.
"El's gonna be mad. She told you "no killing." Stefan says smugly.
"Somthing tells me she'll understand." Damon says with a smirk remembering that night while walking over to a confused Stefan.
Damon stabs his brother in the stomach and Stefan falls to his knees with a grunt.
"This is John Varvatos, dude. Dick move." Damon walks out the door.
"Scum ball. Scum bucket." Jenna yells at Logan Fell through the TV.
"Ooh, who are we insulting?" Elena asks looking around getting excited.
"Him." Jenna says politely towards the TV.
"Right, Logan Fell. You know he used to babysit Care Bear?" Elena says.
"Makes sense. Founding families like to stick together."
"Ah yes, keep it in the founding family." Elena jokes.
Jenna giggles and asks
"What are you doing with that?" She gestures to the box Elena's going through.
"Mom told Mrs. Lookwood she would loan these to the founders council for their heritage display."
Jeremy walks into the room and Elena continues.
"But they only want this stuff for this." Elena holds up the pocket watch.
"Is that dad's watch?" Jeremy asks.
"Yes, it's actually magic, courtesy of Bonnie's ancestor. The compass points to vampires. The council rightfully suspects a vampire's been killing people."
"What are you gonna do with it?" Jenna asks.
"For now, store it in my storage unit. But when this all blows over I'm gonna give it to Rem. It's his, as he is the first born male." Jeremy sends a grateful smile to Elena.
The doorbell rings and on the way to the door Elena kisses her brothers cheek while jenna looks on with a smile.
Elena opens the door and Stefan greets her.
"Hi." Elena smiles and grabs his hand dragging him upstairs.
"Hi." Elena says after laying next to him on her bed.
"So, do you look as great in a suit as I remember?" Elena asks as he laughs.
"Depends. How did I look when you saw me?" Stefan fake flirts with her and she laughs and shoves his shoulder.
"Fantastic, of course. Will you be my escort to the Founder's Party?"
"They still do that?" Stefan asks.
"Yep, it's been a while for you, hasn't it? So, you coming?"
"I'd be honored to accompany you, Miss Gilbert."
"Nerd. Let's hope Damon has the same response." Elena says cheekily.
"What are you doing?" Stefan asks suspiciously.
"It's important, handsome. Don't judge."
When Stefan just raises an eyebrow she huffs and continues.
"Look, he's gonna be there anyway at least this way he won't have to compel some poor blonde blood bag." Elena says.
"Do we have to?" Stefan whines as she laughs.
"Yes we have to. Isn't this your life mission, Saint Stefan? Save all the innocents to compensate for the guilt." Elena teases.
"Ugh, fine." Stefan groans and rolls over on her while she giggles.
Elena is sitting upside down on the couch with her feet up in the air, while she dials a number on her phone.
"You've reached Damon Salvatore." Damon answers and Elena rolls her eyes at his flirty tone.
"Hey, Ocean Eyes."
"Ellie? How'd you get this number?" Damon asks confused.
"I got it off your phone. Duh." Elena responds.
"When did you have my phone?" Damon asks sound more annoyed than angry.
"I swiped it off you at the dinner thing." Elena says like its obvious
"You swiped it off me? What are you a pickpocket or something?" Damon mocks.
"Yes."
"What?" Damon asks stunned
"Yes. I'm a pickpocket."
"What? How? When?" Damon rushes out questions.
"We been though this, Dames. I'm mysterious and awesome. Stop asking so many questions. Just go with it."
"Fine. Why is it that you called?"
"Do you want to be my date for the Founder's Party?"
"I'm sorry. I don't think I heard you correctly. Because, I'm pretty sure I heard you asking my to be your date." Damon says.
"I would tell you not be a dick, but that's like asking Stefan not to brood. I told you I would help you. This is me helping. Are you gonna come or not?" Elena starts getting annoyed.
"Yes. I would be honored." Damon replies sincerely.
"Ha, that's exactly what Stefan said."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh, that's right. I didn't tell you. Me, you, and Stefan. We're gonna three-way this bitch. Thanks. Bye." Elena hangs up as she hears him call her name.
