Months after the tragic accident that killed their parents and younger siblings, 17-year-old Kai Parker and his twin sister, Jo, are still adjusting to their new reality. Their coven forces the twins to move to Mystic Falls and live with their easygoing-but-tight-lipped Uncle Chris, who is doing his best to raise his brother's two kids. Meanwhile, with the random acts of violence happening in Mystic Falls, Sheila Bennett decides it's time for her granddaughter Bonnie to learn about her family history. But Bonnie is far more interested in getting to know the new kid, Kai, and getting closer to him.
Dear Diary,
Today is the first day of junior year. I need this school year to be different. It has to be. No more living in the shadows of Elena and Caroline anymore. For christ's sake, I'm sixteen, and I've never had a boyfriend or even kissed. I can't even manage a date with a guy, regardless of making the cheer squad last year, all the boys at school see me as their little sister or just a childhood friend, while Elena gets to be the sultry girl-next-door and Caroline is the untamable mean girl. I know Grams said there's nothing wrong with me, but I can't stand being left behind. It's bad enough the other girls on the team make crude jokes about me behind my back, calling me a virgin Mary. I just need to break out of my shell this year. Be bold and brave. Otherwise, I'll forever be a ...
"Bonnie, you're going to be late," the overly vivacious and slightly assertive voice bellowed. "Come get your breakfast."
Bonnie let out a void sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "I'm coming down, Grams."
Tucking her diary away, Bonnie moved to put on her favorite purple jacket from her bed and walked out of the room to an older woman in the kitchen, sending her a quick wink as she saw her.
"Finally, it's the first day. You don't wanna be late." Sheila Bennett, better known as Grams, said, as she was running her eyes through the newspaper while holding her steaming mug of coffee.
"I have perfect attendance, Grams." Bonnie rubbed the inner corner of her eye with a fingertip.
The older woman sighed. "And we want you to keep it that way."
"Sure," Bonnie assured, rounding the table to peck her Grams on the cheek before turning to walk towards the back door.
"Aren't you going to have breakfast?" Grams asked, looking casual as she took a piece of toast and started eating, eyeing her granddaughter from the corner of her eyes.
"Not hungry, besides I need to pick up Elena," Bonnie grunted with as much gusto as she could summon.
"Honey, about what I said last night." Grams said, fixing Bonnie with a serious stare.
Oh, that weird-ass conversation about their family history. This day was starting out more unpleasant than she would have hoped.
Wrinkling her nose slightly, Bonnie shook her head. "Not now, Grams, can't be late."
Bonnie darted out of the kitchen, leaving her Grams calling after her.
Jumping in her Prius, punching radio buttons, and pulling the gear shift, music was blaring out the speakers, the windows were down, and she was backing out of the driveway. Bonnie made her way several blocks down to the Gilbert Residence, not having to wait long, as Elena was rushing out of her house with a fake smile painted on.
"Good morning to you, Lena."
"Morning, Bon," Elena replied cheerfully.
Elena Gilbert was Bonnie's other half. They were two sides of the same coin. And had been practically joint at the hip since birth, though they were opposites in many regards.
Tapping out a tempo on the leather of her steering wheel, breaking the nervous silence. "So, what did you write in your diary today?"
Over the summer, Bonnie and Elena made a pact to write down their feelings, fears, and aspirations in a journal.
"That things will be different this year. I will no longer be the sad little girl who lost her parents."
Bonnie's blood went cold, and she looked at Elena, seeing that disputed look on her best friend's face that had become more and more pervasive this year.
"Elena…"
"I'm serious Bonnie, I need to move on and get back to normal," she conceded with an exaggerated sigh. "How else am I going to make it through the school year?"
"No, I understand." Bonnie looked over at her slightly pityingly. "So I had a crazy night, Grams told me I'm a psychic witch. Apparently, our ancestors were from Salems. She wouldn't shut up about it. In my head I'm like, okay, we really need to put this woman in a home already. But remember, I predicted Heath Ledger's death. Also predicted Obama winning the election, and… Elena, you're spacing out again."
Elena sat up and looked over at her. "Sorry, Bonnie, I'm sorry."
"Look, I know you're having a rough time with everything." Bonnie's eyes geared on traffic and blind spots even as her lips curled into a frown.
Elena shook her head. "I need to put my focus elsewhere," pressing her lips together, before speaking again. "You're a psychic. Predict something about our future this year."
Twitching her lips, Bonnie cocked her brow. "Well…"
Bonnie started as she looked off into the road, trying to focus, when suddenly, a black crow smashed against her windshield. Bonnie panics, slamming her foot down on the brake. The car stops on the curve of the sidewalk.
"Oh god, what was that?" Elena held the dashboard, breathing heavily, tensed up in her seat.
"A bird. It came out of nowhere." Bonnie's ears were buzzing, and she was convulsing. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Elena's eyes came to rest on her hands, "I can't be scared for the rest of my life."
Glancing to the passenger seat to her right; Elena shot her a bright grin. Bonnie knew underneath the agreeable smile she was as strung out as Bonnie was. Elena had more practice at hiding it.
"You know what, I'm predicting that the two of us are going to have a kick ass year."
On cue, her car sputtered and gave way to a loud, assuring vroom.
"Wait, does this mean you'll finally kiss a boy… or girl? Not judging." Elena had that exquisite smile and small chuckle. It was part of her allure.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. Elena never let her forget her celebrity crush on Hayden Panettiere and Kristen Bell.
