this is a series of four ficlets (ranging from 800-2.7k words) that serve as a sort of prequel to the tvd leverage au i've been working on over on my tumblr (my url is nemily if you want to follow for more updates/other posts, I tag all of it tvd leverage au on my blog) the ficlets go through how the whole team meets grifter!bonnie as well as the first job they run together and how they end up with the name the Mystic Falls Crew
I'm posting them all at once, so sit tight!
Bonnie leaned against the resort's tiki bar eyeing the still drunk college students who clearly just rolled out of bed after last night's antics, now indulging in midafternoon cocktails to start their day. Douchebros with beers by the pool, bubbly girls sipping slushy drinks in the hot tub, and sloppy classmates laughing loudly draped themselves all over each other, faces red from sun and alcohol, surrounded her.
Perfect.
The exclusive resort wasn't easy to get into, requiring membership from the world's wealthy and elite. Membership she obtained through her new pal, Jared. Sweet, trusting, rich pal, Jared Carlisle. With parents worth just over a billion and older siblings who far surpassed him in talent, Jared was an easy target. He practically begged her to join him in Mexico over Spring Break.
Too bad he couldn't make it himself. Something about an unfortunate run in with airport security while she boarded their flight. The extra room his empty seat afforded her was nice, though.
And now, here she was. A free ticket to be right in the midst of Jared's equally rich peers on day three of a heat-, drug- and alcohol-fueled bender.
And, boy, had these drunk idiots been good to her.
It was all too easy running into drunk girls in the bathroom, falling all over themselves to let Bonnie keep their diamond encrusted jewelry because it just looked so good on her Tiffany! and sending her on her way amid a chorus of "I love you!"s. The guys took a little more time to work, to make it seem like wiring Bonnie a couple grand because she'd "lost" her ticket home was their idea, but their drunken sense of chivalry and complete lack of knowledge on what things actually cost in the real world padded her account enough she could sleep on the damn thing.
The movement from a swinging blonde ponytail drew Bonnie's attention. The small, bikini clad girl flitted from group to group, drunkenly draped herself over the apparent strangers, loudly declaring how much she loved her new friends. Bonnie wondered if she could convinced the girl to hand over her platinum earrings.
As if she heard her thoughts broadcasting across the bar, the girl zeroed in on Bonnie, leaning against it beside her.
"You're beautiful," she slurred, and Bonnie decided that she was pretty certain she'd have those earrings in her hands within the next five minutes. The girl tried to hop up on the barstool, but promptly lost her balance and used Bonnie to brace herself, laughing loudly into her shoulder.
A red flag popped up.
The girl looked up at Bonnie, a playful grin adorning her pink lips that were far too close, and brushed her nose against Bonnie's as she straightened. It was then Bonnie felt a deft hand slip into the back pocket of her shorts, and she wrapped her fingers around the girl's wrist, holding it up between their faces to reveal she'd stolen her-
Nothing.
The hand was empty.
A dangerous glint flashed through the girl's eyes, and Bonnie raised a suspicious eyebrow, prompting the thief to reveal the small wad of cash previously housed in Bonnie's back pocket in her other hand.
"Busted," she said, the playful smile still dancing on her lips, entirely unconcerned she'd been caught. "I was wondering if you'd notice."
The girl took Bonnie's silence as an invitation to continue.
"I've been watching you for a few days. It's so lucky there are so many generous boys here stepping up to help get poor little ol' you home." Her eyes twinkled mischievously and Bonnie felt a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She let go of the girl's wrist. "So are you ever going to say anything or are you still sizing me up?" she asked impatiently.
Bonnie crossed an arm across her chest and held out her open palm expectantly. The girl reluctantly returned the folded bills she'd just swiped.
"Drunk girl hugs. Clever," Bonnie said, mildly impressed, flipping through to make sure the money was all there before shoving it back into her pocket.
The girl leaned against the bar beside Bonnie, facing the ever growing thrall of college students gathered to get drunk - if they weren't already - and watched with her. "Stacy," she finally said, introducing herself.
Bonnie snorted, instinctively knowing the name was fake.
"Amanda," Bonnie offered, recalling a very nice white gold ring in her hotel room's safe that used to belong to an actual Amanda.
"Vicky?" The girl tried again, with a smirk.
"Danielle." Bonnie returned without missing a beat.
"Leah."
"Wendy."
"Ashley."
"Candice."
The girl paused.
"Caroline," she said simply.
Bonnie glanced over at Caroline, the hot breeze sweeping her blonde hair from her eyes. A genuine smile relaxed on the stranger's face and she took a leap.
"Bonnie." Caroline's smile grew wider, and the pair turned their attention back to the sea of rich kids just itching to unknowingly spread their wealth.
"So, Bonnie," Caroline grinned. "Which sucker are we going after next?"