We stepped into the Mikaelson's house, completely amazed. The massive Great Hall had been detailed to perfection; fairy lights were entwined around the stairway case and, hundreds, if not thousands, of candles seemed to be the only source of light in the room. Half the population of Mystic Falls had shown up, all in their best attire, enhancing the grandness of the event.
"Pleased you came?" Abigail, my best friend, asked grinning from ear to ear.
I only nodded in response. My sister, Elena, and her boyfriend had been dead-set on me not going to the ball. But when the upcoming party was the only thing everyone in school was speaking about, it was hard to follow their orders, plus there was free food and drinks on offer. Not being one to turn down free food, I decided to go behind their backs and pretend I was at a sleepover with Abi. Surprisingly, they bought it, I guess they had other things on their minds.
"Jeez, I'd hate to be on clean-up duty." I joked. The house was so big, it would take hours to clean up the mess.
"They probably hire maids. That's what I'd do if I was this loaded."
A butler passed us carrying a sliver platter, filled with glasses of expensive looking champagne. We each grabbed a glass and he turned around to inspect our ages.
"Abigail and Ivy. Why am I not surprised? Put them back, you're under-aged." It was William Porter, a guy from our English class. He was barely recognisable in his outfit.
"C'mon Will! It's not like you've never drinked before." Abigail reasoned. It was true, William was part of the football team who were notorious for their parties and the amount of alcohol consumed at each one. We had crashed one as a joke once, but the amount of drinking that was going on and the rowdiness of the guys made us leave early.
He rolled his eyes at us and snatched the glasses from each of our hands, placing them back on his tray. We both shot him deadly glares for his hypocrisy. He rolled his eyes again.
"I don't want to get fired this early on if they find out I have been giving drinks to minors. Do know how much the pay per hour?" We both shook our heads. He lowered his voice as if letting us both into a big secret, "A lot. The only bad thing is that I miss out dancing with you two beautiful ladies." He smirked.
I scoffed, "Yeah. And you look like a penguin."
This earned a chuckle from Abi. His black overcoat with a slight tail, and white shirt and bow-tie really did make him resemble a penguin. It didn't help that his hair was black and slicked back with styling gel.
"The outfit was mandatory." He glared.
"You know what else is mandatory?" a female voice said from behind us, "That you actually serve drinks to the guests rather than flirt with these two girls."
William nodded sharply, looking slightly scared, and immediately turned from us, handing drinks to adults. We faced the stranger slightly confused as to why William followed her orders in such a hurry. She had long blonde hair and a beautiful dark green dress on. She would have looked very ladylike if it had not been for the massive scowl on her face, but when she saw us staring she brightened up ever so slightly.
"Sorry, I just want this night to go perfect." She apologised.
"Oh, so are you one of the hosts?" Abi asked. That would explain William's behaviour towards her.
"Rebekah Mikaelson." She extended her hands and we both took turns shaking it and we each shook it in turn and introduced ourselves to her. She frowned when she heard I was a Gilbert. Her and Elena must really hate each other.
"Your house is beautiful." I complimented, trying to get into her good books.
She properly smiled for the first time, smug with her creation. "Thank you. I did it all myself."
Me and Abigail were shocked.
"What? So no help from your family?" Abigail asked. This must have taken her weeks to do without any assistance, it didn't seem possible. We had thought they had hired a professional with the skill that had been involved. It seemed reasonable judging from the amount of money the family had.
Rebekah laughed at the comment, "My brothers are utterly useless. The only way they can ever help me is if they stay out of my way."
Me and Abi shared a secret look. Rebekah had an evil glint in her eye when she spoke about them. She must have some deep-rooted family issues.
"Now Bekah, where would the fun be in that?" Another stranger approached us, this time a male who looked slightly older than her. He had dark brown hair and eyes to match, that seemed to dance with mischievousness. I felt Abigail let out a deep breathe of air slowly, I tried not to laugh, it was clear she thought he was hot. Anybody with eyes would find him attractive.
Rebekah's face morphed into a glare so spiteful it was practically the epitome of 'of-looks-could-kill'. "Why don't you go off and annoy Klaus or Elijah, Kol? I am trying to have a good time here."
Kol's grinned deviously, "But sister, that is what makes it so amusing."
They proceeded to have a stare-off, causing me and Abigail to feel rather awkward. I felt as if I was being caught up in a century old rivalry. Yup, some serious family issues. I finally spoke up when I could no longer handle the tense atmosphere, which was pretty quickly.
