Author's Note: This is a season 3 AU.

A Snapshot in Time

Kennett: jealously

It is Caroline who insists that they have a night off — meaning absolutely no talk of fangs or curses. Elena is easy to convince. Bonnie becomes the lone holdout. She can't picture herself relaxing knowing that there are at least five beings who want her dead at the moment.

Or is it six?

In the end, it doesn't matter. She still finds herself at the Grill, wearing a dress and some semblance of a smile. Caroline and Elena are positively giddy and there is talk of ordering cheese fries. She sips her drink and does her best to play along. Still, when Elena pulls Caroline towards an empty pool table, Bonnie breathes a sigh of relief. Her shoulders fall and she takes to stirring her drink with her straw.

No talk of fangs or curses, she reminds herself.

She lifts her head to see her friends laughing. They need this (she does too). She supposes she can play along for a few more hours. She takes a deep breath and is about to stand.

Then someone slips into the booth.

Bonnie's eyes narrow. She doesn't know him but instinctively she knows she doesn't want to. "Are you lost?"

He grins (and it looks downright boyish on him). "Hardly," he draws. His accent confirms her suspicions. A Mikaelson. She has steered clear of them since her disastrous introduction to their matriarch (nothing like having your entire ancestral line hijacked by a woman who can't let go). "They told me you were a handful."

Bonnie makes a face. She doesn't want to picture Klaus and Elijah filling in their baby brother about her. "They tell you I almost killed both of them?" She asks, still stirring her drink (however now she is doing it methodically, on purpose).

"They did," he answers and then leans in. "Poor Niklaus was rather sour about the whole thing. I told him that is what you get for messing with a powerful witch."

She raises a brow.

He notices. "Oh yes, I know all about you, Bonnie Bennett."

That doesn't sound pleasant. In fact, she finds herself shifting in her seat uncomfortably. "And I don't even know your name."

"Kol."

"Kol," she repeats. "Do you mind? I'm…we're having a Girls' Night." She cocks her head towards her friends at the pool table. He follows her movement and she wishes she hadn't drawn his attention to Caroline and Elena (this seems like a direct violation of the no fangs rule).

"Of course," Kol says and he smiles again. "I just had to meet you. Formally."

Bonnie does her best not to jump out of her seat (there is something about the way he says formally that makes her think this is not the first time they have shared the same space). She gives him a forced smile and then politely excuses herself. She makes it to the pool table in record time. "Who's winning?" She asks.

"I am," Elena says with a shimmy of her hips.

"Game's not over yet!" Caroline points out.

"I'm taking on the winner," Bonnie declares even though playing pool is the last thing she wants to do. It is just preferable to the alternative. She stands to the side to keep watch. Or at least that she what she thinks she is doing. Instead, she finds herself eyeing him — because Kol hasn't left yet. Instead he has stretched himself out in their booth. He is watching them (her). She finds herself shifting from one foot to another.

"You okay?" Caroline asks. She is leaned over the table ready to make a shot but her eyes are on Bonnie.

Bonnie blinks, pulling her attention away from Kol to her. "Yeah, yeah." She nods her head (one time too many) and then adds a smile. When Caroline goes back to the game, she goes back to wondering just what the hell Kol is —

where did he go?

She frantically searches the whole place for any sign of him. She should be celebrating when she finds none but somehow that is not comforting. "I…uh," she begins and then looks down. "Need a refill." She shakes her half empty glass and then heads for the bar before her friends can call her on her behavior.

She squeezes in between a few others enjoying their Friday night. She manages to catch Matt's eye and holds up her glass. He gives a nod. She turns around to find someone standing right in front of her. She nearly shrieks.

It is not Kol — instead it is Jonathan Hawkins. Football player (and all around idiot).

"Hey, Bonnie…" He says (and she can tell he is trying to be smooth).

"Jonathan." Be polite, she reminds herself.

"Nice to see you out and about." He takes a step closer.

Bonnie takes also takes a step — in the opposite direction. She doesn't have anywhere to go and her back presses against the bar. She tries her best to smile. "Girls' Night," she says, hoping that it is a big enough clue that she doesn't want to listen to Jonathan's lame attempts to pick her up.

No such luck.

"Girls' Night," he drawls. "Sounds like my kind of fun." He is far too close now.

Bonnie is about to do the duck and weave when a hand falls on Jonathan's shoulder. Kol. Where the hell did he come from? He was gone a minute before. Bonnie meets his gaze over the jock's shoulder.

Jonathan has no idea how much trouble he is in. "Hey! Get your hand off me."

Kol's response is to tighten his grip. Bonnie thinks she hears the crunch of bone.

"You know," Jonathan says and his voice sounds strained. "I think I have some homework to get to."

As if he has ever done homework, let alone on a Friday night. She recognizes the panic stricken look in his eyes. He wants to be anywhere but here. "Have fun," she tells him lamely.

Kol finally relents.

As soon as Jonathan slips away, Kol takes his place. "That is the kind of filth you spend your time with?"

She wants to protest (because she had been thisclose to getting out of Jonathan's path before Kol intervened). In the end she doesn't because the last thing she wants to do is give him any further insight into how she thinks. "Get out of my way."

She doesn't have to do the duck and weave with Kol. Thankfully he moves to the side. She pushes herself into the crowd (sans her refill) desperate to get as far away from him as possible.

He watches her retreat.