"What do you mean Logan's gone?" Bonnie demands in a low voice. "Stefan had him locked up for one and a half days and he's already escaped? Why didn't we just stake him?"
Elena looks uncomfortable, shifting from one foot to the other and fidgeting with the top of her cheerleader outfit. The two of them are in the middle of Friday's practice, and not having Caroline as head of their routine is far more challenging than they had anticipated. "Stefan wanted to find out if there were others. But Logan wasn't talking, and now he's escaped, and— I dunno, some nagging part of me thinks this is all Damon's fault." She re-adjusts her ponytail, her lips pressed into an annoyed line. "He's just acting.. off. Like he's hiding something. And it's not like Stefan has been inviting vampires in left and right, so there isn't exactly a giant pool of people who could have gotten in to let him go."
"Uh, hello, Elena? Maybe you feel like he's hiding something because he is. Damon is a snake." Her unpleasant memories with him threaten to rise to the surface, but she pushes them back for the hundredth time. "He'd do anything to get into that tomb. I'm pretty sure he'd kill us all to do it." She takes a deep breath. "The crystal is destroyed, though. There's no getting down there."
"I hope you're right," Elena murmurs, gaze downcast. "Otherwise there'll be twenty-something vampires on the loose who will probably rip all of our throats out as an appetizer."
Just as Bonnie is pondering the logistics of how many people might die with that many vampires escaped, she hears Claire call for them both from where the rest of the girls are practicing. "Bonnie, Elena? It's been almost ten minutes. Caroline wouldn't want us slacking."
"No. No, she wouldn't," Bonnie says under her breath, but moves to return to her cheerleading squad. She doesn't know what she'll do if what happened to Caroline happens to any of her other friends.
xxxx
"Is there, like, a reason why you haven't snapped yet and killed Elena in the middle of the night? 'Cuz I'm really not understanding," Kai is saying to Jeremy on the bleachers in front of the football field, popping pretzels into his mouth leisurely. He has his backpack propped between his black combat boots, reaching into it with a ring-adorned hand to scoop out handfuls of the snack. His jacket is black instead of jean-patterned that day, with a tee underneath it that has a raven graphic printed on the front. "I mean, she's hot, don't get me wrong. But man, does she whine. You'd think you were a newborn and she was your wet nurse."
"Dude, really?" Jeremy replies in exasperation. "Not cool. We don't talk about how 'hot' my sister is, alright?" The younger Gilbert's hair is short and freshly cut, and even Kai has to admit it's a good look for him. His previous longer hairstyle had been just downright greasy looking.
"Ohhh-kay. Whatever you say," Kai concedes, offering him some pretzels. When Jer shakes his head, Kai keeps talking. "You know who's not your sister, though? Bonnie Bennett." He says her name in a moan like he's expressing pent up sexual intent. "Man, the way that short cheerleading skirt rides up and you can see her-"
Jer grins, shoving him in the shoulder hard enough to nearly knock the Parker over. "Give it a rest, would you? Bonnie is like.. my second sister. I feel like I've grown up with her." His warm doe-eyes settle on the Bennett girl down on the field, practicing with the other cheerleaders. "Is that weird?"
Kai shrugs, chewing on a pretzel thoughtfully before responding. "If you mean 'do I think it's weird' that you don't want to take her to Bone-tropolis, then yeah. It's weird, Jeremy-Boy. You're weird." He sighs wistfully, looking out at Bonnie as she performs a particularly impressive set of moves that ends in the splits. The skin of her thighs are smooth and unblemished, and he involuntarily imagines running his hands up them. Even in her cheerleading outfit, she looks like some kind of powerful witch goddess just disguised as a teenager.
"I guess so," Jer agrees quietly, looking meditative. "What if I asked her out, then?"
The complete one-eighty is sudden, and Kai isn't expecting it at all. His dark brows shoot up in surprise and his mouth forms a small 'o'. "There it is," he teases, flashing his dimples with a grin. "Even the innocent baby Gilbert isn't immune to her god tier beauty." He swallows, throat bobbing. "Are you, uh— are you sure asking her out is a good idea, though? I mean, Ellen, she would kill you. And then there's that other girl you keep talking about— the one that, like, stalks you and sniffs your underwear? What's her name again?"
