"Kai," echoed through his subconscious, the voice getting closer and amplifying, "hellooo in there."
A soft shake of his arm had him jolting awake lurching forward like he was having one of those half-awake falling dreams. Forearms landed hard against his knees and blinked rapidly seeing the image of the porches floor beneath his feet, checking the surroundings realizing he must have passed out sitting up on Sheila's porch swing at some point in the middle of the night. Taking note of a pair of dainty heels off to his right Kai's head snapped up squinting through the early morning's rays to the tall blonde beside him.
"Caroline?"
"What are you doing out here?"
"Mm, just breathing in that fresh morning air," he hummed lifting to his feet to stretch his achy joints, groaning at the sound of cracking going down his spine.
"Were you sleeping? Did you sleep out here last night?"
"No, of course not," Kai brushed off letting out a big yawn, "not the whole night."
"Why?"
"Change of scenery?"
"But it's so nasty out… wait," her eyes widened taking a slow step backwards. "She didn't, did she?"
"Didn't do what? Or did – wait, what?" Kai shook his head too out of it to play word problems.
"Bonnie!" Care shouted banging her fist against the door. "Bonnie Bennett you open this door right now! Bonnie!"
"Jesus Caroline," he heard from inside the house before the door swung open. "A text saying you're here would have been fine."
"What the hell is this?" she spat accusingly pointing to her right to the other end of the porch where he stood. "Why is he out here?"
Poking her head out the entrance Bon's eyes narrowed into slips stepping outside and crossing her arms. "That's a good question."
"I'm just enjoying the –"
"Save it," the sassy friend cut him off turning her attention away from him. "Tell me you didn't."
"Caroline, not the time," Bonnie declared with a tone that said not to push her on it turning her steely gaze back on Kai. "And you need to go."
"Oh no… you did," she let out like she was just lost the Mega Millions by one number, "you guys broke up?"
"Care."
"It was just a little misunderstanding."
"Kai, don't do this."
"I don't know what you're talking about. But enough about that, what are you two up to at this hour?"
"Breakfast. Bon called so I came running, literally," she chuckled to herself like it was the funniest thing. "Of course if I had known why I was receiving this 6AM wakeup call I would have been so much more prepared. Like with tissues – or a blanket."
"Well my nose is a little stuffy but I'd take the blanket or tissues any day," Kai commented observing Bonnie's friend turn to give her an unsatisfied glare.
"Oh we are going to have the biggest girl talk session."
"Sounds fun, can I join?"
"No."
Darting back inside the two were left alone to stare at each other uncomfortably, Kai wondering what she knew while Caroline stared at him like someone just ran over his grandpa.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Not the first time Bon's been mad at me, definitely won't be the last," he smirked but he could see on her face that she didn't believe him, adding in a more solemn tone. "I just need her to cool down a little first and then maybe she'll be able to hear me."
"Was it bad?"
"Wasn't in my top ten favorite moments," Kai joked earning a smile this time in return, "we'll be alright."
"I hope so," Caroline disclosed quietly and felt his features brighten becoming more animated hearing one of Bonnie's best friends was on his side in this matter. "What?"
"You like us together?"
"Duh, where have you been? I've been like the cheerleader of your entire relationship," she scoffed like she was insulted that he didn't just know that. "I'm full on Team Bonkai."
"Bonkai?" He repeated as Bonnie retreated back through the main door.
"Oh you didn't just teach him that did you?" She grilled staring her friend down who wore a look of pure modesty.
"Noooo. Anyways we should get going since now we have to make an emergency put stop and grab Elena before her class."
"What about breakfast?"
"I'm sorry Bon-Bon but bigger things have been brought to the surface that needs our immediate attention. I'll get you a croissant on the way."
Shaking her head she turned her attention Kai's way and her expression hardened, posture defensive. "I need you to stay at the dorm for a while. Do you want me to pack up your stuff or do you want to do it while I'm out?"
"Damn Bonnie," Caroline mumbled looking between them, "I can't – it's like watching my parents split up all over again. Are you going to go off and find some hot young pool boy now too?"
Kai was pretty sure she meant it as a serious question for him if her tone and expression were any indication but it was so absurd and unexpected the laughter rolled around in his stomach teetering over the surface.
"Thank you, I needed that."
"Okay Care let's go," Bonnie linked her arm through her friends steering her towards the steps but he reached out to stop her feeling the current through his fingertips when he touched her skin.
"Bon we still have to talk about this more; when you're ready." The emotions swirling inside her eyes let him know she wasn't there yet. "I'll wait, but I'm not going anywhere."
