A/N: Thank you all for continuing to read and commenting. I'll be studying for the next 3 weeks, so my updates may be limited, but I'm trying to complete my story by the time the new season debuts.

Chapter 11

The bell rang signaling the end of first period and students flooded the halls to stop by their lockers and retrieve their school books. Bonnie was headed to her locker to retrieve her own books, when she heard the voice of her friend Caroline.

"Bonnie. Bonnie." Caroline called through the halls.

Bonnie stopped walking and she watched her blonde friend head towards her.

"Hi friend. What's going on?" Bonnie asked as soon as Caroline was next to her. They both began walking again since their lockers were next to each other.

"Oh, not much. Just…did you see the poster?" Caroline asked in her usual enthused tone.

"Poster?" inquired Bonnie.

"Yes." Caroline sighed. "About the talent show?"

"Guess not. We're having a talent show?"

"Yes. You should totally sign up."

"Really?" Bonnie smirked. "And do what exactly?"

"Bonnie!"

"Caroline."

"You're so talented. You definitely have to sign up. I plan to."

"What's your talent?"

"Haven't decided yet, but I'll think of something," she concluded with a smile.

"What would my talent be? Starting fires with my mind?" Bonnie jokingly whispered.

"Obviously, you'd sing."

"Sing what?" Elena asked catching the tail end of the conversation.

"There's going to be a talent show and Bonnie is going to sing." Caroline answered.

"No, I'm not." Bonnie stated emphatically.

"Oh, Bonnie, you have such a lovely voice. You should sing." Elena encouraged.

Bonnie couldn't believe the two of them. They were ganging up on her. She had to make sure they moved on from this idea. "Um, besties, do you remember the pumpkin debacle of 5th grade? The one where I was supposed to say 'Welcome. Please come in', but I had such bad stage fright that I ran crying from the stage."

"That was years ago, Bonnie" Caroline countered. "Besides, you're a powerful witch now. This is your time to shine."

"Caroline's right. At least think about it." Elena added with a smile. "And the bell's about to ring and I'm nowhere near my class. I'll talk to you later." With that, Elena headed in the direction of her class.

"I am right." Caroline added. "Besides, if you have stage fright, just make it a duet."

"I doubt Damon sings. I mean, can you even imagine?"

Caroline perked up. Had she heard her best friend correctly? "Huh. Actually, I meant, why don't you and I sing together? But, that's interesting that Damon was your first thought. Thinking about Damon, huh?"

Frick! Double frick! Bonnie could've kicked herself at the slip. She hadn't really been thinking about Damon, but Caroline had mentioned a duet and Damon's face popped into her mind. Maybe she could come out of this conversation with a little dignity.

"Oh, Caroline, you thought I meant Damon Salvatore. I was thinking of a totally different Damon."

Clearing her throat, Caroline jumped on the chance to watch Bonnie squirm. "Oh, yeah, the other Damon? Wait, I don't know another Damon."

"You wouldn't. He's kind of quiet."

"With dark hair and piercing blue eyes? A well-defined body?"

"I need to go. I'm going to be late for class." Bonnie grabbed her books from her locker and headed down the hallway. Caroline chuckled as she watched Bonnie go down the hall. She knew the tell-tale signs. Bonnie was definitely starting to fall for Damon. She started for her own class as she thought about Bonnie and Damon. Maybe it could happen…

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Bonnie was mentally exhausted. From the moment Damon's name had casually tumbled across her lips, she had been fighting a losing battle with herself. Did I really just think about singing a duet with Damon? Yes, you did. I didn't mean it. Then, why did you say it? Maybe because duet begins with the letter 'D' and so does his name. Okay, even for me, that's a stretch. But, it's possible. In what reality? This one, of course. I don't think so. I mean, why else would I be thinking about Damon frickin' Salvatore? Because you like him.

Over and over, she argued with herself. She couldn't actually like Damon. That would only lead to heart break, she tried to tell herself. Not only was she battling with herself, she had to try and avoid Caroline and her knowing glances. That only made Caroline more determined. During lunch, she would gasp names like Klaus and Rebekah. Then, she would just laugh and say 'Oh, I meant the other one.' She thought it was hilarious; however, Bonnie did not. She tried to give Caroline murderous looks, but she would just stare at Bonnie and ask if everything was okay. Bonnie could only reply that everything was great. If Elena thought their interaction was weird, she didn't comment. Bonnie was grateful.

Once Bonnie got home from school, she eagerly went to her room to work on her homework. She was grateful for the distraction homework provided her. It didn't last nearly long enough. Within three hours, she was done and thoughts of Damon were plaguing her once again.

I'll just turn in early. Maybe read a book. Bonnie decided, hoping these activities would help clear her mind. After her long, hot shower, Bonnie emerged from her bathroom eager to read Pride & Prejudice for the fortieth time.

"You take really long showers." Damon commented as he lounged on her bed.

