"Bonnie… it worked."
Stopping the forkful of food halfway from her mouth Bonnie turned her complete attention onto the phone call, looking up at Kai sitting across from her in the restaurant.
"It did?"
"Yes! The locator spelled you did on Klaus brought me to where he was in New Orleans – and you will never believe who I found when I was there. I'll give you a hint; he says 'greetings from the dead, little witch."
"Kol?"
"Yeah apparently nobody stays dead and gone for too long, especially when it comes to the supernatural. But it actually worked out perfectly because he has connections with the witches there and has been into the whole witchcraft and wizardly for centuries, so naturally he had a few hidden tricks to show off. One was a potion that made Stefan highly susceptible to suggestion and another that allowed me to get into his mind – similar to the one you did on me. It took a few days to break through but I did, and it really worked."
"Care," she breathed through a wide smile, "I'm so proud of you – you brought him back. I can't believe you did it, how is he? It's been almost a week since I heard from you I was getting a little panicky."
"I know I'm sorry I meant to keep you updated but the hours just started to blend together and I lost track of time, and then he needed another couple of days to cool down after."
"Well, it's New Year's Eve, just to give you a solid grasp on the timeline."
"I know - I mean I just found out before I called you, but I know. Stefan's checking a flight out right now and it should only be a couple of hours so we'll make it back in time for the party. How has everything been while we've been gone?"
"Fine, for the most part."
"And what about things with you?"
"I've been fine too," Bonnie laughed as her eye-line trailed around the room at the other customers, "but I miss you so find the quickest flight back."
"I'm already on it!" Caroline chimed, "I'll call you when we land; I love you!"
"I love you too; bye, be safe." Looking back over to Kai he had a sincere smile across his face and realized her excitement must have been radiating off of her. "Caroline did it, Stefan's back to his usual even-tempered self! They're both back to normal, and they're going to try and make it back for the party tonight."
"Don't forget to factor yourself into that equation; Caroline wouldn't have been able to help him without you, and none of it would have happened if you didn't flip hers back on from the start."
"That impulse trip to Paris might have been the single best idea you've ever had," Bonnie grinned feeling buzzed from the joy of having two of her close friends chalk full of humanity and reached across the table squeezing his hand briefly before pulling back.
"It is definitely one of my finest moments," Kai nodded flashing his pearly whites and bit a fry dipped in ketchup in half, "so… it's New Year's Eve."
And just like that, Bonnie's mood was tainted. She knew by the way he brought it up that Kai's mind was reflecting back on her brief pause of weakness the day after Christmas; when he brought out his softer side caressing and kissing all across her body before moving into her showcasing Bonnie with warmth and intimacy. When she felt like her heart was going to explode she let it slip that she'd tell everyone about the two of them before the year was over – and the abruptness of the day she found herself in now was like driving full speed into a brick wall.
"I know."
"And tomorrow's the New Year."
"You're a perceptive one; do you want to do my Tarot cards next?"
"I'm more equipped to palm readings," Kai retorted sliding his hand across the table flipping hers up and slid his finger across the line closest to her knuckles. "Well this one here is your heart line; it's the most sunken in out one of the three; and the say the deeper the line goes the warmer your devotions will be – which is nice to hear."
"Good job working your point back into the topic."
"It never left, I'm just highlighting it. But I can refresh your memory of the last time you were full of fondness and affection; you were on top on me –"
"And that's right where we'll end that story," Bonnie cut him off turning her palm to slap him on the back of the hand, "how do you know how to palm read, anyway?"
"I'm a witch," Kai uttered in a 'duh' tone, "and how can we end a story before it's begun? I was just giving you the background information, buzz in with the main attraction anytime."
"You're really going to hold something against me that I said when I was lost in the moment? I can hardly remember what I said."
"It was right after you moaned out my name-"
"Yeah that's vaguely ringing a bell," Bonnie said in a hushed whisper, "cut it out, we're in public."
"Do you think Mrs. Doubtfire's eavesdropping?" Kai asked pointing his fry to the table behind her and turned almost spitting out the sip of water she was using as a prop to be unsuspicious when she looked over the butch heavy-set woman.
"You're going to Hell."
"For that?" he chuckled taking a bite out of what was left of his sandwich, muttering through half a mouthful, "I'm more screwed than I thought."
"Dissing old ladies will get you there."
"I was just trying to emphasize the Hollywood-esque quality she possesses."
"You really could talk yourself out of any situation, huh?"
"I've had fairly decent luck in that department, I can attest to that. Just like you can skate around a topic like a Gold medalist when you're trying to avoid something – don't you know me? That's nearly impossible when I'm around."
"I've noticed," Bonnie admitted begrudgingly, "so about that whole deadline thing-"
"Oh no, there's no take backs," he said raising his palm up to stop her attempt at backing out, "and you were the one that threw that line. You did have a whole week to spin it into a conversation while you were lounging around with your friends."
"Yeah going out and getting a drink with Damon while he pines over Elena would have been the ideal setting to casually drop in, 'by the way, I've been seeing that kid that we wanted to kill in the prison world.'"
"Sounds clear-cut to me, besides I'm fairly certain your girlfriends already know."
"They suspect, there is a lengthy separating between thinking and knowing."
"So put them out of their misery."
"And just launch myself into it instead," Bonnie summed up, "Kai, I like the way things are between us-"
"That won't change – nothing between us will, we'll just be free to act how we usually do only with other people around."
"But they'll ask so many questions that I don't have the answers to."
"Like what?"
"Like… what are we even doing – what would you call us? We aren't dating, there's been no talk of formal titles; we're friends with benefits. How am I supposed to explain to them I've been lying this whole time and that I'm into you while bringing up the fact that we're just kind of screwing around?"
"Our lack of a label has really got you this tripped up?" Kai's question went straight to her headache but could hear the openness in his tone, genuinely wanting to know. "Is this your way of telling me we should get one?"
"No it's not, it's me freaking out about telling everyone I've been hooking up with the former-enemy and envisioning the sea of questions I'll be drowning in."
"I'll throw you a life ring if they start pulling you under."
"What a great help you are."
"I have my moments," he grinned and twirled his fry around the ketchup, "so what do you say we stick to the typical fairytale fashion since it worked so well in our favor last time. Only now we're switching up stories, and you'll have until the stroke of midnight while attending a magical party to tell them about us."
