CHAPTER TEN; HISTORY REPEATING

❝ staying or leaving, a piece of me is already yours to destroy ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ mystic falls high school [ exterior cafeteria ]  ❞

"HAVE YOU EVEN SPOKEN TO BONNIE," asked Maya as she sat down with her lunch before Caroline. The two girls hadn't spoken in two days, since Caroline's failed party. Which seemed fitting, Maya still hadn't found her way back to her sister. She knew time was running low for her on being able to continue doing so.

Her friends however had snuck their way into their own argument, over Damon of all things. Caroline had a desperate, clearly compelled desire to steal Damon's necklace back -- in her own right Bonnie refused to give it up. Why should she, even Maya thought. It was a gift given to her ( which its true origins remained unknown to either girl sitting at the table then ) and worse was Caroline wanted to give it back to Damon? He didn't deserve her kindness, especially after what he had done to her friend.

"No I'm Mad at her," Caroline said bitterly, "She needs to make the first move."

With a slight roll of her eyes Maya tore the plastic holding her fork offering, "Be the bigger person."

"Impossible in her presence."

"Or in yours," pointed out the Gilbert girl only to earn a sharpened stare in return. One MJ met with a chuckle before she asked, "Why are you so pissed at her, anyway? You gave it to her -- why would she give it to you so you can give it to Damon."

Ignoring the last bit of what her friend did, the blonde shrugged simply telling her, "She's a thief. That's why. I gave her my necklace, and she refused to give it back. It's a matter of principle." Caroline couldn't even meet her best friend's eye, a giveaway she understood reason, she simply wished not to hear it.

As much as she loved her friend, Maya couldn't play along with her logic, or lack thereof. Freezing her motion she tilted her head, "You just said you gave it to her Caroline -- Bonnie had every single right to keep it." It was often Bonnie felt MJ chose favorites, and even over her own twin, Maya chose Caroline. Yet she'd never known how many times Maya had told Caroline she was in the wrong, always gently, but always truthful.

When her friend proudly held her chin up in defiance Maya was left to allow the girls to their own devices. She couldn't force the pair to do anything even if she were blunt about the problem. Especially while walking her own ethical line with her sister -- Maya hated being a hypocrite above all. "Fine, do what you want, but when you inevitably her forgiveness don't call me asking how to get her to forgive you. Pick up the phone and call her when you're ready."

"Have you done that with Elena or are you still sleeping at my house and Tyler's," Caroline pointed out in just the way she regularly. With an air of superiority that tended to silence an entire sheer team when she wanted it. The Forbes had this commanding presence all felt compelled to listen to. 

"No. Pretty sure she's avoiding me about as much as I'm avoiding her," she admitted lightly tossing the carrot to the opposite side of the tray. Shaking her head she added dismissively, "Anyways, she's probably busy with Stefan."

"She said with jealously," Caroline mocked having long since notice how her eyes lingered on the Salvatore boy that first day. Everyday since she had noticed Maya doing everything to avoid being alone with Stefan, as if she didn't fully trust herself around him.

Maya began to twist at the edges of her straightened hair, "That was nothing," she tried.

"Ah," the blonde nearly sang, "So there was something."

Under the weight of her best friends star May allowed herself to believe, "He's very beautiful." Shaking her head she needed to tell her, "But he's beyond reach and Tyler...I still love him. Stefan's a pretty boy I feel guilty for thinking is pretty."

Some of what her friend was saying was truthful, Caroline wasn't going to challenge which was with. They both knew the truth of it anyways. "I just worry about you, I don't want you getting hurt."

"I will be fine, Caroline, I promise," MJ forced out in that scarily believable way she commonly did. Her smile wasn't real though. It was small and nearly straight, as if her frown was fighting to relax itself. 

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❝ mystic falls high school [ history class ] ❞

"Good Morning everyone," a man Maya didn't know greeted walking into her history class. Probably another sub, she thought. They had a string of them since Tanner, an event she personally couldn't fully hate Damon for. Perhaps that made her a bad person, but he had only ever been a bully. She wasn't going to fault herself for not missing him.

She watched as the older man dragged the chalk across the board writing in the clearest cursive handwriting. He spelled a name, probably is own, while pronouncing it, "Alrighty. I'm Alaric Saltzman. It's mouth-full. I know."

The man of more than likely in his 30's with sandy hair added as he looked among the crowd , "Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Saltzman is of German origins. My family emigrated here in 1755 to Texas. I, however ,was born and raised in Boston. Now the name Alaric belongs to a very dead great-grand-father I will never be able to thank enough."

Maya along with the rest of the class chuckled as he finished, "You'll probably want to pronounce 'Alaric' but it's ...'Alaric,' okay. So you can call me Rick. I'm your new history teacher."

There was a soft but noticeable knock at the class door their new teacher had shut behind him. Saltzman crossed the floor opening it wide enough that when Maya craned her neck she saw Stefan on the other side. His eyes immediately looked past Saltzman and found Maya's already waiting -- they hadn't spoken in days.

Not since his birthday party where she left with Tyler to talk. She had tried calling him, seeing how the party went but he never answered. The bitter sting of rejected calls and endless silence hardened the Gilbert to the girl sitting in class at the present moment. "Ah, my first tardy -- what's your name kid," their teacher wondered his question breaking the pairs eye contact.

