"Scum bag. Scum bucket."
"Who are you talking to?" Elena asked seeing her Aunt muttering.
"Him."
"The guy on TV?"
"Also known as Logan 'Scum' Fell."
"He's cute."
"There's nothing cute about him. Didn't your mom ever tell you why I moved from Mystic Falls?"
"Wow, you and him."
"Eh, never mind. What are you doing today?"
"Well, I told Mrs. Lockwood I'll drop these items for the Heritage project."
"Is that Grandma Beth's ring?"
The bell rings, so Elena puts the ring away to open the door, "Are we expecting anyone?" Her aunt shrugs.
"Oh, hey Stefan..."
"Then I guess I have to hand this over to Carol," Jenna mutters to herself seeing her niece too busy with her boyfriend's face.
Vicki noticed Tyler walk into the Grill with Mayor and Mrs. Lockwood. She decided to play it cool and let someone else take the order.
It was one of those days when she was sober. Not by her choice though, ever since she turned down Jeremy and started going out with Tyler, her stock had been running low, she'd been going through it slower than usual. Not that she couldn't score, but her usual sources were more buy from and smoke with kind of people.
She, on the other hand, was going to school more often and taking half of the shifts she was supposed to since she got to hang out with Tyler. The summer she spent with Jeremy made her appreciate spending time with one person rather than partying all the time. But if she knew he'd run around her like a lost puppy, she'd have stayed away. It was pathetic to see him pine and mope around her all the time. Not to mention, it was a total buzzkill.
"Bonnie, you're doing the whole staring into nothing thingy again," Caroline shook her friend. When Bonnie's face fell, she continued, "Bon, there's nothing you could have done. You saw the numbers, yes, but how could you have possibly connected it with the incident?"
After a few moments of hesitance, Bonnie replied, "It's not just that I should have known, Care, I'm also afraid what my next doodle could mean, what else could come to my mind when I let it wander."
"Oh, Bon... I'm sorry, honey. We'll be fine soon."
Having given it enough time, Vicki went to check in on the Lockwoods.
"How are we all doing over here?
"Yeah, we're doing great, sweetheart," Mayor Lockwood replied while Tyler averted his eyes away from her.
Annoyed, she refilled his glass and asked, "Is there anything else I can get you?"
"No, we're fine, thanks," Tyler responded, still not making eye contact.
"Just the check, honey," the Mayor responded.
"Here you go, Mayor Lockwood," she handed him the receipt and walked away in annoyance.
"Anyway, who are you taking to the Founder's party?" Caroline asked Bonnie.
"Weren't we supposed to go together, Care?"
"Umm, yeah, about that, I was thinking I'll ask Matt..."
"Caroline!"
"What?"
"He's the ex-boyfriend who's still not over Elena."
"Well, he has to be someday. I might as well give a push. Look, everyone in school has either crushed on or is still currently crushing on Elena. The new guy was my chance, but Elena already hooked him in. So it's not like we have a lot of options to choose from. The pool of single guys is shrinking, I am not going to wait for it to become even slimmer pickings. I have one epic romance on my checklist this year, Bonnie."
"That's so you, Caroline. Planning and executing romance too."
"It's not as much as planning a romance than it is about making time for it, you know. There's a lot for us to do, I spent the last year laying the foundations for everything I wanted. Now I can reap the benefits and take my shot at high school romance."
"Fine, of course, you have thought it through and have an answer to give. But do you have to ditch me?"
"I'm not ditching you, I'm giving you time to find a guy."
"Didn't you just say there's literally a drought for eligible guys?"
"For year-long relationships, yeah. Dates, not so much. Don't look immediately, but my 10 o'clock, he's been checking you out for a while."
"Ben McKittrick is looking at me!?"
She waves Ben over, "Yup, and now, he saw you looking back. So I'm going to do you a favour and wave him over, while I go get my guy."
"Hey Ben, how have you been? I'd love to hear all about it, but I just remembered I was looking for Matt. Why don't you talk to my friend here, I'll be right back. Toodles."
"Caroline," Bonnie hissed at her retreating figure.
"She didn't change at all," Ben chuckled. "What's up Bonnie?"
"Umm, you remember me?"
"Oh c'mon, I didn't graduate that long ago. You're making me feel old."
"No sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't mean that. I didn't think you knew me."
"I always know a pretty face," he leaned over and whispered to her.
"Now that you're parents left, you're okay being around me. Worried they'll see you mingling with the wrong side of the track?"
"Vicki, what the hell.."
"You treat me like trash and I'm sick of it."
"I don't think you're trash."
"Really, then who are you taking to the Founder's party?"
"Vicki Donavan, are you asking me out?"
"You won't, so someone has to."
"It's stupid and lame, so I didn't... but it'll be less stupid and lame with you there, so, will I see you there?"
"That's not asking."
"Technically it is. I'll see you there," he walked backward till she was in his line of sight before leaving.
"You realize, you had to ask him to take you, right? You think if you dress up like a respectable young lady, he'll finally treat you like one?" Jeremy butt in.
"Screw you, Jeremy."
"You know you're making the wrong choice and you keep making it anyway. It's sad."
