My first reaction was to talk to him and ask why he just couldn't tell me he wanted to go to the ball. I mean, it was weird he even wanted to go to a high school dance since he was an adult but it was understandable he wanted to do something fun without me. I'm just a little kid and not a vampire. Before I could do what I really wanted to do, which was getting mad and yelling at Elijah, Willow pulled me out of sight, behind a wall.
''What is he doing here?'' I asked Willow, as if she would know the answer. She rolled her eyes and shrugged.
''The bigger question is: what do we do?''
I looked around but didn't saw a solution until I noticed the mask in my hands.
I raised my eyebrow and showed Willow, who immediately understood.
Looking around one more time, I put the mask on and blended in the crowd. I smiled. Nothing would stop me from having fun this evening.
It was not long after I heard Willow say ''What in the world?'' until I saw Damon and Klaus. They were dancing with a couple of girls in the other corner of the room. I'd never been so confused before. Why were they here?
Before I could think too hard about it, Caroline and Jenna joined us.
Caroline looked beautiful, as always but Jenna caught my eye. I was used to the shy aura she always carried, people mostly didn't notice her. But tonight, something was different. She literally glowed, I had no words for it.
''You look-'' I couldn't find a word for it.
''Wow.'' Willow finished for me.
Caroline couldn't handle the attention being away from her and had to interrupt.
''Of course she does. I dressed her.'' Caroline looked at me and put her finger on her lips, as if she was thinking hard.
''But who are you actually? I've never seen you before.''
''Are you kidding me?'' I said, meeting Willow's eyes.
She shrugged
''I knew it was you before you put on the mask so that's why I probably didn't notice but you don't look like you. At all. ''
Willow continued.
'' Normally, your hair is really curly but now, it's straight and the mas covers half your face. The lip-gloss makes your lips look bigger and the mascara with the thick black line above your eyes makes your eyes also look bigger which makes nothing look like you anymore.''
The three of us stared at her. She had never ever showed any interest in the looks of someone or even said that much in less than a minute. Willow was someone who liked to stick to the point and didn't say things that didn't need to be said. She looked back at us and sighed.
''What? I can't be interested in make-up?'' She waved it off because she got too much attention to her likings.
''Anyway, I still don't know who you are, I'm sorry. And Willow, weren't you supposed to pick up Elena? Where is she?'' Caroline said. She looked at someone behind me and her eyes widened.
''Oh my god. Stefan is here! Willow, we have a huge problem. She can't come if her brother's here.''
Willow and I turned around. Our mouths both fell open at the same time.
''Caroline, it's me, Elena.'' I quickly said, thinking about the reason that they all were here, except for Rebekah unless she suddenly too showed up here. Little chance of that.
''If even Caroline didn't recognize you, they won't either so there's no problem.'' Jenna simply said, the first thing she said since she was here.
''It's not that simple, little miss sunshine. '' Willow said but I gave her a warning look to say any more. She didn't need to be mean to Jenna.
''Oh, I see Tyler. Is my hair still straight or did the stupid rain mess it up? '' She first looked at Willow for an answer 'cause she was the most honest but after rethinking her choice, she went for Jenna, feeling the need to hear she looked good. Jenna said, as predicted, her hair was still amazing and she would blow Tyler's mind when she talked to him. Caroline smiled and lightened up a little. She waved us goodbye and walked graciously to the guy she had a crush on. Jenna was asked to dance by a boy I thought I once saw with Stefan's friends but I wasn't sure, which left me and Willow alone.
''Why did you ask me for a solution?'' Willow suddenly asked.
''What do you mean?'' I answered and smiled at Jenna, who looked over and was nervous about dancing with a guy. She sometimes felt like a little sister to me.
''Jenna's a witch too. You could've asked her to get you out the house.''
I looked again at Jenna, but this time, in another way. Since Willow had told me about her, I hadn't had the time to even think about how I felt about her being a witch. I'd actually completely forgotten.
''When I asked you, I had no clue Jenna was one. After you told me, I didn't know what to think of it. I still don't.''
