CHAPTER 21 I Know I Don't Know You

I know I don't know you
But I want you so bad
Everyone has secrets
Oh, can they keep it?
Oh, no they can't

For a few seconds, the 3 of them just stood there, completely frozen. Then Bonnie took her hands of Niklaus and stepped away, carefully. Klaus and her shared a look, that said them things they didn't have to say out loud. Klaus nodded his head, understanding he has to leave. He walked away, feeling Cliff's harsh look on him as he walked. Her father wasn't going to attack or yell at Klaus, she knew that. Her father wasn't one for public displays of rage. He cared what people thought of him too much to let his anger slip his control. Sometimes, in rare moments, she wondered did that make her dad a better warlock than she ever was...almost famous for her known relation between her emotions and magic. But right at this second, she wasn't thinking about her father, she was just staring at him staring at Klaus. She was certain Cliff didn't scare Klaus, but he scared her.

Once he was out, Cliff's attention was back on his only daughter. With her hands crossed, the young girl was biting her lips knowing she messed up. She messed up bad. Cliff opened his mouth ready to express all the disappointment he felt, but someone else spoke first. ''Mr. Bennett?'' Both of the Bennett's swiftly turned their attention to the doctor. ''Yes.'' Cliff said, confirming his identity.

''Nice of you to come on such short notice. Abandoned teenagers are something we don't have a lot of experience with.'' Doctor said.

''You may not, but I do.'' Cliff responded.

Bonnie couldn't believe it could get worse than her being caught by her father kissing Klaus, but it just did. It felt like the whole world fell apart as she realized what was going on. As she realized why her father was there, she felt sickness in her stomach. Cliff Bennett was a social worker and the hospital called him because they were unable to track Matt's mom. Her friend was going to become a part of the system.

Bonnie knew how much Matt didn't want that; he was never the one to ask for help or want any pity. He was managing on his own in the age most of them were highly dependent on their parents. But he was doing it, because the thought of being stuck living with strangers was horrifying to him.

''Dad, no!'' Bonnie begged as the doctor showed them the way to Matt's room.

If it was anything else, she would be to afraid to speak to her father. Especially after he just saw her kissing an older guy, but for Matt she had to do it. His plan of making it without parents fell apart in a single night. ''It's my job, Bonnie.'' Her father replied.

The doctor let them in Matt's room, he was talking on his cellphone as they walked in. He looked horrible. Bonnie's hate for Damon Salvatore has never been higher. ''Yeah, it's fine Elena.'' He reassured his former girlfriend before he hang up. It's fine. Nothing is fine, Bonnie wanted to scream. His bruised and bloody face was far from fine and it made her so angry. Bonnie never connected love with selflessness much before, she never even thought about it, but in that moment it became crystal clear. The best in people is that they are able to love selflessly. The way she wanted to fight everyone just to make sure Matt is never hurt again at that moment. The way he was comforting Elena even though he was in such a poor state. They both love selflessly. But did any of their friends did the same? She bit her lip again. Feeling so anxious, she didn't even noticed she bit it so hard it bleed until she tasted blood in her mouth.

''Hello Matt.'' Said Cliff. ''I am here to ask you about your mother. Police wasn't able to locate her.'' Bonnie never heard her father talk to one of her friends so officially.

It was about 20 minutes later, but it felt like 20 hours later, when Mr. Bennett closed the filled with papers. It was done, Matt was officially registered as an abandon child, in need of a foster family or he'll be put in a nearby home for orphans, which was in another town. ''What are the chances I'll find a foster family here?'' Asked Matt, looking at Bonnie's dad. It's the closest she has ever heard Matt coming to crying. He was always so strong on the outside, she has never seen him cry. ''I'm afraid they're slim. Mystic Falls has a few foster family, but they're all packed.'' The worst case scenario was coming true. ''And you only have a few more months until you're 18 and legally allowed on your own. System will probably put you in home for orphans.''

