Title: To All the Boys I've Love Before
Rating: T
Genre: AU/All Human
Pairing(s): Bonnie/Tyler, Bonnie/Stefan, Caroline/Matt, Stefan/Elena, Jeremy/Luka, etc..
Summary: Bonnie Bennett keeps her love letters in her mother's old hatbox. Not ones she's received but ones she's written to every boy she's ever loved-there are five in all. The letters are meant for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed out and suddenly Bonnie's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
Warnings: All Human, Fake/Pretend Relationships, Language, Fluff, etc.
Author's Note: Hello all, at long last here's the update! I have been super busy so it took a while. I wasn't able to edit so hopefully there aren't too many errors here! Thanks for all the feedback and I am glad you all are enjoying this as much as I am enjoying writing it! Happy reading!
PART FOUR || FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (CAMERA ACTION) PART II
"Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that."
― Ally Condie, Matched
One of the most overused tropes in the genre of romance, and also one of Bonnie's all-time favorites, was the childhood sweethearts trope. The trope was depicted in a number of ways. There was, the best friends turned lovers. Then there were the childhood sweethearts that experienced first love and were separated for, insert dramatic reason here, and then reunited later in life to rekindle the love they lost. Nicholas Sparks was rather fond of depicting both, in a rather formulaic way that Bonnie loved to watch but felt was lazy writing and outside of the dynamic between Allie and Noah in The Notebook, while sweet, felt unrealistic. Allie and Noah had romance, but they had fights too; they argued, they connected, they knew each other in that way that didn't always need words, and when they were separated and came back together, everything wasn't cut and dry, there was conflict. Even when Allie found the perfect guy in Lon, the audience could tell that their connection wasn't the same and it was clear to both the audience and Allie why Lon wasn't the one. Noah and Allie's relationship took work and it was flawed but felt true because of it.
However, Noah and Allie were not Bonnie's favorite depiction of childhood sweethearts. Also, even though they were her number one onscreen kiss, Keith and Watts weren't it either. Bonnie's favorite depiction of the childhood sweethearts trope was Monica and Quincy of Love & Basketball. Monica and Quincy first connected as children and their connection was a push and pull dynamic full of conflict from the start but there was an unmistakable draw there. In high school Quincy was the popular jock surrounded by girls and Monica was the tomboy who couldn't manage to reign in her emotions that quietly pined while looking on from the outside. One of Bonnie's favorite moments was the makeover that happened before the dance, not just because it inspired both Monica and Quincy to act on their feelings for one another but because honestly, the makeover trope was something that wasn't often seen in movies with characters of color, she'd be lucky if she could find a romance where a girl that didn't fit the stereotypical romantic lead role was depicted as desirable at all, especially if she was black.
As much as Bonnie loved the makeover trope and the friends to lovers trope, the thing that she loved most about the movie was the way that the overall dynamic between Monica and Quincy was depicted. Their connection as children was different than their connection in high school. Their connection in high school was different than their connection in college. Their connection in college was different than their connection as adults. Yet they were drawn together over and over again. They reconnected and relearned one another. The audience got to see both their journeys and struggles, together and as individuals. They both got to grow as characters outside of the couple, Monica more so. Their relationship was messy, and raw and real and the movie didn't shy away from any of it. It was both realistic and emotional to watch because not only was the connection so strong that neither of them could deny it, but Monica fought for it and Bonnie had always envied her that. That last game between them, where Monica gave her all and put it all out there even knowing she could get rejected because Quincy had found his perfect girl, and in the end he'd let her win because in spite of his pride and everything he'd said during the challenge, he saw what the audience had seen the whole time, Monica loved him and would always love him and she'd been fighting for him all along.
Bonnie had admired their relationship for a long time. Not so much because of the love aspect of the relationship, though that too, but Monica for being willing to fight for someone that she cared about and felt connected to, no matter how hard they tried to push her away.
When Bonnie had fallen for Tyler as a young girl she had been hurt when he'd pulled away from her. She'd been angry. She'd felt stupid for caring about him at all. She'd been sad. She'd missed him so much that she ached with it. She missed him so much that she had to write her feelings down and then push them down until she didn't think about them; and couldn't feel them at all. She'd accepted their new reality when they became distant, when they only talked in passing or in group settings. When they made snide remarks to each other and Bonnie began to forget what it felt like to know someone and be known. She began to forget what it felt like to have a favorite person. The one thing that Bonnie hadn't done was fight.
When Tyler pushed Bonnie away, she hadn't pushed back. She'd known him well enough to know that something was wrong. When he began to distance himself, after the first initial days of trying to figure out why she'd given up. She had loved him, she was sure of it, but she hadn't been willing to try to hold onto him once he was slipping away. Perhaps she'd been too scared. She was young, a child. Perhaps, because of her mother's abandonment, she'd been waiting on him to leave her all along anyway.
Now they were beginning to be friends again, but he was different, and she was different, it would likely never be the same. Even though it wouldn't be the same, they both were willing to rebuild. Maybe it'd be better. Maybe they'd learn from the past and move one. Bonnie couldn't change what had happened with Tyler, but she was afraid that she was making the same mistake with Stefan.
Before Stefan had been anything to Bonnie, he'd been her friend. She wanted to remain friends with him if nothing else. She felt that she'd made a mess of things, but her feelings were a bit mixed. As much as it had pained her to see Stefan and Elena together, Bonnie had always been there for them both. She'd kept her feelings for Stefan and many of her feelings about their relationship to herself. She'd acted as a confidant and a go between for each of them. She had acted as a third wheel and a hanger on, and she'd never complained. She'd been the only one outside of her friends to not be in a relationship and she'd never complained. She'd made time for them and she'd been there for each of them. It just seemed like, now that Bonnie was in a relationship as far as he knew, Stefan wasn't willing to do the same for her.
Bonnie wasn't shutting Stefan out. They still had lunch together, even if it was in a group now. She still talked to him and he'd still been invited to Movie Night. She still made it a point to include him, even as she was making new friends and as far as he knew, starting a new relationship with Tyler. It was Stefan that was giving her push back, it was Stefan that was having trouble adjusting to the situation. Even if it had something to do with her letter, Bonnie had adjusted for him and Elena in spite of her feelings for him and so why would knowing about Bonnie's feelings for him, which were as far Stefan knew past tense, keep him from adapting for her sake?
Bonnie was willing to fight for their friendship, she loved him enough to do that. However, she wasn't sure how much she'd be willing to fight if he wasn't willing to meet her halfway. She'd been willing to push her feelings aside for him and Elena and even if what she had with Tyler was fake, she had hoped it wouldn't affect her and Stefan's friendship. She wasn't even asking him to give them his blessing, just to not stop being her friend just because he didn't like who she was supposedly dating.
