[THE DINNER PARTY]

enjoy the now.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I have to tell you? You're working tonight, I'm short-staffed." Jeff, her manager, huffed as he placed a full trash bag into the dumpster. Juliette had followed him out to the back of the grill, arguing with him about working tonight.

"I've worked all week, today's my only day off and I have plans," Juliette stated, taking a deep breath so she would stay calm but she was definitely fighting the urge to punch Jeff right in the face.

The manager sighed as he closed the dumpster before turning to face the blonde, "And I don't care, you're working tonight." He replied, his tone final as he smirked at Juliette.

The blonde sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her lips. She watched as Jeff gave her a smug smile before brushing past her and towards the back entrance.

Juliette would have followed after him and continued to nag him but she knew that he wouldn't change his mind because he knew she wanted to switch. She noticed that about him.

He got some power kick from it, he loved it when his employees would come to him and ask for a switch, just so he could say no to them.

Juliette has never liked him, he was a creep who always thought he was better than someone. Most of the time, other people were doing this job for him but still getting paid a bartender or waitressing wage.

Juliette spun on her heel and watched as he reached for the door but before he could, someone else opened. Elijah stepped out from behind the door, his eyes firm on Jeff.

Juliette was about to ask him what he was doing but before she could, Elijah spoke. "You're going to let her have the night off." He spoke, his voice sharp and rough.

The blonde raised a brow as a smile tugged at the side of her lips. Jeff scoffed as he glanced up from his phone. "And who are you?" He questioned, his tone dripping with smugness.

Elijah smiled for a moment, looking at Juliette for a moment before looking back at Jeff. He took a step closer causing the manager to stumble back a bit. Suddenly, he grabbed the man's shirt roughly.

Juliette gasped slightly as she went to tell Elijah to knock it off but decided not to last minute. She really liked seeing someone bully Jeff, it was hilarious to her.

"You are going to let her have the night off," Elijah repeated firmer this time as he stared into Jeff's eyes. The blonde immediately knew that he was compelling him and she silently cheered.

"She can have the night off." He repeated, his voice monotone as Elijah released Jeff from his iron grip, giving him a tight-lipped smile whilst he smoothed out his shirt.

"Run along." The original shooed, stepping aside as Jeff shoved past him, and scurried off back into the restaurant.

Juliette scoffed as she walked over to him, standing directly in front of him. "Thank you, he's a dick" she chuckled, shivering as a gust of wind passed by, she hugged her jacket tighter to her body as she watch Elijah smile at her.

A few seconds of silence pass between them as they stare at each other, everything suddenly moving in slow motion. Juliette's heart pounded aggressively against her chest, feeling like it was going to pound out of it at any moment. Elijah subconsciously stepped forward, just so he was inches away from Juliette's face as he stared down at her.

The blonde broke the eye intense eye contact quickly though, not wanting a repeat of last night even though she desperately wanted to feel her lips on his. But not here, it was way too public. If they were somewhere more private, then sure, Juliette would give in to her desires.

She didn't know where these sudden feelings for the vampire came from, maybe they were just slowly building up from their very first dream together. Juliette couldn't look at him and control what she might do.

Her heart raced whenever he glanced at her, her cheeks flushed whenever he touched her, and she couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull toward him. However, guilt surrounded her whenever she felt like that with him, she hated that her brain repeatedly told her what she was doing was wrong, but her heart didn't want to listen, it wanted to follow what it wanted to do. Juliette swallowed hard, trying to gather her thoughts as she broke the silence.

"Uh, are you actually planning to go to this dinner party?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly. "I didn't really think they were your style."

Elijah's eyes flickered with amusement, tilted his head slightly as he spoke. "Are you planning to go to it?"

The blonde almost immediately nodded her head, she wouldn't want to miss it. She knew Damon was up to something, so she had to go it just to see what idiocy he was up to.

She had a slight feeling that tonight would contain a dagger, an original vampire and a very stupid Salvatore brother.

"Then I will be attending." He responded, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as his eyes dragged down her body before meeting the eyes of the blonde once again.

Did he just check me out?

No, you're literally going insane.

I just saw him do it!

Juliette's legs suddenly felt like jelly whilst she desperately tried not to giggle out loud, that would be a bit embarrassing. Instead, she acts as though his previous action did not affect her, "Well I don't think it's a good idea that you come." She cautioned, finding herself taking a step backwards.

Elijah furrowed his brows, "And why is that?"

Juliette leaned back and forth on her heels and her toes, debating whether she should tell him. Ever since she met him, he has done nothing but been good to her. He has never once hurt her or made her feel unsafe. He always cared for her and her thoughts. He was there for her when no one was. It was weird to her, a dangerous thousand-year-old vampire, who is feared by the entire supernatural race, was so sweet to her.

She trusted Elijah more than she trusted some of her friends.

Her friends, mostly Elena, kept her in the dark about most things going on. Like Luca, the witch Bonnie was sort of friends with was working with Elijah, alongside his father. And they were using him to get information on Elijah.

So yes, it may be weird and confusing to Juliette but she knew as a matter of fact, that she trusted Elijah more than the people she grew up with. She had to tell him, that Damon had the dagger that would possibly kill Elijah and this whole dinner party was a set-up.

She was also doing this to keep Jenna safe, she would be the only one at this party who had no idea what was going on. If Damon tried to attack Elijah, she could get hurt and Juliette wouldn't know how to live with herself if she did.

"What is it, Juliette?" Elijah asked again.