"I think me and Abigail are going to go look around for a bit. We need to find some of our friends. But we'll speak to you later, Rebekah." Abigail nodded along enthusiastically, eager to leave the squabbling siblings to their stare-off. They both quit at exactly the same time and turned to look at us, Rebekah looked disappointed and Kol seemed menacing.
"Oh, no. Please, do stay. I'd love to get to know Rebekah's friends more personally." He mocked, earning another glare from his sister.
"Maybe some other time, I really need the toilet." Abigail lied.
"I can show you both, if you'd-"
"I am sure we will find it eventually." I interrupted, not trusting him for a second. He smirked, seeming to sense this, whilst Rebekah gave us both a tight smile and we both returned it leaving them to their bickering.
"You scared them off!" We heard Rebekah spit, whilst we walked away slowly in order not to look like we were running away from them.
"I am afraid, dear sister, it may have been your face that did that trick."
"Well that was awkward." Abigail said after she left the bathroom. She felt guilty for lying to Rebekah so forced herself to go to the toilet so she told a 'half-truth'.
"Rebekah seems nice though. It isn't her fault her brother is a dick." I shrugged.
"You mean it is a shame he is so hot! I call dibs!" Abigail laughed. I shrugged halfheartedly, I didn't want to have a boyfriend until after graduation from High-school anyway. I saw the amount of drama Elena faces everyday with Stefan and decided to focus on getting into a good University. It didn't mean that I couldn't appreciate a good-looking specimen though. And Kol was pretty good-looking.
"And what the hell do you think you are doing here?" A familiar voice said, whilst his hand wrapped around my arm, spinning me toward him. Speaking of people's brothers who are complete dicks.
"Damon." I growled, shaking his hand off of me. He looked rather dapper in his suit, it was a shame about his personality.
"Ooh, I just saw Jessica. I should probably say hello." Abigail purposely excused herself, leaving me with the jerk from Hell. She gave me a sympathetic look, knowing how much trouble I was in. Traitor. It was understandable though, when he first arrived at Mystic Falls he broke her heart, along with half the female population, by feigning interest and then forgetting her. The douche still doesn't know her name.
"Well isn't this funny? I could have sworn you told Stefan and Elena you were at a sleepover. Yet here you are. At a ball. With Stacy." He said sarcastically.
"Abigail." I corrected him, rolling my eyes.
He ignored it, "I am taking you home."
"You are not my father." I spat.
"Yeah, but your sister is dating my brother, which practically makes us family."
"Why can't you just leave me be?"
He chuckled darkly, "And let you get into trouble? I don't think so."
I sighed, defeated. "Please, I just want to know what goes on so I won't be left out at school." Sometimes, speaking to him was like speaking to a brick wall only a wall is less irritating.
Damon thought for a moment whilst I gave him my best puppy-dog eyes. He groaned after a few seconds, it had worked. "Fine." I smiled triumphant "You can stay at this party but if you think for one second that you are leaving my sight, you're deeply mistaken." My smile dropped. Well, that's my night completely ruined.
Damon had kept to his word and forced me to stay with him. He even had the cheek to tell people to 'get lost' whenever I was asked for a dance. The night was going horrendously, and what was worse was that I could see Abigail laughing with my friends at the other-side of the hall. None of them dared to approach me whilst I was with the World's Biggest Douche Bag. I silently plotted revenge against them, desperate for them to feel the pain I was in while watching the whole town, apart for me, have a great time. They are so dead on Monday.
"You are intolerable." I stated after I could no longer stand watching him flirt with the town's cougars. I have a theory that the smaller the town is the more desperate the woman are.
"And you're a brat. Now lets skip the insults, I need to speak to the Mayor." Damon forcibly dragged me over to her, letting go of my arm as we reached her eyesight but kept his hand of the small of my back so I couldn't try to run off. Not that I could anyways, my heels were lethal.
"Hello Damon, Ivy you are looking beautiful today." Mayor Lockwood complimented when we reached her. I smiled at her in response, apart from Abigail she had been the only person to compliment my appearance.
Damon rolled his eyes at the small talk, he had never been a fan of it. "A private word, please?"
I had no choice but to stand around whilst they whispered secretly to one-another. At one stage I saw Elena enter with Stefan, both unaware of my presence. I scoffed at how she was allowed to go to the party but refused for me to go. Hypocrite. Damon tensed when they arrived, I was aware that he liked her more than he should. I would have felt sorry for him, if he wasn't so annoying. The night was getting worse with each passing second. From the corner of my eye I saw Kol approaching. Great, just, great.