"Or else I lose my heel and your car turns into a pumpkin?"
"And then it's the prince's turn to step up and find the princess to put everything in motion."
"Which is?"
"You've seen the movie, I'm sure you can figure it out," Kai responded casually as the waiter appeared beside them asking if they'd like any dessert before disappearing to get the check.
"So this whole ultimatum of 'say something before I do' doesn't really sit well with me."
"It's more of a countdown, and I'm not the one that stuck the deadline on it, remember?"
"Vividly," Bonnie gritted frustrated with herself for being swept up and in his force-field that seemed to make her say and do things she's never had to endure before. "You told me before you had something planned out on how you'd tell Jeremy if I didn't; were you telling the truth?"
"I generally am," he remarked nodding once, the whiff of devilry personifying under his neutral expression icing her sweltering skin.
"What is it?"
"I've foreseen a few scenarios playing out depending on the surrounding circumstances," Kai said formally and doing what he does best; responding without answering the question.
"Okay well give me a what if of one of them; I need something to go up against what I envision will happen if I tell him and judge which will cause the most destruction."
"Mine's worse," he said simply, Bonnie opening her mouth to speak when the waiter came back handing off the small black book that the check was in. Momentarily distracted she rummaged through her purse grabbing her wristlet and pulling her real credit card out, clutching it. "Oh, did you want to pay for us?"
"Sure," she agreed, originally planning on just splitting the bill but not wanting to press her luck as she eyed the man coming back over Kai's shoulder, her wristlet flying out of her hand and the card falling to the ground as she went to catch her belongings.
By the time Bonnie was sitting upright the waiter and little black book were long gone, but Kai's obnoxious smug was still fully intact. "Maybe next time."
"If I had used the other card would you have cared?" she asked accusingly, Kai's response being an overdrawn sip of his drink. "You're a child."
"I know," he agreed through a bright smile not at all offended and his breezy good-humored mood was contagious, attempting with difficulty to be stern with a person who has been wired to be the opposite.
Playing through her own explosive synopsis' of how the night could end the steady escalation of apprehension and fear started up, as it does on cue before any holiday or gathering between her, her friends, and the guy she brought back with her from her extended vacation in an alternate dimension. Ever since Bonnie broke the one vital rule she set for herself – one that was more revolved around keeping Kai out mentally than letting him get to her physically – she's had a knot coiled up tight in her core, each day that passes making it twist as if she was being rung out from the inside. The pressure to finally get the words out and tell everyone the truth about the two of them filled Bonnie with a bone-chilling numbness that seeped deep inside until she was paralyzed, crippling with panic.
Although a piece of her wants to tell her friends about everything that's been going on over the past year the unwillingness she possesses to let her small bubble of happiness be potentially popped by vocalizing it has done nothing but spin her way of thinking in circles until the room was whirling around too. It seems that in the blink of an eye Bonnie had worn down the clock and was now ensnared between two loaded weapons, one in Kai's hand and the other held securely in her own. No matter which she chose a trigger was going to be pulled, and she had a sinking feeling her first New Year back in the real world – when the shock and denial that she would be able to celebrate the years changing again still hadn't fully dissipated – was going to have more of an impact than Bonnie could withstand.
xx
Hooking the little clasp that connected the two strips of material around the back of her neck Bonnie glanced up to the mirror, taking in her reflection. This little black and gold number was one she bought in Paris with a night like New Year's Eve in mind and it was one Kai hadn't seen her purchase, a thrill tingling up her spine anticipating what he would think. The top half of the dress was covered in gold sequins; starting from the collar secured around her neck down to her midsection with a revealing slit down the center to where the bottom skirt began showing off where her breasts meet with no bra to hold them in place. Her arms and backside were completely bare as the material dipped down her sides into the two layers of a black flowing skirt – the top a thin fabric of lace – and twirled in a circle, judging how high up it went when it wasn't resting against her mid-thighs. The matching gold shimmery heels gave her a couple extra inches of height and her curly hair seemed to be doing a nice job of framing her face.
Moving over to the dresser Bonnie put on the moon necklace Elena bought her and hung Kai's gift off of her wrist, watching the Eiffel Tower twirl. Reaching for the ring her hand froze halfway, all the comments she would hear from her friends starting to interject inside her eardrums about this significant piece of jewelry. They've all hung out since Christmas but she has made it a habit to leave her fancy Paris jewels behind and that did not seem to sit well with the guy who's been rooming with her, his brisk remarks a watered-down version of what's reflected in his demeanor. Even though she was giving herself pep talks on how to break the ice and let others in on her secret, the flagrant and undisguised meaning behind the Scarlet ring was too colossal to lead with and he was going to have something to say over it.
"Sorry, I don't think you can go anywhere," a deep voice sounded behind her before nails were tickling down her back and leaned in beside her ear whispering, "I have to defile you first."
Snorting out a laugh she turned to Kai's equally upbeat smile and felt hers waver when she scanned down his body looking at what he was wearing. Also choosing the stylish Paris approach but with a New Year's twist he wore black jeans with the matching suit vest and instead of a white shirt it was a deep sapphire blue with the sleeves rolled up, the hint of color making his irises pop and the contrast against the white and silver striped silk tie hanging loosely around his neck had them shining like a clear beautiful sky.
Bonnie's pheromones spiked exponentially as she leaned in close to knot the tie breathing in the scent of Kai's body wash blended together with his own intoxicating aroma and had to remind herself if she took him up on his offer she would never leave the house. The charge of his fingers trailed down her arms and looked up to his eyes trained on her bracelet, flicking the charm. She held her breath knowing what was to come next and watched his features shift when his thumb wearing the spinner ring slid down Bonnie's still naked middle finger.
"They're already going to give me a hard time about the bracelet."
"Why does it matter if you're telling them tonight anyway?"
"Because I'd like to tell them in my own way, and not have them bombard me with questions and figure everything out before I have a chance to say anything."
"Pretty sure most of them have us figured out," he remarked letting her go making Bonnie feel uncharacteristically frosty without his touch.
"I would be getting the full speech if they knew."
