Rumor Has It – Part II

Summary: Damon and Bonnie live in small-town Mystic Falls. They have always been good friends, and they both longed for more, but the timing was never right…until now.

Girl, you know I've known you forever
How many nights we hung out together
Same little crowd, little bar, little town
'Round this old dance floor
My boys are laughing and tap me on the shoulder
Making a motion like, "Could y'all get any closer?"
They wanna know what's up why I'm still holding ya
Even when the song is over

…

Stefan stood in the doorway of Damon's room, adjusting his tie, watching his brother with a frown. "I thought you hated these events."

Damon shrugged into his suit jacket, and fixed the cuffs while looking in the mirror. "I despise these events, but we are one of the Founding Families, and our presence is expected."

Stefan smirked. "And Bonnie will be there."

Damon locked eyes with his brother in the mirror. "And Bonnie will be there." He turned around puffing his chest out with a smirk. "What do you think? I clean up nice, don't I?" He was in a black-on-black suit with a charcoal-silver tie.

Stefan laughed. "Your ego is astounding. It's amazing there's any room for your brain."

"Funny coming from you. I wonder…how long does it take to get that hair perfectly quaffed?" he teased back.

Just then, their mother came around the corner, her eyes landing on both her sons with a loving smile. "Look at you two. So handsome! Sweetheart, can you grab the box of memorabilia in the kitchen and load it in the car. It's for the display at the party." she placed a gentle pat on Stefan's shoulder, who nodded, and headed back downstairs. Lily walked up to Damon, fixing his lapels dotingly, and straightened his tie. "Don't you think you should incorporate some color? A blue tie maybe?" she asked hopefully.

Damon rolled his eyes. "Mom…" he complained lightly.

"Okay! Okay! Forget I said anything." She held her hands up. "You know…" she trailed off conspiringly. "Rumor has it you were out all night with a certain someone." Her brows raised. "A little brazen, don't you think?"

"Is this what you do all day? Listen to the other housewives' gossip about what goes on in this town?" he joked with an indulgent smile.

"Well, is it true?" she pressed.

"Yes, I saw Bonnie, and yes we hung out all night, but there were also twenty other people there and nothing happened." He vowed, stepping around her to grab his phone off the wardrobe.

She turned around, her long raven ponytail spinning around her. "All I'm saying is to be careful. You know how much I care for that girl…I'd want nothing more than for you two to find your way to each other." Damon released a heavy sigh, dropping his head as he slipped on his watch. "But people talk in this town…and eventually someone is going to talk to the wrong person." She rubbed a soothing hand on his back. "Meet us at the car when you're ready."

He didn't care what people said, he was use to it by now; people had been talking about them for years, and rumors churned around here like butter. He remembered when the rumors started; the night after graduation four years ago, and they haven't stopped since.

.

The Grill was filled with people. It was a big day and it's not like there was a lot of other places to go. School was over and now their lives could really start. Many had plans to get out of small-town Mystic Falls and move to the big city, others planned to travel the world, but some of them were excited to stay, and live out the legacies of their families. Being founding family member was a big deal around here, and they all wanted to stay close to their roots.

Today was the day. Today was the day Damon was going to tell Bonnie how he felt. For years, he kept it to himself because she was his closest friend, and he didn't want to ruin their friendship, but the crush he thought would go away only got stronger as they got older and he didn't know how much longer he could go without just blurting it out one day. She'd spent most of high school dating Enzo St. John, but he left back to England before the school year was through and now was the perfect opportunity to make his move.

He pushed through the throngs of people, scanning the room for her when, he felt a tug on his arm pull him to the hallway to the bathrooms. He grinned when he realized it was Bonnie, and she put a finger to her lips as she reached into her purse to pull out a flask.

"Bonnie Bennett." He drawled in a scandalized voice, placing a hand to his chest. "Underage drinking? I'm shocked." He teased, watching her toss her head back and take a big gulp.

She caught the drops from her lips on her finger and handed him the flask. "Shut up, you're the one that corrupted me." She shot him a look under her lashes. "I wanted to celebrate with you."

