Poison & Wine - Chapter XXXII

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Elena and I were decorating Caroline's locker for her birthday. It had been a two days since Saturday when all that crap went down and we hadn't discussed it once. I hadn't spoken to Tyler or Klaus since then and I hadn't slept any better. Jeremy hadn't left, he would be tomorrow morning.

Bonnie came rushing up to us. "Hey, sorry I'm late, I… I got held up."

"It's okay. We just got here too," Elena said. "Can you pass me the balloons?" I handed them over. She exhaled, "Thanks."

"What got you running late?" I asked Bonnie.

"I was…working on some new spells. What about you guys?"

"Working out with Alaric," I answered, pointing to my ponytail. "We're a mess, can't you tell?"

"Well, wasn't go to say anything," Bonnie smiled small. "You guys don't look that bad, though."

"So, I have something I need to tell you, and you're not gonna like it," Elena said and I sighed knowingly.

"What happened?" Bonnie asked.

"Jeremy is gonna be leaving town for a while. He'll be staying with some old family friends in Denver, until this whole Klaus thing blows over," Elena explained as softly as possible.

"Jeremy wouldn't just leave you guys to deal with Klaus on your own," Bonnie's forehead scrunched up.

"I know… I asked Damon to compel him."

"You what?"

"I know, Bonnie. But it's not safe for him here anymore. Leaving will give him a better life. The only reason I'm telling you is because I know that you two haven't really worked out your stuff. And I thought that maybe you'd wanna say goodbye." Bonnie looked at Jeremy – who was at his locker – and made a disapproving face.

After that we finished decorating Elena and I went to class while Bonnie no doubt went to speak to Jeremy. We expected to see Caroline, but it was evident she'd skipped; if I'd known she was skipping I would've, too. After school, we –consisting of Matt, Bonnie, Elena and I – went to Caroline's house to surprise her. It took a while, but she came home.

As soon as she sat her stuff down, we jumped out with balloons, party hats, and a sign; we yelled surprise. "Happy birthday!" Matt said.

"What are you guys doing here?" She asked.

"Well you blew off school and missed our – mainly Andy's – work of birthday art, so…" Elena said.

"Change into warmer clothes, we are going to the Falls. S'mores, camp fire…"

"Cake!" I threw my fist up. "Like when we were little, except you guys will be drinking tequila while I have to drink apple juice!"

"Thanks, guys. Really, I'm just not feeling my birthday this year," Caroline said, and I could tell she was beat.

"I'm sorry, what? You've already claimed your birthday as everyone's favorite day of the year," Bonnie said.

"Yeah, and now, it's just a reminder that technically, I'm dead," Caroline responded, obviously beat. "Look, I didn't even like seventeen. And the only point to being seventeen is to get to eighteen. It's a filler year; I'm stuck in a filler year."

"You're not stuck, Caroline," Elena sighed.

"Yeah I am, but it's okay. You know, it's all good, I'll be fine. But I just need some time to wallow in it."

"Okay, well I think I have another idea."

"Are we going to be summoning the dead?" I asked upon seeing the crypt; Elena nudged me.

"There it is!" She said as we entered.

"This is creepy, even for us," Bonnie said.

"No, Caroline was right… technically, she's dead," Elena turned to face us. "Sorry. But you don't need a birthday, you need a funeral. You need to say goodbye to your old life, so that you can move on with your new one."

"Okay," She took a breath and we all stood in a circle around the cake. "Here lies Caroline Forbes―"

"―Cheerleader, Miss Mystic Falls, third grade hopscotch champion…" Elena said, sticking candles into Caroline's birthday cake with each word she spoke.

"…friend, daughter, overachiever…" Bonnie said.

"…A truther—" I grinned as I spoke, remembering the line from Drake & Josh. Though she had never been particularly interested in that show, I showed her a few episodes. "—definition of a dumb blonde, snotty but loved dearly and deeply…"

Matt continued on. "…Mean girl, sometimes, no offense."

"Ah, none taken," Caroline said.

"She was seventeen, and she had a really good life. So rest in peace, so that she can move forward. That's what you really need. What we all really need," Elena exhaled. "Amen, or cheers or whatever. Bonnie?"

Bonnie lit the candles with her powers. While Elena said, "Nice!" I said, "Not bad."

"Okay, make a wish," Elena held the cake out to Caroline, who closed her eyes and made a wish. We began eating the cake; Matt took the bottle of tequila from Bonnie, but Elena snatched it from his hand and drank.

"Ah-ah. I need it more than you do, trust me," Elena said, then looked over to Caroline. "Caroline, what are you doing?"