"Anna," Jer supplies, looking pensive.
"Right. Anna. Does she ever.. get out? You met her in a library, right? What if she gets jealous, snaps, and then follows Bonnie home or something? It's just like my twin sister says- it's always the nerdy ones you have to watch out for." The excuse sounds lame rolling off of his tongue and he knows it. He has a strange fixation on the younger Bennett, though. It's almost like he wants Jeremy's attention to just go elsewhere so he can have her all to himself. Watching the girls on the field, his gaze flirts with Bonnie's behind as she performs one particular cartwheel that reveals the briefest flash of her undies. He feels like he's died and gone to heaven.
"She's weird," Jeremy begins, giving a sigh. It takes Kai a moment to realize he's talking about Anna and not Bonnie. "I mean, I like her, but she's just.. coming on kind of strong. I don't really know how I feel about her yet." Kai is vaguely annoyed by this; they've only been friends for a short time, but Jer always talks like he has some kind of laundry list of options to constantly choose from when it comes to women. He comes off as indecisive at worst and douchey at best. The Parker almost wants to shake him because there's nothing at all complicated about the decision- Bonnie should win out every time. Nothing can be worse than the Salvatore brothers, though, so Kai silently gives him a pass.
"Jerry, buddy. Do you ever think that maybe you're the problem? I mean, no offense, but you're making it sound like you're trying to choose between a strawberry and a cherry Starburst. Just pick one." Kai knows it's mean, but not only does he not care; he revels in it. As far as he's concerned, Jeremy is lucky to have him. The boy can barely decide which scent of Axe deodorant to use at any given time- how is he supposed to figure out the rest of his problems?
"You don't have to be a dick about it," the Gilbert begins, starting to stand from the bleachers. "But yeah, I guess you're right. I have to do something. I'll see you around." He's abrupt when he turns, taking the stairs two at a time. Kai looks alarmed, but doesn't make a move to follow after him. He's perfectly content with his spot up in the stands with the great Bonnie view.
"O-kay," he calls, but Jeremy barely gives him a backward glance.
xxxx
Much to Elena's outwardly displayed dismay, Kai is hanging out at the Gilberts' again to play more Halo when Jenna offers to give them a ride to the Mystic Falls career fair.
He doesn't really know why he's been spending so much more time with Jer than usual— he offhandedly wonders if it's because he knows Bonnie always has a decent chance of showing up at any given time. The thought is foreign; strange. He'd never much found himself caring about other people and their whereabouts. But Bonnie? She has pretty, smooth skin, and green eyes with a knowing, intelligent kind of spark. Kai thought most people he met seemed at least somewhat vapid, but not her- she could see right through anyone. Maybe even right through him.
Bonnie doesn't show up this time, though, and all three of them pile into Jenna's car with Elena taking shotgun. Kai can practically taste his own disappointment.
"Jenna, can you play Pearl Jam?" Kai begs almost excitedly, leaning over onto the dividing seat between her and Elena and throwing his arms over it. "Pleeease? You're an '80s baby, right?"
"Oh, boy," Jenna says, giving a defeated, yet playful sigh. "You know the first thing you don't do when you're trying to charm a lady into agreeing to something? Remind her of her dinosaur age."
"Aww, c'mon. It's totally your thing. Just for a little bit— the high school is like five minutes from here. Pretty please?" Kai's goading eventually pays off, because she reaches for her phone to search for Pearl Jam's greatest hits.
Soon enough, the four of them are listening to the guitar riffs of "Even Flow", and Kai is about as content as he feels he can get while sharing a vehicle with Elena Gilbert. She's mostly civil, though— only sparing him a couple of annoyed looks as he and Jenna occasionally sing rather poorly to certain parts of the song. Jeremy just shakes his head, hiding a grin.