Bonnie had that thought in mind as she and Tyler entered Mystic Grill. They were stopped by several people from school as they walked in, on the way to the counter to pick up their order for Movie Night. As Tyler was stopped by one of the members of the football team Bonnie spotted Stefan sitting alone at a familiar table in the back.
It was one she'd sat at with him and Elena many nights and Bonnie sighed as she eyed him. They'd spent nights there talking and laughing, nights that inevitably ended in Bonnie saying goodbye and leaving, because one could only play the third wheel for so long.
Bonnie squeezed Tyler's hand to gain his attention. He had gotten to shower and change after the game, while Bonnie was still in her uniform, he was in a t-shirt, jeans, and his letterman jacket, which shouldn't have looked that good but honestly he looked good in everything, the asshole. He looked down at her immediately, even though the player who'd stopped them was still talking. "What's up, Bennett?"
Bonnie gestured her head in Stefan's direction. "I'll be right back," she told him.
Tyler looked in the direction as well and frowned. "Don't be long," he said, "We're going to see him in an hour or so anyway."
That was kind of the point. She didn't want things to be awkward at Movie Night and so she wanted to clear the air beforehand. Still Bonnie nodded as she let go of Tyler's hand, only slightly surprised when he pulled her back to kiss her quickly on the lips before letting her go again. They were still putting on a show after all.
Bonnie weaved her way through the crowd and was stopped several times by people commenting on what had happened at the game. Bonnie took it all in stride, though she was nowhere near used to the attention.
Bonnie eventually made it to Stefan, and he looked up as she reached the table as if he were expecting her. Perhaps he'd seen her coming. He smiled as Bonnie took her customary seat across from him and Bonnie found herself smiling in return.
"Hey superstar," Stefan grinned, "I'm surprised you were even able to get to me with all your new fans demanding your attention."
Bonnie found herself blushing. "Yeah, well," she shrugged, "That's what happens when you call the ref out on getting a dick rash in front of a crowd at a football game. Even if it was veiled."
Stefan let out a surprised laugh. "I still can't believe you said all that," he shook his head, "Damon couldn't hear you from the bleachers but when I told him about it afterwards, even he was proud."
"If I had known it would get me so much attention, I would've just let Tyler bite the guy's head off," Bonnie sighed, "Especially if I'd known my behavior would be backed up by Damon."
Bonnie expected another laugh but instead Stefan just stared at her with a small smile on his face. "No, you wouldn't have," he said, "You would've gotten involved either way. That's what you do for the people that you care about. I wouldn't expect anything less. Not from you."
Stefan surprised her even further as he reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. Bonnie watched as he threaded their fingers together. He never really touched her that way before, no small meaningful gestures. It was a kiss on the cheek here and a hug there, almost as if she was his little sister. Somehow, as his thumb stroked over her fingers, this felt different.
"I've been all over the place lately and I feel like I keep apologizing," Stefan sighed, "But this needs to be said. I'm sorry. I've been having a hard time with all of this because…as selfish as this is going to sound, you're starting to show people this side of yourself that only I and the people closest to you ever got to see and that's scares me because I feel like it's bringing you farther away from me. I realized…well Lexi threatened to kick my ass and then I realized that me making a big deal about this is pushing you away even more and just making things worse and I meant what I said when I said that I don't want to lose you."
Bonnie squeezed his hand. "I don't want to lose you either. I…I just…I don't feel bad about branching out and showing more of myself. I feel good about it. I'm doing things that scare me and it's weird and it's new but…I want to keep pushing myself to do more and if we're going to be friends then I need you to be okay with that."
"I am," Stefan insisted and at Bonnie's look he smiled, "I will be. You're right it's weird but it's not what I need to adjust to…it's just seeing you with Tyler. I didn't even know you guys were friends before, but Caroline keeps mentioning how close you were, and you act so different around him."
Bonnie frowned. "I don't," she said, and then, "Even if I do, we're dating. Of course, I'd act different. You acted different around Elena than you did with me. I never pointed it out to you." She hadn't but she'd noticed.
Stefan stared at their joined hands. "It's not the same thing," he said. Bonnie opened her mouth to object and Stefan squeezed her hand. "Just let me finish, please," he said, his eyes meeting hers and Bonnie couldn't say no and so he continued, "I was different around Elena because she had me up on this pedestal. She didn't think I knew but I knew. She made me out to everyone to be this perfect boyfriend. Like we were this storybook romance. I always felt like I had to be what she wanted and sometimes it took a toll on me, but I loved her enough to try. With you, with Lexi and with Caroline, even with Damon, I don't feel like I have to do that. I can just be." Stefan looked down at the table and sighed. "It's not just the whole dating thing with you and Tyler. I figured you'd date someone eventually, even if Elena thought otherwise. But I thought…I never thought it'd be Tyler because I never knew you guys even talked at all. I thought you'd be nervous no matter who it was. This is new territory for you and whenever it happened, I thought I'd have more time to adjust while you adjusted. The thing is with most people, when they start dating, they have to adapt to each other, and it takes time to get comfortable…but you two… When I see you with him, you're comfortable in way that I've never really seen you comfortable before and I don't even know if you even realize it. I thought we were close before but seeing you with him made me think that maybe I was wrong about that too."
Bonnie stared. She couldn't be hearing what she thought she was hearing. "So, you were jealous?" Bonnie asked. Bonnie had to admit that after all the pining she had done she felt at bit vindicated to be able to make Stefan jealous even if it was just over her friendship.
Stefan looked away. "I guess in a way, yeah," he shrugged, "I felt like I was losing my best friend. But you were there for me and Elena throughout our whole relationship start to finish. I want to be there for you too."
Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, he knew her doubts before she'd said them and of course he knew exactly what to say to ease them. He was sounding like the old Stefan and for that she was reassured. "Thank you, Stefan," Bonnie stood, her hand still gripping his as she walked around the table and kissed him on the cheek. "You don't have to worry about me and Tyler. We're close because we grew up together. We're that kind of connected you're always going to be with someone you've known a long time. Even if we stopped talking for a while, we…we know each other in a different way because we've been tied together in one way or another for so long. With you…you know me and we're comfortable because we've been hanging out for the past year. Of course, we're still learning each other. Especially since a part of that time we've hung out has been with Elena. But it doesn't mean you're not important to me. It's just different. It's not a competition. Not with me."
Stefan pulled her in for a hug. "I know," he whispered into her ear, "You're caring, loyal, kind and selfless. No one who cares about you ever has to compete for you to give them what they give you and more back."
Bonnie hugged him tighter and felt the urge to cry. "You still get me," Bonnie said.
"Like no one else," Stefan said as he pulled away. "I won't forget that this time." He opened his mouth to say more but stopped as someone cleared their throat.