Shrugging and giving her an unconvinced look Kai retreated back out of the bedroom but not before she caught his flash of aggravation, swiping a shawl out from the closet before meeting him in the living room where he was tying his shoes. Hopping to his feet he scooped the fedora hat off the table and opened the front door for her following behind, their lack of usual comfortable chatter not bothering her as Bonnie was swept up in potential scenes that could play out tonight – each more traumatizing than the last.
If the pile up of cars didn't draw in her attention the base and vibrations from the music straight ahead would have, breathing in sharply getting hit with the same acute sense of claustrophobia she experienced during both the welcome home party and the rave. It had been over a month since Bonnie made it back home and had assumed her triggers or skittishness would be long past by now but her mind and body refused to adapt back into her surroundings. Feeling Kai's hand press down on hers she looked to her balled up fists in her lap and loosened them automatically, seeing the question displayed on his face. Reaching between them for her clutch she pulled out her phone and texted Caroline to see if she was already here since she said she was home safe over an hour ago.
Before she could receive a response Bonnie happened to glance over to the door at the same time Care came barreling out in a shimmering deep rosewood pink dress, the tight-fitted material clinging to her frame. From the top the flashy dress looked conservative with the material going just below her neck into long sleeves, but the length of it hugged her upper thighs displaying her long legs down to the pointed heels and noticed when she turned to hug someone her back was also bare only connected by a thin string across the top. Her long blond hair was hung loosely over her shoulders and beamed with an aura of beauty, the same vibrancy she's possessed since she was a kid.
"What a blonde bombshell," Kai hollered out his open window and whistled a cat-call for added effect, Bonnie surprised at the laughter that erupted out of her nervous system and swatted the side of his arm.
Stepping out into the crisp December breeze Caroline's giggling trickled towards her through the sound of the wind lightening her own apprehensive mood and met her halfway wrapping each other in a warm hug. "I'm so happy you're back, Care."
"It wouldn't have been possible without you," she said squeezing her back and her eyes were glossy when they pulled apart, smiling widening when she looked over Bonnie's shoulder. "Or you."
"I go where the lady goes," Kai smiled back with sincerity, looking from one girl to the other, "besides, you guys were fun company."
"Yeah, Stefan told me the night almost ended with you bled out on the floor and it sounded pretty brutal, how did you manage to make it out of that?"
"Nurse Bon put me back together again," he summed up placing his hand on the crown of her head wiggling it as he spoke, "good as new."
"And then some," Caroline said with a wave of her hand gesturing to his outfit, "Apparently Paris was good to you in some ways."
"Great to me in others," he uttered casually and Bonnie's blood chilled, forcing herself not to look his way and caught her friend eyeing her as she linked their arms together and started back towards the house.
"What did he mean by that?" Care whispered and she gritted her teeth, not even making it to the party and was already on the defense.
"He's full of vague one-liners."
"Well we never did have a chance to talk about your trip to Paris, what did you two get into?"
Bonnie spent the next hour and a half filling her best friend in on one of the most remarkable adventures of her life; starting from the very beginning of how plush and luxurious the suite she was staying in was, to the bone-snapping and spell-casting doctoral role she took on, and vivid details about every place she went to around the city. Forced to keep some occurrences in her mind she passed through every blip of intimacy and regretfully didn't divulge in the most romantic moment of her life – inside the Eiffel Tower no less, but Caroline's knowing expression gave her a sinking feeling that she could see right through her.
"The trip was worth it in every aspect, but those flights back and forth? I don't think I can go through that again for a while."
"Yeah I was going to ask you how you survived, I know how much you hate flying you won't even watch movies revolved around plane crashes."
"I knew I was coming to save the day, so that helped," Bonnie joked finishing the last of her second drink, the liquor seeming to do a decent job at pushing her nerves down and out of focus, "and the destination just so happened to be our childhood dream so there were really strong factors that got me through it."
"Your traveling companion alleviated some of the stress too, I would imagine," Caroline stated with clarity as they made their way through the kitchen back into the living room and poured a glass of sangria into her glass with the ladle.
"I guess."
"Oh come on, Bon – it's me! Talk to me," Caroline laughed filling her glass and clanking the two together, "I was at that Masquerade Ball too. I saw the way you danced together, and how fast you took off when you thought he was in trouble. And Stefan may have filled me on a few other things too."
"Like what?" she asked too quickly earning a wry smile.
"Like the reason behind why Kai almost died."
"Because Stefan wanted the spell broken," Bonnie commented through her confusion, "and his reinforcements were executed when they came in to help him."
Caroline's grin broadened like the Grinch, practically twirling her fake mustache and snickering in her face at how naïve and innocent Bonnie was. "Kai killed them because they were trying to escape, to find me – to find you. Stefan said he didn't mind the manic witch so he gave him an out; he wouldn't bleed him dry if he let him out of the room, but Kai refused. Then another couple tried to do the deed and took his focus off the ripper he was stuck inside with to set them on fire and Stefan came at him from behind."
Turning her head like she had been slapped Bonnie scanned the room eyes roaming posthaste and paused at the open window off to her right, the scene in front of her bringing an eerily calming effect to her frantic mindset. Kai's hat was pulled down low over one eye and was making slow rhythmic moves across the floor towards Elena – whose back was turned and talking to Damon – and grabbed her head pulling her backwards into a twirl sending her strapless shimmering midnight blue dress up her legs with the motion. A startled shriek left her lips that turned humorous when she realized who it was, smacking his vest jokingly and leaned in to hear him over the music.
On cue Damon stormed the eight feet over getting in between them and sneering in Kai's direction. Bonnie's head cocked to the side, never noticing before now the differences of their sizes in present day compared to the prison world. Kai has always been a couple of inches taller than Damon but his pre-merge frame was smaller giving him a more fragile look; the bulked up man with the scruff splashed across his face standing here now displaying anything but weakness as he towered over the older Salvatore brother. Murmuring something back to him Bonnie's eyes widened when both Elena and Damon turned in her direction locking eyes and her breath caught fighting the instinct to step away from the attention. Shifting over briefly Kai's hat covered the top of his face but could still see his smile, spinning around quickly to avoid the heat of tension drifting towards her and came back into view with Caroline's piercing gaze.
"He never told me."
"You'd think risking his life for someone else's would make his list of achievements to brag about," Care said amused but the statement sunk deep into her chest.
