[*Chapter Forty-Three*]

Darcy's dress is above!

Bonnie and Darcy were standing inside the school's cafeteria as Carol Lockwood guided them into the dance. "Stay focused, right hand around. Flirt with your eyes," she said as Darcy fluttered her lashes, made kissy faces and wiggled her eyebrows. "Left hand around."

"I can't believe you're dragging me along with you," Bonnie said, shaking her head whilst laughing as they walked around each other.

"If I have to suffer, you can enjoy my misery with me too," Darcy grinned cheekily.

"I know what you're doing. Thank you," Bonnie said, forgetting about the dance and hugging Darcy to show her gratitude.

"Don't know what you're talking about, but do continue with the praise," Darcy winked, pulling away and bumping into someone's back when Carol came storming their way. Twisting around to apologise, she abruptly turned around upon meeting remorseful green eyes for the tenth time that afternoon.

A hand grasped her wrist, halting her movements. "Darcy," Stefan implored, begging for her not to be mad at him. It's been a few hours since he destroyed her necklace, and Darcy has not spoken to him since. And the vampire could not hate himself more than he does right now. But he does not regret his actions, given what it did to Damon and Darcy. What else could it have done? They don't know what that thing is capable of.

"No! No! There's no touching or switching dates during this part. It's about the simple infancy of near touch," Mrs Lockwood asserted, pulling Darcy out of Stefan's grasp, and veered to the dark-haired woman, pointing her finger at her face. "You already wrangled Bonnie into being your date, and now you want Stefan too?"

Darcy flashed her a sweet grin, head tilted to the side. "Think I could add another to sweeten the deal?"

"Don't you think three is a little greedy?" Carol faltered, face screwing up in disgust.

"What can I say? I've always had a big appetite," Darcy leered. Behind her, Bonnie giggled and prodded her in the back with her elbow.

Carol rolled her eyes, waving her off. "I don't care what you do as long as you finish the rehearsal," she said before towing Bonnie, ignoring her protests, and shoving her into Elena's un-expecting arms.

The rehearsal resumed. Darcy and Stefan raised their right hands, stares locking as they circled each other. "Can you stop ignoring me already?" Stefan repeated. He added in a soft tone. "Please."

"There's a difference between ignoring you and running away from my problems," Darcy said, her stare roaming around his striking features, disregarding the racing heart beneath her ribcage. "I'm choosing the latter."

"Does that mean you don't hate me?" Stefan asked, imitating her actions.

Darcy sighed, smiling softly and ignoring the prying stares stabbing into her back. "It is what it is," she shrugged. "I don't think I could ever hate you, Stefan. I've come to realise if you, your brother, and I are involved in something, mistakes are bound to happen. Although I was grateful for the silence of Damon's mouth for the little while we had it, we're also lucky it wasn't something more drastic."

Stefan returned her smile, eyes trailing around her gracious beauty. "You're amazing, do you know that? Any other person would be either crying or, in Damon's true fashion, snapping my neck."

"I do... but don't stop flattering me on my accord. I love it," Darcy smirked, eyes sparkling before the expression wiped away. "What would snapping your neck accomplish, other than more frustration on top? I'm above pettiness. Anyway, enough about me. Should you be taking part in the dance? Isn't being around too many humans going to test your patience?"

Stefan's gaze diverted to the side, self-loathing eating away at his insides. "It's hard... But being around you... lessens the thirst...  It makes everything more tolerable."

Looking around for Carol, Darcy sees her reprimanding another couple further down the line. Taking her chance, she lifted her palms to Stefan's jaw and turned him back to her. Her thumbs brush across the soft skin of his cheeks before letting them trail back down to her sides. "I wish you would stop torturing yourself, Stefan. If you could see yourself from my perspective, you would see you're not weak. You're already so strong. You don't need to prove that to anyone but yourself."

Stefan opens his mouth to object. Darcy soothes, placing a finger to his smooth lips.

