Chapter 1 - The Splash and the Attack
Elena winked at herself in the mirror and glared at Bonnie who cackled at her.
"Why are you so mean?" Elena pouted.
"I can't help it! You're ridiculous!" Bonnie wheezed. Caroline and Elena both couldn't help but laugh along.
"Bonnie, you should start on your makeup. Or at least your hair, even though I would judge you for doing it first." Caroline reminded her friend as she straightened a strand of her blonde locks.
"No. Glee." Bonnie said, folding her arms and making a face that looked astoundingly similar to Grumpy Cat.
"You can watch Glee tomorrow, Bonnie." Caroline said.
Bonnie's stubbornness was normally the cutest thing in the world, but right now, Caroline wanted to fling her best friend out the window.
Just then, Lucifer (Bonnie's cat), waltzed into the room, hopping into Bonnie's lap. Bonnie had two cats, Lucifer and Shrek. Luci was black with blue eyes. He was sneaky as hell, and seemed to hate every human except Bonnie and Grams. Shrek was white with green eyes. She named him Shrek because the color of his eyes perfectly reflected the animated ogre's skin. He was sweet and cuddly, he loved everybody and he and Lucifer loved each other.
"Hello, my precious." She cooed as she stroked her cat.
"You are seriously turning into a super villain." Elena turned to her friend.
"I take that as a complement."
"Okay, since you're not going to do your own makeup, we have no choice but to do it for you." Caroline said decidedly.
"Hell no." Bonnie said, holding her cat tighter.
"Bonnie, come on. This party means a lot to me." Caroline said, giving her the puppy dog eyes.
As evil as Bonnie liked to pretend she was, her heart was huge and couldn't stand it if anybody else was sad or unhappy. She just couldn't resist the puppy dog eyes.
"Fine." She reluctantly agreed, putting Luci down. "Make me beautiful."
Ten minutes later, the girls were all ready in their bathing suits. Caroline donned a teal polka dot one piece with a strappy back. Elena had a pastel pink string bikini and a matching sheer sarong. Bonnie wore a periwinkle bikini. The top was sporty and the bottoms were high waisted and high cut.
Caroline insisted on doing hair and makeup, but Bonnie found it stupid. They were going to be in the water, for god's sake! But since Care knew more about 'party attire' than she did, she decided to let it go.
"Are you ready to go?" Elena asked her friends. They both nodded.
Bonnie let out a deep breath when she got to the car. She hoped that her gut feeling was wrong, even though she knew it wasn't. They never were.
The girls bopped to Rihanna on the way there, Bonnie's bad mood lifting a bit. Rihanna does that.
The Splash was at the swimming hole since nobody wanted to drive 3 hours to Virginia Beach. Not as authentic as the Splash from Aquamarine, but it had its own charm.
It was around 5 PM and the sun was still bright, so they'd be there for the sunset.
The first thing Bonnie noticed when she stepped out of the car was that it was hot outside. Like burning hot. Maybe Caroline forgot to check the weather forecast, because this was going to be hard to survive. But like a trooper, Bonnie said: "This looks great, Care. I'm excited."
She was marvelous at lying.
So far, only Rebekah Mikaelson and some of the football team were there already. When Caroline told Rebekah about The Last Splash, Rebekah had hopped on to her plans right away.
The blonde was currently bossing around the team; telling them to hang the streamers in the trees, organize the cups better, etc., as she lounged on a beach chair in her bathing suit.
When Rebekah noticed the girls she got up from her chair and moved to embrace them.
"Hi, darlings. Don't you all look smashing?" She complimented.
"You too, Rebekah, nice and beachy." Elena replied.
"It's hot out today, though." Caroline said, putting her hand above her eyes like a shield.
"Darn tootin'." Bonnie agreed.
"Bonnie, dear, mother wants you over for dinner tonight or tomorrow night. You haven't been home all week and the woman will freak if you don't show." Rebekah said, turning to Bonnie.
"Aye, aye, captain!" She replied.
The Mikaelsons had moved to Mystic Falls from some fancy English town when Bonnie was six. It was the year her mother left, and the Mikaelsons arrival was a blessing for her. When she and Rebekah met, they clicked right away. Rebekah took her home for a play date and her family had pretty much adopted Bonnie the second they laid their eyes on her.
Bonnie was happy to call Rebekah her sister because that's what she was.
"Rebekah, I thought we agreed that the streamers were going to be yellow and blue, like the beach! Not pink and blue!" Caroline exclaimed.