"I really think this is my year," Bonnie said, a small smirk covering her face.
"I do too," Elena said, grinning that concurrently apologetic and illuminated grin of her.
When Bonnie finally saw the school, they were greeted by the sign emblazoned 'Mystic Falls High School Est. 1962', The parking lot of the high school was a seething heap of students and cars trying to get through, teachers yelling and buses dropping people off.
Bonnie and Elena had just reached the lengthy pathway up to the school doors when Elena seemingly almost tripped head first over thin air as a petite blonde strutted past like it was a runway platform.
"Elena, oh my god is that you?"
Elena blew out a long breath and shrugged cautiously. "Caroline, hey…"
"It's crazy, seeing you again, the last time we spoke was…" At Elena's parent's funeral, right before the school year had ended. Caroline had been down in Atlanta with her dad all summer.
Bonnie's mouth dropped open and she let out an offended snarl. "Easy, Caroline."
The blonde had the decency to look sheepish.
"It's fine, I'm okay," Elena replied, shaking her head definitively.
"We have so much catching up to do. I just got back to town yesterday. But tonight let's do dinner at the grill, okay?" Caroline flipped her curtain of glossy, curled hair back over her shoulder.
Elena pressed her lips together in a thin line and gave a single, approving nod. "Sure,"
"Later babes."
With one last flip of her hair, Caroline stomped down that concrete sidewalk like it was a model runway, with her hips swaying side to side and handbag neatly poised in the crook of her arm.
Bonnie snorted and trailed after her messenger bag drooping on her shoulder. "She's so…"
"Vapid," Elena drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "God, was I like that before…"
"Kinda, nowhere near as bad as Caroline." Bonnie clarified, looking out at the courtyard as they zigzag through the hallway. "Your experiences changed you, okay? Caroline is still in la-la land, while you and I…"
"Have shared trauma." Her response was genuine as Elena looked directly at Bonnie.
"Yep. But it's okay, I wouldn't wish our trauma on anyone." Bonnie continued in a reasoning tone.
"You're right, and you know what? I promise to be a better friend to you." Elena looked down in shame.
"Elena, you've been good to me all summer."
Bonnie noticed Elena's new mature growth after her parents died. She'd taken on so much at home with Jeremy and her aunt Jenna. With Caroline out of the picture all summer, the two girls bonded over non-superficial stuff. But Bonnie would be lying if she said she hadn't been worried about how Elena might convert back to her selfish ways once school started again.
"This year is all about Bonnie Bennett. I won't allow myself or Caroline to stand in your way," Elena said with absolute certainty.
In her attempt to respond, she failed to consider the other people around them as she and Elena turned the corner of the narrow hallway. She rounded a corner and banged right into what felt like a brick wall. And if the two brawny arms hadn't caught her, she would have fallen.
"I am so sorry!" she exclaimed, then did a double-take. Her train of thought came to a halt as she looked up into the most gorgeous pair of blue-gray eyes.
Stepping back, hands shoving into his jeans pockets. "It's cool."
He wasn't unappealing. In fact, he was sort of cute in a different way. Clearly not from Mystic Falls. Dark hair with a weird glimmer of light, he was at least six feet tall, and his jeans grungy dark blue paired off with scuffed converse.
"There you are, I got our schedules…" a girl about their age, with long, dark hair, ample cheekbones, crystal blue eyes, and flawless pale skin, moved beside the wiry boy. "I'm sorry. Is he bothering you?"
"No… we just bumped into each other."
"Sorry about him," the girl gave them a polite smile. "You can't stay out of trouble, huh?"
The boy used his eyebrows to convey his inner thoughts to the bossy brunette next to him. It was quite amusing.
"You guys must be new students." Elena jumped in.
The girl grinned widely, revealing a set of dimples that looked like they belonged to someone who smiled too much. "Yeah, I'm Jo. This is my brother Kai." She held out her hand, flashing a grin that was both brilliant and uncertain.
Bonnie craned her neck, watching as Kai frowned, the lines around his mouth deepening in irritation.
Elena accepted it and gave it a shake. "I'm Elena, this here is Bonnie."
Jo pursed her lips in contemplation. "Any chances you two know where Mr. Tanner's room is, he's our homeroom teacher."
Bonnie nodded, readjusting the strap of her messenger bag on her shoulder. "Yeah, we're heading in that direction." She took a few steps to the right, backing up into Elena. "We can take you."
"Thanks," Kai said, taking in her appearance with an intensity that surprised her.
Bonnie led the way, trying to keep her eyes off him.
"Are you two new to Mystic Falls?" Elena asked, flipping her perfectly straightened hair. "I've never seen you guys around before?"
Bonnie noticed the uncomfortable look the siblings gave each other.
Jo let out a tight laugh and nodded. "Yeah, we just moved a couple of weeks ago."
There was a tight lip expression on her brother's face.
"You're going to love it here," Bonnie leaped in before Elena. "Mystic Falls High School is one of the top schools in the county. You'll be getting a great education here." Her response sounded pathetic, even to her own ears.
Kai looked at her curiously, and Bonnie's fingers found themselves twisting nervously in her hair.
"Cool, I take my study pretty seriously," Jo said, her lips quirking into a satirical smile.
"Bonnie, here is one of our top students. She aces every single class." Elena announced, clearing her throat in an official-sounding way. "Except in history."
"Elena," Bonnie's brow furrowed. Elena just gives her a cheeky smirk. "Anyway, we're here. Mr. Tanner locks his classroom door one minute before class starts. We better get in there."
