Disclaimer: See prologue

... ... ...

Don't ask me where I've been
Or what I'm gonna do
Just know that I'm here with you
Don't try understand
Baby there's no mystery
Cause you know how I am
I'm real
What you get is what you see

"So who is he?" Kenzie asked the next day as Elena returned from changing into her dress.

"Who?" Elena asked, looking completely anxious.

"The creepy looking guy who picked me up with Jeremy. He said his name was John, that's it."

"That's Uncle John. Jeremy is the only one who can really stand him."

"That's a complete understatement." Jenna said with a snort as she finished packing up the girls stuff. She had helped both Elena and Kenzie with getting ready since Kenzie didn't have anyone to help. "He is a complete jerk and if you can stay away from him, do so."

"Mrs. Lockwood wants us all to get ready, the Mayor is going to start calling names." Caroline announced.

"You guys will be great." Jenna told them before leaving.

All the girls made their way to the hallway.

"This was really great for you to fill in." Caroline told Kenzie. "Especially since you won't win."

"Wow, you don't have to sound rude about it." Elena told her. "Kenzie was nice enough to do this for us so we have a full court."

"Miss Tina Fell, escorted by Bartholomew Whitmore." Mayor Lockwood announced.

"Bartholomew?" Kenzie asked with a snort, smiling at Elena and Caroline before it turned into a small frown. "Aren't we missing a girl? I swear you introduced me to another one."

"Where is Amber?" Mrs. Lockwood hissed, rushing off to do another quick search.

"Does anyone see Stefan?" Elena asked, looking over the balcony.

"Nope, just my boring fill in escort." Caroline said with a sigh.

"Where's Matt?" Elena asked.

Caroline rolled her eyes, adjusting her emerald green dress. "They wouldn't let him out of work. Wait, what happened to Stefan?"

Kenzie glanced over the top to take a look but couldn't see Stefan either. Instead she saw Jeremy who was looking up at her a look of approval on his face as he stared at her and she couldn't help but grin. Her long red curls were pinned up on the top of her head, a few tendrils left to fall around her face. Her dress had a tight fitting satin purple bodice with a sweetheart neckline before it flared out at the waist with purple tulle. The look was finished off with her highest pair of silver stiletto's but even with those, she was still tiny compared to everyone else. But she looked adorable and who cared if she didn't win. Usually she would but she knew she wouldn't this time and at least everyone would know who she was at the end of this.

"No, no, no way, no." Caroline was saying and Kenzie tuned back into their conversation. "You had your chance to drop out and believe me I was all for it because there is no way that I could beat you. Elena, you're doing this because it was important to your mom."

"Miss Caroline Forbes and her escort Jeffrey Lockwood Hamilton." The Mayor announced.

Caroline gave Elena a meaningful look before going down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Kenzie asked. "I zoned."

"I'm thinking of just leaving."

"I don't think so, you made me do this so you'd have a full court, you're not backing out, especially since Amber seems to have flaked."

"Elena, you're next." Mrs. Lockwood warned her.

"I don't know where Stefan is, I won't have an escort." Elena whispered to her new friend.

"You will, you'll be okay."

"Miss Elena Gilbert, escorted by Mister Stefan Salvatore."

Elena slowly walked down the steps and Kenzie leaned back over the balcony gaining Jeremy's attention. He smiled at her again and she pointed at him then Elena.

"Escort." She mouthed to him.

"You." He mouthed back.

She shook her head, pointing again to his sister and he nodded, understanding what she meant and stepping forward to take Stefan's place as he held out an arm to Elena. Elena leaned in close to whisper something to him and when he whispered back, they both turned to look up at Kenzie, the last remaining girl.

"Thank you." Elena mouthed. She was relieved someone was there for her even if it was her brother although she did feel bad that Kenzie was left without an escort now.

"Miss Mackenzie Miller." The Mayor called. "Escorted by-"

He stopped unsure of what to say since her escort had already stepped forward to escort his sister.