''I was curious about her though, so I asked my grandma what she knew about the name Hastings.''
''What did she say?''
''Nothing.'' Willow placed her hands between her knees and looked down.
''What do you mean nothing? She literally said the word 'nothing' or she just didn't answer it?'' I asked her.
Willow looked at me.
''She said she knew nothing. In the witches world it is not good that people don't know your name. ''
''Why?' It felt like I had a lot to learn about the witches.
''A name tells us a lot about the history of a witch. If your name is not known, it either means your family was so evil they could keep it a secret or so little that the bloodline has almost come to an end. ''
''I don't think that if you're not known, you had to be evil. You just lived your life without
any recognition because you didn't need it.''
''Yeah, well, there's a difference between your family never being recorded in The Tree and being unknown.''
''The Tree?''
''It's a book with all the witches family's and backgrounds in it during centuries. Every witch is in it, every family. Me and my gramma looked in it but didn't found the name Hastings.''
''Maybe she changed it? '' I guessed.
''Maybe. But I've got this weird vibe with her. I don't know. Could be me.''
I'd never seen Willow doubt before, it was weird to see her uncertain. It made me also feel less and less certain I could trust Jenna. Who was dancing with Stefan. My brother. Why was she dancing with him? I ignored the urge to stand up and drag her out of his grip but the chances were little. From the other side of the room, Caroline was looking and it was not her happy face. Even though she was talking to Tyler, her eyes always drifted off to Stefan and Jenna. I sighed. I thought she didn't care anymore about my brother. As if the evening hadn't been enough surprising, I saw Rebekah with Michael, dancing and smiling. So they were all here. That's why I couldn't come? A sudden anger rushed through me and I couldn't keep quiet anymore. I ran outside, leaving a confused Willow who wasn't the type to run after people and I was glad for that.

Once outside, I didn't know where to go. Before I could make up my mind, I heard the door going open again so I quickly walked to the football field of school. There was no one, a bench to sit on and it was dark, out of sight. Perfect for the time being. Looking around, feeling more alone than I had ever felt, I wanted to cry. A tear fell down my cheek. This wasn't me, I wasn't the type that cried for nothing. I wiped it away and manned up. I wasn't going to drown in self pitty, I was just going to take a little rest from the dance, get my thoughts straight and go back in. That was the plan. Until a wolf disturbed it and I couldn't remember what I had been thinking about.
''Jake? '' I slowly asked. ''What are you doing here?''
''I saw you going outside and followed. Not in the creepy stalky way , of course.'' Jake smiled and I noticed how white and perfect his teeth were. Like in my dream, only were they sharper then. And painful. I had to cope with the fact that that monster also existed in real life. I needed to stop seeing only the good and starting accepting the bad. But it was so hard.
Jake sat down beside me, legs apart and hands in his pockets like only boys could.
''What were you thinking about?'' He asked. His foot was making little circles in the sand.
I was thinking about how much I wanted to touch him, how I wanted to take off to a southern island with him, how I wanted all of him. But under no circumstances was I going to be that honest.
''You.'' I said. Not a lie.
''Me?'' He looked surprised and almost proud.
I nodded and couldn't help but laugh softly at his reaction.
''You must've been thinking I look damn good in a tuxedo, am I wright?'' He smiled and waved his hands up and down to show his tuxedo.
''Yeah, you got me.'' I sarcastically answered his gestures. Even though I had thought it.
''I was thinking about how you would look in wolf form.'' Again, not a lie.
Jake suddenly tensed and stood up.
''What's the matter?'' I asked confused.
''Go away. '' He said. At first, I thought he was talking to me but another figure appeared.
''I see you're doing good work.'' The stranger said. I couldn't see him well. The lights were on me and Jake which made everything else so dark I could only see shapes.
I looked back at Jake, hoping for an explanation but he didn't meet my eyes. He kept on staring at the boy. I stood up. I knew when I was unwanted.
''Don't go away, I mean, not that you have a choice.'' The boy grinned and the longer I had to listen to him, the longer I hated him.
''What do you mean I don't have a choice?'' I almost spit the words out but I tried to calm down a little.
