A/N: So I realized that this is supposed to be the 8th chapter but I combined chapters five and six so that's why this says chapter 9 but is actually 8. Anyways I figured now was a good time to update. Hope you like it.

Chapter 9

"Sometimes I wonder if anything's absolute anymore. Is there still right and wrong? Good and Bad? Truth and Lies? Or is everything left to interpretation, grey. Sometimes we're forced to bend the truth, transform it, because we're faced with things that are not of our own making. And sometimes things simply catch up to us."

~Lucas Scott, One Tree Hill

She had been moving through the woods as swift and quietly as possible. She hadn't come across any of them yet and was starting to think they might actually get her. She was moving when she heard a swoosh. The sound she usually heard when Damon or Stefan went flying by her.

"Bonnie." The voice was that of a female so she knew it was Sara's voice. There was movement on her left and she turned quickly to see the blur. She knew what she had to do. She had to concentrate on saying the spell so that she could slow the vampire down.

Closing her eyes and beginning the chant, she felt some one lunge at her. When she rolled out of the way Tyler was moving behind a tree. "That was smart. I'll give you that." She said hiding behind the tree opposite of him. She had lost the extra paintballs Jasmine had given her and only four were left. That meant she had to hit them directly by their heart.

"When you chant you cut out the rest of the world which leaves you vulnerable. You have to keep your guard up." She knew that was right. She would completely zone out when she chanted. She had to find a way to get across to the wolf without him hearing her and Sara zooming by and knocking her back on her butt. She knew that levitating would be a great thing to do. So she let her body float above the ground and up into the tree. She could see where the both of them were talking. Taking out the gun she aimed and fired twice. One hit Tyler in the back where his heart would be and the other hit Sara on her upper left back.

Once it was hit Sara zoomed by and Bonnie knew now was the perfect time to use the spell to slow down the Blonde. Once she began she fired again and missed. She didn't know how the hell she missed but then tried again and hit her right in the middle of her chest.

"Damn." Sara said walking back in her normal pace. Tyler and her looked up to see her still in the tree.

"Good luck Bonnie. You're gonna need it." They left leaving her in the tree she hopped down landing lightly on her feet. She looked around for any of the paintballs but couldn't find any. She felt someone grab her from behind and whisper in her ear.

"Hey Bon, no breaks this time." Damon held on to her while Stefan appeared with the paint ball pointed towards her.

"It's a shame that you have to lose like this Bonnie. You were doing so well." Stefan said finger on the trigger.

"You were watching me weren't you?" Damon moved her hair so that she could see clearly.

"Had to know what you were going to do."

"Well that's funny because I thought the same thing. I figured I might as well get inside your head. What would Stefan and Damon do as predators hunting for prey? So you know what I did? I turned you into the prey." Stefan had glanced to Damon not sure what the hell was going on. He looked back down to see her smile.

"Shoot her Stefan." Damon said still holding on to her. He shot the paintball causing Bonnie to knock Damon back and duck before it could hit her.

"You didn't have to throw me so hard." Damon got up wiping his jacket off.

"I have to have real life practice right." He walked towards her and Bonnie realized she was standing in the middle of the two brothers.

"You lost this one, though." Damon said pulling out the paintball gun. The Salvatore's had the guns pointed at her but she didn't seem to be fazed.

"See I don't think so."

"You have no paintballs or a gun. I call it like I see it."

"Really because if you look around you'll see that I don't need them." Damon finally looked away from her to see twigs, sticks, branches, and smaller pieces of wood surrounding him and his brother. It was like a dome built out of branches and twigs all ready to pierce their skin. When he finally looked back down to Bonnie he could see a big glob of what looked to be paint.

"What the hell?" Damon asked staring at her.

"What is that?" The green-eyed Salvatore asked staring at the glob in mid air.

"This is all the paint I dropped I couldn't find it so I just used a water spell, changed it around a bit and used it to find all the paint I could, including yours." Damon and Stefan shot their guns at her but nothing came out. "I mean paint is water based right. So who do you think is going to win now?"

He looked at the wood still floating in the air around him and his brother and the two globs of paint each pointing at one of them. They were done they had no more paint balls and it looked like Bonnie was actually going to when. Damon wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of winning, his pride in the way. So he looked to his brother and he knew what he had to do move fast enough so that she couldn't catch them.

Bonnie on the other hand knew exactly what they were about to do so while they were trying to figure out a way out Bonnie bought the dome of twigs and branches closer to them making it so they barely had any space to move without getting punctured.

"Alright Bonnie. You win." Stefan spoke stuck in his spot.

"I know I'm going to win but not until I hit you with paint right." Damon watched as she balled her fist up and the glob got condensed.

