Black Girl White Boy
Chapter 14 - She is so much more
R-M subject matter
Hey all, thanks for being patient with me... I hope you enjoy this chapter. It deals with some issues.
*Warnings - This chapter and the next couple will deal with intense subject matter, racism, sexism, sexual assault.
History, despite its wrenching pain cannot be unlived. But, if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
~ Maya Angelou
Bonnie sat in the locker room adjusting her socks. She was always well aware of her body as she became older, but, she was also made aware, often, that in some ways, she still felt her inexperience in the presence of others. Especially in the locker room. Caroline stood with her pink silk panties on, pulling up her uniform, athletic shorts. Bonnie never made it a habit to watch other girls get dressed, but she always heard other girls complimenting each other.
"Bonnie, I swear, the white cotton bra and panties? That was middle school." Katherine said.
"Leave her alone. Not everyone needs to prove their worth through the types of panties they buy. For you chicks, half of your parents still buy your clothes. Bonnie makes her own money." Caroline said.
"I refuse to work. I have Mason for that." Bonnie ignored Kat.
"Pretty, only gets you so far." Caroline joked.
"I just need it to get me to marry a millionaire. Then after ten years, ill divorce him and take half of everything. I'll be set for life."
Bonnie chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Damn shame."
"That's what my mom tells me, too." Kat, literally had no shame, and was okay with marrying for money.
Bonnie lifted her arms to change her shirt, and that's when Katherine pointed out, her smooth skin.
"Wow, Bon. How do you shave your arms, and not have the dark shadow from your hair."
"What do you mean?'
"I mean, whenever I shave my pits, you can still see stubble from my hair." Kat said.
"Oh, that. I don't really get under arm hair. So, I never really have to shave it. It barely comes in."
"No fair. I've been shaving my pits, since I was twelve. Do you even have pubes?"
"Sheesh, Kat. What's with all the questions? Are you on your period?" Caroline shouted, making Bonnie laugh.
"No, I'm serious. Why does Bonnie have a body like that, but dress it like a little kid? The bathing suit, on spring break." Bonnie looked at Kat like she was crazy. "You always wear jeans and shorts. I've seen you wear a skirt maybe three times. You have his foxy bod, but, I would've never known if not for you wearing Caroline's bikini in the jacuzzi."
"Kat, I don't dress like a little kid. I dress age appropriate. My hip-huggers are very womanly. You're the one that dresses like a go-go dancer."
"Mason, doesn't complain."
"Well, neither does Damon." She winked.
"I just think, at some point, you should dress more like the woman you are. You're so lucky, I love you." She said, feeling like the cooler older sister. Katherine was friend, that acted older than she was. Loved older guys. Dressed older, and pretended she knew everything about men, just so she could give advice on everyone's relationships. In a way, she kept Bonnie and Caroline hip to things, that sexually matured women only knew about. Katherine, was... very experienced. And she was a social butterfly. "Also, I got a sweet invite to the disco this weekend. The guy said he'd get me, and three more foxy babes in, but..."
"But, what?"
"We have to look the part." Kat said, winking.
"So, in other words," Caroline said, "we have to dress like you."
"Exactly. So, I'm extending the invite. You, Caroline, and my sister, if she can get her head out of Tyler's ass."
"I think she quite likes her head up his ass." Caroline said. Bonnie looked at her funny, knowing Caroline was upset with Tyler and Elena, for whatever happened in NOLA.
"Come on. We moved passed things, didn't we?"
"Kat, if Elena knows something... she needs to speak up. Coming face to face with Tyler has been very uncomfortable." Bonnie said.
"I'll talk to her. I'll see if I can get her to talk. But if not, it's just us. And, regardless of you and Elena's relationship. I hope you and I can still be friends."
"Of course."
"Good, because, I'm ready for a weekend, with my friends. Oh, and Bon, it's going to be across town. Where there's more 'types' of kids too." She said quoting her fingers. "It's a really integrated town, I guess."
"That exists in Virginia?" Bonnie laughed.
Caroline, interrupted. "Oh, across town, yes. They are who our team will face in champion ships, if we make it. Their high school, has won the conference, the last five years in a row. And their varsity players, are babes." She was referring to the black players from the other school.
"Well, I guess, it would be nice to see a mixed crowd. Still, I'm not sure my grams will be okay with me going to a disco."
"She let you go to Spring break."
"Kat, I just went through a difficult time with my momma, I'm sure she felt bad. And secondly, my family lives there. Which is why she let me go in the first place."
"Well, I guess we better figure out how to get you out this weekend." Kat, sashayed out to the bleachers, for roll call. Bonnie stood slowly, dragging Caroline, who hated P.E. class.
"Come on, let's go sit for ten minutes doing roll call, and swing a racket at a ball for thirty minutes."
"Fine." Caroline huffed. "By the way, don't listen to her, about your underwear, I find it... cute, that you still wear middle school panties."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Wow." Caroline laughed through Bonnie's embarrassment. "If you don't like it, take me to the department store to buy new ones."
"Okay. Today after school."
"I can't, I have work."
"You work for your boyfriend's mom. I'm sure she'll give you a pass."
"I don't want to ask her that. My grams say, your work ethic says a lot about you."
"So, then, when can we go? Why don't we ditch the rest of the day? I'll take you, and have you back by last period."
"Care, you know, I can't ditch school."
Suddenly both girls were interrupted by the PE teacher. "Ladies, it's nice to see you finally show up."
"Sorry Mrs. Jones." Mrs. Jones was probably one of the few black teachers at Mystic Falls high school. She was very statuesque, and one of the most respected women at the school. People, saw her walking in the hallway, the moved out of her way. Called her Mrs. and Ma'am, and always said please and thank you. She was married to the basketball coach. The boy's varsity basketball coach. He was the winningest coach in the county. Everyone loved Coach Jones. He also, coached Football. But, it was the end of basketball season, and they were on the road to a championship.
