Bonds and Broken Promises
Pilot
Charlie
"Toast. I can make toast," Jenna mumbled.
I laughed. I loved Aunt Jenna. "It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna," Elena commented, giving her a tired smile.
"Is there coffee?" my younger brother, Jeremy, entered the kitchen.
"Your first day of school and I'm totally unprepared. Lunch money?" Jenna said, worried that she had forgotten something. She really was trying, and, as the eldest, I was trying my best to help her.
"I'm good," Elena replied.
"Anything else? A number two pencil? What am I missing?"
"Don't you have a big presentation today?" Elena asked.
"I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at...now. Crap!"
"Then go. We'll be fine," Jenna rushed out of the house. "You okay?" she asked Jeremy
"Don't start."
Out of all of us, Jeremy was taking this the hardest. He was the youngest, so this was extra difficult. He had resolved to taking drugs and sleeping with the school slut, Vicki Donovan, who had recently blew him off for Tyler Lockwood, a stupid jock and my ex-boyfriend.
Elena looked hurt. "Hey, he's just coping with this in his own way. He'll come around."
"I know, but when?"
"When he wants to," I said.
Elena groaned. Her phone beeped and she picked it up from the table. "Its Bonnie. Come on, she's waiting outside."
I slung my bag over my shoulder and went out to Bonnie's car. It surprised me how much I changed over the summer. Before that, I was a pompous, rich kid who didn't know the boundaries. I snuck out and went to parties, although I still got good grades and was excellent at sports. Matt, Tyler and I were best friends, but now Tyler was being stuck up and obnoxious since I broke up with him.
When my parents died, I realised I was being selfish and regretted what I had done. I wasn't in the car, it was just Elena, my dad and my mom. I was at home, eating ice-cream. I had just caught Tyler in bed with Vicki Donovan, and then an officer came over and told me that my parents had died.
". . .Elena, Charlie! Back in the car."
"I did it again, didn't I? I-I'm sorry, Bonnie. You were telling me that..." Elena drawled.
"That I'm psychic now."
"Ooh, ooh," I said, poking my head through the gap between the driver and passenger seat. "Predict something about me."
Bonnie laughed and suddenly became all crazy psychic old woman in a caravan like. "I see..."
A crow suddenly hit the back of the car. I could see that Elena was startled. She was kind of afraid of cars since the accident. And for some reason, she didn't trust me to drive.
"What was that?! Oh, my god! Elena, are you okay?" Bonnie said quickly. "Charlie?"
"It's ok. I'm fine," Elena replied.
"Yeah, me too."
"It was like a bird or something. It came out of nowhere," Bonnie tried to reassure.
"Really, I can't be freaked out by cars for the rest of my life."
"I predict this year is going to be kick as," Bonnie said. "And I predict all the sad and dark times are over and you two are going to be beyond happy."
"Major lack of male real estate. Look at the shower curtain on Kelly Beech. She looks like a hot — can I still say "tranny mess"?"
"No that's over," Elena replied to Bonnie.
"Ahh, find a man, coin a phrase. It's a busy year," Bonnie said.
Bonnie was always so lighthearted and found a way to make everything funny.
Tyler passed us, smirking at me as he walked by. I felt his eyes linger in places which I didn't want them. I still cringed at the thought of me sleeping with him. It was only four months ago, but the me now wouldn't think twice about doing that with the douche of the school ever again.
"Isn't he dating Vicki Donovan? Matt's sister?" Bonnie asked, noticing his unsubtle 'flirting.' Yes, sexual harrassment was flirting in Tyler Lockwood's eyes.
"Yup," I replied and sighed. "He's a douchebag. It doesn't matter, Bon."
Bonnie looked ready to reply.
It seemed like it was I'm-not-ready-to-move-on ex-boyfriend day since Elena's ex and Vicki's brother, Matt, passed by us as well, completely ignoring Elena as she waved to him.
"He hates me," Elena said sadly.
"That's not hate. That's "you dumped me, but I'm too cool to show it, but secretly I'm listening to Air Supply's greatest hits."
I laughed and I was glad to see that Elena smiled. Matt wasn't taking the break-up well. He loved her, and that was clear to see. But she needed time after Mum and Dad's death, well, that's what she told him. The real reason was that Elena didn't love Matt as much as he loved her. I don't think she even loved Matt at all.
A chipper blonde approached us by the name of Caroline Forbes. Of course, we'd known Caroline since we were children. I loved Caroline, but she was a tad bit insensitive, which was why I didn't call her over the summer. Elena and I relied heavily on each other and Bonnie, and also Aunt Jenna.
"Elena, Charlie. Oh, my god," said the blonde dramatically.
Caroline hugged Elena briefly before hugging me as well.
"How are you? Oh, it's so good to see you two," she directed her attention to Bonnie. "How are they? Are they good?"