"That was a cute idea, but it looked too much like Whitmore's school colors. Don't want to seem like we're trying too hard, do we?" Rebekah reasoned.
As the two blondes continued to argue about decorations, Bonnie took a look around. The swimming hole was looking pristine.
The water was crystal clear and the sun reflected off of it perfectly. The sandy part had a few beach chairs resting on it and the grassy part had a line of picnic tables. There were fairy lights all over the place that would be turned on when it became dark outside and pink and blue streamers hanging from the trees that provided shade.
Most people wouldn't arrive until around 5:30, but Bonnie and Elena came early with Caroline to help her and Rebekah set up. Though their help probably wouldn't be needed since Rebekah somehow recruited half of the football team to help her.
Bonnie and Elena sat in beach chairs looking out at the water, their sweat beading and their makeup probably melting. Bonnie shut her eyes, enjoying the hot sun for a moment…
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Her eyes shot open and she sat up, turning to the brave soul who interrupted her nap. It was Katherine.
"Kitty, don't make me kill you." Bonnie said to her friend. She looked around. People were trickling in, and it was much more full than it was earlier. There were some people in the water and others listening to some remix that was no doubt made by Tyler Lockwood.
"You wouldn't dare." Katherine replied, sitting on the chair that Elena had been occupying when Bonnie fell asleep. Bonnie looked for Elena and found her chatting with Tiki on a picnic bench, so she wouldn't miss her seat.
"Try me." Bonnie replied. "It's too hot to give a crap."
"Hmph. Somebody's grumpy." Katherine said.
"Mm-hm, yup, I'm feeling extra murderous today."
"Well, what's got your panties in a twist?"
Bonnie sighed considering continuing to joke, but decided to tell her friend the truth. "I have a bad feeling about tonight."
"Uh oh." Katherine said. She was the only person who took Grams' superstitions seriously. Bonnie didn't know if she was grateful for that or not.
"It's okay, though. I'm gonna get through the night and nothing bad is going to happen." Bonnie said surely.
"I like your confidence." Katherine replied.
"Why thank you." Bonnie gave a little bow. "I'm surprised you're here as well. I thought you swore not to go to any event that Caroline was hosting."
"I was going to live by that, until I realized just how many parties that bitch hosts. I have a social life to uphold, Bon."
The thing about Katherine was that most people thought she was a raging B word. Well, she kind of was, but Bonnie found it loveable. Katherine didn't get along with everyone and was okay with that.
The only people in their little friend group that Katherine tolerated and vice versa, were Bonnie, Stefan, Rebekah, Matt and Tyler. Everyone else was dead to her. Especially Elena and Caroline, which bummed Bonnie out.
Katherine and Elena were cousins, but they had just never gotten along. They didn't hate each other, they just really didn't like each other. Even though they had the same friends, they weren't friends with each other. Bonnie would have loved it if they got along, but she wouldn't push it. Not everyone was going to like each other, and as long as they were at least civil, it wasn't her business.
Caroline and Katherine on the other hand, hated each other's guts. They both had strong personalities and they clashed often. They could barely tolerate each other's presence. Bonnie thought they could be friends if they had met under different circumstances. Caroline's first impression of Katherine was that she was BFF Elena's mean cousin and Katherine's first impression of Caroline was that she was annoying cousin Elena's whiny friend.
"Hello, ladies." Rebekah said, approaching them.
"Hi, Bekah." Katherine said, giving Rebekah a peck on the cheek.
"You look lovely, Kat. No need to flaunt it. I know you love me." Rebekah made kissy faces and Katherine did as well.
"I ship it." Bonnie snorted.
"Haha. But seriously, Katherine. You look beautiful." Rebekah said and Bonnie could've sworn she saw Katherine blush.
"Thanks, Bex." Katherine said tenderly.
They kept eye contact for a second before looking away.
"Ooh, look who's here." Katherine smirked, pointing at Stefan Salvatore, who just arrived.
Stefan was Bonnie's long, long time crush. From the sandbox. Even through Bonnie's boy hating phase (which she was still kind of going through, TBH). Ever since he stood up to some mean kids in preschool. Bonnie remembered it like it was yesterday.
The only problem was that Elena was head over heels for him as well. And he probably liked her back. So, as much as Bonnie loved Stefan, she wouldn't go for him. She couldn't do that to her best friend. Elena was the one person besides Stefan who didn't know about Bonnie's crush and she was going to keep it that way.
