A/N: Sorry for any grammatical errors. Wanted to update as soon as possible. Hopefully that doesn't stop you from enjoying the story.
Chapter 10
"A lot of life is dealing with your curse, dealing with the cards you were given that aren't so nice. Does it make you into a monster, or can you temper it in some way, or accept it and go in some other direction?" ~Wes Craven
Bonnie sat at the edge of the bed. For some reason she had woke up later then she usually did. Looking out the window a smile was bought to her face, while the sun shone on her skin. She felt hands glide across her back and looked over to see Damon. "You just got up?" He asked and as she nodded yes, he smiled. "So the early bird finally sleeps in. It's about time."
"Come on Damon get up. We have to see what's going on. I know everyone else has been up for about an hour or two already."
"If they need us they know where to find us. Now come on and lay back down with me." He pulled her so that she fell on top of him. The smile was back on her face. She leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips.
"While that sounds like a lovely idea. You know I can't stay in the bed all day. I have to move around or I'll go crazy."
"We can go crazy together." She moved from on top of him and hopped on the floor.
"I'll take you up on that offer when we get back to Mystic Falls."
"No you won't." He said finally getting out of the bed himself.
"You know me so well." She opened the door to the hall and walked downstairs leaving him to get dressed. Walking down the stairs she bumped into Josh who had dropped the book he was reading in his hand.
"Oops. My bad." He said towering over the witch.
"It's okay." She bent down to pick up his book. "I know how you are when it comes to you and your books. You really get into them." Looking around she noticed the house was empty. "Where is everybody anyway?"
"They all left."
"Where'd they go?"
"Well Stefan and Elena said something about a picnic on the beach, Nathan and Jasmine went on a fishing trip with some friends, and Meg, Evan, and Tyler went to the amusement park."
"I thought we were supposed to be having a meeting today."
"We were but when Nate realized he forgot about his fishing trip they rescheduled it for tomorrow." Bonnie walked into the living room and took a seat.
"Why didn't you go out yet?"
"I just wanted to enjoy a good book and a cup of tea by the fire. Besides even if I wanted to go somewhere Sara was gone before I even got up. I usually don't sleep late but we had a late ni…" He stopped himself as soon as he realized where he was going with this. Looking at Bonnie's face he could tell she knew too, so he dropped the smile and tried to finish a conversation that wouldn't lead back to him and Sara having sex. "What are you and Ed going to do?"
"Ed?"
"That's right you don't know. Your boyfriend won't stop calling me Sabrina, Willow, one of the Halliwell's, or Samantha. So I call him Ed. Short for Edward from Twilight. He hates it."
"You know he's not here right now?"
"I know but you never know when he's listening." Josh smiled and Bonnie understood. It was some pride thing between them or their egos, so she left it alone. It was natural for men to tease each other.
"Where is everyone?" Damon walked over and stood in the doorway of the living room.
"They're gone."
"Oh." He walked over to Bonnie and pulled her into a deep kiss. Bonnie semi returned the kiss and that alarmed Damon.
"What was that for?" She asked smiling up at the dark haired man.
"I can't kiss my girlfriend passionately. I mean you weren't complaining last night when we were together."
"You can do it anytime you want but…" She lowered her voice even though Josh could still hear them. "Not in front of company."
Damon rolled his eyes as he met Josh who had been looking at the two of them. "You know what I'm just going to go and leave you two here. I can take my book and drink to the library."
"Josh you don't have to do that." Bonnie let go of Damon's hand and turned around so she could see the warlock.
"Let him go if he wants to." Damon didn't want to be an ass. Okay scratch that he didn't care if he was being an ass but this Josh guy was really starting to annoy him, lately. He turned around to say something to Josh but thought against it. "Where'd my brother go off to anyway?"
"Apparently he and Elena went to a picnic on the beach." She answered for him.
"My brother really needs to stop spoiling that girl. It's like they live the life of a romance novel." Damon said eyebrows moving up and down.
