It was Matt Donavan, and from what I gleaned from him, Vicky, and Tyler, the two boys argued about Vicky and a fistfight between Tyler and Jeremy. Matt stormed out into the parking lot, where he found Mr. Tanner.
Tanner was assailed and slaughtered at the game in the parking lot, and the authorities are telling people it was the same animal that attacked Vicky.
No animal did this; it was a vampire.
Mr. Tanner was attacked and killed by a vampire, and I think I saw the vampire who killed him.
I saw Mr. Tanner follow Stefan Salvatore off the field.
Stefan Salvatore was the last person who saw him alive.
Oh, god, Stefan Salvatore killed Mr. Tanner.
Stefan Salvatore...
No, I refuse to believe that.
Why do you refuse to believe that?
Why did I refuse to believe it?
I didn't know Stefan Salvatore from Adam; he could be one of those murderous vampires you read about or see on TV and
movies.
I was sitting in front of the school when I heard a voice ask, 'Are you Bella Swan?'
'Bella.' I automatically corrected myself before I looked at who I was talking to.
I saw a woman about Caroline's height, face, and complexion, with short blonde hair and brown eyes. She was dressed in a policeman's uniform.
Caroline's mother.
It took me a second to realize that I didn't have to correct her about calling me Bella.
She smiled Caroline's smile. 'Yes, I remember that from when you were a girl.'
That's right from when Caroline and I played sheriff and deputy.
'Or do you still like to be called Deputy Swan?'
I felt my face heat up.
'It's Miss. Swan now, I'm going be a teacher.'
'Oh, like your mom. Did she ever get her degree in teaching?'
'Yes, ma'am. She taught kindergarten through 2 grade.'
'That's good to know. Your parents were good people. It's a shame how things turned out.'
'Yeah, it is.'
'Are you alright?'
'I'm as alright as I can be.'
'Fair.' she sat down next to me. 'Caroline mentioned you were close to Mr. Tanner; she thought you were crushing on him.'
'It wasn't like that!' I tried but stumbled to my feet. 'He was friends with my uncle.'
'Friends with your uncle...'
'I was trying to learn about my uncle's life in Mystic Falls. A little project for my grandmother.'
Sheriff Forbes stood. 'Have you called your grandmother?'
'No. I don't know what to say.'
'Would you like me to call your grandmother for you?'
I nodded and watched the coroner drive away.
Gran was talking to me, but I barely focused on her words; how could I?
Mr. Tanner was dead, and all clues point to Stefan Salvatore as the culprit.
As dangerous and stupid as it was, I needed to confront Stefan Salvatore.
When I got home, I found a package on the kitchen table.
'That little Indian boy sent that for you.'
'Native American, Gran. No one says Indian anymore.' I tore open the package.
'What is it?' she asked.
It was a silver chain with a wooden wolf charm; Jacob had to have carved this himself. Inside the box was a card stating, 'Happy Birthday, Loca.'
I couldn't help but smile. 'It's a bracelet.' Gran helped me put it on. 'Jacob got me a bracelet for my birthday.'
'I love the little charm.' she replied as she pulled a shopping bag from the pantry. 'I was saving this til tomorrow, but..'
I opened the bag and pulled out a box for an iPhone 3GS(an: it's 2009; I believe that was the latest iPhone.) It was black.
'With everything going on, I should have given you this sooner.'
'A phone?'
'I want you to program my number and the number of everyone you know.' she looked away. 'Maybe we shouldn't have come back.'
'The police will catch this animal.'
I looked out the window and saw a Mini Cooper pulling into the Gilberts driveway and wondering if Elena was home.
I entered Elena's bedroom; maybe her aunt or brother forgot to lock the front door.
I looked down at her; she was asleep with her diary beside her. I could kill her; I could tear out her throat without making a sound.
That would show Stefan.
I could kill his precious little cheerleader to prove my humanity's gone.
But she looked so very much like Katherine.
I moved closer to her; oh god.
Why?
Why did she have to look like her?