And their star player, Tyler Lockwood. One of the most popular guys in school. He was up there with Damon, Stefan, Matt, and others. But Damon gave up sports. It wasn't his thing. Stefan stayed with sports, and even had scholarship offers. Damon, liked few things, cars, music, and Bonnie.
Tyler, liked sports, drugs, his own popularity, sex, girls, and his girlfriend. In that order. And somewhere along the way, he added infatuation with Bonnie to that list.
After Bonnie sat in the bleachers, with the rest of the girls in her class, she realized, the boys class was joining them today.
"Today, we will be joined by the male students. We are going to be doing track and field events. We've grouped you into several categories. We will rotate events throughout the week. Today, we will practice, Discus, Shot-put, Hundred-yard Hurdles, and the One-hundred-yard Dash. When I call your names, break off into these groups please."
As the names began getting called, Bonnie realized she was in neither Katherine's nor Caroline's group. And when the boys began getting integrated, she was realizing shortly that, Tyler Lockwood, in all of his happy-go-lucky glory, was going to be in her group. When he spotted her in the crowd, he refused to take his eyes off of her. It was, uncomfortable. He'd been doing it ever since they got back from spring break. Two more months of school she kept telling herself.
When he realized, he was in her group, he walked straight towards her, but stopped the moment, the groups dispersed to their events. Bonnie, turned her shoulder to him and refused to meet his glare again. Their first event was the Shot-put. To show off, he went first, throwing the shot-put.
He braced himself, being the prized athlete he was. Hand to his shoulder, holding the heavy weight, until he shot it in the air, directly raising it out from his shoulder at a ninety-degree angle. As always, he received praise and cheers, and turned to see Bonnie, who'd decided against, watching him.
It bothered him for some reason.
Once the class had, gone through the first event, Bonnie realized this week would be hard on her. Every time, he had an opportunity to make her uncomfortable, he did. He watched every event she did. Up close.
She felt his eyes, and it made her work harder. It made her throw further, run faster, jump higher, swing harder. The last even was the hurdles. After completing it, in record time... she stopped to catch her breath. Before she could fully turn around she felt a pat on her back, and the words from his mouth. "Maybe you should've been on the track team. Your body was made for this."
Bonnie smacked his hand. "Don't touch me." She said, making him look at her harshly.
"Excuse me. I was just complimenting you."
"Don't. Don't touch me. Stay away from me."
"Or else what?"
Before Bonnie could speak, the bell rang. It was time for everyone to hit the locker room and shower. Bonnie walked back quickly, steering clear of him. When she made it to the lockers, she remembered she'd felt, more uncomfortable, than when she found out wearing white cotton panties was juvenile. After her shower, she took more time to get ready.
"I need to get to my next class, before I'm late. Unless you want to quit being a square and ditch?" Caroline asked.
Bonnie gave Caroline a knowing look and Caroline smiled. "It was worth a try. Should I wait for you?"
"No, go ahead. My next class, is close by."
Caroline walked on, and after a couple minutes Bonnie walked out, and was cornered by Tyler Lockwood. She held her books tightly against her chest, and he used his bigger body push her into the corner, outside of the gym.
"Where you going in a hurry?"
"I'm gonna be late to class. Move, before I scream."
"Scream? Do you know who I am?" He used his fingers to caress her cheek. And the skin of her arm.
"Don't touch me!" She yelled.
"It's true what they say. You black girls are feisty." He smirked. Then he pulled his face close to hers, and whispered in her ear. "I want to find out if everything they say is true?" Then he kissed her cheek, and walked away. Bonnie tightened her lips, and closed her eyes, trying not to lose her temper.
When she opened her eyes, he was gone, and the bell rang. She was late. She tried to sneak around the building, and get to a place to hide, before any teachers had seen her. She walked quietly, and nervously, looking down at her shoes feeling shamed, until she bumped into Caroline again.
"Bon, I was late anyways. I don't dare show up in my next class late, my teacher hates us." She grinned.
"Care, let's just go!"
"Panty shopping?" Care asked, and Bonnie nodded her head nervously. She didn't want to be here right now. She didn't want to risk seeing Tyler again. "Far out!" Caroline, drug Bonnie, to her car. And shoved her inside of it, smiling, like a kid in a candy store.
...
Damon sat in class, waiting for Bonnie. She's the only reason he gave a damn about school anymore. She didn't walk in. He waited several minutes, before his black, high top Chuck Taylor's started tapping the ground nervously. He didn't wear boots today. He liked to play footsies with Bonnie, and she always said his big boots hurt her feet. His jeans, were faded, and the t-shirt of choice today was dark grey with black baseball sleeves, and neckline. No leather jacket today, the summer was approaching.
His hair, was slightly thrown back. And he had shaved his face every day since spring break, why did he suddenly care about looking decent?
The tapping of his foot drove his classmates crazy. At one point, he looked up from his desk to see about ten annoyed students, including his cousin, Elena, watching him. His teacher wasn't even there, they had a substitute. He hated being there when she wasn't there. In frustration, he snapped, then tossed his number two pencil across the room and stood up, watching everyone, while they watched him, then he stormed out. This class, was boring, when she wasn't there.
Damon walked down the hallway and tapped the lockers the whole way. He walked through, disturbing classrooms and not being discreet. Two teachers walked out to see him. But all they did was shake their heads, and close their doors. He walked around campus looking for her. She never missed class. Besides she was in first period today. Maybe she was in the principal's office. No, not Bonnie. Not his Bonnie. Nor would she ever ditch classes. Not in Mystic Falls.
He walked to his Camaro, and sat until the final class, Bonnie's study hall, where he waited for her in the parking lot outside of her class.
….
