AN: She thinks he is Enzo, he thinks she is Caroline. We know that they are Bonnie and Enzo.
Friday Night
Enzo was an atheist. His terrible childhood had cured him any belief in God, but he liked the saying that mothers were god's gifts to children. No one would convince him that Lilian Salvatore was not a saint. So he wasn't sure if there was a deity to thank for the feeling of contentment dancing with a girl he'd just met mere hours ago.
After she had taken his hand he felt like a child running around after Damon, Oscar and Beau again, he felt innocent and happy he felt alive. He was amazed at how naturally and gracefully they had found their rhythm, dancing like old people. Having her in his arms, made him feel like the luckiest man on earth. He knew deep down in his soul that he never wanted to be parted from her.
Enzo wasn't familiar with the feeling of guilt, he was an expert in shame and self-hatred but guilt was something he had always avoided since he was a little child in the St. Augustine Orphanage in London. He instinctively knew that the things that happened to him there were wrong and that they weren't his fault. It meant the world to him when Lilian confirmed those suspicions. He still felt shame and hatred for letting people do things to him that he knew were wrong.
His feeling of utter contentment gave way to guilt. The beautiful feelings slowly turned into a slow misery. He knew he would have to tell her the truth and that he would never see her again after he confessed. He clenched his jaw, why on earth had he agreed to Tyler's suggestion to see what Bonnie Bennett was like and scare her into rejecting the match.
"What are you thinking you got all broody all of a sudden?" she asked tilting her head.
"Nothing love, just thinking about Bonnie and uh Enzo and their ill-fated match," feeling even more morose at her ability to read his mood so perfectly. Clearly DAMON was broken if it matched him with anyone but the woman in his arms.
"Should I be worried you're thinking about another girl? My best friend actually? I mean that's pretty insulting, do you prefer her?" Bonnie asked slightly irritated, all her life she'd had seen guys fawn over Elena and Caroline when she was right there. Had she been mistaken? Did she imagine the vibes between her and Tyler?
"No, I was thinking just the opposite!"Enzo wondered how to express what he felt so strongly for her in such a short amount of time.
"You know what, save it," Bonnie snapped and walked briskly back towards their booth just as the DJ started playing the loud music that the club was accustomed to. She felt like she'd been deceived. Well no one asked you to catch feelings for a guy that you just met the rational part of her brain taunted her, sounding just like Ms Cuddles would have, if she had a voice.
"I meant no disrespect Caroline," Enzo was saying following the angry goddess in the green dress.
Bonnie grimaced repressing the urge to yell, "My name is Bonnie!" Why had she agreed to come to the dance? She should have been in bed by now with Ms Cuddles. Obviously Ms Cuddles would have judged Bonnie for her lack of action but at least Bonnie would not be feeling so flustered and irritated.
"I was merely thinking if the Network actually worked it would have matched us instead of them," Enzo's voice was deeper, infused with a fraction of the emotion he was feeling.
Bonnie turned around slowly, "Are you implying Mr Lockwood that you think we are compatible?" she asked biting her lower lip, wondering if hitting on a guy after wanting to hit him was normal or was it just Tyler Lockwood?
"Why not, shall we see?" Enzo pulled out his device and pulled up Caroline's profile.
Name: Caroline Forbes
Occupation: Future Mrs Christian Grey.
Age: 24
Favourite Book: Twilight, Divergent and 50 Shades of Grey. Hunger Games was dumb. Who would pick Peter over Gale?
"Ugh, put that away," Bonnie pushed his phone away, she tried very hard to convince herself that she was blushing because of Caroline's profile and not because he was holding her hand. He had done it so slowly, finger by finger as if giving her time to pull away and he was now staring at her like there was no one else in the world.
"Not to insult your taste in literature… but it was P-e-e-t-a," he was trying so hard not to laugh she found herself catching the urge to laugh as well.
"Oh don't you dare judge me Mr Beer Pong Legend!" Bonnie cried defending Caroline's profile, trying to swat her companion who managed to evade her.
She and Enzo smiled at each other, not able nor willing to tear their eyes away. Enzo skilfully pulled Bonnie close to him as a drunk couple staggered too close to them.
