This Love is Good, This Love is Bad, This Love is Alive, Back from the Dead
A/N: I originally had a very lengthy response written out for two reviewers who had negative opinions in regard to last chapter but I decided I don't care enough to go back and forth with anyone who wasn't paying attention to the details while reading. That said, here are a few reminders:
THERE ARE NO PERFECT CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY. CHEATING IS BAD. SO IS BEING A BELLIGERENT, ENTITLED ASSHOLE. ONE THING DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE OTHER. VERBAL ABUSE IS ABUSE. THIS STORY HAS NOT "MADE LIGHT" OF THAT BY HINTING AT THIS MANY CHAPTERS AGO AND NOW CALLING IT OUT. MORE THAN ONE PERSON CAN BE WRONG AT THE SAME TIME. GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS. NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS ARE TYPICAL HEROES. NONE ARE ONE-DIMENSIONALLY EVIL. IF YOU WANT A STORY ABOUT NICE PEOPLE MAKING GOOD CHOICES THIS ISN'T THE STORY FOR YOU. EVERYONE IS MORALLY GREY.
THANK YOU.
Here's chapter 7.
XXXXX
Damon groaned and cracked one eye open as he felt the sun rays from outside suddenly beaming down on him. He opened both eyes and looked up to see his brother, who'd just finished yanking the living room curtains open staring at him with his arms folded over his chest.
Damon slowly sat up on the couch and rubbed his aching neck and head before meeting Stefan's eyes. Everything hurt; his head was pounding, his face and ribs were sore, and his knuckles were bruised, but something told him that his brother wasn't here to nurse him back to good health. In fact, the look in Stefan's eyes was impenetrable as Damon reached for his water bottle on the coffee table and took a long drink as he waited for his brother to speak.
He might as well get this shit over with, even though it was barely past nine o'clock in the morning.
"What the fuck happened last night?" Stefan asked without hesitation. "Caroline has been at Bonnie's since last night, because her friend Nora reached out to her about some brawl that happened and then Ric shot me a text message an hour ago and told me to check in on you," he huffed, following his eyes. "You fought Enzo?"
"I did," Damon said simply, and Stefan's brow lifted. "Do you want the long story, or will the cliff notes suffice?"
"This isn't fucking funny, Damon," Stefan shot back as he was suddenly standing before him, hands balled into tight fists at his side "He's your best friend—he's my close friend. You two have never had any issues. What the hell were you even fighting about anyway? And have you gone to the hospital to get yourself checked out? You could have a concussion."
"I'm fine, Stefan…Nothing a bottle of bourbon and some aspirin won't fix," Damon said, and Stefan scowled as Damon leaned back against the couch.
"You know what? I don't have time for this," Stefan said as he turned on his heel to walk away and Damon watched silently. "I have kids and a wife, Damon. I have my own shit going on. I came all the way here to make sure you're okay and it looks like you are. So, I'll leave now," he said as he neared the door and Damon sighed as he shook his head and finally spoke.
His voice was serious enough to stop Stefan in his tracks.
"Enzo and I… got into it, over Bonnie," he confessed and Stefan's eyes widened a little bit though he remained silent as he turned around and looked into his brother's blue eyes—noting the slight discoloration from a bruise on his cheek. "He… found out that she and I had been seeing each other, for a few months and—"
"Hold the fucking phone," Stefan said as he held up his index and his brows creased as Damon inhaled slowly. "You and Bonnie? You're dating? Each other?"
"We weren't dating, per se. We had sex," Damon said, and he was sure in that moment it looked like his brother was about to have a heart attack, as his eyes became even bigger in disbelief. "More than once… A lot more than once. It started the night before the wedding—"
"The night before, are you fucking kidding me, Damon? You decided to stick your dick in the one person who should've been off-limits right before she was going to marry someone else? Your best friend, in fact? And she's Elena's best friend. Your ex. What the fuck is the matter with you?"
"Everything, apparently… Is this chastising gonna take long? I honestly need a coffee."
"I'm glad this is funny to you," Stefan said as he nodded his head and Damon rolled his eyes. "You're all bruised up. I'm sure Enzo is just as bad, and probably devastated because the two people he loved more than anything in this world didn't give a shit about him or his feelings," Stefan shook his head as he swallowed hard. "How fucking cruel can you be? Why is it so easy for you to be unkind?"
Damon felt a stab at the heart at that before he stood up, pulled a shirt on, and gathered the bottle of bourbon that sat empty on the table, to dispose of it.
There was a long silence in-between them as Stefan felt the fire in his belly simply growing the longer Damon just walked around, not acknowledging anything, until he followed him in the kitchen, and watched him starting a fresh pot of coffee.
"What, so you're not gonna say anything? You're not gonna defend yourself?" Stefan asked flatly as Damon grabbed a coffee filter. "You really don't care that you did this to Enzo, do you?"
Damon suddenly dropped the mug in his hand on the counter and it made a loud bang, before he turned to face Stefan; his eyes were full of venom as he followed his pressing stare. He was surprised the ceramic hadn't shattered to pieces.
"What do you want me to say, Stefan? That you were right—I've had feelings for Bonnie all along and I handled all of this poorly by not being honest about it and putting her in a position to cheat on my best friend? Because I do care, Stefan, despite how much of a black fucking hole you think that my heart is, I care."
"So, make things right with him, Damon! At least try to explain what happened."
"There's no going back for him and me," Damon said, and Stefan's expression saddened. "I wish that I could change this—change everything—because maybe last night wouldn't have happened. Maybe, I wouldn't have fought one of the only people who ever saw the good in me, despite how many shitty things I've done. And maybe I wouldn't be the reason that all of this happened to Bonnie," he said as Stefan furrowed his brows but remained silent. "Because he went absolutely, fucking nuclear on her last night when it should have been me. And that's the reason why we fought… Not because he found out about it—we wanted him to know, eventually— but what he said when he found out," Damon started, and Stefan swallowed hard as he listened and watched the anger quickly materializing in Damon's eyes. "He called her a slut because he couldn't grasp the concept that he didn't get what he wanted; what he like felt entitled to," Damon said as his brother shook his head. "He spoke to her like she meant nothing to him."
"He did that? In front of you?"
"In front of everyone, Stefan. Enzo humiliated her in front of her bosses and colleagues… She was speechless. She had no idea what to say or do. No one did. And I know—I know what we did was wrong. And we should've told him a hell of a lot sooner, nothing will ever change that and what he said last night certainly doesn't justify what we did for months… but she doesn't belong to anybody, Stefan. Not even me. And she doesn't deserve to be talked to like she's property—she's a human being and we made a mistake. We'll both live with that, for the rest of our lives… Bonnie, especially. She's never going to escape from it, in this small town… Her father was the mayor—everyone knows her… Her reputation's shot. And all of that is my fault. Because I loved her… because I still love her."
