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4. A Founder's Party

I worry about her, how will Damon react after he realises what I've done? I need to protect her. She can't be another innocent pawn in his twisted game.

"So, I presume you, little brother, are taking Elena to the Founder's Party." Damon said, walking through the Salvatore living room where Stefan and Felix were currently sat.

Stefan nodded, not taking his eyes off his journal.

"And I, for your information, will be taking the lovely Caroline Forbes." Damon added, looking directly at Felix who was drinking a glass of blood.

Felix's eyes darted to meet Damon's, and Damon knew he struck a nerve. "Jealous, are we Monty?"

Felix scoffed. "As if she'd agree to let you go with her. Pretty sure the Sheriff won't buy into the whole mysterious older guy thing you've got going on."

"Well," Damon said, chuckling, "Caroline doesn't really get to have a say. Unless, well...you haven't pulled a Stefan on me, have you?"

"What did Stefan do?"

"Gave Elena a pretty little vervain necklace," Damon explained, "smart, but I'll just use my charm."

Felix rolled his eyes. "Piss off, won't you Damon?"

-

Caroline's room was a hurricane of discarded dresses, heels, and jewellery boxes. She stood before the mirror, holding up a yellow dress with a sceptical eye. Damon lounged on her bed, looking entirely too comfortable.

"No yellow. Jaundice. Go for the blue." he commanded.

Caroline scowled. "I don't like the blue."

"Well, I do. And if I'm going to be your date-"

"You cannot be my date!" Caroline shot back. "My mother will be there, and she is a very proud gun owner."

Damon's smirk grew wider. "I went through a lot of trouble to make sure this party wasn't cancelled. It's very important I be there. Please take me."

Caroline hesitated, the way she always did when he used that tone, but this time, something was different. Her mind didn't cloud over; no compulsion seeped into her thoughts. Instead, she blinked at him, confused.

"Why do you even care so much?" she asked, her tone biting.

Damon's jaw tightened. His usual veneer of charm cracked, and for a fleeting moment, anger simmered in his eyes. "What's on your neck?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Caroline's fingers brushed the necklace Felix had given her. "Oh, this? It's just a gift."

Damon's patience snapped. "Take it off."

"No." She folded her arms.

Before Damon could act, a knock echoed through the room. It came from the front door. Caroline hastily went down to answer, revealing Felix on the other side. He was standing there, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his expression neutral.

"Felix?" Caroline asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighbourhood. Thought I'd check in." he said casually, though his gaze flicked to Damon immediately, who knew that was definitely a lie.

Caroline stepped aside, inviting him in. Damon's expression soured immediately.

Felix took in the room, noting the tension. "Hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all," Damon said with mock cheer, his smile razor-sharp, "Caroline and I were just having a little chat."

Felix ignored the warning in Damon's tone. "Caroline, mind if I talk to Damon for a moment?"

Caroline hesitated, but the genuine kindness in Felix's voice reassured her. "Sure. I'll...try on another dress." she said, retreating to her room.

As soon as her bedroom door shut, Damon stepped closer to Felix. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Stopping you from doing something you'll regret," Felix replied evenly, "Caroline isn't a pawn, Damon. She's an actual human being with feelings. Leave her alone."

"She's useless to me now," Damon sneered. "And when someone's useless-"

"She's not useless. She's a person," Felix interrupted, his tone cold, "and you're not going to kill her."

Damon took a step closer, menace radiating from him. "Careful Felix, knowing how much you care just makes it that much more tempting."

Felix met Damon's gaze without flinching. "I've faced worse than you. Leave her be."

Damon laughed. "And when did I ever listen to you?"

"There was a time we were like brothers Damon," Felix said, "I know you used to treasure the brotherhood we had, even if it was a short period of your life."

Silence from Damon.

"And if that's not enough, you should know not to mess with me. I'm a lot stronger than you think I am." Felix added.

For a moment, the tension was suffocating. Then, with a scoff, Damon backed away. "Fine. She's your problem now."

He vanished in a blur, leaving Felix alone to collect his thoughts. When Caroline emerged moments later in a white dress, her eyes brightened at the sight of him, obviously relieved that Damon was gone.

"Well?" she asked, spinning. "What do you think?"

