A/N Hola, amigos! Updating about 3 hours after my last update, I just got a rush of inspiration. Hope y'all like it, and please leave a little review! XOXO

Chapter 19

The next day went great, Elena and me had a girly night. We painted each other's nails, drank inconspicuously (since my parents didn't let me drink in the house), and watched Never Been Kissed. I know my mom was overjoyed that "Katherine" and I were bonding, and that made me a bit ticked off since my goal in life, as a daughter, was too rebel against my parents. But, to be honest, it was one of the best weekends I had since coming back to Fells Church.

Now the weekend was over, and I had to face school. If you have asked me a week ago whether I liked going to school, I'd answer yes, but now I dreaded the idea.

"Wear this," Elena recommended, handing me a structured black Helmut Lang dress.

I scowled at her, "I'm going to school, not an institution."

Elena hung the dress back on the rack, "If you don't like it, why do you have it? Oh, here a thought! Give it to me, because, honey, it's fabulous."

"It's not that I don't like it," I mumbled, flipping through racks of clothes. "It just doesn't seem right."

She studied me thoughtfully and then whispered, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," I answered quickly.

"Come on, you'll feel better once it's off your chest."

I bit my lip, then nose-sighed. "You're right. Okay, well, about a week ago someone sent a photo to Caroline ... A very racy photo of her boyfriend and me. He was the guy who came over the other week, you remember him? He chipped my window?"

"Yes, I remember. Carry on."

"So, she got that photo and freaked out, like it was my fault that he came over to my house and kissed me. Caroline told everyone about it, and now everyone thinks I'm a little whore." I shuddered, thinking about the whispers circulating behind my back. I met Elena's blue eyes and turned toward her. "From one Queen to another, I am giving you my word that I didn't want anything to happen between Damon and me. It was all just a huge misunderstanding."

Elena let me stir in my thoughts politely, and then quietly answered. "From one Queen to another, Bonnie, I just think they're threatened by you."

Her response confused me, and I expressed that through my expression.

Elena elaborated. "Caroline, Meredith, and all those other girls know that you can have any guy you want, and they feel threatened. They know that you're the girl to be and the girl to get, and they don't like the power you have." She paused thoughtfully and then continued. "From what I remember of Caroline, she must be feeling most embarrassed, and that's adding to the hurt. If everyone knows about that photograph, then everyone must know that Damon picked you over her, and she must hate that. That's probably why she's playing the victim.

"Caroline and Meredith must also hate that you keep on coming out the gold star while they end up 2nd and 3rd place. They want to feel important, like they're Alpha's too. But you can't have it both ways, Bonnie," Elena said, her voice dropping low. "You either get their respect back or their friendship. Meaning, you're either the Queen or a best mate. Which is it going to be?"

Suddenly the ground felt very hot. It felt like Elena's eyes were boring into me, forcing me to make this life-or-death situation a snap decision. The walls had eyes too, suddenly, and they were watching me, their judging eyes screwing into me, awaiting my call. Too much pressure, I couldn't think properly.

"I can't make this decision right now, Elena," I gasped, leaning into soft silk blouses.

She nodded. "I understand, Bonnie; I had to leave my kingdom once, too." Her eyes dotted with tears and her bottom lip quivered, "But life is full of tough choices: You just have to find the best alternative for you.

"Now, chin up," Elena said, managing a small smile. She reached into the rack and pulled out a light pink Free People sweater. "This top would look adorable on you."

.

When I got to school, everyone stared, except it wasn't like when everyone stared during my first day back. Back then, they were in awe, and now, they were malevolent. I could sense the hate in their eyes.

They didn't stop conversation as I passed, instead it started up stronger.

"Did you hear what she did?..."

"...had sex with her boyfriend!"

"What a slut!"

"...think she'll sleep with me?"

I picked up the pace, leaving everyone's hateful stares behind me. It was official; I officially had no friend in the whole school.

