𝟐𝟓

a/n: charlotte's outfit is above!

☆═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 ━═☆

There are two types of people in the world: those who prefer to be sad among others, and those who prefer to be sad alone. Charlotte preferred the latter, she didn't remotely like being alone but she despised making people sad about something they can't change. She felt guilty when someone felt bad for her. As if they didn't have their own problems to be sad about.

There had only ever been two exceptions to that rule of hers; Stefan Salvatore and he didn't treat that title, as an exception, very well and Paulina Gilbert, whom Charlotte knew was dead by now and sometimes found herself crying at night, just missing her friend and having nothing to do about that.

Of course, helping Caroline adjust to her new life, trying to solve the Lockwood family's dilemma, and trying to help her nieces cope with the loss of a great grandmother was distracting but how could she ever find the shoulder to cry on when everyone considers her just that?

Charlotte shook her head, marking a wrong at Elena's answer, "Nope to that, too. It's a cubic root not square...just doing the whole equation this way will have you lose a lot of marks."

Elena picked up one a fry from the plate of fries she was sharing with Charlotte and leaned back in her chair, "I am not getting this. I can't concentrate. How did you even understand all of this stuff?"

"My family was in charge of building homes back in 1861. They had to know the exact amount of things they will use, surface areas, measurements, all of that," Charlotte explained, opening her notebook to look over the equation again, "Of course, Mathematics had evolved from there but I am catching up good."

"Mhm," Elena hummed, nodding but before she could say anything else, Damon suddenly appeared, sitting on a chair beside them. Elena was momentarily startled as Charlotte mentally did a happy dance in her head for she didn't get as shaken up as last time.

"What do you want?"

"So, this is where you spend your time when you're not stabbing people in the back," Damon trailed off, going to pick up one of Charlotte's highlighters before she swatted his hand away, "Ouch, I thought we were friends."

"We are not," Charlotte retorted, shaking her head at him, "You forced me to forgive you, it's not exactly a friendly act."

"But studying Algebra is? Do you at least know what your partner in crime did?"

The Bernard vampire pursed her lips in a straight line, nodding, "Yeah and I am very proud of her. She used your tactics against you, it's about time someone did it."

"Let's go, Elena? I will explain the rest of it at yours, okay?" Charlotte closed her notebook and placed it back in her backpack along with her textbook as Elena nodded, packing her pencil case before rising to her feet.

"Where are you going?" Damon asked as the two brunettes turned on their heels and away from him.

"I made myself clear, Damon," The Gilbert answered shortly, "I want nothing to do with you."

"Okay," He shrugged his shoulders, nonchalantly, "See you at Jenna's barbecue."

"You said he won't be there," Charlotte directed to Elena, furrowing her eyebrows.

On cue with Elena turning to Damon, voicing her surprise, "How did you know about Jenna's barbecue?"

"It was my idea," He gladly took credit, "Jenna went to high school with Mason Lockwood so I figured a social gathering would be a good way to get to know the guy," Damon shrugged, trailing off, "So I told Ric to tell Jenna and..."

Elena raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms, "Does Jenna know that you're going to be there because she's not exactly a fan of yours."

Before he could answer, a woman arrived and gave him a small pack and a box with pie in it, "Perfect, thank you," He smiled before turning back to Elena, "I'm hoping this peach cobbler will pave the way."

Charlotte rolled her eyes when he offered her the pack that presumably had a cheeseburger with extra fries, it didn't need the genius to know so, "This won't pave your way with me."

"You are right but it's a good start," He retorted but she kept her stern stare as he moved it her way, "C'mon, I know you want it."

"For your information, I will take it because I am hungry and that's all," She snatched the pack from his hands and stuffed it in her backpack before Elena turned to her with a betrayed look, "Cheeseburgers have nothing to do with not liking him...and I am hungry."

"I could have gotten you one," She claimed before shaking her head and turning back to Damon, "What are you up to?"

Damon smirked, tilting his head, probably proud of his thinking, "I'm gonna put some silver into Mason Lockwood and prove he is a werewolf," He wriggled his eyebrows before making his way to the exit, "See you at the barbecue."

✵ ✵ ✵

"I am Charlotte Bernard, but everyone calls me Cher," Charlotte extended her hand, greeting Jenna, Elena's aunt, "And I am so happy to have finally met you."

"Oh, you are the nerd who tutors Elena?"