"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Stefan asked and Damon stood up straighter as his brother folded his arms over his chest. "When I asked you what was going on with you and Bonnie? Why did you lie to me instead of coming clean, right then and there?"
"Because do you remember how you reacted, when you thought this whole thing was one-sided?" Damon shot back and Stefan ticked his jaw. "You treated me like I was the worst person on the planet because I was in love with my best friend, even though you've been in my shoes… You know exactly what this is like and why it's so hard," he said, and Stefan exhaled as a long silence passed between them, though Damon's eyes were illuminated with a renewed sense of frustration. "I already feel awful enough about this, Stefan. Trust me, I do. Because of me, Bonnie got dragged through the mud at her job and she might get fired because of a dick measuring contest between two grown ass men. I strung Elena along, broke her heart, and then almost lost Bonnie too in the process because I couldn't man the fuck up about how I felt… Everything that's happened is my fault and I guess I just didn't need one more person telling me that. Especially not you, because you're my brother. And you never have my back."
"That's not true, Damon."
"When you thought I had feelings Bonnie, you set her up on a double date with you and Caroline to play fucking Cupid for her and Enzo," he said, and Stefan licked his teeth with no response. "You didn't care how I felt one bit because to you, it was preposterous that I would even think that I had a chance with her. And you know what? Enzo said the same thing last night… He laughed in my face about the possibility of Bonnie Bennett wanting me back… loving me back," Damon said as he bit his bottom lip to stop himself from suddenly shaking. "I've loved her for twelve years of my life. I let her go, because I thought it was the right thing to do for her, but at what point do I get to do something that make me happy? Because she does, Stefan. She's changed my life. And I'm sorry if that's not a good enough reason for what we did… it never will be. But I can't change what's already done, I can only move forward. And… I want to move forward with her… I want to make her the happiest woman on this planet because to me, despite what we did, she deserves that. She's still worth that."
Stefan didn't say a word at that, as he carefully read Damon's stare; noting the sincerity, vulnerability, and passion behind it, though he was trying his hardest to keep a hold of his emotions.
He couldn't, he was a devastating mess—especially last night. He threw himself smack dab in the middle of a volatile situation and made it worse, because he couldn't stand the thought of losing her, just as quickly as he had gotten her. He'd started that fight—he threw the first punch—and he was now the reason all of these shallow, nosy, uppity assholes were going to look at Bonnie not as the young woman, who'd made a name for herself as a professor, following in the legacy of her grandmother, making both her parents proud. But instead, a liar, a cheater, and a whore, because this was a small town and news traveled fast.
He'd be surprised if her family hadn't already heard what happened, and her father wasn't on the first flight back from New York, with Abby. The Bennett-Hopkins family were an honorable bunch who prided themselves on being good, honest people, and it was one of the many reasons why Rudy had been the beloved mayor for years in Mystic Falls, until he chose to retire and head to the northeast with his wife. He abided by a code of honor, respect, and loyalty, rooted in his time as a police chief before he hung up his badge, and switched professions, leading the town of Mystic Falls in a positive and prosperous direction as their voice and moral compass.
Damon knew Bonnie always looked up to father almost as much as she looked up to her grams because to her, he was a superhero, and he always did the virtuous thing, whether it won him popularity or not. He was always just so driven by his righteousness.
Damon could understand why Bonnie was terrified of letting him down. He'd built a strong and unwavering name for himself and his family in this town before he left and Bonnie easily fit into the mold, by always acting in accordance with what he father would say or do, until she slowly found herself testing the limits of "goodness" and it was what led her here, entangled in this mess with Damon Salvatore. Because for once, she didn't do what her father would do. She did the exact opposite. And it was one of the many reasons why Damon knew this would all be ten times worse for Bonnie than it could be for anyone else; because she had people who looked up to her, admired her, and expected things from her despite never really knowing her. It was like to them, she was a perfect caricature who could do no wrong; she was the direct descendent of a family that was full of class, warmness, and kindness. Her actions were going to be viewed as reprehensible and it would immediately discredit her and her family's legacy here, because she made a bad decision. And he hated how fucking unfair that was.
She couldn't say anything because of who she was; Bonnie Bennett, the mayor's perfect, reserved, black daughter, who was well aware of the very white town that she lived in and the negative stereotypes she had to try so hard to fight against, just because of her gender and skin tone. Bonnie had spent her entire life trying not to act a certain way—trying not to be perceived a certain way—and it was all the more reason why Damon felt the need to step in and defend her, because he knew in a way, it'd be worse for her if she spoke up at all. If she attacked Enzo back in the way that he deserved, she would have been seen as the aggressor. If she remained silent and just took it, like she did, she'd be seen as weak. She just couldn't fucking win.
Damon ticked his jaw as he drew himself out of his own thoughts and met Stefan's eyes, as his brother took in a deep breath.
"Do you understand, now, why I had to leave you out of this?" he asked. "Why I didn't tell you?"
Stefan waited a moment before shaking his head.
"No Damon, I don't. Because it sounds to me like you kept this from me because you didn't wanna hear that you were wrong. You didn't want to acknowledge that going after a woman who was practically married was a shitty move and wouldn't end well for anyone involved. And you knew I'd be the one to tell you that. Not Ric, not Caroline, but me. It's always been me."
Damon inhaled silently as his brother fished in his pockets for his keys and pushed past him as he headed for the door.
"Do you really hate me that much?" Damon asked and Stefan stopped, though he didn't turn around to look him in the eyes. "Do you honestly feel like it's been your job, all your life, to stop me from screwing up? To stop me from being me? Because I don't need you to fix me, Stefan. I don't want you to. I've accepted that this is who I am and if you can't accept that maybe…" he stopped, and his brother turned around and met his eyes. "Maybe it's best if we don't talk for a while. Maybe you and I need a little bit of space."
Stefan remained still at that before he finally nodded his head. Damon's heart was pounding, and he took a step in as he followed his eyes, his hands suddenly shaking as Stefan's glare pierced right through him, like an arrow to a hot air balloon.
"Stefan— "
"I wish you all the best, Damon. Bonnie too. Tell her I'm sorry about what Enzo said to her."
And he was gone, just like that.
XXXXX
"Good afternoon, Miss Bennett. Thank you so much for meeting me on such short notice."
Bonnie nodded silently as she sat down in the chair of the President of Whitmore's office. Dr. Wes Maxfield stared back at her with an uneasy smile, and she folded her hands over her lap, tapping her foot all the while.
