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Bryce chews her lip completely raw until it's bleeding from missing skin. Her iron-grip on the door handle turns her knuckles white as she tries it once more and it finally clicks open. Her heart beats so loud she can feel it in her throat as the door creeks open. She peaks her head out of the bathroom to find Caroline sleeping. Whew. Her chest unknots, barely, but enough to where she can manage to breathe again. As much as a shower sounded nice, Bryce's... episode took a lot out of her and in the circumstances she was in, currently being at the hospital, that would most likely have to wait til she got home.

Home.

The thought fills her with dread more than it should. Her childhood wrapped in a series of memories that rang blurry in her mind, hazed over by the screaming sleepless nights, constant negative thoughts of pill bottles, strands of hair that were ripped out adorning the floor, band-aid wrappers lining the trashcan, a concealer-smudged mirror in attempt to hide the purple veins and bags beneath her eyes, the cold scale by the toilet where she watched her weight drop drastically... unfortunately the haunting memories outweighed the cherished ones.

But her self-induced exhaustion, and the medicine running through her veins, won as she drags herself over to the cot lay out for her and she curls up in the hospital blanket, letting sleep take over once again... completely unaware that Caroline's lifeless body wasn't breathing in the bed next to her.

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Caroline gasps awake, shooting straight up in bed. Her eyes quickly fall upon Bryce and she feels immediately more relieved to find her sister unharmed and asleep next to her. Not wanting to bother Bryce, knowing how much she struggles to sleep at all, Caroline slips out of bed and steps out of the room. She glances around only seeing a woman behind the desk across from her room and approaches.

"Excuse me. Where is everyone?" Caroline asks as the door shuts closes her.

"It's the middle of the night, hon." The nurse tells her.

"It is?" Caroline looks at her obviously.

"Mhmm." The nurse nods.

"Oh. Uh, well, have you seen my mom?" Caroline tries next.

"She left after dinner with your boyfriend, and then your friend Elena stopped by."

"She did?" Caroline's brain turns, trying to recall everything when it dawns on her. She gasps slightly. "Yeah. She did." She shakes her head. "But she said her name was Katherine. Can I just get something to eat?"

"Breakfast comes around 7:00." The woman informs her.

"But I'm hungry." Caroline presses.

"You should go back to sleep." The nurse advises, rising from her chair.

Caroline lets out an annoyed sigh, turning to go back to her room when she stops, looking back. "What is that smell?"

"Back to bed." The nurse grabs some paperwork, paying her no mind. Caroline turns to her door, but stops once again before taking a deep breath. She starts walking across the way to an IV bag of blood.

"What are you doing in here?" The nurse snaps her out of her trance.

"I don't know." Caroline answers truthfully.

"You need to go back to bed." The nurse insists, walking her back to her room. Caroline rushes inside and the nurse shuts the door behind her, the noise not waking Bryce in the slightest as her arm drapes across the pillow.

Caroline peaks over to her before pulling the blood bag out, spinning it in her hands she stares at the crimson liquid  before brining the tube up to her lips and drinks. She immediately gags and tosses the bag down, trying to swallow she coughs quietly, afraid to wake Bryce.

"Ugh." She lets out a noise of disgust, shuddering before she glances over at the blood leaking from the bag and drops down to crouch in front of the bag before chugging it vigorously.

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Gwendolyn swirls her spoon in her tea, letting the aroma fill her nose while she waits for her pastry to cook in the microwave.

"Morning." Bonnie greets gently, entering the kitchen.

"Morning." Gwendolyn returns.

Bonnie battles with herself before ultimately asking the question. "Are you coming to school today?"

Gwendolyn chews on her lip, clinking the spoon on the rim of her cup before it clatters as she drops it into the sink. "Mmm, not today."

"Gwen." Bonnie tilts her head as the microwave beeps incessantly, indicating Gwendolyn's strawberry strudel toaster is done.

Gwendolyn avoids eye contact as she retrieves her gooey breakfast. "What?"

"You can't keep missing school." Bonnie says softly, trying her best to approach the subject carefully. It took her some time to return, but when she did, and along throwing herself into helping Caroline with the festivities, it did made her feel better. Revived. She knows Gwendolyn just needs to take that next step. And she can take it with her.

Gwendolyn waves her hand smally. "I'm not missing school. I'm doing my exchange program online." When she had to travel back to America, her exchange program was very understanding and allowed her some time off, excusing her from her load of schooling, of course. They allowed her to transition to online to continue her studies abroad if she chose not to return after Grams funeral.

Though Bonnie wants her to return to school school, beyond the screen. But she just can't. Because she knows the moment she steps foot back there... it becomes real. Holing herself up here at home, sorting through Grams' things, adjusting back to the American time zone, and transitioning to online school was enough to keep her distracted, safe, within the walls and comfort of her own home. You would think being at home would be hard on her, only serving as reminder of Grams, but Gwendolyn found it comforting rather than hard. The hard part was leaving the house. Leaving Grams behind. Bonnie staying has also helped, which she did often anyways... before— everything.

"I just miss you. Being there." Bonnie tells her. It's been a hard few months, and having Gwendolyn back at school could really turn things around.

"I know." Gwendolyn missed the Mystic Falls activities and traditions while she was away. Though she was soaking up a different culture, and enjoying every second of it, she noticed the absence of the festivities and fun of her home town. They were usually over the top, and entirely old-fashioned, but she loved it all the same. The history behind everything. The feeling of community.She could admit to the small feeling of isolation she got from being in a completely new environment, away from home.

Though she thrived on the challenge of it, it was good to be home. And that also meant beyond these four walls she's been shielding herself behind.

But was she ready to start today?

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hey, heyyy, welcome backkk!! We've officially kicked off episode 2!!

Poor Bryce finallyyy got some resttt, my girl :(

Also, ugh I can't even imagine the amount of confusion and fear Caroline must have felt in that scene ughhh </3

But alsooo I just LOVEEE writing Gwendolynnn omg!! Ugh her & Bonnie's bond is already so sweet, I love them!! And I love that Bonnie is going to have a witch in her corner!! I loved writing this scene, getting to flesh out Gwendolyn's thoughts & grief, especially since she was raised by Grams is so much harder on her!!

Anywaysss, I really enjoyed writing this chapter & I'm so glad bc I went through a writing slump a couple weeks ago & it was roughhh. So I hope y'all enjoyed this chappp!! <333

Also lemme know if you get the notification for this bc Wattpad has been FCKING UP ever since last week & not sending out updates to people so I'm curious!! Until next time, mwahhhh!!