"Stefan," he replied having forced his eyes to look away from her. Saltzman raised a brow waiting for a last name to which he repeated, "Salvatore. Stefan Salvatore. Sorry I'm late I uh I got held up."

Maya couldn't help but let a scoff escape her lips at his response. It seemed no matter who he was speaking to Stefan always kept his answers vague and short. "Well, sit down. You're forgiven today, tomorrow though, gotta mark it down." Stefan snuck into the room taking his seat a few seats back from MJ. The brunette was stuck watching him until his eyes met her again and she forced her attention back to her lessons.

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The second the class was over Maya was weaving through the crowd of students with such ease Stefan was nearly losing her. Why should she allow him to speak now when for the last three days his silence was all he'd given her? Maya didn't even have time to think of her answer before Stefan's hand was grabbing at the back of her arm. He didn't grab it roughly, honestly, Maya to remind herself not to move or risk snatching away from him.

She could've sworn her breath caught the moment May felt his touch -- why had his touch felt so natural yet just under its surface it had this addictive quality to it? As he turned her body just enough for her to see him, Stefan released his touch, "We should talk. We need to talk." The loss of his touch returned a numbness to May that almost made it hard to spot his urgency.

Given the circumstances of what her life had become, Maya nodded saying, "Come with me." The brunette pointed towards the set of blue double doors beside them in the hall. Walking through they were secluded enough to avoid the other students. "What happened? You have that...look in your eyes that's weird," she pointed out her stomach twisting with knowing.

The Salvatore tried to find the words but it still seemed so unreal. Lexi. She had only come to town for him and had been punished so deeply for it. When he finally tore his eyes up from his feet Stefan said it the only way he knew how, "Damon killed Lexi."

"You're friend," was the only thing Maya could question at first. How could a brother destroy another so obsessively? Whatever Stefan had done...did Damon long ago even the scales of his little brothers offense and just been having too much fun to stop? Or had Stefan done the unthinkable? No. Maya couldn't imagine Stefan doing the unthinkable -- Stefan wasn't a bad person he just wasn't.

All the vampire could do was nod. There was a brief moment when Maya thought back to the funeral they had for her parents. Everyone had been so afraid to go near her, even her siblings. Almost like people thought death was still lingering around her and they would catch it if they got close. Maya knew it was their way of hiding from the fact they all were dying, everyone, all day everyday. Touching her wasn't going to stop it, she wished all day long for someone to hug her, no one did.

Meeting his glossy green eyes Maya did the only thing she could think of. Raising her arms she brought them towards him only to recoil afraid he may not want to be touched. However the second she had she saw his shoulders slumped, so instead she placed her arms around him. 

"I'm sorry about your friend," MJ whispered softly to him as she held him. He was just a few inches taller than her but she fit just perfectly beneath his chin. It was very different than her hugs with Tyler who was around the same height as Maya, maybe a inch taller. Stefan didn't smell of sweet from practice, nor expensive cologne, no he smelled completely different. If she had to describe it Maya thought it was just like springtime. The flowers, the fresh air, cut grass, all of it and more. 

Stefan couldn't allow himself to linger on the vanilla radiating from Maya's body and hair. Which seemed to cause him to wait a moment to long to hug her back because Maya had begun to pull away only to feel Stefan's arms grip her tightly. He had to knowing what else he had come there to tell her. As they finally did pull away they lingered mere inches apart Maya couldn't help but ask, "What are you going to do about your brother?"

Her question seemed to bring Stefan hurdling back down to earth and remember what else he had come there to say. Clearing his throat Stefan gripped the strap of his bag, "That's what else I came to tell you." There was something about the way he said it almost as if every word spoken hurt. "With everything that's happened, I need to back off for a while."

This finally caused Maya to step away creating more distance between them, "Back off? Back off from what," she repeated her words almost completely filled with disgust if not for her confusion. "From school? No, no you mean from Elena and I? You're running from us," MJ hissed at him having believed their time shared wouldn't end so shortly.

As much as her sharpness cut through to him, Stefan was only able to force himself to say, "Be angry. It'll make it easier."

Maya clicked her teeth together turning away from him unable to meet his eyes anymore. Her bubbling rage was too raw for her to allow him to quell it with sad and wounded eyes. Resisting the urge to hit him she instead brought her hand up to her face rubbing it before saying, "For who?"

The vampire swallowed hard as she moved forward to continue, "Sure as hell not for me, sure as hell won't help my sister. For better or worse Elena is my sister and doesn't deserve to be abandoned because you want to be a martyr anymore than I do." Part of her wanted him to say something, try and lessen her rage but this was his mercy. "Fine. If this is your brand of mercy go to hell Stefan, don't come crawling back to Elena or me when you're done wanting to be alone again," snapped the Gilbert girl storming past him making sure to hit his shoulder as she did so.  Leaving the room in a hurry there was only one thing Maya wanted, and it was to see her sister.

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❝ gilbert house [ front porch ] ❞

Elena slightly jogged up the stairs to her house stopping only when she saw a familiar brunette sitting on the porch swing. "May," the older twin said subtly calling her sisters eyes up from the ground she was starring at. The moment she looked up at her Elena felt at ease knowing the storm had passed. There was all malice and bluster had faded with time like it usually had. Usually as the oldest Elena wouldn't have allowed things to carry on this long, but guilt wouldn't allow her to look at her sister without feeling the torment of her choices. "I didn't know you would be home today," she managed to say as she inched closer.

