Chapter 3 : Everyone is talking about her

Bonnie swallowed the lump in her throat as Klaus fingers glazed against her shoulders as he took off her trench coat as they entered Marcel's grand opening of his wine and art bar. She clutched her purse. "Don't be nervous. Everyone is pretty friendly"

Bonnie smiled "I'm not. I'm just here for the night out since I was bored at home"

Klaus laughed "You don't have to admit you enjoy my company but I do"

He led Bonnie into the bar area where everyone was drinking and mingling. She smiled as a few people glanced at her. Klaus got himself and Bonnie a glass of the wine Marcel created. She loved the wine. Klaus was blabbing about the art and how much he liked to paint in his free time. She noticed a man walking over to them and she instantly got nervous. She didn't understand why maybe it was because her ex use to get so pissed when she embarrassed him by saying something or doing something.

"Oh hey great opening" Klaus said shaking his hand. He glanced over at Bonnie puzzled.

"Oh Marcel this is Bonnie Bennett she hates politicians so technically she's just here for your delicious wine" Klaus joked. Bonnie laughed and rolled her eyes "Hi. The Merlot is good"

"So, you're a red wine fan. I'll make sure to get you a bottle to take home" Marcel said smiling. A blonde woman interrupted them in a drunken state, she was Klaus's younger sister Rebekah she questioned Bonnie which made her slightly uncomfortable "What's a gorgeous girl like you doing with a loser like this?" Rebekah laughed. Klaus rolled his eyes "Ignore my drunk loud mouth sister." Rebekah stuck her tongue out her mouth and Bonnie laughed and continued sipping her wine. When his older brother came over to greet Rebekah and Marcel, Klaus excused himself and Bonnie walked behind puzzled. They continued looking at art but he got bored and wanted to go for a walk outside instead. Bonnie thought he was looking for an excuse to leave to presence of his brother. The walked in silence side by side on the wet and dark side-walk passed his driver. Bonnie played with her fingers and bite the bottom of her lip "I don't mean to pry but what's up with you and Elijah?" she asked. He smiled "I'll only tell you if you agree to have to dinner with me in Chelsea now"

"Pfft! Are you negotiating with me? And what's so special about this place? Should I be worried?" He laughed "Trust me you will love it"

"Fine but I'm not staying out too long" Bonnie said.

Bonnie sat down at the table infront of Klaus in the dim lit room. He was busy flipping through the menu and telling Bonnie about how much he loves this place but she was too busy overthinking and gazing across and the few people around the posh restaurant. Two women glanced across to them and whispered something to each other. She immediately opened her menu.

"You'll get use to it...if you stick around" he said closing his menu. She smiled slightly "It's a nice place...I honestly have no idea what to pick I'll let you pick for me"

They ate, drank and talked more. She waited for the perfect time to finally ask him about his older brother.

"Let's just say we don't agree on my lifestyle and choices. We both have different views. He thinks I'm completely wrong and lunatic. And I think I'm right but I try to be civil..at least for the wedding" Klaus said.

"I don't think having different political opinions should be a reason for you guys to be so cold" Bonnie said taking a taste of her blueberry ice-cream. He smiled "Any siblings?"

"NOPE! But I have cousin in Brixton who's like a sister...we are pretty close"

After dinner his driver took them to Camden and parked on the corner of Bonnie's street. The two decided to walk side by side in silence. He glanced at her and smiled.

"I enjoyed your company tonight" he said.

"Does that mean you'll stop stalking me?" Bonnie asked laughing. He nodded "I can't make any promises but maybe we can do this again"

Bonnie stood infront of her apartment and stepped on one stair. She exhaled "Your company isn't so bad. So maybe...Goodnight, Klaus"

The following morning Bonnie stretched as she hopped off her bed in her thongs and big sleep shirt. She made her ear into the kitchen humming. She poured out some food for Midnight and poured some cereal for herself. She replied to a couple messages from Hayley and Caroline. She wanted to plan a girls night at her place and introduce them. She got showered and dressed for another day with the children. When she arrived at the school she noticed she was getting strange looks from some of the teachers. She smiled awkwardly as she made her way to her classroom ignoring the odd behaviour.

In Fulham, George was smoking his pipe while reading the newspapers. He pretended to listen to Abby who was pacing up and down the house ranting about due dates for her customers who made orders for pastries and cakes. "Prime Minister late night out with mysterious woman" George whispered looking at the headline and staring at the picture closer and closer until his eyes almost popped open. He smiled "your mother is going to freak out" he whispered. Abby placed her hand hip and stood by the kitchen doorway "Did you hear anything I said?"

