Fix You

Chapter 10

I trail behind Damon as he walks into the house I designed.
"It's a lot more color than I was expecting." He says and I roll my eyes.
"I can't handle all the wood paneling of the other house. It being light and colorful makes it look bigger. I hate the feeling of the walls closing in on me." I state offhandedly as I stare at an empty vase that definitely is deserving of flowers.
"So does this mean you intend on staying for a while?" Damon asks as he turns to face me and I stick my hands in my pockets and shrug.
"I don't know. I hope so. I hate that we've all grown apart." I tell him, without looking up from the floor.
"You haven't exactly made it easy." Damon says and my head snaps up to him.
"Neither have you. It seems like you're always chasing someone who doesn't deserve you. And that goes for Stefan too."
"What does that even mean?" Damon asks and I sigh heavily.
"Elena. Katherine. You and Stefan seem to be perpetually chasing someone who you think is what you want, or maybe what you deserve. When once again, the two of you are stuck in this weird limbo not knowing who's going to have her grace this week." I say and watch his face shift towards anger. I raise my hands in defense.
"I know.  I know. I have no idea what I'm talking about. I don't know what it's like to be in love. But take it from someone who genuinely cares about the both of you, no ulterior motives. You are so much more than Katherine Pierce and Elena Gilbert. I just wish you'd wake up." I say and watch as he shoves his way past me out and out the door. I stand staring at the door cursing myself for being so stupid and pushing him like that. Who am I to tell him to move on when I'm stuck in the past myself.

I yank open the front door, and confusion washes over me as an unfamiliar face stands on the other side. He looks me up and down.
"So you're the lady my brother has been so fiercely protective of." He says and I just stare at him blankly for a moment.
"Which one are you?" I ask in an uninterested tone and he laughs.
"Only have eyes for Klaus?" He asks and I while a little.
"Why does everyone always assume we're a thing? Strictly friends. Not that it's any of your business." I respond before going to push the door closed.
"You're not going to invite me in?" He says and I stop the door and stare at him.
"Nope." I say and push the door closed in his face.

I stand in the entryway for a long moment before turning and yanking the door open again.
"Okay but seriously, which one are you? Because I'm certain I'm gonna be getting a call from my brother later and I want to know exactly who caused it." I say and he smirks.
"I'm Kol, love." He says and I roll my eyes.
"Thank youuu." I say dragging it out in a very sarcastic tone.
"Now get off my porch." I say and shop him away.  I watch from behind the glass as he walks away, completely and totally confused.

"And yet, still not the strangest thing to have happened in my life." I mutter to myself as I go to grab my cell phone from the living room. For a moment I consider calling Niklaus, but choose not to. I'm almost certain Kol reported back to him anyways to gauge his reaction.

I step through the back door and into the yard barefoot, breathing in the smell of the flowers I had put in. I run my fingers over the roses, feeling the velvety petals between my fingers and I smile to myself. I was never allowed to have a garden, or really be outside on my own. But here I'm free enough. I go back inside for a moment to get some shears and start cutting some of the smaller blooms for the vase inside.

I put the flowers in the vase and watch as the letter slot on the door open and a thick envelope plop through. I walk over and pick it up, seeing my name scrawled out in loopy elegant handwriting. I rip it open, feeling a cold ball of ice form in my stomach.

Please join the Mikaelson Family
This evening at seven o'clock
For dancing, drinks, and celebration
The invitation reads and I flip it over on the back to see a small note about it being a black tie event. I groan, knowing I have absolutely nothing in my closet black tie worthy.  I check the clock on my phone, and it reads five thirty. Not enough time to find anything appropriate. I yank open my door again, ready to fly to my car to find something halfway appropriate. 

I nearly trip over the pristine white box with a crimson ribbon sitting in front of the door. Immediately I start cursing the whole Mikaelson line as I pick it up and bring it inside. I walk it upstairs to my bedroom and set it on the bed before pulling the bow apart and lifting the lid.
"I hate all of you." I mutter to myself as I move the tissue paper to reveal an absolutely gorgeous dress.

I pull it from the box and it's a beautiful dark green with a neckline that has two three-dimensional triangles on either side. It has a bit of a train but nothing too long. It's form fitting before flowing out just before the knee, I guess you'd call that a mermaid fit.

I let my hair down and pull some back from my face, letting a few strands fall to frame it. I secure it back with a silver bejeweled clip. I quickly put on some mascara and a light layer of lipgloss. Not really worrying too terribly much about a full face of makeup. Hardly anyone will be focusing on me anyways. I push my hands into the black gloves included on the box, and slide the rings I took off over the gloves. I put a simple silver bracelet and a pendant a very good friend gave me, and hook some super sparkly dangle earrings into the first holes in my earlobe.I step into a nude pair of strappy round toe heels before checking my reflection in the mirror. I look put together enough, but stop to consider the fact that I feel like something is missing.

I step to my vanity and pick up the bottle of my favorite perfume, something that's lightly floral and give myself a light spray on the neck. I pick up an eyeshadow brush and blend a shimmery nude shade into both my eyes before lightly lining them in a black liner. I step back, pleased with the adjustments before going to my closet and grabbing the nude and incredibly small handbag that matches the shoes.

I trot as elegantly as I can down the stairs and towards my front door, fully intending to drive myself. But I watch as a sleek black car pulls up my drive and I roll my eyes.
"Of course they'd send a car." I mutter to myself as I step on to the porch and lift the skirt of my dress so it doesn't drag in the dirt as I cross to the car. The window rolls down, and Kol smirks from the driver's seat.
"I knew that'd look incredible on you." He says with a devilish grin.
"This was you?" I say as I slide into the passenger seat. I glance over at him and notice the fact that his tie matches my dress.
"It's awfully bold of you to have us matching." I remark and he chuckles.
"It's all in good fun." He says and I roll my eyes.
"It seems more like we're borrowing trouble, if you ask me."