Reckless Minds

The Winter Solstice

I have no idea how this town keeps tracks of things occurring in nature. And now it's the Winter Masquerade, in honor of the Winter Solstice.

Damon and I have been dating for 3 weeks now. I'm still working up to the whole sex thing, but I know he'll wait.

I walk into the boarding house.

"Damon?" I glance toward the stairs then I go up them. I knock gently on the door. I hear footsteps then he answers. "What the-" I look past him and Katherine- with straight hair like mine- lays in his bed, naked, a smug smile on her face.

"Oh Damon didn't I tell you? I'm not Elena." Tears fill my eyes and I run down the stairs. "Elena! Elena please wait!" Damon calls. He suddenly stands in front of me. "Please-"

"I never want to see you again." I push past him. He grabs my wrist and pulls me into him, grabbing my other wrist as he does. "Let go of me!"

"If you walk out that door I will turn off my humanity. You will never get me back."

"What if I don't want you back, huh?"

"Elena, I love you. Katherine... She pretended to be you. She's been watching us for months. Please... Forgive me." He lets me go gently.

"Give me time. I'll think about it." I say, tears blurring my vision. I walk away and I get into my car. I drive home, and when I pull in, Caroline sits on my front stoop with Bonnie at her side. Bonnie holds a dress and Care holds 2. I open the door and their smiles fade. "Elena, what happened?"

"Katherine... She... She tricked Damon into sleeping with her." They gasp and wrap me in a hug.

"Elena... I'm so sorry." Bonnie says. I pull away and give them a smile.

"Doesn't matter. Let's get ready for the ball. I want to forget about it for today." They hand me a dress.

"One rule; we have to wear white." We get inside as snow starts falling. We get upstairs and they put makeup on me. Soon they reveal the dress they picked out for me, which is white with one strap. Doesn't poof out too much but doesn't hug my body, and to top it off, it has one jewel in the middle. I rub the chiffon fabric between my fingers and I smile.

"It's perfect." I get into it then Caroline zips up the back. "Now the mask." She pulls out a bag. They put on their dresses which are identical and only go down to their knees. They hand me a mask that has jewels on it. I smile at them then I slip my heels on.

"Elena Margret Gilbert, you look gorgeous!" I smile at Bonnie. "Did you hear that they changed the name of the ball?" Caroline asks. "No, what is it?"

"The boys have to wear black and we have to wear white. It's going to be known as the black and white ball." I laugh.

"Okay Cinderella. Let's go to the ball." We head outside and get into Caroline's car.

The Lockwood mansion is decked for the occasion, with snowflakes and real icicles lining the gazebo I now stand on. I hear footsteps behind me. My curls toss over my right shoulder as I look behind me. Damon.

"Hello." I say, trying not to laugh as I fake a British accent.

"Hi. I'm Damon."

"Rose." I respond. He nods. "So what are you doing out here?" I look over. "What about you?" He laughs a little. "Thinking. There's this girl that I love. I made a mistake, and I want to make it right because I love her that much." I smile. "Tell me about her," he looks at me, "this girl."

"Well, she has fair, beautiful olive skin. She has these eyes that can make you do anything if she pouts at you." He smiles as he probably remembers all the times I pouted to make him do what I wanted. "She's smart, kind..." He sighs. "She'll forgive you." I say. "How do you know?" I smile. "Because I've been in the same situation as she is. I forgave him." He nods then takes off his mask. "I want to see you." He goes for my mask. "I have to go. Perhaps we'll see one another again." I take off my heels then run back to the party. I rip my mask off as I grab Caroline and Bonnie.

"Come on, we have to go. Just drop me off at home." We run outside and I can tell Damon's going after me as we do. I jump in the car, dropping one of my heels.

"Damn, now I really am Cinderella."

"How do you figure?"

"Damon had no idea who I was, then I just lost one of my shoes." Bonnie laughs and I follow suit. Caroline drops me off at home and as I close the door, a car pulls. I recognize the soft rumble as Damon's Camaro. He knocks on the door.

"Elena?"

"What?" I ask. "Let me in? Please?"

"I don't know if that would be such a good idea." I hear him sigh. The door opens and I'm turned around. He looks at me.

"It was you." He murmurs. He comes toward me and cups my face in his hands.

"I love you. I love you more than you'll ever know." I back up and he keeps stepping toward me until I'm against the wall. "I'm so sorry, Elena." I grab his jacket. I slide it off his shoulders and he watches me carefully. I undo his tie, then I pull a couple buttons out of their place. "Prove it." I whisper. He crushes his lips to mine and I respond by running my fingers through his hair. He flashes us upstairs and wastes no time with my dress. As he looms above me in nothing but boxers, he strokes my cheek gently. "Are you sure?" I nod.

"I'm sure, Damon. I-I..." He nods. "I know."