I. The past comes back to bite you in the ass

She had not seen Caroline for a few weeks now. Her residency in Emergency Medicine was about to finish, so of course she hadn't had much of a social life. Luckily, for her she had a few days off so she could finally see her best friend.

She walked through the beautiful streets of Mystic Falls. It was a nice day, spring was coming soon so they had a break from the snowstorms and the rain and she felt like it was such a gift that her one day off she could have some sunlight to bathe on.

She got to the restaurant where they were getting breakfast, expecting to have to wait, since she was a few minutes early, but there was already a blonde sitting at their favorite table. Her best friend smiled widely at the sight of her, radiant. Oh, she just hoped Caroline wasn't pregnant.

-Hi Bonnie!- said the blonde gleefully while wrapping her arms around her

-Hey Care, you seem chipper than usual, how you been?-she said with a huge smile, she really had missed her.

-Great! Have a sit because you are gonna need it-she smiled like a Cheshire cat but turned around to call the waiter.

That made her a bit nervous, secrecy didn't sit well with her, but then again Caroline was known for being a dramaqueen, so of course she was having a blast with being a little extra.

They ordered the same as usual, pancakes for Bonnie and French toast for Caroline. Plus two green teas to not feel too guilty about it.

-Spill it Care, you're making me nervous.

-Come on Bonnie, let me have my fun

-I love it when you have your fun, but just not at my expense

-Ugh, Med-school has made you a party pooper- she sighed dramatically and took her right hand from under the table very carefully, brushing off some loose hairs in her face, taking her sweet time doing so. She didn't have to, thought, as soon as Bonnie saw her hand she saw the big rock resting on top of her ring finger.

-OH MY GOD CAROLINE! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER?! –screamed Bonnie excitedly and stood up to hug her friend who was also screaming- BREAKFAST IS ON ME! OH MY GOD OH MY GOD! We may need some champagne

-It's ten in the morning-replied Caroline with a laugh

-Mimosas then?

They laughed while holding each other tight. These were big news, amazing news, news she had been expecting for a long time to be honest.

-Ugh, I'm sorry I didn't' tell you sooner, I didn't want you to be too distracted from becoming the best doctor in Mystic Falls' history- that made Bonnie roll her eyes for sure- Plus it just happened a few days ago. Only our families know.

-Oh…so how was it?- asked Bonnie looking at the ring. Caroline knew instantly why she changed the subject. Her groom's brother.

-Well… it was amazing- Caroline went on but she stopped listening, it's not like she wasn't going to repeat this story a thousand more times. Bonnie used this time to remember herself that what happened between them had happened ages ago. She should've let it go by now. She thought she had actually, but somehow the mention of him knowing first still stung a bit. Maybe it was just her being competitive.

-Well of course it was amazing!- she said when she realized that Caroline had finished- and of course you said yes, how did your family react?- this put a smile on Caroline's face, she wasn't sure how the brunette was going to react with the other news she had for her, but she seemed to be handling this well enough.

-They were thrilled and joking about how he didn't do it sooner

-I was actually thinking about the same thing. You guys have been together forever and it's not like you are not crazy in love, because you are- Caroline smiles even brighter, she was just incredibly happy and that made Bonnie so happy too. And honestly it made her feel a little bit guilty about focusing on her own little drama instead of her best friend's happiness. This wasn't about her and her story, this was about her two best friends getting married.

-Yeah, as soon as I said yes I asked him what took him so long, he laughed and said that he just wanted us to have stable jobs before jumping into the new adventure

-That is just so damn sweet

That made her reminisce about their adolescence. They started calling everything an adventure. Wherever they went together was always an adventure to them.

-I know right!- Caroline laughed, purely because of happiness she presumed, while the waiter brought their stuff to the table.

-Thanks- said Bonnie to their waiter and he smiled and turned around- Oh, I'm just dying to eat these, I have missed them too much.

-It'll be worth it Bonnie, once you graduate it'll feel like it was nothing.

-I know, I'm just so happy I took the chance and started the Emergency Medicine residency right off the bat.

-Of course you did, you are so incredibly smart and brave, you had to.

Bonnie looked at her best friend while chewing her pancake. Something wasn't right.

-Ok, too much sucking up to me, what's going on?

-Oh, come on Bonnie I just wanted to cheer you up- she was avoiding her gaze, so most definitely there was something up.

-No, I know you, one comment I get it- she tried to make her look at her eyes but the blonde didn't budge- but two in a row?

-Ok… I was hoping you would eat a little bit more and get on a better mood before I asked you about this.

-I am in a great mood, I don't know what you're talking about- she kept on eating, she knew she wasn't going to like what Care had to say.

-Ok. I know this is a big thing to ask, but you know how I always said that my wedding was going to be epic? –she nodded- and I said it was gonna have a big dance sequence, with the most epic, romantic songs in it?

