A/N: Okay more Delena banter this chapter. I've also taken some dialog straight from the show, because I didn't really feel like it needed to be changed. I promise once this chapter's over we'll move beyond the Founder's day party. In other good news, I've got a large majority of the chapters outlined at this point so hopefully that will get chapters out faster. This one's a little longer than the rest and I hope for the remaining chapter's to be at around the same length. Still in need of a beta so sorry for any errors, I hope I caught them all. Also a little shout out to the amazing fic All this Time by AnglcDmn1986, with a small reference-see if you can catch it.

Elena

Elena watched as Damon made a hasty exit towards the bar with an amused smile on her lips. He'd been right when he said she was miserable prior to his memorable introduction. Really, who sneaks up and whispers in a person ear as an introduction? Damon wasn't quite normal, however he had enough charm oozing out of him to make anyone overlook whatever social faux pas he committed. Her first conversation with him and he tells he she's miserable, jokes about drinking blood, slumber parties, offers her booze, gives her life advice, and licks her hand. He was an oddity, however in his presence she found herself smiling for the first time, truly smiling, that night. Her ruminations about the attractive Salvatore with the stunning blue eyes were interrupted by a very pointed cough.

"Ahem"

Elena shook her head and turned to face Caroline. Caroline had her arms crossed and a fake smile plastered on her face. She looked ready to do battle. Elena hadn't planned on meeting Damon Salvatore, in fact she hadn't really cared about meeting him in the first place, but Caroline did. Caroline had come to the party with a goal in mind, have fun and play spot the Salvatore. Care wouldn't mind Elena meeting him first, but the fact that she didn't alert Caroline to him would. It didn't help that Caroline had already been upset over Elena's discontent and lack of enthusiasm in regards to cheerleading.

"Hi Care…. Umm, so that was Damon Salvatore." Elena said with a nervous smile.

"Yes, thanks for introducing me Elena" Caroline said, lips drawn in a tight smile, arms still crossed.

"I'm sorry Care, you just came in the middle of a conversation. As you can see he fled to the bar before I could properly introduce you. I will as soon as he comes back with my napkin." Elena said, glancing at her hand. She still couldn't believe he licked her.

Caroline seemed to relax at Elena's apology, allowing her hands to fall to her sides. "Okay, but would you like to explain why I heard him say my name? " Caroline asked. "And why did you slap your hands over his mouth when I came over? You were talking about me weren't you?" Caroline said, her voice starting to become a little hysterical. Elena loved Caroline to death, but she had an uncanny knack for the dramatic at times.

"We weren't talking about you Caroline." Elena said. "We were just discussing cheerleading and I mentioned you were the captain." Caroline calmed at Elena's assurances. Elena gulped. It was now or never.

"Speaking of cheerleading…" Elena began. "Would you hate me forever if I quit? It's just… I'm so out of practice and I'm just not as into as I used to be and " Caroline cut her off.

"Oh thank God. It's totally fine Elena. This is actually perfect I was getting worried I'd have to kick you off the squad. I wouldn't want to have to do that to one of my best friends, but really Elena you just haven't been doing great this season." Caroline said with an oblivious smile. Caroline Forbes, the girl who was oblivious to how often she insulted those around her.

"Thanks Care." Elena said, laughing at her friend's behavior. She'd been friends with Caroline since they were little kids, she loved her to death, but sometimes she couldn't help rolling her eyes at the blonde's antics.

"So is Damon coming back?" Caroline asked, eyes sparkling.

"Well, I hope so considering he was supposed to get me a napkin to wipe off his disgusting saliva." Elena said, her nose scrunched up in distaste as she looked at the palm of her hand.

"Hey, I'll have you know my saliva is grade A. You should feel privileged." Damon said as he sidled up to Elena handing her a glass of punch along with a napkin. The spot he licked was already dry, but Elena decided to put on a show of wiping her hand.

Caroline was shifting from foot to foot, beaming smile on her face as she looked at Elena darting her eyes towards Damon. Elena smiled.

"Damon allow me to introduce you to my good friend Caroline Forbes." Elena said. Damon looked at Caroline and gave her a small smile.

"Forbes? Are you the sheriff's daughter then?" Damon asked. Caroline's face fell, as though Damon had just taken away her favorite stuffed animal. Caroline's relationship with her mother was strained at best and her position of Sheriff was something the blonde wished to forget and deny.

"Yes" Caroline reluctantly supplied followed by a mumbled 'unfortunately' under her breath. "So you two seem to be friendly. Have you met before?" Caroline asked, clearly hoping to change the topic.

