บท 52: Dance lessons 102
The sun hung low, scattering its crimson hue across the horizon, painting the sky with a fiery glow. To anyone looking out the windows of Mystic Falls, the world seemed drenched in red. It was the kind of sunset that felt like a warning, though no one paid it much attention.
Inside Tommy's room, Elvis Presley's voice blared from the speakers, shaking the walls. Jailhouse Rock dominated the air, which felt fitting for Tommy but entirely out of place for the Decade Dance—it was supposed to celebrate the '50s, not the '60s. Still, nobody was complaining. Tommy had a way of getting away with things like this.
A towel hung loosely around his waist as he stood before his mirror. He ran a hand through his damp hair and grinned at his reflection. "Looking good," he murmured, striking a mock pose before breaking into a dance. His hips swayed with the beat, his reflection mimicking his movements as he spun across the room toward the closet.
Throwing the door open, he sifted through his limited wardrobe. His brows furrowed. He didn't have a leather jacket for the classic greaser look, nor a denim one to pull off the rebel vibe. "Guess I'm going casual," he muttered.
He pulled out a crisp white tank, a lightweight blue button-down, and a pair of neatly pressed khakis. After slipping into the outfit, he glanced at himself in the mirror again. Not bad. He added a skinny black belt and a vintage wristwatch, which is funny seeing how all the time piece he had were once new.
He was searching for his loafers when he heard the faint creak of his door. Turning, he spotted Vicki leaning against the frame. Her arms were crossed, and her gaze lingered curiously on him.
"What?" he asked, smirking as he bent down to put on his shoes.
She shrugged. "Nothing. Just… you look good."
His smirk softened into a smile. "Thanks," he replied, tying his laces. "What's up? You've been quiet today."
Vicki hesitated, glancing down at the floor. "It's nothing," she said, then paused. "Actually, it's… What do you do when someone doesn't like you? You know, like Bonnie's grams?"
Tommy's hands stilled. He stood, motioning for her to sit on the bed. "This about Elena?" he asked gently.
She nodded, her lips pressing into a tight line. "I heard her talking about me. She's… not exactly thrilled about me getting the ring."
Tommy sucked in a breath, his jaw tightening. "Well," he said slowly, sitting beside her, "there are always going to be people who don't like you. That's just how it is." He draped an arm around her shoulder. "What matters is the people who do like you. And besides, I've never heard of sister-in-laws getting along. It's, like, a universal law or something."
That earned him a small chuckle. She bumped her shoulder against his. "You're going to be late, you know. Not exactly chivalrous to keep a girl waiting."
He grinned and stood, brushing off his pants. "I look okay?"
Vicki nodded, her grin turning mischievous. "You look like a dad. A hot dad."
Laughing, Tommy ruffled her hair as he headed for the door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"That's not saying much!" she called after him.
Tommy slid out of his black 1964 Pontiac GTO and took a moment to admire the scene before him. The school gymnasium loomed ahead, pulsating with music. Even from the parking lot, he could hear Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly echoing through the walls, their timeless hits blending into the cool night air.
Bonnie waited for him just outside, her eyes scanning the crowd. When she spotted him, her face lit up with a smile that made his chest tighten.
She looked stunning. A pastel pink cardigan hugged her shoulders, paired with a tea-length dress adorned with soft floral patterns that swayed with her every move. The dress cinched perfectly at her waist, accentuating her figure, while her hair—dark and glossy—was styled in loose waves, pinned delicately to one side with a pearl-encrusted clip.
"Wow," he said as he approached, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I forgot to bring flowers."
Her brow furrowed. "Flowers?"
"For you," he explained, sheepishly. "Totally forgot."
Bonnie laughed, her voice light and melodic. "You'll just have to make it up to me."
He grinned, offering a slight bow. "I'll do my best to be a perfect gentleman." Extending a hand, he added, "Shall we?"
Her cheeks flushed as she took his hand, and together they walked into the dance.
The gymnasium was almost unrecognizable. Streamers crisscrossed the ceiling, their pastel hues glowing under the soft light of strings of bulbs. Vintage records and posters of iconic '50s stars lined the walls, and a banner reading "Welcome to the Fabulous '50s" hung proudly above the stage. The polished floor reflected the twirl of poodle skirts and saddle shoes as couples danced to the upbeat rock 'n' roll tunes.
"Cool," Tommy said, glancing around.
They spotted Caroline by a table near the edge of the room. She waved them over, her face lighting up as they approached. "You two look perfect. Like new… friends."
"Good save," Tommy quipped, raising a brow.
Caroline rolled her eyes, then gave Bonnie a pointed look. "I didn't expect you to bring him. Thought you were…"
Bonnie shot her a warning glance. "Caroline, stop."
Sensing the tension, Tommy clapped his hands together. "I'm getting drinks. You want anything, honey?" he asked Bonnie, emphasizing the nickname with a wink.
She blushed furiously. "Just punch."
"Get me one too!" Caroline called after him.
Bonnie glanced down, and Caroline gasped, shaking her head. "Oh my God… you two!"
Bonnie looked up, her tone calm. "I didn't tell him to do that."
Caroline scoffed, folding her arms. "Who cares about that? At least he's here. I asked Matt for the dance, and he said he had to work."
Tommy made his way across the gym to the punch station, where he spotted Jeremy pouring punches in glasses.
"Hey, man," Jeremy greeted, offering a faint smile.
"Jeremy." Tommy nodded. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"Been busy," Jeremy replied. "Trying to mop up some of the mess I made."
Tommy winced. "Yeah… about last time… I owe you an apology. What I said was not right, it wasn't my place."
"It's fine," Jeremy interrupted, shaking his head. "Not like I've heard from Vicki in a while, anyway."
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Tommy cleared his throat. "Three punches, please."
Jeremy gave a curt nod and handed him the cups.
Returning to the table, Tommy set the drinks down. "Sorry, got held up."
Bonnie and Caroline were giggling about something, but they both fell silent as he poured vodka from a flask into his cup. He raised it, smirking. "Anyone else?"
They exchanged glances before shrugging. "Why not?" Caroline said.
As they sipped, the mood shifted. The chatter around the gym seemed to dim, and Tommy noticed Caroline stiffen, her gaze fixed on the entrance. He followed her line of sight and immediately understood.
Elena had just walked in, arm in arm with Stefan, Damon trailing behind them.
"What is he doing here?" Caroline hissed.
"That's… not good," Tommy muttered, setting his cup down. He had nothing against Damon—most of the time—but his presence usually meant trouble.
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