Kenzie inwardly shrugged as she began walking down the steps, focusing on the steps so she wouldn't trip. Maybe she'd get out of the dancing at least.

"Damon Salvatore." The mayor said.

Kenzie looked up with wide eyes, trying her best not to glare at him as she reached the bottom step and placed her hand in his offered one.

"What are you doing?" She whispered.

"Escorting you since you passed your escort off on his sister, thanks to my idiot brother."

"This meant a lot to Elena and her mom, I wasn't going to let your brother screw her over."

"How noble."

"don't let that get around, you'll totally ruin my bitch image that I'm trying to cement here."

"Is that what you were at your old school?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Totally. And with good reason." She told him as he led her outside.

"What would be that reason?"

"None of your business." She replied with a small smile as the contestants and escorts lined up to dance. They bowed to each other and took a step forward, hands held up but not touching

"You don't seem like a bitch." He observed as they turned.

"Of course I don't, not when I'm standing beside the biggest asshole in the world." They switched hands, turning the opposite way as they stared at each other.

"That language isn't very becoming of a Miss Mystic Falls contestant."

"I'm sure they're not in the least worried about me."

Damon smirked at her. "you've already created buzz around you regarding your last name."

He grabbed her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist as she put a hand on his shoulder and they glided across the dance floor.

"Then they'll realize it's just a name and gossip about something else."

"Your ring says otherwise." He pointed out.

"So how do you know this dance anyways?" She asked, switching the topic.

"Well considering I've already done this back when I was your age, I know it."

"That's a long time ago. I can't believe the dance hasn't changed since then." She said with a small smile.

"Is that an actual smile I see?" Damon asked in mock surprise.

"Can't disappoint all my adoring fans here, now can I? Then what else are they going to look at?"

"They could always look at me." He suggested. "I am pretty irresistible."

"Please, standing next to me? You don't stand a chance." She raised an eyebrow as her smile grew.

He leaned back a bit to appraise her.

"What?" She asked.

"You." He told her. "You're not like the other girls around here."

"Good." She replied with a small smirk. "But why do you say that?"

He spun her around before pulling her back as they continued gliding, oblivious to everyone else around them and the impressed stares they were receiving as they made it look so effortless.

"Why did you step in today?"

"Elena asked me to." She explained, slightly puzzled.

"Yes but you seem like the girl who's in it to win it yet you knew that was impossible."

"True." She admitted. "But at least at the end of it, everyone will remember me and know who I am."

He smirked. "And that's why you're different. If someone asked Elena, she'd do it out of the goodness of her heart. Caroline too but you seem different."

Damon dipped her then pulled her back in closer just as the music ended. She moved to step away but he held her close to whisper in her ear. "Maybe that's why I haven't killed you yet."

"Oh for the love of- if you're going to do it, do it already, I'm starting to think you're all talk and no play." She responded with a roll of her eyes.

"Careful, words like that gets little girls bitten and/or killed." He finished with raised eyebrows.

Another eye roll as they all faced the stage and Elena motioned for Kenzie to join them on the stage. She stepped away from Damon, pausing to look back at him with a knowing look on her face.

"You're not going to kill me because you care too much what Elena thinks. I'm very good at reading people so how long have you been in love with her for?"

His cool façade actually broke and he showed genuine surprise as she left him on the floor and joined the other girls on the stage.

"What did you say to him?" Elena asked.

"Oh nothing." The little redhead replied with a mysterious smile, sending a quick wink at the eldest Salvatore brother who glared at her until Elena's Uncle John moved up to him and whispered something in his ear. Both men quickly left.

"It was nice of you to send my brother to me, even if dancing with him was a little weird." Elena thanked her.

"Well, no one knew about me, so it really wasn't that big of a deal if I had no escort." Kenzie shrugged it off.

"It was nice of Damon to step in for you." Elena pointed out.

"Or you know, weird."

"Before I crown the winner, I'd like to offer a personal thank you to all of these young ladies for their efforts to better our community." The Mayor announced.

