Caroline and Bonnie were still sleeping and without a doubt, the blonde was going to be nursing an epic hangover. Enter me, the amazing best friend. Bacon was sizzling in a pan on the stove, eggs were beaten and seasoned with salt and pepper ready for scrambling, and the vervain laced coffee was percolating.
I wasn't taking any chances. Today, Caroline would learn about Vampires, Witches, and the like. It was dangerous for her to be left in the dark, especially with Season 1 Damon. Just look at what happened in the show. My best-friend was not going to become a glorified blood bag/sex doll, not on my watch.
Breakfast was cooked and plated by the time the two sleeping beauties were awake. Caroline moaned and groaned her way into the kitchen, snatching the mug of coffee I held out to her and taking a gulp. She hissed as it burnt her tongue. Rolling my eyes, I handed Bonnie a cup and her plate. She smiled, sitting down at the weathered dining table and digging in.
Once we were a fed and caffeinated, it was time to get down to business. Caroline wasn't going to respond well to pussy footing around. She needed straight forward, direct to the point. So, me being me, lit the candles at the center of the table with a click of my fingers and said, "Bonnie and I are Witches."
It went silent and oh so still, Bonnie and I waiting with bated breath for her reaction. She didn't disappoint. Her baby blue eyes narrowed and she blew out the candles. "Do it again." It was Bonnie's turn. Snap. The candles were lit again, flames burning bright. "Cool. Can you tell the future? Do you have wands? Familiars?"
"Care." She stopped her excited rambling, looking at me expectantly. "That's not all." She waved her hand for me to go on. "Stefan is a Vampire."
She blinked, was silent for a minute and then nodded like it made sense. "Okay. Good or bad? Should we be worried about Elena?" God, I loved this girl. Always putting others before herself.
"Stefan is one of the good ones. Elena's fine. Stefan's brother on the other hand..."
"He has a brother? Is he hot?" She crossed her fingers, whispering 'please be hot, please be hot...' to herself.
"Not the point, Care." I rolled my eyes fondly. "But yes, super hot. Also super unstable at the moment, so you need to stay far, far away from him."
After the three of us ate and drank the entire pot of coffee, we made our way to school, Caroline's brand new vervain bracelet clasped tightly around her slender wrist. In case I didn't see her later, I reminded her to stay away from any sexy leather wearing men with ridiculously blue eyes. After making her pinky promise, we headed off to our first period classes.
"...Originally discovered nearly 5 centuries ago, it hasn't been over Mystic Falls in over 145 years. Now, the comet will be its brightest right after dusk during tomorrow's celebration." Tanner drifter off, dark eyes glaring between the star-crossed lovers. "Are we bothering you, Mr Salvatore? Ms Gilbert?" I hid my snicker behind my hand as they looked down sheepishly. The bell rang.
I intercepted Matt on our way out of class, grabbing his arm gently. "How's Vicki doing?" He looked tired, as was expected. I drew him into a hug, rubbing circles into his back. He clung to me and I let him, knowing he didn't really have anyone there for him. "I'm here for you, Matty. I hope you know that." He nodded into my shoulder, giving me one last squeeze.
"Thanks, Mish."
"Grams says the comet is a sign of impending doom. The last time it passed over Mystic Falls, there was lots of death. So much blood and carnage. It created bad paranormal activity." Bonnie said, playing with the straw in her glass of coke.
"Yeah, and then you poured Grams another shit and she told you about the aliens." Caroline's hand squeezed mine as she said this, knowing it was hard for me to discredit Grams when she was speaking the truth. Unfortunately, Elena was sat with us so we couldn't speak freely. "So then what?" She asked the doppelganger, referring to Elena and Stefan's moonlight rendezvous.
"So then nothing." Elena sighed.
"You and Stefan talked all night? There was no kind of sloppy first kiss or touchy feely of any kind?"
"Nope, we didn't go there."
"Not even a handshake? I mean, Elena, we are friends. Ok? You are supposed to share the smut." I wrinkled my nose in disgust, completely opposed to hearing any details about Elena's sex life. If it was just Stefan, talk away. I wouldn't mind imaging him naked.
"We just talked for hours." Elena shrugged.
"OK, what is with the blockage? Just jump his bones already! Ok, it's easy. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy, sex!"
"Profound."
"She's right though." I backed up Care, not liking the way Elena dismissed her so easily. "It's the 21st century. You don't need to wait for the guy to make the first move. Feminism and all that." Elena stood suddenly.
"Where are you going?" A perplexed Bonnie asked.
"Caroline and Misha are right. It is easy. If I sit here long enough, i'll end up talking myself out of it instead of doing what I started the day saying what I was going to do." She left with a flip of her long, brown hair.
"Wow. That girl is a drama queen." I took a long drink of my lemonade.
The entire population of Mystic Falls was out in force, ready for the comet. I weaved my way through the crowd, looking for Bonnie or Caroline, perhaps Jeremy. Bonnie, Caroline, and Elena had come to the town square early to prepare for tonight whilst I'd made up some excuse about needing to speak to Grams to get out of folding pamphlets. When I found the girls, Caroline shoved a candle into my hand and lit it with her own. Matt turned to light Elena's candle, eyes yearning. Stefan appeared then and whisked Elena away, leaving behind a dejected Matt. I felt sorry for him, but he really wasn't helping himself.
I sat between Bonnie and Caroline on the picnic bench, the three of us looking up at the sky as we waited. Caroline rested her head on top of mine and Bonnie cuddled into my side. The comet streaked through the dark sky, nothing more than a blink of white-gold, and then it was gone.
"A bit anticlimactic." They nodded in agreement. "I'm hungry. Can we get some fries?"
"Oh god yes." We blew out our candles, discarding them in the collection box and headed off to the grill before the masses got the same idea. Tyler, Matt, and Elena joined us a few moments later. A waitress came over to us and told Matt that Vicki had bunked off the rest of her shift. I excused myself, claiming I needed to go to the bathroom and instead ducked in the back. I climbed the stairs to the roof before I could second guess myself, the door opening with a metallic creak. Damon stood there, Vicki sobbing in his arms.
"Let her go." I tried to sound more confident than I felt, stepping out onto the roof. My hands shook so I curled them into fists, glaring at the eldest Salvatore. His icy blue eyes froze me in place as they snapped to me.
"Oh, and why would I do that? Are you offering to take her place?" He purred, smirking.
"No, but I can make you." He laughed loudly, like it was the most absurd thing he'd ever heard in his long life. I narrowed my eyes in concentration. He yelped, dropping Vicki to grip tightly at his head. "Vicki, go." She didn't need to be told twice and scrambled back inside, the door slamming shut behind her. I didn't let up, hoping Stefan would arrive sooner rather than later.
"Misha?" Speak of the devil. He cautiously approached, hands held up like he expected me to attack him. "What's going on?"
"Stefan. You need to get your brother in line." I eased up on Damon, watching him wearily as he struggled to his feet. "I don't take kindly to people running amok in my town."
"Your town?" Damon rasped, eyes murderous.
"Oh yeah. Mystic Falls is under the protection of the Bennett Coven. Nothing goes on around here without me knowing about it. I know why you're here Damon, and it's not just to mess with your little brother. I'm not going to stop you, so long as you hurt no one else."