"I'm not saying don't date the guy. I'm just saying take it slow."

Mari raised a brow at Bonnie's comment, she had been waiting for Elena and Bonnie to get to school. 

What had happened to make Bonnie's opinion of Stefan change so fast?

"You were the one who said to go for it." Mari reminded the girl.

"Now I'm saying take it slow." Bonnie reiterated.

"Why the about-face?" Elena asked curiously.

"It's not an about-face." Bonnie denied. "You're single for the first time in your entire high school career. It's the perfect time to play the field."

"Oh, because I'm so that girl. Seriously, what are you not saying?"

"It's stupid." Bonnie trailed off.

"Bonnie..."

"What?"

"Spit it out."

Bonnie sighed, biting her lip nervously, "I accidentally touched Stefan...  and I got a really bad feeling."

"Is that it? Bonnie." Elena semi-scolded. 

"It was bad bad!"

"Is this the whole witch mojo thing again?"

"You know what?" Bonnie snapped. "I'm just concerned. This is me expressing concern about my best friend's new boyfriend."

"And I love you for it, I do." Elena soothed. "But I feel good. It's been a hard year, and I'm starting to kind of feel like things are getting back to normal again. And you know what? Stefan is a big part of that."

Speak of the Devil, he shall appear, "Good morning, Elena. Good morning, Bonnie, Mari."

"Hey, um, I gotta find Caroline. She's not answering her phone..." Bonnie started, looking around awkwardly. "So I'll see you guys later."

"Bonnie, wait..."

But Bonnie was gone, having shot off before Mari even got the chance to follow her, what's got her so freaked out? Mari made a mental note to ask Bonnie in private later.

"She doesn't like me very much." Stefan pointed out.

Elena jumped to Bonnie's defence quickly, "She doesn't know you. She's my best friend. She's just looking out for me. But when she does, she will love you."

Mari caught sight of Matt and Tyler throwing a football around, "I'll see you later, Elena, okay?"

"Look...there's Elena and her new boyfriend. Now, what are they doing?" Tyler teased Matt. "Oh, they're walking, walking, walking... Yep, right into the sunset."

"You're a dick, Tyler." Mari cut into their conversation, she hadn't forgiven him for the whole Vicki thing but it did feel weird to not talk to her brother everyday.

Tyler snorted indignantly, "Not my fault Matt's just standing there looking like one of those little yard trolls."

"Gnomes." Matt retorted, unamused, before sighing. "Hey, what am I supposed to do, Ty? She made her choice."

"Let her know she made the wrong one."

Mari didn't even have a chance to react before Tyler was hurtling the football at Stefan's back.

"What are you doing? Ty, don't. Ty, don't! Ty!" Matt scolded.

Mari gasped, realising the football was likely to knock an unsuspecting Stefan right into Elena, "Tyler! What are you doing?"

Just as she was about to call Elena's name, Mari saw Stefan whip round just in time to catch the football. 

Stefan then took aim and threw the ball so perfectly that it knocked Tyler back a few steps. 

The three of them all looked at Stefan in astonishment, before Tyler began scowling and glared at the new kid harshly. 

"Serves you right for being an ass!" Mari laughed, giving Matt a quick side-hug before leaving for class.