Shuffling away from him as fast as she could Kai watched the girl's beeline it for Bon's car and then they were gone. Groaning out in aggravating he rubbed his hands roughly through his hair trying to shack the disorientation out of his head and went inside to get changed. Other than a few exhausted nights he could barely remember at the dorm they have been living in the same house, in the same room, almost immediately following Damon's departure in the prison world. It took him a month or two but Kai's gotten pretty accustomed and comfortable to having someone in his space 24/7 and the thought of Bonnie no longer filling that void went straight to his chest, the tightness building up so profound he had to push his palm against the center in an attempt to alleviate it.
It felt like he was being submerged underwater, suffocating from within and vision blurring with vertigo. Muttering the chant that Bon used on him in what felt like another lifetime Kai let out a sound of relief feeling his chest expand letting more oxygen into his lungs. Panic attacks are a bitch, but that spell really was a lifesaver. Taking a quick shower to cool down his overheated body he chose to hold off on packing up his clothes and random items and headed to Whitmore instead. Checking the time on the dash when he pulled into the parking lot he usually met up with Cooper and Turner before their classes to hit the school's weight room and headed that way, stopping short when all of the Gemini's were outside the doors.
"Did I miss a mandatory Gemini meeting or something? Because I think I'm the one that would usually set one of those up."
"Kai we just heard what happened, I'm so sorry."
"Yeah bro, that sucks."
"What happened?"
"What happened with what?" he asked dumbfounded, watching them all look at each other.
"You and Bonnie," Anna spoke up and his blood cooled sending a chill down his spine. "We heard you broke up."
"From whom?" he demanded a little too sternly, jerking her head back in surprise.
"From – uh, I don't know, it's going all around the school."
"Yeah I heard it from a group of giggly girls who were all fighting over who was going to hit on you first."
"So expect a few dozen chicks to come scope you out."
"Smelling those fresh bachelor vibes," one of the guys jabbed at his arm with their elbow, retreating slowly when they took note of Kai not saying a word.
"You okay, man?"
"I'm fine because we didn't break up," he corrected slinging his backpack higher up his shoulder.
"But we heard…"
"Dude everyone is talking about it."
"Saying what?"
"That you two split last night, didn't know who did the splitting but you were both officially back on the market to many people's delight."
"So what are you saying, that didn't happen?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Kai lied to all of their faces knowing that even though this group was the closest thing to friends that he has, that was the reason why they couldn't know the truth. They're too close to him, to his father, and to the rest of the Coven. And when one person hears a juicy rumor it trickles throughout the entire community. "So feel free to spread that around."
"I don't know if it'll do you any good, dawg, check it out."
Turning in the direction Turner was pointing a group of girls were huddled up at the other end of the walkway looking their way and then back to each other chattering away. Finally one broke away from the pack towards them.
"See what I mean."
"Shhh I wanna hear what she says to him!"
"Hi! Do you have a sec? My name's Sasha and I know you probably got like 300 roses but one of them was from me and now that you're single I was-"
"Hold up – I appreciate the rose, really, and the self-confidence to come up and ask me out the very next morning," he chuckled with a small shake of his head, "but you heard wrong. I'm still with Bonnie."
"Oh," she deflated looking like she might cry, from being letdown or mortified was a tossup.
"Who did you hear that from?"
"Oh it's just going around," she said with a wave of her hand, "my crew texted me first thing this morning."
"Wow, that is… something. Well if you end up finding out the source let me know but, I'm, uh, sorry?"
"Oh don't even worry about it. I'm sorry I came barging up to you and embarrassed myself."
"You won't be the last," one of the guy's snickered and she quickly retreated back to the group.
"Can I just hang out with you all day? I want to be there for every one of those."
"Facts. We should start taking bets. I got $20 on Kai turning down five chicks by the end of the day."
"Try doubling it."
"I'm going with lucky thirteen."
"Twenty babes," Hayes boasted with a dramatic slam of a $20 bill in his other palm. "Even."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah Evan must you always bid on the highest number?"
"Yeah," he shrugged with a cheeky grin, "but am I the only one who recalls the trail of rose petals following this kid wherever he went on Valentine's Day? And that's when they all knew he had a girl. I still feel like I'm low balling it but if I'm competing with this guy thinking it's a measly handful then I've already got it in the bag. Come on babe, what's your wager?"
Kai's line of view scanned over to Emma and stopped, scrutinizing. Out of the group Anna and Hayes were the two he liked the most but his girlfriend was usually attached to his hip and he had his reservations about her. Emma was a Walsh; first and foremost, so it went without saying she heard the worst of the horror stories from one of the villains who detested Kai most. Furthermore, that made her the informant for the other side accessible to keeping tabs on his life which made her his least trustworthy subordinate.
