A/N: I'm not going to lie, I've been sitting on this update for a very, very long time. I wanted to post new chapters to all of my stories once I had very lengthy updates to make up for lost time but it just wasn't getting done and more and more time passed, meaning years. I never expected it to fly by like this. Thank you so much for everyone who has sent a message or left a review still showing love to these stories and checking to make sure I'm okay. I'm just fine, but work/life took my attention and a recent hyperfocus on original stories I've been working on. I hate to leave things unfinished and some of these still hold a special place in my heart, as I hope they do for you too...if anyone is still out there, lol. So, this update is nowhere near as long as I wanted but I want to post what I have because it's been way too long of radio silence.

I'm still here, I'm still writing, and I hope to see you all again soon.

Warning: This chapter depicts an age-gap relationship between an eighteen year old high school girl and older male.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or these characters. They belong to The CW. No copyright infringement intended.


Chapter 10 – Secret Liaisons

The first day of senior year started much differently than Bonnie's last three years of high school. For the first time, she was walking through those large double doors without Elena Gilbert flanking her side. She had no interest in checking out the male "real estate" as she walked the halls this time around. She had recently acquired more than satisfactory property of her own. Her first-day-back style had changed as well.

Abandoning her signature earth tones for the day, Bonnie donned a form fitting, low-cut black top, hip-hugging midnight blue jeans, with knee high black boots adorned with a four-inch heel. She wore her brown hair bone straight with her familiar bang and gave herself a smoky eye when doing her make-up, along with a dark cherry-toned matte lipstick. It was a change of pace. She looked sophisticated, more grown as she glided past all her schoolmates with a confident strut, her pretty little head held high in the air.

Bonnie couldn't lie to herself. She liked being the girl that could turn heads for the right reason. The last time she'd done so had been at the masquerade ball, and she made a vow to herself to make it a regular occurence. She was a stunner too, just like her other girl friends, and people were going to open their eyes to it this year. Bonnie had a little smile on her face that Caroline noticed when she intervened on her path, blocking Bonnie's catwalk to her locker.

"Excuse me, Naomi Campbell, but did I miss the memo about coming back to school a supermodel?" Caroline asked with a teasing smirk. "Is this your, 'new year, new me', look."

"Something like that," Bonnie said, stepping around her and opening her locker. "But can you blame me? You were a witness to the trainwreck that was my life last year. I was the sad, miserable, angry girl by the end of it."

"Well, it was understandable. Your boyfriend cheated on you, you got into a fight, your grandmother died, you lost your best friend, got kicked off the cheerleading squad..." Caroline trailed off at the sight of Bonnie's expression. "And clearly me bringing up any of that was totally not needed…sorry, I'll shut up now."

"My point is, that's all behind me," Bonnie continued. "I will not allow any mess to follow me into our last year of high school. No more Sad Girl, Sad Girl is dead."

"And replaced with Miss Sexy," Caroline co-signed, stepping to her best friend, and putting her arm around her. "And she's going to run this place, one last time, with Hot Best Friend." Bonnie giggled and the girls trekked off to their first class together.

They were stopped along the way by old friends, many of which they'd just seen at Tyler's back to school party, all of which complimented Bonnie on her outfit. Thinking of that party also put a devious smile on Bonnie's face for a very specific reason, and that reason was texting her just as she was entering English class.

'Thinking about you, gorgeous.'

Bonnie stopped in her tracks to send a text back. 'Don't ever stop.'

She didn't move after sending it, knowing the response would be almost instantaneous. 'How am I supposed to get thru the day without talking to you?' Bonnie had wondered about that herself when she left for school that morning. Mason and Bonnie had been spoiling each other with conversation and Facetime calls over the last couple weeks. There had been an agreement made to keep their relationship, if that's what it was, quiet. That meant they hadn't been able to see each other as much as they wanted since that heated kiss in the parking lot of the grille. Between Bonnie's back-to-school preparations, her dad being back in town for the time being which made late night hangouts difficult, and Mason keeping a constant eye on Tyler who seemed to be slowly reverting back to his troublesome ways, and keeping his sister-in-law, i,e, the mayor, from crossing the line into full-blown alcoholism, they both had their hands full. Still, they managed to squeeze in every bit of digital communication they could, and the few meetups they had managed to have were ones to remember.