Just as her sister sat beside her, May replied, "Jenna wanted me home. Plus, figured it was time to stop hiding from you, especially since we're going to be the only ones in town that know the truth."

"Stefan came and told you he was leaving too, huh," pieced together the older twin. 

Leaning her head on her sisters shoulder she huffed, "I don't know how I am going to pretend his world wasn't the thing that started making me feel excited about the day again. The world isn't simple, but now it'll be stuck this boring way forever."

"At least it's a world where you don't hate me," replied Elena still looking ahead too afraid to look at her sister and see the moment was different. 

Lifting her head Maya turned towards her sister saying, "I didn't hate you, Elena. I was disappointed and angry with you, there's a difference." Finally her older twin gained the courage to look her way still seeing the same softness she had before she sat down. "Stefan's leaving, so is Damon. All you and I have is each other so maybe Jeremy is better off not remembering this...mess the same way we do."

"I'm sorry for disappointing you. I just couldn't bare watching him suffer again," admitted the Gilbert girl.

"What's done is done. We still have each other, and that's more than some people get," said Maya too tired to keep her wall up against her sister. 

"Are you going to stay home tonight," Elena wondered thinking of how Bonnie would be arriving within the hour.

"Yeah, I need to shower in my own bathroom again. Why?"

"Because Bonnie is staying tonight," said the older sister with such a twang of joy it made Maya lift her brow.

Maya hummed mentioning, "Caroline wanted me to stay with her tonight."

Nodding along Elena replied, "If only we could...."

Finishing the sentence for her sister MJ realized, "Bring them together for a fun night so none of us are angry with each other anymore?" The shared smile between the pair said everything needed. It wasn't long before the pair were rushing off to clean the house and call Caroline over for the night as well.

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❝ gilbert house [ downstairs floor ] ❞

Caroline still hadn't arrived for the night as Bonnie sat with the twins laughing while they place raw cookie dough on a tray. Maya was placing the last of the cookies down when there was a knock Elena excused herself to answer. The pair lingered behind believing it was just the arrival of their fourth party.

However, by the time Maya was loading the tray into the oven she was muttering asking Bonnie, "What the hell are those two doing?"

Bonnie's usual bronze glow seemed to lack life as she shrugged, "Elena's probably having to convince her to come in." The weight of carrying her fight with Caroline, and her newfound secret life was becoming too much for someone so honest to bare.

Reaching out for her friends hand Maya insisted, "You didn't do anything wrong, Bonnie." The Bennett wanted to believe her but she couldn't. Her friend had seemed so desperate for a necklace Bonnie tossed into a field. "I'm serious," she insisted squeezing the witches hand, "Caroline did a stupid thing and it is her who has to apologize, not you. I love her, but, she gave you a gift and wanted it back for a man who hurt her. I wouldn't have given it back either."

Nothing Maya said seemed to lessen any burden her friend carried. Instead, the brunette looked to the back door to their yard ordering, "Go out there." With a raised questioning brown Bonnie returned her response. Making her way towards the sliding door Maya repeated, "If Caroline needs someone to convince her, I will, but I don't want you to hear any raise voices. You stay here, I will handle this."

Before Bonnie could even ask anything more, Maya was pushing her out the door turning on her heel towards the front door. She barely made it a few feet before noticing who stood at the door was not Caroline, but Stefan. "I thought you were leaving," Maya announced her voice causing her sister and Stefan to look her way.

A sheepish shame took over his face as Elena tried, "Maya--"

There wasn't a chance for the older girl to finish before Maya was cutting her off reminding, "Don't. He said he was 'backing off,' so why the hell is he here?" Truth be told Maya wanted to pretend he never existed at all if he was going to leave. Forgetting was her only way of living in a world made dull -- Stefan standing there before her stopped all forgetfulness.

"Because I called him," Elena said earning a sharpened gaze her way. "For Bonnie," she reminded pointedly. The words were enough for May to remember what her friend and sister had told her of when the witch first arrived. Damon had gone to asking for the necklace directly to the witch scaring her half to death over it. 

Still bitter, Maya crossed her arms maintaining, "Yeah? And what are you even going to do about it? He's still breathing after what he did to Care and myself."

"I don't know. I know I'm better than you guys trusting he will just leave her alone." His logic dug under Maya's skin unable to fight reason. "What would Damon want with Bonnie," Stefan questioned, his eyes lingering on Maya for a moment. So swiftly had her friendship turned to indifference once he said he was leaving. 

"She has this necklace that she got from Caroline--"

Maya groaned, "If I have to hear about this god damn necklace one more time today."

Finishing what she was saying, Elena continued to explain to the vampire, "Caroline got it from Damon, and she gave it Bonnie, and now Damon wants it back. He's tormenting her."

"Over a necklace," Stefan replied, more as a question than anything else not understanding what his brother was up to.

Maya shook her head gesturing to her own necklace as she spoke recalling the jewelry, "It's not just any necklace. It has to do with Bonnie's heritage. It belonged to one of her ancestors who lived here during the civil war. When you and Damon lived here." Something inside of Maya deeper than her own mind told her she'd seen him with it before, yet she couldn't remember where. 

