Afterlife Mystic Falls 3 years ago
Caroline sat across from Bonnie and studied her friend. Bonnie was doubling down in AP courses and this was now a problem. Their senior year was coming to a close and Bonnie was letting the last bit of their milestone moments slip away.
"Bonnie snap out of it" Caroline yelled.
Bonnie looked wide-eyed at her friend. "I thought we were studying?"
"Bonnie this year is almost over and you were nominated for prom queen. You have to come."
Bonnie groaned as her eyes rolled heaven ward. "Caroline, I'm not going and Elena will probably win anyway. She always does."
"Is this about Stefan?"
"It has nothing to do with him."
Caroline sighed. "I know last year was hard for you. I still wish you didn't give up your seat as Valedictorian. But you and Stefan had a big moment and then you were pushing Elena on him. Now, it seems like you regret it."
"He's happy with Elena and things are working out for them."
"And you're still friend zoned with Damon."
Bonnie groaned and lay her head in her book. "Why does it feel like we're in a relationship without being in a relationship. It's the most exhausting thing in the world. He treats me like his girlfriend. He looks at me…he… I just don't get why I'm not good enough for him."
"Maybe you should make the first move. He likes whores," she said tilting her head in Katherine's direction.
"He told Luca I was like his kid sister. I wouldn't want to make him commit incest."
"Ouch. He was always a big dummy. I say just be with Sweet, beautiful, prefect Stefan and have beautiful, prefect babies."
"I'd never make Stefan feel as horrible as I do. I hate this. But I know if there was an opportunity for me and Damon."
"You'd be on him like white on rice."
"Am I pathetic?"
"You're Bonnie fucking Bennett. Never."
"I'm just going to pretend like none of this ever happened. It's what they're doing so why should I agonize over the situation if they're perfectly fine."
"To make your point clear why not go to prom with a total hottie my future Queen."
"I'm not going so let's study."
"Are you really going to miss your Prom to study for a test you're sure to pass," Damon said as he sat across from Bonnie in the campus café.
Bonnie grabbed her coffee out the carrier. "I didn't pay, I don't have a dress, and no date," she shrugged.
"Bonnie you have done a lot of stupid things, but this is the dumbest. You've let this guy take your spot as valedictorian for you to spend your senior year missing out on everything that makes it fun."
Bonnie groaned. "I don't want to talk about this! I just want to hangout. If you can't do that, I'll go home."
Damon grabbed her arm when she tried to stand. "I don't want you to waste the best time of your life. You're going to realize your friends have all these memories you never tried to be apart of."
Bonnie sighed. "I just have this sinking feeling if I go I'll wound up looking like Carrie."
"Not if I go with you."
Bonnie's eyes narrowed. "Your such a prev. Why do you insist on hanging around high schoolers."
Damon laughed. "I insist on hanging around my lab partner that happens to also be in high school. Total difference."
Bonnie smiled. "I don't have a ticket and I don't have a dress."
Damon leaned over. "I'm a great fairy godmother. All you have to do is say yes."
Bonnie smirked. "On one condition."
"Done"
"You're not going to ask what it is."
"If it will get you to say yes it doesn't matter what it is."
"So I can take my date in your Camaro."
"I thought I was your date?"
"Matt asked first."
"Did I just get suckered."
"So easily, fairy godmother."
"I'll totally drop you two off in my sweet ride."
"Fine I won't go."
"The only way you're taking my car is if you're taking me."
"Fine. Why are you so desperate for a date to a high school dance."
-"That's not what I meant."
Bonnie sipped her drink. "It sure is what you said Prom King."
"Screw you Bennett."
Bonnie looked divine in her navy and gold dress. It was wonderfully complimented by the white and gold prom queen sash and matching gold, diamond tiara. "So you really are prom Queen," Damon said as they danced. "I'm surprised, but not, all at the same time."
"I still can't believe I let you drag me here," she groaned. "Everyone is staring at me and I hate it."
"Correction they're staring at me and how utterly beautiful I am."
"Why are you punishing me?"
