𝟖𝟐

a/n: Char's outfit for the chapter is on the left and her dress for the prom is on the right!

☆═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐖𝐎━═☆

"So you are telling me that you, the all-powerful invincible Klaus, thought that you were dying because Silas made you think so?" Charlotte repeated aloud, refusing to let the information fully sink in.

"Yes, I, the all-powerful invincible Klaus, thought I was dying because he put it in my head."

Charlotte didn't miss his smug look after she called him that and rolled her eyes, murmuring, "We are screwed, we are all screwed."

He sighed, placing his hands on her forearms, "Which is why we need to give him the cure."

"Why are you telling me this?" She raised her eyebrows, questioning, "It's not like I have it in my back pocket. Your brother does."

Klaus took in a deep breath and explained, "You don't have it, I know that but you do want it and I wish I could let you have it but—"

She interjected, shaking her head, "You don't need to worry about that. The moment I knew there was only one dose, I have accepted that it won't be for me."

"Why?"

Charlotte rubbed the back of her neck, shrugging, "I have been a vampire for a while now. I am not the one struggling and even if I was, I am not the one struggling the most," She sighed, saying more to herself than him.

"That doesn't mean you are not allowed to want it," He shook his head, pointing out.

"I do want it. I just know that I can't have it. It's okay," Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, "I am sure we have all wanted some things in our lives and never got to have them. I will live."

He titled his head, looking down at her before she questioned, curiosity shining in her brown doe eyes, "Have you ever wanted the cure for yourself?" Charlotte awaited an answer before quickly adding, "—and I don't mean as a form of protection. I mean, have you ever wanted to be human?"

"Once," Klaus responded and she raised an eyebrow, showing her clear interest, "I was on a trek in the Andies, and a hummingbird flew up to me. It just hovered there, staring at me, its tiny heart was pattering like a machine gun."

Charlotte smiled, folding her arms together as he continued, "And I thought, what a thing, you know, to have to work that hard every day just to stay alive. To be constantly on the verge of death and how satisfying every day must be that it survived."

"And that was the only time I thought about being human."

She nodded to herself, running her tongue over her bottom lip, "Will you be at the dance?"

"Oh, no. Now that Rebekah can't force me there, I don't have to go."

"Alright then, I...," The petite brunette held her breath, trailing off, "I will see you around."

✵ ✵ ✵

It was morning. Damon and Stefan were playing catch with a football across their living room when Charlotte walked in, twirling a loose strand of her hair around her finger, "Good morning!"

"Morning, Char," Damon greeted, throwing the football to Stefan, "Where were you?"

"Oh, you know. Morning activities," She answered shortly, walking over to sit on the couch, "So, what are we going to do about Elena?"

Damon sighed, "Not you too."

"I am just wondering why we can't do the old lock the humanity less vampire in the cellar, force them to feel something, starve them, make them miserable...method."

"Because this is Elena."

She ran her hand over her forehead, questioning, "How long has it been? Nine? Eight days?"

The oldest Salvatore caught the football, claiming, "If we lost count of the consecutive days in which Elena Gilbert has not killed anyone, I'd say that's progress."

"So what are we gonna do, just, ah, throw the football around for another 150 years till Elena gets her humanity back?" Stefan raised an eyebrow, suggesting before he said, "Because I'm cool with that."

Charlotte rolled her eyes at that, giving him a disapproving look as Damon reminded them, "She doesn't want the cure. She's gonna start killing people if she knows we're still trying to get it for her."

"Yes, Mr. Obvious. We know."

"Alright. We could always, ah, make her want it?"

The Bernard crossed her arms over her chest, "How the hell are you going to make an emotionless vampire want anything and not just that, but a cure?"

Stefan threw the football over to Damon, saying, "Get her to flip her humanity switch."

"So what are we gonna do?"

Charlotte rested her elbows on her knees, suggesting, "I mean when Lina got me to turn it on, she got in my head, kept pushing in so many memories and emotions and some of them just stuck," She nodded to herself, claiming, "I need to get in her head."

Stefan nodded agreeing before Damon asked, "And if that doesn't work?"

Charlotte stood up, catching the football mid-air as she answered him, "Back to my original plan. Lock her up to stop her from wreaking havoc on our small serene town till we figure something out."

The oldest Salvatore moved around, folding his arms together, "And what happens when she gets slammed with every emotion she's repressed since Jeremy died?"

The Bernard girl smiled, replying, "Well, then I will be here every step of the way, helping her just like I would have if you hadn't gotten in my way."

"Charlotte, the savior of the damned is back on track."

"That she is."

