Gotdamn Damon Salvatore, she thinks as she rushes away. There must be a way I can get rid of him. Or beat him at his own game. I wonder if I can get HIM to quit? Because I can't keep running away.
She drives home at a breakneck pace. All she wants to do is lie down for just a minute and think, reevaluate.
Her phone buzzes. It's a text from Kai. She remembers the whole situation with Katie.
She and Katie had always hated each other. Mainly because Kate Pierce was a crafty little sadist. She was always plotting and scheming, always wanting to take what wasn't hers just for the thrill of it. What the fuck is up with Katherine Pierce? She can't possibly think she can take Kai. Bonnie wouldn't stand for that. To be honest, neither would Kai. He's always been suspicious of her.
Which was why she was confused about what was going on. Kai would clear up her confusion, though. It was no big deal.
She calls him while she's still on the road.
"Hey what's up, Babe, you get my text?"
"Yeah, but I need to ask you about something. Kai, have you seen how many of your pictures Katie Pierce has been commenting on?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, she's all up on your Facebook page. Why? She acts like we're not in a relationship."
"Babe, Katie Pierce knows exactly what the deal is. I'm with you, all the way." She needed to hear that. It makes her smile.
"I knew you'd say that. So can you take it all down?"
"Take it down? Why?
"Why?" She actually pulled the phone back from her face to look at it. "You know I can't stand Katie Pierce and and that bitch can't stand me. She's always tried to flirt with you, just to piss me off. I don't want her publicly flirting with you."
"And what, so you don't trust me?" There was an edge to his voice.
"Wait, are you getting defensive right now?"
"You make it sound like I'm encouraging her."
She sighed. "Chill out. This isn't about you, it's about her. Another woman is trying to step onto my territory and I don't like it. It makes me want to eat her alive. I think you can understand that, especially as a man."
"I love it when you get all 'lioness' on me, Candy."
She turns on her syrupy sweet voice. "Well I you're just so handsome and tall and talented and strong and so many other things. And I want all of you for myself because you're mine."
"All right, all right. I'll take the stuff down."
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you more."
Okay, another crisis averted. It was now time to turn to another major upcoming event; homecoming. It would be time for her campaign before she knew it.
A few relatively normal days had passed when Bonnie noticed Kai changed his profile picture. She gushed over how handsome he was, then the thought came to her to check if Katie had said anything else.
Bonnie had known Kate Pierce since the second grade, and she'd been a hater even then, trying to take Bonnie's toys or put mud in her hair. It could only be because Bonnie was the new girl, and everyone had been so fascinated with her, and they'd loved her braids and beads. She met Caroline and Elena (who happened to be Kate's cousin) and became best friends with them.
Since then Katie was always trying to one up her, always targeting her with her stank side comments and bullshit rumors, always trying to make other people dislike her. It couldn't be helped that Bonnie had taken her shine. She just chalked it up to jealousy, and mostly ignored her, except for the times she'd had to put her in her place over the years.
Kate had always been jealous of her friendship with Kai, and took it to a new level when they started dating. She's always tried to flirt with him before and Kai always just brushed her off, ignored her. Acted like she wasn't there. Now wasn't any different.
Except, maybe it was. Because everything Bonnie had wanted gone was still there.
What. The. Fuck.
She was heading to open gym, where the original plan was to meet up with him and shoot around; after all, basketball tryouts would be coming soon, too.
She skips going to change and marches right out onto the court where Kai is, high heels clicking and clacking on the hardwood. It felt weird to be on it in these shoes, but she didn't care. Players on the court had to dodge and sidestep her, and stop in their tracks, as she cut right through their warm-up lines and stepped right in front of their dribbles without so much as a sideways glance.
"Malachai." She halts in front of him just as he's preparing to shoot a free throw, crossing her arms over her chest, hip thrown out dramatically.
"What's the matter, Bon? What are you doing?" All of his teammates have to stop playing because she's interrupting their scrimmage. They stand there being nosy.
"I need to talk to you for a second. Please."
"Can't it wait?" He gestured toward his friends behind him.
"No, it cannot wait," she looked past him and gave his boys a look that said, y'all know what the deal is. "Know why? Because I asked you to do something and I'm still waiting."
He realizes what she's talking about and sighs, gesturing her towards the door. She follows him into the hall.
"Why're you making such a big deal out of this, Candy?"
"It is a big deal. I'm your girlfriend, and another woman, who hates me, is disrespecting me by flirting with you on a public profile and I'm asking you to take it down out of love for me. I really shouldn't have to ask."
"You're trippin'. You shouldn't be worried about some stupid girl commenting on my Facebook pictures."
"I can't believe I'm having this argument with you." She was seeing red now, and she was going to get her point across if it killed her. Before she knew what she was saying, it was out. " You know what, that's fine. Leave them there. And so if Damon Salvatore suddenly decides to comment on all my pics and tell me how fine I look with my high heels on, you better not trip."
He's stunned to silence. She can see the rage start to build up in his face. Shit. She's done it now.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Bonnie?" He walked up to her and towered over her, in her face. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. So is there a double standard?"
