Chapter 9,

Dear Elena

Oh I don't know where I am
But it feels like home
And I move myself away
When it don't feel like home
Well now I love myself again

-The Him

Something weird just happened…Enzo complimented me in a way that made me feel…warm?

Let me explain the whole story.

The camera was a beautiful distraction from any heartbreak I actually had. Enzo was a genius right now. I took a lesson out of your book and thanked him the right way. He smiled at how happy I seemed to be at this. He then had to leave. Just to give you some context of time that was about after I opened the gift and he came just for a few minutes to see I was all good. I thought about giving him a hug but we both seemed to not like or want that idea.

But then…

I have to ask you something… Is it possible for people to change Elena? Is it possible that I, Bonnie Bennett judge a book by its cover too soon? I mean that's what's happening right now, I thought one thing of Enzo and he turned out to be something else…right. But there's Damon who, I judged as selfish and then I thought he was good and then he proved my judgement, time and time again. Though I should probably thank Damon because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have seen this side of Enzo. A side where he shows me, how he sees me instead of how I believe the world sees me.

There was about a week until Thanksgiving. I was outside taking in the leaves of red, orange and brown. It was freezing but I was ok because I was just absorbing it all in. It was beautiful. So obviously I had my camera and I was just content with taking pictures. I got beautiful ones. Some of the trees, leaves and over the rocky hedges. It was simple things to take pictures of, but I was not living in the moment as I should. Though that stopped I saw a very specific letter at night. I didn't want to allow myself to wallow about it. I had a feeling Enzo understood but he's irrationality probably would have allowed to rip it into pieces…the same way he ripped my heart I suppose.

My phone buzzed and when I looked at the caller ID, it was Caroline.

"Hey." I smiled when I answered the phone.

"I love dressing up kids." She said giggling, "The photographer just sent me over the pictures from the Halloween Photoshoot, wanna see."

"I'd love to see it." I smile thinking about how motherly she sounds.

"Ok give me two seconds and I will send it." She smiles, "Maybe you could do the one for our Christmas and Thanksgiving edition. Hey that reminds me, what's you address I have to send you a thanksgiving card and a Christmas card." She that on purpose I know she did.

"You know I can't tell you that Care." I sigh and look down, "I'm secluded remember?"

She sighs, "Bonnie it's the Holidays. This used to be your favorite holiday."

"It still is." I say trying to convince even though I hadn't really thought about it.

"Are you at least spending it with someone." She asks huffing in frustration.

I didn't know how to answer her. You'll probably tell her this but I didn't know if Enzo and I would be in the same state for Thanksgiving let alone room.

So I lie, "Yeah, of course." I look at the rocky ledges, "Who knows maybe I'll call Matt. He's still in the same state as me."

"So you're still Virginia?" She says excitedly, "I'm getting better at cracking this code."

"Ok I'm hanging up now," I sigh, "Can I have that picture of the girls please."

"Fine!" She says.

"Give them a big kiss from me." I smile thinking about them also made me happy.

We hung up and as promised within two minutes, I was staring at two beautiful little girls in pumpkin costumes. They grew up so fast and this was in October so I could imagine they were a lot bigger now. I smiled at how excited they looked. I could imagine Caroline at the other end of the camera making them laugh. As I walk back to the cabin I continue to smile at the picture. I didn't spot that Enzo's car was here when I walked back. I just slipped into the warm cabin. That's when I saw him making two cups of coffee. Yeah things have kind of changed.

"Hey." He smiled at me.

"Hey." I walk over to him at the counter and hold out my phone, showing him the picture of Lizzie and Josie, "Look, The girls are growing up so fast."

Enzo chuckles slightly and says, "They look like footballs in pumpkin costumes."

I can't help but chuckle at that. I place the camera over the chair and open the blue prints I recently got out the recent timed boxes. I considered it progress finding this gem. I flip to the page I was looking for.

"What have you got there?" He asks me curiously.

"Blueprints of the Armory's underground levels. You ever been down there?" I ask him. I mean he technically owns the Armory. He's father was the original founder.

