I decided to split up the original chapter 12 into two parts and add another scene because, as Michael will say in this chapter, it would be a shame not to show off Bonnie's dress. I hope you'll like this chapter.

Disclaimer: Glen A. Larson and Universal own the Knight Rider characters in this story. Bonnie's family and her family background as well as Scott were created by me.

Chapter 12

By the time they arrived at the symphony, Bonnie was already annoyed and regretted that she hadn't found a way to avoid going out with Scott. Scott was talking ever since they had left her parents' house. He didn't even notice that Bonnie barely listened to him. She doubted that she would be able to enjoy the concert. She wondered if she should pretend that she didn't feel well but it wouldn't help her getting rid of Scott either. He would drive her back home, give her all kind of advice, and make sure that she was taken care of. She remembered that look on Scott's face when he watched Michael saying goodbye to her. She had seen jealousy and determination in it, and she knew Scott wouldn't give up that easily.

Bonnie's lips curled into a smile when she thought of the sweet kiss on her cheek which Michael had given her before she left. She wanted more of it.

"I'm so glad your mother gave us her tickets. I've been looking forward to spending some time with you, Bonnie. We should do this more often, don't you think so?" Scott asked her, interrupting her thoughts.

Bonnie was so lost in thought that she hadn't listened to him. "What?"

"I said we should see each other more often." Scott told her. He sighed. Why was it so hard for her to devote her attention to him?

"Scott, I live in Los Angeles. I don't fly. Boston is really far away." Bonnie explained curtly.

"Why don't you move to Boston? I know that you miss your family. You could easily find a job here." Scott suggested.

"I don't want to move back to Boston. I'm happy and I love my job. I would never give it up." Bonnie was angry that he tried to tell her to move. There were several job opportunities for her in Boston. She wouldn't need his help if she wanted to work here. But she didn't. Her life was with FLAG and she wouldn't leave them again. Bonnie had enjoyed doing post-graduate studies but being away from KITT, Michael and Devon had felt wrong and Bonnie had missed them terribly.

She was close to telling Scott to stay out of her life when he turned off the engine of his car. They had arrived at the symphony. Bonnie didn't even wait for Scott to open her door. She headed towards the entrance and Scott had to run to keep up with her.

"What's wrong, Bonnie?" Scott asked her as soon as he had caught up with her. "I barely recognize you."

"Scott, it's my life and I'm happy. Don't tell me to give it up. Because I won't do it." Bonnie snapped at him.

"You've really changed, Bonnie. Your mother was right. This job is not good for you. And apparently this Michael Knight isn't good for you either." Scott said quietly. People were already staring at them and he didn't want to attract more attention.

"My mother said what?" Bonnie almost yelled at him. More people turned and stared at her and Scott felt uncomfortable. "You don't even know Michael. He's a wonderful man. So, don't you dare to insult him."

Scott knew that Bonnie would leave if he said one more word, so he decided to be quiet for a while. He didn't want to upset Bonnie. He wanted her to know that he was the right man for her. She didn't need Michael Knight. She needed someone like him.

Bonnie sat down in her seat. She was more than angry now, she was furious. This had to be her mother's idea. Her mother worshipped Scott and wanted her to be with Scott. She had to find a way to make Scott understand that she would never be interested in him. She hoped Scott would stay quiet for the rest of the evening, but she knew it probably wouldn't last very long.

She was right. His silence only lasted for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry, Bonnie." She heard him say. "I didn't mean to upset you." He nervously played with the tickets in his hands. "You are one of the most important people in my life and I hate that you are so far away. You said you don't fly. But I do. I would be willing to fly to Los Angeles to see you whenever you'd like."

She still didn't look at him. She wished he wouldn't continue. She knew in which direction his confession would go and she would have to crush his hopes and dreams.

"Bonnie, we were too young in college to know much about love. Years have passed but my feelings for you are still there. We'd be perfect for each other. I was hoping you'd consider giving us another chance."

