Chapter 77: Pictures of You
"So what's it been, seven, eight days?" Damon asked.
Stefan caught the football his brother tossed him from across the living room. "Yeah, seven or eight days."
"So she's been here about a week, and we still haven't gotten her to feel anything," said Damon.
Stefan tossed the ball back to his brother. "Well, it hasn't exactly been easy with her staying at the Mikaelsons'. Which is why we have a plan."
"Do you really think trying to get her to feel again, in a room full of potential victims, is a good idea?" Damon asked. "For that matter, how are you even gonna make her go?"
"Elijah and Rebekah are already working on that," said Stefan.
"And how is Elijah gonna do what we can't, without that little sirebond to help, short of taking her there himself?"
"Rebekah wants to go to prom, and having Phoebe help her shop for a dress, get all gussied up, and actually going is something for her to do," said Stefan. "She's bored, and with three originals watching her every move, she can't just run away again. This is her only chance to get out and do something even remotely fun."
"How does Elijah play into this plan?" Damon asked.
"Elijah is going to task Rebekah with being human for one day, to make her prove that being human again isn't just another one of her whims. That means no compulsion, no vampire hearing, no super speed or strength. She'll be totally human all day."
Damon grinned a little. "Phoebe will either be entertained just to watch, or she'll be a total bitch and throw random obstacles at her. I like it."
"Yep. And while she's at prom, we all do our best to provoke an emotion from her."
"And what happens when she gets slammed with every emotion she's repressed since Matt died," Damon asked.
"Then we'll be there for her, the way we were supposed to be, before Klaus told her to flip her switch," said Stefan.
It wasn't the most solid of plans, but it was the best one they had, aside from locking her up and torturing it out of her. However, if this didn't work, then that would certainly be their plan 'B'. All they could do was hope this would work, because no one wanted to torture Phoebe, even if they had to.
"I still say you should be locking yourself in your house all night, not going to prom," said Phoebe.
"Name me a more human experience than prom," said Rebekah from her closet.
Phoebe grinned. "Death."
Rebekah poked her head out and gave Phoebe a look.
"You realize the only way you're gonna get a date on such short notice is to compel yourself one, which you can't do if you're gonna pretend to be human for a day," Phoebe pointed out.
Rebekah exited the closet, dress on now. It was a beautiful yellow, strapless gown. It wasn't particularly Phoebe's taste, but it seemed to suit Rebekah's.
"Don't worry, I've already got dates covered, for the both of us," she told Phoebe.
Phoebe heard a car pulling up outside. She didn't even need to look to know who it was. There were only so many guys to choose from, and one of them was her brother.
"Come on, don't want to keep them waiting," Rebekah called, as she made her way downstairs.
Rebekah had the front door already open, by the time the limo stopped moving. Stefan and Damon opened their doors and stepped out, each holding a corsage for the ladies. Rebekah descended her front steps to join them by the limo.
"You look nice, Blondie," Damon greeted.
"You're not so bad yourself," she replied.
Damon was busy pinning a corsage onto Rebekah's dress, he didn't notice Phoebe descending the front steps. Stefan noticed her immediately and his jaw dropped.
Her dress was royal blue, with a rib-cage effect of white rhinestones around the waist. It was strapless, like Rebekah's, and from the waist down it ruffled with layers. Only the back and sides went down to the floor, while the front went down to her knees to make it easier for her to walk in the Cinderella-like heels she wore.
Stefan was so taken with her beauty, that he didn't snap out of it, until she was standing right in front of him.
"I don't do corsages," said Phoebe.
"I don't remember you complaining when I gave you that koala corsage," said Stefan.
"That was different."
"How?"
"Because it was cute, and it wasn't bulky," she explained.
Stefan reached out and took her hand anyways, and began slipping the corsage around her wrist. "Well, corsages are a traditional part of prom, so if you're gonna go then you need to wear one."
Phoebe rolled her eyes. When he was finished, she reclaimed her limb, and climbed into the limo.
