A Quiet Life in Mystic Falls

Chapter 9: Founder's Ball

After being emotionally bullied, Azalea agreed to meet Elena and go to the Founder's Day Ball. The brunette had insisted that she come over and get ready with her and Bonnie. The redhead agreed, at least they could hang out before this giant ego event.
"So you guys do this every year?" Azalea said pouring the hot water into the cup.
"Yep, every year we have a Founder's month, this year is 150 –"
"Meaning it's going to be a giant who dick is bigger contest between the Founding families." Azalea rolled her eyes as she stirred her tea. Elena laughed.
"It can be fun," she promised.
"Uh huh,"
Bonnie knocked on the door and walked into the house.
"Elena?" she called.
"In here," Elena made her way around the breakfast bar.
"How many event's like that does this town have?"
"A lot," Bonnie.
"And do you all get different dresses for each time?" her eyebrows raised.
"Well duh?" Elena took a sip from her mug.
"No duh, I will not buy new stuff when I have nice old ones, or do you sent them to charity or something?"
"We don't throw them out," Elena said.
"Well, expect me to wear the same stuff, I'm an outsider. I'm weird anyway,"
The two girls laughed at her.
"I'll put the milk away, go sit down next to Bonnie, Lea." Elena smiled, and pushed herself upright from the counter, opening the fridge.
"Right it's serious now." Bonnie said, pulling at Elena's giant make up bag on the table. "Delicate flower or naughty vixen," Bonnie said as Elena went to sit with us.
"Tough call, can we mix them?" she said grinning.
"Look at you getting all pretty for your date. You seem happy – ish."
"I am ish," she said sitting down. "Tonight's going to be a good night, but don't let that stop you from telling me whatever it is you wanted to tell me as soon as you walked through the door." Elena said eyeing her friend with a stern expression.
"What if I tell you in the morning, I don't want to ruin the night."
"Bonnie, out with it," Elena said.
"Ok but it has to go in the vault, Caroline will kill me if it gets back to Damon that she squealed. Apparently, Stefan has a very interesting back story."
"Uh huh," the olive skin girl encouraged.
"Do you know what happened with his ex-girlfriend?"
"I know they both dated her and that's why they have issues." Elena said, Azalea frowned something wasn't quite right.
"Yeah, they both dated her, only she chose Damon and it drove Stefan mad so he did horrible things to try and break them up. He manipulated Katherine he filled her head with all these lies until finally it worked and she turned against Damon."
Azalea frowned, she knew what the elder Salvatore was doing.
"That sounds like one person's side of the story meaning Damon's," Elena said.
"It also sounds like complete bollocks," Azalea said. "Look the other week when Caroline was asking me all those questions about my past. It wasn't her it was Damon he told her to do it. From what I picked up on that night it is likely that Damon told Caroline to tell you and then for you to tell Elena. It will have been the other way around if it's true at all." She said. "Now, I suggest the softer nails as it will go better with the dress."
"You're right, and come on we need to get ready," Bonnie said.
They went up to Elena's room to change. The phone rang as Bonnie was curling her hair as Elena curled Azalea's. Until Elena go a phone call, heading into her room; not even a minute later Elena looked pissed, and stormed through the bathroom, and through into Jeremy's room.
"Let her talk to him," Azalea said as Bonnie looked like she was going to join them. She nodded and shut the door to give the siblings some privacy. Azalea looked back at the two girls make up collection in amazement.
"How do you even put eye liner on without looking like a panda?" she asked curiously picking up the black bottle.
"How often have you tried?"
"Er, once," she said, Bonnie laughed.
"When?" she asked.
"I dunno fourth year that's er, last year of middle school or something." She said confused. "14 to 15 year group,"
Elena walked back through the door.
"Elena, Lea's only ever tried to wear eye liner once," Bonnie said.
"Shut up," she grumbled. Elena smiled.
"Bonnie you do it, I'll finish her hair." Elena said pulling over to her bed so that she could apply the cosmetics in her hand. One of the things looked like a torture devise.
"What is that?" she said looking at it apprehensively.
"It's an eyelash curler," Bonnie said looking amused.
"I hung out with mostly boys alright," she said. The American's laughed at the pouting redhead as they began to work on her again.
