Three's a Crowd: A Bamonenzo Story
Kayer713
Chapter Four
Caroline watched in a mixture of surprise, and disbelief as Bonnie cradled Damon's face in the middle of the hallway.
Seriously?!
She'd been finishing up her shower when she'd heard a frantic Bonnie yelling, "Damon stop!" Immediately Caroline's ears had perked. She'd pulled on her clothes at vamp speed and opened the door to find Damon assaulting that Brody jerk in full vampire form. She'd wanted to go out there and do something but with the crowd it would have drawn too much attention. She did have to live here, after all. Damon didn't.
But what had shocked her the most was the way Bonnie had intervened. Still in that spaghetti shirt and those little shorts she slept in, she'd stepped between the two, discretely used her magic and freed Brody. Since when did Bonnie leave the room like that? And her magic hadn't been all she used. Caroline noted the way that she touched Damon's face, directed him to her own. There was a tenderness there, an intimacy even. She'd never seen Bonnie that close to a guy except Jeremy. Then of course Jeremy had been her boyfriend. But Damon?
Their friendship had been a little weird to process at first but Caroline had seen stranger things. Still Bonnie never touched Matt or Tyler or Stefan that way and they'd been friends long before she'd warmed up to Damon. This was different.
Oh my god, of course!
Realization hit her like a vervain shot and she gasped out loud. Mr. Hotstuff wasn't somebody Bonnie had met on campus. He was Damon!
Bonnie and Damon?
It made sense now why she'd been so secretive. Elena had been the same way when she and Damon had started out. And Bonnie's glow. Any human making it with a vampire for the first time was bound to be lit like Christmas. Caroline recalled a long time ago, back when she was still an insecure, human high schooler. She and Damon had been involved in a twisted nightmare that she wished she could compel away. He was an even bigger douche back then. But the sex had been spectacular. She could see why Bonnie rated him so high.
Watching Bonnie with him and his response to her touch, Caroline couldn't deny it. Damon was so Mr. Hotstuff. And Bonnie had kept it from her. She didn't know what to say.
That's why she was at Damon's last night. She lied to me. And Stefan, he lied to me too.
Stefan would cover for Damon if he thought the truth would upset Caroline. And upset her it did! The thought of Bonnie with a vampire wasn't the problem, she knew herself that a vampire could be a great and loyal companion but Damon? He was the exact opposite of what she wanted for her friend. He was impulsive, selfish, stubborn and basically a dick. Even when he'd tried to do right courtesy of Elena he'd still managed to screw things up when he didn't get his way. He was the eternal bad boy.
"How could she keep this from me?" Caroline griped, "I'm her best friend!"
She grabbed her books and took another look. Damon was staring into Bonnie's eyes and Bonnie was staring right back.
Of all the vampires to fall for!
Irritated, Caroline slid out the door dodging her friend's view as she made her way through the hall. She would address this slight. After class. After she'd had time to cool down. Then Bonnie, Stefan and Damon would get a piece of her mind!
When Bonnie returned to her room she found it empty. Caroline had gone to class. When? She'd literally just been out there with Damon. Unless she'd jumped out the window Caroline had to have seen them. Oh what a mess! Bonnie glanced down at herself, still clad in her night gear. A great way to start the day huh?
She wanted nothing more than to climb back in bed and forget that the incident ever happened. Forget that Damon had come by. Forget all of the things he'd said about Enzo. But most importantly she wanted to forget the nanosecond that his eyes had flickered after he'd de-vamped. It was something she dared not consider, she must have been mistaken. Because in that brief moment she was afraid that he might kiss her.
It was ludicrous of course. Damon loved Elena and even if he didn't he'd never thought of her in that way. They were comrades, buddies, platonic friends that had become fond of each other back in the prison world. She'd gotten to know him, he'd gotten to know her. There was nothing more to it. If anything she must have imagined it. Why that would happen she had no idea.
