A part of Elena knew she was dreaming.

But it just felt so real.

She was standing in the Mystic Falls high school gym, wearing a long, flowing red silk dress.

The entire room was decorated, with balloons of the school colors lying on the floor. A large banner hung from the score board that read "Mystic Falls High School Class of 2012".

Prom? Elena thought in confusion. Well, it would certainly explain the dress and the decorations. But… where is everyone?

She just realized the gym was vacant other than her. Had she arrived late? Was she early?

"Hello, Elena."

She turned to see Stefan, clad in a clean cut suit, lounging in the doorway, smiling at her.

"You look beautiful."

She smiled brilliantly.

"Stefan! What's going on? Where is everyone?"

Stefan grinned and walked up to her, glancing around the gym at the decorations.

"It's a special prom, Elena; one for just you and I."

She smiled.

"Did you do all of this for me?"

Stefan smiled and extended his hand.

"Of course I did."

A slow waltz began playing on the speakers, and he gestured to his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

Elena smiled, taking his hand.

"Of course you may."

He pulled her close and began whirling her around the room in a difficult waltz Elena didn't know all the steps to.

When she had fumbled quite a few times, he slowed the waltz down to one more common, and Elena rested her head on his shoulder.

"This is all so perfect…"

"Yes, it is." Stefan agreed.

"ELENA!"

Elena's eyes flew up to the gym doors, which had burst open to reveal a terrified looking Damon, who seemed disheveled from running.

"Elena, don't trust him! It's a trap!"

Elena frowned.

"Damon? What are you doing here…?"

Stefan chuckled.

"Hello, Damon. Decided to join us, have you?"

Damon snarled and stalked up to them.

"Don't you feel any shame at all in what you're doing? Using her feelings for you against her?"

Elena, whose eyes had been focused on Damon, turned to look at Stefan.

"Stefan, what's he talking about…?"

The grin on Stefan's face was so unlike him that Elena had to repress a shudder. The look he was giving his brother was… gleeful in all the wrong ways. Like he was plotting ways to kill him, and enjoying it far too much.

"Elena, we're leaving." Damon said, making a grab for her hand.

Stefan pulled her out of his reach roughly, making Elena screech in surprise.

"Ah, ah, ah; not so fast, brother. You aren't really going to spoil Elena's and my evening, are you?"

Stefan was holding onto her much too tightly, and Elena could feel the muscles in her upper arms screaming in protest.

Elena whimpered.

"Stefan, you're hurting me…"

Something in Damon's eyes snapped.

"Let her go, Stefan. Now."

Stefan shrugged and shook his head.

"Nope. I don't think I will."

He gripped her arms tighter, and Elena gave an agonized cry.

Something in Damon snapped and he lunged at his brother, fangs exposed.

Stefan threw Elena off to the side, sending her flying into the refreshment table, splattering punch on her dress. The red on red liquid was giving it the impression of oozing blood and, for a moment, Elena herself thought it may be just that.

But, her attention was quickly brought back to the dueling brothers before her.

"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE HER ALONE!" Damon roared, shoving Stefan, with vampiric speed, into the gym wall with a deafening crack.

Stefan snarled and gave an irritated roar, quickly pinning Damon to the gym floor.

"Face it, Damon; given the choice, she would rather stay here with me while I hurt her than ever go anywhere with you."

The agonized look on Damon's face tore Elena apart inside.

"No, Damon; don't listen! It's not true-!"

"Shut up!" Stefan roared at her, and pulled a sharpened stake from inside his suit jacket.

"NO!" Elena screamed and dove forward as Stefan held it over his head above Damon's chest.

Stefan flicked her away like a pesky fly, sending her flying in the wall.

Her head hit the wall and, for a moment, she saw only fireworks of light. But they cleared off just in time to see Stefan bring the stake down and drive it into Damon's chest.

With a horrible gasp, Damon's skin turned mummy-like, and then he was still.

"No…" Elena whispered in shock, shaking her head.

Gazing at Damon, dead, and the satisfied look on Stefan's face, Elena broke.

"No! No, Damon, no! NO!"

Sobbing, she ran forward, collapsing by his side.

She was startled to find Stefan nowhere in sight.

She quickly yanked the stake from Damon's chest, exposing a hole in his black leather jacket and silk black shirt.

Beneath the layers was a hole leading into his forever stilled heart.

"Oh, Damon, no…" she sobbed, falling on top of him in a fit of sobs.

Arms wove themselves around her, and she ceased her sobbing.

"D-Damon…?" she asked tentatively, but her voice trailed off into an agonized scream when Stefan sank his teeth into her throat, draining her blood.