She shut her eyes for a moment trying to picture him but all she saw was Damon shrouded in darkness in a suit. Though she could not remember the event, she could remember the times she had seen Damon. Stefan broke her train of thought confessing, "Her name was Emily. She was Katherine's handmaid and a witch."

His last word had locked the twins into a panicked stare. Neither of them had spoken to him about their friend that much they both knew. "You know? About Bonnie? You've known all this time about her and you said nothing," confirmed MJ mouth curled into a frown as she narrowed her eyes at him.

The Salvatore boy shifted his weight revealing, "The first night that you guys invited me over for dinner, I made the connection."

"And...now Damon knows, and...for some reason he wants that necklace, and Bonnie's in danger," Elena stated her eyes just as sharp and cutting as they narrowed in on the Salvatore.

The way the vampire wanted to avoid their painfilled stares forced him to usher the conversation along, "What does it look like?"

"It's...an antique iron setting with––" Elena began but was cut off by Stefan who had instantly remembered the necklace from his youth. 

"With an amber crystal. I know it. It belonged to Katherine. Emily gave it to her, which means that," the vampire trailed off trying to find the rest of a thought that never came.

Maya pinched her nose bridge briefly before demanding to know, "Which means what, Stefan? Is Bonnie in danger?"

The Salvatore told them the only thing he could confidently tell the pair, "I don't know, but I'm gonna find it out. Let me talk to Damon."

Scoffing slightly even the older twin had to question, "Yeah cause Damon seems like such the forthcoming person, right?"

"I'll get it out of him," he reassured them.

Neither twin could move for a moment before Maya spoke warning, "Do better for Bonnie than you did for Caroline and me -- she deserves to be saved from your brother even if we couldn't be." 

The younger twin turned on him returning to her friend leaving her sister alone with her boyfriend. Once they were Elena felt the need to explain, "She doesn't want him to leave her with nightmares too."

"Maya is having nightmares," questioned the vampire never having known.

Elena nodded unable to hide her cold tone, "Caroline and Tyler both said she woke up thinking she was being murdered, not drowning, but murdered." 

"I didn't know that," was all he could say as the brunette slipped out the back door to sit with the Bennett girl.

The lingering Gilbert hesitated for a moment, watching how Stefan's eyes linger on where her sister once stood. When he finally looked away and noticed Elena's gaze the brunette was left saying, "If you want them to stop, get your brother to leave my sister the fuck alone."

"I will," swore Stefan making his way to the front door.

Elena couldn't help but shake her head, "Promises, promises Stefan," she said shutting the door behind him as he left.

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Maya had forced her sister to stay silent after their blonde friend finally arrived -- silence had always been Caroline's undoing. Full blown tantrums could be caused if someone stayed quiet long enough. It felt cruel so Maya didn't do it often, only when she was truly not wanting to talk to the girl, however Bonnie deserved the apology. Which would be done rather quickly given how fast Caroline's foot tapped against the floor.

The younger twin was just about to start counting down when Caroline beat her to it by finally caving in telling the Bennett, "I'm sorry. There. I said it. If you want the ugly-ass necklace, keep it. It's yours." MJ couldn't help but look to the side at her twin as the pair of them were on the opposite side of the counter from them.

Bonnie glanced up at the blonde with a tight lipped grimace as she asked, "Will you hate me if I tell you I threw it away?"

"You threw it away," Caroline shrieked her question making her three companions wince from her voice.

"I know it sounds crazy but the necklace was giving me nightmares. I had to get rid of it," confessed the Bennett unable, and unwilling to tell the Forbes girl more.

"You could have just given it back to me," Caroline offered up with a stubborn crossing of her arms.

Maya gave her friend a pointed look chiming in, "Yeah cause giving it back to Damon was such a better idea." The blonde tried to open her mouth but Maya raised her finger giving a knowing word of caution, "And don't say you weren't giving it back to him 'cause we all know you were."

There was a small pout on Caroline's face as she attempted, "Screw Damon." The disowning of the vampire brought a smile to MJ's face as Caroline looked at all three asking, "Are we doing manicures or what? Who has their kit?"

"Mine's in my bag," Bonnie told her pointing to the bag closest.

"I'm getting mine -- I want acrylics if anyone wants me to do theirs," beamed Maya pulling away from the counter. The younger Gilbert, blessed with still hands other than a real nail salon, the girls only trusted her talent.

Raising her hand the witch chimed, "Me! I have a purple gel polish in my bag I want you to use."

Just as the Gilbert made her way around the corner, Caroline was asking, "So Elena. How long do you think this fight with Stefan's gonna last? Is it...like a permanent thing?"

Elena sent a knowing look the Bennett's way as se sighed forcing out, "I don't know Caroline."

Without even replying to the older twin, Caroline starring into their friends bag hissed, "Why are you such a little liar, Bonnie?"

"Caroline," Elena shrieked.

Maya had barely made it from the kitchen before having turned around voice screeching as she scolded, "Fuck, Caroline!"

Silencing all three of them the Forbes turned around holding up none other than the amber crystal necklace. All smiles had faded in an instant. There was a moment before Bonnie managed to be the first to speak, "I'm not lying to you, Caroline. I swear."

"It's true. I watched her throw it into a field," Elena confirmed as Maya still stood unsure and silent.

Seeing only hesitation on her friends narrowed eyes and pushed together brows Caroline demanded, "Then explain it."