Bonnie decided to put it out of her mind. First thing first, they had to do damage control. Brody couldn't be allowed to remember what he'd seen. The quickest solution would be to get Caroline to handle it since she was already on campus but given how she'd left the room without a word Bonnie wasn't sure if that she would appreciate being drawn out of class to clean up Damon's mess. Still she had to try. A couple of missed calls and unanswered texts later Bonnie's thoughts were confirmed. Caroline was not in the mood. Her next bet was to call Stefan. He was always someone to be counted on. Especially for cleaning up Damon's messes.
"Bonnie, what's up? Is everything all right?"
Was it ever in their lives?
"Have you spoken to your brother today?"
Stefan sighed.
"Oh god, what did he do now?"
He was sounding worried. Bonnie tried to keep a level head.
"In his defense he was defending me but Damon sort of had an incident in the hall of my dormitory this morning."
"An incident?" Stefan asked with trepidation, "Do I want to know what kind?"
"The Damon kind. He almost killed the dorm perv. Granted he was defending me but he vamped out in front of a group of people."
"He what?"
"I don't think they saw anything on account of his positioning but Brody saw it for sure. He's going to need it to be compelled away."
Stefan swore under his breath.
"I'd ask Caroline but I don't want to bother her," Bonnie continued.
"I'll be right there. Thanks for the heads up. And um…how are you?"
She stepped into the bathroom and started the shower.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, how are you doing? How are you feeling? You know, how are you?"
Okay now Stefan was acting weird.
"You mean other than being worried about Damon? I guess I'm fine considering the circumstances. What's with you and your brother today?"
She didn't have time for this.
"Look Brody and I have a sociology class together. When you get here I'll point him out to you. See you then?"
"Yea."
She hung up before he could say anything else. On the other line, Stefan blinked as his phone announced the ended call.
"Well that was awkward."
He turned to find Valerie watching him from the den's doorway.
"Is this about what Enzo said to you last night?"
Stefan slid his phone back into his pocket, a little embarrassed.
"I was just trying to check on her," he admitted.
Valerie nodded her understanding.
"Trying to be a friend," she agreed.
"Yea."
"I think you creeped her out."
Stefan didn't say anything because he thought the same thing. Why was this so odd for them? He'd been good friends with a Bennett before; her grandmother's sister long before Bonnie's birth. Hell he'd even saved Bonnie's life before. But just talking on the phone? Checking in? That was a first. He supposed it began when her grandmother died. She'd blamed him and Damon and vampires in general. Whatever bond they might have had died with Sheila Bennett.
"Relax Stefan, Bonnie knows that you care about her," Valerie reassured him.
"She just has to get used to you showing it."
He hoped that she was right.
"Hey why don't you do something nice for her? Like throw a dinner party or something."
It was a sound idea. Something small with their closest friends.
"You really think that would work?"
She shrugged.
"I don't see why not."
He thought about it, liking it more and more. He'd have to get Caroline in on the planning of course. To dare plan an event without the queen of planning? He'd suffer her wrath indeed. He'd already been blasted for keeping yesterday's episode of Damon-piece theatre from her. He had to get back in his girlfriend's good graces.
"You're right," he agreed. "I'd better get Caroline in on this."
As Bonnie showered, dressed and prepared for class she focused on Caroline and how she would tell her about Enzo. Her inquisitive friend wouldn't like to be kept in the dark and the longer Bonnie waited the angrier Caroline would be. She'd have to do it today. Right after class. No more hesitation.
On her way out the door, Bonnie grabbed her phone and was instantly reminded of the twenty missed calls from Damon. She hadn't even checked the voicemails. After hearing what he'd had to say earlier she wasn't sure that she wanted to. Again she remembered the flash in his eye but shook it off with the shake of her head. She and Damon were strictly friends. Anything she thought she'd seen, she'd imagined.