"Yeah, and what is the right choice, you? You're unbelievable. We hung out the summer, we smoked up, and yes, we hooked up. That doesn't mean you own me. You keep telling me how Tyler treats me, but you don't treat me any good. I don't want you, I don't want your advice, I definitely don't want you running around me all the time."
"Hi Matt, is this seat taken."
"No, all yours."
"So, I wanted to ask if you could help me out with Sexy Suds. I've got the entire planning and organization portion covered, but I still have to enlist the volunteers."
"Of course. Since when do you ask for consent to rope us into these things?" he joked.
"Well, you had to help me out because you were with Elena. Now I can't assume you will."
"Nah, you've got me. I was helping out because you were my friend, Caroline. Not just because of Elena."
"That's good," her smile brightened, "So what are you doing?"
"Umm, applying for a job at the Grill. It's nothing fancy, but with the team out of the season, I have a lot more time in hands, so I thought I could make use of it."
"It's not fancy, but you'll be occupied. I always find myself in a better place when I'm occupied."
"Really? I thought you just did it to torture us."
"Please, I like being involved. Besides, an empty house is no fun. Shit, sorry, forget I said that. I didn't mean it to come that way."
"No that's alright, I know the situation is different and your mom didn't actually abandon you for vacationing with some boyfriend on some beach, but you're allowed to feel lonely too."
"Well, if it helps, my dad did abandon us for vacationing with some boyfriend on some beach."
That got them both laughing.
The hands going down her neck left fires in their wake, and his mouth was eating up the tiny moans she couldn't stop from erupting. When his hand went further south, she was sure she'd be embarrassingly wet but nothing mattered more than feeling him.
And then abruptly, it stopped.
It took a lot of effort that she held back her whine.
"I'm sorry, it just got a little.."
"Heated?"
"Yeah.."
"That's okay, we can take it slow," she told him though she wanted nothing more than to pull him back to her.
"We have all the time in the world, Stefan," she promised him.
"Yes, we do, Elena," and with that, he started kissing her again, slower than he was before, but just as intensely. She had no complaints.
"Hi, Carol."
"Jenna, what a surprise!" Carol's face contorted.
"Elena was supposed to drop these by," Jenna waved the heirloom box awkwardly.
"Right, I better take it from here," she took the box without inviting Jenna in, much to her surprise. Carol took every chance to show off their wealth. Unnecessary house tours and posturing being her prime choice.
"Umm, alright, I'll get going."
"Wait, Jenna!" called out a voice she hoped she didn't have to hear in person.
"Well, I was hoping we could avoid this awkward business until later, but I'll leave you two to it," Carol told them with an exasperated look. "You can use one of the sitting rooms if you want," she gestured. Now, that was the Carol she knew and hated.
"We're fine outside, thanks Carol," 'Scum' Fell answered for both of them.
"What do you want, Logan?" she asked him after Carol was out of their earshot.
"Can we talk? I have an apology to make?"
"Really? What for? Monica wasn't it? Or was it another girl I didn't know? Or is this about spreading false rumours that made life in this town living hell for me?"
"All of it. Listen, I was young and stupid, I can't take back anything I've done or the pain I've caused you. But I'm not that guy anymore. I want to make things right. I want to be there for you even otherwise. I was there, you know, at the funeral, I didn't come to talk because it wasn't the right occasion."
"Yeah, I saw you there."
"Give me a chance. One lunch?"
"I have to take care of two teenagers on top of finishing my degree, Logan. I can't afford to make mistakes that'll effect me or them. So I'm going to have to say no. Thank you for owning up to it and finally apologizing. It's more than what I expected from you ever."
"Jenna... please. Don't make me beg."
"Goodbye, Logan."
So many comments, where do I even begin?
The characters had so much potential that was neglected because the focus was on the love triangle. Not that it wasn't enjoyable, but we didn't get to root for anyone, care about anyone.
1. Bonnie: Of course, Bonnie is the backbone of the plot. There'll be a lot more about her, starting with accelerating her romance line, cos the canon just didn't do her any justice there. Don't know if it's misogyny in general or racism, but both will be avoided and addressed to the best of my ability here. So Ben starts taking interest slightly earlier without Anna's intervention. Obviously, he isn't end game.
2. Caroline: Romance with Matt has also been accelerated, though things may change for them after she turns (not committing to when she'll turn), but she needs some action going too. Since douche-y Damon angle isn't on and she isn't too disheartened by rude Stefan, I thought why not.
3. Vicki: Honestly, I don't know why we saw much of her if they were going to kill her so abruptly. I liked her character, as well as the performance by the actress. We're going to see more of her around.
4. Jenna: Again, totally unexplored, she's so spirited and feisty, not to mention one of the few good adults (and the only adult the Gilberts have, John excluded). The degree in psychology is super cool too. She'll have more screen time that isn't about her being a cool aunt in the sidelines. Also, one apology is all is took for her to forgive the person who was the reason behind her leaving town? Not in my story.
Side comment: What are your thoughts on cheaters? Cos the canon is weird about it. Jeremy, Elena, even Caroline was in a grey area. I'm not a fan, I'd like to think once a cheater, most likely always one.
5. Elena: Of course, the plot revolves around her and we'll see her, working on the others meanwhile.
Living for your comments. Bye for now!