Caroline stopped texting and tried to act natural. "What? Nothing,"

"Okay, you're a bad sober liar; you're an even worse drunk liar," I commented, drinking my apple juice. They had drinks on the way over here.

"I might have texted Tyler," She answered sheepishly.

"Caroline…" Elena said in a chastising tone.

"What? I'm delicate."

"You mean horny," I corrected and Matt chuckled, the alcohol obviously starting to get to him.

"Give her a break! You can't control what everyone does all the time," Bonnie snapped.

"Wow," Elena said.

"Ouch, Bon," Matt said while I took a bite of my piece of cake.

Bonie exhaled. "Sorry, I know it's Caroline birthday, funeral or whatever but, I just feel it's really wrong that you compelled Jeremy to leave town."

"I'm doing it to protect him, Bonnie. I want to give him a chance to have a quiet normal life."

"He should be able to choose how he wants to live it, you're taking his choices away."

"Bonnie, you can't tell him."

"Why? Are you gonna compel me not to?"

"You know what, Elena?" I stood up. "Get Damon to uncompel Jeremy or whatever. Let him stay. Let him be killed by Klaus and his hybrids. Let us have the guilty conscience. Let us suffer again through the loss of someone we care for! How bad could it be, after all? Our parents, our fake parents, Jenna, and even Elijah – for me – are all dead! Let's just go ahead and add to the list because death gets to us all, why prolong it? Who needs family?" I walked out of the crypt and sat down at a tree. I sat there a while, my anger going up and down. Though I didn't think it was right, I'd defend Elena for her choice; she was my sister and I would support her.

Bonnie soon left the tomb and passed by me without saying a word – probably because she knew we'd fight if she did. After a while the sun set and Tyler arrived. "Hey," He said. "Listen, I didn't―"

"I know, we're cool," I said, giving him a small smile. "Go to Caroline." He gave me a smile before going to the crypt, but it wasn't long until Caroline and he exited, heading into the woods. "Be safe! Happy Birthday, Care!" I called after them before pulling out my own phone. I looked through my contacts to call Alaric to pick me up when saw I Klaus listed in the contacts. I instantly scowled, Why did I keep him on my phone?

Not very long after that did Matt and Elena come out of the crypt. "Caroline!" Matt called.

"Great, we've been abandoned. Okay, we're going on a search party, I don't trust that she won't get back together with him," Elena said.

"I saw where they went," I said and they both jumped.

"Geez, Andy, you scared the crap out of me!" Matt said before coming over and slinging me over his shoulder. I fought with him for a moment but eventually decided to stay like that for a while. "Caroline!" He called again.

"Come on, Caroline, we don't have any more drinks! Matt's being haunted by the Fell ghosts," Elena grinned at him and playfully nudged him with her shoulder, Matt nudged her back.

"Hey, watch it! I'm still up here, you know!" I turned my head to look at them, then looked back to see Stefan. "Stef―"

Suddenly, I was face down on the ground then there a hand over my mouth. I did like Alaric taught me to do, but it didn't affect the person. Before I could try anything else, everything went black.

I woke up at the feeling of being squeezed; when I opened my eyes I saw I was in a car with Elena and Stefan and I was sitting in between the two and had a killer headache. "Ouch," I groaned, rubbing my forehead.

"Are you okay, Andy?" Elena asked.

"Somewhat," I looked at Stefan. "Couldn't you just use chloroform?"

"The store was sold out." I gave him a fake laugh.

"So, what's the plan, Stefan? What's the big move you're making?" Elena asked.

"I took Klaus's family to make him suffer. I'm not gonna let him make himself a new one," He answered.

"So, what are you gonna do, huh? Are you gonna lock us in some cave and keep us hostage?" She demanded.

"Maybe. Maybe, I'll just turn you into a vampire," He looked over at her then looked at me. "But that would be pointless with Andy."

Elena, shocked and scared, started trying to get the door open but it was probably on child lock. "Stop the car, Stefan! Stop the car, Stefan!"

Don't get me wrong, I was freaking out, but I was internally because I knew ripper Stefan would not hesitate to kill me. "How am I a part of a new family for Klaus?" He gave me a 'seriously?' look before he pulled out his phone and dialed someone, then placed the phone on the dashboard.

"Stefan, how nice to hear your voice." Of course he called Klaus.

"Tell your hybrids to get out of town, Klaus," Stefan said.

"Well that's not gonna happen until I get my coffins back."

"Okay, well then I'm gonna drive your blood source and your girlfriend off Wickery Bridge," I decided I wouldn't interrupt him and say that we were not boyfriend and girlfriend.