"Don't speak yet," her wintry orbs follow the line of the path to his eyes. "Damon told me about the blood bags you've been stealing, and any other time, I would praise you for your stealthiness. However, whilst you haven't drunk from humans in years, it's also dangerous. And I know that part of you abhor, frightens you. Only you know what you're capable of," she pauses as they switch sides, right hands held up, stepping closer until their chests are near brushing and again pacing back into the sequence of walking around each other.

"I want you to know if anything does happen tonight and you succumb to the temptation, know that you'll always have me by your side. I won't abandon you," Placing an open palm against his, Darcy slid her fingers between his and clutched gently. "It's All or Nothing."

Two couples away from the duo, the Bennett Witch watched as the pair gravitated to each other with a flare of naturalism. She doesn't know what has happened since she's been gone, but she could see the two had grown closer. She did not know how to feel about that information, not in the sense that she was jealous because she was not. The Witch did not entertain any feelings other than distaste for what he and his brother had done. She would guess losing her Grams had made her bitter, and rightfully so. However, their gazes and the lingering touches that no one would discern, other than the girl she is dancing with, would not know.

Pushing her burning disdain aside, Bonnie knew the young Salvatore brother would not hurt Darcy. Not by the way he's staring at her as if she's his lifeline - The lifeline that is anchoring him to the ground - The thought terrifies her because Bonnie knows with the Salvatore brothers around. Revolution will attain its calling. 

What frightens her more is the look in Darcy's eyes: admiration and determination. And Bonnie knows the girl more than herself... The Huntress is falling too. And being the girl where her love knows no boundaries - her fierce protective tendencies rise. Darcy will become their protector. Because Bonnie knows Darcy will gladly throw herself in the line of fire.

Peeking at the Gilbert girl in front of her, Bonnie can see apart from the surging jealousy; she realises this too.

"Bonnie, do you have a minute?" Elena asked, eyes fixated on the dancing duo. She jerked her head away, fighting the urge to be sick.

Bonnie side-eyed the brunette girl and shook her head. "We only have thirty minutes for rehearsal," she denied.

"It'll only take a minute, please?" Elene pleaded. "It's not like our dates are returning any time soon. Bonnie, you have to tell me what's wrong," she added with a noticeable edge of bitterness.

"It's not worth talking about," Bonnie said, shrugging her shoulders, returning her attention to the Huntress and vampire.

"What do you mean it's not worth it? You've barely said ten words to me, but you'll talk to Darcy?" Elena let out a scoff of disbelief. "I don't see how that's fair, and you won't even look at Stefan. Is that what it is? Is it Stefan?"

"I'm looking at Stefan perfectly fine if you haven't noticed." Bonnie quipped before sighing in resignation. "Look, Elena, I can't just pretend that everything is okay. Everything my Grams did was to protect us from those vampires from the tomb. And now, they're out. Which means she died for nothing," Bonnie sighed mournfully, taking her intense gaze away from Darcy and Stefan to look down at the ground.

"I'm sorry, Bonnie. What can I do to make it better?" Elena asked, rubbing her friend's arm, trying to provide her with some comfort.

The Bennett girl stepped to the side, causing Elena's hand to drop back to her side. "That's just it. There's nothing you can do. I blame him, Elena. Stefan and Damon, and I'm not gonna put you or Darcy in a situation where you must choose sides. I'm just having a hard time with it, okay?" Bonnie said before ending the conversation and walking to the opposite side of the room so that she could wait for Darcy to finish the rehearsal.

-

After rehearsal, Darcy left Stefan standing, rooted to the floor as she collected her stuff and heading out of the cafeteria. He would blame it on his heightened emotions for making him feel in such a way, but he knows he would be lying to himself. If Stefan were a human, the organ in his chest would be pounding, sweat would be covering his palms, and blood would be rushing through his ears, blocking out the words Elena was telling him. However, he wouldn't know what she was saying. For he was still watching her adoptive sister walking away as she conversed with her best friend further down the hallway. The very sister who had captured his heart the minute he stepped a foot in Mystic Falls. There and then, Stefan told himself he needed to stop lying and admit his true desires before Darcella walked away.

