Somebody That I Used to Know

"If you don't drink your shot, I believe I'll be forced to confiscate it."

Bonnie snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the faint sound of someone talking to her, and she cleared her throat in embarrassment when she realized she hadn't was still holding onto her shot glass filled with vodka, while her company had already downed his.

Some drinking companion she'd made.

Bonnie reluctantly agreed to join Chase for one drink at a local bar as they were on the way home from Caroline's, and that quickly escalated to two shots and two beers, as she sat on a stool at the trendy Manhattan pub, trying to keep herself from seeing double.

It wasn't working.

She knew this was stupid; it was a dumb idea entirely, deciding to drink away her problems with some guy she barely knew, but for tonight, she believed her alcohol issues would be the least of her worries. The quicker she went home, the quicker she'd have to deal with Damon, and the state of their crumbling relationship, and she was just not prepared for that.

No amount of pep talks in the world from Stefan Salvatore could prepare her for the inevitable; the soul crushing fact that her boyfriend hated her, and if she walked that apartment, there was a good chance he could be walking out of it.

If he was even there, that was.

Damon had yet to call, text, or send carrier pigeon, and she had no idea where he was or what he was doing.

Or worse; who he was doing it with.

Bonnie shook the thought away, and immediately deemed herself ridiculous for even thinking that Damon would cheat on her before they were officially over. He may have been a lot of things—an arrogant, cocky, stubborn, and impulsive asshole—but he wasn't a cheater, and she could find some small comfort in that.

Very, very small comfort.

Because even if he wasn't cheating, she was sure he was doing something equally hurtful; like packing his things, or burning hers. After all, Damon was a bit melodramatic, and if he was going out, she was sure it'd be with an interminable bang. They'd never had a steady or calm relationship and she was starting to believe they never would.

Bonnie was shook out of her thoughts as Chase slid her another shot, and she caught it effortlessly before downing it, much to his surprise.

He was impressed.

"I'm surprised you're keeping up," he said, before downing his own, and slamming the glass on the bar. "You haven't said a word. It's like you're not even here."

"I'm…sorry," she sputtered, as she ran her hands over her face and shook her head apologetically. "I'm just—"

"Distracted?" he asked. "You haven't said much since you gotten here … I thought it was me," he said, and Bonnie shook her head.

"It's… not you," she replied, as her eyes traveled to the bottles of drinks that lined the bar before them, and she sighed. "I just have a lot on my mind, tonight."

"Care to talk about it?" he asked. "You don't seem to be in a rush to get home. Perhaps it'll do you some good to vent."

Bonnie pulled in a deep breath, and tucked a strand behind her ear.

"It's nice of you to offer, Chase, but I—I shouldn't," she said, and his brow rose softly.

"You shouldn't…. or you can't?" he asked simply, and Bonnie huffed. "Let me guess- your boyfriend, Damon—he'll be angry with you. He's not quite fond of me."

"Damon isn't fond of anybody," she reassured. "Not even me, right now. I… don't exactly know where we stand at the moment. It's complicated…" she began, and stopped.

Why the hell was she telling him this? Sure, Chase was dating Caroline now, but she didn't know him from a hole in the wall, actually, and the fact that she was throwing back drinks with him like he was some old friend of hers was a bit unnerving, actually.

It wasn't like she thought he was a serial killer or something; but there was definitely a lot more to him than met the eye, and when she agreed to come here, she remembered one of her main objectives; find out what the hell it was about this guy that toyed with her intuition so much.

She'd learned that he was born on Europe—England to be exact, though he didn't have much of an accent at all—he spoke four languages, went to NYU and attended the Tisch School of the Arts, and he listened to indie bands that Bonnie had never even heard of.

About herself? She told him she used to like to dance, and that was that. She was intent on keeping mum about herself; especially her love life. She had been doing a good job, until now.

It was time to reel back in the reigns.

"My relationship with Damon isn't any of your business," she said bluntly and Chase raised both eyebrows in enjoyment at that.

"Why not? Do you two have a few dirty little secrets that could ruin things if they got out?" he asked, and she rolled her eyes. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but anyone who was there tonight could see that you two aren't as blissful you want other people to believe that you are."

Bonnie's eyes immediately shot up from the bar, and pointed when they met his.

"Excuse me?" she asked, and Chase shrugged flippantly as he tapped the bar for another beer and faced her.

His bright blue eyes looked directly into hers, and she couldn't help but feel that churn in her stomach again, as their gazes met and he seemed to be studying her as if he were committing each moment to memory.

Why did he do that?

"Damon," Chase said and Bonnie rolled her tongue over her teeth.

"What about him?"

"He… strikes me as that type of guy; one who… can't enjoy something, unless he can control it," he said suddenly, and Bonnie's brows furrowed as she stared at him once more. "He… believes there are things about you—your relationship—that he can force; make happen… And he's upset because… you simply aren't a woman who can be handled that sort of way."

Bonnie let out a short scoff as she looked back at the bar, and straightened her pose.

"And you, Bonnie. You're… the type of girl who's been let down her entire life," he said gently. "You've loved and lost; loved again, only to have your heart stomped all over, and you're afraid—afraid that the cycle will always repeat itself, and you'll die one day, without ever having really experienced happiness," he added, and Bonnie's throat tightened. "You… have it with Damon, you think, but you find yourself doubting him; his love. Because… he loves easily and you do not. And… if he's so quick to fall in love with you, what's stopping him from falling out of it?"

