Next chapter!:) I promised a lot of Damon in this chapter and I kept my word. Thank you for the reviews, you guys are wonderful:) keep 'em coming:D I hope you all enjoy it too next chapter is going to be an original, my own side story. It's just to add Liz to more of the plot and let me know what you guys think, really I want to know if you want to see that side or not,

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Disclaimer: don't own anything, only Liz

The ride to the mayor's house was filled with excitement. All three of us were talking nonstop and laughing. When Elena pulled in, there were already dozens of people lining up. Bonnie and I stuck together while Elena went off to find Stefan. It was getting too crowded for my liking, so Bonnie and I made our way up the steps. They mayor, Mrs. Lockwood, and Tyler were on the front steps, greeting people. Both the mayor and Mrs. Lockwood looked enthusiastic while Tyler looked extremely bored.

Bonnie and I made our way up the steps, and waited in line. I looked around at all the familiar faces, some from school, some from the council, and others from long forgotten memories. The line was moving slowly and I heaved a heavy breath. I rolled my eyes at Bonnie and she mimicked me. I turned around and saw Stefan and Elena. They really were the perfect couple, it was so adorable. Elena caught my eye and softly smiled. I grinned and gave her a thumb up and winked too. She laughed and rolled her eyes.

Finally, Bonnie and I made it face to face with the Lockwoods. Tyler and I shared polite nods. I shook Mayor Lockwoods hand enthusiastically.

"It's good to see you Mayor Lockwood,"

"It's good to see you Liz, I'm glad you could make it," I nodded my thanks as he turned to Bonnie. I went up to Mrs. Lockwood and shook her hand.

"So good to see you Elizabeth," she smiled and I had to smile back. "Did you find the pocket watch by any chance?" whoops. How was I going to tell her I gave it back to Jeremy? I hope no one would miss it. What's one item missing anyway?

"Oh, the watch. No, I'm sorry Mrs. Lockwood; I couldn't find it," I lied.

"Oh, well that's alright dear; enjoy the party," I could tell she was shocked and yet angry that I couldn't bring the pocket watch. But it meant so much to Jeremy; I wasn't going to let someone else have it; even if it was a loan.

Together, Bonnie and I made our way through the mansion, saying hi to people passing by and such. It was so boring to be honest. When Bonnie said she had to go to the bathroom, I was standing by myself like the loner I am. I looked very awkward but I didn't care at the moment. I looked down at the clock on my phone, only an hour had pass, with many more to come. When I looked up, I was face to face with Damon Salvatore. I gasped and put my hand on my chest. I laughed and glared playfully at him.

"You scared me, I didn't even see you come up," I laughed with my hand still on my heart. He smiled cockily and looked me up and down. I blushed a little under his gaze and stared down at my feet in embarrassment.

"Hmmmm, you're an artist on the rise, though you take very little pride in your work, with awesome and very unique pieces. Don't tell me your design your own clothes too," he teased. I laughed and smiled.

"Sadly no, designing clothes isn't part of my job description," who was this girl that was flirting with an Adonis replica? She sure as hell wasn't me.

"Well I'm sure you could if you really wanted to. They'd be just as awesome as your paintings," he smirked and again looked me up and down again.

"Didn't you come here with Caroline?" I questioned. I hadn't seen her yet and usually she's latched onto her dates.

"I'm actually hiding from her for a while," he whispered as he bent down to my ear. His voice sent shivers down my back, and I'm sure he knew that too.

"Why are you whispering?" I asked teasingly.

"Because she can hear everything," I laughed because it was so true.

"Well that's Caroline for you,"

"But enough about that; you look very lovely by the way, black truly compliments you," he is such a flirt, it's really hard to imagine Caroline hasn't smacked him around yet.

"Thank you, you clean up nice too," I noticed that he too was wearing black. He smirked and laughed.

"I already know how good I look but thank you anyway," wow, ego much?

"Hey listen, I never got to thank you properly," he looked confused so I continued. "For the night Mr. Tanner died. It was really sweet of you to walk me to my car and make sure I was okay." His face softened and he broke out into an actual smile.

"Nobody should see someone they once knew die right before them; it never leaves you and you know you have to carry that memory with you for the rest of your life,"

"Is that what happened with Katherine?" I blurted out. Whoops, how stupid could I be? I knew I shouldn't have said anything about his ex.