He raised an eyebrow.
''So you haven't told her. '' The guy raised his shoulders and took a couple of steps.
''Guess I have the honor, don't I?'' He laughed and it was the most annoying laugh I had ever heard.
I looked at Jake, who's back was turned to me. His hands were clenched to fists.
''Elena, we're leaving. '' Jake turned around and took my hand, leading me to the parking lot. I let him because I didn't know what else to do.
''Jake, what is going on? What do you need to tell me?"
He ignored me and started the car. After setting the car in reverse, I was pushed forwards and I heard we had hit something hard behind us. Jake cursed and tried to drive backwards again. I didn't get what he was doing, what if it was a person behind us? He needed to drive forwards!
A sudden cold wind blew past me. I looked to the side and the door of the car was gone, my brother had replaced it. Damon actually smiled before pulling me out and throwing me in the bushes behind him. I was wondering whether he had known they were there or that it was good luck.
''Damon!'' I yelled.
''Stay there, sis. '' He gave me only a tenth of his attention before turning it to the driver, Jake. Damon climbed in , pulled Jake out and threw him on the ground. Jake coughed and tried to stand up. Damon didn't let him, he pulled him up by his throat with his feet from the ground. Jake couldn't breathe anymore. To my right, I saw Elijah, holding his foot on the other guy to keep him on the ground.
''Damon, let him go. He's not-'' I started but was cut off by Damon.
''Yeah, he is. He is one of the so called bad guys, Elena. ''
A bad feeling came over me. He knew Jake. But how?
I looked around, only to see that the number of people had doubled, if not, tripled. And by the look of their eyes, they were all wolves. I recognized Conchobar from the bon fire. He looked even more scarier now than before. What were they all doing here?
''Shit.'' Elijah said. He grimaced and let go of the annoying boy. So did Damon with Jake.
''Take her, we're leaving. '' Elijah commanded Damon. I was dumbstruck. I gave Jake one last look before my vision turned into a blur. Fifteen seconds later, I was home. Apparently, Rebekah and Michael had followed us because they too came home. Rebekah's motherly instinct took over and she cuddled me to death, asking me whether I was okay.
I pushed her off and looked her in the eyes.
''I was, before Damon and Elijah came.'' Wherafter I shifted my gaze to them and crossed my arms.
''What was that all about?'' I asked them.
''That? '' Damon said, and bended over the couch.
''What have you done?'' He slapped Alaric in the face but he didn't wake up.
I groaned. I had completely forgotten I was supposed to be home, with Alaric.
''He'll wake up in a couple of hours, don't worry. ''
Damon didn't respond, he lifted alaric's arm, let it go where after it fell on the couch. Alaric was lifeless for the moment, the herbs with Willow's spell had worked. Or drugs. You could call it drugs too.
''Never thought you would go all badass.'' Klaus said, coming in. I turned around and saw blood on his lips. I frowned.
''You did not drink from someone at the ball, tell me you didn't.'' I said, not even feeling guilty I hadn't listened to Elijah. It even felt like I was the one who deserved an explanation. I really wanted one.
''What was that all about?'' I asked them. ''How do you know Jake, Damon? ''
He looked back at me.
''How do you know him?''
Rebekah gasped loudly and clapped her hands together.
''Of course! He was the boy in the garden. Oh my god, I should've known you wouldn't leave it at that.''
Everything became even more weirder.
''Start from the beginning please, I'm completely lost.'' And before Elijah could say I needn't to know a thing, I pointed at him and said: '' And I want to know everything. From the day we moved here till now.''

Rebekah sat down, so did Michael. Elijah sighed.
''you sure you want to know everything? Even though you know it's probably…not fun to hear. '' Elijah sat down before continuing.
''Some things are better kept a secret because once you know it, you can never go back. ''
I nodded firmly and to be sure I heard everything, I sat down next to him.
''Tell me all. I'm ready for it.''
''Wait,'' Damon said, standing up. He concentrated and looked at Elijah.
''Where's Stefan?'' It got quiet in the room.