She chuckled as Elena turned to her aunt, her eyes widened, "You could say that. Just trying to help."

"Well, I am thankful for it, Cher," Jenna shook her hand, smiling in advance, "Any relation Cora Bernard? It's Coralie but Cora is what we call her these days. I heard she is in Australia now?"

"Canada," Charlotte lowered her voice, correcting, "But distant relations."

"Mhm...well, she has never been so sentimental about family; Miranda, Elena's mother, and she used to go to high school together," Jenna shared, leaning against the kitchen, "Sometimes, she would sleepover. She is a real pain in the ass."

The brunette vampire smiled at the expression, shrugging, "Well, I never really met her but according to Serena...She doesn't sound very nice."

"Honestly, even though she is about to be forty years old...I think Serena is much responsible than Cora could ever be," The strawberry blonde crossed her arms, stating, "She would be doing her kids a favor if she stayed in Canada rather then getting here, being a mom for a few days then leaving again."

"I don't know," Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, sending Elena a stressed sign before the brunette smiled, turning to her aunt.

"We are gonna go keep Caroline and the others some company, yeah?"

Jenna nodded before Elena dragged herself and Charlotte out of the door and to Caroline, Cassie, and Serena who were sitting out on the porch. Cassie was playing with a Ginger on the floor, she had brought him over in his box, even though Serena claimed it won't hurt if he stayed home for a few hours until they were back but it was obvious how Cassie had gotten attached to him.

"Hey, just checking in," Elena left a message when Stefan didn't answer the phone, "Did you get my message about Jenna's barbecue? Call me when you can."

Just as Elena hang up, Charlotte sat down on the porch swing with Caroline, taking some chips from her bowl as the blonde spoke up, "Is that Stefan?"

"Yeah, he hasn't called me back," She sighed, leaning her back against the wall, "I'm trying to decide if I should be worried."

"I'm sure he's fine," Caroline said, munching on chips, "God! I cannot stop eating. Stefan says it's a great way to sublimate the cravings," She sighed, lowering her voice so Cassie wouldn't hear her, "It's horrible just fighting the urge for blood every minute of every day."

"But pretty cool that you can kick anyone's ass now," Serena spoke up, adding

Elena crossed her arms, "I know that. Stefan really hates that part of himself."

"Yeah and he hates that you're a constant temptation," Caroline added, putting another bunch of chips in her mouth as Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows, turning to Caroline. She knows Stefan said something like that but it shouldn't be worded like that or brought up in a conversation.

"He said that?"

"The desire to rip out your jugular every time he's with you?" The blonde repeated, asking as Charlotte and Serena exchanged a look before glancing at Caroline, "Trust me, it's there. It's why I had to break up with Matt."

Before Elena or either Bernards could retort, Alaric came in, calling, "Hey! Food's ready, come get it."

"Yay! Come on, Ginger!" Cassie grinned, picking the small ginger-haired cat in her arms before running inside.

Caroline rose to her feet before walking inside, "Finally, I'm starving."

✵ ✵ ✵

After eating, Damon suggested the played Pictionary and so that was what they were doing now as Ginger slept on Serena's lap. The Salvatore was drawing a wolf with a tutu as the rest failed to suggest what that was.

"Dress! Ballerina!" Jenna guessed aloud, jumping from her place as Ginger yawned, turning back to sleep but her answer wasn't correct after that, as well.

"Puppy!" Caroline claimed.

Cassie jumped up, following Caroline's guess, "Puppy with a tutu?!"

"No, no."

"A dog! Hound-dog!" Jenna called out once again before Ginger jumped up from Serena's lap, the brunette chuckling as he curled up underneath the couch.

"Dances with Wolves," Mason answered correctly like he had it figured all along.

Damon nodded, stating, "Mason wins...again."

Jenna scoffed, asking, "How is that a wolf?"

"It's a dog or Damon can't draw," Cassie said, agreeing with Jenna.

In the meantime, Elena and Charlotte were in the kitchen as Elena pulled the pie from the box, the brunette vampire was munching on the fries Damon got her with the cheeseburger before he rejoined them in the kitchen.

"Aunt Jenna is getting tipsy," Damon commented, in a sing-song tone.

Elena asked, rolling her eyes, "Will you stop plying her with alcohol?"

"I want her to like me."