He didn't cry, he just looked down. She didn't cry either, but she wanted to badly. She never had a habit of biting her fingers, but with a huge lamp in her throat, she found herself biting them anyway. No one spoke for quite some time. If it was any other kid, Cliff would be gone by now. He never had a personal attachment to a case before. Never before did his case sometimes ate dinner at his house or mow their lawn for some cash. There was cases for social service from Bonnie's high school before, but never has been anyone Cliff knew so well. So he just stood there awkwardly, but Bonnie saw he didn't want to leave. Not the kid who spent the whole night by his daughter's side when she ended up in this same place.

Matt coughed. ''I'll go get you some water.'' Cliff said in a rush. He's been dying to do something since the moment he closed his papers, so he was out of the door before Matt got say he doesn't actually want water. ''Wait.'' Said Bonnie and left swiftly after her dad.

She caught him in the hallway, he barely stepped outside. ''Dad...'' she didn't know what she will say next. She had no idea. As her father looked at her, no sound escaped her mouth.

''Are you family?'' Young police officer asked Cliff and Bonnie. Father and daughter looked at him strangely, yes they were, but why the hell would that matter to him. Before any of them spoke, they followed the policemen's eyes, he looked at Matt, who was lying in bed behind open door neither of them closed as they left his room on intensive care. ''I'm his social worker.'' Said Cliff.

Young officer nodded. He looked like he wasn't very good at this, almost as if it was his first time examining the witness. ''Can I talk to him?'' He asked Cliff, his voice almost begging for guidance.

Cliff nodded. ''Young man is thirsty. I'll go get him some water and you can start talking to him when I come back.'' Usually, social workers didn't stick around for police interviews, but young fellow in the uniform needed some help. He nodded, with gratitude on his face, before Cliff walked away from him.

As an idea struck her, Bonnie ran after her father. ''We could be.''

''What?''

''We could be his family. His foster family.''

As her father was driving them home, at 1 am. Bonnie dedicated herself to looking out on her peaceful town and thinking. A lot of thinking.

Matt told her way he got beat up. It was because of her. It was because he overheard Damon sharing his vicious plan. Plan to kill her.

It still made her catch her breathe, despite knowing it for some time now. She knew he doubted her, but did he really hated her that much deep down? Was his hatred for all of her kind secretly boiling under his skin since the moment he met her? Did he just play with her until he found a prefect excuse to end her? He has lived so many lifetimes, but he wouldn't let her finish one poor, mortal lifetime she had. It made her so upset. Even worse, it made her think of Klaus as the good guy. As the smart guy. He warned her about this.

''I can offer you something your friend ungratefully forgive to give you all the time.'' He came closer.

He was so obnoxious. Coming here, acting like he knows her. She disliked him so much. ''Oh yeah?'' She crossed her arms. ''And what is that?'' She asked with a fearless attitude.

''Appreciation.'' He whisperer in her ear with his seductive, yet scary accent.

''How long?''

''Huh?''

With her head against the window, for a second she didn't have any idea what her only parent was talking about. But as Cliff turned off the radio, just to hear her answer, she figured out what he wanted to know. He didn't forget. He was not about to let it go. He may be a professional, but image of any older guy, kissing his teenage daughter was still fresh in his mind. ''How long have you been lying to me?'' Her stomach turned. How much pressure can one night hold?

He was right. She was lying to him, but not just about Klaus. About witchcraft, about Matt, about vampires, about almost everything. Heaviness on her heart seamed unbearable and her eyes started to water, but she ordered herself not to cry. ''A month or two.''

She lost track of how long Klaus has been a part of her life. Some days, it felt like he was always there. ''How old is he?''

Bonnie had to think. In herself, she cursed. Her father naturally, was worried some older guy was taking advantage of his naive young daughter. He wanted to know how big is the age difference. If he knew Klaus' actual age, he would lock her up in her room until he killed the hybrid, she was sure. What human age did Klaus look like? She asked herself. ''28.''

No more questions, just an order as he parked the car in front of their home.