"Ah, well I'm an excellent conversationalist. Right Elena?" Damon responded, nudging Elena with his elbow.

"Meh, your okay." She said adopting a smug look and making a so-so gesture with her hand. Damon chuckled. Caroline didn't look amused. No one liked to be the third wheel, especially Caroline Forbes. Elena felt bad, perhaps she should steer the conversation towards Care a little more.

"In all honesty though I thought Elena here was someone else when I first met her." Damon said, taking a sip of his drink.

"You did?" Elena said with surprise, forgetting her silent vow to talk about Caroline. "Well that explains your creepy introduction."

"Well, you're a dead ringer for Katherine. You don't happen to be related to anyone with the last name Pierce do you?" Damon asked.

"Not that I know of. My mom was a Sommers and dad was a Gilbert."

"Hmmm, interesting." Damon said, rubbing his jaw. "Sure you don't have a secret twin sister locked in your attic?"

"Positive, but I'll double check for you when I get home."

"Anyway …so Damon what brings you to Mystic Falls?" Caroline asked. She was determined to a part of this conversation and break into the little bubble Elena and Damon had found themselves in.

"Oh just passing through for a bit. Visiting Zach, crashing Founders parties, plotting to take over the town, you know the usual." Damon said. Elena noted he had a knack for maintaining a conversation without ever having to reveal much about himself. It was intriguing and alarming at the same time.

"Oh? Well are you liking Mystic Falls thus far?" Caroline asked.

"It has a certain charm to it I suppose. I haven't been here in years, but Mystic Falls doesn't really change much does it? Founding families still ruling over it and all."

"The Salvatores are also part of the Founding families though. I think it's important that we all remain close, that we respect our history together." Caroline said. Caroline had always been proud of the status being a Founding family member had afforded her, relishing every opportunity to be involved in Founder events.

"Yes, the Salvatores are Founders. The original Damon and Stefan Salvatore actually attended the first Founder's Ball." Damon said.

"Oh, we should go find them on the guest list!" Caroline said excitedly. "Come on!" Caroline grabbed Damon's hand and began tugging him towards the stairs. Damon laughed, giving Elena a wide-eyed look as he grabbed her hand and dragged her along with them.

People milled about the room admiring the various artifacts in the room. The ledger Damon spoke of currently had people crowded around it so the trio decided to look at everything else first. Caroline was giving commentaries on some of the pieces donated by the Forbes.

"The fans are so pretty and elegant, but I'm glad we don't still carry them. It would be annoying to carry them around the whole night." Caroline said as they came across a fan and ladies gloves donated by her family.

"Well, they were for more than just show back then. Dance halls didn't have air conditioning like we do today." Damon said. "Earlier in history some had developed the language of the fan, a sort of sign language, so people could communicate across rooms. I think I read somewhere a few of the ladies of Mystic Falls at the time still practiced it." Damon related, a small smile gracing his lips. Apparently Damon was a history buff, or at the very least uncommonly knowledgeable about fans.

"How interesting…" Caroline said, but Elena could tell she didn't mean it.

"I think it's interesting. Women creating their own secret language so they can flirt in public without being thrown the Scarlet Letter." Elena said.

"Oh yes, it was great for secret liaisons." Damon said, his smile forming into a smirk. When he looked at her he did this…eye-thingy that made her feel hot all over.

'Wow,that's so romantic. Elena we should start carrying fans at all the Founder's parties." Caroline said, finding much more enthusiasm in the subject now.

"Care you do realize you would not only have to learn the 'fan language', but also teach others so that you could use it right?" Elena asked with a laugh.

"Ugh, way to ruin my fun Elena." Caroline said with a pout, but so resumed her momentum. "You, Bonnie, and I can learn it. It can just be our secret girl language. We'll use it when we're getting hit on by someone that we need to be rescued from." Caroline was practically jumping up and down at this point, so enthralled with the idea. "I'm going to go find Bonnie and tell her. Have you seen her recently?"

"I saw her when I first arrived, but not since just before I met Damon downstairs." Elena said. Caroline smiled, waved and ran off in search of their missing friend.

"Well, she's… chipper." Damon said.

"Caroline is…Caroline. Once she gets something into her head she doesn't stop until she achieves it. Bet you $10 bucks I have a fan in my hands by the next Founders event."

"I'll take your word for it, I don't think I want to chance losing money." Damon said as the moved onto the next exhibit.