Stefan is polishing his shoes when Damon walks into his room.
"Do they still wear ties at this thing?"
"It's not like you ever actually were ties." Stefan rolls his eyes.
"Why do you even want to go? Me and El could get the talisman for you." Stefan tries to convince his brother to stay home.
"I don't know. I think it's only fitting. We were at the very first one, remember?"
"I think it's best we don't draw attention to ourselves. The council knows it's a vampire that's been killing people. What, suddenly two brothers with the same name as their ancestors show up?" Stefan says.
"So, you should stay here. I'll see to it Ellie has a good time." Damon tells him.
"I don't even know why El wants us both to go with her." Stefan mutters.
"I like it. At least she's honest about wanting us both." Damon taunts and Stefan shakes his head.
"Don't worry, Stefan. I got katherine and I don't think Ellie's into you." Damon says.
"You sure about that?" Stefan asks.
"Yeah I'm pretty sure, I mean if she was into you she wouldn't have invited me too." Damon says like its obvious and Stefan rolls his eyes.
"No. That you have Katherine. Do you think El's lying or something?" Stefan asks.
"Ellie's lovey, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one crazy ass basket." Damon says pouring two drinks.
Stefan picks one up and they have a drink together without realizing it.
Elena walks down the stairs to two awaiting Salvatores.
"Tell me how good I look." Elena says with a twirl when she reaches the bottom.
"You look breathtaking, El." Stefan says when he gains the ability to speak again.
"For once, I agree with my brother." Damon tells her.
"Okay, even though I hate rules, I do have one for tonight." Elena tells them.
"As amazing as I look, neither of you are allowed to fall in love with me." Elena says with a smirk.
"That's a little vain, Ellie." Damon looks at her mock shamefully shaking his head.
"Of course I'm vain, I'm a doppelganger. We're notoriously hot." Elena says.
"Wow, look at you Stefan. Yep, just as delicious as I remember." Elena flirts while Stefan smiles and looks down.
"Ugh, that's over. Let's go." Damon groans and holds out his arm.
Standing with a Salvatore on each arm Elena greets Mrs. Lockwood.
"Good evening Mrs. Lockwood. Everything looks great, my mom would be proud." Elena says making Carol light up.
"Thank you so much, Elena. Who are these handsome gentlemen." Carol ask eyeing Damon hungrily.
"Oh my apologies, this is Stefan and Damon Salvatore, my dates."
Carol sighs
"Of course they are, Elena." She says with a shake of the head
"Come on in."
"Thank you, Mrs. Lockwood. It's a pleasure to meet you." Damon flirts while Stefan waves a little.
"Oh, you can call me Carol." She blushes.
"And Carol, I'm so sorry about the watch. I checked and couldn't find it anywhere." Elena lies effortlessly.
"That's okay, sweetie. Have fun, Elena." Carol says walking away.
Elena drags the boys through the party looking for her friends.
As they walk up, Caroline hands them all a glass of champagne and says
"Ellie and the Salvatore brother. What, Is this a threesome now?" Caroline teases while the group of friends laugh.
Elena looks then both over and says.
"Now, there's an idea." Stefan chokes on his champagne while Damon smirks.
"The council's gonna meet tonight right?" Matt asks lowering his voice.
"Yep, they want the Gilbert watch. Too bad I'm not gonna give it to them." Elena laughs
"The council is really bad at cover stories. What kind of mountain lion would get so close to a football field full of cheering people? They couldn't come up with something more creative?" Jeremy says as they nod in agreement.
"I know right." Bonnie laughs.
"You really did is a solid there, Damon. Tanner was a dick, may he rest in peace." Tyler raises his champagne in fake cheers while they all nod and thank him.
"Wait, you guys know I killed the coach?" Damon asks looking around.
"No, it was Saint Stefan. Of course, we know. El always warns us of we could be in danger." Jermey says.
"And you're cool with it?" Damon asks confused.
"We don't condone senseless killing, but El has kinda been preparing us for the last 10 years." Caroline says and they all nod.