"Bonnie?" Damon warned. As he stared at her he could've sworn he'd seen those mossy green eyes flicker to a black shade. He knew it couldn't have been that because Bonnie had gotten rid of the black magic. So he knew his eyes had to be playing tricks on him. Soon he saw the witch's hands fly open again making the paint explode all over the place.

She had used some force field to keep the paint from hitting her. Once she stood back up and looked around everything in the woods was covered with paint. Then looking to Stefan and Damon, they were covered from head to toe in it.

"I am victorious." She looked at both of them with a joyous look on her face.

"You got paint all on my jacket."

"I don't know why you decided to wear it in a paint ball fight anyway." She said walking over to the brothers. "It's all dirty now."

He smirked at her then bought her in for a hug. "Now so are you."

"Damon." She yelped looking at the paint he had put all on her. "You know. You're a sore loser."

"While I would love to hear you two go back and forth I would like to get this paint off of me." Stefan said wiping some of the paint from his arm onto his shirt.

"Sorry Stef." Bonnie said examining him to see he had paint in his hair and all over his face.

"Next time no paint bombs okay." Damon said from beside them. Bonnie came to a halt at the same time as the feeling came back again. The feeling she got after she used a lot of her magic. She felt dizzy like she was about to vomit at any minute. Looking down at her hands and arms she saw black veins popping out of her skin. Closing her eyes she opened them up to see that they were back to normal. She was losing it.

"Bonnie." She heard Damon whisper.

"Can you speak up I can't hear you." Squinting her eyes and turning her ear towards him, she could see his lips moving but she could barely hear him. She shook her head and hit her ear.

"I'm not whispering." He came to her side and looked her over. His eyes fell on the blood that was coming out of her ear.

"Bonnie you're bleeding." Stefan said from beside his brother.

"Not agi—" She didn't get a chance to finish before she fainted.

She awoke to her bed and quiet surroundings. When her vision became less blurry she noticed someone sitting in the corner. Sitting up in the bed she saw Josh move towards her. "Where's Damon?"

"He's talking to Nate and everyone else. He's pretty upset." He handed her a cup of tea that was sitting next to the bed. She took a sip and they finished her conversation.

"Why?"

"He didn't think you should have been battling with them anyways." She moved her feet so that they were now on the floor.

"Here." He helped her up. She snatched her hand away from him.

"You don't talk to me all this time and you're mean as hell but now you want to be polite."

"Do you prefer if I was still being a jerk to you because I can do that?"

"I prefer you tell me why the hell you're mad at me anyway." She sat back down as he sighed.

"I thought it would be obvious but apparently it isn't." She was getting that feeling of wanting to punch him in the face again. Couldn't he stop being all cryptic she didn't feel like it.

"I'm going to need you to explain." As he was opening his mouth getting ready to explain they could hear voices making their way to the room.

"Here comes your boyfriend. I'm not supposed to be in here or anywhere near you anyway." He walked to the door and was greeted by Damon.

"I thought I told you to stay out of here."

"I was on my way out just thought I would make sure she was comfortable." Josh bumped into Damon as he passed him.

"I reeeally don't like him." He said to Elena who was trying to get into the room. "If he wasn't one of Bonnie's friends he'd be dead already."

"Bonnie you're up." Elena said moving to her side.

"Yeah I just have a head ache."

"I told you that you shouldn't have been out there."

"But it wasn't nose bleeds it was an ear bleed."

"And lack of hearing. Jasmine made you some tea." He looked to the side table to see that the cup and teapot where already there.

"Josh bought it to me." She took another sip of the warm liquid. Damon took the cup and placed it back down.

"We came to a decision. You're going to help the warlock with the potion and leave the battle and combat to us."

"You guys have a higher chance of getting hurt than I do."

"This isn't the second time you have fainted. A few months ago when we were hunting that succubus you fainted. We were going up against the wendigo you fainted, and even going up against the shape shifter."

"You just need to stay away from the spells for a while okay."

"Damon I can…"

"This decision is final. You work with Josh from now on." Nate said from behind Damon.

The smell of burnt metal filled the air. It was 12:42p.m and all Bonnie wanted to do was pull her hair out. The two had been going back and forth for the past two hours. She told him, one thing needed to go in there and he told her she was wrong and vice versa. He had left to go grab a few supplies from his room, while she was left to gaze out the window. She was watching her friends do target practice to perfect their aiming. Being up here only made her blood boil she wanted to be down there with Damon and her friends. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone.

The caller ID read Matty. The name should've been changed but she couldn't help it, calling him that made her feel like they were young again. "Hello?"

"So you can't call anyone and let them know what's going on?"

"Been busy."

"Fainting and bleeding by the ear"

"How did you know?"

"Stefan filled me in."