I wonder if she felt like her, too.
If she...
If she had skin as soft and smooth as Katherine's.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was caressing Elena Gilbert's cheek.
I was downstairs by the time she jolted up.
I tossed and turned in bed, unable to find solace in sleep; my thoughts raced like wild horses, refusing to settle down. There were two people I desperately needed to talk to: Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert.
It was well past midnight when most people drifted off into peaceful dreams. Elena was likely snug in her bed, wrapped in warmth and darkness.
Or perhaps she was with Stefan.
The unsettling thought of them together gnawed at me.
Peering out of my bedroom window, I saw someone slipping out of the Gilbert residence, the shadows obscuring their features.
Could it be Stefan?
Without thinking, I threw on a loose-fitting shirt, layered a cozy hoodie over it, and opted for worn sneakers. The mysterious figure was already gone when I made it downstairs and stepped into the cool night air. Standing alone in the dimly lit street, I felt utterly foolish.
"Bella?"
I jumped, startled, and turned to see Jeremy approaching, a lit joint hanging casually from his fingers, sending wisps of smoke spiraling into the night.
"Jeremy, you scared me! Was that you making noise?"
"Was that me what?" he replied, squinting as he took another hit.
"Uh, never mind." I shook my head, wanting to focus on something else as I tried to shake off the anxiety of the evening. "I guess just on high alert after what happened to Tanner."
"Were you at the game?" he asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Yeah."
"Didn't peg you as the sporty type." He raised an eyebrow, teasing me.
"I was invited."
"By Tyler?"
"Your sister."
"Elena?!" His surprise was evident as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, but isn't she a cheerleader? I didn't see her on the field during the game."
"Maybe she quit. She has a lot on her plate."
I couldn't help but think that if Stefan Salvatore were my boyfriend, cheerleading would be the last thing on my mind.
The mere thought of holding hands with Stefan sent my heart fluttering like a trapped butterfly.
"Yeah," I said, trying to focus, "she does."
"What are you doing up so late?" he asked with genuine concern.
"I couldn't sleep. What about you?"
"Same here."
I pulled out my sleek new cell phone. "Check out my new phone. My Gran gave it to me as an early birthday gift."
"Did she give you the bracelet, too?" He took my hand, his fingers brushing against my skin as he admired the delicate piece. "It's awesome."
"Jeremy?"
We turned to see Vicky sauntering toward us; her gaze shifted between Jeremy and me.
"Check out the bracelet my friend Jacob sent me for my birthday!" I exclaimed, breaking free from Jeremy's grasp, eager to showcase my gift and dispel any awkwardness.
"Today's your birthday?! Why didn't you tell me?!" Vicky exclaimed.
"It's only been my birthday for 15 minutes. Besides, you've been hard to reach lately," I replied, shrugging off her surprise.
"Still, we could have sneaked you into a bar," she teased mischievously.
"I got a cell phone. My Gran wants me to put everyone's numbers in case—"
"In case what?" Vicky interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
"Did you hear about Mr. Tanner?"
"Yeah…" Vicky rubbed her neck thoughtfully. "It's wild that it happened, and no one saw or heard anything."
"Luckily, no one else was hurt," Jeremy added.
"Did you talk to the sheriff?"
Vicky and Jeremy erupted into laughter, and she shook her head. "Of course not."
"Why not?" I pressed, puzzlement crossing my face.
"I was drunk before halftime," Vicky said, still chuckling.
"But you're the only living victim!" I protested as Jeremy passed the joint to me. "No, thank you. When you sober up, I'd gladly go with you." Their laughter only made me more frustrated. "What's so funny?"
"You can't arrest a wild animal, Bella." Jeremy shrugged, passing the joint to Vicky with a smirk.
They were convinced it was an animal that caused the chaos.
Duh, Bella.
Vicky jotted her number into my phone as Jeremy reclaimed the joint and took a drag, exhaling slowly. "Text me later. I'm going to take you out."
With a playful wave, Vicky turned to leave, and Jeremy watched her for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face, before adding his number.