"Let's go there," Bonnie pointed to their empty booth, feeling thirsty and wanting to get Enzo alone.
"No offence but how are you and Enzo friends?" Bonnie yelled when she finally got him alone.
When Enzo blinked at her in confusion, Bonnie slid in closer to him almost landing in his lap, she didn't mind the thought of getting closer to him.
"I asked," she yelled in his ear.
"I heard you," he replied with what Bonnie thought was a pretentious I am such a deep thinker facial expression.
She frowned at him, "then why didn't you answer, you dumbass?" she yelled then wondered if she had said "you dumbass" out loud or just think it.
"I could ask you the same question, how did you and Bonnie become such chums? You two are nothing alike."
Bonnie decided that she had said "you dumbass" just in her head and was about to remind him that he did not answer the question and it was a very annoying habit of his, when Tyler showed up to their booth with a dark haired gorgeous woman.
"Hi, I'm Nora," the beautiful brunette slid in next to Bonnie in the booth.
"Does she know about our little arrangement?" Enzo whispered to Tyler
"Yeah, of course, bro, don't worry she's so happy you're rebelling, she was worried you'd give in like Stef and Damon."
"Not gonna happen mate. I will never stop fighting the Network. I will stop fighting when I am dead but not a moment prior."
"Look, bro, I have a lot to say, and I don't know if I will ever have the nerve to say it again so don't stop me till I am done."
"Sure mate," Enzo nodded at Tyler encouragingly.
"I know I'm not as political as you, but I wanted to say screw the network! I'll work with the Anti-Damon movement. I'm going to make something of my life. Starting with being sober so that I can tell when I am having a good time. I never really knew what it was like, you know, wanting something. I've never wanted anything before I've always had everything. But this thing I feel. The way I feel with Bonnie. I know you don't want to hear about another one of your bros taking a girl from you because of DAMON but I really think I'm falling for Bonnie and don't say it's too soon!" Tyler was breathless after his proclamation.
"Yeah that's bloody fantastic mate!" Enzo said clapping Tyler on the shoulder, but only registering every second word as he turned his attention to Nora who was fingering the necklace at Bonnie neck. Enzo was about to interrupt Nora's patented, let-me-flirt-with-your-gorgeous-date-and-make-you-look-inadequate scheme.
"Excuse us!" Caroline yelled and dragged Bonnie out of the booth as Nora gracefully twisted out of the way.
"I need the hotel room. Please, please, please. Bonnie I never ask for anything ever!" Caroline was begging.
Bonnie scoffed at Caroline's outrageous lie then against her better judgement nodded, "Fine you go have your fun and let me know when it's safe to come back to the room."
"Thank you!" Caroline gushed not even waiting for Bonnie to finish the sentence, stopping only to grab Tyler Lockwood as she stormed out of the club, with him hot on her heels.
Bonnie slipped into the booth, to Enzo's dismay, Nora was now seated between them and from her body language she was going to do use it to her full advantage.
"Oh thank God!" Enzo exclaimed when Mary Louise, with her trademark jealous expression cast a shadow over the booth.
"I thought you were an atheist," Mary Louise stated then realised she didn't care to converse with Enzo she was just here to remind Nora that they had dinner reservations.
"Oh Mary Lou, meet Caroline, she's so beautiful isn't she? She's at college too! Beauty and brains!" Nora was beaming at Bonnie.
"Oh stop it," Bonnie was saying, wondering what was it about Whitmore that was making random people fawn over her, not that she was complaining she just wasn't used to it.
"Yes and if we are late, we'll lose our reservation," Mary Louise responded she hated the stunning green eyed petite girl on sight.
"Oh come now Mar, it is not every day my baby cousin gets this taken by a girl. Remember how we used to tease him about how he was sweet on Oscar?"
"Who's Oscar?" Bonnie asked intrigued. All Tyler had talked about in the afternoon was, Damon, Lily, Stefan, Jakob and Sarah there were a couple of times he started talking about Tyler then stopped, probably because he realised that he sounded like a douchebag talking in third person. Nora was his cousin, interesting. Bonnie was so happy that she hadn't gotten jealous of Nora, it would have been an embarrassing waste of energy.
