Author's note: Nope - I still don't own The Vampire Diaries - drat! Just borrowing the characters for a bit.
Stefan rapped on the deep blue door and waited.
And waited.
He heard someone moving around and judging by the light footsteps, he knew who it was. "Bonnie?" He knocked again.
The steps drew closer to the door, and he watched the curtain ripple. "What do you want Stefan?" She cracked the door. "You haven't been invited in this house."
"I know that." He was always surprised when someone felt the need to remind him he couldn't enter a house - as if he'd ever think otherwise.
"Why are you here?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and shifted her weight to one foot. She didn't offer to let him enter the house.
"Today's Elena's birthday."
A flash of recognition flew over Bonnie's face. "It is! I've never forgotten before." Her shoulders slumped in dismay. "Her first birthday without her parents. I'm a horrible friend."
"No." Stefan looked at her with understanding. "You've just had a lot on your mind." He stopped and considered his wording for a moment. "But there's something you can do to make it up to her."
Her defenses immediately went back up. She repeated her earlier question. "What do you want?"
"I wanted your help with her present."
"What kind of help?" She looked at him in suspicion.
"The kind of help only you can give."
"You need a witch." Her eyes flashed in annoyance. "I helped you with Caroline's ring, but you can't just expect me to help every time you ask. I'm not Emily." She stood and looked at him defiantly.
"I never said you were, but I think this is something you'll want to help with." Stefan leaned against the side of the house. "Look, Bonnie, I know you don't want to invite me in, but can you at least come out where we can talk?"
Elena shifted in her seat and tried not to stare at the empty desk next to her. Where was Stefan? She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone - sitll no messages. He's always had a spotty attendance record; but she'd seen him just an hour ago, and he'd told her he would be in class. She realized the room had gone silent.
Mr. Saltzman had stopped his lecture and was looking pointedly at her phone. He cocked his head in a silent question. Frowning, she shook her head and pocketed her phone. He turned back to the chalkboard and began writing the night's homework assignment as the bell rang.
Now Elena was free to stare at the vacant seat on the other side of her. Bonnie was missing too.
She stuffed her binder into her messenger bag and tried to decide if she wanted to stay and finish the day or if she should fake being sick so she could go in search of Stefan.
"Elena?"
She realized she'd been standing frozen in the middle of the history classroom. "Um, yes, Mr. Saltzman?" She slowly approached his desk.
"Are you alright?" His forehead creased in concern.
"I'm fine." She answered too quickly.
He didn't look convinced. "Damon told me about Katherine being in your room last night."
"You've already seen him this morning?" Elena couldn't hide her confusion. Had they met for breakfast or something?
He cleared his throat and looked around the classroom. "Actually, it was closer to midnight when he looked in Jenna's room."
"Oh!" Elena felt her eyes widen. How long had that been going on? Students for the next class began filing into the classroom. "I need to go. I can't be late to my next class."
Mr. Saltzman nodded. "Elena, if you need anything." He lowered his voice so only she could hear, "I'm going to be there again tonight."
She gave a half smile. "Thanks." She backed out of the classroom. Jenna and Alaric? She guessed he'd finally gotten rid of his excess baggage.
"Elena!" Someone reached out and grabbed her arm. She jumped in response and dropped her purse - its contents sailing along the floor of the crowded hallway. She dropped to her knees and promptly bumped heads with Matt. "Sorry!" I didn't mean to scare you."
"Oh, its not you." She shook her head dismissively. "Really, its me."
"I was just waiting to say happy birthday."
"You remembered?" Her lips turned up in the first genuine smile of the day.
"Of course I did." He laughed. "I couldn't forget my first broken arm." He grinned as he motioned with his cast.
"When you fell at the roller skating rink."
"Because someone spilled her soda on the floor but didn't want to tell her mother." He teased as he finished her sentence.
"I got into so much trouble for that...at my own party." Her chin trembled and she bit her lower lip. "That was my last big birthday party."
Matt studied her face. He hadn't intended to make her sad. "Are you alright?"
"Of course I am." She forced a smile.
"Elena, I've known you forever. If something's wrong, you can talk to me."
"Thanks Matt." She shrugged her shoulders. "I'll be fine." She noticed the halls clearing. She couldn't continue the conversation, or she really would break down. "I don't want to make you late for class." Elena turned and scurried down the hall. She didn't see Matt's worried expression as she ducked into her English class.
"There may not be another one." Bonnie slammed the lid on the dusty cardboard box closed. The dank air in the house was heavy, and it made her uneasy. She hadn't been in the house since Grams' funeral - her dad and his brother were still arguing over who everything belonged to, and she'd been happy just to stay away.
Too many painful memories.
Here she was, though, back in the house. Looking through her Grams' things.
For Elena.
She watched Stefan as he pulled a medium sized wooden trunk out of the back corner of the attic. Not too much longer than a stick of firewood, it had easily been overlooked in its spot beneath the eaves. The lid was cracked with age and wear - the hinges rusted shut. She'd played in the attic for hours at a time when she was younger. She'd found the box once. Grams had flown at her with such intensity, she'd been too scared to go back into the attic for weeks.
She studied the expression on Stefan's face. "You recognize the box." It wasn't a question.