She finally turned her head and looked him in the eyes. She could see the hopeful look in there. Scott seemed to believe that there was a possibility that her feelings had changed. Unsure how to explain to him this wouldn't happen, she hoped she would find the right words to tell him the truth without hurting him.

"Scott, my feelings haven't changed." She paused again. There was no way she could continue without speaking out what she knew deep down in her heart. She was in love with someone else and this someone was Michael Knight. Scott however wasn't the person who should hear her say that.

"It's because of him, isn't it?" Scott muttered quietly. Bonnie pretended she didn't hear his words and focused her attention on a flyer she had picked up before finding her seat. Her thoughts wandered off to Scott's words. Was it that obvious that she loved Michael?

XXX

Footsteps and rustling snapped her out of her thoughts. A shadow fell on the flyer in her lap and she heard a man clearing his throat. "Hey stranger, is the seat next to you already taken?"

Bonnie looked up at the sound of a familiar voice and saw Michael standing next to her. He was wearing a dark suit and a tie and looked absolutely handsome.

"Michael? What are you doing here?" Bonnie stuttered wondering if she was dreaming or hallucinating. Judging from the astonished look on Scott's face, she concluded that this was real.

"I'm looking for my seat." Michael smiled at her, enjoying the moment. "And I think I just found it."

"But shouldn't you be with Luke and Lauren?" Bonnie wasn't yet convinced that he was actually here.

"Well, he is still with me. We just chose a different location." Lauren walked up next to Michael. Scott stared at her with his mouth wide open. "Luke has to work on his new menu once Lilly is asleep and we didn't feel like going to a bar after what happened the last time. So, we thought why not go to the symphony?"

Lauren enjoyed that Scott wasn't happy at all to see her and Michael.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Lauren." Scott stuttered. "Your mother never mentioned that you liked the symphony."

"I'm full of surprises." Lauren replied with a big grin on her face. Her mother would find out about her plan and wouldn't be amused that she ruined Scott's date with Bonnie. However, Lauren decided that her sister's happiness was more important than Scott's feelings. "Oh, what a coincidence. We are sitting right next to you guys." She quickly ushered Michael to his seat. "Michael, why don't you sit next to Bonnie? I want to sit closer to the aisle."

"I'm really glad you are here." Bonnie whispered to Michael after he had sat down. "By the way, you look very handsome in this suit. Is it Luke's?"

"Well, I figured that you might need to be saved." He smiled at her. "And no, it's actually mine. I always keep a suit in KITT's trunk. Just in case I need it. This came in quite handy tonight."

"Michael Knight keeping a suit in his trunk. Another surprise." Bonnie smiled at him. She pointed to the orchestra. "You know this isn't a rock concert, right?"

"I admit, it's not my kind of music. But maybe I'll change my mind." Michael replied and took her hand.

Bonnie's smile grew bigger and she hoped he wouldn't let go of her hand. "Thank you, Michael."

XXX

Michael had to admit that Bonnie was right. It wasn't the kind of music he usually liked, but he found that he actually enjoyed it. Of course, the main reason was that he was sitting next to Bonnie. He watched her during the performance and noticed her eyes sparkle as she listened to the music. She looked so beautiful tonight that he couldn't take his eyes off her. He realized that his feelings for her were growing stronger and that he couldn't keep it a secret much longer. He had to find out if Bonnie felt the same way. The sooner the better.

"This was wonderful." Bonnie smiled as the concert ended. She had truly enjoyed the evening with Michael holding her hand and Scott being quiet the whole time. Scott was still upset because Michael and Lauren had ruined his evening with Bonnie.

"It was nice." Michael said carefully, not revealing how much he enjoyed these past hours.

"Nice? Michael Knight, did you change your mind about the symphony?" Bonnie laughed. She was sure that Michael was lying.

"Well, maybe. Sometimes, some real experience makes you see things differently. It helps if you are in the company of two gorgeous women." Michael looked at her and Lauren. "What are the plans for the rest of the night, ladies? Should we still go out for a drink?"

