Best Friend
Pt 9 – Two Broken People Can't fix each other
R – T
· I LOVE MY SUPPORTERS THANK YOU SO MUCH! PLEASE ENJOY THIS CHAPTER!
"Baby girl, who is this little boy you're singing our song to, and why does he look like me?" He asked as his frustration and confusion grew.
"This is my son, Damon."
"Wow! Okay." He said wiping the palm of his hand over his mouth, in a stressful manner. "What's his name?" He asked bracing himself.
"Well, most people call him Dylan." She said holding in her emotions. Then suddenly a small wave of tears filled her face as the boy was rocking back to sleep in her arms. He witnessed her eyes gloss over, turn to tears, and streamline down her cheek. "But his name on his birth certificate is, Dimitri." Damon's lip begins to shake the same as when he found out about Baylee, and his eyes glossed over, and his cheeks flushed, bright, cheery red. "Dimitri... Dylan... Bennett-Salvatore."
Damon stood there for seconds not saying anything. He walked to her and then away from her and towards the window, tightening his fist. "Damon?"
He kept walking away from her. "Damon, let me explain... please? When she saw him open the window, and head out... she didn't say anything else, she walked towards him reaching for his arm and he yanked it away from her. Damon climbed out of the window, and back down the tree and he didn't come back. Bonnie said nothing. She just let him go. Maybe he needed time. Maybe he was in shock. Maybe he didn't believe her.
Either way, he left and didn't come back.
...
Come nine am she and Dylan were downstairs having breakfast with Ginny. Abby hadn't returned. After the beautiful dinner, they'd planned the night before, and how much Nik's parents hit it off with Abby, she figured that her mom and Nik wanted some alone time. So, they weren't expecting Abby for church today.
"That's it babe? He said nothing and left?"
"Nothing. And left. I'm not sure he'll be here today, but... I just got ready anyways. If he doesn't come, we can take my mom's car and head to church. I need the Lord's words today anyways. I haven't been to church since grams died. Besides, I'm wondering who the new pastor is. Ever since grams died, I didn't keep up with who took over her position."
"Wow, this is a big day for you. You're holding it together very well. I'm surprised that you just, don't stay home. After Damon's silence, and figuring out who's taken your gram's place, and finding out about your momma's baby, it seems like a trigger to stay home."
"No. I run too much. I need to face things."
"Right. Well, I'm proud of you. Dylan... want some more oatmeal?" Ginny asked turning to him.
"Num num." The happy little boy ringed in pleasure. Ginny laughed and airplanes his food into his mouth.
"So, have you spoken to Stefan?"
"Some texting here and there. You know, I'm not trying to just be wifed-up. I mean I like Stefan and I thought Matt was cute. I'm excited about the rodeo this coming week. Country people are so much fun."
Bonnie laughed. "I did these things growing up. The city life was and still is new for me. I love my hot yoga class and working out with bae. I love random beach trips with Dylan, and going to China town, and... hey Mexico and Vegas are close neighbors."
"Yeah. Well, this place is beautiful."
"Sure, it is. I love it. I just don't like the memories." Bonnie grabbed her sons bowl and bottle and proceeds to wash it, along with hers and Ginny's dishes. They waited a while and as ten o'clock rolled round there was no Damon. Bonnie gave it five minutes, and decided to drive she and Ginny to church. Sure, everyone would see Dylan and become skeptical. Where's his father? Who's his father? Blah blah blah. She was ready and prepared. She rounded her little squad up and they left.
Driving through the beautiful countryside and seeing the mixture of tree leaves and sunlight flicker in her periphery, Bonnie felt a little nostalgia. She and Damon always rode in his truck all around Mystic Falls. Stefan loved sitting in the bed of the pick-up and occasionally Bonnie sat with him. Memories made her smile, when they didn't involve her time in Georgia and Baylee.
"Hey, we're getting close to church. People will probably think you're a celebrity. Get ready for a thousand and one questions. They love interrogating new people, with no shame. If you need my help-"
"Bon, I'm good. I can deal with people." Just as Bonnie pulled into church, she noticed people outside, getting ready for the service. They were gabbing and hugging and she pulled up her big girl panties getting out of the car. She grabbed her son and walked towards the chapel. "You good Bons?"