Felix offered her a small smile. "You look...nice."

He wanted to say that he thought she looked stunning, but he was afraid to give her the wrong idea.

Caroline blushed. "Thanks. So, are you going to this party tonight?"

Felix shrugged. "Ah, well I think Stefan is going with Elena and third-wheeling is my nightmare."

"Well," Caroline said with a quiet laugh, "why don't you go with me?"

"Would your mum not shoot me?" Felix joked.

She laughed, a noise that made his heart warm. "I'd convince her not to."

Felix smiled, considering her question again. His instinct was to stay distant, to avoid getting involved. But Caroline's hopeful smile swayed him.

"Sure," he said at last, "I'd be honoured."

Later at the house, Felix was ruffling through his formal attire. He eventually opted for a classic suit with a navy tie. He had a conversation with Stefan before he left to pick Caroline up, there was a plan in place and Felix was willing to play along. It would ensure the safety of all the innocent residents of Mystic Fall.

Felix knocked on Caroline's door, adjusting his suit as he waited. It felt weird to be doing this, for someone else. He quickly shook his thoughts away as Caroline opened the door.

Caroline stood in the doorway, radiant in her outfit, "Wow," she said, eyes scanning him. "I knew formal clothing was your thing. Ever since you showed up on your first day in a suit."

"You look nice Caroline," Felix smiled, "and yes, I do remember that day. Stefan was the one who convinced me to take off the jacket."

"Is it a British thing?" Caroline asked. "The suits to school?"

"Yes," Felix answered, "we have uniform at our high schools. Anyways, shall we go?"

He gestured to his car, it was nothing lavish but it was a classic convertible Bentley.

"Oh wow," Caroline said, looking at the car, "you sure know how to impress a girl."

Felix chuckled. "I have the car less to impress people, more because I think it looks good. It's a British car company, you won't see many here."

"We're in Mystic Falls, I doubt you'll see any fancy cars ever." she joked.

He opened the door for Caroline before getting in the drivers side, as it was a British car Caroline was slightly thrown off by the fact it was all the wrong way round.

The drive to the Lockwood Mansion passed in a blur of small talk, Caroline chattering about how excited she was for the party. Felix nodded along, trying not to let her enthusiasm stir emotions he'd buried long ago.

When they arrived, Carol Lockwood greeted them at the door. "Caroline," she said warmly. Her eyes landed on Felix. "And you are?"

"My date," Caroline answered quickly, "Felix."

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am." Felix greeted. He wasn't sure how he felt about being called Caroline's date.

Carol Lockwood smiled. "Oh you're British. How are you finding it here?"

"It's lovely Mrs Lockwood, a nice change up."

She smiled before stepping aside. "Come in."

Felix felt the subtle resistance, the invisible barrier, falling away. Inside, the mansion was alive with music and laughter. Caroline spotted her mother and excused herself, leaving Felix to take in the scene.

This wasn't the first Founder's Party he'd been to. He knew that if he went upstairs, on the registry that had the attendees of the first ever Founder's Party his name would be there. He remembered it clearly, he had gone as a guest of the Salvatore's.

As he went to get himself a drink, he noticed Damon sauntering in, a smirk plastered across his face. He was arm-in-arm with a woman Felix didn't recognise, a woman he almost definitely compelled for himself. Their eyes met briefly, Damon's expression taunting. Felix ignored him, scanning the room for Caroline instead.

He found her minutes later and as he approached, she spotted him and excused herself, looping her arm through his.

"Dance with me?" she asked, already leading him toward the dance floor.

He didn't seem to have a choice as Caroline had already dragged him to the dance floor before he could answer. Caroline was light on her feet, her laughter infectious. For a moment, he forgot himself - forgot the walls he'd built.

"Would you like a drink?" Felix asked, offering her a glass of champagne. She took it without hesitation, sipping it and smiling as Felix drank from his own glass.

It was all going to plan.

"You're quiet tonight," Caroline said, tilting her head, "something on your mind?"

"Just enjoying the moment." Felix lied, offering her a small smile.

When Caroline had grown tired of dancing, she excused herself to find Elena. Left alone, Felix wandered the edges of the party, soaking it all in. Soon, his gaze landed on Damon again. This time, Damon wasn't smiling. He was dragging Caroline outside, his grip firm on her wrist. Felix followed quickly, ready to step in if anything in the plan went wrong.

