Author's note: Complete AU so no powers or vampires or witchy stuff- nothing but our characters. A Bamon (obviously) but there is some Delena and Stelena thrown in for the plot. There will be excerpts from the self help book Bonnie's reading, this is fictional so it's not a real book.
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Dairies (Question, are these things still really necessary?)
-Single and loving it! By Ruth South-
The first step to a new you!
Are you excited? You should be! A new journey of self discovery awaits and the key is in your hand! Yes my darling your hand! With a few simply and practiced rules within the next 46 chapters you will discover this amazing, thrilling and fantastic secret! Yes the secret to unlocking your potential...
- Single and loving it! By Ruth South-
Bonnie sighed closing the book and staring absently around her. Is this what she had been reduced to? Reading self help books to ease her bruised ego?
Divorce happened practically every day, this was no new phenomena. Yet here she was running away, because really moving to Mystic Falls was just a better way of saying she couldn't stand the looks of pity, the glee from her haters and the disappointment on her father's face. It was weird how she the victim, Troy had cheated on her after all, was the one who had to skip town, where was the justice in all of this?
"Bonnie!"
Bonnie looked up and momentarily forgot her self gloom to crack a smile for her best friend. She stood up, shouldered her bag and accepted the embrace from Elena.
"You look so beautiful!" Elena gushed as she stepped back to look at her.
Funny Bonnie didn't feel beautiful, but Elena was so sincere so she smiled, "You're not so bad yourself," she quipped.
And she wasn't lying either Elena literally looked like she'd stepped out some fashion magazine. Heck, if Bonnie didn't know better she'd swear Elena was the divorcee from LA not her.
"I'm so happy you've come back!" Elena continued.
So much for that 'Kiss my ass Mystic Falls!' sign she'd left. Bonnie thought warily.
"Yeah me too,"
"Is this all your luggage?" Elena asked glancing at the carry on and the suitcase at Bonnie's feet.
"No, the rest well be coming after I find a place," Bonnie replied.
"Well you know you can stay with me as long as you like right?"
Bonnie nodded and they exited the bus station heading for Elena's car. Bonnie watched as Elena's glossy hair moved as they walked. There was literally no wind but here they were dancing on air as if this was some shampoo commercial.
Her stay at Elena's would be temporary, a weeklong temporary thing Bonnie hoped. This wasn't because Elena was mean or anything, it literally had to do with the fact that Bonnie didn't want to have a front row seat to Elena's perfect marriage while she was still licking her wounds.
"So how's Stefan?" Bonnie asked as the buckled up.
Elena glanced at the review mirror, "He's fine but sorry he won't be home when you arrive," she replied.
"Oh so he's working late?"
Elena shook her head, "Away on business, I miss him already," she answered with a laugh.
Bonnie would kill for a husband like Stefan, he was handsome had a good job and importantly he was not a cheater. He was proof that one man can be perfectly happy with one woman! How hard was that? Apparently Troy had found it extremely difficult. He just had to keep testing that theory over and over again with not one but several mistresses.
Too think just last year she'd been so certain no man would ever pull a Tiger Woods on her. Boy had she been wrong, that snake was probably already at it while Bonnie was ranting on about how shameless Woods had acted.
"But we do have another visitor besides you," Elena said breaking Bonnie from a train of thought.
"Oh yeah, who?" she asked slightly distracted as she watched the passing scenery.
"Damon, remember him?" Elena asked glancing at her, "Stefan's older brother?"
Bonnie groaned slumping into her chair, yes she remembered Damon Salvatore and she also remembered that extremely embarrassing run in she had with him several months before she left Mystic Falls.
"Come on he's not that bad," Elena continued with a grin.
That was one of the things Bonnie admired about Elena, the ability to see the good in just about anyone. On second thoughts it was a good thing she hadn't been the one to go to LA, Elena would have surely been walked all over on.
Bonnie cocked an eyebrow at her, "Is he still chasing everything in a skirt?" she asked sceptically.
"You know Damon," Elena brushed casually, "So how are you really?"
"Well according to People, I'm a nervous suicidal wreck who is hell bent on revenge," Bonnie replied with sarcasm, "But E! was nicer they just wrote about my new drug addiction,"
Elena was laughing, "Oh dear no wonder you left," she said shaking her head.
"But I did get a handsome settlement so take that Troy Stark,"
"You took it?"
"Are you kidding?" Bonnie asked incredulous, "Of course I did nothing wipes tears better then dollar bills,"
Too bad those same dollar bills did nothing for her heart and they certainly didn't not warm up her bed at night.
"But you're a survivor, you will get through this Bons and I'll be with you every step," Elena promised freeing her one hand from the steering wheel to clutch Bonnie's hand.
"Thank you 'Lena," she said meaning it.
It was good to have someone she could utterly trust and know would never hurt her intentionally. Unlike all those 'close family friend's' who were all to happy to blab her troubles to the tabloids.
Bonnie could see Elena's house from the distance as they drove up the drive. It stood tucked in thick greenery the perfect place to hide from the prying eyes of the world. No drama that's what was on the agenda and Bonnie felt assured that the Salvatore residence would provide just that.
/
Bonnie tossed again for what felt like the hundredth time in bed and still she couldn't sleep. Maybe she shouldn't have been too quick to throw away Dr. Steven's pain killers. Sure she wasn't in pain but they sure as hell got her to sleep. With a groan she got up and slipped her feet into her slippers.
The insomnia had begun shortly after the whole scandal broke out about her husband, the NBA star Troy Stark's cheating ways. It was a real surreal moment finding out about your husband's infidelity from a waitress at a cafe. Nothing like it.
Elena had promised to give her a tour of the mansion tomorrow morning, Bonnie glanced at the 1:23 red numbers on the alarm clock. Guess tomorrow came faster then she thought.
She already knew where the kitchen was so she'd just go there and get a glass of wine. Bonnie didn't get how some people drank a glass of milk to go back to sleep, it sure as hell did nothing for her! Accept maybe make her lactose intolerant.
The house was quiet and dark, good thing she'd never been one to scare easily.
Bonnie peeked out her door, glanced down the hallway, empty. She slipped out the room and made her way in the dark because really that's the smartest thing to do in a house she didn't know so well.
Engrossed in her thoughts she didn't even notice one of the bedroom doors opening and closing until she walked right into someone. And she would have screamed if the person hadn't placed a hand over her mouth, "Calm it, it's me Damon," he whispered.
More reason to scream! Bonnie thought darkly, Damon was crazy everyone knew that.
She nodded for him to remove his hand, it was dark so she could only make out the shape of him. He removed his hand, "So Dorothy returns from Emerald City," he drawled trapping her path with one arm against the wall.
Bonnie glared at him but it was probably useless in the dark, "Hello to you to Damon," she replied coolly.
He chuckled, "Come on Bon Bon is that anyway to greet an old friend?" he asked amused.
"Old you are but Friend?' she arched her eyebrow, "We were never friends Damon,"
"Really?" he asked and paused; Bonnie knew for effect, "that lacy bra you left in my room tells a different story,"
Damon was nothing if not lacking in subtlety, "You need to bleach your mind from such filthy thoughts Damon," she said coldly before turning, "Oh rather not wouldn't want to fry what few cells you have left," she added before storming back to her room.
It wasn't until she'd locked the door behind her and leaned heavily against it that something donned on her. The room Damon had slipped out of was not just another bedroom, it was the master bedroom.
Stefan and Elena's room. And Stefan was away on business...