Chapter Ten

Anobrain

Bonnie never gets worried about anything. She tries to be cool and calm about everything in her life. Except when her parents remarried. Or when Jamie left and joined the army. Worse was when her Grams died. Bonnie would usually hide away, she stays locked up in her room crying and listening to sad songs. The first person to always check on her was Caroline. The blonde would beg Bonnie to get out of the house, to come over for a sleepover, or get out of town for a spa day. Meanwhile Bonnie would never hear from Elena, the other girl would claim she was giving Bonnie space. When Bonnie opens up her social media, she'd find pictures of Elena with Stefan and Damon hanging out at the mall or at her parents' lake house with Aunt Jenna and Mr. Saltzman.

Soon Bonnie realized Elena was just selfish, and never cared much for her, except as her black friend who was a disposable accessory. Bonnie was only good enough for Elena because her father just happened to be the Mayor and mother was the school's principal. Soon enough Bonnie made her own friends outside of Elena. Greta and Luka Martin were her saving grace. Greta also introduced Bonnie to other black girls in the area so Bonnie was no longer alone. Her friends never judged her for seeking out her own people, minus Elena who thought Bonnie shouldn't associate with peasants beneath her. Bonnie realized that it was only a matter of time before her and Elena's friendship came to a striking end.

One thing she never thought would happen was her and Caroline having a falling out. Because that was just unlike Caroline to ignore her, that was Elena's move. This time Bonnie knew this was her fault, she's been so focused on dating Kai and Lucy's return, she hasn't reached out to Caroline, and forgot her birthday.

"Bonnie, Caroline's here." her mother bellowed from downstairs.

This was surprising, it didn't take her too long to rush downstairs, not even bothering to change into some clothes. With her robe and face mask still on. Bonnie made her way down into the parlor and she saw Caroline's with a grimace look on her face.

"Hi." Her voice was soft but her breathing seemed jagged.

"How are you?"

Bonnie could practically see all of Caroline's emotions in every inch of her face. "My dad died last night."

Bill Forbes was Caroline's rock even after her parents split up because the Sheriff found out about his affair with another man, named Steven. Caroline didn't care, she loved her father more than anything, a lot of that was due to her mother giving her a hard time growing up and Bill on the other hand being her support system.

"Care, I'm so sorry. What happened?" Carefully, Bonnie ushered her into the living room and the two sat side by side on the sofa.

Caroline didn't answer her, she just drew her knees up to her chin, closing her eyes. Bonnie noticed her shoulders were shaking, she soon saw the tears falling out of her friend's eyes.

Slowly and softly, Bonnie brushed her long wavy blonde hair away from her pale face. Caroline didn't look at her, just stared straight ahead. When she did speak, her voice was low and unearthly, "He was murdered."

Her response caught Bonnie by surprise. "Murdered?"

She ran her hands through her hair and stood up. "Dad came into town for my birthday. Just him, at first he said he was only staying for a couple days. Then he was here for at least two week. I asked mom what was going on, she told me that he and Steven broke up, he needed a place to crash." she breathed on a sigh, "Last night, mom came home, covered in blood. She found his body outside the sheriff station, someone killed him and placed his body there for her to find."

Bonnie just frowned teary at her friend. Fear knotted in her stomach at that moment and she felt sick. Bill was a founding family member like the Gilberts and Lockwoods were, this was going to open up old wounds for everyone.

"Listen, Care" she sighed and spoke softly. "Stay over this weekend. We can watch whatever you like, hang around, I'll tell Lucy to come over and Greta too." Caroline thought the world of Lucy Bennett. Everyone in town did, except maybe Gail Salvatore and her father.

Caroline nodded lightly. "I'd like that."

Bonnie made her way back to her friend's side, touching her face. Caroline's eyes were stung, her vision was getting blurry as she stared back into those green eyes. This wasn't the reunion with Caroline she was looking for, and she regretted that it had to be this way.

"Holy shit."

Lucy Bennett, his boss growled to herself, as she was reading something off her phone. "Greta, get in here quick." The other girl raced into the room where Kai and Lucy were working at.

Frustrated Lucy ran a hand through her long length brown copper hair, staring out the bay framed window. "I got Bonnie's text. Is it true?" Greta's voice was hurt.

