Heart of Darkness

Your Move

Caroline opened the front door with a flurry of questions when Elena finally graced them with her presence, wondering what had taken the girl thirty minutes off schedule. She'd best have a good excuse. 

'You were meant to be here ages ago! We've been sat here waiting like-'

She paused and frowned upon observing the brunette's dishevelled state, a quick once over taking in the startled expression and grazed leg. Elena smiled sheepishly and brushed past the shocked girl, heading for the kitchen where she could get a drink and clean herself up. 

'What the hell happened to you?' the blonde called after her, quickly closing the door and hurrying after her friend. 

'It's a long story,' Elena said dismissively, flicking on the kettle before digging around in the bottom cupboard for the first aid kit. Caroline arched an eyebrow at the attempt to brush away her question. 

'Then tell us the short version.'

The patter of footsteps descending the stairs announced Bonnie's arrival as she followed the distant echo of voices, relieved to see that the brunette had finally arrived. Caroline briefly threw a glance over her shoulder as the three girls crowded the kitchen, gesturing towards the late arrival. 

'Elena was just about to tell us what kept her so long,' she remarked, crossing her arms over her chest pointedly as she waited for a response. 'Well?'

Elena pursed her lips and summoned a wide smile as she stood upright, first aid box in hand as she tried to repress her growing irritation. This was not what she needed right now. 

'Jeremy's dealer almost ran me over in his car,' she said bluntly, placing the box onto the counter so that she could rifle through its contents. 'A few people stopped to make sure that I was okay and I told Drew that if he ever shows his face here again then the Sherriff will be hearing all about his little business.'

Bonnie's mouth dropped in surprise at the explanation, concern flooding her expression as she imagined how traumatic the ordeal must have been. Caroline also sympathised, but was rather more focused on the consequence that it had made the girl late for their gathering. 

'Well at least you finally made it here. That Drew had best stay far away from Mystic Falls,' she huffed, turning on her heel once satisfied with the explanation. 'I'll be in my room when you're ready.'

Caroline swept upstairs as the two girls exchanged a long stare, each wondering whether they should have offered a reasonable excuse rather than agreed to attend this gathering. 

'Thank goodness you're here,' Bonnie breathed as her friend pulled a large plaster free from the box and went about applying it to her leg. 'She's been driving me insane.'

'Who would have thought that one girl could get so wild over such insignificant news,' Elena chuckled, although it was more out of frustration than anything. How she wished to just slip away and speak to her brother. This gossip session was hardly on her list of priorities. 

'The sooner she gets it off her chest the sooner we get to leave,' Bonnie reasoned, mentally preparing herself for the trauma to come. The brunette nodded distractedly as she finished applying the plaster, standing with a sigh as she could prolong the peace for no longer.

'After you,' she insisted, waving dramatically to elicit a laugh from the dark haired girl before they trudged upstairs towards Caroline's lair. They had barely settled down on the large bed before the girl hurtled into a vigorous speech. 

'So, as I was saying, these two new hotties have arrived in town and Sara had the fortune of passing them on the street earlier whilst-'

Elena resisted the urge to roll her eyes and as her and Bonnie shared a knowing look, nodding and smiling pleasantly as Caroline got the news off her chest. The brunette was only half listening, still caught up in the events that had unfolded only an hour ago, when one sentence in particular caught her attention.