"Yes, that's exactly what happened," he looked over at me, his eyes piercing through my soul. It was mesmerizing and yet frightening at the same time.

"Sorry I took so long, long line," Bonnie came back in. Damon and I broke eye contact to look at her. She looked between us, "Oh, am I interrupting something?"

"No, its fine Bonnie," I shake my head and move to stand next to her. "I'll see you later Damon,"

With that, the two of us walk away, me not looking back. I was tempted to, not gonna lie; but I didn't. Once we were out of earshot, the interrogation began.

"Seriously Liz? Damon, you know he's Caroline's and she'll fight you to the death and you know it," oh yes I know sadly.

"Bonnie, there is nothing going on between Damon and me. We just talked that's all; and no it was not flirty talk," I lied for the second time that day. I knew that I was flirting before but I really didn't even realize it.

"Are you sure Liz? I mean you don't even know the difference between flirting and just talking," damn, she had a good point.

"I'm sure Bonnie, we just talked."

Bonnie dropped it after that. We walked around until we sat down on one of the couches. We just sat there and looked at everyone. They all looked so into it, while the two of us looked bored out of our fricken minds.

"Hey," I said suddenly causing Bonnie to look over at me curiously, "I'm gonna go find Elena, wanna come with?"

"No thanks, I'm good,"

"Really, are you sure? I'd feel so bad if I left you here all by yourself,"

"Liz, I'm sure go find your sister; I'm a big girl I can take care of myself for a couple of hours at most,"

I began to fake cry and held a proud look in my face, "Oh my little Bonnie, all grown up," she shoved me off the couch as I laughed. I walked into the historical part of the party. It had antiques from all the founding families. When I got to the Gilbert section, I stood frozen, staring at the old objects my parents left for us. I walked over to where the original founding families all signed their names. They were at the first Founders Day Ball, all those years ago.

I read through the names, each one so familiar. I stopped though, when I read two of the names. Damon and Stefan Salvatore. What? That's odd.

"The original Salvatore brothers, in case you were wondering," a voice said from behind me. I turned around and saw Damon, in all his smirking glory.

"Are you following me?" I asked curiously.

"Me, no? I'm not into stalking people; it's usually the other way around, they follow me," he replied smoothly. I rolled my eyes and looked back at the document. Damon came and stood next to me, reading as well.

"Tragic story really," he started, getting my attention. "Happened so long ago, but it's just like it happened yesterday,"

"What happened?"

"Oh how they died, my ancestors; not something you want to repeat out loud,"

"Care to elaborate more?"

"The Salvatore name is practically royalty in this town, until the war,"

"The Battle of Willow Creek," I finished.

"Right," he looked impressed.

"I know, cause we talked about it in class; Confederate soldiers fired on a church with civilians inside," I summed it up.

"What the history books left out was that the people were killed, they weren't there by accident; they were believed to be unit sympathizers. Some of the founders on the Confederate side had them rounded up and burned alive," he moved over to one of the paintings and I followed him, with a frown on my face.

"Stefan and Damon had someone they loved very much in that church; and when they went to rescue them, they were shot, murdered in cold blood," my heart froze. It really was tragic.

"Who was in the church?"

"A women I guess," he paused and looked me deeply in the eyes, "Doesn't it always come down to the love of a women?" I had to smile, because it was somewhat true.

We stood for a while until a shrill voice rang out, "Damon, there you are," we both turned to see Caroline, strutting towards us. "I've been looking all over for you," she came up and looped her arm through his. "Hey Liz,"

"Hey Care, you look nice," I commented.

She looked down at herself and smiled proudly, "Thanks, you too,"

"Very," Damon put in, making Caroline and I look at him in confusion. Why the hell would he say that in front of me when he was with Caroline?

"Well, I'm bored. I want to dance and Damon won't dance with me,"

Damon gave a very dramatic sigh, "I don't dance though; why don't you go find Stefan and ask him to dance?" he told her, more like commanded her.

"Okay," she said perkily and walked off.

Damon turned back to me and had a smirk on his lips, "Would you care to dance?" he asked smoothly.

"But didn't you-" I didn't get to finish though because he dragged me off to the dance floor.

Once we were in the middle, he put his hand around my waist and pulled me rather close to his chest. My heart started pounding and he had a smug look on his face as we began to sway to the music. It was rather nice, I hadn't been held by a guy like this in a long time. I felt safe in his arms, no matter how corny that sounded.

