A/N: First of all, thanks to everyone who reviewed, is following the story or me or even put one of us to their favorites. Thanks for all your support and your kind words.

And Vie, I love you. It's all I can say. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your review. Thanks for taking all that time.

So, you know the deal, neither the Vampire Diaries nor the Camaro are mine (my little obsession with that car isn't obvious, is it? ^^), just the plot and even that is influenced by a lot of things I don't own either. Just the mistakes are mine.

Enjoy reading!

Chapter 11:

The front door of the Bennett home wasn't even closed when Bonnie grabbed for her cell phone, hurriedly dialing Caroline's number. She was freaking out. What did she do? Did she just agree to her definitely doom? Was she insane?

It hadn't been too long when Damon and her were at each other's throats. They'd hated and tried to kill each other and now all of a sudden she agrees to meet up with him? To hang out with him? To be friends with him?! What the hell? And after the revelation of the last week how could she say that? It was plainly obvious they couldn't stay in the same place for a few minutes without kissing. How was she supposed to spent several hours with him and keep her hands and lips all to herself? How was she going to stick to her resolve and not play into his hands?

But that was the one thing she couldn't do; she couldn't allow. Okay, there wasn't any use to deny the chemistry and passion between them. Even she with all her stubbornness had to admit that. Though it was just physical attraction. She didn't love him.

After all he'd been through – hell, he was an 169 year old guy who hadn't had one true girlfriend – she couldn't play along and after the deed was done cast him away. She couldn't do that to him. Not when there weren't any feelings involved on her part.

Yes, Bonnie. Keep telling yourself that. Because you go around and kiss every single guy you think is hot. Bonnie hated her inner voice sometimes.

As soon as Bonnie heard that the call was accepted she started talking. "Care, I need you."

Few seconds later, there was a knock on the front door. Caroline.

"What is it? Are you okay? Did something happen? It's Klaus, isn't it? He's back? What do we do? What did happen after I brought you home early this morning?" Caroline asked. In her head, she envisioned many different scenarios all ending with one of them dead.

"It's Damon."

A minute passed while Caroline kept quiet. Still panicked she saw him lying in his bed, dying again. Didn't the spell work? It was supposed to. Then it dawned on Caroline.

So Bonnie really went to see him last night.

"What did he do this time? Provoked you? Called you names? Did he pull your hair on the playground?"

At that the witch narrowed her eyes but Caroline just smiled. If her friend wanted to play dumb, she couldn't do anything about it. But that didn't mean she couldn't push her in the right direction and make fun of her for her childlike behavior.

Regardless, a few seconds later the witch told her blonde companion everything that had happened since the moment they'd left Elena's. Not skipping anything.

"So, like I see it, you're freaking out over nothing. He wants to be friends – so what? What's the deal about that? I mean you're getting along for some while now. You don't hate each other anymore. Honestly, you two are like the same person in a lot of things and you are a united front against Stefan and Elena and their silly misconceptions.

I mean, if Damon decides that he wants to be friends with you, real friends, you shouldn't say no. Don't give me that look, Bonnie. I'm your best friend and not his. And girls should stick together, I know. I'm not saying that because Damon told you so but because you're sick and tired of all your fights. You two know the other one better than anyone else and you know more about your pasts – you both know where to stab to hurt the other the most. You know each other's weaknesses. Your insults aren't harmless banter and pissing-off contests anymore, they are vicious now. You know where to attack. And it leaves you two with open, life-threatening wounds. That's no life! Not for you, not for him. For none of us.

And now, there is a way to start over, to change your dark downward spiral. A chance to get you away from the edge of the abyss. Just try it. I'm not saying 'go marry him' but take the risk and if it doesn't work out, you still can go back. By then Damon will be irritated by the whole thing and you both are happy again. But there, too, is a chance that it'll work out. Girl, you have nothing to lose but everything to win. So stop over thinking his offer and go with it. See where it takes you. It's a good thing."

Caroline was hell-bent to make her friend see what was right in front of her. Maybe she wasn't the best person to preach of everlasting love or an honest relationship full of trust but damn if she wasn't a romantic. And she would turn Bonnie into one too!

Shortly after her revelation, the blonde had to go leaving Bonnie to her thoughts.

Bonnie couldn't sleep that night. Restless, she turned from one side to the other. Caroline's words had gotten to her. The possibilities and what ifs were haunting her sleep.

Was Caroline right? Were their fights getting out of hand? They did fight more and more with each passing month. And they knew exactly where to hurt. Their fights and arguments had turned vicious.

But that was just him, wasn't it? Sure, she didn't back down or shy away like everyone else but she wasn't slashing him piece for piece. She wasn't him, was she?

Tossing back and forth in her usually comfortable bed, the witch got aggravated. What was that all about? Why was she thinking that much about him? He wasn't even here with her but all she could think of was him... He was so damn irritating. And she just knew he'd get a kick out of her current predicament. Jerk!