"Oh it was going to happen after you made me believe you were coming with Matt. That was low."
"Not as low as you and Caroline, conspiring to drag me here. Since when do you even listen to Caroline."
"Oh, please like she could make me do anything I don't want to do. And, you're having fun. You deserve a million moments like this."
Bonnie laughed in spite herself. She did have a perfect night. She and Matt being prom king and queen was the icing on the cake. "Thank you."
Damon winked at her. "Anything for you Bonbon."
"Congrats on being prom Queen," Franklin said as he came over with his date.
"Keep walking," Damon said moving between Franklin and Bonnie.
Bonnie pulled Damon to the back door of the gym. "Let's go," she said taking the keys to the Camaro out.
"You can't keep letting him run you off."
"I didn't want to be here. But I had a great time. Now, I want to go off, and have an adventure with my partner in crime."
Damon smirked. Bonnie was definitely speaking his language now. "Let me grab my stash from home."
Bonnie and Damon sat on the roof of his car and looked out at the town. "Mystic falls looks bigger and bigger the more we come here," Bonnie laughed. She throw the ugly stain sash out the window once Damon pulled off. Then she planted her crown on his head which he was still wearing.
"We're trying," Damon shrugged. He pointed out pass the town square. "I talked my dad into putting up some new homes over there low-income that way more kids get to go to Mystic Falls High."
"You're really good at this. Why did you fight it so much."
Damon laughed. "I don't like letting Giuseppe know he's right. It doesn't go with my brand."
Damon sobered once he noticed Bonnie was lost in thought. "I hate that look. You're thinking and this is a no thinking zone."
"I just… I'm a little spent I should sleep it off. Could you take me home."
Damon had become used to her changing the subject. As of late, they rarely had deep conversations. He knew she wanted to tell him something but refused to. He sighed, and got in the car.
Bonnie stared at the large envelope in front of her. She was confused and excited. She didn't expect to get into Juilliard but this could only be an acceptance.
Now that Bonnie knew Elena was taking the year off and going to Whitmore next spring, she wanted to do something similar. Maybe she could take the academic break she always wanted.
Just maybe she could tell her family she didn't really want to go to college. Bonnie groaned. "Like hell that would ever happen."
"Hey," Bonnie said catching Stefan in the quad. "What are you doing here?"
"Avoiding reality."
"Samezees," Bonnie laughed.
"I didn't know leaving high school would be so complicated. I didn't even want to play sports. Tyler suckered me into it. Giuseppe never approved. And now everyone wants me to do something I never wanted to do. I had one good year as quarterback. Now they're talking about drafting. I just… I don't know if I want to go to school."
Bonnie sighed. "Samezees."
"Wait what?" Stefan said looking more appalled then shocked.
"Please no lectures. Elena, is going to travel and experience life. All I've ever done was what everyone wanted me to do. Grams, wants me to be a teacher. My dad wants me to be a lawyer. Even Pocahontas Abby, wants me to go to college. She convinced me to apply for Juilliard and I got in."
"Wow and you don't want to go?"
Bonnie looked at Stefan. She knew her next confession was going to either make him murder her or Damon. Maybe both of them.
"Damon and I smoke on the peek."
"You do what with Damon?"
"It's not like we don't smoke together. And I've been so stressed. And Mason and Anna come."
"But Damon knows he can't. Giuseppe would kill him."
"I know. But Anna convinced me to join her for an audition and we got spots."
Stefan smiled bright at her. "Bonnie that's amazing."
She laughed with disbelief. "I know. What if I just work. That's the point of college-to get a good job. And I have one in front of me. But I lied and I know Rudy Hopkins would never let his daughter"-
"You're making this so complicated. If you want it go for it."
"My dad would literally kill me."
"Would it be worth it any other way?"
"That was something Damon would say."
"So you'll listen to me."
"I guess."
Stefan hugged Bonnie. "You're amazing Bennett. Don't let fear Keep you from playing the game."
"That's not the way it goes. Guess we have to watch it again."