''You will end it.''

She nodded her head without even thinking about it.

School wasn't one of those things that could wait, not even with Bonnie wanting it to. No matter how badly she wanted to drive to the hospital instead of her high school, she was here. In the hallway, getting books for her next class. Day seamed to be terribly long, but skipping class was the last thing she was allowed to do. Her dad didn't even make her breakfast this morning like he usually does, he was gone before she even came downstairs. It upset her, it broke her heart. But she knew the disappointment will eventually cool off, or at least that's what she prayed for.

As she put her Spanish textbook inside her locker, Bonnie looked around. Across from her was Rebekah, opening her own locker. She stared at her beautiful long hair for a while wondering does she know about her and Klaus. Does she know how many, and it was too many, kisses they already shared? She was wondering does the hybrid have a person he tells all his secrets to and is it her.

While she was looking at Rebekah, something unexpected happen. She saw her put one pen at the bottom of her locker and then, sort of placing her open palm above it. What was she doing? Bonnie's full attention was on the Original now.

The pen started to levitate in mid air and Bonnie's eyes widen. Second later, the pen was back on the ground and Bonnie blinked. Then, Rebekah returned to doing ordinary things, looking through her textbooks and picking one out, so Bonnie looked away.

Was what she saw real? Did Rebekah possess magic? Bonnie shook her head. She barely got any sleep tonight, in must be just her seeing things. It was impossible for a vampire to possess magic.

Impossible.

What made her turn her head around was hearing Caroline's voice. And she's kind of glad because she was certain she's starting to hallucinate from her lack of sleep. ''Where's Matt?'' Asked Caroline innocently. Bonnie had no idea where her blonde friend was at the time of Matt getting hurt, but it turns out it wasn't the Grill. ''You don't know?''

''Know what?'' Caroline's face expression changes.

''Damon beat Matt.'' Caroline's mouth open wide. ''Because...'' The witch doesn't finish the sentence, much to her surprise, her best friend does.

''Because Damon wants to kill you.''

It's now Bonnie that feels like she will never be able to process this information. How the hell does Caroline knows that? Before she asks, Caroline explains. ''I'm sorry. Yesterday, at the Grill, couple of us met. I don't know what I was thinking. But they filled my head and seeing you with Rebekah...I distrusted you for a moment, I admit. When Damon continued pushing his idea I just left. You're my best friend and I love you and I'm sorry.'' She says in one breathe and then she looks down. Ashamed.

It did break Bonnie's heart a little bit. Knowing they distrust her. Her, who in her mind was still one of them. Sure, conflicted at times, but one of them. Why were they rejecting her? She didn't understand. She understood it logically, her secret pact with Stefan and hanging out with Originals. But was that all that build their group. Logic? Because for her it didn't. She loved them...Caroline and Elena. They were her best friends. They could have done a lot of awful things and she wouldn't be okay with them, but she wouldn't kill them nor help someone. It was just heartbreaking and confusing and sad.

But at least Caroline faced her, at least Caroline apologized, at least Caroline was standing there in front of her and Bonnie could clearly see the girl she loved. But she couldn't say anything. No words left her mouth, so Caroline continued talking. ''Elena told me she bailed Damon out of prison and that's where she spent all night. I didn't know why Damon was arrested, I swear.'' Her voice was weak. ''How is he?''

There was still kindness and love inside Caroline. Her heart was huge and Bonnie loved that, hoping Caroline never loses that about herself. But the word kill couldn't just leave her mind. It felt like it stabbed her again and again and again. They wanted her dead. ''Do you want to kill me?'' It felt like the bravest thing she ever said, because it was also one of the hardest.

Caroline looked up and embraced Bonnie into a hug. Her eyes looked sad as she said. ''Of course not.'' She let Bonnie go after petite brunette didn't return the hug. ''Never.'' She said convincingly. Maybe it was just Damon, maybe it wasn't her best friends. She smiled a little.

''He's not well.'' Bonnie closed her locker. ''Of course, he's putting on a brave face and will be released later today, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Not to him.''