Bonnie rummaged racks and didn't see a thing she liked. "Caroline, I don't see nothin' I like."
"Bon, be realistic. Your just not used to it."
"You know, my momma don't wear bras." Bonnie said.
"Well, I mean... I hear that's what a lotta women do nowadays. They have a name for them."
"There's no name for braless woman, accept... comfortable." Bonnie laughed.
"Damn right. I love getting home, and taking my bra off." They loved laughing together. And Spring break brought them closer. Aside from Tyler, Bonnie felt at ease with her friends. "So, why do t your momma wear bras?"
"She just don't believe the restrictions should be on her body. She said the first people didn't wear bras. And that they were black kings and queens. She fancies herself, of the first people." Bonnie remembered her mother in a simpler time. Before she met her step dad. When it was just the two of them. At a time, Abby, was so free. "My step daddy, hated it. He, made her cover her entire body from neck to ankles sometimes. Black turtle necks, were the worst. But, still, he couldn't make her wear a bra. She wore, cotton white panties to this day." She smiled talking about her mother. "I only started to wear a bra because, once, Sabine asked me if I slept in my bras or not? And I didn't understand why she asked that. Then, she told me, sleeping in your bra keeps your breast perky, and not sleeping in your bra, would cause them to sag. So, I decided, I wanted perky ones. And I asked Tara to buy me bras. And she did. And I sleep in them too now."
"Really? I take my bras off every day. Good to know." Caroline looked down at her breasts and checked them. "Do my tits looks saggy to you?" Her words cause the older store clerk to look at them in disgust no watch them closely.
"I think yours are perfect."
"Bonnie, why is it, that your waist curves in so small here?" Caroline asked pointing to Bonnie waistline.
"I don't know. Always thought I was misshapen. But, Tara said I had the perfect body for hip-huggers and bell-bottoms. Which is why I rarely wear skirts and dresses. I like the clothes that hug my curves."
"Hmm. Curves. What a concept. And I like to accentuate my legs and breasts." The difference in what the two girls thought was physically attractive in themselves was an indicator at how differently they were brought up.
"Bon, seems you had a colorful upbringing. I wish I had so much family around."
"I mean, it was nice, for a while. When my momma stayed with Tara. But, when she met the Chief, she just... I don't know, she changed, and we changed. Nothing, mattered more than him. And, I mean, I loved my step daddy, but... I didn't like who she was with him. Then he died, and it was like her whole world... just stopped. No one... not even her own child could keep her afloat. Now, she's gone."
Caroline, reached for Bonnie's shoulder, and touched it. Offering her compassion. Even if Caroline, was more experienced in bra shopping than Bonnie, she was still pretty naive in a social sense, to some things. She and Bonnie taught one another a lot.
"I like this one." Bonnie said. She saw a purple laced bra, and matching panty set.
"Bon, that would look so dynamite on you."
"Are you using my slang, Care?"
"You know we have become soul sisters." Caroline, had worn her hair down with feathers in it, and it was Bonnie's influence. Bonnie loved the feather trend. But, she didn't like how it looked on her, so she experimented styles on Caroline. "We should cut those pants into shorts."
"No way. Grams would kill me."
"What grams doesn't know..."
"No!" Bonnie said.
"Fine. Fine. Don't spaz out." The girls were interrupted by a clerk asking if they needed help, paying close attention to Bonnie.
"No, we are fine ma'am." Caroline said.
"Are you purchasing that? Or just window shopping?" She looked directly at Bonnie, angering her.
"Yes. With my own money. Money I make, from working. You know, a job? Just like you." Bonnie said.
"Well, excuse me."
"No, you are not excused for watching me, like I was gonna steal this." Bonnie slammed it on the counter and pulled out her money.
Caroline watched as the woman looked at Bonnie like she were a criminal. "Ring me up, please." She said, tilting her head, and squaring her eye at the woman behind the register. The woman, told Bonnie.
"No checks."
"I'm paying cash." The woman took Bonnie's cash and rang her up. Then Caroline saw a sign that said, 'checks accepted.' Bonnie stood patiently, waiting for her cash back. As she waited, Caroline pointed to the 'checks accepted' sign. When she saw that sign, the lady was handing her back her change and receipt. Then she handed the lady the receipt back. "You work on commission?"
"Yes."
"I change my mind, I want my money back. I didn't like it."
"You haven't taken it home yet. You just bought it."
"And I realize, that I... don't... like... it." She said with an attitude, after the woman lied.
The woman was forced to give Bonnie her refund, since she never technically wore it. Bonnie smiled. "Thank you."
Caroline looked at the woman, and back at Bonnie. "I'm not going to buy this after all. I saw the same one at the store down the way. Let's go Bon." Then looked at the store clerk. "You know, you oughta really consider people's feelings, when you work on commission." Caroline left her set there too, and the two girls walked out. Bonnie smiled at Caroline.
"You didn't have to-"
"Yes, I did. You're my best friend. If someone doesn't like you. They don't like me. If they treat you bad, they treat me bad too." Bonnie bit her top lip, smiling, and feeling overwhelmed at the same time. She hugged Caroline and squeezed her tight. They pulled up and Bonnie looked at the clock, in the town square.
"Oh shit. Girl, it's fifteen til. Schools about to get out, and we need to get back."
"Freak me out, really?"
"Yes. Come on, we have to get back before, I have to hear a bunch of jazz from Damon-" Bonnie smacked her forehead. "I didn't tell him I was leavin' he's gonna spaz. He's probably worried."
Caroline jumped into the car, sans any new 'grown up' bras and panties. All they really had was quality time, and donuts. But, it got Bonnie's mind off Tyler. Now, she had to get back to school, and hope Damon, understood.
...
After about ten minutes, they got back to the school. Bonnie wanted to play it off, as if she'd been in study hall. But Damon saw her pull up on the sidewalk and get dropped off by Caroline, "Here." Caroline handed Bonnie a joint.