Bonnie's heart picked up speed, and she didn't answer, because he was right.

The reason she was so afraid to completely give in to Damon was because of who he was. He loved hard and he loved fast. His feelings of affection were never something that took much to garner, and at the drop of a hat, he'd gotten over Elena and fell for her, instead.

In the past, they didn't really take it slow, and she realized history was only repeating itself, as she made it a note in her mind to realize that she was living with him, already, as well as dating him.

Things with Damon always moved at the speed of light, and that was why it scared her.

If he could fall for her so hastily, what was stopping him from transferring those feelings to somebody else once he was unsatisfied with her?

Hell, was he doing it right now?

Bonnie shook her head as she recognized she was driving herself crazy.

She was unequivocally scared, nonetheless, that she was just a stop in the road, for him. Damon was a serial lover at best, and though his affections were greatly monogamous once he was committed, how long would they even last?

Was it worth even falling deeply into this, when it could be over, just like that?

Bonnie gulped as she suddenly realized the air between she and Chase had become even more uncomfortable, and she cleared her throat as she leaned back into her seat.

"You don't know him. And you don't know me," she said simply, but with a strong hint sureness in her voice, as she began to stand and Chase smirked.

"Where are you going?"

"Home," she said, as she grabbed her bag, and began to walk out of the bar.

Bonnie walked briskly until she made it through the crowd, out the door, and onto the sidewalk, where she sighed with relief that there were a bunch of yellow cabs making their way to various destinations.

She'd hail a cab, go home, and pray that she'd built up enough liquid courage to talk to Damon, once and for all. What Chase said really cut her down to the core, and she refused to acknowledge any of it, right now. She and Damon would work; they just had to. And she wasn't going to stop until they did.

No matter what.

Bonnie let out a deep exhale when Chase jogged out of the bar, and she turned the other way to raise her hand and wave a taxi. He immediately pulled her hand down, and Bonnie glanced at him with annoyance.

"I'll take you home. No need for the dramatics, Bonnie."

"Fuck you," Bonnie said, as she pulled her hand away and shook her head. "I can figure this out on my own. I've been on my own, for a while now. I don't need your help."

"Hm," he said lowly, and Bonnie moved towards the curb, until she felt his hand pull her back by the wrist and her teeth tightened.

He was really testing her last nerve.

"So, on top of your inability to fall in love properly, you also seem to have a bit of an anger issue. Duly noted," Chase said, and Bonnie's eyes widened with rage as she stared at him incredulously.

"You don't even know me," she said starkly, as she watched a grin form at his mouth. "You know nothing about me."

Chase took a step in closer, and Bonnie swallowed a deep breath when his hand touched the corner of her face, before he let his fingers trickle down to her chin.

"Broken, damaged, naïve little bitch? I know about ten thousand of you, sweetheart" he spat, and before Bonnie could control it, she was administering Chase with an aneurysm, as his grip on her hand faltered, and he dropped to his knees before her.

The goodthing about living in New York City? People said nothing and saw nothing; especially when it was a Friday night.

The minute he groaned, however, she stopped herself; realizing that she actually using her powers in a public place on an actual human being. Chase glanced up at her with damn near fire in his eyes, and Bonnie let out a deep breath.

She could have just killed him.

She needed to get out of here. Now.

Bonnie finally flagged a taxi, and as the car sped over, Chase was already to his feet, and standing before her. She attempted to open the door, but his hand slammed it shut almost immediately, as she looked into his eyes.

Her heart raced.

"I didn't—"

"You did do that," Chase said, and Bonnie swallowed a bout of air. "And I know how, because I know exactly what you are, Witch," he added, and she made a move to take him down again but his eyes stopped her. "Hurt me again or run, and be sure that I will kill you, right here. No hesitation."

The girl stared at him wide-eyed as he broke away from her for a second to tell the taxi driver to get lost, and Bonnie felt frozen as a look of contempt crossed into Chase's eyes and her getaway car sped away. She'd never felt so afraid of anything, in all her life, and she didn't even know what she was up against.

Or who.

"How did you know?" she asked softly, as Chase offered her a smile. "How do you know who I am?"

"How do you not know who I am, Bonnie?" he asked, and her forehead wrinkled. "I'll give you a hint," he offered, as he reached into his pocket, and she stood there trembling, as he pulled something out.

Bonnie's eyes followed the glint of the stone encrusted on the necklace before her, and she drew in a long breath that made her even dizzier than she had been before. He smiled as he dangled it before her, and Bonnie bit her lip in an effort to look away.

But she couldn't.

With one look, everything came rushing back to her, like a flood, and she could hardly stand through it.

Bonnie felt a chill run down her spine as her fingers grazed against the stone, and she continued to stare at her reflection.

Her dark brown hair was almost black, as the long waves traveled deep beyond her chest, and down her back. The ancient talisman gave just the hint necessary color to her noir outfit, as her body-hugging black dress embraced every curve of her frame almost as tightly as he was, right now. Her black designer heels immediately struck his fancy the minute he laid eyes on them, and she considered that a great thing, because they were on his credit card.

