Rating: T
Pairing: Bonnie/ Jeremy, Bonnie/ Elena (friendship)
Song: Send My Love by Adele
Background: Jeremy has been mysteriously absent from the gang for a while, Bonnie didn't even see him when she escaped the prison world, but his sister is awake and so he is out of hiding. Her ex is back around and seems adamant on avoiding her. It's more surprising than hurtful. Bonnie wants to patch things up, but that's easier said than done. What's a witch to do?
Im giving you up
I've forgiven it all
you set me free
No one had really heard from Jeremy for a while, at least not until Elena woke up. Bonnie saw him at the boarding house when Damon brought her back, but they hadn't seen each other since then. Even at the house they didn't speak, she was sticking close to Caroline. Everyone was on edge, worried Kai had bluffed or the spell didn't take.
When Elena came through the door she went to Jeremy first, he was her brother after all. She reached for Bonnie and Caroline at the same time and broke into sobs as they embraced. It was honestly a mess with all the girls sobbing and hugging then falling to the floor; Bonnie thought it made a beautiful mess, but a mess all the same. Jeremy left soon after that, which she thought was strange, but he mentioned having to take care of something important. What could be more important than spending time with your sister who had been in a magical coma for the better part of two years? Whatever was going on Elena didn't seem to mind and that was most important.
The girls called Tyler and Matt over after a while and they all enjoyed one another's company for the first time in what felt like forever. They held off on calling the guys in case it had turned out to be a bust, no sense in making it into a celebration if it came out they had no reason to celebrate. It had all worked though. Kai did as he said and Elena was awake. Now everyone was together, it was nice, they'd missed each other so much.
The celebration was small and quiet, save for the bouts of raquetous laughter that bounded through the house, it went long into the night and following morning. Sometime after four am Elena yawned for the umpteenth time and everyone collectively decided she needed her rest. Elena argued she had enough rest to last her a life time, it was funny, but the decision was unanimous, her friends carried her off to bed anyway. As Bonnie walked side by side with Elena and Caroline three abreast up the stairs she couldn't help but be immensely grateful for this moment. Then she thought of Kai, she was still confused about his motives but she was appreciative all the same. Walking to the bedroom hand in hand proved difficult when they got to the doorway. After an embarrassing number of failed attempts it occurred to the girls to walk through sideways. They fell to the bed giggling, but sleep soon came. They laid close to one another and enjoyed the closeness that had eluded them for so long. Bonnie had been locked away in a long past year, Caroline left to her own devices because of personal tragedy and Elena kept in suspended sleep because of a crazed (now-reformed?) warlock. Things had been crazy, but they were going well now. For once Bonnie wasn't worried about what lay in wait, she was just happy to be alive.
Damon came to check on them after a while and found the girls fast asleep. All except for Bonnie who closed her eyes and only pretended when she heard his steps outside the door. Worried he would take Elena off to his room she tried to quietly bury her face into the pillows so as not to show her frown. He didn't move to lift Elena though. Bonnie managed to peak up at him and he was smiling, seemingly pleased to even have her back. Damon pushed a lock of Elena's hair behind her ear then he pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads and left the room, Bonnie was awake for it. Ahe wanted to be shocked, but she knew Damon cared about all of them. He didn't think he'd ever see them together again this way and he was happy for it. She was proud of him for learning to share. Damon wasn't always the best at playing nicely with others, but he'd come a long way. As she began to drift off she snuggled in closer to her friends, thoughts of her strangely behaving ex far from her weary mind.
It had been a month since Elena woke up and slowly things were moving forward. Bonnie enjoyed spending time with Caroline, with Elena, with the two of them together, she spent time with Damon, with Stefan, even Matt spent time with her (when he wasn't protecting the town from whatever threat) Bonnie even got to see Kai every now and again. In fact, she was spending quality time with everyone but her ex. She supposed they'd have to talk at some point, but he didn't seem all too eager to entertain discussion with her. Still she knew she could choose to play games and not reach out until he did or she could put on her big girl pants and reach out to him first. Maturity sucks she thought as she dialed his number. It had been a while but she assumed it was the same after all this time. Retrieving his number she started at the contact. Before she could talk herself out of it she pressed then little phone icon to dial his number.