Stefan shared a look with Rebekah and Damon. Tonight wasn't going to be easy.
Pictures of You. That was the theme for their senior prom, no doubt Caroline's idea. The lantern-lit, red carpet path leading to the prom was host to several screens on either side. Each screen cycled through various photos of the senior class. A photo yearbook of the senior class.
"Great," Phoebe thought. "This will definitely work out your favor. Pictures to remind me why I don't want to feel or be in this stupid town anymore."
One of the screens turned into a picture of Matt and Phoebe together. They were a lot younger, and a lot more awkward-looking.
"Wasn't that from the first day of freshman year?" said Stefan.
"Aunt Miranda took that when she dropped us off," said Phoebe.
Phoebe had barely begun to examine the photo in detail and think about that day, think about Matt, when her phone buzzed in her purse. She turned to walk away from the photos, as she pulled her phone out to look at.
Stefan turned back to look at Damon and Rebekah. Their faces weren't looking optimistic, but they still refused to give up hope.
Phoebe was so engrossed in responding to the text she'd received, that she'd become nearly completely ignorant of her surroundings. She was inside the prom, and she made sure no one was reading over her shoulder; but she was completely surprised to have Damon drag her to the dance floor.
He put his arms around her and held her tight, as he lead their dance to her favorite song – Sleepwalk.
"Remember the 50s Decade Dance?" Damon asked.
"Kind of hard to forget," said Phoebe. Damon seemed almost happy, until she added, "Someone Katherine screwed over tried to kill me and Elena, because we looked like her."
"That wasn't all that happened that night," Damon argued. "You and I had one hell of a romantic evening, that night."
Phoebe looked around the room. "Isn't your date missing you? I mean, she is the one that actually cares about this stupid prom, so why don't you make her dreams come true tonight?"
"You mean, like I did for you?"
"You're right, you were a dream, Damon," she admitted. "But then I woke up and realized not all of your flaws and screw ups can be excused and forgiven."
Phoebe tried to get free of his grip, but he refused to let her go.
"And yet, you have forgiven me for everything. If you hadn't, you wouldn't still talk to me," he argued.
"Have you really forgotten what I told you on St. Patrick's Day?"
"On the contrary, I remember every word," said Damon. "But I know you're not yourself right now, and I know you're saying whatever mean things you can think of to get us all to leave you alone. Well, it's not gonna work."
Phoebe moved in closer to Damon's face, but never took her eyes off of his. "Then ask me again, once my emotions are back. I may be more cautious with my words for fear of hurting you, but I'll still tell you the truth. And the truth is, you 're the reason my father is dead."
Phoebe squeezed with the hand that was holding his, and crushed all the bones she could. Damon loosened his grip, out of pain, allowing her to release herself from his grip and leave.
Elena, Jeremy, Bonnie, and Caroline were watching from afar. This didn't exactly fuel their hope for tonight. Then again, this was only one attempt to stir some feelings in Phoebe, and, in hind sight, they should have known better than to expect Damon to be the one to achieve that goal.
Jeremy, Elena, Jenna, and Hayley had already tried their bests, during the brief moments they had gotten to see Phoebe, since she came back to town; but everything they said seemed to provoke her more. Their main goal tonight was to let the ones with the most experience in this area try to help Phoebe, while they all tried to enjoy their senior prom. Everyone, except Jeremy, who was Bonnie's date.
Stefan was watching, too. He hadn't expected Damon to have any luck trying to remind her of how she felt for him, because she didn't feel that way anymore. Not for a long time. Still, he expected no less of his brother than to try and be the thing that brings her back. Then he can rub it in everyone's face – in Elijah's face – that Phoebe still loved him. Loved him enough to feel again.
While Stefan was giving Phoebe a break to calm down again, before trying to talk to her himself, she approached April Young at the voting booth. Stefan's body was tense as he watched her. He couldn't hear over the music, but he was worried about what she might do. Maybe cause another scene to distract them and then run away again, now that she was free of her original bodyguards?
