I do not own The Vampire Diaries. That is the property of author L.J Smith. I do own however, my OC Grace and this story.
Please review and no flaming allowed!
Enjoy x
IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW
"Would you call me a saint or a sinner?
Would you love me a loser or winner?"
~The Script: 'If You Could See Me Now' (#3 [2012])
Mikaelson Mansion
Day
I bounded down the staircase, carrying my laptop underneath my arm in search of tea the next morning. I had dressed myself up in some casual, old but stylish clothes, and arranged my hair into two plaits, since I was still required to help Rebekah and Caroline with the finishing touches for the freaking Decade Dance tonight, much to my annoyance and extreme reluctance.
I walked past the living room, whistling, headed for the kitchen, and spotted Nik standing with his back to the door in front of the crackling fireplace before an easel creating his latest masterpiece. I grinned playfully and walked inside directly towards him and wrapped my arms around his waist after setting down my laptop on the sofa.
"Morning, Nik!" I chirped cheerfully into his ear and planted a wet kiss on his slightly stubbly cheek. I heard him chuckle affectionately, and he set down his paintbrush to turn and face me for a proper greeting.
"Hello, my love." He leaned in for a long, and deeply passionate hello kiss and I sighed happily after we parted, earning a peck on the nose as a result. "Did you sleep well?" He asked, turning back towards the painting, and resuming where he had left off.
I shrugged, "I did. But my dreams weren't anything to write home about." I walked over to the sofa and picked up my laptop, taking a seat on the overstuffed cushion and curling one of my legs underneath me as I made myself comfortable. "What is your inspiration today?" I asked, indicating towards Nik's painting curiously.
"None whatsoever." Nik responded. "Just needed something to do to keep my hands busy."
"I get it." I said, examining the abstract painting with interest. "I've had those days myself." I sympathized, as I typed in the password to my laptop and sat back as it logged in.
"Not that I'm not pleased to see you or spend time with you. But what are you doing here?" Nik inquired, coolly.
I smiled.
"I saw that you were in here and thought that you might want some company." I went to stand up, suddenly feeling intrusive. "If I was being presumptuous, I apologize—"
"No, of course not. Don't be ridiculous." Nik quickly cut off my ramblings, blurring over to my side to stop any other retreat attempt. "You're more than welcome."
I grinned at him, pleased as punch. "Good."
Nik glances quizzically at my laptop, as I access the internet and created two tabs for YouTube and Google. He raises an eyebrow when I continue researching everything about the 1920s.
"If there is anything you need to know about the Jazz Age, love, you'd need only ask. After all, most of us lived through it." Nik reminded me, and I glanced up from the screen to smile graciously at him, but also waved him off.
"Thanks, Nik. But I'm just doing some research for decorating purposes." I explained.
Nik frowned in confusion, "Decorating purposes?"
"Yeah. Remember when Bekah and I told you that we spent the afternoon yesterday turning the high school gymnasium into a 1920s speakeasy?" I attempted to jog his memory.
"Vaguely."
"Figures." I sighed. "Well, anyway. We're going back today to do some last-minute touches before it commences tonight." I explained further. Nik rolls his eyes and moves back towards the easel.
"Good luck with that then." He wished me, sarcastically.
"Believe me, I'm just as enthused as you are about all this." I agreed with him.
"So why are you doing it then?" He asks, raising an eyebrow at my response.
I sighed again, "Partly; because Bekah dragged me to the school under false pretenses when I thought all we were doing was just hanging out together. I was obligated to help. And partly, to help Caroline out." I replied, dully.
"How nice of you." Nik smirked.
"Which also means I'm chaperoning … again." I stated through gritted teeth. "Can't wait to see how this dance turns out." I added, unenthusiastically.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you should know, Nik. You attended the 1960s dance for the sole purpose of stalking Elena. That one ended with tears and tantrum … all pertaining to Elena, naturally." I reminded him.
"Ah, but it wasn't all bad." Nik turned away from the canvas, paintbrush in hand. "That was when we were reunited again for the first time in a thousand years." I smiled at the memory and set aside my laptop, getting up from the sofa and walking over to him.
"Well, when you put it that way…" I trailed off, wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning up to kiss him, which Nik responded to very enthusiastically, lifting me off my feet, causing me to giggle as I wrapped my arms around his neck and attempted to get closer to him.
"Hate to interrupt such a tender moment." Both Nik and I glanced up at Rebekah out of annoyance for the interruption, as she sashays into the room and perches on the sofa, looking pointedly at us. We reluctantly separated and I headed back over to the sofa and sat back down to continue my research.
"What took you so long?" Nik asks Rebekah, briskly.
"Alaric didn't want to hand over the stake." My sister responds, before revealing the elusive stake and holding it up so Nik could see it. "Luckily I'm quite the charmer." She smirks, and I glance up over my laptop with interest.
"That's it?" Nik states, skeptically.
Rebekah nods, "The last of the white oak stakes that can kill us." She stands and walks over to him. "Do you want to do the honors or shall I?" She asks.
Nik merely puts down the paintbrush and walks over to Rebekah, seizes the stake from his sister and tosses it into the flames of the fireplace without another glance. I watched the fire flare up around the wood and consume it within seconds.
"Nice one." I muttered sardonically, not at all surprised by how flippant Nik had reacted upon getting that bloody stake back in his grasp.
"Both of you pack your bags, we're leaving." Nik declares to us. I look at him in astonishment, and Rebekah looks mildly taken aback.
"Today?" I blurted out.
"Why not?" Nik replies. "There's nothing keeping us here. We'll grab the doppelgänger and be off by sunset."
"But tonight is the decade dance." Rebekah immediately protested.
"So, Grace tells me." Nik responds, "Your point is…?"
"I'm head of the committee, we have to go."
Nik snorts, "I'm not going to any dance." He firmly stated glancing over at me, and gesturing. "And our imminent departure, means that Grace is off the hook from chaperone duties."
I felt myself sag with relief.
"Please, I have big plans for tonight. Just go for me." Rebekah pleaded stubbornly. Nik hesitates, giving Rebekah the chance to 'sweeten' the deal. "Plus, it will be an opportunity for you to see what Grace would've looked like as a flapper and to share a slow dance with her." She wheedled, and I glanced at Nik for his reaction.
He studied me curiously, probably picturing me wearing a 1920s flapper dress Daisy Buchanan style; sipping champagne and flirting outrageously with total strangers while attempting to Charleston. I knew the second he caved, when he sighed heavily and looked at Rebekah with resentment.
"Okay, fine. One last hoorah." Nik agreed, reluctantly. Rebekah beamed triumphantly, while I looked exasperatedly at my sister.