When she was finally falling asleep, the sun sent its first strokes out into the night sky. In short three hours she had to wake up again. Her friends had talked her into going shopping. A girl couldn't have enough bikinis, was Caroline's conviction. Long hours standing in front of mirrors in bright lightened rooms for everyone to see being confronted by the imperfections of your body … Why did she ever agree to that?

Rrrrrrrrrr, rrrrrrrrrr!

A shrilly sound woke Bonnie up. Tiredly, the girl grabbed for her retro-style alarm, eyes still tightly shut.

Her night had been cut short – once again thanks to Damon. It didn't matter what she was doing it all came back to him.

However, there was more to it than just the pondering about their new deal that left her restless that night. The tug at her heart had come back the further she'd driven away from the Boarding House. It didn't to anything to pacify her suspicion.

The Bennett witch understood Damon's apprehension and dislike for witches' more and more with each passing day. They were probably somewhere laughing their butts off about her predicament. Ever since she brought Jeremy back from the dead, her ancestors got a sick pleasure out of her misfortune.

The witches didn't want to understand that Jeremy was like family to her. They weren't a couple any more but that didn't mean she wanted him dead. He was one of the last persons tying her to the girl she uses to be – him and Matt. Giving him up would have been like burying herself.

There wasn't anything she could about that now. Reluctantly and still swearing, Bonnie stood up and went to take a shower. It was amazing what warm water could do to you.

Refreshed and half awake, Bonnie went back into her room and got ready. Half an hour later, the girl grabbed her bag and ran down the stairs and out of her house. Elena was supposed to come and pick her up.

Locking the front door behind her, the witch saw Elena's car coming down the street.

She hadn't opened the car door completely yet, when Elena bombarded her with questions. "Hey Bonnie, so good to see you. What have you been up to since I've seen you last?"

The witch hid her smile. If Elena only knew what she'd been up to. However, Bonnie wasn't ready for that conversation yet, and so she kept quiet.

Laughing she answered her friend. "Elena, I don't know what you're talking about. We've seen each other just tow days ago. It wasn't even that long. What should have happened?"

"Don't you play dumb with me, Bon. You know exactly what I'm talking about. You know, that mysterious guy you won't tell me and Caroline anything about. Did you guys talk? Did he call?" Elena wanted to know as she was driving towards the mall. Or what one called a 'mall' in a small town like Mystic Falls.

"Uhm … ya, we … talked. Don't look at me like that, 'Lena. So what? A few days ago I talked with Matt, but there is nothing going on either."

When they arrived at the mall, Caroline was already there waiting for them. Together the three best friends were ready to cause havoc.

All day, that feeling of emptiness, numbness hadn't left Bonnie. The ache in her chest had been quite unsettling and made concentrating on conversations quite an exasperation.

Was it really the magic? Or was she turning into one of those girls who depended on a boyfriend/ guy friend? If Bonnie hated anything, than it was uncertainty. Not knowing what was going on, made her paranoid.

Luckily, the witch had planned a calm afternoon today, lying in the sun in her backyard, listening to music and dozing of. Nothing fancy.

That was one of the positives things living in a small town. Even Caroline couldn't drag them through the mall for more than six hours. Most people were done in under two hours, including lunch.

With great anticipation, the witch was looking out for a lazy summer afternoon just chilling in her back yard. And even the strange feeling in her chest weakened the more the joyful expectation for her afternoon to come intensified.

So, it isn't because of Damon after all. It's just an uneasy feeling like every time I'm around a vampire. Elated, Bonnie convinced herself of her new conclusion, ignoring the inconsistency of her logic.

Chatting, the three friends left the mall in favor for the parking lot. Caroline said her goodbyes (running was so much faster nowadays) and left the other two on their own.

As she saw the brunette's car, Bonnie felt a shift in the atmosphere. That strange feeling gave away to a completely new feeling of glee.

Her happy mood, however, was short-lived.

Suddenly, Elena stopped. Following her gaze, Bonnie's eyes widened. Right next to the car parked Damon. The witch froze, realization dawning on her. All the time while she'd thought the feeling lessened because of Damon's absence, it got weaker because he was coming closer. Her life sucked. There wasn't any use of denying the connection between them any longer.

Though, that didn't mean she was throwing herself at his feet. It would be a cold day in hell before that happened.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" Elena tried to ask in a stern tone of voice, while simultaneously twirling a straw of her hair and fluttering her eyelashes at him.

Honestly?! What are you trying to do here? Does anyone believe your innocent act? You've got a boyfriend so stand clear of mine! He's here for me, Doppelganger.

Bonnie couldn't believe herself. Did she just think that? This wasn't her. She didn't approve of Elena's behavior as of late but she was one of her best friends, where did all that aversion come from?

Girl, you. are. jealous! No, she couldn't be, could she?

Shaking her head, the witch decided to concentrate on the outside world and pushed her own irritating thoughts away.

"I was hungry. Here's more variety then at the Grill. Why not a hot girl full of endorphins? They taste so much better", Damon grinned.