She had gotten the call this morning, when she woke up to eggs and pancakes at her condo, courtesy of Nora and Caroline who had kept her company through last night.
Caroline came over immediately as soon as Nora let her know what happened and she didn't waste anytime ridding Bonnie's place of any and all reminders of Enzo, including a scrapbook she had in a box in the back of her closet that she had forgotten about. Caroline handed it to Bonnie and watched on as she tossed it into the fireplace and let it burn; the pages, pictures, and memories up inflames in an instant, while Bonnie prayed she could also learn to forget him just as fast. Because after tonight, she didn't want to hear from him ever again. He'd broken her heart, probably just as badly as she had broken his, and it may have been her cosmic karma, but it was also the push she needed to finally get rid of him in all aspects, for good. So, she did; she did a full fucking purge.
Any gift he'd gotten her throughout their relationship—dresses, blouses, bags, shoes, jewelry—she packed it all up into a box and they drove down to their local clothing pantry before it closed and donated it all. She had no use for anything he'd paid for anymore and she hoped that there was a less fortunate woman out there who could put some of it to good use. Especially the Chanel handbags that came directly from France when he proposed to her. She never wanted to see any of this stuff again.
But she didn't wake up feeling like a new woman, like she had hoped. In fact, getting a full night's rest only allowed it to further sink into her psyche that none of this was over. It was only just beginning. And when she listened to the voicemail from Dr. Maxfield asking her to meet she knew this was it. She was going to lose her career—something she'd busted her ass for—because of the fight and his accusations. The sleepless nights studying for her PhD, the unpaid student teaching, the weeks she spent putting together lesson plans, the hours she spent reading and grading term papers—it all meant nothing. And it would all be gone, in the blink of an eye. Because she pissed the wrong person off.
Because she was dumb enough to fuck with his heart.
"I'm extremely sorry about what happened at the gala," she began and Dr. Maxfield remained silent. "I… would never purposely bring whatever problems I have going on in my personal life to the college and I'm mortified that any of it occurred. I truly am."
Wes inhaled slowly before offering a nod and Bonnie looked down until she heard his voice again.
"We are really disappointed, Miss Bennett. There were several alumni here. Huge donors, who keep this university going and they were displeased, to say the least, at the shocking display of violence last night between your… husband and your boyfriend."
Her husband and her boyfriend? Is that what people were calling them?
"Not that you care but I'm not with Enzo. We never got married and we ended things months ago and Damon… he's my friend," she said carefully, and Wes held up both hands.
"Bonnie, you're an adult. I personally don't care what you're doing. It's none of my concern. But when your… love life causes a disruption at a university funded event, and people feel like their lives are endangered, then it becomes my problem."
"I know. And again, I am sorry. I will personally apologize to every single person if I have to. I… I'm not looking to justify anything. I just… want to make it right. Please. What can I do?"
Wes followed her eyes and she blinked back the tears that were behind them and he cleared his throat before drumming his fingers on the desk.
"I… have to put you on an administrative leave at this point, Bonnie. Effective immediately. You won't be teaching this spring semester," he said, and her heart stopped as she followed his blue eyes. "You're a bright young woman. And you're amazing at your job—just like your grandmother, Sheila, was but after last night, many people see you as a liability. And with pressure from the board of trustees, and phone calls from concerned parents already rolling in, questioning the class and dignity of the faculty we hire here, my hands are tied," he said and she nodded softly as she looked to the ground. "This isn't permanent, we just… think you should take some time off, allow things some time to blow over. Your pay and benefits will remain intact. Look at this as a good thing."
"It's not a good thing, Wes. I'm being suspended because of a fight I didn't start. I stood there defenseless. And I'm thankful I'm not being fired; I'm grateful I'll keep my benefits but what I want is to keep teaching. I love my job. I've already prepared for the spring— "
"Your only other option is resignation," he said, and she swallowed hard as he met her eyes. "And I can't suggest that you do that, Bonnie. I don't want you to do that. I want you to come back but I… this isn't my choice. I think that you should take the time off, clear your head. It's a blessing, in disguise."
Bonnie stood up from her seat as she bit her lip and looked into his eyes.
"Was that it?"
"It is. Bonnie, I'm sorry, I— "
She was already out the door before she could hear anything else that he had to say.
XXXXX
Bonnie took back a shot of vodka and placed her glass on the counter—letting the burn of the alcohol infiltrate her senses before she signaled for another and Caroline watched on. She smoothed her black curls behind her ear and shook her head drunkenly as she looked into her eyes.
It'd been merely hours since Bonnie had been suspended and instead of going home to sit and sulk in silence, she decided to go out, because why not?
Her life was going to shit, right before Christmas and the New Year, and it was only going to be a few more days until her Mom and Dad were back from New York and they'd catch wind of everything that happened. They'd get to hear all about how she embarrassed their family and destroyed their legacy, because she cheated on Enzo with Damon and now everyone knew about it.
The holidays she once looked forward to were now quickly becoming her time of dread, as she ignored about ten phone calls today from various family members who she was sure had heard about what happened and wanted to make sure that she was okay. But she didn't have the heart to lie that she was. She wasn't okay. She probably wouldn't be for a while. And she was tired of pretending like she was. She hated that she had to fucking pretend at all.
"I'll have a martini, extra dirty please," Bonnie ordered with the bartender after she received another shot and Caroline placed a hand on her shoulder, shouting over the music in this place.
Bartini definitely didn't seem like Bonnie's type of bar, Caroline noted, when she walked in to meet her for a drink after receiving a text from Bonnie informing her that she had been suspended for a semester because of the fight last night.
This place was loud, the crowd was young, and Caroline always took Bonnie for being someone who liked a calm environment with good food and soft music, allowing you the chance to hear each other talk and engage in a thoughtful and mature conversation. Tonight was different, apparently, as the two found themselves at one of the more rowdy college bars in Mystic Falls, that featured $1 Jell-O shots, a bar menu that didn't consist of anything that wasn't fried, annoying ass frat boys, and music from an in-house DJ that was blaring so loudly, Caroline was sure she was going to blow out an eardrum.
She was too damn old for this.
But she was being supportive. And this was what Bonnie wanted, clearly; to go to a place where she'd know no one, and wouldn't have to deal with the ongoing saga of everybody in this goddamn town staring at her and judging her, the second she walked into the door, because somehow, everyone already knew about what happened last night.