Kai's eyes flickered up to Bonnie standing uncomfortably in the middle of the doorway. Bonnie felt her face go red again, and she ducked her head slightly to cover it.
"Thanks, I'd hate to be late on the first day." His mouth curled, but there was no humor in it.
"Not a problem," Bonnie tried to inject the right amount of enthusiasm into her voice. "Let me know if you need any help to find your other classes."
Jo nodded with a small smile, pulling her brother along inside the classroom.
"I saw that brief exchange with you and the new kid," Elena supplied, draping a proud arm over her shoulder. "Maybe things are looking up for you."
"Try not to jinx it," Bonnie said, nudging Elena in the ribs and sliding out from under her arm.
The class was still filling up as they made their way in.
Kai walked up into the driveway with Jo and stared at the front door of the house. His intuition has been squawking at him all day. Jo wouldn't stop going on and on about how eccentric Mystic Falls was, compared to Portland. When they made their way up the door, he opened it and stepped inside, letting Jo close the door behind them.
He sauntered his way to the kitchen and picked up today's newspaper. "Yo, Chris⎯," he started as he entered the kitchen, but then froze when he caught the headline. Animal Attack Baffles Authorities. The pictures that accompanied it were wild and had too much gore for Kai's taste. So Kai ignored the pictures and read the article. Apparently, last night a couple, Darren Malloy and Brooke Fenton, were both attacked on the back roads. Something assaulted their necks, leading them to bleed out.
Kai tore his gaze away from the paper, looking around, wondering where his uncle was at this time of the day.
"How was your first day of school?" a quiet voice from the direction of the door gives him the answer.
Kai looks up and frowns with confusion. "Fine."
"He's been a sourpuss all day," Jo went to sit at the table, unlacing her boots and kicking them off before removing her socks. "That place is nothing like our old high school. Everyone sticks to their clique. I feel like I'm at North Shore High School."
The older man with salt and pepper hair stood there. His gaze was on Kai. "The in-crowd are mainly the kids whose family were the original founders. Oh, by the way, is Mrs. Clarke still working there?"
Kai looked over at the kitchen clock; it was 5:25 p.m. He wished he was dreaming. "Why are you asking about the school secretary?"
Hip against the wall and his arms crossed. "She and I had a thing, a while back."
Kai was thrown off guard at that. "Gross, please feel free to not tell us about your sex life."
"Let him be, you prude." Jo remarked, and Kai bit back his fixed sarcasm, "She seems way out of your league."
His uncle's smile was sharp-toothed. "It was just a couple of dates. I know your mom has told you both about how I used to get down."
Kai hardens his eyes with even more disgust than before. "I don't need to hear this."
"Malachai, come on, I'm not your dad," Chris's smile widened and Kai couldn't help noticing that it was a little impending. "You guys can talk to me about anything. We're family, after all."
"Family? Look, just because we got stuck here with you doesn't mean we need to reconnect, okay?" Kai was suddenly more furious than he'd ever been. "I hardly know you anyway, so let's keep it like that."
Jo was a little startled. "Kai, that was way out of line."
The older man stays silent for a few seconds until the mocking facade drops and he sags his shoulders. He scratches the back of his neck and shrugs sheepishly, nervousness hidden behind his voice. "You're going to be living with me for a while. We should at least get to know each other more."
"I didn't ask to be here, Chris. The coven forced us to move to this crap town because no one else wanted to take us in." Kai roared, and the burst of sound was so strident that it completely shut everyone up.
Chris looked honestly sad about that. "I know you're still grieving. I understand. I am too. But we should try to get along and make the best of things until everything gets back to normal."
Jo's gaze was on Kai, who kept looking away from both of them.
"Things aren't going to get magically fixed." He fought the urge to take a step back when his uncle took a step toward him.
"I don't expect it to either. I just want us to get better." Chris brought a hand up to touch his shoulder.
Kai exhaled deeply and sharply. "Can we please not do this?"
The older man sighed heavily and scratched at his forehead. "Okay, I have a night shift, so I'll be back around morning. I'll leave some money in case you wanna order a pizza or Chinese."
"Thanks, Uncle Chris," Jo's face changed and Kai knew what she was thinking. "I should get started on some reading for history," Leaving them behind, Jo went to hide in her room.
"I'm gonna go for a walk."
He knew he was being unfair. He knew he was being emotional. The thing was, Kai just didn't give a fuck anymore. He pushed past Chris to reach around for the back door.
"Hold on, I have something for you."
Kai frowned as he turned around to see his uncle hand over a small book to him. It looked brand new. Like a journal. Kai gave him a pointed look, his voice flat. "Why are you giving this to me?"
Chris's lips pulled back into a teasing smile, and he tilted his head. "You won't open up to me, but maybe you can open up and write down what's been bothering you these past few months. You can't stay closed off forever, Malachai."
"Fine, man," Kai replied, giving a sedated salute.
There's skepticism painted all over Kai's face, but he doesn't try to question his uncle's motives anymore. Instead, he took in a deep, irritated breath and tucks the book under his arm.
There were nights when Bonnie wished Mystic Falls had other options to hang out at. Mystic Grill was usually the place to be but, every now and then it really bugged her that the entire town goes to only one cafe.
Bonnie spotted Caroline waving at her from a dark corner. She made her way slowly over to her blond friend. "Hey Care, how's it going?"
"I got the deets on the new guy. His name is Kai Parker. He lives next door to the Donovans. He has a twin sister, Jolene, or something. They moved here from Portland. I heard their family died. And now they're living with their uncle."