"Oscar is a friend of ours, a party animal, collects medieval things like swords suits of armour and other useless junk," Mary Louise offered hoping the conversation would end so that they could get away from the girl that Nora was clearly attracted to.
"Oscar was the only one who had a car," Enzo said defensively, "a yellow…"
"Then explain to me, little cousin, why would anyone join a stupid medieval jousting guild if not to get into Oscar's pants?" Nora asked cutting Enzo off with an evil smile.
"I wanted to learn sword fighting, I wanted to be a knight if not Robin Hood!" Enzo snapped wondering why he let Nora get under his skin, he shot Bonnie an apologetic look.
"Nora if he is as taken with her as you claim. Why not let them get back to it and we can go to the restaurant. It only took us 4 months to get an opening," Mary Louise wasn't about to leave without a fight.
Nora looked at Bonnie and with a voice laced with regret, she said "we'll be off then, it was nice meeting you Caroline."
"I'll probably still be here if you come back after dinner," Bonnie shrugged nonchalantly taking a sip of her fruity barely alcoholic drink.
"How do you mean?" Nora asked, her accent was posh but her British accent was less pronounced than Enzo's.
"My friend is using the hotel room so I'm homeless for the time being," Bonnie reported, she thought back to the morning, she had had seen it coming, Caroline and Enzo met, they fought and then they would bone and tell the world it was an epic love story. It was just like any bad TV show on the CW.
"Oh no, no, no." Nora was shaking her head in protest, "I cannot just leave you then, you poor lamb, all alone," Nora placed her handover Bonnie's
"I am literally inches from you Nora," Enzo cried exasperated "Caroline is in good hands, mine!"
"Mary Lou, be a dear and bring us some shots," Nora said looking at her fingers now entwined with Bonnie's
"Nora you're driving and I can't drive manual you must not drink," Mary Louise crossed her arms across her chest.
"It's for these two you silly billy," Nora said brightly.
5 rounds of shots later, instead of dinner, Nora and Mary Louise had ended up depositing Enzo and Bonnie outside his cabin before going home themselves with Mary Louise in a drunken foul temper and Nora pleased as punch.
Enzo was struggling to find his keys to get the front door unlocked, until a frustrated Bonnie grabbed his hand and placed it on a scanner by the plaque that read "St. John, L." someone had added "oser" after the L. The scanner flashed red then green as the door swung open.
"That works too love," Enzo informed Bonnie looking at her as if surprised that she was there.
"Too bad this doesn't," she said poking his forehead, "Enzo must trust you a lot to have your handprint programmed," Bonnie commented stumbling past him into the cabin.
"You could say Enzo and I are the same person," Enzo said before deftly catching her before she face planted into his beautiful varnished floors which were no less reflective than a mirror. "Easy there sweetheart," he told her after he caught his breath, finding it suddenly hard to breathe with her in kissing distance.
Bonnie calmed her breathing down and smiling widely up at Enzo, asked "was this all some elaborate plan to be me all alone Mr Lockwood?"
"Alas, I am not that clever, Ms Forbes. However I should send myself a congratulatory gift basket for a job well done." He said helping her to her feet but not letting her go.
Bonnie giggled pushing away from him as she surveyed the dimly lit house. Enzo steered her away from the photos on the mantle and towards a room.
"Oh it's like that is it, you just wanted to get me into bed?" Bonnie asked narrowing her eyes taking in the edge of the bed from the open door.
"Not quite, getting into the bed is optional," Enzo said flipping on the lights
Bonnie's eyes widened, "Is that…?"
"Yep. There is a very comfortable armchair if you prefer."
Bonnie raced into the room and stood in front of the hugest TV screen had ever seen. "Do you have…?" she asked turning to look at Enzo.
"Of course," he said throwing her a remote control before she finished her sentence.
Bonnie flopped back on the bed and started pounding on the keys as a red and black Logo materialised.