"Damon!" Bonnie shrieked as she immediately moved to cover herself even though she was fully clothed. Please, do not let me be imagining him here in my room…on my bed. She desperately wished.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked noting her movements.

Realizing how silly she must've looked, she willed herself to calm down and act normally. Normal? How can I act normal when Damon freakin' Salvatore is lounging on my bed? Gathering a semblance of normalcy, she realized that 1. Damon was in her room, relaxing on her bed and 2. She wondered why it had taken him so long to visit her.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Bonnie. After all, offense was the best defense.

"Well, I was bored," Damon explained with a shrug, "so I thought I'd see what you were doing. After all, we are friends now."

"You don't have to keep reminding me."

"Obviously, I do. That surprises me. You're so uptight and proper; you'd think you would have better manners than that. The polite thing would be to welcome your guest."

"I do have manners and I use them, but not when someone shows up in my room uninvited."

"I was invited."

"When? When were you ever invited to come to my bedroom? I certainly don't remember that conversation."

"Then, your memory must be faulty. Besides, if I wasn't invited, how could I be in your house; much less, your bedroom?"

"Point taken, Vampire, but as you can see, it's late and I'm headed to bed. I'm sure you can see yourself to the window." She exaggerated a yawn, hoping Damon would take the hint and leave. Since this was Damon and he knew his behavior was irking her, he really didn't feel like leaving yet.

Glancing at the clock on her dresser, Damon retorted "Late? Dear witch, it's barely 8. Please tell me, you're not so boring that you go to bed at 8."

Feeling defensive, she answered, "I do when I'm tired and I'm tired."

Pretending to be defeated, Damon raised his palms in the air and slowly backed his way to her window. "I know when I have lost. I will let you get your precious beauty sleep."

Bonnie's first reaction was elation at having bested Damon, but that feeling soon turned into anxiousness. That was way too easy. Damon never gives up that easily. Bonnie chided herself. She warily watched him back up, arms up in complete surrender. She knew he had some trick up his sleeve. She was just waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. But, as he reached the window without adding any comments, Bonnie assumed she had made it through her first bedroom encounter with Damon. That's when she heard his voice. Oh well. You know what they say about assuming?

"Oh and by the way, you have a lovely voice."

Bonnie's mind reeled at his comment and she had to catch herself from falling back. What did he just say? She thought wildly. A million thoughts went through her mind. Oh my gosh, he heard me singing in the shower. Did he think I sounded bad? Maybe he liked my voice? What if he didn't like my voice? But what if he did? Will he just say something?

With over a century of knowledge of the fairer sex, he knew Bonnie was anxiously awaiting another remark. Looking at her, he knew his next few words would have an impact on her. For once, he didn't want to be cruel. He wanted to say something nice and encouraging.

"I mean it, Judgey. You have a lovely voice." Damon hoped his nickname for her would lend an ounce of sincerity.

"Um, thank you, Damon," she mumbled staring at her floor, positive that she was blushing.

Damon took advantage of the opportunity to move closer to Bonnie. It was a few small steps, but Damon was determined to be closer to Bonnie at that moment.

She felt, rather than heard, Damon moving closer to her. When he reached out to stroke her arm, she knew it was coming but the touch was still unexpected. She could hear her heart beating rapidly. She was sure Damon could hear it too. Darn vampire senses! She thought wildly, feeling rather disconcerted about Damon's nearness. "There's going to be a talent show. Caroline and Elena think I should enter. Sing a song." She whispered.

Nodding and absently rubbing her hand, Damon encouraged Bonnie to continue.

"But what if I'm not good enough?"

"You are, though. You sound great."

"Do you really mean that?" Bonnie asked as she gently eased her hand from Damon's touch and self-consciously ran her fingers through her hair.

"I do." Damon answered and with his signature eyebrow raise, he added, "After all, I am over a century old. I would know a terrible singer if I heard one."

"Maybe so," She chuckled, "But would you tell them?"

"Probably not." He retorted with a careless shrug.

"You'd probably lie to them and whisper sweet nothings in their ear."

"Would you like me to whisper sweet nothings in your ear?"

Bonnie bit back a smile as she imagined Damon courting her with flowers and poems like a lovesick romantic. "I'm good for right now, thanks."

"So, you want a rain check?"

"No. What I actually want is to go to bed."

"Bonnie!" His tone mockingly scandalized. "At least buy me dinner first."

"Damon, go home...please." She added, remembering his quip about her appalling lack of manners.

Damon turned towards the window so he could make his exit. Being with Bonnie was starting to affect him and he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

Bonnie felt something akin to disappointment at Damon's imminent departure. She wasn't sure why and she wasn't ready to qualify it either. She'd rather just feel whatever she was feeling and leave it at that. Watching Damon's retreating form, she saw him hesitate for a quick second and then he started speaking. She had to strain to hear him. But, she was almost positive she heard him say "I'll be there…for you…when you sing."

Before she had a chance to process what he said, he was gone. She was left wondering if she had heard him correctly. She secretly wished that she had.