(CHAPTER FIFTEEN :
MAKE ME BETTER)

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ONE LONG CAR RIDE and two blood bags later, I had arrived in Mystic Falls. Temporarily, at least. Once the Originals had been dealt with and my friends were all safe, I was going to travel around Europe. Stored in the confines of the latest twenty-first century technology was an E-Ticket to Amsterdam, my flight scheduled for in five days time. Deeper within the device was a list of cities, the sights I wanted to see and more. Since I had my talk with Jeremy, I realised there was no point taking my life for granted. Until my trip came around, I had a chaotic five days planned — eliminating millennium old vampires, packing up boxes and school dances galore.

"Red or black?" Caroline pondered, alternating two authentic flapper dresses up against her chest. On the left, she held a dark ruby number, adorned with specs of fine glitter. On the right, she had a dark embellished piece, gold sequin and embroidery popping out.

Undeniably, one perk of being a vampire was having the opportunity to experience different eras. In my life, I lived multiple lifestyles, suffered through the most intolerant trends, experimented with outrageous fashion, amongst other things. Narrowing my eyes at the two garments, my mind drifted to the nights I wore them — and the nights that didn't end with me wearing them. Not long ago, all it took was a little thigh and alluring dance move to have a wild night. Today, people's methods were tasteless and cheap, but I managed to thrive all the same.

"Red." Elena and I chortled in unison, responding to Caroline. On the other hand, Bonnie voted the rival colour.

"Caroline, red looks gorgeous on you because it brings out your eyes." I reasoned, analysing her appearance critically. "Whereas, Bonnie should wear the black because it perfectly compliments her complexion." I snatched the darker dress from my friend, placing it against the witch's small frame before nodding in approval.

Bonnie Bennett was unsure, she wasn't like Caroline or Elena, people didn't vie for her attention, nor did she want them to. Maybe it would be nice, but she was independent and didn't need anybody except herself. In fact, it never crossed her mind to deliberately dress to impress a hall of people she merely associated with. Then there was Caroline Forbes. She was never one to refuse a chance to leave boys — and girls — speechless. For that reason, she was giddy to try on the outfit, knowing she that our group would capture everybody's attention. Predictably, these were not costume shop knock-offs, they were original flapper dresses. Both girls, Bonnie more hesitant than Caroline, soon went away to test out their 'costumes' and chatted eagerly about the explosive night ahead.

I pushed my modern dresses to the left of the wardrobe, searching at the very back for one dress in particular. "White for you, 'Lena." I declared with an incredible determination to find a certain outfit. The ambition was fuelled from the fact I knew it would be the one to make Damon Salvatore's eye twitch and jaw drop. "Ah, got it. I think I have lace detailing around here somewhere too, might need it to cover up the blood stains." I said under my breath, knowing it would only distress the girl otherwise.

"I know what happened." She spluttered impulsively, the secret had been eating her alive. "You and Jeremy. I know what happened, he told me." Elena clarified, unable to stop making the most anxious, insistent tapping noise against my worn bed frame. "Actually, Damon did. And then I made Jeremy tell me what he didn't see and hear." She blushed, staring at the carpeted floor with great interest. If she wanted to amplify the level of awkwardness, she succeeded. "Now, I don't want to be the over protective sister on this because I know you, but because I know you, I need to ask, is he a rebound?" Speaking in a soft tone, it would have been easy to believe my friend would never hurt a fly and wanted the best for her brother. Yet, I knew her too and knew she would rip out the tiny heart of a fly if it meant that her family was preserved.

"I'm over Kol." I lied, covering the waver in my voice with a scoff.

Immediately, she straightened. "I never even mentioned Kol and I think that proves it." Elena countered, surprisingly sharp. "Look, it is easy to say you're over him, but I don't believe that you waited this long to know him, to have you memories, to not at least get butterflies around him." She had a tenderness in her voice that evoked discomfort, the implication that she knew the relationship better than I did unsettled me.

I rubbed my lips together. "I don't — Hell, I never — got butterflies around him." I snapped at the brunette. "It was always fire." I realised, defeated as I placed my head in my hands.

