Gilbert Twins [1 - Twins Series]

9 - I Alone

Book: Gilbert Twins
Chapter 9: I Alone
Word Count: 2525

Jeremy and Ariana were jogging together.

"Seriously, I shouldn't be winning." Jeremy spoke.

"Two weeks without booze doesn't make you Iron Man. I can still vamp circles around you." Ariana laughed, speeding up a little bit to catch up with Jeremy, who sent her a playful look.

"You mean, you can cheat."

"Ha! Or I could pants you in front of the entire women's volleyball team." Ariana joked, but Jeremy shrugged.

"Doubt they'd mind."

Ariana then ran ahead before stopping, turning to face Jeremy.

"Okay. I give up. What did you do with my miserable half-drunk brother?"

"He canceled Bonnie's cell phone, cried until there was nothing left, and got all the grief out of his system." Jeremy stated. "He is ready to move on." Ariana had a strange look on her face like she wanted to say something. "What?"

"It's about Bonnie."

---

The siblings were sitting at a picnic table; Ariana had explained almost everything, and by the end, saying that Jeremy was confused would be an easy understatement.

"Damon said she found peace."

"He thought Kai had killed her." Ariana said. "But he just found out that she's alive, and he's doing everything that he can to--"

"So you're back to defending him. Wow!" Jeremy exclaimed. "And all it took was one hollow promise to bring Bonnie back."

"No. No, no, no, Jer. It's not hollow." Ariana frowned. "Liv's looking for a way to send us over there so that we can find Bonnie and bring her back."

"And if you can't?"

"Jer, this is good news."

"You're right, Ari. This is good news. Tonight, I'm gonna see Bonnie again, and everything is gonna go back to the way it was." Jeremy sarcastically scoffed. "Because I have never heard that before." He got up and left to continue jogging; Ariana sighed.

---

Ariana and Damon were walking through the cemetery in the woods.

"What does Matt want with Stefan?" Ariana wondered, crossing her arms and letting out a tired sigh.

"I don't know. It's Matt. Food, money, new social class. Whatever it is, it better distract Stefan from his sizeable screw-up with Caroline." Damon said. "Did you know about that, how she felt about him?"

"She told me a little while back, and whatever you're thinking, I want both of them to be happy. They're my two best friends, and they both deserve all of the happiness in this messed up world." Ariana muttered, just as they reached Liv. Ariana kindly smiled at her. "Hey! Thanks for doing this."

"Don't worry about it." Liv smiled back. "I needed an excuse to get out of that frat house. Way too much boy. Gross. You got everything?"

"Yep." Damon replied. "Blood from a Bennett — Lucy, to be exact — and an Ascendant from whatever the hell your last name is."

"Parker." Liv told, taking the Ascendant that Damon had offered her. "So this is the famous Ascendant?"

"Yup."

"Surprised that Jo gave it up." Liv chuckled. "It's the only thing keeping Kai locked in his prison. If he gets out, he's coming after Jo."

"Well, good old Jo... helping us out." Damon chuckled awkwardly, clearly hiding something, causing Ariana to narrow her eyes at her boyfriend in suspicion. "Can we do this, please?"