Authors note: I said I wouldn't update tonight but I couldn't help myself! Being sick makes me miserable but writing makes me feel alive
Just wanted to thank all those who are following this story, really puts a smile on my face!
Once again,
CinderNella: Thank you! It makes me happy to know you are enjoying the story!
Hazel21: Yes I really love Bonnie and Caroline's relationship as well, there will be more to come I promise.
KeyWordsmith: Thank you for the review and the suggestion! It's something to definitely think about.
Chapter 11: From a dead end to a second path
"Appreciate everything, regret nothing. Even if your path leads you to a dead end, at least the journey will be worth remembering"
Wednesday
It was a Wednesday when Caroline had came to the realization that her relationship with Matt was at a dead end. She remembered the moment well; she was standing in her kitchen in her baby blue bathrobe, her hair high in a pony tail, pouring herself a cup of hot coffee while answering a few text messages from Bonnie. She had taken a sip of coffee when the cup had slipped from her hands, she had watched as it fell to the floor shattering into pieces.
She had stood for a few minutes watching the coffee stain the tiles. Watched the murky color seep into the cracks before stilling, she stood examining the broken pieces before bending down to pick them up, watching with morbid curiosity how the the broken shards of glass tore into her hands.
It was a Wednesday.
It was a Wednesday when Caroline realized her relationship was at a dead end. She had realized this as she watched the small incisions on her hands open up and bleed before closing up, healing with supernatural speed.
She was going to live forever.
And Matt, poor small town Matt, would grow into a man. He would grow into a beautiful man. He would go to college, play football, and get an education before settling into a nine to five job. He would grow up and become someone's husband, someone's father, someone's grandfather; he would whither with time before eventually succumbing to the bitterness of mortality.
Caroline would live forever.
Frozen at 17, as a beautiful young girl, blonde, sharp, vibrant and dead
Always dead
She would never know the feeling of being someone's mother, she would never feel the stirring of life within her, she would never feel the satisfaction that came when you quenched your thirst with a tall glass of water after a long summers day, never feel the tingly sensation within her finger tips, never feel the nerves of a first date, never feel the queasiness of a hangover. She would never feel the fragility of life.
Always dead, Caroline Forbes was going to live forever.
Caroline Forbes, captain of the cheerleading squad, miss mystic falls, student council president had fallen in love with Matt Donovan. Matt Donovan, captain of the football team, part-time bus boy at mystic grill, Matt Donovan who had once told her she had cooties. She had loved him, most ardently. He was the first boy to make her feel beautiful, both inside and outside. He had looked at her like she was the only girl in the room. She had loved him.
But Caroline Forbes, captain of the cheerleading squad, miss mystic falls, student council president had died, and everything had changed.
So it was a Wednesday when Caroline realized her relationship with Matt was at a dead end.
"Don't look at me like that Blondie! I didn't know that was going to happen!" yelled Damon angrily as he hastily wiped the blood off his hands with a dish towel, scowling at the young vampire as she followed him out of the house heading towards his car. Caroline followed behind slowly; she too tugged at her shirt, her shirt that was stained with the crimson remains of blood.
They were at a dead end.
Caroline had a bad feeling about this.
She waited patiently at the bottom of the steps of the small house as Damon had insisted she wait outside while he inspected the area, ensuring they were not walking into some sort of trap. Caroline rolling her eyes at the Salvatore's paranoia had agreed to wait.
She had a bad feeling about this.
Looking up, she inspected the small house with greater detail, while at first she had assumed the house looked lonely, desolate and out of place, she was forced to change her opinion. She was wrong. It had character; it was warm, old and homey. She trailed her fingers down the railing of the stairs, the paint had chipped away revealing the remains of the aged wood that had withered away with age.
"Alright let's do this" said Damon, appearing next to her, running his hands through his dark hair, Caroline noted that his entire demeanor had changed.
He looked determined.