"Eveeeeen floooooow. Thoughts arrive like butterfliiiiies. Oh, he don't knowww— so he chases them awaaay," Kai fluctuates his pitch on the last word, air guitaring.
"Okay, that's it," Jenna declares, defeated. "You got me. I can't stoop to that level of mortifying embarrassment."
"He's used to it," Elena says to her aunt, making challenging eye contact with Kai as she says the words. "He's usually embarrassing himself. Right, Kai?"
"Hey, I'm only embarrassing myself because I'm in the same general vicinity of you," Kai retorts smoothly, eliciting a snort from Jeremy.
"He got ya there," the younger Gilbert smirks, and Elena shoots him a sour look.
"We're almost to the school," Elena announces, sitting back in her seat. "So maybe you guys can try acting civil once we get there. If you even know what the word means." Kai thinks this is irritatingly unfair, considering she was the one who threw the first stones in the argument.
"Oh, man," Jenna says, but her tone is good-natured. "You guys bicker more than Miranda and I did. Which is saying something, because I nearly totaled her car once in junior year of high school."
"No way," Elena says in surprise, grinning. "I've never heard this story before."
"Sure did," she replies, turning the wheel as they roll into the Mystic Falls High parking lot. "Was drunk driving like a complete dumbass and almost ran a red while coming back from a football game with Logan Fell. Juuust don't do what I did. I had about nine lives as a teenager, and I doubt you guys would be as lucky."
Kai vaguely realizes Jenna's reference to Elena and Jeremy's lack of luck might be that both of their parents are dead, but opts, for once, not to point this out. He can see the fragile mask of normalcy the Gilberts wear on a daily basis, and upsetting that for just a couple seconds of fun isn't something he's fully equipped to do.
"So, Kai," Jenna starts, her eyes meeting his in the rearview mirror. "I hear you're being tutored by Bonnie's grandmother. How is that going?"
She's pulling the Mini Cooper into a parking spot, and Elena barely waits for her to put it in park before eagerly pushing her door open to get out.
Kai answers Jenna only after filing out of the vehicle with the others. "Y'know, if you're into nutty old women with tarot cards stuffed anywhere and everywhere from the butter dish to the sock drawer, then Sheila Bennett is the tutor for you."
Jenna laughs, shaking her head. "Tarot cards, huh? I heard as much from Rudy, actually. Didn't realize she was still on that kick after all these years."
"Am I supposed to know who that is?" Kai asks as they cross the street and make their way up to the school's double doors. The fact that the Bennetts have somehow managed to stay under their cover as witches completely baffles him. He remembers stories about their coven being told to him as a kid.
"He's Bonnie's dad," Jeremy supplies, hands in his pockets. "He's hardly ever around, though. I think I've only seen him a handful of times, and I've known her my entire life."
"Speaking of," Elena interjects as the group crosses the threshold of the school. "Bonnie! Wait up."
Kai's gaze immediately snaps up, and he finds her standing next to what looks like the Whitemore college booth. The witch is wearing a pretty floral cardigan, high-waisted shorts and jewelry adorned with witchy crystals. Her dark hair is pretty and curled in loose ringlets, and her green eyes sparkle with warmth as Elena approaches. He swallows, trying to avert his gaze before anyone notices his fixation. It's already too late, though, because when he turns, Jeremy is shooting him an incredulous look. Kai just gives a shrug. "What? Did you just see Kanye West or something? Stop looking at me like that."
"Man, what's your deal with Bonnie?" the younger Gilbert pushes, a tentative concern written all over his face.
"Annnnd that's my cue," Jenna announces, walking backwards away from them. "I'm gonna go find the drinks." Kai doesn't blame her. Listening to Jeremy Gilbert get stupidly territorial over his sister's best friend wasn't at the top of his to do list for the general day either.
"Why do you care, Jerry-boy? Because you stacked legos with her once back in the good ole diaper days?" He claps the Gilbert on the back, and the other boy gives him a continued side eye. "Have fun with your art school applications."
