Nikki's POV

The next morning I woke up not feeling good to face the world, or should I say face Ian. I knew that I had hurt his feelings and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

I have to apologise to him, I didn't want to lose his friendship... He is one of my closest friends on the cast, I had to fix this. So, I quickly got up and went to take a shower. I put some fresh clothes, I was wearing a Jersey Cashmere Batwing Top in Anthracite, Crafted Skinny Slash Jeans, Felix glitter ankle boots and my Marc Jacobs leather shoulder bag. My hair was wavy.

I grabbed my blackberry to see if I had any messages or calls, and I had none. But I found a bunch of notifications on twitter. I saw one from HollywoodTV, I don't have habit to see the gossip that the media talks about me but I decided to take a look.

- hollywoodtv SPOTTED! Looks like after a night with the cast of vampire diaries at the CosmoLava club, Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore) and Nikki Bongiovi (Claire Muratore) took the party back to her hotel where they were seen together. So what is going on with these two? Did their chemistry on screen just jumped to real life?

- perezhilton OH-EM-GEE. Nikki Bongiovi and Ian Somerhalder were spotted at Nikki's hotel. Did our favourite vampire just attract one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood? Things are getting pretty well with these two. How come she gets always the hottest ones?

I wasn't really bothered by this, since the media had writing a bunch of stories about me and Ian, ever since I joined the cast. But I really had to be more careful next time, because clearly the paparazzi were more close then I thought.

Ian's POV

"Good morning, Smolder." Nina greeted with a smile.

"Good morning, Neens." I smiled back. We walked together towards the cafetaria as we greeted the cast and the crew.

"So... I saw the news today." She trailed off.

"You mean the gossip? Well, it's kinda hard not to. Every tabloid is talking about me and Nikki."

"How are you dealing? It seems ever since you and Nikki were seen more together, the paparazzi is on your trail 24/7 now." Nina mused.

"I'm dealing the best I can, there is nothing I can do about it..." I shrugged.

"Yeah, and where is Nikki? I tried to call her but she isn't answering her phone."

"I honestly, don't know..." I didn't really know, after what happened at her hotel room last night, I wasn't ready to talk to her yet, I was still feeling rejected.

"Did something happened between you two?" She questioned.

"I don't really want to talk about it Neens, sorry." I lowered my head.

"It's ok." She smiled. "We have to get dressed, this is our scene with Paul at the Boarding House."

"Ok, so let's go." We walked towards our dressing-room, while I took a look at my lines again before shooting. Someone knocked at my door, I turned to see Paul leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Hey, what's up?" I looked over at him.

"Nothing much, just checking on you since last night..."

"I'm fine man. Nikki took care of me last night." I nodded.

"I'm sure she did." He smirked.

"We kissed last night..." I sighed and he raised his eyebrows, he quickly closed the door behind him and sat on the couch.

"That's great, man. You're making progress!" Paul smiled.

"Not really. She told me that she didn't regret the kiss but it shouldn't had happened."

"She told you that? Wow, then she's more complicated than I thought." Paul mused. When I was about to respond him, Julie had walked in after knocking the door, saying that we had to be already on set.

We quickly followed her to the set, as my mind kept wandering around the kiss, even though it hadn't happened like I had planned to, still it was one of the best kisses I had.

Nikki's POV

When I arrived to the set, the first thing I did was asking for Ian. I hoped that he didn't already started shooting. But unfortunately he was at the Boarding House with Nina and Paul already filming the episode.

Since it would take a while to finish their scene and I just had to film with Ian at the end of the day. I sat on my chair next to Julie who was watching them act. She smiled at me and mouthed 'good morning' and I did the same.

I was watching Nina, Paul, Matt and Ian interact with each other, it was amazing how they could impersonate their characters so well. Especially Nina, who was to play 2 characters! I always thought that she was a very talented actress.

My phone was buzzing and I checked the I.D to see that it was my mother calling me, I quickly pressed 'answer'.

"Hello mamma."

"Nikki, sweetheart. I'm trying to call you for days!"

"I know, mamma. And I'm sorry, but I've been so busy with the show that I don't really have time to breathe." God, I felt so guilty. I didn't even have time to call to my own mother, but it had always been this way. I was a very busy woman, from promoting my new album, doing new movies, going to interviews, touring around the world and even photoshoots. Truth be told I am very blessed and lucky for having such a sucessful career, but family comes first in my books and I feel like I haven't been a very good daughter/sister lately.

"I understand, that you're busy as usual. But I wish you could at least, try and call once in a while."

"You're right, I'm very sorry. I promise that I will call you, every chance I get."

"You better! So, what is new in your life?"

"Well, I did something bad."