By the way she was treating us, I could've swore that we were two year olds, misbehaving constantly.
"Uh, Care, we're over here," I said, pointing to myself and Elena.
"And we're fine. Thank you," Elena replied. She was so much better at this whole poor orphan stuff. I'm just smile and nod while Elena had repeated the same line in the mirror the day before the burial.
"Really?" Caroline asked.
Although I wanted to strangle the girl right there and then, I knew her intentions were good. She was just insensitive.
"Yes, Caroline. We're thriving," I answered. "Aunt Jenna has been taking real good care of us."
My assurance didn't stop her from looking at us pitifully. It was the same expression everyone gave us. 'Poor orphan children, lets smother them.'
"Oh, you poor things," she wrapped her arm around Elena and I, holding us tightly.
"Ok, Caroline," Elena said.
"Oh! Ok, see you guys later?" she questioned.
Hopefully not if this is what our encounters entail.
"Ok! Bye!" Bonnie called after her.
"No comment," Elena said.
"Absolutely none," I added.
"I'm not going to say anything," Bonnie joined.
Bonnie, Elena and I were walking outside the secretary's office, until Bonnie stopped suddenly, causing Elena and I to stop as well.
"Hold up. Who's this?" Bonnie said, staring at the new guy.
"All I see is back," Elena replied.
"Its a hot back," the 'psychic' commented.
"A very sexy back."
It kinda was. Turned out I said that louder than intended, causing Bonnie and Elena to hit me on either arm. "Charlie!" she scolded, whispering. "He has ears, y'know," Bonnie added.
"I'm sensing Seattle, and he plays the guitar."
"You're really going to run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?" Elena said.
"Oh, she's going to bury it so deep that it lies underneath the core and into the mantle," I added.
"Pretty much."
"Jeremy, good batch, man."
"I'll be right back," Elena said, urgently storming off to 'save our brother from himself.'
"Please be hot," Bonnie continued staring at the new guy's back.
I clicked my fingers in her face, hoping that she would snap out of stalking the new guy. But, in all fairness, with a back like that, how could he not be hot?
I noticed Elena went into the boy's bathroom, probably going to threaten or give Jeremy a lecture.
Bonnie stepped back, unaware that I was still there. "Hey, shouldn't you have gone with Elena?"
"Nah," I said. "Let her play the authority, drug-patrol sis."
"But you'd be better at talking him out of it," Bonnie said. "What with your past with... you know."
"With being a drunk and addicted to pot? Yeah, you can say it. My seven months of being a drunk, pot-head."
"I wasn't going to say it like that," she defended.
I laughed, but we both knew that was the truth. We had all thought it. But this year I was going to get back, better than ever. This scrawny physique I had gotten from denying myself food and replacing it with cigarettes and drugs, was going to change to a more athletic, heathly one that I had the year before.
"I have track today."
Bonnie looked at me, happy. "You're starting track again? That's great!"
"I just want to get back to normal, y'know? Back to how it was before my parent's died and I started dating Tyler."
She nodded understandingly. "Well, you have me and Elena. We're here for you. We'll always be."
The rest of the day was quite uneventful. Tanner's class featured the new guy, Stefan, and Elena eye-flirting, which Matt saw and didn't like. I felt for the guy, I really did.
I answered the front door after hearing the bell ring. It was the guy from history class, who Elena had taken a liking to apparently. That, or Aunt Jenna had a new thing for high schoolers.
"Hey, Stefan, right?" I said.
"Yeah," he replied. "You're Charlotte, Elena's sister."
Usually somebody calling me 'Elena's sister' really ticked me off, but him standing on our porch meant that Elena was 'getting out there away'. Maybe she was gonna get out of this depressing mood soon.
"Actually, I prefer Charlie," I told him. "So... you and my sister?"
"Oh no," I shook his head and laughed. He held up a book that I recognised as my sister's diary. "Your sister left this at the graveyard." He offered it to me.
I raised an eyebrow and took it. "You hang around in graveyards?"
I heard someone stomping down the stairs. It was Elena. We were meeting Bonnie at the Grill.
Elena stopped when she saw Stefan. "Oh, Stefan, hi," she said. "What are you doing here? I hope my sister wasn't torturing you too much?"
Stefan rubbed the nape of his neck nervously.
"Um... I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was . . . strange."
"No worries. I get it, blood makes you squeamish," Elena said.
Something like that. How's your leg?" Stefan enquired.
"Oh, it's fine. Just a scratch, barely. How did you know where we lived?"
"It's a small town. I asked the first person I saw. Um, I thought you might want this back," he gestured to the journal in my hand.
"Oh, I must have dropped it." I handed it to her. "I-thank you."
"Don't worry, I didn't . . . read it," Stefan said.
"No? Why not? Most people would have."
I felt like cockblock between them.
"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to read mine," Stefan said.