"You look stunning," he whispered. "You are stunning—completely unstoppable."

Bonnie turned around to face him, and the Original smiled as she fingered the emerald once more and looked into his penetrating blue eyes.

"Good," she said almost into the air. "Because that's what I want to be—unstoppable."

Klaus raised his hand to her jaw, and caressed it softly before moving in a bit closer.

She was nearly backed up against his mirror, but he didn't stop advancing on her until he was barely a breath away. Bonnie's heart stopped when his mouth revealed his fangs.

"Power is the last thing you will ever have to worry about, love," Klaus said smoothly, as his hands landed at her sides, and ran across her hips to her lower back. "There won't be anyone who can stop you when I'm finished with you. Perhaps, not even me."

Bonnie grinned at that, as the feeling of absolute supremacy slowly began to thrill her in more ways than one.

It hadn't been long ago that her descent into the darkness had started. She'd come to Klaus in the very first place after she'd saved Elena's life, and was beginning to feel unlike herself.

He dutifully informed her of the darkness that would begin to take her over, and though she tried to fight it, it quickly developed and continued to foster inside of her.

It wasn't until she spoke to Klaus that she decided to give in. After all, he'd told her the tales of the many witches he'd known who's given into to their "second soul," and now were free of doing the bidding for the Other Side, with the help of a form of condemned magic called "Expression."

And that was what Bonnie wanted more than anything; freedom. She wanted the freedom to do as she pleased without suffering consequences, and until she decided to team up with Klaus, she wasn't quite sure how to just let go.

But he taught her the ways that he'd seen; he'd coached her in the Art of Madness, and the next thing that she knew, she was here.

Feeling powerfully exhilarated, limitless, and confident; she felt everything that she never felt while being a normal witch, with Klaus' aid, and she was very thankful for that.

She was very thankful for him.

Her friends had mostly given up on her after she saved Elena and switched Klaus and Tyler back into their respective bodies, and threw herself into a whirlwind of depression. It seemed that nobody noticed—or cared—that she wasn't quite herself.

Nobody but him, that is.

He knew from the very moment when she showed up at his mansion, angry, demanding answers for the way that she was feeling that something was happening to the Little Bennett Witch. And lucky for him, her friends were too vapid, immature, and inexperienced to know just what that was.

Getting Bonnie over to his side proved to be much easier than he imagined. All he had to do was genuinely appreciate her—something she had not been used to for far too long, honestly.

Stroking her ego, listening to her hopes and fears, providing her with a bit of wisdom and sharp confidence—it was all deliciously easier than it should have been for someone like him.

Bonnie went from hating him to depending on him, and it was just what he wanted.

He wanted the witch—for more reasons than one—and now that he finally had her, nothing was impossible anymore.

He knew witches—he had plenty of them, but none of them were Bonnie Bennett. None of them could ever be her, either.

Just her lineage alone made her one of the most dominant creatures to ever walk the planet, next to him. And now that she had given in to her dark side, he was positive that they could have everything they wanted—and then some—as they saw it fit.

Klaus had many plans for Bonnie. And they all began with this talisman; this ancient piece of history that he had been holding onto for centuries, until the time was right.

Until he met the right witch; until he met her.

"What are you thinking, love?" Klaus asked curiously, as Bonnie's green eyes traveled across his lips, and back up to his eyes.

She offered a small smile before placing both hands on his shoulders, and drawing him with little more than her seductive gaze, and a slight pull of the hand. Klaus smiled as he felt her power buzzing from her skin straight into his veins.

"You know what I want, Klaus," she said gently, as the hybrid acquainted his eyes with the smooth curve of her mocha shoulder, as she dropped one strap of her dress, and gazed at him suggestively.

Klaus licked his lips in response.

"I've been patient," she reminded him.

"And patience is the key, darling," he replied as Bonnie's strong glance never dropped. "Forgive me for a bit of a 'romantic,' but intimacy between an Original Vampire and a witch like yourself is a bit… binding. The feeling forged between us… it won't die, until one of does," he reminded, and Bonnie smirked.

"Are you afraid I'll kill you if I get sick of you?" she asked bluntly, as her finger trailed across his chest, and Klaus laughed. "Or is it my 'purity' that has you all shaken up?"

Klaus scoffed at that part, as he bit his lip softly, and gazed into Bonnie's questioning eyes.

"Yes, your… being a 'virgin' perhaps make it a bit… harder to just let go," Klaus admitted, and Bonnie snorted this time, as Klaus turned and walked away to continue putting things away in his bedroom. "I don' think you're ready, love."

"So let me get this straight," Bonnie began, as she placed both hands firmly on her hips and cocked her head. "You trust me enough to be your diabolical little partner in crime, with sizeable power, and monumental responsibility that exceeds anything you or I have ever experienced however… you won't have sex with me… I'm starting to take it personal, Klaus."

"Don't, sweetheart," he replied. "I am… more attracted to you, Bonnie, than I consider it safe to be."

"So, do something about it Klaus," the witch challenged, and he huffed as he dropped the shirt he was folding. "Unless you think my talents would be better served elsewhere—"

The Original raced in front of her, and Bonnie beamed as he stared at her heatedly, with his hand at her neck, and growing anger within his eyes.