"No. but I will be." She said, shaking off the jittery nerves. She looked at her tall friend, with the long legs and flats on. Ginny was built like an Amazon. She looked like a model. Had the attitude of the old American gladiators. And was as sweet as pie, until you pissed her off. She was one of the guys, but could hang with the girls. She was Bonnie's sista from another mista and in the short time they'd been friends, they became closer than peas in a pod.
"You are really conservative today Ginny."
"I hear about southern churches. I wasn't trying to disrespect the Lord." She laughed. "No ma'am. Sunday best, and I even wore flats, so I don't frighten people."
"It's Virginia sweetie, not a cave with indigenous people from prehistoric era. They've met tall people before." Bonnie laughed. She stood at the church playground with Dylan and let him slide. "Okay papas, come on slide down. For mama. Yes, baby boy." She smiled at him. "Weeeeee." She said watching him tumble down the slide.
"Bonnie? Bonnie Bennett is that you?"
"Sarah? Oh, my gosh. Hi." Bonnie said hugging her old grade school friend. "How are you? You look amazing.
"Good. Thanks, yoga does a body good."
"What are you up to?"
"Nothing exciting these days. Work, and church. The occasional night out."
"Well, this is my best friend Ginny, and that's my son Dylan. We came home to help my mom with her wedding."
"Congrats. I heard. Yeah, wow. He's beautiful. And those blue eyes, to die for. How old is he?"
"He's almost two."
"Geez, he looks just like Damon." Sarah said, shocking both Ginny and Bonnie.
"What?"
"Oh, I just assumed. Y'all were together, and the baby looks just like him. I'm sorry if I was wrong, I-"
"No, it's okay. I just never heard anyone say it-" saved by the bell. The church bells began ringing, and Bonnie was thankful. She almost lost her breakfast.
"Hey, we should catch up soon. I'd love to get together sometime. Maybe a play date."
"Sure, get with me after church." Bonnie said. She wanted to run for the hills. Everyone in the community must be looking at Dylan likes he's Damon's, and Damon has yet to say anything to her about it. She hasn't even told him yet, because he left the instant he could make a move.
After Baylee's funeral...
Bonnie went back home to her husband. She had no idea what to expect. They weren't really on speaking terms. She thought hard about going back. Abby was right, Damon had a lot of growing up to do. When it came to Baylee, he should've been there. She went through the entire service without him, and he couldn't even speak words of peace to comfort her. She felt abandoned, like she did with her father.
But, when it was said and done, he was her husband, and if the Army didn't let him go, he couldn't go. So. she headed home.
When she got there, she didn't call him. She caught a cab home. She walked into her house and it was if she never left. Everything looked to be in the same place. Even the remote. She puts the remote in a tray and he always leaves it on the couch. It was in the tray. Her sweater was still on the back of the kitchen chair. It didn't look like he touched anything. She looked into the fridge. The food she made was being eaten. There were no dishes. It was weird, and quiet. Lonely. She kept grabbing her belly. She missed rubbing it, and talking to Baylee. She walked to their nursery. Everything untouched. It just was a room now, for a baby, but there was no baby. She shut the door and sat in the rocking chair. The chair that was passed down to them from another military family, who'd outgrown rocking their baby to sleep. Bonnie sat in the chair and rubbed her belly singing.
You made me love you... I didn't want to do it...
As soon as she felt tears, she stopped singing. She sat there in silence and smelled all the baby plush toys and looked at the things Baylee Raye would never see. Her hurt sunk deeper and deeper into her chest. She couldn't describe the pain, or the ache. All she could feel was... she was empty inside, and it was how she felt. Literally.
Five weeks later...
"You ready for church baby girl?"
"Almost. I'm just trying to fix my hair. This bang keeps falling in my face." She reminisced about her pregnancy, and how that piece of hair would've made her cry. Although her hormones were still out of whack, she was slowly finding her way back to some emotional normalcy. Although, she was still dealing with the loss, she decided to focus heavily on her marriage, and put everything into getting her and Damon back to where they once were.