"How the hell did you find all that out?" Bonnie asked with a sideways glance and a leer.
"Hello, Matt," Caroline said through an exaggerated eye roll. "Poor boy wanted an update on Elena. In exchange, he gave me deets on the new kids."
Bonnie's face scrunched up into a displeased expression. "You haven't spoken with Elena all summer. What could you have offered him?"
Caroline looked smug. "I told him Elena was slowly coming back into herself and it's only a matter of time before she comes crawling back to him."
"Caroline!"
"Come on, you know Elena. Once the new school year sets in, she'll be her perky self again." Caroline assured her absentmindedly. "You know I'm right."
Caroline just smirked wider at Bonnie's repulsive expression.
"Hey Bon, how's it going?"
Matt made his way over to them with two drinks in his hand. He passed one off to Caroline, and she grinned up at their blond friend.
"Great, Caroline was just dishing gossip about your new neighbor." Bonnie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Matt got that discomposed expression. "Oh yeah, Chris Parker's niece and nephew just moved in with him the other week. Jo's pretty friendly, her brother though, he's kinda strange."
"Strange how?" Bonnie blurted it out before she could change her mind.
Matt shrugged and pushed up his sleeves. "Just quiet and brooding."
Caroline smiled and waggled her eyebrows theatrically. "Sounds like my type."
Bonnie bit down on her lip. She really believed she'd have the new guy's attention for herself, but if Caroline makes him her new victim for the year, Bonnie doesn't stand a chance.
"How's Elena doing?" Matt asked, and now he stared at Bonnie so intensely that she shivered. "I didn't see much of her all summer."
"She's coping the best she can," Bonnie added with a casual wave of her hand. "Jeremy isn't making things easier on her or Jenna."
Matt sat down in silence for a minute. "Yeah, he's been hanging with the wrong crowd."
"Vicki and the other burn-out townie losers," Caroline replied in a clipped tone.
"Hey, watch how you talk about my sister." Matt's voice was as mean as his expression. Caroline looked away, taking a sip of her drink. "Has she said anything about me?"
"Matt, she needs time. It's only been four months."
Bonnie watched how her words influenced Matt. The nervous twitch of his fingers stilled and for one perfect second, he was a silent statue. Then he pursed his lips and leaned back in the chair.
"I tried to be there for her, but she dumped me at the funeral Bonnie." Matt put his head in his hands. "How cold is that?" He huffed a humorless laugh into his hands and then looked at her, his blue eyes red-rimmed.
Bonnie was astonished. This had not been what she expected, but she could certainly sympathize.
"She needs space."
Matt sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "And that's cool, but she's avoiding me. Like I'm the bad guy."
"Matt…" Bonnie struggled to find words to calm her other friend.
"I love her, Bonnie. I'd do anything to make sure she's happy. I know I have little to offer someone like her, but…" Matt drawled, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.
The Donovans were one of the lowest-class families in Mystic Falls. While the Bennetts had to work their way up to achieve their more newly found middle-class status. The Donovans were known as the trailer park family with a history of alcohol and domestic abuse. Many of the men in that family were janitors, and the women were barmaids.
"Elena!" Caroline's voice rang. There, walking over to them, was their dark-haired friend.
"Hey guys, sorry I was catching up with Jenna." Elena breathed through a nervous laugh. "
"Hey." Matt rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes.
"Hi." Elena returned, unaware of the sudden look of nausea flitting across Matt's face.
This was awkward.
"Yo, Matt, I need you over here, bro." Tyler Lockwood shouted for his friend, over by the pool table.
Elena furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and glanced at all three of them. Matt gave off a deer-in-headlights look, blue eyes wide and unblinking, mouth hanging open slightly before he suddenly snapped it shut.
"Coming," Matt answered while standing up. "Later, guys." He said as he hurried after Tyler.
"Bye!"
After a few moments, Caroline let out an exasperated sigh and flipped her hair over her shoulder in frustration. "Dammit Elena, would you stop stringing that poor boy around."
"What the hell is your problem, Caroline?" Bonnie almost shrieked, pounding her hand on the table.
"How about for once, you butt out of my business for a change," Elena's voice was openly hostile.
"You two are going to be social losers, and I will not be dragged down with you." Caroline sat up a little straighter. "You with your Never Been Kissed complex," the blonde pointed to Bonnie, "And you, refusing to give the most popular boy in school the time of day."
Bonnie seriously hoped Caroline was exaggerating. She probably wasn't.
"Caroline, what goes on between me and Matt is between me and Matt. I'm trying to focus on myself. He doesn't deserve my baggage."
Elena had a haughty tone to her voice that even made Caroline hesitate, but only for a second.
Caroline looked at them for a long moment, and then rolled her eyes. "Well, both of you need to catch up with me. I finally lost my v-card over the summer."
Bonnie found herself exchanging glances with an equally gob smacked Elena.
"Wait, what?" Elena demanded and Bonnie grimaced.
Caroline made a face and shrugged primly. "So many hotties in Atlanta. I just picked one that tickled my fancy."
It took Bonnie a second to recover from the major shock and disbelief in her friend's words. "You slept with some random guy you didn't know."
That made Caroline just outright laugh. "Yes, Miss. Prude. It was just sex, hot, passionate sex. Honestly, I think I'm over high school boys. College boys are much more fun."
Elena's eyebrow twitched. "Not legal Caroline."