"I think it's sweet that Stefan treats Elena like that."
"You also think it's sweet to watch my leather jacket burn or give my witchy migraines." She laughed. She knew he didn't like them but that didn't stop her from doing it. Besides she would make sure his leather jacket was fine afterwards.
"Alright. Point proven." Damon finally looked away from Bonnie to Josh.
"Hey wicked witch of the east, how's that book coming along. It looks like a real page turner." Josh stared angrily at Damon's sarcastic remark before answering back.
"That's funny Ed. What's it like to be a sparkling vampire? I mean come on how many people say you look so adorable." Damon's face bent annoyed at the warlock.
"Don't." She placed a hand on his chest. "The both of you shouldn't hurt each other's feeling."
"I want to hurt more than his feelings," Damon said still glaring at Josh, "I want to rip his pretty little head off his shoulders."
"Play nice Damon. Josh will stop calling you Ed if you stop calling him the names of witches from pop culture." She looked to Josh. "That goes for you too. If I hear you call him Ed, Edward, Eddie or anything related to the name I'm going to personally see to it that I kick both of your asses. And don't test me because you know I can and will if I have to." She noticed they still weren't looking at her. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Sure." Josh said turning away from them and back to his book.
"Fine." Damon looked back down at her. "I don't see why you had to get violent."
"It's the only thing you two seem to understand." Bonnie thought today would be a good time for them to get to know one another. Maybe she could stop this bickering between them.
The sound of Damon's phone rang in his pocket. "It's Alaric give me a minute." He walked off leaving the two witches in the room.
"So this is what you are doing all day. Reading?"
"No later I'm going to visit Paul. He is having his annual festival so I figured I'd stop by."
"I haven't seen him in a minute. Do you mind if I go with you?"
"I'm sure he'll be glad to see you. I'm always so happy there that I'm even taking the chance to invite Damon. I know your boyfriend doesn't like me but I guess you too are a packaged deal now."
Bonnie took a seat on the couch across from him. "That's not true. He likes you."
"Bon, you don't have to lie. I know he doesn't and its okay because I don't really like him either." Bonnie knew she wasn't going to win when it came to the both of them. "But if he doesn't want to come I'd be ecstatic too."
She heard Damon approaching, jacket in his hand. "I know what you're going to ask but I can't go. Alaric needs help with something. I'll be back later on tonight in time for us to go to dinner. Just go enjoy the festival. I'll talk to you later." Before she could get out a word he was gone.
"Well, looks like it's just you and me." Josh spoke as she watched Damon shut the door behind him.
They had been driving in the car towards the place and Bonnie sat staring out the window and enjoying the fresh air. She thought back to last night and that weird thing that happened."Bonnie are you okay?"
"Yeah?"
"You know I know when you're lying right? I can't help if I don't know what's wrong?" She didn't want to talk to Josh about it because she didn't want to believe that it had happened. So she changed the subject instead.
"So what's going to be at the festival? Is it the same as when we use to come?"
"Yeah. They still give out readings and sell little charms at their tent. Weird people still show up but The Ferris wheel is new. Another reason for us to stay longer."
"Nate never understood how the two of us would love spending all our free time there. I told him it was nice to be surrounded by other people with power just like us."
"He laughed at you didn't he."
"No he rubbed my back and told me that he was leaving in the next thirty minutes." Bonnie laughed as she saw the sign to the festival appear. "Looks like we're here."
They found a parking space and got out ready to explore the area like they use to. Bonnie was taking in everything like it was the first time. Everything seemed brighter, more colorful, and a lot louder. When they went inside she heard the band playing. It had seemed like the activities had just gotten bigger since she left.
"Wow. This isn't the same small festival I was use to."
"Oh did I forget to mention how awesome it got."
"Yeah." She bumped into him playfully as they walked to throughout the area.
They had been here for an hour and they hadn't won any prizes. She blamed that on Josh because he was the male. He was supposed to be really good at these things, but he wasn't really doing well so far. That didn't seem to faze him as him as they walked up to the basketball booth. "How about we give this a try?"