Here, she'd garnered a few looks and giggles from a few who were privy to the fact that she was the professor who'd just gotten suspended but ultimately the younger crowd was too drunk to care about who she was, as they took back shots of Jager, sang to the more recognizable songs that played, and danced to the music blaring from the speakers without a care in the world. It was Thirsty Thursday, after all. Bonnie had successfully blended in, as she changed into a cute off the shoulder black dress and thigh high black boots, her lips painted a sultry raspberry red. Her hair was in soft curls that ran down her back and Caroline watched on as a few guys way too young and dumb for Bonnie attempted to hit on her, but they were awarded no such luck as she made it clear she wasn't interested. She just wanted to sulk in silence.
Caroline took a sip of her vodka sprite—she'd been nursing the same one for about an hour—before she cleared her throat and faced Bonnie. The brunette offered a soft, but drunk, smile.
"Thanks for coming," Bonnie said as she leaned against the counter and grabbed her martini—toying with an olive. "You've been so helpful through all of this, Care."
"Of course, Bon. That's what friends do… I still think it's bullshit you were suspended and Dr. Maxfield is going to receive a very angry email from me detailing why I will no longer be donating to Whitmore's alumni fund— "
"Care, I appreciate it. But you don't have to do that— "
"Of course, I do, Bonnie. People have done worse things. You left someone who didn't make you happy anymore, big fucking deal. Do you honestly think that entire board of trustees who 'voted' on this aren't the type of sleaze balls who cheat on their wives with girls our age? They're all hypocrites," Caroline ranted, and Bonnie sighed because she knew it was true. "And Enzo… that son of a bitch, threw a temper tantrum and then you, under the bus. He wanted to hurt you, Bonnie. Enzo said what he said on purpose to destroy your reputation."
"And he succeeded," she smiled sadly, taking a sip and licking her lips. "Because I'm suspended from my job and if I want to teach again before the fall, they'll force me to resign. Enzo won. He got what he wanted. And that was to ruin my life. Just like I ruined his. I… should've told him, Caroline. About Damon, sooner. None of this would have happened— "
"He had a choice, Bonnie. To take the high road and he didn't. Don't blame yourself for that," Caroline shook her head and Bonnie listened on. "I have to ask, has he always talked like that to you during a fight?"
Bonnie swallowed hard as she took a sip of her drink and offered a flippant shrug.
"Sometimes, I guess?... We never really fought all that often, so I guess I just was never really concerned about it when he'd have his moments and… say mean things," she responded, and Caroline frowned. "It doesn't matter anymore anyway, Caroline. I didn't cheat on him because he could be mean sometimes. I learned to deal with that. It was… the unhappiness, otherwise. The… lack of fulfillment I felt with him. We were just never the right fit, despite how much I wanted him to be because to me, he was perfect, despite all of his flaws," she admitted, and Caroline sighed as her hand landed on her shoulder.
"He was perfect on paper, Bonnie. Anybody can be," she said as Bonnie but her lip and stayed silent. "And just because you got used to the way he talked to you sometimes, doesn't make it okay. And that doesn't mean it didn't happen. It may not have been why you left him but… maybe you dodged a bullet, when you did."
Bonnie laughed bitterly at that as she shook her head.
"It's crazy because, it feels like I've lost everything since not being with him. My job, my reputation, a best friend," she said, and she shrugged. "He won, Caroline. I'm… slowly but surely falling apart, I mean—this bar, really? But it's the only place I could come to where the people don't care. They don't care about me," she shook her head and Caroline squeezed her shoulder as she stepped in.
"Enzo did not win, because this is not over. You are not over," Caroline said as Bonnie propped her elbow on the counter and leaned against it. "But you know who will be? Him, if he comes near you again because I'll bash his fucking teeth in," Caroline snapped, and Bonnie sighed. "Have you… talked to Damon yet about what's happening with work?"
"He's called a few times. I haven't picked up," she said, and Caroline frowned. "I know he's going to blame himself for what happened, even though he was just trying to defend me. I honestly don't know what would've happened if he wasn't there. Enzo was drunk and… aggressive."
"Well, thankfully he was, and things weren't worse… You should tell him that. In person," Caroline said, and Bonnie sighed as she met her eyes. "He could use the news, that you don't hate him. He's had a pretty shitty day, too, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Stefan," Caroline exhaled as the brunette remained silent and listened on. "He found out about everything and went to see Damon this morning. Reamed him out for it. They're on a 'break,'" Caroline informed, and Bonnie frowned. "He vented to me about it, the second he got home. And I've tried getting Stefan to see where Damon was coming from, why he hid this from him, and he just doesn't get it. It's like once he makes his mind up about something, he can't see the other side of things. And he— "
"Doesn't approve of Damon and I?"
"He… doesn't like how it happened. And I've been sure to remind him he's been a fucking home wrecker himself, when he swooped in while I was dating Alaric, but he doesn't think it's the same. It's like… I love him, Bonnie. I do, so much. He's compassionate and he has a big heart but… it's like it's reserved for everyone on this planet, except for his own brother. And I hate that. I hate that he can't just see the good in Damon. Even if he may not be a good person."
"I don't think any of us are good people," Bonnie said, shaking her head. "We're all ten shades of fucked up."
"Tell me about it," Caroline replied as Bonnie took another sip and watched as she pulled out her phone and started texting furiously. Bonnie's eyes widened with confusion as she watched her fingers moving a mile a minute.
"Are you rage texting your husband?"
"No, I've done that several times already today. I invited Damon, when you went to the bathroom. He's here and I think you should talk to him. You can cheer each other up."
"He's here?" she asked, suddenly sobered as she glanced around before turning back to her eyes. "Caroline… everyone just found out I cheated with him on Enzo last night. I was thinking maybe Damon and I could ease into this in like. ten to twelve months. Whatever this is. If this even still exists— "
"It still exists, and you know it," Caroline snapped, and Bonnie closed her mouth. "So why not just get the awkward, awful, unavoidable part out of the way, Bon? You love him. He loves you. You want to be together… What's stopping you at this point?"
"Shame, embarrassment, humiliation…"
"All tools Enzo tried to use to continue to control your life, when you're not even with him anymore. You know that's what his goal was, right? To make you so embarrassed why what you'd done that you wouldn't even wanna look at Damon anymore. He wanted you to associate someone that makes you happy with humiliation because you hurt him. And he didn't love you enough to let you go."
Caroline was right. It was obvious Enzo had been hurt by what he'd found out and he completely flew off the handle because it was Damon of all people that Bonnie had fallen for. She imagined he might've have taken the news slightly better had he not known who she left him for at all. But he felt betrayed and she couldn't argue against that. They did betray him, in the worst possible way, especially by hiding the truth for so long and not expecting it to blow up in both of their faces.
Bonnie's suspension was her proof that she had gotten her just desserts.
