【 2 】

'I can't believe we're over.' Elena said somewhat monotone. We were lying out on the hood of her car while the sun began to set before us. I've been out here with her for almost two hours in silence. That's all Elena had been the past thirty-six hours.

Silent.

This was the first thing she had uttered since I came home from dropping Damon off at the airport. 'I know…me either.' I sighed out. Suddenly, Elena sat up, staring down at me with expectant, pained eyes.

'How could I have been so stupid? How did I miss this?'

I shot up and turned to her with a firm expression. 'Hey, look at me.' Her sad eyes lifted. 'You are not stupid, okay? No one saw this coming, not even Damon.' I watch her uncharacteristically dull eyes trail out towards the disappearing sun. My heart clenched. I hated seeing Elena like this. 'I know it hurts right now and things are going to suck for a bit…' I grasp her hand resting on the hood and squeezed as she looked to me. 'You're going to get through this. Just take it day by day, you know?' I playfully bump shoulders with her, desperate to see her smile again. 'Who knows? Before you know it, you'll have a new beau- preferably one that doesn't bathe himself in AXE every morning.'

Elena chokes out a laugh, despite the tears welling up in her eyes, making me grin. She turned to me with a cheeky grin. 'He does wear a lot of cologne, doesn't he?'

I roll my eyes playfully. 'Now you notice?'

She laughed again for a bit and then her face grew serious. She shook her head, gazing at me head on. 'No, Bon. I'm..I'm done with guys.'

I'm pretty sure my brain short-circuited after that as hundreds interpretations of that statement tried to process in my head. Was Elena considering..? No, of course she wasn't. No way. But what if she-

But nothing! It's not going to happen. Even if she was serious…I couldn't do that to Damon. No matter how strongly I felt about her. I can't. This is the time to be a comforting friend, not some love-sick weirdo. I just need to get a handle on myself and not be weird. Yeah, not be weird. I can do that. Though, judging by the looks Elena was shooting me…I was failing miserably.

'Bon, are you okay? You looked a little freaked out.'

I coughed awkwardly, while trying to neutralize my face. 'Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.'

Elena looked unconvinced, leaning closer to me with a small frown of concern. 'Are you sure?'

'Yeah, didn't really have much time to eat anything with everything going on…probably just a little light-headed.'

Her frown deepened as she sat up fully. 'Bonnie, you need to eat!' Her mothering instinct kicking in full throttle, made me grin and fixed her with an arched brow.

'Have you eaten?' I countered. She looks down sheepishly, tucking some hair behind her ear.

"Not really." She admitted softly. I nodded before hopping off the car and holding my hand out for her to grab.

"Take-out from the Grill?"

Her smile brightens. Not a lot, but enough for me.

:::

'Where have you been?' Nalia's looking at me with a small frown from her place curled up on the couch. I drop my bag at the door as I come into the living room.

'Hanging with Elena.'

Her brows creased as she sat up. 'But her and Damon broke up.'

My brow quirked as I sat down beside her, snagging a blanket from the adjacent couch. 'I remember Friday…'

'Then why are you hanging out with her? We're supposed to be on Damon's side.'

'Hey.' I say holding a finger up. 'For starters, Damon broke up with her. There are no sides. Plus, Elena and I have been friends way longer than she and Damon have been dating.'

Nalia began to look put out as she crossed her arms. 'There are sides and ours is Damon's. You can't hang out with his ex girlfriend.'

I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me. 'Okay, Nalia. That's not how the world works. When you get older, you'll understand that.'

She shot up from the couch with her signature scrunched up pout firmly in place. 'Don't talk to me like I'm a little kid!'

After spending most my day comforting Elena, I wasn't in the mood to placate one of Nalia's various temper tantrums. 'Well, you are and you're definitely acting like one.'

'Whatever, I'm bored.' She flopped back down onto the couch. 'I wish Damon was here.' Her impact made the notebook, pencils and my phone tumble to the floor.