"I think she'll be the only one."
"Hope you're right because that's going to be one uncomfortable conversation to rehash. I got to call Bon I'll catch up with you later."
"Oh shit we need to put our money down on how many dude's day's Bonnie's going to ruin."
Ignoring the rest of what they were saying Kai called Bonnie's phone three times, the last going straight to voicemail before trying Caroline.
"Hey Kai, what's up?"
"Are you with Bonnie?"
"I…" she paused and stretched out the word, "…'m, not. Nope. Haven't seen her."
"Care I saw you both an hour ago. Give her the phone, please."
The phone shuffled around presumably being handed off and snatched angrily. "What?"
"Did you tell people we broke up?"
"Well you kind of knew that already since Care blurted it out on the porch."
"Did they tell anyone?"
"What? I don't – did you guys tell anyone else about me and Kai? No, they didn't."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, why?"
"Because the whole school knows, Bon."
"What? How?"
"I was hoping you would tell me. My Coven just came up and said they've heard it going around which means people think we're single which means you have to stay home."
"Why?"
"Because if guys start hitting on you I'm going to cut out their vocal cords."
"Okay just relax – and gross. Caroline did you post anything?"
"I… oh, no but now that you mention it I need to use my cell," Kai could hear on the other end.
"What did it say?"
"Nothing major just maybe something about my world ending because my favorite couple was sinking like the Titanic. But who would even know who I was talking about?"
"Everyone!" Kai's voice boomed through the phone throwing his cup of coffee on impulse watching it soar through the air and smash into the side of a building. "Damn it Caroline. I told the Gemini's that it was a lie and a stupid rumor because I don't want them knowing that. I don't want Emma running to Liam and my dad with this; they'll only dig into it deeper. If anyone comes up to you I want you to tell them it isn't true, can you do that?"
"But…"
"Bon if you say 'it is true' I'm going to come find you and we can have this conversation in person. Which will it be?"
"Hot," he heard one of her friends comment and Bonnie shushed them.
"Yeah, fine, I can do that."
"Okay, what is your schedule like today?"
"Why?"
"Because it's so much easier to stalk you when you tell me where you'll be."
"Kai I still don't want to be around you right now," she uttered quieter, more in his ear.
"Too bad."
"I'm not telling you."
"Can I talk to Caroline?"
"Do you take me for an idiot? You're just going to ask her instead. If anyone approaches me I will be sure to shoo them away, even though that's pretty ridiculous."
"It's not and it will be more convincing if we're seen together and not avoiding me. Are you here now?"
"No my first class isn't for another 40 minutes."
"Can I see you after?"
"Kai," she sighed listening to one of their shoes clicking on a sidewalk, "sure. Meet me outside of the library at 10."
"Okay I'll see you soon."
Hanging up Kai headed towards his first class, half listening while he stared at the clock bolting out of the room as soon as the professor gave the word. He had to give it to the Gemini's; the amount of attention he was receiving was unreal. He felt like a celebrity who didn't ask for the attention nor want it and had to let down two girls at once who thought he would be interested in taking them both out. How they thought that night would end out played through Kai's head the entire walk over to the library, finding Bonnie on the steps talking to a random guy.
"Yeah so I was just wondering, I know it's soon but I think you're beautiful and would love to-"
"Get your ass kicked by her boyfriend?" he finished sliding into the conversation, unable to help but laugh when he fumbled down the steps trying to run away from him.
"Don't be a jerk," Bonnie hissed storming up the steps with him close behind.
"A jerk would be doing what I said, I'm just threatening it," Kai cross-examined running up to the top to block her from going inside. "Can we talk?"
"What is it?"
"Forgive me," left his lips on its own volition and reached out to hold both hands. "Bon I'm sorry I kept this from you. Please, just forgive me so we can get past it."
"Kai this isn't something to just 'get past'," she countered pulling her arms back but he held on tighter, "you weren't even going to tell me about any of it. You made a decision that impacted the both of us."
"And you've never done that before?" Kai inquired stepping closer into her small amount of space.
"Maybe but it wasn't because I just didn't want you to know. I have good reasons behind my decisions."
"Same here," he protested letting go of one of her hands to run his fingers up her arm and down her back feeling her shiver in response. "I didn't want to lose you. And apparently I was right to be skeptical so just put me out of my misery already."
"Kai it's been one day."
"I know," he said irritated hearing the sadness in his voice and leaned in, a rumble in his chest stirring when she wrenched backwards.
"I can't."
"Yes you can," Kai whispered so close Bonnie had to crane her head up to meet his gaze and wrapped her up in his arms. "I love you."