"No thanks."
"Not for now. For later. In case he stays upset."
"Care..."
"Bon. Just put it in your pocket, and think about it."
The two girls quickly separated ways and Caroline headed home. The parking lot was filled with students and Bonnie just walked right through the crowd headed towards him, as he stood in front of his car, like he always did waiting on her.
Granted, Bonnie's body was typically covered, and dressed ordinarily, but it wasn't what she wore. It was how she carried herself. And, her clothes fit her differently. They hugged her curves, and made Damon try to imagine what she looked like underneath it. His favorite part of her wardrobe, was the day's her navel slightly showed. He loved to see the skin of her stomach. It reminded him, of what their skin looked like when it touched.
She wore jeans, but they hugged her hips. They rode her belly button just high enough, that the top of her belly was still exposed, when she tied the front of her shirts. Also, her curvy hips were only accented, when that impossibly tiny, waist, cinched in, making her look like a coke bottle. She wore, tennis shoes today, but, he didn't mind. She came up to his arm pit, if that, maybe lower, and he loved wrapping his arm around her neck and pulling her in for a bear hug. He watched the sun shine on her big hair, and the edges, looked golden compared to her roots. Her hair lightened, the more she was in the sun, and her skin darkened.
It didn't matter what she wore, he dug Bonnie, in every way. He's never, felt the way he feels about her, about any other girl.
The closer she got to him, the more prominent, his blue eyes struck her. His normal, tilted to the left grin, wasn't where it normally was. Instead, it was as if he, tucked it away and wore the wrinkles in his forehead instead.
"Hey pretty girl."
"Damey." She kissed his cheek.
"Soooo... where you been?" He asked right away, and interrupted her as he saw her get ready to speak. "And, before you lie, just know, I saw you and Caroline, pull in." She closed her mouth, and looked around feeling nervous. "Dang, Bon Bon. I thought maybe, the first time you'd decide to ditch, it would be with me at least. Thought, maybe we could go to the beach, and spend a day, bein' lazy."
"It's not like that. I wasn't gonna go, but, the girls thought I needed to start buying grown up underclothes." She laughed.
"Underclothes?"
"Panties, Bras?"
"Oh, you mean because you wear plain stuff and not the fancy stuff?"
"So, you agree with them?" Her slight offense, made him roll his eyes playfully.
"No. I mean, I've been with other girls, so I know there's different stuff out there. But, I don't care. Guys, don't really care about that." He rubbed her shoulders, smiling. Until he remembered she left school. "Still, don't explain you leavin' school. It ain't like you."
"Sorry." She said, and he couldn't resist her. He lifted her body and sat her on the hood of his car. Opened her legs, and stood between them. Then, he grabbed her gently by her face, and kissed her. Deeply, and softly. They'd gotten hot and heavy in NOLA, but they didn't have sex. More or less, touching around clothes, except the times, Damon's hands slipped under her plain white panties. But. Today, and every day since then, they've been very middle school with their romance. Just kissing and hand holding. After the sex talk, Damon was okay, slowing things down for her.
He leaned against the car, with his arms wrapped around her waist. "So, did you find what you were looking for?"
"I did, but, the store clerk was a racist bitch. So, I decided not to buy it."
"I'm sorry baby."
"Not your fault. But, now I can't model it for you." She grinned, with her arms around his neck.
"It's okay, I see you naked in my head every night, so..."
"You're an awful sinner." She whispered, moving in on his lips again, tilting her head, into his kiss, just to feel his body against hers again. She pulled up and whispered, into his kiss, without opening her eyes "But I dig it." She smiled.
"You're a bad mamajamma, Bonnie Bennett." He said softly, kissing her neck. She giggled. "What, did I say it wrong?
"No. You said it, right."
"I dig you, Bonnie. I dig you, to the moon and back."
"Hmm. I softened the dark, rocker boy, with the sharp blue eyes."
"Kiss me." He demanded, waiting for her lips, to crawl back over his, and seduce him, with her kiss. After a few minutes, they heard footsteps disappearing as students were almost all off the lot.
"Damey poo... I need to get to work."
"Let's shake a tale feather, then." He, lifted her body again, and carried her to her side of his car.
He opened the door, and helped her inside, then jumped over the hood, and hopped in his side, starting his sky blue, baby, Stella. When he started the car, she got herself snuggled under his arm, and they drove, to his house so she wouldn't be late for work.
...
When Damon, and Bonnie made it, inside of his house. He locked the door. Knowing his mother won't be home for a couple of hours, and Stefan had basketball practice. Usually, Bonnie headed upstairs to get dressed first, and he made them both ham and cheese sandwiches. When Bonnie put on her peach colored with white striped, maid dress, and her funny, orthopedic looking shoes, she put her hair in a French braid, then walked downstairs to him. He cut their sandwiches in fours, and poured them each some lemonade.
She walked to his table, and he pulled her chair out, next to his. He put their lunch down, and grabbed them napkins. Then they sat, in the mot domesticated way, and conversed, like two adults.
"How was your day?" She asked.
"Well, I saw you first period, then you disappeared. I was worried. All damn day."
"Did you, as Caroline would say, 'spaz out' huh?"
"I won't lie. I tripped out, because, I thought, for some crazy reason, your momma came back, and took you away from me." At this point, neither one of them could eat their sandwiches.
"That won't happen." She grabbed his hand, as it sat on her knee, rubbing her skin with his thumb.
"If I lose you, I'll probably, go crazy. You keep me sane."
"That ain't true Damon. It's inside of you. You just need to take your time, and evaluate your choices. No more, stealing cars, for your father, and getting arrested. No more, measuring drugs, and whatever else your father made you do."
"Okay, and no more fighting for you. I don't want to see you in cuffs. I'll probably lose it."