"You belong to me—"

"I belong to no one," she offered in response, as she used her magic to send him flying across the ridiculously large bedroom.

Bonnie took a simple joy in the sound of Klaus' body slamming against the wall, and in two seconds flat, he returned the favor by grabbing her quickly, and pushing her against his bed.

Bonnie looked up into his eyes, and Klaus was staring back ragingly, though she knew he felt more lust than anything. Especially with the way her hands were crawling up the back of his shirt.

"Your job, Klaus, is to give me what I want," Bonnie said simply, and the Original remained silent. "So, without any further ado, please; indulge me."

Klaus remained still for a moment, until finally, a smirk formed at his lips, and Bonnie's eyes were staring back into his. He slowly pulled her dress away, gripping with anticipation, as his eyes became transfixed on the white lingerie that she wore beneath it.

She looked so angelic. How fitting.

It felt as though his mouth was watering just looking at her.

Klaus leaned in and placed a longing kiss to Bonnie's lips, and she sighed with release as their mouths separated, and his landed on her ear.

"As you wish, my Queen."

Bonnie smiled once more, as her fingers began to unbutton his shirt, and his tongue swirled around her neck just as prevalently as his fangs grazed against her throat.

Klaus may have been an expert at getting what he wanted, but so was she. Tonight, she wanted him.

And perhaps she would the day after that, as well.

She barely noticed when he took both of her hands into his own, and ran his thumbs along her wrists in gentle calculation. Bonnie looked into his eyes and she shook her head.

It couldn't be him. There was no way. She'd desiccated and buried his body, not even telling his siblings where she had done it. This man ruined not only her life but her, and it was impossible for him to be standing here before her, right now.

How?

"Klaus—" she began and she stopped as her head shook quietly.

She couldn't even complete her query.

"There will be plenty of times for questions, love," he said, as he pulled her in closer towards him, and focused his eyes on hers. "But for now, I'll answer one… Yes. I did in factkill Jeremy Gilbert. You can start and stop the search here."

XXXXX

Stefan squeezed the excess water out of the foam sponge, before he ran it across the granite countertop; centering his focus on the droplets of red wine that had splattered from dinner that earlier evening.

He needed to do something—anything—to keep his mind off of just how fucking frustrated he was with the current state of his life and his emotions.

Damon and Bonnie were going through a rough patch and he just knew he'd be pulled in two separate directions when it came to helping them resolve it. Elena was still on his mind, though he had dismissed her and her feelings, because he just couldn't shake the guilt he felt for breaking her heart with the words he had said. And finally—Caroline.

Caroline Fucking Forbes.

She was the reason he was the most pissed off, he realized, as his roommate threw an "apartment warming" party, with the help of her new boyfriend, Chase just as he had finally come clean to Elena about his feelings for the bubbly blonde, herself.

And now? She had completely and totally crushed him by deciding to start a relationship with somebody else, while being utterly and absolutely unapologetic about it.

He couldn't say that he blamed her.

Stefan had volleyed between his feelings for her and Elena long enough to stir a lot of doubt in Caroline's mind, and he knew he was unfair to do it. But he couldn't help himself, he realized.

He needed to be sure what he felt for Caroline was enough to take things to the next level, and they were, he discovered, as Elena attempted to find her way back into his heart, and he just couldn't comply with her desires, anymore.

He knew what and who he wanted, now, and it was Caroline.

Too bad she was making it painfully clear that she didn't want a thing to do with him.

Why else would she parade around with this stranger on her arm, so shamelessly for everyone this side of Manhattan to see, otherwise? If she was trying to make him jealous, she'd succeeded, and he was fit to throw in his white flag right fucking now.

It was obvious she was over it just as quickly as they had started it. And he'd lost his chance.

He'd lost her.

Stefan swallowed hard when he heard Caroline's faint footsteps approaching from the hallway, until she finally made her way into the kitchen, in no time flat.

He didn't look up from the counter as he scrubbed away, and he tried the best to ignore the sound of Caroline's voice when she cleared her throat and finally addressed him.

"Living room's all clear," she said in an even, unwavering tone. "I was going to take the garbage down to the chute, but it'll be fine if I take it out tomorrow."

Stefan pursed his lips and didn't say anything, as he turned on the sink, and wrung the sponge dry. He had never been one for small talk, and Caroline knew that. She breathed in exasperation before he made out the sound of her crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her foot.

She wasn't going to leave him alone, just yet.

Lucky him.

"Have you heard from Bonnie, yet?" she asked curiously, and Stefan shook his head simply.

"Nope."

There was a long silence again, as Caroline dropped her hands and sighed.

"Maybe we should call her; see if she got home okay."

"Yeah; I guess if you already have reasons to not trust your new boyfriend," he answered sharply, as he turned off the faucet and placed the sponge in the sink dish. "Be my guest."

Stefan could feel her eyes burning against him, and he made it a point to not even look her way. If he did, he was very liable to snap, and he didn't want to; not at her.

This was his entire fault, anyway, he decided.

Stefan dried his hands, and began to walk out of the kitchen, only to be blocked with Caroline's body as she stood in front of the door way. He couldn't help his eyes from running over her legs that were obviously exposed from her thin shorts, and her bare shoulders that he so greedily observed with a quiet gaze through her black tank top.