"Whatever you do, don't chop it off." He said laughing.
She walked out of the bedroom and he lost his footing. She looked beautiful. She straitened her hair and curled it. He's seen her hair in a bun for the past couple of weeks. She had on a simple dress. It was pink and cut like a baby doll style. She wore some simple nude flats and her face was natural with a bronze toner. Her light brown curls were off set by her green eyes and the way the sun hit her, just made her look like a goddess.
"I'm ready now."
"Damn." Gulp. "Baby girl, you are truly, a sight for sore eyes. I can't... i'on't know what to say. I just don't want to go to church today. I feel like I can't let you out of my sight."
"Oh doodle. Hush." She blushed. He held onto her hand and pulled her in gripping her chin between his fingers gently, looking at every trace of her face.
"I love you. I'm so happy you're my wife."
"I love you too."
"We're gone be okay, Birdie. I promise. We'll get through it." He said, because he hadn't seen her look happy in weeks, and he had no idea how to make her feel comfort. The best way he could show her, was through his touch. Damon may have loved her with everything in him, but he had no idea how to help a woman cope with loss, or depression. He just knew whenever he touched her, it made her feel good. So, through his touch, he brought her to euphoria almost every single night.
They didn't communicate much during the day while they both worked, and Damon feared saying the wrong thing to her. Bonnie focuses on working, coming home, making dinner, and ritualizing church. She played perfect housewife. She made him breakfast at seven am everyday, and when he got home from PT he ate with her at seven-thirty, then they showered together, and both got ready for work. As she sent him off with his meal prepped lunches, she headed to her work. Bonnie blocked out negative behavior, and actions and just tried living in the moments. Another reason Bonnie was afraid to be emotional was because her husband was heading to a deployment.
"Well, you leave in a week. So... I'm fine. I'm getting really involved in church. I already have a women's retreat coming up. I'm busy doodle. I'm okay. I'm fine." She looked him in the eyes for two seconds and pulled away. "Come on. Let's go church." She smiled nervously, and Damon became worried for his wife's mental well-being.
Present Time ...
Bonnie and Ginny came out of the church service happy and emotional. The guest pastor was from a larger town. He was popular in his area and Bonnie had heard of him before. He and his wife were both pastors, and he was speaking about abandonment today. Bonnie was in a way touched because she felt abandoned by her father. Ginny felt abandoned by her father. The two girls related on that level, with their fathers who were so dedicated to their professions they weren't around, which made them focus those abandonment issues on their relationships.
"Whew!" Ginny fanned her eyes. "That was powerful. I can't do emotion today. Let's… can we go eat?"
"Yes, Gin. I was thinking the same thing."
"Can we go to that diner? They had the best pancakes. Girl... been craving them since yesterday."
"Ugh. Fine."
"What, you don't like the diner?"
"I love the diner. It was me and Doodles spot though."
"Doodle?"
"I mean Damon. Ahem. Sorry." She said clearing her throat.
"Doodle. Oh, my gosh. That's so damn cute. Why doodle?"
"Ehh. He liked to draw back then. I don't think he does it so much now. He was very good at it. Then he stopped after Baylee."
They headed into to the parking lot to leave, and when they started driving, Dylan became very anxious and upset.
"Baby, come on... ma ma is driving. What do you want? Ba ba, blankie, num num?"
"Num num, ma ma." He whined and moaned. Church was longer than expected, and he was ready for lunch. They finally made it to the diner and Bonnie asked for a booth in the corner to keep Dylan from being so out in the open. When Bonnie walked into the diner, she was spotted by a familiar face. "Princess?"
"Oh, hey Kol. Thought you were headed back to LA?"
"I am. I wanted to go to church today, but I ended up going to the B.I. Last night and… didn't wake up in time. So, I came to the best hangover spot around." He smirked devilishly at her. "You know, your son really likes me. I think we bonded last night over your delicious, sweet potato pie."
