𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐰𝐭𝐦

𝐢.

chapter one
just how smart are you?

———

The screen lights up to show a sixteen-year-old Bonnie Bennett in her bedroom. Packing. In the middle of her room, the bed is overrun by various books and applications.

Gnawing at the end of a pen, Bonnie traces over what's coming with her and what's trash in a small notebook. The view pulls in closer and we see just what those applications are on the Bennett girls' bed:

Early graduation from Mystic Falls High. Recommendation letters. Full-paid academic scholarship at NYU. Biochemistry. Biomolecular engineering. Legal emancipation.

"Aw, look at baby genius." Sue gushed. "Bon, your awkward teenage phase was so adorable."

"I remember the day I met you," Katherine smiled, fondly recalling the day she met her honeybee. "You were this gawky teenager with an IQ that could make Einstein blush, reading books bigger than you in under ten minutes."

Bonnie blushed, hiding her face in Johnny's chest as her two older sisters basically traded embarrassing stories about her teenage years.

It's been months since Gram's funeral, no one even knew she was back yet. Or that she was no longer a student at Mystic Falls. Or that she was leaving. And she planned to keep it that way.

"She lost her grandmother, and none of you called her." Rebekah frowned down at the Mystic Falls group. "Didn't Sheila Bennett raise most of you? Wasn't Bonnie a friend you all grew up with? What the hell is the matter with you people?"

Elena flushed. After Bonnie disappeared, she tried to contact her, but admittedly she didn't try very hard. The phone number was disconnected and Liz had made it clear Bonnie was not taken but had left of her own free will.

"Wait a minute, you guys haven't spoken to Bonnie in six years." Caroline scoffed. She never lost contact with Bonnie. When Bonnie left town she left her contact information when they said goodbye, and both girls kept in touch. They didn't get to see each other as much as they liked, but they spoke almost everyday. Hell, Johnny just called her the other day for her blessing.

"Pathetic all of you."

These past few months have been lonely, and Bonnie was starting to realize who her real friends were.

"Ready to go, love?" Bonnie looked up and smiled at the man in the doorway. Niklaus Mikaelson had saved her life, and she would forever be grateful.

"Yeah, I just have to grab a few things."

"Take your time." Bonnie nodded, absentmindedly, filling up the last few boxes. "Kol's sleeping." Bonnie stopped.

"Sleeping?"

"That is what I said."

"Is that what you meant?"