"I promise. I don't fight anymore." She laughed. "I did my community service. I can't get into college if I get into trouble."
"And, I will be kicked out of school, if I get another strike against me, so..."
"So, we both promise to be good for the next two months. Then we have the summer together." She smiled.
"Wait... your cousin told me, you wanna go to New York or Los Angeles. That true?"
"Yes. The schools have good arts programs."
Damon leaned back into the chair, and held his face. He felt helpless. Bonnie was leaving, and he would be stuck in Mystic Falls. He wanted to be involved in something important, so he could keep up with her. Maybe even take care of her. "That's far-out Bonnie." He said, pretending to be happy for her. "I mean, I'm happy for you. I'll sure miss ya. But, I mean, I want you to live your dreams."
"Damon," she shook her head in shock. How could he not realize, she didn't want to be without him, "I want you to come with me."
He looked at her in surprise. Squinting his eyes, trying to figure out if she was lying or not. "Say what?"
"Damon, if I go to LA, or New York, I want you with me. It'll be perfect. We'll both be adults. We can get a place. Both get jobs, and be happy. And those places, from what I hear are really integrated. So, we won't stand out like we do here."
"I don't mind standin' out." He smiled.
"Yeah, but... we both deserve a fresh start. Unless you don't want to go. I completely understand."
"Are you kiddin' me? Bon Bon, I don't want to be anywhere, where you ain't. A world where you don't exist, ain't a world I wanna live in." He turned his body towards hers, and leaned in grabbing her, and pulling her close to him. "Understand me. I don't want to be in a world, that you're not a part of." Bonnie leaned in, and kissed him.
"I refuse, to not have you in my future. You're all I see, when I think about my life, and what I want." Damon, stood her up and grabbed her walking her towards the cabinet and pinning her. For a second, it reminded her of Tyler. Tyler being in her face today, touching her skin, and kissing her cheek. She flinched when Damon touched her.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm sorry." He went back in for a kiss, and she needed it. She needed his lips touching hers and his arms holding her. She felt safe, and loved. She felt, like more than what people saw. More than a store clerk who followed her around a store with her eyes, every move she made. She felt like more than an object of lust, like when Tyler stalked her at school, and made her feel uncomfortable. She wasn't an angry little girl, that Marcel saw. She wasn't the abandoned daughter, her mother left. She wasn't any of those things, when she was with him. She wasn't her body or her skin color. She wasn't her anger, or her loneliness. She was love. He made her feel, like love, and she loved him for that. Because, he couldn't help but to just, love her. For who and what she was to him.
"I just want to kiss you. I want to hold you and never let you go." He said.
"Then, shut up, and just do it." She closed her eyes waiting for his kiss. He wasted no time, being the simplicity in her world complication.
...
The next day, at school, Bonnie and Damon were given their date for their final Romeo and Juliet presentation. They were to choose their favorite passage, and recite it, in front of class. No papers, or notes. Only memorization. They had to present, for the final portion of their partner grades in English class. Which was fifty percent of their grade. The entire second semester they'd been working on different dialogue from the play.
"Four weeks, from today, you two are to present your dialogue."
"Yes, Mrs. Shannon." Bonnie said. Damon, wore his boots today. He was leaned back in his chair. Leather jacket. Basic black t-shirt, and black jeans. Bonnie looked at him upon the bell ringing, and stood up, as he wrapped his arm around her. "Sometimes you remind me of a cross between, Mick Jagger and Fonzie."
"If I'm Mick Jagger, you know you're my Brown Sugar, right?"
"I'm your only Sugar."
"Right on, sweet thang." He smiled. "And on any given day, you're a cross between Donna Summer and Pam Grier."
"Hmm."
"What was that Hmm, for?"
"I thought I was more of a Nikki Giovanni."
"Well, in all fairness, you just start reading Nikki Giovanni to me. And I don't know what she looks like."
"Okay, free pass." They stopped in front of her next class. The one she had with Caroline. He kissed her before going to his next class, and they went about their days.
Bonnie, got ready for her third period class. One of her favorite classes. Her elective class. It was, creative writing. Mr. Saltzman, was kind of a weird teacher. But he always liked her work, and he tended to give her great notes on her papers. Today, after class he called her up, and gave her news, she needed to hear.
"Miss Bennett, I know you've expressed your interest in several schools along the coast, in California, and on the Eastern coast, of New York. There are several opportunities for writing scholarships.
Bonnie's face showed confusion. She understood what he said, but she was taking it in slowly. He waited for her response, and when he realized it hit her, he smiled.
"Wait, are you saying, I have an opportunity to have my school paid for?"
"Yes. I'm saying I put you in for two of them. Here is the paper work. You'll need to write two, one-thousand word essays, each are different. The information is on both packets. Take your time, assessing what you want to say, but get it done quickly. You have to have those back to me in two weeks. It'll take them an additional two weeks to get back to you."
He hugged her. And she accepted it. She smiled at him, something she rarely did. Then, she said, "Thank you Mr. Saltzman. Thank you for everything this year. Your notes, your ideas, your input. I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, just... keep working hard. Don't let your circumstance define you."
"What do you mean?"
"You come from a broken home. A single mother of color, who didn't finish high school. Incarcerated father, who died behind bars." Bonnie didn't realize how much of her I formation the teachers knew. "I'm just saying, you beat the odds."
"I guess I did." She said quietly. "I should go. I have Phys Ed." She walked out, and thought how weird it was, that he was always so nice to her. Did her really believe in her, or did he just feel sorry for her? Right now, she was on cloud nine. She needed to tell Caroline and Kat everything.
...
"Yes, I can't believe it." She said excitedly. "Imagine, having part of my tuition paid for."
"Bon, I'm proud of you." Caroline said hugging her.
"Ya know, Bonnie, those granny panties, must be helping you do something right."