It wasn't until their eyes met that he realized just how angry he was with her, as her sapphire orbs studied him—damn near visually harassed him—to the point of making him want to scream out, just then and there.

Caroline's blonde locks fell at her blades in such an elegant way that it made his stomach turn and head spin, all at once. It aggravated him how much he was feeling—still feeling—for her, when she made it blatantly obvious that she didn't give a damn about his feelings the minute she invited that guy Chase into their home. Stefan was merely a spectator—undoubtedly, on the sidelines—as Caroline started anew with somebody else, and he couldn't do a damn thing about it, at this point, could he?

Stefan made a motion to move past her, and she stopped him by planting both hands on his chest, as he was still clothed in his button-up from the night's events.

She sucked in a deep breath.

"You're being an ass," Caroline said firmly, and Stefan scoffed as his jade eyes shone with something just short of rage the minute the words passed her cherry red lips. "You have been, all night."

"Have I, Caroline?" he asked strongly, and the girl sucked her teeth. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't just be happy for you while you and your new boyfriend were throwing a party in our fucking apartment to celebrate your 'relationship.'"

"It was to celebrate our move here, Stefan, and you know that! Are you seriously that jealous that I found somebody else who's not afraid to be honest about what they feel? Last I checked, you spent the night at Elena's instead of coming home the other day, and not once did I badger you about it!"

"You don't even know what happened!" he yelled. "You don't know anything, Caroline—and I guess now, it doesn't matter, right? It doesn't matter what I said to her?"

Caroline stared at him for a long minute before Stefan finally brushed past her and out of the kitchen. She spun around to watch him as he picked up his cell phone from the coffee table, and stuffed it into his pocket. Before Stefan could take off to his bedroom, she broke the silence.

"What did you say to her?"

Stefan laughed bitterly into the air.

"Who cares? You're happy. And I'm—happy for you," he forced, as she rolled her eyes.

"Don't do that, Stefan."

"Do what?"

"Don't pounce on me one second, and then pretend like it's all in my head, the next!" she exclaimed, and he turned to face her. "If you have something to say, then say it—"

"Fine," he shot back, as Caroline stopped right in front of him, as she looked up into his enraged eyes with her own reaching levels of damn near fury. "I told Elena that I have feelings for you, Caroline—real feelings. The kind of feelings that… make me realize what I want and who've wanted this entire time, Caroline… And it's you. It's… always been you."

Caroline stared at him as though she were in a state of shock, before letting out a short laugh in disbelief as her eyes continued to enlarge. His remained the same.

"Come, again?" she breathed, and Stefan shook his head as he backed away.

Caroline pressed her lips tightly.

"I can't, Caroline. I—I finally realized that I wanted to be with you, but now… Now you have a boyfriend, and I can't be that guy that comes in between—"

His speech stopped when her lips met his for a brief moment and damn near took his breath away.

Stefan felt paralyzed as Caroline's soft mouth moved against his for another second, before she finally pulled away and looked into his eyes. The expression in his was a mixture of relief but bewilderment, as he stared back at her, and Caroline inhaled; unsure of what to say next.

Sorry? Thank You? You're welcome?

She had no idea, honestly, as she and Stefan stared at each other like it was the first time they had ever met in all their life. It didn't feel that way, of course, as she rejoiced in the brief joy that ran throughout her bones the minute their lips touched and jumpstarted her heart.

Stefan looked just as confused, but elated, as well, as he didn't seem to move an inch, even after she kissed him. Finally, he mustered the courage pull her by the hand and he kissed her again; this time, feeling the odd heat of her body fermented against his.

Caroline let out a soft moan when their lips touched, causing a frenzy of guilt, happiness, and lust to run through her, like an athlete at a 5k marathon.

"This is not okay," she repeated mentally, as Stefan's hands formed against her back, and pulled her in deeper, as their tongues continued to lengthen the kiss. "This is not okay."

It wasn't okay, but it felt pretty damn right as she tasted hints of wine and peppermint on his mouth with his press of his lips to hers.

He was intoxicating. And she realized she just couldn't get enough.

Caroline's fingers began to trail up his shirt, and Stefan's hands gripped her sides so hard, she was sure that he bruised her.

The two continued kissing and moving along with the motions, until they toppled on the couch, with Caroline landing on his lap, though her lips never splitting from his.

He wouldn't allow it.

His hands pulled her in so tightly, he wondered just how he hadn't hurt her yet, as the blonde didn't skip a beat in the impromptu make-out session. He was kissing her; longer, harder, faster, as her hips slowly began to grind against his, and Stefan had to restrain himself from just flipping her over and tearing right through her clothes.

So when Caroline placed her fingers at the first button of his shirt, and toyed with the notion of undressing him, he firmly grabbed her hands and stopped her; struggling to catch his breath as the girl stared at him heatedly and lustfully.

He honestly believed he could get off, on just that look.

"You have a boyfriend, Caroline," he said, and she snorted as she looked into his eyes until she realized he was being completely serious.

"Seriously?" she shrieked, and Stefan licked his lips. "We've been dating for like three days. Now's not the time to play morality police, Stefan. Especially not after we've already been making out for five minutes."

Stefan opened his mouth to protest that, but Caroline's lips caught his immediately, and drowned his own in a sea of affection. When he finally pulled away, he held her by the cheeks, and bit his lip in petulance.