"Uh yeah it's in my route I'll take you" he said fumbling the paper shut. She narrowed her eyes "Anything interesting in the news today?"

"Same old. Murders. Shitty politics. More crimes."

Bonnie ended her day at school, she waved goodbyes to the children some of them wanted to hug her and never leave. She noticed some of the teachers still staring and whispering as she stood outside her classroom door. She frowned and called Nora into the room. "What the bloody hell is going on? Why is everyone looking at me like I killed a cat?" Bonnie said folding her arms. Nora slapped her playfully "Don't act coy...so the mystery guy who was sending you those flowers was the Prime Minister. No judgement. He's hot"

Bonnie stared at her blankly and swallowed "Uh...um how do you know that?"

Nora pulled out her phone and showed her the article "You should trust me enough to tell me you're dating"

Bonnie stared at her phone and almost fainted. She sat on the floor and exhaled "We..are...not...dating. I...I just went along with his shit so he would leave me alone. I don't get why he would want to go out with me. Its weird...thinking about it...is weird...seeing my face there is weird"

Nora calmed her down and sat infront her "Okay Don't panic. The only person you have to worry about around here is Sofya she hates Tories and donated money to the other guy who lost. Otherwise its okay. Maybe he likes you and maybe you do too but you're scared of all of this and the infamous ex and may e moving on"

Bonnie rubbed her temples "I'm just ...I don't know ..maybe. I like my quiet. God Sofya probably wants to burn me at the stake" she laughed. Nora laughed and hugged her "It's going to be okay, I'll tell everyone around here to fuck off and don't judge you"

At home Bonnie played loud music and danced around her kitchen while making creamy chicken penne, her cat was sitting on the counter watching her. Her landline suddenly rang, she turned off the stove and ran to the phone "Yellow!"

"I personally think we should sue that newspaper. Get them shut down. That's a breach of privacy" Klaus said. Bonnie laughed softly and sat on the floor "That's alot people out of jobs. Then you'll be the villain"

"I like being the villain"

" I sorta got that vibe from you"

"What kind of 25 year old still uses the landline? Quite an old fashion one, Miss Bonnie"

"Well I like the idea of waiting by the phone for a boy like a 80s or early 90s movie. Besides Instagram is depressing and I don't care for pervs online" she said smiling.

He laughed "that' what makes you even more interesting. I have to see you again and again. Maybe this time I'll come in a red car and stand outside your window with a music box"

Bonnie was blushing but he couldn't see, she laughed "I may have time tomorrow"

"Fuck..I wish tomorrow was right now" He said. She laughed before she could say something she heard her door buzz "Call me tomorrow after 2:30pm" she said before hanging up. She ran to the door and her mother stood there staring at her furiously " I carried you for 9months and you couldn't tell me you were running around London having late nights with the fricking Prime Minister" she yelled walking into the apartment. Bonnie rolled her eyes and walked away to the kitchen "It wasn't what you think it was or what anyone think it was. The truth is ..I have no fucking idea what I'm doing"

Her mother grabbed a bottle of wine and a wine glass " Might be the most interesting you've done in your life"

"Well shit mum I would think it would've been graduating and living on my own before 30"

"Atleast tell me what he's like? Do you like him? Do you plan on seeing him again?" She asked excitingly.

"He's ...nice. Strangely sweet, funny and maybe I like the attention. It's still hard to move on...Trust another man...He wants to see me again and for some reason I keep accepting. I'm scared" Bonnie said confused. She sat opposite her smirking mother and took a bite out of her penne.

"Maybe you've moved on and not even realised. It will be fine" She said squeezing her daughter's hand.

The following night Klaus picked her up for a night out. He linked Bonnie's arm with his as he guide her into the rooftop restaurant in Mayfair. Bonnie smiled but deep inside she was exploding with nerves. She was looking around when she sat infront of him, she kept fixing her clothes and her hair.

"Are you alright?" He asked chuckling lightly.

"Yeah I think. I feel like I should've picked something else...for this place" she panicked.

"You look radiant don't worry" he said smiling.

"Can we exchange seats? I ..sort feel uncomfortable with people staring. I'm sorry I'm complaining and it's annoying" Bonnie flustered. She had no idea why she was speaking her thoughts. He laughed lightly "These people are all pretentious assholes. How about I sit over there with you?"

She smiled and nodded. He smelled so good she thought. Fuck. She hated herself. They ordered a different stuff from the menu so they can share.