'Seriously?' I groan, reaching down to grab my phone. 'What, your doodles not keeping you entertained enough?' I picked up the notebook to see Donald scribbled in the center with hearts and butterflies surrounding it. I bite my lip, failing to hold back a grin.

'Hey!' She lunged at me. 'Give me that!'

'Somebody's in love.' I singsong as she snatched the notebook out of my hand. 'That's so cute.'

'Shut up!'

'Hey, its perfectly natural to have a crush on someone. Isn't he the kid who super glued his hand to the stop sign last summer?' She glared at me. I raised my hand in surrender with an amused smile. 'C'mon, ease up.'

'I'm not the only one with big fat crushes, you know' She let out through clenched teeth.

'I'm sure you're not but you're the only one I know with a big fat crush on Little Donny Jr.' I laugh but it was cut short at a pillow hitting me square in the face. When it fell, all I could see is the retreating, angry march of a nine year old heading for the stairs.

'I hate you!' SLAM.

'Whoa..' I look behind me to see mom standing there with a bewildered expression. 'What's going on? Why is your sister slamming doors?'

'I was just having a little fun with her crush on the kid down the block.' She tilted her head. 'The one who super glued his hand to the stop sign.'

Realization crossed her features before she shook her head. 'What, are you taking up your brother's habits in his absence? You know how sensitive Nalia is.'

'I was just joking. Plus, she was sort of being a brat.' I sigh. 'I'll apologize tomorrow. I'm pretty wiped and I still have to get things ready.'

'Tomorrow the big day, huh?'

'Yep.'

'Nervous?'

I thought for a second. 'Sort of. Is that weird? I mean, it's the same school, same kids.'

'Of course not. It's new territory. You're an upperclassmen now.' She pulled off her coat. 'How's that saying you kids like to say on the Internet go? New year, new you?'

I chuckle, with a shake of my head as I watched her climb the stairs. 'Sure, mom. New year, new me.'

:::

It was a little weird starting back school without Damon giving me a ride or us listening to old rock songs on the way there. I tried not to let it get me down. Home room and first period were pretty uneventful. Just a bunch of lectures our teachers, saying that they expect more from us now that we're upperclassmen. It was a pain to listen to.

But right now? I'd take those lectures over dealing with the pain spreading in my side right now.

My least favorite period, physical education.

'Bring those knees ups, Bennett!' Coach Dawson yelled from the other side of the track field.

I let out an annoyed huff, attempting to bring my knees up. I turned to Valerie with a scowl. 'He does know it's the first day of school, right?'

She seemed equally as thrilled. 'I can't tell.' Her brows went up as she glanced over my shoulder and then grinned, slowing down. 'Ohhh, the coast is clear.'

I looked over to see Coach Dawson had disappeared into the weird Coaches' shed to get out of the heat and probably play games on his phone. We fell into a walk trying to catch our breaths.

'So first day of junior year is going swimmingly. I can tell this one's going to be a banger. ' Valerie said sarcastically. 'So were you able to finish that book I gave you? I figured you'd be busy with Damon flying the coop, I assume?'

Valerie and I were friends. Not best friends but we usually had the same classes and liked the same books and poets. I didn't talk to her about my deep personal feelings or anything like that. But, she was still a friend.

'No…Damon leaving was a lot.'

She looked at me a little sheepish. 'Yeah…I heard about Damon and Elena.'

I looked at her in surprise. It had gotten around school already? It had barely been two days. 'Who told you?'

'Well, you know my cousin is a gossip-'

'Hey!' I think I hear someone call out. But I was more interested in Damon and Elena's break up already being spread around school. 'Hey!' This time I see a face match the voice calling as they jog up next to us.

Nora Hildegard. Read, seventh grade crush.

She shook some hair out of her face. 'I need to speak with you.'

My brows rose to my hairline. 'You need to speak to me?' I came to a stop with them following suit.

'Yes.' She said somewhat insistently.

'Wow, speak of the Devil and her mistress shall appear.' Valerie said dryly with her arms crossed.

Nora gave her an unimpressed look. 'Don't you have something better to do?'