Bonnie's fingers were moving rapid-fire as she typed a response to Mason's inquiry. "I think I have a way to hold you over," she suggested and waited with bated breath for his reply. It came quickly and simply, the eye emojis. He wanted to see what she had up her sleeve. "Save my seat," Bonnie instructed Caroline as she walked past her into the classroom.

"But class is about to start, where are you going?" Caroline went ignored as Bonnie quickly hurried away. She ducked into the nearest girls' bathroom and was relieved to see that the only girls in there were a group of sophomores that were already leaving at the sound of the bell. Bonnie was going to be a few minutes late to the first class of the new year, but she didn't care. Putting her bag down, she stepped into the biggest stall and pulled out her phone again. Doing the cutest pose she could muster up and giving her best bedroom eyes she snapped several selfies and sent him the one she thought was the sexiest. It didn't take long for him to react.

'Love it,' with several heart eyes emojis.

A sly smile was on Bonnie's face as she pulled her top down and boosted her breasts up, then took a shot with her cleavage on full display without giving away everything. 'How about this?' She captioned as she sent it off. Bonnie had never been the type to send sexy photos, but Mason made her feel daring. This time three texts came back, one after the other.

'You're so fucking sexy.'

Six heart eye emojis.

'I need to see you, asap.'

Bonnie stepped out of the stall as she responded. 'Feel free to return the favor, stud. Help me get thru the day'. The second bell was ringing as she walked over to the mirror above the sink to touch up her make-up. She was officially late. When she got Mason's next message, she decided it was worth it. 'Does this work?' He had written under a mirror selfie of him, completely shirtless, his jeans hanging so low you could see his v-cut. Bonnie nearly dropped her phone in the sink.

Mason was a lot of man. Big, broad, all muscle, no fat, abs cut up and hardened. The little gap in his tooth was on display as he smiled in the picture, his sandy hair tousled as if he had just rolled out of bed. He was so unbelievably sexy even the virginal Bonnie felt her lady parts involuntarily squeezing.

'Damn,' was all she could come up with for a response as she grabbed her bag and rushed out of the bathroom. She didn't want to be too late to class and have the teacher make an example of her. Detention on the first day was not the way to start senior year. By the time her phone buzzed again with another notification she was already seated between Caroline and Matt in Calculus. She couldn't take the risk of checking her phone as Mr. Fleming had zeroed in on her the second she came through the door and was lecturing her about tardiness. Caroline looked at her curiously, expecting an explanation, but Bonnie just smiled and pulled out her books, relishing in her dirty little secret.

Next period she was on her own, no one in her friend group shared Honors English with her, which made sense seeing as she had the best grades out of all of them last year. So, she found a desk in the corner and put her bag in her lap to obscure the view of her phone so she could continue to text Mason before class officially started. She was so engrossed in what she was doing she didn't even see Stefan saunter over and settle into the desk next to hers.

Finally, he spoke. "Cranston heading your way, better put the phone away."

Bonnie snapped out of her trance and finally saw Stefan, then spotted Mrs. Cranston making a beeline toward her. She quickly stuffed her cell in her bag and dropped it to the floor, planting a big smile on her face by the time the teacher reached her desk to commend her on making Honors the year before despite everything she had gone through, and cited how excited she was to have such a bright, young mind in her class.