"Now that I'm thinking about it, it's possible Ellie has made us all more apathetic." Vicki says and they shrug.
"You're a weird bunch." Damon states as they all laugh.
"Come on." Elena pulls the brothers to the heritage display.
Elena is looking at her parents wedding rings when Stefan asks.
"Your parents?" She nods.
"Yeah, the only thing I would enjoy about marriage, the jewelry." Elena tries to joke.
Stefan laughs a little and grabs her hand for comfort, she smiles and puts her head in his shoulder while walking over to Damon.
"The founding families of Mystic Falls welcomes you to the inaugural Founder's Council Celebration." Elena reads while looking at the registry.
"Jesus. Sometimes I forgot how ancient you guys are." She says looking them over.
"And yet, I still look this good." Damon says smugly.
"Mmm, yes you do. Anyways, Stef come dance with me." Elena says.
"Oh, I don't really dance." Stefan backs away from her.
"No. Old, broody Stefan didn't dance. New, playful and more carefree Stefan does." Elena says while pulling him to the dance floor.
They swaying to the music when Elena says
"See, is this so bad?"
"No, it's not so bad." Stefan says then spins her as she laughs.
Damon is watching from the other side of the room and smiles a little at his brothers carefree attitude.
Elena sees Damon slip upstairs and when the song ends she follows him up.
"There you are. Stand here and tell me if anyone comes." Damon places her in front of the door.
"Yes Ocean Eyes, I'm well aware of the many responsibilities of a look out." Elena says sarcastically.
Damon grabs a box and opens a secret compartment.
"It's not here." Damon says angrily.
"I know. I've had it for years." Elena says with a smirk.
"If you have it, why did you make us come tonight?" Damon says turning his anger in her.
"I wanted to dance." Elena defends with a shrug.
"I also thought it would be good for you and Stef to, you know, bond or whatever." Elena mumbles embarrassed.
"So, you parent trapped us." Damon smiles when she snorts.
"Oh, my god Damon, you are my actual soul mate. This plan is officially titled in my binder as "operation parent trap" Elena says through a laugh.
"Come on, let's go dance." Damon says grabbing her hand and shaking his head when she squeals.
When they get downstairs Elena runs towards the sound booth and plugs in her iPod. When "Come on Eileen" starts playing, Elena drags Jeremy, Caroline, Bonnie, Vicki, Tyler, Matt, and the Salvatores out to the dance floor.
Elena, Jeremy, and Tyler start spinning around together while the others clap to the beat around them.
Stefan starts laughing as Elena runs up to him, grabs his hand, and twirls him. When she stops she pulls him over to Damon who's smiling fondly at her.
Stefan doesn't remember having this much fun with Damon since they were human and looking down at the beautiful girl singing and dancing terribly to the music he knows it's all because of her.
Later, as "Uptown Girl" ends Elena stops dancing and pull Stefan and Damon with her to the Kitchen.
"That was so much fun!" Elena yells still high off the music.
"Yeah, it was." Stefan nods his head looking at her.
"It was, Ellie. But now that we danced are you gonna give my the crystal?" Damon asks as Elena puts a hand on her heart dramatically.
"Was none it real." Elena whispers.
"I might of enjoyed myself a little." Damon plays along.
"Well there's no reason for this night to end." Elena says as they look at her suspiciously.
"Oh, come on. Live a little." She says and they nod.
"This is where you wanted to come?" Damon asks incredulous looking at the 50's style dinner.
"Yes, Ocean Eyes. They have the best milkshakes in the world. And Kitty, the waitress who works this shift always give me a free basket of fries." Elena says getting out of the car.
"We drove another town over for milkshakes and french fries?" Stefan asks.
"Free french fries, Stef. When we're in there call me Betty. And come up with your own fake names." She tells them.
"What? Why?" Damon asks.
"Just do it." Elena walks into the dinner and an older waitress greets her.
"Hey Betty. Look at you. You look stunning." Shes says sweetly.
"Thank you, Kitty. We'll take three shakes, one vanilla, one chocolate, and one peanut butter. Extra whipped cream." Elena says sitting down in her favorite booth.