"It still counts, Caroline. And I shouldn't have kissed you back. I know it makes things harder because—"

Caroline's lips were planted to his again, and Stefan found himself quickly getting wrapped up in the kisses again, as she started to unbutton his shirt, until it was completely open. When she ripped it off of his arms, the kisses between them were no longer sweet but savage, as she attacked him at the mouth and he readily complied with each suck, bite, and nip that Caroline took.

Caroline pulled away for a second, and Stefan's breath were entirely labored as he looked into her eyes and she placed both hands at his neck. He thumbs ran along the vein beneath his skin.

"I want you, Stefan. I want to be with you. And if you want me to text Chase right now to tell him that things are over, fine; I will. But I happen to think that there are more important matters to attend to… Like how fast you can get out of those jeans."

Stefan sighed as he looked into her eager eyes, and shook his head.

He wanted to—very badly—but he just couldn't, yet. Caroline sensed his hesitation and groaned as she sat up moodily and crossed her arms.

"Your ethics ruin everything."

"I'm sorry," he said apologetically. "I just… I wanna do this the right way, okay?"

Caroline groaned but agreed, reluctantly. He was right; being honest was way more important than just being horny. And because she liked him, she should have actually wanted this to work. She didn't want to jump right into it when there was so much to be explored and conquered before they took it all the way.

In a sense, she appreciated Stefan for being so "gentleman-like." She'd never had a guy who just wanted to wait, and now, she was blessed with one who actually wanted to do things in a sincere way. And she appreciated that.

She appreciated him.

"Fine. I'll call Chase tomorrow. Tell him thanks for the Keurig that he gave us, but that I'm hot for my roommate, and he'll be the only one I'll be waking up in the morning to make coffee for."

Stefan grinned at that, as his hands traced over Caroline's stomach and he looked up into her eyes. She smiled bashfully.

"You're gonna make me coffee? That's a big step for a girl who doesn't do any dishes," he said, and Caroline snorted as she pinched his arm and Stefan laughed heartily.

She smiled in return.

"We have a dishwasher for a reason."

"Oh, no way. It's better if you do them by hand. It's cleaner."

"This isn't 1864, Stefan. I don't give a shit about what you did in the 'Old Country,'" she snapped, and she immediately squealed as he pinned her beneath him and began to kiss her neck, shoulders, chest, and ear.

"I can show all about what I did in the 'Old Country,'" he whispered, before planting gentle kisses along Caroline's jaw.

He couldn't exactly say that he was proud of himself right now for blowing up at Caroline the way that he did, before kissing her back, and now letting her actively cheat on her boyfriend with him, but he'd be lying if he said it didn't feel great as well.

Caroline wasn't going to deny it either, as Stefan knew just what to do and how to do it, as he worked his tongue against his ear, and his hands against her skin. She wasn't about to complain about any of it.

He promised himself that he'd remember to call Bonnie—and Damon—later, when this was all over; because even with Caroline purring happily into his ear right now, he was still worried, and he still had brother/friendship responsibilities to attend to.

Those responsibilities quickly escaped his mind the moment they began kissing again, and just like that, he lost track of all time and space.

He was definitely going to be busy for the rest of the night.

XXXXX

Damon turned off the faucet to shower, and leaned his head against the tile for a minute—taking in the steam from the air, and filling his lung with the heat that enclosed him before finally grabbing his towel, and wrapping it around his waist.

He ran his fingers through his matted hair; loosening the constrictions as he walked out of the bathroom, and tried his best to steady his thoughts.

With Elena's urging, he'd taken his ass back home, in hopes of Bonnie being here so that they could discuss where they stood with this "thing" they were doing, once and for all. Things had gotten ugly between them during the argument at Stefan and Caroline's, and though he should have hated her for it, he also hated himself. He was completely incapable of having a good thing while it was "good," and with his pressure to make her feel the way that he does, he'd done nothing but further drive a wedge between him and Bonnie again.

Of course, she was no angel, because she was basically playing Whack-a-Mole with his heart at this point, and he'd call her out on it as soon as they talked, but up until now, he hadn't heard a word from her.

He'd called Stefan Caroline to receive no answer, which led him to believe his brother and Vampire Barbie were indeed sexy-timing it up. Elena hadn't heard from her either, and even a sick and bed-bound Laila, who was still as knowledgeable as Gossip Girl any day, was clueless as to where Bonnie could be.

He wouldn't say that he was scared, but he was, perhaps, a bit worried about it.

Not worried that she was in danger, but definitely petrified that she'd decided not to come back to him, after all.

Damon glanced at the time on the clock, and let out a gentle sigh.

1:13 A.M.

Bonnie had come home later, before, when she went out for Girl's Nights, but something about tonight didn't sit well in his stomach. Especially because she wasn't hanging out with anyone he knew.

Damon rolled his tongue over his teeth, and imagined one more possibility.

Chase.

That shady blonde creeper was definitely suspect, and if Bonnie was out with him, Damon believed they were up to no good. Whether he was Caroline's "boyfriend" or not, he just didn't trust him; and especially not around his girlfriend.

If he could still even call her that.