"You mean, he reached to your plate and grabbed your pie?" The younger anxious boy, leaned in and reached for Kol, and Kol held him. "Sorry, he thinks you have pie. Anyways, join us, don't eat alone." At that very moment, another man walked into the diner, that recognized, Bonnie.
"Bonnie." She turned slowly.
"Mikey?"
"Hey munchkin." He walked up to her and grabbed her into his arms, spinning her in a big hug. "Look at you short stuff. You sure are pretty as ever. Eyes greener than ever. I miss ya. Where have you been?"
"L.A."
"That's right."
"So why are you in Virginia?"
"Been offered a position at VT as an ROTC instructor."
"Ma ma."
Mike was interrupted by Dylan, and he looked up seeing Kol. "Oh-uhh, sorry. Am I interrupting family time?"
Before Bonnie could answer, she watched as Damon walked in with the woman he'd been seeing off and on for a few years. She forgot what she was going to say. She lost all train of thought into the sight of them holding hands as they walked in. Mike realized Bonnie became tense and she was interrupted by Ginny.
"Bons, they have a seat for us." Mike looked back noticing Ginny immediately. "Bonnie." Ginny called back, not really noticing Mike. All she saw was Damon walk in with another woman.
"Umm, yea. Sorry. Mikey, this is Kol and Ginny, and my son Dylan. Guys this is Mike Lawson. He was my first friend, when I moved to Georgia. He's Damon's best friend."
They all greeted each other, and Ginny grew increasingly irritated with Damon's walking in, seeing Bonnie and Dylan, and ignoring her.
"Hey, why don't we all sit together? I think-"
"No. hell no." Ginny said. "Bon, babe... let's go." Ginny moved Bonnie since Bonnie was unmoving.
"I thought she was staying in Georgia?" She asked Mike.
"She does live there. She flew in this morning. To be honest, I thought they were broken up until I went to the airport with him to pick her up. She got here a couple hours after me."
"Nice. That's umm... anyways-"
Ginny cut her off. "Ya know, Mike. I'm sure you're a nice guy and all. But unfortunately, today isn't a good day to sit at conjoined tables." She said standing in front of Bonnie. She surprised Mike with her forward decline of his invitation. He looked her in the eye, and decided against arguing with her.
"Umm. Okay." He was taken aback when she walked away with Bonnie. Kol followed them with Dylan, which looked suspicious in itself. Bonnie didn't think much of it, she just went to the table. Then she did what she does best. She avoided the conflict.
Mike stood speechless for a second, then he turned to Damon. "So uhh, that was interesting."
Damon shrugged his shoulders, and followed their waitress to their seat. "I'm starving. I can't wait to eat." Damon said. Mike looked at him strangely, he'd been acting strange all morning. He left it alone and ordered his food.
Deployment ... between 7-8 years ago
Bonnie stood hugging Damon for several excruciating painful minutes. He was dressed and about to get in the buses that were taking the soldiers to the airfield. His arms held her for dear life. He squeezed her and she refused to let him go. As he held her he spoke into her neck. "Baby, I'll see you soon, okay? Time will fly, and before you know it, the year will be over. I promise."
Feeling his warm breath and low voice against her neck made her cry harder. The night before they held each other, naked. After hours of emotional love making, Damon and Bonnie barely slept, not wanting to wake up and, he has to leave. Now she held him in her arms and didn't want to let him leave. It was like saying good bye to her father all over again.
As he pulled away from her, it took him forever to let her body go. Her face was puffy. She wore sunglasses, and he didn't cry in front of his comrades. Except a few tears that snuck out of the corner of his eyes. He kissed her lips once more, and when he did, she wrapped her arms around his neck again. "Please don't go. Please?"
"Duty calls." His eyes were watering more.
"No. don't leave me. Please."
"Baby girl, you know I have to. I don't wanna leave you. But I'll be back, I promise."
"I love you. I love you so much. Be careful baby. Please be careful." She cried.
"I promise I'll be back."
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I'll keep every promise to you."
As their hands let go. Slowly. Fingertip, by everlasting fingertip... they drifted slowly until their hands dropped, and the squeaking of the bus getting ready to load up was the very heartbreaking sound that made her head fall into the palm of her hand. She watched him until he boarded the bus, and watched the bus until it disappeared.