"I shall go and get us some snacks," Enzo informed the girl who was scrolling through the screens at an inhuman pace. He mentally noted which pictures he had to hide to keep up the deception that he was not Enzo but Tyler.
"Fancy a drink love?" Enzo asked as he returned from the laundry room with a couple of empty pillow cases.
"Nah I'm at a cabin in the middle of nowhere with a man I just met. No thanks!" Bonnie yelled back.
Enzo chuckled, "Don't be daft love, if anyone were to murder you it would be sweet Mary Louise not that I'd let her," he yelled back in response, throwing a framed photo of Nora, Sarah and him into the pillowcase. Enzo realised just how many photos there were of him and Tyler.
He was happy that he didn't have all that much to do to De-Enzo his own home. He didn't have the heart to take down Lilian's photo with Damon, Stefan, Nora, Enzo and Sarah. It was taken after Giuseppe's funeral and if you squinted you would think it was Tyler as a child, not Enzo in the photo looking sullen and uncomfortable.
Enzo was constantly surprised by how important Tyler had become to him. It was perhaps the orphan thing. Or that night that Tyler had been pursuing Nora without knowing that she was a lesbian. Enzo smirked at the memory of Tyler blinking in confusion after Nora and Mary Louise told him that they were a lesbian couple. Tyler then promptly asked them if they were interested in a threesome with him. Enzo had slept by Tyler's bedside in the hospital overnight and when he'd regained consciousness he'd grinned at Enzo through blood stained teeth and said that it had been worth it. Nora and Tyler were now very good friends, having the same interests: making Enzo's suffer and dating beautiful blondes.
Enzo suspected that he was probably paying forward the big brotherly love Damon had shown him when he'd been adopted. The love that he'd shown him up till the whole Maggie Fiasco.
"Do you not you have televisions in Mythic Falls?" Enzo called out.
"Mystic falls, and no after I ran away from home my Dad banned me from watching TV and then I got into cheerleading and my friends kept getting into trouble so I didn't need fictional drama with them around," Bonnie shook her head softly, watching Enzo from the bedroom arms crossed and remote control dangling from her hand.
"That's when you met Bonnie? You were a cheerleader too?" Enzo asked emptying chips into a bowl
Bonnie nodded, irritated to be reminded that she was meant to be Caroline and couldn't be herself.
"Ran away to see some teen boy band group?" Enzo asked spooning some dip into a bowl.
"No," Bonnie said walking back into the bedroom thinking back to when she was 14 and ran away to Salem to see her grams. Sheila and Rudy had fought viciously about registering Bonnie in DAMON. Grams was vehemently against it but after Abby, Rudy didn't want Bonnie to suffer a bad match.
As soon as Bonnie was out of sight Enzo raced to a side table and was about to shove a photo of him, Damon and Stefan with Damon's pet turkey Sami, into a pillowcase when Bonnie walked up to him.
"What's taking so long? I'm hungry," Bonnie pouted.
Enzo dropped the pillow case and beckoned to Bonnie to follow him to the other side of the house.
Bonnie felt like she was on an adventure. She felt the buzz of the alcohol leaving her system. Be alert she told herself. What if he was like that English King Bluebeard who beheaded his wives?
She bumped into him as he stopped abruptly.
"Are you okay love?" he asked softly looking at her as if committing her every feature to his memory.
He really had such brown eyes. She wanted to run her hands through his scruffy hair. She was sure she had lost the capacity to speak, so she nodded.
Once satisfied with her answer he opened a door and switched on the lights
"You can stay here till you need to go back home," he said entering the room, picking up a tote bag that said, "What say we go into a dark room and see what develops," over a picture of a camera, and he threw it onto a chair.
"That was Enzo's room is this yours?" Bonnie asked entering the room plastered with hand painted political posters.
"Ah no this happens to be my baby sister Sarah's. She's our resident social justice warrior. Tends to hide out here when she gets angry about being born in the 1% and doesn't want to be an entitled asshole, her words not mine." Enzo smiled fondly at a picture of a chubby child resembling a cabbage patch kid.
"You must be Sarah's favourite brother," Bonnie said noticing the look of fraternal pride as he straightened a framed certificate claiming first prize for a wildlife photography contest.