Damon walked into the kitchen, and opened the refrigerator, as he decided now would be the best and right time to have that taste of blood that he'd been dying for all night. A blood bag wouldn't be as good or as fresh, but he'd survive. And if Bonnie really was out with Chase right now, it'd be best if he were on a full stomach when she broke the news to him.

Yeah; it'd definitely be best.

Damon gulped down half of the blood bag before he heard the front door open, and he slowly shut his eyes to gather his thoughts for a moment before finishing his meal, and discarding the plastic in the trash.

Should he greet her? Should he ignore her? He had no idea what to do or say, as he heard the clicking of Bonnie's heels making their way through the living room, before finally, she appeared in the kitchen only moments later.

Damon looked up from the counter slowly, still wrapped in his towel, as his eyes coursed over her deep brown skin, long black waves, and full nude lips before finally catching her eyes.

She didn't look any less beautiful to him, he realized, as she made her way over to the table, dropped her pocket book, and then washed her hands silently at the sink.

Bonnie then reached into the fridge for a bottle of water, and he watched as she slowly twisted off the cap and gulped down about three quarters of the contents in just one breath.

He finally found the courage to speak.

"Thirsty?" he asked, and she nodded quietly, before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, and meeting his eyes.

"Drunk."

Damon picked up on that, as he sensed the smell of vodka on Bonnie's skin before she even walked into his vicinity. She'd been drinking, a lot, and it was painfully clear that right now would not be the time to have this conversation. Maybe not even tomorrow, if she was hung-over—which he was sure she would be.

Damon sighed as he made his move to leave the kitchen, but he was stopped by Bonnie's body, as she slowly but surely backed him into the counter, and his eyebrow rose when her arms boxed him in.

That was totally his move.

Damon didn't say anything as the silence that passed between the two became so stifling he nearly needed an oxygen mask to breathe. Bonnie's green eyes were unusually vibrant, and if he were honest, they were probably the most magical that he had seen them in quite some time. He wanted to kiss her; but he knew that he shouldn't without talking about things first.

Like whether or not they were even together right now, and just what the hell she was doing cornering him in their kitchen at one in the morning, like she was a shark and he was her fucking prey. Questions needed to be asked and answered, and he cursed himself when he felt himself spilling them, though he promised it could wait until tomorrow.

He lied.

"Where were you?" Damon asked sharply, and Bonnie shifted, though her hands remained firmly planted on the counter.

"A bar."

"With who?"

"A friend," she said cryptically.

"A certain male friend that we may or may not have gotten into an argument about earlier?" he asked, and Bonnie cocked her head.

"Don't be dramatic," she answered, as her hands smoothed over the skin of his abdomen before she looked into his glistening cobalt eyes again. "I don't want to fight with you, Damon."

"Then what do you want? A puppy?" he asked, and Bonnie smiled. "Bonnie, I'm serious. I—I'm probably wasting my fucking time talking to you about this right now, but you know what? I don't give a shit. What do you want? If it isn't love right now, then what is it?"

Bonnie stood there quietly, and his stomach boiled with anticipation of her latest letdown.

She wanted a break. She wanted space. She wanted for him to stop fucking care so much, he internally itemized.

Why was he even asking her this? Why did it even matter? She was just going to ask for something he probably couldn't give her right now.

Bonnie's hands continued to move along his skin, and Damon stopped her in frustration.

"Bonnie—"

"You," she said honestly. "I just want… you."

The vampire ticked his jaw as he looked into her piercing olive eyes, and he felt himself slowly succumbing to the longing that lay right beyond her own. As much as he had called tonight "the last straw," and he had promised himself he'd be done with this once and for all, he wanted very much to default on that vow with each passing moment that she peered into his senses.

Maybe he was just still drunk too, but something had definitely been a little bit different about Bonnie since the moment she walked in, and if he were honest, it completely captivated him when he should have still been harboring some sort of ill will towards her for what happened earlier.

But he couldn't.

Because whatever the hell she was doing was distracting.

Damon pursed his lips as Bonnie's hands slid over his bare chest, and her nails gently traced circles along his skin. He closed his eyes as she leaned in and softly pressed her lips to the corner of his shoulder. Damon swallowed hard as Bonnie left a trail of his along his chest, stopping with each kiss so sensually, he could barely even think straight. His hands slowly met her own and Bonnie tilted her head innocently as Damon's eyes opened and regained their seriousness before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Whoa there, sex kitten," he said softly, and Bonnie smirked. "If you want me—all of me—you're gonna have to work for it this time. The past few hours have led to great reflection, and I think that I'm finally over this little game where you throw out the line, then I chase you, continuously, and you stomp on my heart like it's a dirty cigarette butt," Damon said, as he dropped her hands, and crossed his arms. "It's your move, Bennett... if we're gonna… work through this then you have to want to work, too."

Damon watched as Bonnie's eyes narrowed a bit as he finally moved past her, and out of the kitchen, in moments flat.

Whatever vodka she was on at the moment may have had her being super flirty, but he knew the drill; in the morning, they'd be back to right where they always were after Bonnie realized she made a foolish mistake, and Damon was stuck dealing with it. He didn't want to keep going in circles; not anymore.

Bonnie had to want to be with him, on her own merit, and she'd have to let go of her trust issues, once and for all. And Damon? Well, he'd have to learn patience if he truly wanted this girl to stick around, as well as resistance, too.