"You do know you suck at basketball." Bonnie reiterated to make sure he remembered.
"Bonnie you've been gone for a long time. My athletics has improved."
"Okay show me what you got." She moved to the side as Josh paid the man.
"Now watch and learn." He said lining the ball up with the net and shooting. As it passed through the rim, Bonnie smiled impressed.
"Lucky shot." He looked at the witch as he shot the next one and the next one. "Okay so now you're good at basketball."
"No I'm amazing at it."
"Alright what prize do you want sir." The man in charge of the booth asked.
"What would go good in my room? I'll take the big green snake." The ginger headed man handed him the prize. "You're going to carry that enormous thing around."
"Nope you are." He placed it on her shoulder and ran a few feet ahead of her.
"Josh, come and get this."
"Nope it's yours."
"What am I going to do with this big ass snake? Besides you know I hate them."
"I still remember that. How could I forget?"
"If you don't come get it I'm going to leave it right here."
"No why would you do that?" He said moving back towards the witch.
"After all this time you're still silly."
"You didn't think that would change did you." She shook her head as Josh wrapped the snake around his neck. "That's one of my strongest traits. Along with charismatic, clever, and easy going.
"That's not true." Bonnie stifled a laugh. "Nate is Charismatic, Megan is easy going, Evan is silly, and Jasmine is Clever."
"So what exactly am I?"
"Let me see. You're arrogant, grouchy, and a little obnoxious."
"What about my good traits. I know I have some."
"I guess you're compassionate, adventurous, charming, cultured, dependable, intelligent, fair, humble and hopeful." Bonnie looked at him and could see he was staring deep into her eyes. She blushed as she turned away and continued to walk. "But those don't overpower the arrogance in you."
"Sam why does she want to hurt me." Josh grabbed the head of the snake and made it face him. "I mean I'm being nice right?"
"Are you talking to your snake and why is his name Sam?"
"I'm a complicated man, Bon. You know that."
"Whatever. Where is Paul's booth?" He stopped to look around.
"Right there." He pushed her body towards the tent. When they got in she could see two people conversing in the corner.
"Hello Welcome to Paul and Shirley's House of –Bonnie is that you?" Paul said opening her arms. Bonnie didn't hesitate in running to the man. "It's been so long so long sweetie. How have you been?"
"Better." She let go of him and looked to the curly headed woman behind him.
"Oh Bonnie. This is Shirley. I met her a year ago. She is a psychic and a damn good one." Bonnie moved to Shirley closing the space between them.
"Do you have any other powers?" Bonnie asked curiously.
"Nope I can only see inside of peoples head. The past and future."
"Shirley is amazing. The last time I came she told me I would meet an old friend again. And look who is standing next to me now."
They all shared a laugh as Paul turned to Bonnie. "So how is everything?"
"It's alright. I went back home."
"Yeah and is now dating a vampire." Josh said taking a seat in one of the empty chairs.
"So are you." She said not liking how he made it seem like she and Damon shouldn't be together.
"Interesting." Paul said moving to his table.
"Good interesting or bad interesting."
"I think it's funny how the both of you ended up dating vampires after what happened to you all those years ago." Bonnie looked around not sure what the man was talking about. When her eyes landed on Josh he was staring down at his hands. "Anyways, how long are you guys staying?"
"We have to get ready to go back and get ready for dinner. Sara and I are taking Bonnie and her date out for dinner at Tony's."
"Sounds nice but before you go do you want a reading? It'll be on the house?" Josh looked to Bonnie and shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure. She would love one." He turned to Shirley as Bonnie sat and waited.
Shirley opened Bonnie's hands and moved her fingers over the witch's palm. "It looks like you are lost. You can't seem to make your mind up about something. You're very happy right now. You have a boyfriend, friends, and family that you love
"Josh can I talk to you for a minute?" the blonde man asked leading Josh outside of the tent.