"So how did you become stuck in Chelsea with a bunch of spoiled posh children?" He asked as the waiter gave them their respective drinks. Initially Bonnie didn't have plans to be a teacher she got her business degree from London Metropolitan she had plans to have her little scented candles and homemade chocolates shop in the city. But she did some volunteering for a few weeks during her university days with some kids and she fell in love with environment. She took a couple classes and got licensed.

"Interesting. The homemade chocolate? I don't think I ever had that maybe you should keep that idea for the future" Klaus said.

"What about you, Mr Mikaelson? Politics is kind of depressing" Bonnie joked. He laughed "I did Law at King's and I want to be a Banking and Financing solicitor and I met someone interesting who sorta became my mentor and I ended up in politics. I took Political science up and some History. Hung out with the right people and here I am" he said lighting his cigarette as he watched the waiter place the food on the table. Bonnie smiled "I took a Literature class for a while. Kinda regret it. Maybe one day I will tell you why"

"I spent some time in Scotland too. It didn't end well. Maybe one day I will tell you why" he said smiling. They continued their night with laughter, he fed her some of his selections and they talked as if they knew each other for years. He couldn't stop staring at her. After dinner he drove her home. He offered to make her dinner soon and she accepted.

[ Crawl by Kings of Leon]

Bonnie ran her fingers through freshly done flat ironed hair while she waited for Hayley to announce her arrival at The Parade which was Enzo's restaurant and bar which he ran in Camden. A couple of cool bands were jamming while Caroline and Bonnie sat at the little tables sipping their Mai Tai.

"I'm surprised to see the Tory sympathiser here" Enzo said leaving cheesy chips on the table. Bonnie rolled her eyes "I'm not. Get over yourself"

"Go away, we are having a girls night" Caroline said

"How could you be with someone with beliefs like that. Don't you know what people like him is doing to your neighbourhood? Don't you care about gentrification?"

Bonnie laughed and almost choked on her drink "So because I'm a Black Woman I'm suppose to care? For some reason you're not asking Kevin over there this. Everyone expects us to fight for us and fight for the men too and I don't feel like wearing a Cape. I just want to live my life. You have no fucking idea what's going on in my hood. The women are terrified. Meanwhile men like Kevin over there is sticking their tongues down white girls throats instead of being leaders in the so called community. So fuck you and your one sided shit"

Both Enzo and Caroline stared at Bonnie. Caroline noticed a brunette waving at her "Uh I think that's Hayley" she said breaking the tension. Enzo exhaled and left the table. Bonnie introduced Caroline to Hayley. She took a seat as she signal the waiter for a glass of wine. She looked between the girls "Did I miss something? Hayley laughed nervously.

"Just my husband being the usual pain" Caroline said.

"Its the Klaus being a Tory thing ? I literally had people sending me back wedding invitations because they didn't want to attend the wedding of the Tory's brother" Hayley rolled her eyes.

"That's awful" Caroline said.

"Fuck them. You don't need them. Why is everyone so obsessed with politics in everything. People have different views. Elijah isn't even a Tory. Just because your family member supports something doesn't mean you do. I'm sick of it" Bonnie ranted. The girls looked at her carefully.

"Yeah okay but 3 Mai Tais are enough, Bon" Caroline said laughing.

After a late night out with the girls, Bonnie stumbled into her apartment to the phone ringing at 1am. She mumbled in annoyance "What!" she answered.

"How welcoming" Klaus said.

"Shutup I hate you and your face. I don't know what you did or said to people but they don't like you..Caroline's husband probably hate me and some of Hayley's guests are not coming to her wedding because of you. So fuck you" Bonnie yelled.

"Whoa how much did you drink?" Klaus said putting his pen down. Bonnie laid back on her couch " Ugh I don't know. Why are you calling this late?"

" I was up writing a speech. I thought should call you just to see if you're really waiting by the phone...to tell me how much you hate me" he laughed. Bonnie laughed "I'm sorry"

"I think I'very gotten numb to the hateful comments. I've been called Nazi, bigot, migrant hater ...oh and my personal favourite

I should fucking kill myself"

" Okay that's fucked up. You really don't deserve that"

Klaus smiled "Yeah but it's okay ...it comes with the job. All that matters is the few people that care and know the real me. Truthfully I care about you...that should matter ..just alittle bit"

Bonnie blushed "Maybe. Probably like 2%"

"I'll take it. Rest Bonnie. Goodnight."