Chapter 19

Miss Mystic Falls

"Morning," Caroline's cheerful voice wakes me up as she tears open the curtains allowing the sun to pour through. I close my eyes at the sudden light, rolling on my other side to try and get away from it.

"Go away," I tell her grumpily, I would never be a morning person. Caroline grabs my arm forcing me out of bed, "Ahh," I scream, fighting against her. She places her hands on my shoulders, giving me an oddly nice look.

"I need you to focus," she tells me seriously. I blink suddenly getting worried at what might of happened.

"I'm focused," I inform her, my voice taking on a serious tone. Caroline releases me, turning around as she navigates my mess of a room.

"You remember that time when we were going through a particularly good sister patch," she quizzes me, turning back to face me. I frown, trying to remember what she could be talking about.

"No," I reply confused.

"Elouise," Caroline snaps hitting me on the shoulder, "when I forced you into entering Miss Mystic Falls cause mum refused to fix my car unless I started being nice to you," she confesses.

The memory hits me almost instantly, "You said it was because you wanted to do something as sisters, damn it I should have known you turned back into a bitch the next day," I snapped in annoyance. To be honest I was kind of hurt, the very idea of Miss Mystic Falls made me want to be sick, but Caroline had asked so I agreed almost instantly.

Caroline winces, "Sorry," she mutters half-heartedly.

"Its fine, I'll drop out, I don't care," I say to her, turning around to try and hide the fact I was upset. Sure I had planned to drop out but still I wish Caroline had actually wanted to do it together.

"No," Caroline cries forcing me to turn around and face her. She takes a deep breath, "You are my sister, I may not have meant it then but I do now. I want to do it together, I mean that. I know that I'm a complete bitch to you, but you put up with me anyway, and you'll do anything for me I know that now. So in light of this I'm going to try and be a better sister, just um don't expect big things," she admits to me.

"Caroline," I say, pulling her into hug before she can stop me.

"Elouise," she groans, not hugging me back, "we can hug after you've had a shower," she declares.

"Oh sorry," I mutter releasing with a huge grin on her face.

"This isn't mum is it?" I question feeling the need to check.

"Elouise," Caroline snaps, earning me another hit on the shoulder, "I cannot believe you."

"Sorry," I mutter, though secretly I was still a little suspicious.

"Excuse me," Daniel says to me as we walk down the crowded hallway.

"I want you to escort me on the Founder's Court," I repeat to him, cringing as I said it.

"What?" Daniel says in complete disbelief, stopping in his tracks.

"I know its crazy but Caroline was all nice and I couldn't say no, you know me and the word no we have a complicated relationship," I seek to explain to him, "and truthfully I'd thought I'd be um turned down."

"And you weren't?" Daniel asks confused.

"Ok that was mean," I snap walking away from him.

"Sorry it was just too tempting, I mean if I'm going to escort you to this thing I'm going to need some free hits," he tells me laughing.

"Deal," I say holding out my hand.

Daniel shakes it smiling, "Actually this is problem a good time to tell you that I need to talk to you, you know that really important thing," he reminds me.

"That I ruined with my crazy I like Damon thing, that turned out to be totally false," I remember, cringing at the memory, "sure what's up?" I question curious.

Daniel opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted by Caroline and Elena, "Elouise, we are going dress shopping later," Caroline informs me, her tone saying I had absolutely no choice in the matter. "Also there are some things I need to talk to you about," she says guiding me away from Daniel.

"You don't mind if we borrow her right?" Elena questions, actually acknowledging him which is more than I can say for Caroline.

"Yeah sure," Daniel shrugs.

"We'll talk later," I promise still eager to know what he was hiding from me.

"Interviews, nobody mentioned interviews," I hiss as we wait for our interviews.

"Didn't we?" Caroline asks innocently her eyes focused up front.

"You are the child of Satan," I mutter under my breath, crossing my arms.

"Don't slouch," Caroline commands me. I roll my eyes sitting upright in my chair. Elena hides a giggle from the other side of Caroline, I glare at her and she just smiles.

"Elouise Forbes," my name gets called. I stand up nervously wishing I had at least had time to prepare. The women smile at me as I walk in, but I can just smell judgement oozing of them. I take a deep breath trying to mentally prepare myself as I sat down.