"Bonnie I'll be outside when you're done."
She nodded her head and turned back to the woman in front of her. "So what else is going on that I should know about?"
"Something long ago happened that altered your life."
"Yeah I ran away eight years ago. That's when Nate found me and I befriended Paul and everyone else."
"That's not what I'm picking up. There's someone you lost long ago that you're going to find soon." Bonnie didn't like the way that sounded but she kept letting the woman read her.
"What do you mean?"
"It's hard to read you. I also know that you're not really happy. That's what you show your friends but that's not how you really feel. There's a door that's blocking what you really feel. Bonnie I need you to let me inside."
"I don't know what door you're talking about and I'm happy." Bonnie protested not knowing what the hell this psychic was talking about.
"Something behind that door that is telling me otherwise. I'm going to try to get a peek inside if that's okay with you." Bonnie was hesitant she didn't know what door Shirley was talking about or what she could be hiding in it. Bonnie was happy that wasn't a lie. She had Damon, who loved her more than anything. She had her friends Elena, Matt, Stefan, Caroline, Tyler, and Jeremy who cared for her. She didn't understand what it was that she needed to hide.
"Alright Bon, I'm going to need you to relax okay." She relaxed her shoulders and exhaled. This was stupid she didn't need some fake part time witch telling her what she was feeling. She was about to snatch her hands away when she witnessed Shirley's body go stiff and her eyes go to the back of her head.
"Shirley?" Bonnie said pulling her hands away from the dark haired female.
Shirley quickly pulled away from the witch trying to catch her breath and slid her chair back to stand up against the wall. "What's wrong?" Bonnie said calmly trying to get the woman to relax. "Is everything alright?"
"I think you should go." Shirley said not taking her eyes off the witch.
"Can you please just tell me what happened?" Bonnie stood inquisitive at what the woman had just seen.
"Please leave." Bonnie tried to take a step closer but the psychic tripped over the chair falling to the ground trying to get further away from her.
"Shirley?" Bonnie asked not taking another step.
"Go!" The woman raised her voice. Bonnie looked back and saw Josh and Paul standing in the doorway. She looked back to see the fear in the psychics eyes. Bonnie stormed past the two baffled men and ran away into the crowd. She could hear Josh calling after her but she just couldn't stop. She could see it, the fear in the eyes of this woman's eyes. Like he own life was in danger just by being in Bonnie's presence. She was distraught.
Bonnie finally found the car and as she leaned against it. She felt her eyes water. She was staring at the ground when she saw Josh's feet. "What was that?"
"You didn't see the way she was looking at me. Like I was a monster."
"No she wasn't."
"Don't lie to me. I know what I saw." She pushed him out the way.
"Bonnie where are you going?"
"For a walk."
"We live in the opposite direction."
"Josh let me be alone right now."
"I'm not just going to leave you out here by yourself."
"I'm not going back right now."
"So how are you going to get home?"
"I'll figure it out."
"I'll walk with you while you do?" She turned back to him and put her hand up creating a force field so that he couldn't move. He looked down to see what had happened and he could see that a rope had tied him up. He looked back up and saw that she had disappeared. "BONNIE!"
Damon had been waiting at some bar that Alaric had told him to meet at. He didn't know what was taking the rugged history teacher so long because usually the man was on time. "Can I have another whiskey on the rocks?"
Sliding his cup to the bartender he grabbed a handful of peanuts. "Was never a patient person were you?"
He turned to see Alaric towering over him. "No. but you should know that by now."
"So what did you call me here for?"
"There's someone you need to talk to." Alaric ordered himself a drink as Damon waited for him to finish.
"What is this about?"
"Will you promise me that you will take the time and listen to anything this person has to say on the subject?"
"You really know I can't promise that. But I'll try."
"Good." Damon turned around to see Anna sitting on the barstool. "I have a lot to say."
"No."
"You just said you'd try."
"Well I lied. I don't want to hear you saying anything about Bonnie working for that procurer."
