Chapter 10: Playing Games

"I don't know how to function with him gone. I mean I do function by driving, working, socializing, taking care of my personal needs but sometimes at night I just break down in tears."

The therapist wrote something down in her notebook. "You said you pratically yelled him out the door."

There was a sigh. "I mean I did, I just wanted to scream do something dramatic to make him stay. God, I'm so pathetic."

"Elena, you were in a what seems to be a long-term monogamous relationship, so much oxytocin is released between that time and everything is heightened. But when it's over the lows are well-"

"Low." The doctor nodded.

"What does your friend, Bonnie, have to do with his decision?"

"He was in love with her, it's my fault really, everything about this is my fault. He wanted to stay for her, she was the last person he saw before leaving."

"Whatever she said must have impacted his decision, we don't have to talk about it. Did Bonnie ever reciprocate his feelings?"

"Of course, but she won't flat out say it. I love her and I don't want her to feel guilty. They kissed without my knowledge so I guess that's when he started having those feelings."

"What do you mean without your knowledge?"

Elena took a long breath and lamented on about the dinner all the way to the party. The therapist's eyes widened since their history was in proper context. Monogamy wasn't on anyone's mind. The three of them were all romantically entwined.

"You're still seeing Bonnie despite her having a boyfriend?"

The nurse sat up and shot serious eyes at the person before her. "We're friends."

"Friends who kiss like couples do? You said it yourself."

"It's-It is complicated, okay?" Elena ran her fingers through her hair.

"Why are you here exactly?"

"I'm confused about my life, my identity, how I feel about my career, it's super tiring," The brunette sighed. "I think we're done here this is the 3rd session and none of my questions have been answered."

"Rome wasn't built in a day, Ms. Gilbert. Take care." The doctor advised as she walked out.

Bonnie and Elena lied in the dancer's queen sized bed facing each other. Elena's body was longer so she hovered over the woman as she touched her face and gazed into her eyes. This was another one of their undefined evenings.

"I did something bad,"Elena admitted.

Verde eyes shot an apprehensive glance her way. "Spill, now."

"I went out with some of my co-workers to a bar.."

"Okay Meredith Grey," Bonnie joked and rubbed her partner's shoulder to urge her to finish the story. "How does this end in something bad?"

"You remember the cardiologist doctor, Liam?" The short woman shook her head. "Well, things escalated between us on the dance floor and ugh—is this happening too fast?"

"I want you to move on but with people at your place of work isn't exactly the best sign," Bonnie told her.

Elena raised her eyebrow, she was expecting a much more active response. She swung her legs over the bed and bent forward to slide on her shoes. The brunette knew Bonnie would have something say if she left without explanation. And just when Elena was about to unlock the door, Bonnie called out her name.

The once departing woman smiled with her back faced to Bonnie and turned around to join her in bed again.

Katherine waited impatiently for her person to arrive. She was in a quaint little cafe drinking some mid-quality coffee. The woman tapped her matte black acrylics on the table at an irregular pace. Then she looked up when she saw a blonde in an all black alternative like oufit.

"Liv. Nice to see that you can make it...20 minutes late of course."

The twin rolled her eyes. "Just give me my phone."

Katherine began to reach for the small device in her purse before shaking her head negatively. "I want to know what's on here before I hand it back to you."

"Nothing important." Liv scoffed when the brown-haired female across from her looked less than convinced. "I'll give you some exclusive information in exchange for it."

"I get to deem if it's exclusive enough for me to hand over what I have," Katherine clarified.

"I have a connection to Bonnie, we were...fuck, I don't even know how to define what we were. I guess we were in a relationship, yeah something like that." Liv took a deep breath. "I can't believe I said that aloud, it's been 4 years since university."

Katherine was visibly mortified. "You and her? Ugh, who would have thought it! You so aren't Bonnie's type."

"Why not? Our tongues all work the same, though mines is top tier, I could be anyone's type after one night."

Katherine rolled her eyes at the messy haired girl's crude comment. She did know that she wanted more more answers about the Parker twin's history with Bonnie. Liv answered all her questions to the best of her memory. Things like the duration of their relationship, how it came to be and who knew about it. As predicted, no one from Bonnie's circle knew anything about her dating girls at all. Katherine felt sympathy for the blonde as she retold the story of how Bonnie basically chose Elena over outing their relationship.

