May 23, 2009
I'd always known this day was coming. The moment Caroline mentioned a bonfire, I nearly had a panic attack. Sure, I'd been preparing for this since the moment I was reborn, but still—this was the beginning. The day Elena met Damon. The day Grayson and Miranda Gilbert died. The day Stefan saved Elena's life.
And it was one of those things I couldn't change. If I saved Elena's parents, who knows what would happen? Butterfly effect, anyone? Maybe they lived, but the town council decided vampire hunts were passé and witch hunts were the new trend. Or maybe Klaus discovered Elena before Elijah, and before anyone could blink, we'd all be dead.
Call me a cold-hearted bitch for deciding who lives and dies if you want. Sacrifices have to be made. I've been dead before—it's not that big a deal. Besides, Grayson Gilbert tortured vampires in his free time. Pretty sure karma was involved.
"Bon, are you listening to me?" Caroline asked, waving her hand in front of my face.
"Of course not," I smirked. "Why would I have been listening?"
"Bonnie!" Caroline huffed, hands on her hips. "Take your head out of Hogwarts and listen to me. This is important!"
I shoved my books into my locker and turned to glare at her. It had been two years since I told her about my magic, and she still threw Harry Potter references at me daily.
"Caroline, it doesn't matter if you curl your hair or straighten it tonight," I said, rolling my eyes. "You'll still look hot."
"Wow, so useful, Bonnie. Really." She groaned, dripping sarcasm. "I need some action in my life. Elena has a boyfriend!"
"And I've told you this town will have more action than Hollywood soon—for Merlin's sake," I replied, leaning into the references. Sure, I could curse by Qetsiyah or Esther, but I wasn't risking them spying from the Other Side.
"But you never tell me anything!" she whisper-screamed. "If I had visions of the future, I'd tell you everything. Why do you have to be so mysterious?"
I'd told her divination was my strongest ability, which wasn't exactly a lie. No other witch knew as much about the future and past as I did. If my knowledge had come from visions, I'd be the most powerful seer in the universe. Just saying.
"Caroline, the timeline shouldn't be altered. If I tell you something, you could screw everything up," I explained slowly, like I was talking to five-year-old Caroline.
"Just one thing. One tiny little thing." She begged, puppy eyes in full force. "Pleeeeease."
"Fine," I sighed, giving in.
"Will I have hot, crazy sex with any major hotties?" she asked, dead serious, like I held the answer to life's greatest mystery.
"Well…" I grinned. Only Caroline would want future knowledge of her sex life instead of lottery numbers. "You'll have crazy hot sex in the woods with a major hottie—with dimples and an English accent."
"Yes!" she cheered. Klaroline was happening, no matter what.
"Have you seen Elena?" Caroline asked later, sipping her beer. I took a gulp of mine and pointed toward Elena and Matt with the football team near the bonfire.
"Ugh, look at them," Caroline muttered, stepping closer. "All perfect and pretty. Who do they think they are, Spuffy?"
"Do you see Matt as a vampire and Elena as a perky blonde slayer?" I raised an eyebrow. "Because if so, I regret introducing you to fandoms."
"I'm just saying." She took another sip. "Why can't I have a hot blonde guy say romantic things to me? Spuffy was the ultimate power couple!"
"Do you see Matt saying romantic things to Elena?" I asked, smirking inwardly. Spike and Buffy's dynamic was eerily similar to Caroline and Klaus's—and I was making sure they got their happy ending. "Elena is dull. Matt is dull. Together, they're even duller."
"Mean," Caroline giggled, though she agreed. Her bond with Elena ran deeper than mine, but we both knew the truth. Elena was just… ugh.
"You love it. Now let's get you home," I said, tugging her arm. I planned to go to bed early, pretending not to know the Gilberts were about to die.
"You're staying over, right?" Caroline mumbled, already tipsy.
"Sure. Why not?" I agreed. It's not like anyone was waiting for me at home.
"Girls, I need to speak with you," Sheriff Forbes said the next day, stepping into the kitchen. Caroline and I were making breakfast—or lunch, since it was already 2 p.m.
"What's going on, Mom?" Caroline asked, glancing at me. She knew I already knew. I'd been twitchy all morning.
"There was an accident last night," Liz began, sitting at the table. "The Gilberts were in a car crash."
"Oh my God, are they alright?" Caroline gasped. "Is Elena okay?"
"Elena is fine," Liz assured her with a small smile. Meanwhile, I stared at my plate. The food was more interesting than this conversation. "Miranda and Grayson, however…"
"No…" Caroline whispered, wide-eyed, staring at me. She was going to be pissed. I didn't want to explain. I didn't want her carrying the burden of knowing the future.
"They passed away last night. Their car went off Wickery Bridge," Liz finished grimly.
"Girls, will you be alright?" she asked after a moment of silence. "I need to check the crash site. Elena's at the hospital, still asleep. You can see her tonight."
We nodded mutely. Liz sighed, then left.
The second the door closed, Caroline pounced on me like a starving tigress.