A/N: This chapter is a bit longer to make up for me being spotty with my uploads. Read away!

Chapter 15: Dancing Queen

Point of View: Alexandria Verdine

I feel the air skim across the skin of my back then run my hands over the swirly sequin designs that cover my maroon dress. I fiddle with the spaghetti straps, turn around once more, then sigh knowing I am overthinking everything. You look great you just want to look perfect for him. Once I grab my silver clutch, I head to the hallway just as Elena and Bonnie step out.

"Oh wow! I knew that mermaid fit would do you justice," Bonnie exclaims.

"You look great I am glad we talked you into coming. Now we have some time to spare before our rides arrive so let's pregame."

Bonnie and I nod in agreement and follow Elena carefully down the stairs. Once we have down our shots and have drinks in hand, we sit down in the living room.

"So, are you nervous?" Elena asks eyeing me.

"No why would I be?"

She looks to Bonnie for help, "Well I think what she means is are you going to be comfortable tonight? Last time you guys saw each other it was… less than stellar."

"He actually… he uh… he spent a few nights over with me."

Elena nearly chokes, "A few nights? Did you gu-"

"No, we didn't have sex we just spent time talking. It was actually nice."

"Damon Salvatore a nice guy. You don't hear that often," Bonnie mumbles.

"How could you forgive him for killing your mother? For killing my aunt?" Elena stares dumbfounded.

"It wasn't necessarily forgiveness but more of agree to disagree. He could've left me there to fend for myself with a dead body. He didn't kill her just to do it. He thought he was solving a reckless problem he just didn't realize I was in the picture."

Elena shakes her head, "Look I don't hate him but there will always be a part of me that simply can't trust him fully or completely absolve him. If you can look past this, then so will I."

"Me too," Bonnie adds.

"Thank you. You guys forget we are sired to each other so navigating thoughts and feelings concerning each other is not so easy."

"He's sired to you?" Bonnie asks.

"After he drank my blood, he became sired to me. I always thought you could fight being sired if strong enough, but I guess he didn't mind for some reason."

With that we all down the rest of our drinks, finish our last shot, and right on time the doorbell rings. Bonnie gets up and opens the door to Jeremy who hugs her once entering. Stefan follows in and greets Elena with a kiss. Blue daggers fixate on me causing me to slowly rise from the couch. It's almost as if he takes his sweet time walking over to me but I don't know if that's to torture me, to give him time to compose himself, or if the alcohol is finally hitting me.

"You look absolutely gorgeous Alexandria."

My eyes slowly take him in from his shiny black oxfords all the way up to the matching maroon bowtie. Just a touch of gel to keep his hair perfectly messy adorns his deep black locks. "You look quite handsome yourself Damon."

He steps closer to where I must almost look directly up at him even in my heels, "Seems like I haven't seen you in a while."

Damon places his hand ever so gently on my arm, "Yeah I briefly had to kick you out to build up the anticipation of tonight."

He raises an eyebrow as his hand creeps slowly to my exposed back making goosebumps cover me all over. "Oh really? Any chance I'll get to spend tonight with you?"

Before I can answer Stefan grabs everyone's attention, "Alright guys time to head out we are fashionably late. If we are any later, Caroline will kill us all."

We all file out to the separate cars. Damon opens my door and I slide into the sleek Chevy Camaro. Once we are on the road, I place my hand on Damon's over the gearshift, "To answer your question, I think it's inevitable you'll be sleeping in my bed tonight."

He glances over at me then back at road as smirk appears on his lips.

[X]

We pull up to an old building in the heart of Mystic falls. Lights dance in the air leading people through the building to what I'm sure will be a ballroom. "They went all out huh?" I murmur to Damon as he hands his keys to the valet.

"Yeah high school dances surely have changed since my era." He takes my hand in his making my heart jump. "Want me to let go?"

I look at him confused for a moment then remember he can hear my heartbeat, "Oh no I just… wasn't expecting that."

Damon smiles down at me and continues to lead me on the velvet carpet. We reach a table where Caroline sits right at the entrance of the ballroom.

"Hey guys!" She gets up and hugs all of us before passing out matching masks.

"I didn't know it was a masquerade," Bonnie mentions.

"Last minute change hence why we are supplying the masks. You know Mystic Falls loves a little mystery. Now get in there and have some fun! Coat and purse check are the first door on the right down the hall if need be."

"We will be back. Have our drinks ready men," Elena says to our dates while dragging us away to the coat check.

We put away our purses away and collect tickets, "Don't forget your phones," I mention. Then I realize I already put mine in Damon's jacket pocket.

"You guys are really cute," Bonnie says as we all walk back arms intertwined.

"Thanks, I honestly don't try. He surprised me with the whole hand holding thing."

"The way he looks at you… you can tell he really loves you," Elena mentions right when it is too late to respond as Damon walks back up to me drink in hand.

"Mind if I take this lovely lady off your arm?"

I slip away from Elena and Bonnie who return to their dates as Damon leads me to the dance floor. It feels as if we slip into perfect puzzle pieces as he pulls me against his body. Relaxation falls over me as I listen to a silent chest. Right when things feel slightly normal, I'm reminded of the supernatural world I'm in and the incoming chaos coming for me.

"I can't read your thoughts, but I know there's something on your mind," Damon kisses my forehead prompting me to look up.

I take in all the lights and decorations twinkling as the slow music hangs in the air. I meet back with intense blues fixated on me, "Just trying to take it all in. In our life things can change so quickly and I don't want to take these normal moments for granted."

"I can understand that but don't let the theatrics steal the best years of your life."

I get on my tippy toes and whisper, "I'm already dead."

Damon chuckles, "Not all the way and even if that were the case, your heart doesn't need to beat just to live your life."

"Damon Salvatore… a poet. If someone were to tell me a year ago that I would be dancing with a 145-year-old vampire and that I was the Omnipotent I probably would've thought they were absolutely insane. Honestly, I'm glad this all happened the way it did. I needed a new life and I needed to be broken down before finding myself. I think I'm finally getting there and despite our interesting history, I'm happy you're by my side for it all."

He smiles down at me while running his fingers through my hair, "Alexandria Verdine… if someone were to tell me a year ago that I would be hopelessly falling in love with a 19-year-old werewolf, witch, and vampire hybrid, I probably would've thought they were absolutely insane."

I feel that undeniable pull as he looks through my soul. My fingers tighten around the back of his neck as I close the distance between our lips.

"I should've come here myself the first time. No one can get anything done without me breathing down their necks. I'll be home soon enough though… how hard can it be to kill your own daughter?"

She looks at the building wearing a red dress and matching ornate mask looking exactly like… me.

A fast song finally comes on making everyone jump around me. "We have to leave we all have to leave."

"Wait what's wrong?"

"She's here Damon… my mother she's here."

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