"You keep a journal?"
"Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important."
Those two were like a match made in heaven. I wondered if he actually had a journal, or if it was just a smoothe line to win over the diary-girl.
"Yeah. I'm just gonna. . .umm, you don't have to stay out there."
"I'm fine. Sorry, were you going somewhere?" Stefan asked.
"Yeah, we're meeting a friend. Do you want to come?"
"Hey, I'm Matt, nice to meet you," Matt said politely, though I could see he was seething.
"Hi. Stefan."
"Hey," Elena greeted Matt.
"Hey."
I looked between the three of them.
"Well... this isn't awkward at all..."
"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline asked once we sat down.
"Mm-Hmm. And moved when I was still young," Stefan said.
"Parents?" Bonnie enquired.
"My parents passed away."
"I'm sorry. Any siblings?" Elena asked.
"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle."
"My turn to interogate the new guy," I said excitedly. "Are you a twin?" I cocked an eyebrow.
He laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm not."
"So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow," Caroline said.
"It's a back to school thing at the falls," Bonnie told him.
"Are you going?" he asked Elena.
"Of course she is," Bonnie answered for her.
Elena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked up at Stefan through hooded eyes.
She was getting her flirt on.
Bonnie and I shared a knowing glance, both of us grinning. Caroline looked ticked off.
"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle? Ms. Bennett?"
"Um . . . a lot? I'm not sure. Like a whole lot," Bonnie answered Tanner.
The class laughed.
"Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett. Mr. Donovan? Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?"
"It's ok, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it," Matt smirked.
"Hmm. Charlotte?" Only Tanner would be cruel enough to call me 'Charlotte'. "I've been told you've bounced back from your frivolous phase, about time too."
"I'm afraid I don't know, sir," I said, grinning slightly.
"Elena? Unlike your sister, I'm sure you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?"
"I'm sorry, I-I don't know."
"I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reasons, Charlotte, Elena. But the personal excuses ended with summer break," Tanner said.
"There were three-hundred and forty-six casualties. Unless you're counting local civilians," Stefan answered.
"That's correct, Mister...?"
"Salvatore."
"Salvatore. Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls?"
"Distant."
"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."
"Actually, there were 27, sir. Confederate soldiers, they fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss. The founder's archives are - uh - stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts. Mr. Tanner."
"Hmm."
I had always loved parties. The drinks, the dancing... everything really. Bonnie and Elena were talking about the new guy, Stefan. The guy lived up to the expections Bonnie and I put on him based on his very sexy back. He seemed to have a thing for Elena.
"Just admit it, Elena," Bonnie was trying to get Elena to 'fess up.
"Oh, ok, so he's a little pretty," she said.
"He has that romance novel stare," Bonnie commented.
"And those mysterious green eyes..." I added, putting on the face of a lovesick maiden.
"So where is he?" Bonnie asked.
"I don't know. You tell me, you're the psychic one."
"Right, I forgot," Bonnie said. "Ok, so give me a sec. Grams says I have to concentrate."
"Wait, you need a crystal ball," Elena replied, searching around for some glass.
She gave her a bottle. Bonnie took it, brushing off Elena's hand. She spaced out for a while, but soon came back to her senses and quickly pulled her hand back.
"What was that?" I asked.
"That was weird. When I touched Elena, I saw a crow," Bonnie said, looking frightened.
"What?" Elena questioned, as confused as I was.
"A crow. There was fog, a man. I'm drunk. It's the drinking. There's nothing psychic about it. Yeah? Ok, I'm gonna get a refill," Bonnie rushed off, looking for a way to get away from us more than to get more alcohol.
"Ok? Bonnie!" Elena called after her. "Is it just me or was that really weird?" Elena asked me.
I shook my head. "No, that was weird."
Maybe Bonnie was psychic. I never believed in any of that mumbo-jumbo about ghosts or witches or fairies. But maybe, psychics were real. Maybe witches were too.
No. No way any of that stuff was real. Elena whipped around and I turned to follow her.
Sexy-back guy was here.
"Hi," Stefan said.
"Hi," Elena replied, a little creeped.
I gave him a smile. "I'm fine. I'm going to find Bonnie. Nice seeing you again."
I found Bonnie gulping down a bottle of alcohol while leaning on a tree. She was brooding. So very un-Bonnie like. She was too cheery to be thinking so much. Her expression was a mixture of total shock and, well, drunkness.
"Bonnie," I called.
I noticed how she groaned when she saw me. Maybe she just wanted to be alone.
"Hey, Bon? Are you okay?"
"I just need to take a beat," she said. She gave me a small smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
I nodded. Someone lightly tapped my shoulder. I whipped around to see Tyler. I groaned internally.
"Tyler. Hey."
He smiled. "Hey."
I turned around. Bonnie had snuck away. "So... nice party."
