Bonnie walked through the glass doors of Mystic Falls Café and, spotting a perky blonde who was seated at the far side by the window, she waved, crossing the floor and embracing her. "Hey Care."
"Hey Bon, thanks so much for meeting me."
Bonnie nodded and smiled. "Of course, Babe!"
Caroline smiled at the nickname Bonnie and her had always used for each other, as they settled themselves into the booth. A young brunette waitress presently approached them and asked for their orders. Bonnie ordered a dark chocolate and cinnamon cappuccino and Caroline ordered white hot chocolate. The brunette nodded and cheerily exclaimed she'd be back right away with their orders.
"So what's up, Care? You sounded kind of…urgent in your voicemail."
Caroline pressed her lips together and Bonnie noticed her hands were shaking…now she was getting worried.
"Caroline? Com'on Babe what's going on?" She reached a hand over, gently laying it over Caroline's and the blonde looked up into her eyes…her crystal blue ones were genuinely full of fear and worry.
"Bon…yesterday…well no, it was more like four months ago; before you got here…when Elena got the news about Jeremy. She suddenly…just changed. And I mean I get how devastated she was and still is because he was the only family she had left. But she and Stephan…they weren't the same. She was so touchy with him about a lot of things and at first, we just attributed it to her stress but then her and Stephan started getting into full blown fights…which were more one-sided; Elena screaming and Stephan just standing there calmly. Well it wasn't long before she started…blaming him…for what happened to Jeremy."
Bonnie's eyes widened in astonishment. "Care…how is that even possible?" Elena is head-over-heels in love with Stephan; how can she do that to him?!" Bonnie's voice was low but exasperated.
"I don't know, Bon but over the last few months, it's gone on and…you wouldn't believe the toll it's taken on Stephan. And the thing is, the only person he's ever been able to talk to is me…."
Bonnie nodded immediately. "Well of course! You and Elena are close so naturally he'd go to you and with Damon having been MIA the last two years, he really didn't have anyone else there for support." Bonnie's eyes darkened slightly as she recalled Damon's long absence; she was still angry…and deeply hurt…that he had left so abruptly without a word to any of them.
Especially to her.
"Yes but, Bonnie….you don't…." Caroline heaved a shaky sigh, flipping the swooping bangs out of her eyes as she struggled to find words. "Bon, Stephan has been coming to me a lot. because most times, Elena is cooped up in her room or she's simply completely unmanageable as far as no one can have a civil conversation with her! But…that's not really the point in why I'm telling you this."
Bonnie waited expectantly for Caroline to continue. The blonde seemed impossibly apprehensive for whatever reason and Bonnie's patience waned as her curiosity piqued.
"Stephan and I have grown…close. He feels like my best friend in so many ways and…but it's…Bonnie yesterday when we were on our way to pick up Stephan….something….happened."
"Care, I love you but for god sake, stop speaking cryptically!"
"Bonnie, I almost kissed him!" Caroline shot back, exasperated.
Bonnie's mouth slammed shut and for full two minutes, she stared blankly at her friend.
Caroline bit her lip nervously and a few tears pooled in the depths of her aquamarine orbs.
"Care…?" Bonnie's voice is barely above a whisper as she took Caroline's hands in both of hers.
"Bonnie…I don't know how it happened but it's just…He was just sharing with me about the fight he and Elena had that morning and I could tell he was just torn by it; he didn't know what to do…I've never seen Stephan so lost, he's always been so sure of himself especially when it came to Elena. But I just…I could see he was struggling, Bon and I just…I just gave him a hug, that's all I did, I swear!"
"Care…calm down, you're shaking like a leaf!"
"And then I just…I don't know, when we pulled back, I caught his eyes and its like…it's like we were caught up in some kind of movie moment and I could feel my body leaning in and I swear to God, Bonnie, I was screaming in my head 'what the fuck are you doing!' but it's like…it's like I wasn't even in control of myself anymore!"
Bonnie bit her lip and suddenly the truth dawned on her-the truth behind what her friend was saying hit her like a tidal wave and she nearly felt like she was drowning. "Oh my god…you're in love with him." She gazed across the table at Caroline; her eyes were not a hint of judgmental…only wide with awe and amazement.
"…I feel like…I…can't breathe! What…am I…gonna do?! Bonnie….how am I ever gonna…breathe…again?!" Caroline uttered in between choking sobs as her crystal blue eyes filled with tears that spilled over her pale cheeks. In a split second, Bonnie was out of her seat and in the other girl's side of the booth, hugging her tightly.
Caroline clung to Bonnie as if her life depended on it and the quiet sobs shook her slender frame. Suddenly, they were both thankful that they'd chosen a both that was in a quiet corner at the far end of the café.
"Care…everything's gonna be ok, do you here me? I'll…we'll get through this ok? Just trust me, Babe it's gonna work out." She comfortingly soothed Caroline, rubbing circles on her back as she whispered softly to her. "It's going to be ok, I promise."
But deep down inside, Bonnie Bennett didn't know if that was a promise she would be able to keep… because either way, someone would end up with a broken heart.