But were they supposed to walk around, branded with scarlet red letters now, living only at Enzo's will because they had both hurt him? Bonnie was tempted to lock herself away for the next six months, to be honest, to repent for this, because she felt like it was the right thing to do. The "right" thing would be to never see Damon ever again.
But it wasn't. And she knew it.
Because there was no right answer, anymore, after the choices she'd made. She hadn't been a good person and she did an even worse thing. But that didn't mean that she had to live the rest of her life in a bubble because she was afraid to make any more mistakes. She just had to learn from this. And she couldn't let hurt and devastation destroy the girl that she had always been at the core. Because once she let that happen, she would lose her heart, soul, and everything else that made her, her, and she wasn't ready to become a shell of who she once was, despite how bent and broken she felt. She wanted to fight. She wanted to live. She wanted to be more than what Enzo's words reduced her to.
She knew she was so much more than that.
"I know," she nodded and Caroline bit her lip. "I may not have been able to say anything I that wanted to say to him last night. But you're right. Especially after what happened today, I know what I'm not going to do... I'm not going to crawl up into a ball and die of embarrassment. Because I refuse to give Enzo the satisfaction. He wants me to stop living my life because he's not in it and I won't let that happen," she replied, and Caroline responded with a nod as Bonnie stood strong. "I brought this upon myself. The least I can do is continue to live my life the way that I want to, at this point."
"I agree! And I certainly don't think you owe anyone anything, anymore. You only owe it to yourself to try to pick up the pieces and move forward the best you know how, Bon. So, take the plunge with Damon. See where it goes. Who gives a damn what the rest of the world thinks? I love you. And I know that you're strong enough to handle everything coming your way… You've always been one of the strongest people I know. But I also know that you're human so… don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. I've been known to slash a few tires in my day."
Bonnie smiled softly and Caroline gave her a long hug as they stood there quietly in the embrace for a moment, without a word.
"I love you too. Thank you for today. I really needed it."
"Today's not over," Caroline pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Your life is not over."
Bonnie nodded and Caroline all of a sudden smiled a little brighter as she looked behind her and Bonnie gulped before turning around and there he was.
And suddenly this was real. And instantly, she wanted to pass out because she'd had all but three minutes to prepare for this moment, as she watched Damon slowly making his way through the packed crowd towards them, his expression unreadable as he walked past a few sorority girls who whispered to each other as they eyed him and he stopped when he was in front of Bonnie. She exhaled a deep breath and he did as well, before she gave him an awkward hug to greet him and Caroline snorted as they both seemed to be stumbling over their words immediately as she watched on, in entertained silence.
These two people were doing all that they were doing behind closed doors, but couldn't even hug in a packed bar, properly?
She held in a giggle, because honestly? The dichotomy of it was kind of adorable.
"I'm gonna get a drink," Caroline said though the drink in her hand was still full, "Be right back!" she yelled, and she was off before Bonnie could question her, leaving the two alone, in ten seconds flat.
Bonnie turned to look at Damon and she didn't say a word; the blaring music still not loud enough to drown out her thoughts, as they raced a mile a minute, and he finally said something, much to her relief as his blue eyes shone beneath the flashing lights from the dance floor in the bar.
His eyes were like oceans and she already wanted to dive right in.
"I… think we just got set up," he said, and Bonnie offered a soft smile as did he when he saw a flash of calmness in her eyes.
"I think that we did," Bonnie agreed as she tucked a strand behind her ear and Damon had to press into her a little closer when a group passed behind him to get to the bar.
His body was suddenly against hers and Bonnie smiled tightly when they touched, and he looked at her apologetically before he finally had room to back up again.
"This place is a fire hazard."
"You're… concerned about the maximum occupancy?" she asked with a wrinkled nose and he nodded as he looked around.
"I own a bar. I notice these things when I go out… it's why I usually don't go out," he said, and she nodded as she bit her lip.
"But you did, tonight… to Bartini of all places," she gestured, and he sneered but nodded before meeting her eyes again. "Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? I did it for you," he said, and her heart skipped a beat as he followed her eyes. "I… heard about the administrative leave."
"Damon…"
"Let me finish, please," he said softly, and she folded her arms over her chest as he sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fought Enzo. Not at your job. That was… unlike anything I ever expected to happen, and it is embarrassing, for you. I never should have put you in that position to be humiliated at your place of employment. And… I called Dr. Maxfield, to let him know it was my fault. I told him you had nothing to do with it. He… said he couldn't reverse the decision from the board, but he appreciated my apology and… he looks forward to seeing you in six months, if you haven't resigned by then."
Bonnie nodded at that as she looked to the ground.
"Thank you for trying, Damon. I appreciate it as well and I… don't blame you for anything that happened. You were just trying to defend me. Like you always do," she replied, and her hand landed on his arm. In an instant she felt the chemicals react and her brain scrambled as she looked up into his bluer than blue eyes and she cleared her throat. "I guess I just… didn't expect everything to go up in flames so quickly the way that it did, either. I knew Enzo would be mad. He had every right to be but— "
"You're not any of those things that he called you, Bonnie. You know that right?" Damon asked and she pursed her lips as she felt him move in even closer, taking her hand into his and rubbing it softly. "You… are beautiful, Bonnie. Inside and out. You always have been since we were kids. You've been there for me through everything. And you've saved my life, in more ways than one," he said recalling the particularly rough couple of years following his Mother's death and when his depression took him to all new lows he never should have seen as a kid.
Bonnie never left him alone, despite how much he begged her to, and in hindsight was thankful she hadn't. Because maybe he would've worked up the courage to do something unthinkable and he wouldn't be standing here, face to face with her right now.
"I saved you?"
He swallowed hard. He wasn't ready to tell her the extent of it, just yet.
"Yeah, remember the time you didn't tell my Dad that I flunked Social Studies and you got Mr. Abrams to give me extra credit so I'd pass," he said and she laughed at that, as his thumb still rubbed her palm.
"You remember that."
"Of course, I do, I… remember everything you've ever done for me. Which is why I… know that you're more than your mistakes. We both are, I think… I hope."
"I hope so too," she said as he stared back at her sincerely and Bonnie cleared her throat. "I'm sorry about Stefan. I… know how much it means to you, to get along with him. Especially with your Dad and Gail gone and Sarah doing her own thing. He's who you have," she said, and he nodded silently.
"He's my brother. I'll always love him. Even when he doesn't love me."
"He loves you, Damon. I know he does. He just… doesn't get you."
"I'm starting to think no one really does. Except for you," he said before she smiled and inhaled a deep breath. "There you go again, casually saving my life."
"Only because you keep saving mine," she said, and he pursed his lips as she looked straight into his eyes. "Thank you, Damon, I… am grateful you were there last night. I do mean that."
