JENNA SOMMERS.

“a party full of mutts and degenerates. god, i love mystic falls.”

" well that's a little harsh. some of us degenerates are trying our best. "

damon  had  gotten  bored  approximately  twenty  minutes  after  arriving,  which  was  a  new  record.  the  bad  thing  is  when  he  was  bored  the  line  of  good  decision  and  bad  decisions  blurred  into  something  fantastic  that  screamed  like  an  old  nike  commerical:  just  do  it!  he  was  standing  on  top  of  tyler  lockwood’s  kitchen  island  while  half  the  party  was  gathered  around  him  with  drinks  and  phones  in  hand.  “yolo...  isn’t  that  what  the  kids  still  say?” yeah,  maybe  in  2012  but  who  cares ??? with  absolutely  no  regard  for  common  sense  or  self  preservation,  he  launched  himself  from  the  island  and  caught  the  ceiling  fan’s  center  rod.  the  entire  fixture  jerked  around  violently,  but  spun  once  and  he  landed  on  the  opposite  counter  top. “i’d  rate  that  like  a  solid  ten  out  of  ten,  maybe  eleven.”

all it took was one look at the brooding raven-haired man to know he was trouble. she knew because he was exactly the kind of guy she tended to fall for, and the man was a walking red flag wrapped up in a pretty pair of blue eyes. she was nothing less than amused as she watched him, arms crossed over her chest. " oh my god, " she muttered under her breath as he launched himself across the kitchen. a laugh escaped her despite herself, shaking her head as the crowd around him erupted into cheers. honestly, she couldn't even decide if what she'd just witnessed was incredibly impressive or incredibly stupid. probably both. raising her drink in a mock salute, jenna couldn't help but call out, " i'm leaning toward stupid, but points for commitment. " her eyes flickered briefly toward the ceiling fan before settling back on him, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. " and here i thought this party was going to be boring. " there was a pause before she added, " so what's next? juggling knives? setting yourself on fire? because i think you may have already peaked. "

The  dark  burgundy  dress  she  wore  clung  beautifully  against  her  frame.  it  was  a  far  cry  from  the  leathers  and  furs  she  had  once  known.  It  fit  her  well  enough,  though  Tatia  still  wasn't  entirely  convinced  modern  fashion  was  practical.  In  truth,  she  was  given  the  dress  by  the  one  who  freed  her and tatia  hadn't  planned  on  attending.   Still,  curiosity  had  won.

jenna always felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb at events like these. she could practically feel the town watching her, judging her, waiting for her to prove every terrible thing they'd ever said about her right. especially here, at the lockwood estate, where she was constantly reminded that she'd never quite measure up. the town screw-up. the girl who ran away and came crawling back after her sister and brother-in-law died. the woman everyone seemed convinced would eventually let those kids down. and maybe they were right. mystic falls had always felt suffocating to her. the gossip, the cliques, the way everyone knew everyone else's business. she'd spent most of her life trying to escape it. yet somehow she'd ended up right back where she'd started, surrounded by people she didn't particularly like and expected to smile at anyway. she was a little tipsy. mostly because there was no way she was surviving an evening at her ex's family estate completely sober. seeing elena by the pool offered a welcome distraction. she'd barely had two seconds to process why her niece was suddenly sitting alone with her feet in the water before the comment registered. her smile faltered. " wow. a little morbid, don't you think, elena? " she laughed, lowering herself onto the edge of the pool beside her. " i mean, unless we're talking in a slightly sluttier sense. then i'm absolutely interested in playing that game. " her gaze followed the other's toward the crowd. " so? who's sneaking off with someone they shouldn't be? " jenna asked, lifting her drink for another sip. " personally, i'm rooting for lizzie forbes. that girl deserves one reckless night. "

❝ i mean, i guess you could do beer. but like why, when we have all the things to make a pina colada? ❞ already tipsy and buzzing, her body swaying to the beat of whatever song was playing as she stood by the make shift bar area. ❝ want one? im known to make a mean drink. ❞

" because pina coladas are DANGEROUS. beers, i'm much better at pacing myself with. if i have a sip of a pina colada, it'll lead to a million other sips and then i'll be dancing atop of the bar and that goes against my whole . . . " trying to be a responsible adult ordeal " i'm trying out. " jenna said, raising the beer bottle in the air. though concerned hues eyed the other, " maybe you should slow it down a little. drink some water. pop an advil. trust me, you'll thank me later. "