I look between them. Valerie gave a fake laugh. 'Yeah, this physical education slash torture thing our school subjects us to with my friend.' She gestures to me. 'whom…you want to talk to about what, exactly?'

Nora glanced at me and then sighed impatiently. 'That's between me and Bonnie. Could you for once not be surly prat?'

'Where you're concerned? Not possible.' They glared at each other.

I couldn't imagine what Nora would need to speak to me in private about but I figured it wasn't a good idea to let this stand down prolong any further in this heat.

'It's okay, Val. I'll catch up with you.' I offered her a reassuring smile.

She looked skeptical before resigning. 'Fine. But if this one starts sprouting fangs then it's confirmed my cousin has turned her before their split and I'll come running with the Holy Water.' She picked up into a jog ahead of us.

'God, she's insufferable.' Nora says lowly before clearing her throat, looking up at me. 'Right then. Um..look, I think it's really sweet that you remember that moment between us after all these years but-

My head tilted.

'And honestly, I'm quite flattered you think my eyes are captivating-

Wait, what?

I glance down and see an envelope resting between her fingers.

Oh god.

'Mary Louise and I…it's just really complicated between us right now and I-

This is not happening. I could feel my breathing increase. My vision becoming blurred with black specs. I think Nora's still talking. My feet began to feel unsteady. How the hell does she have my letter? Oh wow, my head is starting feel fuzzy..was the last thought I could muster before everything went black.

:::

'Bonnie. Bonnie, wake up!' I jolted at a firm shake against my shoulder. My eyes slowly opened to see Nora hovering over me with the sun shinning brightly behind her. She was staring at me with a slightly concerned expression.

'What happened?' I murmured. I remember her wanting to talk to me about something.

'You just fainted.' She supplied, giving me a strange look. That's instantly when I remembered everything. Shit. Shit. Shit. I tried to sit up abruptly. Hands pressed at my shoulders gently.

'Easy. You hit your head when you fell. Don't think fast movements are wise right now.' Nora admonished. 'Let me help you.' She grabbed my hands and slowly pulled me in an up right position. 'Are you alright?'

'Yeah…I'm fine.' I said while reaching back to rub the back of my head with a wince. Nora stares at me, not looking entirely convinced.

'Are you sure? Do need the nurse or some water?' I was just about to tell her that I really was fine when I caught sight of familiar long hair, breezing in the sudden appearance of wind. Elena? Why would she be here? This was her free period. My gaze trailed down to see she was carrying something white and square..something that sparked in the sun almost like it was… bedazzled.

'Oh…my god.' I squint to make sure I'm not seeing things because there's no fucking way- No. As she gets closer and the sun shines directly, I can see it was plain as day. My letter. My letter to Elena. 'Oh, God.'

Nora's staring at me, probably confused why I'm suddenly freaking out but I couldn't focus on that. All I could focus on was that Elena was approaching me. Elena, my best friend and brother' ex. Elena who was holding a love letter I wrote to her. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Nora's looking really concerned now. 'Hey, what-'

I couldn't say why I did what I did next or even if it was a conscious decision. I just know that it happened and for a split second it made sense. I pulled Nora into a full on kiss.

There was only one of two things that I noticed immediately while kissing her. Her lips were incredibly soft. Softer than I remembered when I kissed them way back then. That was just a simple kiss then, under the pressure of our peers. This one? This one was way more intense than that one. At least for the short while it lasted.

'Hey! Bennett!' I broke away from Nora to see Coach Dawson walking up, no longer locked away in the shed. 'Cut it out or you'll be adding detention with your extra laps!' I look back at Nora who was staring intensely at me, bewildered, questions swirling in her green eyes. Questions I didn't have answers for. She must think I'm a complete love-sick lunatic. I felt more eyes on me.

Elena had stopped short, staring at me with an unreadable expression still clutching my letter. Yeah, I need to disappear. I quickly untangled myself from Nora, ignoring her pressing gaze, and ran toward the school building, leaving Elena to call after me.

First day of school was getting off to a shitty start.