Was this 50 shades of grey fan, a psychic? Enzo wondered. "Yes how did you know?" he asked not even masking how impressed he was with her.
"You're the only big brother in the world who's okay with their baby sister living in a cabin with a musician," Bonnie said in her normal judgey tone.
Enzo, speechlessly wracked his brain looking for an explanation whilst simultaneously reassuring himself that Tyler would never ever try anything with Sarah,
Bonnie had come to a realisation.
"Now I understand how you and Enzo being so different are friends. He helps you meet babes like the Cannibal Divas!" Bonnie said proudly, giving Enzo a 1000 watt smile.
Enzo followed her line of sight to a photo of him in a black singlet being hugged by Selene and Sybil outside the recording studio, Sarah had taken the photo.
"You know the Cannibal Divas?" Enzo asked stupidly.
"Know them? They sing about killing evil men how could I not love them? I listened to their song, "Definition of madness" nonstop after my breakup," Bonnie could not help herself from gushing. "And they are music royalty after all, their father Arcadius is the CEO of Heaven Even Lying Low. Are they as screwed up as they are portrayed in the media? Or is that all click bait?"
Enzo screwed up his face as if deep in thought, "actually they're a mite worse."
Bonnie smiled at him and said, "I don't believe you."
"Let's go watch some TV, eat some junk food and I'll regale you with some Cannibal Diva shenanigans."
"You're on!" Bonnie agreed, she secretly had sent her demos to H.E.L.L she'd wanted to be a singer since she was a teenager.
"Seline saw a chap on youtube, a widower talking about some ancient myths about sirens or such. She bribed some high society ladies to vouch for her as a good nanny, she then got a job as his nanny.
"What!" Bonnie asked horrified.
"He started seeing an intern, she went sodding mad, vowed to Sybil she'd take the girls away and teach him a lesson."
"No way… that's not screwed up that's criminal!"
"They absconded with the twins. I informed their father who told me to demand that they return his daughters to which I repeated, I'm a their back up guitar player not their manager."
"How very Dr Bones Mccoy of you," Bonnie yawned.
Enzo opened his mouth to correct himself to say he was a groupie beer pong player not a musician, if he wasn't careful he'd let the cat out of the bag. Suddenly she put her hand over his mouth.
"If you say, I'm not like other girls because I watch Star Trek, I'll stab you."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Enzo promised her continuing the tale, "so the bloke starts threatening to turn my brains to oatmeal accusing me of abducting his daughters."
"He sounds intense but I don't blame him," Bonnie admitted.
"I was certain he would kill me but my brother Stefan showed up and vouched for me and then he and I went collected the girls and the bloke decided not to press charges."
"That was nice of him," Bonnie responded, musicians were so weird, she was so happy she turned Enzo down. She would have to tell Caroline not to get too involved with him.
"I wager Arcadius had something to do with it, but that's all over with."
Bonnie yawned.
"Perhaps, we should be getting to bed?"
"We're already in bed though?" Bonnie grinned at Enzo devilishly
"Yes, but the wrong bed, come on I'll walk you."
"Fine," she pouted and held out a hand for him to help her out of the ridiculously comfortable bed.
She purposefully bumped shoulders with him and grinning at him when he looked at her suspiciously, she'd say an exaggerated oops. Then when he looked away she'd repeat the process.
"I'm sure you can find something of hers to sleep in," he took a step back and opened a door behind him "there's fresh towels in here in that cabinet you can find everything you need for your oral hygiene."
"Okay," Bonnie said sleepily, Caroline had sent her detailed accounts of how good Enzo was in bed. Caroline was adamant that she too should get herself a musician.
"And this is the laundry for your… delicates," Enzo said blushing.
"My what?" Bonnie asked shaking her head.
"Undergarments," he said with a serious look on his face.
"Thanks," she laughed, wondering if she was drunk or if the use of the word "delicates" was really that funny.
"Goodnight," Enzo said, telling himself that he should be strong and be a gentleman and give her space and go to his bedroom.
"Goodnight," Bonnie said wondering if it was only in her head or were they inching closer to each other.