He nodded silently at that and there was a comfortable silence between them for a moment, save for the blaring dance music and the random yelling by some drunk kids at the bar. Damon really saw it as a true testament to how much that he loved her that he'd subjected himself to this at all.
"Do you… want to dance?" She asked as a familiar and upbeat dance song started through the speakers and he grimaced as he followed her eyes. "What?"
"Do I want to dance to this crap? No way. I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork," he started, and she scoffed before he took her drink and placed it down and grabbed both of her hands as a look of surprise crossed her face. He pulled her in closer and she had to take slow breaths just not to feel like she was going to pass out. "But for you? I'd love to," he said earnestly, and she smiled as he spun her around and a laugh emitted from her lips when he led them out into the middle of the packed dance floor and they both started to move.
She was slow, cautious at first until she realized no one was paying attention to them and her her heart finally felt at ease. The crowd around them continued to move in rhythm with the beat, without noticing them or even caring and slowly but surely enough so did she and Damon as he took her hand and she pressed her body to him as his grip met her waist and his mouth brushed along her ear.
It was like they were invisible. And it was just what she needed after the past 24 hours. She just wanted to disappear.
Bonnie shut her eyes as she felt Damon's hands press to her sides and they moved together to the beat of the song. Her hands smoothed up his shoulders and he smiled at her as he towered over her easily and she smirked as well as they continued to dance and it took her back to her senior prom almost instantly, when she and Damon tore up the dance floor the entire night, not giving a damn who was judging or watching because they were having the time of their lives.
She had spent some of the best days of her life with him.
Damon pulled her in closer, as his hand trailed down her lower back and Bonnie felt her body involuntarily shudder beneath his touch; she inhaled the sweet smell of his cologne and she looked up into his eyes that were looking right back at her, before he pressed his forehead to hers and she closed her eyes.
This strange, confusing, comfortable sense of euphoria that she felt when she was with him, was all that she had ever wanted, she realized as they danced.
Damon's hands moving smoothly across her skin and his stare barreling down onto hers—she was enchanted, to say the least, and the harder she tried to forget this, to push it out of her brain, the more she felt it.
Because he was like art. Damaged, tattered, and broken, but art, nonetheless. And she wanted nothing more than to experience him again and again, as she moved in his arms and felt his hand trail softly across her leg. Every hair stood on end and she knew in that moment that she was done for.
He had the capability to destroy her, but she didn't mind. She thought she would've learned her lesson by now.
"Where's Caroline?" She asked, to take her mind off of the sudden heat that she felt when she was next to him and his voice was low as he spoke, which made her tingle even more at the fingertips.
"She said she was getting a drink."
"That was twenty minutes ago."
"My guess is that Blondie ditched us."
They made their way over to the bar and she pulled her cell phone out of her crossbody and sure enough, there was a text message from Caroline to them both displayed on the screen as Damon read along with her, while Bonnie shook her head.
Had to run. Totally forgot I had to feed my neighbors cats. Have fun! Xoxo.
"Her neighbor has a dog, first off," Bonnie said, and Damon let out a hearty laugh as did she and she bit back her grin when he tucked a strand behind her ear. "I'm sorry."
"For what? I'm having a great time listening to… whatever this car crash is," he smirked, and she did as well.
"No, I mean… for the impromptu date she kind of left us on," Bonnie said before she could stop herself and his brow rose as he watched her fumble almost instantly. "Not a date-date because this is just a noisy college bar but— "
"Can I take you on a date, sometime?" He asked bluntly and Bonnie froze as he looked into her eyes and she instantly hated the fact that his stare put her into a dizzying fucking haze, and she found herself roaming over his features unashamedly.
"You want to go on a date? A real one? Not takeout, Scrabble, and arguing about the Lord of the Rings trilogy in your living room?"
"Is it really that unbelievable that I'd want to take you to dinner and a movie, and possibly end the night off with first or second base, in the back of the Camaro? Whichever you're comfortable with, or course," he joked, and she laughed at that as he shook his head. "I mean it. Let me take you out. Let's… see if there's really something to this, between me and you. Besides, you're unemployed at the moment so you can't say you're too busy…"
"Low fucking blow, asshole," she said, and he smirked as she ticked her jaw and smiled. "But points, for this being the most unconventional way I've ever been asked out on a date."
"So, it's a yes?"
"It's a… why the hell not, Damon," she agreed, and he licked his lips.
"Shall we seal this with a shot? Tequila?"
"Tequila it is," she agreed, and she watched as Damon ordered two shots and the bartender dropped them off, with a saltshaker and two limes.
When both he and Bonnie were set up they licked the salt, took the shots back, bit the lime; Bonnie giggled at the sour taste—she didn't remember the last time she did that—and Damon wiped a drop of liquor off of the corner of her lip with his thumb. She swallowed hard as she looked into his eyes.
He didn't drop his hand and she felt her heart starting to race again as their faces got a little closer. Bonnie cleared her throat when their lips almost touched, and she offered a nervous smile as he continued to stroke her lips.
"I love this song," she said, and he took her hand into his own and without another word dragged her back onto the dance floor.
This time her back was pressed to his chest and she closed her eyes as she felt his hands slowly trailing down her body.
Bonnie's hands met his and Damon's mouth flirted dangerously close to her ear and she inhaled a deep breath when a rush of excitement passed through her.
How did he do that, so easily? Disrupt, interrupt, and corrupt her life, with just a touch, as he spun her back around into his arms and they stood nose to nose, with her face cradled in his hands.
This was dangerous, she knew it, as they continued to façade that this was just a friendly dance, but she knew that it meant more than that to him, because it did to her as well.
He took her to a place that was higher—far away from here—each time they played this game, toeing the line between what they were and what they could be if they just gave in.
If she just gave in.
He felt so close, but somehow she wanted him closer, and she cursed herself for that as she pulled him, arms wrapped around his shoulders and silenced the critics in her mind long enough to just be here, in the moment, just as he was. Just as he had always been.
And then it happened.
She was kissing him. She couldn't stop kissing him. As their bodies stopped moving long enough for her mouth to press to his, she took the leap and did it, and she felt the surprise against his mouth as his muscles tensed for just a second but he immediately rectified that and kissed her back.
Long, hard, painfully slow, as her hands combed through his hair and he pulled her in tightly at the face; lapping her up hungrily, like he'd gone years without a meal before.
He knew damn well Bonnie Bennett was the entire course.
When they both pulled away, she breathed a sigh of relief, because the world hadn't ended. The world was still spinning, and they were still Bonnie and Damon, trying to understand what this all meant, as the Earth took them on a crazy, magical, fucked-up, but incredibly worth it ride.
And he was worth it. He had always been worth it.
