Hi everyone! Sorry for being MIA, but I'm back! As I'm stating at the end, this is part one out of two, so it won't be long until you get to read the next one. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries
I grabbed my concealer from the cabinet above the sink and put some on the tip of my finger. I lifted my chin up and brought my finger to my neck, dabbing gently to cover up the two marks. Maybe I was being a bit too paranoid. I mean, if you didn't pay real close attention to my neck, for some strange reason, then you wouldn't notice them. But something in my subconscious told me to cover it up anyway.
Closing the door behind me when I was finished, I left the bathroom and went into my own room to go on my computer before I had to leave for work. I typed in my usual search words and let my eyes skim the screen before me. Spending fifteen minutes or so looking through all of the new hits, I finally got tired of it. Yet again, it wasn't giving me anything useful.
I glanced at my wardrobe, and the dress hanging there. I was finally going to be able to wear it. Pushing the chair away from the desk, I went over to it and grabbed the hanger. I put the dress neatly and flat on my bed for when I was going to put it on later.
But first, work.
I had a shift at the Grill that day. We were closing early, since pretty much the whole town was going to the Lockwood's later on. Yet somehow, we were still pretty busy. I would've thought that business would be extremely slow, but no. Maybe people figured they'd make a whole day out of it, I don't know.
We were kind of undermanned. I was the only waitress alongside Sarah, and we only had Pete and Matt Donovan working in the kitchen. Were we prepared for this many customers? Not really, but in one way or another, we'd make it work.
Thankfully, when we were nearing closing time, the stream of people got thinner. And that was about the time when Sarah came up to me, apron in hand, with a guilty look on her face.
''You're leaving?''
She nodded slowly. I didn't know why, it wasn't like I was going to get mad about it. ''I've got to get some stuff sorted before getting ready for tonight. I'll meet you there?''
''Absolutely,'' I confirmed, wiping my hands off on with a towel. She raised her hand in a quick goodbye and then disappeared to her locker to change.
People were leaving anyway, and no one came in. So it really wasn't that big a deal. I got to work wiping tables and fixing all of the salt and pepper shakers and napkins. When I'd done everything I could think of, I sat down on the chair behind the counter and stretched my arms.
Work really could get boring sometimes. When there was nothing to do, there really wasn't anything to do. And it wasn't really right to pull out my phone either. So all I could do was sit there.
In the corner of my eye, I noticed Matt by the kitchen door, taking off his apron. Was he leaving, too?
I remained seating, but soon enough he walked up to me with the same guilty look as Sarah had.
''I have to go,'' he said, looking uncomfortable. ''I promised Elena to help get Jenna home. I already talked to Pete about it.''
''Jenna?'' I frowned. Elena's aunt was at the hospital? Figures, my mum wouldn't mention it.
''Oh, you didn't know?''
I shook my head. ''No, what happened?''
''Um...'' he scratched the back of his head. ''She walked into a knife.''
She walked into a knife? ''How does someone 'walk into a knife'?'' I frowned.
Matt shrugged, looking clueless. ''Who knows?''
People don't just 'walk into knives'. Seriously, they don't. But still, I felt so sorry for Jenna, however it'd happened. ''I hope she gets better soon,'' I made a face. ''That's horrible.''
Matt nodded. ''I should go.''
''Sure,'' I said gently. ''Business is slowing down, anyways.''
''Sorry for leaving you too,'' he smiled apologetically.
I brushed it of. ''It's fine.''
''Still,'' he said. ''Are you going to the masquerade tonight?''
''Yeah,'' I replied and grabbed some clean glasses from a freshly washed batch out of the kitchen, putting them behind the bar. Might as well start preparing for tomorrow.
''Then I'll see you there,'' Matt offered me a small smile.
I nodded. ''Yeah, good luck.''
And then Matt too went to his locker, leaving only me and Pete managing the whole place. That wouldn't have worked if we had customers ordering anything other than drinks, to be honest. Lucky us then, that the only one there was a guy drinking coffee.
Eventually, that guy left too – leaving only me and Pete to finally close everything up. I was kind of anxious to get home, both because when we had few customers everything was just so boring, and also because I hadn't been out like this in a while. I usually went to all the town gatherings, but I hadn't in a while now. I felt rusty.
''Just don't overdo it, please,'' I pleaded. My mum wouldn't let me see myself until she was finished with me. She was usually very tasteful, but sometimes her eagerness got the better of her.
''Don't worry,'' she assured and pulled the brush gently through my hair.
I'd been sitting there for half an hour or so, I think, when she determined she was finished.
''Okay, I think that's about it,'' she decided and pulled the brush through a strand of my hair one last time. She kneeled in front of me and inspected her work. The corners of her mouth turned up in a big smile. ''You look beautiful, honey.''
''You didn't overdo it?''
''I don't have to overdo it with you,'' she huffed.
Rolling my eyes, I stood up and walked over to the full size mirror on the back of my door.
The thing is, I rarely got all dressed up. So when I did, I never really recognised myself. For all I knew, that pretty blonde looking back at me could be just about anyone else but me. Mum had put my hair up in a delicate french braid, leaving some strands of hair to fall down and frame my face. I always liked having my hair out of the way.
