D/E as promised. You'll be glad to know we're starting to make progress. Thanks to kat for the review last chapter - I feel your frustration, but I like to keep things realistic. Anyway, on with the show, and don't be afraid to let me know what you think. :)
On Friday night, Meredith and Elena walked in like princesses. The dance was held in the ballroom of one of the plush hotels in Durham. It was spectacularly done up, and the room really was impressive in itself. Tables were set up around the dance floor - small circles with six chairs at each. At the head of the room was a huge table set out with drinks and food, from which a small host of waiters collected items and delivered them. Some people just went and got themselves drinks. It room was already half full - people milling on the edge of the dance floor, some sitting at the tables. But as Meredith Sulez and Elena Gilbert walked in, every eye in the room was on them. Elena had forgotten what it felt like to be that girl; the one that drew jealous stares and longing gazes by simply arriving. She loved the feeling and hated it all at the same time. She loved it because it reminded her of her old life, of what had once been normal for her. She hated it because that wasn't her life any more. She wasn't the shallow Queen Bee. She didn't want anyone to be jealous of her. And she didn't want any men to be lusting after her. Not tonight, anyway.
It was easy for Elena to accept why they attracted glances, though. Meredith was beautiful. She wore a Victorian dress that made her look like she could have walked out of 1880s London. The skirt was full, with all the frilly smooth layers like it should have. There was a section of rumpled fabric over the main skirt, decorated with bows. The bodice was tight, showing off Meredith's figure without exposing her too much, while it left her throat and shoulders bare with one of those straight finishes that was almost an early predecessor to a strapless dress without being strapless. The top of the dress was trimmed with lace, and the whole thing was in this beautiful, fresh pastel green colour that sat perfectly next to Meredith's rich olive skin. Her dark hair was curled and piled up onto her head, her ponytail loosely sweeping over one shoulder. Elena had never seen Meredith's hair curled before; it looked beautiful. A white ribbon kept the style in place, whilst it was decorated with a flower. Her throat was adorned with gold jewellery - it hung in two strands, each one with looping semi circles of finer chain hanging beneath the main stem. From each strand hung a small white cameo, right in the middle of the line. A gold earring hung from Meredith's one visible ear, matching the necklace perfectly. And although the dress just brushed the ground, Elena knew that she wore beautiful green shoes that matched her dress. The effect was stunning - especially on Meredith, who was gorgeous anyway.
But what Elena didn't quite realise was that she drew gazes just as much as Meredith, if not more. Her own dress was a pale, frosty blue, with a square neckline that was fairly low-cut. The bodice was stiff and tight, decorated with pearls and embroidered with an eloquent pattern. It finished in a small v where it met the skirts which were long, large and flowing, although not nearly as voluminous as Meredith's. The skirt was also embroidered, hanging in pleats which smoothed out throughout the skirt as it reached the floor. The sleeves were long, loose and embroidered just as the rest of the dress was. The inside of them showed a darker blue that the rest of the dress, hanging like drapes from Elena's arms. The pearl decoration of the dress was offset by the pearl necklace at Elena's throat, that finished in one larger pearl and a few dangling strands of silver chain. A simple tiara also sat on Elena's head, pinning her long hair back from her face. The tiara was heavily decorated with pearls and glowing cuts of what appeared to be diamond. Elena was sure the jewels were fake, but she didn't care. The effect still stood. The whole outfit screamed of the English Tudor period, and Elena Gilbert looked like a queen.
After pausing for only a moment, the two women elegantly walked into the ballroom, chatting away happily. Meredith guided them to a free table, before they both sat down. Meredith sighed.
"I'm wondering if ostentatious was such a great idea," Meredith muttered, patting down her skirts. Elena laughed.
"Oh, we look good. It's worth it. Besides, you're not the one with a tiara sticking into her head," Elena countered. She had once been used to suffering for nights like this. But it was worth. It was always worth it in the end. Elena had always felt it had boosted her confidence, made her feel happier at these kinds of things. And tonight was her night. She needed to be confident. She hadn't even mentioned the ball to Damon. Tonight was a girl's night. Elena was going to savour it.
"Very true," Meredith replied, smiling. It was at that point when they were approached by some of Meredith's friends, who were outfitted in what looked like a very Austen-period outfits. At least, it looked like he could have walked out of Pride and Prejudice for all Elena knew of the time. She wasn't the one in History class.