"Whatever she's planning, I want in on it too."
The next day, or rather, just a few hours later, I felt a restless urge to return some of my books to the library. The morning sunlight streamed through the trees as I approached the familiar building, casting playful shadows on the path.
As I dropped the books into the dusty dropbox, a voice cut through the quiet—a familiar, eager shout of, "Bella!" Turning around, I saw Elena and Bonnie standing a few feet away, beckoning animatedly.
I walked over to them, noting their casual summer attire—like the carefree spirits they were. Elena wore a bright red cami that contrasted beautifully with her sun-kissed skin, while Bonnie sported a vibrant green tank top that highlighted her energy. They were both clad in faded jeansshorts and worn sneakers, exuding the essence of summer days filled with laughter and adventure.
In contrast, I was still dressed in the remnants of my outfit from the previous night, feeling out of place among their lively appearance.
"I couldn't find you last night," I snapped, a hint of frustration lacing my voice.
"I looked for you!" Elena replied, her eyes widening with surprise at my intensity. "But honestly, I thought you flaked."
"I'm not a flaker. I just didn't see you on the field," I defended, crossing my arms.
"That's because Elena quit," Bonnie voice chimed in.
One point forknew I my.
"Jeremy hinted at that," I acknowledged.
"Did he hint at getting into a fight with Tyler?" Elena's tone flared defensively.
"No," I answered steadily. "but I heard about that too."
"Did Caroline tell you?"
"Vicky did,"
A thick silence fell over us as Elena and I turned away, the awkwardness hanging in the air. Conversing politely with her felt like an impossible task at that moment.
"Today is my birthday," I announced, trying to shift the focus.
"It is?" Elena asked, her surprise genuine.
"Happy birthday!" Bonnie chimed in with a bright smile.
"Thank you." I held up my wrist to show them my bracelet, a smile creeping onto my face. "Look at what my friendfrom back home, Jacob, sent me."
"It's a dog," Elena remarked with a playful lilt, but her eyes betrayed her lack of enthusiasm. "Cute."
"It's a wolf," Bonnie corrected, examining the intricate carving.
"That's right. My friend Jacob carved it for me," I explained, glancing at Bonnie. She stared off into space, looking dazed.
Was she on something, too?
"Bonnie?" I snapped my fingers to break her trance.
She looked around, confusion clouding her features. "What?"
"Bella was talking about her bracelet," Elena sighed, visibly irritated.
I guessed her facade of decency had worn thin.
"Are you alright?" I asked Bonnie, concern creeping into my voice.
"Of course I am," Bonnie laughed, pulling away from my grip. "Your bracelet is lovely." She studied it closely, her expression suddenly shifting. "Your friend Jacob, he's a member of the Quileute tribe, isn't he?"
"Quileute?" Elena echoed.
"The Quileute people have lived on the Olympic Peninsula since immemorial," Bonnie recited passionately. "They have thrived in their homeland for thousands of years. They reside in La Push village."
I was taken aback. I had never mentioned Jacob's heritage before; how could she possibly know?
"Yeah, what are you, a witch or something?" I joked though the question lingered in the air.
Bonnie paled at my observation and turned away, sending my mind spiraling. So much for my theory that witches don't exist.
"You know what I just realized?" she said, avoiding the topic. "You've been in town forever, and we know nothing about you!"
"Bella is adopted," Elena casually threw in.
Note to self: never trust Elena Gilbert to keep a secret again.
"You are?!" Bonnie expressed her voice a mix of shock and curiosity. "How do you know?!"
"Bella told me," Elena replied nonchalantly.
"I wasn't aware you two—"
"We're not," we replied in unison, a defiant edge to our voices.
"How did you find out, Elena?" Bonnie pressed.
"I found her crying—"
"You mentioned having a dream about Damon Salvatore," I interjected. "What was it about?"
Bonnie turned to Elena "You had a dream about Damon?"
"You weren't supposed to talk about that!" Elena flared, her features tightening in annoyance as she shot a glare in my direction.