"Oh, you are so sweet." Lauren laughed and Bonnie blushed. "I'd love to go out. But it's time for me to go home now." She turned to Scott who still seemed to be upset that they had crashed his date. "Hey Scott, you live close to where Luke and I live. Can you give me a ride?"

"Um, I'm here with Bonnie." Scott said quickly. "Why can't Michael give you a ride?" He looked at Bonnie, hoping to hear her say she'd prefer to be alone with him. Deep down in his heart he knew she wouldn't. Bonnie barely took notice of him anymore. All his efforts and attempts to win her back wouldn't be successful.

"Bonnie won't mind if you drive me home. She can ride with Michael. Remember? He's staying at our parents' house too." Lauren winked at Michael. She would have to make it unmistakably clear to Scott that Bonnie had no interest in him.

"But….." Scott tried to object and wanted to tell Lauren that he insisted on driving Bonnie back to her parents' house, but Bonnie interrupted him.

"That's okay, Scott. It's already late, and Michael is driving to my parents' house anyway." Bonnie gave him a quick hug. It was obvious that he was disappointed. "It was good seeing you again, Scott. Good night, Lauren."

"Night, guys. I'll stop by tomorrow before you leave. Come on, Scott." Lauren took Scott's arm and dragged him outside the building and to his car. Michael and Bonnie almost felt sorry for him.

"Let's go, Bon." Michael offered her his arm and she happily linked her arm with his. She felt goosebumps on her arms as they left the building and she wondered if it was from the cold air outside or from Michael's fingers gently touching her arms.

"Well, I don't think Scott enjoyed the concert." Michael grinned as he opened the KITT's door for Bonnie.

"You are mean." Bonnie laughed. "I'm glad you saved the evening. And I don't think I would have survived another ride with Scott. He really annoyed me on the way to the symphony."

"I'm glad we saved you." Michael wondered what Scott had done to upset Bonnie. Maybe he would ask her later. "His loss is my gain." He smiled at her admiringly as she elegantly climbed into the passenger seat.

"I know what a sacrifice it was for both of you. Thank you, Michael." She noticed that he was watching her. She was glad that she had decided to wear the dress he liked better.

"It's okay, Bonnie. I know you would have done the same for me, right?" Michael still stared at her.

"Of course. But since when does Michael Knight need to be saved from a woman?" Bonnie laughed before he remembered to close her door.

"Hello Bonnie. Michael was right, you look very beautiful tonight." KITT said to Bonnie as Michael walked to the driver's side.

"He said that?" Bonnie quickly asked while she was alone with KITT. "What else did he say?"

"Yes, Bonnie, he mentioned it several times. He said – and I'm quoting him now – that you are the prettiest woman in the whole world." KITT replied.

"Wow, I'm flattered." Bonnie said as Michael opened the door and sat down in the driver's seat.

"Why are you flattered?" Michael asked. "What did you say to her, buddy?"

"That's private, Michael." KITT said.

"Ah…private. I'll find out anyway. I know you can't lie." Michael laughed. He wondered if he should suggest they stop for a drink on their way back. He would have loved to go somewhere with Bonnie. A glance on his comlink however told him that it was already later than he had thought. "Too bad it's already so late. It would've been nice to stop for a glass of wine." He looked at her. "It would be a shame not to show off that dress."

Bonnie smiled shyly. "We should better go home. KITT needs to recharge and I have to run a diagnosis on his systems." She was torn. She knew it was late and she had planned to do a quick check of KITT's systems before she went to bed. But she also liked the idea of going out with Michael. "This shouldn't take long though. And you are right. This dress should be shown off."

He beamed with joy while she suggested a few places where they could stop for a glass of wine. He knew it wasn't a date but to a stranger it could have been one. He liked the thought that others would envy him because he was with her.

Bonnie was surprised by her courage. She usually based her decisions on reason and ignored what her heart was yearning for. But not tonight. She smiled happily as KITT pulled into the parking lot of a bar and Michael walked into the bar with her.