Later that night, after Career Night, Caroline came home unconscious in Stefan's arms. I asked what had happened, but Stefan gave me only a vague answer.
Later after stefan went away, I climbed into Caroline's bed.
"Aaron: Hey, Care. Feeling okay now?"
"Caroline: I don't know."
"Aaron: So what happened?"
"Caroline: Can we not talk about my injury right now? I want to talk about something else."
"Aaron: Well, I do have something to talk to you about. But this isn't the right time."
"Caroline: Oh, come on. Fess up."
"Aaron: So… are you sure about Matt?"
"Caroline: Why are you asking that?"
"Aaron: I saw Matt talking to Elena today, and he didn't— I mean, I don't know how to say this to you—"
"Caroline: He didn't what? Tell me."
"Aaron: He didn't look like a teenager trying to hide his crush. Elena asked him if something was going on between you two, and he assured her there was nothing. And he really emphasized the 'nothing.'"
Caroline stared up at the ceiling.
"Caroline: Well, it's not the first time that The guys I like never like me back."
I gently pulled her up.
"Aaron: You remember, ever since I was little, if I said I felt something was going to happen, it usually did."
"Caroline: Yeah. Your intuition is crazily accurate."
I closed my eyes and held Caroline's hand.
"Aaron: I can tell there's a man out there who will love you like crazy. He'll be handsome, rich—the ultimate dream guy."
Caroline burst out laughing. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at my face.
"Caroline: Oh, come on. Don't start acting like Bonnie."
We laughed for a while, and then Caroline said with a soft smile, "I should stop seeing Matt. I've realized I can't let boys walk all over me."
I lowered my voice and mocked her. "Yeah, like Damon."
Caroline burst out laughing again.
.
.
A few days passed. Jeremy had become obsessed with vampire stories—though they weren't real. Some girl named Anna kept feeding him tales about vampires, and he was growing disturbingly obsessed.
At school
Caroline, Elena, and I were walking down the hallway when Elena handed us bracelets.
I held mine with confusion.
"Aaron: What's this?"
"Elena: A gift. For you guys."
"Caroline: It's so pretty! Thank you. God, it'll go with everything. So what's the occasion?"
"Elena: Like I told Aaron—no occasion. Just a little friendship gift."
"Caroline: Why are you being so mushy?"
"Elena: Because you've been avoiding me. And I wanted you to know that whatever's going on with you and Matt—it's okay."
"Caroline: I was going to talk to you about that. I was. But there's just not much to say. We hung out a couple of times, but our feelings aren't mutual. And I've decided I'm too hot for some dude to give me mixed signals."
"Elena: Well, your happiness matters most."
.
Then the Mystic Falls dance arrived. But the fog in my mind hadn't lifted. I still felt like I was forgetting something—something important.
"Caroline: I've decided what you're wearing tonight."
"Aaron: Can I not go? Please?"
"Caroline: Why?"
"Aaron: If you cut me some slack, I'll hide the fact that you took Dad's credit card and, instead of using it for a school project,you spent it on shopping."
"Caroline: Aaron Forbes, are you threatening me?"
"Aaron: Please. I'm begging you. I really don't want to go."
"Caroline: Fine. But is everything okay?"
"Aaron: Yeah. Just feeling a bit lazy."
Caroline gave me a suspicious smile and left.
After she was gone, I let out a breath. That was easy. Caroline never lets me miss a party.
I lay on my bed, trying to remember that night. As I searched my memory, I saw flashes—Damon and me fighting. But I couldn't figure out why we had fought in the first place. Then another memory surfaced: Damon Salvatore standing in my room at night.
But why was he there?
Why can't I remember?
As I tried to push deeper, my head began to ache. That's when my phone rang.it was Dad.
I picked it up.
"Dad: Hey, honey. Are you at the dance? Are you and your sister having fun?"
"Aaron: Well, you'll have to call Caroline for that. I got lazy and didn't want to go."
"Dad: Ha. So Caroline finally cut you some slack."
"Aaron: Not exactly. I kind of blackmailed her—but never mind that. Hey, Dad, I've been thinking. Or… it's more like I forgot an event. Something I can't remember, no matter how hard I try."
"Dad: It's okay, son. At my age, even I can't remember where I put my phone."
"Aaron: It's not about little things. It's about a whole event. Something missing from my memory."
Then there was nothing but pitch silence. Did dad hung up?
"Aaron: Hello? Dad? Father? Birthgiver?"
"Dad: Oh—sorry. I got lost in my thoughts. Since you and Caroline are coming to stay with me for two weeks, we'll talk about it then. And if anything happens, call me. Or call your mom."
Then he hung up.
"Weird," I murmured.
Dad had never acted like that before. But like he said, we'd be at his house the day after tomorrow.
I can't help but wonder what he has to tell me.