"Comin' right up, doll." Kitty says walking to the kitchen.
Walking up to Elena's booth Kitty sets down the fries and shakes.
"Yes! Thank you so much!" Elena bouncing in her seat while dipping fries in the vanilla shake.
"Of course, doll. Are you gonna introduce me to your friends?" Kitty raise a brow while Elena covers her mouth and ducks her head.
"Sorry. Guys this is Kitty and Kitty this is," Elena gestures to Damon.
"I'm Derek, it's nice to meet you Kitty." Damon all but purrs.
"And this is," Elena gestures to Stefan.
"Uh, Steven. I'm Steven." Stefan says while Elena smiles at him playing along, terribly.
"Well it's very nice to meet you boys. You know, Betty's never brought anyone here before. You must be special." Kitty says to them as they smile at Elena.
"Very." Elena tells her simply.
"What's got you all dressed up with two handsome men on your arms?" Kitty asks.
"We just came from a town function, thought we cap off the night here." Elena says.
"Awe, Betty all your adventures that top off here, make me wish I was young again." Kitty says no doubt reminiscing about her youth.
"Whatever, don't let her fool you. She's lived more than all of us combined. You know she's been married four times?" Elena tells the brother rolling her eyes at the waitress.
"That's just the legal times." Kitty adds
"See! And she doesn't even have to work here. Her last husband died under mysterious circumstances and left her millions. She's totally loaded. She only works here cause she's bored." Elena's says at Kitty shakes her head.
"Hon, you've got to stop saying that. It wasn't mysterious, he had a heart attack." She tells them.
"Mm-hmm, sure he did." Elena says unconvinced.
"What are all the places you've lived? London? Paris? Rome? Venice? And didn't you live in Barcelona for a bit?" Elena asks.
"That's just Europe, doll." Kitty says with a laugh walking away
"That, my lovelies is why we drove another town over." Elena says look towards Kitty.
"The waitress?" Damon asks.
"Mhm, she's who I wanna be when I grow up. She's lived! I wanna do that. See the world while taking lovers in every port. That's the dream." Elena states while the boys laugh.
"So turn. You'll have forever to see the whole world and compulsion to do it for free." Damon states simply.
"Maybe one day, I got things to do that require a human doppelganger." Elena shrugs.
"Wait, you'd be willing to turn?" Stefan asks shocked.
"Of course, I think I would like being a vampire. As a human, I already understand the secret to control." Elena says.
"Well, are you gonna share with the class?" Damon asks pretending not care.
"Revel in it. The bloodlust. The hunt. You're at the top of the food chain. It's a vampire's nature. A few people might die. It's sad, but that's part of being mortal." Elena says stunning Stefan.
"What are you saying? You really don't care what happens to innocent people?" Stefan asks more curious than judgemental.
"I'm inherently apathetic, Stefan. Everything I've seen, it's very hard to care about random people when I'm already worrying about the people I love. So if someone I don't know, however innocent they may be, needs to die for my friends to live, I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger." Elena says seriously.
"I never claimed to selfless, Stefan. That's probably the main difference between me and OG Elena, she was selfless to a fault, and it got everyone she cared about hurt. I won't let that happen. The people I love, are gonna live the very best lives possible. Because I'm gonna make it happen." Elena states getting up.
"Now. Try the peanut butter shake, I've gotta pee." Elena goes to restroom while Kitty walks to their booth.
"You know, for the past few months she's seemed a little sadder the normal. This is the first time I've seen El happy in while." She tells them.
"Wait, you know her real name?" Stefan asks.
"Who do think taught her to use a fake one?" She asks in a sassy tone.
"What I'm trying to say, she's seem happier and I'm assuming it's because of you two. Don't hurt her. The world's not as bright when that girl stops smiling." Kitty says and walks away.
"You guys ready to go?" Elena ask when she gets back to the booth.
"Yeah, come on." Damon grabs her hand throwing down a 50 while Stefan slurps the last of the peanut butter milkshake.
"You were right. These are the best milkshakes in the world!" Stefan exclaims chasing after them to the car.