Now, you all know what Stefan thinks of Damon's interest for Leslie. Also, who would've thought you had to take a test in order to be Leslie's friend? Who hopes Damon passes? Enjoy Chapter 17 everyone. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or any of its original characters. Wish I did though.

Chapter 17

(Elena's POV) Who missed twin #2? ;)

Where was Leslie when I needed her? We were all sitting in the living room painting our nails and choosing some of my jewelry for the Founder's Day party tonight. Both Bonnie and Antonia had offered to help me with my hair, but I knew they wouldn't do it like I wanted it. The only person that could get my hair perfectly straight was Leslie. Leslie may appear to have a short temper, but the truth is that she is a very patient person.

That's why she's such a good artist. Leslie had shown me her new creation, which had been some sort of bird, no, not bird... crow. She had gotten super ticked off when I called him a bird. She did an excellent job getting all the details though. From the body shape, to the contrast in shade and color. I was taken out of my thoughts when Antonia said.

"Hey Elena, Caroline told us something and I think you should know about it."

What had Caroline said now? I liked Caroline, but she had a tendency to exaggerate things. The look on both Antonia and Bonnie's faces told me that whatever she had said wasn't good. I sighed and prepared myself for what was coming. I looked at Antonia and said.

"What did Caroline say?"

She pressed her lips together at first. Then she looked like she wanted to say something, but then decided not to. She turned to look at Bonnie and said.

"I can't do it. You tell her."

Bonnie's eyes widened and she said.

"Yeah right, and get Leslie mad at me again. I don't think so."

She sighed and said.

"Okay, but this has to go into the vault because Caroline would kill me if it got back to Damon, she squealed."

I zipped up my lips and said.

"So, what did she say that's so bad?"

She took a deep breath an said.

"Apparently, Stefan has a very interesting back story. Do you know what happened with his ex girlfriend Katherine?"

Suddenly, I heard the front door open and I saw Leslie step into the room. She had a smile on her face truly happy about something. What on earth had she done now? She then smirked at us and said.

"As a matter of fact, I do know what happened with her. What do you know about her?"

Antonia just smiled at her and said.

"Hey Leslie, where you been?"

Leslie just took a seat across from me and said.

"I went to go get my car."

I instantly smiled and asked.

"Did you see Stefan?"

She only rolled her eyes and said.

"Naw, I saw the gingerbread man."

I sighed and said.

"Very funny."

She just smiled and said.

"I'm glad I made you laugh."

She then closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the armchair. I sighed, this was all my fault. Leslie was weak and tired all because of me. She had stayed up all night taking care of me and reassuring me that everything was fine. I had been able to sleep a couple of hours, but she hadn't. It was all because I couldn't handle someone's death.

The moment I had seen Mister Tanner I had felt like the entire world had started spinning around me. If Stefan hadn't caught me, I would've probably collapsed right there in front of everyone. It was just that the scene was so gruesome that I couldn't handle it. I had seen dead people before, but only from a distance. I had never been so up close to the body before.

The image of him was beginning to come to me again and I was about to freak out. When suddenly, Leslie had me by the shoulders and was shaking me saying.

"Elena! Snap out of it! Quit thinking about it already!"

I blinked and stared at her. I could feel the tears brimming underneath my eyes. She glared at me and said.

"Elena, I swear I will call Danny if you don't let this go."

My eyes widened at that, I knew exactly what would happen if she called him. Once he got here, she would tell him erase my memory. That way, I wouldn't think about it anymore. Danny and our father were the only ones that were strong enough to influence us. Age and training definitely meant power in our world. Even though Leslie was stronger than me. Since we were both twins we couldn't influence each other. In order to avoid a visit from my stronger and more experienced older cousin. I took a deep breath and said.

"I'm fine, I just... spaced out for a bit."

She narrowed her eyes at me and said.

"Right."

Leslie then moved back to sit in her chair. Then Bonnie spoke and said.

"Who's Danny?"

I smiled and said.

"He's our older cousin."

She seemed really surprised by that, so she said.

"You have an older cousin? Is he like your real cousin or is he like Stefan and Leslie?''

I just laughed and said.

"No, he's really our cousin. His mom and my dad are siblings."

Bonnie nodded and then said.

"Is he your only cousin?"

I blinked and started laughing then Leslie joined in. She obviously found that funny, as well. I smiled and replied.

"No, he's not. We have like about twenty-three younger cousins from my mom's side of the family, right Leslie?"

Leslie just smirked and said.

"Actually, its twenty-four. I heard Aunt Jenni's pregnant again."

I stared at her in surprise. How many kids could Aunt Jenni take? She already had six. Dang, maybe she wanted to break our grandmother's record and pass ten kids. Our grandmother had had seven boys and three girls. Unfortunately, one of her daughters died when she was a baby. So, we only had one aunt, which was Aunt Jenni.