"If you come to this dinner party, you might get into a bit of trouble with Damon." She started slowly, trying to think of what to say next and if she made any sense. "Damon's trying to kill you." She finished a huge weight that felt like it was lifted off of her shoulders.

Elijah's serious look quickly diminished as a smirk played on his lips. "That is impossible, my love," he rasped as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "I cannot be killed, I thought you already knew this?"

"He has the dagger, Elijah, but he doesn't know whether it works."

"That creates a problem."

"Like I thought it would." Juliette sighed, pursing her lips while she watched Elijah, suspiciously. He didn't look too concerned with the fact that someone had the one thing that could kill him. "You're still going to go, aren't you?" She asked, a sigh passing her lips.

Elijah smiled at her, he enjoyed the concerned expression on her features. "Indeed."

The blonde scoffed, feeling her efforts in vain as she pressed her lips into a thin eye. "I shouldn't have even told you, jackass."

"It just shows how much you care about me."

"I do not care about you! I just should let you know since we're just standing here."

"Whatever you say, my love." He chuckled, watching as Juliette rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. One thing he loved about Juliette Gilbert was how irritable she was, he could barely do anything and she would somehow be annoyed at him.

"Come on, let's go," Elijah said, grabbing a hold of Juliette's hand and walking her around to the front of the building.

"Where are we going?"

"My place."

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    JULIETTE DIDN'T KNOW WHY she agreed to go with Elijah to his apartment, but apparently, he needed help choosing which one of his many suits to wear. The blonde just sat at the end of his bed as he looked through his massive closet.

His room was surprisingly basic, it didn't have much in it—his closet had more stuff than his whole apartment—there was a bed and a few bookshelves, nothing too special.

"Why am I here?" Juliette mumbled, waiting patiently as he looked through his closet. This felt so normal, Juliette helping him pick out what to wear—it just felt so right and she didn't know why.

"Is it so bad to spend some time with me?"

Juliette glanced up at Elijah as he walked out from his closet, catching the teasing glint in his eye. She rolled her eyes playfully, shaking her head. "It's not that," She said. "It's just...I don't see why you need my help."

You always look good in anything you wear...

how about we don't say that?

Elijah, a shirt on a hanger in his hand, turned to her with a smile. "I want to spend time with you." He spoke, before lifting the blue shirt to his body, "How about this one?"

He wants to spend time with me? OMG OMG OMG

She nodded her head, not wanting him to hear the nervousness in her voice or the slight tremble. A smile found its way onto her lips as she looked down at her fidgeting fingers, not wanting the vampire to see her blush.

But Elijah did in fact see it, and he enjoyed being the one to make her blush. It made his heart skip a beat as he himself had to turn away from her, just so she wouldn't see his smile.

He felt like a teenager in love whenever he was around her.

The first time he ever blushed was with her. Elijah was lucky enough to breathe the same air as her.

The original has lived through many lifetimes, unsure what his purpose was but he did know one thing: he would choose her in every lifetime, he would always choose her first.

She was his soulmate, and she didn't even know it yet. When he first turned, his mother told him that he had another half, a woman waiting for him. However, he wouldn't know what she looked like or what year he would find her in. But when he did, he would know.

Elijah had waited a thousand years and the beautiful part about finally finding his soulmate was that he wasn't even looking for her when he did.

But there was so much she had no clue about—the power she held, or how much danger she was in.

Today is the day he will tell her everything.

Juliette sighed as she looked down at her watch, realising that they only had an hour and a half until the dinner party, and she still didn't know what she was going to wear. "Hey, If I'm helping you pick what to wear, you have to help me." The blonde looked up at Elijah as he now was buttoning up the shirt Juliette had picked.

Quickly, she looked away as she heard Elijah chuckle. "Of course." She heard him say as once again her cheeks flushed. She fidgeted with her fingers as her phone vibrated, at the same time, there was a knock at Elijah's door.

The vampire went to answer it as Juliette looked at the message.

Harley:
Hey! Would you like to hang tmr? I'm so bored.

Juliette:
ofc i would! I'll have to see if the Scooby gang won't need me first but I for sure would love to!

Harley:
Great, I'm staying in Mystic Falls for a lot longer than I thought, maybe I could help you guys with this Klaus guy?

Juliette:
Yes, that would be amazing, you being a witch and all!

Harley was a well-experienced witch, she knew many spells and could help. Juliette made a mental note to mention her to Damon.

The blonde loved Bonnie with her whole heart but she was still figuring everything out, Harley could help her. It takes off some of the pressure Damon, Stefan and Elena put on her.

When Elijah opened the door, he did not expect Jonas to be standing on the other side. He had a big book in his hands, the grimoire Elijah needed. "Here, I searched everywhere for it. It was not easy to find." The witch said as he handed the book to Elijah.

"I appreciate you finding it."

Jonas looked over the vampire's shoulder, spotting Juliette sitting on Elijah's bed, typing away on her phone. "Have you told her yet?" He asked, crossing his arms over her chest.

"I was going to tell her, but you showed up just in time to interrupt." Elijah finished his tone light but his eyes serious.

Jonas gave him a knowing look. "I know you care for the girl but you are running out of time. She needs to know the truth."

"I'm going to tell her tonight, I've got everything sorted."

Jonas stayed silent for a moment before nodding, "She is in danger, Elijah. Seraphina will get her revenge on her whether you like it or not."

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learnt some important stuff in this chapter! remember it!

6/08/24