There was only one reason Elena had come to the Founder’s Ball. Her parents. The Founders celebrations were a huge part of her family, especially since the Gilberts were one of those Founders. If she didn’t attend, it would have been the first time ever she hadn’t attended and she felt like she owed it to her parents to come, to represent their family with Jeremy and Jenna. Even if she would rather be at home, writing in her diary and crying into her pillows. But she got a dress, got ready, and had arrived, plastering a fake smile on her lips to greet everyone and get through the condolences that events centered around family or that brought up significant memories of her parents seemed to cause from the people in town. She managed to escape from yet another conversation and go out on the front porch of the Lockwood mansion, going around to the side to avoid the people coming and going. She leaned against the side of the house, closing her eyes a moment. “I don’t know if I can do this...” she said out loud, her quiet voice sounding softer in comparison to the noise from inside.
