The Other Forbes

Chapter 17: Unpleasantville

3rd person's POV:

Grayson was walking with the Forbes twins to school. The walk was filled with jokes and laughter as they each shared embarrassing stories with one another.

"Wait, so you ended up breaking Caroline's nose after trying to shove her face in cake, and somehow completely missing, and ended up smashing her head into the table." Grayson says as he tries to stop laughing.

"I didn't mean to!" Piper exclaims. "Plus, I said I was sorry. Also, she got me back. She broke my leg." She explains causing all three of them to start laughing again.

*****

When the girls got to school, they separated from Grayson, he told them that they should always stay safe even within a group with other people since there's another vampire in town and Elena caught up with them outside. "Hey Piper, Caroline." Elena greets. "Umm Care, I have this gift for you." She adds as she hands over Caroline a small necklace.

"It's so pretty. Thank you. It would go with everything. But I won't be able to wear it often." Caroline states as she looks down at the necklace in her hand as she fiddles with the on around her neck.

Looking both confused and worried Elena asks, "Why?"

"Oh, because Piper and Grayson gave me this necklace as a gift." Caroline answers with a smile on her face as she shows Elena the necklace she's currently wearing. "Anyway, what's the occasion?" Caroline asks confused since Elena never gives her any sort of gift unless it's her birthday or secret santa.

"No occasion. Just a little friend gift." Elena answers. "Your friendship is important to me. Both of yours." She adds.

"Why are you being so mushy?" Piper asks Elena confused as the three girls sit down at a bench outside of the school.

"Because you've been avoiding me Caroline." Elena says. "And I wanted you to know that whatever is going on with you and Matt, it's okay." She reassures.

Hearing this Piper mumbles, "It better be."

"I was going to talk to you about that." Caroline says. "I was, but there's just not much to say. We've hung out a couple times. That's it. But... I just feel like we've peaked as friends." Elena nods her head showing that she's listening and being supportive of Caroline. "This is weird. I shouldn't be talking to you about this. It's weird. It's weird, right?" Caroline rambles causing Piper to smile at her twin, happy that Caroline is still able to be herself and not get completely distracted by the supernatural and change herself.

Laughing Elena says, "It's a little weird. But if it's what you and Matt want, then it's not about me."

Not hesitating Piper says, "But it's all about you."

A shocked and confused look falls upon Elena's face so Caroline's elaborates, " Matt's not over you and we all know it."

"I'm with Stefan now.  Matt understands that. He knows he has to move on." Elena says but it does nothing to reassure Caroline.

*****

After school Elena asked to meet up with Bonnie and Piper to talk about some news she had recently found out. Once the conversation had started Piper was confused as to why Caroline wasn't here. The conversation wasn't about anything supernatural so she was wondering why Caroline wasn't here. Sure she wasn't as close to Elena as Bonnie was. To be far neither was Piper. But Caroline was still their best friend. She should be included.

"I can't believe you're adopted." Bonnie says still in shock after hearing the news. So was Piper, neither of the girls thought that the Gilbert girl could be adopted. "I never saw that coming." she adds.