"You two are becoming pretty chummy together."

"He's good people. Now stop trying to change the subject."

"I'm fine."

"Is that Bonnie?" Bonnie knew that voice and was ready for an earful from her best friend.

"Yeah." Matt answered.

"Give me the phone. Ms. Bennett it's a shame I have to hear about you getting hurt from Tyler. You or Elena should have told me."

"Care, you shouldn't worry so much."

"I can't help it."

"I know." Bonnie really wanted to change the subject because she herself didn't want to think about it.

"So what's going on I heard your old friends are nice." She was thankful that Caroline had picked up on that.

"They take care of me."

"Ty told me the dude named Josh is a real jerk to you and Damon."

"He's just upset."

"About what?"

"When I know I'll let you know."

"I'd like to finish speaking to my friend." Matt's voice could be heard in the background "Bye Bonnie. Call me when you get the chance."

"Alright."

"So how's Nate?" The deep voice could be heard over the phone.

"Good he and Jazz are still married, Evan and Megan still banter."

"Is Josh still into his books?"

"I don't know we haven't really had any pleasant conversations."

"Yeah Lena told me. You don't know why he's mad at you. Maybe you should listen to him. I mean he helped you and encouraged you to take my calls and stop ignoring me."

"He's being such a jerk right now."

"You told me you were a jerk to him when you lived there. Apparently something happened to make you stop acting that way. Do whatever that was and you should be okay."

"Thanks Matty."

"No problem. Tell Elena I said hi."

"Sure."

"Love ya Bon."

"Love you too. And tell Care I love her." She hung up and was frightened by the body standing behind her. "You scared me."

"My bad. Who was that?" The green-eyed man asked curiously.

"Matt and Carolina calling to say hello."

"Oh. I got the lizard scales?"

"What are we going to do with them?" She asked. Even though she already knew what to do with it.

"Boil them with the other stuff." She figured she could take Matt's advice so she thought of the way he slowly broke the ice between them and she remembered he used a quote. She took the time and attempted to come up with one.

"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it." He looked to her and watched as she talked, "I don't know who said that but I think its true here. I want you to be happy, even if I have to leave and stay at a hotel for it to happen. Then so be it."

He was silent and she was beginning to think maybe he would take her up on that offer. "I'm happy."

"You sure don't act like it." His head dropped and he looked up to explain.

"Do you remember how we use to argue over the stupidest things? I miss that."

"You want us to argue over who had eaten the last box of cereal."

"It sounds stupid. Matter of fact it is stupid. I just miss the way we use to be."

"We can't be that way anymore. I'm with Damon."

"And I'm with Sara."

"Right." Grabbing her face, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"You have no idea how much I missed you." She smiled as he let her face go.

"I missed you too."

"Now we should get back to work before Jasmine comes in here and starts yelling."

"She just wants us to be thorough."

"She doesn't have to bust a vein while doing so." Bonnie's mouth turned upwards and she sat next to Josh helping him find the spell in the grimoire.

Sara stood outside the door of the attic. She had come up here to ask Bonnie did she want to come watch them go over the training but over heard there whole exchange. He had been so upset with the witch, and she had wanted to know why. Now seemed like the perfect time to find out if anything more happened between Josh and Bonnie than they were letting on. "Hey, Sara. What are you doing?"

"I wanted to talk to you." Meg stopped.

"Alright follow me. Jasmine has me going to the library to look up some more techniques for battle. So what do you want to talk about?"

"Josh told me you all met in college."

"Josh and Nate were friends since elementary school, Jazz and me have been friends since high. Then she and I met Nate and Josh who was roommates with Evan in college."

"What about Bonnie? You said she was a part of the group?"

"Yeah she was but not until a few years later when she ran away from home."

"She what?"

"Yeah on her 18th birthday, she ran away."

"Why?"

"Well because she felt like her friends weren't appreciative of her."

"The ones she bought with her." Meg nodded her head, "How did she get here?"

"Nate found her working at some bar and bought her home. She was so upset. Those friends she bought here were the same ones to make her leave. You know what I always found funny. She and Josh didn't get along at all for the first two weeks and them after that one night they started to..."

"Started to what?"

"Hang out a lot. Why are you asking so many questions about them?"

"I get this feeling from them both. I don't know what it is."

"Maybe you should ask him." Meg grabbed the book and left Sara standing in the library. She hadn't gotten the information she wanted out of the brunette. So she figured she would do her own investigation.

Going into her and Josh's room she closed it behind her and went to Josh's closet. She searched for anything she could find photos, letters, paraphernalia, anything really. She had been looking for about an hour when she found a compartment behind his clothes she opened it and saw a safe. She knew she could easily get in and as she moved her hand to open she stopped herself and began to wonder why was this was such a big deal.