When Stefan arrived, Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief. He'd come alone, no Damon or Valerie insight. That was a good thing. She still had to get used to Valerie being on their team. Besides it gave her time to address the issue that had bothered her the previous day about her. She had to look out for Caroline. The class she shared with Brody wasn't until ten. They just had forty-five more minutes to go.
"So tell me how this happened?" Stefan was curious to know.
"You said Damon was defending you?"
The walk to the O'Hare building was about thirteen minutes so they'd already started.
"Yea. Damon showed up this morning out of the blue so we went into the hall. Then Brody tried to sneak an inappropriate pic of me and Damon snapped. He broke Brody's phone. He was going to kill him Stefan. I mean in front of everybody."
Stefan swallowed.
"I wish I could say I've never seen him like this Stefan but he looked like the old Damon," she went on.
"Something's been off about him. When I woke up this morning I had twenty missed calls. All from him. I was afraid he'd gone after Julian by himself or something."
Stefan didn't seem too concerned about that possibility.
"I doubt he'll try anything like that."
But he didn't go further. Or offer any other theories. Or meet her eyes.
"You know something, don't you?" it dawned on her.
Stefan pointed out the O'Hare building. Apparently he'd visited Caroline enough to know it.
"There it is."
"Don't change the subject, what do you know?"
He stopped walking long enough to look at her.
"I think you're asking the wrong Salvatore."
Bonnie wasn't ready to give up so easily.
"Oh come on don't play the noble, privacy card now. Maybe I can help."
Stefan almost smirked.
"Yea, I'm sure you can. But it's not my place. This is something you have to take up with Damon."
Bonnie snapped her tongue in frustration. Of course Stefan would say something like that. Respecting his brother's privacy and all. The good brother.
"I bet Caroline could get it out of you," she remarked as they approached the building.
Stefan opened the door for her and she stepped inside.
"I wouldn't be so sure," he commented, "some secrets aren't mine to tell."
When he sent her a knowing look she immediately knew what he was talking about and was grateful.
"Thank you for not telling Caroline about me and Enzo. I know she was pretty miffed about being kept out of the loop last night. It couldn't have been easy."
"I figured you would want to be the one to tell her."
"I do and I will. But thanks."
Stefan shrugged.
"Hey, that's what friends are for."
He paused before adding; "We are friends, right?"
Of course they were friends. Why would he even question it?
"Duh, where have you been?"
Stefan seemed a little sheepish then.
"I mean it's just that, I haven't been much of a friend over the years. Being preoccupied with other things. We started out on a good note and just sort of I don't know. I just want you to know that I am your friend. I do care about what happens to you. And not just because you're my girlfriend's & my brother's best friend either."
Wow, that was incredibly sweet. And surprising that he would come out with that now. But sweet nonetheless. Bonnie couldn't help but to appreciate his words. She wasn't sure that she and Stefan had ever had a conversation on this level before.
"Um thanks Stefan."
Genuinely moved, she warmed him with an embrace of friendship. Stefan reciprocated.
"Okay, enough with the mushy stuff," she joked, "I don't want to ruin my mascara."
The auditorium used for Soc 245 was its usual full. Bonnie glanced around the room for the familiar football player. When she didn't spot him her eyes went to the door.
"Something wrong?" Stefan asked.
She bit her lip.
"He's usually here by now," she answered.
Where was he?
"Maybe Damon scared him off. He could be in his room or talking to a counsellor," Stefan suggested.
"You said he's a jock? What sport?"
This was the South. What other sport was there?
"Football," Bonnie replied, still searching the room.
Stefan followed her gaze.
"We should check out known football hangouts. Where do they usually congregate?"
Around this time? There was one spot where people liked to socialize during class hours. Smack dab in the middle of the Student Center. By the café. Bonnie motioned for Stefan to follow her and hurried out.
"I have an idea of where he may be."