"I get it, Lottie." She comforted, knowing how it felt to be torn. Between us, the major difference was, I wasn't torn. "You liked him because he was new to you, he was bad, but shown you things you never kn——" She revealed, to which I snorted and intervened.

"Bad?" I echoed her words, less than thrilled by the presumption. "No, he was a gentlemen. I mean, I didn't date the Easter Bunny and we had arguments or times when he couldn't control himself, but he was good to me. We would dance, laugh, smile, like any ordinary couple did." I fondly recalled all the ventures we had together, the times when I would stalk down my window because my very own Romeo made too much noise coming up.

Almost accusingly, she pointed her finger at me. "Exactly. I can tell, you still love him and I don't want you to be using Jeremy for your jealousy games." She warned, her disapproving glare being matched by my own glower. If she thought I would shrink back, she didn't know me as well as she thought. "My brother liked you for a while now and I never heard you say more than two words to him before Denver. He doesn't need to lose anybody else, please don't string him along." Elaborating, the teenager cleared the air before I pounced. Dearly as I loved Elena Gilbert, we were the two that clashed heads the most often because I tested her limits. Of course I did this to prove she was the one for my best friend.

"Do you hear yourself right now?" I furrowed my brows, hoping this would not evolve into an argument. I wasn't the one stringing people along, I knew what I felt, but I had to stretch the reality for the benefit of my friends' safety. "I pined for him, a century was wasted wanting to remember the man in my memories. I didn't know him then though, when we had our girly chats, I didn't know that my epic love was an epic failure." I reminded her, my words rough like sandpaper. "When I thought of him, I thought he would be the person who could make me better. And as much as I loved, that being past tense, him, I know that he didn't make me better." I fabricated a tale to convince her that even if I defended the man, I did not care for him in the way she thought. Underneath all my lies, I knew Kol Mikaelson did make me better. Without him, Father would have done worse to me and without him, I would never have had the courage to leave. Unfortunately, I needed to paint him in a darker light if I wanted to safeguard Jeremy. To me, he was also like a brother, but I needed to push for him to seem more to me.

"Do you think Jeremy could?" Elena gulped. Damon informed her of my history and she was aware of my long list of wrongdoings, leaving the million dollar question — could Jeremy Gilbert aid me in being better?

I let the question linger, expecting she would predict some thought to go into my answer. "I think," I hummed, not wanting an excruciating silence to follow, "that I don't want a knight in shining armour. I don't need anybody to save me. All I need is somebody to be there, to support me." I answered, the girl beside me releasing a breath.

She smiled. I couldn't detect if it was fake or not, Elena mastered the art of it long ago, but I accepted it all the same. "Good. I didn't mean to interrogate you, but you watched me lose most of my family and saw how close I came to losing him. He's all I have left and I want to protect him." She explained her actions.

"And all I want it somebody to root for me, to be be at my side." I reiterated. I wanted to add, I want to protect him too, but managed to refrain. "Let's hope your time as a cheerleader rubbed off on him." I teased, refusing to allow the atmosphere to take a solemn turn.

Although I didn't want it to the fun vibes to die, I wondered, would I still be having this conversation if my ex wasn't dangerous Original? When I thought he was human, it never crossed my mind I would have to shield those I loved most from him. Fast forward, here I am.

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PORTLAND, OREGON [1908]

Thomas was early, he coaxed me out of my labyrinth of thoughts. Mother was unimpressed, profusely apologising for my irrational daydreaming antics. Father was working, but if he was here, he would have shook his fist in warning. I was unprepared, I had an array of new expectations to live up to. However, Thomas Fairclough was the ideal candidate to guide me through the ordeal. In every sense, he was the perfect gentlemen and I could not fault the kind affections of his tender touch as he walked me to the square. On the way to town, we did not speak aside from pleasantries, but I did not need him to speak to know of his good-nature. Hopefully, I could grow to love his courteous ways, rather than simply appreciate them, for I would hate to spend my life married to a man I did not love.

"Charlotte," his melodic voice called me name in such a sweet manner that I was inclined to glance away. It was a sin to lie, I could not pretend to be infatuated or over over him. "I see that man is selling flowers, would you like one, sweet girl?" He inquired, the small gesture almost making me croak out a cry. How did my heart not want such a fine man?