What the Salvatore didn't notice was Elena had stopped her nonsense talking and was instead watching him watch her sister in a way he had never looked at her before. Elena knew that Stefan did not love her from that moment, and she knew he never truly did - Not by the way his feet began to move as if in a mind of their own towards Darcy and Bonnie.

But he was too late. Darcy was already gone, and Stefan was stuck standing next to the girl he would never love.

*•*•*•*•*

Back at home, a few hours later, Darcy heard the doorbell ring. She walked out of the kitchen to open the door, revealing Alaric. "Hey," she greeted as Elena ran down the stairs.

"Hi," Ric said, walking into the house, leaving the door open, being as they would be going shortly.

"I hear you're driving," Elena said, shifting her dress into her arms and passing Darcy hers and her make-up bag with a little more force than what was necessary.

Alaric caught the act and the raised brow from the Huntress. "Yeah. I am. Let me get those for you," he said, taking the items from their grasps.

"Such the perfect gentleman, Ric. I didn't know you had it in you," Darcy teased. "And here I thought you were just a teacher slash vampire hunter with an alcohol addiction."

Alaric brushed off her words with an eye roll and looked between the girls, his face dimming with concern. "How... How is Stefan?" he asked. His stare deflected to Darcella when he heard the sigh she had released. Darcy diverted her glance out of the opened front door when she met his inquisitive gaze.

"What do you mean?" Elena asked, confused, bringing their attention back to her.

Alaric shuffled the items in his arms, his aura radiating with discomfort. "You know... he seems on edge."

"He went through a lot, he was in bad shape for a while, but he's back now," Elena said just as John appeared in front of the three.

"Alaric. Hey, buddy, what are you doing here?" John asked, glancing between them. His stare flitted away when Darcy's sharp glare greeted him.

"I'm the chauffeur," Alaric said.

"Which means he's our chauffeur and not yours," Darcy supplied, her voice dripping with contempt. "Looks like you're on your own, buddy."

"I thought I was driving," John stated as Jenna's heels clicked down the stairs, announcing her presence. "And are we still doing this, Darcella? Can't we move on and forget?"

"And nope, I'm the failure, remember?" Darcy inserted before pushing Alaric out the front door, not without flashing a wink at the strawberry blonde.

"No need, we're going with Ric," Jenna answered for the ebony head, allowing the smirk to grace her lips as she hurried after Darcy and Alaric, afraid of the trouble Darcy would get the teacher into.

Darcy paused before entering the back seat of Alaric's car and turned to see John standing on the porch. A smirk lit up her striking features. "Jeremy can drive with you. Oh, and tell him karma's a bitch."

*•*•*•*•*

Exiting Alaric's car. Darcy, Ric, Elena, and Jenna walk into the Founders Hall. Observing the lavish decorations and classical melody chiming throughout the large building, Darcy lifted an impressed brow and let out a sharp whistle. "Looks like Carol went all out, huh?" she said aloud.

At her side, Jenna laughed out a snort. "Did you expect any less?"

Darcy inclined her head in though still eying the room before shaking her crown. "You're right; I shouldn't be so surprised. It's Carol Lockwood we're talking about; that woman is obsessed with high standards." Straightening up and clapping her hands. "Alrighty, let's get this dreadful show on the road," she announced.

They set on cutting through the crowd of families when a voice called out for the raven beauty's attention. "Darcy."

Pausing, she glanced at Elena and Jenna, telling them she would catch up with them in the dressing room. She waited until they were further away and spun on her heels.

The elder vampire stood in front of her, dressed up in a long black dress, heels giving her a slight of more height and her brown her tied back into a messy bun. "Annabelle," Darcy greeted, an amused grin playing across her lips. "Figured wherever Jeremy goes, you wouldn't be far behind. However, I didn't take you as the one to take part in Miss Mystic Falls. Consider me surprised."