Bonnie turned around to see Tyler standing behind them. "You ready go?" he asked, and his tone seemed almost hollow.
Bonnie frowned at the tone but nodded. She turned back to Stefan. "I'll see you at my house in an hour," she said.
Stefan nodded and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you later." He nodded at Tyler as he passed but they didn't speak.
Bonnie turned to Tyler. "We cleared the air, so things won't be as awkward later," she smiled.
"Right," Tyler nodded but he didn't return her smile. She held out a hand for him to take and he stared down at it before gesturing to the bags in his hands. "My hands are full."
"Oh," Bonnie said. She felt strangely bereft as she followed him towards the door. Her mind went to the times he'd gone out of his way to shift their books into one hand so that he could have a hand free when they walked the hall together.
Bonnie wondered what was different about before and that moment. She'd been so sure after the game that they would grow closer, but Tyler seemed closed off and then just as they were about to reach the exit, Vicki Donovan appeared.
Unlike when they had been running into one another when Bonnie and Tyler had first started their fake relationship, Vicki looked smug as she stopped in front of them. "Hey B," she said, her tone almost friendly. "I heard about the stunt you pulled at the game. I'm impressed."
Bonnie scowled. Vicki hadn't called her "B" since they were little. She was never nice to Bonnie either, not since they'd left elementary school anyway. "Thanks, I guess," Bonnie said, eyeing Vicki warily. She turned towards Tyler and found him looking down.
"Anyway," Vicki said, "You two have fun hosting Movie Night. Matty said you guys are watching Fight Club. Its Tyler's favorite. It might not be your taste Bonnie, but who knows? Apparently, you're full of surprises." There was something condescending in her tone.
Bonnie opened her mouth to speak but stopped as Tyler spoke first. "We need to leave. Gotta get everything ready. See you, Vick," his tone was less stiff as he gave Vicki a parting nod and Bonnie frowned.
Vicki reached out and placed a hand on Tyler's chest, not minding the bags in his hands or Bonnie's presence. "Remember what I said okay?" Vicki grinned, "Text me later if you need."
Bonnie felt her irritation grow as Tyler smiled. "Thanks, but I'll be fine," he said. Without saying anything else, he walked towards the door.
Bonnie moved to follow and looked back towards Vicki one last time. She was standing with her hand on her hip, her eyes narrowed and never leaving Bonnie and Tyler as they left. Bonnie bit her lip, it looked like she would still have to fight for Tyler after all.
:::
The ride back to Bonnie's house was silent and Bonnie wasn't sure what to do to break the tension as she wasn't sure where it was coming from. When Tyler pulled into her driveway, he got out of the car first and opened the door for Bonnie, like he'd taken to doing. He held out his hand to help her out and Bonnie felt hope as she got out and he pulled her into him slightly. He let her go a moment later though and retrieved the bags from the back seat.
Bonnie followed him inside and held the door for him. They ran into her dad on his way out as they came in and Tyler was polite and friendly as her dad smiled at him and patted him on the back. "Don't worry kids," Rudy grinned, "I'm getting out of your hair. Just wanted to drop off all the baked goods you made over at your Grams. Sheila threw in some of that spinach artichoke dip you like so that you wouldn't be eating all sweets and I made some guacamole. I'm going to a play poker with Jonas and the guys. I'll be back late. I left money on the counter for pizza. I know you have a bigger crowd than usual tonight, so just in case."
Bonnie smiled. "Thanks dad," she said. He kissed her cheek before disappearing out of the door and then Bonnie and Tyler headed towards the kitchen.
Bonnie eyed the guacamole uneasily as she opened the fridge. Rudy had never been the best cook and even the dip wasn't safe. The one her Grams made would have to do. "No one is eating that guacamole," she frowned, "We are not starting our first Movie Night together with someone getting food poisoning."
When Tyler didn't respond Bonnie sighed and turned around. He was shuffling through bags and not looking at her. Bonnie walked up to him and placed a hand over his hand before he could remove another container of food from the bag. He stopped but still didn't look at her.
"You want to tell me what's going on?" Bonnie asked, "Did I do something to make you mad or…?"
"This isn't on you," Tyler muttered, "I'm fine. Even if I'm not I'll put on a good show for all your friends and for Stefan and be the 'picture perfect' boyfriend."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "If you're not fine," Bonnie's eyes narrowed, "I don't care about some stupid show. I care about you. If you're upset, then what's the point of us all getting together and having fun? You're not going to be having fun if something is bothering you and I'm not going to be having fun if I know you're upset. Did Vicki say something to you or something?"
Tyler studied her for a long time, before he shook his head and sighed. "Nothing that wasn't true," he shrugged.
"That's bullshit," Bonnie said fiercely, surprising him from the look on his face, "You said yourself she knows how to get to you. What makes now any different? She has even more of a reason to throw you off your game no than before since she thinks we're a couple."
"It's not just about her," he frowned, "Just leave it." Bonnie watched as his face began to close off and she thought about the first time she had seen it happen. It was the day before things had changed between them. He'd been over her house and mentioned something in passing about people not really being honest about what and who they were and how he didn't think that anyone could trust anyone. When Bonnie had asked him about it his face had closed off and Bonnie had felt empty until he'd taken her hand in his and squeezed it. "I trust you," he'd said, and Bonnie wanted him to trust her again.
Bonnie took his hand again and gave him a pleading look. "Forget Vicki," she said, "I just…don't shut me out again, alright. You said we could be friends and we've been honest with each other since this whole thing started. So, tell me what's bothering you, even if you don't think that I want to hear it. I want you to be able to do that with me. I don't want to lose you again."
"You're not going to lose me. I meant what I said about wanting us to me friends again." Bonnie felt vulnerable but she felt it was important for him to hear that. Tyler looked at her, his eyes warm and Bonnie felt like he was coming back to her. "I just," he sighed, "I know we were fooling around with the whole Keith and Watts thing, but I can't be him, Bonnie. I can't be Stefan. I'm not this sensitive guy that makes grand romantic gestures or the guy that Elena raved to everyone was the perfect boyfriend. I'm just me. Vicki said you build up this idea for romance in your head from all of these movies that you watch. She thinks I need to be careful with you because I can never live up to any of that and when I don't you're going to find someone who can. Stefan can. I mean, that's why you liked him in the first place, right? I heard you tell Stefan that there wasn't any competition between us, and I get it…he's the guy…and I'm just a stand in because you don't want to hurt Elena or anyone else by telling them the truth."
Bonnie let go of his hand and took his face in her hands instead. "You're an idiot," she said, he opened his mouth to protest but she interrupted him, "I say that as a friend. Yes, I've built up this idea of romance in my head but I'm not naïve enough to believe that when it happens it's going to be like in the movies. I know the difference between reality and fantasy. Do the lines get blurred sometimes, yes, but I always appreciate the people who are here for me in real life over the characters that I love in books or on television, no matter how many hard times some of them have gotten me through."