Carol Lockwood smiles at me, "This year's queen will have the special honour of taking stage at the one hundredth fiftieth founder's day gala," she tells me, "but before we crown our winner we'd like to get to know a bit more about you, so tell us about yourself," she encourages me. Just remember what Caroline told you to say I tell myself, looking down at my pink nails courtesy of Caroline.

"Right well I started and chair the Mystic Falls book club and astronomy society," which I wasn't going to mention had all of three members, "I've also volunteered at the local animal shelter for years now," I stopped here because I knew there was a finishing part to this but I couldn't remember. I sigh, "Look I'll be the first to admit that up until this point I've never really been interested in these founder's events, but I was wrong. The past, the legacy we leave behind its more important than ever. Its not just a celebration, its about family and loyalty, its our community that pulls together in hard times. No we're not perfect but it's a community that I want to part of, one that cares about each other. So thank you for your time," I say, wondering where that came from and what in the world compelled me to say it.

"So basically you completely botched up the entire interview," Daniel says as he follows me into dance practice.

I scoff, "Botched is a strong word," I say to him.

"Elouise, you pointed out that you've never been interested in founders events," he reminds, dumping his stuff down.

"Okay I botched it up, but shh Caroline doesn't know," I warn him as Caroline walks over to us.

"Elouise good you need to get started, you out of all us has the most to learn," she declares, grabbing my arm and pulling me over. Daniel holds his mouth, trying desperately not to laugh.

"Daniel so do you," Caroline snaps, giving him a death glare I recognized oh to well.

He stops laughing immediately, "Sorry," he mutter following me as we get ready to begin.

"Child of Satan, child of satan," I tell him patting his shoulder as Caroline walks off.

"Yeah I guess that's where she's got the death glare," he jokes.

"Its so lucky we don't share parents," I joke back, causing as both to fall into a fit of giggles.

"Thanks Caroline," I say quietly as she curls my hair for me, as we get ready.

She shrugs, "Its fine, what are sister's for," she mutters.

"I figured mum would be here," I confess, although something in me says I shouldn't be surprised she wasn't.

"I didn't," Caroline admits, "but hey we're here together so that's all that really matters," she seeks to comfort me, which was shocking coming from her.

"Caroline Forbes, you do have a soft bone," I say in shock.

She rolls her eyes, "Maybe you bring it out of me," she hints.

"No," I shake my head, "no I don't," I say seriously.

"Whatever," Caroline shrugs, placing down the curler as she admires her work. "Almost perfect," she murmurs happily to herself.

I turn around to face her, "But you'll totally win, and better yet you deserve to, I know how much this means to you," I tell her, getting into this sister bonding experience.

"You think?" Caroline asks, revealing her insecure side.

"Of course," I say with a smile, "I mean come on Caroline who else would go to this much trouble over a stupid pageant."

Caroline laughs, "Call it stupid again and I'll murder you," she warns jokingly.

"I'm shaking," I joke back, joining in as she laughs. How was it that a thing that would have seemed like hell for me a couple of months ago, was the first thing to make me truly laugh and smile in a while?

I hold my dress, the red colour just catching my eyes. I wondered why I was excited for this, either I was actually changing, or I'm not really sure. "Damon," I say in shock, when I see him walking out of the room Elena was in.

"Elouise," he greets me. I stand awkwardly before him not really sure what to do or say. Since making a resolve to be friends with him, it was actually kind of hard to be friends with him.

"I'm going to see Elena," I declare, walking away from him before he has the chance to reply. "Elena, are you alright?" I question concerned as she sits looking down.

"Stefan's on human blood," she tells me.

I close my eyes trying to work everything through my head, "Crap," I mutter.

"Damon's worried, he thinks its controlling him," she tells me.

"Look Elena, we'll sort it out, let's just get through this and then we'll strike an intervention," I promise her.

Elena nods looking back at the mirror trying to focus, "Right." I follow her gaze to see myself in the mirror and almost curse, how stupid was I had to believe that I'd be allowed to be happy and worry free for once.

"What are you guys talking about?" Stefan asks us coming in.

"We know about the blood Stefan," Elena declares.

Stefan smiles as if nothing is wrong, "I was going to tell you," he informs her.

"When?" Elena questions upset.

"I'll be out there," I tell them, realizing this was a conversation I probably should be here for.

"Thanks," Elena murmurs as I walk out, leaving her to sort through things with Stefan.