"I think we should go," she said, and Damon agreed as she grabbed his hand and they quickly walked outside. Bonnie greedily inhaled the air while he hailed a taxi.
The moment they got in, she was completely silent as she looked straight ahead, nervously bouncing her foot against the ground and Damon didn't say a thing, until they pulled up to the boarding house, ten minutes later, and he paid and thanked the driver before the man sped off.
Bonnie waited patiently by the door and she suddenly realized she hadn't been here in weeks—not since she and Damon's fight—and that further compounded her anxiousness as she watched him open the door and flip on the lights. She slowly walked in, drinking in the familiar living room, and he cleared his throat as he slowly spun around and stuffed both hands into his pockets.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked nervously, and she nodded.
"Water's fine," she responded.
Damon walked off and Bonnie took in a deep breath because suddenly she knew this was stupid. She shouldn't have been here—she probably shouldn't have even been seen leaving a bar with Damon and hopping into a taxi to head to his place, but she immediately stopped her negative thoughts and sat down on the couch, putting down her purse.
She couldn't change the past. Avoiding Damon and pretending she wasn't attracted to him wouldn't fix things. She needed to step into this moment and give this an honest shot if she was going to take back control of her life. She wasn't going to be ashamed anymore.
Damon walked back in and she swallowed hard but offered a smile as he sat down beside her with her water and she thanked him softly before placing the glass to her lips and taking a long healthy sip as he looked into her eyes.
"What?" She asked when she was done, and he shrugged as she followed his stare and he offered a response.
"Nothing, just… kind of in awe of you."
Bonnie pursed her lips at that, and Damon didn't look away as her hands wrapped tightly around her glass.
"I'm pretty ordinary, Damon."
"You're not," he said softly, and she gulped. "You know that you aren't."
"I kind of wish I could be. Especially after all that's happened," she admitted honestly, and he followed her eyes. "If Enzo didn't love me, if you didn't love me…" she stopped when his hand met her jaw.
"You're right. Because I do love you. So fucking much, Bonnie. But I… don't regret that, not one bit. I… think I could've done things differently. I wish I could've done more to protect you but I… just know that I would do anything for you, Bennett. I would. I'd fight anyone for you and I'm not sorry about that."
Bonnie looked down at her hands and shook her head without meeting his penetrative eyes.
"You can't fight the whole town for me."
"I would try," he said, and she looked up as he moved in closer. "I would do anything for you."
Bonnie's breath hitched as she felt his hand land against her neck. They stared at one another for a long silent moment before she finally offered a response. He was hanging onto her every word all the while.
"I'm in love with you, Damon. I… can't pinpoint when it happened, it just did. And I wish that I knew. I wish that I could recall the exact moment I fell for you like you did for me, but I can't. It just happened, all at once. And I knew it the night I let you walk away. I shouldn't have let you leave without telling you. I'm sorry that I got so upset with you for trying to do right by me."
"Bonnie, no. That was my fault. I let my talk with Elena get into my head. And trust me, Ric read me my rights six ways to Sunday, and he told me that I had to do better… that's the only reason I was there last night. To make things right. And when I saw you with Enzo, I just got angry. Because I thought you'd gone back to him, just like that. I thought maybe, I never really meant that much to you— "
"You're everything to me, Damon," she put down her drink and grabbed his hands. "I shouldn't have let him talk me into bringing him. I just… I hoped he and I could be friends but that's clearly not what he wanted from me. I was naïve to let him back in and as a result… I got suspended from my job. But it never had anything to do with you, Damon, I… didn't stop feeling the way that I felt about you, just because I was upset. If anything, it made me even more mad because I still loved you. I still love you, now."
Damon ticked his jaw as he moved in even closer and Bonnie didn't tear away from his eyes this time as she still held onto his hands tightly. Her adrenaline was racing but she wasn't going to step back now. She wasn't afraid now. She couldn't afford to be scared of this anymore.
She suddenly leaned in and kissed him, and Damon sighed into it, as the warmth from her lips engulfed his in an instant and she pulled away long enough to catch her breath as he looked into her eyes. Her hands released his and met his jaw.
It was his turn to move in this time, as he pressed his lips to hers slowly, and Bonnie had to all but stop herself from moaning against his mouth when he slipped his tongue along hers. She instantly grabbed the tendrils of his dark hair and they continued for a few more minutes until they finally separated; his fingers danced along her thigh, just above her boots.
She was immediately within a foggy haze when he looked at her. So much so, she started to slowly unbutton his shirt and he watched on quietly when she undid each one before slipping it out of his arms and tossing it on the couch. Damon observed in quiet fascination as Bonnie headed for his belt as well, dragging it through the loops and dropping it to the ground and unzipping his pants next, as they fell to the floor and he sat there in just his black boxer briefs.
He didn't hesitate to pull her on top of him. She was still wearing her dress and her thigh high boots and he didn't bother to rid her of the latter, as he pulled the dress in one smooth motion over her head and marveled at the fact that she was now just in a black lace bra with matching underwear and a pair of heels—something he'd admittedly fantasized about for years; the dreams he'd had for over ten years were finally coming to fruition.
Their mouths crashed repeatedly; he swallowed her tongue and his hands gripped her waist as she slowly started to grind against him. His hands slowly traveled between her legs and he rubbed a palm over her thong and felt the already damp fabric at his fingertips as she bit her lip when he found her eyes.
"It's been a while," she said, and he smiled, still rubbing before he kissed her again.
This time, a lot rougher, as he stood her with her in his arms, and bit her lip.
Bonnie held onto him tightly and she felt her back land against a soft familiar surface and he pulled off her boots, tossing them to the ground. He'd carried her all the way up to his bed and she pulled him in tightly on top of her, as Damon kissed her neck and nibbled on her ear. She dipped her hand into his boxers, and he groaned as she worked him, before he pinned her hands above her head, and she smiled mischievously as he gripped her wrists hard.
"Ladies first. You know that," he whispered and Bonnie didn't have a chance to argue as he was already going down on her, seconds later, as he dipped his index and middle finger into her center until she was sopping wet, and he immediately followed with his mouth, when he pushed her underwear aside.
Bonnie sighed and shut her eyes as she felt his tongue flicking against her furiously and she followed his direction to turn onto her stomach, while he continued to eat her out from behind as she buried her moans into his pillow. He grabbed her ass, spanked it even, and she felt her body immediately giving in as his tongue dipped even deeper inside of her as he continued to spread her wide open while she whimpered softly, though she prayed it would never end. She could honestly allow him to do this forever.