"One last hoorah, Nik." She promised, flouncing from the room without another word.
"Welcome to my worst nightmare." I mumbled, putting my laptop to sleep and shutting the lid firmly as I got to my feet.
"I'm hurt, darling. Don't you want to dance with me?" Nik teased, obviously feeling my pain but at the same time being a bit of a sod.
I glowered at him, "You know I do, Nik. But I hate being used as a bargaining tool." I complained. Nik came over and hugged me from behind, kissing my temple affectionately.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll make sure tonight will be somewhat bearable for the both of us." Nik promised and I smiled warmly.
"Here's hoping." I agreed, as I broke away and headed for the staircase. "I gotta get going to the school."
"See you tonight then, Grace." Nik taunted, and I waved dismissively at him as I headed upstairs to get ready to leave.
I took the long way to the front doors through the kitchen, where I snagged an apple from the fruit basket and walked unhurriedly through the swinging door into the dining room and down the corridor, shining up the skin of the apple on my shirt and taking a large bite.
Holding the apple with my teeth, I pat myself down to make sure I had my keys and my phone and looped my crossbody purse over my head. I walked past the room Nik had kept Kol and Finn's coffins in from when he had undaggered them several days ago. The door was slightly ajar; and I immediately paused when I heard a familiar voice that shouldn't be in this mansion murmuring urgently to someone on the phone.
What the…?
I pulled my apple from my teeth and cautiously peered inside the room through the ajar door. My eyes widened when I saw Alaric and a strangely calm and serene Rebekah – who was waiting for him to finish his phone call – inside. Another minute passed before Alaric finished his conversation with the mystery caller and turned to face my sister.
He didn't look at all surprised to see her standing there, much to my confusion and suspicion.
Rebekah smirked, "Quite the cunning liar." She observed. Alaric shrugged in response, looking quite irritated for some reason. Presumably because of whoever he had been in conversation with.
"Well Damon is too arrogant to think that one of his friends would betray him." Rebekah walks across the room towards one of the coffins.
"Just as Niklaus would blindly accept an invitation from his beloved sister, unaware that he is heading towards his own death."
My eyes narrowed.
Since when does Rebekah ever call her brother 'Niklaus'? In all the time that I've known her – which is our entire childhood and then some – she's always addressed him as 'Nik', even if they were both in a strop with each other. Whoever this person was, it was not Rebekah. Then my eyes widened in horror when 'Rebekah' picks up a silver dagger and dips it into a glass bottle of white oak ash. I knew that it could not have been the same ash that Nik once had, as after I made him promise to me not to dagger his siblings ever again; Nik had immediately tossed it away.
This was very bad.
Alaric eyed the imposter using my sister's body casually.
"Did you give him the stake?" He asked. The imposter nodded almost immediately, not looking away from her task as she responded.
"He burned it without hesitation."
"So where's the real one?" Alaric queried, frowning a little impatiently. The imposter turns towards the only coffin that was closed and reached for the latch holding it shut.
"You'll get it when it can no longer be used against me in this body." She responded, before opening the coffin with a flourish, revealing Esther's perfectly preserved body lying within it.
It must've been picked up and relocated here by one of Nik's hybrids, while we were at the Salvatore Boarding House waiting for the results of Stefan's interrogation of Alaric.
What are you doing!?
"So how do you…?"
"How do I return to my true form?" The imposter smiled reassuringly at a frowning Alaric. "With a little magic and some help from a vampire hunter." She responded.
Then she hands the dagger towards Alaric and he immediately impales it in Rebekah's heart and her body collapses to the floor. I somehow managed to stifle a horrified gasp, as to not give away my position. A few moments later, Esther suddenly gasps and wakes up in the coffin.
You have got to be kidding me!? I despaired, as Esther carefully climbs out of the coffin with some assistance from Alaric. I immediately turned away from the door and silently tiptoed away from it, making my way towards the front doors.
That sneaky bitch had somehow hijacked Rebekah's body to use for her nefarious plans. She was worse than a bloody cockroach! As I made my way out of the mansion and towards my car, my first immediate instinct was to call Nik on his phone to alert him that his mother was not in fact as dead as we had both seen, witnessed and hoped she would be. But I decided against the idea. For all I knew, Esther was very much aware that I had been eavesdropping on her and Alaric and was probably trying to figure out a way to stop me.
Any attempt to alert her son that she was still alive, could be met with potential disaster. So, I decided to play dumb, and carry on like I knew nothing was wrong. I just prayed that I was making the right decision, and that we would be able to stop her once and for all before we left Mystic Falls … for good.
Mystic Falls High School
Day.
I walked into the gym with the full intention of using the Decade Dance as a distraction. All the volunteer students were running about like busy worker bees maintaining their hive.
Minus of course, their queen, who was currently lying daggered in a coffin, back at the mansion, courtesy of her recently resurrected mother. Which meant that the rest of the preparations had been unceremoniously left for a disgruntled Caroline, whom I spotted walking through the gym with Elena – fresh from her return from Denver - by her side, chatting away about something.
I sighed and weaved my way around the students over to both girls catching the tail end of their conversation.
"So, Alaric is trying to pull himself together, why is that a bad thing?" Caroline was asking Elena, sounding puzzled.
"I just… I wish there was something I could do." Elena replied, before reaching for a nearby cardboard box and picking up a large chandelier. "Where do you want me to hang this thing?"
Caroline eyes the decoration with distaste. "You know what, if Rebekah wanted to hang this monstrosity, she should have shown up to do it herself." She takes it from Elena and hands it to the nearest person who just so happened to be me. "Just no!"
A false grin spreads across my face.
"Thanks." Caroline and Elena immediately looked up at me, surprised. "Not to sound like a broken record, but where do you want me to hang this?" I repeated Elena's question from before.
The girl in question scowled at me, obviously less than impressed to see me standing there, while Caroline offered me a warm smile.
"Oh, hey Grace! Do you happen to know where Rebekah is by any chance?" Caroline asked, trying and failing miserably to hide her irritation.
"She sends her apologies. Rebekah is currently indisposed at present." I replied casually.
Elena frowned at my choice of words.
"Indisposed? By what?" Elena demanded and I looked at her blankly.
"That's not important right now." I replied. "Now: chandelier; directions if you please?" I held up the slightly heavy ornament and Caroline immediately went back into planner mode.
"Oh, right. Uh, I suppose the center of the roof, maybe?" Caroline replied, awkwardly.
I nodded, smiling. "Consider it done." I glanced over at one of the large industrial sized ladders and whistled at a couple of strong looking lads who looked like they had nothing to do.