Since their talking wouldn't be ending anytime soon, the two ordered donuts as they conversed about the past. Katherine gave Liv even more background on the two's friendship over the years. It gave the blonde some form of clarity and she even wanted to forget even obtaining her old phone.

"It's a twisted love story, you know," Katherine told her with a glazed donut stuffed in her mouth. "Bonnie is just gonna keep running back to my sister who is just oblivious. I'm sorry you two never worked out—and I don't apologize for anything but I feel somewhat responsible because she is my twin and I have to share a face with the girl who stole your girlfriend."

"I-thanks I guess? I want to think that I'm over it and I've dialed up Bonnie's number angry as hell so many times and I just can't say what I want to say to her."

"Look, there's always time for redemption but I guess that'll be the day after you release whatever what's on this phone." Katherine slid the cellular device across the table before putting money on the table for the bill. Liv raised an eyebrow; she was leaving with no "gotcha" moment. This was not the Katherine that the people of Miami feared.

"That's it, you're giving me the phone?"

"Sweetie, it was never mines," The fleeing woman said before placing a tender hand on the blonde-haired girl's shoulder. "Take care."

Liv sighed and picked it up and examined it once more. That conversation had impacted her decision in more ways than she could ever imagine. Deleting the content from the party was liberating and a stray tear may have left her eye. It hurt knowing that Bonnie could never feel the same way because the way her heart was specifically programmed to beat for Elena. Olivia Parker never cries, she promised herself that a long time ago and wipes the substance from her cheek.

6 MONTHS LATER

It was blazing hot outside in the very start of summer in their already warm city. Caroline should have never gotten an outside venue for her engagement party much less at another gorgeous mansion that was in Miami Springs. It was quite the commute at 6 am for Bonnie but the scenery was worth it. Helping Caroline decorate and finish last-minute party things was frustrating and tedious even but it was what friends did for eachother. Plus she was beyond ecstatic that Klaus had finally popped the big question after spring break and they were both absolutely glowing. If he hadn't asked then the eccentric blonde would have dropped to her own right knee and asked for his hand in marriage.

Bonnie was busy as ever with all her dancing gigs. She just auditioned for a tour in the US for some renowned music star. The opportunity to travel would be great but her happiness would still be the same if she continued her dancing lessons in the city. Living with her Grams would remain the same even if she went to Alaska. She loved that woman with every fiber of her being, she'd done a hell of better job than her biological mom ever did.

The dancer had her moments of feeling truly happy but her mind went back to him. Stefan, who was perfectly crafted in her dreams and her reality left without a trace. He hadn't even made an attempt to contact her through any form of communication, not even The Notebook style of outdated yet intimate letters. She even made her relationship with Kol valid to keep her mind off of Stefan and it worked temporarily.

The Brit knew her heart belonged to someone else and they broke up a month ago. It was as amicable as breakups could be and she cared for him, yes, but leading him on wasn't fair to either one of them. Then there's Elena, who became a complete rebel. Her visits to Bonnie's became less frequent and soon turned into phone calls and soon to be sporadic text messages.

The two women decided it was for the best.

Bonnie looked at her watch that read 5:00 in the evening. She was decompressing and preparing herself to see all the reappearing faces. This was one of the only parties she would willingly help Caroline with. The future bride was unaware of the upcoming tension of the night. She poked her friend's arm who seemed to be lost in her own world.

"Hey, look at what we did. Aren't you proud?"

The brown-skinned woman took a breath. "I am, we did good it's just that-can you plan my funeral?" Bonnie turned around as she saw Kol walking with his brothers.

"Oh, God, he'll be fine." Caroline eyed them once again and guided them to another direction. "But I'll help you out because exes suck even if said ex will be my in law."

The curly-haired woman who was linking arms with her newly engaged friend mouthed an anxious 'thank you' to her for avoiding Kol. Their breakup was amicable at best yes, but that didn't mean that the awkwardness would dissipate with it. Anyway, the two friends were currently indulging in the chocolate fondue fountain. Fresh strawberries were on a platter along with various food items.

Bonnie found it foolish on how much Klaus and Caroline (really just Caroline) would spend on a mere engagement party. An added nuisance was that the required attire was all white so whoever didn't follow the dress code would be sent home promptly.

