"Come on, Kol," Klaus said as he watched his brother make yet another phone call. "What is the point of this? What are you doing?"
"The point, Brother," Kol said, putting the phone on his shoulder, "is that I need to re-establish myself after what happened. Start putting myself out in dating circles. I mean, who could not say they would be honored to date a man as handsome as me, hmmm?"
Klaus smirked. "You know and I know that you're not just talking about any woman," he said. "You're talking about Bonnie. Just admit it, would you?"
"No!" Kol shook his head vigorously. "I will not admit that because there's nothing to admit. Bonnie and I ended things and I am prepared to move on from her."
"Really?" Klaus asked.
Kol nodded. "Yes. I am going to have so many women fawning over me that one insignificant woman won't matter." He plunked down some paper in front of Klaus. "Look at that," he said.
Klaus picked it up. "What is it?" He asked.
"It's an invitation to my party," Kol said, adjusting his shirt collar in the mirror.
"Why are you inviting her if you don't care less about her?" Klaus asked.
"Because!" Kol said sharply, so offended by Klaus' question that he actually looked away from the mirror. "Because I think that's none of your business, that's why."
"So it has nothing to do with the reason why you broke up with her then?" Klaus asked with a smirk. "Tell me again, why did you break up with her?"
"Would you leave!" Kol shouted. "I said I wasn't going to discuss that anymore!"
"Oh!" Klaus said, stepping back. "Touchy, touchy. Then again, not being able to perform does that to people."
Kol was getting red. "I am perfectly capable of performing!" He said. "I just had an off day. Everyone does. Even you, brother!"
"Nik, stop pestering Kol about his bedroom deficiency," Rebekah said, coming into the room. "We had to hear about it all summer. Now that he's better and over it, I don't want to have to hear it again."
"Have a look at this," Klaus said to Rebekah. "He's invited Bonnie to that party he's decided to throw as a way to announce that he's back on the market."
"Very sensible," Rebekah said sarcastically. "I mean, I'm sure Bonnie's moved on by now and found someone better than you, Kol."
"That is not possible!" Kol protested. "I'm the best she could possibly have! There is not a single person on this earth as attractive and sexy and cultured as me."
"I bet she could find one," Rebekah told him. "And what do you expect after you don't call her all summer?"
"You know very well why I couldn't call her all summer!" Kol said. "It was a matter of dignity!"
"Oh, right," Rebekah nodded. "Your little..." she crooked her finger. "...accident. Were you scared it would happen again?"
"I told Klaus and I'm telling you, Bekah," Kol said fiercely, "Lay off! Don't you have some man to meet under cover of darkness? He's probably waiting for you at your usual street corner."
Rebekah threw a pillow at him and stalked from the room. Klaus stayed behind. "So," he asked. "When's the party?"
"Tomorrow," Kol said. "It all happens tomorrow night."
The next night found Kol spearheading a party that was, by all accounts, a success. The club that he'd rented for the evening was filled wall to wall with attractive women and he'd danced with each and every one of them. Drinks were plentiful and he looked great. No one had been able to resist him. After his fifth drink, he was grinding on the bar with a brunette in a red dress when two latecomers strode through the door. One was a plump young man wearing glasses, denims and a plaid shirt. He had thinning dark hair even though he wasn't even thirty yet. Following him was a stunning woman with dark eyes, long dark hair and a beautiful smile. Kol got a look at her and promptly fell off the bar onto the floor.
"Oh, my god," the woman said, running toward him and helping him up. "Are you okay?"
Kol had landed on his back, and he looked up at her with a grin. "Hello, beautiful Bonnie," he said. "You came! I wasn't sure you were gonna come."
"Well, of course I had to come," Bonnie said as Kol clamored to his feet. "I had to see what this whole 'New and Improved You' was all about."
"Well, I just had this party to let people know that I've recovered from what happened last summer, you know, the incident between you and me?"
"Oh," Bonnie nodded. "Yes, the incident! The thing that caused you to just drop me flat without a word although it wasn't really a problem. It happens to everyone and I didn't mind. There would have been other nights, Kol."
"It does not happen to everyone!" Kol whispered to her angrily. "And would you keep your voice down please? Why don't you have yourself a drink?"
"You know, I think I will," Bonnie said. She indicated the guy she'd come in with. "And by the way, this is Roger. He's my boyfriend. We met when he came to fix my computer." And with that, Bonnie sauntered off to the bar, leaving Roger and Kol alone.
"So," Kol said after an awkward moment. "You're a computer repairman? What do you and Bonnie do for fun? Do you ever go to concerts or the ballet? We used to do that a lot when she and I were, you know, together."
"No, we've never done that," Roger said. "I don't like music much. Or getting dressed up."
Kol nodded. "Okay. Well how about travel, then? Ever been to Europe?"
"No," Roger shook his head. "I don't like planes. Heights scare me. And I get seasick on boats. So I just stay at home."
"Nice," Kol said. He was trying his hardest not to laugh, but by the time he joined Bonnie at the bar, he burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Bonnie asked.
"That guy," Kol said. "That guy you brought here tonight. Thank you so much, darling. I needed a good laugh."
"A good laugh?" Bonnie asked with a frown. "Kol, what is so funny?"
"Him," Kol said pointing. "I mean, look at him. He's a peasant. He's fat, he dresses horribly and he's boring. Look at him." He waited until Bonnie looked. "And now look at me." He positioned his body to its best advantage. "See a difference?"
"Yes," Bonnie nodded. "I see a lot. He may not look like the guys I've dated in the past, but he's a nice guy and I like being with him. You freaking out over the incident and not calling me all summer was the best thing that could have happened to me. If you'd called, I never would have met Roger."
"I could be nice!" Kol said. He ran a hand over her arm. "Let me show you how nice I can be."
"No," Bonnie said immediately. "I'm not gonna get back into a relationship with a guy who is so self-absorbed he lets one accident end a relationship that I thought both of us were enjoying very much. But maybe it was for the best," she said. "Maybe you and I are just too different for us to work out. Maybe I am better off with a guy like Roger."
"You mean a peasant like Roger," Kol muttered under his breath.
"You can think what you want about him," Bonnie said firmly. "But it's not gonna change how I feel. Now, If you'll excuse me, I've paid my dues here and Roger and I are gonna go home. In the meantime, you think about what I said, Kol. Or you're never gonna be able to keep hold of me or any other woman. Goodbye."
And with that, Bonnie grabbed Roger and the two of them strode from the club before Kol could think of a reply.