Present Time ...
"Bon, let's talk about it."
"About what? He was there. He saw his son for a second time. He's angry at me. It's my fault. There's nothing to say Gin. Not a got damn thing." Bonnie spoke unwavering as she laid her son down for a nap. She hadn't seen Abby since the night before and it was honestly the best thing for her. Her mother was a different level of stress in her life right now.
"Bon. If you continue, to block everything out, you will have a nervous breakdown."
"Why does everyone feel like I block things out? I don't. I deal with things the way that works for me. I didn't come here to tell him about Dylan. When I came back, I didn't think he'd be here. I thought he was in Georgia. But I did it, Gin. I told him. He saw him. He's angry. I get it. Trust me. I've been angry at him for so long, that I get it. He should be angry. I've screwed up."
"Bonnie..."
"No. Please listen. The reason I didn't tell him, is not because I'm angry at him. The reason I didn't tell him is because he lied about the reason he missed our daughter's funeral. He didn't tell me for years. When I found out, I realized he wasn't ready to be a father. And by the looks of his reaction, he's still not ready."
"Why didn't he go?"
"He said, he couldn't see her like that. He told me he made a conscious decision not to go, and it had nothing to do with his commander. He chose, Ginny. He looked himself in the mirror, and said to himself, 'I'm not going to my daughter's funeral.' Can you believe that?"
"Did he tell you why?"
"Does it matter? He didn't go to his daughters FUNERAL. I dealt with every detail alone. I can remember how I felt every second of every minute of the entire thing. Did create her alone? No. I stopped my life, when we became us. My life became our life. I devoted my time to being his wife for three years. I focused on us. I did all the things, I thought I was supposed to. Moved to Georgia. Stayed alone for a year, when he deployed. An eighteen-year-old wife. Alone."
"Bon, you were married?"
"Yes, Damon and I got married. My mother never knew, still doesn't know. The only person who knew besides our military family, was my grams. My mother, was so angry I chose my child's father over her, that she didn't talk to me, the entire year he was deployed. God that was hard. Let's not forget, when he was injured. The phone call I got, when was he got hurt during deployment, receiving minor burns from an explosion. Not enough to be sent home, just enough to worry me for the remaining four months. I put myself through literal test after test of loneliness and heartache. That was my life as his wife. The first three years of my adulthood. I don't want to count the miscarriage after Baylee. I was only three months along, I couldn't tell him, because I didn't want him to feel the hurt I felt. I became stronger than I ever believed I could be. And I would have done it all again in a heartbeat for him. The one time I needed him, he didn't come, by choice. So, forgive me, me not telling him about Dylan, Was because, I didn't think, he could handle it. I didn't need someone who couldn't be what I needed, when I needed them to be it. Especially, when I was ALWAYS, everything they needed from me and more."
"I get it Bon. I do. You don't deserve any of that. Not just from Damon, but your mom. This is a lot. You've always had to be tugged between them."
"I don't like being lied to." Just then she received a phone call from her fiancé.
"Hello... yes love... no, I'm sorry I haven't called in a couple of days. Yes. I'm not sure... your coming next week, I know... of course I miss you. I'm not a savage, I've just been very busy... you can't possibly be angry at me! What?... no I'm not. No... No... Don't be that way. Of course I want you to come. No I'm not. No. Stop being accusatory. I'm here with my family and Gin. I've bought your plane ticket and booked your flight... you are joking right?... hello?"
"What happened? Was that-"
"Yeah, it was him. He said he's not coming. Something about work. He's pushing his plane ticket back."
"Good."
"Why good?"
"We need to repair you and your sons father."
"No, we don't."
"Bonnie, I hear what you're saying. I do. But I've never seen you look at him, the way you look at your son's father." The doorbell rings downstairs. "Should I go answer it?"
"No. I got it." Bonnie walked downstairs slowly and opened the door. "Stefan, what a surprise. What are you doing here?"
"I heard something, and I was wonderin' how true it was? Do I have a nephew Bird?"
"Yes. Stefan. You do. He's asleep right now."