Caroline chose the color to give a tease of what her wedding dress would look like in the near future. She looked absolutely ravishing in a long-sleeved that was laced from her shoulder to her wrists and the dress's hem fell right before her ankles with a slit on her left leg. The woman's heels were silver Loubotins—slightly giving royal vibes. Of course her hair was elegantly styled in an updo.

Bonnie grabbed her friend's hands and swung them happily. "You're gonna be a wife, I can't wrap my mind around this."

"I really thought I'd be the last one to settle down and now I'm the first," Caroline said exuberantly.

The dancer's smile faded when she saw two familiar faces—Elena with Katherine who were by the champagne glasses. She wasn't sure if they were there to enjoy the liquor or Caroline's actual engagement. It wasn't long before the four of them locked eyes and the twins began to head their way.

"Well, hello Mrs. Mikaelson," Katherine greeted, amused. "You two know how to pick a good bottle of Cristal."

Caroline smiled tightly. "Oh, don't give him too much credit, I have total control of every party detail down to that very brand of the glass you're holding."

There was silence between the group.

"Well, I'm going to find a hot stranger to mingle with," Katherine announced and touched Caroline's hand offering well wishes before exiting the conversation. Elena was down a person on her side and it was now Bonnie and Caroline who glanced at her with indifferent expressions on each of their faces.

"I would have got here sooner if your security wasn't being such a dick about me smoking. I had to hurry up and get rid of it and you know fast smoking is not for me," Elena revealed.

Caroline lips went into to a straight line. "Cigarette smoke clogs the air and stains white clothing - that was a direct rule of mines."

"Oh, Caroline, you are ever the micromanager, when I heard or when I saw on Instagram that Klaus proposed I knew he finally accepted it." There was a strange aura of sinister energy coming from Elena, it was something more they expected from Katherine if anything.

"I just think that's your weird of congratulating me, so I am going to go see what's going on with my present fiancé who loves micromanaging ass," The blonde boasted before storming off. Elena just shrugged stoically, seemingly unbothered by her comments. Bonnie sighed and it was just the both of them.

"Why even come if you're going to be a bitch to the hostess?" The dancer questioned, annoyance in her voice.

Elena stepped towards hers, knowing that she towered over the 5''1 female even in heels that she had on. Bonnie could feel herself getting warmer and if the temperature got even higher, she'd combust out of heat exhaustion. "Aw, are you going to punish me for being so bad, Bonnie?"

She pushed Elena off of her, who laughed it off and attracted glances their way. "Don't cause a scene or anything you can't finish."

"I liked our chat too," The brunette said before walking off.

Bonnie had way too many glasses of champagne by the time the couple were making their official engagement announcement. They were in front a microphone with a beautiful slide show behind them as they made their speech. Something compelled the professional dancer to run towards the mic and say some positive words about her two friend's new union.

Her drunkness was obviously from the way she galloped and resulted in hesitant but encouraging clapping. Caroline was hurriedly making her way left off the platform with Klaus who was holding her hand. This was going to be Bonnie's moment..to fuck up and the blonde didn't want to be in the frame. Instead she just smiled nervously and waved to the crowd who were filled with friends and family alike.

"Have a little faith in her, love," Klaus told his fiancee in a low tone who was shaking. He was supposed to be the more realistic one out of the two while her approach was always optimistic. She just nodded her head, a performative smile still plastered on for her audience.

"These two," Bonnie pointed at the couple on her left. "Are the motherfucking, oops, can I say that? Well, anyways these two are the motherfucking couple of the year, decade, century whatever the fuck they want to be because they earned it!"

The crowd roared at her sentiments and it makes her even more confident to continue her impromptu speech. Klaus squeezed Caroline's hand for reassurance.

"The way you and Klaus love each other is just amazing and there's a...balance," Bonnie touched her chest and brought her hand back to her waist. "You look at Caroline like she's the only woman who completes you and that let me know that you really do love my best friend. Besides—" Her green eyes dart to a highly anticipated face with a blonde-haired date. Stefan? She coughed and blinked twice to make sure she wasn't seeing things and the reality was he was there.

"Besides, I um, wish you two the best this champagne has gone right through me so I have to go to the ladies room."

