Elements of an Ill-Fated Romance
A/N So I was re-reading this story and realized how little I touched on Elena and Bonnie's friendship. I also realized that with 'Inadequacy' it seemed as if I didn't like Elena very much and that's not the case…so this chapter is for the Bonnie/Elena friendship fans. I hope you enjoy! Also this story is almost done…hence the title of this chapter! ;)
Chapter Ten Part Two: The Beginning of the End
Playlist: Happy by: Leona Lewis & Broken by: Lifehouse
Mystical Falls Carnival…
She stood stationary at the foot of the ladder as Elena continued to decorate the inside of the last carnival booth. A heap of stuffed animals crowded Bonnie's arms as she handed them to her best friend who balanced herself at the top. "I'm really glad we're doing this…I feel like we haven't spent much time together lately… and I've really missed you Bonnie." Elena remarked honestly pinning the stuffed pig to the wall.
She smiled. "Me too," she replied instantly even as her eyes drifted to the entrance. There were a few students milling about on the other side waiting to come in but still no sight of Damon. She kept telling herself that it was still early but the feeling of dread and apprehension only increased as the minutes ticked by. Her vision from earlier only making her more anxious. Shuffling the toys in her arms she checked her phone once again for a message that wasn't there.
"Expecting a call?" Elena asked as she stepped down from the ladder. Her eyebrows raised in curiosity.
Bonnie sighed with a slight shake of her head. "Yeah…no… kind of," she answered and watched the slight frown of concern that enveloped Elena's face.
"Bonnie… is everything okay?" She asked.
She shrugged. "Yeah… everything is…everything." She finished lamely. "There are just some things going on that I'm kind of thinking about."
"Do you want to talk about it?" When Bonnie hesitated she continued. "You know you can tell me anything right? Is it… is it witch stuff?" She asked gently.
She shook her head. "Something like that... I don't want to worry you."
"When you don't tell me things it worries me. I feel like…like we're keeping things from each other."
She swallowed hard because she was keeping things from her… "It's just… I'm not even sure there is anything to worry about…yet! I mean there could be and then there might not be. And I don't want you to get all worked up about something if it's not worth it."
Furrowing her brow she ran a hand through her long dark brown hair. "I really wish everyone would stop doing that…"
"Doing what?" She asked confused.
"Stop trying to keep things from me for my own good… as if they have to protect me… or save me." Pulling some of the stuffed animals from Bonnie's hands she placed them back in the cardboard box. "I mean Stefan says that he's doing it to protect me…"
"And he is." Bonnie pointed out.
"But that's the thing… he doesn't have to protect me… none of you do. I mean…I'm not helpless…"
"No… but you are only human." She stated and she doesn't realize she's said the words until they are out there and she can see the confusion clouding her friend's eyes. "What I'm trying to say is that Stefan and Damon have super human strength you know… there is very little that can hurt them and I… I have the witch thing going on… and you…"
"I'm the odd man out?" She asked somewhat hurt by her friend's words. "I'm the weak one so that makes me vulnerable…"
Bonnie shook her head, reaching out and placing a hand on her friend's arm. "That's not what I meant…" She sighed. "It's just… you're really important to a lot of people…especially Stefan…and I don't think he would ever forgive himself if anything ever happened to you because of him."
"Nothing is going to happen to me Bonnie…"
And the words seem so honest… so naïve when they are uttered… that it sort of breaks her heart… because they aren't true. The truth is that there is a very real possibility that something could and would happen to her… and not just because she's human…but because for whatever reason there seems to be a dark ominous force following her best friend… trailing just one step behind her, always reaching out for her and just barely missing her.
Bonnie has felt it since the untimely death of Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert…and it's only grown stronger in the months that have passed. It's hard to explain how she can see and not see it… almost as if it's always in her peripheral vision but never dead on. She doesn't want to call it death… because it doesn't feel like death… but it is dark… and it is coming.
Whatever it is, Bonnie decided a long time ago that she would be there to stop it from taking her best friend… no matter the cost… whatever it may be.
"You're right…nothing is going to happen to you because I won't let it!" Bonnie stated resolutely meaning every word.
Elena smiled. "You know just because you're a witch…doesn't mean that you're invincible. I mean Sheila was a witch and…" She began when Bonnie cut her off.
"I can take care of myself." She stated off-handedly.
The taller girl sighed heavily. "I know that you can… I just don't think that you should have to. I mean I know that I sort of put you in the middle, asking you to go on those stakeouts…with Damon no less." She remarked.
