Vampire Diaries Blood Brothers

~ Chapter Fifty Seven ~

I rolled beneath the weighty cover, yawning as my cheek brushed against the soft, Elena scented pillow... I peeled my eyelids back, a brow raised as I stared at the sideways closet door closed at the opposite wall. Sliding my slender arm beneath my torso, I titled my head, scanning the room dimly lit by the burning sun shining against the back of the drawn curtains. Why am I in Elena's room? Rubbing the hard chunks of sleep dusting my lashes, I sat up, pushing the covers down to my knees. My head dropped into my hands, my long, greasy strands of hair slipping between my fingers as I suppressed a yawn. Oh, right. Bonnie had broken my heart, to say the least. But how did I get in Elena's bed? 
   I threw my legs over the side, my bare toes sinking into the carpet as I stood wearing the same clothes I went to see Bonnie in. I tiptoed across the room, pausing at the dresser beside the door. One missed call from Caroline, two from Bonnie, two from Matt, one from Stefan, and five from Damon. I balanced the small cube in my hand, my finger hovering over the keypad when I noticed a tall black bag hanging from the door handle. My heart skipped a beat as I crouched in front of the hanger, pulling the zipper to reveal an azure deep v-neckline with satin straps. A smile crept over my lips as I pulled it out of its bag, holding it against my jeans and shirt. 
   Elena had always been more keen than me to make Mom proud and enter the Miss Mystic Falls Paegeant like she did when she was our age, but seeing my dress, knowing that in a few days I would be dancing with the love of my life? I was just a little bit excited. Even if I didn't have the support of my best friends, the love and support of the man I loved was enough. He was enough.

It was a school day, but no one bothered me. Not Jenna, John, or Jeremy. I took my time in the bathroom, massaging the foamy shampoo and conditioner into my head and through my wet strands of hair. Perched on the edge of the shower-bath, I stretched my leg across the porcelain, running a razor down my sun-kissed skin from my upper thigh to my ankle. My thick, creamy, vanilla-scented moisturizer made popping noises between my fingers as I rubbed it into my hairless skin. I titled my head back, my fingers fiddling with the silver chain of the necklace Stefan gave me while droplets of water dripped down my neck from the bun loosely tied atop my head. It had been so long since I felt so relaxed.
   My heart beat quickened as I ambled down the stairs. What if they asked questions about yesterday? What if they grill me about Bonnie? Or the Salvatores? Uncle John knows they're vampires, and he hates them. What if he told Jenna and Jeremy? My fingers curled around the rail while my feet stopped on the bottom step. "I can't do this," I murmured. I turned my back on the downstairs, jogging towards the landing when Jenna appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
   "Hey, Eva," she called, her shoe balancing on the edge of the last step. Concern flickered across her expression but was quickly replaced with a radiant smile. "Good morning," she beamed as though this was a morning as normal as any other. "Have a good sleep?"
   I hesitated at the landing, nodding slowly. 
   "I made pancakes... And then after I burned them Jeremy went to the store and bought a stack of fresh hotcakes with butter, whipped cream, and maple syrup." 
   I stifled a laugh, scratching the long strands of hair from my bun sticking to the back of my neck. "Thanks," I managed, heading back down. "Sounds good." Without warning, I wrapped my arms around my aunt, pressing my chin into her shoulder. My warm embrace caught her by surprise, but her hesitation didn't last long as she returned the hug, holding me tight. "I love you," I sniffed, closing my eyes as I adjusted my head.
   "You too, Kid," she smiled, leading me through to the kitchen as she kissed the side of my forehead. "You too."