"Can I come in?"
"Of course. He's upstairs, if you want to see him." She walked up the stairs. "Come on, follow me." Stefan followed Bonnie up the stairs down the hall, to her bedroom.
"Hey there Ginny. You look pretty."
"Yeah. Well, thought I might see you at church. But, you stood us up."
"Naw, Damon called me this mornin' said plans were cancelled. I had no idea y'all still went." Stefan looked at Dylan. "Oh my gawd. He's his spittin' image. Holy fuck. He's cute as hell. Look at all that black hair. Reminds me of when D takes leave and let's his hair grow out for a couple weeks. His hair looked like that before he joined the army. Fuck birdie. Why ain't you told us? I'da been a part of my nephew's life. Shit, I'd visit LA for him. And I hate LA."
"Stefan, it's not that simple. Okay. Things got very complicated."
"Birdie, we are family, ain't nothin' ever gone change that. Whether you and D get y'all shit together or not. You still my sister Bird. You still my family. I love you and your momma. And this lil boy, is my blood. I love him too."
"Stefan, I'll be here three more weeks. I'm not opposed to you spending time with your nephew."
"And after that?"
"After that, we go back to LA, with Ginny and my fiancé." Stefan's face went from north to south and he was disappointed.
"Damn bird. Fiancé? That was quick."
"Quick? You just said, you're okay with me and Damon not being together. Beside he got engaged to that psycho woman right after grams' funeral. Stefan, Damon and me... ain't meant to be. We should've always stayed best friends."
"I don't by that horse shit for a minute."
"Where's all the acceptance?"
"He just clung to her. Let's be real Bird, he ain't gone replace you, but he hates being alone."
"Yeah, then she was a woman who went to our church on post. I knew she had eyes for him, but I liked to believe, that women and church didn't look at other women's husbands."
"Well, she changed him a bit. Had him spending all his money recklessly a while. She even hit on me, and Mike. Tries to say, oh I'm just friendly like that. Bullshit. That chick is the got damn devil."
"It's his life." She said shrugging his shoulders.
"Ugh. Bird, I can't handle you right now." He rolled his eyes at her.
She smiled. "Stefan, take Ginny out to a movie or something. She needs to get out of the house." Bonnie said rolling her eyes and laughing.
"I'm staying here with you Bon."
"Sweetie. I didn't come back to mystic Falls to introduce you to my bullshit. Now, I am going to enjoy the afternoon, of peace and quiet. Abby's gone. Dylan's fed. He'll sleep for a couple of hours. Please Gin. Go have some fun. I promise, I'm fine."
"Okay. Fine. But I'm not tying to go to a movie, so... Stefan, you free to hang?"
"I'm actually going to the B.I. in a couple hours."
"Oh."
"But, why not work with me it'll be fun. It's Sunday. Sundays are more laid back."
"Fine." She said happily, but shrugging it off. "I'm going to get dressed."
"I'll be waitin' for ya sweetie. Keep it short and sweet." He laughed. "Literally... short shorts or short skirt."
"Stefan, make sure she has fun okay? She's a good girl."
"I know. First time I spent a night with a girl and all we did was peck on the lips. She's funny." He sighed walking up to Bonnie. He wrapped his long loving arms around her, "Bird, my brother, loves you. That engagement to what witch, was just to satisfy her questions. She was always jealous of you, according to him. She tried to out do you in everything. In fact, she tried recreating his memories with you, by doing those things with him. She's psychotic.
Bonnie wrapped her arms around Stefan's waist, "Stefan, mine and Damon's time, came and left. I have a fiancé, he's got that crazy pants woman-"
"And you marrying a man, because you love my brother, and it scares you."
"Stefan that's not-"
"True? Yes, it is. Anybody in Mystic Falls would be. Blind not to think the two of you don't belong together." She pulled away from him.
"Stefan, thanks for always being our biggest fan, but... two broken people can't fix each other. We'd never sleep." She laughed.
"Speakin' of sleep, I need to talk to you about his sleep disorder sometime."
"What?"
"Not now, when we can be alone. He came back from his second deployment, and somethin' ain't been right."
