Thank you everyone for your reviews! They are greatly appreciated. I am still working this out, definitely a slow burn...but let me know what you think.
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Three months later…
I sat in the window seat staring out of the window watching Elena unload the boxes from her car and Caroline try to balance 10 shoeboxes as they walked towards the front door.
"I can't believe your dad went for this", Elena shook her head as she carried the last box into Grams' old house.
"Well the old tenants lease was up and he knows that I always wanted to live in Grams house, so when I told him that you and Caroline wanted to move in with me…he offered Grams house", I shrugged as I stood up and walked over to the foyer.
"And what about your house?" Caroline asked bringing in a box.
"It will be empty, he says that he will be spending more time here in Mystic Falls in a couple of months…sooo…"
"I can't believe it…we start college in two days…college", Caroline said wrapping her arms around Elena and I, "we are officially adults…no more grown ups looking over our shoulders telling us what to do".
"Well I never really had that…but this will be interesting", I replied walking over to the couch and plopping down.
"Oh and no PDA in the common areas, we don't need to see you and Stefan trying to swallow each other's face, Elena", Caroline glared.
"Oh excuse me…now that Matt and Tyler are gone, you all but declared yourself a free agent", Elena laughed and then she and Caroline turned to me.
"It's ok guys…you don't need to act as if I will burst into tears just hearing about your romantic fun…I'm happy for you…"
"Damon was an idiot to break up with you…do you want me to beat him up?" Caroline asked hugging me.
"No…Damon was being Damon…and I guess it did work out for the best, I mean…could you imagine Damon and I being together forever…no…so I guess it was best".
"Very much so…just think about all of the hot college guys that you can date now and just think of how jealous that will make that ass Damon", Caroline grinned.
"Care…", Elena warned.
"Caroline, I have no intentions of making Damon jealous or dating a bunch of college guys…if I meet someone…great…but if I don't…I'm ok with that too".
"God Bonnie…stop being soo good…if there is anyone who needs to loosen up and have fun now that she's in college it's you and that's why we are invited to a freshman only party tonight", Caroline smiled.
"It's supposed to rain!" I whined.
Caroline rolled her eyes, "What will you melt or something".
"Not funny Vampira", I snapped.
"Ha-ha", Caroline deadpanned sticking out her tongue.
"I'm not going…you two can go", I smiled as someone rang the doorbell.
Elena walked over and opened the door to Stefan carrying three boxes. "Come in…thanks for helping", she replied walking inside as Stefan followed.
"No problem…", Stefan replied as he effortlessly carried the boxes in.
"I don't how I got recruited for this job…I have somewhere to be…", Damon's voice drifted from outside.
Even after three months of being apart, I still felt a jolt to my heart when I heard his voice. The day he came to my house and told me that he couldn't look out for me…that us being together was just momentary insanity, I felt as if I had just been punched in the stomach…like someone had ripped apart everything that I knew and had become comfortable with. I thought that Damon was good and caring…I was wrong…he was just as selfish as he had always been; I was just caught up in having a boyfriend and having that physical connection with someone that I was too dumb to see it.
"No one wants you here…so you can just go", Caroline smirked as Damon entered carrying a box and only then did I notice someone following behind.
She had on the tightest jeans I had ever seen. She had long black wavy hair, olive skin, grey eyes and appeared to be six feet tall. She was exotic and beautiful. I tugged on the old ratty Robert Lee t-shirt I had on and unconsciously touched my hair which had to be a mess because I had been moving and cleaning things all day.
"Caroline…must you be soo rude and in front of our guest too…Mila…don't mind Caroline, she has horrible manners", Damon smiled as he put down the box and took Mila's hand.
I swallowed not allowing any of what I was feeling inside to show.
"Damon, you should offer Mila some water or something…", I replied finding my voice.
Damon turned to me with a look that I couldn't quite read. It appeared to be one of surprise. One point for the witch!
"No…actually we were going…Mila and I are going to dinner and then a movie…and then…", Damon trailed off whispering something in her ear setting off girlish giggles and turning my stomach, "so thank you for your hospitality Bonnie, but we should get going…Stefan…", he called upstairs, "remember you owe me!" and with that, he sauntered out of the door with Mila on his arm.
I backed up onto the chair for a moment.
"Bonnie…don't you dare let him get to you", Caroline replied coming up next to me.