So far, the two girls were smiling pleasantly and talking like friends, until April walked away and Phoebe took over her post at the booth. The town water supply was clear of vervain again, but April was still drinking it, so Phoebe couldn't have compelled her. Even then, what reason would she have to compel April to leave the voting booth for prom king and queen?
Stefan watched her look through the ballot box, look around for April, and then alter the ballots in some form. But to what end? Could this be another means of distraction later, when the king and queen were announced? Because she certainly couldn't be doing something nice for a friend, nor could she care enough to want to take the crown for her own. Unless it was to piss someone else off. But that still didn't seem right.
He wanted to ask her about it, but he knew she wouldn't tell him, so what was the point? He'd just have to wait and see, with the rest of them.
Stefan waited for April to return to the ballot booth, then seized the opportunity to talk to Phoebe. Much like his brother's approach, Stefan insisted on a dance.
Phoebe took his hand and followed him to the dance floor.
"I thought you hated to dance," said Phoebe.
Stefan slid his arm around her waist, and held her hand in the other. "I do. But when I dance with you, it isn't so bad."
Phoebe thought about the previous dances they'd been to together. He always looked like he was having a good time with Elena, but it was more of a happy to be there with the girl he loved. The few times he'd danced with Phoebe, he seemed to not be in agony the whole time, almost like he was enjoying it.
"So you're just here to help Rebekah prove she can survive as a human, right? On what happens to be the most sentimental night in high school," said Stefan.
"I was bored."
Stefan smiled. "Hmm."
"You know, this is so unfair," said Phoebe. "When it was your humanity that was off, I never tried to force you to feel again. I didn't chase you down and drag you back home. We went to Italy, and had fun. We took gondola rides, ate some pasta, went on tours. We had so much fun, you wouldn't even know your humanity was off, looking at those pictures."
"Because my innocence is long gone, but there's still hope for yours," said Stefan.
"What innocence? I've told you before, I can be just as cruel as the rest of you, with or without my humanity, human or vampire," Phoebe argued. "You all just choose to believe that I'm the same antisocial, innocent, helpless, little Phoebe Gilbert that you met a year and a half ago."
"I know you're not that girl anymore, Phoebe, you're better than that girl. You've grown, matured, and you've gotten stronger. You don't need anybody anymore. But you asked me to stay around for you, and I did. Now I'm asking you to come back for me."
Phoebe looked away to avoid his gaze. She noticed Caroline leaving the prom, and assumed she was heading out to get the after party set up.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Phoebe lied.
She walked away from Stefan's line of sight, and took out her phone to make a call.
Caroline walked around the Lockwood Mansion, making sure everything was in order for the after party. It felt weird to be having a party in Tyler's house, without him here, but it was the biggest place they had to house everyone at prom. It felt odd to even be at prom without Tyler.
The sound of a vampire flitting in came from behind Caroline. She turned around to see who it was, but of those she expected to see standing there, this person was not one of them.
"…Tyler?"
Tyler smiled. "I don't think you've ever looked more beautiful."
Caroline closed the gap between them, and held him tight in her arms. It felt so good to hold him again.
"You didn't really think I was gonna miss prom, did you?"
Realization hit her, and she pulled away from him. "You can't be here. Klaus-"
"Won't even know I'm here," said Tyler. "Elena's been emailing me, and she told me Klaus is too busy arguing with Elijah over the cure, and everyone else is too busy watching Phoebe. No one will even notice I'm here."
Caroline looked confused. "How did Elena even know where to find you?"
"No idea. But does that really matter right now?"
Caroline shook her head and smiled. She was just happy that he was here.
"Where have you been?" Rebekah asked, getting herself something to drink.
Phoebe took a sip of her own drink. "Around."
"Well, this isn't exactly how I envisioned my first prom, but I suppose it could be worse," said Rebekah.
"I have a feeling things will pick up, soon."
Rebekah gave Phoebe a quizzical look. Phoebe returned with a knowing look and a suspicious grin.
"Hey!" April's voice brought silence to the room, as she spoke into the mic. "So the ballots have been tallied, which means it's time to announce this year's prom king and queen."
