The party was wonderful; or at least, most of it was. Damon and I had danced for hours, only taking brief brakes to catch our breath or have a drink. They had begun serving champagne, and while Damon had passed off the opportunity, I couldn't resist myself from walking to across the room to a table equipped with a spread of beverages, and helped myself to a flute of champagne.

I had barely swallowed a sip when a Salvatore stood before me. "Good evening, Miss Gilbert." Stefan greets with a smile and a slight bow.

"Good evening, Mr Salvatore. Do call me Elena?" I return with a curtsey.

"Then I will ask you to address me as Stefan." He quipped.

I smile, "Very well, Stefan. Tell me, why are you here with me? Where is Lady Katherine?"

Stefan grimaces and looks away, "She is with Damon." He mutters, scowling.

I look to where Damon is sat. He looks to be frustrated, as Lady Katherine practically drapes herself around him. She grabs at his hands, pulling him from his seat; begging him to dance with her. He resists at first, but then- after looking in her deep brown eyes- he follows her to the centre of the hall. I watch bitterly at them as Damon pulls her close, dancing slowly with her as the pair smile happily. I look back at Stefan, "And you don't mind?" I ask because I had thought that he and Lady Katherine were exclusive; then again, I had thought that of myself and Damon too- and that was blatantly untrue.

Stefan quirks an eyebrow at me, "I could ask you the same thing," He says, "And besides, it doesn't mean anything. If I have learnt anything about Katherine, it is that she likes to push people; and see how much she can get away with. She is merely testing me." He looks at me and smirks, "She'll have to do more than flirt with my brother to get me to snap."

I smile at him. He seems much more interesting and strong-willed than I had guessed. I look back to Damon and Katherine, and see Lady Katherine is glaring fiercely at me; while Damon watches her. Katherine has noticed that Stefan and I are talking, and her jealousy is clear. She instantly pushes Damon aside and begins to stride towards us. I take this time to take in her appearance. It is true that our resemblance is striking; had I not known better, I may have believed I was staring into a mirror. She shared my brown eyes, and long brown hair. Her skin was slightly paler than mine though; her smile brighter; her charisma more charming, and her confidence made her appear to be much more beautiful than me. She is wearing a vibrant crimson dress that emphasises her slim figure. She is upon us now, wearing a false smile. She entwines her arm with Stefan's; who smiles adoringly at her.

"Stefan, why don't you let Elena and I have some girl time. I think all this male testosterone is sending us both mad." Lady Katherine says, amused, with a light giggle.

Stefan nods animatedly, "Of course, Katherine." He looks at me, "We must speak again later, Elena." He bows slightly, "It has been a delight." I smile as his eyes dart to Katherine- he is playing her at her own game, and judging by her scowl; it's working. Stefan leaves with a satisfied expression.

I turn to Katherine, "Hello, Lady Katherine. We haven't had a chance to speak yet. Your gown is beautiful by the way." I compliment her with a smile.

She returns the smile as she folds her hands at her waist, "As does yours." Her expression becomes mischievous as she leans closer, "Tell me; what is your relationship status with the tall, dark, mysterious Salvatore?"

I blush, "Were testing the waters."

"Don't." She suddenly snaps.

I raise my eyebrows, "Pardon?"

"You herd me correct. He is unreliable and not at all gentlemanly. A girl who has suffered the loss you have requires a stable, ordinary man who will take care of you in a way that someone as unruly as Damon never could." I get the feeling that Katherine feels quite smug as the points roll of her tongue, "Would you ever really trust him? Do you want to spend the rest of your life with him? Do you want to bear his children and name?" She shakes her head disapprovingly.

"Like I said," I say sharply, quickly becoming irritated- who was she to decide what I needed- what did she know of what I had suffered? "We're testing the waters."

"I wasn't warning you, Elena." Katherine says lowly, "I was telling."

"And I am telling you." I snapped harshly, "It is none of your concern. I happen to find Damon charming; despite his few shortcomings."

Katherine glares at me and enforces eye contact; I watch as her pupils enlarge; a numb, paralysed sensation washing over my body. "You will tell Damon that you no longer wish to 'test the waters'. You do not want him to come near you again. You do not want to be in a relationship with him. You only did this because of the trauma of your parent's death. You tell Damon that you don't wish to disgrace your parent's memories by beginning a bad relationship with a man they would not approve of. Tell him you want nothing to do with him. Tell him to never speak to you again. Tell him goodbye." She smiles at me, "You must forgive me for earlier. I was only thinking of our best interests. You seem sweet. We will be wonderful friends, don't you agree?"

I nod without a word; feeling the fuzzy, numb sensation leave me. Katherine blinks and I look away; at Damon.

She smiles triumphantly, "So, have you decided what you will do about your relationship with Damon?"

I look at her and say to her in monotone, "I will tell Damon that I no longer wish to 'test the waters'. I do not want him to come near me again. I do not want to be in a relationship with him. I only did this because of the trauma of my parent's death. I am going to tell Damon that I don't wish to disgrace my parent's memories by beginning a bad relationship with a man they would not approve of. I'm going to tell him I want nothing to do with him. I'll tell him to never speak to me again. I will tell him goodbye."

Katherine grins victoriously, "That sounds like the right choice, Elena."