They're starting to get loud. People are turning to stare at them.
Kai grabs her arm and pulls her into an empty classroom. And he's not gentle about it.
"Get your fucking hands off me, Kai! Have you lost your mind?" She pushes him off.
"You like Damon Salvatore?" He asks, his eyes dark.
"No, Kai!"
"Do you fucking like him?!"
"Hell no, I don't like Damon fucking Salvatore!" She screamed, probably too loud.
"But you want him to tell you you're fine?"
"You dummy, I want him far the hell away from me! You're missing the point! You're over here acting a fool because of what I said and that would never even fucking happen! He's your rival and you hate him, and guess what? As your loyal faithful girlfriend, I hate him too! I got fuckin' suspended showing how much I hate him! Now if he started flirting with me and telling me he thought I was sexy, you'd lose your fuckin' mind, just like you are now! But YOU'RE doing that same shit to me with Katherine Pierce!"
She balls up her fist and punches him in the chest, as hard as she can. He flinches. "And don't you EVER fucking grab me like that, Malachai Parker! Did you forget who I am?" She punches him again, in the same spot, and watches his face flush with anger. Bonnie sets her jaw and glares up at him, ready to swing again. He turns and storms out, slamming the door behind him.
Bonnie's face falls as she remembers she needs to breathe. She realizes she's shaking. They've argued before, but not like that, never like that. She isn't sure what to do…
But she knows she isn't going to apologize.
She calls Elena and Caroline, and they come for a sleepover while she whines.
"Why was he being such an ass? I mean, he's alway an ass. But why be an extra ass?"
"You brought up Damon, Bon. You couldn't have picked a better way to piss him off," Elena pointed out. He IS a man, after all, and a competitive man,".
"But I wasn't wrong! The bottom line is, he shouldn't let that guttersnipe get away with publicly disrespecting our relationship!"
"You're right, Hun. He's in the wrong here, not you. You were just trying to get your point across," Caroline rubs her arm sympathetically.
"He even got defensive, though! Acted like he didn't want to take it all down, like he shouldn't have to! Uuuuuuggghhh!" She shook her fists and threw herself down on her bed. "What do I do you guys? We've never fought like this before, ever! He's such a bastard but he's my baby!"
"Maybe you should try talking to him. It's no good if you both are stomping around pissed off," Elena suggested with a shrug.
Caroline jumped in. "No Elena, absolutely not. Kai is in the wrong here, and he took the argument way too far. He should be over here groveling, and if he isn't willing to do that, then you shouldn't say anything."
"But they can't keep this stalemate up for too long, Care. They need to get it worked out."
"That's true," She turns to Bonnie, "But you should take a day or two. Let him feel the pain. Then make a decision."
"I like the sound of that," Bonnie agrees, small smile on her face.
She's up early the next morning, adding extra volume to her already fabulous hair, putting on especially dramatic makeup, and the outfit she knows he loves. She's outdone herself today.
She sees him in the parking lot and says nothing. He's trying to hide it, but she can tell by the look on his face that he's thinking of how good she looks. She just flounces away.
She sees him in the hall and says nothing. His mouth drops open, just a little bit. He isn't used to getting the cold shoulder.
At lunch they sit as far away from each other as possible, and aren't talking. They never do that. As a matter of fact, she, Caroline, Elena, and there rest of the girls basically have their backs turned to the guys. Everybody notices.
"What's up with you and Kai? It's soooooo weird not to see you glued together." Liv asks.
"Your idiot brother…" Bonnie explains the situation.
"Oh my God. I should kick his ass."
Both Bonnie and Liv know she wouldn't dream of it, and Bonnie is sympathetic. Kai's siblings were terrified of him when he was angry.
"I'm sure we'll get it figured out."
"Are you sure you want to?" Liv gives her a disdainful look. "You deserve better. Kai's such a dick."
Bonnie sighs. "I know, but he's still mine." She pulls Liv in for a tight hug. "Besides, then we wouldn't be sisters, and what kind of world would that be to live in?"
Liv hugged back. "We'll always be sisters, no matter what."
Bonnie keeps up the silent treatment for two more days, just in case he wasn't feeling it enough already. She can see other students whispering in each other's ears as she passes. She doesn't let it faze her. The most popular couple in the school is allowed to have problems, just like everyone else. Right?
After school she runs drills, and thinks about all the ways her perfectly organized life is going off the rails. She sprints from the baseline to the free throw line and back. To the half court line, and back. To the other baseline, all the way back.
Tutoring Damon Salvatore.
Baseline, free throw line. baseline, half court. Baseline, other end of the court.
Kate Pierce liking Mal's photos.
Baseline, free throw line. Baseline, half court line. Baseline, other baseline.
Suspension, detentions. Running for homecoming to stay on track. So many plans for the future…
She was so out of breath she nearly dropped. Was she losing her grip?
She looks up, and sees Kai coming. She gathers her things and is out of there before he can even get close.
"Bon, can we- Bon, wait!" He still had not apologized so no, there would be no talking.