Bonnie paused, trying to figure out how to word what she was about to say next. She knew what it felt like to be compared to someone else. She'd been compared to Elena all their lives. Caroline was more obvious than her about her insecurities, but Bonnie had her own and she didn't want to breed them in others. Tyler had always been so confident, it was weird to think about him being insecure about anything, but their friendship was so new she was insecure about it as well and even Stefan was insecure about their connection with Tyler around. This was all beginning to be kind of a mess.
"Even Stefan can't live up to the image Elena has of Stefan in her head," Bonnie revealed, "I've known that for a while now and Stefan confirmed that tonight. And, yes, you can be kind of an asshole sometimes, but so can Stefan and that doesn't mean you're worse than him or he's better than you or any of that ridiculous stuff you're thinking right now. I told Stefan it wasn't a competition and it isn't. I care about you both in different ways and for me, me caring about one of you doesn't negate me caring about the other. You're different people, and I see that and I can appreciate you both. Stefan got what I meant, but that's not because he's some sensitive guy that's so in tuned to my feelings, it's because he's spent more time with me recently and you and I aren't there yet, but we can be. Eventually. And you really shouldn't sell yourself short with this whole perfect boyfriend thing. I mean you're doing a pretty good job so far and there hasn't been any grand romantic gestures necessary."
"You're saying Stefan spent all of his time trying to live up to some standard Elena had of him?" At Bonnie's nod he asked, "How do you know that's not what I'm doing? Not just for you. But to prove a point to Vicki. She wanted the perfect boyfriend too. She wanted me to be that for her. Maybe I'm just trying to prove I can be that guy with someone else so that she sees it's just her I can't be it for. That's why we started this, right? Would you want to be my friend still if it turned out to be that and nothing else? With me just being a good actor and not me being a good person or even just good at this whole boyfriend thing, I mean?"
"I know it's not because I know you." Bonnie gave him a look and shook her head. "You are a good person." Tyler looked skeptical. "Remember earlier this summer before I tried to run you over with my car," she laughed, "The whole town was at this charity event your mom planned and there was this random freak thunderstorm. My Grams and I were leaving for the night and you ran around trying to convince someone to let you borrow their umbrella and everyone said no because it was coming down so hard and no one wanted to give theirs up. Your mom had already given out the ones you'd had to other guest and you tore through all your closets and couldn't find one. But you told me and my Grams to wait and I rolled my eyes and complained the whole time because I was tired, and I had let Caroline talk me into these ridiculous heels I hated. So, we waited and finally you got this guy to give you his umbrella, but you had to pay him fifty dollars. Then you opened it and you found out it was broken and wouldn't stay up unless you held it open and it was way too small for two people."
"Yeah I remember," Tyler narrowed his eyes, "You laughed at me for a full ten minutes."
Bonnie nodded. "I laughed even harder when you walked my Grams to the car and you held the umbrella with two hands over her head so that it would stay up and you didn't care that it didn't fit you underneath it and you ended up completely soaked through."
"And I still held that same umbrella over your head even though you continued to laugh all the way to your car."
"In my defense we weren't talking then," Bonnie shrugged, "But I thought it was sweet. Why do you think that I made you chicken soup when I found out from your mom you'd caught a summer cold afterwards?"
"Because your Grams made you," Tyler laughed.
Bonnie shook her head. "Nope," she said, "I told your mom that because I knew you'd hold it over my head if you knew I was doing something nice for you just for the sake of doing something nice." Bonnie swallowed, before she continued. "I joke around with Caroline about you being a Sour Patch Kid, but I get why you would be that way given how I've acted and I…I never wanted to admit it, but Caroline was right. You've been nice to me even when I wasn't to you. Even when we weren't friends anymore. Even when I didn't expect it and every time it happened it reminded me of how we were before, and it hurt because all I could do in those moments was think about what I'd lost. What we lost when we stopped being friends. So, I lashed out because it was easier than thinking about never having that with you again. But I never thought you were a bad person. Just annoying and arrogant and kind of an idiot. But sweet and kind and caring when you want to be. And I missed you. Even the parts of you that hated to admit missing."
Tyler smiled and all the stiffness left his frame. "I missed you too, Bennett." When Tyler pulled her into a hug, Bonnie welcomed it. "Just when I think I've got you all figured out, there you go surprising me again."
"I'm not that hard to figure out." Bonnie closed her eyes as Tyler bent down and kissed her on the forehead. It almost made up for the lack of hand holding earlier at the Grill.
"You'd think so," Tyler whispered, "But you are." He cleared his throat and Bonnie saw from his expression that he was going to say something he really didn't want to, but he'd do it for her. "I know you like to say I'm more experienced that you with relationships and I am…with physical stuff. With like what I had with Vicki. Hooking up. But this…this whole boyfriend thing is new territory. I'm figuring it out as I go. I'm probably going to screw up. But I'm trying."
"You don't have to try so hard with me," Bonnie said seriously. She needed the air clear with him as well. She wanted to make sure that he knew that with or without them carrying out their plan, she cared about him and wanted him around just for him. She liked to tease him, but whatever he had meant to her before, he was beginning to mean something to her again.
"Because it's fake," Tyler frowned but nodded, "I know. But still…"
"No," Bonnie said, before his thoughts could take another downward spiral. "Because you being you is enough. It's always been enough for me, Tyler."
When Tyler leaned down and pressed his lips to hers Bonnie didn't mind that they weren't around other people, because it felt nice. In that moment, Bonnie was sure that they both needed some kind of reassurance. It felt good to know that she wasn't alone in the newness of it all, even if it was pretend, and that in many ways, Tyler felt as out to sea as she did. That she would have some of his firsts too. "No one says stuff like that to me," Tyler told her as he pulled away, "Between this and the letter, I'm going to get a pretty big head."
Bonnie took a step back in order to clear her own head. "Well," she said, "I'd better go change before everyone gets here. Clearly your ego doesn't need any more stroking tonight."
"If you're going to change can you spin around for me at least once? I want to see the view from the back one more time. I won't get to see you in uniform until the next game and I need to get my fix while I can get it." His tone was teasing but Bonnie had to wonder after reading his note.
"You're disgusting," she laughed, even as she took off her jacket and spun around in a circle. Bonnie wasn't used to the attention but that didn't mean she didn't appreciate it. Tyler Lockwood, who was hotter than hot thought she was beautiful. Tyler Lockwood thought she looked hot in uniform. Maybe Bonnie was getting a big head too.
"You love it." Tyler smirked, once Bonnie had finished her spin. Bonnie would never admit but she kind of did.