She trusted Josh and if there was something he thought she should know he would tell her. She didn't know why she was letting this Bonnie girl get under her skin. Shutting the compartment door back and placing everything where it was she got up and found herself back with the rest of the group.

Bonnie was going over the spell they would use with the potion. "So this one should work well with it."

"Yeah. I think that does it. You do know that you're not saying the spell right." He grabbed the paper out of her hand.

"Why not?"

"If there is one thing Damon and I finally agree on is that you shouldn't be doing that. So you handle the potion and I have the spell."

"That's total bull. I can do this. Everybody can stop treating me like I'm fragile."

"If you want it to change then you have to go to Damon. When it comes to you he calls the shots." Bonnie felt the steam coming out of her ears and Josh who was most likely imagining the same thing smiled.

"Listen we have the potion ready and the spell, there's no need to get upset. The vampire just wants to make sure that you don't get hurt."

"I'll talk to him later." She said turning to sit on the couch.

"I can talk to your other friends and see if they could convince Damon as well." He took a seat next to the fuming witch who had calmed down at the touch of his hands on her back. "Maybe he'll let you say the spell with me."

"Okay I think that's fair enough."

"See what teamwork can do? We were always good partners, I was the brain and you were the…nope I was the brain and the muscle."

"Ha that's funny. You know I knocked you on your butt a few times." He stood up walking to put the spell they made next to the potion. "You deserved it." Josh faced the witch and saw that smile that had always made his heart skip a beat. It was a good feeling and he was glad it was back.

"Tomorrow Sara and I are going out to dinner. You can join us if you like."

"Can I bring Damon?" She asked playfully.

"I guess. Only if necessary." He said acting nonchalant.

"Yes it's necessary."

"Then it's okay." He smiled at the witch who was happy that they were on their way back to being almost like they were before.

"So where are we going?"

"A little restaurant known as Tony's."

"OMG I haven't been to Tony's in forever."

"I figured. So make sure that you guys are ready tomorrow we're leaving at 7 p.m."

"Sounds good." Bonnie exited the room to run into her cousin.

"Nate where are you off to?" She said taking in the young man's dapper look.

"Jazz and I need some time alone. Nothing personal but we don't like spending all of our time with you all. We need some space for us."

"I understand."

"Are you and Damon going out too?"

"Yeah Josh is taking us and Sara out to eat at Tony's." Nate stopped putting on his jacket to look at his cousin.

"Are you sure you should be going there with Josh or Damon. I mean that is where he…"

"I know but I don't see the harm. The place has good food."

"Bonnie I know you know what you're doing but please be careful."

"Nate I'll be okay. Just take Jasmine out and you two enjoy yourself. You deserve it." She helped him put his jacket on and saw Jasmine make her way down the stairs.

"You look beautiful." Bonnie had told to the gorgeous woman in the teal cocktail dress.

"Thank you Bonnie."

"Alright you two enjoy your night." She watched them leave out the door and was ready to go up to her room to cuddle with her man. She stopped in the middle of the stairs when she thought she heard something. She wasn't sure but it sounded like a faint heartbeat. Stepping downstairs back into the dim lighted hallway the sound grew louder, then stopped. She thought she was going crazy.

"I need to lay off the late night witchy juju." She laughed to herself. Then a smell hit her. She didn't know what the hell it was but it smelled amazing. Walking into the room by the stairs she saw Stefan and Elena watching TV on the couch. She watched as Elena's chest rose and then fell. Then her eyes landed on Stefan who had Elena nestled in his body. Her heart started to beat rapidly for some reason that she couldn't explain. She began moving closer to them when she heard her phone ring. Jumping back Stefan opened his eyes to see Bonnie trying to turn off her phone. "I'm so sorry." She said as the man sat up.

"It's okay Bonnie. We should probably head to bed anyway." He picked Elena up bridal style and carried her upstairs.

"What the hell was that?" Bonnie asked to no one in particular.

"What was what?" She saw Damon come stand by her.

"Nothing I think I'm just tired."

"Good because I want my girl beside me when I go to sleep." She smiled and grabbed his hand letting him lead her up upstairs and shaking off the dark feeling running down her spine.

A/N: I know you hate me right now. So many questions not answered and more keep popping up. The fight scene in the woods I thought was a good way to show everyone how much power Bonnie still possesses with the black magic still inside of her. But you see the side effects Bonnie is having on going cold turkey with her "drugs" after the battle and in the living room with Stefan and Elena. We also see that Josh is finally starting to be less of a jerk to Bonnie at least.

The next chapter focuses some on Josh and Bonnie. Lets just say she gets a reading from a psychic that doesn't exactly go so well…