Reckless Love (Elena & Damon)

6 - Gala

Is that an invitation in your eyes?
Or are they merely reflecting mine?

Elena was draped in some excessively, over the top, royal blue gown that clung to her down her chest, and flared out slightly on the sides. It had miraculously arrived at Elena's door this morning, and when she called Caroline to explain it to her, she revealed that she had given Elena's size to Damon and somehow Damon had sorted a dress within a day. Although, she didn't know why Damon needed to get her the dress, she was fully capable of getting one herself.

'I don't even know why I'm going, Caroline,' Elena moaned, like she had been doing for the last half an hour, as she sat on her couch waiting for Caroline to finish getting ready.  She played with the fabric of the dress in one hand, whilst swirling a glass of champagne in the other. 'He doesn't even want me there, he asked me for you.'

'So you're coming for me then,' Caroline called out from Elena's bedroom.

'But it's not your party. It's Damon and Stefan's fathers party.'

'Which is why I'll need you. Impressing Stefan's father is a heavy burden.'

'Oh please,' Elena said, with a roll of her eyes, 'he's loved you ever since you first met him. Stefan said it himself.'

'He might like me now, but if there's one thing I know about Giuseppe is that it only takes one bad interaction to turn him off you forever.' Caroline finally emerged from the bedroom wearing a strapless white dress that was tight all the way down.

'You look stunning, Care.'

Caroline shrugged her shoulders and picked up her own champagne glass, finally sitting down next to Elena. 'Look, you've got nothing to stress about. This is my first time going to one too. We're in this together.'

'But everything's just so extreme. I mean, look at us. Look at what we're wearing. These dresses must cost hundreds. I can't imagine what the actual party will be like.'

'Stefan says they're usually a bunch of rich people trying to prove their richer than everyone else there. He detests them.'

Elena frowned. 'So why does he go?'

'Because it means something to his father. And without his mum here, Stefan doesn't want to leave him on his own, no matter how terrible he can be.'

Elena smiled at Caroline and reached out to hold her hand gently. 'He's a good man, Care.'

Caroline returned the smile. 'He's one of the best.'

'Wish I could say the same for Damon.'

'Damon's a piece of work, but I don't know, there might be something good buried beneath all that darkness.'

Elena lifted the champagne glass to her lips and took a big sip. 'I hope so. I just don't know why I'm giving him another chance. He stood me up, and then he was a dick about it, whats to stop him walking all over me again?'

Caroline was silent for a moment, before shrugging her shoulders and turning to Elena. 'Nothing.'

'Gee, thanks Caroline,' Elena replied with a roll of her eyes.

'It's not about you. I just mean that if Damon wants to be a dick, he's going to be. All you can do is give him a chance to prove he won't be.'

'I guess,' Elena took yet another sip of her drink, then moaned again, 'I wish I could just meet a guy, fall in love, and then never have to worry about all the bad ones again.

'I've set you up with plenty of nice guys Elena. And you always turn them away,' Caroline laughed slightly, and Elena joined in, although the thought didn't make her happy whatsoever, rather the opposite.