CHAPTER ELEVEN / ACT ONE

Fundraiser.

The doppelgängers entered the grill together, searched for the Gilbert girl's friends. Elena had told her before they entered that Caroline had been acting perfectly normal since she had compelled her, indicating that it had worked. But she did say it wasn't necessary to compel anyone else because lying about it wouldn't be difficult. That took all of the fun out of it.

"Hey, there they are," Elena whispered, nodding towards Caroline chatting with her ex, Matt Donovan. "You remember the story?"

"Yeah, yeah," Angelina sighed, sounding worn out. "I'm Angelina Gilbert, orphaned at birth, just found out about you, Jenna, and Jeremy, my adoptive parents died a year ago. Birthday is June 22nd, 1992 and I'm seventeen years old."

"Just don't forget it, okay? This is serious stuff, and we can't just go around compelling everyone."

"Yes, yes. Can we go now?"

"Yes, come on." The Gilbert replied as she began maneuvering past the crowd of people towards Caroline and Matt with Angelina trailing close behind.

"Hey, guys!" She greeted them and soon fixing her gaze in Angelina's direction. "I have someone I want you to meet," She pointed. "This is Angelina, my sister."

"Woah-" Matt gaped as he looked Angelina up in down while she smiled awkwardly. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Oh, hey Angelina!" Caroline smiled brightly, giving her a hug the moment she laid eyes on her. "We didn't really have a proper introduction the last time we met," She began to ramble.

"I'm Caroline Forbes, and this is Matt Donovan!"

"Nice to meet you, Caroline," Angelina said, a fake smile painted on her face. "I'm Angelina."

"I didn't know you had a sister?" Matt maintained his puzzled expression, rubbing the back of his neck in shock. "A twin sister at that. Is this not weird? What so like.. you didn't know or something?"

"Yeah.. we didn't find out until a couple weeks ago." She played along with their fib. "I was adopted when I was a baby so we hadn't met until now."

"I have like a million questions."

"It's really not that big of a deal." The vampire said through her teeth, attempting to hide the fact that she was compelling him to relax.

"Wow, that must be so cool!" Caroline beamed. "Well not cool, but- I mean cool as in you found out you had a sister. The only other siblings I have is my dad's boyfriend's son who I never see."

"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Angelina laughed back.

Caroline then turned her attention to a woman walking towards them with a smile on her face. "Hi Ms. Donovan!"

Ms. Donovan glanced her head in the blonde's direction before ignoring her and turning her attention towards Elena. "Elena, honey!" Her face lit up as she gave her a hug.

"Hi Kelly!" Elena hugged her back. "Long time no see!"

Kelly glanced over in Angelina's direction, looking her up in down with a look of confusion on her face. "Is it just me or is there two of you? Maybe I'm still a little drunk."

Angelina rolled her eyes and turned her head towards Caroline. The blonde stood there with a solemn expression on her face, staring down at the floor as a result of Kelly's disrespectful behavior.

"Matty tells me you broke his heart," She could hear the sound of Kelly's voice start back up again, raising her eyebrows at her words.

"Mom-" Matt attempted to stop her.

"Just kidding, calm down." She reassured him, chuckling softly. "He found his rebound girl."

Angelina rolled her eyes as she met Kelly's gaze. "Get what you need, then walk away." she muttered, subtly compelling her.

Kelly blinked absentmindedly for a moment before digging into her purse, pulling out some cash, and handing it to Caroline for the fundraiser. "Here you go, honey. Whatever this'll get you."

"I just hope I don't get bachelor three, I dated him in high school. Not impressive, in any way." She joked before walking away from the group.

Just then, Elena held a tight grip on Angelina's hand from beneath the table just then, forcing a wide smile on her face. "Please excuse us; we will be right back!" She informed Matt and Caroline before dragging the doppelgänger away from them towards a less crowded area.

The two stood a darker corner of the Grill as Elena began to lecture her. "You can't compel people in public, especially not my friends!"

"You're friends with a forty year old lady?" Angelina scoffed, pointing her fingers towards Kelly who was talking with some guy over at the bar. "Elena, I know you only have a few friends, but that's kinda sad."

"You know what I mean." She glared at her.

"Elena, are you supposed to be my mother, or my sister?" The brunette groaned, crossing her arms as she glared back. "Because I'd rather you not be either."

"Just please, leave them alone. You already killed Trudie and lied about Katherine, we don't need anymore problems." She sighed heavily before stomping away, brushing shoulders with her.

Angelina rolled her eyes as a loud voice from the stage could be heard. She turned around to see Carol Lockwood, the Mayor's wife, standing there with a microphone in her hands. "All right, everyone, let's get started on our Founders Day, bachelors raffle fundraiser!" She told the crowd, prompting Angelina to push her way through the growing crowd to where Angelina and her aunt Jenna stood.

She stood next to Jenna, who was staring up at the stage and cleared her throat to get her attention. Jenna glanced over in her direction, a puzzled expression on her face, but before she could question her, Angelina began to speak. "My name is Angelina Gilbert, I am Elena's twin sister who was given up as a baby, but returned three weeks ago. Relax." She compelled her quietly so Elena's wouldn't hear.