The steely resolve reflecting back at him hardened and felt her body stiffen in his hold, brows furrowing to the point of feeling pressure between his eyes.
"I can't tell you what you want to hear. I won't make a big show of it but we can't act like we've always been. I can't fake it."
"It's not faking it when what you're feeling is real."
"You know what I mean."
"Nothing you've said has made any sense to me since last night. I'm not even sure if you believe what you're saying."
"Well I do, so," she shrugged off but he wasn't convinced. "I need to get inside, I'll see you later?"
"Bon," he breathed, squeezing her tighter before begrudgingly letting go. "Don't give up on us."
Kai's eyes widened surprised to see her lids well up with tears looking to the ground and taking a few steps back, lifting her gaze to smile before disappearing through the library doors. Shoving his hands into his pockets he trotted down the steps avoiding the various onlookers, floating through the day in such a haze he wasn't sure if he had retained a single piece of information from any class.
"Has anyone told you that you looked good today, because they'd be lying," wisecracked beside him, lifting his head to see Anna in step with him.
"No but girls keep coming up to talk to me so they're really messing with my inflated ego," he came back with laughing together.
"So how's your day been going?"
"Are you asking to see where you fall in the bet so far?" he quizzed earning a big grin in response.
"Of course not, what kind of girl do you think I am?"
"Similar to your sister, I would imagine. And… seven."
"Oh come on I need my fellow hormone-crazed college ladies to step up and represent so I can get that money. Lucky thirteen baby, I mean it's in the name."
"You're nuts."
"So nuts I'm willing to split my winnings with you if you throw a flirty grin at a girl every once in a while?" she asked looking so hopeful and competitive Kai dissolved into chortles. "So that's a yeeees?"
"Yeah – exactly like Ash."
"I'll take that as half a compliment."
"You can accept it as a full one, it's a good thing," he commended with a bright smile and she flashed one back at him.
"So where are you headed?"
"Dining Hall, I'm starving."
"Cool, me too. I'm meeting up with some of the guys. Want to join?"
"Sounds good."
Pushing through the double doors the two momentarily split up to get separate meals only for Kai to get blocked off by the Queen Bee in the middle of the Hall, strutting up to him in a black tight-fitted long sleeve belly shirt, green mini skirt, and heels.
"Hey, stud."
"Hi Nicolette, I have a feeling I know why you're here and–"
"Oh don't be silly," she cooed stepping closer and running her hand down his chest, pulling at the zipper drawing it down halfway. "You know exactly why I'm here."
"I know what you heard but I have a girlfriend. You've met her. Bonnie Bennett, sound familiar?"
"Vaguely, but what rings out clear as bells is what her her best friend Caroline Forbes tweeted then deleted but not before I took a screenshot." She pulled out her phone finding the proof in seconds, clearing her throat before reading in a high-pitched voice. "It may feel like the world is ending watching my match made in Heaven sink like the Titanic, but I will go down with this ship! #RIPbonkai #myheartwillgoon"
"Most of those references just went right over my head."
"You've never seen Titanic?"
"They made a movie off of that?"
"That information is almost as alarming as this tweet which of course I had to forward to the necessary people."
"You're the one that started this rumor?"
"Mm is it really a rumor if it's true?" Nicolette toyed with the string of his sweatshirt twirling it around her finger and he reached up to stop her, gently drawing her hand away.
"She was misinformed, as are you."
Clucking her tongue she tilted her head pouting her red lips up at him, staring off to their side and lips curled up deviously. Following where she was looking his eyes stopped on Bonnie standing at the entrance with her friends, glaring at the girl beside him.
"I don't know, from where I'm standing it looks like little Bonita's feeling the jealousy of other ladies prowling around what she carelessly left behind."
"So now I'm the dumpee? That's harsh."
"I know, nearly unfathomable if you ask me. So I know this is presumptuous of me but the yearly Charitable Bachelor Auction for the Medical Wing is coming up next week. They're trying to raise enough money to add-on a free clinic open to the public run by Pre-Med students. Are you interested?"
"I'm not a bachelor."
"Sure, and Johnny Depp isn't one of the sexiest men alive. Like I said, you've got a week to mull it over and come to your senses. You could really round up some money."
"I'm not interested, but thanks," Kai rebuffed stepping back to put a foot of distance between them but miss thing just slunk closer, grabbing hold of his forearm and scribbling digits across his palm in pen.
"In case you change your mind – about anything."
"I don't think my girlfriend will like this very much," he simpered sensing where she is in the room without having to look.