When Mrs. Cranston headed back up to the front of the room, Bonnie looked back at Stefan who was smiling at her. "Thanks for the heads up," she said, trying not to sound too begrudging. She had promised herself she would not bring any bitterness or anger or resentment to her senior year, not even for Stefan's stupid, handsome face. It would've helped if he came to school looking a mess, sloppy hair, bags under his eyes, wrinkled clothing, like Elena had drained all the life and energy out of him, but no. He was sitting next to Bonnie looking damn good, even better than his first day last year. It was annoying.

"No problem. Just because you're a bad influence doesn't mean I can't look out for you," he said with a smile, in a recall to their inside joke last year. He was obviously looking for a reaction to his remembering it but she gave him nothing but half a nod then turned her attention to her school books.

Stefan didn't take his eyes off her, then leaned over to speak again. "Hey, listen, about the party, I-"

"Actually, I would prefer if we didn't talk right now," Bonnie interrupted him, firmly. "I just got in trouble in Fleming's class, I don't need to be bitched at in in this one too."

"Oh…okay," he turned back to the desk but he looked deflated. Bonnie didn't care. She took the opportunity to sneak one last peek at her phone, smiling at the second photo Mason had sent before finally paying attention to what was being said at the front of the room.

Bonnie didn't need to talk about the party with Stefan. He owed her no explanation just like she owed him no time of day. He could've ruined that night for her, he almost did, but then it turned in her favor, and that was all she cared about. Now that Stefan had stupidly mentioned the party, her mind once again wandered to that past Saturday night.

Every corner of Tyler's house was packed by the time Bonnie and Caroline arrived, fashionably late with a fashionable entrance. It was a much different vibe than the masquerade party. For one, Bonnie wasn't going to be scanning the room for any sign of Mason. He had flown back to Florida days ago to check on his business and wasn't due back until tomorrow night. For another, there was no watchful mayor, or any adults at all. Tyler's parents had allowed him an end-of-summer party since his freshman year and had the courtesy to make themselves scarce. So, the music was louder and raunchier, the clothes skimpier, the dancing more suggestive, and the underage drinking out in the open.

They found a group of their friends playing beer pong on the back patio, another group smoking weed by the bar, and caught the unsightly image of Stefan and Elena snuggled in a corner, red solo cups in hand, whispering to each other and giggling. Everyone was clearly inebriated at this point and Bonnie was eager to catch up. Caroline quickly steered her in the other direction to get some drinks in their system, and soon, the two of them, Tyler, Matt, Jeremy, a cheerleader named Monica and a Varsity basketball player named Joey were taking shots with and off each other.

Bonnie was having a good time. She'd been feeling much freer and uninhibited lately. She was so unbothered she didn't even acknowledge Tikki standing against the wall with Amy, shooting her dirty looks every few seconds. Tikki hadn't said a word to Bonnie since their fight on the football field but took every opportunity to cut her the nastiest look she could muster up, and every single time Bonnie treated her like she was invisible. She didn't even blink as she walked past Tikki into the house to find the bathroom and heard her mutter something under her breath. She was not going to pull her into any mess tonight.

Bonnie found all three downstairs bathrooms to be occupied and with a line, so she wandered upstairs, a part of the house she was much less familiar with. All the doors were closed and instead of trying to guess she started opening doors. The first was a closet, the second an empty guest room, the third was another guest room, very much occupied, and there was rapid movement happening on the bed. If Bonnie hadn't been stumbling down the hall and sober enough to pay attention, she might have heard the moans. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and she walked in on Stefan on top of Elena, a good amount of their clothing littering the floor as he pumped away.

For a split second, Bonnie found herself stuck, feet planted to the hardwood floor, jaw dropped, and eyes wide open. "Oh my God," the words left her mouth in a near whisper. Both Elena and Stefan's reactions were instantaneous. Elena shrieked and attempted to hide under the blanket, Stefan jumped off of her like her skin had scorched him, while yanking up his jeans. Bonnie's feet finally unstuck from the floor, so she didn't have to see what happened next, and she stepped back out of the room and slammed the door shut. Now she could hear the voices on the other side, raised and distressed and a cry of, "I thought you said you locked the door", and, "I thought I did!"

