six

Bonnie didn't comment when Elena climbed into the backseat with Quinn instead of taking the empty front seat. She simply glanced in the rearview mirror to ensure both girls had their seatbelts on before pulling away from the Gilbert house.

The ride started in silence, the soft hum of the engine filling the space. Quinn noticed Elena trembling slightly beside her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, hoping to reassure her.

"So, I stayed with Grams quite a bit this summer," Bonnie began, her voice light, trying to break the tension. "And she says I'm psychic."

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"Anyway, I did predict flare jeans were making a comeback, and guess who was right? This girl."

"That doesn't make you psychic, Bonnie," Elena teased, a faint smile creeping onto her lips. "It just means you binge-watch too much Top Model."

"Say what you want about my psychic powers," Bonnie countered with mock offence, though her teasing demeanour soon shifted. "But... I've got a bad feeling about the bonfire tonight."

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The words pulled Quinn momentarily back to that night. She blinked away the memory quickly and refocused on Bonnie, who continued talking.

"Apparently, our ancestors were from Salem. You know, like the Salem Witch Trials?" Bonnie's voice bubbled with excitement.

Quinn hummed absentmindedly in response, while Elena gazed out the window, her expression distant.

"So, I started thinking—look, I predicted Obama, I predicted Heath Ledger... and I still think Florida will break off and turn into little resort islands!" Bonnie rambled, oblivious to her friends' drifting attention.

You also predicted something bad would happen at the bonfire, Quinn thought, her mind circling back to that ominous warning Bonnie had given.

Bonnie glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing both of her passengers were lost in thought. "Elena! Back in the car. You too, Quinn."

Quinn followed Elena's gaze out the window and realised she was staring at the graveyard where her parents were buried just four short months ago.

The cemetery faded into the distance as Bonnie drove on, and Elena gave a quiet apology. "I did it again, didn't I? I—I'm sorry, Bonnie. You were telling me that..."

"That I'm psychic now," Bonnie finished with a proud grin.

Elena hesitated, then challenged, "Okay, if you're psychic, predict something. About me."

Please don't, Quinn wanted to say, her chest tightening as a flood of unease washed over her. Not again.

Bonnie turned slightly, her expression serious for a moment. "I see—"

Out of nowhere, a dark blur streaked across the windshield, followed by a loud thud. Bonnie slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a halt.

Elena gasped as the sudden stop jolted her forward, her seatbelt locking her in place. 

"What was that?! Oh, my god! Elena, are you okay? Quinn?" Bonnie spun around in her seat, her face pale.

"I'm fine," Quinn managed, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing. The pounding in her head felt too close to the drowning panic she'd experienced that night in the water.

Elena nodded, her voice soothing as she replied, "It's okay, I'm fine. We're okay. Quinnie?"

Quinn gave a small nod, too shaken to speak, her grip tightening on Elena's hand.

"It was... like a bird or something. It came out of nowhere," Bonnie stammered, still frazzled.

Elena's hand tightened protectively around Quinn's. "Really, Bonnie, we're fine. We can't be freaked out by cars for the rest of our life," she said softly, though her own voice carried the faintest tremor. Her hand found Quinn's and linked their fingers.

Bonnie nodded, exhaling slowly as she tried to brush off the scare. Forcing a grin, she said, "Okay, new prediction: this year is going to be kick-ass. The dark, sad times are over, and you two are going to be beyond happy."

Quinn watched the road as Bonnie started driving again, her heart still racing. She didn't say it aloud, but she hoped more than anything that Bonnie hadn't just jinxed them all.

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