"The sheriff just released a statement to the town." She muttered while her teeth clanked against each other. "William Forbes was murdered in town last night."

Kai perked up suddenly, "Forbes, as in sheriff and Caroline?"

"Caroline's father, he was a founding family member. Lucy, you don't think?" Greta's eyes flashed dangerously and Kai looked over to see Lucy struggling to find words.

Sighing, the older woman looked down. "Probably, according to the Sheriff Forbes, Bill was only in town for three weeks. Had to be someone who knows his history, had to be the same person."

Kai had no idea what was happening in front of him. The two women spoke as if he wasn't there. His mind lingered on Forbes being founding family members, like the Gilberts, who were almost extinct except Jeremy. Did this have anything to do with them.

"You two know what's going on, don't you? More than anyone else? What happened to that Gilbert girl, does it have something to do with Caroline's dad?"

Greta licked her lips but her mouth had gone so dry that there wasn't any saliva. "Should we tell him?"

Lucy nodded, though she grew concerned. "Not just that but this might have something to do with your high school burning down."

Kai leaned back in his seat, his dark eyes danced over her face, studying her. "I signed up for something else didn't I?" His work studies at the Founder Library was getting more interesting. Greta gave him books on the Mystic Falls Founding Family, as well as the history of Grove Hill. Lucy had given him a journal written by Johnathan Gilbert, she'd been testing him, this wasn't some internship on supernatural theories. These women were working on cold case mysteries that've been happening in Mystic Falls for decades.

"Tell me the truth" he prodded. "What do you two actually do here?"

Greta took a deep breath, standing closer to his desk. "Sheila Bennett, started looking into the strange killings that's been happening around our town, between Mystic Falls, Whitmore and Grove Hill, people have been killed and the killers have never been found. It seems like it's related to the Gilberts, it's like they're…"

"They're cursed." Lucy admitted. "Our families first came here working for the Gilberts back during slavery." Kai swallowed as she spoke her truth. "Johnathan Gilbert raped our great great great-grandmother Emily Bennet, while having an affair with another colored woman named Pearl Zhu. This could have led to his downfall. Neithertheless Sheila started researching the family history with us and the Gilbert, found some incriminating stuff on the Lockwoods, Forbes, and Salvatores. Incest, rape, murder-sucide, even cannibalism." Greta glanced over at him, she looked anxious.

"So you hired me because?" he spoke up when several seconds had passed in silence. Kai's patience wore thin the longer Lucy remained quiet. "Lucy, why am I here?"

"Not because of that silly little essay you wrote in the sixth grade." she said to him quietly.

Kai looked comical in his confusion.

"Sheila had a file on your family. On the Parkers in Portland. They are the only family not from Virginia that she had anything on. When Bonnie gave me your application, I did a background check. Sheila was investigating your family too."

He tore his gaze away from the pair.

"We don't know much yet," Greta interrupted, her face was bright red. "There's just so much we haven't gotten through. The Maxfield family and St. Johns. Maggie was working on that, but now that she's gone back to Whitmore."

Kai didn't know much about the girl he was covering except she had a kid recently. "Listen, Bonnie can't know of any of this. Not her or anyone else. Just the three of us."

His head was pounding, "Why me?"

"You remind us of someone." Kai stared at Lucy and Greta hard.

His right hand stroked the arm of the chair as he responded. "Who?"

"Damon Salvatore."

Kai took a shuddering breath as the coldness hit him.

Kai couldn't sleep, it's been a week since Lucy and Greta gave him that awful news. He attended Bill Forbes funeral with his family. It was cold and damp, Sheriff Forbes and Caroline had the whole town attending, many of the townsfolk shared wonderful stories about the family. Kai couldn't help but think negatively about this whole ordeal, Mr. Forbes must have done something to get him killed. He believed all the founding family had blood on their hands except the children. But he didn't want to get involved. He didn't want to get himself wrapped up into this mess that could lead to him getting killed as well.

Kai wanted to quit on Lucy, he wanted to forget everything she told him. Except she had information on his family. Somehow Sheila Bennett was looking in on the Parkers. His father never told him why they moved after the twins were born, and what made his parents decide to move to Virginia, on the outskirts of Mystic Falls. Their home and life in Portland was much better than Grove Hill.