Elena felt her heart drop into her stomach. There sat her parent's wedding rings, side by side. She hated the tears that started to well up in her eyes. She knew they were here, she'd handed the box over to Tyler herself that very day, but it still hurt. Her parents were gone, never coming back, and their wedding rings not on their fingers made it all the more pronounced.

"I'm sorry." Damon said. "Would you like to move on to the next exhibit?"

"No, it's fine… it just still hurts. I keep thinking if I just pretend everything is fine it will be. Got to be strong." Elena said, giving Damon a weak smile.

"Fake it til you make it, huh?" Damon said, returning her small smile.

"Something like that. So what about your parents?" Elena asked wanting to change the subject. Apparently it was the wrong thing to ask, because a dark look seemed to come over Damon for a second. However he seemed to shake off whatever dark thoughts he was having because he turned to her with the same mischievous look in his eyes from earlier.

"Come on, let's cut in front of these old fogies to see that ledger already." Damon said, grabbing her hand and puling her towards to the registry. They weaved through the other people in the room, Damon tapping on shoulders and smiling his way through until they were in front. "Here we are, as promised, the original Salvatore brothers of 1864." Damon said, pointing to his name on the registry.

"Wow. Oh, there's a Stefan Salvatore too." She said. "Were they brothers or cousins or something?"

"Brothers, the original Damon and Stefan Salvatore." Damon said.

"Original?"

"My brother's name is Stefan."

"You have a brother."

"Why don't you?"

"Well, yes, but they're not like a common household appliance. Not everyone has one." She replied with a giggle before continuing. "So despite no longer living in Mystic Falls your family real goes in for tradition."

"Everybody's name comes from somewhere." Damon said with a shrug.

"So the Salvatores are a Founding family, but Zach doesn't seem to get into the whole Mystic Falls traditions. You're the first Salvatore I've seen attend one of these parties. Is there some scandalous reason or did you all realize how boring Mystic Falls is?"

"Well, back in the day the Salvatore name was practically royalty… up until the war any way. There was a battle here-"

"The battle of Willow Creek." Elena supplied. Take that !

"Right"

"Confederate soldiers fired on a church with civilians inside."

'What the history books failed to mention was the people that were killed. They weren't there by accident. They were believed to be Union sympathizers. So some of the Founders on the confederacy side back then wanted them rounded up and burned alive. Stefan and Damon Salvatore had someone they loved very much in that church. And when they went to rescue them, they were shot. Murdered in cold blood."

"Who was in the church that they wanted to save?"

"A woman, I guess. Doesn't it always come down to the love of a woman?" Damon said. In that moment Elena could swear she could see pain in Damon's beautiful eyes, as though his heart was broken into a thousand pieces. As quickly as it came the look was gone and his cocky, smirking façade was back in place. Despite this his eyes remained fixed upon her and its intensity unnerved her.

"Excuse me Damon I need to go use the ladies" Elena said. "I'll be back in a minute." With that she hurried from the room and headed to the bathroom as fast as she could. Once she was ensconced in the solace provided by the ladies room Elena breathed a sigh of relief. There was something about Damon; he went from playful banter to intense within moments. It was jarring and intoxicating at the same time. She had only just met him, but she it felt much longer. What made it worse was his comment earlier. Elena's musings were interrupted by Caroline's entrance into the restroom.

"This party sucks" she declared, plopping her purse on the counter and began rummaging through it.

"I thought you loved this sort of thing?" Elena said.

"I don't have a date, Bonnie disappeared on me, and you seemed to have nabbed the hottest guy at the party's attention." Caroline lamented. "Speaking of…"

"Don't start Care. He's not interested in me and even if he was it's not going to happen."

"Ummm…are you crazy? He's spent the whole night glued to your hip." Caroline said as she pulled her lip gloss.

"Don't you remember what he said downstairs about why he first started talking to me?"

"What does it matter why he started talking to you? He did, you flirted, sparks are flying and you need to go after that." Caroline said as she started touching up her lips.

"He said I was a dead ringer for someone named Katherine. Someone he was familiar enough with to whisper in her ear. She's clearly a girlfriend, or ex anyway. I have not interest in being his rebound or Katherine substitute."

"So what? It's simple. Boy likes girl. Girl likes boy. Sex" Caroline said, looking at Elena like she was daft.

"Very deep Caroline."

"Elena look at him, he's gorgeous. If you don't get on that some other girl will."