Anna shrugged a bashful smile appearing. "Jeremy asked me to be his date, and here I am," just as Darcy previously did, Anna looked at their surroundings, a look of sadness shadowing on her face. "I remember this event from 1864. I was supposed to honour before everything happened," she said.

"I won't say I know how you feel because I don't. But I will say live at this moment and rectify past misgivings," Darcy said, stepping closer to the more petite girl. "You don't have to suffer because of her actions, and you have reunited you're your Mother. Learn to move forward."

Annabelle looked up at the Protectress; her thoughts and expressions were both doubtful and confused. "What no bitchy or aggressive Darcy? After everything, I put you through with Ben and with what happened with Frederick. I would have thought you'd be threatening to tear my head off."

Darcy smirked. "Oh, I'm that and much more, sweetheart. Now, I see nothing but a little girl who wants to live the life she has resurfaced. And who am I to deny you of that?"

Anna opened and closed her mouth, unable to use her words to express her feelings. "I'm offended you called me a little girl. I have a hundred years on you... But thank you?"

Darcy chuckled and waved her off before her face vanished of all amusement. "However, your Mother, on the other hand. John Gilbert thinks she stole the Gilbert Device from his senior, Johnathan Gilbert, way back in 1864. I want it out of his hands and in mine."

"How do you know about that?" Anna looked at her, shocked.

"How do I know about anything?" Darcy shrugged conceitedly.

"What are you, his little protégé?" Anna laughed mockingly.

"I'll show you protégé when I shove—," Darcy glared, her eyes darkened into an opaque swirl, rendering the vampire to fall silent. A hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a broad chest before she had a chance to continue her sentence, causing her to look up and meet a familiar pair of blue eyes.

"Ah, ladies, I see you're getting along just fine," Damon hummed.

"No one asked for your opinion," Anna and Darcy said in unison, their glares drilling into the Salvatore's cranium.

*•*•*•*•*

"Thanks for helping me," Elena said, looking up at Jenna as Darcy walked into the dressing room.

"Might want to watch Jenna, doesn't burn your hair off," Darcy commented as the older woman curled Elena's hair.

Jenna gasped, forgetting about the curler still wrapped around the brunette strands, and whirled around. "Now that's uncalled for...I only did it to yours once–"

She halted her excuse talk when Darcy coughed and pointed to the curler still on and smoking. "Now, a second time."

"Oh, crap! I'm so sorry, Elena!" Jenna exclaimed, panicking. She placed the iron down on the counter, cheeks flaming as Darcy continued to laugh. "Shut up, Darcy. This is your fault!"

"What's happening?" Elena asked, looking through the mirror as she capped the tip of the lipgloss she had just applied. "What did you do to my hair!?"

"Nothing!" Jenna shouted, flustered. She swivelled around and snatched the hairbrush off the vanity table and hurled it at Darcy, groaning when the devil cackled and darted to the side, the brush striking the wall.

"Damn, Jen! And people say I'm abusive," Darcy crowed, missing the glare from the brunette girl sitting in the chair. "Maybe we should tell Alaric–"

"Darcy!" Jenna exclaimed, cutting the young woman off and then shoving her into the seat next to Elena. "Zip it. We only have ten minutes to get you ready."

"What do you mean? I'm not participating," Darcy jolted forward when the woman slapped the back of her head.

"Oh, yes, you are Missy. You know how much Miranda wanted this," Jenna paused, looking at both of the girl's. "Both of you."

Elena smiled sadly, glancing between the two. "You know I remember when my Mum and I were first planning for this... She was so excited."

"So were you, if I recall," Jenna said, brushing through Darcy's thick ebony curls. "I've loved how thick and silky your hair is," she added.

"It's the allure of Darcella...," Darcy sang.

"I was, and she made it sound like something so much fun. Lot's of things have changed since then," Elena mumbled.

"I hate to break it, but it's a little late for cold feet," Jenna said, her tone full of lightness as she curled the inky strands around the heated iron. Eyeing the phone in the dark heads hands, she hummed. "Who are you texting? You've been secretive lately."