"What did you do?"

"There is this guy, who happens to be my co-star on the show I'm working now... God, mamma he is so dreamy."

"A new boy? Dio mio! You are finally getting over Leonardo... He wasn't good for you, he was a huge player. I always knew that he would end up hurting you!"

"Mamma, calm down. You were right about Leo, but I don't want to talk about him."

"You're right, I'm sorry sweetheart. So tell me about this dreamy boy."

"Where can I start? He is absolutely beautiful mamma, his eyes! He has the bluest eyes I ever seen in my life, he is such a gentlemen, he's kind and sweet, very funny, intelligent, so full of life and optimistic..."

"My oh my, my baby girl is falling in love!"

"What? No! Mamma, I've only met him for a few weeks... I really like him, and he likes me too. But the problem is that I'm so scared to get involved with someone and I think that I hurt his feelings because I rejected him so many times, and I feel awful about it."

"Listen to me! Nikki Francesca Bongiovi, you are such a beautiful woman and strong, it's ok to like someone else! I know that Leo was your long love, but you and him weren't meant to be. Maybe this boy that you're talking about can be someone that will change your life for the better, you can't be afraid to move on. Just because your last relantionship didn't end well, doesn't mean that you're not going to be happy with another person."

"I guess you're right, I have to stop holding on into something that is a part of my past! Thank you mamma, I really needed to hear that."

"You know that I only want what is best for you, baby girl. And I miss you, I wish you could come to L.A sometime..."

"I miss you too, I promise that when I find a break from the show, I'll visit you and Steph."

"Ok, bella. Take care of yourself."

"You know I will. Ti amo tanto mamma."

"Anch'io ti amo." With that I hung up. I felt so much better after talking with my mom, I could always count with her for everything, I am so lucky to have a family that loves me and supports me no matter what.

I walked back to the set right in time when the director just yelled 'cut'. I took this moment to finally talk with Ian. I saw Candice sitting in her chair memorizing her lines for the episode, I walked over to her and she looked at me with a smile.

"Hey, Candice did you see Ian?"

"Yeah, he walked out of the set and went to his trailer... Nikki, we're friends right?" She questioned a little bit uneasy.

I was a little taken back by her question, but smiled at her despite myself. Candice was just a caring and bubbly person, it's impossible to not like her.

"I'd like to think so." I smiled.

"Great, so can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"Did you and Ian had a fight or something? Because, he came to the set this morning a little sad and whenever Nina mentions your name, he kinda tries to hide his face so we can't see his expression." She trailed off.

My face fell a little when Candice told me that, did I hurt him that much? God, I'm feeling like shit right now, I had to fix this now. I've only started to work on this show for a few weeks but I already considered the cast like my second family, they were all great people. I already had a tight friendship with Nina, Paul and Ian. We kinda clicked the first day we met, and I couldn't ask for better co-stars. But I also, started to bond with Candice and Kat. They are really amazing girls, and I could indentify myself with each one of them. Kat and I bonded over our interest for music, we are both performers and it was really great to have someone who can understand the passion that I have for music. And Candice is just that typical american blonde girl who is impossible not to love, she is so positive, bubbly, compassionate, fun and smart girl.

"Last night after what happened at the club, I took Ian to my place so I could clean up his wounds. Things began to heat up between us, he kissed me and I kissed him back. But then, I pulled away from him and told him that I didn't regret the kiss but it shouldn't had happened anyway, and he just took off."

"OH MY GOD!" She squeaked. "You guys kissed!"

"Sshh, not exactly wanting to the whole crew to know about this..."

"Right, sorry. It just... You guys are so perfect together, it is so obvious that you two have chemistry and Ian looks like a love struck whenever is around you."

"I like him Candice. I really, really like him. Haven't felt this way since-"

"Leonardo Dicaprio?" She teased. I just looked at her a little confused and she just shrugged like it was nothing. "Please, you guys were like the 'It' couple of Hollywood."

"Wow, labels. Anyway, I didn't mean to hurt him and I ended up doing exactly that and now I don't know what to say to him to fix this..." I sighed.

"What do you mean, you don't know what to say? Tell him how you feel! I know that your last relantionship didn't end well but trust me if there is a man who can make a woman happy is Ian..."

"How do you know that? Did you guys dated or something?"

"No, of course not. We're just friends! But I just know because you just can see the way that he respects women and how he cares about the people around him, he is really a great person."

I pondered Candice's words for a moment, he's like every woman's dream man and any woman would be happy to be his girlfriend and here I am being a insecure little girl with this amazing man trying to sweep me off my feet.

"Thank you Candice. You just made me realize what was already in front of me." I hugged her and she hugged me back.