I walked over to them, "Hey. I'm putting up the chandelier, could you help me out?" I asked, smiling, and laying on the charm with these obviously bored out of their mind teenagers.
"Sure. What do you need?" One of them asked, and I pointed towards the industrial sized ladder.
"Pick that up and follow me, please." I asked and headed back over to where I had set down the chandelier. The two boys nodded eagerly, and as a team picked up the heavy ladder and carried it to where I was standing in the middle of the gym. I smiled gratefully at them. "Thanks, guys. Just put it right there." I indicated to the spot beneath what I could vaguely see was a hook. Obviously left behind from a previous Decade Dance where a disco ball had probably hung.
I picked up the chandelier and started my ascent.
"Be careful, Grace." Caroline warned, looking a little stressed; presumably thinking Nik would have her head if anything serious happened to me. Which knowing how overprotective my fiancé could be, was not far off the mark. I rolled my eyes and glanced down reassuringly at my friend.
"Relax, hon. I was not planning on being careless. I value your life and my life too much." I yelled back. "Hold that ladder steady, okay? I'd rather not fall on my ass and break this expensive looking chandelier." I instructed both boys who nodded, jamming their feet against the rubber soled feet of the ladder.
"Are you sure you don't need any help?"
"I'm good. I did some research on this decade last night, so I have an idea on how this is supposed to look." I responded, and Caroline nodded. "By the way, you don't happen to have any leftover fabric laying around, do you?" I asked the bubbly blonde, as I carefully placed the chandelier on the hook and steadied it, so it didn't sway hazardously.
"No, we don't. Why?" Caroline frowned at my question, curiously.
"Well, I've noticed that you don't have any curtains hiding the doors." I indicated as I climbed down from the ladder and smiled at my helpers. "Thanks, boys." I said, clapping them on the shoulders before walking towards Caroline.
"Who cares?" Elena questioned.
"Uh, if you want this gym to look even remotely like the speakeasy Rebekah most likely remembers, since she picked this era, she does." I retorted.
"So do I. Even if it is the wrong decade. This dance needs to be perfect." Caroline agreed. "But I don't think we have time to get some—"
"Let me. It was my suggestion anyway." I interrupted her. "I'll go out and purchase some material for the curtains." I promised and turned to leave. But I only took two steps before my phone beeped, alerting me to a text message that I quickly skimmed. "Oh, and the DJ Bex and I hired is here to set up his equipment. Do you want me to deal with that before I go?" I asked Caroline who shook her head.
"Nah, I'll get one of the guys to help. But thanks." I shrugged and scooped up my purse. "What are you doing?" I turned and spotted Caroline rushing over to where I could see Matt and Jeremy hanging up some stars from the ceiling. "You can't just hang them! They're supposed to trickle down." She fussed, and I giggled, turning, and leaving the gym to complete my task.
At least that was my intention. I just had not anticipated a certain obstacle in my path that took it upon herself to follow me outside to confront me.
"Where do you get off kissing up to my friends?" A snide voice questioned me as I finally reached my car and opened the driver's side to get in. I let out a heavy sigh, shutting my eyes and praying for some patience as I turned and looked at Elena with boredom.
"That's funny. I could've sworn it was called helping out a friend." I retorted. "You seriously need to get a life, Elena." I suggested, sliding into my car and turning on the ignition.
"That is what I have been trying to do, before Klaus came along and started ruining my life." Elena insisted, and I scoffed.
"Oh, poor baby." I mocked unsympathetically. "He wouldn't be 'ruining' your life, Elena, if you and your bloody hangers on would only back the hell off and stop trying to kill him." I slammed the door shut and cranked down the window. "Or even better, and saner, attempted to negotiate something with him so you could attempt a somewhat normal life."
"Negotiate? With Klaus?" Elena scoffed, disbelievingly.
I rolled my eyes.
"Contrary to what you and Stefan believe, Nik isn't totally unreasonable." I pointed out. "With some carefully chosen words and valid points, he can be swayed … as long as it benefits him in some way. Now is there anything else I can do for you, Elena? Or can I be on my way to finish my errand?" I requested, impatiently, not really in the mood to discuss this pointless conversation further with the stubborn doppelgänger.
I started to back out of my parking spot and paused for a moment when I saw the smug smirk spread across her face, making her look uncannily like Katherine when she was scheming and up to something unpleasant.
"We will find a way to kill Klaus, you know." She taunted me, and I glowered at her.
"Then I hope you're prepared for what will happen next." I pointed out. "Remember, she who laughs last, laughs hardest." I promised. Not that anybody would be laughing if what happened to Sage, happened to Nik if they successfully staked him.
If that happened, not only was her beloved Stefan screwed, but also Damon, Caroline and Tyler. It seemed sad that Elena had conveniently forgotten this. I finished backing out then turned and drove out of the parking lot towards Towns Square for the local fabric store, leaving a scowling Elena behind.
Town's Square
Day
My anger and frustration had not abated by the time I had driven up to Mystic Falls' only fabric and craft store, and much to my annoyance, I was starting to develop a headache. Not to mention feeling slightly dizzy, for some reason. Shaking off that feeling, I got out of the car and headed for the store, wincing slightly at the bells tinkling overhead as I passed through the threshold, alerting whoever was in here that I had arrived.
The store itself was like any other typical homemaker's store; with the exception that it was practically deserted, and Top 40 music played from hidden speakers all around the store. A plump middle-aged woman with greying hair and wearing a burgundy-colored apron, appeared from out the back room and greeted me, all smiles, walking around the counter to approach me.
"Hello, dear. May I help you today?" She asked me, politely.
I shook my head, offering her a friendly, genuine smile.
"No thanks. But I'll flag you down if I require assistance." I replied, spotting the large collection of colorful fabrics, ranging from sequins, satin, silk, cotton, burlap etc. lining the walls across the room.
The woman nodded.
"Of course. Yell if you need me." She requested, and I nodded.
"Will do, ma'am." I yelled back, and weaved my way around bargain bins, and racks filled with buttons, ribbons, stencils etc. until I came up to my destination. The dizzy feeling that I had experienced before walking into the store had gotten slightly worse, and I was hearing a bit of a ringing in my ears; but I ignored it searching for an appropriate but inexpensive red material I could use to create a couple of curtains to block the entryways at the school gymnasium.
I eventually selected a sturdy red cotton fabric, and hefted the slightly heavy bundle into my arms, carrying it over to the counter. The woman from before approached the counter.
"Found what you need, dear?" She asked, and I shook my head.
