2007, Mystic Falls
It had been fifteen years since I was reborn into this world—a world I once thought was fiction. And not just any character, but a major one. Three years ago my magic had finally surfaced. I'd been so freaking excited, but reality hit fast: it would take time, patience, and endless practice before I could pull off any of canon Bonnie's badass moves.
It started small. A levitation spell here, a flicker of fire there. Nothing major, especially since I didn't have much time. Between school, hanging out with Caroline and Elena at the Grill, or visiting Grams, my schedule was packed. Every spare minute went into tending my secret garden in the woods or sneaking into the attic to study spells.
Magic was like a muscle—the more you trained, the stronger it became. I wasn't about to dabble in black magic or voodoo yet. I knew how, but if I pushed too far too soon, I could damage myself and my magic.
So my bigger ideas—like ice magic—were still on hold. I needed to master the basics first. Fire was easy; I could light candles without thinking. Air was simple too, especially for lifting objects, though weaponizing it was trickier. Inspired by Naruto, I'd managed to slice a few leaves. Earth and water, though? Still a bust.
Potions were another story. Inspired by Harry Potter, I brewed an anti-acne potion—thank you, Ron Weasley—for my teenage years. Caroline adored it, even if she had no idea what it was. I also experimented with poisons and antidotes. I didn't know when I'd need them, but better safe than sorry.
Now, I was planning something that would change the timeline. I'd thought about it for a while, and I was ready to risk it. Caroline was my best friend, and I wanted to tell her about my magic. Canon Bonnie had told Elena, not Caroline, and I always thought that was stupid.
Caroline was still Caroline—blonde, perky, obsessed with fashion and shopping. She even tried to drag me into cheerleading, despite my insistence that aikido was all the exercise I needed. But I knew her better than Elena.
Elena was… meek. That's the word. Even without knowing her supernatural importance, she acted like the world revolved around her. Docile, lacking strength of character. I didn't even know how to define our relationship.
Caroline, though, was fun. A drama queen, yes, but always lively. And I knew who she'd become: one of the most incredible vampires ever. She'd grow to love herself, her vampire self, and evolve into someone truly strong. I wanted her to know about me, about the supernatural, so she wouldn't be clueless when the timeline unfolded.
"Bonnie, what's this about?" Caroline whined as I pulled her into my room and locked the door.
"Caroline, you're my best friend," I said seriously. "I want to share a part of me with you."
"Bonnie, don't tell me you want your first lesbian experience with me," she blurted, and I burst out laughing. Classic Caroline—blunt and hilarious.
"No," I giggled. "It's way more magical than that."
"Then show me," she pouted, thinking I was laughing at her.
Taking a cue from canon, I grabbed my pillow, ripped it open, and let feathers scatter across the bed. Caroline's eyes widened, but before she could speak, I made the feathers float silently around us.
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth as she stared at the floating feathers. "Bonnie, how are you doing this?"
"Caroline," I said with a smile, "I'm a witch. A spell-casting, potion-making witch."
She stared at me like I'd grown another head before blurting, "No broom flying?"
"Not yet. But I might make one just for fun," I replied, mentally adding that to my list.
"Seriously?" Caroline pressed. "Do you have a wand? A cauldron? Maybe a Book of Shadows, like that TV show you made me watch?"
"Wand, no. Cauldron, yes. Book of Shadows—yes, though witches call them grimoires."
"Love potions? Are those real?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"Probably. But I haven't tried them," I admitted.
"You know what this means, right?" Caroline said suddenly, her tone serious.
"No?" I asked, confused.
"I'm getting you a witch costume for Halloween!" she squealed, bouncing on my bed. "We'll get you a hat, a broom… oh, Bon, you need a black cat! Every witch needs a familiar!"
I giggled as she rattled off her list of witch essentials. Honestly, I was pretty sure she was already planning an entire wardrobe makeover for me.
Oh God. What had I gotten myself into?