They exited the last booth and made their way passed a concession stand. The aroma of funnel cake and cotton candy invaded her senses and made her stomach growl.
"He's not that bad." She remarked and watched Elena arch an eyebrow. "Well he is that bad but…I don't know we've sort of made it work."
"Still… that whole thing with the backpackers in Maryland… was a bit much. I'm all for you wanting to protect Mystic Falls but you're not responsible for the entire United States." She remarked. Bonnie only replied with a nod because talking about Damon Salvatore was not high on her list.
They walked in silence for a moment all the while she could feel Elena's eyes on her. "You know…we never did talk about your road trip." Her words were hesitant and somewhat halted. For whatever reason this was a dangerous topic and though neither of them said as much they both could feel it.
Bonnie shrugged. "There's nothing to talk about. We went to Maryland…we came back. End of story."
Stopping and turning to her, Elena sighed. "You see that's what I'm talking about… it's not just about witch stuff. I feel like we don't talk about anything anymore. I mean there was a time we could tell each other anything…everything… and now it just seems like…" She began.
"I like Damon." She blurted out. Her heart stopped for just a moment and she had to swallow hard because those words were not planned… at all!
And the silence that blooms between them is deafening because Bonnie's words are unexpected and yet not… because Elena may be a lot of things… self absorbed at times, naïve and selfish at others… but the one thing she had always desperately tried to be was a good friend to Bonnie. Yes sometimes she fell short; sometimes she was blinded by her own needs and wants and could be completely insensitive without realizing it but at the end of the day Elena had a good heart… had a good soul and when she really tried she could even step outside of her own bubble and see what was going on around her. And the truth was she had seen the change between Damon and her best friend months ago.
Yes they had been subtle, but the changes had been there. The way that Bonnie always made sure to have her passenger seat positioned specifically for his height or the way she always had the radio on a station that would pass as acceptable for his standards; the way Damon would already have coffee waiting for her when they went on their stakeouts and how he always seemed to know what Bonnie's schedule was even when she wasn't so sure... small things that added up to something bigger… something important. No, Elena had not missed it…
…But she had tried to ignore it.
Elena had never tried to examine her feelings where Damon was concerned mainly because she never felt she had to. She knew that there was something he felt for her…and whether it was obsession, because she resembled a homicidal sadistic vampire that had captured his heart, or genuine affection because on the inside she was everything that Katherine never was… the fact remained she knew whatever he felt for her was real. Perhaps he didn't love her… but she didn't need his love…didn't even want it. She had Stefan's love… She was content just to have Damon's attention. She didn't know what that meant. She didn't know what that said about her.
And instead of trying to figure it out she rationalized her behavior. Told herself it was okay to like Damon's attention as long as she never acted on it; never outwardly encouraged his advances. Everything would be fine. She would continue to act oblivious, Damon would continue his silent obsession and Stefan would continue to cherish her… all would remain as it should.
But Bonnie's declaration changed everything; and as she stared into her best friend's eyes and she stared back, they both knew it.
She nodded. "Oh…"
Bonnie's eyebrow arched and she waited.
"When did this happen?"
Bonnie shrugged. "I don't know… it's been happening... I guess..." She answered.
"I thought you hated him." She replied.
"Me too." And she's being honest because she did think she hated him at one time. When anything bad was happening it was easier to blame him. He didn't seem to care; didn't seem to be bothered with the grief he had caused… continued to cause… but it didn't mean that he wasn't experiencing pain. Finding out the only woman you ever truly loved never really loved you back had to hurt. And it took a while for her to see that… Damon hurt…he just hid it better than the rest of them.
"But now you don't?" She asked.
Bonnie shook her head. "I don't think I ever hated him… I mean I hated what he did to Caroline…I hated what his demands cost me… but I'm not sure I ever really hated him."
"I don't understand."
She sighed looking to the entrance and seeing that the gate was now open. Students filing in, in groups of 3 or more but still no sign of him; the feeling that something was wrong only grew stronger. She turned back to Elena. Licking her lips she exhaled a deep breath.
"Everything Damon did… everything that he had ever done was to save the woman that he loved…to rescue her… no matter what it cost him…no matter what it cost anyone." Looking up to meet Elena's eyes she gave her a tight lipped smile. "It didn't make sense then… but when I look at you I realize that I'm no different."
"Bonnie…"
"Do you remember that winter when we were nine and I wanted that stupid Barbie for Christmas? I mean that's all I talked about...all I wanted... all I dreamed about...and on Christmas morning... I opened all my presents...and it wasn't there." She stated thinking back on that day. She had been absolutely heartbroken.