"Almost. I just require a couple more things. Do you have any curtain rods?" I asked, wincing a little from my headache.
"We sure do." The woman walked around the counter and waved at me to follow her. "Come this way." She asked, and I followed her across the store towards a display. "Now, are you re-decorating your house, miss?" The woman asked.
"No. This is for the High School's annual Decade Dance. The decade this year is the 1920s and I got the task of creating some curtains to create the illusion of a speakeasy." I explained, flippantly.
"Oh, I see. I used to love attending them when I went to Mystic Falls High School." She beamed, looking nostalgic as she scanned the curtain rods for something appropriate. Then she gave me a once over. "You look a bit old to be attending high school though." The woman commented, frowning at me a bit.
"What's that got to do with anything?" I retorted, not unkindly.
"Well, the students usually decorate the gym for the dance." The woman explained, and I smiled.
"I know. My sister goes there, she's head of the Dance Committee this year." I gave a white lie, and the woman made an 'oh' face and continued doing her job, satisfied that she'd been nosy enough for one day. "I see. Well, let's see what we have here…" She trailed off.
I sniffed, and almost immediately something warm started trickling fast out of my left nostril. I reached up and swiped at the warm thing and looked down at my hand, groaning when I saw blood.
"Oh, great…" I muttered out loud, drawing the woman's attention.
"What was that?" Then her eyes widened when she saw me cupping my hand underneath my gushing nose. "Oh goodness!" She immediately seized my upper arm and started steering me over to the counter, abandoning her task momentarily. "You just sit yourself down here and put some pressure on your nose." She instructed, wadding up a huge handful of tissues and handing them to me to press against my nose to stem the flow.
"Dank you." I mumbled.
"It's no trouble at all, dear." The woman smiled at me, mildly concerned. "I'll be right back with those curtain rods you requested." She reassured me. "Just keep the pressure up." She warned, and I absently waved her off, focusing on the multicolored carpeted floor and on breathing through my mouth. The bells above the doorway tinkled once again, and the next thing I knew I was staring into some very concerned ice blue eyes.
"Grace? Are you okay?"
I raised my head up slightly, "Damon? What are you doing here?" I asked, in slight bewilderment.
"I smelt blood. Came in here to investigate." Damon mumbled softly, as to not draw attention to ourselves. Unfortunately, my outburst had already attracted the attention of the woman.
"I'll be right with you, sir." She called out, brightly. Damon stood up from his squat in front of me to smile charmingly back at her.
"I'm alright thanks. I'm with her." He indicated towards me before squatting again and reaching for the bloodied tissue I had clamped against my face. "Now, let's see what the damage is, shall we?" Damon brushed aside my hand, and gingerly pulled away the tissue, ready to put it back into place at a moment's notice.
"You don't have to do this, Damon." I immediately protested, spotting the blue-black veins starting to appear around his eyes. An indication that he was hungry. Damon just gave me a bored look.
"Please. You really think that I wouldn't help my friend out in her time of need?" He stated, as he finally removed the tissue and took in the condition of my face. "Nice face." He smirked and reached for the nearby tissue box to wipe away the excess blood obviously smeared and beginning to dry and crust around my nose, mouth and chin.
I gave him a sarcastic smile back.
"Laugh it up, Damon. I probably look exactly how you look like after you go to town on one of your victims." I bit back, and Damon rolled his eyes.
"Hardy har har." He drawled as the shopkeeper returned to the counter with a curtain rod kit clamped underneath her arm. "I think it's stopped bleeding for now." Damon announced. "But just keep an eye on it anyway." He suggested.
I nodded as the woman looked at me sympathetically as Damon reached out a hand to assist me to my feet, despite my protests that I hadn't lost that much blood to require help.
"Well, how much fabric will you be requiring?" The woman asked, and I rattled off the amount I needed. Once it was measured and cut, my purchases were rung up.
"I got this." Damon said, pulling out his credit card and I frowned at him.
"You don't have to. This is for the school dance, I'll get reimbursed." I told Damon, who stubbornly waved me off. Afterwards, the woman handed me the bag with the fabric and curtain rod kit, and I was escorted from the store hastily by Damon.
"So, tell me why your nose started bleeding in the first place?" Damon prodded, as he leant up against my car while I was putting the bag in the backseat.
"I guess all the stress and anxiety revolving around the bullshit involving Esther and the White Oak Stakes suddenly peaked." I replied. "All I did was sniff, and my nose started dripping like a leaky tap."
"You sniffed?" Damon sounded incredulous. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." I confirmed. "Look, I gotta make a quick stop back at the mansion before going back to the school. Thanks for your help." I said, smiling gratefully as I walked around to the driver's side and got in.
"Why don't I drive you there?" Damon offered and I looked at him dubiously.
"Because I didn't lose that much blood?" I replied, dryly. "Look, my appearance is probably going to cause my more overprotective family members to panic. I'd rather face that by myself. If it's all the same to you." I suggested to Damon, who nodded and smirked when he also came to the same conclusion.
"You're right. I've already dealt with enough drama back in Denver." Damon stated, and I smiled back pulling out my phone.
"So Kol told me." I said, showing Damon the picture of Scary Mary impaled against the wall. "Looks like you all had a bit of an adventure, huh?" I teased, and Damon looked unenthused.
"More than you know." He replied, dully. I raised an eyebrow at that response. But before I could question him about that; Damon pushed himself away from my car and started walking away. "Guess I'll see you at the dance then?" Damon asked, hopefully.
"Got no choice. Rebekah signed me up as a chaperone." I told him.
"Save me the first dance?" Damon requested. I gave him a flat look.
"Sorry. Nik's already got dibs." I reminded him. "Besides, you should be offering that to Rebekah; your girlfriend?" I pointed out, deliberately forgetting to tell him that she was currently daggered and out of action now.
"I know. I was just messing with you. See you tonight then, Grace." Damon called out and blurred away. I rolled my eyes, and got into my car, reluctant to face whomever I bumped into back at home when I stepped inside the mansion.
Mikaelson Mansion
Day.
I had only just stepped through the threshold with my purchases, when I was plowed into by somebody taller and heavier than I.
Whoever it was, was happy to see me. I refocused and discovered that I had Henrik attached to me like a limpet.
"Hey Henrik. How was Denver?" I asked casually, returning the hug. Then groaned when he saw the little spots of blood all over my shirt and traces of it probably still on my face.
"What happened to you?" Henrik asked, worriedly.
"That's precisely what I'd like to know." A hand gently grabbed my chin and turned my face towards the owner: Kol. He was frowning with mild concern. "I could smell you from outside of the property, young lady." He scolded me, and I aimed a sour look at him.
