Chapter 3

I don't own Legacies, The Vampire Diaries or The Originals, they belong to Julie Plec (and whoever else). I just own Dawn and any other OC that may come up later. I'm not making any profit from writing this.

This chapter isn't betaed, any mistakes are my own and English is definitely not my first language. Constructive criticism is much appreciated, flames are not.

This story was inspired by 'It Happened - Menage a Trois' by SupaaFly.

Dawn's character is heavily based on my ex-childhood friend, so it's not really a Self-Insert. It is just an excuse to write a threesome between my OC, Stefan and Damon.

Emphasis

WRITTEN

Signing

At lunch the next day, Dawn cornered Stefan.

"You should join the football team." Tyler wasn't as much of a jerk as his tv show counterpart so she couldn't be sure he'd throw the ball at Stefan.

"What?" he asked, surprised by the sudden demand.

"We suck." she explained, "Well, not really," she backtracked, looking around furtively to make sure no one had heard their Vice President insult the football team. These Americans were nuts about the sport. "But the other teams are stronger and we need an edge this year if we want to win. You could be our edge."

He looked amused, "What if I don't know how to play?"

"Oh, pleeease." she waved away his comment as irrelevant and chose not to explain how she knew.

"Come on, it's going to be fun and you'll be able to make friends. Don't you want to fit in?" She wasn't sure why he had agreed to play in the show, but he was a vampire playing human, surely fitting in was a part of it. "Please, please, please." she begged, "If you suck Tanner won't take you, but if you're good I won't have to listen to Tyler whining about losing this year." Hands held out in prayer, she gave him the puppy eyes, "Please, for my sanity."

He laughed, a throaty laugh that made her want to smile, "I promise I'll try out. Wouldn't want you to go crazy," he smiled at her.

Dawn could feel her cheeks go warm, so she thanked him hurriedly and rushed off before she could embarrass herself, you could actually see her blush in this body. So weird.

§§§

"Yeah, we're late." said Jeremy sarcastically, staring at the clearing full of drunk, dancing teenagers

Dawn huffed, but said nothing. He was right, the party was in full swing.

"Bree and Alice are making out. Alice isn't even drunk." pointed out Jeremy.

"She has a crush and is trying to make them jealous." She looked at the couple for a bit, "Bree seems really into it, guess she has her answer."

"Ok, well, then." He pointed at a group of his classmates near the beer keg, "I'm going then. Have fun."

"You too," she ruffled his hair, "and remember, just three glasses. No getting drunk or you're grounded."

Jeremy didn't point out that she wasn't his mother or guardian and therefore couldn't really ground him. Elena would have, but Jeremy had always listened to her even before their parents. If she said he was grounded, he was.

Dawn wondered when he'd finally enter the rebellious stage. Not that she wanted him to, but she'd like a bit of warning is all.

She walked around, trying to find her friends. Seeing Tyler and Caroline making out against a tree, she found Alex, he was Adam's right hand.

"Alex," she called.

"Vice Prez," he nodded at her, "what can I do for you?"

She pointed at the couple, "Keep an eye on them. Discreetly. You know how Tyler gets."

He was much better than show-Tyler, but she didn't want what happened to show-Vicki to happen to Caroline. Better not risk it.

Alex agreed so she left him to it. She trusted him, he took his job very seriously, inside and outside school grounds. He was Adam's best minion when it came to calming angry people down, he just had this soothing voice and presence. And he kept his cool even when breaking noses. She admired that about him.

Bonnie had driven Elena over earlier, Jeremy and Dawn had lost track of time talking about her.

The Bennet witch was sipping beer and flirting with a cute football player whose name she couldn't remember, while Matt was talking with his fellow jocks.

Finally, she found Elena on the bridge talking to Stefan, but instead of looking lost in each other, the brunette was looking around, searching for someone. Her eyes lit up when they landed on her.

Confused, Dawn walked towards them, "Everything okay Elena?"

"Yeah, yeah," she was agitated, "Have you seen Jeremy? There's something I need to tell him."

"He was by the beer kegs last time I saw him." she answered confused.

"Bye, Stefan!" she hurried off and Dawn watched her go bemused.

She turned her eyes on the vampire, "What did you say to her?" It was obvious she'd been trying to escape.

"I don't know," he looked as confused as she felt.

"Don't worry," she patted his shoulder, "I'm sure it was nothing, maybe she just wasn't interested in your flirting." She doubted that was it.

"You think so?" he asked her. He sounded like a little kid.

"Maybe she's just not ready for a relationship." She shrugged, "Or you're just not her type." She added for the hell of it.