"Kat, you know, I hate you?" She laughed.
"Hate me for now. But love me, when you get to college, and invite me to meet all the college, babes."
"Says the girl in love with her older boyfriend." Caroline laughed.
"Says the girl. Who can't be tied down to a man, that lives in Mystic Falls. I need a rich husband, with an endless supply."
"Supply?"
Kat made a symbol of sniffing and tilting her head like she was stoned.
"Oh. Why am I not surprised?" Caroline groaned.
"Because you're a square." Heavy eye roll from Kat, and a quick change of subject. "So, you bitches going with me Saturday?"
"I'm in." Caroline said.
"My grams got home from work late, last night. I haven't got to ask yet."
"God, Bon your killin' me and my half buzz."
"Who comes to Phys Ed, baked?" Bonnie asked.
"This girl." She used her two thumbs and pointed to herself. Bonnie would sure miss locker room banter two months from now.
...
After class, Bonnie decided not to wait alone today. She walked with Caroline and Katherine to her next class. She stayed away from, Tyler all class. She avoided him at all costs. She met Damon for lunch before their next class, sat near the grandfather tree. They didn't always go to lunch period. Sometimes they skipped, and went to wait in front of their next class and studied for those thirty minutes. Bonnie was obsessed with her grades. And he wanted to try harder in school, just for her. So, he could graduate, and finish school alongside her. But, today she was too excited about her scholarship opportunity, and she wanted to sit under the grandfather tree with him, and eat lunch.
"I can't believe we're going away together after graduation." He said.
"I can't wait. And, it'll be us, and our lives. Doing whatever we want."
"And, maybe one day when you graduate college, and I find my way in life. Maybe open a garage... and maybe you'll be a writer, or a teacher, and... we'll be married, and have kids, and-"
"Kids? Damon, how can we bring children into a world, that doesn't really agree with us being together?"
"You can only counter hate with love Bonnie. The more we create it, the more there will be." She loved his ideas, but hated the fact that he couldn't see things the ways he did sometimes.
"You think it'll be that easy? But it won't."
"Good things don't always come easy. But, if it's good, you fight for it."
"Well, luckily, we only have to worry about getting through high school right now."
"Yeah, no children, any time soon. Cap and gown, and moving far, far, away from here." He kissed her cheek. "Okay, let's go to class. Two more classes today."
"Do we have to?"
"Yes. We can't afford to mess up. Two more months, until paradise."
"Ugh, two more months."
...
A few days had gone by, and Bonnie kept pretending things were fine. Friday, at PE, Tyler decided it had been a whole week that he hadn't said anything to her. Bonnie hadn't spoken to Elena since NOLA, and she wasn't even sure the status of Tyler and Elena's relationship. But, she knew, Elena knew more than she was told. Especially after today's encounter with Tyler.
He walked up to her during a moment in between events, and spoke to her when she was sitting alone. "Hey, Bonnie, some of us are getting together this weekend. Thought, maybe you'd like to party with us, for old times' sake. We had a lot of fun on spring break, didn't we?"
"Tyler, why do you insist on bothering me?"
"I just think you're a groovy chick. And I happen to know, you like to party."
"Listen, stop jazzin' with me. I don't like to party. And I don't like you!"
"I could've sworn your body liked me." He whispered to her. Then she slapped him hard across his face.
SLAP!
He caught his cheek. His words caught her off guard and made her feel extremely uncomfortable. What did that mean, Her body liked him? After a few students heard the conflict, and he grabbed her by her arm aggressively, and put his face directly in hers.
"Bonnie Bennett, you little feisty bitch-"
SLAP!
Before he could finish his sentence hit him again. His face turned beat, red, and yanked her arm from him. "You ever put your hands on me again, I swear to both black and white Jesus, I'll go NOLA on your white ass in a minute, Tyler Lockwood." Some of the students heard her words, and gasped.
"Was that a threat?" He asked.
"A got damn promise!" The entire class was spread across the field, and before she was spotted by everyone, she took off towards the locker room. She threw her clothes on, and sat there, shaking in her pants. All she wanted to do was feel normal. Tyler liked all the girls. He flirted with them all. But why was he suddenly singling her out? The bell rang, and before the other girls could see her anger, she walked to find Damon. Her hands were still shaking, and she noticeably irritated.
He walked towards her with a big smile on his face, and when he realized she wasn't smiling, his frown turned upside down, and his eyebrows met each other at the bridge of his nose. "Bon Bon, baby, what wrong?"
"Can we just go eat, please?" She asked, holding back anger. Bonnie knew she was a fighter. She knew, she had a temper, and just like she kicked Marcel's ass she could kick Tyler's. But this wasn't NOLA. This was Mystic Falls. These weren't her family and friends, she grew up with, that filled this town, and knew that conflicts were handled on the street and no one called the cops. They let two people settle it. Where big brothers or cousins beat up the guys who messed with their little sisters or cousins. But most importantly, no one back home was a snitch. Because, snitches got their asses whooped too. So, Bonnie, with that embedded into her mind, refused to speak on Tyler. She held on to the moment she could handle it herself. She tried to calculate it, but she was outnumbered here.
This place was Tyler's domain. He was the big man on campus. All the guys wanted to be him, and all theirs wanted him. Teachers wanted him to when their championships, and he got away with everything. She was just the colored girl from a broken home. Believing she had no choices and no outs, so, she dealt with it.
"You're not eaten. What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" She snapped.
"Bon? Baby?"
Her face realized to late and she frowned. "I'm so sorry."
"What happened?"
"Just hold me. Kiss me. Say something! Anything?" Her emotions confused him because she went from yelling to whispering in seconds.
"Talk to me, tell me what wrong?" He asked softly. Bonnie reached for the color of his jacket, and held it. Then she put her face in his chest and buried herself there. "Bonnie, talk to me."
