Burn - N.M & E.M

Chapter 12

Caroline is taking pictures with Matt before the founders' day parade, in their civil war costumes. Bonnie is holding the camera while Chelsea watches with a smile on her face.

"Say cheese!" Bonnie tells the couple.

"Oh, wait! Hide your cast, it's not era-appropriate!" Caroline exclaims causing Chelsea to chuckle.

"Seriously?" Matt asks.

"Of course, Matty, we can't have anything modern ruining the aesthetic." Chelsea jokes.

"See!" Caroline says ignoring the fact that Chelsea was actually making fun of her.

"Okay, fine." Matt acquiesces.

Bonnie takes the picture when Tyler arrives.

"I want one with Bonnie and Chelsea." Caroline states.

"Here, I can take it." Tyler offers causing Chelsea to look over at him her smile turns ridged.

"I'll be on the float." Matt says firmly.

"I said I was sorry." Tyler tells Caroline.

"You made out with his mother and then you beat him to a pulp. You're gonna have to do a little better than sorry." Caroline informs before she too walks away.

"What are you wearing?" Chelsea finally manages to ask.

"War costume, why?" Tyler asks.

"Oh god." Bonnie mutters as she looks at Chelsea's face.

"You were my escort Tyler you are supposed to be wearing 1800th century gentleman's clothing, while you stand on the float with me." Chelsea explains.

"Oh...I completely forgot so when Mr Saltzman asked me to be on the historical float I just said yes. I mean it's not that big of a deal, right?" Tyler asks.

"Oh god." Bonnie mutters again.

"Not a big deal? Tyler I'm going to have to stand on that float alone whilst my best friends are standing with their partners and everyone in town is staring at me. Of course, it's a big deal." Chelsea says in as calm a voice as she can muster.

"Sorry." Tyler tells Chelsea before he too walks off.

"What am I gonna do?" Chelsea asks Bonnie.

"You could not get on the float?" Bonnie offers.

"And deal with an angry Carol Lockwood, I'd rather face the humiliation of being the only one alone on the float." Chelsea states before she turns towards the float.

#####

"Where is Tyler?" Elena asks Chelsea when she sees her standing on the float alone.

"He forgot and is instead on the historical float." Chelsea says trying to keep her calm smile on her face.

"So, what are you going to do?" Caroline inquires.

"I am going to stand here and smile and wave and hope to god it isn't obvious." Chelsea states.

"What if Matt and Stefan weren't on the float. We could all stand solo." Caroline offers causing the men to look at each other.

"We can't do that. Carol would be furious." Chelsea disagrees.

"It's fine." Stefan tells Chelsea.

"Yeah, really we don't mind." Matt agrees with Stefan.

"I hope you don't mind but I heard you were missing an escort." Chelsea turns her head to see Damon standing in 1800th century clothing.