A sharp memory resurfaced of watching as a helpless bystander as Kai pushed Jo out of the shed and locked the door behind her leaving him alone with his abusive father. He knew the details of the spell Bonnie used on Caroline and that she would be separated from her physical body, therefore couldn't sense any oncoming attack that would be directed at her and made the choice to leave himself at a disadvantage rather than her. Lifting her glass to drink half of its contents her vision swayed slightly when she tilted her head forward thinking she could be deemed certifiable feeling like the flood of thoughts were drowning her from within.
"Care-"she uttered closing her eyes and heard her respond through an unsmiling tone.
"Yes?"
Willing her mouth to force out the words Bonnie's eyebrows were scrunched up so tight her entire face felt pinched with concentration and said the mantra in her head over and over until she let out a sound of frustration. Her vision clouded with Caroline's patient and endearing expression – one she always put on when she was waiting for someone to reveal something they didn't want to admit to, and could see the nonjudgmental candor staring back at her. Caroline and Elena have been her two best friends her entire life and both have qualities that she adores and other that wish could be adjusted, but one of the most substantial changes they've undergone since becoming vampires is their outlook and critic of others.
Where Elena used to be open and understanding Care was disparaging and closed-minded and both adapted to their new way of life in different ways; one's resistance and struggle to get better acclimated weighing out heavily against the other creating a better version of herself. When they were kids Bonnie was closer to Elena because of all that they had in common and how bratty their other non-biological sister could be but now that they've grown up she's seen a true friendship blossom between her and Caroline, and has come to believe she can tell her anything.
"I like Kai."
"Yes," Caroline responded hissing out the S grinning wildly at her, "I was two seconds away from reminding you of how sexy you admitted to thinking he is."
"Sometimes I wish when you all flip your switch over that the memories from then fade away too."
"Nope, they're still clear as day highlighting everything that we did and said when he had no filter to stop us, it's great. But it does have its perks such as right now," she beamed and leaned in hugging Bonnie tight. "Am I the first person you've told?"
"The only; it's terrifying enough mustering up the courage to tell you, everyone else…"
"Will have their own pre-set criticisms and accusations, but you're already expecting that. Wow so many things are clicking together – have you been together the whole time you've been back? What am I saying; you wouldn't have brought him back with you to begin with if you didn't care about him already. How did it happen? I know girl boy meets boy in prison world synopsis but Damon's been painting a pretty gruesome picture about your inmate while you were gone."
"Well the things he was telling you weren't exactly exaggerations," Bonnie vocalized feeling her insides turn, "he had a really bleak and violent upbringing with a psychotic barbarian of a father. It's not an excuse for what he did because I know it's unjustifiable, but…he's more than that."
"You really like him," Caroline concluded and the way she said it hit her the wrong way.
"Why did you say it like that?"
"Because you're reminding me of myself; falling for the branded villain with a tragic past and an explosive relationship with his dad, I know the appeal."
Bonnie felt blindsided that she didn't think of the parallels Caroline had with Klaus going through these exact same overbearing thoughts and emotions clashing off of each other. "But you were smart and got out of it before you got too close."
"We got pretty close," she nodded looking off to the side sipping her drink so Bonnie did the same, "so how is he in bed?"
Coughing through the gulp the liquor went down the wrong pipe burning all the way down and threw her hand up to her chest choking on the remnants still in her mouth. Caroline's cheerful merriment could still be heard over her ears ringing and raised both arms in the air to clear her airway, heaving in deep breaths when she was finally able to.
"Care!"
"That good, huh? I assumed it had to be something pretty special to get a souvenir out of it," Caroline chortled swishing the charm with her index finger dangling from her wrist, "I can't wait to hear the undisclosed version of that story next time."
Cheeks scorching with heat all Bonnie could do was avoid her gaze and force back the rest of her drink as soon as her throat stopped burning. "I knew you would be the most understanding but I still thought you would give me more of a hard time over this."
"I guess a part of me has had my suspicions for a while."
"How long is a while?"
"When Damon came back from Portland outraged that the 'fool-proof' plan to get you back had gone awry because you wouldn't leave behind the sociopath."
"His dad was going to kill him," Bonnie argued but Caroline's expression told her she already knew that.
"Which I thought was reason enough to stay too, but then I thought back to an earlier conversation hearing that you threw a pic-axe into Kai's chest at your first opportunity out – which resulted in Damon's early departure home. So I knew something memorable must have happened between that span of time with you two, and then when I saw you together I was positive."
"And you weren't going to say anything?"
"I hinted, excessively – and I wasn't the only one."
"Elena," she uttered with dread looking around the area and wavered for a beat seeing Kai talking to a couple of girls near the entrance of the kitchen with a plate of food in his hand. "She knows too?"
"She assumes, but ever since Kai did that memory wipe of her loving Damon she's been more stubborn and narrow-minded on the whole 'loving the bad guy with the dangerous past' angle but I'm sure if you talked to her about it she'd understand."
Bonnie bit the side of her cheek not thinking that telling her other best friend would have been too much worse than this but now her nerves were bubbling back up to the surface lingering against her temples. "Great."
"I can tell how much he likes you too," Caroline commented, most likely to distract her. "He doesn't let you out of his sight."
"He's over there talking to a group of girls right now," she said gesturing over Care's shoulder to the now empty doorway.
"Actually Kai's chatting it up with Damon on the other side of the room, but if you stare at him for a full minute he'll glance over to see if you're still standing here."
"You're overemphasizing."
"Just watch," she suggested and Bonnie did it out of spite to prove her wrong, getting no farther than thirty seconds before Kai shifted his eyes to her, his small smile not helping her case and looked away abruptly.
"That was just a coincidence."
"You don't pay attention enough," Caroline smiled through a shake of her head, "he looks pretty smitten."
"That is never a word I would associate with Kai," Bonnie remarked through a quick laugh.
"Well than you better broaden your vocabulary, Bon, because you two seem to be infatuated with each other."
"Why do you say that?"
"You've been my best friend our whole life, I know everything about you – including when you're lying or holding things back. It's different from how you were with Jeremy, but some things are still the same too. I can tell when you're into someone, and Kai's more or less declared he wants to be with you when he won the merge and stayed here instead of going back to lead the coven. Is it serious?"