"Damon, I thought you said you don't do that anymore. I thought you're only drinking from bags these days", Elena accused him.

"I do. Walking blood bags."

Perplexed, Elena looked from Damon to Bonnie, expecting her friend to say something. If one thing didn't change, it was the animosity between the witch and this particular vampire.

Bonnie knew she was supposed to get upset, get agitated. She knew she was supposed to threaten his life, to argue with him, to reprimand him. But, honestly, what was the use?

She knew he was just talking shit. It was just too easy to unsettle Elena. Should they really rip out each others' throats just because he was trash-talking?

Curious, Damon watched the witch. He was flabbergasted she kept quiet all that time. Usually, she'd have threatened him and sent an aneurism his way. Neither did happen.

"What do you want me to say, Elena? You asked, he answered."

"But, but ..."

"You know Damon. When he wants others to know what he's doing and where, he tells them without being asked. Otherwise he doesn't want anyone to know and if you ask him, he tells shit."

His little witch did know him better than he thought. It was nice to see he wasn't the only one in tune with her reactions.

The brunette's reaction was almost comical. Her eyes seemed to come out of their sockets. Surprises and sudden changes had never been her strong forte.

"Bad vampire, bad. Don't go eating off innocent people. - You're both happy now?" Bonnie didn't know why she was so irritated. But she was sick and tired of all those things everyone else thought she was supposed to do. Why was it alright for Elena to date someone who was involved with one of her ancestors? Why was it alright for Caroline to date Tyler – the one thing that could kill her easily? Why was it not alright for her to say what she wanted when she wanted? Why was she the only one who had to do what everyone else imposed on her?

What about her wants and needs?

Seeing Elena's mixed emotions, Damon decided to cut in, all the while looking straight at Bonnie. "Actually, I'm here to pick you up. You remember our deal?"

Her relief of being cut off, diminished as fast as it came. She should have known that he was hell-bent on sticking to their deal. When Damon Salvatore wanted something, he got it, and he wasn't one for patience.

Suspiciously, Elena again glanced from one to the other, opening her mouth to demand what was going on.

Still not ready for that confrontation, Bonnie came her before and walked to the passenger seat of the Camaro. "Sure I do. What are you waiting for? Let's go."

And the witch and the vampire drove off, leaving a dumbstruck Elena behind.

Driving along the road out-of-town, the two passengers kept silent.

Damon was waiting for the other shoe to drop, the witch had been all too willingly, whereas Bonnie couldn't believe she just jumped into a car with Damon.

"Where are we going?" Bonnie couldn't take the silence anymore.

"Out of town."

"Moron. As if I didn't get that from the 'Leaving Mystic Falls' sign", the witch hummed.

"You asked, I answered. And I didn't even lie about it."

The glare Bonnie shot him, made him change his tactic.

"You nearly jumped into my car back there just to escape Elena and all her questions. I guess you haven't told her anything. So I figured you don't want to go somewhere where she can find us. And we both know she's going to look for us", Damon explained his decision.

"So the Boarding House, my home and the Grill are out of question", the witch concluded finishing Damon's sentence. She had to admit Damon had thought about it and was right. Elena would pester the whole town in her search for them and demand answers. If Elena disliked something, it was not to be privy.

"Exactly."

"That still doesn't my answer. Where are we going?" She hated surprises, Caroline had been right about that. And not knowing where she was going in a car with a person she didn't trust only a few weeks ago, didn't any to diffuse her worries.

Though that feeling of glee in her chest that overtook her every time Damon was around did a good job of calming her. Sometime along the line she started to trust him.

Funny thing was, she trusted him with her life. She was absolutely sure, he'd have her back in a fight and he'd do all he could to save her. However, she wasn't convinced she could trust him with everyday stuff. Where was he taking her? Did he really want to drive somewhere to be left alone or was he going to abandon her on the roadside?

"Anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue?", Damon remarked, irritating Bonnie all the more.

"You should know all about that", Bonnie huffed under her breath, well knowing his vampire senses would let him hear it.

Damon cast the witch a glance. The girl was lucky he like-liked her, otherwise she'd be dead.

Just yesterday she'd been the one who told him that reminding her of his past conquests wouldn't do him any good with her. So, why'd she bring Katherine up?

Women, Damon thought shaking his head.

"Ah ah, witchy. Remember what we said yesterday? No more insulting me? I was keeping my part of the deal, now it's time you pay up", Damon reprimanded. It felt so good being superior.

"You know, just a few months ago I would have killed you for your little remark there", he added as an afterthought.

Out of the corner of her eye, the girl glanced at him. She knew he was right. But what was she supposed to feel? Was it a sign of his change? Should she be glad for it? Or should she be angry that he even though about doing such a thing? She couldn't believe he said it in such a serious, monotone tone of voice.

Silence settled in the car again. After Damon was sure his passenger wasn't going to respond to his last remark he switched on the radio and drove along.