"Okay. Can I at least share this with you?" Anna pulled out the folder and slammed it in front of Damon. "Look at these."
Damon opened the photo and saw pictures. "What is this?"
"These are pictures from that Crossroad club from the past two years. Ever since Bonnie came back." He continued flipping through the pictures and he could see Bonnie in every shot. She was always at the bar talking to a different person.
"What is wrong? So Bonnie likes to hang out at supernatural clubs. Your point?"
"Has she ever told you that she hung out there?"
"No, but maybe she forgot."
"Damon, are you really this dumb? Can you not see what I'm showing you?"
"No. I can't. What are these pictures suppose to be showing me?" Anna flipped until she got to the picture that was recent.
"Here she is with the demon we were looking for the night he was killed. Did she ever tell you that she found him or that she went to the club that night?" Damon stared at the picture not giving them an answer. "Do you even have any idea if she is sleeping next to you in the middle of the night because all these pictures that were taken in-between the times of 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. and your silence is telling me you had no idea."
"Get it away from me." Damon said sliding the photos away.
"Something is going on with Bonnie and I guess you can't see it because you love her but you're going to have to look pass your love and see that something isn't right. That the person you fell in love with has her own little secrets that she's keeping from you." Anna spoke trying to break through to him.
"I didn't want to believe it at first Damon but you have to hear her out." The blue eyed vampire looked to Alaric. "If you would look with your gut and mind instead of with your heart you'd see something wasn't right."
Damon silently stared at them as he down another drink. "You need time to see. So I'll give you that. But keep the pictures just in case." Anna closed the folder and made sure it sat in front of him. "For your sake I hope you open your eyes before it's too late."
With those last words the vampire watched as his supposed best friend and fellow comrade left the bar leaving him with the folder of pictures, a bottle of whiskey, and a thousand things going through his head.
Josh had been driving around for an hour looking for Bonnie. After he got the call from Stefan, who said that Bonnie wasn't answering her calls from anyone, he began to worry more. He was riding down the road when he saw a body appear. The person was walking slowly holding on to themselves. He knew it was Bonnie because of her petite frame. He pulled up next to her and rolled the window down.
"I don't need a ride." She said not taking the time to look at the vehicle.
"Bonnie, get in?" She looked over to see Josh staring back at her.
"How'd you find me?"
"I have the pleasure of sometimes knowing how your brain works?" She continued to walk. "Can you get in so we can talk and I can take you home?"
"I just want to walk right now." He pulled the car over and parked it. He walked up to the woman and could see that she was a little cold. Taking his jacket off, he placed it around her. She pulled it close to her then finally stopped to look up at him.
"Do you think I'm a monster?" Josh had been taken aback by the question so much that he stared at her with confused eyes. "I mean I do things that normal people shouldn't be able to do. I could kill someone just by looking at them."
"That doesn't make you a monster."
"That's like saying vampires aren't monsters. They kill people, drain them dry."
"Witches are the servants of nature. How can we be monsters?"
"That's the thing I can do almost anything I want with my powers. Doesn't that make me a monster as well?"
"Bonnie you're not making sense. Where did this monster thing come from?" Bonnie didn't want to tell him because if she did he would see it. See that she was a monster. "I do know this you have a good heart, you're loyal, and strong. Those being a few of the reasons I fell in love with you in the first place. You couldn't be a monster even if you tried."
"But do you think it's possible for me to become one."
"If you aren't one now after everything you've been through then it's a slim chance of you becoming one at all."Bonnie was silent. He hugged her and she held on tight to him as he put her in the car. He was right about one thing though she didn't have to worry about becoming a monster because according to Shirley's reaction today she was already one.
A/N: So tell me what you think. I wanted to thank everyone who continues to read, fave, alert and review this story. The more you seem interested the more I want to update. What did the psychic see? Will Damon listen to Alaric and Anna or will his love for Bonnie continue to blind him? Is Bonnie finally falling apart after all these years? Tell me what you think.