"That's what makes it so fun." Caroline proclaimed, leaning in closer.
A scowl pulled at Bonnie's lips. She cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes at Caroline. "Your mom is the sheriff. If she ever got word that her daughter was messing around with older men."
"Not like she'd care."
The conceited or the nonchalant attitude of Caroline Forbes did not fool Bonnie. But at least this meant she won't have eyes for Kai Parker. Bonnie only wondered now if he likes blondes or brunettes.
"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle? Miss. Bennett?"
The petite, dark-haired girl gave a nervous laugh. "Um.. a lot? I'm not sure. But it was a lot of casualties"
There was a small round of chuckling, barely audible over the sounds of chairs scraping against the ground and bags being unzipped.
"I see you're still playing up the whole braindead cheerleader act in my class. Did you even do the reading last night, Miss. Bennett, or were you and Miss. Gilbert up all night gossiping about boys and braiding each other's hair."
Both girls froze, looking terrified, and Kai felt an off, bitter stab of disgust.
Mr. Tanner picked up a textbook from one of the empty desks. "Mr. Donovan, care to take this opportunity to overcome that jock stereotype?"
"I'm cool being a stereotype, Mr. Tanner." The blond fumbled awkwardly.
WHACK.
Kai's eyes darted to the textbook that had been slapped against the tabletop.
"There were 346 casualties."
Interestingly, it was his sister, Jo, who'd finally spoken up.
The teacher's frown darkened, but he grabbed the textbook and headed back to the front of the class. "That's correct. What's your name, young lady?"
"Parker, Jo Parker," she quipped back, arching an eyebrow mischievously.
Mr. Tanner's face twitched with something like shock, then settled into something that was cold and indifferent. "Okay, Miss. Parker, maybe you can enlighten us more about one of the town's most significant historical events? Since you were the only one who did the reading."
An impish smile pulled at the corners of Jo's lips. "There were about 27 civilian casualties. Confederate soldiers fired on a church they believed were housing weapons."
"I'm going to have to stop you right there, Miss. Parker," Mr. Tanner interrupted, sounding angrier. "As it's stated in your textbooks, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."
"I did some research on the web. According to my findings, it was documented by the Founders later on that civilians were caught in the crossfire of a battle. They were just trying to cover it up." Jo didn't seem deterred, the grin only getting more vicious. She stared down at Mr. Tanner. "You can check the founder's archives for references, Mr. Tanner."
There were a couple of gasps and snickers from the usual preppy popular students.
"I'll be doing that." Kai could have sworn that Mr. Tanner rolled his eyes before turning back to the blackboard and writing out today's lesson. "Let's move on."
After the hour was up, everyone rushed out of Mr. Tanner's classroom, all except one.
"Hey," the emerald-eyed girl from yesterday, Bonnie. "That was badass. No one ever talks to Mr. Tanner like that."
Jo shrugged and gave a cagey jerk of the head. "I bet. I hate how he just came at you like that."
"History isn't my best subject," Bonnie spouted, losing some of that nervous energy. "Mr. Tanner gets his kicks from humiliating students."
"So the teachers here aren't that different from the ones back home." Kai blew out a long breath and shrugged noncommittally. "Not a surprise."
Bonnie bit back a laugh and raised her eyebrows questioningly. "You know what? You guys should join me and my friends for lunch. Since you're new and all."
"We'd love to." Jo grinned cheerfully.
Kai was thrown off guard at that and glanced at his sister. "We would?"
"Yes, it's not like we have anywhere else to be, and it would be rude to turn down a kind invite." Jo squeezed on Kai's biceps. He could feel her pressing her nails in his skin.
Kai pursed his lips in consideration. "Yeah, we'd love to."
"To the cafe it is." Bonnie's smile widened, and Kai couldn't help noticing that it was a little optimistic.
Bonnie's friend Elena was at a table at the back of the cafeteria when they got there. She was with a blonde, who was slumped over with her head on the table.
Kai planted his tray between Jo and Bonnie, forcing them both to scoot to the side as he took a seat.
"You guys, remember Elena."
"Hi," Elena grinned, taking a sip of her bottle drink.
Jo waved her hand. "Hey,"
"Kai, Jo, this is Caroline," Bonnie said briskly, gesturing towards her blonde friend.
"Hello, salty goodness," Caroline said, the superior smile seeping into the tone of her voice. Bonnie scoffed and Elena rolled her eyes. "I'm Caroline Forbes, cheer-captain, and the queen bee of Mystic Falls High School."
Her eyes were set on Kai, who was just uncomfortable.
Bonnie glowered back and swallowed heavily. "Also the sheriff's daughter."
Kai smirked widely and popped one of his fries into his mouth. "So you're pretty much a narc."
"Kai!" Jo exhaled, but he ignored her.
Elena snorted. Immediately Bonnie blushed and dropped her gaze to the table and Caroline glared murder at both her friends.
"Basically." Elena agreed quietly.
"Elena!" Bonnie's green eyes shone with something unreadable.
There was silence, and then Kai burst out laughing.
"Sorry," Elena smirked and shrugged casually. "How do you guys like it in Mystic Falls?"
"It's so different from Portland," Jo answered. Kai decided to let her do all the talking. He kept noticing all the small glances Bonnie was giving him. "Never thought we'd be living in a small town."
"I heard you guys live with your uncle. What happened to your parents?" Caroline asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Caroline, leave them alone," Bonnie said, crossing her arms and giving her friend a stern look.
The blonde's eyebrows shot up, a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "What? I'm just trying to get to know the story."
