Heeey people. First I'd like to apologize for not updating sooner. I've been working on some university stuff. Secondly, I just wanna say thank you so much for your lovely reviews and support. You've really given me a huge confidence boost and put a smile on my face. Someone mentioned something about the italics and I've edited my previous chapter. Thanks for the pointer ;)

Ok so here's chapter 2. Really hope you like it and just something for you to think about - not everything is at it seems ;)

[Disclaimer: All characters used in the fanfic belong to LJ Smith and respective copyright holders. No copyright infringement intended]


Chapter 2

Bonnie hugged her distraught friend tighter, "Who? Who's dead?" she asked, no longer trying to disguise the panic in her voice.

"Jeremy and...Aunt Jenna", Elena managed between sobs as she buried her head deeper into her friend's arms, hoping to find some form of solace.

Unable to understand the foreboding feeling that ran through her body, Bonnie rummaged through her mind to find something to say, "Elena, come inside, you're shivering". She pulled her sobbing friend inside, shutting the door gently behind her. As they walked slowly to the living room couch, neither girl paid any attention to the vampire watching them from the corner of the room.

Damon couldn't believe what he'd just heard. He continued to listen in on the girls' conversation from where he stood. The little witch was now murmuring words of comfort as Elena began a step by step recollection of what she'd encountered earlier that night.

"I heard a cluttering sound from the kitchen. I didn't think anyone would still be awake but I thought perhaps it was Aunt Jenna waiting up for me" , she paused, taking a deep breath before she continued, "When I pushed open the kitchen door, I peeked in, there was no one inside but I noticed pots and pans lying around. I began picking them up until I reached behind the counter and then I saw her!" she broke down burying her face in her hands.

"Who did you see? Aunt Jenna?" Bonnie asked, clasping Elena's hands.

Elena nodded, "She was lying in a pool of blood. Her body was in such an awkward position" she blinked several times as if trying to blot out the memory, "I couldn't bring myself to get any closer. I just screamed for Jer and ran upstairs to his room. He was in bed. I called out to him several times but he wouldn't answer. I even shook him, he just didn't wake up! He was so cold, so cold and he wasn't breathing... My family is gone Bonnie and I don't know why."

Bonnie struggled to control her own emotions, even as the tears welled up and burned her eyes, she wouldn't let them fall. She needed to be strong for her friend right now. She also knew that there was nothing she could do to soothe Elena's pain. All she could do was to be right here, holding her for as long as she needed. Hugging her friend tight, she finally looked at the vampire, who was pacing slowly, a phone plastered to his ear. She only caught his last urgent words, "get here quick!"

With what only seemed a few minutes, Stefan Salvatore was being invited into the house; "How is she Bonnie? Where is she?" he asked in a broken voice, frantically looking around the front room.

"She's just fallen asleep" Bonnie whispered, indicating to the couch.

He rushed over to the couch and knelt beside it. Lifting a shaky hand, he smoothed her soft hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "I'm taking her home with me", he said, looking in turn at his brother and Bonnie, before scooping up his sleeping girlfriend and heading out the front door.

They were once again alone. Bonnie sank to the floor, finally releasing all the pelted up emotions within her. Uncontrollable violent sobs overtook her small body, leaving her feeling numb and empty. Suddenly, she was no longer on the hard marble floor. Feeling something cool against her cheek, she opened her eyes, the realisation hit her slowly. She was cradled in the strong arms of Damon Salvatore. Her head was resting on one of his broad leather clad shoulders.

"Let me down!" she screamed, trying to squirm out of his strong grip.

Damon was caught off guard by her sudden outburst. What was happening? Can't she see that all he wanted was to comfort her somehow? He hated seeing her like this.

"Shhh, Bonnie. You don't have to pretend anymore. Not in front of me", he whispered ignoring the blows of her fists on his chest. Gosh! She was a persistent little one. She just wouldn't let up. Making a reluctant sound, he lowered her feet gently back to the floor.

"Get out!" she screamed as soon as she was out of his reach.

"Bonnie, why are you being like this?", he asked, confusion etched on his gorgeous face.

"What? How can you even ask me that? If you and your vampire brother hadn't rolled into my friend's life, our lives wouldn't have been a constant nightmare!"

"Are you blaming us for this?" Damon couldn't control the rage bubbling up inside him. She was being irrational. And while he wanted to make excuses for her, he couldn't. Her words hurt him and that pissed the hell out of him.

"Don't you see? All you've brought to this town is misery! My Grams is gone and now Elena's Aunt and little brother have been added to the list of innocent lives lost because of you!" her voice suddenly turned dangerously frosty, "You should leave".

Damon opened his mouth to say something but closed it immediately without generating any sound. Her last three words were laced with menacing anger. His chest tightened involuntarily after reaching one final conclusion. Bonnie Bennet hated him and there was nothing he could do to change that. After one last prolonged look at her, he turned on his heels and left quietly.

Bonnie couldn't silence the sound of her pounding heart. Slowly she unclenched her fists, wincing when she saw the damage her nails had done to the soft skin of her palm. Moving to a close hanging mirror, she looked at her reflection, not recognising the person looking back at her. A single tear escaped one of her eyes. As she watched it roll down her smooth cheek, she contemplated just how close she had gotten to making a terrible mistake. She wanted to hurt him, physically, and if he hadn't left when he did, she would have. They should stay away from me, she thought as she watched another tear run its course, especially Damon bloody Salvatore!