"Just like you mention my adoption," I shot back, standing my ground.
"You didn't say—"
"Neither did you," I countered, locking eyes with her defiantly.
"You're dreaming about him too!" Elena exclaimed, her tone like a petulant child.
"Should I leave the two of you alone?" Bonnie asked, glancing between us with an arched eyebrow, sensing the brewing storm.
"What was your dream about, Bella?" Elena asked.
"Why should I go first?" I shot back, crossing my arms.
"Why not you?" she pressured, equally stubborn.
I needed her to spill her dream first, but I knew could outsmart her, so I shrugged at her question.
"That's fair; I was raised to believe that ladies should go first," I replied.
"What are you implying?" Elena's cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"Nothing. Not. A. Single. Flipping. Thing."
"Ladies," Bonnie intervened, stepping between us like a peacemaker. "Let's talk about this like adults."
"I want to hear what Bella is trying to say," Elena insisted, her eyes narrowing at me.
"I'm a lady, so I'll go first," I teased.
"Excuse me?!"
"In my dream—"
"In MY DREAM," Elena interrupted forcefully, "I was in my bedroom with Stefan!"
"What?"
Bonnie's eyes widened in excitement, and she grinned, while I felt a frown creeping onto my face.
"What does that have to do with Damon?" I asked, confused.
Elena rolled her eyes dismissively. "Stefan and I are about to
have sex," she said, her voice lowering as I felt my cheeks bloom with heat. "He takes off his shirt, and he's Damon."
'Oh.' I gasped.
'What's your dream about?' Elena demanded.
'Damon kills my grandmother, and he attacks me.'
'That's your dream?!' Elena scoffed.
'I'm sorry it wasn't as sexually charged as yours.'
'Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?'
'Not at all.'
'What happened in your dream?' Bonnie asked.
'I was in my room when I heard Gran calling. I come downstairs to see her in Damon's arms. He was sucking her blood.'
'What?' Elena gasped. 'You mean like a vampire?'
'Yeah.' I'm not sure what possessed me to tell them, but I couldn't help but let out, 'I think Stefan Salvatore is a vampire.'
'What?!' Bonnie choked.
'Are you on drugs?!' Elena questioned. 'Are you giving them to Jeremy?!'
'Elena!' Bonnie turned to her, surprised.
'I don't do drugs!' I flared. 'And if I were stuck with you as a sister, I'd be stoned too!'
'Bella!'
'You bit-!'
Elena moved to grab me, but Bonnie blocked her away; she was trying to hit me!
She was trying to hit me, Elena Gilbert was actively trying to fight me!
I've never been in a fight; even Lauren Mallory, who despised me passionately, never tried to fight me.
I didn't think I could win.
'Bella, I think I should go!'
You read my mind, Bonnie.
I watched as Elena and the Bennett witch bustled around town, completing errands for Elena's aunt. The two of them
were engrossed in a heated conversation, and it quickly became clear that Elena was fixated on one person: Bella Swan.
Elena spent the entire time venting her frustrations. She ranted about how Bella acted like she was superior to everyone else, how she oozed an elitist attitude, and particularly how she always seemed to be throwing longing glances at Stefan.
Wait a minute—glances at Stefan?
Interesting...
"Every time Bella's around him, her big, buggy eyes practically pop out of her head," Elena spat angrily, her annoyance evident in her tone.
"She's just a freshman; I seriously doubt Stefan even registers her existence," the Bennett witch countered.
"She's like a sad little puppy—only much less cute and probably crawling with fleas," Elena shot back, her frustration boiling over.
"Elena—"
"You heard what she said to me!"
"Yes, and I also heard what you said to her."
"She must be on drugs! Vampires, Bonnie?!"
Vampires?
Is Bella Swan even aware of the existence of vampires?
This could turn into a serious problem.
"It was just a dream, Elena. She's alone and friendless in a new town, besieged by wild animals that are attacking and killing people. Her mind conjured up vampires to make sense of the chaos," the witch explained.