Tyler didn't support my desire for party chit-chat and got straight to the point.
"We haven't talked since-"
"I broke up with you?" He nodded. "Yeah... it's just been difficult."
He tried to smile sympathetically, but it just looked forced. "But how 'difficult' is it to pick up the phone and call me?" He gripped my rest and led me into the forest.
"Tyler? What the hell? Let go of me!" I demanded, struggling in his grip.
He pressed me against a tree and kissed my neck.
"Tyler! Get off of me!" He ignored me and my heart raced. "No... no... Tyler, please, not here! Not anywhere! We're done! Get over it."
He became more aggressively and grabbed my shoulders, slamming me against the tree.
"You know you want it," he whispered in what was meant to be a seductive voice. "Remember us, Charlie? We had such fun. We used to do it anywhere."
I struggled underneath him. "Yeah... well, I'm not that girl anymore! And we never did it against a flipping tree!"
"First time for everything," he made to take off my top, but shoved his hand away.
"What about Vicki? You're with her now."
"I made a mistake, Charlie," he said. "I miss us."
"Well, I don't," I growled. He forced my top off me. The cold night air hit my bare skin. I felt tears rush to my eyes, but I swallowed them back. "Tyler - I don't want this."
"Yes, you do."
I squirmed and tried to find a way out. I couldn't even lift my knee up he was so close to me. I hated being like this, so defenseless and vulnerable. Tyler knew that, but still he was putting me in that position.
Suddenly, Tyler cried out in pain and took a step away from me. My eyes widened in astonishment. He fell to his knees.
I picked up my top, not taking my eyes off him. I put it on and ran away from him.
God, that was close.
I went back to the party and looked for Bonnie. I crossed my arms so the no one would the slight rip in my top.
I found Bonnie, drinking more alcohol.
"Bonnie, there you are," I said.
"Yeah," she replied. "Look - I'm sorry I left you with Tyler. Bad friend move on my part."
I shook my head. "You wanted to be alone, I get it."
Bonnie examined me from head to toe. "What happened? Did you two - oh God no! You didn't..."
"No, we didn't." Bonnie sighed in relief. "But that didn't stop him from trying."
Bonnie's eyes popped out of their sockets. "What? Wait, he tried mol-"
I nodded, swallowing hard. "And then something seriously weird happened. He just started screaming... and-and it felt like I was causing it."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're joking, right?"
I shrugged. "Maybe it's the drinks, but there's something going on here."
Bonnie gave me a sympathic look. "I'm sorry I left you back there. If I didn't, then this wouldn't have happened."
I shook my head. "He would have tried it somewhere else, Bon."
"I'm still sorry. Do you want a lift home?"
I nodded. "I seriously need some girl talk."
Vicki Donovan had been bitten by some animal. The ambulance arrived and took her and Matt to the hospital. Bonnie, Caroline and I were in the Mystic Grill, waiting for Caroline to sober up.
"Are you sober yet?" Bonnie asked Caroline as she sipped her coffee.
"No," Caroline replied.
"Keep drinking. I gotta get you and Charlie home. I gotta get me home," Bonnie said.
"Why didn't he go for me? You know, how come the guys that I want never want me?" Caroline asked.
"I'm not touching that," Bonnie said.
"I'm inappropriate," Caroline stated. "I always say the wrong thing. And . . . Elena always says the right thing. She doesn't even try! And he just picks her. And she's always the one that everyone picks, for everything. And I try so hard, and . . . I'm never the one."
Guess that was something Caroline and I had in common. We were always second choice.
"It's not a competition, Caroline," Bonnie said.
"Yeah, it is." Caroline sighed. "You two can go home. I'll call my mom."
"Are you sure?" Bonnie asked.
She nodded. Bonnie and I stood up. "See you tomorrow, Caroline," I said, smiling.
Caroline gave me a small smile. "You too."
We got into the car and Bonnie started to drive.
"We don't have a competition between us, do we?" Bonnie asked as she drove.
I shook my head and shrugged slightly. "No, I don't think so. Competitions are stupid. Sibling rivalry, however..."
Bonnie laughed. "Ah, of course. The Gilbert rivalry. At least it's two-sided. Caroline's just comparing herself to Elena."
I nodded. "But it's different between siblings. We can never stay mad for too long."
"I wouldn't know," Bonnie said sadly. "I'm an only child."
"Poor you," I said with mock-sympathy. "Getting a house to yourself."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I'd love to have siblings. You have no idea have lucky you have it. A sister and a brother; Some people would kill for that."
"Isn't 'kill' a bit of an exaggeration?" I said. "Or should I be worried?"
Bonnie chuckled. "You should be very worried." She sobered up quickly, though, a thought seemed to have caused her serious demeanor. "I have this bad feeling since tonight."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Like... like it's only the beginning."
Review! Pairings still aren't fully decided!
