Time was immeasurable where Bonnie was.
The 'Other Other Side', as she had aptly named it, wasn't lonely. The sea of mysterious faces, including her grandmother's, visited her again as she walked through the woods. But as usual, they faded, reaching the canopy of leaves above her head and disappearing.
Damon was keeping her tethered to the mortal world.
Whenever he thought of her, she was pulled back within his physical perimeter, and that included his bedroom.
'Wow,' said Elena, rolling over, breathless.
'Wanna go again?' asked Damon, with his signature side grin.
'As tempting as that sounds, I can't. I promised I'd visit Car today. I gotta shower.'
'I could join you-'
'Shush, I'll see you later,' Elena giggled like a giddy school girl. She hopped off the bed and let the sheets fall to the floor, winking as she did so. Her ass was on full display as she strolled off to the ensuite. It had been three weeks and Bonnie still couldn't get used to seeing her best friend naked.
'Gross,' she remarked, stuffing her mouth with popcorn she found in the kitchen. She was still able to physically touch objects but how they were affected in the real world, she had no idea.
Damon's smile faded the second Elena disappeared. Sex with Elena was starting to get old. She turned him on, yes but there was nothing beyond that. Even starting a conversation was difficult. He didn't know how long he could keep up this facade. What's wrong with you, he scolded himself. Elena was perfect. She was everything he had ever wanted and more. But she wasn't Bonnie.
Get over it, she's never coming back.
With Bonnie, it had been different. She didn't want to save him all the time like Elena did. She played the hero but it was of her own accord. And most of all, she gave Damon scope to speak his mind.
He wondered how it would feel to touch her mocha-coloured skin and watch each goosebump rise, as if they had all the time in the world.
He missed her scent. It's all he could think about and it drove him crazy. Fresh laundry with a touch of Versace Bright Crystal perfume. Bonnie made Caroline look like a slob with the way she spent hours at Whitmore's laundrette.
She chewed on her popcorn and spat the kernel in his direction. Pervert.
Damon instantly slapped the side of his neck, like he was swatting a fly but there was nothing there. He was sure he felt something and looked around the empty room.
Bonnie stopped chewing. This was a first. 'Uh, grams?'
Her grandmother appeared by her side; her watchful protector in this mystery realm. She was one of the voices pulling her towards the 'light'. But Bonnie was trapped, so all her grams could do was be summoned and offer guidance.
'This is certainly new,' she said, wary of what she had just witnessed.
'Grams, how is this possible?'
'I don't know, dear. The ancestors never mentioned this to me.'
'Our two worlds can't coexist past physical boundaries!'
'Don't teach me what I already know, child. I'm as confused as you are. Hm.'
And with that, she disappeared, leaving Bonnie mortified.
'Damon?'
She narrowed her eyes and waited for a reply.
But Damon was trying to gain some shuteye, exhausted.
A minute of silence had passed.
Nothing.
And then his eyes flew open, the icy stare starting to melt on sight.
'Bonnie.'