"Well let's go see." Striding across the Hall swaying with each rock of her heel the fiery redhead strode up to the girls now with Cooper beside them, Kai being the last to arrive. "Hey there chickas, and one of Kai's very attractive friends from home. Actually that reminds me what's with the Gemini thing? I've heard a few of you use the term are you all like… twins or something?"
"No it's uh, our old high school's mascot. We were big time into the school spirit and all that," Cooper lied with ease, presuming he's used that as the excuse for letting the word slip around other people.
"Oh, okay. Well anyway I just wanted to come in and check with you Care-bear, see how you were dealing with the loss of your favorite sinking ship."
"It was you," the spicy blonde seethed with a squinted glare and crossed her arms, "I may have gotten a little too ahead of myself and I take full responsibility – for that. Getting it blown up around the school is all you."
"What can I say? Great news travels fast. Which brings me to you," the Queen Bee stared down the Bennett witch, both standing their ground. "I hope you don't mind but I gave Kai my number in case he decides to sign up for the Bachelor Auction next week."
Slowly everyone craned their necks in Bonnie's direction, watching every microscopic reaction flicker across her face. Looking over Nicolette's shoulder to him Kai tried pleading with minimal expressions to corroborate his story for the both of them.
"But he's not a bachelor."
The wolfish grin spread wide across his face bearing his teeth unable to hide his delight hearing Bon say the words, even if she was unsure if she fully meant them. The lack of conviction was plain to see on the popular girls face but it was enough bait to keep her hooked, giggling and throwing her hair over a shoulder as she sashayed away from them.
"Thanks again Care, really appreciate all of the confusion today," Kai remarked taking note of the flush of discomfort burning her cheeks and shrank down a few inches saying in a quiet, softer voice differing from her own.
"I was emotional I can't help it. Don't tell me things. No wait I don't mean that. Just… make sure you know who you're talking to I don't know if you noticed but I can get a bit ahead of myself sometimes."
"Just a bit," he agreed looking from one friend to the next landing on his favorite of the bunch, green orbs staring straight into his soul. "Well I told Anna I'd have lunch with her and the guys, do you want to join?"
"No thank you," Bonnie spoke up before the rest could put in their input, eyes shifting around each other nodding awkwardly along with what she said.
"Actually I was hoping to steal you away and go off campus and grab a bite if you were interested," Cooper suggested to Elena, the two looking very buddy-buddy saddled up close and she gave him what Kai assumed was a flirtatious smile.
"A bite sounds delicious."
Snorting at the bloodsucker innuendo his eyes widened noticing how loud the sound was, the constant exhaustion from the last few nights throwing him off his game and letting dumb things like that slip. "I'll bet. Why don't you kids get out of here and go take a bite out of whatever you're feeling. Just watch out for her, the fangs on her-"
Eager to finish off his sentence Elena looked like she was about to let out her split personality to lay ruin to Kai's face but he was having too long of a day already. He needed a little amusement even if he was the only one that was enjoying it. Leaving the premises with Coop, Bonnie and Caroline quickly high tailed it in the other direction gritting his teeth that he can't just pull her in for a kiss goodbye like he's become so used to. Eventually making it over to the other side Kai grabbed a few slices of pizza and bottle of Gatorade retreating to the Gemini's table getting a small pick me up for the first time today. It was only a matter of time until he passed out in one of his classes and as his unfortunate luck would have it, it was Chemistry… again.
"Mr. Parker!" Boomed off the walls and Kai jumped to his feet scanning his surroundings seeing his chair was tipped over along with the heavy microscope that you stick the little blood samples on. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"Sorry Miss McHugh," he yawned picking up the items.
"No twice in one week is unacceptable. Get to the front of the class. Switch partners with Mr. Roche."
Looking up to where the kid was sitting Kai let out a big toothy grin seeing Elena turn in her chair to give him a death glare – locating his new partner.
"If you insist," he shrugged grabbing his books and moseying to the front table sliding in beside her. "Howdy partner."
"Great, I'm going to be working with highly combustible chemicals with the guy who can't keep his eyes open during lab."
"At least you know I won't be that bothersome overachiever that takes over and steals all the credit. Come to think of it that's probably you, isn't it?"
"This is going to suck."
"Speaking of sucking how was lunch with Cooper?" Kai teased lighting up at the flare of fire sparking to life in her demeanor.
"You can't be making jokes like that, someone could overhear. Or Cody could put it together and I don't know what we even are let alone if I want to tell him I'm –"Elena broke off staring at him like he had grown another head in the last eight seconds. "Why am I even discussing this with you?"
"I'm easy to talk to. You'll see."
"Doubtful."
"Well you racked up a lot more mono e mono time with me, lab buddy."