Once more no one knew how to tell Caroline the truth. The others were okay with lying but Maya understood how often Caroline felt alone, cut out from the group. Maya hadn't known how to hide Bonnie's secret while still being a good friend to Caroline. Lying had always been easier when doing it to her parents, never as easy with friends. Never easy at all when it came to Caroline.

"Emily," Bonnie assumed looking back to the twins who only stood just as puzzled as her.

The blonde's eyes scanned all three girls asking, "Who's Emily?" Her gaze fell upon Maya waiting for the truth, rather, expecting the truth from her.

She was met with only a frown as Bonnie, almost dismissively replied, "The ghost."

Caroline could only scoff as she joined them at the table once more mocking, "The ghost has a name now?"

Elena held her hand up silencing the girl as politely as she could, "Caroline, please."

"She's just confused," Maya finally managed to chime in revealing whatever her sister and Bonnie knew, so did she.

Neither of them seemed to notice anything Maya or Caroline were saying. Bonnie voice was practically shaking as she said, "I wonder why she won't leave me alone."

"What is going on? Why am I not a part of this conversation? You guys do this to me all the time," Caroline questioned her arms crossing her chest. 

Elena shook her head denying it, "That's not true."

The younger twin took her turn to nearly laugh, "Yes we do. All the time. We are doing it now Elena..." Maya's desperate eyes wide as deer reminding her sister of all the lies they'd been telling. Even Bonnie was in the dark about certain things, their own brother, they were the ones with the key to information none of them knew.

"That's because I can't talk to her," Bonnie slipped out pointing at Caroline, "You don't listen," she finished.

"That's not true," Caroline disagreed but not even this could Maya defend her on. It was often a habit of their friend to dismiss or joke about everything said to her. Sometimes it made her hard to approach, even for Maya.

As if to prove a point, Bonnie's head tilted admitting, "I'm a witch." Each of the twins grabbed at their throats the sudden truth spilling running their throat dry.

"And don't we all know it," Caroline retorted unable to resist the urge to make another spiteful remark.

The younger twin closed her eyes knowing that her friend had just proven Bonnie's point. "See? That's what I'm talking about. I'm trying to tell you something. You don't even hear it."

Without another word Bonnie stormed out of the room leaving the blonde opened mouth and defending, "I listen! When do I not listen?"

Stepping forward Maya placed her hand on her friend shoulder, "Go in there, and really listen to her Caroline." Once more she tried to open her mouth and fight her case but MJ shaking her head spoke over her, "Care, listen." There was something bout the way she told her friend to listen that seemed earnest. This wasn't a plot to keep her out, but a hand that was ushering her in.

The second their friend disappeared into the living room Elena was rushing to ask, "Are we sure leaving them to their own devices is a good idea?"

Shrugging Maya returned, "I don't know. Better let them figure it out themselves rather than doing it for them."

Elena frowned with a small hum knowing her sister was correct. "So what are we going to do about Bonnie and the necklace? She threw it into a field and it still came back -- Damon isn't going to stop coming after her," rambled the older twin.

Her sisters voice almost raised as Elena's, Maya broke snapping back, "I don't know." Exhaling deeply she tried to speak again, "Maybe Stefan will just...take his brother and go like he said."

"So you really think he's leaving," questioned the older Gilbert.

With a tight lipped mouth Maya shrugged, "It's what he said he was doing and in all honesty? I don't have it in me to hope."

Shaking her head Elena defied, "I think he'll stay. He can't go." Maya knew her sister spoke more with hope than with realism, but she didn't have the heart to ruin it for her either.

Stopping her from doing just that, Caroline's voice rang through out the house, "Maya! Elena ,you can come in now. We're done!" Maya didn't wait for her sister to follow before going towards the sound of their friends voice. The second she looked up and saw the twins, Caroline exclaimed,  "There is just way too much drama in this room. So what do you guys wanna do? I have an idea. Why don't we have a séance?"

Maya's eyes grew in size, "Yeah cause that just screams good idea," she muttered.

Standing to her feet the Forbes girl challenged them again, "Come on. Let's summon some spirits. This Emily chick has some serious explaining to do." Though the other girls stayed silent it was instantly understood they were going through with things.

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❝ gilbert house [ elena's bedroom ] ❞

The four girls in question sat in Elena's room starting the séance with candles lit all around the room, lights out, and windows locked shut. Though there was a twisting feeling within her They gripped each other's hands tightly, "What are we doing," Maya asked her eyes narrowed and face scrunched as she surveyed the room. Her sister's bedroom once a place of warmth robbed of all life and turned cold in the night wind.

"I don't know," Elena admitted looking to the blonde that had convinced them to do this. Though it was clear Caroline didn't believe, she was determined as ever to make Bonnie feel supported in her endeavor.

"Be quiet and concentrate. Close your eyes," Caroline sneer at the two sisters silencing their whispers. Maya stifled her laugh by pressing her lips together and avoiding the others gaze as Caroline carried on, "Now take a deep breathe. Bonnie called to her."

With her eyes shut all Maya could hear was Bonnie's hesitant, almost uncomfortable voice ask, "Emily you there?"

Her statement sent of a chain reaction in the twins peaking out of one eye. Opening her eyes all the way Caroline dropped her friends hand, "Really? 'Emily you there?' That's all you got? I'm giving my full commitment we need a little something from you Bon, now come on."

