Summary: After Damon and Stefan rescue Elena from Elijah, they forget to also rescue Maddison Bennett, also known as Maddie. Elijah ends up finding her and as time passes they grown an instant connection with one another. Maddie knows that it's wrong and she ultimately shouldn't be with Elijah, but she doesn't care. This is her story.

Review Responses to Chapter 54

ThePhantomismyLove – So glad you love Maddie and Elijah together.

Silentymayhem – Yes possessive Elijah and is great and ha ha, Janette is already approving of Klaus which is a good sign.

NicoleR85 – Thank you for constantly reviewing. I hope that you enjoy this chapter!

LoneButterfly05 – Here is your update. I am so glad that you're enjoying this story I hope that you like this chapter.

Kineret – Yes, he can most definitely be an idiot. Thank you for reviewing lol.

TriniDem – So glad you are loving the story. It's actually almost done and I don't think I'm going into the originals. If I do there would be a huge time gap because I haven't followed it a lot and then I have some other things that I am working on. I am planning to be done with this story after graduation but I will leave it open in case I ever want to do a sequel or something. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Shaniia . anonymous – Thank you so much for reviewing. I hope that you enjoy this chapter!

Before the Sun Sets

CHAPTER 55 ~ You Are In

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

"You're coming tomorrow right?"

Maddie looked over to Katie. They were the last two on the field. Most people were already headed to their cars or gone but the two of them were sitting on the bleachers. Just talking.

Maddie nodded, a grin on her face, "Of course. I'm doing your hair, remember?"

Katie grinned back, "Yeah I remember, I just wanted to make sure that you did."

"Wouldn't forget it Katy-Kat."

"I'm so nervous," Katie admitted.

Maddie frowned, "Why?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. I mean I know but I don't know."

"Easy," Maddie said. "Why don't you just start from the beginning."

"Okay well, you know Tom asked me to prom." She nodded. "And I really like him. Before we were just friends but now we have gotten closer and closer. He even went to our Championship game last Wednesday. And I just want to look pretty and have a great night. You know me, I barley wear dresses and now I'm coming out in a prom dress with hair and makeup and all that other shit."

"Relax," Maddie leaned over slightly and placed her hands on top of Katie's shoulders. "Breathe. First, you are going to rock prom tomorrow. Your dress is gorgeous but that doesn't matter. The dress won't make you, you will make the dress. And second if Tom doesn't see how perfect you are then he is an idiot."

Katie gave her a small smile, "You're the best friend that everyone should have."

"I try."

It was crazy to Maddie how time just flew by. It seemed like it was just last Friday she was waking up and anticipating the dodgeball tournament. Now here she was a week later, waking up for school, ready to go and then ready to help make this day amazing for Katie.

The first thing she noticed after shutting her alarm was the text messages that she had. She looked over at her phone checking to see who the messages were from. They were both sent last night when she was asleep.

Cordelia – I know you are going to be crazy busy tomorrow but make sure to text me pictures of Katie!

Elijah – Have a good night beautiful girl.

She smiled after reading both messages. Katie really was the little sister that Maddie and Cordelia didn't have. More so Maddie since Cordelia already had her as a younger sister. Nonetheless they both loved her. And Elijah, well she just missed him. He had been gone a week. Apparently, Katherine kept switching locations or something like that. She hadn't gotten to much information, part of the reason was because she didn't ask. She was already still slightly irritated that he went and when she did speak to him she didn't want to talk to him about her. He had told her though that he would be home as soon as possible. Hopefully before the first week of April was up. March was already close to being over.

Getting herself up out of bed she walked across the hall to her bathroom. She took a quick a nice shower. She washed her hair thoroughly before rinsing it and then getting out. Wrapping her body and hair in a towel she brushed her teeth. Looking at herself in the mirror of the bathroom she could see that she most definitely looked tired. It wasn't like bags under the eye tired but she did look worn out. Lacrosse was getting rougher. They had a game yesterday which they had almost lost so immediately when it was over they had a three-hour practice. It was only supposed to be one since practice was cancelled today to do prom but Paul wanted to make a point.

