II. CAROLINE FORBES
"This is so dumb." The boy mumbled under his breath.
"Hold still, Donovan," she said, adjusting the lens of her camera.
He stood on the steps on Mystic Falls High, in his cap and gown, diploma in hand. He trained his mouth into a halfhearted smile as she adjusted and readjusted the focus of her camera lens.
Snap. Flash.
"See, that wasn't so bad." Caroline grinned up at him, placing the camera into the holster of her bag.
"Care," Matt sighed, taking off the cap and wiping the thin layer of sweat forming at his forehead. "Graduation ended half an hour ago."
"I know, I know." She said gently. "But I promised Bon I'd take pictures since she can't be here to see us."
Since primary school it had always been the three of them. Matt and Bonnie were her best friends, sharing secrets at recess and leaving coded messages in each other's lockers. Then Bonnie's family had moved and it had been just her and Matt for the last year. Soon, it would be just her at Whitmore. Matt opted on a gap year and Bonnie was already making plans to backpack across Europe.
"Care," his warm voice called her affectionately. "Nothing's going to change. We're practically family. I'm just a phone call away. Bon is too."
He descended the stairs of the entrance and met her on the bottom step. Matt had been Mystic Falls' resident Golden Boy. Captain of the football team, above average GPA and the boy who'd beat up Tyler Lockwood freshmen year for harassing her and Bon at a school assembly.
"That's just it Matt…everything is changing," Caroline stammered, "Since first grade it's always been the three of us. Now, it's just going to be me. Facing college…alone. How will I get through it without you two?"
"The same way you got through Miss Mystic Falls," Matt answered, a bit more playfully. His method of easing her mind never failed. "With poise and grace."
His logic was hard to protest. The town's pageant had been the most trying time in her life. To say it had been more stressful and time consuming than studying for the SAT was an understatement.
"And, you're Caroline Forbes." He continued with a chuckle.
Caroline grinned back at him. Leave it to Matt to give her the pep talk she so desperately needed.
She looped her arm through his and directed them to the now empty school parking lot, her tiny Prius the only car left in sight.
"So, movie night at mine's or did you want to grab dinner at the Grill?"
"I can't tonight Matt," Caroline sighed as she pulled a ring of keys from her bad. The loud chirp sounded when she unlocked the car doors. "I have to attend some event with the Sheriff. You know, show my face and make pleasantries."
Matt knew just how much Caroline disliked the stuffy formalities. The only reason she'd even participated in Miss Mystic Falls was because it was a nice inclusion for her college apps.
"There are the moments I am happy I am not a Founder," he shuddered at the thought of having to wear a suit.
Caroline, herself, had to admit that after the first hour she'd be ready to jump off the nearest balcony.