"I don't want her influencing Jeremy!" Elena insisted.
"I really don't think Bella will persuade Jeremy that vampires are real," I assured her.
"Maybe I should tell Stefan; he'll think she's crazy," Elena suggested. "It's actually kind of funny."
"What's funny?"
"Matt told me that when Vicky woke up, she claimed that the thing that attacked her was a vampire."
Bonnie shook her head in dismay. "I really don't want to talk about Bella Swan and vampires anymore."
Elena nodded. "Fine by me."
"Have you spoken to Caroline lately?"
"No, I haven't,"
"Has Stefan seen her?"
"What?"
"She and Damon are an item,"
"Damon Salvatore." Elena groaned, the disdain dripping from her voice. "He tried to kiss me last night."
"What?! He actually tried to kiss you?!"
"Yes,"
"Did you tell Stefan about it?"
"No."
"Are you planning to?"
"I don't know," she admitted, biting her lip.
"You really should," the witch urged her, sensing the weight of the situation.
"I can't believe Bella was right about him," Elena muttered under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief.
The two exchanged knowing glances, the tension thick in the air. Elena rolled her eyes theatrically, and Bonnie couldn't help but laugh lightly.
"And I can't believe I just said that," she added, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts.
Once I stepped through the front door, the familiar warmth of home enveloped me, and I felt inspired to bake a cake to bring along. I could just picture Vicky excitedly telling Matt, and in turn, I was sure he'd relay the news to Tyler. Meanwhile, Jeremy was likely keeping a watchful eye on everything, like a hawk on a mission, and if Elena was around...
I really needed to apologize for what I'd said to her; she was probably carrying too much guilt already over Jeremy's issues.
'Gran?'
'Yes, Bella?'
'Vicky Donavon invited me to hang out with her and her brother.'
'Bella—'
'Please, Gran? If things start to feel unsafe, I'll ask Matt and Vicky to drive me home.'
'I don't know, Bella...'
'Come on, Gran... You always tell me to be more social and put myself out there.'
'Fine, just be careful.'
With a surge of excitement, I picked up my phone and texted Vicky and Jeremy at 7:30.
As I expected, Vicky couldn't keep the news to herself; she told me we could meet at the Grill, the local hangout bustling with energy. I decided to text Jeremy and see if he wanted a ride. Just ten minutes later, the doorbell rang, breaking the stillness in my room. I quickly changed out of my lounging clothes into a snug white cami layered under a soft gray henley, paired with my well-worn faded jeans and black Converse sneakers, which I slipped on with a sense of confidence.
When I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of the Gilbert siblings standing on my doorstep. Jeremy wore a vibrant red shirt paired with a black hoodie, and his faded jeans were artistically distressed—whether that was intentional, I couldn't tell. Elena looked like she hadn't changed since earlier; the same outfit clung to her, a
reminder of the day's earlier chaos.
'I hope you don't mind...' Jeremy said, a hint of apology coloring his tone. 'Elena was with me when I saw your text. I mentioned that I'd be meeting you at the Grill, and she decided to join since she's meeting Stefan there too—'
'I just wanted to keep an eye on my brother!' Elena interjected.
To protect him from the substance abuser.
'Uh, sorry about that,' Jeremy said, looking a bit sheepish.
'No, it's fine,' I lied, forcing a smile. 'Do either of you want some cake?'
The aroma of Isabella Swan engulfed me before she even reached the grill.
Her scent completely overshadowed Elena's and Jeremy's; I barely noticed them at all.
Isabella glanced in my direction before she and Jeremy approached Matt, Tyler, and Vicky. Matt and Vicky looked nervous, while Tyler voiced his disapproval. Bella hopped between him and Jeremy, pleading with both to set aside their issues for just an hour.
"What's going on over there?" I asked as Elena kissed my
cheek.
"Vicky is throwing Bella a party."
"What for?"
"Her birthday."
"Today is her birthday?"
I glanced over at her; she was showing Tyler and Matt something on her phone. I noticed a tiny wooden charm swinging on her wrist.