Damon took a sip and he glanced at her in surprise. "Bourbon? You're full of surprises tonight." He kept his gaze on her as she indulgently rolled her eyes with a bright smile. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol and the dancing she had been doing with her friends.

"We did it, Damon. We survived high school, now we have the whole world at our feet to do whatever we want. Tell me you're not excited." Bonnie stared at him with raised brows and he couldn't help but smile warmly back, at her enthusiasm.

"Yeah, I'm thrilled to jump head first into law school following in my father's footsteps." Damon uttered leaning against the wall talking another sip from the flask.

Bonnie leaned on the wall beside him with a no-nonsense look. "Then don't go to law school. Damon…you don't always have to do what he wants you to do. What do you want?"

That question really made him think. He never really did know what he wanted to do, but the times he felt most comfortable was when he was cooking with his grandmother. "You know what I want? I want to dance with the prettiest girl in this room."

He held out his hand, and she stood on her tip toes, searching the crowd with a feigned curiosity. "Well, I'm sure she's around here somewhere."

Damon let out a deep laugh. "Come on." He drawled, grabbing her hand and pulling her with him. She slipped her bag on a table where their friends were sitting, and Damon spun her around on the dance floor, eliciting a bubble of laughter from her as he pulled her back in.

They danced through two upbeat songs, before the melody changed and they slowed, but Bonnie didn't move from his embrace, and Damon didn't let her go. Instead, she stepped in, resting her head on his chest as she caught her breath, and his arms snaked around her waist. They swayed gently to the music, and for a second, he forgot that the room was filled half their graduating class; it was just the two of them, and it was the perfect moment. "Bonnie…" he started, swallowing down the lump in his throat.

She pulled away to look up at him with a hopeful look in her green eyes. "Yeah?"

He sucked in a deep breath, and suddenly he felt Caroline collide into them as she ran up, a panicked look on her face, with drunken, giggling Elena hot on her heels.

"My mom's here!" she scream-whispered on a slur. "She's going to bust us, we gotta go!" She grabbed Bonnie's arm, pulling her as they weaved through the crowd towards the back.

And then the moment was gone, and they shared a glance as she slipped out of his arms that said more than what they could…

.

Damon's eyes narrowed watching Mason's hand tightened on Bonnie's hip as they chatted with the guests, on the other side of the room. He wanted to rip the arm right off his body, but instead he settled for bringing the glass of bourbon to his lips.

He felt someone walk up beside him, and his lip curled up when he realized who it was. "God, could they be any more nauseating?" Caroline scoffed seeing Mason whisper in Bonnie's ear. "I don't know what she sees in him."

"Yeah, you and me both." He turned to her with a smirk. "I'm surprised you made it…you were pretty trashed last night."

She held up a hand. "Don't remind me! I spent most of the morning on the bathroom floor. But…" she rolled her eyes sarcastically. "As a Forbes it's mandatory I attend, and I also happen to love these events."

"Yeah, well that makes one of us." He grumbled back returning his focus back to Bonnie. She looked lovely, as usual. Her hair was swept up and pinned back on one side, and the rest fell in loose waves to her shoulders. She wore a peach-colored cocktail dress that criss-crossed in the front and looped around her neck, leaving her back bare, and a braided empire waist, with the hem flowing just above her knee. The color highlighted the sun-kissed caramel of her skin, and Damon wanted to run his fingers down the expanse of her back.

"You're staring…" Caroline sing-songed quietly, and Damon broke his intense gaze. "She told me you almost kissed last night."

Damon snapped his head to her. "She told you that?" He had thought that Bonnie kept the things that happened – or almost happened between them, to herself.

Her brows arched high on her forehead. "Bonnie tells me everything! Elena, not so much; she has a way of making her feel guilty about her feelings for you while she's with Mason. I, on the other hand, have zero issue with it." She smiled bumping his shoulder with her own. "You know I'm routing for you two."

He allowed a weak smile in response. "Thanks, but I don't think we'll ever get there. She thinks the universe is plotting against us."

"Well, that's dramatic."

Damon chuckled. He had a great deal of love for Caroline; she was like a sister to him and Stefan growing up, and the whole reason he met Bonnie in the first place. He owed Caroline a lot for bringing her into his life.