Ring...
Ring...
Ring...
It rang three more times then cut to voicemail.
Bonnie felt relived and let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding as she prepared to leave a message.
"Hey Jer, It's me-er it's Bonnie, I haven't seen you around and I was thinking we could grab lunch? I'm free this weekend, maybe Saturday? Let me know..."
'that could have been worse' she thought to herself. Instead of anxiously waiting for a reply she decided to distract herself and went into town for some errands.
Night came and he hadn't responded.
Morning came and still nothing.
The weekend came and went and no reply came from his end.
She rationalized his number changed.
She made up her mind to ask Elena about Jeremy's new number at the boarding house the following day. Arriving at noon for their movie mini date Bonnie talked with Damon while Elena searched for her purse. Once the girls had their things they bid Damon adieu and they were out the door.
Instead of mulling it over in her head Bonnie decided to ask soon after they got in the car. She put the car in gear and looked over her shoulder as she spoke "so...I see your brother is around...I tried hitting him up but I think his number changed.."
"That or he's ignoring me" she mumbled quietly.
"Oh"
Oh...of all things Bonnie hadn't been expecting an 'Oh'. Her stomach got tight.
Elena let the silence hang around them a little longer
"He doesn't mean it, he's just...he's not good at confronting things anymore.."
"What's that supposed to mean"
"I haven't been back all that long but...Jeremy changed..he's different now. Not bad really just...different, less confrontational, he stayed for the two weeks after I woke up then he went back.."
Back? Bonnie thought, back where?
"Went back? Elena, he's from here, where'd he go back to?"
"Um...to his girlfriends...they actually live over in Maryland. I've been out there once, it's nice, they're serious like...serious serious" Elena said wagging her ring finger
Now it was Bonnie's turn "oh"
"...yea"
Bonnie couldn't describe the feeling she felt...she was glad for Jeremy, but also...hurt. He didn't even want to talk to her, had she hurt him that badly? Was she so awful he had to skip town without even saying goodbye?
'He didn't even say hello.' She thought ruefully.
Shaking the thoughts from her head Bonnie was determined not to let thoughts of her ex interrupt her day with her best friend so she shrugged it off and turned to the girl in the passenger seat. "So, Im thinking something scary? What do you say? You up for it?...or are you CHICKEN!" Bonnie took advantage of the red light they were stopped at to make shrill noises and flap her arms like a chicken. "Bawk, bawk, ba-gawk!" They were doubled over with laughter until a honk from the car behind signaled the light had changed.
Bonnie was in a funk, no it was more of a fog than a funk. She kept thinking of Jeremy and what she would tell him if she had the chance so she took an evening to herself and wrote it all out. When she was done she felt better, somehow transcribing it all helped her move past it. She wasn't upset with her ex and understood maybe he was happier now, she hoped so. Maybe someday they could all be friends, she bet his new girlfriend was a good person. As long as they made each other happy that was all that mattered, she linked to think in the time since they were together Jeremy had changed for the better. Elena said he was different now hopefully that meant he was a better boyfriend. Now what to do? Keep the paper? Bury it? Burn it? She supposed she could turn it from a personal writing piece into a letter and send it to him...
Getting up to fetch an envelope and stamp she realized she didn't even have his new address to send it. Maybe that was for the best, she could ask Elena for it, but that would add another unnecessary layer to THIS so she penned her own address in the top corner and wrote in the center "To my old lover and his new love" she posted a stamp at the top and sealed it shut. Holding the letter thoughtfully she wondered how to send it off. Finally she decided a blaze of glory was a fitting option. She focused her mind on the letter and flames caught at each corner burning slowly towards the center as it levitated in the center of the room. Eventually it would burn out, leaving only smoke and ash behind, even so Bonnie liked to think he'd somehow gotten her message.
Send my love to your new lover
treat her better
we've gotta let go of all of our ghosts
we both know we ain't kids no more
