Thank you guys, so much, for reviewing. Really, I don't feel that I need to put your names down here again, because I've replied to everyone this time, but seriously. Thank you so much. It means a lot to know that I'm doing a decent job at not butchering this story line. :)
Also, because I couldn't respond to your anonymous reviews via email...
sky samuelle: Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, because I had a blast writing it. Hope you enjoy this update! ^_^
lyla: Okay, so I know you said that you liked my last update, but I don't know if I can express to you how much your review meant to me. And I was so disappointed that I couldn't email you to say that! I just wish I could have let you know right away that I appreciated your review! :( Thank you, so, so much. I hope you enjoy this.
The Lady Gaga Referencing Girl: I love your musical taste and your fanfiction taste, lol. I hope you enjoy this one!
"So...he's really back?"
Bonnie didn't lift her eyes from the chopping board as she nodded in confirmation to Elena's question. She wasn't quite ready to go down that road, at least not yet. Maybe not ever. She didn't want to talk about Damon or think about Damon or see Damon. It was all inevitable, though. Everything always came down to Damon. She'd find herself walking down memory lane with him. Sometimes it would take seconds to snap out of it. Sometimes she wouldn't think about him for weeks, sometimes months. But it always came back to him.
She tossed the sliced up cuccumber into the large salad bowl and exhaled as she tensed up. "Yeah, he's really back."
Stefan walked in on the two ladies and leaned up against the counter with Elena, placing his arm loosely around her waist. It wasn't as if he couldn't hear them from the room he had been reading in, just down the hall, but he felt better knowing hearing the truth from Bonnie. He didn't want to eavesdrop.
Bonnie dusted her hands off and smiled towards Stefan. "I'm guessing you were listening in, Mr. Salvatore."
He returned the smile and shrugged sheepishly. "Guilty as charged. If you don't mind me asking, Bonnie..."
She was expecting their questions. How could she not? When Damon had left they were all about giving her space and letting her heal in her own way. Granted, they were there for her whenever she needed them. But now that he was back, the space they had initially given her was replaced with the curious little "what are you going to do?" hanging in the air. The truth? She wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to do yet.
"Okay, you guys. I know what you're thinking. That I should stay away from him and move on. Damon's not the sticking around type. I've got to respect that."
Elena wanted to throw up at the words coming out of her best friend's mouth. "Stay away? Move on? Respect? Bonnie, you love him."
The shorter girl knew it was pointless to argue. "So?"
"So...you can't just pretend that your feelings will go away if you push him away. Damon did that to you," she said quietly, "and he came back. Maybe you should - "
"No," Bonnie said decisively, cutting her off. "I am not like you, Elena. I can't be with a Salvatore, no offense Stefan."
Stefan shook his head as a signal for her to forget it. He understood better than anyone the baggage Damon brought with him. He had been shattered at the loss of Katherine and when Anna had told them that Katherine was still alive it had broken him all over again. The only difference was that her existence allowed him to move on. He finally understood that her feelings for him weren't real. That none of it was real.
Stefan said to the witch, "I know that you think Damon doesn't know how to love. But you have to know that Damon's built up so many walls around his heart, because you have the power to hurt him...Literally and figuratively," he added as an afterthought.
Bonnie turned to the sink and washed her hands off. Her eyes were starting to water up a bit and she didn't want Elena and Stefan to see them. "Damon has walls, because he's afraid to be vulnerable. So was I. I mean, it took me so long to trust you Stefan, and with Damon...I've seen anger in his eyes before and I was afraid of him before. I used to feel like I had to be as tough as him, to prove that I was strong. I just...I don't know. I can't. I can't. I can't be with him again. I can't take the chance of him saying goodbye."
Elena turned to her husband and placed her hand over his. With a single look, he understood. He gave Bonnie's arm a small squeeze of comfort and left the kitchen with his hands in his pockets. For now, he needed to leave the two best friends to themselves. And until they were done, he could delve back into the book he had started earlier.
"So you don't want to be with Damon."
Bonnie paused as she scooped some of the salad she'd built onto a small plate. "Right."
"You don't want anything to do with him."
"Mmm-hmm."
"And you're hopelessly in love with him."
"Ye - don't try to trick me into doing something stupid, Elena." She stuck her tongue out childishly, despite the situation, and took a ferocious bite out of a cherry tomato. She laughed at Elena's awed expression, before saying after she swallowed, "Did you eat today?"
It was Elena's turn to be exasperated. "Yes, mom. Stefan went hunting earlier."
"How's Alaric's ring?" Bonnie asked, continuing with the concerned questions.
Elena, in turn, rolled her eyes. "It works fine, Bonnie." She picked the ring up from where it lay against her neck and inspected the curious daylight wonder. "It's worked for five months. You have to stop worrying about me."
"I can't help it. You're my sister, Elena. I have to worry."
"Hey, the feeling's mutual," she replied with a pointed look. "And you know what I mean by that."
Bonnie bit down on a baby carrot. "Damon is my past."
"True. But what if he's your future, too?"