Jenna nodded, her movements monotone, before returning her attention to the stage, as did the doppelgänger. Angelina examined each of the five bachelors that stood on the stage and was surprised to see two familiar faces.

Alaric and Damon.

Carol Lockwood began going through each of the bachelors, though her words went through her ear and out the other; until she got to Alaric.

"Number four, Alaric Saltzman," She introduced him to the crowd. "Wow, that's quite a mouthful! What do you do Alaric?"

"I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls High." He spoke into the mic.

"Oh, beauty and brains, ladies!" She smiled in response, causing Angelina to scrunch up her nose in disgust. "This ones a keeper!"

"What do you teach?"

"History."

"Well give up a fun fact about Mystic Falls, something crazy!"

Alaric stood there speechless for a moment before glancing over in Damon's direction, who stood there mocking him by silently gesturing for him to speak up. "Well, uh-"

"He's probably saving the best stories for his date." Carol spoke into the microphone once he failed to respond and the crowd laughed mockingly. "And last, but not least, Damon Salvatore!" She continued as she went on down the line of men.

"We don't have much on you."

"Well, I'm tough to fit on a card." He answered into the microphone.

"Do you have any hobbies? Like to travel?"

"Oh, yeah." He replied. "L.A., New York.. couple of years ago, I was in North Carolina, near the duke campus actually."

"I think Alaric went to school there. Didn't you, Ric?"

"Yeah, cause I know your wife did." He continued on, which piqued her interest. "I had a drink with her once, she was a great girl. I ever tell you that?"

"Cause she was delicious." He hummed.

"Are you okay?" Angelina could hear Jenna ask Elena, causing her to glance in their direction curiously.

"I just need some air," Elena blurted out, bolting from her seat and dashing out of the grill. The brunette furrowed her brows, puzzled, and quickly followed her doppelgänger outside, wondering what had set her off.

As she stepped into the cool night air, a sense of unease settled over her, as though someone was lurking nearby, watching her every move.

Navigating through the dimly lit corners of the grill, she became lost in her thoughts, momentarily forgetting about Elena. Eventually, she found herself in a secluded spot, hidden behind a wall, her senses on high alert as the eerie presence drew nearer.

Her heart pounded steadily, breaths growing heavier by the second. With clenched fists and a bitten lip, she prepared for whatever was coming.

Suddenly, a tap on her shoulder jolted her from her thoughts. Reacting instinctively, she swung around, delivering a punch to the figure behind her before catching a glimpse of their face.

She heard a loud groan and instinctively pressed the figure against the wall, only to find herself face to face with Stefan.

"Oh my gosh—I'm so sorry!" She released him in a panic, allowing him to catch his breath.

"It's okay," he reassured, rubbing his nose. "What were you doing?"

"I don't know," she admitted, glancing around the dark corner again and realizing there was no one else there. "I guess I got a bit paranoid."

"Maybe I just need some rest," she suggested, rubbing her neck. "I'm heading back to the boarding house."

"Alright, I'm gonna take Elena home first." He replied and she nodded in response before exiting the grill with Stefan trailing close behind.

The two exited the grill and came across Elena standing outside, seemingly waiting for her boyfriend to take her home.

"Come on, let's get you home." Stefan told Elena, but was soon stopped in his tracks by a man standing in the middle of the road staring at the three of them. They stared at the man, who stood almost robotic-like, with confused and dumbfounded expressions plastered onto their faces.

"I have a message for you." He said finally spoke, his voice monotone and inexpressive.

"What?" Elena inquired.

"Stop looking." He replied, his voice monotone.

"Stop looking for what?"

"She doesn't want to know you." He continued on. "She doesn't want to talk to you."

"Isobel?" Her eyebrows knitted as she put one foot forward.

"You need to stop looking. Do you understand?"

"She's alive? Does that mean she's a—"

"Elena, he's under compulsion." Stefan interrupted her, holding his arm in front of her to stop her from going any further.

"Do you understand?" He repeated himself.

"Yes, I do." She replied.

"Good." He spoke bluntly. "I'm done now."

Out of nowhere, headlights blinded them as a car zoomed past, hitting the man and sending Elena screaming while Angelina's eyes bulged in shock.

They hurried to the motionless body, Stefan checking for a pulse while Angelina peered into the empty driver's seat, eyebrows furrowed in suspicion. Elena started to speak.

"The man said Isobel didn't wanna see me, that means she's alive, she's a vamp—"

"We need to go, let's get out of here." Stefan interrupted her once more before taking her by the arms and dragging her away from the scene.

Looking down at the body, Angelina chewed her bottom lip. It was all Katherine's doing, no doubt. Isobel was like her puppet, following her sister's orders without question. That meant she sent the guy on Katherine's behalf.

And it wasn't going to end there.

AUTHORS NOTE
gonna warn you guys now, the next chapter is gonna be boring because not a lot of interesting stuff happens in the next episode besides very little stuff. but the end will be interesting if that makes you guys feel any better lol.