:::
By the time that people started to arrive Bonnie had changed into an oversized off the shoulder black pullover covered in gold stars and a pair of dark blue jean shorts. She was fussing over setting out all of the food in the living room when the doorbell rang.
Bonnie's dad had initially gotten the large 75-inch flat screen that was mounted on their wall for the sake of watching the games during football season. However, when Bonnie had commandeered it for Movie Nights when she hadn't opted to go to Sheila's, her father never minded, game or no game.
Bonnie knew that the Lockwoods had a whole home theater set up at their place. She'd spent many days when she was younger running in between the recliner chairs in the theater room they had set up and having popcorn fights with Tyler. She knew her friends would have fun when they started to switch up the settings, but she was fine in her own home at the moment. She needed the comfort as the changes kept coming and she was trying to keep up as it was.
Matt and Caroline were the first to arrive and they took their customary seat in the comfy chair on the right side of the room, Caroline in Matt's lap. Luka and Hayley were next. Hayley gave a shrug as she handed Bonnie a cheeseball and a box of Ritz crackers. "Luka said we should bring something," she said.
"Thanks," Bonnie laughed as Hayley walked over to sit in the chair opposite Matt and Caroline.
Luka gave Bonnie an apologetic smile. "Don't mind her," he said, "She has no home training. Thanks for inviting us."
"No problem," Bonnie smiled back, "I'm glad you're here. I have a feeling me and you are going to be the buffers this evening."
"Something go down I should know about?" Luka asked raising an eyebrow.
Bonnie shrugged. "I talked to Stefan and Tyler saw and things got weird but then I talked to Tyler so we're good, but I need tonight to go well so can you please be my back up?" Bonnie knew she was begging but she honestly wasn't sure what was going to happen with both Stefan and Tyler in the same room together for an extended period of time.
"I got your back," Luka promised, "It'll be fine." He looked around the room. "Where's Ty anyway?"
Bonnie gestured towards the kitchen. "In the back bringing the rest of the food out."
Luka nodded. "I'll go help," he said. He disappeared and as soon as he did the doorbell rang again.
Bonnie answered the door and found Jeremy, Anna, Stefan and Lexi on the other side. Lexi burst past everyone else to envelope Bonnie in hug. "Hey Lex," Bonnie smiled.
"Bonbon," Lexi grinned as she pulled back, "Or should I say badass. I will never get over Jordan's face when you exposed his dick rash to the public. When Stefan told me exactly what you said I almost pissed myself laughing. I'm so proud."
Bonnie shrugged. She made a show of looking nonchalant. "What can I say? I was feeling epic."
Lexi laughed. "Well," she said, "It's about damn time." She walked into the foyer and the others followed in behind. Bonnie greeted them but was interrupted by Lexi as she hugged Jeremy. "So, where's the new beau? I had to duck out of the game early, so I didn't get to track you down after. Stefan said you were dating now and all I'm saying is I'll believe it when I see it."
Bonnie sighed. The thing about Lexi was, she was good at reading people. From the moment she met Bonnie she had decided that they would be friends on the sole assumption that Bonnie was a good person, that all of those qualities that Stefan had had to tell her Elena had, Bonnie possessed naturally. Kindness, loyalty, selflessness, according to Lexi were all things Bonnie had that went without saying. The day Bonnie had shown up after a drunken party mishap with her Grams' herbal hangover cure Lexi had looked her right in the eye and said, "I knew I was right about you."
Lexi could also always tell when someone was lying. It was a gift. A blessing and curse she called it. Bonnie knew that fooling her friends had been child's play in comparison to fooling Lexi. She was half expecting the blonde to call her and Tyler out before the night was even over.
"He's in the kitchen," Bonnie mumbled. Bonnie tried not to worry as Stefan came up to greet her and give her hug.
As soon as they all settled in the living room Bonnie scuttled into the kitchen. She came upon both Tyler and Luka whispering to one another and she raised a brow as she stood in the doorway. "Everyone's here," Bonnie said.
Luka turned and smiled. "Everyone as in Jeremy?"
Bonnie laughed. "Yes," she said, "and if you're quick you might get the seat next to him. Anna's on one side but the other side is free and well…Lexi is here, and it's first come first serve now that the chairs are all taken."
Luka looked in between Bonnie and Tyler. "You guys got this right?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes. So much for him being her buffer. "Go, we'll be fine," she said, shaking her head as he left the kitchen even before the words left her mouth.
Bonnie opened her mouth to warn Tyler about Lexi, something she should've done sooner in retrospect, when suddenly she heard Stefan's voice behind her. "Playing matchmaker this early in the night?" he commented, "Emma Woodhouse would be proud." Bonnie was about to tell him that's exactly what had come to mind when she'd first thought of the idea of Luka and Jeremy together when Stefan kept talking, this time his words directed at Tyler. "I should probably use a reference you'd know, Lockwood. Cher, from Clueless. That work for you?"
Bonnie heard the condescending tone and gave Stefan a look as if to say, "This is what you look like trying?"
Tyler just laughed. "Dude I know who Emma Woodhouse is," he said, "I'm in Advanced Placement Lit. Also, Bonnie made me watch the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma when we were like eight so, no need to dumb it down." Bonnie turned toward Tyler and smiled. He seemed surprisingly calm and determined to be the bigger person in the situation. "Do you really think I'd be allowed to play if I couldn't at the very least stay off academic probation? I'm pretty sure I'm in the top ten of our class GPA wise. You'd think that you wouldn't be one to fall for the whole dumb jock stereotype thing, given that you're… well a jock. But I guess nobody's perfect, right?"
Bonnie's mouth twitched. Alright, so maybe he wasn't going to the bigger person, but she honestly couldn't say at that point that Stefan didn't deserve it.
"Sorry," Stefan said, and Bonnie was once again surprised, "That was kind of a dick move." The admission and the sheepish look on Stefan's face gave Bonnie pause but she smiled just the same. It was nice to see that Stefan actually trying to be civil.
Tyler raised a brow. "You think?" he said, "I know you and Bonnie have been friends for a while, but Bonnie and I are dating now and besides that, me and her go way back. You don't know me as well as you think you do, clearly. And if you knew Bonnie all that well, you'd know she wouldn't be with anyone that was as big an asshole as you seem to think I am. So maybe, you could actually get to know me before you pass judgement. For Bonnie if nothing else."
Stefan looked surprised and Bonnie didn't blame him, because she was a bit shocked too. Tyler was being mature about the whole thing. She remembered the whispering between him and Luka as she walked in and wondered if Luka had played his buffer role well after all.
"You're right," Stefan nodded. He eyed Bonnie and Bonnie felt a bit awkward being on the receiving end of both their gazes all at once. "It'll take some time, but I'll do it. For Bonnie." There was a deliberate pause, but the moment was broken so quick as Stefan's eyes left hers, Bonnie thought she'd imagined whatever it was she saw when he looked at her. "You need help with anything in here?"