"Bonnie…I didn't expect him to bring her along", Stefan apologized as he made his way downstairs with Elena.
"It's ok…I mean…we're broken up…have been for months, Damon moved on and I need to as well…Caroline, I want to go to that party tonight".
Elena and Caroline exchanged looks.
"Are you sure?" Elena asked.
"Yes…why wouldn't I be…look…we are in college…we haven't heard anything from or about Klaus in months…we should enjoy this while we can and that includes going to the party tonight".
"Ok…well I guess we're going to a party", Elena smiled.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeee….and I have the perfect outfit…come on Bonnie, I'm dressing you up too!" Caroline squealed as she grabbed my hand and led me upstairs.
SSSSS
I licked my fingers as I moved Mila to the other side of the bed after I finished drinking from her. It was the same process…I would drink just enough to render them unconscious, but not enough to kill them. It was becoming tiresome to say the least; the different women…the shows that I put on for Stefan, Elena, Caroline and Bonnie…it was starting to become annoying. I watched Bonnie's face subtly every single time. On most days, she turned her face to stone, but on others, she had a moment of complete devastation and that hurt the most.
However, no matter what…this is the way things would have to be…forever.
I slid out of bed and headed downstairs to the living room just as Stefan walked in the door, "I thought you would stay out for the rest of the night", I smirked as I walked over to the drink cart pouring a sniffer of brandy.
"I thought you had a date…"
"I do…she's upstairs…she's completely tired out", I sighed rolling my eyes.
"I don't understand why you are doing this…I honestly don't…Bonnie is still heartbroken over what happened with you two, you are just playing around with these different women, you don't feel anything for them…"
"That's the point or have you not been listening".
"You are living a sad life".
"Oh am I…I have a different woman in my bed every night…"
"Not the one you really want though…so that means, its all rather empty…huh?" Stefan smirked.
"Look…Bonnie and I are in the past".
"And why is that?" Stefan asked moving closer, "ok…so you had a moment of weakness a couple of months ago and you wanted her to turn… ok…I will confess, I have those moments too…but Damon, you are torturing yourself for what?"
"You don't get it…that night in the woods…I didn't want to save her…I wanted her to die…do you know who felt that way about her before…Elijah…I promised that I would never hurt her that way and I almost did…Stefan, its better that we are apart and I need you to get over it…Bonnie and I are over…we are not getting back together, so stop suggesting it and trying to psychoanalyze me…why don't you go back to the house and stay with Elena!" I snapped.
"Elena, Caroline and Bonnie went to a party…and after your display today, I was not invited to go".
"I didn't do anything wrong", I countered, "I am letting Bonnie live her life and I am living mine…what's the big deal?"
Stefan shook his head, "You just don't get it and I guess you never will", he replied sadly walking out of the room shaking his head as I downed my drink.
"Damon…come back to bed", Mila purred from the doorway as she walked over to me.
I turned to her. As beautiful as she was, she needed to go.
"Go upstairs…get dressed and go home…you won't remember being here at all and you won't remember me", I stated staring into her eyes.
She nodded, turned and walked away from me as I poured another drink.
SSSSS
I watched Elena and Caroline dance around laughing and giggling as I stood on the side sipping on my punch. Apparently this freshman party was heavily chaperoned because there wasn't any trace of alcohol in this red liquid. I glanced around the room, when I felt someone standing next to me. I turned to see a guy who had the skin of melted chocolate and the most beautiful light brown eyes I have ever seen. He was smirking at me, "Hi…I'm Nate", he replied holding out a hand, "junior and chaperone for this little shindig here".
I looked at him and smiled, "Bonnie…freshman…and apparently a party pooper for this shindig here".
"I can't believe that…but I do believe that you rather watch from the sidelines…its actually pretty fun to people watch".
"Well…I'm just surprised that the punch doesn't have anything else in it".
"Well yeah…I kind of take my job seriously", Nate winked.
I returned his smile. It was nice just to talk to someone who wasn't worried about you breaking or wasn't Damon, "Well I would say this party has been a success…my friends are having plenty of fun".
"Good…good…my fraternity and I just wanted to give the freshmen a chance to get together and party for awhile…soo Bonnie, are you from Mystic Falls?"
"Yes…born and raised…and yourself?"
"Richmond…I wanted to come somewhere that wasn't too far away…but far enough that my parents would have to call before they visited", he smirked.
I giggled, "Well I live off campus…of course".
