8

"So, he was completely okay with everything?" Caroline asked from the couch, still a little shocked that Tom knows.

"Well, not exactly," Elena replied, walking over with coffee, "but we are going to work through it,"

"And he knows about us?" Bonnie added, taking her coffee from Elena as she sat with them.

"To an extent, yes," She paused, taking a sip before realizing that she probably should have discussed it beforehand, "Are you guys okay with that?"

"I guess he was going to find out eventually," Bonnie shrugged, knowing that if Tom was anything like Stefan, she could trust him.

"And you still don't want your memories about the Salvatores back?" Caroline spoke up, ready to jump at the chance. Caroline and Enzo may not get along, but they agree on one thing. That Elena and Tom should have all the information before making a set decision.

"No. It would complicate things more. I'll just stick with what you guys told me."

"I'm sorry Enzo forced you to tell him." Bonnie gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Even though his method was skewed, he was right. I couldn't hide this from Tom forever," Elena started, "Just go easy on him with all the supernatural stuff. He knows about it, but I'm not sure how he would feel about seeing it,"

"He is going to see it eventually Elena," Caroline nearly laughed.

"Right, but I think we should still ease him into it," Bonnie and Caroline exchange a look. Elena holds her coffee in her lap with one hand, pointing between them with the other, "Stop that. Look, it is a lot of information that I dumped on him in one night,"

"Maybe he will think it is cool," Caroline smiled, imagining his reaction if she used her vamp speed in front of him.

"Or he will be freaked out even more. He asked for some time to take everything in. I'm trying to respect that."

"Is that why you haven't brought him around?" Bonnie sounded concerned, as if she was worried that Elena would never bring him around again.

Elena sipped her coffee, trying to give herself more time to think about that question. He hasn't said that he feels uncomfortable around her friends, but she is worried about what would happen when he sees supernatural elements. He was freaked out learning that they were all in the same room and wanted to erase his own memories. She wasn't sure how he would react to being completely immersed in her world.

"Sort of," Elena gave a half-truth, knowing that she is still confused about everything herself, and it doesn't help that she can't remember how she reacted to learning about the supernatural. Did she throw herself completely into it? Did she give herself space to understand it all? Or could someone only begin to understand it if they are constantly surrounded by it? She doesn't tell this to either of them though as she knows that it would only fuel Caroline's desire to give her back her memories. "It is also hard to get everyone's schedules to line up. I had to ask Jo if I could skip today so I could be here with you guys."

"I thought today was your normal day off?" Caroline knows Elena's schedule better than she, considering she was sneaking around with Klaus and needed to be sure that she wouldn't be caught. It only lasted for so long before Bonnie and Elena both decided to call her out on it.

"Typically, yes, but they asked us to come in for a few since we left early the day before," Bonnie gives her a look, suspecting that she was lying, but Elena caught it before she could see anything. "Bonnie, stop it. I thought we talked about you snooping through our minds without permission,"

"Well, when I suspect that something is going on with my best friend, I feel like I have to," Bonnie replies although she doesn't believe what she is saying. She knows it doesn't give her a right, but she feels as though she can't help her without it. She keeps this to herself because she knows that both of her friends would give her the speech about how magic can't solve all of their problems. "Elena, if you are serious about him, then you have to know that he can't avoid us forever. We can control ourselves, but you have to trust us,"

She stares at her coffee cup that is now nearly empty, taking a deep breath before giving Bonnie a small smile, "I want you guys to like each other, but I can't be sure that you all won't be comparing him to Stefan all the time,"

"We don't do that!" Caroline tried to defend, but both of her friends know it is a lie.

Bonnie gives Caroline a look that tells her to stop lying before turning back to Elena, "It is hard when we don't really know Tom. We are left to make assumptions about what we believe he is like. And it is easier to connect him to Stefan considering..." She drifts off, letting Elena connect the dots herself.

It is still weird for everyone involved that she is, essentially, dating her ex-boyfriend again. "I think it would be easier for everyone if we don't do another triple date for a while," Elena starts and she notices that her friends are about to argue with her, "In order to ease him into this, maybe he should start with you two. We can all hang out together before bringing other supernatural people. Deal?"

Bonnie and Caroline smile which gives Elena the information that she needs. She lifts her phone and begins texting Tom that he is invited to girl's night.