Well, there was one exception.

I had never been happier to see Parker standing by my locker. I was so happy, in fact, that I had to restrain myself from kissing him; it wouldn't do any good for my new "slutty" image.

"Hey!" I greeted him delightfully.

Parker gave me a small hug and a peck on the cheek. "What class do you have first?"

"American History," I responded, leaving out the "Honors" part. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Constance Peace Gala with me." I looked up to meet his eyes, noticing for the first time that they were cloudy, "Unless you don't want to."

"Course I want to, my lady. I was under the impression you were attending the event with none other than Stefan Salvatore."

I froze, my blood running cold. "Who told you about that?"

"Hmm?" He asked, glancing at me, and then looking away nonchalantly. "Oh, Caroline let it slip during Drama club the other day."

Clearing my throat, I tried to shake the strange feeling I had felt just moments ago, "Right, of course she did. How else could you have known?"

"Bonnie," a voice said. When I turned, I realized it was Stefan. "May I have a word?"

"Um ..."

"Go on, doll face," Parker said, his hand grazing my hip. "I'll see you later."

I turned back to Stefan, suddenly feeling very wary. The stares hadn't gotten any better, but when Stefan showed up they only became more curious. "What is it, Stefan?"

"I was thinking about you the other day ..."

I raised my eyebrows. "Interesting star-off," I mumbled.

"Are we still going to the Spring Talent Show?" He asked. His eyes looked very green today, and they were very pretty, but that was it—they were just nice to look at. They didn't give me butterflies, and they didn't make me feel anything different than when I looked into Parkers. Was that a bad thing?

"I was planning on going with my boyfriend," I answered, watching his face.

He nodded, like that made perfect sense. "Of course, as you should. I just ... I wonder if you feel something with him."

It took me a moment before I could answer. "Excuse me?"

Stefan shifted his feet, and leaned in closer before answering. "You know what I am, but I don't think you know what it implies. Damon most likely did not explain it all. We have superior physical strength, but we can also do things you couldn't dream of."

I swallowed hard, "Try me."

His eyes went a shade darker, or that's what it looked like. "I can tell what you're thinking, I can't read your thoughts but I can feel them. I can also enter your dreams, or just watch. I can also make you do anything I want or say anything I want."

Again, my brain was flooded with so much information; it took me a moment to respond. My mind was making all these connections that I couldn't interrupt. The time at the carnival when Damon had told me to not be frightened, to take his secret with grace and kindness, and I had felt myself comply without even giving a solid consent. I had wondered about that then, now I had my answer.

"I can feel when you're unhappy, or gleeful, or rejected, or ambitious, or spiteful ... And I can feel you're unhappy with your new boyfriend."

I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my petite nose. "Don't, Stefan, just don't even try. I'm a lost cause, trust me. No matter who I'm with, I'm always going to feel unhappy. It's part of being human."

He touched my forearm, almost pleading me, "It doesn't have to be-"

I tore my arm back, "And you think you're going to be the one to change that?" I shook my head.

The final bell had long since gone, and Mr. Saltzman wasn't going to be happy with me.

"I have to go, Stefan," I mumbled, not meeting his eyes. "See you around."

But as I was turning away, Stefan called me back. His voice sounded so hurt and confused, that I had to turn toward him.

"Why did you even bother, then?" He asked, his voice cracking. "Why would you lead me on, make me believe you actually cared, if you didn't even feel the same way? What was in it for you?"

My lips parted, but only air came out. Damn, he had made the connection; I should have known he was too smart. I took three deep breaths before answering him, and when I did my voice was weak. "I wanted to be seen with you ... to help my popularity," I said.

He was quiet for the longest time; I thought maybe he hadn't heard me ... until he responded. "You're despicable," he spit, bringing tears to my eyes. Then Stefan shook his head, turning away from me. "You belong with my brother."

.

Chapter Title:

Take It All by Adele