"What – no – we're… I don't know what we are we don't even have a label yet. We're getting to know each other-"
"Intimately," Caroline finished flashing her teeth, "just admit it for me one time, please?"
Feeling the buzz from the three strong glasses of sangria Bonnie's scandalous smile broke through her composure and laughed out seeing her friend bounce in front of her with glee, waiting for the confirmation.
"Yes, we have, okay; was that as satisfying to hear as you thought it would be?"
"And so much more!" she squealed a little too loudly drawing attention from the crowd around then and sputtered out laughter holding onto the side of Bonnie's cheeks. "My little caterpillar has blossomed into a full-grown butterfly right before my eyes."
"You're so corny."
"You love it," Care argued her arms around her neck, "but now I just have so many questions; did you sleep with him before and after the merge, and if so was it different at all? Do you plan on dating? What about him versus Jeremy, what's the scoop on that?"
Groaning out a loud sound of misery the arms around Bonnie loosened staring into a face of jubilance. "I'm not answering any of those."
"Okay than just this one; is Jeremy better at…"Caroline made a clucking sound out of the side of her mouth with her teeth and her appalled reaction resulted in the both of them bursting into a fit of hysterics until tears brimmed her lids. "That wasn't my real question but your response spoke volumes. No, what I really want to know is; are you happy?"
The genuine smile that spread across Bonnie's lips at the contrastive question against all the rest warmed her heart, swaying ever so slightly from the surge of adrenaline against her tipsy state. "I think I am."
"Then don't let anyone ruin it," Caroline divulged filling her with confidence that she wasn't crazy or doing something wrong and inhaled deeply letting the feeling flow through her system before someone tapped her shoulder, spinning to lock eyes with Jeremy's worn out gaze.
"Can we talk for a minute?"
"Okay," Bonnie replied and hugged Caroline telling her she'd catch up with her later.
"Bonnie I wanted to apologize for the way I acted at the party, I didn't mean to blow up on you like that or cause a scene. You caught me by surprise, and I know that's no excuse but I just reacted without thinking because I refuse to accept that it's really over between us. I've messed up things in our relationship in the past which gives you a good reason not to trust me but I've changed while you were gone. I felt what it was like without having you in my life and saw all of the things I've taken for granted; I should have put you first over everything else in my life."
The words cut her open like a fresh wound; shocking and piercing as it tore through her ribcage crushing her heart in a vise-grip. Bonnie has thought about this very scenario too many times to count; Jeremy admitting to past mistakes while telling her the things every girl wants to hear, and yet it wasn't what she expected. What she never factored into the equation was the emotional mindset she could potentially be in or the rare variable of having feelings for someone else. Glancing away an invisible pull brought her vision directly into Kai's fiery fixation directed at her, his face void of emotion making it that much more strenuous to read him. A girl pepped something on his side and he either didn't hear her or chose to ignore it continuing his scrutinizing examination of her and Jeremy and whipped her head back towards the conversation, steeling her chaotic mind.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear that, Jer; I know we had our hardships while we were dating but I don't regret anything that happened, and I don't blame you for why we aren't getting back together now. I was hurt and angry at you for so long, but somewhere between being an anchor to the Other Side and getting trapped in an eternal Groundhog Day I realized the most cliché quote of them all – life really is short, and I can't keep wasting it living in the past and holding onto the negativity. I'm happy that you've been able to grow and make changes in your life while I've been gone, I feel like that's something we both needed to do to discover who we are without each other and open our eyes to what's around us. You're still one of the most important people I've ever known and we'll always be in each other's lives… just not in that way."
"Bonnie," he soothed stepping forward reaching for her left arm – the one with Kai's Christmas gift dangling from her wrist – and moved quickly reaching for the pitcher off to the side to refill a new glass, distracting herself from his forlorn expression. "I still want you in my life no matter what way it is, but I don't think the topic should be just brushed aside without talking about it."
"But we have talked," Bonnie said turning back to him, "time has brought us to this moment on two separate pages from the most unforeseen circumstances imaginable. I went through my own transformation that set me on an unusual path – one that has me not sure which way is up sometimes but I'm not the same girl that you fell for. Honestly I don't know if you would like the person I've become very much."
"Why do you think that?"
"My views on a lot of things have changed; about myself, the people I care about, and what I want. I accept your apology about how you reacted last week, and I hope you can forgive me for tonight."
"I don't think-"
"Just… keep that in the back of your mind. There's still so much more I want to tell you but I – I can't. Not right now at least, but I'm going to find you again before the ball drops, okay?"
"Sure, maybe we can bring in the New Year together," Jeremy smiled still holding onto their connection by a thread and wrapped his arms around her shoulders rubbing her naked back but Bonnie's mind was elsewhere playing through a handful of speeches she was going to have to force herself to say. "I'll see you soon."
Frozen in the same spot staring off into the distance long after she was left alone, Bonnie took two big gulps of her drinks and turned heading to the kitchen for something to eat. Rummaging through the fridge and cabinets like she still lived here Bonnie reached up as far as she could manage going for the bag of chips when she felt a pair of hands graze just below her butt where her dress was hitched up to and a voice rumbled sending goosebumps across her skin.
-x—x—x—
"Hey stranger."
"Kai," she hissed swatting at his hands and pulling down her flowy skirt, "someone could see."
"You in that dress? I'm aware, so if every guy in the other roo; especially the handsy ex. I take it he's still not in on the secret?"
"Perceptive," Bonnie commented biting a chip in half, "I'm trying, okay? It's not as easy as some of the other things I've had to tell him – like I wasn't coming back from the Other Side, for instance. I'm getting there; I just needed a break from everything a minute."
"Fair enough," he nodded grabbing the hand not holding the bag and steered her out of the kitchen and down the hall.
"Where are we going?"
"To take a break from everything."
"If you're leading me to Damon's bedroom I will kill you," she promised and Kai's barked out a laugh, the idea nowhere revolved around what he was thinking.
"Such a dirty mind, what ever will I do with you?" he wondered looking beside him and squeezing her hand, turning another corner and gesturing to the wide open double doors where the club music was blaring from. "If I recall correctly we have a fond memory from the last time we were in this room."