"I would have thought that both of you would've heard of a simple and harmless little bloody nose by now." I retorted, pulling my face away from Kol's hand.
"And how did you get this 'bloody nose', dear?" Kol wanted to know.
"It was brought on by all the stress and anxiety I had been feeling and experiencing since your damn mother made a reappearance and Alaric went psycho." I stated, putting down my purchases and headed for the staircase.
"All the more reason why you should probably sit this take down of our mother out." Kol suggested firmly.
"Yeah. I think you've done enough when you helped take down father." Henrik added his two cents, and I froze and turned mid-step towards them.
"Love to. Can't." I replied, succinctly. "Besides, I've already promised Bex that I would help, considering this would be her first ever 'high school dance' she would be attending." I added, before turning and continuing to head upstairs … and nearly colliding with Kol who had blurred in front of me. I fumed at him. "No fair using your vamp speed on me, when I can't do it to you!" I complained, and for once Kol did not smirk or make a smartass comment.
"We're serious, Grace. I don't want to end up being daggered and laid to rest for another 100 years, just because we failed to protect you against grievous harm." Kol insisted sternly.
"Okay. A) Nik won't do that, because I begged him not to dagger any of you ever again, and so far, he's kept his word. B) Nik is letting me go to this dance, so he obviously does not see any danger from doing so. And C) if you still think that I should not go, take it up with Rebekah; and report back to me what her reaction was, because I'd like to see you prevent your baby sister from getting her own way." I said, smirking a little.
Kol rolled his eyes, "I've gone out of my way to prevent things for my sister once before, and nothing has come of it." I frowned at him, getting frustrated with his stubbornness. "However, if Nik by some miracle has no objections, I'll let it go against my better judgement. But please be safe, sister. Promise me." He urged and I smiled and pulled him and Henrik into a hug.
"Don't have to tell me twice." I promised. "Now if you'll excuse me, I really need to get out of this sticky shirt and into a new one." I grimaced, stepping around Kol and continuing my way upstairs.
"Yes, you do look like a bit of an eyesore, darling." Kol observed with a smirk and I glared playfully at him but made no comment and continued.
I turned down the corridor leading to the bedrooms, and just before getting to Nik's bedroom, I reached down and grabbed the hem of my t-shirt, tugging it over my head and exposing my peach-colored lace bra. I hip-checked the door closed as I finished pulling the soiled t-shirt off, tossing it into the clothes hamper on my way into the walk-in to pick out a new shirt.
I pulled on a flannel button up, but left it unbuttoned as I sauntered into the bathroom to scrub my face clean of any leftover blood. I paused when I spotted a black garment bag lying innocently on Nik's bed. Frowning, I set aside the wet face flannel on the edge of the sink and walked over to it.
There was a simple note attached to the bag, written in Rebekah's handwriting:
Wear this tonight. I told you I would take care of it.
~ R x.
I set aside the note and reached for the zipper, pulling it down to pull out the dress that Rebekah had found me for the dance. My eyes widened when I took in the gorgeous 1920s fringe flapper dress.
It was black, ending high on the upper thigh, backless and beautifully embroidered in gold embroidery. Rebekah had also supplied a pair of black Mary-jane heels to go with it and some elegant black evening gloves. I blinked in confusion when I noticed a smaller bag concealed inside, and I reached for it; opening it to see what it was, and blushed when I realized that my sister had purchased new black French knickers – the kind that had suspender belts that you attached to your garters - for the occasion.
Probably from Victoria's Secret and expensive to boot.
Nope. Not happening. I'm not that adventurous… I thought, feeling mortified.
Then I noticed that there was more to the note than I had originally seen:
P.S: I expect you to wear the accompanied knickers.
Live a little, the 1920s were a time of rebellion, embrace it!
~ R
Damn you, Rebekah!
Realizing that I had no choice, or risk the wrath of my sister for not wearing the knickers; I hastily shoved it and the dress back into the garment bag, and hung it on the doorframe leading to the walk-in.
Buttoning up my shirt, I wondered over to leave; when it occurred to me that I did not have my mum's sewing machine anymore and cursed.
Why did I have to pawn that thing again? I wondered, sulking a little as I opened the door and stuck my head out into the corridor.
"Emma! Come here, please!" I hollered down the corridor. Within seconds, the cheerful red-headed hybrid appeared before me, smiling from ear to ear.
"Yes, Grace? What do you need?" Emma asked, politely.
"Do you own a sewing machine?"
Emma blinked at the request. "No, I don't personally. But I think Naomi does. What do you need repairing?" Emma glanced into Nik's room to spot the item.
"Nothing. I'm making some curtains for the school dance tonight." I explained. "Unfortunately, I had forgotten that I had pawned it years ago for rent money." I muttered, pouting a little.
"Oh, I see. I can take care of that for you. Shouldn't take more than an hour, give or take." Emma offered, and I sagged with relief.
"You do that, and I'll put in a good word about you to Klaus. Sound good?" I asked, and Emma grinned.
"You don't have to do that. I'm only too happy to help you."
"Great!" I grinned back and gestured for Emma to follow me down to the foyer where I had left the material by the front doors. "Here you go. They have already been pre-measured and cut. Just need to be hemmed." I explained. Emma took the plastic bag from me.
"Too easy. Stick around for an hour, I'll be done soon." Emma promised and blurred away before I could say another word.
Now that I had an hour to kill while Emma created curtains for me, I decided to make the most of it. My stomach instantly growled, answering the question of what I was going to do first, and headed in the direction of the kitchen.
I helped myself to a simple sandwich, a small bunch of grapes and a large glass of milk, which I should have made straight away after I returned home from the craft shop. It did not matter that I had only lost approximately a cup full of blood when my nose bled. Blood was shed and I needed a pick me up to avoid passing out for the remainder of the day and night.
I was just starting on the second half of my sandwich when Jeremy randomly bursts in, smiling warmly at me. Whereas I just blinked at him in astonishment, with my mouth full of bread.
"Hey Grace, how's it goin?" Jeremy asks me, casually.
I swallowed my mouthful, before frowning at him in confusion.
"It could be better, thanks for asking." I responded, setting down my sandwich. "What are you doing here?" I asked, curiously.
Jeremy dumps his backpack on the floor beside a nearby chair and takes a seat.
"Just here to pick up my stuff." He explained, reaching for a loose grape on my plate – I scowled and slapped at his hand – and popped it in his mouth. "I'm moving back in with Elena." He declared, and I raised a surprised eyebrow.