"Ok time to go," Elena said. She was wearing half her hair up and a beautiful orange shimmery dress. Bonnie had curled her hair, her dress was stunning blue flower dress. When the two Americans released the young core witch, she changed into a red cocktail dress. It had a heart shaped halter neck. Her hair still half way down her back with long ringlets.
As they walked outside Azalea was grumbling about making her go, emotional guilt trips, bloody dances. Both American girls had to press their mouths to their hand to prevent the giggles.
It didn't take long to get anywhere in this little town, so before long the three teens were joining the end of the queue to the Lockwood house.
As they got out of the car, the group saw Stefan approaching them.
"You go on ahead Elena, I wanted to show Lea the fountain design in the front yard."
"Sure," Elena smirked before joining her boyfriend.
"Smooth, now we actually have to go over to that fountain." Lea laughed.
"Come on," Bonnie looped her arm through the redheads. "I wanted to talk witchy stuff with you too."
It took twenty minutes to get through the queue and make their way inside.
"Let's go see some of the artefacts from when the town was first founded." Bonnie smiled leading Azalea into a room full of objects with cardboard beside them, as they looked around the room Azalea noticed the first attendance list and made her way over. Searching though the familiar surnames before finding the brothers names. She couldn't imagine being so old to be able to attend both the first and the hundred and fifths event... to have lived through the periods between...
"Earth to Lea," she heard Bonnies voice, she snapped around to look at her friend. "You ok, you looked like you were miles away."
"Was just thinking of that night," she stuck her thumb towards the names, and smiled. "Come on let's grab a drink," she pulled the channel witch away from the names on the board. She didn't want to cause too many issues for Stefan. Speaking of Stefan, she wanted to check if Damon was here, and keep an eye on him.
"Do you mind if I try and find Jenna?" she asked Bonnie.
"Sure yeah, go. I'll grab another drink. I probably won't stay the full night anyway." Bonnie smiled walking towards the Forbes heirlooms. Azalea made her way out of the room and started looking for Damon. She hoped her search would be in vain, that he hasn't shown up, but after three rooms, she saw the Salvatore watching his brother and Elena dance.
I walked over to Damon and Caroline.
"Hey guys," she said picking up a virgin cocktail.
"Shh, good part," Damon whispered, Azalea looked at Elena and Stefan to see Elena walking away.
She frowned at the elder Salvatore.
"What did you do?"
"Why do you assume I did anything," he played innocent. He leaned into her ear.
"You may know what I am, you may think Stefan is going to protect you, but news flash sweetheart if I want you dead, you will be dead. Stefan won't be able to stop me. Curiosity only goes so far." He pulled away from her smiling. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have diabolical plans to put into action." He walked away, Caroline went to follow but the redhead caught her arm.
"I'd love to chat with you Caroline," she smiled. "I've been looking for a good market to go to, you know, for arts and craft stuff, you wouldn't know where a good one is nearby?"
Caroline looked at Damon's back, then back at the redhead.
"Sure, maybe we could go next weekend, I'll drive us, but right now, I should check on –"
"Leave him to stew Caroline, let him blow off some steam before you talk to him ok," she said concerned. Caroline frowned, but nodded walking in the opposite direction to Damon. Azalea pinched the bridge of her nose, before looking at Stefan. She made her way towards the vampire.
"You ok, I know he's messing with your relationship," she rubbed his arm.
"I'll talk to her in a bit, could you put in a –"
"I've already been doing it," she noticed the people around them were looking trying to listen in. "We should be dancing... or go somewhere a bit quieter."
Stefan began to walk away from the dance floor. When Azalea caught up to him she smiled.
"Thank God, I hate dancing,"
Stefan laughed, the worries of before vanishing from his face until he stopped.
"Look Stefan, I don't know how much Elena said to you. Caroline told Bonnie some stuff Damon told her to say, then of course, Bonnie told Elena cause she is concerned for her friend, I tried to show the obvious deception. But, some of what was said is going to stick when you have big secrets. I am not saying that you should tell her, but make sure that you try to see it from her point of view."
"Yeah I get that, thank you Lea," he smiled, touching her arm. She smiled and pulled him into a hug. "I'm here for you, Elena has the girls, you have no one to talk to, and no one who knows your secret. If you need anything let me know ok."