Bonnie made a dismissive gesture. "Please excuse her. She likes to hear the sound of her voice."
Jo paused for a moment, her fork poised at her mouth. "It's cool, umm, our parents died, well, our whole family died."
There was a long, tense silence. Even Caroline, apparently, couldn't bring herself to say anything after that.
Elena glanced between them as she knitted her eyebrows together. "How many siblings?"
Kai's face tightened. "There were six of us,"
"Elena's parents died over the summer," Caroline blinked rapidly, realizing her mistake.
Bonnie's eyes, already quite round, widened even further, and she swallowed down her mouthful of food.
"Oh my god, what happened?" Jo asked, her eyes popping open in surprise.
"Umm, they drowned," Elena said with a flinch.
"Now she lives with her aunt, well, her aunt lives with her and her brother." Caroline sighed out, making everybody look at her. She idly pushed her food around on her plate a few moments before glancing up and finding herself the center of attention.
"Ignore her," Bonnie shrank down in her seat and frowned. "Sorry, lunch is turning into a downer."
Jo laughed and pushed the hair out of her face. "It's fine. Nice to know someone else can relate."
"Yeah, it is," Elena said, bobbing her head in agreement.
"Anyway, there's a party tonight, our back-to-school bonfire. You should come." Caroline said, her hand resting on Kai's arm.
When Caroline lightly touched his arm, Kai nearly punched her.
"We'd love to."
His face shut down. "We would?" Kai wondered how many times Jo was going to drag him along with her.
"It would give you a chance to meet some of the other students, I mean you'll be here for another two years of high school, might as well mingle with the right crowd." Caroline snickered, giving Kai a look like she wanted to eat him.
"It's better than sulking in the house," Elena offered as she chewed her bottom lip.
Caroline shrugged casually and pulled a nail file out. "Plus free booze."
Kai frowned and considered it. "You had me at free booze," he said, trying to sound friendly.
Jo gave him a light pinch. At this point, he was just indulging her. She was all he had left, anyway.
"Kai and I have biology, with Mrs. Fanny." Kai snickered, as well as did Elena and Caroline.
"She follows everything from the textbook, and all the answers are in the back. You're sure to get an easy A with her." Bonnie's eyes glittered with amusement.
Kai shrugged out of his chair. "That's one more class I'm sure to pass then." He commented, taking in Bonnie's flushed cheeks.
"Let's get moving. Don't wanna be late." Jo replied, with a cheerfulness that seemed spiteful in its intensity.
The bell rang, causing the metaphorical dam to break as students flooded out of the cafe and back into the hall.
"Please don't screw this up for us."
Kai looked up sharply. "What the hell are you on about?"
"Caroline, I saw her making eyes at you." Jo quipped back, and now Kai moved.
His body stiffened at the accusation. "The narc? Are you crazy?" Kai bit the inside of his cheek. "I don't even like blondes. Are you really going to that bonfire?"
"It's obvious the girl has a lot of power in this place," Jo replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "Last thing I need is for you to let your hormones screw things up for us again. This is a fresh start. We need to fit in and be normal."
Kai clenched his teeth together, almost baring them at her as he glared. "We're not normal Jo. We're-"
"Shut up," Jo exchanged her look of annoyance for one of horror. "We don't need a repeat of Portland, okay? Elena and Bonnie seem cool. Let's just go mingle and get drunk."
"I'm going for the free alcohol and hot townie girls," Kai smirked, and then seemed to catch himself. "I promise to not dick around this time."
Jo leaned closer and punched him – not too hard – on the shoulder.
They're sitting in a messy rowdy circle around a bonfire, crackling fire sparks which was the center of the party. Music already blasting from HIFI speakers that someone from Grove Hill brought out. In fact, Bonnie guessed half the people she didn't recognize at this party probably attended Grove Hill High School, their rival school.
"Looking for Kai?"
Bonnie looked at her friend with a frown and then shook her head. "What no? I mean, I'm looking to see if Jo got here." Bonnie said in a scandalized voice.
Elena scoffed, but the mildly peeved expression soon gave way to an eager grin. "Oh, so you haven't been pining over Kai these last 36 hours."
Bonnie pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "Elena, I don't even know him."
"And?" Elena drawled out, eyebrows raised skeptically. "Shoot your shot."
"I don't even know if he's interested in me. Maybe he has a girlfriend back home." Bonnie flinched as she realized how she'd just jinxed herself. "Not that it'll matter. I think Caroline might have her eyes on him."
A confused expression crossed Elena's face, her eyebrows drawing together. "Caroline the narc, I doubt. Guys like him would never go for someone like Caroline."
"Well, I don't see him or Jo anywhere," Bonnie said softly, her hands picking at the edge of her shirt nervously.
Quirking a single eyebrow, Elena glowered at her. "Bonnie, aren't you a psychic? Use those witchy powers and find out where they are."
Bonnie rolled her eyes with a slight scoff. "Fine, but Grams says I have to concentrate."
"I have a beer bottle. Pretend it's a crystal ball."
Both girls chuckled. Elena gave her the bottle, and Bonnie took it in her hand. She felt something as she handled the bottle. Then she saw something wicked.
A crow. There was a fog, and a man.
"He's here."
Bonnie came back to her senses and abruptly pulled her hand back. She whipped around as she shot up out of the lawn chair. She watched as Caroline appeared in front of Kai and Jo.
"They're heading this way."