All her comments are gone, he texts, a couple of hours later. I even reposted a bunch of pics, so they wouldn't have her likes on them.
Bonnie rushed to check. It was true. All traces of Katie Pierce were gone. She took a deep breath and let it out, along with her anxiety about her rival and her boyfriend. She was not, however, going to rush to answer him. She needed to prove her point.
It didn't also seem to be a coincidence that tomorrow was Wednesday, the day she tutors Damon.
An hour later; I'm sorry. You were right. You're always right. Bonnie can't help but soften. He's her baby. I miss you, he continues. Can I make it up to you?" He sends a picture of himself with his lip poked out, looking like a lost puppy.
Being away from him is killing her, but Bonnie still makes him wait three hours for a response.
I suppose. Blushing smiley. I'm sorry, too.
That evening he shows up at her door with a beautifully wrapped box. Bonnie squeals, and tears into it. It's a pair of peep toe Louboutin platforms, with a matching clutch. They're nice, really nice, but…more shoes? She was hoping he'd be more original.
"What's the matter, don't you like it?"
"Of course, of course I love it, Sweetheart!" She reaches for his face and kisses the corner of his mouth. "I just want to spend more time with you, too. There's this new Thai place. It looks simple, but the food is supposed to be excellent. Will you take me? Then I can wear my new shoes and then you'll officially be forgiven."
"If that's want my girl wants, that's what she gets." She hugs him, feeling his body and breathing in his scent, vowing never to let an argument like this happen again.
The next day Bonnie and Kai show everyone that they're a united front. He's walking her to every class again, always with his arm around her. Their outfits are in matching colors, and Bonnie's flaunting her shoes and clutch. At lunch she sits in his lap and laughs extra hard at his jokes. It's partly a show for all of the subjects in their kingdom but, she also missed him like crazy.
"I hear there's trouble in paradise."
"Please don't start today, Salvatore. Seriously." She held her hand up at him, as if to say "stop".
"Oh trust, me I wasn't going to say a whole heck of a lot. I was just going to stand back and be silently amused. But then I heard that my name was brought up."
Bonnie's eyes went wide. People heard that?! Who could possibly have heard that?! If he knew, it was a guarantee the whole school would know. What she didn't realize was that Damon was on the court when they started arguing and snuck over by the door to be nosy. He was the only one who heard. "If you wanted me to tell you how hot you are, all you had to do was ask." He winked.
Bonnie couldn't think of a single comeback.
"Cat got your tongue?" She grew hot from embarrassment. "Are you blushing, Bennett? Oh this is TOO good." He whips out his phone and tries to take a picture of her.
"Stop it, Salvatore!" She covers her face with her hands.
"I'm gonna hold this one over your head forever. You just have no idea how much ammo you've given me." He takes her wrist and tries to pull her hand away. His touch is hot to her, it burns her. But not in an entirely bad way, as she would have expected. It's weird.
"Oh my God…" She was so humiliated she could just drop dead. Mercifully he changes the subject.
"Who's this Katie Pierce?"
"She's a skank. Probably just your speed."
"Well damn. If you dislike her, she must be a girl scout."
"Nope, she's a slag."
"I wonder how she'd feel if she knew you said that." He lifts an eyebrow.
"Feel free to tell her. She knows exactly how I feel, so it wouldn't be news."
"What exactly did she do to make you hate her so much?"
Bonnie stared daggers into him. "Don't ask me personal questions."
He holds up his hands and shrugs."Forget I asked. You are just full of poison, aren't you?"
"You don't know the half. But you'll find out if you don't get into your textbooks and get out of my damn business. "
They pass the hour arguing over his assignment, but surprisingly, the assignment gets done. Bonnie breathes a sigh of relief when it's time for her to get out of there. Signs the time log, since they no longer trust them to meet for the entire time.
The next week is spent sweet talking people, handing out candy and smiles (many of them fake) to get their nominations. Not that she's ever had a problem being nominated before, but she won't be taking any chances.
The announcement for homecoming king and queen comes over lunch.
"And the nominees for our queen are…" They started off with a couple of nobodies that Bonnie didn't care about. She just rolled her eyes.
The next name is announced. "Katie Pierce."
"Boooooooo!" Bonnie and her friends all jeer her. A few cheered for her, though, more than Bonnie is comfortable with. She isn't surprised but she's disgusted. The other names are of no consequence; they're nobodies, really. The competition lay between Bonnie and Kate. And she's about to smoke Kate's ass.
"And finally, Bonnie Bennett." The lunchroom erupts in cheers, and Bonnie stands and pretends to do a dramatic curtsy, and daintily adjust the imaginary crown on her head with her fingertips.
The boy's nominees are next. Another couple of nobodies come before they hear:
"Malachai Parker." The lunchroom erupt into cheers again, and Kai stands and salutes the crowd as his friends pretend to dust his shoulders off.
"And last but not least, Damon Salvatore."
Impossible. Bonnie doesn't hear what sort of response he gets; this is the shock of her young life! Who the hell nominated him? Did he nominate himself?
Damon Salvatore, Mystic Falls North homecoming king?