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte dropped by Bonnie's house to pick her up for dress shopping. Caroline suggested the idea and had already beaten them there. She honked her car's horn. It wasn't exactly her car's but Damon's. Of course, the Salvatore didn't know she will be driving it because he wouldn't agree but Charlotte had been adopting a lovely phrase these days. What Damon doesn't know won't hurt him.

The Bennett girl walked out of the house and furrowed her eyebrows together when she realized it was Damon's car, "Nope, just me. I am using his car until I get a new one."

Bonnie nodded to herself before walking around the car to get in the passenger seat, "Why? What happened to your car?" She questioned before adding, "Unless you already told me and I forgot...I don't really remember anything after—"

She cut in, "Yeah, I know. Caroline told me," Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, answering, "I just...couldn't use it after what happened to Kol. It was too much."

Bonnie held her breath, speaking up, "Charlotte...about that...I, uh, am sorry."

She turned to look at her before brushing it off, "It's okay."

"No, it's not. You cared about Kol. I knew that so did Elena and...Jeremy, he knew," Bonnie said, running her tongue over her bottom lip, "We shouldn't have done that to you...You didn't deserve that."

Charlotte didn't expect an apology from anyone after that night. It's not that she thought she didn't deserve one but she thought the cure was more important than her and it didn't really matter.

"It's fine, Bonnie."

"Stop saying that, we hurt you. Stop making it seem like it's fine because it's not," She shook her head, sighing exsaperatedly, "We are your friends. We are supposed to look out for you and be there for you not...not betray you like that."

"I forgive you," Charlotte replied, inhaling sharply, "Truth be told, I didn't think I am in the position to receive apologies or grant forgiveness but I forgive you."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow, "How do you that?"

"Do what?"

"You forgive so easily no matter how hurt you are."

The Bernard vampire tightened her hold on the stirring wheel as she took a turn on the road, "Trust me it's not easy...I just don't know any other way of living."

✵ ✵ ✵

Caroline was inside trying on a dress as Bonnie and Charlotte waited for her. The brunette witch was telling them about all sorts of dreams she had been having since she came back.

"What kind of dreams?" Caroline questioned from the changing room.

"Usually I'm at his grave and all of a sudden, he appears to me," Bonnie answered just as Caroline walked out.

The blonde inspected herself in a three-way mirror, claiming, "Well, you never got to say goodbye, Bon. You're grieving, that's normal."

She added, "When I woke up, the couch was on fire."

Charlotte folded her arms together, "Maybe it's the stress? You did go through a lot on that island...A lot."

"I don't know if it's because I was emotional in my dream, or if Shane was right," Bonnie nodded to herself, sighing, "Without his help, I'll lose control of my magic."

Caroline dismissed the thought quickly, turning to her, "No, it's because you need a night off from mourning. And we're gonna make sure that you have it."

"Yes. We are going to enjoy to the max," Charlotte agreed, smiling at the two enthusiastically, "Caroline, this. This is your color."

"Um, yes, you look super hot, by the way," Bonnie stated, smiling at the blonde vampire.

"You think?"

"Definitely."

"We and Matt are gonna have the sexiest date there," The witch claimed, laughing to herself.

Caroline sighed in content, "You know what, I love friend-prom. And it's exactly what prom should be—friends and memories."

"Yup."

"Yes, it sucks that my boyfriend can't be here, but the four of us are gonna have the night of our lives," She rolled her eyes, dismissing the thought as soon as it hit her.

The door jingled as someone entered the shop. Caroline looked up and her smile faltered. Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows and turned to see who made it inside, only to see Elena and Rebekah making their way over to them.

"Hey, Bonnie. Heard you got your mind wiped—that sucks," Elena feigned sympathy, addressing Bonnie then she turned to the blonde, "Pretty dress, Caroline."

"Elena," Charlotte greeted, looking from her to Rebekah, "Blossoming friendship?"

"I will admit you two happen to be just as annoying but at least she is honest about her needs," Elena tilted her head, shrugging, "It's an upgrade."

Charlotte raised her eyebrows at that before nodding, "Well, good for you."

"Can you press this for me?" Caroline told the store clerk, "I'll pick it up later," She started turning to the dressing room, "Bonnie?"

The witch followed her inside and Charlotte stood by the room with her arms folded over her chest, "Hi, Rebekah."

Rebekah gave her a sympathetic smile, replying, "Hey, Lottie."

✵ ✵ ✵

"I told you, I bought it months ago and I left it here. It couldn't have just vanished," Charlotte exhaled sharply, looking through her wardrobe, "No, Serena, I am not just going to show up in any dress. I liked that dress!"