"See you in the morning?" Enzo said feeling stupid for prolonging the conversation but not ready to leave.
"See you then," Bonnie agreed not breaking eye contact.
He knew he wanted to kiss her he also knew it would be unethical to kiss someone who he was not matched with.
She knew that she wanted to kiss him. Did he maybe want to kiss her too? Why would he want to kiss her? Damn Ms Cuddles for putting these thoughts into her head. She could swear those beady eyes were always judging her for never bringing a man home. Well he would have to be DAMON approved and she'd seen Enzo so that was never going to happen.
Bonnie closed her eyes as Enzo's face neared. He's going to do it! She was screaming internally. Take that Ms Cuddles! Her insides were exploding into glitter, His lips touched the side of her cheek softly. "Good night love," he said and then he was gone.
Bonnie frowned and contemplated what had just happened she could have angled her face differently and kissed him breathless then she could have slammed him into the wall and had her way with him. Bonnie placed the back of her hand on her forehead. What was going on? She'd never wanted to do anything of that sort with Jeremy. A shower sounded like a good idea. A very cold one.
Enzo inspected the remaining photographs. They all looked innocent enough. His eyes caught the family photo. Valerie, Stefan, Damon and Maggie at Jakob's baptism. Enzo picked it up and slid it into the overflowing pillowcase and stuffed it behind the couch.
Even though he was loathe to admit it. He was glad he and Maggie were over. He still resented Damon for not putting up a fight. Maggie had always treated him so gently. He often wondered if she truly loved him or was just with him out of pity. Enzo fresh from his shower was about to get into bed when he saw Bonnie walk into his room, one arm behind her back as if holding something.
"Caroline?" Enzo asked hesitantly, a hundred questions in his head, was there an intruder in Sarah's room? But most of all he was wondering why on earth she was wearing his favourite olive green t-shirt.
"Oh I hope you don't mind I found it in the laundry," she said tugging at the t-shirt.
"No, by all means," he responded his mind still trying to comprehend what the she could be doing in his room, she couldn't be here for sex? No he knew he was smitten but that surely wasn't the case for her. Oscar and Damon had often teased him saying, that he fell for Maggie because she was kind to him and that he'd fall for anyone who have him a smile and attention. He knew that wasn't the case why else had he constantly turned down Sybil?
"It's colder than a freezer in there," she muttered sliding into his bed.
"My apologies, Sarah likes to pretend she lives in a grotty cave when she's here. We can trade rooms."
"No!" she said grabbing his hand as he moved to the edge of the bed, "we can share," she said quietly, not looking forward to being alone.
"Come again?" he asked there was no way this gorgeous woman was offering to share his bed with him.
"We can both sleep here. But," she trailed off.
"Head to foot?" Enzo asked, having always been the one sent off to share Nora or Sarah's room during family reunions.
"No I trust you, but try anything," she said brandishing a cleaver from behind her back, "I will chop off your hand and hex your dick off, my grandmother told me that I am descended from witches from Salem," she said matter-of-factly.
"What if you try something," Enzo asked her, smirking.
"I expect you'll be saying Oh Oscar yes please!" Bonnie laughed at the unamused look on Enzo's face.
"Are you ticklish?" Enzo asked smiling mischievously.
"You wouldn't dare!" Bonnie squealed, laughing till she was breathless as she and Enzo tumbled around in bed junkfood kicked to the floor and hands everywhere.
She drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and sound in bed with a stranger. Life was really strange. She would blame Caroline if she fell in love with Tyler Lockwood and he ended up breaking her heart.
Enzo was reading Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper when Bonnie kicked him, muttering "Caroline… this is all…" He knew in that moment that he wanted and needed her to be in his life, and it did not have to be in a romantic capacity. He wanted to be in her life even if it was just to be her friend. He decided to come clean to her in the morning which was in a couple of hours. She would be angry. He knew the longer he waited to tell her the truth the less likely it would be that she would remain in his life. He closed his book and switched off the bed side lamp.
HOLY SHIT, sorry about the length, I wanted to keep ending the chapter but these two idiots were like no make us do more fanfic tropes.