"No one!" Darcy said, shoving the device under her thighs. She investigated the mirror, meeting the woman's raised brow. "Just a friend."

"Must be a special friend," Jenna hummed.

Elena looked between the two women and Darcy's legs with a dubious frown before it shifted into a look of sadness as she glanced down at her lap. "I don't have cold feet, and it's just... I think I'd be enjoying it a lot more if she was here."

A hand rested atop Elena's, causing her to look up and to the side, meeting Darcy's compassionate gaze. Despite Elena's inner conflict, she knows Darcy would never intentionally hurt her, not when the older girl has been by her side since they were kids. Darcy has always put others before herself. She might have a hard exterior and interior, but deep past those walls, there's a heart of gold.

"I remember your and Miranda's talks about entering Miss Mystic Falls, both of you would always be beyond ecstatic. I never got what the excitement was about. Yet, when I showed my disdain to participate in those parties, she never once put it over my head. She always stood in my corner," she wavered, looking down at her boot-clad feet for a moment before returning her stare to the Gilbert girl. "Regardless of that, this is my way of saying thank you to the woman who put a roof over that little girl's head eleven years ago...

Elena, it's okay to be sad she's no longer here with you but know that your Mother will be looking down upon you and would be so delighted," Darcy paused, wiping away the tear that escaped from Elena's eye. "Honour this occasion and do her proud."

Elena smiled wobbly, wiping at her eyes when the two women wrapped their arms around her. "Thank you. I love you both," she croaked.

"No more crying! Look at your mascara!" Jenna cried. "You'll ruin my magnificent masterpiece."

Darcy snickered, getting to her feet, and hauled up Elena with her. "She talks about masterpiece when she almost torched your hair," she said, heading to the door.

Jenna gasped. "One more word out of that mouth, and you'll be sleeping in the back yard for the night,"

Darcy smirked over her shoulder, raising an elegant brow. "Wouldn't be the first time. Maybe I should call ChildLine and report— Or not!" She yelled, dragging Elena out of the room and closing the door just as the hairbrush struck against the wood a second time.

"Must you wind her all the time?" Elena giggled as they walked up the stairs to change into their dresses.

"Yes. Yes, I must. And we both know Jenna secretly loves it just as much," Darcy grinned before the expression wiped away upon seeing Amber pacing back and forth outside the dressing room.

"Are you okay, Amber?" Elena asked with concern.

Darcy could feel the anxiety pour off her in waves. The girl's eyes flicked back and forth as she continued pacing, contorting her hands, head whipping side to side at the slightest noise that hit her ears. "You don't look too good."

"I hate being the centre of attention... I get panic attacks," Amber said, shaking her head.

"Would you like some privacy so you can change?" Elena asked.

"We don't mind, and we can find another room," Darcy added, pointing her thumb towards the door adjacent to their current dressing room.

"Actually, I'm gonna go get some air," Amber said as she rushed past them and down the stairs.

The pair exchanged baffled looks as they entered the room, grabbing their dresses. Darcy discarded her current attire, and with her back to the mirror, she slipped into the black and red ombre formal dress with her back to the mirror. Just as the long skirt draped around her bare feet, she heard Elena gasp behind her. Clutching the open front to her chest, she spun around, meeting Damon's eyes through the mirror.

Darcy has never been one to feel self-conscious of her body. She knows she's blessed in certain areas, but Damon's scorching gaze, scanning the length of her, rendered her flustered.

Seeing his stare and Darcy's half-dressed state, Elena stood in front of her, blocking his line of sight. "Hey, you can't be back here," she said.

Damon shook the daze from his mind and stepped into the room. "We need to talk."

"It has to be right now?" Darcy asked, still clutching the dress to her front, and turned around so she could fix the straps over her shoulders.

Footsteps shuffled across the floor, stopping behind her form. She shivered as cold fingers brushed across her lower back, gripping the zip, and sliding it up towards the centre of her back, sending goosebumps to scatter across her burning skin.