"How many times do I have to tell you and Lexi if I never see Chad Michael Murray again it will be too soon."
"My place or yours?"
"My place has absolutely no one there in the next 15 minutes."
"Winner."
When Damon got in, Bonnie lay close to Stefan on the couch, quoting A Cinderella Story. As if that wasn't enough to make Damon's blood boil; Stefan's thumb rubbed circles on the exposed skin of her shoulder.
"What are you loo-… Neither of you have the balls to ask the girl out so let it go," Zach said as he pushed Damon to the kitchen.
"He always takes everything from me. Everyone is always like 'he's your little brother share. He just wants to be like you.'" Damon was seething. "He's with her best friend. They're talking about getting married. But here he is sitting with Bonnie touching all over her. And I'm supposed to calm down."
"If you want her, stop sitting on your ass. Tell her."
Damon had planned a million times to just say it. Put his cards on the table and take the chance. But if Bonnie rejected him. If she didn't love him. What would be the point of living. "I can't hear its someone else again," he shrugged and walked out the back door.
"If they were together like that something isn't working. I know you don't want to do it, but we need to try and spell them again."
Damon glared at Elena. "This is pathetic at this point." He took back his shot and tapped his glass on the bar for another round.
"The only thing that is pathetic is you sitting here drinking when they're in your home on the verge of making out. We already know they'd waste no time sleeping together. When do Lilly and Giuseppe get back?" Elena knew the Salvatores were out of town because they were on a couples weekend with her parents and the Lockwoods.
Damon let out a primal growl when he grabbed Elena. "I did everything you said and he still went after her. You aren't doing your part. She spent the past two school years with me. I went to prom. And you couldn't keep him through the summer."
"Oh, I'm sorry I don't put out as quickly as your girlfriend."
Damon rushed out of the grille and to his car. If he stayed a second longer, Elena would be past tense. He flew down the road back to the boarding house. Of course Bonnie's car was still there. He steadied himself as he walked up the path to the door.
Damon stumbled to the family room off the kitchen and there they were. Snug under the covers as the DVD menu replayed over and over.
Bonnie slept so soundly with her head against his chest. In that moment Damon wanted to set them on fire and burn this memory from his brain. Zach was right. He had the chance to make a move. He was too scared to try. Now he was to blame.
Afterlife Miami Beach Florida Summer 2 years ago.
Bonnie looked out her window and she was in paradise. A view of the beach. Free room service. Hot guys to ogle. This was the life she wanted. Most importantly she got to wake up and do the one thing she loved most.
Anna came in carrying two huge plates over flowing with food. "If you keep eating like this Mason will know you're pregnant before you get the chance to tell him," Bonnie laughed.
"You're so funny. It's for both of us and Elena. She got a call from Stefan but she should be up with our drinks. I still don't see how you're friends after she convinced you to take the year off of school to ditch you for Stefan every other day."
Bonnie sighed. "Look I don't know what happened with you two, but I love you both and I want this to be fun. We get to perform with Rihanna. This is huge. Literally everything I've been hoping for and I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for BOTH of you."
Anna groaned. "Fine. And for the record. The way she left Matt to steal Stefan from you is why I don't like her."
"Please let that go. I don't even know what I was thinking. I don't feel that way about him."
"Bonnie don't down play it. You had stars in your eyes and then you were pushing them together. I get you want Damon but he hasn't made a move since truth or dare three years ago. You and Stefan have everything it takes to work. Now what are you going to do when they get married. Pretend you're happy?"
Bonnie groaned. "What kind of person would I be to string along my best friend when I know in my heart I want to be with his brother."
The conversation was cut short by the sound of glass breaking. Anna and Bonnie turned to see Stefan and Elena. "I'll get something to clean that," Stefan said as he rushed out the room.
Bonnie rushed after him. Anna noted the look of betrayal on Elena's face and smirked. "Hurts to know they still want each other," Anna said.
Elena stormed off to the guest room she was staying in. She had to call Damon. "Where are you? You know tonight means the world to Bonnie."