"Yeah, come on Bonnie. This is serious stuff," Maya teased the witch.

Fighting the corners of her mouth wanting to become a smile Bonnie replied, "Fine, fine! Jeez, two moments ago no one believed now everyone and their mother does." Her friends snickered as the Bennett shut her eyes signaling for the others to follow. As soon as their eyes shut, they could hear Bonnie, more serious yet still soft, say, "Emily I call on you. I know you have a message. I'm here to listen."

Elena's once warm filled room in a second became an inferno. Hand yanked apart as the group of four sheltered themselves from unanticipated growth of the flames. Maya's breath caught in her throat as the blaze threatened to eat up the ceiling. But as soon as it had, the firestorm coming from the candles became the soft light on top them once again.

Her breath, nearly gone, Elena glimpsed around the room asking, "Did that just?"

"Yeah, it just happened," Caroline hurriedly nodded as she replied eyes fixed on the flames that once more.

Trying to rationalize it the Bennett girl just barely managed croaked out, "It's just air conditioning."

Maya's shaking voice said, "I've never seen our air conditioning do that with any of our candles."

All the four could do was gawk for a moment when the tallest of them told the witch in a whisper, "Ask her to show you a sign,?" This earned the blonde her own pointed look from the witch. "Ask her," she insisted again her words leaving no room for argument.

Bonnie let out a reluctant sigh before following through, "Emily if you're among us, show us another sign." Maya waited for something, anything to happen, but nothing did. "See? It's not working," said the witch her shoulders losing tension.

Almost as punishment for the act of relaxion the windows slammed open causing overlapping shouts. Maya rushed to her feet causing a chain reaction in the others until Bonnie was tearing the necklace from her neck throwing it to the candles. She didn't know what they would do with it, but she couldn't wear it a second longer.

The second the necklace fell the candles snuffed out all the light. "Get the light. Please get the light on," shouted the desperate witch.

Maya ran towards the light yelling back, "Hold on -- no one move! I got it." Her hand reached out in the pitch black until she felt the wall. She continued tapping around it only a moment before her hand found the switch and she flipped it. 

With the light that flooded in so the the relief that came to the girls. Maya's hand found her heartbeat as she attempted to steady it. Her eyes fell upon the witch who was locked onto the floor, "You guys," Bonnie trailed off grabbing the other girls attention once more. A shaky hand was raised by her as she added, "The necklace, it's gone."

Maya's throat had run dry a second before she fell to the floor moving the hanging blankets to see under the bed. Hoping for the most rational explanation ( despite what he life had become as of late ) Elena turned to Caroline almost pleading with her to admit, "Fun's over, Caroline. You made a point, and I get it. Now give it back."

"What? Well, I didn't have it," Caroline recoiled at the insinuation.

Slapping her hand off the ground May glanced up her voice firm, "She doesn't." Just as she was coming back to her feet, a loud bang rang through out the house. 

"What the fuck was that," blurted Caroline whispering towards the end remembering what was happening around them. 

Maya stepped forward only to feel her sisters hand grabbing at her wrist. The act of which had forced her to stop and turn only to meet warning eyes. Damon was still out there in search of the necklace and Bonnie -- he had been invited in. "We have to check," was the only firm response she could give. 

Walking forward to the door forced her sister to release Maya as she called out, "Jere!" Her light footsteps didn't even make a creak but someone following behind had. The sound turned Maya's head to see Elena and Caroline at the top of the steps. With all the girls focused on the threats in front of them no one thought about the one they left behind in the room with Bonnie. 

With everyone gone something, she wasn't exactly sure what, but something inside Bonnie told her to look to the bathroom. It's door was wide open with the necklace laying on the red shaggy carpet on the floor.  As still as the air felt, Bonnie moved towards the room, "Guys," she attempted to call out.

At first none of them looked back, Maya had just reached the downstairs when the bathroom door slammed shut. Maya nearly fell out of her own skin as Bonnie began shouting, "You guys open the door! Help me!" The other two were already trying the door in the bedroom when Maya sprinted to the top of the stairs once more.

All their voices overlapped one another's. Friends shouting for the girl trapped while the one trapped begged to be let out. Her eyes falling to the other door, shut just the same, Maya still shouted, "I'm checking the hallway door!"

As soon as she reached it Maya began throwing her body into it praying it would be enough force. "Bonnie," she cried out over and over until on the final push, Maya nearly flew through the door that easily swung open. The crashing of the doorknob against the wall startled her less than the still way Bonnie stood. "Bonnie," she said her eyes looking to her friend and twin looking through the now open door.

It was as if something had wiped all fear and emotion from their friend in an instant. "What happened? Are you okay," followed Elena.

"I'm fine," she answered her voice coming out a type of stillness that felt similar to cold winter air. 

While the twins hearts became as frozen as their friend, Caroline seemed to only feel rage that bubbled over until she was scoffing, "Unbelievable. You were totally faking it."

The blonde turned only to have Elena reach out grabbing her arm to stop her, "Caroline. Come on." Before they followed Maya lingered a moment with the witch noticing how  when she looked at her friend all she saw was lacking. What stood before her looked liked Bonnie, they just didn't know who Bonnie truly was.

Glaring back at the girl still stuck unwavering and unmoving Caroline said, "No, you scared the hell out of me, Bonnie."