There was a pause. "I don't believe you Stefan. You won't kill them." Stefan bit his wrist and forced it into Elena's mouth and forced her to drink his blood. I tried to push him off but it didn't work.

Elena sputtered, "No! No! No! What are you doing?"

"Stefan, stop!" I shouted, hitting him as hard as I could in the gut. He hit me across the face in response. "Ow!" I hissed.

Klaus, now sounding quite concerned, asked, "What's going on?"

"I just fed Elena my blood. No more hybrids if she's a vampire," Stefan said. "But I didn't give Andy any – it doesn't work with her, anyways. Elena a vampire and Andy gone forever, ending the Petrova line as we know it."

"You won't do it."

"Really? Try me, because your coffins are next to go. Say goodbye to your family, Klaus," Stefan sped up the car.

Elena stated screaming hysterically. "Stefan, slow down! Stefan! Stefan, stop it!" We neared closer and closer to the edge, but I refused to cry to Klaus for help. Well, that was until I realized Stefan was serious and wasn't going to stop.

"Stop the car, Stefan!" I shouted, and started punching him across the face. He slung me into the back of the car. "Klaus, please!" That evidently was enough motivation for Klaus.

"Fine, I'll send them away, you win."

"Stefan! Stefan, stop!" Elena cried.

"Stop!" I shouted again, shaking Stefan. Was I going to die just like my parents? The realization was painful and I started to become hysterical.

Klaus screamed, "Stop the car, Stefan!"

Stefan roughly stopped the car in enough time; Elena got out of the car quickly and I followed her. "Get back in the car," Stefan ordered as we ran away from the car.

"Stay away from us!" Elena yelled.

"Elena, you and Andy get in the car," Stefan ordered.

Elena was near tears and started screaming. "How could you?! Our parents died going over this bridge. I almost died. You knew that. You're the one who saved me." Elena went into a full-blown ugly cry.

"Look, he had to believe that I would do it, alright? Both your fear and Andy's sold it," Stefan explained.

I thought I'd stay quiet on this because I was shaking all over, but I couldn't resist this. "What if he hadn't?"

"He did," Stefan looked at me.

"Well, what if he hadn't?" I demanded. "I would've died!"

"He did, Andy! He backed down! He has a weakness. If I know his weakness, I can destroy him."

"After everything, that's what mattered? Destroying Klaus?" Elena asked.

"Destroying Klaus is all I've left."

I walked away then and pulled out my phone when I decided that I they needed to fight alone; I immediately called Damon. He promised he would be there as soon as possible and then we hung up; I got a call from Matt then.

"Matt?" I answered.

"Andy! Caroline was bitten, Tyler bit her! You guys have to get over here!"

Tears filling my eyes I promised we'd be there and hung up; I guess I'd have to face Klaus sooner than I thought, if he would talk to me. I called him, hoping this wasn't false hope. "Andy, love, are you okay?" He immediately answered.

"I need you to go over to Caroline's house immediately and wait for me, Klaus, please," My voice was desperate and strained, how could he not agree?

"Okay, I'll be there in a couple minutes."

"Thank you," I said before hanging up; I didn't even tell him her address so I quickly texted him it before I went back over to Elena – Stefan was gone by the time I got back – and acted like I was okay and that nothing was wrong, but I was shaking violently. I didn't want to tell her that Caroline was dying.

Damon arrived in minutes and he begrudgingly headed over to Caroline's house at my request. When we arrived there, Klaus stood on the porch. "What's he doing here?" Damon demanded.

"Just both of you stay here, please," I said as got out and headed toward him. "Caroline was bitten―"

"I know, I healed her up already. She's asleep now," He interrupted. "I owed you for letting Mikael stab you so I figure saving your friend's life repaid that."

I nodded. "Thank you, Klaus, but you realize I'm still angry with you."

"Yes, but I'll smooth it out one way or another," He gave me a smile. "Just like I always do."

"You're very self-assured, does anyone ever tell you that?"

"Oh, I tell myself every day."

I smiled small. So he had seen 10 Things I Hate About You. "Right." My smile dropped quickly and I folded my arms across my chest.

"See? I made you smile, it's a start," He winked.

I sighed. "Goodnight, Klaus. Thank you again."

"Anytime, love," He said and I started to walk away. "Besides, I still want to make it up to you for missing your birthday." I turned back around to counter that, but he was already gone; I exhaled and went back to the car.

"Are you sure he's not your sugar daddy?"

"Shut up, Damon."

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The End Of Chapter XXXII