章 50: How to make a daylight ring
Even if you've known someone your entire life, a single moment can change everything. Your eyes meet, and suddenly, something ignites—sparks that bring you to life. It animates you, shifts you, makes you different.
Elena and Caroline walked side by side, carrying their lunches and basking in the warmth of a sunny day. They'd decided to eat outside, letting the good weather complement their conversation. Elena reached into her bag, pulling out a small necklace, but Caroline raised a hand before she could finish offering it.
"Another necklace?" Caroline teased, inspecting the delicate trinket. "What's up with everyone giving me necklaces lately?"
"Tommy gave me one, and now you?" Caroline added, her tone laced with playful suspicion.
They settled at a table, unwrapping their lunches. "Tommy gave you a necklace?" Elena asked, her brow lifting in mild surprise.
Caroline nodded, brushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Yeah, after the whole Damon thing… He said it would 'help me.' Whatever that means. But honestly? I kinda like it."
Elena smiled, though her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Caroline's voice pulled her back. "So, what's the occasion?" Caroline asked, her curiosity piqued.
Elena shrugged, masking her inner turmoil. "Do I need an occasion to give my best friend something?"
Caroline grinned and winked. "What is this, a lesbian friendship necklace? Because we're freaky like that."
Elena laughed lightly. "Your friendship is important to me."
Caroline tilted her head, her smile softening. "Why are you being all mushy?"
Elena hesitated, then admitted, "I just feel like we've been a little distant lately."
Caroline paused, mid-bite into her sandwich, her expression unreadable. Elena continued, "Maybe it's because of everything going on. Things have been… crazy."
Caroline shook her head slightly, dismissing the idea. "What do you mean?"
Elena leaned forward, lowering her voice. "It's okay. I just want you to know—whatever's happening with you and Matt, I'm here for you."
Caroline's eyes flickered with emotion before she looked away, then back at Elena. "It's nothing, really. We've just been talking a little, but it's… awkward. I don't know if he wants something more, you know? I feel like we've peaked as friends."
Elena offered a reassuring smile. "You should talk to him. Take a leap. If it's something you both want, great. But this isn't about me."
Caroline's voice softened, almost hesitant. "But it is. It's all about you, Elena. Matt's not over you."
As the day wound down, Elena found herself at the Mystic Grill, seeking out Bonnie. After everything that had happened recently, Bonnie was the only person she felt she could really talk to.
"I can't believe you're adopted," Bonnie said, her eyes widening as she processed Elena's confession. "I never saw that coming."
Elena shook her head, picking at a fry. "It gets weirder. I checked my birth certificate—it lists Miranda and Grayson Gilbert as my birth parents. None of it makes sense."
Bonnie reached across the table, resting a hand on Elena's. "You have to ask Jenna."
Elena groaned, the weight of the idea settling heavily on her shoulders. "That's going to be so awkward… and terrifying. I mean, how do you even bring something like that up?"
Bonnie's gaze was firm. "The Elena I know would always want the truth. Good or bad."
Elena smirked faintly. "And second?"
Bonnie chuckled. "You just found out your boyfriend's a vampire, so unless your birth parents are aliens… how bad could it be?"
Elena laughed despite herself, the tension easing slightly—until the door swung open, and in walked the last two people she wanted to see: Damon and Tom. The people she went on an involuntary trip with. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at Bonnie. "I have to go. Jenna needs me. You'll be okay here?"
Bonnie nodded, standing to settle the bill. She caught sight of Damon and Tom at the bar. As she waved at Tom, Damon waved back too, adding his signature smirk. Bonnie rolled her eyes, handing her card to the bartender without looking.
"I heard about your trip," she said to Tom as she approached the bar.
Tom nodded. "I heard about your… situation. How's everything going?"
Bonnie shrugged, fiddling with her thumbs. "Better."
Tom studied her briefly. "Did you get what you needed for her?"
"No," he admitted, sighing.
Bonnie frowned. "Do you at least have the materials?"
Tom's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"
"Because it'll be good practice," she replied with quiet confidence.
The bartender returned with her card, his expression slightly hopeful, but Bonnie grabbed it without glancing his way. She walked away with Tom. Damon noticed and smirked. "You look sad," he said to the bartender as he took another sip of his drink.
Later, Tom invited Bonnie over to his house to work on the task. As she stepped inside, she glanced around, noticing details she'd overlooked during her previous, far more tense visits.
"Wait in the parlor," Tom instructed. "I'll grab the materials."
Bonnie nodded, wandering into the cozy parlor. She found Vicki sprawled on the couch, engrossed in an episode of True Blood. When Vicki noticed her, she gestured for Bonnie to sit.
"No need to be awkward. Sit down," Vicki said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Bonnie hesitated but eventually joined her on the couch. "How are you?" she asked.
Vicki shrugged. "Good. You?"
"Good," Bonnie replied, though the silence that followed was anything but.
After a moment, Bonnie broke it. "I'm sorry… for last time."
Vicki glanced at her. "For what?"
"Last time I was here. I—"
"Don't," Vicki interrupted. "It wasn't your fault. Besides, I'm alive. That's all that matters."
Bonnie blinked, taken aback by the change in her demeanor. She seemed… different.
Tom returned with a box, pausing at the sight of them sitting together. "Got everything," he announced, setting the box down on the table. Vicki perked up.
"Did you bring the fries?" she asked.
Tom froze, guilt flashing across his face. Vicki sighed dramatically. "Disappointed," she muttered before her attention shifted to the box. "What's in there?"
Tom smiled faintly. "Your daylight ring."
Vicki's face lit up as she jumped off the couch, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you!" she squealed.
Tom nodded toward Bonnie. "You should really thank her."
"Thanks," Vicki said flatly, though her smile remained.
Tom put the ingredients onto a small coffee table, and gave them to Bonnie. She had memorised the recipe and said, "Let's get started."
But Tom stopped her and said, "Before that." He pulled out a small jewellery box out of and opened it. It had all sorts of rings and necklaces. "Which one do you want?"
Vicki looked at the designs and chose a small silver ring with a pattern of swallow and stars over the blue gem. She gave the ring to Bonnie. She took the ring and dropped it into the bowl and asked for Vicki's hand. She started to murmur a spell as she took a knife. And make a cut onto her hand and dripped her blood onto the ring. She closed her eyes and started chanting. The blood soaked ring started to absorb the blood into the gem. Bonnie stopped and looked at the ring. She took it out and said, "It's done."
Vicki took the ring and said, "It's done?"
Vicki slipped the ring onto her finger, staring at it with awe. "So… I can go out in the sun now?"
Tom nodded. "Yeah."
He turned to Bonnie, his gratitude plain. "Thank you. For everything."
Bonnie smiled back. "I'm glad I could help."
After a beat, she added, "Can I ask you for a favor?"
Tom's brow lifted. "No."
Bonnie blinked, taken aback, until Vicki threw a pillow at him. "I mean, don't ask—just tell me. What do you need?"
Bonnie laughed. "There's a school dance tomorrow. Will you go with me?"
Tom tilted his head, considering. "You're sure? You know that means we'll have to dance, right?"
Bonnie grinned. "I'm sure."
Tom smiled back. "Then I'll be there."
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