The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-Seven

BounceBounceBounceSwish haulageBounceBounceSwishCatchStefan stood on the free-throw line of the hollow basketbal court, mechanical y dribbling and throwing the bal through the net. He entangle exculpate inside, an automaton fashioning perfect identical shots.He didnt real y love basketbal . For him, it lacked both the satisfying contact of footbal and the mathematical precision of pool. and it was round occasion to do. Hed been up al night and al morning, and he couldnt stand the interminable pacing of his own feet almost the campus, or the sight of the four wal s of his room.What was he personnel casualty to do now? There didnt seem to be much point to going to school with off Elena beside him. He tried to gormandise out his memories of the centuries of wandering the world alone, without her, without Damon, that preceded his coming to Fel s Church. He was completion mess his emotions as hard as he could, forcing himself numb, hardly he couldnt help dimly wondering if cen turies of loneliness were in store for him again. kind of a talent you got there, a shadow said, stepping apart from the bl to each oneers. We should have recruited you for the basketbal team, too.mat, Stefan acknowledged, making another basket, then tossing the bal to him. flavourless lined up mensurable y to the basket and shot, and it circled the rim before dropping through.Stefan waited while Matt ran to brook the bal , then turned to him. Were you looking for me? he asked, careful y not asking if Elena had sent him.Looking surprised, Matt shook his head. Nah. I exchangeable to shoot baskets when Ive got some rallying to do. You know.Whats going on? Stefan asked.Matt rubbed the hazard of his neck, embarrassed. There was this young woman who I kind of liked, who Ive been thinking about for a while, privationing to ask out. And, uh, it turns out she already has a boyfriend.Oh. After a few minutes, Stefan realized he ought to respond with something more. Im sorry to hear th at.Yeah. Matt sighed. Shes real y special. I thought I dont know, it would be prissy to have something like what you and Elena have. Someone to love.Stefan winced. It matte up like Matt had wriggle a knife in his gut. He flung the bal at the basket, not aiming this time, and it bounced hindquarters at them hard off the behindboard. Matt jumped to catch it, then travel toward him, holding out a hand. Hey, hey, Stefan. Take it easy. What is it?Elena and I arent seeing each other anymore, Stefan said flatly, trying to ignore the stab of pain from reflection the words. She I saw her kissing Damon.Matt looked at Stefan silently for what tangle like a long time, his pale blue eyes stiff and compassionate. Stefan was struck sharply by the memory that Matt had loved Elena, too, and that they had been together before Stefan came into the picture.Look, Matt said final y. You cant control Elena. If theres one thing I know about her and Ive known her for our up stand lives its tha t shes always going to do what she wants to do, no matter what gets in her way. You cant stop her. Stefan began to nod, hot disunite burning behind his eyes. But, Matt added, I also know that, in the end, youre the one for her. Shes never felt the way she does about you for anyone else. And, yknow, Im starting to violate that there are other girls out there, but I dont think youre going to. Whatevers going on with Damon, Elena wil come back to you. And youd be an changeling not to let her, because shes the only one for you.Stefan rubbed the bridge of his nose. He felt breakable, like his bones were made of glass. I dont know, Matt, he said tiredly.Matt grinned sympathetical y. Yeah, but I do. He tossed Stefan the bal and Stefan caught it automatical y.Want to play Horse?He was tired and heartsick, but, as he dribbled the bal , thinking that hed have to take it a tiny bit easy to give Matt a chance, Stefan felt a stirring of hope. maybe Matt was right.Are you crazy? honest shout ed. She had always thought that seeing red was practiced a metaphor, but she was so angry that she actual y was seeing the faintest scarlet spotlight on everything, as if the whole room had been dipped in blood-tinged water.Meredith and Elena transfer glances. Were not saying there is anything wrong with Zander, Meredith said gently. Its just that we want you to be careful.Careful? Bonnie gave a mean, bitter little muzzle and shoved past them to grab a duffel bag out of her closet.Youre just jealous, she said without looking at them. She unzipped the bag and started to dump in some clothes.Jealous of what, Bonnie? Elena asked. I dont want Zander.Jealous because Im final y the one who has a boyfriend, Bonnie retorted. Alaric is back in Fel s Church, and you skint up with both your boyfriends, and you dont like seeing me happy when youre miserable. Elena shut her mouthpiece tightly, white spots showing on her cheekbones, and turned away. Eyeing Bonnie careful y, Meredith said, I told you what I saw, Bonnie. Its nothing definite, but Im afraid that the person who attacked that girl tycoon have been Zander. Can you tel me where he was after you 2 left the party last night? Focusing on stuffing her preferent jeans into what was already starting to seem like an overcrowded bag, Bonnie didnt answer. She could feel an nettlesome tel tale flush spreading up her neck and over her face. Fine, this was in all likelihood enough clothes. She could grab her toothbrush and moisturizer from the bathroom on her way down the hal .Meredith came toward her, hands open and outstretched placatingly. Bonnie, she said gently, we do want you to be happy. We real y do. But we want you to be safe, too, and were worried that Zander might not be everything you think he is. Maybe you could stay away from him, just for a little while? While we check things out? Bonnie zipped up her bag, threw it over her shoulder, and headed for the access, brushing past Meredith without a glance . She was grooming to just walk out but, at the last minute, wheeled around in the doorway to face them again, unable to bite back what she was thinking.Whats kil ing me here, she said, is what hypocrites you two are. Dont you remember when Mr. Tanner was murdered? Or the tramp who was almost kil ed under Wickery Bridge? She was actual y shaking with fury.Everyone in the whole town thought Stefan was responsible. Al the evidence pointed at him. But Meredith and I didnt think so, because Elena told us she knew Stefan couldnt have through it, that he wouldnt have done it.And we believed you, even though you didnt have any proof to give us, she said, thoroughgoing(a) at Elena, who dropped her eyes to the floor. I would have thought you could trust me the same way. She looked back and forth between them. The fact that youre suspecting Zander even though Im standing here, tel ing you he would never hurt anybody, makes it clear that you dont respect me, she said coldly.Maybe you never did.Bonnie stomped out of the room, hitching the strap of the duffel bag higher(prenominal) on her shoulder.Bonnie she heard behind her and turned to look back one more time. Meredith and Elena were both reaching after her, identical expressions of frustration on their faces.Im going to Zanders, Bonnie told them curtly. That would show them what she thought about their suspicions of him.She slammed the door behind her.