He raised a brow (she was so envious!) and spread his arms as if to say 'look at me'. Dawn choked on her own spit, the action was so unexpected. With a playful smile, he twirled once for her, slowly.

"I'm not her type?" he asked teasingly.

Dawn couldn't help it, she laughed. Loudly and without restraint. "Oh Gods, Stefan." Still laughing, she patted his shoulder, "You look so meek but you do have a wild side."

"More than you know," he said with a conspiratory wink.

"Oh come on!" she whined. "You can't say that and then refuse to explain."

She doubted he was referring to his Ripper side. From everything she knew, he would never be so flippant about it.

"You'll just have to wait and..."

Screams interrupted him.

Startled, she turned around and rushed to the party.

"Call 911!" yelled someone.

"Vicki!" Matt yelled.

She could see Tyler holding her bridal style and laying her down on the table.

"Stay back! Give her space!" he yelled. Standing back himself and wrapping his arms around a trembling Caroline.

Dawn found her family in the crowd and grabbed their hands, dragging them beside the couple. Bonnie was already there, staring horrified at Vicki covered in blood.

Dawn idly wondered why the girl was in the woods this time.

§§§

Matt had driven off in the ambulance with Vicki, so the gang decided to leave once the police ordered everyone to clear off.

Sometime before the chaos, Caroline and Tyler had an argument so, while Bonnie drove Elena and Jeremy home, Dawn had decided to take the blond to the Grill to make her feel better. She'd drive her home once she was sure she wouldn't go straight for her mother's liquor cabinet.

Caroline was slumped over the table with her face buried between her arms, "Why does Tyler not want me?" she whined.

Dawn stared at her, "You were making out with him five minutes ago, what are you on about?"

Caroline looked up with liquid eyes, "Yes, but he doesn't want me."

"Did he say someone else's name or something?" She doubted it: Tyler was very taken with his girlfriend and he wasn't the type to string someone along. If he wanted someone else, he'd leave Care and go get her.

"Noooo," she put her head back down, "but we only kiss and have sex. We haven't gone on a single date since we became a couple."

"Ok," Dawn hadn't known that. "Is he always the one to initiate things? As in, do you ask him to go out and he just wants sex?"

"Well… no. He's just so sexy!"

Dawn had never heard that word sounding more like an insult. "Then it's your fault too. Tell him you want to go on dates, that you want the romance and not just the sexy bits. How is he supposed to know what you want if you don't tell him? He's not a mind reader."

"But what if he says no?" She looked so sad, like a kicked kitten.

Dawn smiled at her and hugged her close, "Care, any guy would be lucky to have you. If you weren't disappointingly straight, I would have asked you out ages ago. Tyler likes you, I'm sure of it. But if I'm wrong and he doesn't want a real relationship with you… better to know now rather than later." She kissed her forehead, "Talk to him."

They stayed like that for a moment before Caroline drew herself up and wiped her eyes with a napkin.

"Thank you, D" she smiled up at her friend. "I just needed a bit of reassurance."

"No problem, blondie." She pointed behind her at the bar, "Now that my duty as your bisexual friend is done, I'm going to grab a drink." She stood, "Want something?"

"Duty?" she asked curiously.

Dawn winked, "To give my lady friends a confidence boost, of course."

She could hear Caroline laughing as she told her, "I'm going to Tyler's!"

Dawn waved at her without looking back. She really needed that drink.

Thankfully, Ben was bartending tonight. Dawn waved at him and he smiled at her, giving her a thumbs up to show he understood.

"Come here often?" asked a voice from beside her.

"What?" She turned around and resisted the urge to curse.

Damon Salvatore was sitting on the stool to her right, nursing an amber liquid that might be bourbon. Dawn was no expert on alcohol, she had three cocktails she liked and stuck to those.

"Strawberry Kaipiroska," said Ben while putting down the glass in front of her.

"That was fast," she commented.

He winked, "I saw you come in and knew you would need a drink."

"Really?" she stared at him, unimpressed. She didn't drink nearly often enough for him to make that assumption, friends with benefits on and off for two years or not. He didn't know her that well, just her body.

He shrugged, smirking like he thought she was impressed. "Nah, I heard what happened at the party. Vicki's your sore spot."

She tightened her grip on the glass, pissed off. Wisely, he left quickly and she furiously started sipping her drink.

He wasn't wrong, no one angered her more than Vicki Donovan and there was a part of her that relished at the idea that she'd die soon. Hopefully. Just the thought of her made her want to hit something. Preferably her face. Again.