And just then, Bonnie was walking up to them, with Mason's arm still firmly wrapped around her waist, and she gave him a strained smile, sensing the awkwardness to come. "Hey Damon." Mason greeted with faux civility. "Good to see you, man." He held out a hand for him to shake, and plastered on his showman smile.

Damon's eyes shifted from Mason's hand to Bonnie's apologetic eyes before he forced a fake grin of his own, and squeezed the offered hand in a show of dominance. "Likewise." Not.

Mason glanced between Damon and Caroline. "Are you two...?" He seemed pleased by this.

"Me and Damon?" The blonde exclaimed incredulously.

"God no!" Damon responded at the same time, and they both looked uncomfortable by the thought alone. "That would violate many laws of nature." And that earned a light chuckle from Bonnie which brought a smile to his face.

"Bonnie, honey…" Carol Lockwood walked up with a pleasant smile. "Can I steal you and Caroline for a moment? I could use a hand with setting up the display."

Bonnie sent a wide-eyed stare at Damon who nodded, and slipped out of Mason's grip. Her boyfriend placed a kiss on her cheek, and she tried not to wince at the dark look in Damon's glare. They both watched the girls leave before Mason turned back to Damon. "You know, maybe it's time you get yourself a girlfriend, Damon. Then you can finally get your eyes off mine." His words were casual, but there was a bite in his tone that put a tick in Damon's jaw.

"And there it is." The Salvatore smirked. "The elephant in the room let's out a mighty roar." In all the time that he and Bonnie had been dating, the two men rarely spoke; it was mostly affable, if not a little stiff for conversation, but they never talked about the tight knit friendship Damon and Bonnie shared…until now.

"So, you admit it. Good…now I can be straight with you. I don't like you, Damon. I don't like that Bonnie is friends with a man that's in love with her. And I definitely don't like that she's so blind to it." He snapped, narrowing his gaze on him.

Damon scoffed, trying to reign in his smirk. "You think she doesn't know?" He brought the bourbon to his lips, while staring at him over the rim. "Trust me, Lockwood…she knows."

Mason stepped dangerously close, but it didn't faze Damon. "Stay away from Bonnie. Whatever shot you had with her, has long since passed. And I promise you, you don't want to make an enemy out of me."

"Is that a threat, Mason? Am I a threat to you?" he provoked audaciously. "I'm surprised you're so concerned about holding onto Bonnie when you play the part of eligible bachelor so well at your political events. Is that why you never invite her?"

"It's just business."

"Mm. I'm sure she understands."

"Keep pushing, Salvatore…see what happens." His fists flexed at his sides.

"Go ahead, Mason…I dare you. Unlike some of the beta males you posture to, I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty. You want to fight me…do it. But don't think that's going to win you any points with Bonnie." He goaded keeping a level gaze on Mason as he nearly shook with anger. "As long as she wants me around…I'm not going anywhere." Damon's lips curled in a lopsided smirk. "Great party." He clapped him on the shoulder roughly, and pushed passed him leaving Mason to stew alone.

…

Damon found Bonnie later in the display room, where all the Founding Family memorabilia was showcased. She was staring at one piece in particular with a wistful smile, and it grew as she felt him stand beside her, just close enough that their shoulders touched.

"I almost didn't bring it." She started. "Carol didn't even ask for it…technically the Bennett's aren't a founding family. But we were here…we were a part of this place as much as the rest of you. I felt like it deserved to be appreciated." The item was a necklace; a giant amber gem set in a gold setting. It belonged to her ancestor Emily Bennett, who served as a handmaiden to the Fell family, and it was passed down to her grandmother, who then passed it on to her.

"It does. It belongs here." He glanced at her to find she was already staring at him.

"I'm sorry I had to leave you with him like that. How bad was it? Did he say something to you?" Her face pinched in concern.

"Words were exchanged. I think it's safe to say he doesn't like me. Mostly because he came right out and told me that he doesn't like me." She let out an exasperated sigh. "Hey, it's okay…I don't want you to worry about it." He waved off.