"Charlotte, you are not missing out on prom for a stupid dress!"

"For God's sake, look who's speaking! You are missing out on the whole experience!" She shot back, slamming her wardrobe closed, "It would be impossible to find a dress now. The prom starts in an hour," She ran her hand over her face, "Even if I compelled someone for the sake of an emergency, I won't find something I like that fast."

Serena sighed on the other end before quickly suggesting, "What about Lina? Maybe she has something around?"

"Lina is going through a hard time right now and she gave me clear orders to attend prom first and then worry about her. Which is extremely stupid because all I can do is worry. She needs me and I am playing stupid happy teenage girl life," Charlotte shook her head at herself, "I can't do this. I shouldn't go."

"Charlotte!" Serena shrieked out, claiming, "You, out of all of us, deserve this and need it the most. Lina can survive a day without you. It's not stupid happy teenage girl life if you want it. And you do so show up with an insane dress and steal the show."

Charlotte ran a hand over her face, sighing, "I miss you, when are you coming back?"

"Don't worry, I am not missing Graduation."

"I am seriously starting to dislike this Alec guy," She said, descending the stairs and on her way to the door, "Yes, he makes you happy but he is also stealing you away."

Serena chuckled, "I missed you too and I will be sure to tell Alec how much you appreciate him."

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte exhaled, knocking at the door once again but no answer. She shook her head at the door and opened it. Of course, they wouldn't lock it. The almighty Mikaelsons, who would dare hurt them? Nothing could force them to lock a door.

"Hello?" She called out, stepping inside, "Klaus?" Charlotte looked around the living room, "Klaus?" She called out again, moving through the house before stopping at a room to see him by the fireplace, "Klaus! Oh, there you are. Why weren't you answering?"

"I'm in no mood for company."

Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows together, recalling, "Well, you were in a pretty good mood earlier so channel that," She held her breath, trying to forget how stupid that favor would sound, "I need help."

He turned to her, raising an eyebrow, "I can't find my prom dress."

"You lost a dress and you need my help?"

She scowled, shaking her head quickly, "I didn't lose a dress. I just can't seem to find it. So you need to help me out," Klaus didn't seem in on it as she huffed out in frustration, "Klaus. This is senior prom. I am a senior. I need to go but I can't do that without a dress. It's a crisis."

He burst out laughing, annoying her even more, "I didn't think you gave dresses that much thought."

"Fine, it's a distraction. Lina is the dress and the dress is Lina," Charlotte admitted, biting the inside of her cheeks, "If I think about the dress, I am worried about it as much as I am about Lina right now. But she banished me out of her apartment until this night ends. So please just get me a dress."

"Well, surely finding another dress is well within your substantial vampire capabilities?"

"This is most likely the last human mundane thing I get to do and I wanna look good doing it so I want a perfect dress," Charlotte exhaled, stating, "I want like a royalty kind of dress. I did win Homecoming Queen and Miss Mystic Falls. I wanna go out with a blast."

"So...could you please do me this one beautiful unforgettable favor?" She gave him her winning adorable smile, raising an eyebrow and he, as usual, gave in.

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte smoothed out her dress, stepping out of the car as Caroline got out of the driver's seat, "You know what, I think it's great that you lost that dress. This one is much, much better."

Charlotte smiled, linking their arms together and walking on the red carpet that lead to the prom. The petite brunette turned to look at the screens playing slideshows of past parties at the school, events, and even some of their own random pictures.

"That was a great idea, Care."

"You are welcome," Caroline smiled, quite proud of herself before they made it inside. The dance floor was full of people, dancing already as they were as Caroline put it, fashionably late.

Charlotte spotted Elena at the end of the room with Damon as Caroline murmured, trailing, "Is that..."

"My dress," She answered, "She stole it."

The Forbes tightened her hold on Charlotte's arm, "Remember what Stefan said? Don't indulge her. She is doing it for a reaction."

The Bernard girl shook her head, letting go of Caroline's arm, "If she wants a reaction, I will give her one." She made her way over to the punch table, greeting, "Having fun?"

"I am," Elena nodded, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Hey, what do you think of my dress?" She did a little twirl with it and gave Charlotte a sly smile.

"It looks good," Charlotte answered, folding her arms together, "A little familiar though."

"I thought I would save it from you. Red is not really your color."

Charlotte chuckled, nodding to herself before turning to Damon, "Would you excuse us? Elena and I need to have a small chat."

He looked between the two, commenting, "Play nice," Before taking his exit.

"What do you want, Charlotte?"

"Not beating around the bush? It's kind of your thing."