"Luka abandoned us, so you can get the drinks out of the fridge," Tyler said, "Leave that guacamole where it is though. We don't want anyone dying tonight."
Stefan grinned and glanced at Bonnie. "Your dad?" Stefan asked.
"My dad," Bonnie confirmed. She grinned back as Stefan made a face and shook his head. At least some things weren't changing.
"Alright then. Guacamole stays in the fridge. See you guys out there." Stefan left Bonnie and Tyler alone in the kitchen after collecting the drink options.
Bonnie turned to Tyler and immediately rounded the kitchen island to stand in front of him. "I'm sorry about that," she said, sincerely, "Stefan and I talked it out and I thought… Anyway, you handled it well. I just don't know what his deal is lately."
"I do," Tyler said, placing his hands on Bonnie's hips, "But it's fine. For you I can deal with it."
Bonnie wasn't sure how Tyler knew what was going on with Stefan when he didn't know Stefan as well as she did but decided not to point that out. "You shouldn't have to. But thank you."
Tyler leaned forward and pulled her closer. "You know," he licked his lips, "I like these shorts. You could give me another spin to show your appreciation."
"You're such a pervert," Bonnie chastised but she was giggling right after and she forgot to warn Tyler about Lexi as he leaned down even closer to her.
"Yeah, your pervert, well…kind of," he laughed as he kissed her.
It wasn't chaste like the one before, he lingered this time, but it was fine, because there were other people there. Not in the kitchen with them, but still in the house, so it counted. Bonnie stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tyler's hands moved lower and slipped into the back pockets of her shorts when the kitchen door opened.
"Well no wonder you're hiding him in here," Lexi said as she entered the kitchen, "He's hot."
Bonnie felt her face heat up as she pulled back from the kiss and turned towards Lexi. Tyler wrapped his arms around her from behind and looked at Lexi over Bonnie's shoulder. "And you are?"
"Lexi," she said, "Stefan's best friend." Her eyes narrowed and Bonnie felt Tyler's grip on her tighten.
"Tyler," he introduced one hand leaving Bonnie to stretch out for a handshake and the other remaining on her hip, "Matt's best friend, Luka's wingman, Hayley's punching bag, Jeremy's comic book consultant and Bonnie's boyfriend."
Bonnie wasn't sure that he had ever said it out loud before. Everyone had just accepted they were dating without them having to go around declaring it to the world. Bonnie felt butterflies at hearing him say it out loud. She wasn't sure why, it was stupid really, but she couldn't help it.
"Nice to meet you," Lexi said as she shook his hand. "I've heard things."
"Good or bad?" Tyler asked, and Bonnie wasn't really sure that either she or Tyler wanted to know the answer to that question.
"Depends on who I ask," Lexi answered. From her tone Bonnie knew that she would be spending the rest of the night trying to figure out which things she'd heard about Tyler were true. Once Lexi set her mind on something, there wasn't any talking her out of it.
:::
They chose to watch Fight Club first. Partially because Bonnie wanted to know what all of fuss was about and partially because for once, after the day she had had, she wasn't up for watching a movie that was strictly about romance.
Luka ended up sitting on the floor in front of the couch besides Jeremy, with Anna on Jeremy's other side and Lexi on Luka's other side. Bonnie couldn't even bask in her matchmaking skills when Luka started whispering in Jeremy's ear when he asked what the movie was about because her own seat was likely the least comfortable in the room at that moment.
Somehow, Bonnie had ended up on the couch in between Stefan and Tyler. Luka had failed at being the buffer again and Bonnie was in a position that was even more awkward than she feared it would be. When Elena had been in between Stefan and Bonnie during the times she'd played the third wheel, it hadn't seemed odd, because Bonnie was Elena's best friend and Stefan was her boyfriend and Elena had gotten the best of both worlds. It wasn't until their last movie night when Bonnie had been in the middle where things had gotten weird. Bonnie had thought that that had been bad, but this was far worse.
Being in the middle of the guy she was trying to hide the fact that she had feelings for and the boy that was pretending to be her boyfriend that she was reconnecting with as a friend, was just too weird for words. Normally, on Movie Nights it was with the same people and they watched many of the same movies over and over and they could quote lines and she and Stefan would laugh at the same parts. This was different though, because Bonnie had never seen Fight Club and Tyler's presence seemed to both put Stefan on edge and make Bonnie forget Stefan was even there.
The thing was, even though Fight Club was all violence and man pain and Bonnie had been sure that the only reason she would like it would be because of the copious amounts of scenes with Brad Pitt walking around shirtless, it was actually a good movie. A bit much at certain points but honestly kind of amazing.
Bonnie had felt a grim sort of satisfaction when Angel Face got the shit beat out of him.
"Is it because you don't like Jared Leto or because you don't like the character?" Tyler asked.
Bonnie shrugged. "Can it be both?"
Bonnie had cringed and gripped Tyler's hand through the chemical burn scene. Bonnie had cried when Bob died. She'd been shocked at the twists and turns. But most of all Bonnie loved the relationship between Marla and Jack. Honestly, she just lived for Helena Bonham Carter and the moment Marla was introduced in dark sunglasses behind a cloud of smoke, mirroring Jack's lie, Bonnie was in love and couldn't take her eyes off her each time she appeared onscreen.
The thing that she loved most about the dynamic between Marla and Jack was that they mirrored each other. They were reflections of one another, and both were just complete and utter disasters. The "Slide" scene quickly became Bonnie's favorite up until she saw the final scene at the end. There was no kiss, but Bonnie had to admit that Tyler was right, it was definitely list worthy.
Bonnie told Tyler as much when it was over, and she realized that somehow she had moved to Tyler's end of the couch completely and was sitting in between his legs as they shared a bowl of popcorn that was sitting in Bonnie lap. Stefan was on the other end of the couch and Bonnie noted he looked uncomfortable and she suspected she knew the reason. As many times as she sat with Elena and Stefan on the same couch, Stefan and Elena had never been so openly affectionate with one another while Bonnie was next to them. Matt and Caroline had always been the touchy-feely ones of the group when it came to the couple thing in public. Honestly speaking though, it hadn't even been intentional on Bonnie's part.
She wasn't sure why but she felt kind of guilty about it until Hayley broke her thoughts by glancing back at Tyler and saying, "A guy that's emotionally unstable, has a bunch of pent up rage and a violent alter ego named Tyler, falls for a quirky girl who calls him on his bullshit and shops at thrift stores. Of course ,this is your favorite movie," and Bonnie laughed so hard she would've fallen off the couch if Tyler hadn't caught her.
"You're supposed to be on my side," he frowned, "You can't laugh at my expense every chance you get."