Rebekah smiled widely. "You should ask him to dance. We're going to play 'Island in the Sun' like in the movie. I heard he loves that one."
"He loves all Weezer songs. But I'm not asking him to dance." Bonnie sighed.
"Why the hell not?" Katherine questioned.
"Because of Elena. I can't do that to her." Bonnie answered, ignoring the eye rolls from both other women.
Rebekah liked Elena, she thought she was a nice girl, but Elena was standing in the way of her sister's happiness with Stefan and that just wouldn't do.
"If you like him, go for it. Don't let Elena's feelings outweigh yours." Katherine said.
"Katherine's right. Go talk to him." Rebekah encouraged.
"My makeup is runny." Bonnie excused.
"You look gorgeous." Rebekah replied.
"He's already talking to someone."
"Screw them." Katherine said.
"My… feet hurt?" Bonnie tried one last time. Her friends scoffed.
"Come on, Missy. Let's go get your man." Katherine said, as she and Rebekah grabbed each of her arms and dragged her towards Stefan.
"Oh, Stef!" Rebekah hollered.
Stefan turned around and smiled seeing Rebekah. But when his eyes landed on Bonnie, his breath caught in his throat. She looked amazing.
"Hey, guys." Stefan greeted them. He smiled at them all, but his eyes never left Bonnie.
"Sup." Bonnie said, resting her elbow on Rebekah's shoulder and crossing her legs.
"Wow, she does not have any game." Katherine muttered. Bonnie heard and stomped on her foot.
"Bonnie wants to talk to you." Rebekah said. She gave Bonnie a shove towards Stefan. "Katherine and I will be in the water if you need us."
"I don't think you will." Katherine said with a wink.
"Uh, what's up, Bon? You look great, by the way." He smiled.
"Thanks, Stefan." Bonnie replied with a similar smile.
Don't let Elena's feelings outweigh yours. Katherine's words echoed in her head. Bonnie put on her brave face.
"I, uh… do you want to da-"
"Hey, Stef! I didn't see you come in!" Elena said as she approached them.
"Oh, hey, Elena." Stefan greeted.
Bonnie felt herself retreat back into her shell as Stefan and Elena smiled at each other.
"Do you want to come into the water with me? Care says it's warm today." Elena asked. Stefan glanced back at Bonnie.
"Was there something you wanted to ask me?" He asked Bonnie in a slightly hopeful tone.
"Oh, never mind, it wasn't important." She replied quietly.
Stefan looked disappointed, but Bonnie didn't notice as she scurried down to the water. She dove in and doggy paddled towards some of her friends (she forgot how much she hated swimming).
Caroline, Tyler, Katherine, Rebekah and Matt were floating in the water. Katherine and Caroline were arguing and everyone else was laughing at Bonnie's poor swimming skills. Haters.
"How did it go?" Rebekah inquired, putting an arm around Bonnie to keep her from sinking.
"Great! We're planning a June wedding." Bonnie sassed, out of breath as she treaded water for her dear life.
"She even manages to be sarcastic on the brink of drowning. Astounding." Tyler remarked.
"What happened?" Katherine asked, jumping in on their conversation.
"I was going to ask him to dance, but Elena came over and asked him to swim. I chickened out."
So this was what her bad feeling was about. She had to say she was relieved that it was just embarrassing herself and chickening out rather than something worse. Last time she had a bad feeling and didn't listen, it ended with a broken arm and broken pride.
They all turned their heads towards Elena and Stefan who were a bit closer to the shore. Elena splashed Stefan and he laughed. Bonnie sighed.
Matt smiled sympathetically at Bonnie. He'd had a crush on Elena for as long as Bonnie had been crushing on Stefan, and he knew how it felt watching the two of them be all lovey with each other. "Sorry, Bon."
"It's fine. I'm happy for them." She said wistfully.
Before anybody could respond, Jeremy's voice made their heads snap towards him. "Hey, Katherine! Somebody's calling you!" He held Katherine's phone up.
"Oh, I should get this. It's probably my dad. He's driving back from Charlottesville tonight." Katherine said, swimming towards the beach.
Bonnie watched her pick up the phone. Katherine's expression fell when she answered the phone. Bonnie furrowed her eyebrows when Katherine paced over to a more private spot, looking distressed as she talked into the phone.
Bonnie swam out to her friend. When she got out of the water, Katherine had just hung up the phone. There were tears in her eyes. Katherine never cried.
"What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?" She questioned.
"Bon, it's my dad… he had a heart attack."