Keeping Love Alive – Part 1
Summary: AH 1994 – Damon and Bonnie grew up on the same block, and he knew the moment he saw her that she would change his whole world. But just because she wouldn't give him the time of day, doesn't mean he'd stop trying. Damon POV. I do recommend listening to this song if you haven't heard it, to get a feel for the vibe I was going with this story. The song is a bit of a story itself.
Song Inspiration: 4 The Rest of My Life – Robin Thicke
I knew when I laid my eyes on you
The lights from above seemed to shine on only you
And you made me feel like I was flying
When I made you sparkle in your eyes
We ain't even 20 baby
I ain't learned to love you right, yeah
Umm, good thing I thought I was the shit back then
I sang in your ear 'cause I wanted you to know
That I had soul baby
I called you all the time
I guess I tried too hard to make you mine
You'd have nothing to do with me baby
Thank God that you changed your mind
For the rest of my life you know I'm gonna be yours
For the rest of my life you know I wanna be yours
For the rest of my life for you I'm gonna be strong
Baby will you stay
Baby will you stay
Baby will you stay
Baby will you stay mine
…
I sat on the bleachers like I did most days after school. My friends laughed and horsed around, talking about their plans for the weekend, but my focus was elsewhere. It was hard to look anywhere but at her when she was smiling like that. Bonnie Bennett. I knew the moment I met her in fourth grade that one day she'd be mine, but she was way out of my league. She hung out with the preppies; the cheerleaders and the popular crowd. She was bubble gum and vibrant colors and I was ripped jeans and worn leather.
But I was a glutton for punishment. Finally, I watched her separate from her friends after cheer practice, and she walked off the field; her ponytail swinging with a little bounce in her step that made her short skirt sway. Damn, those uniforms will be the death of me. I took one last drag of my cigarette before flicking it, and jumped to my feet, hopping down the bleacher steps with practiced ease. I could hear my friends protest and mock behind me.
"There he goes!"
"Like clockwork, man."
"Give up already."
It didn't bother me. I jumped to the ground and fell in step beside her with a cheeky grin. "Hey Bon-bon."
She rolled her eyes at me. This didn't surprise her like it used to; she almost expected it now. "What do you want, Damon?" she said exasperatedly.
I bumped her shoulder playfully. "I thought that was obvious. Was I not clear?" I flashed her the baby blues, and I thought for a moment I saw her lips curl up in a smile, but she hid it quickly by biting her lip and snapping her gaze straight ahead.
"Oh, you were clear. And have been everyday for the last four years. Don't you ever get sick of me turning you down?" She glanced at me out of the side of her eye with a curious frown.
"No…because one day you won't." She stopped walking and spun toward me and I smiled down at her with a lopsided grin.
"What makes you think I'd change my mind? I haven't given you any reason to believe that." I could tell she was frustrated, but I even liked the way her brows arched, and the small twist of her lips when she was being defiant.
I chuckled. "I see you everyday, Bonnie, and I know you see me too."
Her arms crossed. "Yeah, I can't seem to get rid of you." I loved when she bantered with me, and I could tell she enjoyed it too. Her eyes sparkled.
"You see me." I stepped closer to her, and she straightened, suddenly nervous by my proximity. "When you don't think your friends are looking…" Her eyes darted around. "You walk past the bleachers everyday even when your house is in the other direction." She blinked rapidly, and looked away. Caught. "Admit it. You love that you can't get ride of me."
Her eyes swung back and pinned me with a narrow stare. "Don't read too much into it. Who says I'm going home, anyways?" She continued walking, and didn't seem to mind that I fell into step again beside her, shoving my hands in my leather jacket.
"Where else would you be going?"
"Matt Donovan's." She tipped her chin up. Was she trying to make me jealous? Because if she was, it was working.
"Matt Donovan?" I scoffed loudly. "That tool?"
Her head snapped to mine, offended. "What's wrong with him?"
"He's a dumb jock; probably not a thought in that tiny brain. You can do better." I said offhandedly as we strolled off the school property. This was the furthest we got before she'd storm off or tell me to kick rocks.