As expected, the Student Center was packed. A mixture of scents from mocha lattes to pizza and fries from the food court filled the air. Stefan stayed close behind as Bonnie led the way. Through the crowd of students they moved, Bonnie seeking out that one familiar face. She quickly spotted a group of Brody's teammates in their usual spot. Uncharacteristically, their faces were drawn in sorrow.
"Those are his buddies," she pointed out.
Stefan stepped forward.
"I can compel them to tell me where he is."
She nodded and they walked up on the group. As they came closer, however Stefan suddenly paused. His brows knit with concern.
"What?" Bonnie wanted to know.
"Some one's dead."
Bonnie blinked.
"Dead? How would you—"
With his vampire hearing of course. Stefan held his hand up, still listening. Bonnie glanced from him to the group and back, worry building inside.
"He died suddenly. In a car accident. His body was burned beyond recognition but they're examining his dental records."
She didn't have to ask what Stefan was thinking. Because she was thinking it too. Had Damon come back and finished Brody off? Then covered it up with a car accident?
"They found him sometime yesterday," Stefan finished.
Bonnie let out the breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding. Okay, it wasn't Brody. Which meant it wasn't Damon. But Stefan's face didn't relax as he continued listening. In fact, he tensed up further.
"What is it?"
He tilted his head slightly in concentration. She didn't like the fact that he was frowning.
"Brody's not here. He took off earlier after getting into a fight."
Damn.
"Well who died?"
"One of his teammates. Mike, they're saying. Nobody saw him since yesterday morning. They say he left for class but never showed."
That didn't sound good at all.
"Poor guy."
Stefan didn't respond, his eyes distant in thought. She wondered what he was thinking but before she could ask he was back.
"I'll see if they know where Brody could have gone."
Bonnie watched him work one by one with each guy. Though she'd known about compulsion for years now she would never get used to seeing it. The empty, slack jawed expression in the compulsee's eyes, the sheer power the vampire held with that contact. She was glad that witches couldn't be compelled. She could only imagine what Damon might have made her do in the past.
When Stefan returned he not only knew where Brody would go but had the address. It was his father's condo a few miles away. He always had it to himself this time of year due to his parents' divorce. His mother had remarried and his father was off with his secretary. Or dental hygienist. Or whoever according to the guys. This time Bonnie followed Stefan to his car and the two climbed inside. They took off with the peel of rubber, and a common goal to clean yet another one of Damon's messes.
The mess, it turned out, wasn't as bad as they'd thought. Brody was already halfway down a bottle of gin in an attempt to dull his shock. Stefan gained entry into his home easily and the compulsion was done in less than five minutes. On their way back to campus Bonnie left a message for Damon that the situation was handled. He didn't pick up or respond.
When Stefan dropped her off Bonnie thanked him again. She had to get to her next class and he had to tend to Damon. He ended things with an invitation to a dinner party at the Salvatore's for next Friday evening. Just their closest friends. Bonnie accepted and Stefan went on his way. It wasn't until after he'd pulled off that she remembered she hadn't mentioned the Valerie situation. Her mind had been on Damon.
After stopping by the café for a quick mocha, Bonnie remembered that she'd left her book back in her room. She glanced at her phone for the time. It was only noon. She had at least thirty minutes. Rather than rush, she took her time climbing the dormitory stairs. When she reached the spot where only hours earlier Damon had almost outed himself to a group of onlookers she shook her head.
He'd certainly had a lot to say then. About her dating a vampire. About her relationship with Enzo. About Enzo being dangerous and impulsive. Damon would certainly know impulsive.
She took a sip of her coffee. And laughed out loud. Oh the irony.
"You want to share the joke, Love?"
Just like Damon, Enzo seemed to have a knack for just popping up on campus. Bonnie turned to find her lover already standing at her door. She met him with a hug of appreciation.
"What are you doing here?" she asked after he released her.
"No reason," he answered, "Other than you that is."
Bonnie smiled at that.