After practice she had went home and did all of her homework. She had something to do from every class. Except band. That was the only thing that wasn't stressing her at the moment. That and gym. The two classes that weren't giving her hell this year.

When she was finished in the bathroom she headed back to her bedroom. Quickly she changed into her undergarments before slipping into a black dress and sandals. She grabbed a cute jean jacket along with her things before heading downstairs. She was half way down when she realized that she didn't do much with her hair. She kept going though since she would have to come back home and get ready for pictures later with Katie. She would most definitely be changing her outfit then.

Without even checking to see if her mom or dad was up she went outside and got in her car, heading to school. While she normally wouldn't care about being late to Alaric's class she was in such a mood that she just wanted to go and get the whole day over with. She wasn't pissed off but she also wasn't thrilled about the idea of heading to school today.

Getting to school she hurried into the building, not bothering to stop by her locker. She just went straight to class.

It seemed like Ric was in a shitty mood that morning. He wasn't yelling at anymore but when he talked he just seemed extra aggravated. The minute class ended most of the students practically ran out of their seats. Maddie stayed, walking up to his desk.

"You okay?"

Ric looked up at her. It seemed like he was a bit startled, "Yeah. I'm fine."

"You sure?" He just looked at her which caused her to sigh. "Listen, I know we aren't exactly besties, that's Damon," he gave a light chuckle, "but I do care about you."

"I care about you too Maddie which is why I'm going to give you some advice."

"And what's that?"

"Leave town."

She raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Not now but pick a college that gets you out of here," he said seriously. "Every single time you turn around it's something in this town. One problem ends and the next one starts. You're a good kid, get away from it. I know you want to go to North Carolina, if you get in go. It'll be away. I also know," he hesitated, "that you are with Elijah. I'm not judging your choices, I'm not, as long as you're happy that's all that matters but make sure that he has your best interest at heart. I would never want to see anything bad happen to you."

Maddie just stared at him. Her facial expressions switched back and forth from blank faced to shocked. She wasn't sure what to say. She did feel that he was coming from an honest place though so she smiled. Not a huge smile, just a small one where her teeth didn't even have to show. "Right. I will keep that in mind. Have a good morning Ric."

Ric's words followed her throughout the whole day. She tried not to think about them but they just kept popping up in her head. And it wasn't like he had said anything wrong. In fact, he said the truth. She should attend a school that was far away from Mystic Falls. She already knew somewhere deep down that she wouldn't be going to the University of Virginia. Not that it wasn't a great school but it was a tad to close to home.

His main point about something always happening in town was sticking with her as well. One problem would end and the next would start. Everything was so interconnected and it sucked. It really sucked.

"You okay?"

She blinked, quickly looking away from the board she had been staring at and looking over to Matt. "I'm fine."

"You sure?" She nodded. "Because you look a little off. And by a little I mean a lot. You have bene staring at that board for the last past seven minutes, I counted."

"Just, a lot on my mind."

"Anything you need to share?"

She shook her head, "I'm good, but thanks. How is the new house?"

He shrugged, "It's weird with Tyler not being there and everything but it's definitely … spacious."

She chuckled, "Well I would hope. Through a party that might break it in."

He grinned, "Senior prom after party is at my house."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll be there."

"Hey."

A frown formed on Maddie's face. She let her backpack drop the floor and her keys hit the kitchen counter, "Dad. What are you doing here?"

"I'm off today."

"Right."

"You're home early."

"I have early leave." She laughed. They were in April. He should know this by now. Especially since within two months she would be done with high school and then graduating and then off to college.

"Yeah, I know. But you don't always come right home."

His tone didn't come off as suspicious but she had an inclining that he might be digging for something. She played it cool, "Well you know, a lot to think about. And I find that trips to Starbucks help to clear my head … and my wallet."

Christian laughed at that last part, "You and your sister are obsessed with that place."