It was in his nature to always want to tackle things, head on, but for now? He was making it Bonnie's job. He'd done enough chasing, pining, bending, working, and begging to last him 'til infinity, and if he wanted things to be different this time, he was going to have to take the step back and allow Bonnie to take some initiative.

He'd heed to Elena's advice in the aspect of not giving up. But as for giving in?

Fuck that.

Damon walked back down to his bedroom, and he nearly jumped when Bonnie was already standing there before him, with both hands on her hips and a decadent gaze in her eyes. He let out a short laugh as he shook his head, and scratched his hair.

These witches could be so creepy sometimes, when it came to their magic.

Or hot. Creepy and hot.

Bonnie quietly raised a palm and the door closed behind her, immediately. With the simple flick of her wrist, the lock turned as well, and Damon's eyes squinted as Bonnie's never dropped from his the entire time she worked her little magic routine.

The candles in his bedroom were aflame instantly, and he may or may not have let out a surprised breath when his back suddenly slammed against his bed, and his arms felt trapped as he lay against the comforter vulnerably. Damon attempted to lift his hands but they seemed pinned there, along with his legs, as he was only head to lift his head, and stretch his neck to see what Bonnie was doing.

"You're showing off," he said firmly, and Bonnie grinned.

"I'm showing up," she said, and his brow curved. "I want you, Damon. Now. And if you won't give me what I want, then I'll just have to take it."

He couldn't debate her logic the minute he watched her unzip her dress, as the pretty chiffon fabric fell to the ground, revealing her red lace bra with the matching underwear. He noticed a necklace around her neck that he had realized before, and Damon studied it silently, though it was much harder taking his attention away from Bonnie's petite but shapely body, though he had seen it dozens of times.

Something about the jewelry interested him.

When Bonnie appeared before him, Damon inhaled a sharp breath the moment he felt her rip the towel away, and her lips land on his stomach, while they continued to go lower and lower. His arms and legs were still frozen, he realized, but that only seemed to add to the fun, as Bonnie rendered him downright helpless, as she made it her mission to have her way with him, in more ways than one.

If this was her idea of an apology, he was totally here for it.

Damon stifled the sounds that threatened to escape his lips for the first few minutes. He didn't want Bonnie to just win—especially after that speech about making her "work for it," but damn it to hell, she was winning.

Damon let out his first groan since she'd started, and he shook his head in absolute wonder.

He'd never been shy about traveling down under when it came to sex, but Bonnie? She was. She "just didn't do that," she'd told him one day over Chinese takeout on her couch, and he'd nearly spit out his Lo Mein as his eyes nearly bugged out of his head.

Was he seriously supposed to date a girl who didn't give blowjobs? That didn't sound like fun at all.

Stefan told him not to be an ass about it, and eventually, he wasn't, but every now and then, he was. After all, he was Damon, and that was the type of thing you'd get with him.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Damon finally moaned, as Bonnie's lips wrapped around him, and his heart palpitated with each movement as the intense wave of pressure and pleasure continued to build within his veins, until finally, she allowed his hands to be free so he could grasp on for his life.

Damon muttered obscenities as his hands gripped her hair into his fists, and Bonnie separated her lips from his skin long enough to look up into his fiery eyes to answer his question.

What the hell had gotten into her?

Bonnie wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, as Damon gasped for air, and she offered him a smile before climbing up between his legs, and lowering the straps of her bra, much to his satisfaction. Damon smoothed his hands over her thighs as she straddled his lap with a wicked gaze in her eye, as her fingers toyed with the stone on her necklace.

"The Devil," she smirked, before lowering her lips to neck, and piercing her nails into his skin.

A/N: Hey, guys! So, I loved all of your reviews on the last chapter, and I tried my best to write another ASAP, so here it is and I hope you enjoyed it! First off, raise your hand if you predicted Chase was Klaus, and then pat yourself on the back, b/c job well done! Hahaha. What do you think he wants, & how do you think his being back will affect Bonnie? (Spoiler alert, A LOT; it's already begun to). Did you like the flashback that gave a little bit more background on their relationship as well? More will be revealed as the story goes on, so if you have questions, they will soon be answered! NEXT, STEROLINE. Because you guys were screaming for some stuff between them in the last update. Where do you think they go from here, and will this help or hinder their relationship? Thoughts! Lastly; Bonnie and Damon, dun dun dun. First off, what do you think about Damon putting the ball in Bonnie's court for once? About time? Secondly, how do you think he's gonna feel about a darker Bonnie as this fic begins to go on? This story (as stated in the summary) is basically going to be about Damon being stuck between the light and the dark when it comes to Bonnie and her changes in her personality. She might not always do things you're gonna like (fair warning) and we'll see how he deals with that and whether he feels obligated to save the Bonnie we all know and love OR will her more malicious side get into his head a little bit more than he would like…. ANYWAY. Thank you SO much for reading. You are all SO amazing and I just love reading what you all think about the story I've created. You're wonderful. Read, review, and jdhsjksjdfksdjfk;sd BAMON HUG FROM 4x15 so I expect to hear that ALLLLL of you fangirled as hard as did because finally. FINALLLLLLLY. LOL. Okay, I'm done. Love you all and ta-ta for now! 3