"Bonnie," Maya repeated her tone firm as she bent down to be eye level with her friend, "Say something."

"I'm fine," the Bennett reassured her mouth becoming a straight line meant to be smile, "Everything's fine."

Once more the Forbes girl couldn't help but scoff at the thought telling her friend, "I can't believe I fell for it." Maya opened her mouth to tell her friend differently but she couldn't find the words to even make sense of it all. 

"I must go," Bonnie suddenly said making her way around Maya. Nothing but chill lingered in her wake leaving bathroom before she started for the stairs as if nothing ever happen. 

Starring back at the most clueless pair of twins she had known that night, Caroline declared pointing at the departing girl, "She's leaving. I'm leaving."

What the hell was happening, was all Maya could think. Stefan, Damon, them being vampires made somewhat of sense. They were a predatory species that preyed on humans better than they ever could themselves -- witches and ghost were nothing Maya could see, understand, or even fight against.

The best her sister could come up with was, "You guys can't leave." Elena's mind couldn't help but fall to every horror movie ever, even in cartoons like Scooby Doo splitting up never lead to anything good. Staying together, especially with Damon lingering was better than anything else.

"I can," shrieked Caroline hands up in the air as she went on, "I've had enough freaky fake witch stuff for one night!"

From the first landing on the stairs, Bonnie spoke up stopping everything in a second, "Thank you for having me." The twins and Caroline moved to the top of the stairs to see the witch grabbing at the crystal, "I'll take it from here."

"Where are you going," Maya questioned slowly stepping down the stairs. She hadn't known how, but she couldn't let this version of Bonnie leave the house. 

Noticing how the younger Gilbert was closing in, Bonnie inched away answering, "Back to where it all began."

Almost racing after the witch Maya began shouting, "Bonnie! Bonnie!" 

From above Elena watched as the person she knew almost better than her own twin kept on walking. Without an ounce of care or regret she kept moving to a degree in which Elena had never known her to exhibit with anyone, let alone the girls she considered family. Arguing with Caroline was tearing her up just this morning -- this wasn't her. The second that thought happened, Elena's eyes lit up and she shouted, "Oh my god! Emily!"

Maya stopped only was she noticed how Bonnie, or whom she had believed was Bonnie, stopped dead in her tracks. She almost fell back from how MJ recoiled, she would have fallen if not for her hand on the banister. "I won't let him have it. It must be destroyed," she explained, before rushing to the front door walking out.

The closest of them ran down the stairs but by the time MJ reached the door, it wouldn't open. Try as she might, twisting and turning the knob did nothing to open the door. "It won't open," she groaned as they joined her.

Caroline lingered behind her, "What's happening," she asked desperately wanting a way out more than ever.

Smacking at the door Maya could only say, "I don't know. The door, it's not--" Stopping their hearts for the 30th time that night the door flew open, had her sister not pulled her back in time it would've smacked her in the face.

With three girls screeching in his face, Jeremy, wet from the rain shouted back, "What the hell!?"

"Did you see Bonnie," Maya demanded to know looking out the doorway.

Jeremy shook his head answering, "No." 

As their younger brother began going upstairs Caroline was rushing out the door, "I'm outta here."

Before Elena could even grasp anything that was happening Maya took off running upstairs. "Where are you going," the older sister shouted before she followed her back up. 

Upstairs in her bedroom Maya was tearing her blankets away from covering the black lock box under her bed. Her fingers furiously spun the lock with her code until it clicked and she was able see her recurve bow. In an instant she was using the hair tie on her wrist to throw her hair up after which she dropped her heavy jacket onto the ground.

She was fixing her bow stringer needing to locked into its nock and limb when Elena found her. "Where are you going," she asked as hushed as she could shutting the door so their brother couldn't hear.

"You heard her -- she's going back where it all started. Stefan showed us where to go without realizing it. We don't know where Stefan and if Damon finds her he is going to kill Bonnie." 

There wasn't time to argue, racing down the stairs Maya ignored her sisters voice. She had to find his keys, where had Jenna hidden their father's keys? In a hurry she tore open kitchen drawers until she came across familiar dark blue key chain. "Maya! Let me come with you," insisted her older sister.

Instantly Maya spun around to face her, "No. No you need to get ahold of Stefan and follow after me. I can't drive the four by four with my stuff and you on my back." She was moving so swiftly towards the door Maya didn't say a word before leaving. With each step made to run towards the four by four Maya pushed harder until she was pulling the tarp off it.

For the briefest of moment she thought about the one beside his dark blue four by four, hers, it was red. They were fixing it that weekend because she'd destroyed the breaks riding around with Tyler. She shook the thoughts from her head before mounting it, turning it on and riding off.

·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙

❝ mystic falls woods ❞

Even with all her time in the woods, finding where Bonnie was, was ten times harder than she ever thought. At least until in the distance she saw flames growing to half the size of the tree that surrounded her. Maya steered the four by four in that direction only to hear a echoing pop and see the flames disappear. 

The only thing telling her she was close was the sound of Bonnie's screams. When she could see er friend, she saw only her back and Damon's mouth digging into her neck.

 Her bow would be no help when it could fire through him and hit her, if she aimed for the most harm that was. If she was purposeful, and she always was, she could hit where he would release her. His shoulder was horribly exposed as he hadn't cared to stop when he heard Maya arrive.