Bonnie stared at us and said in a shocked voice.

"What! Twenty-four? You have twenty-four younger cousins?"

I recovered from my surprise and said.

"Yep, Leslie and I are the oldest on our mom's side of the family. Although, I guess technically speaking, Leslie is the oldest of all of us."

Leslie just rolled her eyes at me and said.

"Thanks for the reminder, smart one."

I just smiled and said to Bonnie.

"Anyway, Danny is our only cousin on my dad's side of the family. He's also older than us."

Bonnie stared at us and said.

"How old?"

I frowned at that, exactly how old was he? I wasn't quite sure how old he was, myself. I knew he was several centuries old, but I didn't know when he stopped aging. I never really understood how nocturnals stopped aging and became immortal. My dad had tried explaining it, but I just never understood. It had something to do with your control and maturity. The one that did get it was Leslie. So, I wasn't surprised when she immediately said.

"He's nineteen."

Bonnie smiled and then Antonia said.

"Is he hot?"

I raised my eyebrows and said.

"He's my cousin! How would I know? I don't see him like that!"

Leslie just smirked and said to Antonia.

"If you like guys with spiky blond hair and green eyes. Then, yeah, I guess he is. Anyway, what were you saying about Stefan?"

I saw how Bonnie instantly cringed and looked out the window. If what Antonia was about to say was bad. Then she was probably thinking of what Leslie's reaction would be. I sighed and said to Antonia.

"To answer your question. All I know is that Stefan and Damon both dated Katherine and that's why they have issues."

Stefan had told me a little about his past relationship with Katherine. After Damon had insinuated that he wasn't over her. Antonia just sighed and said.

"I just want you to know that I don't believe any of this, okay? I don't think Stefan is like that."

I sighed and said.

"Antonia please, I'm dying here."

She smiled and said.

"Okay, well here goes nothing... Apparently, they did both date her only she chose Damon and that drove Stefan mad. So, he did horrible things to try and break them up. He manipulated Katherine, he filled her head with all these lies. Until it worked and she turned against Damon. Remember that that's what Caroline said, not me."

I was so shocked that I didn't know what to say. Stefan wasn't like that. He wouldn't do that to his own brother. I know, I would definitely never hurt Leslie like that. Although, what shocked me the most was Leslie's reaction. Leslie was doubling over in laughter. She was laughing like it was the funniest thing she had ever heard. We stared at her in shock, but she just kept laughing. Then finally after a while, she said.

"Is that what Damon told her? Man, he's such an idiot. Hmm, maybe that's the way it actually went down in his arrogant little head. Oh well, at least I had a good laugh."

She was still snickering finding it all very funny. What did Leslie know about the Salvatores and Katherine? Before I could actually ask her anything. She smiled and said.

"Have any of you taken into consideration that that's one person's side of the story, meaning Damon's."

I couldn't agree more, she was right. No wonder, she said that that was the way Damon thought things happened. We only knew of the way Damon had interpreted things. We hadn't heard Stefan's side of the story yet. So, I said loyally.

"Leslie's right, we haven't heard both sides yet."

Bonnie finally spoke and said.

"We just thought you should know."

I sighed and said.

"Besides, the past is the past. His past relationships aren't any of my business."

Bonnie then looked at me and said seriously.

"Unless he's a manipulative liar."

I thought at least Leslie would give her, her signature death glare. Instead, she just smiled and said.

"Trust me, I don't think he is."

She was obviously still recovering from what Antonia had said. I could see how she still had a bright smile on her face. So, like a loyal girlfriend I said.

"Stefan is none of those things."

Bonnie then stared at me and countered.

"How do you know?"

Leslie then stared at her and said.

"What am I speaking freaking french or what? Listen, I've hung out with them already and based on their attitudes. I'm on Elena's side on this. My big bro's a good guy."

Wait, how many times had she actually met with them? So stared at her and said.

"Leslie, how many times have you actually met with Damon and Stefan?"

She shrugged and said very bluntly.

"Well, Stefan, every single day at school. Also, when he comes over to chill with us. Damon, nearly every stinking hour of the day. He's like my own personal stalker or something. Freaking creeper."

At that, all of us instantly looked at her and said.

"What!"

I really shouldn't have been surprised though. It was pretty obvious that Damon had a crush on Leslie. The way he looked at her and the way he was holding her at our dinner party pretty much said it all.

I just didn't know how Leslie couldn't see it. She could tell if someone would be a good friend, but she couldn't even realize when someone liked her. She was always too guarded. She not only protected herself personally, but she always kept a huge electrical gate around her heart.

Many guys had tried approaching her in the past and she always rudely told them to go to hell. When I asked her if she even believed in love. She had simply stared at me like a was a moron and said, "love makes you weak."