"Has anyone seen Amber?" Carol Lockwood asks, as me, Elena, Caroline stand at the top of the stairs.

"Where's Stefan?" I question peering over the edge to look at the escorts, "and Matt?" I say frowning.

"He couldn't get out of work," Caroline mutters shrugging, "wait where's Stefan?" she asks confused.

"Yeah, is he alright?" I second worried.

"He just disappeared somewhere, what am I doing? I never should have gone through with this," Elena says freaked out.

"Elena," I warn, trying to get her to calm down.

"I need to find Stefan," she declares, "this isn't me. I'm not this person."

"Elena," I say grabbing her arm, "I'm not this person either, but we're both here because its important to someone we care about," I remind her, looking at Caroline and smiling.

"She's right, this was important to your mum," Caroline smiles, giving Elena a reassuring hug.

"Miss Caroline Forbes and her escort Jeffrey Lockwood Hamilton," Carol Lockwood announces as Caroline leaves us. "Elena you're next," she says and I smile at Elena, "you're mum," I whisper to her. "Miss Elena Gilbert, escorted by Mister Stefan Salvatore," she calls and I look over the balcony at Elena still seeing no sign of Stefan. Elena looks around nervously unsure what to do, Daniel gives me a confused look from the bottom. I sigh, Elena was my cousin, and she was having a hard time she needed an escort. I gave Daniel a flicking motion hoping he'd get the picture, he attempts to mouth something to me and I nod. Daniel walks forward taking Elena's hand and she sends me a smile from where she stands.

"Miss Elouise Forbes, escorted by Daniel Butler," Carol Lockwood calls, even though she hesitates realizing what just happen. I straighten my back like Caroline told me to and smile trying not to care about the fact I didn't have an escort. Carefully I make my way down the stairs, trying to stop my dress from falling under my feet. To both my shock and happiness, Damon steps forward to take my arm, I send him a thankful smile. "Where's Stefan?" I question Damon, looking around me as if I might just catch a glimpse of him.

"I don't know," Damon admits.

"Okay what in the world are we going to do then?" I ask him as we rejoin the others.

Caroline gives the most confused look ever as she spots Damon and I shrug.

"Let's just get through this," Damon tells me. I nod in agreement, trying desperately to remember what I actually had to do in this dance, with so many other things on my mind.

"Where is Amber?" Caroline questions as we stand on the stage.

"I don't know," Elena mutters darkly.

"She gets stage fright," I tell them, "maybe she just couldn't do it, I could understand that," I seek to explain, to stop Elena thinking about other possibilities.

"Yeah," Elena says but I can tell she's not convinced.

"Before I crown the winner, I'd like to offer a personal thank you to all of these young ladies for their efforts to better their community," the mayor says, as everyone applauds. I fight the urge to roll my eyes, were they serious? "So without further a due it is my honour to announce our very own Miss Mystic Falls, Miss Caroline Forbes," she announces and I grin, grin as if it my own name that is announced.

"Congratulations," Elena says laughing as her and Caroline hug.

"You deserve it," I add, as to my utter surprise Caroline pulls me into a hug, "thanks," she whispers. The mayor comes forward placing the Miss Mystic Falls banner over her shoulder.

Damon is waiting patiently for me and Elena as we join him. "What is it, did you find him?" she asks, the worry barely concealed in her voice.

"There were signs of a struggle in the upstairs bathroom," Damon tells us, "there was blood and that Amber girl is missing."

"Oh my god," I mutter, Stefan couldn't of, could he? I honestly didn't know anymore.

"He wouldn't hurt her, he won't," Elena declares, although it sounds like she more trying to convince herself than us.

"Will he?" I ask Damon worried.

"Let's just find him, okay," Damon says effectively avoiding my question, which makes me feel somehow worse, "lets get your guys coats come on," he encourages us before I have time to dwell. I quickly grab my throwing it over me, as we make our way out into the words.

"It'll be okay," I promise Elena, even if I wasn't sure of it myself.

"Stefan," Elena screams as we catch sight of him, fangs in poor Amber's neck.

"Oh god," I mutter, trying to get my mind under control. Stefan releases her at the sound of Elena's voice, but you can tell he's still hungry.

