9

Elena sips from her wine glass with one hand while Tom holds her other, trying his best to only paint her fingernail. He dips the brush in the bottle before going to her next nail and she gives him a smile, thinking it is sweet that he offered to help her.

"Okay, next question," Caroline jumps at the deck of cards, ready to ask Tom another question about his life. Bonnie and Caroline have a system. Caroline asks the questions while listening to his heartbeat, and Bonnie listens to his thoughts. "This is a question for the person directed to my left, which is...oh Tom, again!" He pauses in his movements, turning his head to see that Caroline is now right beside him instead of across from him, "Have you ever spilled a secret that your significant other told you?" Tom picks up on this immediately, slowly making eye contact with Elena, silently asking her if they are not okay with him knowing. Bonnie picks up on this but doesn't make a noticeable reaction.

Elena shifts away from Tom and gives both of her friends a look. This is the twelfth question they have asked that is directed toward her boyfriend. Bonnie and Caroline rarely have to answer questions, as they always find a way to loop Tom in, but when they do, their answers are brief. "Guys..." Elena warns, setting down her wine glass next to theirs. She stares at Bonnie, trying to get her to read her thoughts.

Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie

She repeats in her mind over and over, but Bonnie doesn't budge. She keeps her mind focused on Elena's boyfriend while trying to not make it obvious. Tom notices Elena glaring at her friends, and slowly takes her hand in his, giving her a small smile, "Elena, it's okay," He then turns to her friends, "No, Elena sharing secrets with me shows trust. I wouldn't want to break that," Bonnie and Caroline look at one another and smile. Tom leans closer to Elena, whispering in her ear, "See? Everything's fine," He kisses her cheek before gently pulling her hand closer to him, continuing to paint her nails.

"Maybe someone else can answer a question now?" Elena asks her friends, making sure to eye both of them. Tom finishes up Elena's last nail, screwing the brush back onto the bottle.

"Yeah, Tom," Caroline starts, "do you have any questions for us?" She gestures between Bonnie and herself.

"Caroline!" Bonnie says, but Caroline shrugs, not seeing the problem.

"Um," Tom stares at Elena, not really knowing what to say. He has a million questions but how does he begin to ask without offending them? Would they use their powers on him if he angered them? How many powers do they have? Is Elena okay with him asking his friends questions about their superpowers?

Elena places her hand overtop his and smiles at him, nodding once to let him know that it is okay. It is only fair. They spent the last thirty minutes asking him personal questions about his family and his past relationships.

"How do vampires walk in the sun?" He asks both of them, not really sure who to talk to directly. How would he begin to distinguish between who is a vampire and who isn't? He starts to realize that it probably should've been his first question.

"Not all of us can," Caroline begins, and Tom wonders if that answers his mental question. Can vampires read minds too? Bonnie stifles a laugh, trying to focus on something other than Tom's thoughts. Now that the questions are being thrown at Bonnie and Caroline, there is no need for it. "I have a 'daylight ring' that allows me to. Bonnie made it for me with her magic," She holds her hand out for him to see.

Tom looked from Caroline's hand to Bonnie, "So, you are a witch? Like...flying on broomsticks and cursing people?"

"No," Bonnie laughed a little which caused Tom's cheeks to turn pink. Elena rubbed her hand along his back, trying her best to comfort him. "I am a witch. Just without the broomsticks and cursing," She tries her best to explain.

"Yeah, instead, she develops this green skin at night and—" Bonnie throws a pillow at Caroline, which she catches mid-air and laughs at her. Tom's eyes go wide at how fast Caroline was able to catch the pillow.

"How...how fast—I mean, you have speed? What other powers do vampires have?" He stumbles over his question, not really sure what to ask first.

Elena leans forward and grabs the wine bottle from the coffee table before handing it to Tom, "It'll probably be easier to process all of this if you are drunk," She says, and he takes a swig before placing it back.