"Kill me."
"Easier said than done. But frying your brain? Check," the expression turned from fiery to wicked, raising his forearms up like she was the Police. "Easy killer, I'm just messing with you. Come on Bon's barely talked to me all day I'm bored."
"And pretty dead on your feet, but sleeping outside all night can do that to you."
"She told you that?"
"Caroline. Why didn't you just go to the dorms?"
"Well if she opened the door to let me back in and I was in my dorm room I wouldn't have known, now would I?"
"But she didn't…"
"Can't win 'em all," Kai played down, biting the inside of his cheek as his vision glossed over seeing fragments of last night's discussion being played out. "So where should we start first?"
"Well I'm guessing you didn't have a chance to look in the microscope before you passed out on top of it so here, study the blood cells."
"Okay," he murmured watching the tiny cells float around, jotting down some notes in comfortable silence.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Does your Cov – or, the Gemini's, know about… you know, vampires?" Elena whispered and he lifted the corner of his mouth closest to her with one eye still looking in the microscope.
"Yes."
"What do they know? Or how do they feel about them? Do they think we're like Dracula or more Twilight based?"
"I have no idea what Twilight is but we're traditionally pretty old school. Remember, my dad was our leader for the last forty some odd years so a lot of what they learned was through him."
"Your dad seems like an ass," she spat and Kai lifted his head looking to his left, lips curving seeing the genuine anger behind the words.
"That might be the first thing we've agreed on. Aside from you being better without that brooding Salvatore attached to you."
"Technically Stefan was considered the brooding one but still, fair point," Elena concurred switching out the blood sample with another. "So then they're all still living in 1863 wanting to hunt us down and drive a stake through our hearts."
"We might be a group of witches but that doesn't mean there was much else in the supernatural department going on around us. Before I turned 22 we had to follow pretty strict rules, most tedious and mundane and revolved around practicing basic skills."
"Boring."
"Oh yeah. So when I took over I loosened the reigns and gave them more freedom to roam and learn and split off into circles to practice together since we draw off of each other's energy. Vampires, werewolves, and mummies haven't been tacked onto the discussion board yet but give it time."
"Yeah," she fretted playing with a few miscellaneous items on the lab table seeming more off than usual.
"What's up, why the sudden intrigue?"
"It's been on my mind a lot lately. I don't know everything with you and Bonnie has just magnified it. You two seemed pretty solid-"
"We are."
"But everything you guys discovered is a lot, you know? Shakes the very foundation of what you have, of what it all means. I'm just worried if you can't work it out then it's a longshot for Cody and I."
"Me and Bon are going to work this out, Elena. It's a slightly complex obstacle to get through but I excel at those things. You and Cooper seem to be having a good time, learning things about each other; you already know his supernatural secret so it seems only fair you tell him yours. I mean he's bound to find out anyway, right? I don't know how that type of pair works but you and Stefan seemed to last a while."
"Up until I was turned."
"Well then there you go. It's possible. And you were full on human when you found that out; Coop's already half in the magical bag and knows to a certain degree about the paranormal. It could be worse."
"Believe it or not that sort of made me feel somewhat better. Thanks, I guess."
"You're welcome, I guess," Kai teased back turning his attention back to the blood slides.
Even though she was towards the bottom of the barrel for options of Bon's friends to socialize with, Elena was one of the two closest people in her life. And since she was making progress on integrating herself with a certain Gemini he was going to have to make more room in his life for her to fit in to – even if it was in back recesses of his mind. Not for nothing Elena was pretty good with the microscope and the chapter they were covering too, answering everything Kai was throwing her way at first to mess with her and then it turned into a quick cram session absorbing most of the information. Kai had to hand it to her; she'd make a decent tutor.
"I don't know if I can believe that really just happened," Elena commented walking a step ahead of him out of class.
"What?"
"You weren't so, you know… you."
"Well that really cleared things up for me."
"I just mean you're usually sarcastic all the time and have a lot of personality going on and in there you were almost like a regular guy."
"I take that as an insult," he feigned flabbergasted keeping in step with her, "but you seemed borderline normal too, which was weird."
"Totally bizarre."
"Bon must see something pretty average in us then," Kai boasted puffing his chest out, pleasantly taken aback hearing her chuckling in response.
"So just to clarify, you don't think Cody will freak out and try to kill me if I tell him what I really am?"
"I mean I'm not saying that, that could without a doubt be his course of action but you seem like a pretty smart resourceful girl, I'm sure you'll come up with something. Tell you what; if it'd help I'll be there when you tell him. I'll be sure to let him know that the biting isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"I know you're joking but that would actually be pretty helpful, thanks."