"Life ain't always fair Damon."
"I know. But if you tell me who did it, I can always kick their ass, and make it better for you."
If only it were that simple. She knew if she told Damon he'd probably kill Tyler, and if he did anything to Tyler, he'd be kicked out of school. He had one more mistake to make, before he was expelled. "Nothing. I'm fine."
But Damon knew better, he held her, and tried to figure out a way to get answers out of her. But she wouldn't budge. It wasn't until they were in fifth period, where she finally decided to speak to Elena. She pulled her aside privately to speak. Elena stood there, with not much to say. "I thought my cousin said you can't talk to me?"
"He don't want me talkin' to you. But I need to ask you somethin' Lena."
"What?"
"Do you have reason to believe, your boyfriend, drugged me, and did anything to me, in NOLA?"
"Bonnie, we've been over this. He wouldn't do that. He has a basketball championship to focus on. Besides, he and I were practically all over each other. Why, would he need to drug you, when he had me?"
"Because he's a sick bastard Elena. He keeps harassing me. Cornering me, and says things to make me uncomfortable. Now, I don't want to tell your cousin, because he'll lose everything, trying to kill your boyfriend. But, if you have proof, you can come with me to the principal." Bonnie was almost pleading. She wasn't a snitch, but, she was sick of Tyler tormenting her.
"Bonnie, I can't help you. He's my boyfriend. He wouldn't do that. Let it go!" Elena said.
"Let what go?" Damon said. Sick of not knowing what was wrong with Bonnie.
"Nothing." Elena said to him.
"Not nothing. I begged her to be honest with me. I asked her to tell me, anything... even if she isn't certain, that she thought there was possibility her boyfriend could've drugged me? She refuses to help me."
Damon looked between the two girls. "Lena, I found Tyler's brand of beer in Bonnie's room. The brand only him and Mason drink, from when she was unconscious; explain that."
"Could be a number of reasons."
"Never mind." Bonnie walked away mad. Elena rolled her eyes and Damon, shook his head at her.
"You can be a real bitch, you know that?" He went after Bonnie and sat beside her. "Bonnie, I told you I'll kick his ass. Matter fact, I'll pistol whip him, and leave him in the woods, buried alive." He said with a straight face. IF one thing, he learned from his father, was to leave the other guy with a good enough ass-whoopin, he would be near dead or dead.
"What happened, to only love can fight hate?" She reminded him of what he said.
"Unless someone hurts you. Then all peaceful talk goes out the door. Now, you gonna tell me what's wrong?"
She hesitated, but spoke nervously.
"Tyler Lockwood keeps saying things, and trying to make me uncomfortable."
"WHAT?!"
"Please calm down. Seriously." She grabbed him by the jacket, when he headed for the door to find Tyler and kick his ass. Until she begged him to sit. "Please."
"What did he say? Did he touch you?" By her not answering, his face turned beat red, and his fist clenched until he drew blood in his palms with his nails.
"Don't worry. Today, I slapped him, and threaten to kick his lily-white ass."
"You did?"
"Yes. I am sorry if lily-white ass offends you. I didn't mean it that way. But, I'm sure it was the wrong thing to say, either way."
"I'm not offended at what you said. Im pissed that he put his hands on you. Did he call you any names?"
"A little feisty bitch. HE told me, he wanted to see if what they say about black girls is true."
"I'm going to fucking kill him!" Damon tried to take off, and yet again, she grabbed him by his jacket.
"No, Damon. Don't!"
"Why, Bonnie? So, he can just walk all over you. Fuck him. If I can leave my pops for dead, I can damn sure, leave motherfuckin' Lockwood, barely identifiable."
"And then what? Go to jail, and we lose each other, just like that. No. Let it go please."
"How can you ask me to let it go?" He flared.
"Because, if I can, then you can. We are not breaking our promises to each other."
"I'm angry Bonnie. I'm so fuckin' pissed, right now. There ain't shit that can calm me down, right now." Damon's fist balled up, and she could see his white knuckles turning red.
"What if I told you, I slapped him twice, because he was grabbing me, and being suggestive." Bonnie wrapped her hand around Damon's fist, and her other around his back. "Please, Damon. You only have one more strike, and they'll expel you. No graduation. So, please for me. Just... let's get through the rest of the year. Two more months. You've always told me, I'm a better person than the ugliness of the world. And I know you are too."
"But Bonnie- I can't just-"
"Damon. We made promises to each other to do our best. We promised no more trouble." Her eyes watered. "We promised." When he saw her tears, he softened immediately and held her.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't there, Bon Bon. I could literally kill him. And I would, if you asked me to. I swear to god." He said, looking at her wiping her tears. And somehow, she knew he wasn't lying.
"I believe you. For some reason."
"I'll take care of Tyler Lockwood."
"No. okay. Two more months, and we are out of here. You and me. Two more months."
"Two more months," he said, kissing her forehead. After a few minutes, she finally felt some comfort, that they could get through this. But it was short lived. When the principal, walked into the classroom. Bonnie and Damon looked up, and they watched him walk to the teacher. Then, he and the teacher looked in Bonnie's direction. Damon grabbed her tighter, when the sound faded, and he read their lips, calling Bonnie name to the principal's office. Neither smiling, and both meaning business. She pushed gently off his chest, and looked at him. "Bonnie, don't go."
"I have to." She said. And he'll never forget the look in her face.
"Miss Bennett. Get your belongings, now, and let's go." She knew what this was about. She knew, she was in trouble, this wasn't a first for Bonnie. Just a first, for her at this school. Then suddenly, the warm eyes in the room, turned cold, and she remembered that feeling. The moment everyone perceptions of you either change, or they think, the real you have surfaced. The look, when you are the problem, and they don't want to try to understand you, but get rid of you. She walked through the group of questionable and judgmental eyes and stood before the principal, before she followed him out. Damon looked to Elena and back at the image of her, with her head down, walking out of the classroom. He rubbed his hand through his hair, and before he could figure out what to do, he walks to Elena's desk, and bent down whispering in her ear.