She laughed, tossing her head back. "Oh yeah, like you?"
"Well…yeah." I shot her a boyish grin, and a smile pulled on her lips and for the first time it was directed at me.
Bonnie let out a sigh, averting her gaze to the ground. "Why do you like me so much, Damon?" I didn't like the insecurity in her tone. "There are tons of other girls that would swoon over you at school…why me?"
I smirked. "How much time you got?"
She shrugged. "I'm not doing anything."
"What about Matt Donovan?" I fired back.
She looked up at me coyly from under her lashes and I felt my heart beat twice as fast. "Maybe I lied about that." She pointed a stern finger at me. "Don't read too much into it."
I held my hands up in surrender. "I won't. Promise."
We kept walking until we ended up at the park between our houses and we sat at the top of the wooden playground climber sharing a bag of chips she had in her backpack. I listened as she rambled on and on about whatever came to her mind and I watched her light up when she talked about the things she really cared about; dancing, singing, spending time with her grandmother.
"So…" she popped a chip in her mouth. "What about you? What does Damon Salvatore do for fun?" her legs swung back and forth off the edge of the tower.
A laugh rumbled in my throat and I leaned back on my palms. "Well…if you were anyone else, I'd say something cool like riding my motorcycle, or catching a Pearl Jam concert."
Bonnie canted her head to catch my eyes. "And what would you tell me?"
"I'd tell you the truth."
"And what's that?"
I held her eyes seriously. "That this is probably the most fun I've had in a long time."
She let out a shaky breath, and gnawed on her lower lip as she thought out her next words. "Don't think you can use lines like that on me to get what you want. I'm not like the girls you date; if you would call it that." She added jokingly.
I chuckled. "I wouldn't call it that, no." I couldn't stand most of the girls at school; even the ones within our clique did nothing for me. "And I know you're not like them. It's why I like you." I reached a hand out to brush a few strands from her face that the wind blew loose, but she reeled back.
"I should go." Bonnie mumbled, avoiding all eye contact, and she jumped to her feet and descended the wooden tower.
Watching her go, I scolded myself for pushing my luck, but this was the closest she'd ever let me get and I was so sure I was breaking ground. Instead, I ended up chasing her away.
…
It had been two weeks since that evening in the park, and first it seemed she made a conscious effort to avoid me, until one day I caught her staring at me from her desk in history class. And then from across the cafeteria where she chatted with all her friends…and then again at the football game. She was in the middle of a cheer when her eyes found mine at the back of the bleachers, and they stayed there until the chant was over, a secretive little smile on her face. I couldn't help but smirk back when I held her stare, drawing a blush to her cheeks.
It went on like that for the next few days; building up some serious tension that I was dying to break, but I checked myself. She knew where I stood, I needed to know where she did. What I didn't expect was for her to be so bold.
"Why haven't you asked me to the dance yet?" That was the blunt question I was met with when I closed my locker door, and found her standing on the other side. Gorgeous. As usual. She was wearing high waisted jean short cut offs, a white cropped t-shirt and a red plaid button up tied around her waist. Her hair falling in wild natural ringlets, and I wanted nothing more than to bury my hands in it.
I looked her up and down, as I leaned against the lockers. Her head was canted and her hands were on her hips. "I didn't know you wanted me to." It was a decade dance…the 50's. Probably not my first choice, and had she not mentioned it, I wouldn't have even entertained going.
Her brow arched high on her forehead. "And when has that ever stopped you before?"
I leaned in. "Did you want me to?" God, I wanted her. I wanted to slam her against the lockers and kiss her senseless.
Bonnie shrugged. "Ask me and find out." The green in her eyes were wild and mossy and said the things she didn't. She wanted me too.
"Come to the dance with me." My gaze flitted over her face, and I willed my hands not to follow.
"That wasn't a question."
"Well, I already know the answer."
She leaned in this time, her head craning up to look at me. "You are infuriating."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's not a no." She reeled back with a curious frown. "You're not gonna wear jeans, are you?"
