Caroline burst into the kitchen, and sat on the ground so the kitchen table hid her from view. She saw her fingers stained with make up as she wiped her tears away and the torn dress she was wearing that looked so unlike her. She found her diary locked up in one of the drawers and started to read what she wrote the day she decided she wanted to go to the ball. She was wearing the same old dress that was on her, except she was standing in the middle of the dance floor with a mask, waiting for the next Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet, dancing with her as though they were flying around the room. She closed the book and wanted to throw it in a fire. All of those dreams were useless. All she really wanted was just to be normal for one night.

"Is that too much to ask..." she sobbed to herself.

"Now sweetheart, if you tried to be everyone else, then there would be nothing that makes you special."

Caroline knew that voice all too well. When she heard it, it stopped all of the tears and all of the wailing. She leaned over and looked at the stairs to see Jo standing there on the stairs with her hand on her hip.

"J-Jo?"

"Are you going to stand there on all fours like a complete mess or are you going to hug your real sister?" Jo said with a grin.

Caroline smiled and picked herself up, tossing her shoes to the side and running into her big step-sister's arms.

"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked.

"Bonnie and Elena called me," she explained, "They were so worried about you that they had to bring me down here to make sure you're not a safety hazard."

"No," Caroline chuckled, sniffing one last time, "I'm fine. I'm really happy you're here. Now I don't feel bad about ordering food and watching soap operas on the DVR all night long."

Jo raised her eyebrows judgmentally, "Or we could get you ready for the ball."

"I already tried," Caroline said, touching the place where the dress had the most damage, "There's no point in trying to get a girl like me to a party like that for a guy like him. It's impossible."

Jo scoffed and shook her head, "Now what's that I always told you when you were a little girl after mama died?"

Caroline shrugged, pretending not to remember, but then she was met with Jo's glare again, so Caroline sighed. "Impossible things can happen if dreamers, like you, have faith."

"Exactly," Jo said, poking Caroline's nose playfully, "Now come on, we're gonna be late to the ball."

"I can't," Caroline said, "What if the step demons and Josh get back before me? I'm dead if they find out I went."

"That's the beauty of a masquerade," Jo said, "You can go in a mask so they'll never see you there... and we'll get you out at midnight. There's no way they'll be back home before then. So what do you say? Wanna make something impossible?"

She held out her arm and Caroline hesitated before smiling and taking her arm. The two of them walked out of the house together into her limo that brought her here. Bonnie and Elena rushed in, wearing their dresses and masks. It only took Caroline forever to find a dress that she liked because she was hesitant to go. She was too afraid that she wasn't going to fit in or belong. Sure, the dream was starting to become more possible, but she still had to do the actual work to make it come true.

After Caroline rid her body of a horrid yellow dress from one of the racks, she found a strapless blue gown that went all the way down to the ground like a princess dress. She touch the surprisingly soft fabric and was in awe of it. It was perfect. Caroline stepped into the dress and walked out of the dressing room only to be met by gasps from Jo, Elena, and Bonnie.

"Care..." Bonnie breathed.

"You look like a princess," Jo said sweetly.

"Like one out of those cartoons or something," Elena added.

"I think this is the one," Caroline said as she approached a mirror, twirling around in the dress a few more times.

"Good," Jo said, standing up and handing a box to Caroline, "These are your shoes. They have never steered me wrong and I'm sure this pair won't steer you wrong as well."

Caroline opened the box and saw silver heels with straps that would wrap around her foot to her ankle, keeping her secure throughout the whole dance.

"Before you burst into tears and thank me," Jo said, placing a hairpiece onto the box that looked like it would stick to the side of a bun, but it was an intricate pattern with pure diamonds, "This was given to me by your mother as my going away present to do with as I pleased. She thought I could sell it and make some real money. Turns out, I did that all on my own, so now I'm giving it to its rightful owner... you."

Jo moved to the side of Caroline and fastened the piece onto the side of Caroline's bun. "There... now you're ready."

They purchased the dress, a mask, and the shoes and the three of them were off into the limo again. The whole time Caroline was shaking, knowing all of this was actually possible. She had everything she had to make herself feel beautiful and special. Elena and Bonnie were on either side of her, ready to help her at a moment's notice if need be. Still, Bonnie continued to tease Elena about possibly finding Damon Salvatore in a mask. However, every time the Salvatore name was mentioned, she thought of Stefan. There was a possibility she would dance with Stefan, but it wasn't likely. She was happy to be going anyway.

When the limo pulled up to the front of the ballroom, Jo stepped out and let all of the girls out. Bonnie and Elena immediately went inside and Caroline almost followed her, but turned to Jo one last time, straightening herself out.

"How do I look?" she asked.

Jo pressed her lips together and pushed back a piece of her hair and adjusted her mask. "There," she said proudly, "Now you can be a princess and remember it for the rest of your life."

Caroline smiled and pulled Jo in for a giant hug, which Jo wasn't really used to, but it made her chuckle. "Thank you," Caroline whispered, "I couldn't have done this without you."

"Aw, sweetie," Jo said, patting Caroline's back, "Yes you could have... you just needed me to push, that's all... now go before some tramp snatches up your man."

Caroline giggled and watched as the limo drove away. Bonnie and Elena came back outside and took either one of her hands. They all squealed with each other to get the nerves out and then started to walk inside the ballroom.