"How is operation Lockwood; fiction or real going?" Charlotte spoke up, asking as she dipped one of her fries in ketchup.

"He's my new BFF," He claimed smugly.

Jenna walked in, finding Damon, "There you are. Isn't this fun?"

"Yes, thank you so much for inviting me," Damon smiled, thanking her and attempting to be polite.

She rolled her eyes, "Did I have a choice?"

"I know what you must think about me—"

She interjected, crossing her arms, "No, you don't," Jenna corrected him, "You've never dated you; I have dated many you's."

He shrugged his shoulders, ever so innocently, "I'm a work in progress."

"Hey, Jenna? Have you got ketchup here? I finished the Grill's pack," Charlotte spoke up, using a tissue to wipe off the ketchup from the tips of her mouth.

"Sure thing," Jenna answered, opening the fridge, she pulled out a plastic bottle full of ketchup before throwing it to Charlotte, who surprisingly enough, caught it effortlessly, "Nice catch."

Charlotte smiled, nodding as Elena handed her aunt a cake knife from a set and Damon's eyes spotted it, "These are fancy."

"Thanks," She smiled, revealing, "My mother's silver set," Jenna made it out of the kitchen to distribute the pie. Charlotte and Elena glanced at Damon as he leaned over, picking one of the knives from the set.

✵ ✵ ✵

A while later, Caroline, Elena, Serena, and Charlotte were sitting in the living room as Elena spoke up, asking, "Would I be the worst friend in the world if I abandoned you and went to Stefan's?"

She received three different answers to that question, from Serena, Charlotte, and Caroline, respectively.

"Yes."

"No."

"You want to leave?"

Elena sighed, scratching the back of her head, "It's just that he hasn't gotten back to me and I'm starting to get this bad feeling."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Elena," Caroline shook her head, hesitantly.

"Why not?" Charlotte shrugged, asking, "Damon's got it under control here."

Caroline rolled her eyes, advising, "Take it from me, there's nothing worse than a clingy girlfriend."

"She is not clingy," Serena spoke up, looking from Caroline to Elena, "Girl is concerned, hit him up at home. Do whatever you like, Cassie and Ginger should go back home already, he is cleaning his nails in your aunt's favorite carpet, wait— Ginger!"

Serena rose to her feet, running to get her ginger-haired cat off the carpet as Charlotte contained her laugh when he hid under the couch, "How about I drive you?" Caroline offered, turning to Elena.

"Yeah, okay, that'll be great, thanks."

"Alright, I will go home with Rena and Cassie, have a shower and get to Stefan's, as well, I need a change of clothes," Charlotte stated, rising to her feet as panic swirled in Caroline's blue eyes, she thought that the Bernard could arrive before them and if she does, then she would ruin Katherine's plan.

"No! Come with us!"

Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows, tightening the cardigan around her small frame as she turned to Caroline, the blonde rephrased, "I mean...you could just shower there plus you don't drive so...Serena could just do that."

"It's okay, guys. I will just follow you there, later," She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"No, Charlotte, you have to come with us."

Charlotte noted how desperate Caroline was getting before she raised an eyebrow, slumping her shoulders back, "Okay...?"

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte was sitting in the backseat of Caroline's car as the blonde vampire drove her and Elena to the Salvatore Boarding House, the Gilbert thanked, "Thanks for this, I appreciate it."

"Here we come, to the rescue," Caroline pursed her lips in a straight line.

"Okay, what is wrong with you?" Charlotte spoke up that once, "You are being weird and exceptionally very snippy...what is going on?"

"That's my own drama," The blonde vampire sighed, rolling her eyes, "I'm sure that Stefan and Elena will beat the odds," She chuckled dryly, continuing, "Not that there is any study to pull odds from," She mockingly paused to ask, "What is the ratio of success for vampire-human couplings? I'm guessing nil."

"Okay Caroline," Elena replied, nodding.

"Sorry."

Charlotte stretched her hand forward, turning on the radio as Elena commented, "I love this song."

Caroline, curiously, pushed a button on her steering wheel, asking, "What's playing?"

Radio voiceover stated, "Playing We Radiate by Goldfrapp."

"Ta-da!" She smiled, showing her jazz hands before the car tire burst, "Oh crap."

✵ ✵ ✵

It was already nighttime and the three girls were still waiting for the tow truck, "Are you sure the tow's coming? We've been waiting forever."