He knocked on the door slowly; before stepping back to wait for an answer, Caroline peered around him to watch as the door opened a minute later revealing a young girl with fiery curly red hair and bright blue eyes. She couldn't have been older then nineteen, she stared at Caroline in confusion before her eyes settled on Damon. Her eyes glossed over in a look Caroline had seen many times on the faces of many, a look she herself had sported; hatred.
"You" she whispered angrily opening the door completely to unleash the full extent of her glare on the older Salvatore.
"Me." Damon grinned sheepishly
Caroline watched the exchange with confusion.
It had all been Damon's idea.
After failing to find Arianna the conventional way by utilizing resources offered by the Sheriff's station, Damon had come to her with the bright idea of contacting another witch to help locate the mysterious Bennett. Just like with every other plan suggested by Damon, it was met with skepticism and suspicion.
"You better have a good reason for darkening my doorstep Damon Salvatore" the young girl asked viciously
"Actually I do, I need your help" replied Damon.
Throwing her head back she laughed loudly, clapping her hands together.
"You're crazy if you think I would ever willingly help you"
Damon smirked. Caroline suspected the raven haired vampire had been expecting this reaction, she just hoped he had come prepared with a plan.
"Come on Sara, I let your mother live that night, I could have let my brother tear out her throat, but I didn't so technically, you owe me"
His reply was met with silence.
"If memory serves me well, she still died"
Damon smiled charmingly.
"Well that's hardly my fault now is it?"
Sara growled in anger, moving to close the door
Caroline held up her hand to stop her "Please, we need your help. Forget him, it's not for him it's for my friend, she's a witch too and she's in danger" she pleaded
Caroline watched as the young witches eyes clouded in suspicion. Opening the door wider she took a step closer to the entryway, careful not to cross the threshold that prevented them from entering. Caroline shifted uneasily under the intensity of the young girls gaze. Caroline knew she was looking for a sign of sincerity, any sort of sign that would give her an idea of whether or not helping Damon Salvatore was a good idea. Caroline gave her a small smile, hoping this would entice her to help them.
"I'm not inviting you in, so just tell me what you want"
Damon grinned in victory
"I knew you would see things my way, now I need you to go inside, wave your magic wand and ask Casper the ghost whether or not Bonnie Bennett is the last living descendent of the Bennett bloodline"
The next few minutes were the longest of Caroline's life.
She watched in horror as Sara's eyes glazed over as if she no longer had control of her movements. She watched as the young Witch reached into the pocket of her jeans producing a pocket knife. Caroline and Damon watched in silence as she opened the knife and with no hesitation,
Slit her throat.
The scent of blood immediately invaded her senses, suppressing everything else, Caroline felt the tightening of her throat as the burning sensation spread throughout her body, giving in to her basic instincts momentarily she felt the veins around her eyes begin to protrude, fighting back the predator within she held her breath.
Turning to look at Damon, they both stared on helplessly as the young witch slowly bled to death at her front door.
The next few minutes were the longest of Caroline's life.
Caroline stood frozen in horror as Damon tentatively took a step into the house, the invisible barrier preventing their entry previously now lay broken upon the witches' death, broken like the girl at their feet.
She watched, frozen as Damon bent down to examine the girl. Using his fingers to gently bring her blood to his lips
He looked up at Caroline, nodding his head.
Words no longer necessary as Caroline had seen the truth in his eyes.
She had been compelled.
They were at a dead end.
Friday
It was a Friday when Bonnie Bennett came to the realization that the pain caused by Jeremy Gilbert had left a gaping hole in her chest, it was a Sunday when Bonnie realized that her relationship with Jeremy was at a dead end.
Bonnie remembered the moment well; she had been at school putting away her calculus textbook between classes to ease the load in her backpack when Jeremy had walked by with his friends, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, too ashamed to make eye contact. Bonnie had been midway through rummaging through her locker when she had felt it, felt the change. It hit her with such a force that left her staggering, holding on tightly to her locker for support. Consuming her with dread and grief and a reality that she could no longer suppress, a reality that she could no longer ignore, it had been there all along, mocking her with its truths.