"Oh, my dear, I do love flowers." I sighed happily. "But, you have been far too generous as it is. I could never dare impose for a gift." I insisted, but noticed that he had always charged towards the elderly tradesman. Unwavering as his benevolence was, he could be stubborn as an ox on occasion.

With a slight spring in his step, he handed a handful of coins to the seller. From afar, he waved wildly at me, like we had not been speaking only a moment before. "Anything for my sweet girl." I itched at my hand, not having the heart to confess the nickname unnerved me. "If you said the word, I would buy one thousand flowers for you."

One thousand, I gasped at the thought. That would have been the untamed dream of any hopeless romantic dream, which I undeniably was. Except, I found that it did not change my feelings in the slight because no amount of silver or gold would buy my affections. All I truly desired was passion — no ordinary kind, no — the type of passion that was indescribable those who had never experienced it, the type that would make one risk their life to feel it for a fleeting second. Flowers were an expression of emotions, yet did not hold the same weight, but I wish they did.

Immersed in conversation with the florist, I found myself straying from the cobblestone street without Thomas' knowledge. I didn't blame the boy for being talkative, I just became bored of idly standing by. Exploring the pathways, I pressed my face against the glass of a quaint boutique. In the window, a sheer white gown faded at the skirt into blue ombré. It was the most exquisite piece I ever seen, and I also knew it would be the most expansive, meaning it was futile to think I could ever own such a dress. Deciding it was best to return to the main square, I strolled ahead, my heading spinning to take a last look at the shop. Then, my world decelerated alarmingly.

Sometimes things happened in slow motion. The most treacherous events tend to pass achingly slow, but sometimes the most blissful, beautiful events happen in slow motion. That was the best form of slow motion. Debatably, it was the latter I experienced as my footing foolishly got twisted. I didn't have the luxury of getting my bearing before I stumbled backwards at a startlingly fast pace. Surely, I would have collided with the hard ground in a matter of seconds, but I did not. Instead, I landed in someone's waiting arms.

"Darling, I think you just fell for me." He laughed and rest assured, it was a warm, infectious laugh that graced the cold, bitter air. If there was one thing I wished to be a continuous loop, it would be that laugh. Smooth like velvet, sweet like a lullaby, I was at an incredible high from hearing his accented voice alone.

Unable to trust my voice, I steadied myself, gripping onto the stranger's elbows because I was a little weak in the knees. Once I had my feet put right, I turned to face the man, knowing I should scold him for flirting because I was engaged. Regardless of those intentions, I could only suck in the much needed oxygen when I met his shining eyes. All I could think was that, yes, I did just fall for him and, as cliche as it sounded, he was my first little taste of heaven.

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Leaving me in a deep moment of reflection, Elena scurried off with the white dress. Once I put an abrupt end to my pity part of one, I shouted the three girls out of the bathroom with immense excitement. A part of me swelled with pride at the sight of the trio — Elena was a vision of purity in white, Caroline was daring to dance with devil in red and Bonnie was a mysterious beauty in black.

"And now, it's your turn." Caroline drawled, concluding that I would make an excuse like I normally did with every other pointless school dance. "No excuses, no avoidances, no imaginary dogs died." She summarised with a wag of her finger, already hunting through my wardrobe.

I offered her a grin, small, but a grin all the same. "Actually, I have a date for this one." I agreed to join the three, taking Bonnie and Caroline by surprise. "I was thinking silver fox for me, I'm older by about," I counted on my fingers jokingly, "one hundred and three years."

Shaking her head, the young Forbes tossed a silver flapper dress in my direction. Promptly, I ducked and watched as the dress, projected with vampire strength, dented the paint job. I rolled my eyes, the three girls all giggling at the incident. And, for a fleeting moment, I was genuinely happy.

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A.N: This was a filler chapter but we can see more about Lottie laying it on thick with the lies to keep Jeremy safe. To clarify, she is very much uninterested romantically but sympathises for how he's been hurt. As for Kol, well, she says she's over him, but defends him enough 👀

Who would you be friends or get along with in The Vampire Diaries?