"Hey, look who just showed up," Caroline called out, making her way over to them. Kai waved, looking kind of dazed, and Jo greeted them with a brilliant smile.
Bonnie shyly waved. "Hi."
Kai bit his bottom lip, a horrible seductive habit on his part. "You promise us free drinks."
"We did. The cooler is right here, and the keg is over by the woods." Elena directed Jo and pulled Caroline along with her. "Come on, Care, let's introduce Jo to some people."
"But I…" Elena dragged Caroline off before the blonde could resist.
"I'm surprised you came." Bonnie let out a small laugh at the end to ease the tension. "I didn't think this was your kind of scene."
"It's not, but I couldn't let Jo come alone. And I hate being at home with my uncle, so here I am." Kai reached down in the cooler for a beer.
Bonnie began to walk Kai toward where the pathway planks curved up into a bridge that spanned an inlet. Kai took a long pull of his beer, following alongside her.
"I wanna apologize for Caroline's rudeness this afternoon. She comes on strong, but she isn't a bad person. Just nosy." Bonnie whispered. It was easier than saying what she really thought of her best friend.
"It's cool. I was more worried about Jo." Kai groused and scratched the label off his beer. "She's having a hard time adjusting."
"What about you? It can't be easy losing your family." Bonnie asked calmly. She was proud that her voice stayed even.
Kai's expression just sort of closed down. "I'm better at coping."
"Last spring, Elena's parents' car drove off this bridge and into the lake." Kai's eyes glittered, but he stayed silent. Bonnie couldn't tell if it was defiance or something else, something more dangerous and more painful. "She was in the backseat and somehow she survived. They didn't. She and I have been friends since we were babies, but losing her parents somehow brought us closer, but I can see the sadness still in her eyes. No matter how well she tries to cope. And her brother Jeremy, he's not doing too well."
Kai stiffened just for one second. "Life's a bitch, Bonnie. You lose people, but I'm not shutting down because of it. Everyone expected me to have a complete breakdown, but I'm fine."
Bonnie's eyes went wide. Okay, that was unexpected.
"If you say so, but it's okay to not be okay." Bonnie offered, and Kai turned to look at her incredulously. "And it's not unmanly to cry, especially for your family."
Kai drew himself up to his full height. "So what's your deal?"
"My deal?" Bonnie repeated, her eyebrows raised questioningly. "Not much to tell."
Kai leaned against the concrete barrier and pulled out a cigarette. "Really, cuz I know about the cop's daughter Forbes, and then there's recently orphaned Gilbert, but what about you?"
"Well, my mom bailed on me and my dad when I was five," Bonnie said quietly. Her throat felt tight. "My dad is always on work trips, so I spend a lot of time with my grandmother. She pretty much raised me. I don't know what I'd do without her."
Kai lit his cigarette, body visibly relaxing as he exhaled the smoke through his nostrils.
"She sounds like a good woman."
Bonnie nodded unhappily. "Everyone in this town thinks she's kooky and strange."
"I've learned that people have a hard time accepting unconventional individuals. Being different is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it's far cooler to be individualistic than trying to fit in all the time."
Bonnie glanced at Kai's face, profile fine and white against the darkness of evening, hair moving slightly with the breeze, smoke coiling around him. Bonnie let her eyes fall to Kai's jaw, sharp, and his throat, soft.
"Sounds like you're speaking from experience," she concluded, even though she was lost for words.
Kai took another drag of his cigarette, and as he exhaled, said, "You can say that."
The night sky was alive with purple and blue flares. Laughter thundered across the woods. Without thinking the situation through properly, Bonnie reached out for Kai's hand. Shocked eyes pierced through her skull. She watched Kai jolted away before she could touch him.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I tried to—"
"It's fine, I was caught off guard, for a…"
"SOMEBODY HELP!"
A high, pure note rang out through the woods.
"Someone call an ambulance."
Bonnie pivoted away from Kai. "That's Elena."
Kai dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his boot. "And Jo."
Bonnie and Kai made their move back to the bonfire, where they saw a crowd of people surrounding a body.
"Who got hurt?"
"Vicki Donovan, she probably ODed."
"She's such a drama queen."
Bonnie pushed the two girls that were talking shit. When she got close enough, Bonnie saw Matt holding his sister's body. She noticed the blood oozing out of the girl's neck.
"Vicki, Vicki, come on, open your eyes and look at me." Matt pulled back, his face tear-streaked and his eyes red-rimmed as he took Vicki's face in his hands.
"Give her some space." There stood Jo with her jacket rolled up. She kneels down beside Vicki and Matt. "We need to apply pressure to her wound, to keep her from bleeding out."
"Oh my god," Bonnie watched the scene in horror. She looked around to see if anyone was calling for an ambulance. When she glanced up, she saw Kai looking at Vicki with what seemed like anxiety.
Her brows furrowed in confusion, but there was no time to wonder about Kai's reaction when Matt's sister was dying before them.
Once the ambulance came, everyone disappeared from the party. Kai took his sister home without uttering a word to Bonnie. She knew he was shaken up by what he saw. Who wouldn't be? And Jo, she just took charge, and probably saved Vicki's life tonight. Bonnie hung back, waiting for Elena, who was trying to comfort Jeremy, who was snapping at his sister in a drunken rage.
Elena walked over to her after Jeremy finished barking at her face. "I don't know how much more I can take with him."
Bonnie ran a hand through her hair, her stomach in knots. "Let's go to the grill, get some coffee. It looks like you could use a cup."