"Were you invited?"
"Did your grandmother get you that bracelet too?" I heard Tyler ask.
"No," Elena scoffed.
"My friend sent it to me," Bella's soft voice chimed.
"What is that? A wolf?" Tyler asked, looking intrigued.
"Why would I want to celebrate her existence?" Elena interjected.
"Yeah, he carved it himself," Bella told Tyler.
"Carved it?"
"Yeah, Jacob is a member of the Quileute tribe; this little guy is like their mascot."
"Mascot?"
"It's a boring story about his ancestry—it's nothing. I brought cake."
"Good, we can eat it on the way," Tyler said as he grabbed a piece.
"On the way?" Bella echoed, confused.
"To where?" Jeremy asked, following up.
"Richie Barron, a senior, is throwing a party, and we're going to crash it," Matt said with a sigh of disagreement.
"Matt's too chicken—" Tyler began.
"If by that you mean I'm against leading two kids into a lion's den, then yes, I am," he said, turning to Bella. "Richie's parties usually end when the cops show up."
"Cops?!" Bella repeated, alarmed.
"Tyler and I say yes, and it looks like Bella and Matt say no, which means," Vicky turned to Jeremy with an alluring smile,
"you're the tiebreaker, Jer."
"I say we go," Jeremy declared.
"Wait a minute!" Bella cried, indignantly jumping up and knocking over the salt and pepper shakers, nearly toppling the drinks as well. "I'm the birthday girl; shouldn't I have the final decision?!"
"Sorry, birthday girl," Tyler grinned, "democracy rules."
"How are we going to get past my sister?" Jeremy asked.
"Bella," Vicky said.
"Me?" Bella choked, confused.
"Yeah," Jeremy agreed, "all you have to do is irritate her with your presence."
"But I—why me?" Bella protested.
"Because Stefan Salvatore enjoys staring at you," Vicky pointed out.
I noticed Bella glance my way, and I felt Elena stiffen. "She's looking over here." Elena whispered.
I looked at Elena; she was scowling as Bella whispered, "I actually do need to speak to her."
"Well," Vicky announced loudly so Elena could hear, "I'm going to get some air."
"I don't feel right..." Bella mumbled to jeremy.
"Please, Bella?" Jeremy begged as Vicky and Tyler walked out.
"Ugh, fine." Bella turned to us. "Don't be a coward, Bella. You planned to go to this anyway."
"She's coming over," Elena said, her face turning red.
Bella stumbled over as Elena's hands balled into fists; she paled at Elena's stance but continued approaching.
"Uh, Elena, can I talk to you?" she said, glancing my way. "It's kind of private."
Does she want to go against their little scheme?
"I think—"
"Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of Stefan," Elena declared, keeping an eye on Jeremy.
Bella looked down at her feet. "Okay... I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry?" Now Bella had Elena's full attention. "What did you say?"
"What I said about Jeremy's drug use— that was uncalled for." Elena seemed disconcerted, unsure of how to respond. "I mean, you probably already feel... Listen, I'm really sorry."
Elena stuttered her own apology as the others snuck out.
"I was wondering if maybe..."
"Wondering what?"
"Did your aunt Jenna mention anything else about us as kids?"
"Is that why you apologized?" Elena flared. "To sweeten me up for information?"
"No, I—"
"And here I thought you were actually trying to be friends—"
"I was until you called me a drug addict."
"Ladies, ladies." I stepped between the two, sensing the tension.
I didn't need to read Elena's thoughts to know she wanted to wring Bella's neck.
"You know what? Forget that apology."
Bella stomped away and stumbled out the door as Elena turned away.
"I can't stand her!"
"Elena—"
"Elena," a voice called. We turned to see Bonnie staring at us, paling at the sight of me. "I just saw Jeremy—"
"Jeremy?!" Elena looked around, anxious.
"He and Bella left with Vicky, Matt, and Tyler," Bonnie informed us. "They're probably planning to crash Richie Barron's party."
"Then we should crash too."