Jenna didn't ask me anything about yesterday, and the car conversation on the way to school was strictly pleasant; zero prying. It was nice hanging out with Jenna like this, we hadn't done it in a while, not since Stefan and I got serious anyway. She worried about me, I knew that, but that just made me even more grateful for her silence. 
   "Seems weird dropping you off at school after the day has ended," Jenna remarked as the car crawled to a halt on the street facing school.
   I leaned across the seats, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. "Thank you," I whispered, leaning my cheek against hers.
   "Eva," she breathed, pulling out of my embrace. "Teenagers keep secrets, I know that. But if there was something going on, something serious, you would tell me, wouldn't you?"
   I held my breath, my eyes locked on hers. Lying was the only way to protect Jenna, but I was so sick of it. She was my aunt, my guardian, my friend, my for-all-intensive-purposes mom. For once I just wanted to tell her the truth. "Jenna," I started, my voice firm yet wobbly. "If there was something you needed to know, or I thought knowing would benefit you in some way, I would tell you," I promised.
   She pursed her lips, nodding slightly. "OK." I could tell by her reluctant tone that was not what she wanted to hear, but what else was I supposed to say? My boyfriend and his brother are vampires? Bonnie's a witch? Grams died because she cast a witchy spell to save my vampire boyfriend? My birthmother's a vampire, and Alaric, your boyfriend, is my vampire hunting step-dad? I didn't think so.
   Once Jenna's car had faded out of view, a dark silhouette dressed in colour approaching by my perifreal caught my attention. I turned, my stomach somersaulting as Bonnie sauntered towards me from the congregation and girls and their escorts loitering outside the gym. "Bonnie," I stiffened, shoving my hands in my pockets. "I didn't know you were entering," I remarked, trying to make conversation.
   She shrugged, motioning to the crowd. "Matt's working," she explained. "Caroline asked me to help her practise."
   I nodded, pursing my lips while my gaze fell to the ground. I wondered if my escort would show up. He knew how important this was to me.
   "Eva..." I looked up, noting the lump in Bonnie's throat as she took a step towards me. Hope swelled my heart as tears pricked her dark eyes. Was she going to apologize? "I'm sorry," she breathed, a droplet of salty water sliding down her smooth, brown cheek. "For everything. I don't blame you for anything, and I know why you feel like you have to keep secrets. If the life of someone I loved depended on keeping a secret then I wouldn't..." She sniffed, hugging her torso while her bottom lip trembled uncontrollably. "I wouldn't tell Caroline either," she confessed.
   A teary chuckle burst from my lips as I closed the gap between me and my best friend, enveloping her in the tightest hug we'd ever shared. We laughed into each other's necks, clinging for dear life while our tears dampened our shirts. "Oh Bonnie," I sobbed, holding her shaking body. "Thank you, thank you," I breathed, nestling my chin on her shoulder. "I forgive you, and I'm sorry too," I apologized, pulling back. "Things have just been so crazy, and that's no excuse," I admitted. "Can we just - ugh - can we just put all of this stuff behind us?" I begged. "I miss you so much. I can't bear to go another day with you mad at me."
   Bonnie nodded, wiping her eyes. "Totally," she agreed, pulling a tissue from her pocket before blowing her nose. "And, Eva, I really am sorry," she repeated. "You know I'm not exactly Stefan's biggest fan, but he means that much to you and, well, I've been a horrible best friend."
   I shook my head, pulling her into another tight squeeze. "Not as much as me," I argued. "Here, let's make a promise right here, right now," I suggested, curling my pinky around hers. "Because no magic vampire or witch is stronger than a pinky swear," I giggled, my cheeks glowing pink. "Let's promise to never lie to each other, ever. Let's not keep secrets about anything, and let's just, ugh, let's just be the bestest of friends," I pleaded.
   She ducked her head, her entire body shaking as she laughed into her hand. "Pinky promise." She sniffed, her face reverting from tear-stained to dry as she lifted her gaze to mine. "But I still blame Stefan for what happened to Grams," she warned. "You love him, I respect that, but that doesn't mean I have to love him."
   I gritted my teeth. Why did she have to say that? Pressing my lips in a tight line, I forced a nod, shaking her curled pinky. "And as your best friend, I respect your feelings."
   We shared a nod, pulling our pinky's apart when Stefan's little red Coupe zipped through the parking lot, pulling in beside us. I chewed the corner of my lip, glancing between the man I hadn't seen or heard from in days, and the estranged best friend I'd just made up with. "Do you mind?" I scrunched my face, tilting my head as he unbuckled his belt. "I have something I really need to sort out," I explained, hoping she would agree peacefully.
   Bonnie nodded, squeezing my hand. "Sure. But dinner's on you, got it?"
   I giggled, waving as she headed back towards the gym. "Got it."