Step 5: Secrets Revealed

The drive back to the boarding house was silent except for a few quiet sobs from Elena. It gave me time to think. My thoughts were racing with a billion and one questions. One of the top questions was 'what the hell happened in that lunchroom that not only made the noise and light show but killed Bonnie?' The other top question was about why we would leave the scene of a crime and not immediately call the police. Nobody had done anything wrong as far as I knew so why were we being all hush hush secret about it? Then I questioned the circle of friends I had made; maybe they weren't as nice and awesome as I thought.

In the SUV I came to the conclusion that I had two choices. One, I could just leave; drop this group of people as soon as we got to the boarding house, go home, and pretend we never met. Two, I could stay; help comfort my friend in her loss, and hope there was a reasonable explanation forthcoming. I really liked these people, at least the sides they were showing me, so I was leaning toward option two. I still kept option one in the back of my mind, however.

The ride home was one of the longest trips in a car I think I ever had. I know it was only a fifteen minute drive but my head was working so overtime that it seemed much longer. I know you've had moments like that; waiting impatiently for a friend to show up to give you a ride or when you're anxious to get home so you don't miss the beginning of your favorite TV show and you hit every red light and you swear it took an extra ten minutes to get there even though it was the same amount of time the drive always took. Yea, that's the feeling I was having in that SUV.

At the Salvatore home the three of us walked in the door and then stood in the doorway. We weren't sure what to do exactly. I could tell from looking at Elena that a sort of numbness had set in; she was drained of energy and emotion and could barely stand much less think about any sort of plan of action.

"I'll make coffee." Stefan offered, pointing to me, then Elena, then the sitting room. I nodded; I got it.

I ushered Elena into the room and sat her on the couch. The fire was going making the room toasty and cozy but Elena shivered so I threw a blanket around her which she immediately snuggled in. Her eyes wouldn't meet mine and I had no clue what to say to her so we sat in silence while Stefan was gone. Great friend I was turning out to be.

"I can't believe she's gone." Elena's whisper was loud in the silent room.

"Me either." Brilliant social skills shining through yet again. I can't explain in words how awkward this situation was for me; I wasn't sure what was going on beyond one classmate being dead and it really seemed as though these kids were going to cover it up somehow. I wanted to comfort Elena but I wasn't sure how and I wasn't sure I trusted these people. My world was in a topsy-turvy spin and I was struggling just to keep my feet on the ground.

Stefan came back as Elena sobbed something about it being all her fault. Stefan tried to assure her it wasn't but she wasn't buying it. This only confused me more so I stood and walked over to the foyer, the place where it had all started for me. I could hear Elena still crying and Stefan trying to calm her down but their words were little more than muted mumbles. I was curious but I was also wary; I wasn't sure I wanted to hear what they were saying.

I paced the foyer a few more moments before the door slammed open and Damon stormed in. He looked determined though his expression changed to confusion at the sight of me. "What are you doing here?" He asked, not kindly.

"You told me to help Stefan." I reminded him meekly. His intensity was a bit scary.

He softened a smidge at the reminder. "I need you to wait here."

A lot of people needed me to 'wait here' in this town. I was starting to get weary of being bossed around but the look in Damon's eyes told me now was not a time to challenge authority. I nodded my answer and planted my feet in the foyer, just like before.

He stalked past me into the sitting room where Elena and Stefan were. I saw bits and pieces of what happened, the highlights being Elena slapping Damon and then a few moments later Elena's facial expressions going from angry to disbelief to joy. Wow, I wish I knew what was said in that conversation.

Damon was trying to make an obvious dramatic exit; he spun on his heel and headed toward me. "Come on, I'll take you home."

I hesitated. I admit it; I was scared to death of that guy in that moment. I don't know what he had done with Bonnie's body but I figured he thought I knew too much as was going to take me out on my 'ride home.' Then I remembered how he saved me that one night, even though he didn't have to. I was conflicted.

Damon popped his head back in the door, not caring that I was conflicted, just in a hurry. "Let's go." He repeated. I jumped at his words and followed him, not really having any other choice.

In his car we were silent for most of the way to my house. At some point, he sighed loudly. I looked over at him; he seemed really stressed and upset. Well, of course he was, he just disposed of the body of his brother's girlfriend's best friend. Why was I in a car with him again?

"Thanks for helping with Elena." He said sharply, cutting into my growing panic attack. He still didn't look at me. "She needed it." He added.

"Sure." My voice was shaky, even with that one syllable. I looked away but I could tell he looked over at me.

"Bonnie's okay." He said point blank. I frowned, looked at him, then looked back at the road ahead.

"She's dead. I saw her. That's far from okay." I replied, avoiding his gaze.

"No, she's not dead. She's okay. I just want you to know that. You can't tell anybody this, though. It's important." Damon's voice went from calm and collected to urgent. I couldn't help it, I looked at him.

"She's not dead? But I can't say anything to anyone? What kind of game are you all playing?"

"It's not a game." Damon turned his eyes back to the road. "But it's important this stays quiet. Elena's life depends on it. You got it?"

"I don't think I want to be involved with this-"

"You're already involved!" Damon cut me off with a near shout. "Whether you like it or not, you're already a part of this. We need to know we can count on you to stay quiet and not blab our secrets around town. It's important." He repeated.

Looking back at it now, I am not sure why he didn't just compel me. He told me later he never compelled me, he never wanted to. He always knew he could trust me, which was weird for Damon since he never trusted anyone. But just so you know, according to him, he never compelled me.

The seriousness and slight pleading tone of his voice was winning me over. "Bonnie's okay?" I asked, just to make sure.

Damon looked at me then nodded. "Yea, she's fine. She's with Jeremy right now."