"No problem, just tell me when and where."
Parting ways Kai tried to keep himself busy through the day; being a responsible student, getting in an afternoon workout with the guys and even spending a few hours at their house before heading back to Sheila's. What he didn't expect to see when he pulled into the driveway was Bonnie sitting outside on the steps, presumably waiting for him. Hopping out of the driver's seat his heart pounded in his throat with each step sitting on the step beside her, next to a packed bag.
"I'm going to stay with my friends for a few days. You can stay here while you get your things together and everything in order."
Kai studied the way Bon was carrying herself; staring straight ahead to avoid contact and spoke methodical like she was reading groceries off a list.
"Do we really have to do this?"
"Yes."
"I don't want to and I know you don't either. Something was different with you today. I know you're angry at me for keeping this from you but you seemed… cold. Distant. And I don't know what to do. I just want to fix this. Don't you?"
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts; do you still want to be with me?"
"You know that's not the question we need to be asking, it's should we still be together."
"I already know that answer," pivoting to face her fully her dainty hands got swallowed up by his massive ones. "I need to hear you say it."
Meeting his fixated gaze the cracks in Bonnie's calculated emotionless approach began to show, her eyes scanning over every inch of his face seeming lost in thought. Even after all this time Kai had to continuously talk himself out of casting a telepathy spell to cut out all of the guess work and have somewhat of an understanding on what goes on in that giant brain of hers. Sometimes she stared at him with such depth, seemingly fascinated and engrossed by what she's seeing that he wondered if she ever looked at Jeremy or anyone else this way, making them feel like they were the only person she could see.
"I want to be with you, but that doesn't change anything."
"I want to keep you safe, and protect you. I want to fall asleep next to you every night. I want to be with you too. I also want to go back in time and stop Qetsiyah from going full-fledged revenge of a scorned ex-lover but I know that's not possible. Neither is us breaking up and pretending that we can bury everything we feel about each other. If we do this right, we can still be happy."
The last word appeared to have struck a chord in her, the severity of the state of affairs weighing heavily on both of their minds. By staying with him Bonnie was risking her happily ever after and facing another potential heartache and he understood why that gave her reservations, but Kai had so much more to lose. Staring down a double-ended barrel he was looking at losing his powers and severing the entire Gemini Coven or coming head on with something he never thought he was going to experience, a broken heart. A notion that he once believed was never going to be in the cards for him in this lifetime since he couldn't give his heart out to begin with or care if someone tossed it aside was now creeping up to bite him in the ass.
Up until very recently given the option of love or power Kai chose door number two without hesitation, never questioning if he could be making the wrong choice until he realized the love that he would be losing is Bonnie. Being deprived of her laughter and her light. The energy that she surrounds you with making you feel secure, and like you're home. The peacefulness that she exudes and her beauty from the inside out. Being with Bon was like stepping outside and inhaling the fresh air into your lungs after being trapped inside a house like an agoraphobic for four years. She was the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, the way out of eternal damnation, and Kai needed her.
Lost in his own thoughts he hadn't registered that his fevered mind had made him physically act out until he felt Bonnie's lips responding to his. No matter what came about because of this damn spell not having her in his life wasn't an option anymore. Just the thought of it was enough to make Kai feel like he was going to puke. Holding back as much as he could manage, his commanding dominance that seeps into the atmosphere was thick like fog. The need to take control and make Bon see the truth and admit out loud what he already knows was so fierce his hands began to shake. Power and influence were two traits Kai has grown to master, sometimes a little too well especially when it came down to getting something he wants. And he rarely walked away empty handed.
"No!" she gasped removing her lips by force off of his propelling off the steps. "You can't just kiss me and make me forget."
"I'm making you remember," Kai reasoned scrunching up his brows and rose to his feet, stalking towards her slowly down the steps onto the walkway. "That you love me. That you chose me – and that there's no escaping me. You dug your nails in too deep."
"I can't do this tonight," she murmured with a shake of her head, backing up while he continued forth.
"Why not? Because you know I'm right? You don't want to make the decision that's in your heart – in your gut, because your brain is telling you to run from something that was created hundreds of years ago."
"I won't risk it," left Bonnie's lips, quick, like her decision was set in stone and the tenacity spiked Kai's temperature feeling the heat slither up his body.
"I didn't take you for a quitter."
"It's not quitting if I choose to walk away instead of facing the alternative."
"Which would be?" he implored, towering over her small frame from coming up on her so abruptly.
"Heartache, loss, and devastation," she ticked off her fingers, wiggling them, "plus the dismantlement of your Coven."