"I can't complain. You're a lot less trouble than Damon."
Enzo's posture stiffened then and she saw his countenance sour.
"Damon? Why do you bring him up? Did he come by here last night?"
She shook her head, remembering the morning.
"No, not last night. This morning. Why, did something happen last night?"
Rather than answer her, Enzo cursed under his breath.
"I just remembered that I have something to do."
He turned to leave. Okay, first Damon was blowing up her phone last night, then Stefan keeping quiet and now Enzo was getting all broody. Something wasn't right.
Bonnie reached out to take his arm.
"Enzo, what's going on?"
He shook her off.
"Nothing, I just have to go."
But she wasn't buying it. Things were getting too strange around here. Between Damon's comments, Stefan's secrecy and Enzo's sudden irritation she was getting the feeling that everyone was in on some little secret that excluded her. She wasn't liking the feeling.
"Damnit Enzo, what is it that nobody's telling me?" she let loose.
You don't know what you're getting into. I know this guy a lot better than you do, Damon's words echoed.
"Did you and Damon do something?"
He spun on her.
"Right it always comes down to Damon doesn't it?"
"You tell me, you're the one acting weird at the mention of his name," Bonnie pointed out.
"So what is it? What did the two of you do that you're afraid he'll tell me?"
His jaw dropped, an incredulous look on his face.
"You think I'm afraid of what Damon has to say? That he'll reveal my dark past?"
It made sense. Damon had been adamant that she and Enzo shouldn't be together. And he knew Enzo better than anyone.
"He is your best friend," Bonnie reminded him.
At that Enzo scoffed.
"Yea. Unfortunately."
"So what is it that you're so afraid of me knowing?"
He looked her square in the eye.
"Bonnie, what could I have possibly done that's any worse than what you already know about Damon? Come on now. You're smarter than that."
Touché.
"Then what is it?" she demanded to know. "What is it that's got you taking off, Damon worked up and Stefan being all private and thoughtful?"
Enzo raised an eyebrow.
"Stefan?"
"And don't say 'nothing' or I swear I will flay all three of you!"
He wasn't fazed by the threat. In fact it seemed to humor him.
"Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, Love."
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"You're talking in riddles," she remarked.
Before he could respond, her phone went off. Enzo glanced at it.
"You should get that. It might be Damon."
She rolled her eyes at the comment, but pulled it from her open bag. It was Matt.
"We're not finished here," she warned Enzo before she answered.
"Matt?"
That was Enzo's cue.
"Tend to your friend. I'll see you later."
Bonnie held a finger up to signal him to wait but he was already on his way. She sighed in resignation.
"We have a problem."
Matt's voice was tense on the other line.
"What's going on?" she asked forgetting her own petty drama.
"A vampire kill. Several actually over the course of the night. I'm on my way to Stefan and Damon's. I need everybody to meet me there."
Bonnie arrived separate from Enzo. Stefan and Valerie were already there, and of course Damon, looking disheveled and especially grumpy. Enzo had gotten there before her and was seated on the love seat giving Damon the epic stink eye. Matt had to clear some things up at the station but he was in route. Bonnie wasn't sure where to sit as she wasn't too pleased with Damon or Enzo right now. Damon keeping secrets and ignoring her calls, Enzo walking off like he did. She decided to sit with Stefan.
"Any idea what's going on between the darkside boys?" she tried one last time.
Valerie offered an amused chuckle. Stefan made a zipping of the lips motion over his mouth.
"You're not funny," Damon groaned.
Bonnie raised her chin in challenge.
"And you're not sober."
He looked at her.
"I thought it was quite amusing myself," Valerie commented.
Enzo rolled his eyes.
"Easy there, Val. Kissing up to Bonnie won't get you back into Stefan's pants."
Her face flushed red. Enzo gave Stefan a onceover.
"They aren't that close," he added.