Well, there was the confirmation she never needed. Caroline had slipped and implied something before and now God had shoved it in her face as if she needed anymore Stelena in her life. She'd been with Stefan more than six months and never put out, as hard as holding out had been. Elena had probably given it up on day one. Bonnie was sure she was over Stefan, but seeing that was jarring. Very jarring, and now she wanted to throw up.

By the grace of God, the door across the hall opened and someone stepped out of what was obviously a bathroom and Bonnie ran in there top speed and bent over the toilet. Five minutes ago she'd felt a little dizzy but fine otherwise, but the sight of Stefan and Elena humping like bunnies had literally made her sick. Maybe she needed to just move out of Mystic Falls altogether and call it a day? She had no other exes or backstabbing friends to run into in any other counties so devastatingly awkward run-ins were impossible.

After expelling all of the shots she'd downed earlier into the toilet and flushing, Bonnie splashed some water in her face and attempted to fix her hair. She was staying in the bathroom longer than necessary because she didn't want to go back out into the hall. What if Stefan and Elena were out there, that would be another awkward encounter she didn't want. But Bonnie had to remember who she was. She was a straight shooter and unafraid, never one to run from confrontation or stupid boys. So, she straightened up, feeling much better now that she had literally spilled her guts, and walked out of the bathroom. It wasn't Stefan or the Gilbert girl she ran into, however. She ran smack dab into Mason Lockwood.

Bonnie would've sworn in court that her heart literally skipped at the sight of him. He'd been in Florida for a week, leaving just a few days after their heated kiss at the grill, with their only connection being FaceTime, and now all six feet of him stood before her while she was leaning and had puke breath. Wasn't the most ideal situation to reunite with your ideal man but Bonnie would take what she could get.

"Mason!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I caught an early flight home," he explained. "I just really…wanted to get back. What's going-"

"Oh, it doesn't matter, I'm just so glad you're here!" Bonnie rushed, or more so fell, into his arms and wrapped herself around him.

"Um, are you drunk?"

"Only a lit-" Bonnie hiccupped. "Yes." They were both alerted to the sounds of footsteps on the stairs. Mason quickly grabbed Bonnie by the hand and guided her into his bedroom which was just on the other side of the bathroom. He quickly shut the door before they were seen and turned toward Bonnie. She gave him a sideways grin. "Damn, you're fine as hell. Makes me wanna…" The smile dropped off her face and she started to lean back.

"Bonnie?"

"The room is spinning."

"Geesh, how hammered are you?" he asked bemusedly as he placed his hands on her shoulders and walked her over to his bed, laying her down. "Not that I'm one to talk, I did some epic partying in my high school days, and college was another level, but you should be more careful, Bonnie. You don't ever want to be at the point that you don't have control." Bonnie groaned in response. Mason shook his head and sat on the bed beside her, placing her legs in his lap and removing her heels.

"Ugh, I'm gonna regret this in the morning," he heard her mutter under her breath. Mason chuckled to himself, knowing how right she was.

"I'm going to get you some water, I'll be right back," he told her before sliding out. By the time he returned she was, as expected, passed out on his bed. He left the bottle of water and her cell phone that he'd swiped from downstairs on the nightstand.

At some point Bonnie woke up momentarily and heard the shower water running, but the room was still spinning, and she quickly blacked out again. The next time she opened her eyes, birds were chirping, and rays of sunlight were poking through the blinds. The house was quiet and still. It was safe to assume the party was long over by this point. Bonnie snatched up her phone to check the time and cursed to herself. It was almost 10am and she had never made it home, nor called her father to let him know she wouldn't be coming home. She had several concerned text messages from him, and a few from Caroline asking where she had disappeared to, and one from Mason from only twenty minutes ago, telling her to give him a ring when she woke up.