:::

I was in the third stall in the girl's bathroom on the second floor, trying to figure out if I was in a very elaborate nightmare. But after pinching myself five times and my head still having a dull pain from fainting earlier…I concluded that I was definitely awake.

But what the hell was happening?

'Bonnie? Bonnie, are you in there?' I frowned, the voice sounded familiar but I was going through a mental breakdown of some sort so I wasn't in the mood for chitchat. 'No, sorry. Not Bonnie. Don't know her.'

The person chuckled slightly. 'You uh, know I know your voice, Bonnie.' Wait, was that-

Suddenly, I see a letter in my handwriting addressed to Caroline Forbes slide under the stall by perfect manicured fingers. 'Figured you might want that back.'

No, God why was this happening? How was this happening? All my letters were sent to everyone?

'Look, I'm not here to demand answers or anything. I saw you run in here like you saw a ghost and wanted to check on you.' Caroline said reassuringly. Her voice was comforting. It was that same comforting tone that made Homecoming so special for me.

'Caroline…I swear I wrote this years ago.'

Her laugh was sweet and nonjudgmental. 'I figured as much. Freshmen year, right?'

I tentatively opened the door when I realized Caroline wasn't making a big deal out of this or making fun of me. Which I shouldn't be surprised. Caroline was really popular and pretty but she wasn't mean spirited at all. Not like someone, say Mary-Louise.

I walked out to see the blonde giving me a small smile and a wave. 'Hey.'

'Hey.' I return awkwardly as I turned to face her.

'I had a lot of fun that night too.' I cringe when I realize she's referencing my letter. 'But I'm with Tyler and…' She begins to look apologetic. 'I mean, I'm straight, Bonnie. I don't really swing that way.'

'I know that. I-' This is literally the worst day of my life. 'I know that you're straight, Caroline.'

She bit her lip with a furrowed brow. 'I just don't want you to think I lead you on that night. I just saw you alone and figured you needed help breaking the ice with some of the girls at our school after you came ou-'

'I get it.'

'But if I did swing that way. You'd be the first girl to catch my eye.' I almost choked on my spit as our eye connected before a series of giggles escaped me. Caroline followed suit and it reminded me of Homecoming. It really was a fun night.

'Thank you.' I say sincerely after we calmed down.

Caroline seemed like she was in thought. 'Huh. It's weird we never really hung out again after that night.'

I considered her words. It was kind of weird, seeing how well we seem to get along but I'm really glad we didn't. With the way I was feeling about her at that time…there was no way I could have been her friend. I would have embarrassed myself. 'Yeah.'

She stares at me for a moment with a pensive gaze before holding out her hand. 'Give me your phone.'

My brows furrowed but I hesitantly pull it out of my pocket nonetheless and hand it to her. She glances at it before raising a brow.

'Password.' I blinked then realized that, duh, my phone is locked. I quickly unlocked it and gave it to her.

Her face brightens as she began tapping and typing.

She seemed pretty pleased with herself as she handed it back. I went to look at it but the sound of the third period bell ringing caught my attention.

'I've got to get going.' She looked to me with a hopeful smile. 'Friends?'

I found myself smiling too. 'Yeah, friends.'

Her smile widened. 'Cool, see you around.'

It was barely two minutes after she left that my cell phone was pinging with a new text notification.

I blushed when I saw the contact name appearing on my screen. Another cringeworthy reference to my letter.

Golden kitten ;)

So glad we're friends! Sit with me at lunch sometime? :)

Still, I couldn't help but laugh. I had referred to Caroline in my mind and letter as my Golden Kitten for several weeks after freshman homecoming. Golden for her hair color and kitten because of how fun and playful she was. Stupid I know but I was young dumb and just coming out.

But it felt really good to know Caroline was taking this so well. I just hoped Elena could have the same sentiment, if I ever get the courage to speak to her again that is.

I shook my head as I opened the door to the bathroom prepared to book it to my next class when I ran smack dab into someone. I looked up to see a scowling Mary-Louise glaring down at me.

Oddly, it was then in that moment that I remembered…

Nora kissed me back.