When Valerie's eyes narrowed it wasn't a surprise what came next. Enzo grabbed the sides of his head, crying out in agony.
"Hey!" Bonnie reached over Stefan to give her a shove.
"Stop that!"
With visible reluctance, Valerie conceded. Enzo collapsed against the furniture, spent. Forgetting her anger, Bonnie was right there.
"We're supposed to be on the same side," she shot at Valerie.
She touched his face, checking to see that he was okay. Her action earned a tongue snapping from the other side of the room.
"He's fine," Damon scoffed, "he's just showing out for his audience."
Enzo grit his teeth, still in recovery. Damon downed half of his glass of bourbon.
"It's not like Valerie packs much of a punch anyway."
In an instant the heretic's eyes were on him. And just as quickly he was crying out in pain. His glass fell to the floor, spilling its dark liquid contents. Bonnie operated on pure instinct.
"Motis!"
Valerie went flying backward, crashing through the front window in seconds.
"Alright will everybody just knock it off!" Stefan ordered.
He shot Damon a reprimanding glance before running to check after her.
"Yes Sir," Damon saluted sarcastically after his retreating back.
Bonnie observed him.
"You all right?"
He was still holding his head.
"Like I said, she's a light weight," he grumbled.
Bonnie walked over to help him up. Why the idiot would pick a fight with a fight with a heretic at a time like this was beyond her. Especially the one heretic that was on their side. When Valerie returned she was still brushing glass shards from her hair. Stefan was helping pick them out.
"Okay, I've been instructed to play nice," she announced through clenched teeth.
"But fair warning, the first person that starts with me is going to get back double what they bring."
Before Damon could make a remark, Bonnie clasped her hand over his mouth. He just didn't know when to shut up.
"I think it would be best if you and I waited upstairs," Stefan suggested, watching his brother warily.
His hand went to Valerie's shoulder and he guided her away from the room.
"Bonnie can you keep those two in line until I get back?"
She shot both Enzo and Damon a warning with her eyes. Magic or not they knew not to mess with her. A woman's wrath could be just a vicious as a witch's.
"I think I can manage," she replied.
Enzo came to his feet then, shaking off the effects of Valerie's attack. He glanced over at Bonnie and Damon.
"Now who's showing out," he remarked dryly.
Damon grunted in response. Annoyed, Bonnie helped Damon to his feet before addressing the both of them.
"Okay I've had it with you two. This little catfight thing you've been doing ends now."
She moved directly between them, folding her arms under her chest.
"I don't know what the hell is going on or what you're hiding but you need to sort it out like big boys. Because if there's anything more pathetic than two grown men fighting like five year olds it's a couple of hundred year old vampires fighting like five year olds."
When Damon opened his mouth she shushed him with a glare.
"We've got a bunch of dead bodies indicating that Julian or the heretics at least are wreaking havoc in Mystic Falls and the body count could grow by tonight. The last thing we need is a divided front. So whatever it is, fix it!"
Enzo looked at Damon.
"The problem's not mine. But I think Damon has something to say. Don't you mate?"
Damon sneered.
"Yea I have something to say."
He squared his shoulders, and gestured toward Enzo.
"I have a problem with this guy!"
Caroline stormed into the room then, pregnant and seething. She zeroed in on Bonnie, her blue eyes charged in anger and a tinge of hurt.
"Bonnie Bennett how could you keep this from me?"
Bonnie blinked, confusion filling her.
"Wha—" she began.
"I know about your little secret. I saw you this morning. How could you not tell me that you're sleeping with Damon?!"
The collective shock of the entire room exploded as Bonnie's jaw dropped. Sleeping with Damon? Where the hell would she get a thing like that from? It was crazy! Outlandish! Never in a million years would she even be tempted to…
"I never—" was all she got out before things turned.
Enzo was swift. In vampire fashion he shot across the room. Shocked by the accusation Damon was distracted long enough for Enzo to clock him straight in the jaw. He flew back into the wall, caught off guard and Enzo leaped on him.