"So it's easier for you to walk away from me?" Waiting for a response that wasn't coming, Kai's vision narrowed as his peripheral darkened, spots appearing around the edges. His throat tightened to the extent of having difficulty breathing and his heart wouldn't stop racing spiking lightheadedness. His body knew the symptoms well; he was fighting off an oncoming panic attack. "You know for a girl who is so scared to get her heart broken again you sure don't seem to mind doing the breaking."
From the expression that washed over her features Kai believed Bonnie wouldn't have looked as stunned if a plane flew straight into Sheila's house. Her mouth popped open hearing a small pained sound escape followed by her lids brimming to the top with tears, staggering back a step. When she lifted her hand to reach up and adjust her necklace Kai noticed it was trembling, and that she was still wearing the ring. His heart banged all around his ribcage feeling so torn wanting to comfort Bon and wipe the affliction off of her face even if she was putting him through Hell.
"I don't want to hurt you."
The anguish in her voice was so prominent it cracked at the end finishing with something between a squeak and a whimper and the sound destroyed Kai from within. Reaching out he ignored her weak attempts at swatting him away and wrapped her up in his arms squeezing so tightly he was certain she had to have been holding her breath. This girl was going out of her way to try and rip off the Band-Aid with minimal damage but apparently Kai preferred the slow, agonizing approach that scarred him up irreparably.
"Then stop trying to dump me. You're starting to hurt my feelings."
The light remark brought an unexpected bark of a laugh protruding straight from Bonnie's lungs, the jolt running through her body bringing forth a round of jitters with it. Craning his head back to look down Kai's entire chest ached becoming aware that the jitters were really sobs and she was trying and failing to not fall apart in his arms. Exuding with self-assurance and independence it always threw him for a loop when Bon's vulnerability broke through the surface showing how susceptible she was to getting hurt. Sometimes it took Kai a minute to remember she was only twenty-one and just a few short years ago she was in high school dealing with all of the drama that came along with it.
"This is the only way."
"You know that's not true."
"We can cause a ripple effect that'll lead to something even worse."
"There is nothing worse," Kai stated flaring up with heat and cupped the sides of her neck, unable to look away. "I haven't worked this hard in my life to come up short right when I'm about to have it all. I won't let anyone take that away from me, not even you."
"I'm – I'm not trying to. I don't want to take anything away from you or be the cause of you missing out, that's the whole point. I want you to be safe too."
"I am," his voice was coated in gruff, his emotions flying off the handles the last few days. "I'm safe with you, Bon."
Kai could feel her erratic heartbeat pulsating against his palms, her petite frame curling into him even farther shielding her face out of view. Movement in his peripheral caught his attention, turning in the direction of a pair of gloomy faces staring back at him as they walked closer. Both paused once they hit the bottom of the walkway, neither seeming to want to make the first move until the brunette took the leap.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," trickled through the silence and he loosened his group so Bonnie could turn to face them, "we tried calling. We were going to catch that movie and just wanted to make sure you still wanted to come but we can come back later."
"No, it's okay," Bon sniffed removing herself from his arms, the loss of warmth sending an uncomfortable chill down his spine. "I just need to grab my bag I'll be right back."
Retreating into the room Kai shoved his hands in his front pocket, blowing at a rough sound and turning to the girl's right in front of him. "How's it going?"
"Any progress?"
"Did she come to her senses yet?"
A corner of his mouth turned up in appreciation seeing her friends were more in favor of them together, ergo making them on his side in the matter. Shaking his head Kai couldn't find the right words to explain any of what he was feeling or hoping to get around this and they didn't seem to need the verbal confirmation to understand where his head was at.
"Don't worry; she's just the most stubborn person we've ever met."
"Oh I know," he smirked looking over his shoulder to the front door opening, "nothing I can't handle."
Walking past the group Bonnie put a few bags in the back seat of her car and hovered at the driver's side door waiting for her friends but not wanting to come back over to the group. Taking the initiative Kai went to where she was and put his hand against the door frame near the side of her head, casually placing the right one on the other side caging her in.
"So… I'll see you tomorrow?" her voice was higher, breezy; insincere.
"And the next day, and the day after that, and the one after that."
Leaning in so there was only a few measly inches separating them he didn't pressure her for a kiss, instead breathing in the comfort feeling the ease wash over him whenever they were this close. Resting his forehead briefly on hers he watched Bon's eyes close opening them back up glossed over. Pushing himself backwards Kai gave her enough room to open the door and slip inside the driver's seat, giving her crestfallen friend's another smile and wave goodbye watching them drive off. No matter what Bonnie believed about all of this and how they should respond to it, he wasn't going anywhere. Soon enough she will come to terms with it too.