"Don't let us fool you, you know that mom loves that place way more than we do."

"I don't doubt it." Christian had been standing by the door that led to the garage. He left it half way cracked as he walked over to the kitchen counter. Maddie watched as he tossed through some letter before he turned around. He stood across from her at the counter in the middle of the room and slid a thick white envelope to her.

She looked at him and frowned before looking down. It was then that she saw it. It was from the office of admissions at North Carolina. She looked back up at him as her mouth formed into an O shape before looking back down.

"Did you open it?"

Christian frowned, even though she couldn't see it because she was looking at the envelope, "Why would I do that?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. I don't even know why I asked that when it's obviously still sealed." She looked back up at him, "Do you think that I got in?"

"I think that you did." He hoped she did. He knew that she really wanted to go there. Even if she still wanted to keep her options open he knew that was what she wanted deep down in her heart. North Carolina.

"Should I open it?"

"You should."

She licked her bottom lip. Flipping over the envelope she carefully tore it open. The first thing she went for was the letter. She read the first three sentences before she stopped. Looking up she could see her dad's anxious face.

"What?" He asked quickly.

She sucked in her bottom lip before she let it go. Putting the letter down she sighed, "Well, I'm in!"

Christian's face turned into a huge grin before he ran over and gave Maddie a huge hug picking her up saying, "I am so proud of you!"

She was in.

Her dream college.

And he was so happy for her.

"Everyone is coming here or you're going somewhere else?" Maddie asked, wrapping Katie's hair around the curling iron.

She had gotten to Katie's house fifteen minutes ago. Katie's dad had let her in. Katie and her mom had arrived five minutes after Maddie got there. She had her makeup and nails all done. Before leaving her house, Maddie had changed her outfit. She knew that the team was coming for pictures and she wanted to at least look nice. She had on an off shoulder baby blue top, her favorite paid of ripped jeans from American Eagle and sandals that made the black nail polish on her toes glisten. At least she thought they did, her mom argued it was the light reflecting off of her feet that did it.

Katie nodded slightly, "Yeah. We just figured it out yesterday. I mean before everyone was going to go to Carl's house for pictures but then something with that happened and mom said we could just have everyone here. Your mom is coming too."

"She is?" She had heard her mom talk about it before but nothing had been set in stone.

"Yup and your dad might come to."

He hadn't mentioned it when she was home earlier but she shrugged it off. They had been to busy talking about college for him to talk about anything else. He seemed genuinely happy about her going to North Carolina but he wanted her to still consider all of her other options. He even mentioned the fact that she still had to consider New Orleans and visit. That made her think about Elijah. It was becoming apparent that he was right. She was eventually going to have to tell one of her parents about him. Especially if he was going to be the one to show her around New Orleans. She had come to the conclusion that it would be easier to tell her mom than dad. Start out small and then go for the big guns.

It was quiet as she continued to curl Katie's hard. She was going to curl it and then do a braid that went from the front to the side and connected to the bun she was going to pin her curls in. She already had the bobby pins ready. When she finished curling her hair she un plugged the curling iron. As she began to braid she heard her phone buzz.

"One braid or two?"

"Whatever you want to do," Katie responded.

"Right."

Her cell phone buzzed again.

"Can you check that for me?"

Her phone was on the counter right next to Katie so it would be easier for Katie to get. Katie gave a small nod, extending her arm she grabbed the phone.

"It's from Hanna."

"You can open it."

There was a moment of silence, "She said that she got into North Carolina!" Maddie could hear the excitement in Katie's voice. "She wants to know if you got your letter."

She nodded, even though Katie couldn't see her, "I did. I got in too!"

"Maddie, that's great!"

"Yeah," she said.

"Are you going?"

"Not sure."

"Why not? You want to go and you got in."

She sighed, "I'm still waiting for some other schools. And I have one more to visit. And I didn't even get my financial aid package yet."

"Probably a full ride. Congrats on being salutatorian by the way."