"Your dad said they were all sold out." Elena sighed with a small chuckle. Bonnie had been so distraught as she told Elena all about it over the phone that Christmas morning.
"But that didn't stop you from getting me one... you convinced your dad to drive you across three counties on Christmas day just to get me that doll and by that night I had my own Starlight Barbie." She smiled reminiscently. "I knew then that you would do anything for me... and I would do anything for you.
"That night we opened the tomb… I knew Elena… I knew that Grams wasn't strong enough to complete that spell… but I didn't care." She remarked softly. "I just wanted my best friend back and safe."
"Bonnie you couldn't have known what would happen." Elena reached out to place her hand on her friend's arm but Bonnie grabbed it instead. She wrapped her fingers around her palm. And when she smiled there were tears in her eyes.
"It didn't matter… it wouldn't have mattered to me. I just knew that I had to get you out… no matter what… because sometimes… even I'm selfish." She confessed sadly. "And I just wanted my best friend to be okay… and I didn't give a damn what it cost anyone else." She admitted. "So you see… I get it. I understand Damon's actions when it came to Katherine…because they're no different from mine when it comes to you. You're more than just my best friend Elena… you're my sister."
Elena shook her head in amazement even as she reached out and pulled Bonnie to her because no matter how many times she saw her loyalty it still always took her by surprise that someone could care for her this much…still rendered her utterly speechless, because for all of Elena's hang-ups and tunnel vision she always knew that Bonnie was a far better friend to her than she ever was to Bonnie. Holding her close she exhaled a deep breath… no she didn't deserve her as her friend… but she was glad she had her anyway.
"You're too good to me." She whispered softly even as the tears fell onto her pale cheeks.
Pulling back they both laughed slightly at how sappy they were being. "So… Damon huh?" She asked with a watery smile.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Yeah… I must be mental... I don't even know what it means…" She hedged. "I mean I know that you guys have this thing and…"
"You should go for it." She cut in. Bonnie furrowed her brow about to protest. "No I'm serious… I think you should…" And the sincerity catches them both slightly off guard. Elena has never been known to give up anything…never known to truly let go of anything… it doesn't make her a bad person… it just makes her who she is… But she's willing to do it now… in this moment…for Bonnie.
And there is something acutely and visibly wrong with this situation because Damon isn't hers… Stefan is the one she loves…Stefan is her boyfriend… but somewhere along the way…she had grown to see Damon as belonging to her… no it doesn't make sense and once again instead of examining the issue she will simply tuck it away… ignore it…for the time being…
"Really," Bonnie asked. "I mean there are about a million reasons why this would be a bad idea…"
Elena sighed. "But none of those reasons matter if you really like him… and you do." She observed.
Bonnie felt the small flutter in the pit of her stomach and the goofy grin spread across her full lips. "Yeah… I do." And for just a moment she's happy… and it's absolutely the best feeling in the world…until…her eyes drift to right over Elena's shoulder and the light weightless feeling from a moment ago slipped away. There was Jeremy… holding Damon's leather jacket…coming straight toward them.
Meanwhile a few minutes earlier…
He watched her from a safe distance. She was in deep conversation with Elena. He could have just eavesdropped but for whatever reason had decided against it. Which went against his nature but then again Bonnie Bennett had that effect on him. He did things completely out of his usual self… sometimes to please her…sometimes to simply piss her off… because most days he couldn't decide what he liked more… her smile that always seemed just a bit more genuine than anyone else's, or the heat behind her eyes when they flashed in frustration and anger. Both reactions were equally entertaining.
But he had no intention of going over there… no intention of making his presence known. He sighed as his hand clenched around the small object in his hand…the reason why he was about to break his promise to her.
Mystic Falls Police Station
He sighed flipping through the latest autopsy photos as he only half listened to Sheriff Forbes go over once again about how four new victims had been admitted to the morgue just a few hours earlier. Necks ravaged, limbs torn from sockets, abdomens gouged from the inside out... the gruesome pictures could turn even the strongest of stomachs. These weren't typical vampire attacks... something or someone had an ax to grind... a point to make to the residents of Mystic Falls.
"So do we have any leads?" He asked, his eyes darting up to meeting the sheriff's when he noticed her hesitation. "What... what is it?"
"All of the victims were pretty much mutilated... completely torn apart... all except one." She remarked pulling the last photo from the manila file and handing it to him.