"Oh yes, I've been a big help." Kenzie whispered with a small giggle

"So, without further ado it is my honor to announce our very own Miss Mystic Falls, Miss Caroline Forbes."

The blonde looked around in surprise as Elena grabbed her and hugged her, quietly congratulating her. Kenzie stepped up to hug her, also congratulating her before Caroline turned, accepting the sash, still in shock.

"She'll make a great Miss Mystic Falls." Elena said with a small smile.

"And it's like, a big deal?" Kenzie asked, still unsure of just how big everything was.

"Completely. I was excited for it when my mom and I signed up but without her here, it's just not the same, so I'm happy Caroline won."

The other contestants left the stage, leaving the winner to have her moment and Kenzie followed Elena to where Bonnie and Jeremy were waiting.

"You guys looked great." Bonnie told them with a strained smile.

"You looked really good." Jeremy told Kenzie. "I might have to steal a dance since we missed our first one."

She smiled up at him. "That would be nice, I just didn't want Elena to be left alone, ya know? I was just a sub."

"That was pretty cool that you did that, shall we?" He held out a hand for her and she placed her hand in his, following him to the dance floor. As he pulled her into his arms, he looked behind her, his smile faltering as he stared at something or someone and when she looked behind her, she could see a girl about her age in a short black dress with curly brown hair watching them and frowning.

"Do you know her?" she asked Jeremy.

"Yes, that's my… friend, Anna." He explained.

"She doesn't look too happy, you should go talk to her."

He looked down at Kenzie before glancing back at Anna. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Rain check, okay?"

He thanked her profusely before leaving her in the middle of the dance floor. She looked around and moved towards the punch bowl but was stopped by Mrs. Lockwood who smiled wide at her.

"Mackenzie, I must introduce you to some founding family members they are so excited to meet you."

"Um, Mrs. Lockwood." She began as the older woman grabbed her arm and led her across the room. "You know, my last name is Miller but it's a really common name."

"Nonsense, Jeremy claims he almost has your whole family tree done, it's only a matter of time."

Kenzie inwardly groaned as she was led around by the mayor's wife and introduced to various members of the founding families. She smiled as everyone gushed over her being a Miller and smiled some more as they spoke of how great and wonderful she was to step in at the last moment to help out the Court. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she was able to excuse herself to get some air and catch a moment for herself.

It was dark outside, dimming the house's interior but from across the room she could see Damon speaking to Elena, the latter looking worried as she gestured for them to leave. They did and she watched Bonnie leave, not far behind them. With a shrug and seeing a chance to leave the room, she followed after them.

They left through the front door of the house, moving along all the cars and Kenzie couldn't figure out where they were going, especially since her night vision sucked. She hurried herself along as best she could in her 5 inch heels to catch up to them as they moved into the woods towards a girl screaming. Finally she heard Elena call Stefan's name and she came up on the far side of Bonnie as Damon slowly walked towards his brother in an attempt to calm him down. Kenzie watched with wide eyes as she moved forward without thinking, the missing girl from the pageant on the ground, blood all around Stefan's mouth as he looked at them half crazed.

"Stefan, come on get control. It's okay, come on. Breath through it man." Damon was whispering trying to talk him through it.

The younger brother continued staring at him and as soon as his brother was within reach, grabbed Damon, throwing him away into a tree. He landed only a couple of feet from Kenzie and she stepped towards him to see if he was okay but Damon was up in a flash, standing in front of her, an arm up as if to hold her back.

"Stefan, stop it." Elena cried.

The crazed vampire moved towards his brother when he grabbed his head in pain, going to one knee. Kenzie grew puzzled but followed where Damon and Elena were looking to Bonnie who was staring at Stefan, eyes narrowed as she mumbled something under her breath. She stopped and Stefan slowly stood up, looking between all of them in horror.

"It's okay Stefan." Damon softly reassured him.

His brother continued to look between them all in horror before he turned to run off into the woods.

"What are you doing here?" Damon asked, turning on Kenzie.

"Seeing where the only people I know in this town went."

"Stupid." Damon muttered before turning to Elena.