"Damon Salvatore is very handsome and charming, I admit, but." Elena said "He's also still hung up on someone else and I don't think I can handle that. So at this point I'm resolved to only be his friend."

"Ugh, boring." Caroline groaned. "Well, fine if you won't then I will."

"Care" Elena gasped in shock.

"You snooze you lose Elena" Caroline called as she rushed out of the bathroom, Elena fast on her heels, but was pulled up short when she crashed into Caroline's back. Caroline, and by default Elena, had walked straight into Damon and he was currently helping her regain her footing.

"Careful ladies. I know I'm amazing, but racing to me is just a little overeager." Damon said with a small chuckle. Elena blushed and hoped he didn't realize that was exactly what they were doing. Caroline giggled, slapping Damon's arm playfully.

"Don't be silly. Elena and I were just rushing to get downstairs so we can dance before the band finishes up. Right Elena?" Caroline smiled, a devious look on her face as she began leading their trio down the stairs. Caroline had this act down pat, Elena was too flustered to play along properly.

"Er…right." Elena said.

"Speaking of dancing Damon, would you"

"Elena would you like to dance?" Damon suddenly said, cutting Caroline off, as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Elena's eyes narrowed a bit at Damon's offered hand, but slowly took it. Hand in hand he lead her towards the other dancers and pulled her close.

"That was rude." Elena remarked as soon as they were away from Caroline.

"What can I say, I'm a bad, rude man" Damon said with a devilish smile.

"Charming. However, Caroline's one of my best friend's and I don't appreciate you being rude to her." Elena said. As charming as Damon could be there was an arrogance to him that was off putting. He was playful with her, but rude to Caroline for no reason. Yes, Caroline could be a bit overeager at times, but that was no reason to be mean.

"My apologies. I didn't want to give her any false hope. She was looking at me like a piece of meat. I'll have you know I take offense to being objectified" Damon said as he gave her a twirl.

"Well that's a load of BS and we both know it." She replied as she was spun back into his arms.

"Is it?"

"You're a good looking guy with impeccable taste in suits. I think you love the attention." Elena said.

"Clever girl."

"So why are you dancing with me? I bet almost any of these women would go home with you tonight if you asked." Elena was curious. Damon looked to be at least 22 or 23 and as she'd noted very attractive. Elena was just a 17 year old girl, nothing special, and whose aunt was with her at this party. On top of that Damon, flirty as he was, didn't seem to be making any overt moves on her. Why was he bothering with her?

"Well at first it was because I just mistook you for someone." He said.

"Katherine." Elena said. Damon nodded.

"Yes, at first, but you've proven yourself very much her opposite."

"So no mistaking me for her now?"

"Nope. Kat can be a bit on the manipulative side and is known for getting what she wants, always had a plan. Katherine's amazing, but she's like a wild animal. No matter how tame they seem you could be bit at any second."

"You love her." Elena said. Damon's eyes widened slightly, as though he was surprised she had made the right conclusion. "It was kind of obvious. Anyway…so why did you keep talking to me after you figured out I wasn't her?"

"You're entertaining, know how to laugh. Plus you didn't run away in fear when I started joking about drinking blood." He replied with a smile. "But if you prefer I'll go off and hunt down some other woman to dance with and leave you to your sulking"

"I was not sulking…I was brooding"

"Nope. I know brooding and that wasn't brooding. My brother Stefan is an expert at brooding."

"The brother again. Is he in Mystic Falls as well?"

"Nope." Damon said, popping the 'p'. "He's off combing his hero hair and chasing Bon Jovi concerts I expect."

"Not close then?"

"We've had our share of differences." There was something in his voice that warned Elena to back away from the topic of Stefan. Damon's voice went from playful to cold. Unsure of what to say Elena fell silent as they continued their dance, but soon after the music ended. Elena looked around, the party was ending and people were trickling out.

"Well, Miss Elena Gilbert I do believe the party is ending and I'm going to have to bid you farewell." Damon said, taking her hand and placing a kiss a top it. His voice was not longer cold, but it was also not as playful as before.

"It was nice to meet you Damon."

"Ditto." Damon said with a smile. "Perhaps I'll see you around town sometime."

"Well, there is only like one bar in town and you can't walk five feet without running into a familiar face." Elena said with a laugh as she turned and began walking towards the doors. She needed to find Jenna and make sure Logan Fell hadn't driven her to excessive drinking.

"Have a good night Elena." Damon called from behind her.

"You too, Damon" Elena said, turning back around only to find herself alone in the courtyard.