"You can't be serious. Even after she deliberately attempted to keep things from you?" I stated, getting to my feet and heading for the glass cupboard and filling a glass up with milk for him.
Jeremy shrugged, "We've come to an understanding."
"Understanding?"
"Yeah. Elena keeps me in the loop, and I help out whenever." Jeremy explained, and I frowned at him.
"You do realise that that means helping to find a way to kill the love of my life, right?" I pointed out, handing him the glass and Jeremy smirked.
"She didn't specify what I had to help out with. So I can back out if I wanna." Jeremy grinned, and I chuckled realizing the fine-lining Elena neglected to make clear to her brother.
"Clever." I grinned back. "Hope that doesn't blow up in your face." I picked up a grape and threw it into the air, catching it easily in my mouth. "Thought you were helping out at the gym for the dance?" I questioned and Jeremy grimaced, picking up the glass to take a sip from it.
"Caroline sent us home to get ready for the dance. Don't know why I'm bothering; Bonnie's already got a date and I hate going stag." Jeremy grumped and I shook my head.
"Nothing wrong with going stag, mate. Gives you the opportunity to hang out with your friends. Who knows, you might actually have fun." The smile dropped from my face. "God, I certainly hope so." I muttered, getting to my feet and heading for the sink to deposit my used plate and glass.
"Weren't you there too?"
"Yeah. But I volunteered to go out and buy some more material for the dance." I explained.
"Why?" Jeremy frowned.
"To make curtains."
"Curtains." Jeremy looked at me dubiously. "What's so important about curtains?"
I almost laughed. "Your sister asked me the exact same question. But to answer your question, I did some research, and it turns out that speakeasys back in the 1920s had to be kept secret."
"Right…" Jeremy still looked unconvinced, and even a little bored. "Gotta book. Still trying to figure out what to wear." Jeremy muttered.
"What you wore to the Mikaelsons' ball or the gangster look." I suggested, and Jeremy looked at me in surprise. "Just a little tip." Jeremy smiled and picked up his backpack, looping it over his shoulder.
"Thanks. I'll see ya at the dance then." He waved and disappeared up the service stairs leading to the bedrooms, and I nodded and sighed, picking up Jeremy's glass and depositing them in the sink too.
"Don't mention it." I mumbled, and took a seat, waiting for Emma to be done with the curtains. I let my head fall forward and thud gently against the table, closing my eyes to shut out the world for a moment. I must've dozed off, as the next thing I knew Emma was shaking me awake.
"Grace? You alright?" Emma asked, looking a little amused. The finished red curtains were draped over her arm, and I immediately sat up and yawned, smiling gratefully at my hybrid friend.
"Fine. Just a little tired." I admitted, getting to my feet, and stretching. "I might take a little nana-nap after dropping off and installing these damn curtains." I mused, taking them from Emma.
"Yeah, you do look a little beat." Emma agreed. "Was there anything else that you needed?" She asked, politely.
I shook my head.
"Nah. You've already done a lot. I'll take it from here, but thanks; I really appreciate the help." I responded.
"Anytime. Have fun at the dance tonight." Emma wished me, and blurred away, leaving me looking at her in astonishment.
"How'd the hell did she know that?" I muttered, before heading for the swinging doors leading to the dining room and disappearing through them.
Mystic Falls High School.
Gymnasium
Late Afternoon.
I walked sluggishly down the corridor towards the gymnasium, already pining for my pillow so I could catch a few hours of sleep before the dreaded and seemingly cursed school dance would commence.
I pushed through the double doors, and immediately scanned for a glimpse of Caroline to both let her know I was there and to get her help installing the curtains. Although, I apparently didn't have to look very far, as Caroline had spotted me before I did her, and scared the crap out of me when she appeared from out of nowhere by my side.
"Took you long enough." She bitched, looking a little annoyed with me. "How long does it take to buy material?" She wanted to know.
I gave her a hard look. "I had some unexpected trouble along the way." I explained, unfurling the curtains I had looped over my arm and carefully placing them on a nearby table while I searched for a ladder.
Caroline frowned.
"What sort of trouble?" Then she paused and sniffed, and then her blue eyes widened in alarm. "I smell blood. Are you hurt?" She demanded, urgently.
I rolled my eyes. "No, I'm fine."
"Yeah, right. You changed your shirt. What the hell happened to you?" Caroline retorted and I sighed heavily.
"I got a bloody nose, okay? No need for the dramatics." I said, bored and released a yawn. "Now, do you have a power drill handy?" I attempted to change the subject back to the task at hand, hoping that it would distract Caroline and bring her back to her element.
No such luck.
"Don't change the subject, Grace!" Caroline growled, looking concerned. "Did someone attack you?"
"Not recently. The blood nose was caused by stress and anxiety. It happens sometimes." I droned, disinterestedly. "Now, about that power drill?" I re-asked my question as I struggled to pick up a ladder, forcing Caroline to roll her eyes and take the bulk of the weight from me as we carried it over to the double doors.
"I'd kinda like to hang these up so I can go home and catch a few winks before the dance tonight." I stated, then remembered that I still required a couple of items for my costume that I didn't have back at the mansion and groaned out of frustration. "Right after I pick up a couple of things from the mall." I tacked on lamely.
"You still haven't got your dress for the dance yet?" Caroline incorrectly assumed, sounding appalled.
"No. Rebekah got that covered." I replied, grabbing a power drill that one of the volunteers had been using and climbed the ladder, while Caroline held the ladder for me. "I just have a couple of accessories to buy." I sighed tiredly.
Caroline immediately perked up.
"What do you need?" She randomly asks and I blinked down at her in surprise.
"Uh, a 1920s headdress. Whether it be a diadem or a headband of some sort, and some sheer black stockings." I replied, wondering why she was so curious.
"I can help you with the headdress!" Caroline chirped, looking almost giddy. "What color is the dress Rebekah got you?"
"A black fringe dress with heavy gold embroidery." I was quick to respond.
Caroline grinned, "I might have a few you could choose from to borrow." She said, brightly. "Why don't you come round to my place and I'll show you?" She suggested and I shrugged. What could it hurt?
"Why not? It'll save time and some money." I agreed and turned to scrutinize the wall so I could drill the temporary curtain rod holder into place. "How's that look?" I asked Caroline who stepped back a little to analyze it.
"Fine from where I see it." She responded, with a nod.
I grinned, "Great. Give me two seconds to attach the other one, then we'll be in business." I announced. In no time flat, I had managed to secure both curtains to the gymnasium doors and Caroline was practically bouncing on her feet in excitement, even though the Decade Dance was the wrong decade and that Rebekah had been the one to change it.