"What do we do?" the stricken girl asked.

"Deal with the cops that are showing up here in 3, 2, 1." He moved towards the fallen girl, warning them to stay back as the Sheriff arrived on the scene.

"What happened?" Sheriff Forbes asked.

The three girls looked at each other, Bonnie looking away first in disgust. Elena sent Kenzie a pleading look and she nodded.

"We all came out to get some air and heard someone screaming." Kenzie explained, her face etched with the right amount of confusion and worry.

"Stay here." She told the girls moving over to Amber and Damon.

"Thanks." Elena whispered to the redhead, while Bonnie glared at her.

"What?" Kenzie asked the witch.

"You're just going to lie to everyone? What do you owe Stefan or Damon? Why protect them?" Bonnie asked. "Look what they're capable of."

"Sure, let's tell everyone," as Kenzie's sarcastic reply. "If they don't think we're absolutely nuts, we can start a huge manhunt on Elena's boyfriend. Gosh, isn't that your best friend? That doesn't seem very best friendy, now does it?"

Bonnie glared at her as the Sheriff rejoined them.

"She doesn't remember what happened."

"It's a good thing the girls got here when they did, she lost a lot of blood." Damon came up behind the Sheriff, raising an eyebrow at Kenzie for her comment to Bonnie.

"You didn't see anything?" Sheriff Forbes asked.

Elena and Damon looked at Bonnie to see if she would say anything.

"No." Kenzie answered for them. "We found her and Elena called Damon."

"Is she going to be okay?" Bonnie asked, avoiding everyone elses looks.

"It looks like it yeah. Why don't you girls get back to the party? Damon and I can take it from here."

The girls nodded and made the trek back towards the house. Bonnie veered off to her car and Elena followed her, Kenzie slowly trailing behind.

"Bonnie, can we talk about this?" Elena begged.

"There's nothing to talk about." The witch replied, unlocking her car.

"Bonnie, please."

She shook her head as she got in the car. "I told you I wasn't gonna make you choose but I need to make the choice for myself. Please just leave me alone."

"Wait." Kenzie called, holding her hand out to Bonnie. "I want my ring, now."

"But I'm not done researching it." Bonnie protested.

"Then you can research it around me. If you're going to be in the middle of a huge bitch fight with Elena then I want my ring, I want to be protected."

Bonnie glared at her before reaching into the purse and pulling out the ring, dropping it into Kenzie's hand. Then, she closed the door and drove off and Elena turned to her, looking ready to cry.

"Kenzie, again, thank you."

"I'm a great liar." She replied. "But I didn't do it for you or for Damon or Stefan." Kenzie warned her, crossing her arms under her chest.

"Stefan isn't a horrible person." Elena told her, her eyes pleading with her to understand.

"I'm sure you're right, he did save me from Damon and he did it without taking a chunk out of me himself, so points for that. If you ask me, Bonnie was kind of bitchy right then but I also don't know the whole story. But you guys trusted me with something and that's partially why I didn't tell. Telling the cops or whatever, even if they did believe me doesn't benefit me in the slightest, and that's another reason I didn't tell. So I'll keep my mouth shut."

Elena looked confused. She was used to the Kenzie who seemed nice and willing to be friends but this girl in front of her seemed almost cold, cunning, and calculating.

"And if it somehow benefits you in the future?" Elena was almost afraid to ask.

A small delicate snort came out of Kenzie. "The only way telling something this insane would benefit me would be if they decided to take a bite out of me, then the town could go crazy on a wild vampire hunt for all I care."

"That seems kind of cold." Elena cautiously replied, to which Kenzie lifted up a shoulder in a shrug.

"I've learned long ago to look after myself and only myself so I'm high on keeping myself around, that's why I wanted my ring back. Don't get me wrong Elena, I like you, I like Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy but I also like me as a whole person in one piece, a whole lot better, you know, without little fang marks in me and like I said, I really only do something if it benefits me at some point so you've been warned." She grinned, her cold mask gone now. "I'll see you around Elena."

… … …