Convergence [KLONNIE] ✓

chapter thirty-eight

Her mind could only register that maybe, just maybe, Mina was telling the truth. Maybe she was so used to people trying to hurt, that she had become immune to it. She knew that the majority of the members in the house were working towards the Esther problem, so she opted to sit outside.

Because the biggest enemy of all was in her head.

"Bonnie?" She heard an unfamiliar voice call behind her. Turning around, she locked eyes on one of the people she had only seen once in her life.

"Harley?"

The Bennett smiled and took a seat beside Bonnie. Her black sweat pants hung from her loosely as her matching hoodie covered her skin. "It's a pretty day outside, right?"

"Did Mina call you?" Bonnie asked. She couldn't fathom why. While Harley and Emery both had played an important part in the discovery of her pregnancy, they didn't know each other all that well. So why would Mina call her?

"Yeah," Harley laughed a little. "She did. She thought that I could relate to you a bit more than she could."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"Because I was you, Bonnie," Harley began, crossing her legs, and staring off into the sun. "I'll keep it short and sweet. Once upon a time, I had a group of friends that I would do anything for. I literally died once and my mum, Kelia, had to restart my heart. I won't get into all of the ugly details, but I think that it was hard for me to understand that despite being with people who treated me badly I still deserved love."

Bonnie nodded slowly, a tear slowly running down her cheek. "Did you achieve that life?"

"I have a girlfriend," She started. "Her name is Sienna." Harley smiled brightly at the thought. "I graduated at the top of my class and now I'm the youngest microbiologist in my state. So, I think I did."

Bonnie glanced over at her cousin. "That's... literally amazing. Congrats."

"Thank you," Harley nodded. "Bonnie, you can do great things. Our family is filled with powerful people. But miserable people. Because we stick our necks for everyone else but us. And eventually, it all means nothing. You are carrying the future of the Bennett clan in your tummy. Do you really want to bring a child into an environment that has defeated you?"

"I-"

"Because if you don't stand up for you, no one else will," Harley turned over, her hair pulled tight into a bun. "I am your oldest cousin, and I promise I would never tell you wrong. Your baby deserves a mother who defends herself. Bonnie, you deserve a you that isn't scared of tussles. If Jane-Ann would've killed you, she would've killed your baby."

Bonnie put her head in her hands as the tears started flowing uncontrollably. "My mom protected everyone but me. I don't want to do that to my baby. I just..." Respecting her space, Harley just sat there instead of moving to hug her as someone else would've. "I watched some of my best friends turn into monsters right in front of my eyes. They became okay with killing and lying and that's just not who I want to be. But my magic is telling me something completely different. I don't know who to listen to."

Harley paused for a second, gathering her thoughts. "It's a tricky thing, you know... being supernatural," she elaborated. "Bonnie, I'm not telling you to go Michael Myers on every single person you come in contact with. I'm just nudging you to defend yourself, okay? I'm no lawyer," Harley held her hands up in surrender. "So don't sue me, but I do believe humans have this thing called self defensive."

Doing as intended, Bonnie let out a laugh. The first smile she has had all day. "I know," She sighed, wiping the remaining tears away.

"See, look. You are so much more beautiful when you're smiling, Bonnie," Harley complimented. Pushing herself up, she stood, extending her hand. "Come on. Get up. I want you to be standing when I tell you this."