"Yes," Damon said. He stepped back as she whirled around, her intense gaze roaming around his features, attempting to pick him apart at the seams.

"Has it begun?" Darcy asked, a pit forming at the bottom of her stomach as he twisted to glance between the two girls.

Damon nodded. "Do you have the stuff?" Darcy recuperated his actions and discreetly shook her head over to her possessions. Damon let out a sigh. "Good. Because we're gonna, need it."

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Elena asked, becoming impatient with their one-sided conversation.

"Normally, I would have a completely different outlook on what I'm about to tell you, but since it could really inconvenience me... I'll squeal."

Furrowing her brows, Elena glanced between the two, eyeing Darcy closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. "What are you talking about?"

"Stefan's still drinking human blood."

"What!?" Elena shrieked, her manner appalled at the thought of her animal drinking vampire of a boyfriend consuming human blood.

"Yeah." Damon hummed, shrugging his suit-clad shoulders. "A month ago, I would have rejoiced. But with the Council back on the alert, it is not a good time for Stefan to fly off the handle."

"And you knew, didn't you?" Elena whirled around on Darcy as the woman began sliding on her heels and fixing her make-up. "That's why you've been joined to his hip," she added, scoffing at the Huntress's calm veneer. "How can you act so indifferent about this, and why the hell would you not tell me? Did you not think that it was necessary?"

"Tone down the jealousy a notch, Elena," Darcy rolled her eyes, applying the mascara to her lashes before placing the tool down on the table. She then turned around and leant against the cold countertop, crossing her arms. "And before you go off on a tantrum about me knowing and not you. For your information, I didn't know about the stolen blood until this afternoon. I would have said, but important matters took a role in my thoughts. Sorry if putting myself first for once isn't a priority to your needs."

Elena closed her mouth to stop the spew of fits from erupting and looked down at her feet. "I know he's been a little edgy, but he said that was normal."

Damon chuckled humourlessly. "He has a fridge full of stolen blood bank contraband in the house."

"Oh my God..." Elena whispered in shock, slumping down on the chair next to her.

"Stefan has no idea what normal is – his entire existence isn't normal. Normal to a vampire is drinking human blood, but he's spent all this time fighting it when he should have been learning how to control it. And now it's controlling him, instead."

"He told me earlier he felt weak for not being in control. He's blaming himself for believing he's not strong enough," Darcy uttered to Damon as she ruffled through her bag and pulled out her thigh harness, strapping it around her right upper leg and sliding in two stakes. "Here," she called and threw another object over at Damon. The vampire caught the item and slipped it into his tailored slacks.

Elena near enough snapped her neck from the force she whipped her head around. "What are you doing?"

"What we should have done at the beginning," Darcy slid her feet into the black stilettos and lowered her dress.

"I can't believe it. I mean, it's Stefan that we're talking about here," Elena whispered, still in disbelief with the whole ordeal.

"He's still a vampire, Elena. He will always have the urge to drink human blood. It's in his nature," Darcy said. "The Stefan, you don't know loathes that part himself; it renders him to lose all abilities of his control."

"This is all my fault, and I'm the one who fed him the blood in the first place," Elena whimpered, holding her hands to her face.

Darcy clapped her hands, mocking her with a sarcastic grin. "Well done, Captain Obvious. Glad to see you've finally come to realise your errors."

"What's going on in here?" they looked up as Stefan pushed the door open and walked into the room.

"I was just filling them in on your extra-curricular activities," Damon supplied happily. Darcy punched him in the arm for the shit ass grin on his face. He raised his hands in surrender. "What? You know, under any other circumstances, I would have approved."

"I'm starting to think that I prefer you when you're paralysed and able to keep your stupid mouth shut," she dug her fingers into his side. "I've officially reclaimed you as Dickmon. Congratulations."

Stefan chuckled, looking between the three, a confused frown plastered upon his face. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I know about the blood, Stefan," Elena said, standing up from her seat, crossing her arms. Her face was a picture of judgement, which Stefan was afraid of.