Maya pulled the four by four to a stop getting her bow from her back and putting an arrow ready to aim. She released her bow watching as it flew into his shoulder. With no other choice Damon screeched out falling to the left where he had been shot. "BONNIE," Maya shouted running until she was at her side.

Pulling her friend up from the ground the Gilbert saw nothing but torn flesh at the crook of her neck. She looked up in time to see headlights engulfing the body's of Stefan and Elena who had come rushing over.

"She's dying," Maya cried out waving them over while Damon pulled the arrow from his body.

Closing all distance in a matter of seconds Stefan was at their side examining the wood. "She's alive, but barely. I can save her," he said filling the twins with relief as life began to abandon their friend.

They watched as he bit into his wrist allowing blood to pool into Bonnie's mouth. As the seconds went by, her flesh began stitching itself back together again.  "Her neck, it's healing," Elena said relieved. The younger of the pair could only find Stefan's gaze -- he had been such the contrast to his brother who stood covered in blood from his wounds and his meal.

"Thank you for being here," Maya told him faintly finding his hand for one absentminded moment. But Stefan was stuck noticing it, unable to look away from her gloved hand laying on top his.

·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙

When their friend could finally stand, the twins had nothing left to do but take her home. They were leading her to Elena's car as she rambled, "I don't understand, Elena, what happened to me. He attacked me, and...his face was like..."

Maya stood behind her friend unable to meet her eye while her sister asked, "How do you feel? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just this blood. I don't," stuttered the Bennett as she shook her head -- her mind had not grasping what had happened.

The breaking of branches near by made them look around to see Stefan, hands in his pockets shoulders slumped approaching. Seeing how Bonnie used Elena to shield herself almost, he assured her by taking out his hands so she could see them, "I'm not gonna hurt you."

"What's going on," she then wondered looking between the three of them.

The most responsible of them all, Elena said, "I'll explain everything. Okay? Let's just get out of here. Look at me. Trust me. He's not going to hurt you."

Stepping forward placing her hands on her friends shoulders Maya said, "Let's get you back to our house -- we will talk about everything there." As she turned the witch away from the couple Maya's gaze briefly fell upon Stefan seeing only endless regret reflecting back.

Leaving her friend inside her sister's SUV Maya wandered towards the four by four knowing she would need to drive it home. There she waited for him to come, he would come after he spoke to Elena first. A conversation that hadn't lasted long before her sister was slamming her car door shut starting her car. 

The moment she met his eyes again Maya knew, "You're going to leave, aren't you?" Stefan's silence was the clearest and loudest response she had ever been given. A scoff escaped her lips, "So you come into our lives, make yourself matter to us, bring us into this new world, and now? Now that we accept the danger, you decide it time to cut and run instead?"

Stefan only shook his head at her, "I don't have any other option -- we've brought too much destruction your way."

"My life already had that," Maya shouted at him her hands tugging at her hair almost. "I am an orphan, Stefan!" She stepped towards him holding her hands out as if to grab him before she realized she shouldn't. "Please, I don't, I can't lose another person - please don't make me lose another person."

It was Stefan who reach his right hand out to touch her face. She couldn't help but lean into him as she grabbed at his wrist. Part of her knew she should pull him away but she just couldn't. She couldn't push him away if this was the last time they would see one another. This would be her last haunting memory of him.

"I won't be the reason you're hurt, either of you," he swore it in the painful way -- truthfully. He truly meant what he said no matter how much it pained her, or himself. "I don't want to go," he said pulling his hand down while not breaking away from her hold. He didn't want to forget her either. Memories were the hardest thing to hold onto as time became years.

Maya gripped his wrist hoping if she held on long enough he wouldn't go and she'd be able to make him stay. "Then stay Stefan -- you don't want it. Elena can't want it, she can't lose someone again. Please, please I have ruined enough in my sisters life let me fix this for her. Stay for Elena please."

Stefan's lips trembled but he didn't waver. Instead he finally pulled his wrist from her. "So what is this? Goodbye? I- I just go back to living  my old life again? Pretend I never knew you? No this isn't goodbye!"

He could only insist his voice too soft to be believed, "Yes Maya. This is goodbye."

Not saying another word Stefan walked away leaving her alone and crying. "Stefan," she called out but he didn't face her. Maya could only stand and watch him go int the night leaving her behind. 

·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙

❝ gilbert house [ maya's bedroom ] ❞

Once her sister and Bonnie fell asleep Maya knew she could sneak back to her room. After everything they spoke about, all the secrets she exposed...no way either would be waking from that slumber. Maya could only find her way to her bed to sit on. 

Laying with her back against the headboard Maya could only reach for her necklace. The very one Stefan had given her as protection. She would never take off the golden and amethyst beauty. Touching her made her think of him and wonder what had become of him after leaving. Was he already on the road? Or still in the boarding house?

She hadn't know just on the outskirts of town, in that very same boarding house she thought of, Stefan lingered. His heart tearing into millions of pieces he couldn't understand. All he did know was leaving the twins felt every bit as wrong and conflicting as coming in the first place had.

He couldn't believe what a mess of their lives he had made. He foolishly only wanted to know them but instead he was no different to them than Serena and Katherine were to them. He couldn't do that to them, leaving had to be right. 

maya's outfit next chapter