"When you first showed off your moves, how could I forget?" Bonnie replied walking in front of him into the large dance hall now packed with people lingering around the perimeter with groups of people jumping around to the music throughout the center. The room seemed smaller now cluttered with partygoers but was nicely decorated like the rest of the house with a bouquet of balloons, streamers, and enough party supplies to last them for at least three more New Year's Eve's. Lifting his fingers to drag them down Bonnie's spine she turned abruptly giving him a stern look, a vast contrast against his cheerful grin. "Cut it out, one of them could be in here."
"All of your friends are in the living room, and you need to relax for five minutes. Come on, dance with me," Kai requested putting out his palm in offering and she looked from his hand to his face half a dozen times before hesitatingly accepting.
Shaking his shoulders to the fast beat Kai lowered his hat and looked down walking backwards watching her feet as he pulled her deeper into the crowd to blend in. The instant they were shielded he lifted his head pulling Bonnie in close and her hands slid up his vest not stopping until they were high in the air above their heads and saw the tension drift away, her smile brightening and spun in a circle swaying her hands to the song. Kai didn't stay in one spot as he danced around her jiving or sliding against her soft skin and risqué dress, his blood pressure rising every time Bonnie spun sending the bottom of her dress up with the motion. The sounds of delight brought a smile to his face but it was the expression she had – an open mouthed grin so wide her eyes were almost shut with a vibrancy of blissfulness – that caused his chest to tighten and ache, drinking in Bonnie's every feature.
Rocking her hips from left to right her hands pumped overhead snapping along and slid her heel across the floor gliding farther with each step making him follow close behind. Pivoting on her heel she pushed against Kai's chest keeping them a few feet apart and her giggly smile had shifted; the temptress he's grown to crave peering back at him. Hearing the song change to more R&B sensual with a steady beat Bonnie checked to see how much room was around her and popped her butt back, running her hands through her hair flipping it to the side and sliding them down her breasts and stomach pushing them between her thighs. Hiking the skirt up her back arched when she rolled her hips backwards and leaned her chest out towards him with lips parted, every ounce of Kai's blood heading south observing Bonnie push his limits with yet another hidden side of her that he wants more of. Churning her hips in the same sexual manner random whistles and cheers sounded from the immediate area from guys and girls and strutted the two steps to him, spinning so her backside was against his front and held onto the back of his neck with her right hand pressing his around her waist as she dropped to the ground in a split; the sudden movement pulling his head down with her earning an uproar from the herd and stood back up with him pressing her body into his.
"Let's see what you got," Bonnie enticed letting go and backing up a few steps, scanning around to the circle that's begun to surround them.
"Are we – is it finally happening, are we battling?"
"If you can keep up," she shrugged and his wicked grin spread wider, the range of his dance skills succeeding most people's expectations from a first glance.
Shrugging noncommittally Kai tilted the hat to the side making sure it's secure and began stomping towards her similar to how people do when they're stepping in a fraternity; bending each knee and stomping forward to her while his elbows were bent raising his arms up over his hand and swinging them back down crossing them in front of his face and chest like he was giving someone a bear hug. As the circle around them cheered louder he stopped short when he reached Bonnie turning to the side and pushing his shoulders forward and hitting his chin back with his hand, repeating the move five or six times as he leaned backwards as his chest rolled with it to make his movements seem robotic. Facing her Kai threw both hands up to the left than down to the right, dropping to his right knee and spinning in a circle swiping a handful of glitter off the floor and stood blowing the sparkly flakes through his fist over Bonnie's shoulder.
The crowd went nuts and Kai backed away wiping his palm free of glitter with his femme fatale hot on his heels, holding onto his neck to swirl her hips and he followed her lead dropping lower until he was down on one knee with Bonnie straddling his thigh. Flipping her hair she rocked her head to the left letting go of his neck and he gripped the sides of her ribs moving his head in the opposite direction, holding her as she propelled to the other side lifting off of his leg and arched so far back the tips of her hair hit the floor. Running her hands up her chest and over her face she pushed her hands off the hardwood launching her a few inches from Kai's face and breathed her in, spinning her body out a few steps before her hands and knees hit the ground down on all fours.
Whirling her body around with the momentum one hand moved behind her back to balance while the other glided a handful of glitter across her chest, sliding in behind her to pull her glittered hand around his neck pressing his face into the side of hers trailing his nose down. Pushing away Bonnie spun and crouched in front of him like a predator, deep vibrations rumbling in his chest as she began to crawl backwards and chased after; grabbing another handful of glitter as she sat back on her knees throwing the pile over her head throwing her other hand behind her so she didn't end up banging her head off the floor. Arched and blind from his oncoming attack Kai wrapped an arm behind her curved back and pulled her up into him, smiling when her body connected with his and she slid her hand around his neck resting their foreheads together.
The music and manic noise around them faded away seeing Bonnie's dilated eyes staring back at him and lifted them both to their feet, the tension sizzling the longer they chose not to break contact. Cupping the side of her jaw with his free hand Kai had her confined in his grasp and could feel her pounding heart matching his as they both tried to catch their breath and keep it together. Slaps on the shoulder and comments of appraisal started to cloud back into Kai's mind snapping them out of their spell and Bonnie's limbs tensed immediately shoving away from him and looking around frantically to see if any of her friends were around. After a minute of investigating she laced her fingers in his and pulled him away from their devoted fans back towards the entrance and made it almost all the way there before he tugged her over against the wall, running his hands down her dress and sliding his fingers under the skirt gripping bellow her cheeks.
"I've already been thinking about all of the ways I could have you in this dress and that little number you did didn't help your case," Kai breathed lowly across her jaw trailing back to her ear, "if you keep this up we're going to end up having a repeat performance of Clue, only with a lot more potential witnesses."
"In your dreams."
"You've made my dreams come true in the past," he summed up spreading her legs open wider by the back of her thighs to press his hips forward, "what's to stop us from making that happen again?"
"My sanity," Bonnie concluded rubbing the side of her face against his rough facial hair and nuzzled into the crook of her neck keeping her body against his.
"That's overrated."
Finding amusement in his response Kai could feel her chest vibrating and leaned back to her matching lighthearted expression. Gliding her palms down Kai's vest her hand slid to his jeans pocket and reached inside pulling out his phone, eyes bulging when she turned on the screen.
"We have less than twenty minutes until the ball drops!"