Stefan flicks his gaze to the brunette, rolling his eyes coolly. "I was going to tell you."

"Yes, you had no problem telling Darcy about your urges but not me. Why is that?"

"I'm gonna... be downstairs. Drinking," Damon said, waving mockingly at the raven head, fleeing from the room. "Have fun!"

"Hey! Don't leave me!" Darcy cried, running out after him.

"I was going to tell you," Stefan mumbled. Like an anchor that moored him to the sea bottom, his feet shifted towards the exit.

"When?" Elena demanded, hands planted on her hips.

"I'm fine," Stefan said, shifting his impassive stare around the room. "I'm fine, the blood... It doesn't change anything."

"It's changing you," Elena scoffed, throwing up her arms in frustration.

"Why? Because I kept a secret from you?" Elena nodded, causing Stefan to roll his eyes in annoyance. "Come on, Elena! With the way you're reacting right now, can you really blame me for doing that?"

Elena's face grew red, arms flying around to express her aggression. "Oh. But you can tell her your secret but not me? Are you hearing yourself right now? You've been stealing blood and lying, and you say that everything is fine? Everything's not fine, Stefan!" Elena's yells caused him to shrink back into his shell.

The very one he clawed himself out of with the compassionate help of the Protectress. A few scorned words were all it took to relapse to the beginning.

"I told Darcy because she has never once judged me like you're doing now. She let me embrace who I really am and never looked at me differently. Maybe if you did the same, the outcome would have been the same for you too."

"We both know that's not true. Because you love her and not me, isn't that right, Stefan? You're in love with Darcella," Elena inserted, looking up at him with watery doe eyes.

Though if he looked more profound, he would have seen the look of hostility looming.

Stefan swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. I love her."

*•*•*•*•*

Caroline and Elena were standing at the top of the staircase when Mayor Lockwood called them downstairs, one by one. "Miss Tina Fell, escorted by Mister Bartholomew Whitmore."

The three girls watched Tina as Mrs Lockwood appeared behind them. "Has anyone seen Amber?" she asked them.

"She went out for some fresh air," Darcy answered, rounding the corner.

"Do you see Stefan down there?" Elena asked Caroline. After their argument, she doesn't know where they stand, but surely, he wouldn't stand her up. Right?

"Nope. Just my boring fill in escort," Caroline said with a sigh. She turned and chuckled at Darcy. "I can't believe you managed to wrangle Bonnie into being your date. Not gonna lie, and I'm rather jealous. Any room for an extra?"

"There's always a space for you, Care," Darcy winked at the bubbly blonde. "You better buckle up, though... there's already a long waiting list."

"Why am I not surprised? You give off major poly vibes. One man or woman wouldn't tame the wild beast," Caroline giggled, hugging onto the girl's arm.

"What happened to Matt?" Elena asked, butting in.

"They wouldn't let him out of work. Caroline replied, shrugging. "What happened to Stefan?"

"I don't know. We had an argument, and he just disappeared somewhere, I don't know. What am I doing? I should never have gone through with this," Elena cried as she started to panic.

Darcy gripped Elena's shoulders and spun her around. The fierce glare on the ebony-haired face made Elena drop her gaze to her heels. "I'm not gonna let you do this to yourself anymore. Elena Gilbert does not back out on anything, and you're not gonna start now."

Elena wiped at her cheeks. "I can't. What about Stefan?" What about you? He loves you, not me. And I don't know whether to hate you or still love you.

"Screw Stefan. You're an independent woman. You don't need a man to guide your path," Darcy asserted confidently.

"No way!" Caroline exclaimed. "You had your chance to drop out, and believe me, I was all for it because there was no way that I could beat you."

"Caroline, why do you always put yourself down? I don't get it. You're a beautiful woman in your own right," Darcy frowned, shaking her head. "This shouldn't be about competing against each other; it should be a time of having fun and letting your hair down. Who cares if you don't win? Be happy you had the chance to mark down the memory."