Oh no, she could feel the fear creeping in. This could only mean one thing and she was not ready for it.

-Care, use your next words wisely

- I know it is too much and I also know that you've already guessed it, because of how big your eyes are right now, so I'll just say it: Will you be my maid of honor and in doing so dance with Damon, the best man, at the wedding?

-Oh my God.

They were in silence for a few minutes. She didn't know what to say, I mean of course, Caroline had told every single soul on earth that when she got married it was going to be epic. With at least 200 guests, dance choreographies, open bar, a ceremony in the forest and just about anything her heart desired. No wonder Stephan had taken so long to ask her, he had to prepare mentally and financially for such a party. He wasn't going to let Caroline's mom to have to pay alone for such a thing.

So, she had to remember what she had said to herself before, this wasn't about her. This was about her best friends getting married.

But at the same time it had to do with her and her story with his ex-best friend. The guy she grew up with, was supposed to go to college with and maybe even end up dating. Ok, that last part was just in her mind the whole time, but even like that the other one didn't happened either. She hadn't seen him in two years, and they haven't had an honest conversation in almost seven years.

No wonder her heart was pounding at the thought of not only seeing him and having to work side by side to ensure the wedding run smoothly but to work on a choreography for God knows how long. Oh God.

-Why can't your other bridesmaids dance with him?

-Because Rebekah wants to dance with her boyfriend, of course. Lexie and Klaus are both single and have already called dibs on each other. I'm not kidding, she just sent me a text asking me to pair her with him. I thought I could just reject Klaus' idea, but if I do, I'm sure they'll bring it up again at the dance rehearsals. I don't wanna put you on the spotlight like that, I want you to have a choice and to have time to be prepared if you accept.

But did she really have a choice? Caroline was her best friend since kindergarten. They had talked and talked and talked about being each other's maid of honor, about how they wanted their wedding to be like and with whom.

-But I don't really have it, Care. This is your day, I should not be interfering with your dream wedding because I still can't get over something that happened years ago. Maybe this will be good for me, maybe this will help getting some closure-she said the last part not as convinced as she was hoping to, though.

She smiled at her best friend, but it was rather forced. Of course it sounded like a rational way to look at it. And maybe it could even be true, she could finally move on and go to the big city with her boyfriend. Who was going to be at the wedding, so she didn't have to worry for spending that much time with Damon anyway.

-You are so mature now Bonnie, see? ER has treated you right.

-Yeah…-she rolled her eyes, she was still sucking up to her apparently- plus, when we are not dancing and being your slaves we'll be with our partners. Enzo will be at the wedding with me and Damon will come to town with Elena probably two weeks before the wedding. I'm assuming that's when we'll start the rehearsals and everything.

-Well… you are right and wrong. Yes, two weeks before the wedding is when we'll start rehearsing everyday for two hours a day. But…

-But?

-They are no longer together… and he doesn't want the plus one.

Now that was dangerous. And weird. All she could heard about when he was at home was how much he loved Elena and how she had made him a better person. He used to say that she was the one, so it was weird that they had broken up, even weirder yet was that he didn't want the plus one. He wasn't a loner, girls were always around him and he had had dates with almost every girl in town before he left it.

-But I got my plus one, right?

-Of course, speaking of, how's everything with Enzo?

-Things are… normal. We haven't really spoken in a few…weeks now, because of how crazy things are in the hospital, but he still wants me to go straight to Chicago when I finish the residency. He's done with the whole distance relationship thing and I can't really blame him.

-And you? Do you want to go there?

-Me?- she sighed and started thinking about it, he had such an important place in her heart but right now she was so busy all the time that she didn't even had time to miss him- I like Mystic Falls. It's my home.

Caroline nodded, clearly with something to say but keeping it to herself.

-That's bad then.

-Yeah, but I don't wanna think about it until I have to. I'm just trying to survive my last few months residency now.

-Oh I'm sure that takes a lot of energy, so let's not think about that either ok? Do you want to see pictures of my favorite dresses?

-Yes please! Oh, wait, I'll have to help with a lot of stuff right?

-Don't worry. We'll go dress shopping in spring break, when you have your week off and look at the venues at that time also. The rest of the stuff will be sorted out with Stefan, the wedding planner and me. The wedding will be on July so everyone has time off and hopefully we won't be getting rain that day.

-Great. Of course you've already thought about everything. Now, let me see those princess dresses.

-Oh you know I'm gonna have a train.

-Yeah, the longest one for sure.

They spent the rest of their breakfast looking through Pinterest. She was happy for her friend and she loved the thought of a summer wedding for Caroline, everything was going according to plan for the blonde. But not for her. She could still feel a weight in her stomach throughout the whole thing, even when she had had all of her delicious pancakes plus a little of Caroline's French toast.

After a couple of hours, Stefan called her fiancé because they had a lunch date, so they paid and went each on their respective ways.