"So, does it bother you?" he asked after a few minutes.

"What does?"

"Seeing your sister happy with someone else and you all alone?" I pulled back and looked at him in shock. Who the hell did he think he was? I mean to ask me about being alone, how dumb can you be?

"No, should I be?" I asked, trying to play along.

"Well yeah, I mean you're just as good looking as your sister, and here you are, all alone with no love life, while she's hanging off of my brother 24/7,"

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or offensively," he smirked and twirled me. He brought me back into his chest and we swayed some more.

"But seriously; I mean doesn't it bother you? I mean you deserve happiness as much as she does. You gotta have guys lining up for you, right?"

"Uh, actually no," I answered honestly.

"You're kidding right?" I shook my head. "When is the last time you looked in the mirror? Because you just as sexy as I am; and that's saying something," he smirked as I blushed heavily. "I mean look at me, I'm like a Greek God,"

I finally lost it, I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "You are probably the most self centered, cockiest person I have ever met, you know that right?" he smirked and dipped me. When he brought me back up the smirk never left his face.

"But it's what charms most women and no one can resist me, especially my looks,"

"Well I'm not most women, and you are ridiculous,"

He only laughed and we continued to dance. I don't think he look me seriously. I don't even think I took myself seriously. I looked off in the distance and saw Caroline and Stefan dancing together.

"Looks like she did it," Damon looked over his shoulder and smirked.

"Well Caroline lives to please me; she even said it herself,"

"She is a person, you know that." I hoped he did.

"Of course, but I can't help if she's attracted to me because of my hotness," I rolled my eyes again.

We stopped dancing and Damon took my hand and led me over to where the two were. When we got there, Damon still didn't let go of my hand, Stefan offered him a drink, but he declined.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom now," I turned to Damon, "Thanks for the dance," I pivoted and walked off.

There was a long line for the bathroom and when I finally got in, I was happy. The party was almost over and I couldn't wait to go home. But, this year was actually kinda fun. And it most certainly did not have to do with Damon, did it? When I got out of the stall, Caroline was in there too and fixing her makeup.

"Hey Care," she stopped applying lip gloss and smiled at me. "You're not mad at me right? For dancing with Damon?" I hoped she wasn't.

"No of course not, you're my friend and I wouldn't get mad at you," she smiled and I returned it.

I stood in front of the mirror and washed my hands. I went to reach for a paper towel and noticed something funny on Caroline's neck. I lifted it up and saw bruises and bite marks. I opened my mouth in shock and disgust.

"Caroline, what is that?" she looked and pulled her scarf down.

"It's nothing," she denied. I lifted up her shawl and saw more bruises and bite marks. I gasped and she yanked herself free of my grip.

"Did Damon hurt you?"

"No please just drop it, it's nothing,"

"Nothing, Caroline you're entire back is black and blue," Elena walked in then.

"Hey what's going on?" she asked.

"Nothing," Caroline insisted.

"It isn't anything and you know it; Damon's beating her,"

"What?" she gasped and came over to get a look.

I showed her all of Caroline's back and she began her own questioning. Caroline, though, got fed up and rushed out of the bathroom. Elena and I shared knowing looks. She went off to find Stefan, and I went off to find Damon. I was so mad at him right now. How could he hurt her like that? I mean the Damon that was talking to me didn't seem capable of doing that. But I guess I was wrong. When I found him I went and shoved him.

"Stay the hell away from Caroline," I said through clenched teeth. I turned on my heel and went to walk off but he caught my arm and turned me around.

"Wait, I can explain that-"

I ripped my arm from his grasp though, "No I don't want to hear your excuses. Just stay away from her or I'll go to her mother," I said darkly and stalked off.

I walked around, trying to cool my head off. I walked outside on the front lawn for a while, letting the cold air calm me down. I saw a figure lying on the ground. I walked faster and came and saw it was Caroline.

"Oh my God, Caroline?" I helped her up as she came to. Apparently she didn't know what happened and how she got there. I led her back inside and sat her on one of the couches. I gave her a glass of water to help calm her down, but she seemed okay to me. I went off to find Elena and hoped we could all put this night behind us. I didn't want to think of Damon Salvatore and how he charmed me. Though, I will forever deny it.