Elena's face hardened. "I can't. Jeremy's drunk," she mumbled. "I need to take him home."
With a quick nod, Bonnie moved to walk in a separate direction, but then she paused and turned back around. "I saw something when I touched that beer bottle."
"What do you mean?" Elena asked. Bonnie was hesitant to further explain herself.
She took a deep breath. "It was weird. I can't really explain it, but I have a gut feeling that something bad is coming our way." Her stomach was in knots just thinking about it, nervousness coiling cold and sick like a finger touching the back of her throat.
"I felt something like that too when we stumbled across Vicki's body in the woods," Elena said as she stepped forward. Her hair was going every which way, she was looking very much unhinge.
Bonnie shook herself out for a few seconds. "Go look after Jeremy. Call me once you're home."
Wordlessly, Elena leaned up and hugged her. "Thank you," she murmured as Bonnie hugged back fiercely.
"How was the party?"
Kai was still unsettled by what he saw tonight. Memories of that cold, lifeless body covered in excessive amounts of blood. Jo was quiet, though she clung onto him the entire walk home.
"Yesterday there was a report on an animal attack, killing a couple. They were attacked by their neck. Cops never named what sort of animals were in the woods." Kai spoke, he noticed how still his uncle got. "A girl just got attacked tonight, except no one saw any animals in the woods."
For a second, Chris didn't move, his face dark and full of pain as he looked over at his fireplace.
"Is there something you're not telling us?" he meant to sound affront, but it came out kind of squeaky.
Jo tightened her grip around her brother. "Kai, what are you talking about?"
All expression vanished from Chris's face like a blackboard wiped clean. "You were always an inquisitive child. It's the one thing that drove your father crazy…"
Kai stopped dead. "Cut the shit, Chris. You know something."
"You'll soon learn that there are more than just witches out here," Chris answered, which Kai was pretty sure didn't answer the question. "Mystic Falls is a breeding ground for supernaturals."
"So what? We're living on a Hellmouth?" Kai snapped without looking away from his uncle.
Chris met his eyes squarely, without flinching, but it was Jo who spoke up. "I'm sorry. I must have missed this in Wicca 101 with Aunt Athena. How come this is the first we're hearing of this?"
Their uncle shook his head fiercely. "Kids, I'm sorry. I have another night shift, and you two have school in the morning."
Kai opened his mouth to say something and then snapped it shut. Meanwhile, Chris simply grabbed his jacket off the hook and left through the front door.
"He's fucking with us, right?" Jo leaned back and pushed her hair back from her face with a frustrated sigh. "Mom and dad never said anything else about supernatural creatures, just witches and…"
"Are you surprised, dad and the coven weren't so forthcoming with information." Kai said with a frown.
Jo gave him an odd look. Finally, she sighed. "Whatever you're planning on doing, please don't. I can't have a repeat of Portland again. I can't lose you too."
Kai looked at his sister, her t-shirt speckled with blood and dirt with the freckles on her cheek.
"Jo…" he started, but Jo just waved a hand and started walking away.
"You know what? I need a shower. I'm covered in that Donovan girl's blood," she said and then Jo was gone, leaving Kai to feel like shit all over again.
His shoulders slumped, and he leaned his forehead against the beam before making his way into his corner room. Looking around at all his boxes scattered around him and his duffle bag open, with clothes spilling out. Not trying to get too comfortable in this new town, just in case. His air mattress was set up under the rear window.
His eyes landed on his journal. He groaned as he made his way over to the desk and took a seat. Kai pressed the pen to the pages and began to write.
Dear Diary,
This is fucking weird. Trying to process my feelings and write it all down in a journal like a middle school girl. I don't need to open up, because I'm okay. And no, I don't need to grieve anymore. Mom and dad are gone. Keith and Joey are gone. Olivia and Luke-
I still have Jo. I didn't lose everyone. Jo and I will get through this. Two more years until graduation then we can leave this Twins Peak town, maybe go back to Portland or move to Boston, when Jo gets accepted to Harvard.
But tonight left me with this weird feeling in my gut that something uncanny is happening in Mystic Falls.
What else is out there besides witches and wizards?
And what is it about that earnest and callow dark-haired girl? Why am I drawn to her? She's plucky, cute, and kind of dorky. So not my type. I can't even think about getting my dick wet, not after everything that's happened. Everything that I lost. Not after her…
I'm even more bothered about the girl who got attacked in the woods. What attacked that girl? I need to know. I need answers. Since Uncle Chris won't give me a straight answer, I guess I'll figure it out myself. You know what? Fuck keeping my head down. I'll get to the bottom of this. I will find out what's going on around here.
Now if I could just figure out what to say to Bonnie tomorrow about my disappearing act.
AN: Back at it again with another Bonkai love story for the fandom. This one takes place during season one high school era and will end at graduation, which is season four. Starring Bonnie Bennett and Kai Parker, featuring Jo, Grams, Elena, Caroline, Matt, and Tyler. There are some big changes in this since it doesn't focus on the Salvatores, their role will be very different and the romantic pairings won't be the same as the ones in canon, except a few minor pairings. Uncle Chris Parker is JR Bourne from Teen Wolf (Chris Argent). There will be a few original characters to flesh out the Bennett and Parker storylines. Kai will be going through a personal journey, as we learn slowly what really happened in Portland with his family and the coven. Bonnie will finally get the spotlight on her. Elena is a good friend in this fic. Caroline is complicated.
This is going to be a long ride, and I'll try my best to update frequently. Enjoy.