She walked home, she needed the fresh air to process everything that happened and what was bound to happen. It wasn't a great idea thought, this town was filled with ghosts. She used to ride her bike on that street with Damon. The houses remained the same as the ones in her memories. As if time had not passed. Maybe that's why she couldn't let it go, perhaps she should listen to Enzo and move to Chicago with him, even when she didn't really like big cities.

That didn't stop her from wanting to go to New York with Damon, though. But she was younger and adventurous and that would've been a great adventure if things hadn't gone downhill.

It wasn't like it was a huge thing, a betrayal or an explosion of bad feelings or anything of the sort, but it had hurt her. So much so that she didn't even apply to NYU. Maybe because there wasn't a big fight, or maybe the fact that she never got a reason for his indifference is why it hurt her so much. Perhaps the fact that they spent the whole summer before he left joint by the hip made his lack of communication just two months later hurt her so much.

She didn't understand it. She just knew they were best friends, even thought he was a year older and they had a plan to continue with their friendship once she finished high school, but the promise didn't even last a couple of months. He started not answering her calls, blowing her off, ignoring her texts. So of course she just had enough when he came for Christmas and all he talked about was his new friends and how hot girls were there. She was righfully pissed.

So she didn't keep with her side of the deal, she applied to Whitmore with Care and Stefan to stay close to her home. That pissed him off. Especially since he found out through his brother. She could still remember the short call; he didn't even say hi, he went straight to asking her if it was true. She said it was and he just hung up. That's how ten years of friendship go down the toilette.

Well that wasn't entirely true, she remembered the last day he spent on Mystic Falls. It was his goodbye dinner and he offered to take her home in his car. He hugged her for so long that she thought they'd just spent the whole night like that, outside her house, into each other's arms.

But he pulled back and he had his eyes glazed when they separated.

-I'm scared Bonnie- he whispered looking at the ground

-You'll be alright, you always are Damon.

-I just wished we could be leaving together. Not because I need you Bon Bon, don't get it twisted- he smiled crookedly at her and she just rolled her eyes with a small smile of her own- I'm just going into this new adventure alone. You, Stefan, Klaus, even goldilocks, you all are staying here.

She started to run her fingers through his hair, which always seemed to calm him down.

-You are amazing Damon, you'll do great in there. Mystic Falls is too small for you.

-You're damn right it is- he whispered with his eyes closed- and it is also too small for you.

-And that's why I'm going there next year

-Is that a promise?- he asked opening his eyes

-Of course it is, that's been the plan for two years now.

-Good. I hate it when you work your magic and make me be vulnerable. You are definitely a witch- she laughed softly at that, she was going to miss this idiot.

-I wish I was. I could go to Hogwarts

-Yes, and marry Harry Potter, I know, you've told me that before- he said rolling his eyes at her, making her laugh again. It was in that moment that they realized they were still hugging, not very far away from each other.

He caressed her cheek and put a kiss on her forehead. She thought that would be all but then he planted a short kiss on her lips. It was quick, sweet and unexpected. And as soon as he pulled back he also went back to his car without looking at her again.

She hated that that was the last time they saw each other as friends. She wished she would've done something, kiss him back or tell him how she felt, it didn't really matter, since they stopped being friends anyway. At least she could've had some sort of closure.

She got to her house, the one her grandma had left to her when she died. She just hated that that goodbye happened at her door, every once in a while the memories attacked her and the progress she thought she had made just vanished.

It's not like she was crying and pinning and thinking about it all of her University experience. She totally felt like she forgot about him for a few months, then someone mentioned him and she was back at feeling lost and not knowing how it ended like that. He was her best friend, damn it.

She decided it was time she just stopped thinking about it, just like Chicago, she'd just wait until she had no other choice but to think about it. Maybe until she graduated in June, because she had to study. This was actually great because she had tons of things to do and that would distract her from her issues enormously.

But as she served herself some tea to start studying again, the intrusive thoughts came back, and she imagined what it would be like to dance with him.

Enzo, Enzo, Enzo. Concentrate in that guy instead "he's you boyfriend", she told herself.

But she didn't feel the same thinking about him. There were not butterflies, sweaty palms or heart palpitations. She couldn't help but to feel guilty about it, he had been so pacient with her and she really did feel that way about him before- years ago, though.

She didn't want to think about that either, because she had a feeling she'd end up calling him and telling him this and that was not a good idea. So she decided it was time she focused on her studies and nothing else. Not Damon, not Enzo, not Chicago.

God, these were going to be some awful months she had ahead of her.

-...-...-...-...

Hey guys! I started this story because I couldn't stop thinking about these two, even when the show ended a long time ago. Tell me what you think about it in reviews and I made a tumblr for you guys to see pictures or gifsets that I think can be relevant to the story or if you'd like to ask me stuff in there :) it's bamon-iridescense

Happy reading :)