"I know, it's weird," Caroline sighed, nodding, "They said they'd be here by now."

"We can just call someone, like Serena or Jenna," Charlotte suggested, shrugging her shoulders.

Elena nodded, pulling out her phone, "Yeah. I'm just gonna call Jenna."

Caroline shook her head quickly, "No!" She sighed, desperately, "Just let me try the tow people again. And I'll use my agro voice."

"You know we could just walk from here...or run since we have supernatural speed," Charlotte reminded Caroline, crossing her arms, "This is a colossal waste of time."

"I can't just leave my car," The blonde vampire shook her head.

"We'll come back for it," Elena replied simply.

"Just give me a minute, Elena."

The brunette human rolled her eyes, inquiring, "Caroline, what part of I'm worried about Stefan didn't sink in?"

"What's the rush?" She asked curtly, "Why are you hurrying to get to a relationship that will never work?"

"Caroline, we understand, okay?" Charlotte turned to her friend, crossing her arms, "You are upset over Matt but this isn't an excuse to keep stating how your best friend's relationship can't work because yours didn't."

Caroline scoffed, continuing, "She's human, he's a vampire. She is gonna be 70 and in diapers and he's still gonna be smoking hot and she will never have his children!" She turned to Elena, "Elena, you are too maternal to not have children!"

"Where is this coming from?"

Caroline sighed, "I'm just trying to be your friend."

"Okay, well, do me a favor and stop trying," Elena finished sternly before looking ahead of her to find the tow approaching, "There's the tow, I'm gonna walk. Char, you coming?"

"Yeah," She nodded, joining Elena but as they went to leave, Caroline clutched Elena's hand, "Caroline, stop. Please just..."

"Caroline, you're hurting me," Elena attempted to pull away, looking at her friend directly.

"Don't leave me alone."

Charlotte asked, concern seeping through her eyes, "What's wrong with you?"

"Hey there, someone called about a flat tire?" The tow driver asked as Caroline let go of Elena's arm.

Elena turned to Caroline before answering him, "She did."

Charlotte shook her head, turning to walk the other way as Caroline called after, "Please just leave me alone..."

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte found herself in the cemetery at the end of the day, she was sat on her knees in front of Paulina Lavender Gilbert's headstone, "I miss you," She sighed.

"I thought I could do this without you but I can't," She started, crossing her legs, as she traced the petals of the flowers she brought, with her fingers, "I don't know how to move on and I don't want to."

"I can't go on without you there to tell me that it's okay, to help me keep going...," Charlotte trailed off, sniffling back her tears, "And I can't replace you because none of them are you. Elena hears me, I know she does and she tries to be a good friend but she is not you, and every time I look at her...I just see the girl who ruined my life and I am supposed to remind myself that it isn't her."

Charlotte shook her head, rubbing her tears with her knuckles, "But then I get over that and remember how much I help her and Stefan and how I defended her relationship today and I hate how I just never put my feelings first."

"I want her to be happy because she deserves it and she is the closest thing I have to you," She held back a sob, "But I can't see them together and pretend that I am not falling apart anymore. I love him, okay and he doesn't love me anymore and I don't know how to accept that."

"I just...," She sighed, placing a hand on her chest as she attempted to calm herself, "I just wish you were here to tell me what to do. You always knew the right thing and I need you here with me..."

Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut, involuntarily tears rolling down her cheeks before a voice came behind her, "Well, that was sad and pathetic."

She blinked back her tears, recognizing the voice almost immediately. Charlotte rose to her feet, turning around, "Katherine."

"Charlotte, fancy meeting you here," She crossed her arms, her eyes falling on the name on the headstone, "Ah, such a poor thing. The world needed more of her, hmm?"

"What do you want?" Charlotte questioned, dusting off her trousers as Katherine approached her.

Katherine smirked, shrugging nonchalantly, "It's you that wants something. Someone has been asking all the right questions, lately."

"Don't you want to know the answers?"

Charlotte turned to her, shaking her head, "I know you, you want something in return and I am patient enough to wait for my answers to reveal themselves."

"Even if those answers are presumably dead?" She asked teasingly and Charlotte didn't make a move to answer or decline, letting her continue, "Your answer could be summed up into one angry person...Lots of family issues, about yea' high, vengeful, one bad mouth..."

"What are you saying...?"

"I think you know what I am saying."

✵ ✵ ✵