He stared at the photograph for a long moment. It was a young girl, no more than seventeen. Thick chestnut brown hair, dark brown eyes still open even in death and pale white cheeks. Slender frame, pouty lips...She could have been Elena's sister. Her body was completely unmarred. The only indication that she wasn't alive was the slight bruising around her neck where it had been broken. But that wasn't what startled him; that wasn't what had him holding his breath in distress. It was her hand... or better yet what was on her hand.
It was a ring... a very specific ring that had been in his family for almost 3 generations... until he gave it away; until he gave it to Katherine as a symbol of his love over a hundred years ago. The shiny onyx metal surrounded the family crest carved in silver in the middle… stared back at him almost mockingly. He could practically hear Katherine's soft laughter in the back of his mind.
Yes someone was trying to make a point...and that someone was Katherine Pierce.
Katherine was back... and she was letting him know... there was no replacement for her!
He had brushed the photo off as though it were nothing… just a sick game played by a sadistic vampire with a morbid sense of humor. He was pretty sure the sheriff had bought it. He wasn't sure how but he had convinced her that he would drop by the border tonight…alone… to see if there was anything he could do. He left the station and made a beeline for the morgue to retrieve the ring.
Holding it now between his thumb and index finger he couldn't decide what he felt more…anger that she would use something as precious as this to send him a message or surprise that she had kept it with her for so long. He had told himself that he no longer held any allusions about what he meant to Katherine… but in this moment he couldn't deny the sensation of doubt that lodged itself in the pit of his stomach. If she really didn't care for him…if he never mattered to her…why keep the ring? It didn't hold any monetary value. But sentimental value…that was a different story…
'Did she care after all?'
'Was there another reason she hadn't come back for him?'
'Did she love him?'
Closing his hand around the ring he felt his fingernails dig into his palms in frustrated anger. He hated this…he hated her… he hated the way she was still able to get to him… get inside his head…his heart. Because it just proved that he cared… he cared for her… and he hated her for it! She was an evil bitch… and yet there was a part of him that still loved that evil bitch.
He loved her every bit as much as he hated her… and though a part of him wanted to drive a stake straight though her rancorous black heart there was another part of him that desperately wanted her to want him… to crave him the way he had craved her for all those years.
He was fucked up! That's all there was to it! He was twisted and fucked up because he was going to meet her… he was going to the border tonight to confront her because he had to know… he had to know if everything they shared had been a lie… one way or another he had to know.
Catching sight of Bonnie as Elena pulled her into a tight hug he sighed hearing her prophetic words echo in his ears.
"…You would rather walk around pretending to be all pissed off and threatening to rip her apart but I wonder… which one of us is really hiding… beneath the anger... your cool disposition… what do you really feel… and when the day comes… when you see her again… what are you going to do… whose side are you going to be on?"
Running a hand down the front of his face he tried to shake her off. Shake off the feeling of guilt that was riding up his throat at the thought of breaking his promise to her. He didn't even realize when making promises had become important… or maybe it was because he had made them to her that made them important.
Bonnie Bennett… what the fuck was she doing to him? When did she start to matter?
"Call it whatever you want, but I know that you have my back and in my book that makes you a friend…"
He never really had a friend before… and for some reason he doesn't really think of Bonnie as a friend. She is something to him… something that he has yet to label…yet to truly define… because he's not completely certain what exactly he wants from her… all he knows is that he won't put her in the line of danger… not where Katherine is concerned. Because she does mean something to him… she has gained importance in his life… exactly how much he's not certain of…
"I thought Stefan was usually the brooding one." Jeremy stated breaking him from his silent thoughts.
Cutting his eyes to the younger man he fought the urge to sneer. "Well when you hang around my brother long enough… sharing traits can't be helped."
"Yeah… I think I read about that is psychology or something." He stated stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. There was a beat of silence as Damon realized he was still there. "So are you patrolling for vampires or something?"
"Don't you have some rides to get on or… cotton candy to eat?" He asked condescendingly. He was in no mood to play big brother to Jeremy Gilbert.
He sighed. "I'm not a kid you know?"
"Right…" Turning slightly he stared him down. "You think because Anna let you get between her legs that somehow that makes you a man?" He asked crudely. "You do know that Anna was born in the 1800's right; so you can just imagine how many lovers she took to her bed… you were nothing but another notch on her bedpost… she probably didn't even remember your name when it was over!" His words were unnecessarily cruel but he's a bastard and can't help himself; which is why he doesn't break Jeremy's hand when he's foolish enough to try and punch him in the face. Grabbing his wrist he pulled him forward roughly. "You really don't want to test me today."
"You're an asshole!" Jeremy seethed even as he struggled in Damon's grasp.