Leslie simply smirked at our outburst, but before she could reply her phone went off. She pulled it out and said sarcastically.

"Well, if it isn't the manipulative liar."

She pressed the screen on her iPhone 5 and said.

"Hey big bro, what up?"

Then all of a sudden, she busted out laughing and she said.

"Did you like the little surprise I left you?"

Surprise, she left Stefan a surprise? Oh, no! What did she do now? She then raised her eyebrows and said.

"You haven't seen it? Oh my bad, why don't you go up to your room and see it? It came all the way from the bottom of my heart."

Then all of a sudden she pressed a button so it could be on speaker and motioned for us to listen. She put the phone on the table and put her finger to her lips. Then she said.

"Three, two, o..."

"Leslie! What the fuck did you do to my jackets!"

I instantly put my hand over my mouth. That wasn't any way to talk. I was really glad that it wasn't Stefan speaking like that. It was Damon and he sounded mad. Why did he have Stefan's phone though? Also, what had Leslie done to his jackets? Leslie was just laughing out loud obviously pleased with what she had done. She then got her phone and said.

"Payback's a bitch, isn't it Damon? Now, are you going to try anything stupid again?"

I frowned disapprovingly and said.

"Leslie! Language!"

She ignored me completely and then I heard Damon yell.

"You bet your cute little ass I am! Of all the freaking colors in the world, you had to use freaking pink!"

There it was again, Damon definitely thought she was attractive. In my book, boy plus he thinks you're hot equals crush. Then I thought, she used pink? Pink, for what? What did she do? I stared at her and said sternly.

"Leslie, what did you do?"

Since it was still on speaker, Damon heard me and he said.

"You wanna know what the hell she did! She took three of my best jackets and sprayed them with pink paint! Not only that, but she sprayed all over my bed sheets as well!"

She just laughed and said.

"Ha, you wanna know the best part? It doesn't come off, it's permanent."

"Leslie!..."

After that, a stream of profanities erupted from his mouth. None were directed at Leslie though. The majority were directed at Stefan and the color she had used.

I saw Antonia and Bonnie both laughing at him. I heard him growl in annoyance. He was clearly mad about that. He then said in a menacing tone.

"Believe me when I say that you're gonna pay for this, Leslie. I will get you back, for this."

Leslie just laughed at him and said.

"No, you can't do that because now we're even."

He then yelled angrily.

"No, we're..."

Suddenly, he stopped and said.

"Fine."

Leslie just smiled and said.

"Thought so. So, anyways I'll see you later. Oh and don't forget this came all the way from the bottom of my heart."

He laughed and said.

"So, what you're saying is that you hate me?"

She smiled and said.

"No, what I'm saying is that you passed. Congratulations, bye."

"Wait!.."

It was too late though, she had already hung up. I sighed and said.

"You didn't even let him say why he called you in the first place."

She just shrugged and said.

"I did make you guys laugh though. Oh, and I owe you a new can of paint. I'll get you one for Christmas."

I tried to hide my smile, but failed. Antonia and Bonnie just laughed at her and I simply nodded in agreement. Then something struck me and I said.

"So, he passed huh?"

I knew all about how Leslie tested people to see if they would make good friends. I really didn't understand how she did it, so I just let her be and I didn't question her. Leslie merely smiled at me and replied.

"Yeah, he did."

I smiled and said curiously.

"What made you change your mind?"

She merely looked out the window and said.

"He can take a joke."

So, that was the answer to pass her test? If someone could take a joke? No, Leslie was much smarter than that. She obviously did more studies and observations on people than just that. I was proven right when she said.

"If you think that's the answer to the tests I give, you're wrong."

I smiled truly pleased and said.

"Good."

She stared at me then shrugged and said.

"Whatever."

Antonia and Bonnie were staring at us curiously and then Bonnie said to Leslie.

"Tests? You give out tests?"

She sighed and then explained to them how she would give each of her soon to be friends tests. When they asked her when they would take theirs. She just laughed and said.

"You guys already took it and you passed."

Bonnie frowned and said.

"I don't recall taking it."

Leslie just laughed at her and said.

"It's not a physical test. It's more of a loyalty and personality test."

Bonnie then blushed, clearly embarrassed and said.

"Oh."

Leslie just laughed, but before she could comment her phone rang again. She sighed and looked at the screen. Then she frowned and stared at the number in confusion. She clicked the answer button and said into the phone rudely.

"Who the hell is this and how the hell did you get my number?"

I stared at her and yelled.

"Leslie! Don't be rude!"

She ignored me and said into the phone.

"Like I care. What do you want, Damon?"

I sighed in relief. What if that unknown number had been one of our uncles and she spoke to them like that? Some of our uncles weren't as forgiving of rudeness as our dad was. Leslie then spoke and said.

"And why would I do that?"

Damon seemed to say something to her and she laughed. Then she said.