"I think we're pretty much done." Caroline declared and I stepped down from the ladder and let out a relieved exhale.
"Finally." I muttered. "Where's Elena?" I asked, not really caring, but just starting conversation for the hell of it.
"I sent her home to get ready for the dance. This whole thing with Alaric has really got her freaked out." Caroline responded, looking worried herself.
"I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure things will work itself out." I offered Caroline a white lie, reflecting on the interesting and infuriating conversation I had overheard between Alaric and Esther earlier this morning. I jumped a little when Caroline suddenly looped an arm through mine and started leading me towards the exit.
"Yeah, maybe. C'mon let's focus on you now." Caroline chirped once again and I rolled my eyes, wondering if I was premature in accepting the perky blonde vamp's help in accessorizing for a dance I was being forced to attend by Rebekah (even though she was currently and literally dead to the world at present).
"Yeah, can't wait." I said, trying to foster some sort of excitement for the eternal teenager's sake.
Forbes Residence
Late Afternoon
I offered Caroline a lift back home, but she declined stating that she had driven herself there in her own car. I shrugged and instead followed her back, parking myself next to the curb in front of the large white one-story house.
I was practically bowled over by a very enthusiastic Caroline when I stepped from my car and barely managed to lock it. She then turned, seizing my wrist, and practically dragged me inside. I somehow managed not to trip over my feet as we stepped up the steps of the front porch and waited until Caroline unlocked the front door.
"Is your mum home?" I asked casually, turning to look at the Forbes' tidy front garden and manicured lawn, as well as the occasional car traveling up and down the street.
"Nope. She's working the late shift, as usual." Caroline replied a little dismissively. Although not as coldly as her replies used to be before Liz found out that her daughter was in fact, permanently frozen in time, in the body of a seventeen-year-old.
"How is she anyway?" I asked, as I stepped over the threshold, staring curiously at Caroline, who was setting down her purse and making a beeline down the corridor towards her bedroom.
The last time I had been in there, was when Nik and I visited her to give her the cure to the werewolf venom after Tyler had accidentally-on-purpose bit her, despite refusing to Nik's face that he would not.
Caroline looked a little uncomfortable, but after a few moments an awkward smile appeared.
"It's still a little awkward, but I think Mom's finally accepting it." Caroline responded, and I smiled approvingly.
"That's excellent. I'm happy for you both." I praised her, and Caroline nodded.
"Thanks."
We walked into her bedroom, and almost immediately my eyes zeroed in on a hot pink flapper dress hanging on the side of Caroline's wardrobe. A pair of white evening gloves hung on the shoulder of the dress, and I strode over to it to finger the material curiously.
"I take it that this is what you're wearing tonight?" I stated and Caroline eyed the dress, beaming.
"Yep. You like it?" She asked, obviously waiting for my approval and I winced at the poor girl's lack of self-esteem. Even though she was popular and a member of one of the town's founding families, Caroline still lacked some confidence in herself.
I suspected it probably stemmed from her inferiority complex towards Elena and the fact that the doppelgänger seemed to always have it all: boyfriends, friends, fashion etc. I made a show of inspecting the dress once again and nodded in approval.
"It's definitely you, sweetie. You're gonna look fabulous." I complimented her, and Caroline seemed to sag with relief before turning towards her dressing table, looking for something within her drawers. The smile fell from my lips, and I decided to pose the question that had been nagging at me since Caroline first suggested that I come over to inspect some potential headdresses to go with my costume tonight.
"Found 'em!" Caroline yelled, holding two headdresses in her hands, and turned to face me. One was a beautiful silver diadem with zirconia; the type that you would likely see on the head of an elvish princess in a Lord of the Rings movie, and the other a feathery monstrosity held together with a jeweled broach.
"Thanks." I replied, taking them from her and setting them aside on her bed as I perched on it. "Caroline, I suspect that there is something you wish to talk to me about, that has nothing to do with 1920s headdresses." I pried, causing Caroline's cheerful smile to become a bit strained.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Caroline said, dismissively. My eyes narrowed and my face hardened slightly. I glanced down at the carpeted floor and sighed in exasperation.
"Cut the crap, Caroline. I am not a simpleton. Just spill, would you?" I ordered, sternly. The teenager looked taken aback by the harshness of my tone, ultimately caved as she took a seat beside me on her bed and very deliberately avoided eye contact.
"Tyler's come back to town." She explained, and my eyes widened in surprise. "And he's coming to the dance tonight."
"I see. What's the problem?" I asked, a little confused.
"Would you be able to distract Klaus during the dance?" I frowned, but Caroline pushed on, obviously wanting to get all of what she wanted to say out in the open. "Tyler kinda left town without letting Klaus know." Caroline pleaded.
I got up from the bed and turned to face Caroline with my arms folded across my chest in annoyance.
"What makes you think that I have any sway when it comes to Nik and his decisions?" I questioned her. Caroline raised an eyebrow at my question.
"Duh, because you're his fiancé? He'd practically do anything for you." Caroline pointed out.
I let out an amused chuckle.
"Who told you that crock of shit?" I asked, dubiously.
"Nobody. But it's fairly obvious."
"To partially quote Damon: 'Assuming makes an ass out of you and me.'" I stated, and Caroline frowned. "Look Caroline, Nik will do almost anything for me to a point. But, when it comes to his hybrids, I stay well out of it for the sake of a peaceful relationship and household." I explained.
"That's not what Stefan says." Caroline said, and I snorted.
"Yeah, well. All of Stefan's sheep are not in the top paddock. He's hell bent on revenge against Nik, so I'd take what he says with a grain of salt." I advised. Caroline made a confused face.
"What does that mean?"
"He's so focused on getting rid of Nik, that he's blind to everything else." I translated. Caroline looked at me with disappointment.
"So, you're not going to help us?" Caroline guessed, morosely.
I sighed, "It's not that I won't, it's more that I can't. Nik is way too stubborn when it comes to both his hybrids and betrayal. It's not something that is easily forgiven in his eyes." I insisted, and Caroline flopped back on her bed, staring up at her ceiling in frustration and despair.
"Thanks anyway, Grace." Caroline mumbled, miserably. I nodded and turned to head out of her bedroom, gleefully anticipating a couple of hours of uninterrupted sleeping time when I finally returned to the mansion.
"See you at the dance, Caroline." I bid her goodbye.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
I stopped and turned to look at Caroline in surprise.
"First to the mall to buy my stockings, then home. Why?" I replied.
"Don't you want the headdress?" Caroline asked, holding up both from the duvet. I walked back over, eyeing the choices once again.