"Good evening ladies," the first dark haired man said smoothly. Elena smiled. She remembered him from the party - the one where she'd had to leave rather abruptly. Gareth. He'd been nice then. Sweet, with a good sense of humour. There was a sandy haired guy with him though, who Elena didn't recognise.
"Good evening boys. Enjoying yourselves?" Meredith asked with an exaggerated sense of decorum. Elena smiled.
"Oh, the party's hardly even begun," Gareth chided her. He turned to Elena. "It's nice to see you again, Elena. I assume our charming young Meredith escorted you in?"
"Yes, she did. And I'm very grateful, too," Elena replied, a smile on her face.
"Oh, this is Andrew. Another History buff," Gareth supplied, nodding to his companion.
"Pleasure to meet you, Elena," Andrew told her, holding out his hand. Elena took his, but rather than shaking hands, Andrew pulled his hand towards her, gently kissing her fingers. Elena smiled. She was rather taken with him, and she didn't even know why. But something was nagging her quietly. Something important about that gesture. "And I must say, you ladies look rather lovely this evening," Andrew continued, releasing Elena's hand. Both Elena and Meredith murmured their thanks.
"I'm impressed, Merry. Victorian era, is it?" Gareth prodded. Meredith smiled.
"Nicely deduced."
"As for you, Miss Elena. Tudor. You're looking very Anne Boleyn this evening." Gareth complimented her. Elena laughed.
"I'm not sure that's a good sign."
"She was quite the trend setter, until she lost her head," Andrew teased, sending a wink her way. Elena smiled. She really did like him.
"Never mind all this costume drama stuff, have you seen who Amanda turned up with?" Gareth asked, in a way that made it sound like a scandal. Elena furrowed her brow a little.
"Amanda as in your good friend Amanda? The one who would forget her head if she could?" Elena asked Meredith. Meredith nodded.
"Yes, that's her. I've not seen her at all today, Gareth, why?"
At that moment, eloquent, orchestral music filled the room and several couples got to their feet and took to the floor in sweeping waltzes and elegant foxtrots. Gareth peered over at the floor to his left, craning his neck to get a good look. However, as soon as he did, he grimaced, looking away.
"She's over there," Gareth indicated, as if the sight would speak for itself. Through the swirling couples, Elena could just make out Amanda, her sunny blonde hair sticking out through the couples. She wore a bright pink dress that made her stand out even more. Although she was pretty, that wasn't why Gareth had pointed her out. She was currently kissing a man with very dark hair in a pinstripe suit. He had on one of those hats that just made Elena think of a bad gangster movie. She turned away the second she saw them, because Amanda was practically sucking his face off. It was like the world was going to end in five seconds. It was the kind of moment when someone really ought to tell them to get a room. Meredith sighed, looking almost disappointed, whilst Andrew looked a little stunned.
"That'll do wonders for her reputation," Meredith murmured. "How long's she known the guy?"
"I don't know; maybe a week? Crashed into each other on campus. He's a pre-med." Elena frowned. She should know the guy. But there were too many guys in her class with dark hair to even begin guessing.
"What's his name? I should know him," Elena asked curiously. Gareth shrugged.
"God knows. She was too busy blabbing on about how charming he was and asking me if she looked okay." It was a mystery then. Elena sighed slightly. It wasn't like it was any of her business.
"She's a perfectly nice person, but it's not like you'd know it from that." Meredith really did sound disappointed. Elena looked up at her roommate.
"She'll be fine. She's just getting a little carried away, that's all," Elena tempered. If the guy was going to hurt Amanda, he probably would have done so by now, considering the way they were kissing.
"I know. So long as she doesn't get too carried away..." Meredith wondered. Elena could feel the mood falling already. She got to her feet, wanting to save the situation before it got too bad.
"I'm going to fetch a drink. Would any of you guys like one?" Elena asked. After three murmurs of assent, Elena headed towards the table she'd seen at the top of the room, weaving between the tables. She was glad she'd decided to wear flat shoes - the dress and tiara were hassling enough as it was. As Elena reached the table, she lifted some plastic champagne flutes from a tray, setting them down on a table. She lifted one of them and sniffed at the contents carefully. It didn't smell like alcohol - she couldn't see it being out like that, considering most of the guests were underage. Eventually, Elena sipped at the substance. Apple juice. Figures. Elena knew it was as good as she was getting right now, so she lifted two of the flutes before realising she needed a tray. She turned, reaching to lift one from the stack, but as she did, she found herself cut off by a dark figure. He'd just squished in there, interrupting her movements completely. Elena never had liked rudeness.
