Chapter 6

Damon was thoroughly confused. How was it that he could spend a day with Bonnie and not think about Elena? He knew he felt something for Elena, but he couldn't deny that he did enjoy Bonnie's company the other day. When she wasn't being prudish, she could actually be a lot of fun. He definitely was not expecting that. He needed to clear his head. He didn't want to transfer his feelings for Elena to Bonnie. He just wanted Bonnie to like him; not the other way around.

He needed a drink, maybe something fresh for a change. He headed to the Mystic Grille. Damon knew it wouldn't be hard to lure a comely waitress outside so he could have a fresh meal.

Walking in, he wasn't surprised to see the Grille mostly empty. There were a few patrons at the bar and a group of teenagers at the pool table. He made his way to the bar to order a drink.

"Bourbon, please," he addressed the bartender.

"I.D."

Damon always got a kick out of people asking for his id. If only they knew my real age, he contemplated. But, he pulled out his id as requested. The bartender put his drink in front of him and he sipped it casually. There was no rush to finish his drink. He was working through some issues and no one had aroused his hunger yet.

Bonnie entered Mystic Grille hoping to run into someone she knew. She was feeling bored and really wanted someone to hang out with. Actually, what she wanted was Caroline because then she could talk to her about Damon. While she knew she wasn't falling for him, she was disconcerted about how easily she could be around him without the urge to set him on fire. But, looking around the Grille, she didn't see Caroline, she only saw Damon.

"Why me?" she mumbled throwing her hands in the air. Hoping to disprove her growing fascination with Damon, she strolled towards Damon, thinking okay, universe, there is nothing between Damon and I and I'll prove it to you.

Damon couldn't help but gaze at Bonnie as she made her way towards him. Maybe I just found someone to whet my appetite. If only she'd allow me to taste her.

"Damon."

"Bonnie. What are you doing here?"

"Just looking for Caroline."

"I haven't seen Vampire Barbie. And being honest, I probably won't talk to her if she walks in."

Bonnie tried to stifle her laugh at Damon's comment. At least, he's being honest with me. "Isn't it a little early to be drinking?"

"Haven't you ever heard the expression 'it 5 o'clock somewhere'?"

"No. Don't think I have," replied Bonnie mischievously.

"Want to join me?"

To be honest, Bonnie was tempted. All of her life, she had been the one to follow the rules. She was considered the stable one, the dependable one; but being around Damon made her want to try a different role, someone who was spontaneous and flirted with dangerous vampires.

"For a bit. Wouldn't want anyone seeing us together." Bonnie answered as she took the seat next to him. She was nervous, actually nervous sitting beside Damon without having to discuss some elaborate plan to avert some catastrophe.

"So…" she began searching for common ground.

"So…" he mocked her. "Would you care for a drink?"

"He won't serve me. I'm not 21 yet." Bonnie replied rolling her eyes.

"I didn't ask that."

"I'm not much of a drinker."

"Again, my original question was, do you want a drink?"

"Sure," she replied nonchalantly.

Hailing the bartender, Damon ordered another drink and compelled him to bring Bonnie whatever she wanted to drink.

"A beer, thanks."

The sat there for a few minutes in comfortable silence, sipping their respective drinks.

"Feel like a game of pool, Bonnie?" Damon asked.

"Yeah."

They made their way towards an open pool table. While Bonnie grabbed two pool sticks, Damon racked the balls. "Want to break or should I?" He asked.

"You can," she said with a shrug.

With those two simple words, the uneasiness between them fell away. Years of experience had given Damon the skill and he enjoyed the game. Bonnie was not talented, but she played with enthusiasm.

"I'll get us another round," said Damon after he had won the first game.

Drinking and playing pool with Damon, she thought in disbelief. If anyone would've told her that one afternoon she would be drinking and playing pool with Damon and actually enjoying it, she would've thought the apocalypse was coming.

"Why are you still in Mystic Falls?" she asked Damon as he came towards her with their drinks.

"Enjoying your company, Bonnie."

"No, I'm being serious, Damon."

"So am I, Bonnie."

"Not going to answer, huh?"

"I thought I just gave you an answer."

"Oh my gosh, fine. Moving on. Do you think the Originals will leave us alone now?"

"I see no reason for them to come back. After all, we have a powerful witch who can desiccate centuries-old vampires."

"That was a one-time thing. You heard my mom. That spells require dark magic that I shouldn't be using."

"Yeah, but it's still an option."

"Really? That's your answer?"

"I'm trying to be positive. Isn't that what you want from me?"

"There's nothing I want from you."

"Nothing? Bonnie, don't be naïve. I'm sure there's something you want from me." Damon alleged with his signature eyebrow lift.

"Unlikely" Bonnie hisses. Just when she thought she was actually enjoying her time with Damon, he had to start acting like an arrogant jerk. She would never understand what would cause Elena to develop feelings for Damon.

"Bonnie, stop fighting your feelings for me. It'd be easier if you just admit it to yourself."

"Just when I thought we could actually be friends, you had to start acting like yourself again."

"Who else would I be?"

"Anyone but you," she demanded.

Thoroughly enjoying himself, Damon continued to tease her. "Oh, you must want me to act more like Stefan." With that, he furrowed his forehead and imitated his brother. "Bonnie, we could be friends. You can talk and I'll listen. We'll discuss the evils of my brother."

Cracking a smile, Bonnie was no longer annoyed Damon. Yes, he was arrogant, but he was fun to be around.

"Maybe your evil brother isn't so bad to be around," Bonnie conceded.

"Alert the media," Damon cracked. "Bonnie just admitted that I'm not so bad to be around."

Bonnie playfully hit Damon's arm. No, he wasn't hard to be around and that was the problem.

"Oh. My. Gosh!" Damon and Bonnie heard Caroline exclaim from behind them. They both turned to see Caroline's stunned expression and Stefan's worried face.

~Fin~

A/N: I hope you enjoyed. Please read and review. Comments and suggestions are always appreciated. I'm pretty sure Elena will be in the next two chapters. How will everyone react to a Damon and Bonnie friendship?