RANDOM WORD: PROM
"It's prom." Caroline Forbes insists after Bonnie informs her she won't be attending.
"It's lame."
"Uh, Bonnie Bennett. I swear if you don't come to this dance I'll kill myself."
"No you won't and, honestly Caroline, with everything we've seen and all the things that you know are out there do you really think prom is a crucial night? Protecting Mystic Falls is more important."
Caroline watches her with a critical eye for several moments. "It may not be as important to you Bonnie, but it's all we have." She grabs her purse and exits the lunch room quickly and Bonnie instantly feels like a jerk. Later when she relays the story to her boyfriend he snorts non-commitally and she isn't surprised. Damon doesn't really do high school and prom just isn't his scene.
The night of prom Bonnie is at the Gilbert House helping Elena and Caroline get ready. In the fun they've somehow convinced her to try on a cute golden cocktail dress and parade around the room like it's a fashion show. Her phone rings and she laughingly answers.
"Where are you?" A worried voice demands.
"I'm at Elena's. I was just helping the girls get ready." She giggles as Elena affixes little golden star slips in her hair and Caroline forces some dangly earrings on her.
"Well, you were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago." Damon answers.
"Where?" She shakes her head at the heels Caroline has offered to go with the dress.
"The bell tower in the town square. Bonnie, I thought you were serious about protecting the town tonight. If you can't be serious at least let me know when you aren't going to show up so I can get a replacement."
"Oh Damon, I'm so sorry. I don't remember you telling me about tonight. Just let me change..."
"Change? Whatever you're wearing is fine."
"Damon, I'm in..."
"I don't care. Are you coming or not? Make your choice Bonnie." He hung up the phone.
"I've gotta go. That was Damon and apparently, I agreed to a shift in the bell tower. Have fun tonight!"
She races out the door and guns it all the way to town. In just over four minutes she squeals into the town square and once she exits the car is swept up in the mass of high schoolers all decked out for the night's dance. She moves among them quickly and once she's sure no one is looking enters the bell tower.
"Damon? She calls as she approaches the top landing. "Hello?" There's a glow coming from the top and she's not sure if it is friend or foe. Steeling herself for the worst she enters the uppermost level to find Damon standing in a room full of candles with a little table with food and a record player softly pouring out Billie Holiday.
"Hey." She hears him say and she glances to him and notices his suit for the first time.
"What is this?" She nearly whispers.
"Well, the girls and I knew we would never get you to the dance and prom really isn't our thing, you know? But you, my dear," he sweeps her into his arms. "Should have everything I can give you, and this, this is nothing."
She's fighting tears and silently thanking the girls for getting her into this dress with the hair and the makeup when Damon breaks her musings.
"Where are your shoes?"
"I left right after you called. Guess I forgot." She blushes prettily in embarrassment.
"Hmmm." He releases her and kicks off his shoes and socks carelessly and then they are dancing again. Both barefoot and happy and the town is safe and Bonnie's smiling and might just be the best prom there ever was.
REVIEW: WAY BETTER THAN MY PROM. WE HAD KARAOKE AND ALL NIGHT THE AV CLUB BUTCHERED QUEEN'S BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. SO SAD.