I nodded in return and sank back in the seat of the car. "I won't say anything." I promised. "But somebody has to tell me what's going on here. Trust begets trust, you know."

Damon sighed at that. He was quiet a few moments, thinking. "Elena will tell you." He finally spoke.

"Elena will tell me what?" I prompted.

"What's going on. I'd tell you, but I don't want to mess it up." Damon half smiled to himself. "No, its better you hear it from her."

"Does it have to do with Klaus?" I knew at that point I was pushing my luck with him but he only gave me a sharp look in response. "Okay, then." It obviously had to do with Klaus.

We lapsed into silence which was short lived since we came upon my house a few moments later. "Thanks for the ride." At a time like that, small, polite words seemed trite but I wasn't sure what else to say.

"Thanks for your help." He replied, not looking at me.

Sighing loudly I exited the car. I did notice he sat there, in his car, waiting until I got inside my house. I couldn't figure that guy out; was Damon a bastard creep like I'd been told or was he a protecting, upstanding guy like I kept witnessing? What a mess.

The next day was Saturday. I had fallen into bed, exhausted by the evening's events. There hadn't been a problem falling asleep. However, that morning I had no desire to crawl out from covers. I was hoping, praying, that last night had been a bad nightmare. Unfortunately, I knew it wasn't.

I would have stayed in bed til noon but Layla was in my room staring at me. It's funny; you really can't ignore a dog when it's staring at you, even if you're facing away from it, under the covers. Dog stares bore into your soul. I got up to let her out and feed her.

When I was done my cell phone rang. The caller ID read Elena Gilbert. I debated for two more rings then finally decided to answer. My brain was telling me if I was smart I'd let it ring and not speak with any of those weirdoes again. My heart won out, though, telling me they needed my support and it was too late; I was emotionally tied to them.

Elena wanted to meet up to talk. She was willing to come to my place so I invited her over for lunch. A note in the kitchen told me that both mom and dad were out of town for the weekend. The note had two fifties paper clipped to it. At least they tried to buy my love with a decent amount of money. I frowned; that thought was less than satisfying.

I made sandwiches that were ready just as Elena made it over. We sat at the kitchen table, Layla at my feet. Elena took a few bites before beginning the conversation.

"Damon said I should talk to you." She began, chewing thoughtfully. "I think he's right. You've already seen a lot so it's probably best to be honest." She sighed, looking down at her hands. "This is probably the worst time you could have picked to move here."

I didn't know whether or not to be offended. I frowned and crossed my arms, sitting back in my chair. Also, I didn't pick now; my parents did.

"I know it wasn't your choice." Elena reassured. "There was no way for you to know. I just think it's a shame that you're here when such bad things are happening. Usually Mystic Falls isn't so…depressing."

"So you're saying all this is happening because of bad timing?" I didn't know what 'all this' was but I figured it had to do with Klaus and what happened with Bonnie.

Elena nodded. She was silent a few minutes, finishing off her sandwich. She seemed to decide something mentally and for the first time since she began talking she met my eyes. "Do you believe in the supernatural?"

I blinked. So not what I was expecting. "Supernatural?" I echoed quietly.

"Yes, like demons and ghosts, or even werewolves and," she hesitated before finishing. "Vampires?"

I blinked again. Was this girl on crack? "Do I believe in vampires?" I repeated, squinting at her, trying to gauge if she was serious. She was dead serious.

"I guess believing doesn't matter. I didn't believe in any of that either. Supernatural things are only for movies and books and TV, not for real life." Elena shuddered a little bit. "I so wish I still thought that way."

I was not about to believe that all this could be explained away by some hocus pocus supernatural mumbo jumbo. I was more than skeptical. "You believe in vampires?" I shook my head. "And ghosts and goblins? Elena this is insane." This had to be some kind of joke at my expense.

She wasn't laughing. "Damon and Stefan are vampires." She stated plainly. I think my jaw hung open with shock, though I still didn't believe it. To state it so convincingly, however, was stunning. "Bonnie is a witch. That's why she didn't die last night, she cast a spell."

"A- what?" I was having a hard time trusting my ears. I shook my head again. "No, no, why are you telling me all these crazy things? I am not getting the joke."

Elena seized my wrist with her hand to make sure I was paying attention. I could see the seriousness in her expression. "I am not joking, Avvy. You are in the middle of something very dangerous, whether you want to be or not. I am sorry for dragging you into this but you have to know the truth so you can protect yourself. If I keep you in the dark I'll be risking your life and I can't do that."

So she was serious about the vampire and witch thing. "They walk around in the sunlight." I whispered, thinking about Stefan and Damon. My mind was opening up to the truth because of the urgency and sincerity in Elena's tone, but I still had my doubts.

"Regular vampire lore is just that; lore. Some typical rules are true but most can be bent or broken. Stefan, Damon, and a few other vampires have the ability to walk in sunlight. Garlic and holy water aren't weapons. Stake to the heart does work, though."

"A few other vampi…" My voice trailed off as I digested this information. Vampires. Elena was dating one of them. The other one randomly saved me from a bad situation the other evening. Both had been downright nice to me this week. Vampires.

"And Bonnie?" My voice cracked as I said our friend's name. It was difficult remembering her lying on the floor, not breathing, eyes glazed over in death. Supposedly she was alive but I had yet to see proof.

"A witch. A very powerful one. She comes from a long line of them." Elena bit her bottom lip, waiting to see what I would say.

It took a while. I drummed my fingers on the table as I thought about what she was saying. Vampires. Witches. Supernatural. Hocus pocus. I was going to need more than just a statement of fact.

"Okay," I took a deep breath, nodded once and looked at Elena. "I'm ready. Tell me everything."