"Oh my god!" Caroline gasped.
It didn't take Damon long to collect himself, however and he quickly recovered. His hit went into Enzo's chest in an attempt to knock the wind out of him. Enzo countered the attack and the two became a blur of warring vampire fighters.
"Bonnie do something!"
But she'd never seen them fight like this. As she tried to pick them apart, all Bonnie saw were blurs of the black and brown colors that they wore. If she could just single them out she could toss them away from each other. But one lump of vampire bodies?
"What the hell's going on?"
Stefan and Valerie were there in seconds. Stefan took one look and attempted to join the fray. No doubt to either help Damon or break it up. But one more body would mean more carnage to clean up. Bonnie raised a hand and an invisible wall blocked him.
"Hey!"
"You're going to let them fight?" Valerie asked incredulously.
"Duke it out for your hand?"
Bonnie ignored her and stepped forward to shield Caroline's vulnerable belly.
"Stand back," she warned, then she unleashed her power.
The fighting stopped instantly as both Damon and Enzo clutched the sides of their heads and screamed. Valerie smiled but kept her distance as Bonnie handled them. Damon fell to one knee, while Enzo fell back toward the now shattered end table.
"Bon, stop!" Damon pleaded.
She didn't lower her hands or her magic just yet. She wanted to be sure that the fight was over. They couldn't afford division on their side. Not now. Not with Julian and his crew out there. Despite his pain, Enzo was determined. It only took a second for him to grab a table leg and chuck it straight through Damon's abdomen.
"Noo!"
Bonnie went full force on him then, releasing Damon.
"Bloody hell!" Enzo cried out.
Her heart was racing, beyond pissed off at the foolery. She was blinded for a moment, not faltering until Valerie touched her arm and shook her. When she finally withdrew the room was dead silent. Stefan instantly rushed to Damon and yanked the stake out.
"What was that?" he asked everyone as he attempted to help his brother to his feet.
Ornery but exhausted, Damon yanked away.
"That was your idiot girlfriend starting shit."
He glared at Caroline.
"Me?" she exclaimed defensively, "I was only stating the truth. I saw you at the dorm this morning and Bonnie told me the other day that she was seeing an older guy."
"Yes, Enzo!" Bonnie came clean, "I've been seeing Enzo."
Caroline stared, visibly dumbfounded.
"Enzo?"
"Yes, Enzo."
She scratched her head.
"Enzo is Mr. Hotstuff?"
Valerie, Stefan and Damon exchanged expressions.
"Mr. Hotstuff?" Enzo repeated, still on the floor recovering from her magic, "that's…interesting."
Damon rolled his eyes.
"Who came up with that lame ass name?"
Bonnie's face blushed deep. She'd told Caroline not to call him that!
"Oh my god," Caroline breathed, "so this whole time it was Enzo?"
Bonnie could see her recalling every word Bonnie had told her about him. About her experience and the whole fifteen out of ten rating. For a brief second a giggle formed in her eyes. Then she seemed to remember Bonnie's secrecy.
"And you neglected to tell me because?"
"Maybe she was ashamed," Damon murmured.
Stefan shushed him before Bonnie could.
"I didn't know how, I guess. I know how you feel about Enzo. And he's a vampire."
Caroline gestured around the room.
"Yea, so is the majority of our friends now…and Damon."
She heard him mumble in the background, "I love you too, Carebear."
Everyone ignored him.
"I've never dated a vampire before," Bonnie confessed, "and when Elena dated Damon neither of us were thrilled. Then given Enzo's history with you I was afraid you wouldn't accept it."
Again no one spoke. Caroline came closer, took her best friend by the shoulders.
"Bonnie, you're my friend. If he makes you happy then of course I'll accept it."