She sat up and rapid-fire text messaged her father apologizing for disappearing and telling him she fell asleep on Caroline's couch and would be home soon. Then she called Mason. "Finally, she awakens," he said teasingly in place of a greeting.

"And my head feels like it's been hit by a sack of bricks," Bonnie groaned. "How could you let me sleep this long? My dad is going to flip on me when I get home."

"I tried to wake you," he replied. "Several times, actually, but you were sawing logs. It wasn't going to happen."

"My God, that is so embarrassing."

Mason chuckled. "No, it was cute." Then the bedroom door was being opened and Mason walked in with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Bonnie smiled at him and hung up the phone as he settled on the bed beside her. "Good morning, gorgeous. How are you feeling?"

"Hungover," Bonnie admitted, taking the mug from him. "You are a godsend for this." He smiled at her as she blew on the coffee before daintily sipping it. She met his gaze. "Are you staring at me, Lockwood?"

"Yes," he admitted. "Most chicks look like hell in the morning after partying like that, but you look as beautiful as ever"

Bonnie grinned and set her mug down on the bedside table. "You are the sweetest for lying to me like that." He chuckled as she threw her arms around his neck and they lingered in a long, warming embrace. "I would kiss you but I distinctly remember hurling last night."

"Yeah, as much as I want a kiss, you're gonna have to brush your teeth first," Mason told her. "I have a spare toothbrush in the bathroom."

"Thanks," Bonnie said, getting up from the bed. She stopped as her phone tinged and she checked her messages. "Well, thank God my Dad isn't pissed I forgot to call him last night. But I'm sure that's because I lied about being with Caroline. I should really head home." She started toward the bathroom until Mason spoke up."

"Hey." She looked back at him, he looked almost nervous.

"What."

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Go home," he elaborated. "Stay here with me."

"Haha, if only," she turned back around but he quickly reached out and grabbed her hand, gently pulling her back toward the bed.

"I'm serious, Bon," he insisted. "Make up some excuse for your father and stay with ne for the day. We don't even have to leave the room."

"Yeah, until Ms. Lockwood or Tyler comes home and catches us," she responded.

"I have a lock on my door and they don't bother me when I'm in here anyway," he said. "We're not in each other's business, and I can get you out of here later without them catching on." She hesitated, pondering the possibility. He squeezed her hand. "Come on, I got everything you need here. You can brush your teeth, take a shower, you can wear one of my t-shirts and a pair of my shorts. You'll be swimming in them but it'll be hot We can watch movies, order out, whatever you want. How's that sound, beautiful?"

Her smile returned. "That sounds absolutely perfect." And she fell back into his arms.

"Miss Bennett!" The sound of Mrs. Cranston's irritated voice cracked through the air like a loud whip, disrupting Bonnie's trip down memory lane and pulling her unwillingly back to the present, and back to reality. "Is there something amusing you would like to share with the rest of the class?"

Bonnie didn't even realize she was still smiling like a doofus until that moment. "No ma'am," she replied, quickly wiping it away.

"Eyes at the front of the class," Mrs. Cranston instructed in a militant tone and thankfully strutted away. 'Yeah, my eyes will be to the front,' Bonnie thought to herself, 'But my mind is going to be somewhere else.' She tried to focus on the lecture about Ayn Rand, but her day with Mason kept creeping into her mind. The way they snacked and watched superhero movies, how they kissed each other until their lips were raw, the spike of nerves and excitement Bonnie felt when his hand crept between her legs, how understanding he was when she didn't let their tryst go past making out and intimate touching. The one fleeting moment of terror when Tyler knocked on the door and tried to open it, questioning why it was locked to begin with. Thankfully, by the time Bonnie had no choice but to end their time together and go home to her inquiring father, neither Tyler nor Mrs. Lockwood were home and Mason was able to guide her out the front door to her car without any interference.

By the end of the first class, she had all but forgotten she was seated two feet away from her cheating ex-boyfriend. All she knew was she was missing Mason like crazy.