Bound by fate: Stefan and Caroline Love Story

Season 1: Part 22

Next day

The day of the 150th celebration had arrived and I was buzzing with excitement. Everything I had worked so hard for was finally coming together. The float, the decorations, the entire town - it was all perfect. I was so wrapped up in the excitement of the day that I didn't think anything could go wrong. But life has a way of surprising you in the worst ways possible.

Once the Miss Mystic Parade wrapped up and the reenactment of the Battle of Willow creek had concluded, Josette and I headed to Mystic Grill to relax. We had changed out of our parade outfits and were sitting at a table trying to decompress from the day's excitement. There was this awkward tension in the air mostly because Tyler and Matt were also there sitting just a few tables away. None of us really knew how to act around each other after everything that had happened between them especially with Josette and I still grieving the loss of our friend group.

Suddenly Mayor Lockwood entered the Grill looking furious. He stormed over to Tyler, his face was red with anger. I could hear bits of the conversation as he scolded Tyler for not going home like he had been told. Tyler as usual wasn't listening just staring off defiantly. Sensing an argument was brewing, I decided to step in before things escalated.

"Is everything okay, Mayor Lockwood?" I asked, my voice calm but curious.

Josette and Matt had come over as well standing behind me as I tried to diffuse the situation. Mayor Lockwood sighed and without directly answering me turned to Tyler. "Take them home," he barked shoving his car keys into Tyler's hand. "I want you to drive Matt, Caroline and Josette home. Now."

Tyler rolled his eyes but took the keys. I could tell that he didn't want to but he wasn't going to argue with his father in front of all of us. So, we all got into the car - Tyler driving, me in the passenger seat, and Matt and Josette in the back.

The tension in the car was thick. Tyler and Matt hadn't spoken much since their fight and it seemed like all the unresolved anger was just sitting there between them. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Tyler broke it turning to Matt.

"For how long are you going to be mad at me, huh?" Tyler asked his voice tinged with frustration. "I said I was sorry."

I couldn't hold back. "You made out with his mother and beat him up, Tyler. Do the math."

Tyler snapped his head towards me his temper flaring. " Nobody asked for your opinion, Forbes."

Before I could even react, Josette jumped in to defend me. "You can't talk to Caroline like that, Tyler."

Things were getting heated again, but then something strange happened. Tyler suddenly winced in pain, clutching his head. His eyes squeezed shut, and he started yelling. "Do you hear that?" He screamed but none of us could hear anything.

"Tyler, what's going on?" I asked, panic rising in my chest.

But before anyone could figure out what was happening, the car swerved violently. Tyler was still screaming, his face contorted in pain as if something was attacking him. He lost control, and in a split second, the car slammed into a wall.

Everything went black.

I don't know how long I was unconscious, but when I opened my eyes, I was barely able to breathe. My chest felt crushed, and every part of my body ached. I looked over at Tyler - he wasn't injured but he sat there in shock, his eyes wide and glowing golden. I could barely process it.

I turned my head with what little strength I had left and saw Josette slumped against the back seat. She wasn't moving. My heart dropped as I reached out for her, calling her name, but there was no response.

Matt was moaning in pain, blood trickling down his face from where his head had hit the window. One of his hands was bent awkwardly, likely fractured in crash.

The paramedics arrived and began treating us. I was barely hanging on, my vision fading in and out, but I heard them say that Josette was gone. She died instantly. I couldn't even comprehend it
My best friend, the person who had been with me through everything, was dead.

All I could think was: why did it have to be her?

Tyler, meanwhile, sat there unharmed but utterly shattered. The glow in his eyes had faded and he just stared blankly ahead, guilty and confusion written all over his face. The rest was us were broken but he... he was untouched.

It wasn't fair. Nothing about this was fair.

The last thing I remember before losing consciousness again was the sound of the paramedics saying I might not make it either. But I had to. I had to survive.