"Excuse me," Elena muttered darkly, reaching for a tray.
"Here, let me," he said at precisely the same time, lifting a silver tray and holding out for her. Elena frowned. She knew that voice. But it couldn't be...
Elena looked up from the hand offering her the tray, her eyes searching for the face. Her heart stopped when she found his eyes. No one else had blue eyes like Damon Salvatore's. No one.
"Damon! What are you doing here?" Elena complained. But Damon wasn't listening to her. His eyes were sweeping over her blue dress, her tiara and her general costume. Elena was asserted into complete immobility by his eyes. Damn, what was it about those eyes? It wasn't compulsion - Elena still wore her silver vervain bracelet. So why was she so captivated by Damon? Eventually, a small smile curled the edge of Damon's lips. He bowed ever so slightly, taking her limp hand in his and pressing her fingers to his lips.
"Pleasure to meet you, your Highness," he said, with not even a hint of irony in his voice. Then it hit Elena like a ton of bricks. That was what had bothered her about Andrew's gesture; it was Damon's. He'd used it when they'd said goodbye after their first meeting, used it when he met Meredith. It was his. It had bothered her that Andrew had replicated it. Frankly, Damon did it better. It wasn't the same without him. "And I'm here because I was invited," Damon added. Elena was about to ask by who, but she finally noticed his outfit. Pinstripe suit. Black shirt and a narrow white tie. And the hat...
"You're the mobster?" Elena said, something beginning to rear its head deep within her soul. She ignored it.
"Sorry?" Damon asked, clearly confused. "And it's not mobster, it's 1920s."
"With Amanda! You were...you..." Elena didn't have the words to describe it. Damon smirked.
"Yes, the lovely Amanda and I were sitting together. In fact, she invited me. Meredith's one of her friends, isn't she?" Damon said nonchalantly, all former hints of adoration for her outfit gone. Elena was marginally disappointed. She had wanted Damon to see her in this dress. And he had; he'd effectively told her she looked like a princess. That had lit a fire in her heart, somehow. But now? Elena felt furious.
"Damon, you can't just go around compelling people into kissing you..."
"Who says I compelled her? Really Elena, some women are just attracted to me."
"What, through your charm and good looks?" Elena said sarcastically. She knew she was being nasty. But she just couldn't stop.
"Yes, actually. Just because you chose my brother over me doesn't mean the whole world does." Damon retorted.
"Forget that, what do you want with Amanda? She's not even your type! She's forgetful, and a ditz, and a klutz and she talks a lot and its always vapid stuff about herself or clothes or some pathetic soap opera!"
"You think you know my type do you, Elena?" Damon made it sound like a threat. Elena didn't know where this tirade was coming from, but she was too fired up to care.
"Yes, I do."
"And what if I like her?"
"She's not what you need," Elena replied, diving in with two feet. Damon narrowed his eyes at her.
"And what do I need, Elena, hm?" Damon asked her.
"You need someone who gets you, who wants to understand. You need someone you can be honest with, and someone who's brave enough to challenge who when you're being an idiot. She has to understand what goes on in your head, Damon Salvatore, or she'll just get left behind." Elena told him firmly. Damon placed the silver tray down on the table, looking at Elena strangely.
"Let me know when you find someone you approve of then. Because I should really clear my life through you first." And with that, Damon Salvatore walked away from her. Elena watched him stride back over to Amanda at their table, before he lent down to give her a long, deep kiss. Elena let out a sound of pure frustration, snatching the tray from the table. She held it for only a second before abandoning back onto the table and draining the nearest glass. She almost choked on the liquid, but the action made her feel better. She grabbed the pitcher, aiming to fill her glass once more. She could feel something roaring in her heart, baying for blood. Interestingly enough, however, it didn't want Damon's head. Not entirely. It wanted Amanda's too. She didn't know how many moments had passed since Damon had walked away. But she felt like it was only a second before Meredith spoke, like her conscience in her ear.