"I was kinda thinking I'd go for a James Dean look." I flashed my eyes at her and flipped the collar on my leather jacket.
She laughed. "And how is that any different from your usual look?"
"A significant amount of hair gel." I joked back.
She broke out in a toothy grin that brought a smile to my face. I don't know what changed, or why, but maybe I had a chance with her after all. One of her friends called out to her from down the hall, and she glanced back quickly. "Um, I have to go…but I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Count on it." I promised softly.
She spun and turned down the hall jogging to catch up with Caroline Forbes; head cheerleader, and her best friend. She linked arms with her as the continued down the hall, and I could hear the blonde exclaim a scandalous 'what was that about?' as she glanced back at me with curious but amused eyes. Bonnie, pulled her along, but risked a look back. I waved my fingers with a smirk, and pink tinged her cheeks.
…
I rubbed my palms on my black slacks as I waited for Bonnie to answer the door. I was nervous. Since when do I get nervous? But it all vanished the second I saw her. She was in a Marilyn Monroe inspired halter dress, but it was in a deep red that brought out the richness of her mocha skin.
"You look…" I swallowed. "Wow."
Bonnie smiled, and looked me up and down. "And look at you…I didn't think you owned a suit." She teased. I opted for a simple black double-breasted suit, white shirt and suspenders, and topped it off with my grandfather's fedora. "I'm surprised Salvatore."
"I've got a few more surprises up my sleeve." I offered her my arm. "Ms. Bennett."
She linked her arm through mine as I led her down the steps to my car. "Ooh, a snappy dresser and a gentleman." She said as I opened the door for her. "You're really pulling out all the stops."
"I'm trying to make a good impression." And as I walked to the other side of the car, I thought I heard her mutter under her breath that 'it's working'.
When we arrived, I was happy to notice that none of her friends had arrived yet; fashionable late probably. I wasn't sure if they would whisk her away, and demand to know why she didn't come with them.
We spent almost an hour talking at a table in the back, before a familiar song came on. I rose to my feet and held out a hand to her, which she took gently. My heart was pounding in my chest as I led her out on the dance floor, the softness of her hand in mine, and the closeness of her body. My arm slowly snaked around her waist and the other held hers to my chest, gauging her reaction. Bonnie was staring up at me with a nervous excitement, and I could feel her tremble against my finger tips.
We swayed slowly to the soothing croon of Sam Cooke, her head resting on my shoulder, and I found myself singing along, my lips close to her ear. "At first I thought it was infatuation, but, woo, it's lasted so long."
Bonnie pulled back to stare at me in surprise. "You know this song?"
I nodded. "My Nonno has all his records. I grew up listening to this kinda music." I slowly spun her out, then back in, and she giggled.
"You live with them, right? Your grandparents?"
"Mhm…they raised me after my parents died." I said softy. It wasn't something I talked about often, but with her it came out easily.
Her brows slanted sympathetically. "I remember that…I can't imagine how hard it was; you were just a kid." I could feel her fingers tracing patterned on my back, and it was incredibly soothing. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay…my grandparents did the best they could." I didn't want to see that sad look on her face, so I spun her out again, and pulled her back in making her collide into me, her hands resting on my chest. Her laugh caught the attention of a few others around us.
The song ended, but she stayed in my arms. "Thank you, for tonight, Damon. I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time before…"
"Don't be. I like the chase." I smirked.
There was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Had I known how charming you could be, I probably would have stop running."
I let my hand brush the big curl from her shoulder, exposing the bare skin there. "Have you; stopped running?" I held my breath waiting for her response.
"Maybe." Then she gave me this look…like she was steeling herself for something; taking in a deep breath. She leaned up and kissed me; softly at first but as my arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer, she deepened it with a breathless sigh.
And when she pulled away, her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen I stared down at her in awe. She lit a fire inside me that night, and I knew that I needed more of her.
…
AN: Hi everyone! There will be a Part 2 and possibly a part 3 for this one. I kind of felt like changing things up and doing a Damon POV and put them back in 1994. I hope you like this one, and stay tuned for Part 2! Please review! - Vanessa