Disentangling himself, he saunters over to where Bonnie and Elena stand, flipping through Whitemore education pamphlets. Jeremy doesn't follow him, and when he glances over his shoulder again, he's gone.
"Bonnie," Kai nods to her in greeting, shoving his hands in the pockets of his shorts. "Elena. I guess." She makes a face at him. "What's on the, uh, Whitemore menu?" His nimble, thin fingers snag one of the booklets and turn it over to examine it.
"Well, they definitely have Speech class if you want to learn a thing or two about human interaction," Elena says with a thick layer of sarcasm, and Kai's eyes flick up towards the ceiling in faux annoyance.
"Y'know, Elena, they also have a time management class. Maybe you should take it— figure out how to waste less of my time." He flashes her a condescending, dimpled smile, tilting his head a little to one side.
Bonnie snorts, shooting them both incredulous looks. "You've both been standing here for less than ten seconds and you're already acting like preschoolers. You know this is a college-related event, right?"
Elena sighs, and Kai makes a small noise that sounds suspiciously like a mix between a laugh and a snort.
"I've gotta, uh.. go to the bathroom," Elena mutters, moving around Kai to make her way down the hall.
"Well," Bonnie breaks the brief silence with a raise of her brows. She's crossing her arms, rubbing her elbows almost nervously. The idea that she might be anxious around him in any capacity intrigues Kai. "Didn't expect you guys to come here together."
Kai shrugs. "I hang with the Gilberts for Jeremy. But even he's a giant nerd, so— you're a lot cooler, if we're being real." He seems to lean closer to her as he says it so there isn't much space left between them. His eyes lock with hers, and an unfamiliar feeling stirs in his chest at the sight of her slightly flushed cheeks.
Bonnie clears her throat, looking as if she's just realized her trance. "So.. Do you have any other plans for the night besides running off my best friend?"
The question is an innocent one, but Kai pulls his crumpled pamphlet back out of his pocket anyway and takes a look at it, flipping through the pages. "Somehow, going to school to be a dentist doesn't feel like anything but a joke when you have to worry about leading a coven of witches at the ripe age of twenty-two."
Bonnie watches him uneasily, and it dawns on him that she doesn't look the least bit surprised by this reveal.
"You know," he says, nodding.
"Grams told me," she admits, swallowing. "I— I heard about the whole Merge thing. I'm sorry— I can't imagine."
The pity in her expression confuses Kai— he's known her for almost no time at all, and she's concerned about this? Hell, he doesn't understand why anyone would be. None of his family ever has, and they've known him his entire life. The Merge is normal. The idea of he or Jo essentially dying to become the other has been normalized to him. He knows it's on the horizon, and more importantly, he knows he'll come out on top as the dominant twin. It's all that really matters.
"Don't be," he says simply, standing up straighter and crumpling the pamphlet. "I always win." His dark, steely eyes are cold— apathetic.
Bonnie looks taken aback, but before she can respond, the two of them are interrupted. Kai doesn't notice him until his hand falls on Bonnie's shoulder— he has messy, windblown hair and a frantic look on his face. It's Stefan, Elena's vampire boyfriend. The guy just can't seem to stop making dramatic entrances.
"Guys, listen to me," he begins, and Kai knows right away the news isn't going to be good news. "Damon was the one who released Logan- something about him knowing an alternate way into the tomb. He could be around here, for all we know, and he's dangerous. If you see him, you need to call me immediately."
"You've got to be kidding me," Bonnie says in exasperation, shooting Stefan a look. "This is exactly what I told Elena he would do. The sooner you guys stop trusting him as much as you do, the better this will be for all of us."
"He's my brother, Bonnie," is all Stefan says. His overly furrowed brows show he regrets the words even as they're out of his mouth. Kai thinks it's pathetic.
"So? Uh, hell-o, Steven? He's also, like- a vampire. Shove a stake in him and call it a night. Go get some Wendy's." Kai looks at Stefan as if this is the immediately obvious course of action.