"Actually," Bonnie said, once her laughter had calmed some, "As your girlfriend I am the only one who has the right to laugh at your expense. If someone else laughs at you I promise to defend your honor."
"That's literally what Hayley just did," Tyler pointed out.
"She was making fun of you and she was amused," Bonnie conceded, but then stated, "She didn't laugh, though."
"Bennett if you think I'm letting you off on a technicality you're wrong," Tyler managed to look mock offended, "I'm calling a foul."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Sports metaphors coming out," she said, holding up her hands in defeat, "I'm in trouble guys."
Bonnie was met with more laughter by everyone around her except Stefan and she shook her head as she stood.
"They're laughing at me and not a peep out of you, Bennett," Tyler said, regaining her attention.
"Well I was going to make you share your chocolate chip cookies, but since they're laughing at you, you only have to share them with me," Bonnie offered.
Tyler tugged gently on the hem of Bonnie's shirt until she leaned in and kissed him. "I was only going to share them with you anyway," he said as she pulled away.
There was a brief intermission in which Bonnie played her eighties playlist in order to get everyone ready for the transition in the films. Bonnie cleared up some of the mess with Lexi, Hayley and Caroline's help. She knew that she would get cornered in the kitchen even before the three followed her there.
Bonnie tried to ignore them as she placed a few dishes in the sink and wasn't surprised when Lexi broke the silence first. "So," she said, "I was admittedly skeptical about this whole boyfriend thing because well you've never dated anyone before and I will never think anyone is good enough for you but…it's clear this Tyler is completely gone over you and Stefan said you guys were comfortable with each other because he knew you before. But it's not just you being comfortable. You're happy. Like really happy."
Bonnie stopped what she was doing and turned to Lexi and eyed her with wide eyes. Lexi had bought their act. They must have been better than Bonnie thought, though they weren't actually consciously trying at the moment or at least Bonnie wasn't, so perhaps Lexi was picking up on her and Tyler's closeness from before.
However, Bonnie was more surprised about the happy comment. Bonnie hadn't exactly been unhappy for the last year or so. More along the lines of quietly pining. But she supposed that Lexi was right. She smiled. "I guess I am," she said.
"Tyler is too," Hayley said, "I remember how miserable he was when you guys stopped being friends before. The letters he wrote me about how much he missed you and how sorry he was he screwed things up. It's nice to see him happy you know. Just don't hurt him because then I'd have to kill you."
Bonnie knew there was some seriousness in Hayley's tone though she thought the threat was unnecessary. She kind of wanted to ask more about the letters that Tyler had written her but stopped herself. Reassuring Hayley that she wouldn't hurt Tyler was more important, they didn't know this was all fake and so Bonnie could entertain Hayley at least this once. "I wouldn't," Bonnie said, and she was being sincere even if she didn't think the moment warranted Hayley's threat. "Not on purpose."
"We know Bonnie," Caroline sighed, "We just…no matter what happens someone is going to get hurt so you should probably be prepared for that alright?"
Bonnie looked in between the three, not sure of what they meant. Things weren't ideal, but she was handling it better than she thought she would. She'd talked to both Stefan and Tyler and from their conversation before Stefan and Tyler were both trying to be civil, even if Stefan wasn't completely comfortable with the situation yet. He'd get over it in time and he'd see that Bonnie could be friends with them both and they'd be fine. She and Tyler would fake their breakup and now that they were getting into the habit of talking things out, she was sure their friendship would still stand. No one had to get hurt. Bonnie didn't want anyone to get hurt. If she played her cards right everything would be fine.
"You guys worry too much," Bonnie said, trying to make her tone sound reassuring, "Everything will be fine. You'll see."
Before anyone could respond, the music from the other room caught Bonnie's attention. It was, "She Loves Me" by Stephen Duffy. Which was one of Bonnie's favorite songs from one of her favorite movie scenes. That wouldn't have been a problem ordinarily, but Bonnie had just reenacted that scene with Tyler and maybe it had resulted in one of the best kisses she had ever had. Which, now that she thought about it, all of her best kisses belonged to Tyler, because really all of her kisses belonged to Tyler.
"Earth to Bonnie," Caroline said, which meant she had been trying to get Bonnie's attention, which meant she had probably zoned out, "Are you blushing? Why are you blushing?"
Bonnie blinked. "No reason. I just, have to turn off the music. Yeah, the music. Excuse me."
"But you love this song," Caroline started but Bonnie was already running into the living room and jumping over the people still sitting on the floor to get to where her phone was sitting on the couch.
Bonnie had almost reached it but Tyler grabbed it first, standing and holding the phone above his head. There was a teasing smile on his lips as he looked down at her. "Do you need your phone for something?"
Bonnie frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "The song. Turn it off."
"You love this song," Tyler laughed. Bonnie opened her mouth to protest when he wrapped his arm around her waist. "It's our song."
Bonnie bit her lip trying and failing to hide her embarrassment. "Tyler."
"Since when do you guys have song?" Matt asked.
Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Right and the song at that. One of Bonnie's favorite songs and the song from Bonnie's favorite kiss scene."
Tyler didn't get a chance to respond as Bonnie cut in. "First rule of Fight Club."
Laughing Tyler gave Bonnie back her phone. "You do not talk about Fight Club," he responded.
"Now that she gets that reference you guys are going to be super obnoxious about this whole 'we' people only secrets thing, aren't you?" Matt said shaking his head.
"Yeah we are." Both Tyler and Bonnie answered at once. Bonnie tried not to dwell on the fact that Tyler had likely been talking to Matt about their "relationship" as he was aware of more than she thought he was clearly. Still it made sense in theory. Matt was Tyler's best friend and it'd be weird if he didn't talk to him about Bonnie. Especially since Vicki was Matt's sister and selling their relationship to her was a part of their act.
Bonnie's thoughts were interrupted when Stefan spoke. "Stop giving her a hard time. Besides, don't we have another movie to watch?" He looked more irritated than Bonnie felt but she was at the very least glad to have him come to her defense against the teasing.
Bonnie cut the song off and set her phone down on the table. "Yes, we do," she said, "And thank you."
Stefan nodded and Bonnie watched as Lexi walked over and squeezed Stefan's shoulder. A look passed between them that Bonnie didn't understand before they all took the seats that they had before.
This time Bonnie was determined to stay in the middle as the Sixteen Candles started. It was awkward enough to be stuck in between Stefan and Tyler without her somehow ending up half in Tyler's lap.
Watching the movie became weird in another way, however. This movie was one that had been played a movie night many times before which meant that this time around there were lines that were quoted and laughing obnoxiously at the same parts they always did. Which meant, that this time around it was Stefan's orbit Bonnie had drifted into unintentionally.