Caroline nodded as the two began walking to the classroom.

It was her dad and Caroline that ended up picking Matt up from the hospital.

She lied to them both and said she has to go to the library and pick up some books, but in reality she drove to The Boarding House. She asked Stefan if he's there alone and is it safe and he said Damon's not around, so she drove herself there. She didn't want to be seen in public with the vampire anymore. The whole thing was making her sick. The witch frowned as she turned left and parked her car.

How could they be so stupid? She couldn't fathom. Manipulating Klaus into loving her, opening the coffin that has been sealed by some sort of extra special supernatural force...none of their plans worked. All it gave them was more enemies and a very likely death if Klaus ever finds out she planned on seducing him.

She knocked and he opened the door immediately. He probably saw her in the window. ''What's up?'' Stefan asked.

''Are you serious?!'' Stepping into 7 bedroom mansion allowed Bonnie to let her anger out. Stefan's a big boy and he's going to have to handle it. All the anger and frustration and rage. In a way, it was all his fault. It was his dumb plan and she shouldn't have listened. To compassionate Stefan she once knew maybe, he was always intelligent and responsible. But to listen to the Ripper, distant and cruel Stefan who was blinded by revenge. How could she ever allow herself to do that?

Suddenly Bonnie slaps Stefan and he is caught by surprise. ''Your brother wants to kill me!'' She screams at him. ''And he's probably just a first in the series of many who will try to do so if they find out Klaus and I kissed! I hate you! It was all your stupid plan and your stupid ideas that got us nowhere!'' This feels like her breaking point. She feels like crying but she yells at him instead. The burden of being in the middle of what is surely a vampire war by now has damaged her. More than she let anyone see, more than she herself realized until this point. She punches Stefan in the chest, but he stands still, completely unaffected by her act of violence.

''You kissed?'' He asked surprisingly. It occurs to her she never shared any of this information with him before. Despite the two of them supposedly working together. She wasn't much of a teammate really. She bites her lips and her heartbeat speeds up. Kisses with Klaus felt so intimate and so personal, that it felt completely wrong, not to mention dangerous, to tell anyone about them. ''And Damon? He's just a little unsure about us.''

''He has a plan. As in actual to do list, Stefan.'' She crossed her arms. ''To do: kill Bonnie.'' She shivers as she says that, she is afraid, but she tries her best not to let him know. ''Matt heard him. You are not allowed to dismiss it, because I swear, I will set you on fire!''

Stefan gets more serious, but doesn't say anything. ''I'm done.'' He looks surprised to hear him say that.

''I'm done with helping you. I'm done kissing Klaus. I'll kill Damon if he comes near me.'' She threatens. ''You, both of you, ruined everything, so I'm done. Stay away, don't call, forget I exist. Deal with Klaus on your own. I can't do this anymore.''

She didn't mean half of the things she said but she says them anyway. Stefan stays silent, so she marched out of the front door and closes the door behind her.

A/N: Hello! I hope the update was worth the wait and loads of fun to read. I sure had fun writing it. What did you think?

I tried to, through this fic, incorporate bits and pieces I feel like are missing from the show. More Matt and Bonnie, more school/studying (seriously those kids are never in school unless there's a dance), more parents (if I remember correctly Liz Forbes is the only ''permanent'' parent we have seen since season 1 and she is barely there), Matt living without parents and so on. Do you think I'm successful at that? What do you think makes the show lack realness regarding teenage life? Oh, and do you like Cliff? He is my original character. Let me know.

If anyone's interested in possibly making a fan art, as in poster for this fic, I would be over the moon. PM me here or message on my tumblr (prettyrecklessheart). If no one's interested, that's okay too.

Also, huge news. My concept for this fic is that is has the same number of chapters as the show has episodes, so 22. As you know, you just finished 21st chapter which means, there's only ONE chapter left. I'm looking forward to writing it and please know, your comments makes me even more motivated.

Much love