Bonnie glared up at the shelf in which she was trying to grab her favorite cereal. Sometimes it really sucked to be short. Sighing, she glanced around for someone handy. There was a little old lady reaching for some pop-tarts and a middle-aged woman with a checklist and two little children. No one of help. She sighed and thought maybe she should just get it next time. Turning away from the shelf she was surprised to see a fine arm reach up and take a box down to hand to her.
"Thanks," she exclaimed as she took a hold of the box. She didn't look up to see who had given her the cereal, but when she did the smile on her face intensified. "Oh, hey Jeremy. What're you doing...shopping for groceries?"
"Contrary to what you and Elena may think, I'm not prone to dialing Pizza Hut every night. I cook too, you know."
"Yeah, right. Milk and fruit loops?" she asked with a laugh.
He rolled his eyes jokingly. "No...it's cocoa puffs, I'll have you know." He held up a box to prove it and Bonnie couldn't do anything but laugh.
"When was the last time you had a home-cooked meal?"
He tilted his head to the side and actually had to think about it. "God, I can't remember. I think about a month ago or something. Elena and Stefan were celebrating their anniversary, I think. And you made that awesome lasagna."
Bonnie whistled. "Okay, that settles it. Come over to Elena's tomorrow. I'll cook my 'awesome lasagna' and you can bring the entertainment."
"Strip poker?" he asked her.
She hated it admitting it, but Jeremy Gilbert was not a bad looking guy. And he was only eleven months younger than her. And he was almost older than Elena in the technical sense. And he was a good guy, a great guy even. After they had all sat him down and told him about the realities of vampires and witches, and after he'd learned to accept it, he'd grown out of his juvenile characteristics. He was genuine and sincere and everything she'd ever wanted in a guy. Jeremy was practically perfect.
But he wasn't sarcastic and rude and heartless.
Bonnie shook her head and cursed herself for thinking about him again."Very funny, Jeremy. I was thinking more along the lines of some Johnny Depp goodness?"
He smiled and nodded yes. "I think I can manage that. What time?"
"Is six good?"
"Six is great. I'll definitely be there. But, uh, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Is it going to be weird...y'know, eating in front of them?" he whispered the last part in an unsure tone.
Bonnie wanted to laugh. "They can still eat, you know. I mean, they don't for the most part...but it won't make them uncomfortable. I've gotten used to the whole blood thing so she's gotten used to me eating cookie dough straight from the bowl."
He sighed in relief. "Okay, good. 'Cause I wasn't sure...I mean, I know it's been a while, but..."
"Trust me, I get it." She smiled at Jeremy again and wondered to herself if maybe there was a way to let go of Damon Salvatore after all.
The doorbell rang at precisely six o'clock. Both Elena and Bonnie were surprised, because the one thing Jeremy was not known for was his punctuality. Throwing each other confused glances, Bonnie shrugged. "I guess I'll get it, then."
The lasagna still had another fifteen minutes left, so she shut the oven door and took off the oven mitts. She combed her hand through her hair as she walked to the front door. Twisting the knob, she smiled at the person standing on the other side of the door. And then that smile morphed into a frown.
"What are you doing here?"
"What, I'm not allowed to visit my own brother now?"
Bonnie gritted her teeth. "Cut the crap, Damon. I'm not going to play games with you. What are you doing here?"
He sighed. "Can you please, please just talk to me?"
"We are talking," she told him.
"Not like this! I want - I want to really talk. Please? I know you don't owe me anything and you don't ever want to see me again, but you once told me that you believed in second chances. Please give me a second chance, a chance to explain."
She thought it over. Half of her heart wanted to take him in her arms right now, while the other half was begging her to slam the door closed. Her own heart was waging war and she wasn't sure which side to fight for. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But not right now. I need some time, Damon. I'll meet you tomorrow."
"When?" he pressed her, not wanting her to wiggle out of her proclomation.
"In the morning. I'll meet you at our old spot." The words came out before she could stop them. 'Our' was too familiar and, yet, foreign at the same time. It left a bittersweet taste in her mouth. "Now please, Damon, just go away."
He was desperate to stay, but he knew that forcing himself back into her life would only ruin his chances even more. He turned around, but didn't take a step. "Listen to me, little witch, I'm not going anywhere this time. I was wrong and I know that, but my heart is yours." Her own heart sped up as he continued with, "And somewhere you know that yours is mine. Don't forget that."
She shut the door behind him and slid down to rest against it. Closing her eyes, she wondered how much longer she could keep herself from jumping right back into the Damon Salvatore Love Hurricane.
Oh, my God! Elena's a vampire now!? And Jeremy might hook up with Bonnie!?! And Damon totally loves Bonnie!? Why did you stop it here, woman!? What's WRONG with you!?
Ahem. There's a review response for you to copy/paste if that was the exact reaction you had after reading this. But if you'd like to elaborate and share your thoughts, I'd prefer that. I like to see what you guys are thinking. And whether you liked this. :) Thanks so much for reading, guys!