He arched an eyebrow. "Yes… I am!" He stated his eyes briefly going to Bonnie before coming back and staring intently into Jeremy's eyes. "But you're going to do me a favor anyway." He stated.
"Yeah… and why would I do that?" He asked.
Damon chuckled darkly even as he released him, straightening the younger man's collar he sighed. "Because for some strange and unexplainable reason, you like me Jeremy and you want to impress me… God only knows why." He stated honestly.
The younger man rolled his eyes because as much as he hated to admit it… Damon was right. "What do you want me to do?"
Meanwhile…
She watched Jeremy come toward them. Stepping around Elena she met him half way her eyes on the jacket.
"Where is he?" She asked even as Jeremy tried to hand her the jacket.
"I don't know, Bonnie." He answered.
"Is that Damon's jacket?" Elena asked with a furrowed brow. Bonnie nodded even as she took it from Jeremy's hands. "Why do you have it… where is Damon?"
"He just asked me to give this to Bonnie and said that he'd be back later to pick it up." He remarked.
There was a long moment of silence… the tension building with each passing second. She exhaled a breath through clenched teeth, as her heart hammered against her ribcage. Anxious fear coursed through the blood in her veins and when she finally spoke her words were laced with a quiet fury. "That lying, stupid, cocky, son-of-a-bitch!"
He went without her! He went without her knowing that his speed would give him an advantageous head start. She was pissed… no she was beyond pissed…she was fucking out of her mind, livid!
"Hey what's going on?" Stefan asked stepping onto the scene completely oblivious to what was happening.
"I'm not sure..." Elena replied looking to Stefan and then back to her friend. "Bonnie… what's wrong?" She asked placing a hand on her friend's shoulder.
Bonnie turned to them, her eyes flashing an emerald green. " We need to get back to the Salvatore boarding house…I need to do a scribing spell… before that brother of yours gets himself killed!" She remarked.
Meanwhile…
It had taken him all of five minutes to get to the border… crowded by trees; the forest of Mystic Falls was thick. Tall, century old foliage created a bewitching backdrop that blocked out the light of the full moon; he ventured deeper into its depths and stopped short at the natural clearing up ahead. The scent of fresh blood filled his senses. Not just any blood… it was young…innocent… and potent. He would be lying if he said it didn't water his pallet. And there was a body… curled up, knees to chest, enveloped in a dark hoodie. He couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman… couldn't tell if they were still breathing or already dead. He didn't hear a heartbeat…
"Hey… are you okay?" He asked even as he closed the distance between them. There was no movement… no sound of life… "Can you hear me?" He asked.
Still nothing…
Standing over it he knelt down, the aroma of blood almost making him drunk with hunger. "Looks like Katherine got to you already." He whispered reaching out to pull back the hoodie but before he can the figure turned over driving a syringe full of vervain straight into his chest. He fell back, groaning as his body felt like it was going up in flames.
"Wrong again Salvatore."
Writhing in agony, gasping for air that he doesn't need he tries to see the face that has betrayed him as the hooded figure takes a stand and hovers over him. Pale white face, sandy brown locks and sharp incisors as he smiles; he's a vampire…but he doesn't recognize him.
"What… how…" His words are disjointed and come in breathy rasps.
Pulling the blood bag from the pocket in his hoodie he smiled as he crouched down. His black eyes gleamed against the moonlight as he gave Damon a maniacal smile. "I guess you were expecting Katherine… she still has you by the balls I see." He chuckled darkly ripping the bag open, sucking a few gulps into his mouth before wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "Sorry to disappoint you Damon…Katherine isn't here but she does send her regards…"
"Who… are you?" His skin felt like it was on fire... the burning moving from his chest over his arms and up his neck.
He arched an eyebrow. "That's right… we haven't been properly introduced… I'm Trevor… and we've been watching you for quite a while…"
"We?" He swallowed hard...
"Yes… we…we've been watching you… running around like you're some kind of Goddamn hero. Hanging out with the police… giving advice to the sheriff…to the Council. I bet you think you're really clever!" He smiled but there was no humor. Looking around absently as if searching for something he sighed. "Although I will admit we didn't expect you to come alone tonight. Thought you'd have your sidekick with you…"
"What do you want…what do you want with me?" He asked his vision beginning to blur… as the world around him began to fade.
He sighed. "You're still a cocky, conceited bastard… no wonder it was so easy to capture you." He stated before leaning in bringing his lips close to Damon's ear. "What makes you think this has anything to do with you?" He whispered. "You're just the bait Damon… we want the witch!"
Those were the last words he heard before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and all went dark.