Mystic Falls, VA | Friday Evening

[puppywithatutu]

Fingers drumming on the steering wheel, Caroline had to remind herself that speeding was not an option. Being late wasn't entirely unusual for her, but today of all days she had so wanted to be on time picking Jake up from work

Comments

[need_no_moon]

Which was, of course, what'd happened as he'd finished up and was waiting at the front of the garage, trying not to worry. He was getting seriously paranoid about Caroline being late, which wasn't all that unusual really, but between all the bad that kept happening to her and her friends, Jake didn't think it was so unusual for him to get worried.

He was about to grab his phone to give her a call when he noticed Caroline's car turning a corner. He grabbed his backpack and moved to the side of the curb, instantly climbing in as she stopped the car. "Hey," he said, leaning over to give her a kiss when he was still pulling the door shut. "Everything okay?"

[puppywithatutu]

"I'm so so so sorry," she told him, trying to avoid the nose crinkle at the scent of oil and car and boy filling her car. "I was with the girls and you know Bonnie's leaving tonight and Elena's still doing that whole thing where she says she's fine but I know she's not, so I feel obligated to make her forget that her boyfriend went running off with the guy who killed her family, and I swear I didn't forget you, it was more like I forgot what time it was." Or that she forgot him.

[need_no_moon]

"Breathe, babe," he rubbed his hand over her arm and leaned back in his seat. "I know things are hectic. I could have just taken my bike this morning and then you could have stayed longer."

[puppywithatutu]

"No, I wanted to pick you up," she told him, giving his hand a squeeze as she pulled back out onto the street. "It's like, my contribution to you having a job already while I..." Socialized, shopped, and slept in.