She was going to die.
Bonnie was not a martyr. She was not a hero. She was an 18 year old girl that was faced with an impossible decision and she made a choice. The only choice there was to make. She chose to save her friends. To make another choice, in her eyes, was an act of betrayal, betrayal of herself. If she was honest with herself, she would say that part of her of knew, had always known that the day would come when she would have to lay down her life, part of her long since had conceded defeat to the grim reaper.
But Bonnie believed that this did not make her a hero, did not make her a martyr, because she didn't want to die. Bonnie, like any other girl had hopes and dreams. Bonnie wanted to see the world. Wanted to see the busy streets of London, the Eiffel tower in Paris, the beautiful islands of Greece, the pyramids of Egypt, Bonnie wanted to see the world.
But she was going to die.
It was then that she realized that although Jeremy had hurt her she loved Jeremy, loved him as much as she could, Bonnie couldn't give him the one thing he wanted above everything else.
Jeremy wanted a future.
And Bonnie couldn't give him something she didn't have.
So it was a Friday when Bonnie realized her relationship with Jeremy was at a dead end.
Shaking her head slightly to clear the direction that her thoughts had taken, Bonnie slowly pushed opened the door of the Salvatore Mansion. She had come over tonight to talk to Elena about Caroline. Caroline who she had seen for all but five minutes at the grill before she had disappeared, Caroline who had no idea how to keep a secret was avoiding her which only meant one thing.
She was lying to her.
Bonnie was determined to find out why.
Bonnie lingered in the hallway of the Salvatore mansion, hesitant to proceed any further without invitation. However the sound of raised voices soon peeked her interest, inching forward towards the closed door leading towards the living room, she moved closer to listen in.
"Are we going to go together or not?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes; she would have recognized that voice anywhere.
Damon.
Which meant his companion could only be one person.
Elena.
"Damon I told you, I don't want to make things uncomfortable with Stefan"
Bonnie listened to the sound of breaking glass, glancing through the crack in the door she watched as Damon threw his glass of scotch at the roaring fire before spinning to face Elena. Bonnie stifled a gasp at the look on the Vampires face.
He was hurt.
Bonnie suddenly felt like she was intruding on something personal, something that once was witnessed, would not be forgotten.
"I'm getting really sick and tired of hearing you say that Elena, he's bound to find out about us sooner or later"
Elena moved forward to take hold of his forearm but Damon pushed her back angrily, turning his face from her.
"I don't even know what 'us' means right now. I was ready to Die Damon, I was ready. And then suddenly I'm a vampire and I wake up to a world where everything is different. I don't know how to deal with this; don't you know how hard this is for me? I don't know anything anymore. All I know is that I'm confused."
Bonnie watched as Damon stilled, his shoulders stiffened. For a second Bonnie contemplated stepping in. She was felt for her friend; love had taken all her choices away.
"You're confused? That's all you have to say to me? It's been two years Elena and I'm tired of you being confused. When are you going to make up your mind?" he asked quietly.
Bonnie had heard this tone before. Damon wasn't angry, Damon wasn't pissed.
Damon was infuriated, his rage silent, and still as the water.
Bonnie waited for Elena to respond, waited for her to say something to ease the volatile Salvatore Brother back into his cave, waited for her to say the right thing to soothe his rage. Bonnie often marveled at her friend's ability to not only reign in Damon, but also her ability to be the only one who saw something in Damon Salvatore that was worth fighting for. But Elena said nothing.
"Do you enjoy seeing us like this? Enjoy watching us tear each other apart over who is going to have you? Don't you know how hard this is for me? He's my brother Elena"
Tuesday
It was a Tuesday when Bonnie Bennett felt something change, felt something inside her tear in two. Hearing the broken tone of his voice had shifted something inside of her and Bonnie feared, nothing would be the same again.
It was a Tuesday when Bonnie Bennett realized that Damon's relationship with Elena was at a dead end and although he would heal, she knew he would never be what he once was.