She didn't notice until Tyler's arm came around her shoulder and he pulled her into his side. "Isn't the Long Duk Dong character like really racist?" He asked, casually. He tried to make the gesture seem less territorial than it was.
She couldn't really blame him as she was playing the role of his girlfriend which meant that she shouldn't giggling with Stefan like an idiot at a movie they'd seen a hundred times in front of everyone.
"Extremely, racist," she answered.
"So why do we like this movie again?" Tyler asked, pointedly.
When he tugged her closer, Bonnie complied, wrapping her own arms around his middle. "Jake Ryan," she and Carolyn said at the same time, their tones dreamy.
Tyler rolled his eyes. "I'm like way hotter than that guy."
Hayley made a scoffing noise from her seat on the floor. "Damaged sensitive jock who is bogged down by his popularity and everyone's expectations and misconceptions of him who's kind of an asshole at times, comes from a rich family and dumps his disaster girlfriend who parties too much to date the sweet girl who thinks she's invisible and fades into the background only to realize he saw her and liked her the whole time. That guy is literally you in movie form." She turned and her eyes narrowed at Bonnie. "No wonder you like this movie." She smirked pointing in Bonnie's direction.
"Oh my God," Caroline laughed, "I never thought about it that way but, that is so true. Tyler is your Jake Ryan. Aww."
Bonnie tried and failed to hide her embarrassment. She hadn't thought about it that way either but in a way she guessed they were right. She was directing her own romantic comedy and had somehow type-casted Tyler into Jake Ryan's role.
Caroline opened her mouth, like to tease Bonnie some more but was met by a pillow in the face. One flew and hit Hayley a moment later. Tyler had launched in attack on them both and had managed to do so without moving his arm from around Bonnie's shoulders and he threw the pillows with his free hand. "Stop teasing my girlfriend."
Hayley threw the pillow back at him but missed. It flew over his head and onto the floor behind the couch. He kissed the top of Bonnie's head uncaring. "See Bennett," he said, "that's how you come to someone's defense."
"My hero," Bonnie replied sarcastically but still leaned up a kissed his cheek.
Bonnie watched as Stefan shifted away from them on the couch and she glanced at Luka, giving him a pleading look, hoping he would get her sign to change the subject.
"So, Ty," Luka said, "You convince Bonnie to go to your party at the Swimming Hole yet?"
"This party," Jeremy said, turning to Luka fully. "Are you going?"
Luka nodded. "Yeah, are you?"
Jeremy grinned. "I am, if you are."
Bonnie couldn't even celebrate her matchmaking skills because she was too confused as to what they were talking about. She frowned and looked up at Tyler. "What party?"
"You're having a party and didn't tell your girlfriend, Lockwood?" Stefan asked, giving Tyler a sideways glance. "She doesn't really do, parties, I know. But at least you could've asked her."
Tyler tensed and Bonnie ran a hand down his arm to keep his attention on her. The last thing she needed was an argument breaking out. His grip around Bonnie tightened as he spoke. "I know you don't usually like going to parties," he said, "That's why I wanted to wait and ease you into the idea. It's tomorrow night. It's going to be one of the last warm days before the fall hits and I thought it'd be fun."
"Since you literally waited until the last minute to ask you're going to have to do better than that to convince me," Bonnie said. Contractually she was obligated to attend (which was likely why Tyler didn't bother asking sooner in the first place), but the others didn't know that and if she agreed too readily they would likely get suspicious.
Bonnie heard someone's phone ring but ignored it as Tyler spoke. "Alright, I'll make you a deal. There's one of those swinging ropes right. We can do that scene from The Notebook."
Bonnie sat up slightly from where she was leaning slightly against his chest. "The, 'Get in the water!' scene?" She asked, her excitement likely evident in spite of her attempt to play it cool.
"The, 'Get in the water!' scene," Tyler nodded, "And I may have been on Etsy a week before school started when I decided to have the party in the first place. And I may I have ordered a replica of Allie's swimsuit in your size in hopes that it would convince you to come because again…I know you don't usually go to parties."
The last he said with a pointed look at Stefan but ignored it in favor of asking, "The purple one piece from the 'Get in the water!' scene or the red two piece from , 'If you're a bird, I'm a bird'."
"Red is your favorite color, so what do you think? Besides would I rather see you in a two piece or a one piece?"
Bonnie squealed because he had picked the right one and she kissed him because she was excited. "You're a pervert by the way," she said as she pulled back but then a thought occurred to her and she said, "A week before school started? We weren't even dating then." They weren't even talking then. And how had he managed to pick the one she would have chosen for herself?
Tyler shrugged. "I was going to give it Caroline and tell her to use it to convince you to come to the party like I did when I bought those replica witch costumes from Practical Magic so you two could dress as the Owens sisters from the scene at the end when they jumped off the roof with the umbrellas, when she was afraid you wouldn't come to my Halloween party last year."
Bonnie stared. It hadn't just been the dresses from Practical Magic, it'd been the big witch hats that tied around the chin, the white and read striped tights, and the black Mary Jane heels, that Bonnie knew for a fact were a pain to find. Caroline had simply said "Etsy," when Bonnie has asked where the costumes had come from. She'd never thought to press any further. "You what? Why would you do that?"
This time Tyler leaned down to kiss her, soft and sweet. "Does that answer your question?"
It didn't. But it had sufficiently distracted Bonnie from her confusion.
"I guess you're more persuasive than I realized, Lockwood." Stefan said and he sounded sad, resigned almost.
"Nah," Tyler said, "I just know my girlfriend."
The tension was thick, and Bonnie turned to Tyler again, determined to act as her own buffer. "In any case, thank you. Also, yes, I'll go to your stupid party. So, when do I get to see the swimsuit?"
"As soon as you promise to let me see you twirl in it." Tyler responded.
"Such a perv," Bonnie laughed.
He kissed her again, this time lingering. But it was alright because they had an audience.
"Oh my God, you guys really are dating! I can't believe it." A familiar voice that Bonnie hadn't heard in a while interrupted.
Bonnie stilled and broke the kiss. She knew that voice. She'd heard it all her life. "Elena?"
She turned and saw Jeremy holding his phone in the air. There Elena was on screen staring back at her. "She called while you guys were talking but I didn't want to interrupt." Jeremy said.
Bonnie looked from Jeremy to Luka and glared. He was the worse buffer ever.
Jeremy handed Bonnie his phone. Reluctantly she took. "Hi Elena," she said. "What's up, Gilbert?" Tyler said over her shoulder.
Elena beamed at them and Bonnie bit her lip. "You guys have to tell me everything!"
End Notes: As always thanks for reading! So next update, being abroad is not all it is cracked up to be for Elena. Vicki tries to cause more trouble at the party at the swimming hole. See you all next time! Reviews are love!