# # # #
Bonnie offered Caroline to stay at her house for a few days and the blonde was so thankful that she nearly burst into tears all over again. After stopping by Caroline's to pick up her things, they headed back to Bonnie's…with a quick stop by the store to pick up some much needed 'pick-me-up' groceries as Bonnie liked to call them; namely, Moose traks ice cream, chips n dip, Pepsi and Sprite…all of the must-haves when a girl was feeling down. They carried the groceries inside and then Bonnie sent Caroline to the living room to pick out a chic flick while she prepared the snacks.
Soon, the two women were settled on the couch…or sprawled out on the floor in Bonnie's case…as the flat screen came to life. "I don't know why but He's Just Not That Into You, has always been my regular go-to when I'm feeling shitty."
Bonnie smiled and nodded her agreement. "Mine too, Care…this one, Maid of Honor and The Back-up Plan are my three stand-bys."
Caroline beamed with delight. "Ah! I see my film sense has rubbed off on you, good!"
Bonnie smiled lovingly at her friend. Despite the fact that it had always been the three of them-Bonnie, Caroline and Elena-Bonnie had felt much closer to the dramatic, perky blonde. Caroline had been the only one-aside from an occasional call from Stephan-to keep in touch with her after she left for New York. In the two years that Bonnie had lived there, Caroline had also come to visit her twice-once for Thanksgiving and then she turned around and flew right back to spend Christmas and New Years with her. They'd become so close over those times and it was then that Bonnie realized that no matter how haywire, over-the-top dramatic and fussy Caroline could be, she was by far…fiercely loyal and even brutally honest. But for Bonnie, that's exactly what she needed. She needed someone who would always stand by her, no matter how far away she moved from home and also someone who would always be honest with her-even if the truth hurt. That's just how Bonnie Bennett had always been and she could always depend on Caroline Forbes to be exactly that…and no less. Her warm, wondering thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud knock at the door. "Who in the hell is coming here at this hour?" She muttered as she pushed herself up off the floor.
"Crossing my fingers that it's some steamy exotic male dancers." Caroline echoed dreamily from the living room.
Bonnie laughed, shaking her head as she swung the door open. Her lips parted in surprise when she saw him. "Damon." She said with a hint of hesitancy and surprise in her voice.
"Well that's a fine way to greet me, Judgey." Damon gave her a fake pout as his ice blue eyes twinkled.
Bonnie crossed her arms over her chest-her eyes narrowed at him; she wasn't amused. "What are you doing here, Damon? This is not a good time."
Damon huffed doubtfully, waving his hand in a 'yeah-right' fashion. "Pshh, like you have anything better to do on a Monday night." He brushed passed her casually and she mentally cursed herself for inviting him in that time over two years ago when she'd needed help practicing a particular spell.
"Actually, I am…" She sputtered, turning on her heel and following him into the kitchen. "I'm entertaining company, Damon so if you could just please…see yourself to the door…" She placed both hands to the side of his shoulders, steering him hurriedly towards the door. She almost had him out when a perky voice sounded from the living room.
"Who is it, Bon? Whose at the door?"
"It's just Damon Care but don't worry, he was just leaving." She punctuated the last two words with a narrowing glare at Damon.
"NO! wait, don't leave yet!" Caroline called. "Bring him in here, Bonnie."
Bonnie let out a defeated groan as Damon's signature triumphant smirk flitted across his features.
Even when he's arrogant, he looks so hot! Damn him.
She let go of his shoulders and stalked off to the living room.
Damon smiled cheekily as he followed behind her.
When Caroline spotted Damon, she was up from the couch and across the room in a flash, literally slamming into him, causing him to stumble back a few steps.
"Whoa! Ok um…" Damon trailed off as Caroline's arms wound around his neck tightly and her little voice cracked into a small sob. He took a bewildered and questioning look towards Bonnie whose eyes glistened over sadly and shook her head. "Caroline." Damon's voice was deep and solid but there was a slight hint of gentleness behind it that was so uncharacteristic of him.
Bonnie obviously had a lot to get used to…especially when it came to Damon.
"Care…why are you crying?" Damon tried again; this time wrapping his arms gingerly around the blonde's waist.
"Bonnie…I can't tell him." Caroline's voice muffled in Damon's shoulder and Bonnie sighed heavily; she knew Caroline meant she wanted her to tell Damon…as strange as it was, it made perfect sense to Bonnie for them to tell Damon. Damon knowing somehow made everything seem a little less overwhelming. "Caroline's in love with Stephan." She said simply but her voice was laced with sadness.
For the first time in his 149 years, Damon Salvatore had to pick his jaw up off the floor. But he hid his surprise well…only his eyes seemed to glaze over slightly with the shock of it all. "Come again?" He uttered blankly, but of course he'd heard it the first time…he just wasn't entirely sure that what he'd heard hadn't been just his imagination.
Bonnie only nodded sadly, blowing air through her lips. "Yeah. Tell me about it."