Damon pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have to double down for the buyouts in Seattle and Portland. I need to get this before I ever get a day off again. Besides I talked to Bonnie earlier, she was fine."
"Thanks to Anna she's chasing behind Stefan. I don't get why this isn't working? I know we agreed to let things fall into place, but this is ridiculous. It's like every time we're close to moving on they get sucked back together. I'm sure Anna has something to do with it."
Damon laughed. "Or you still don't like her because she dumped Jeremy for Mason."
-"On his birthday, but I'm the bad guy. She is such a hypocrite. I wish you were here to suffer through this with me."
"You guys will be home next week and everything will be like it used to. Just focus on that."
"Stefan, can we talk, please." Bonnie was out of breath and scared she hurt him beyond repair.
Stefan stopped and looked her in the eye. They've been avoiding this conversation for the verge of two years. He figured if they never had it. He could pretend him and Bonnie stood a chance.
"You don't owe me anything."
Bonnie released a breath of relief. She didn't except him to respond. "It feels like I owe you a lot. Mostly this." Bonnie walked over and hugged him tightly. "I know this means nothing, but I love you. And I'm sorry."
"You're right… It means absolutely nothing to me. Not if you love him too." Stefan growled. "I thought we had connected. I felt it you felt it. It was real. Then you started pushing me towards Elena and I thought maybe it was so you wouldn't hurt her. But it was for him."
Stefan paused hoping she would deny it. The words were there but wouldn't come out. "He isn't what you need or what you want. He's everything you know him to be: rude, arrogant, condescending, and self-centered. He will never be right for you. You will never be enough for him. Look at what happened with him and Katherine. They're practically the same person he fought for her all to cheat on her with Vickie. He wouldn't hesitate to hurt you.
"But you know that. Why do you still bother? Why do you think you'll be different? He doesn't deserve you. He'll ruin everything good in your life, everything you cherish about yourself. Just give him the chance."
Bonnie was in tears. Mostly at how hurt Stefan was and a bit at his words. He was right. Nothing was solid with Damon and he was self admittedly an asshole, but she loved him beyond measure. "I want nothing more then to be with you to just be happy and have it be easy. But I can't. Not if I love him. And I've tried. So hard to stop. To let you in, but I… You deserve better than me, than this. I want you to be happy. Not wondering if I'm still in love with someone else.
"You deserve the world. And I'd give it to you if I could. But my world belongs to someone else."
Stefan's lips crashed on hers. He couldn't let it end like this. He wouldn't let her walk away from him. "Tell me that made you feel absolutely nothing at all and I'll just walk away."
She couldn't. "I thought we were surprising her?" Lexi asked. The pair stared at each other. "I interrupted so I'm gonna not be here any more."
"I'm gonna go," Stefan said. "Good luck.". Stefan stalked down the hall to the elevator.
"What just happened with you two?"
"The same thing that always happens."
"Damon."
Bonnie groaned and sunk to the floor. "He's never going to talk to me again, is he?"
Lexi sighed and sat on the hall floor next to her. "He loves you, Bonnie. I think he just needs space to see you want what you want."
"Why is this so hard?"
"Look, you love them both so much. Damon's who you want. If he wants you. You'll know. And Elena won't last long with…"
"She's my best friend I can't lose her, Lexi."
"You have a chance with Stefan why not take it? If it doesn't work it doesn't work. It's not like you feel nothing for Stefan. It's clear as day that you do."
"I'm already a shit person I can't do that. I just can't be with either of them. That's the end of this."
Lexi laughed. "It's not gonna be the end until you marry one of them or get knocked up. My money is if given the chance Damon will knock you up. And Stefan wouldn't hesitate to marry you."
Bonnie scowled. "You really aren't helpful."
Lexi simply shrugged. "I'm his best friend and I want you two happy and I think the best way is if you're together."
"I'd be a terrible person if I did that."
"Making mistakes make you human, loving someone, makes you human." Lexi got up and went to find Stefan.
Bonnie's phone buzzed. "Speak of the devil. What do you want?" She groaned.