Bonnie could hear the mic dropping as she fleeted off the stage. The confused state of the crowd also flooded in her mind but right now she needed to be alone and made a B-line for that bathroom. First off, she really did have to pee and then headed to the sink to wash her hands and hyperventilate. Only her mother with her incessant antagonizing could make her reach this place of over excessive anxiety. Her exposed chest due to her romper heaved at a rapid pace.

"Hey, you looked pretty green out there, are you okay?" Kol knocked from the other side of the door.

"No, I'm fine like I said damn champagne has me all discombobulated," Bonnie responded. "I'll be out in a second."

"For what it's worth, I thought you gave a killer speech," The man said with a smile as she emerged from the restroom.

Bonnie crossed her arms. "Thank you, but I won't be doing that like ever." They both laughed and Kol found himself reveling in fond moments that they shared in the past. "Walk me back to the party?" She asked, a hint of flirtation in her voice. He linked arms with her, he could never deny her requests.

Elena: I'm tired of seeing you with him.

Bonnie was sitting at the table with the golden couple and their families with Kol by her side. After all her hard work, her spot at the table was earned and she was going to reap the benefits. She touched his hand underneath the table. He wasn't sure what she going for but it felt nice having her by his side again. The dancer just gave her friend a sly smile from across the room.

Bonnie: Steal me from him, why don't you?

Elena approached their table. "Hey, do you all mind if I borrow our grand speaker, no? Okay, come on, Bonnie."

The short woman was being hauled out the party by a forceful grasp. This sort of aggressiveness was so not needed and she knew Elena was more pissed than she was leading on. They ended up in the parking lot.

"What do you want?" Bonnie gritted through her teeth each word.

"You want me to act this way, all jealous and shit, I'm not you Bonnie, I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve," Elena told her in frustration.

"Maybe I wanted a little rise out of you and I got it so can I go back to the party please?"

Just as the woman was on her way back Elena called out, "Did you...did you see—?"

"Stefan, yeah." Bonnie nodded. "I haven't seen him after I ended my speech early."

"It's been six months and I can't even bring myself to say his name nor has he contacted me... at all." Bonnie knew the feeling of abandonment all too well and Elena was clearly still hurting. "I shouldn't have did you like that, I'm sorry and tell Care I'm sorry, enjoy the rest of the party, I'm gonna go home."

The gifted dancer would have begged her friend to stay and encouraged her to increase her spirits but truthfully her leaving was the best option. A dose of Elena Gilbert here and there was going to be a medicine she would willingly take.

The next day, the Bennett residence gets a single doorbell ring. It takes a while before the three women who yell about who gets to answer it actually answers the door. Since Bonnie has the 'freshest' legs they have her do it and the person on the other end of the door is clearly a visitor for her.

"What do you want?" She greeted angrily to Stefan. "I really wish you were a part of my imagination."

"Can we talk, please?" He reached out to her but she kept a guarded stance.

Bonnie shook her head and defiantly said, "No, after almost seven months after no communication you don't even get to be in my presence let alone talk to me."

"Who is that?" Sheila asked from a distant room.

The young woman kept a stern gaze on her so-called visitor. "They're just leaving, Grams," She replied back.

"I'm only here until Monday morning. I'm going to send you my room number because I'm staying at the Hilton Suites," Stefan said finally.

Bonnie scoffed; if men had nothing to lose, they would never lose audacity.

It's an insanely dumb idea and one that she swore would never do but here she is infront of his door. Waiting for him to answer and inevitably let her in. Truth is, she didn't want to talk because she would even get more angrier.

When Stefan opened the door, Bonnie quickly sealed his lips with her own with an urgent kiss. His confusion rapidly turned into reciprocation as one of his hand grabbed her backside and the other was cupped around her neck. In a short pause, she started to remove her jacket.

"Wait," He hesitated. "What are we doing?"

"You suggested we talk and maybe that's not what I want to do," Bonnie told him suggestively. It takes a nanosecond for him to process that sentence and he picks her up and tossed her on the bed on the bed with crushing kisses on mouth, jaw, and neck.

"After this," She said breathily. "I don't want to see your face again."

He removed her blouse with languid fingers and was planning to plant his mouth on chest and torso too. "You don't mean that."

"Oh, yes, I do." Her back arched and she moaned as his dipped even further into her essence. If this was him saying goodbye without the words yet his lips were moving perfectly. They're too wrapped up in their own pleasure to say that this was an entirely bad idea.

A/N: Finally, it happened.