"Figured that I wouldn't be welcomed to it, since I was unable to help you with you Tyler situation." I admitted, sheepishly.
"Don't be silly. I'm not that petty." Caroline giggled. "Which one would you like to borrow?" I pictured my dress in my head and made my choice.
"The feather headdress with the broach I think." I chose and reached for the headdress with a small smile, tucking it carefully into my crossbody purse. "Thanks." I said, graciously.
"It's not a problem. Just return it to me later." Caroline said, chattily. We both walked from her room down to the front door when Caroline's phone started vibrating. "Ooh! That's Tyler. I gotta take this!" Caroline announced and I nodded in response.
"I'll see myself out. Thanks again, Care." I waved and headed out.
I hope that tonight won't end in tears… I thought wearily.
Mikaelson Mansion
Klaus's bedroom
Dusk
I flinched when my phone started playing loud cheerful music and vibrated on the bedside table. I groggily sat up and caught the phone before it could take a nosedive off the table and swiped left on the screen to shut the damn thing up.
I had set the timer on my phone to wake me up a couple of hours before the dance was to start so I could prepare for the dance, and right now; it seemed like time had gone way too fast, as I was still absolutely knackered.
"Alright. Let's get this over with…" I mumbled underneath my breath and stood up from Nik's king size bed to stomp my way towards the bathroom; stripping off my clothes and throwing them into the clothes hamper in the process.
I took a long, hot shower and wrapped my hair up into a towel to keep it out of the way while I slathered myself in unscented moisturizer. I could hear Rebekah's haughty voice echoing in my head:
"Always, always moisturize after showering, Grace!" and I could not help but roll my eyes as I screwed the lid back on the jar and replaced it in the medicine cabinet. I turned and eyed the admittedly sexy but revealing black lace French knickers, like they were a potentially poisonous snake that was about to strike, and hesitantly reached for them to pull them and the sheer black stockings on.
It was then that I realized that I was going to be topless underneath the flapper dress, since there was no trace of a matching bra – strapless or otherwise – accompanying the knickers, and I flushed in mortification.
The things I do to make my sister happy…
I jerked my head in the direction of the bedroom door when a couple of polite knocks echoed into the spacious room. I pulled on and tugged closed my bathrobe and tied it shut as I walked over to answer the door; praying that it was not Kol, who would stick around on purpose just to piss me off for his own amusement, or even worse Nik wanting entry so that he could get ready himself.
"Who is it?" I called out to the person behind the closed door.
"Uh, it's Emma. I thought that you might need some help, since Miss Rebekah seems to have mysteriously vanished." I opened the door and glanced at the sheepish expression on Emma's face as I quickly ushered her in.
"You're a lifesaver. I wouldn't know where to begin putting my hair up 1920s style." I confessed, sounding a little stressed.
Emma grinned, "Me neither. But it wouldn't hurt to try. I'll give it a shot." She offered, and I nodded and headed over to where I had left my laptop on the bedside table and took a seat on the bed.
Emma stood politely beside the bed, until I rolled my eyes and pulled her down to sit beside me; ignoring the panicked look in her eyes that she was sitting on her boss's bed.
"What he doesn't know, won't hurt him … or you." I reminded her impatiently as I clicked and located the YouTube clip, I'd been browsing for hair tips. I swiveled the laptop around so Emma could get a proper look. "Here. Check this out, while I put on my make up." I requested, sliding off the bed and darting over to my dressing table to apply my make up.
I was in the process of applying my fake eyelashes when Emma suddenly piped up, nearly causing me to poke out my eye with the tweezers I was using to attach them to my upper eyelid.
"Seems pretty straightforward." She admitted. "But you're right, it'd be difficult to do by yourself."
I grunted in response, and swiveled round to look at her. Emma had set aside the laptop and started gathering what was needed to 'shorten' my hair 1920s style. I wondered over to where I had hung the black garment bag containing my flapper dress and unzipped it, pulling free the dress and heading into the bathroom to finish getting dressed privately.
When I came out, I unwrapped my hair from the towel and gave it a quick towel dry. Hearing a low appreciative whistle from Emma, I glanced up at looked at her quizzically.
"You look like you stepped out from the past. Master is going to eat his poor heart out when he sees you." Emma complimented, and I grinned at the thought.
"You think so?" I asked, giving a quick little twirl on the spot; feeling the tassels on the dress flare out around my thighs. Emma nodded and gestured for me to come over and take a seat facing the mirror. My laptop was sitting upright on the table so that both Emma and I could see it during the process. She grabbed a brush and started to detangle my hair.
"Now I think what we're supposed to do first is…" Emma trailed off as the girl on the clip suddenly spoke up and gave a blow-by-blow description of what was to happen first, and I smothered a giggle at the sheepish expression that crossed the redheaded hybrid's face.
About a few minutes later, my hair was clipped, sprayed, and pinned within an inch of its life, and I was shocked by how convincing it looked. My hair looked exactly like how Rebekah's first looked when we reunited back in Chicago in that warehouse.
"Ring-a-ding-ding." I joked and Emma chortled as she picked up Caroline's feathery headdress and carefully arranged it on my well-coiffed hairdo. "Thank you so much!" I said, smiling as I grabbed a single long strand of black plastic beads and looped it over my head, as I stepped into the Mary-janes Rebekah had loaned me, and Emma buckled me in.
"You're welcome." Emma replied. "You deserve to go all out for your last night here in Mystic Falls before you leave with the family." Emma added, looking a little saddened at that reality.
"Yeah. But I make no regrets, this town has no good memories attached to it. It'll be a relief to go and make new ones elsewhere." I admitted. "As long as I'm with Nik and the rest of my family, I really don't care where we end up."
I pulled on my elbow length black evening gloves, looped on my vervain-wolfsbane bracelet and Nik's wolf tooth necklace onto my wrists, and reached for a beaded purse that my mum had once given to me as a joke (because of my tomboy personality), and stuffed my phone into it.
It was a last-minute decision, as I figured that Rebekah was going to be pissed enough that she was missing out on the dance she worked so meticulously to put together (right before she got possessed, then daggered by her own mother), that I opted to take a few photos of the event to show to her later in private.
"Have a good night!" Emma called out to me, as I descended the staircase, and headed for the front doors. I paused, looking around for Nik; expecting to see him waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs so we could go together. Disappointed, but not entirely surprised; since he had begrudgingly and reluctantly agreed to go for Rebekah's sake, I deduced he was meeting me there.
A/N: I'll leave it right here. The next chapter deals with the 1920s dance and what goes on during that. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Please review with your thoughts and remember no flaming.
TTFN xx