Caroline and Elena smiled at each other, their shoulders rising in confidence at Darcy's optimistic message. "Now, Elena, remember what I said earlier?" Elena nodded. "Honour your Mother and do her proud. You can do this."

"Miss Caroline Forbes escorted by Mister Jeffrey Lockwood Hamilton," Caroline grinned at them before stepping down the stairs.

"Darcy, you're next," Carol said as she steered her over to the staircase.

"Miss Darcella Gilbert escorted by Miss Bonnie—Mister Damon Salvatore?" Mayor Lockwood paused, looking up from the announcement card. "Who changed the damn pairing?"

Confused, the girls glanced at each other before Carol grabbed Darcy by the shoulders and pushed her to the stairs. "I don't know what's happening but go get your man!"

Darcy could do nothing but gape at the handsome, smirking devil who stood at the bottom of the staircase, hand extended for her invitation. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she bit her lip and placed her palm on the railing, the long ombre skirt flowing behind her as she descended the steps in an elegant, graceful flourish. Reaching the bottom, she peered into his calm blue eyes and placed her palm into his. Flashing her wink, he grasped onto her hand, and they walked towards the door.

"So, the predator decided to catch its prey and throw away my date? I don't know why I'm surprised. This is something you would do," Darcy said as they got into position.

"That, and what kind of gentleman would I be, allowing you your first dance without a proper date?" Damon said as the music began to play. Raising their left hands, they pioneered the sequence of walking around each other. Their gazes never straying, causing the traitorous heart of hers to thump in tandem with the rising tempo of the tuneful chimes.

"If you wanted to be my date so bad, you could have just asked. You didn't have to do Bonnie dirty," Darcy chuckled, seeing the girl off to the side in the court with Jenna and Alaric. From the dark expression across the witches face, Darcy had no doubt the girl was plotting against his existence.

Switching directions, Damon hummed in thought, and if possible, the light in his eyes brightened. "Does that mean you would have accepted? And no more denials of my love confessions?"

"I wouldn't get cocky too soon... Accepting the date, yes. Love confessions? You could always try another time. Who knows what my answer will be?" Darcy said, sliding her ruddy manicured hand up his shirt-clad chest.

"We both know I'll ask again tomorrow," Damon smirked. He gripped onto her waist and pulled her into his chest. He felt the woman adjust her height and whisper into his ear, the warmth of her breath sending shivers down his spine. "And maybe I won't hate you."

Lowering her feet just as the music stopped, Damon wrapped his arm around her lower back and steered her away from the other candidates. "I'm sorry to break the love fest, but you might want to go looking for Stefan. He and Amber have gone missing."

Damon pulled away, his expression turning serious. "What about the plan? Aren't you coming?"

Darcy shook her head, looking over in the direction of the doors leading back inside the Manor before meeting his gaze again. "I'll be there. For now, It's you what he needs, Damon. Stefan needs his brother," she said, running back inside.

*•*•*•*•*

"Elena, you're next," Carol said as she strode her over to the staircase. She took in a gulp of air and shook her arms, hoping to repel the clogging stress.

"Miss Elena Gilbert, escorted by Mister Stefan Salvatore." Elena started down the stairs, looking around for Stefan, but her eyes landed on Darcella instead. Just as she reached the bottom, Darcy took her outstretched hand and walked them towards the door.

"Darcy, you're not Stefan Salvatore!" Mayor Lockwood called over the microphone.

"I should think the vagina between legs proves that point," Darcy yelled back, leading them outside, and getting into position.

"What are you doing?" Elena questioned.

"No one leaves baby in the corner," Darcy said with a smile. "I couldn't let you walk down those stairs on your own. So being the awesome human I am, I'm making your Mother's dreams come true."

"Thank you, Darcy. We're really fortunate to have someone so compassionate as you," Elena smiled down at her feet. Dammit, Darcella. Let me hate you!

Soon after the dance, Elena left to join the other candidates, whilst Darcy went after Damon, searching for Stefan and Amber.

~

Next chapter coming up! 😈