He smiled.
"Yeah," he said as they pulled away.
"Oh also, don't make a scene, but Damon kind of threatened me before – don't worry I can handle myself if her tries anything, but I thought I would give you a heads up."
"He won't hurt you Lea, not while I am here,"
She smiled, pretending to be relieved, she didn't want to worry or anger him further with the little jab at Stefan the elder Salvatore had made.
"Ok, I am going to let you continue with your plan to get rid of Damon, I am going to go see Bonnie. She said she may go home early, but I want to go check."
"Yeah, go," Stefan said, she smiled squeezing his hand before working her way through the crowd. As she was about to check the bar she noticed Damon and Caroline making there way back from downstairs. She frowned, abandoning her search for Bonnie she began to trail the two.
"Will you quit following me, if you want to get into my bed just say so and we'll go,"
"Ew no." she scowled. "Stefan may have given up, but if I see one wrong move I will take you down."
Damon leaned closer to her his lips at her ear.
"Sounds very much like a witchy threat."
"I thought witches smelt normal?" she smirked. Damon growled before he could do anything else Elena shoved him.
"There is something seriously wrong with you. You stay away from Caroline or I will go straight to her mother. The sheriff. Got it. Stay away from her." She stormed away, Damon frowned and moved towards the stairs.
"Don't follow me," he growled at Azalea before going off to find Caroline. Placing a notice me not charm on herself, she followed Damon, ready to attack him as he found Caroline and began to drag her towards the darker part of the grounds. Still keeping back a distance, she didn't know how well the charm worked against vampires. She couldn't hear what the two were saying, it didn't take her long to realise that Damon had done something. Taking the charm away Azalea began to sprint as she saw Damon take Caroline to the floor. Then Damon collapsed, she frowned stopping where she was. What the... Stefan!
She saw the younger Salvatore walking towards them, he said something to Damon before checking Caroline's pulse. She went to call out to him, but before she could, she saw Stefan blur away with his brother.
She saw Caroline begin to wake up and pick something up off the floor, she began to run towards the blonde.
"Caroline you ok?" she said as she got close enough, touching her arm.
"Caroline," Elena's voice called, Azalea squinted her eyes together. Crap, she thought, I need to check her over, I can't do that with Elena watching. They both turned to Elena walking barefoot towards them. "There you are," Elena said. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Yeah I'm fine," Caroline said, but the events of the night were getting stronger, her body began to betray her.
"Caroline, what happened your shaking. No, you're shaking," Elena said Azalea put a concerned hand on her arm, as Elena wrapped her in her own.
"I'm fine," she said before crying into Elena's shoulder.
"Let's get her back to mine quickly, she'll be safe," Azalea said to the brunette who nodded. Putting her arm around Caroline, the trio made there way towards the car. As they placed Caroline inside, Elena frowned as her phone buzzed she checked the message.
"Bonnie has gone home, I completely forgot she came with us." Elena said running a hand through her hair.
"Come on lets get Caroline back to mine." Azalea said, wondering where Stefan had taken his brother.
The girls made there way back to the house.
"I'll grab her some pyjamas, then if you get her ready for bed, I'll get her something to drink." Azalea said as soon as they got through the door, jogging up the stairs, grabbing a nighty and putting it in the spare room, before heading back down.
"Caroline, if you want to go in the shower you can." She smiled. "I'm going to make you some hot chocolate ok,"
As the two teens went upstairs, Azalea began to make the drink, adding a tablespoon of dreamless sleep to the mixture. She also added some to Elena's knowing that she would want to stay with her friend, and Azalea needed to talk to Stefan.
Before long both girls were asleep in the spare room, Azalea grabbed her phone and hit Stefan's contact. She waited, drumming her fingers as the ringing continued.
"Hey this is Stefan, I can't answer right now, please leave a message."
She frowned and dialled again.
"Hey this is Stefan, I can't answer right now, please leave a message."
The beep sounded.
"Hey Stefan, it's Lea. Uh send me a text or something about Damon. Thanks."
She put the phone down and rubbed her face. Making sure the door was locked, she got ready for bed and hoped that sleep would find her quickly.