But she would never last that long—definitely not around him, anyway, and she shivered with orgasm as he continued to alternate between his fingers and tongue inside of her until she collapsed face first against the pillows. She slowly turned over to look up at him and she was a vision, if he had ever seen one, as he allowed himself just a moment to take her in, visually before he did so, physically.
He was speechless, as corny, cliché, and weak as that made him, as he reached into the drawer for a condom and her hand stopped him. He lifted a brow as she pulled him by the neck.
"We don't need one," she said, and he pursed his lips as she sat up slightly. "I… want to feel you without one… I'm on birth control," she reassured, and he followed her eyes.
"It's only 99% effective, you know."
"We'll be careful," she said before her lips met his and she kissed him so strongly he thought her kiss alone could knock her out.
He was already rock hard and ready, and her request made him even more so, because this was the first time he'd ever done this; not even with Elena, despite how many times she insisted but he always turned her down.
This was an entirely different level of intimacy—one he hadn't reached with her, despite dating her for a combined century. But with Bonnie, it was different. He'd love this girl for a few years short of half his life. He trusted her. And knowing that she trusted him—so much so to risk having a kid with him, if that 1% kicked in—did something deeper to him than just turning him on.
He was fully invested. He was in love. And he was all-in, literally, as he pushed inside of her and it felt like every nerve ending on his body was on fire from the brand new sensation of being skin-to-skin, as she gripped onto him tightly and looked straight into his eyes.
She was warm and wet and ready as always, when he slid into her. Bonnie's arms wrapped around his shoulders and she clawed at him maniacally when his lips met her neck and sucked on it so long and hard, marking his territory with a hickey. When his lips unlatched from her skin, he looked deep into her eyes while he satisfied her and Bonnie tried to keep her moans soft and flighty but it wasn't along before they were aching, long, and loud with each thrust he employed into her and each tremor she felt as she got closer and closer to another orgasm, as the minutes went on.
She gripped the pillows and all but screamed at the familiar sensation that tingled through her veins as she shut her eyes and Damon's sweat peppered his forehead—her hands smoothed his hair back while she watched him at work.
Sexy, sinful, breathtaking green orbs found his own and she started talking to him innocently though the words leaving her lips were anything but while he kept going, in an effort to finish off the job.
"You like how it feels don't you?" she asked, and he nodded as his fingers met her mouth and she bit down while they massaged her tongue and he continued to thrust. "I want you, Damon. All of you. Inside of me."
He complied with that and moved in a little bit further and Bonnie gasped when he stopped just to let her feel him throbbing against her g-spot before he started again torturously slow—he was fucking with his own sanity at this point too.
"Like that?"
"Just like that," she agreed, and his fingers massaged harder against her jaw and bicep flexed when she grabbed onto it tightly, and he continued to push until he was dangerously close to exploding.
He attempted to pull out—to come anywhere but inside of her—but Bonnie stopped him when she rolled him beneath her. Her hands scratched at his chest and found his lips and with one final thrust he was done. His back collapsed onto the bed and she was still on top of him—he was still inside of her—and their mouths continued to meet eagerly, as he pulled her into a starving kiss and Bonnie was looking down into his eyes when he finally reopened his.
She was thinking the same exact thing he was about to say.
"That was… incredible," he said, and she smiled shyly before kissing him again.
Her body finally rolled into the spot on the pillow beside him and he kissed her again and again.
Just to feel that she was real. Just to feel that she was really his.
"I should shower," she said, and he sat up as well, as she climbed out of bed. "You're… welcome to join me if you'd like."
Damon's eyes watched her half-naked frame appreciatively; she was finally discarding her bra and he stood up immediately with a nod when she turned around and walked towards his bathroom as he let out a deep breath.
When he walked in, the shower was already on, the room was already full of steam, and Bonnie was already standing beneath the shower head with her eyes shut as she relished in the hot water for a moment before lathering up. He watched her for a moment—every perfect curve, roll, fold, muscle—and when he finally stepped in, she smiled as he pulled the door shut behind him. Her body was sudsy, and her smile was bright, while he continued to roam over her soaking wet frame.
"I thought I scared you off."
He lifted a brow as he stepped in closer and stood beneath the shower head with her, as her hands landed to his chest and his hair immediately slicked back.
"With the whole… coming inside of me, thing," she said before she bit her lip and he picked up the shower sponge and filled it with soap. "When I asked you to do that, I was… trying to live in the moment. I didn't mean to freak you out I've just… never done that before. And we've never talked about it," she swallowed as the sponge met her back and he ran it over her skin slowly as she exhaled looking up into his eyes.
"I liked it," he admitted, and she felt a smile forming on his lips. "And I've never done that either… or this," he said surprisingly. "It looks like we've finally found our own thing, Bennett."
"Looks like we have," she whispered, and he dropped the sponge to the ground and pressed her against the wall.
His lips formed against hers and Bonnie's arms wrapped around his strong shoulders and within seconds, they were having sex again. It was wet, carnal, and skin slapping as he took her from behind this time, and Bonnie gripped onto the tile when he eased into her; her moans and gasps instantly getting him off again as he held her hair and throat and anything else he could grab while the water beaded down onto them both for the next fifteen minutes.
He kissed her shoulders and the top of her head when they finished. And just like that they were back to lathering up, to start this process all over again and he looked into her eyes, wondering just how he'd gotten so lucky when he stared right back at him.
The world may have been shit. But it didn't have to be, for them. And for the first time, he truly believed this would be the start of something new, as Bonnie laughed when he nibbled at her neck before kissing it slowly, just where he'd previously left those hickies. He felt like a kid, all happy and blissful and he'd be fooling himself if he believed any of this would be possible without her.
There was no him without her. And in that moment, he knew she felt the same way.
It'd taken twelve long years, but she felt the exact same way.
A/N: anddddd that's all folks! LOL jk, that's all for this chapter. There's definitely more to come but I decided to leave y'all on a happy note (for once) to lead us all into the New Year and thank you guys for being such loyal, dedicated, vocal readers of my story. Thank you for continuously inspiring me to keep up with this and I hope that the long anticipated official START of Damon and Bonnie as a couple was well worth the tears, anger, and wait because this was one of my favorite chapters to write so far. Anyone shocked by Stefan's reaction? Let's hope his pretentious ass comes around, eventually. Poor Bonnie, getting suspended after all that, but what do you think she'll do for the next six months? Is she better off resigning and getting the hell out of dodge? Only time will tell. Next chapter, Christmas is finallllly here and we will get to see Bonnie's family and their reactions to the news that DAMON SALVATORE IS FINALLY HER BOYFRIEND. That's probably not gonna go well, lolol. What do you think he got her for Christmas? I promise it's good and no it's not a baby lmao. Read, review, and as always until next time. Xoxo