"Anytime! That's is what friends are for." She winked at me and I told her that I was going to find Ian.

Ian's POV

I was taking off my contacts, so I could get ready to finish the scene. I couldn't help but think about Nikki and I just realized how much of a dick I was to her last night, she was trying to help me and I took advantage of her vulnerability.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, I walked over to the door and opened to reveal Nikki standing outside. Suddenly, I began to get nervous and just stood there staring at her, she has that sort of effect on me whenever I was around her I would feel inside like a horny 14-year-old kid who was going to ask the hottest girl in school to prom. God, how whipped I am already... And we're not even dating.

"Hey, can we talk?" She questioned.

"S-Sure, come in." I moved aside to let her in and she walked past me, brushing her arm against mine and I had to control myself from reacting.

"Look, Ian... I'm so sorry for-"

"No, no. You have nothing to be sorry about, I'm the one who should be apologizing... Kissing you while I knew that you weren't ready had no excuse." I cut her off.

"I was trying to push you away. But after that kiss, I felt something inside that I never had felt before..." She paused for a moment. "And that scares me, I am so scared of falling in love again."

I walked over to her and cupped her face between my hands, and put a stray of hair behind her ear.

"I would never do anything to intentionlly hurt you. I really like you Nikki, if you could give me a chance to make you happy..."

"Ok." She nodded.

"Ok?"

"I will give you, us a chance." She smiled, her gorgeous and charismatic smile.

"I promise, you will not regret it." I took her hands and kissed them softly. "Nikki Bongiovi, will you go out in a date with me?"

"Yes, Ian. I'll go out in a date with you."

Nikki's POV

Ian asked me out. And I said yes, I can't help to be nervous about it. You'd thought that someone who had dated a person for 4 years, wouldn't get nervous about first dates. I don't even know if I still have it, I mean the date could be a complete disaster and Ian could never want to see me again.

I was getting ready to shoot my scene with Ian, so far I only have scenes with him. But as long the show progresses, I'm going to have scenes with the rest of the cast.

I was in my trailer as the make-up and hair team worked their magic on me. Someone knocked at the door and then I turned to see Nina leaning against the door.

"Hey, can we talk when you're done?" She questioned.

"Sure, I'll meet you at the cafetaria." I smiled at her.

"Ok." She nodded and left the trailer. Since I had at least 20 minutes of break before shooting my scene, I went to the cafetaria to meet with Nina.

"Hey, Neens. What's up?" I sit in front of her with a cup of coffee.

"Nothing much, just want to catch up." She smiled at me.

"Well... I do have something to share." I bit my lip. "You're going to be the first person to know..."

"Ok, don't leave me hanging! Spill!" She moved closer.

I took a breath then a huge smile spread on my face, it had been a while since I smiled genuily about something.

"Ian asked me out, and I said yes."

"What?" She gaped. "Oh my god, that's great Nik! I'm really happy for you." She grinned.

"Thank you, I'm so excited and nervous at the same time!"

"If you don't mind me asking, why the change of heart? I thought you were trying to push him away."

"I know, but my mom called me earlier and she just made me realize that can't live in the past anymore, my relantionship with Leonardo is over for good and I have to move on... And Candice gave me some awesomes advices, and I don't want to deny what I feel for him anymore." I told her.

"God, you guys are so cute for words! I can definitely tell you that Ian is totally crushing in you!" She smiled.

"And how do you know all that?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Humm, Paul and I exchange some notes, sometimes..."

"Of course you do." I shook my head. "Anyway, we'll talk later. I need to get ready for my scene with Paul and Candice."

"Ok, we definitely have to finish this conversation..."

"No problem." I waved at her and walked towards the set.

Ian's POV

I finally convinced her to go out with me, our first date needs to be perfect. I had one last scene with Nikki and after that it was all for the day. We shot the scene and when the director told us that it was done, I began to search for Candice, since I didn't know what kind of things that Nikki liked, I went to ask for some advices from her because she knew well what girls liked.

I spotted her talking with Kat and I quickly walked over to her, since Nina was talking with Julie I had really to resort to the bubbly blonde.

"Hey girls."

"Hey." They said in unisson.

"Kat, do you mind if I talk with Candice alone for a minute?"

"No, go ahead. I need to check on my lines anyway." She smiled at me, then I turned to the blonde girl.

"I need your help." I told her firmly.

"Is something wrong?" She creased her eyebrows.

"No, no. On the contrary, Nikki accepted to go out on a date with me." I explained her.

"Shut up! Are you serious?" She squeaked.

"Yeah, I am." I chuckled.

"How am I knowing this just now?" She scoffed. "She didn't tell me anything."