"You make me crazy, you know that?" Damon hissed. "It's okay. I forgive you."

"I swear, I didn't say-" Caroline's voice broke.

"Shh," Damon soothed mockingly, "it's okay. Unfortunately, I am so over you now."

As Damon sank his teeth into Caroline, he stumbled and fell back.

"What the hell?" Damon spat, looking up at Stefan and Felix, who stood a few feet away.

"You know, I couldn't spike your drink," Stefan said coldly, "so I spiked hers."

Felix stepped into the fray, his eyes on Damon. "This ends now Damon."

As Caroline was fully aware of her surroundings around her, she noticed a crystal that fell out of Damon's pocket. She took it and quickly placed it in her purse before noticing Felix stood right behind her.

"Are you ok Caroline?" Felix asked, geniune.

Caroline was in a state of confusion and could do nothing but just wrap her arms around Felix who comforted her. In the end, Felix escorted her home and made sure she was ok. By his calculations, the vervain would be gone by tomorrow morning.

He chose to stay that night, making sure that Caroline wouldn't talk about what had happened at the Founder's Party. He laid uncomfortably on the floor next to her bed and managed to get a few hours before the morning.

Caroline stirred and noticed Felix next to her on the floor.

"You stayed?"

Felix nodded. "Yeah...I just wanted to make sure you were ok."

A tint of pink creeped up into her cheeks.

Felix didn't want to compel her, but he needed to make sure that the vervain had completely left her system, he got up and looked her straight in the eyes. "Caroline, I need you to not panic and drink my blood."

There was no unusual reaction and Caroline simply complied. She drank his blood, making the marks left by Damon go away.

Once he had healed her, he compelled her again. "You won't remember what happened with Damon. You had a nice time, we had a nice time, we danced and partied and then I dropped you home and left."

Once the compulsion had worked, Felix immediately left - leaving Caroline alone in her room.

-

The Mystic High car wash was in full swing with Caroline at the head of it. She wore a pink bikini with a short pair of shorts and commanded the event like the leader she was. She waved a sponge in the air, directing the students to different cars.

Felix pulled up in his silver Bentley, drawing stares from the crowd. He parked next to some cars that were being worked on and stepped out, wearing a shirt and a pair of black jeans. He looked around, noticing Stefan and Elena before his eyes settled on Caroline, who immediately noticed him.

Tiki approached with a bucket of soapy water. "I'll take this one!" she chirped, already heading toward Felix's car.

Caroline intercepted her, blocking the way. "Actually, this one's mine."

Tiki arched an eyebrow. "What? He's not your boyfriend, Caroline. He's free game."

"Back off." Caroline snapped, surprising even herself with her assertiveness. Tiki rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath as she walked away.

Nearby, Bonnie observed the exchange, her gaze narrowing on Tiki's retreating figure. A moment later, Tiki shrieked as a cascade of water splashed over her from an overturned bucket. Caroline turned, laughing at what she thought was just a funny coincidence.

Caroline turned her focus back to Felix's car, grabbing a sponge and bucket.

"Fancy seeing you here." she greeted.

Felix smiled. "And I'm not surprised I'm seeing you in the centre of it all."

She got straight to work and as she did, she made a deliberate show of it, her movements exaggerated and playful. Felix leaned against the hood, arms crossed, watching her with an amused expression.

"You didn't have to fight for my car, you know." he said, his tone light.

Caroline glanced up, tossing her damp hair over her shoulder. "Well, maybe I wanted to."

Felix shook his head jokingly. "Well, lucky for you I think a bird decided to shit on my car this morning, so have fun scrubbing that off."

Once she was done, Caroline handed Felix the sponge and smiled. "Hold that real quick. I need to grab more towels."

Felix couldn't keep his eyes off as Caroline walked back into the school building. Once she was out of sight he surveyed the area again and noticed a girl, the same girl Damon took to the Founder's party, mysteriously wander off.

He didn't think much of it, he barely knew her and what she got up to but there was a bad feeling inside of him. A feeling that something was about to go very wrong.

And it did.

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