Dark Paradise

Thirteen

Third Person POV

"Why do I have to apologize to her?" Caroline whined as she and Jaxon approached the Gilbert residence. Jaxon rolled his eyes and retorted, "Because you've been mean and rude to Bonnie without any reason." Caroline scoffed and countered, "Not without reason; she's a thief." Jaxon shook his head, giving her a disapproving glance before knocking on the door.

Seconds later, Elena opened the door with a smile, prompting the Forbes siblings to return the gesture before they entered the house.

Upon entering the kitchen and noticing Bonnie preparing dinner, Jaxon shot Caroline a pointed look. Caroline sighed and said, "I'm sorry. There, I said it. If you want that ugly-ass necklace, keep it. It's yours."

"Will you hate me if I tell you I threw it away?" Bonnie inquired; guilt written all over her face. Caroline's annoyance was immediate as she echoed, "You threw it away?"

Bonnie sighed and said, "I know it sounds crazy, but the necklace was giving me nightmares. I had to get rid of it."

"You could have just returned it to me," Caroline stated, prompting Elena to look at her and say, "Why? So, you could give it back to Damon?"

"Are you still talking to Damon?" Jaxon asked her angrily, to which Caroline responded, "No, forget Damon."

Caroline turned to Elena and asked, "Are we doing manicures or what? Who brought their kit?" Jaxon flashed the girls a peace sign and said, "That's my cue to exit. I'll be in the living room playing Call of Duty if you need me."

The girls laughed as he made his way to the living room. A few minutes later, Elena and Bonnie joined him, sitting down beside him, but Jaxon paid them no attention. It wasn't until Caroline strode over, her voice tinged with anger, that he took notice. "Why are you such a liar, Bonnie?" she demanded.

"Whoa, what are you talking about, Caroline?" Jaxon asked as he paused the game. He, Bonnie, and Elena turned to look at her, and they all gasped when they saw the necklace in Caroline's hand.

Bonnie rose to her feet and declared, "I'm not lying to you, Caroline. I swear." Elena and Jaxon also stood, with Elena asserting, "It's true. Jaxon and I saw her toss it into the field!"

Jaxon gave a confirming nod, prompting Caroline to insist, "Then explain it." After a pause, Jaxon turned to Bonnie and uttered, "Emily."

Bonnie nodded at him, prompting Jaxon to say, "She really doesn't want you to get rid of it." Suddenly, the woman materialized from nowhere and said, "Of course she doesn't, beloved, she's using your witch friend for something."

Jaxon shot her a skeptical glance as Caroline inquired, "Who the hell is Emily?" Bonnie glanced at Jaxon, who shrugged, then she revealed, "The ghost."

"Oh, so the ghost is named now?" Caroline mocked, prompting Jaxon to roll his eyes and plead, "Caroline, please." Unappeased, Caroline scoffed, "No, what's going on here? Why am I always left out of the conversation? This happens all the time."

Jaxon rubbed his temples in frustration as Elena countered, "That's not true." Bonnie interjected with a scoff, "Yes, it is. I can't talk to you. You don't listen."

"That's not true," Caroline asserted, while Bonnie declared, "I'm a witch." Caroline then teased her, remarking, "And don't we all know it."