She'd only smoothened my skin and framed my eyes with some dark eye-liner and mascara, as well as putting on a faint blush red on my lips, matching the colour of the dress. I felt really pretty.
I turned myself from side to side in the mirror to see the dress from every angle. It fit perfectly. If I could marry a dress, I'd marry this one.
Then I noticed my mother dangling something in her fingers behind me. ''Oh, no. Please,'' I begged her, taking a step back.
''You can walk in them,'' she noted and raised an eyebrow.
''I know,'' I grumbled. ''But that doesn't mean that I like it.'' One – heels made me taller than I already was. Two – they were a horror to walk in. My legs were always dead after only spending an hour in a couple of heels.
''Go on,'' she urged and practically pushed them into my hands. I grabbed them reluctantly, bringing them to the bed so that I could sit down and put them on.
''See?'' my mother exclaimed excitedly. ''You look great!''
I let out an inaudible grunt but looked in the mirror anyway. Yes, it looked good – they matched the dress and all, but I only wore them for my mothers sake. I usually wore heels everyday – but they were thick. These were practically stilettos.
I gave my mother a halfway hug. ''Thanks mum.''
''No problem, Evangeline,'' she smiled warmly at me and pinched my cheek. I shied away. ''Hey!''
She just laughed. ''Have fun tonight. I'll come pick you up, okay?''
''Yes please,'' I sighed. ''I'd rather not walk home in these.''
''Well if you did,'' my mother pointed out, ''at least you would look amazing.''
I rolled my eyes. ''Mum...''
''I know, I know,'' she waved it off. ''Come on, I'll drive you there too.''
Music was playing loudly, and as Sarah and I walked from the parking area the buzz of people's voices and laughter grew stronger and stronger. There were fire artists on the big lawn in front of the house. They'd really brought out the big guns on this one.
I was always in awe by the Lockwood estate. It was such an old beautiful building, and the grounds were gorgeous. I wasn't going to lie, I was a little jealous. Our house was just enough, and I loved it – but sometimes you just longed for more, you know?
I stepped over the entrance threshold alongside Sarah. All these people in bright and sparkly dresses and masks had my head spinning before I got used to it.
''Evangeline!'' Mrs. Lockwood suddenly appeared before us, looking striking in a purple dress and a black intricate mask.
''Mrs. Lockwood, hi!'' My voice got real squeaky all of a sudden. I thought she might chop my head off for not helping prepare for all of this.
''I missed you at the preparations?'' Mrs Lockwood smiled kindly at me. She had spent so much time perfecting a smile that it was hard to tell if it was a real one or not. And I couldn't tell how she felt about it if I didn't touch her. The only times I felt something without having to go skin to skin, was when someone was practically exploding with a certain feeling; like fear or happiness.
''Yeah... I know,'' I said, desperately trying to come up with an answer. I really had to start planning my lies ahead. ''I wasn't feeling too well.''
''I'm sorry,'' she apologised, pausing. ''Well... at least you're here now.''
I nodded. ''It looks amazing, Mrs. Lockwood.''
''Thank you, dear.''
Sarah nudged my side and I quickly smiled politely. ''We're going to look around.''
''You girls do that. Have a great time.''
Sarah had never been to the Lockwood Mansion before, so, naturally, she was all over the place. I had to grab her arm a few times when she wanted to peek into rooms which had their doors closed.
There were so many people. Mystic Falls wasn't a big town, but when you squeezed all it's inhabitants into one house, albeit big house, suddenly it didn't seem so small. You practically had to slither yourself between people to get anywhere when you were inside. I was lucky not to lose Sarah in the crowd.
Sometimes I thought that people were a bit daft when they said they couldn't recognise a person just because they were wearing a mask covering their eyes. And I still stood by that... but here, when there were so many people, sounds and smells of hundreds of people's perfumes, I probably wouldn't recognise my own mother unless I stopped and really talked to her. I was kind of confusing, to be honest. At least people weren't overly excited or something like that – their emotions were pretty evened out.
''I'm going to see if I can find Tyler!'' Sarah said a bit too loudly in my ear. And then she was gone.
Great.
There was no use in trying to find her. I decided to make my way out into the fresh air and away from all the flocks of people. It wasn't smothering emotional-wise, but god it was crowded. I needed to get some air.
I pushed through as best I could, but only managed to get back to the hallway before I got stuck behind a bunch of newcomers being greeted by Mrs. Lockwood. I leaned back against the wall, waiting for them to dissolve.
The need for space was kind of overwhelming. I knew I was rusty at the whole event-thing, but this felt a bit over the top... I never really were one to get claustrophobic. I kept my gaze down. If no one payed too much attention to me, then no one would recognise me either. I thought I was off the hook and finally able to get out of the house when I felt someone lean up against the wall next to me.
''Hey there,'' someone whispered in my ear, making my jump in surprise. I turned my head to the right... and found myself staring right up at none other than Damon Salvatore.
I decided to split the chapter in two parts, since it would be so long otherwise. This way I have something for you guys next week too! So stay tuned :)