Now Kai believes his father was running away from something and someone. His curiosity was getting the better of him. When he saw Jeremy at Forbes's funeral, he could see the pain and hurt in the other boy's face as he stood by Mr. Saltzman's side. He also watched Bonnie with her own parents, the girl cried on her mother's shoulder as Caroline sang a song for her deceased father. Everyone was mourning the death of Bill Forbes as though he were their own family member. Kai really didn't want to dig deep into this. It was affecting his relationship with Bonnie, the two haven't spoken to each other since Mr. Forbes died, just a text message here and there.

Kai didn't want to keep this secret from Bonnie. But how could he tell her this.

Once it was after midnight, he made his way down to the kitchen. When he arrived he saw Luke placing the kettle on.

"Couldn't sleep huh?" Luke called out, miserably.

Kai took a seat at the table, shrugging his shoulders. "Been a rough week." Even though it was Sunday, Kai knew he had to make his decision in the next 24 hours before work tomorrow.

Luke turned slightly and glanced down at his older brother. Then he offered him a tiny skewed smile. "Jer… I mean Van Gogh told me you spoke with him." Kai picked up on the codename for Gilbert.

"Just making sure no one gives you a hard time." he replied honestly, rubbing his forehead.

Luke brought two holiday mugs to the table before turning the heat off the kettle - right as it was about to whistle. "Thanks, we're on good terms again. Jo got me that tutoring gig, he needed help in Trigonometry. We mainly hang at Alaric's spot, he knows the deal, he's cool with it."

Kai thought that was pretty nice of Mr. Saltzman, he probably doesn't want Jeremy to be alone anymore. He watched the steam rise from the mug as Luke poured the water. "That's good, I'm glad things are working out for you."

"Dad's not on my case as much. I told him about Rebekah Mikaelson asking me to tutor her, he's probably planning our wedding." Luke muttered, cupping the warm mug in his hands.

Kai snorted at his brother's words and watched him take a seat in the chair beside him. "Double wedding with me and Bonnie probably."

Luke nodded and chuckled. "He'll never understand us. He won't try nor will mom. I can't wait to leave this backwards ass town."

"What about Jer… Van Gogh?"

Luke took a sip of his tea and frowned. "He has Anna in Boston, waiting for him."

"You knew that, he didn't string you along." Kai told him. "He's straight."

"Maybe not."

Kai took pity on his brother. "Luke, what's going on?"

"Jer." The shortened name sounded heavy from Luke's mouth. "He kissed me last night." Luke's disappointment was palpable, though he continued. "I was completely caught off guard by him, at first but then he did it a second time-"

"If dad finds out, you're fucked." Kai interrupted, eyes burning as he glared at Luke. "I'm only looking out for you. Cut ties with him, move on. You got another year and a half with mom and dad, Jo and I won't be here next year to protect you and Liv. Be smart about this."

Luke frowned, his lower lip beginning to tremble. "Fuck any chance of me being happy. Meanwhile you get the Principal's daughter, Liv is dating a fucking cornerback, and Jo lapping it up with Kol Mikaelson."

Kai's face was flushed, and he was suddenly angry, "Josie and Kol?"

Wiping at his eyes, Luke stood from the table. "Who do you think she's tutoring in history for Mr. Saltzman." he told his brother, as started out the kitchen window. "The three of you get to be daddy's little angel and I'm left being the outsider because once again I like a boy."

Kai finally stood up and grabbed his brother's elbow. "Luke, I'm sorry man. It's not fair, but for what it's worth. I hope things do work out between you and Van Gogh." he offered up a smile.

Removing his gaze from the window, Luke nodded.

Kai had a feeling he would soon have to come face to face with Kol Mikaelson. At least now he knew his answer for Lucy Bennett.

So it begins. Kai knows the truth. Jo is datings Kol Mikaelson. Jeremy finally made a move on Luke. Bill Forbes has been murdered and his death could be connected to the Gilbert families murders, like Jenna, John and Elena. Next chapter Kai struggles with the truth and Bonnie notices a rift between them.