As I take my scarf and jacket off he walks towards the table with two cups of coffee. He sets them down and sits down looking at the blue prints without touching them.

"No, actually." Enzo says and it doesn't surprise me what he says next, "Uh, Alex said they were all sealed off."

" I wonder what's down there. The Armory collects things, right?" I look at him, "Every museum has an archive where they keep the really good stuff."

"What sort of good stuff?"

"I don't know." I shrug. My knowledge of museums were actually quite limited, "Unique things. One-of-a-kind things. The outliers of a collection."

"Outliers?" He looked thoughtful as he said that.

"Uh-huh." I nod and lean in closer, "I mean, maybe that's why they wanted Elena."

"A doppelgänger." Enzo now looks deeply in thought as he nods in agreement.

"And Rayna Cruz."

"A shamanic huntress with multiple lives." He agrees once more.

"And me." I treble at this point.

"A terrible guitar player." He says in a matter-of-fact tone. I glare at him as he attempts to keep a straight face but can't. Instead he just chuckles slightly until his eye catches something. He grabs the letter from the corner of the table all traces of humour gone, "You still haven't burned this bloody letter?" He holds the letter up and then places it back down.

"Every day I mean to, and every day I decide not to." I say with a tone I can't seem to place. It was the truth though; there were days where I sat in front of the fire place ready to set it a light. But you seem to get in my head. I lean back into my chair and look up at Enzo looking at me.

"You know, he left me, too. Damon." I look at him as he talks, "We were best mates, side by side in Augustine cells for five years, each other's only friend. We gave each other hope. And then, one day, instead of implementing an escape plan we formulated together, he left me in a burning cage to die." Enzo chuckles bitterly at the last part. I listen intently at his tone and the emotion he seems to be trying to cage. He then looks at me, "So... believe me when I tell you that I know how you feel." I'm not feeling any better talking about this. I actually feel more angry…more hurt because I'm not the only person he has done that too.

"And, look, let me just spare you the fifty years of mental anguish." He looks at me with wide eyes and says a little more aggressively, "It's not you, it's him, It's just who Damon is. So, stop wasting your time trying to figure out if it's something you did." He said this part Elena so softly and so gently…it felt like he wanted my wounds and my heart to hear this rather my ears, "Someone like you…with all that fire and passion and... loyalty, you deserve much, much better than that."

I remember tell him after Lily kind of dumbed the same thing. So I can't help but look into his deep brown eyes and smile. Instead of dwelling on this I decide to show him the camera.

"You wanna see the picture I took?" I smile at him. He smiles and nods.

"I hope your pictures have been more successful then your guitar playing." He chuckles slightly.

I give him a sour look and enter the photographs that I have taken. The first couple are of just trees and such. One of the last pictures strike him as silly.

"What is that?"

"It's leaves," I say to him, "Look how pretty they are."

"With a pigeon ring in mix."

"What?" I frown at him and watch as he zooms in to show a lost pigeon's ankle ring, " Dammit." I frown as he laughs. It then hits me when I look at the markings of numbers on the ring, "Oh my god."

"What?" Enzo says with his laugh fading out.

I spring up and walk to one of the boxes which has a number of photographs of artifacts that are placed in the Armory.

"Bonnie?"

I turn to look at him, "I think I may have a theory…"

Enzo looks at me, "It's probably something brilliant let's hear it."

Once again he has said something that sounds like he appreciates me. Something I haven't felt in a long…long time Elena. I don't need you to answer my question about me being forward about judging a book by its cover. I know the answer…I do. And I did with Enzo…

B

To be continued…

Authors note

Sorry it's taking long to update *embarrassed face* but I'm definitely still cracking. I don't know about you guys but this scene was like the biggest breakthrough for Bonnie. Yeah there were events leading to this but this ultimately took away anymore traces hate she may have had towards Enzo, which is great. After this is smooth sailing and fun I guess. Then there's the big scenes coming, so be excited. Sorry about the TBC but I can't give it all away…or can I *evil laugh*.

As usual thanks for the support and I will post real soon.

Love C

xxxx