"And then it's a Happy New Year!" he cheered excitedly, "I haven't had one of those in a decade or two."
"Come on we have to get back to the living room," she rushed and ducked out of his grasp taking off out the door.
"Off to talk to your arm candy some more?" Kai teased jogging up beside her, "I'm cool with that. But you should know, if the night doesn't end with little Gilbert enacting some force of physical violence on me I'm going to be pretty upset."
"You're the first person to tell me you'll be mad if someone doesn't punch you in the face."
"Good, I like being your first," he muttered pressing his hands to her back and drifting them down her arms, tilting his face into her neck from behind, "I take great pride in that, actually."
"Too bad you've done just about everything while you were locked away; I can't seem to find anything that you haven't experienced already."
"I wouldn't sell yourself short Bon, there are plenty of moments I've had only with you."
"Like what?" Bonnie asked staring off to the side avoiding his eyes.
"Well no one has successfully killed me before," Kai offered remembering that fateful day so long ago hearing her snort out a laugh, "and people have been trying to do that all my life so I find it very impressive. Damon's cowardly approach doesn't count since he knew I would come back."
"So in other words I'm the one that's been able to hurt you the most, great example," she said lightly but his grip tightened around her forearms hearing the way Bonnie viewed his statement, turning her in his arms and having her take a couple steps back towards the wall to shield them from drunk partiers.
"What's wrong?" he asked glancing from one eye to the other, the tension from earlier masking over and tightening her features.
"Nothing," she huffed and Kai raised a brow, "I'm just thinking about what's going to happen once everyone knows and how that might affect us. Which makes me wonder what it is we're doing to begin with and reflect back on everything that's happened over the last year. I push you away, Kai – I always have; I'm constantly battling between getting closer to you and sprinting in the opposite direction. What if the pressure of them knowing is too much for me and you get fed up dealing with my mood swings? And then the secret's already out and I have to go through the whole process of that-"
Placing his right hand on the wall beside Bonnie's head his left thumb slid across her jaw as his fingers curled cupping the side of her neck, his penetrating stare cutting her off mid-sentence.
"You're the one person in the entire world I'm not sick of, and who I want to be around; whether we're fighting, or…" Kai trailed off flashing his smile earning an eye roll. "You say you've hurt me the most, but I think you're the only one in my life who hasn't. You can try pushing me away all you want Bonnie – but I won't let you run."
Bonnie's breath hitched, parting her lips to let out a puff of breath and reached for his wrist wrapping her fingers around and squeezing to the point of discomfort. Her eyes darted over his face seeming too stunned to blink and held her gaze until she did, cocking his head slightly seeing them gloss over like she was about to cry. A wave of panic started to seep in wondering if she spun his words around again and interpreted that she can't escape him – which isn't entirely false – but didn't want it to come out so sociopathic.
"Woo the year is finally almost over!" A drunk girl cheered off to his left stumbling down the hall with her friends, "here we come 2013 – watch out world!"
"The universe should be terrified," Kai pointed out watching them turn a corner and looked back to Bonnie's soft smile before a realization hit her and reached for his phone.
"Oh God we have to go."
Speeding off down the hallways until they reached the living room packed full of people Kai looked over at the massive flat screen that was unmistakably not here during his vacation frozen in time and read there was less than eight minutes left on the countdown, leaning in and humming the Jeopardy tune in Bonnie's ear to get a rise which worked with minimal effort.
"I'll tell you what; instead of having to tell everyone I'll let you off the hook if you tell one person in particular," Kai suggested pointing over her shoulder to the Gilbert siblings chatting near the window.
"I'd rather tell every person in this room," she shot back and he chuckled beside her.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Then go for it, but you're on a pretty short time crunch and there are quite a few college kids in here."
"And what if I don't do either?" Bonnie questioned turning and giving him a stern glare indicating she means business, his smile widening at the thrill.
"Then you'll run out the clock," he said simply and her eyes narrowed, "wouldn't want that to happen, right?"
"Maybe if I knew what you had planned than I could make that conclusion for myself."
"It might help, or you could just take my word on it. But full disclosure a large part of me doesn't want you to tell him."
"What?" Bonnie hissed looking over at the clock and back at him quickly, "why?"
"I could explain it but-"Kai made a ticking sound out of the side of his mouth and glanced down at his imaginary watch, "yeah I think it would take just about that same amount of time you have left."
Darting her eyes from him, to the clock, and over to Jeremy Bonnie flashed him a lethal stare that he was sure intimidated the average man but he felt a surge of excitement igniting his body leaving him wanting more. Clocking the countdown at 5:47 Kai sauntered over to Damon's decanter pouring a real drink and kept his eyes trained on the conversation fifty feet away.
"You look like a stalker," Caroline chimed bumping the side of his arm, raising her glass to clank off of his which he obliged to.
"That's what I keep telling people."
"What do you think they're talking about?"
"The weather," he mused and she turned sitting on the small table diagonally in front of him, catching her gaze on him in his peripheral.
"Maybe it's about you."
Shifting his eyes to the left sharply Kai's brows drew in farther the brighter her smile got and took a casual sip of the bourbon. "I'm sure I'd be able to tell if it was."
"Did you know the precise moment while she was talking to me?" Caroline asked in a tone of feigned innocence tilting her head to the side, Kai letting out a sound of self-satisfaction that he was right even though Bonnie failed to mention it.
"Yeah well you're kind of a dead giveaway," he laughed filling with pride that she told her best friend – and it was a coin toss on which he thought was going to be the first. "What did she tell you?"
"That she likes you," she said off the shoulder, catching his reaction and mimicking his enthusiasm.
"That's funny that that's what she lead with seeing how it's roughly the third or fourth time she's admitted it out loud."
"Hm," Caroline hummed finding intrigue in that piece of information, "let me ask you something; if you've been hooking up since before you even made it back, why am I just hearing about it now?"
Widening his eyes that Bonnie had told her that much Kai looked overhead to 2:52 on the TV and over to the fidgety girl stumbling over her words and the guy standing too close in front of her. Scanning the rest of the room Elena was still standing nearby talking to Stefan and Damon and the crowd started to get restless as the sixty seconds drew in closer. Keeping up with the conversation he kept his fixation on the side of Bonnie's profile, waiting and watching as the couple of minutes played out.