"And who taught me that?" She retorted as the petite brunette shrugged her shoulders, "No, I do not feel bad for you and no, you can't weasel your way into my head and fix everything with a few stupid words."

Charlotte arched an eyebrow, "Really? Even human you would be rooting for me."

"Well, human me is dead so now the only ones rooting for you are Stefan and Damon because they are so scared that you will crumble and fall if things don't go your way one more time," Elena claimed, rolling her eyes, "It's kind of hilarious how many people just let you do your thing cause its less of a headache that way."

"I bet you would relate too, huh?"

Elena looked her up and down before stating, "How does it feel to stop acting like a goody-two-shoes brat?" Charlotte raised her eyebrows as she continued, "I bet now you don't have to tell me stuff like, He kissed me, Elena. I would never do that to you. Yeah, right."

"I would never ever hurt you like that or go after your boyfriend," Elena mimicked, grimacing as she returned to her normal tone, "From day one, it wasn't about you being a good friend, it was about how every guy needed to see you as the victim, the little damsel in distress. That's how you had Kol wrapped around your finger up until the moment he died, trusting you."

She laughed out, adding, "Poor little Charlotte, how will she ever go on on her own? As long as you come up as the victim, you manage to make someone as heartless as Klaus feel bad for you," She kept going and going as Charlotte clamped her mouth shut, finding it harder and harder to cling to the thought that that was not the Elena Gilbert she knew and loved, "You think they actually cared? You just played on their hero complex, honey. Well, guess what, I don't have one."

Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows together, trying to control her facial expressions as it felt that with any wrong move she could actually tear up. Elena turned around, pouring some of the punch into her cup, "Aww...are you going to start crying now?"

She looked back at her, finishing, "Well, do me a favor and do it away from me. It would so ruin the mood."

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte walked outside for some air after the little incident back there. She put her arms about herself and took a deep breath. She needed to go back to the plan, but how could she when she hadn't quite recovered from what Elena had done to Kol? She was now blaming herself on top of everything else.

"Hello?" She said, whirling around to hear something snap behind her. She did not wait for a response and rushed back inside, feeling apprehensive and knowing what kind of new threat was wandering Mystic Falls.

She ran into a hard chest on her way to the punchbowl, "Oof, sorry," Charlotte looked up and sighed, realizing it was just Stefan, "Any progress?"

"Not exactly," He shook his head before taking a full look at her, "Are you okay?"

She pursed her lips together, "Not exactly."

"Did you dance tonight? You look like you didn't," Stefan stated and much to her surprise, offered his hand, "C'mon, dance with me."

"You said dancing stopped being your thing after becoming a vampire since when do you ask people to dance?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow, voicing her confusion.

Stefan reached for her hand anyway, intertwining their fingers together, "Yeah because I lost my favorite partner."

She placed her other hand on his shoulder, nodding to herself, "Oh, right. Martha Fell was definitely a great dancer."

With his hand on the small of her back, he pulled her closer to him, "We both know who I am talking about."

Charlotte looked up at him, feigning a gasp, "Are you denying a dead woman's dancing skills? I am pretty sure that's a one-way ticket to hell." He just smiled, shaking his head.

"So...about that gift?" She questioned, raising her eyebrows, "It's like you are torturing me. I need to know what it is. Now."

She looked up at Stefan as he sighed exsaperatedly, "It's a small house...kind of cozy. In Cape Town."

"Cape Town?"

"I was thinking maybe whenever you feel off or just miss a little quiet and peace...I don't know, I thought you might need it," He said, nodding to himself, "I know you don't plan on spending the summer here and I have been holding off on telling you to try and see if I can...maybe, earn being there with you?"

Charlotte had the hint of a smile on her lips as she asked, "Would you want to come with me? To Cape Town, for a romantic getaway?"

"Would you want me there?"

"I think so, yeah...," She trailed off, letting Stefan pull her close enough to rest her head on his shoulder.

✵ ✵ ✵

Bonnie gathered Charlotte, Stefan, Damon, Caroline, and Matt after an incident outside, alerting them of a problem, "It's like Jeremy was there. I could talk to him, feel him."

"Bonnie, that's what Silas does," Stefan expressed care for her well-being in his tone, "You can't let him get to you again."

"Yeah, because you all crazy and brainwashed is just not a good look," His brother represented the same concern, in his own way.

They continue talking about that issue, reminding Bonnie how much of a threat Silas is, "Elena is not making tonight any easier too," Charlotte spoke up, bringing their attention to her, "One of you should take her home. With Silas here and her recklessness...just a bad idea."