"Someone is having a bad day," Damon teased. "Maybe you should come home and hang with your bestie."
"Is Caroline in town. She's not supposed to be back for a few weeks."
"Hahaha," Damon said.
"I have to get back to rehearsal. I'll let you know how tonight goes."
Damon knew Bonnie was trying to avoid talking to him. "No need. I know you'll be amazing. I just hope you own it."
Bonnie looked at Elena who was fixing her makeup in the mirror. "I'm sorry I didn't mean for anyone but Anna to hear that."
Elena smiled. "Like you said. You love Damon not Stefan no need to apologize."
Bonnie sucked in a deep breath. "I'm still sorry."
Elena turned to Bonnie. "Get ready and knock them dead."
Bonnie hugged Elena. She knew their relationship had been strained lately, but she loved her. "Thanks for being here for me."
"I'm always going to be here."
Halloween 2 years ago Lockwood Mansion.
Elena was avoiding Damon all night. Now they were forced to talk to each other. She always felt Tyler's house was too big, but tonight it felt so small. "Damon it was one last dose. Everything is going fine."
Damon sighed. "He thinks I'm trying to steal you from him."
"Well I didn't know what else to do. You and Bonnie haven't been spending time together. He sees us talking all the time and we did have sex," Elena's eyes soon became the size of a beach balls.
Damon turned and looked at Stefan. I'm sorry was hanging on his lips when Stefan punched him. Bonnie soon appeared and yelled out Stefan's name as Elena did the same.
"Stay away from her." Stefan yelled.
"Stefan..." Damon started but what could he possibly say.
Stefan looked at each girl. He noticed a crowd forming and he needed to get away. "I mean it," Stefan yelled before he walked away.
Elena gave Damon a look signaling he should seize his moments with Bonnie. But he also knew he should heed his brother's warning.
Bonnie drove him home and started to nurse his injury. His nose was on fire. Bonnie tried to talk to him. A million thought swam in his head. Stefan was never going to forgive him. And there was no way he could keep this secret from Bonnie much longer.
Damon watched her tend to his wound. She was gentle, caring, warm. Her face was angelic. Her skin tantalizing. She was all he ever wanted. And if this was his last chance to make it happen. To make her his. He had to take it. He had to try.
Current time afterlife Mystic Falls
Damon walked the path to the tiny town house Lexi owned. Her garden was in full bloom and there she found his brother his brow was furred and he was staring off in space. Damon noted the journal in his lap.
He knew there wasn't a conceivable way they actually forgave him for what he did. The look on Stefan's face said it loud and clear.
Damon swallowed and walked over to his brother. "Hey."
"Hey, what's wrong," Stefan said intently letting go of his train of thought.
"What were you doing?" Damon asked.
Stefan looked down at his lost journal. "Thinking." He shrugged. "What's going on with you?" he asked again.
"You don't have to pretend that you don't hate me, for what I did. I hate myself for how I messed everything up."
"Now doesn't seem like the time for this, but yes you were an inconsiderate ass. Now, why are you here?"
Damon grimaced. "Rudy and Abby have a plan to get rid of Elena. If we don't do it tonight or she gets to Bonnie and Sarah. It will be to late."
"Lexi," Stefan called. She came out in an instant with her car keys. "Where are we going?"
"That's why I'm here. I need you to help me find and trap Elena."
"I can find her but trap is another ball game."
Damon filled Stefan in on the dire nature of the situation. "If she gets wind of the plan."
"There's no way she'd get close to Sarah."
"That's the only other outcome Stefan. We stop her or she takes my kid," he yelled. Damon didn't know why Elena wouldn't let him live in peace. He and Stefan never were really close. But they felt like brothers before Elena. After… Damon just didn't know how to talk to him. He didn't know what to say.
Elena always feed his paranoia about Stefan being the golden child. He could help but feel like the second place winner when he saw Stefan with Bonnie. They had this bond… A connection Damon wanted to snuff like a flame.
"We're not going to let her hurt Bonnie," Lexi interjected. "I'll tail her with Caroline and Kat. If thing get to much for her we'll be there."