"She's afraid, which is ironic in so many ways since it's Bon we're talking about and her fear isn't even directed towards me. You all seem to have a say over what she does and feels – according to her, and admitting it meant letting all of your opinions in clouding her own. I know what a part of her feels about me, even though she can be… stubborn, but if she has other people in her ear it's not going to be good for my case."
"Did you want her to tell us?"
"Yeah," he chuckled, "I didn't care at first, and then I just had one specific target in mind."
"And what about after that?" Caroline pressed, catching her coy expression out of the corner of her eye as kids started to rumble the thirty second countdown. Checking the duo in the corner Kai's teeth clenched watching Jeremy move in closer and leaning down to her ear to talk over the noise, looking all too chummy in a time like this. "You seem to be able to read her pretty well.
"She's the only person I've been around in eighteen years; I've picked up on a lot of things. Like right now for instance, would you say they look closer to fighting or kissing?" Turning with curiosity Caroline did a double take absorbing their look of intimacy and peered over at Kai to read his expression. "Yeah I thought so too."
Slamming back the last half of his drink the hooting and hollering began to amplify counting down from ten and Kai moved around the table walking with determination in each stride. Making fists at his sides seeing that Jeremy's lips was essentially touching her skin he heard everyone cheering 3… 2… before he took off his hat and murmured 'excuse me', moving between them and sealing his lips over Bonnie's as she stumbled back a few steps from his momentum. The house turned into white noise incapable of deciphering one voice from another and drowned them all out, sliding his hand up the side of her neck and tilting his head to deepen the roll of his tongue.
Giving him just enough time to feel her kissing him back Kai was yanked backwards knocking a lamp over on his way down hitting the floorboards loudly, a hard impact connecting with his left eye and then a crack on the right side of his jaw. Not one by nature to take a fight sitting down he blocked the blows to his face reminding himself of who was hitting him and why and an eruption of laughter bellowing out of his throat at the recognition, throwing his arms out sending Jeremy backwards. Rising to his knees Kai's Cheshire grin forced an enraged sound from his opponent before he launched forward for the next round.
Shrieks from around them became deafening and suddenly three blinged-out dresses were in his immediate eye-line; Elena and Caroline forcing Jeremy backwards as Bonnie towered over his knelt positon in her heels, arms folded snug over her midsection. Hostile spews trickled through the heaping of people ringing in his ears and stood tall, able to see the pent-up ex over her head looking like he could commit murder. Glancing to the right the Salvatore brother's stared back at him – one looking a tad more peeved than the other – and checked left to her girls displaying emotions of both eagerness and worry, looking back down to the little ball of fire planted in front of him.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Okay so I may have jumped the gun a second too early, but I kept my word."
"What the hell is going on, Bonnie?" Jeremy demanded.
"Don't tell me you're slumming it with the sociopath," Damon spoke up earning a multitude of petrified faces aimed at him, ", he's… you know what he is!"
"I know who he is," Bonnie countered taking him by surprise, looking to his left where she stood shoulder's squared off against everyone surrounding them in a semi-circle.
"So do I Bon-Bon, capable of doing things I can't discuss in mixed company."
"Pot – kettle," Kai replied knowing he was guilty of the same faults shifting his eyes from Damon to Jeremy.
"What is going on?" the crushed little brother remarked again and he could practically hear Bonnie's heart beating out of her chest.
"Kai and I have been getting closer since we got back – since before… I couldn't tell any of you, especially you," She specified staring at Jeremy, "I didn't know how to. And I knew it would end up turning into a big blowout like this."
"At least you were smart enough to figure that much out," Damon mocked and every muscle in Kai's body tensed, willing his feet to stay where they are and saw Bonnie's head snap to the side in his direction. "What? You know what you're doing is wrong which is why you were already well informed of our disapproval."
"After everything he's done?" Jeremy chimed in stepping closer bumping into Elena, "you would put your life at risk by trusting it with him?"
Bonnie's head shot back at the statement like a physical blow and she looked up to him staring back at her, a question that's rolled around his mind once or twice too but didn't want to push the answer out of her. Observing the shift of uncertainty pass over her features Kai could see her mentally talking herself off the ledge and breathed in deeply before turning back to face them.
"I can take care of myself, I always have."
"Also I've gotten a little nicer over the last month but that's just details," he added meriting a smirk from Caroline.
"You're toxic; you ruined your family's lives and you'll destroy Bonnie's too, it's just a matter of time. You're really selfish enough to drag her down with you? You've already made everyone else who ever gave a damn about you regret it."
If Kai wasn't so pissed off he would have to amend little Gilbert for being able to give it back to him and gut him where it stings. Hearing the blood roar in his ears everything else fizzled away and his vision clouded; a similar effect that used to overcome him when his dad would push him too far. Instead of blacking out Kai had taught himself to harness the violent energy and propel it out of him as he deemed fit; generally expressed in explosions of rage but on rare occasions could hold onto it like a blanket encasing him and react in a calm, methodical, and fatal manner.
"Guys it's a New Year," Caroline stressed breaking the silence and standing between the two men, "which means new beginnings, fresh starts, and clean slates. And remember that Mayan premonition that the world was supposed to end in 2012? We survived that, we're all survivors… that's reason enough for a celebration so why don't we reign in the testosterone and enjoy the rest of the night together."
"Are you sleeping with him?" Jeremy asked the second Caroline ended her sentence staring intently at Bonnie and whatever her soundless expression gave away sent him over the edge, taking two wide steps landing in front of the both of them. "You're making a mistake; he'll never be able to love you, and then he'll leave you – if he doesn't break you first."
Leaving her momentarily speechless Jeremy didn't look back as he weaved through the swarm disappearing from sight, checking Bonnie's frozen expression before Caroline stood in front of her urging them both towards the opening to the front door. Staying silent he listened as her friend did her best at soothing the burn of Jeremy's words and reassuring her it will all blow over as quickly as it started.
Pulling him off to the side Kai couldn't help smiling at one of the people who care about Bonnie most ordering him to take care of her and mercifully accepted the task. Avoiding him altogether she was out the door and halfway to the car before he caught up and unlocked the doors, looking at her over the hood and blowing out a breath knowing his night was far from over for him.