"If something happens to her, I swear, I'm going to make your life, a living hell." Then he knocked her books off her desk, and grabbed his things, before walking out of the class.
"Damon Salvatore, where do you think you're going?" The teacher asked. But he didn't hear a sound since he heard the principal walk Bonnie out of glass. He headed out the door, and trailed the air, of her tears to the principal's office, and waited, for what felt like... forever!
An hour later, just fifteen minutes before the final bell rang, he saw Sheila at the school, he waived, and she waived back, hoping Bonnie was okay. It took another hour. School had been out for a while. The parking lot was cleared and no one was around. And finally, he'd seen her face. Red from crying. Red nose, eyes, and cheeks. He ran up to her, "Bonnie, what happened?"
"I'm suspended, for threatening Tyler, hitting him, and making a racial slur." Bonnie held her things, as Damon grabbed the, from her, taking the stress from her.
"No. This can't be true."
"It's true. There's a game tonight. I can't come. I can't come back until next week Wednesday."
"I'm gonna kick his ass."
"No, Damon, we can't both be in trouble."
"What's this mean for graduation?"
"I don't know yet. The school board is going to deliberate." Sheila looked at Bonnie.
"Child, there ain't no use crying over spilled milk. You stood up for yourself. This is life. This won't be the first or last time you are looked at like they think, that you're the problem."
"Grams, I didn't deserve this, this time."
Grams stopped and grabbed her by the arms. "Of course, you didn't. Most of the times we don't deserve it, Bonnie. But the problem is not how we allow ourselves to fall, but how we pick ourselves back up. Tyler Lockwood hasn't won. You will not break from this. I won't let you." She hugged her granddaughter and rubbed her cheek. "Unfortunately, I had to leave work, something I can't afford to do. And you can't afford to lose your job either. Especially now. We don't know what the school board will decide for your future. Go ahead to work, I'll see you at home later." Sheila said. She kissed her and Damon, and got back into her car and left.
Bonnie looked off as she drove, tying to fight the tears, after her gram's words. He walked behind her, and grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her. Kissing the back of her head. "We are gonna figure it out Bonnie. I promise."
"No Damon, its over for me. Those white, board members, they won't see an innocent girl. They'll take one look at my previous school records, and think, typical nigga." She said angrily. "Typical nigga, who can't function in society, like a normal person."
"Bonnie stop. You ain't a typical anything. Black. White. Brown, yellow... you are you. You are far from typical in any way, and smarter than most people I know. So, your skin is black, but... you are not your skin color."
"I am Damon. I am a black woman. That's what I see, it's what the world sees. I'm not shamed. The one thing, I can be proud of, is being a black woman. I will never be ashamed."
"You don't have to be shamed. I'm not tellin' you to. I'm saying, you're Bonnie. And yes, your black, and yes, you're a woman... but you are also, so much more. You're a difference, in what society thinks they know, and what's real. You're a solution, a thinker, a thought provoker, a lover, a fighter, and the strongest person I know. You..." He paused, and grabbed her face, staring so deeply into her sad eyes, because he meant everything he felt, and said. "You... You are every got damn thing. You know that. Everything. So, yes. I see your skin, and your hair. And, I love those things. But I see so much more than that. I need you to see what I see. Because, it's okay to identify as a black woman, and to not have to feel bad about that."
"They make me feel bad."
"Who?"
"Everyone. Tyler, the principal, my momma, The students, who watched me and judged me, as the principal called me, Even Elena. This world, looks at me and all I am, is a problem."
"That's why I love you. Because maybe you are just evidence, that the problem isn't gone. But, the fact that you keep being you, and fighting... you make me want to fight with you. And isn't that what it all boils down to Bonnie. Opening folk's eyes." Bonnie let his words sink in. She remembered how Caroline stood up for her earlier in the week, with the store clerk. She remembered, how Matt helped her out when she got sick in NOLA. She thought about, Katherine still being her friend, despite her ending her friendship with Elena. "You make people see things differently, because they care about you, enough to see it Bonnie."
"I just didn't think about it that way."
"And, ever since I met you, it's what I see. And this ain't the last of us. The school, will feel our wrath. Just you wait and see, Bonnie. Come on, let's go. So, I can make you lunch, before work." He grabbed her by her shoulders and turned her towards him. "You've even made me start looking for jobs."
"Really? But, your family has money Damon."
"If you count dirty money my pops gives the family as money, I guess so. But I'm not the type of guy to be bought. I met with a few people, and I should be working by next week."
"Really?"
"Yes, Bonnie. You bring that out of me. Wanting to be a better man." He smiled. "This way, I can buy our prom tickets, take you, and make it a night you won't forget."
"If I can still go to prom."
"Baby, you will be prom. And if not, I'll raise hell." He kissed her against his car. He kissed her, tears away. "You will go to prom, and you will graduate. I promise."
"You're right. I'm not going down without a fight."
"Righteous! Baby, I dig it." He said making her laugh. "I'm down for your cause. Any day of the week, baby."
"Hopefully, this will be painless, and quick."
"And, if it's not... well, we'll be ready." The two of them looked at each other, like, this was just the beginning, for them. The beginning of what?
Everything.
He wrapped his arms around her.
Where she thought she always faced life alone, he stood beside her. Most moments, he wanted to stand in front of her, just to protect her. And times, he knew, he needed to stand behind her, and be her support. But, right now, he will stand beside her, and fight.
Together, they were ready to face the world.
Or at least, Mystic Falls, Virginia.
Just the beginning of Tyler. It's about to go down…. How much, does this couple mean to each other? Can they get through this together, and hold on for two more months?