Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"To dirty shame," Alaric yelled as he, Jenna, and Mason clinked their glasses together just as Isabella entered the kitchen with her elder brother.
"Isa!" Jenna grinned happily, welcoming her with a warm hug, but her smile immediately turned to a frown as she noticed Damon behind Isabella. "...And Damon. I forgot you were coming."
Isabella chuckled at Jenna's reaction. "More like wanted to forget he was coming," she said, smiling as she greeted Alaric with a nod.
"Isa, my favorite Salvatore," Alaric chuckled, spreading his arms wide in an exaggerated welcome gesture.
"Ric, I heard that!" Damon called out from where he stood beside Jenna, who was still glaring at him.
"I know," Alaric replied with a grin, heading back to Damon and Jenna, leaving Isabella alone with Mason.
"I don't think we've met. Mason Lockwood," Mason said, stepping closer to Isabella with a flirtatious glint in his eye, which Isabella failed to notice.
"Isabella Salvatore. Nice to meet you," Isabella replied in a polite, practiced tone she had learned from her mother. "Tyler's uncle, right? Carol mentioned you to us."
Mason took another step closer, which Isabella noticed this time, prompting her to take a polite step back. "Us, you say?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Um, 'us' as in—" Isabella began, struggling to keep her composure and resist the urge to siphon Mason's energy.
"'Us' as in my sister and me," Damon interjected, his tone laced with a deadly warning as he stepped in front of Isabella, effectively shielding her. "Damon Salvatore."
Mason's eyes shifted from Isabella to Damon, his smile turning into a thin, fake one. "I know. I've heard great things about you."
"Really? That's weird. I'm a dick!" Damon joked as Isabella, relieved by her brother's arrival, relaxed her hands.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The group sat on the couch, watching as Damon attempted to play Pictionary, failing miserably. He drew what looked like a blob in a tutu, making Isabella realize just how awesome she would be at the game.