"Stefan come on, get it under control," Damon says moving closer to him, "its okay come on, breath through it man." Stefan grabs Damon throwing him against a tree, I wince unable to believe this was Stefan. Unable to believe that this was the consequence of me feeding Stefan my blood.

"Stefan, stop it," I beg, fighting to hide the quiver in my voice. All of a sudden Stefan grabs his head, grimacing in pain, I turn to see Bonnie, I hadn't even realized she was here.

"It's okay, Stefan," Damon says as he stops. Stefan looks around like a deer caught in headlines before taking off, leaving all of us confused and upset.

"She doesn't remember what happened," mum says as she walks over to us.

Damon nods, "It's a good thing the girls got here when they did, she lost a lot of blood," Damon tells her.

"You didn't see anything?" mum asks us, me, Elena and Damon all look to Bonnie without thinking, I just hope mum doesn't notice.

"No we just found her," I mutter.

"And then we called Damon," Elena says.

"Is she going to be okay?" Bonnie questions and I wonder if she'll say anything.

Mum nods, "It looks like it yeah. Why don't you girls get back to the party? Damon and I can take it from here," she tells us.

"Okay," Elena nods and I follow her but mum grabs my arm.

"I was proud of you today," mum tells me.

"Oh I could tell by the fact you were here the whole time," I snap, what could I say I was emotional.

"Elouise," she starts.

"You had to work," I finish for her, "the excuses eventually get old mum," I say brushing past her. I begin walking but am stopped when someone grabs my arm. "Damon," I sigh turning to face him.

"Has it ever occurred to you, you're mum just trying to protect you?" he questions me and I'm sort of surprised, I didn't expect him to defend my mother.

"Yeah so are you and you managed to make it to the whole thing," I remind him.

"Its not," Damon starts.

"The same?" I question, "why not? It should be," I snap, shrugging my shoulders as I walk away.

I peer over at Stefan's body in the cell after Elena had confronted him and struck him with vervain. It looked so not Stefan like, dangerous, scary, even Damon was less like that when he was all vampire like. "There's no guarantee this is going to work," Damon tells me and Elena as he closes the door to the cell. I sigh, of course there wasn't but it has to.

"It has to," Elena says, speaking the words right out of my head. I groan when I hear my phone buzz, pulling it out to check. It was Caroline wanting to know when I was going to get home. I almost laughed at the irony.

"I have to go," I say to them, glad I had managed to steal Caroline's fixed car, because it was clear Elena wanted to stay longer.

"Bye," Elena mutters.

"He'll be okay," I promise her, giving her a quick hug. She holds onto me, not allowing me freedom to move.

"Sorry its just," she starts.

"I know," I tell her smiling. I turn to face Damon as he walks me to the edge of the basement. "You'll stay with her right?" I ask him, not wanting her to be alone.

Damon smirks, "Aren't I the white knight today?"

I laugh, "Just wait till Stefan's back, you'll have some competition," I joke, my smile fades, "thanks for today, for being there for me and Stefan. It meant, means, a lot to me," I tell him. Damon smiles and I hope he's not going to say something not serious, because that would kind of annoy me.

"Always," he promises.

I nod, "Good," I say, turning around and walking up the stairs a smile forming on my face.

I sniff the cup warily that Caroline had given me, "Is this alcohol?" I question her.

Caroline rolls her eyes, "I know how much you despise the stuff, so I made sure to not add any to yours," she promises.

"Well thank you," I say sincerely.

She shrugs, "What are sisters for."

"Oh did I tell you I had a go mum today, I think you're rubbing off on me," I confess to her.

"Elouise Forbes," Caroline exclaims, "I'm so proud of you."

I laugh, "Yeah mum's not," I tell her, taking a sip of my drink. I send a kick over to Caroline, "This is alcohol," I yell, only half upset.

Caroline shrugs, "You need to loosen up," she tells me smiling.

"I can loosen up, I am plenty loose," I lie to her.

"In what world?" she replies.

"None," I admit.

"That's what I thought," she tells me smiling. I smile back and I wish that things between me and her can be like this all the time and that she actually means that she wants to be a better sister. Because right now all the heartbreak over the years wishing Caroline would accept me, right now it was all worth it.

So I really enjoyed writing this one, because it turned into a Elouise/Caroline one which was good, because I think Elouise needs a little good in her life. So hopefully everyone enjoyed :)

I love hearing from my readers...so please tell me what you think :)