Damon stood back slightly from Caroline so he could look in her eyes. Her long bangs fell invasively into her eyes and he took a brief moment to brush them away from her face. "You're shitting me." It was more of a statement then a question.
She only looked back at him. As much as Caroline wanted to, she knew that denying the truth would be worse because she'd be denying her heart.
"You're serious, aren't you." He already knew the answer but he still couldn't wrap his mind around this whole twisted mess that she'd suddenly gotten herself into.
"Care you have got to be the most…senseless, stupid, careless and irrational girl I've ever met!" He scolded her but before Bonnie could chastise him for his apparent lack of consideration, Caroline looked at him and her face broke out into a hopeless but resolute smile. "How could you have been so…." He trailed off as her honest blue eyes bored into his and he only sighed heavily, shaking his head. "…Then why the hell am I standing here thinking that this is somehow a good thing?" His face held a 'I must be out of my mind' expression as he placed a some-what careless kiss on Caroline's forehead. "You're nuts, Care…but…however this is gonna turn out…you've got me and the good ol' witchy to help you through it…I can't believe I'm saying this…" He dragged a hand down the front of his face. "Dear god, I must need a gallon of bourbon if I'm seriously considering throwing in my support with you two crazy cats-oh no wait, I've already thrown myself in with you lot." He shook his head as his eyebrows knitted together and his eyes squinted. Caroline smiled gratefully as she stepped back from him and he moved over to the large chair, collapsing into it in an act of surrender. "You owe me…fucking huge, Care." He pointed his finger at her, a strong expression on his features.
"It's not like she planned for this to happen, Damon." Bonnie shot back at him, trying to defend her friend's present position. Yeah, who the fuck wakes up one day and says 'what to do today…fall in love with my best friend's boyfriend and make my life a miserable living hell...yeah, great plan-definitely has potential. insert heavy sarcasm here
"Yeah, I kind of figured that when she collided with my chest and started leaking, Bennett." Damon shot back sarcastically, his eyes narrowing at Bonnie.
She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes… why does he always have to be so…by fucking polar-sensitive one moment and then following it up with a sarcastic-ass comment!
Bonnie settled onto the couch, next to Caroline whose tears had finally subsided. "So…what now?"
"What do you mean 'what now'? there is no 'what now' there's nothing, Bennett. Caroline came up with the greatest of worst ideas; falling in love with Stephan…that doesn't have anywhere to go except backwards. You think he's just gonna wake up and be like 'wow, Elena is a bitch to me…Caroline Forbes is my soul mate, it all makes sense now, O-M-G!'?" Damon's voice was pitched up an octave, imitating someone who was slightly mentally retarded…the sarcasm always evident behind it.
"Ok, ok cut the insensitive bullshit, Damon!" Bonnie's voice was tense, she was obviously on the edge of exploding. "I know…and Caroline knows…that it's not even out in left field…its out of the park ok? We get that! But right now, we have to figure out how the hell we're gonna keep this from Stephan and Elena…that's the deal here."
He watched Bonnie as she stood to her feet and paced, her one hand on her hip as her other combed furiously through her long wavy locks. For a fleeting moment, he noticed how amazingly beautiful she looked, despite the harsh worry lines in her forehead and the look of dread in her eyes….
Bonnie Bennett would always have a surreal beauty to her that only Damon Salvatore could notice…because he actually took the time, despite himself.
"Alright, right now, the important thing is to go on like always…normal. Just don't feel like you all of a sudden have to distance yourself, Care or Stephan will definitely sense that something's going on. I'm sorry but I'm not too worried about Elena…she's so consumed right now, you could probably make-out with Stephan with her in the same room and she wouldn't even notice."
Damon couldn't help but smirk at her snarky comment…she sounded more like him than she would probably ever admit and a part of him felt somewhat proud of her for it.
"Ok so…I just pretty much go on like I always have…as far as being there for Stephan?"
"Hell yeah, maybe it'll all pan out; my brother will magically see what a bitch he's dating and will actually see something in front of him that's worth a fight." Damon's words were stated passively as he absently studied his nails…but both Bonnie and Caroline caught the sincerity behind them…Damon Salvatore may not readily or directly give out compliments…but he was never one to keep silent when it came to stating the obvious…even if it turned out to be a means of modest praise. Caroline smiled bashfully, a look of thanks shone in her crystal blue eyes.
"We'll get through this. We just have to keep it cool for now and…not make any sudden changes…we have enough to worry about with trying to figure out what happened to Jeremy and what he was into that got him killed…let's just focus on that for now-everything else will just have to…work itself out."
Caroline nodded her agreement though her heart felt heavy with the burden she carried.
Damon's face screwed into frustration and he heaved an exasperated sigh as he stood to his feet and slung both arms over the girls' shoulders, awkwardly hugging them to either side of him. "We're headed for disaster…but as I always like to say in times like these…sometimes you gotta play the bitch in order to beat the bitch…I'm in. Bring it on." Damon finished his statement firmly and both girls couldn't hold back knowing grins. Bonnie shook her head. Leave it to Damon Salvatore to have a sexist innuendo as a motto.