{Wow... where has this story been? I know I sort of left you guys hanging. I have to admit I had a lot of trouble writing this chapter and had to break it into more than one part. I hope you guys enjoy and please be on the lookout for the next chapter. I know I said this before but seriously... three more chapters at the very most and this should be done.}
Elements of an Ill-fated Romance
Chapter Eight Part Two: The Force that Moves Us
Playlist: A Sorta Fairytale by Tori Amos
He stands there for a moment in silence. Blue eyes on green, his lips curve slightly upward into what could either be a smirk or a truly menacing sneer… with him it's so hard to tell sometimes. His cheek is still warm from where her hand connected to his face. And he's almost positive that there was just a bit of magic behind that slap. He's as impressed as he is annoyed and more than a little confused. He felt the passing of energy from one body to the other and is pretty sure that she got more than a passing glimpse into his mind… but why it happened or how he's not certain of.
He takes a step in her direction and she counters with a step back. He notices before she does that she's not fully recovered and before she can take her next breath she's toppling over into a very ungraceful fainting spell. He's quick to circle behind her as one hundred and ten pounds of complete dead weight haphazardly falls into his arms. Her head lolls back and as he looks down into her face brushing stray tendrils from her cheek he once again gets a very clear view of the angles that turn out not to be really angles at all; they are defined curves, smooth gentle arches that round out her slender face… still beautiful… still Bonnie Bennett.
He hoists her up as gently as he can muster and places her into the passenger seat of his car as her words ring in his ears.
'You son-of-a bitch… you lied to me!'
Oh there were so many things that she could be referring to. He's not exactly known for his honesty but he has a pretty good idea of what she's talking about… and so it would probably be best to get her back on the road before she woke and set his ass on fire for his deception. But as he settles into the driver's seat and rests his hands onto the steering wheel he looks over at her and wonders if what he's doing is worth her wrath…worth taking the chance that she may see past the lies he's told and recognize the truth...whatever that may be.
After years of perfecting the art of lying to others it has become second nature to do it for himself. Sometimes it's hard even for him to see the true reasons for what he does. His emotions are so foreign to himthat it becomes damn near impossible to distinguish between what is genuine and what's an act.
His decision for the impromptu road trip had been made completely on a whim... as was most of his ideas. And as she shifted in her seat, her body moving closer in his direction, he knows that this whim can't be all that bad. Looking up at the sky he sees the sun has shifted further west and realizes that if he doesn't hurry it won't matter. Perhaps she'll understand… perhaps she won't… but he'll never know unless he tries. Sighing he shifts the car into reverse and backs out of the parking lot. "We'll see…"
Ninety minutes later...
She came to with a soft moan and squinted her eyes in his direction. She did a double take because seeing Damon Salvatore when she wakes is not something she's accustomed to. Rubbing the side of her neck trying to work out the kink that had settled there it took her a moment to process where she was and what she was doing.
"Where are we?" Her voice sounded and felt like gravel.
"Just crossed into Maryland." He answered matter-of-factly.
She nodded as if understanding...there was a beat as she truly got her bearings and then shot up like a bolt of lightening had struck her. "Wait... what? What the hell are we doing in Maryland? Why aren't we on our way back to Mystic Falls?" She asked and watched him shrug nonchalantly.
"Maryland was closer." He remarked.
She shook her head. "Damon..." There was a moment of silence because it was obvious that she knew... and by the obvious way that he wasn't looking at her, he knew that she knew.
He remained silent, eyes still glued to the road ahead of them. "What did you see?" He asked.
"Other than you making up the story about mutilated backpackers?" She asked.
He sighed. "That wasn't exactly made up." He cut in.
"Right... you could have mentioned that those reports were from 1978!" She snapped.
He shrugged absently as he glanced her way. She was rubbing her temples with her thumb and index finger. "What else?" He asked.
There was definite hesitation as her fingers stopped for a fraction of a second. "I saw that you were at the wedding! By the way… being there but not really being there and playing with my mind that way… completely off limits; got it?"
He nodded. "Noted… is that all?"
Once again the silence settled over them and he noticed that she had yet to look at him. "Bonnie…" Still she remained looking out the window. He sighed as he pulled off the road onto the shoulder. Putting the car in park he didn't bother to turn off the engine but shifted in his seat. She was close enough that he could reach out and brush his fingertips across her cheek but he remained where he was. "Bonnie… question two." He stated.
She snorted a bitter laugh, cutting her eyes to him and shaking her head. "Are you kidding me?"
"You promised." He shot back. It was a weak argument at best and if it had been anyone else it probably wouldn't have held up… but this was Bonnie Bennett. Loyal and benevolent Bonnie… The same Bonnie that stopped a burning inferno in its midst to help Stefan save him even after he almost ripped her throat out… she was just one of the good ones… something that should bother him and often times did but it was something that he always counted on as well.
She stared him down, her green eyes searching his face as if looking for something that she never bothered to look for before. "I have a question first." She stated bluntly and there was something about the delivery that dared him to deny her… dared him to refuse when he knew he had no right to. He had lied to her. He had deceived her on purpose.
