Vampire Diaries Blood Brothers

~Chapter Eleven~

"Evangeline Gilbert, will you go on a date with me?"
   Stefan's smooth, handsome voice rolled around in my head, the question replaying in my mind over and over again as I spun around my bedroom, humming my favourite song as I finished getting ready for the Founders Party.
   The Founders Party was an annual event Tyler's dad, Mayor Lockwood hosted at the Lockwood mansion. I had never been interested in going, in fact, the last time I attended was when Elena and I were in the ninth grade. We didn't want to go so we decided to wreak havoc and make our own fun. Mom and dad never asked us to go again which was a bonus.
   For the first time ever I was going to the Founder Party, not because my parents were forcing me, or because Elena didn't want to go by herself, but because I wanted to. This would be me and Stefan's first official date and I was so excited. Sure, he had done a few things in the past which made me question us a little bit, but that was all in the past. I liked him, but more than that, I trusted him and that was good enough for a first date.

Bonnie and I decided to meet Stefan at the Lockwood's, seeing as she didn't have a date and disliked attending these little town festivities alone, and Stefan was fine with it so she picked me up on the way. We were going to invite Caroline to come with us, but we hadn't seen her all weekend. I assumed she was going - unlike me she loved dressing up for town events - but who she was going with was a mystery. Damon had said that he and Caroline were no longer a couple so I wondered who she'd go with.
   Jeremy didn't want to go, so Jenna drove herself, saying she didn't want to 'cramp our style' by driving with us. I felt a little bad, but unlike my parents, Jenna understood how awful and embarrassing parents could be because she it wasn't long ago she was in our position... That and town events weren't here thing so knocking off early to have a drink at the bar sounded quite appealing to Jenna.
   Bonnie was wearing a cute navy knee length dress and a pair of matching heels as well as a sparkly blue headband. Hanging from her wrist was a silver chain bracelet and an glimmering ring on her pinky finger.
   "You look so beautiful!" I said in awe, taking her hands as she invited herself into our living room. "Oh, Bonnie," I grinned. "You look amazing," I reiterated.
   "So do you!" She exclaimed, twirling me in a circle so she could see my orange and pink pastel dress. "And you too Jenna!" She called, laughing as Jenna relaxed into the sofa, her beige cardigan hiding the top of her flowering dress. 
   "Thanks," he acknowledged, exhausted.
   "You know, you don't have to go Jenna."
   "I know, but your parents went to these things and I feel like I owe it to the Gilbert legacy to go."
   Laughing, Bonnie and I left the house. It was true, the Gilbert's were one of the founding families, but she didn't have to go. Sure, Mystic Falls was a small town and yes, people talked, but who cared what anybody else thought? Jenna certainly didn't and I doubted she was about to start now. There must've been another reason for going...

~~~

Mrs Lockwood opened their grand, wooden doors and invited us in, her maid Doris taking our coats. After exchanging pleasantries, we turned into their parlous where the guests were sharing snacks and stories. Standing on the tips of my toes, I craned my neck but I couldn't see Stefan anywhere. Maybe he was running late.
   "Eva." Turning around, I smiled as Stefan wrapped his arms around me lightly, gazing down into my dark brown eyes. "Hi."
   "Hi."
   "And this is my cue to leave," Bonnie interrupted, excusing herself. "I'll catch up with you guys later."
   Smiling, I rested my head on Stefan's chest and watched as Bonnie disappeared into the sea of people. Bonnie was such a good friend. We were best friends and I loved hanging out with her, but she also respected that I wanted to spend precious, quality time with Stefan. With my boyfriend Stefan.

Sitting on the porch swing, Stefan and I basked in the late afternoon sun, the orange and red pastel hues stretching across the sky. Tucking my feet underneath my dress, I placed my hand on his chest and kissed him as the sun set behind us. We sat there for a few moments, relishing in the tantalising taste of one another's lips.
   "We should go back inside," he murmured softly, pulling back.
   "Yeah," I agreed, disappointed.
   Standing up, looking dashing and handsome in his smart, black velvet suit, he extended an hand and pulled me to my feet. Hand in hand, we ambled back into the Lockwood mansion just in time to see Damon arrive with Caroline. 
   "Damon told me they weren't together anymore," I murmured as they approached us.
   "You talked to Damon?" He asked, surprised and slightly concerned.
   "Yes," I rolled my eyes. "He said that he dumped her."
   "That's Damon for you," he sighed. "Says one thing, does something else..."
   "Hi Stefan!" Caroline beamed. "Hi Eva."
   "Caroline," I nodded. "Hello Damon," I smiled.
   "Hey," he flashed a smile.
   The four of us stood awkwardly in a huddle, unsure of where to look or what to say. Hating the awkward silence, I strode over to the wall in the hallway and admired the framed ancient paper. "Check out this list," I urged Stefan. "Have you seen it? It's the original guest list of the very first Founders party."
   "Really?" He choked, examining the document.
   Scanning through the black inked curly writing, I came across a familiar name. A very familiar name. "Damon Salvatore? And... Stefan Salvatore?" I frowned.
   Stefan opened his mouth to respond but Damon beat him to it, ducking around Stefan and blocking his view. "The original Salvatore brothers," he confirmed. "The sibling rivalry started with them," he continued. "Passed down through generations to me and my little brother," he patted Stefan on the back, a little hard I thought, but Stefan only pursed his lips.
   "Damon," Caroline begged impatiently as a large portion of the guests drifted into the courtyard. "Will you dance with me?"
   "No," he replied, smiling smugly in his dark suit. "I don't dance, but Stefan does," he pointed out. "Don't you Stefan?"
   "Uh-"
   "Of course he does. And boy does he have some moves," he chuckled.
   "Eva," Caroline began in her whiney voice. "Would you mind if I danced with Stefan? I usually wouldn't ask but Damon won't."
   Sighing, I shrugged. "That's up to Stefan."
   Stefan opened his mouth, looking as though he was about to protest, but Caroline grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the door.
   "I am not taking no for an answer!"