"What? No," Damon shook his head, looking down at the petite brunette, "She's safer here in public around all these people. There's no way Silas can make everyone see the same thing all at once."

"And what if there is?" Charlotte raised her eyebrow.

"Let's not think of that," Matt sighed, folding his arms together, "In the meantime, how do we look out for a guy that can appear as anyone?"

Just as he said that April Young spoke up on the stage, "All right, your prom king and queen are...Matt Donovan and Bonnie Bennett!" The crowd cheered them on and Charlotte smiled at the two before nudging them forward to make their way onto the stage and get crowned by April.

Damon stepped beside Charlotte, taking a look around them before asking, "Where is Serena?"

"She is not making it tonight."

"Why not?" He raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

Charlotte smiled, folding her arms together, "Alec took her camping. They are having fun so I thought...to hell with prom if she feels like missing it and being with him for a few days."

He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, commenting, "I don't like that Alec guy."

She turned to him, humoring him with one of her looks, "Damon, you don't even know that Alec guy."

"Not true, I met him once and there was enough time to know he is not worth all of that."

"Serena thinks he is and I respect her choices. Leave it at that."

✵ ✵ ✵

After a while, Bonnie and Matt stepped off the stage and Charlotte went to get herself something to eat. It was just for a few minutes but when she looked back, she couldn't find the Salvatores or Bonnie which meant trouble.

She stepped out of the building, fists grasping the sides of her dress to keep it in place and avoid treading on the ends. In the distance, she could see Stefan make his way to her and picked up her pace, "Where were you? Where are the others?"

"I am sure they are around here somewhere."

Charlotte drew her brows together, oblivious to the unease in her chest, and continued, "C'mon, we need to find them. We are not supposed to leave Bonnie alone for even one second."

She turned around and he grabbed her elbow, pulling her back, "I think the witch will live without you for a few minutes."

Charlotte held her breath as it clicked in, her back still turned to him but his hold on her elbow didn't waver, "The infamous Silas then."

"The do-gooder Charlotte...I heard so much about you," He said, letting go of her elbow for just a moment to take her wrist and turn to face him, "Let me tell you, your mind is a very crowded space. You spend time there often?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't recommend it so get out of my head, you freak!" She tried to push him away from her only for his hold to tighten on her wrist, hurting her, "Drop the act. Show your true face."

"Now why would I do that when I can just play with your head like this?" Silas raised an eyebrow and when Charlotte blinked he wasn't there anymore. She turned around to run only to be met with a stake in her abdomen.

She looked up to find him taking on Lina's face, "The witch is mine. If you know what's good for you, stay away from her."

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte placed her hands over the huge gush of blood on her waist. That would be tough to explain if any of her classmates saw her. She was near the woods behind the prom before hearing familiar voices. She groaned out, clenching her teeth before vamp-speeding back there.

Finally, she found the Salvatores, "Stefan? Damon?" She called out, meeting them halfway.

She looked between the two, noticing they are sporting similar wounds, "Silas?"

"Yeah."

She nodded to herself, repeating, "Yeah."

The three of them didn't even get to form a plan or deal with anything as Elena's shouts of pain rung through from the distance. Charlotte vamp-sped to the source, freezing in her steps when she found Bonnie using her magic to break Elena's bones.

"Bonnie...you don't want to do this, trust me," Charlotte spoke up, forcing herself to take a step towards the two as she knew Bonnie would never do anything to hurt her.

Damon crouched down by Elena who continued writhing in pain. Stefan shook his head at Bonnie, trying to bring her back to her senses, "Bonnie, you're killing her."

"I know what I'm doing!"

The Bernard shook her head repeatedly, "No, believe me, you don't. Bonnie, that's Elena and I know, I know how hard tonight has been but she is not herself and you do not want to kill her."

Elena continued groaning in pain as she looked up at Bonnie, blood dripping from her nose, "Bonnie...Please."

She moaned in pain for a moment longer then stopped as the Bennett stopped the spell. The Salvatores released a relieved sigh as Charlotte walked up to Bonnie, "Are you okay?"

"No, Charlotte, I'm not okay. I almost died!" She pointed over to the Gilbert who had all but fallen in Damon's arms in an attempt to forget the last few minutes, "The shell of my best friend almost killed me. None of this is okay!"

Damon helped Elena with getting off the ground while Bonnie made her way off the pavement. Stefan moved in to aid him in keeping her balance.

Charlotte said as she placed her palm on Elena's cheek, urging her to look up, "Guess being nice was a horrible idea," She injected a syringe filled with vervain into Elena's neck.

"Plan C it is."

✵ ✵ ✵