She smirked as she grabbed some bobby pins, "You already congratulated me."

"Yes but with the team, not by myself."

"Well thank you."

"You're welcome."

Her phone buzzed again, "What did Hanna say now?"

There was a short moment of silence before Katie spoke, "Not Hanna, Elijah." Oh shit. Maddie's hands stopped working on Katie's hair. She didn't want to seem suspicious but she didn't want to ask what he said. Katie took the liberty of doing the talking for her. "My love. He said my love. You don't just go around calling people my love so I'm going to take a wild guess this is your boyfriend. Or he will be."

She didn't want to lie to Katie. In fact she wanted to tell her. But it was so complicated. She kept quiet for a moment concluding that since she hadn't answered the question quick enough she had already given herself away, "It's complicated."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"You'll tell me when you're ready."

And this was one of the reasons that she loved Katie. She just accepted it. She didn't push or anything. She was just going with the flow.

"We are dating," she said honestly. "It's just complicated. He's … well he's older and my parents don't know."

"Are you going to tell them?"

"He wants me to."

"What's the worst that could happen? I mean even if they did disown you, which I don't think they would you're eighteen. You can leave."

She laughed, "Ha! Yeah right. I wonder if he would low key like that," she joked. "Then I could just live with him until graduation."

"Does he live here?"

"Sort of. Rebekah is his sister."

"I thought her brother was Kol," she said confused. "And the other guy. The one that sounds like he's from England."

She chuckled, "Klaus?"

"Yeah him."

"She has another one. He's older than both of them."

"Right. I'll get it one day.

The phone buzzed again.

"Relax," Katie joked, "this text was from Hanna. She said you two are rooming together if you go."

"Wouldn't want it any other way."

The phone buzzed again, "She also says that she is taking your clothes since you two are practically the same size so get ready."

"Oh wonderful, another Cordelia."

Both girls laughed at that.

"Katie looked so beautiful," Janette said as her and Maddie walked through the door of the house.

After finishing her hair, Katie slipped into her dress and then everyone was over for pictures. Maddie had made sure to get a whole bunch of pictures with Katie before sending her off. She hoped that she had a great time. She hadn't asked if she was going to the after party but she would text her about it later. If she wanted to drink Maddie would go and pick her up personally and take her home or back to her house.

She nodded her head as she and her mom walked into the dining room, "Didn't she. Loved her dress."

"We have to get your dress."

She sighed, "I know. I didn't even realize that the time was here to do it."

"It certainly has gone by fast." Janette said. "And I you will be getting the paperwork for your cap and gown within the next two weeks."

"Ugh, I'm not ready."

"I'm not ready for you to go either," Janette told her honestly.

Going. She would really be out of the nest soon. It was just so crazy to think about, no longer being home. Going away and being independent. She wondered what she would do if she ended up not liking it. Would she come home? Or would she run off with Elijah. Elijah. The name dinged in her head. She took her bottom lip between her teeth before she let it go. She was going to tell her mom, before she chickened out.

"I need to talk to you." She said seriously.

Janette looked up at her, "What's the matter sweetie."

Maddie sat down in the chair that was the closest to her. She wasn't sure how to tell her but she knew that she had to. She figured it would be much safer to start off with her before she even considered approaching her dad. She just hoped her mom would be understanding.

"Um well, as you know this year has gone by really fast. And in a couple of months I will be off to college somewhere."

"It's crazy," Janette noted. "I'm going to miss my girl."

Maddie's heart warmed hearing that, "And with everything going by so fast it's only fair that I tell you-," she cut herself off. She couldn't believe that she was really about to do this.

"Tell me what?" Janette leaned in. She put her hand on Maddie's shoulder. "Maddie, whatever it is that you want to tell me you can. I am your mother and I will always love you."

"I'm dating someone!" She rushed out.

Thank you all so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

In this chapter … Katie goes off to prom. Maddie tells her mom that she is dating.

Next chapter … Hello Pennsylvania