"What do you mean, Stef? What's wrong with Doodle?"
"Almost readyyyy." Ginny called out to Stefan.
"Another time Birdie. When we can speak privately okay? He told me not to tell anyone."
"Stef, you can't just unload that on me, and expect me to wait."
"Birdie, trust me, I'll talk to ya." He said with pleading eyes.
"Stef-"
"Okay, I didn't want to take too long, I'm ready." Ginny walked out with skin tight jeans that hugged her hips and slinky white tee, she tied at the belly. And some white flats.
"Hot damn!" Stefan said. "Everything is perfect... except..." he looked down forcing Bonnie to look.
"Oh, boo. You need some genuine, leather boots. No flats."
"I don't have any. And you and I don't wear the same size."
"Hold on, let me check my mommas closet." Bonnie smiled running off. Stefan was stuck there string at her navel.
"Ahem!"
"You put the shirt on, not me!" He laughed. "You never realize, how sexy a woman's belly button is, 'till she covers her whole damn body, except her navel. I don't mean to be rude, or sound rude, but, you have got, one... sexy... belly button. I'ma need to take another tequila shot off you. This time, I may have to..." he whispered in her ear..."dig, a little deeper. Really taste you." Ginny stared at him and smiled.
"You're trouble Stefan Salvatore."
"I mean, depends on how you define trouble."
"One-night stand trouble."
"Do you know, how much can happen in a night?"
"I'm aware. Okay then... as it stands, it won't be just one-night. I mean... I'm not sure a California girl can handle a country boy's sexual appetite. Don't them LA boys hit it and quit it? Country boys don't know the word quit. I'll make you tap out-"
"What are you guys talking about in here."
"Tequila shots." Ginny said,
"I know what tequila shots are." She said smacking her glossed lips. "Here boo. These are perfect." Bonnie handed her a pair of her mom's boots and matching belt, with a designed belt buckle.
"Yup, right there. Wait, let's make it official." He took his hat off and put it on her.
Bonnie smiled at Stefan, shocked. In Mystic Falls, when a man takes his hat off and puts it on a woman, it means he really likes her, it's kind of like he's claiming her. Stefan glanced back at Bonnie and shrugged his shoulders and scrunched up his lips. "Don't look to deep into it, little bird." He laughed. "We should go. I'll talk to ya soon Bird. Not tonight, by any means. Let's go Ginny. After you." He followed her down the stairs, and Bonnie wasn't far behind.
"Hey, Stef." He turned to her.
"Yea Bird?"
"I haven't had a chance to say it, but I'm proud of you."
"For what?"
"Helpin' Doodle with the bar. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is more capable of keepin' that bar goin' like you. You know this town and because of it, you are doing it successfully. You were made for that type of business. Besides, I love seein' two out of three of my favorite men doing big things."
"Wait, who's the third man?"
"My lil man, Dylan of course." She smiled hitting his arm.
"I'll take that list." He was just happy that for the time being she forgot she had a fiancé.
"Alright, gone now. Don't bring my best friend back sick again."
"Who lil ole me? Naw." He said opening Ginny's door then winking at Bonnie.
..X..
Mike, Damon, and the woman walked into Damon's place, later that day. "I'm going to shower. I'll be back down, in a couple of hours. Just need to unwind a bit," Mike said.
"Room is at the end of the hall. Bathroom is the second door in the hallway. Towels, is in the hallway, linens next to the bathroom. Make yourself at home Lawless." One of his nicknames for Mike.
"So, are we just going to act like we didn't see your ex at the diner today?" She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, was she there?" Damon said sarcastically, to the brown haired, brown eyed woman who despised his ex-wife.
"Really Damon? I find it funny you two didn't speak to one another." She had a sweet disposition, but she was a woman with darkness.
"Well, it's no surprise. We don't have much of a relationship right now." He walked to his bathroom and started to pee, without closing the door.
"Disgusting. Why would you not shut the door? Is that something you do with her?"
"Why? Why are you always worried about me and her. You ain't her, so worry about you." He said and pissed her off. After he flushed he toilet and washed his hands he walked to his alcohol, then pulled out a small glass and a bottle of whiskey and poured a glass. "Would you like a glass?"
