Chapter 11: 8, 14, 22

A white car rolled to a stop in front of Mystic Falls High. Morning sun lit the parking lot in golden hues, casting long shadows across the students already gathering at the front entrance.

Bonnie and Elena stepped out, slinging their bags over their shoulders.

"I didn't tell you not to go out with him," Bonnie said, already walking ahead toward the school doors. "Just… take it slow."

Elena followed with a smirk. "But weren't you the one telling me to work hard on him?"

"I was. And now I'm telling you to slow down," Bonnie shot back without missing a beat.

Elena frowned, amused but curious. "Why the change of heart?"

Bonnie shook her head. "It's not a change. You're single for the first time since freshman year—take a breath. Have fun. Date a little, flirt, I don't know… just don't rush into anything serious."

Elena let out a sarcastic chuckle. "And you think I'm that kind of girl?"

Bonnie didn't answer. Instead, her steps slowed, her mood dimming. Elena caught on instantly.

"Okay, seriously—what are you not telling me?"

Bonnie paused, eyes on the ground. She knew better than to try lying to Elena. The girl could read her like a book.

"It's stupid—"

"Bonnie," Elena interrupted, stepping in front of her.

They stopped on the path, students flowing past them like a stream. Bonnie let out a reluctant sigh.

"Yesterday… I touched Stefan by accident. And I got a bad feeling."

Elena blinked. "That's it? A bad feeling?"

Bonnie turned and started walking again, brushing it off. But Elena grabbed her arm, pulling her gently to a stop.

"Bonnie."

Bonnie looked back, hesitant. "Really. It was just… this wave of cold dread. Death. I don't know how else to explain it."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Again with this witch story?"

Bonnie's lips tightened. "I'm just worried, okay? I'm worried about my best friend's new boyfriend."

Elena's expression softened. She took Bonnie's shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. "And I love you for that. Really. But I'm okay. Last year was… hard. Losing my parents, the silence at home, the weight of pretending everything's fine… But now? Things feel like they're getting back to normal. And Stefan's a big part of that."

Bonnie tried to smile—and mostly succeeded. But inside, the unease still twisted like a storm on the horizon.

"Just be careful," she said quietly.

A familiar voice spoke from behind them.

"Good morning, Elena."

Elena turned with a smile as Stefan approached, flawless as always. But beside her, Bonnie immediately tensed, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.

"And good morning to you too, Bonnie," Stefan added with a pleasant nod.

"Hey, um..." Bonnie began quickly, already backing away. "I have to find Aiken. He's not answering his phone, so…" She glanced at Stefan—quick, wary—and walked off.

"Bonnie, wait—" Elena called, but Bonnie didn't look back.

Stefan exhaled softly. "She doesn't seem to like me that much."

...

The late-morning light filtered into the modest room, illuminating the cluttered desk covered in human anatomy diagrams, notes. A single object stood out: his cursed pendant.

Aiken sat at the edge of the table, one hand thoughtfully grazing his lips—his usual habit when he was deep in thought. Relaxing, sensual, unintentional.

"A way to get stronger…" he muttered. He had been thinking about it since Damon had nearly killed him. If not for Stefan, he would have surely died.

But nothing practical. Not without spells. Not without a grimoire.

"I have the theory… but no application. Nothing usable. Nothing real."

He leaned forward and picked up the pendant, feeling the cold metal between his fingers.

"So first—"

Vvzzz! Vvzzz!

His phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at it. Bonnie.

He tapped to answer, placing the phone to his ear.

"Aiken, where are you? I don't see you at school. Is everything alright?" Bonnie's voice asked, slightly breathless—clearly walking between classes.

"School…" Aiken repeated, blinking. "Oh. I forgot," he said plainly, no shame at all in his voice.

"You... forgot?" Bonnie laughed, exasperated. "You can forget things?"

A small smirk touched Aiken's lips. "Apparently."

"Mr. Tanner's class starts in a minute…" she warned, juggling her notebook and bag as she passed the lockers.

"Don't worry. Mr. Tanner and I have a great relationship," Aiken replied with a hint of smugness.

"Yeah… teacher's pet," she teased with a soft smile.

"Sure, Bon Bon."

Bonnie blinked. The nickname hit her like a soft breeze—unexpected, light. Her smile grew without her even realizing.

But when she rounded the hallway and saw Stefan already seated in class, her smile faded just as quickly.

She sat down behind Aiken's empty seat, opened her notebook… and paused. An odd urge tugged at her hand.

She began writing:

8

14

22

She didn't know why. But she couldn't stop.

...

Mr. Tanner's voice droned on about American history while Stefan and Elena whispered to each other in hushed tones. Their shared glances didn't go unnoticed by the other students.

"...Ms. Gilbert," Mr. Tanner suddenly said.

Elena straightened. "Yes?"

"Pearl Harbor," he said flatly.

Before she could respond, a voice came from the classroom entrance.

"December 7th, 1941."

All heads turned.

Aiken stood at the door, bag casually slung over one shoulder, eyes unfazed.

Mr. Tanner narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth tightening. "Oh, look who decided to grace us with his presence," he said with a theatrical sigh.

Aiken didn't answer. His cold stare made the room quieter than usual.

"What am I going to do with you..." Tanner muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Come in. I won't deduct points—this time. But this better be the last stunt."

He pointed vaguely to the remaining empty seat.

Aiken said nothing. He strode to the desk directly in front of Bonnie and sat down without a word.

All around him, students exchanged glances and whispers.

Teacher's pet.

Bonnie, barely noticing him, kept writing.

8.

14.

22.

Over and over.

The numbers danced in her mind like whispers she couldn't hear.

To be continued...

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Also, in the next chapters, I'll introduce some original characters, so get ready to know them.