"She probably didn't had the opportunity, so can you help me or not?"

"Of course. What do you need Smolder?" She showed her brilliant smile.

"I have no idea what she likes... I know that you don't know her very well, but you're like the master of these kind of things so I was hoping that you could help a guy out."

"Don't worry, I'll help you. For what I can tell, she's a very down-to-earth person, and she probably likes someting romantic and personal... She is like Italian right? So why don't you try and cook an Italian meal for her and you're a great cook!"

"Hmm... You gave me an awesome idea, thanks Candice." I kissed her cheek and ran off to Nikki's trailer. I knocked the door and heard her confirmation to enter.

Nikki's POV

I changed to my clothes, unfortunately the day wasn't over for me just yet. Julie just informed me that I had an interview right now with E!news. Someone knocked at my door and yelled 'come in', the door opened and Ian walked inside of my trailer.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just wondering if tomorrow at 7pm. I can pick you up to our date." He replied. Tomorrow was saturday and I had a press conference because of my new album, those kind of things usually take a long time. Now I was conflicted, I really want to go out in this date, we probably won't have another chance because the show was taking too much time of our schedules. But for the first time of my life I would not worry too much.

"I have a press conference at 3 pm, but I promise that I will be ready at 7." I smiled at him.

"Are you sure? If tomorrow is a busy day for you, we can re-schedule." He told me.

"No, tomorrow is perfect." I nodded, he walked over to me and pressed his lips against mine, and I quickly kissed him back. He put his hands around my waist and circled my arms around his neck, I pulled away from him.

"I have an interview right now." I mumbled against his lips.

"Ok, I'll see you later, then." He replied as he pecked my lips. We walked out of my trailer and Ian went back to the set and I went to meet my interviewer, they told me that the interview would be in the backyard of the Salvatore Boarding House, and I was going to be interviewed by Catt Sandler from E!News.

"Hey, how are you?" She smiled at me.

"I'm doing great, thanks. How are you?"

"I'm great too. So, how excited are you for joining the Vampire Diaries cast?"

"Oh my God, I'm super excited. I mean, I completely love this show... My sister used to beg me to watch the show with her and since the first moment I saw it, I was hooked."

"Well, it's not hard to, when you have some serious eye-candy in this show right?"

"Oh, absolutely. The people in this cast are completely gorgeous, so we have eye-candy for the female and male TV viewers."

"So can you talk about your character?"

"I play Claire Muratore, she's a hybrid. Half vampire and half witch, she came to Mystic Falls with one goal only, to reckoning some deals with Katherine because they go way back... But along the way she will meet Damon and he is completely taken back with her and she finds him interesting and different from all the vampires she had met and something will click between them, she will have him under her spell."

"We saw some spoilers that something romantic will happen between them, what can you say about that?"

"Something will definitely happen between them, not sure if it's romantic. Because Claire is a very complex character, she is like Damon in some ways... She had a very rough past and she has trust issues, she doesn't trust anyone but herself and with good reason, I think that the fans will love this new character just as much as I do."

"We had some feedback from the fans, and they are absolutely euforic for having you in the show."

"I can't even began to describe how much that means to me, I'm really happy that my fans are supporting me in this new journey that I started, I feel like everything is going great in my professional life, I just finished my tour around Europe, my new album is in the top charges, and my new movie Black Swan is making a huge sucess in the box office, I couldn't be any more blessed."

"And we are really happy for you. I must say that Black Swan is definitely one of the best movies I ever seen in a long time. So, let's talk about your new Album No Sympathy For The Dead, the new collaboration you did with Eminem, the song Love The Way You Lie is a huge hit!"

"Yes! Oh my God, I couldn't quite believe that he wanted to do a song with me. I mean I had done collaborations with others rappers, but I'm a huge fan of Eminem and when he called me saying that he was doing this song and that he will only publish if I sing in it, I told him of course!"

"How is like working with him?"

"You know he has this personal aura around him, he's a very professional guy. People have this certain impression that he is this unpleasent person but in reality he's just discret and quiet and working with him it's like a dream."

"And that's great. Nikki, thank you so much for your time and we hope that everything works out great for you!"

"Thank you so much. Don't forget season 2 debuts September 9!"

After the interview, Julie and Kevin had told me that I was done for the day so I drove back to my hotel, thinking about today. I decided to confront my feelings for Ian, I like him so much it doesn't make sense push him away, I'm excited and nervous for our first date, I wonder how is going to be... I can tell that he is a very romantic and passionate person so I'm sure that is going to be amazing. It's time to let go of the past and look forward to the future.

Translation:

Ti amo mamma- I love you mom.

Anch'io ti amo- I love you too.