Prophecy

The Night Of The Comet

Chapter Three

Two Days Later

This morning, Elena, Jenna, and I all converge in the hallway simultaneously.

"Do I look adult? Like, respectfully parental?" Jenna asks, her nerves palpable as she fiddles with her hair.

I can't help but giggle. "Depends on where you're headed..."

"Parent-teacher conference for Jeremy," she reveals, lifting her hair up. "Hair up or down?"

Elena gives a mischievous grin. "Sexy stewardess..."

Jenna rolls her eyes but lets her hair fall loose. "Boozy housewife," I tease.

She sighs and pulls her hair back up. "You two are feisty today," she remarks, watching us as she heads off, her heels clicking with a bit more confidence.

I exchange a grin with Elena, and we make our way downstairs. I pour myself a bowl of cereal, but something about the quiet of the house unsettles me. It's as if there's a whisper beneath the silence, something just out of reach.

<>

In Tanner's class, the usual monotony sets in, but I'm distracted, my thoughts tangled in fragments of Bonnie's words from the other day. I barely notice when class ends until Bonnie and Caroline sidle up beside me in the hallway.

"Hey, I had a feeling we'd find you here!" Bonnie greets me with a bright smile.

I chuckle. "Did you have a vision or something?"

"Don't tease," she pouts, a shadow of unease flickering in her eyes.

Caroline looks between us, curious. "Wait, are you actually psychic, or is that just a family thing?"

Bonnie sighs. "Grams says I'm a witch. Apparently, I come from this long line of witches from Salem. She tried to explain it, but she was a little... tipsy. So, who knows if it's true?"

I give her a gentle nudge. "Well, just let me know if you start casting spells. I could use some good luck."

We share a laugh, but something in Bonnie's expression makes me wonder if she's hiding more than just family stories.

<>

After school, we head to a café. Bonnie, who's been unusually quiet, finally speaks up, her voice low.

"Grams told me that a comet is passing over Mystic Falls soon, and it's supposed to be a sign. The last time it appeared, it brought... death, blood, all sorts of dark things." Her words hang in the air, heavier than I'd expected.

Caroline rolls her eyes. "Right, and then she told you about aliens?"

I frown at her, feeling a strange need to defend Bonnie, but I stay silent. The unease in Bonnie's voice lingers with me, as if she's tapped into something beyond our understanding.

Caroline, unfazed, turns to Elena. "So, spill. What's up with you and Stefan?"

Elena looks away, her cheeks flushing. "Nothing happened. We just... talked."

Caroline sighs dramatically. "You spent all night talking? Come on, Elena."

Elena stands suddenly, grabbing her jacket. "You know what? Maybe I need to stop talking and actually do something," she mutters, leaving us behind.

Bonnie and I exchange glances, an unspoken question passing between us. There's a storm brewing beneath the surface, something we can all feel but can't quite name.

<>

When Elena returns that night, she heads straight for the ice cream, spooning caramel over the top as if she can sweeten whatever bitterness she's feeling.