She gave him a tired look. "Please don't get into some macho pissing match with him, Damon."

"Why," he smirked. "Afraid I'll embarrass him?"

"Noo…I'm afraid I'll end up caught in the middle and forced to choose between the two of you and I don't wat to have to do that. I don't love him, not the same way he loves me…but I do care about him, and I don't want anyone to get hurt. Do you understand?" she explained softly with a deeper meaning she hoped he would pick up on.

Damon's lips parted as he realized what she was saying, and a relieved smile formed on his face. She would choose him; of course she would…she always did. "Yeah Bon, I understand. But I want you to know something…I'm not giving up on us. And I'm not going anywhere." He stepped closer to her, and her breathing picked up at his proximity. "That may belong here…" he pointed at the necklace, before grabbing her hand and placing it on his heart. "But you belong here, and deep down I think you know that."

Bonnie's emerald eyes were wide and startled as she felt Damon's heart beat against her fingertips. This was the closest they had ever been to admitting the truth out loud; and she felt a wave of lust roll over her. She'd never wanted to kiss someone so badly in her life. She would have let him rip her clothes off right there in her boyfriend's parent's house, and it was a terrifying thought to know he consumed her so dominantly. Bonnie swallowed the knot in her throat and blinked, trying to regain some semblance of control. She pulled her hand free, as she realized her fingers had clenched around his lapel, almost of their own volition. "I have to go…" she rushed out of the room before she did something she wouldn't be able to take back.

…

Later than night, as Bonnie was taking her make up off in the bathroom, Mason stood in the doorway. "Do you love me, Bonnie?" he asked softly.

Her eyes snapped to his in the mirror and a tentative smile pulled her lips. "Of course." And she wasn't lying. She did love Mason…she wasn't in love with him; it wasn't an epic, all consuming love, but she loved him enough to stay.

He smiled, and it was the smile that pulled her in, in the first place; that boyish, charming grin that lit up his eyes. "Then marry me." She turned to him in shock, and he stepped forward pulling a large diamond ring from his pocket. "I'm crazy about you, Bonnie and some people may say it's too soon, but I know what I want, and there's nothing I want more than to start a life with you." He grabbed her hand and slipped it on her finger before she could say anything; all she could do was stare at it on her small, trembling hand as she was faced with likely the biggest decision of her life. "So, marry me…and I promise I will love you and take care of you for the rest of our lives." There was genuine hopefulness in his eyes, and she could feel her heart slam in her chest.

…

Three Days Later:

Damon walked into the main house on the Salvatore property, where his parent's lived, for their weekly Sunday dinner and followed the voices his mother in the kitchen talking to Georgina Fell.

"Well, I heard that he popped the question." Georgina's voice floated through the room.

His mother's scandalized gasp followed. "No! She didn't say yes, did she?"

"Well, I heard from Irina, who said she saw the two of them at 'La Trattoria' last night and she was wearing a ring. And what a ring is was."

Damon sauntered in with a little shake of his head as she headed to the fridge for a drink. "Good afternoon, ladies…" he drawled missing his mother's panicked look. "Who is the victim of today's gossip?" he teased as he usually did.

"Well!" Mrs. Fell started excitedly, ignoring Lily's warning glare. "Word on the street is Mason and Bonnie are engaged!"

Damon slammed the fridge door., turning slowly. "What?" He blinked, look to his mother for confirmation, and she offered him a small shrug as she stood.

"We don't know for sure. It's just a rumor…" she tried to justify.

His jaw clenched painfully, and so did his heart. "You and I both know that most of the rumors in this town turn out to be true." He stalked off out the front door, letting it slam loudly behind him.

…

AN: Hey! Sorry to leave you hanging with that one, but there will be a part III. I promise you I'm not done with this plot yet lol. Next chapter will have a couple confrontations…and there will be some angst all around, but I won't disappoint you 😉. Thanks for all the love! Your reviews are always such an exciting part of all this! I already have the next couple song stories lined up after this one is wrapped, and I'm pretty jazzed about it. It's a bit different than what I've already done. So hopefully it's well received. - Vanessa