But Stefan wasn't here with her now. He was lost in his memories. Of course this would be here. Emily was Katherine's handmaiden. He took a deep breath before he opened it.
"Stefan?" She walked to his side and looked over his shoulder.
She recognized the smell. Mold. Decay. Neglect. Her mother used to drag her from one antique store to another when she was barely old enough to be allowed inside.
Look but don't touch.
Stefan seemed transfixed by the sight. She looked over his shoulder.
A black silk umbrella.
A pair of lace gloves carefully folded.
A lilac paper fan.
Everything seemed perfectly preserved as they sat atop a crocheted cream shawl.
"Do you need me to help?" She reached out and touched the fan. "This are Katherine's things?" Bonnie watched as his jaw clenched. He ran his fingers lightly over the gloves.
He cleared his throat and looked at her. "Yes. This is Katherine's chest." His voice was heavy with emotion. "But this..." He picked up the fan and the mother-of-pearl ribs shone in the light coming through the window. "This was my mother's. I didn't realize Damon gave it to her."
They worked together, peeling back the layers of Katherine's time in Mystic Falls. Hair pins, gloves, a cracked mirror...but not what they were looking for. The contents of the trunk arrayed around him, Stefan rocked back on his heels in annoyance. "I thought it would be here."
Bonnie stared at the chest. She remembered Grams' face when she'd stumbled upon it years ago. She'd been angry...and afraid.
The chest hadn't revealed all its secrets.
"Let me look." She pushed Stefan back as she stood over the it. She closed her eyes and held out her palms as she concentrated.
Stefan watched... And waited...And heard a click.
With the slightest of grins on her face, Bonnie ran her fingers over the floor of the box - which actually wasn't the floor at all. She held her breath as she lifted out the wooden panel.
Elena threw her hair over her shoulder as she walked to the picnic table. She stared at her apple. She wasn't hungry. She wasn't even sure why she'd gone through the line to buy it, other than the fact that it gave her something to do. She'd wandered through the hallways for the first half of the lunch period before one of the office aides caught her and told her to go outside. She glared as she spun the apple in her hand.
"You're not Bonnie. You can't light it on fire."
Elena grimaced. Just what she needed. "Do you need something, Damon, or are you just here to annoy me?" She picked up her apple and took an angry bite.
"Ouch." He feigned a wounded look. "I thought we were starting to get along again." He studied her face. "Are you alright?"
Slamming the apple back onto the table, she exploded. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
He slid from his perch on the table onto the bench next to her. Reaching out, he hesitantly stroked her chin, dropping his hand when she pulled away. "Because you have circles under those hypnotic brown eyes." He ran his fingers along her arm. "And your hands are shaking." He wasn't used to seeing Elena like this. She didn't get rattled. He didn't like it.
"I'm fine. Really."
Damon decided to ignore the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. If Elena wanted to try to act tougher than she felt, he wasn't going to coddle her. That was Stefan's job. "My brother asked me to drop by. He's been delayed."
Elena's breath caught in her chest. "Is he alright?"
"Yes, Elena. Stefan is fine. He just said he had to do something and asked if I would join you for lunch. Is that alright?"
Elena looked doubtfully back at him.
"I know you don't like having someone watching over you. But this way, I could deliver your birthday present." He reached into his black leather jacket and took out a small bag.
"How'd you know?"
"I heard Caroline telling Stefan this morning." He admitted.
"Thank you." She reached out and hesitantly took the bag.
"It doesn't bite." He encouraged her when she made no sign of opening the bag.
She stared at the wrapping paper before tugging on the ribbon holding the bag closed. Carefully opening the bag, she looked inside and laughed. "Hershey's Kisses?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I know you love them, and you really didn't give me enough time to prepare a more appropriate gift."
Elena laughed. She really did love chocolate. When had Damon noticed? A sad shadow came back over her face as she looked back at him. "I hadn't really thought about my birthday."
In the distance, the bell announced the end of the lunch period. Elena bent and picked up her bag. "Thanks for the present."
"I'll see you tonight."
Elena stopped short. "You're going to the Masquerade Ball?"
"Of course I am. I wouldn't miss it. I've got my suit and tie pressed and ready."
"I'll see you there, then." She turned and walked into the school.
Damon watched as she slowly walked into the school. She'd been sitting at this table the first time he'd seen her. Bonnie was next to her, and Caroline sat across from her. She'd been laughing at a joke Matt told them as he leaned against the bench. Even with the shadow of her parents' death hanging over her, she'd been happier then, more alive. Vibrant. Katherine's arrival had changed her even more than the loss of her parents.
She'd lost her freedom and now her family was threatened. He wanted to see the girl who smiled and laughed...
That was the Elena who'd been his friend. He was going to do everything in his power to bring her back.
Katherine was going to pay.
A/N: I've had several questions as to my intended length for this story. I think I'll have about a dozen chapters. Even though the title is "Before the Ball," we'll actually go through the ball until a day or two post-ball.
Thanks so much for the awesome reviews. They really do inspire me to keep on writing (and write faster). I'm so very pleased that y'all have enjoyed the story so far. This is my first foray into "Vampire Diaries" fanfiction, so I'm happy the characters are sounding true to themselves.
Thanks a million!
-N.E.P.