Bonnie stifles a noise of surprise, but Stefan just looks tired. "Would you believe me if I told you I'd thought about it? Just- keep an eye out, alright? Let me know if you two see anything."
When the younger Salvatore brother retreats, Kai opens his mouth to ramble more about career night when he feels Bonnie hit him lightly on the shoulder. "Who the hell is that?" she asks, pointing.
When Kai turns, he sees Jeremy. But at his side, with her arm looped through his, is a small, pretty Asian girl wearing a pea coat. He can feel the magic radiating off of her like a beacon.
"A vampire," he says. His head tilts. "Or a witch. Hard to say, really. But I'm vibing vampire, so let's go with that."
Bonnie gives him a weird look. "How do you do that? Is it a Siphoner thing?"
Kai shrugs. "I can feel magic when it's around. If there's too much of it, I go nuts. Imagine what it's like being in the Brady Bunch family: witch edition." He sighs, fiddling with the rings on his fingers. "It's a lot like being an addict fiending for a hit." His brow twitches. "Oh, but Josie? Witch prodigy. She was practically pulling rabbits from hats and getting gold stars from Papa Parker himself, all while I was in supernatural time out for slipping up and Siphoning something. Or someone." He says the last few words darkly, his gaze flitting off as if lost in thought.
Bonnie swallows, and Kai can sense her wariness growing by the second. He's used to it, though— he knows how his presence effects witches, and her reaction is no exception. "I'm.. sorry. No one should have to go through that, Kai. But, seriously, that girl with Jer—"
"—Is a vampire, and you're worried she'll be Stefano Salvatore number two?" Kai finishes for her, his eyes following Jeremy and who he assumes to be 'Anna' as they walk up to a booth for a culinary school. The girl looks so unsuspecting; dressed in plain clothes and saddled with a bag that's covered in video game themed pins. She looks like your average geek that might hang out in a game store playing Dungeons & Dragons on the weekends.
"Hey, have you guys seen Logan?" Jenna asks, appearing from behind them and causing Bonnie to nearly jump out of her skin. "He just randomly showed up while I was talking to Jer's art teacher, and I'm trying to play that whole 'avoid-crazy-ex-at-public-event' game."
"Oh my god," Bonnie says in a slow horror. She swallows, rubbing her temple. "Listen, Jenna— if you see him, don't go anywhere near him. I need you to do that for me. He's— he's been acting weird tonight."
"Ohhhkay," Jenna agrees slowly, a confused grin on her lips. "Weird how? Like, slipping roofies weird? Or just being a sleaze ball weird? 'Cuz that's kind of Logan's thing, if you catch my drift."
Kai privately wonders why everything in Mystic Falls has to be so dramatic on a day-to-day basis. He figures he'll bite. "Bonnie, didn't you want to see some marine biologist thing over by our History classroom?" He's just spitballing, but Jenna doesn't seem to catch on.
"Yes! Exactly," Bonnie agrees, nodding. "Sorry, Jenna, I, uh— gotta go. They're packing up over there soon, so.."
"No worries," Jenna gives her a thin smile, a playful spark in her eyes. "You guys hop to it. I have to play 'responsible guardian' for Jeremy and say hi to his girlfriend, so."
When the two of them bid their goodbyes and start making off, Bonnie seizes Kai's forearm and immediately starts dragging him to the backdoor that leads out to the school field. "I don't know if Stefan is gone yet, but we need to call him, like now."
The cool night air feels good on Kai's cheeks, and for a moment he's caught up in the feeling of Bonnie just pulling him along, her fingers riding his jacket up and wrapped around the skin of his forearm. He could siphon her if he really wanted to, he realizes. But he doesn't. He watches her determined stalk with a soft smile playing at his lips, and he's so wrapped up in her that he almost doesn't notice it. The body.
There are a pair of feet protruding from behind a bush, and the shoes look suspiciously familiar. "Bonnie..," he begins, shaking her grasp off and nodding in the direction of the brush.
"No," she exhales, edging towards it. "It can't be."
As Kai approaches, he gets a full view. It's Logan Fell, staked completely through the heart.