"What happened at the party?" asked Damon Salvatore from beside her.

Like you don't know, she thought uncharitably. "Druggie ex-girlfriend got hurt and ruined our fun." Lower, she mumbled around her straw, "Good riddance."

She knew he could likely hear her, but she didn't care. He wasn't likely to judge her with his track record and his opinion of her didn't matter. He was just her cousin's possible future husband.

"Bad break up?" he asked fake-sympathetically.

Dawn looked at him, "She cheated on me with my baby brother and almost ruined our relationship." She drank the last of her cocktail and slapped a 5 dollar bill on the table. "Now, excuse me, I'm going home."

§§§

"Wake up Dawn, wake up!"

Irritated, Dawn opened an eye and glared up at Elena. "My alarm didn't ring." She stubbornly closed her eyes, fully intending to go back to sleep.

"We have to talk."

Dawn groaned. She knew that tone, it was the 'I'll follow you all day and be especially annoying if I have to' tone. Giving in to the inevitable (and wanting to go back to sleep) she sat up, "About what?"

"What you said yesterday." She was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Groaning loudly, Dawn threw herself back down and turned her back on Elena, "You don't want to listen. Fine. Stefan is a very sexy distraction. I approve. Now let me sleep."

"You what?" she asked shrilly, "No, no, no. You were right."

Dawn could feel her eyes widening. "What?" She didn't want to move, almost scared something bad would happen if she did. Surely this wasn't happening.

"I'm not over their deaths. Even Stefan told me I looked sad and he doesn't even know me. Matt said he still believes in us and I don't even believe in myself. I don't want to be a cheerleader anymore. I don't want to be someone's girlfriend. That was the old me. The cheerleader, Matt's perfect girlfriend. The nice Gilbert who had a smile for everyone. I can't smile anymore and…"

"Wait, wait, wait." She sat up, waving her arms wildly. "You have a tendency to get lost in your feelings and drive yourself crazy." She grabbed her cousin's hand and looked her in the eyes. "Let's go step by step ok? Yes or no answers only."

Elena took a deep breath and nodded. They always did this when emotions got high and she started rambling.

"You're sad." She didn't ask that, she knew it was true.

"Yes." she nodded.

"Right now?" she checked.

Elena thought about it for a second. "No." she shook her head.

"You don't want to be a cheerleader anymore?" She had thought it would take Damon again to make her see it but it was nice that she realised it on her own.

"No, I don't."

"You're telling Caroline," she ordered.

Elena laughed and agreed.

"You don't want to be Stefan's girlfriend?" This had her really confused. Even if he wasn't incredibly handsome, she'd thought that their late night talk would make her like him. Although… did he even come up? She didn't hear Elena leave her room and since she was in show-Jeremy's room, she would've heard her taking the stairs.

"No." she answered.

"Why?" She needed an explanation. What had Stefan said wrong? Even at the party she'd practically run away from him.

"Yesterday," she began, "I was talking to Stefan at the party and he told me I looked sad. And mysterious, but it's the sad that struck me. He saw that. This person who doesn't even know me, knew I was sad. I realized he was right, I was sad but so was he." Here she stopped, "Well… I don't know if he's sad, but he looked… like someone who suffered too, you know? And I think that's what attracted me to him. As if, by making his sadness go away I can get rid of mine too. But that's not how it works and Stefan deserves better than to be… I need to heal on my own. I can't focus on someone else's problems and hope mine just disappear. You were right, I'm not ready for a relationship."

Dawn took a moment to think about what to say, but in the end there was only one thing she could really say. "As long as you're happy Elena, you can do whatever you want. Just make sure to tell him so he doesn't waste his time pining."

She then leaned over to her bedside table and grabbed her phone. "While you might not be ready for a romantic relationship, this makes it obvious that you're at that stage in your grieving process where you want to keep busy. To be distracted for a bit. You're not one for casual relationships so that's a no-go, but maybe a part time job could help." She sent Elena the links she'd found on jobs close by she might like. "Alternatively, you could get a pet. Caring for something else might help you." She made sure to send her the website of the closest animal shelter too.

They never got a pet because Miranda was allergic to anything with fur or feathers. None of them wanted a fish or a turtle so they never bought one.

"Thanks Dawn," she smiled, "I'll take a look."

Dawn smiled back and watched her leave the room. She would've suggested joining a club, but she had the feeling that Elena wasn't feeling up for that. Plus Caroline might kill her if she left cheerleading to join something else. The betrayal.

Her alarm started ringing.

"Damn it!"