He raised an eyebrow because the refusal was already on his lips but he hesitated and something similar to a smile graced his lips because somewhere in the back of his mind he already knew her question. He gestured with his hand for her to ask.
She sighed and flexed her jaw from side to side as if finding trouble with the next words that desperately needed to be voiced. Running a hand through tangled raven locks she shook her head as if dismissing the very idea and instead switched tactics. "Do you have any aspirin?" She asked already reaching for the glove compartment.
"Wait don't..." but it was too late as the door opened and the evidence of his deception was revealed.
Once again there was silence as she reached inside and pulled out the neatly creased navy blue envelope. The memory of many other envelopes just like this one flashed across her mind's eye…years of them all with the same addressee written just like this one. Damon's name scribbled across the front in bright silver script. She recognized it as Stefan's writing not even sure how she knew. Her fingers running across the front, her index finger tracing his name. She shook her head looking up at him meeting his stare dead on. "Why me?"
'Why not Elena?'
That's really what she's asking. He can almost hear it... or maybe he just knows by the way she stares into his eyes.
He watched her debating on exactly how honest he wanted to be… especially when he wasn't exactly sure what the honest answer was. He took in a deep unnecessary breath to give himself more time to think, to make up something to tell her. Which was extremely ironic when he finally found the words.
"I just wanted to have some fun." No angst...no drama. Not today... not this day.
Her eyes softened slightly but there was something behind her green orbs that told him she didn't exactly know what to make of his words. Looking back down at the envelope in her hands she turned it over and over quite a few times exhaling a deep shuddering breath. "I saw a lifetime through your eyes… good times… not so good times…" She stated handing the envelope to him. "…but I felt absolutely nothing." She finished quietly.
Once again there was beat of silence before the sound of her phone snapped her back into focus. Looking down she watched Elena's name light up on the display screen. Looking up he watched her for a moment. The ringing continued. He sighed. "I can take you back." He stated.
Her finger hovered over the talk button before she made a quick decision and pressed to ignore the call sending it to voicemail. Licking chapped lips she cleared her throat. "We've come this far… no point in turning back now." Tucking the phone back into her purse she ran her fingers through her hair before clasping them together in her lap.
The smile was slow to his lips but more genuine than any he had given her before. Shifting the car into drive he checked the rearview mirror as he eased back onto the highway.
It only took a moment before she settled back into the seat staring out the window again.
The silence settling over them quietly they could feel the change that was shifting their relationship... sort of like the passing of a season into the next, a gradual unavoidable transition that was moving them forward toward a destiny that neither of them could see. That neither of them were truly ready for.
Half Hour Later...
They had veered off the main highway at the last exit and stopped shortly afterward at a small parking lot. She stared out at the encompassing forest that greeted them as they exited the car. The antique wooden sign engraved with solid white lettering stared back at her.
'No motor vehicles beyond this point'
He barely looked over his shoulder to make sure that she followed him as he led them up the mountainous trail. It was a pretty easy walk until they veered away from it. His sure steps silently assuring her that he knew exactly where he was going. She stumbled slightly behind him. Her sneaker getting caught in the thick underbrush. Reaching out for anything to keep herself from falling he was in front of her catching her hands within his own. "Careful." He replied making certain that she was on sure footing before continuing. But this time instead of leading by going ahead he remained at her side, his hand slightly holding her elbow as they continued on their path.
He looked up briefly and felt the time getting away from them. "We need to hurry." And even though his steps sped up he made sure to keep her by his side until the thick mass of trees broke away to reveal that they had climbed the side of a mountain and were now standing on the very edge of a cliff of a rocky mountainside overlooking the most beautiful and serene spot of the world she had ever seen.
There were peaks in the distance decorated with overgrown statuesque trees that seemed as though they were daring to touch the very sky. Dusky thin pink clouds floated across a powder blue sky that had her wishing she had brought a camera to capture this moment.
The sound of water rushing below caught her ear and as she stepped closer to the cliff's rocky edge she saw the steady flow of water that seemed to capture the rays of the sun and the glow from the sky as it rushed over rocks and continued on down paths unknown. With a deep inhale she smelled the scent of rain and rainbows, tasted the heat of the sun on her tongue and knew she would never see something so beautiful ever again.
And then she felt his hand... cold fingertips brushing the back of her hand as he signaled for her to watch the sky; the sun as it began it's descent into the horizon and at the very last moment, right before the rounded edge of the golden sphere touched the horizon line there was a green light that sparked the orange sky like a mystical lightening bolt. It was so quick that if she had blinked she would have missed it and it almost brought tears to her eyes.
They had traveled hours for the mythical green flash that some still believed was nothing more than an old wise tale... even she had to admit that she had her doubts... but not anymore... because of him...
Looking over at him she watched the pale blues of his eyes. Bright and beautiful... almost as if they had captured the green light in their orbs. He watched until the sun was completely out of sight... sunken beneath the edge of the world. He looked over at her the silent question burning within their depths.
'Was it worth it?'
She smiled back so many questions still unanswered but none of it seemed to matter. "Happy Birthday Damon."
To be continued...