The room was filled with anticipation, most of them teenagers crossing their fingers that they'd won. Stefan, on the other hand, was watching Phoebe for some sign of what she'd been planning with those ballots she altered.
"Alright, your prom king and queen are…Stefan Salvatore and Rebekah Mikaelson!"
The room erupted with cheers and applause.
Rebekah looked shocked, yet happy. She hadn't been expecting this at all, but it was still a good feeling to have won.
Stefan locked eyes with Phoebe. What was she planning? He wanted to tell Damon to keep an eye on her, but his brother was across the room, and it was far too loud for him to hear Stefan over the crowd.
Phoebe broke eye contact with Stefan, and nudged Rebekah forward. She only stayed long enough to watch Rebekah and Stefan crowned, but then she snuck away.
She stared at the photo yearbook outside. She watched pictures of her friends and family come and go, but when one of Matt would appear she felt her anger grow.
Voices carried to her ears from the distance. It was Elena, Jeremy, and Bonnie. They were leaving to see if Caroline needed help with the after party setup.
Just the sound of Bonnie's voice pushed Phoebe over the edges. Her eyes flushed with blood, and she was off.
Elijah couldn't help but smile, as he watched Phoebe walk up the drive way.
"You're back earlier than I'd have expected," he said.
Phoebe shrugged. "Prom was never my thing, no matter which version of me you ask. Though, admittingly, I probably would have found it more pleasing with my humanity on and you as my date."
"Well, should you ever be interested in repeating high school, I would be honored to be your date."
"Yeah, once was enough for me," said Phoebe. "I don't understand why Stefan or anyone else would ever want to repeat that."
"As I understand it, he did it to get closer to Elena."
Phoebe rolled her eyes.
"You can't blame the man for going after something that intrigued him," Elijah defended.
"So, what, if you looked young enough to go to high school, you'd do it for a girl?"
"For the right girl, yes." Elijah flashed a teasing smile at her.
Phoebe laughed as she moved in close. "Alright, let's get this over with."
Elijah looked confused.
"All night I've been nudged and pushed to feel again. Some by thinking of my friends and family, and others trying to make me feel something for them personally. So…" Phoebe moved even closer, her face inches from his. "Give it your best shot, my sire."
Elijah felt the corners of his mouth lift upwards into an involuntary smile. He reached a hand up to touch her cheek.
Phoebe closed her eyes at his touch, and her head tilted towards his hand.
Elijah leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. It should have felt like a dream, it should have felt like bliss, but it didn't – he felt nothing from Phoebe. Even her kisses were different.
He broke the kiss sooner than he'd have liked, but kissing Phoebe without her humanity felt…wrong.
Phoebe could tell from his face that he was displeased with their kiss, but it didn't bother her.
Elijah's phone began to ring, so Phoebe headed inside the mansion.
"We're gonna have to go with Plan B," said Stefan.
"I've told you before, I will not allow you to torture-"
"She just tried to kill Bonnie," said Stefan. "She altered the ballots so Rebekah and I would be distracted with being named prom king and queen, and then she followed her siblings and Bonnie out of the prom, and attacked them."
Elijah contemplated his words in silence.
"We were barely able to stop her, she just shrugged off that witch aneurism thing, like it was nothing."
"That's not surprising," said Elijah. "After experiencing the strength of those memory potions she used to take, I can't see something like that keeping her down for long."
"Well, lucky for Bonnie, Damon noticed Phoebe was gone and went looking for her. He had to snap her neck to get her to stop," said Stefan.
Elijah's brow furrowed in confusion. If they had snapped her neck, and were opting for them to go to Plan B, then why would they have released her to come here?
He looked back up at the house. "Where is Phoebe now?"
"We just got her into the cell," said Stefan. "Hayley's down there right now changing her clothes."
Elijah lowered the phone from his ear, and frantically began to search through his pockets. The cure was gone. Silas had tricked him into letting him get close enough to pick his pocket.