"Need some help?" she asked kindly. Elena looked up at her, and Meredith could see her eyes burning with a fire that was uniquely Elena's. Meredith smiled sadly, and walked over to stand by her friend.
"How much did you hear?" Elena asked, inhaling deeply, sipping at the drink this time. Meredith's smile turned into a knowing one, and Elena was surprised that all she could feel was the burning anger in her chest.
"I got enough," Meredith conceded. She hadn't been eavesdropping; it was that Damon and Elena weren't precisely quiet when they fought. There was a pause. "You're jealous of her," Meredith stated. Elena looked up in shock.
"Jealous of who?" Elena asked, genuinely confused.
"Amanda," Meredith said simply.
"Why would I be jealous of her?" Elena demanded, talking before she really thought.
"Because she's with him." Elena was silently glad that Meredith didn't say his name. She might have exploded if she'd said his name. Why would she be jealous of Amanda because she got to fawn over him all night? That was just ridiculous. She didn't want to suck anyone's face off in public, let alone his. He was an insensitive bastard and didn't deserve her lips on his.
At that thought, Elena mentally paused. Now that Meredith had said the word, she realised that it was what she was feeling. She wasn't just mad. She was jealous. So envious, in fact, that it was driving her insane. What was wrong with her? She shouldn't be jealous. But she recognised the feeling from her high school days, when some random sophomore had been fawning over Matt when he was meant to be her boyfriend. She knew what jealously felt like. She just hadn't felt in years. She'd forgotten. And she'd never expected to be jealous over him. Why was she jealous over him? It wasn't like she...did she?
"If you'll forgive my boldness," Meredith murmured when Elena didn't respond. Elena's eyes flashed up. Elena looked like she'd just seen a ghost. "That girl you were describing? She sounds a lot like you to me."
No. That wasn't her. That was Rose. Rose understood how Damon's mind worked in a way Elena never had. Damon had ignored some issues with Rose, but he liked to think they had been honest with each other, without so many words. Rose had challenged him, told him when he was being stupid. Rose had understood. Rose would never get left behind. Of course, she was also dead, but that was beside the point.
But then again. Damon was always, always honest with her. He might not say everything, but when he spoke it was the truth. She trusted him because of it; they never dodged issues like her and Stefan had. If she faced anything with Damon at her side, they faced it head on. There were no lies. Not really. Not anymore. And she did push Damon. She pushed Damon because he needed to be pushed. She could see the man inside the shell - she always had. She challenged him repeatedly, forced him into being better. If that wasn't the bravery required, nothing was. She'd known Damon for two years, almost. She liked to think she'd kept up. But that still left...
"I don't understand him," Elena murmured. Meredith looked at her.
"You understand him better than anyone else. Its close enough," Meredith said. Elena closed her eyes. She did understand some things. But others went right past her. She didn't understand why Damon had left. She didn't understand why he'd cut himself off from her. Unless...was it possible that he still loved her? Really, really loved her, like he'd used to? Elena had thought his love for her had died when he'd left her, all those months ago. Was it really possible that her rejection had sliced him deep, because she didn't want him? Because she wasn't being loyal to anyone - she was just saying no to him. Did he still hope for their future, and was her constant will to remain friends and nothing more tearing him apart? Now Elena really thought about it, she supposed that would break her. If she was in his shoes, it would kill her.
She'd been a fool. She was torturing Damon and she hadn't even noticed. She was Katherine. No, she was worse than Katherine. She didn't deserve him. She'd never make up for this.
Elena looked up, and Meredith saw the horror within her. Meredith knew she was right, but didn't utter a word on the matter. She just looked at the glasses, before asking Elena if she wanted some help. Elena had nodded, lifting two glasses, before following Meredith back to their table. Every time Elena caught a glimpse of Damon and Amanda (who were now dancing together) jealousy burned her heart. She was an idiot. She was paying for it now.
By the time they sat down, Elena had come to a decision. It was visible in her eyes. It was that look of determination that Elena got when she had a plan, and nothing would tear her from it. She'd only just set the glasses down on their when she spoke.
"I need a favour," she told the general group. All three sets of eyes were on her in an instant. She'd never looked more like a queen - high and regal with a determination and power to cause countries to fall at her feet. Meredith felt a little proud.
"What is it, Elena?"
"I need to dance with Damon Salvatore."