"Really…at home?"
"Kind of…my friends and I are sharing a house".
"Soo you won't get the full campus experience…"
"I don't know…I think I am having it right now and when my dad gets the bill, he will definitely believe I am getting the full college experience".
Nate chuckled, "My parents say the same thing".
I shook my head as I moved a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I have to go and mingle around the room…can't show too much favoritism, but I would like to talk to you after the party sometime…umm…would it be too forward of me to ask for your phone number?" he asked in a way that told me that he was a little nervous to actually ask.
I looked over at Caroline and Elena who had stopped dancing and were looking at me and Nate with wide grins. "Sure…you can…", I began as he removed his cell phone from his pocket and I gave him my phone number. He repeated it back to me and I touch his hand to look at the screen and it was amazing…I felt nothing…no jolt…no warning to let me know that he was a supernatural being that would betray me later…he was a regular guy and that was what I needed…and most of all, he was nothing like Damon.
SSSSSS
Elena and Stefan came giggling in the front door and made me want to vomit. Ever since Elena had become a college student, she came over to share with Stefan all of her lessons. It was annoying and I wondered…why is it they can't go to her house?
"Oh Elena…here again…that's great", I remarked sarcastically as they walked into the living room.
"Oh Damon…here again…pouting as always", Elena smirked.
"And tell me why you two can't take your party back to that big ole house on the other side of town…I'm sure Caroline and Bonnie find you absolutely mesmerizing", I replied widening my eyes.
Elena rolled her eyes, "Actually Caroline decided that she wants to be normal and she has a job at the Mystic Grill…"
"Even more of a reason why you should be at your own place", I replied.
"And Bonnie…she's out on a date", Elena replied with a smile.
I noticed Stefan glance my way as if felt a slight uncomfortable feeling in my chest, "Oh a date…that's nice…so the little witch finally got over me…good…I was sick of looking at her puppy dog looks whenever we happen to see each other".
"You are such a jack ass Damon", Elena scoffed as she stood up and left the room leaving Stefan and me to start a staring contest.
"What?" I asked as I walked over to the drink cart.
"Nice performance there with Elena, but I know you're not happy about Bonnie", Stefan replied.
"Actually, I am delighted that Bonnie is out with some random guy that will be yesterday's news tomorrow…"
"Well from what Elena tells me, they've been out at least 4 times since Saturday and this is the first time Bonnie's been happy in a long time".
I rolled my eyes as I gulped down my drink.
"Damon…you could be the one making her happy…all you have to do…"
"All I have to do is what I am doing right now…why don't you concentrate on your relationship and I will concentrate on my non-existent relationship with Bonnie?"
Stefan sighed (like he always does) and walked out of the room leaving me to the quiet; the quiet that I was starting to appreciate more and more each day.
SSSSS
After fleeing the boarding house, I went to Mystic Grill. I needed to find a nice little redhead to take my mind off of Stefan and Elena, the annoying twosome. I plopped down in a booth and looked around the restaurant. There was a group of co-eds doing shots in the corner…there was a redhead…and she would be perfect for the picking…in say an hour.
"What are you doing here!" the whiny blond baby vamp snapped standing over me with her arms crossed.
"I am here to get service and if I don't…I may have to talk to your boss about how rude you are to customers", I batted my eyes at her.
"You're here to spy on Bonnie and Nate aren't you?"
Bonnie was here? With the guy? And what kind of name is Nate anyway? I scanned the room for a few seconds and saw no trace of Bonnie…most of all…I didn't feel her presence.
"She's not here yet…but she will be after their movie and you need to leave before then".
"Oh Caroline…so protective, I see no reason why I can not be here when Bonnie comes with her new beau…I mean, she's over me…right?" I smirked.
Caroline smiled, "Well if Nate keeps on doing what he has…Bonnie won't even remember you", and with that she flounced away as I balled up the napkin on the table.
As I stood up to leave, I heard Bonnie's laughter drift through into the restaurant as she and some tall guy entered. The guy guided her in by the small of her back and I had an increasing need to rip his arms off. I watched as they made their way to a booth. Bonnie slid into the booth and suddenly the smile disappeared from her face as she looked around. She looked around for a few moments and that's when she saw me across the restaurant. She stared at me for a few seconds and then she quickly turned back to the guy. He touched her hand and she smiled…and I knew, I wanted to rip his arm off then.