"Alright, sure, why not? I'll be there around eight. Kay, bye."

I stared at her and said.

"Where are you going? You know that we can't miss the Founder's Day party tonight."

She just rolled her eyes and said.

"Naw, really? I didn't know that. Even after you've been torturing me about it for the past three days."

I sighed and said.

"Where are you going at eight?"

"Last I checked, I'm the oldest and you're not mother. So, I don't have to explain myself to you. But if you must know, I'm going over to help Stefan and Damon get ready for the party."

She was going to help them get ready? If Leslie was going to help them then Stefan was going to look downright sexy tonight. Leslie always knew what suited men the best. I sighed in relief, but still asked.

"You'll still be at the party, right?"

Leslie just looked at Antonia and said.

"I swear, maybe there's some flu going around that's making everyone go deaf."

Antonia just laughed and said.

"I don't know, maybe."

Leslie just smiled and said.

"Well, I'm going to go find something to wear for tonight. Hopefully, I have at least one black dress somewhere in my closet."

With that, she got up and was about to walk away. Before she left, I stopped her and said.

"Hey, before you go. Can you help me with my hair? If you're gonna help Stefan, then I want at least my hair to look good tonight."

She stared at me curiously and said sarcastically.

"Kay, sure. Oh and don't worry, Stefan would look good with anything on. He's hot, so anything would work. He could go in one of those monkey suits and he would still turn some heads."

At that, I instantly smiled. I knew very well that Leslie was just being funny. She didn't think of Stefan in a romantic way. To her, Stefan was her big bro. Nothing more and nothing less.

Damon, on the other hand, I still had a few questions about. When I had gotten home after the game. I noticed that Damon was already here, and that he had come from upstairs. Which, it didn't take a genius to know that he had obviously been upstairs with Leslie in her room.

What I did find a little odd was that my dad seemed perfectly fine with that. Come to think of it, he didn't say anything when Stefan was in my room with me. What on earth was up with that?

My dad was obviously up to something the question was, what? I was pretty sure that Leslie already suspected the same. Oh well, I'll just leave the investigating stuff to Leslie. She was good at being sneaky. Sooner, rather than later she would find out the truth and she would tell me.

Leslie was absolutely right about one thing though. Stefan was definitely hot and would look good with anything. The image of him instantly made butterflies flutter throughout my stomach. The mere thought of seeing him tonight made me feel warm and content. Leslie obviously knew what I was thinking, so she smirked and said.

"Dang Elena, chill. You'll see him soon. It's not like he's gonna melt into the shadows and disappear."

Obviously, that was a joke. By, melt into the the shadows, she was clearly talking about shadow traveling. Shadow traveling was simply to dark and scary for me, so I refused to even try it. It wasn't like Leslie and I could even do it anyways. We hadn't inherited that particular power. At least, we didn't think we had. Either way, shadow traveling was a very creepy power to have. Well, at least I thought it was.

Danny had said that in order to shadow travel, all you had to do was think of the place you wanted to be. Then after that, simply find a dark place and literally melt into the shadows. Before you knew it, you were already where you wanted to be. If you were a professional like him then you would be able to take people with you as well. That was the way he had taken Leslie to go get her car today in the morning.

Suddenly I heard Leslie say.

"Anyway, I have to go dig for what to wear tonight. So, I'll see you before I leave, okay?"

I smiled and replied.

"Yeah and thanks."

She merely nodded and left the room. As she walking up the stairs, she yelled.

"Oh yeah and, no, people. There is nothing going on between Damon and I. I wouldn't do that to Caroline. Besides, Damon's a man whore."

At that, all of us instantly began laughing. Leslie was such a fun person to be around. It was things like that, that made me feel very proud of being her twin sister. While, I was more serious and girly and, yes, I do admit I'm girly. Leslie was more funny and outgoing. She didn't care what people thought of her and the things she said. She simply lived life to the fullest and enjoyed herself. I smiled and yelled back.

"Of course, there isn't anything going on. I was obviously dreaming about Damon being so affectionate to you last night."

Suddenly, I heard a loud crash and I just smiled. Yeah, she definitely didn't like that. It wouldn't be very smart to go near her right now. Then I heard her come down and say.

"My bad little sis, I think I accidentally broke the imported vase near the stairs."

She wouldn't! That vase was nearly twenty grand! I had paid a lot of money to get that here! It was an authentic piece of ancient Chinese culture, for Pete's sake! No, no, no! I instantly got up and ran up the stairs. I noticed Bonnie and Antonia running after me. When I reached the top of the stairs, the room spun. There on the floor was the twenty-thousand dollar, vase shattered into a million pieces. I lost all sense of balance and I felt the floor lift up and come towards me. The last things I heard were.

"Elena!"

"Leslie! She fainted!"

"Hmm, I thought she stopped doing that after we turned twelve."