"Mayor Lockwood, we haven't formally met. Kol Mikaelson." He interrupted their conversation, introducing himself and kissing the Mayors hand. Carol blushed whilst Damon rolled his eyes dramatically, I did the same. This was quite a contrast to the Kol that was bickering with Rebekah. "I hope your lovely town embrace us, just as much as we plan to embrace it."
Damon put his hand forward, taking a step in front of me, blocking Kol from my eyesight. I struggled to peer around him due to his build. "Damon Salvatore," he introduced himself. "Have we met?"
"I've met a lot of people," Kol paused. "And you don't particularly stand out."
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at this. Damon had been a real jerk to me, especially this evening, I knew that comment would have angered him. When I did so, Kol noticed my presence so I took a step around Damon to greet him. I smiled at finally being able to converse with somebody, since I had been forced to be quiet most of the night. Damon did not seem happy in the slightest. Serves you right.
"One of Bekah's friends, right?" He asked politely, he didn't seem so bad now he was separated from his sibling. I nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Kol, her older brother."
"Yeah, I kind of guessed that. I'm Ivy Gilbert." He held out his hand towards me to kiss it and I was in the process of placing it is his when Damon slapped my hand away.
"She doesn't touch strangers." He said, holding my hand down when he noticed I was attempting, again, to reach out to Kol.
Kol raised his brow and smirk, "Well then, Ivy and I will just have to get more acquainted with one-another. Won't we, love?"
Everyone turned to me expectantly for an answer. Damon was sending me glares, warning me on how to answer the question. If I said yes, I would be dead but if I said no, I would appear rude. I looked back and forth at both of them trying to weigh up my options. Kol's smirk widened when he saw my struggle. "Emm. Well, ehh-" I stumbled for an answer.
The sound of tapping glass saved me. I let out a large sigh of relief and Kol chuckled. I frowned, how did he hear that?
"My brother is going to give his speech, so I must be off. But I do hope we can continue our chat later, Ivy Gilbert." Kol left smirking at Damon and went to stand with his family on the stairway. Their family was pretty big, five children who all looked pretty grownup and their mother who seemed very young considering the ages of her kids. I felt sorry for Rebekah having four brothers. I only have Jeremy but he gets pretty annoying at times, especially when he went through his grunge-phase. No wonder she has family conflicts, they must get on her nerves all the time.I decided to befriend her so we could rant about siblings together. Abigail doesn't have any so she has never fully understood the difficulties they bring. The Mayor left too, muttering something about speaking to a member of the council.
Damon turned to me furious whilst I tried to listen to the speech, keeping my eyes on Kol who's gaze was directed straight at me. I could have sworn I saw him wink. "You're going home. Now."
"What?" I was surprised, the ball was over half-finished and he had let me stay since near the beginning. I just wanted to do the Waltz with a partner, I was even willing to do it with Damon if I had to.
"Somehow you have the amazing ability to land yourself right in the middle of dangerous situations. And I refuse to risk it. I am taking you home." He grabbed my arm and began dragging me to the door whilst everyone was preoccupied listening to a short speech. This time he held on too tightly and I couldn't pull away. His viper-like grip was hurting my arm.
"Damon! Stop. Kol isn't dangerous." I whispered, trying not to get unwanted attention.
Damon growled, "You are seriously mistaken."
"He is just a dick. Reminds me of you!" I spat.
Damon stopped by the door to snap further at me, "I am glad you think so, because tomorrow I am telling Elena you were here."
Crap. That would mean endless amounts of nagging and no level of trust for years to come. I would constantly be reminded of 'that one time you went behind my back and went to a party.' I love Elena but she is far too over-protective, even more so than Damon. I instantly began to plead, "Please, Damon. You don't understand-"
"Is everything alright here, Ivy? This jerk seems to be harassing you. I can throw him out, if you'd like." Rebekah asked, glaring at Damon. From the inside I could see the couples dancing and I felt a twang of jealousy course through me.
"We're just leaving." Damon replied, returning the glare from Rebekah.
"I wasn't asking you." She looked back at me slightly concerned, "Ivy?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I will speak to you in school." I said, shrugging Damon's hand off my arm. Jeez, there'll be bruises there tomorrow.
"Like hell you will!" Damon grumbled, "Rebekah? Would you do us a favour and tell your brother, Kol, to leave Ivy alone? Thanks."
Rebekah just looked confused as Damon continued to drag me to his car.