I walked towards the door, fighting every inclination I had to stop at the booth and rip Nate's heart out and pushed the door to the restaurant open violently.
SSSSS
"Hey you ok?" Nate asked reaching across the table touching my chin as I turned to face him.
I smiled back at him. The last couple of days I lived in a bubble. Damon didn't exist…I focused on school and Nate; but seeing him tonight in here, sent my heart crashing into my stomach.
"Yes…I'm ok…I just thought I saw someone I knew for a moment".
"I bet you everyone knows everyone in this town", Nate replied.
"It is small…"
"But I can tell that you love this place".
I smiled, "I do…I mean…there are bad parts and good parts, but I love Mystic Falls".
"So tell me…your dad travels for business and your mother…"
"My mother left when I was younger".
"Do you know why?" Nate asked.
I shrugged, "She never stopped to give me a reason…I was three…I just remember her being here one day and not the next day".
"And you never wanted to look for her?" he asked.
I shook my head, "I don't think you should look for someone who made it pretty clear that they didn't want to be found…but I don't want to talk about that, I want to talk about…I don't…something not as heavy".
"Ok…well how about this…I want you to show me around Mystic Falls…I've been here for almost three years and I've never had a proper tour…they say this town has quite a history".
"A tour…I can do that", I smiled.
He reached across the table and caressed my cheek, "You know…you are beautiful do you know that?"
I felt a blush crawling up my cheeks, "I'm ok".
"Don't sell yourself short…ever", Nate said taking my hand and kissing it softly.
SSSSS
I stormed into the boarding house slamming the door behind me and cracking the window. I could feel the heat radiating off of my body. Stefan rushed into the foyer, "What's wrong!" he asked in full alert mode.
"Who is that guy that Bonnie is dating?" I asked pacing.
"What?"
"The guy…the guy!" I walked over to Stefan standing inches away from him, "who is that guy…do we know what he's about…is he a warlock…werewolf…what…is he working for someone?"
"Nate…he's fine…he's human", Stefan replied calmly.
"How do you know that…have you been hanging out with him?" I narrowed my eyes.
"He's been at the house to pick up Bonnie when I'm there…", Stefan shrugged watching me, "did something happen?"
"They came into the Mystic Grill tonight".
"Ooook", Stefan replied clearly not following.
"The guy…I don't like him…I don't like the way he looks at her".
Stefan looked at me, shook his head and chuckled, "You are something…I told you that this would be a problem and you told me that you would be ok…look at you, you're practically smoldering with jealously".
"Look…we have a circle here…a circle that is pretty exclusive, we can't just let everyone in without being investigated".
Stefan looked at me as if he was ready to have committed.
"Oh don't look at me like that", I said walking away from him and into the living room.
"You are losing it…Bonnie says that he is human and he's a nice guy…he hasn't done anything to make any of us think otherwise".
"You are all too trusting…let me in a room with him for 15 minutes, he will confess everything".
"Damon…don't mess this up for Bonnie, you wanted her to be happy…she's happy…you need to deal with it", Stefan snapped as he brushed past me and left the room.
I watched Stefan walk out of the room. He could write it off as jealously, but this Nate needed to be checked out and I am the one who would do it.
SSSSS
"So that tour?" Nate asked as he followed me up the stairs and grabbed my hand.
"I have one class tomorrow and its over at noon", I smiled looking up at him.
"Sounds like a date", he whispered as he got closer to me.
I braced myself as he leaned into me and pulled me closer as he kissed me softly on the lips. As we stood on the porch kissing; I realized that it was nice…not exactly sparks…but nice.
"Have a good night Bonnie", Nate whispered in my ear as he turned and walked down the stairs.
I placed my fingers on my lips and headed in the house.
Elena was out with a study group and Caroline was still at work. It was weird, I hated being alone for all of those years while my dad was traveling and now, the house was buzzing with activity more often than not and I treasured the quiet. I walked slowly up the stairs with a smile on my face. It was nice to hang out with Nate tonight. He did make me feel beautiful and normal…it was a refreshing change. I opened my bedroom door and shrugged off my jacket throwing it on a chair.
"I'm surprised he brought you back home...I would sure he would try to get you into his bed", the voice said in the darkness.
I jumped a little as I turned on the light to see Damon leaning against the wall by the window. Looking at him in my bedroom with that smirk on his face made my heart jump…and it made me instantly angry.
Sooo Damon's jealous...well...