"Sure."
"Okay."
"Well, I'm here. Your mother's fiftieth birthday is in a couple of days. Party at this bar, you own, with Stefan?" She shrugged her shoulders shaking her head.
"What's that about? That fuckin' thing you just did with your shoulders and your face. He asked with furrowed brows and an angry face, he drank his bourbon quickly and poured another glass.
"Nothing, accept it's a stupid business decision. I always told you Stefan isn't the ideal business partner. He's got no real-world experience." He hated the way she put Stefan down.
"Stefan knows this town. He knows these people. They love him. No one better to run MY BAR than my brother. People respect him."
"He's a country bumpkin. Damon, he's never left this place. He has no idea how to run a business." He drank his second glass of bourbon.
"What did you call my brother?" Damon's slammed his glass down, in a fury.
"A fucking country bum."
"We don't get along you and me. I remember now. When I told you 'bout my mommas birthday, I didn't invite you, b'cos you don't like it here. You can't stand country folk." He yelled. "You insisted, you've changed. Bit you don't like country people."
"I live in Georgia, Damon."
"By choice? Naw. I met you, when you was married to another man. You moved to Georgia, with him. Now your divorced and I don't know why you stayed. Besides, Georgia and Virginia ain't the same, and you like the city." He walked away from her.
"Come back here. I stayed for you. But you are too blind to see when someone loves you. That girl hurt you so bad, you don't even except my heart when I give it to you on a silver platter." She tried remaining calm. "Bonnie's a terrible person. She broke your heart."
"Y'ont know her. She's still my best friend. We may not be talkin' right now, but don't ever confuse it with her place in my life. She ain't goin' nowhere." And that had to ring even more true now than it ever has, now that he knew she was the mother of his child, or he wasn't sure what to believe, he never allowed her to explain.
"See what I mean? I compete with her, it's sickening." She grabbed him by his arm. "Make love to me. Give me something she can't have."
"What?" His face became covered in surprise.
"Let me give you a baby." She draped her body over his and handed him another drink. "Drink up love."
"Stop." He said pushing her off him, as he drank his third drink in a matter of seconds. "Get off of me Sy. Now!"
"No, let me take the pain away. I promise to make it good." She kneeled and started unbuckling his pants. She became, greedy, and he had drunk so fast, he was light-headed.
"Fuck!" He said as his sight became blurry. He stumbled backwards and she sat him on the couch, and in her way, tried to make him forget about Bonnie.
Excerpt Pt 10:
Bonnie took her shot and turned seeing Damon and Sybil. Dancing hand in hand. Sybil looked so desperate sometimes. But it wouldn't matter, Damon didn't look at Bonnie. He was so angry, he couldn't face her. She couldn't force it. So, she watched the two of them dance, and look happy. It hurt, it stung. But she needed to see it so she could move past him. She had a fiancé after all, and Damon was a mere distraction. She headed out of the bar to get some air and one of her favorite songs came on. They were keepin' it slow and she didn't have anyone to dance with. She headed out of the door until a large hand reached for hers and pulled her back in with a flirty aggression. Her face lit up at him.
*So, the angst is coming. Now we introduced the other woman in Damon's life, SYBIL. I can't stand her. Lol. Bonnies fiancé hasn't shown up yet, but he will… at the right moment, eventually. Damon is angry about how Bonnie handled the situation with his son, and he's hurt, but in his mind, destructive Damon, is kind of making her feel the repercussions of her actions by hurting her. Is he trying to hurt his son? No. But he's figuring things out. Mike is really going to play an important role, as you'll see now that his character is coming in. He and Ginny's story will take time too. Right now, she is enjoying Stefan. I just like to introduce elements subtly. I hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter is juicy. Almost finished with it. Abby really loves Nik, she made a mistake, and now she is going to be stressed out until she figures things out. AND YES… eventually Bonnie and Damon are going to have an explosive and emotional moment where they finally get honest with one another. I have started writing parts of that confrontation. But it won't be for a little bit. Anyway, thanks for reading.