ꜱᴀᴠɪᴏʀ//ᴛᴠᴅᴜ

II.IV

Mystic Falls

April 2011

Tyler stared at the wall in front of him, the phone still pressed against his ear. It had been at least five minutes since his uncle hung up, but he couldn't bring himself to put down the phone, wishing that his uncle hadn't hung up so soon.

Ryden didn't say anything as she watched Tyler stare at nothing. She didn't move to grab her phone, she didn't reach out to try and shake him from his daze, and she didn't try to talk to him. She knew that Tyler needed the silence right now, that he would come to her when he was ready.

A few more minutes passed before Tyler moved. Ryden watched as his arm dropped to his side and his shoulders began to tremble. He turned to the girl behind him, tears welling in his eyes. Ryden opened her arms and Tyler didn't hesitate to fall into her embrace. Sobs racked his body and his legs gave out. Ryden, although strong enough to hold them both, guided them both to the floor, holding on to him tightly. She ran her fingers through Tyler's hair, whispering sweet nothings into his ear.

She was well aware that the two of them were missing class right now, but no one else did. Her little illusions were keeping their teachers and classmates company while they were preoccupied.

Ryden didn't know how much time had passed before Tyler finally spoke.

"Can you please explain what's going on?"

The crack in his voice caused one in Ryden's heart.

She kissed his forehead softly before standing up and extending a hand to him. When he grabbed it, she pulled him to his feet and led him out to her car. She brought Tyler around to the passenger side, opening the door for him with a sly smirk on her face.

Tyler raised an eyebrow at her, to which he received a playful wink in return. He rolled his eyes slightly but got into the passenger seat huffing when Ryden closed the door for him.

When Ryden finally started driving the car was silent, the only audible sound being the hum of the engine. Tyler was confused when Ryden stopped in front of an open meadow full of wildflowers that was right by the outskirts of town, but alas, followed her when she opened his door and jerked her head toward the meadow.

As they were walking, Tyler slipped his hand into Ryden's, needing some form of comfort. He received a tight squeeze in return.

Ryden stopped when they reached a willow tree on the edge of the meadow. Tyler watched as she looked fondly at the tree before reaching out and tracing something that was carved into the bark. When she moved her hand, he noticed that they were initials.

FM, NM, KM, HM

Her fingers lingered on the last set of initials slightly longer than they had the others, a look making its way onto her face that Tyler couldn't quite make out.

When her hand fell back to her side, she glanced at Tyler before sitting down with her back against the trunk of the tree. Tyler was quick to take the spot next to her when she patted it. The action made Ryden smile.

She took a deep shaky breath before she began to speak.

"Okay, so my name is Ryden Nikol Mikaelson, I'm seventeen but my birthday is tomorrow, my favorite color is orange, I love rebuilding and fixing cars and motorbikes, and you're my soulmate."

Tyler had no words. He didn't even know how she went from telling him her favorite color to telling him that she's his soulmate. But he didn't have the chance to even question it before she began speaking again.