She hugged her close then, reinforcing the bond they'd had since childhood. And Bonnie felt foolish for ever doubting her. They'd been through so much together—men included. She'd watched Caroline date werewolves, vampires, even have an encounter with their mortal enemy Klaus Mikaelson. And Caroline had been there for her with Jeremy. Why had she been so afraid?
"Besides, anybody is better than Damon," Caroline remarked. "Even Enzo."
Bonnie laughed though she was more than convinced that Caroline wasn't joking.
"I love you so much," Bonnie felt her eyes tearing up. "Thank you for accepting this."
They continued to hug, releasing all of the tension that the secret had built between them. Then Damon broke the mood.
"What is wrong with you?"
The ladies pulled away to look at him. He was still holding his abdomen but the wound was healing.
"I don't accept it. I don't accept it all. And I'll never accept it because—"
Enzo was coming to his feet.
"Because?" he challenged.
Bonnie recognized the wild look in Damon's eyes again. The one that had scared her back at the dorm.
"I think I'll go see what's keeping Matt," she tried to avoid him.
"No, Damon has something to say," Valerie interjected, "I think you should hear him out."
She glared at the heretic.
"Just spit it out Damon," Enzo agreed sardonically. "Tell her what I've known all along."
But Bonnie wasn't sure that she wanted to know.
"Guys really now's not the time," she began.
"I'll never accept you with Enzo because he's not right for you," Damon declared, "He never will be right for you and sooner or later you're going to realize that being with him is a mistake."
He spoke in that annoyingly self-assured way that Damon tended to do. It made her uncomfortable, uneasy. And despite her apprehension at his words, Bonnie suddenly found herself going on the defense. Perhaps because of the apprehension they caused her.
"Oh yea? What makes you so sure?" she snapped.
Damon looked at her and she almost saw a desperation there.
"Because I know that's why! And because I'm your friend!"
He couldn't offer another reason. Whatever was going on inside his head, he was leaving it there. Bonnie looked away. The inkling that he wasn't telling her the whole story ate at her.
"No, that's not the real reason."
Everyone turned to Enzo, watching as he made his way to Bonnie. Damon glared but didn't speak. Enzo touched her cheek affectionately.
"It's because you're in love with someone else."
She hadn't been expecting that.
"Excuse me?"
That theory had certainly come out of left field. Where was he getting his information?
Enzo shook his head knowingly.
"I don't even think you see it. He's too dumb to see it. But I guess being the outsider looking in gives me a better view of things."
His eyes were sad as he spoke.
"When Damon called during our date you ran to him without hesitation. When he tried to take on Julian you refused to allow it—"
"Because that's what friends do," she argued.
Enzo shook his head.
"When Valerie attacked me all you did was push her. When she attacked Damon you tossed her through the bloody window. And just now when we were fighting? You went damn near ballistic with the magic defending him from me. Whatever we have here, for you it will never be as strong as what you have with Damon."
Though his tone was soft, resigned even, the words shook her to the core.
"I didn't see it until now. You'll never be happy with me, Bonnie. Because you're in love with Damon."
When she couldn't find a response, a confirmation or denial, Enzo kissed her on the forehead. He then glanced at the others.
"I don't see any reason why I should stick around here. Give Matt my regards."
They all watched as he exited the room, Damon just as dumbfounded as Bonnie. When his eyes met hers, she quickly looked away. It took her a moment before she collected enough of her mind to try to go after him. She couldn't end things this way. With him thinking that she was in love with Damon.
Was she in love with Damon?
"Enzo wait!"
She made it to the doorway before crashing into a hard male body in a blue uniform. Bonnie stumbled backward and was instantly caught in familiar arms. She didn't have to glance back to know Damon's scent. Matt stood in the doorway, his face all business as he spoke.
"Last night a vampire killed a bar full of people. There was only one witness who died this morning but before she did she gave a description. She said he was around 5'10 or so with dark black hair. Now how many vampires do we know in town who fit that description?"