"You right," Damon agreed.
Bonnie read through her journal again. The words suddenly didn't feel so foreign. She was furious at Damon for manipulating her and Stefan the way he did. But if he had been honest about his feelings. If he didn't always compare himself to Stefan and make himself feel so inadequate. None of this would have had to happen.
He always had to force things, make everyone move on his say so. If he looked, he would have seen what was staring him right in the face. She loved him. She was crazy in love with him, and nothing had changed that fact.
"He's such an idiot," she yelled to herself.
"If we're talking about Damon I'd never argue that fact," Rudy said entering the kitchen with Sarah.
"I though you'd be with Grams and Abby," Bonnie said as she embraced her little girl.
"Moom," Sarah said as she kissed Bonnie on the cheek.
"They needed to take care of something so I thought I'd cease the moment to take my favorite girls to a fancy-pantsy seaside dinner in Cape Charles. Maybe stay the night and ride Butterscotch?"
Bonnie giggled. "This sounds surprisingly planned and that's two and a half hours of driving. You sure you're up to it grampy?" Bonnie asked.
"Firstly, I'm way too young to be a grandfather. Secondly, I'd do anything to spend quality time with you two."
Bonnie embraced her dad. "I'll pack a bag for the weekend and check in with Damon."
Rudy knew Damon would be in the middle of handling their Elena problem. If Bonnie got the tiniest inkling that something was wrong he wouldn't be able to get her and Sarah far enough away. "I saw him earlier at the boarding house. He and Giuseppe were getting something together. I already told him my master plan. He didn't like it but knew you'd never pass up a day with your favorite pony."
"Okay." She gave him Sarah. "I'll be ready in 20 or less."
"Master packer activate."
"When both your parents are rolling stones you pick up a thing or two." Bonnie kissed his cheek on her way to the back staircase.
Damon watched on as Stefan made his way through the forest alone. He knew Abby had to wait until Elena was distracted to put the barrier up. If by some misfortune Elena couldn't die she'd be trapped here left to desiccate.
When Stefan reached the point they agreed upon Elena appeared. "What is it that you're so eager to talk about?" Elena asked.
"Damon told me what you two did to me and Bonnie and I just wanted to know why? You seemed happy with Matt. So why me?"
Elena laughed and stepped closer to Stefan. On cue Abby, Qtesiyah, Sheila, and Lucy moved in chanting low. They were putting up the barrier. Then they'd slow her healing ability. And Damon would be able to go in for the kill.
Bonnie felt her stomach churn and squeeze. She barely made it to the bathroom when the contents of her stomach flowed freely from he mouth. She heaved violently for a few minutes.
She stood from the bathroom floor. Flushed the toilet and went to her dresser. She opened the top draw and reached in the back. She had been putting this off long enough. She peed in a plastic mouthwash cup and placed the stick in the recommended time.
She took in a deep breath and continued with her packing. It wasn't long before she had everything she needed. She made her way to the bathroom and picked up the stick. It read pregnant in bold.
"What does it say," Rude asked as he stood in the doorway watching his daughter.
Bonnie turned. He face solemn. "I'm pregnant."
Rudy's heart leap with joy and excitement, but his daughters expression did not change. She wasn't trying to trick him. "What wrong?"
Bonnie knew that she couldn't tell Damon. Not until she figured away to get rid of Elena. And help him absolve his guilt. She always imagined her second pregnancy would be special. Planned something they both wanted more then anything. Now wasn't the time. This wasn't the climate she wanted to bring another child into.
"All of this is hard enough with Sarah. What are we going to do with another baby if Elena is still a problem? How am I going to help if I'm vulnerable?"
Rudy wrapped his free arm around Bonnie. "I told you before and I'll say it a million times more. There's no way I'd let you do this alone. You're never alone."
Bonnie wrapped her arms around her dad and Sarah. She needed him. Them. She knew Damon would be delighted. But something told her she wouldn't be able to get rid of Elena as soon as she had hoped.
