Speechless

Summary: AH. Damon is Bonnie next door neighbor, and he fills her fantasies every night, but she could never get up the courage to talk to him. This is will likely be a shorter drabble. Just had some cute fluffy moments I wanted to get out. Bonnie POV.

Song Inspiration: Steady - Emily Wolfe

Wait in the corner of your house
I know you can feel me
But I'll stay in my place while I wait
And picture us steady
'Cause I can't breathe whenever you're around me
I can't speak whenever you're around me

Oh you're a sin to love
Oh you're a sin to like
You carry my heavy load
You carry your shiny light

…

I was late. I scurried in heels around the island in the kitchen of my apartment, grabbing my purse, coffee and shoving what was left of my muffin in my mouth. I locked the door behind me and rushed to the elevator, but I slowed when I saw him standing there waiting.

Of course. Okay…calm down. I covered my mouth as I swallowed down my breakfast, and stood next to him. He glanced at me with a little smile, and I smiled back shyly. Oh, he's so handsome. It was sinful.

I remembered the day I saw him for the first time. I heard the moving truck pull up in front of my building, and I found myself peeking through the curtains of my bedroom window. I watched as he hopped out, and I was immediately attracted to him. The defined muscles of his arms, the stark raven color of his hair, the swagger in which he walked; even the unbelievable blue of his eyes was noticeable from four storeys up. I shook my head, and forced myself to leave the window when I realized I was literally gawking at some random man shamelessly.

So, I settled in, reading a book and curling my feet under me on the couch. But when two male voices floated through from the hallway, I jumped up and padded to the door to look out the peephole. No way. He was moving in next door? The lofts in this building were fairly spacious, and there were only two suites per floor so I was bound to run into him at some point.

And I did. Often. But I could never bring myself to get any words out. I just stood there, looking straight ahead, thinking about what I wanted to say until the moment passed us by. He rendered me completely speechless. That was three months ago.

The elevator door opened and we both stepped in, and I could feel my heart beating rapidly in my chest. The doors closed and it was awkwardly silent for a solid five seconds. He leaned across and pushed the lobby button, and my eyes squeezed shut when I realized that I had been so lost in my own head I forgot that buttons moved the damn elevator.

"Sorry, thanks." I mumbled, sipping from my thermos. Great, so you do know words.

He chuckled, and my stomach tightened. "No problem." It was silent for a moment before he glanced at me. "You're Bonnie, right?" My gaze snapped to him in surprise. "I got a package for you once. I left it at your door. I'm Damon." He held out his hand and I shook it.

"Bonnie…which we've established you already know." I laughed nervously. Don't be weird. "It's nice to meet you. Formally."

"It's nice to meet you too. Formally." He mimicked with a lopsided smile. The doors opened, and we both walked out through the lobby, with him opening the front glass doors for me. "See you around."

I offered a little wave as we parted ways, and I knew that my whole day at work I'd be replaying that minute and seven seconds in my head, thinking of something better or wittier to say. I use to be more charming; I use to have confidence when it came to meeting men, but years of failed relationships and a considerably lengthy dry spell, had me second guessing myself. I had gotten used to being alone. I buried myself in my work, and I dedicated my time to things that I didn't need other people for, because if there was one person I could rely on, it was myself.

…

It would be another week before I saw him again. He was at the mailboxes when I walked in after work, and I grabbed mine too, if only to spend a couple of seconds near him. He graced me with a brilliant smile and I felt a school of butterflies' flutter in my stomach. We both walked slowly towards the elevators, and I subtly watched him as he sifted through his mail as we made it to the top floor of the building.

I couldn't help but wonder things about him: what did he do for a living, was he from the city or did he come from a small town? Did he like sushi or was he more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and most importantly…was he seeing someone? Of course, he was. He had to be! Mind you, I hadn't seen him bring anyone up here…maybe he wasn't the relationship type.

The elevators dinged open, and he gestured for me to step out first, following me out. I bit my lip nervously, debating on if I should say something as we split ways down the hall. I put the key in the lock, and risked a glance back before I slipped inside, and he did the same giving me a nod as he closed the door behind him. Leaning against the wooden door, I let my head thump against it, letting out a deep sigh. I need a glass of wine…

…

Later that night, sitting cross-legged on my couch, glass of wine within arm's reach, as I typed up proposals for the next day, I could hear him. His laugh echoed off the wall behind me, and it was so boisterous and genuine that it made me giggle to myself. There was no other voice, just the sound of the tv, and I imagined he was watching a funny movie or his favorite sit-com.

He was probably lounging on his couch, in sweat pants and an old t-shirt. Or no shirt. My mind taunted me with the image. And then suddenly my mind ran wild; so wild I had to shake the thoughts free from behind my eyes. Focus. I barely knew the guy! I shouldn't be fantasizing about him this way. He could be a womanizing asshole for all I knew, or a serial killer or maybe a vegan. If I couldn't shovel a burger into my mouth in front of him that was a deal breaker.

I was snapped out of my musings when I heard a soft knock on the door. I definitely wasn't expecting anyone, and no one buzzed in…

I placed my glass down, and padded over to the door barefoot to the door, glancing through the peephole. No way…My stomach flipped and I took a calming breath before turning the knob. "Hi…" I said with a surprised smile.

And he returned it with a grin. "Hi." His eyes roamed over me, and I suddenly became aware that I was still in my silk pink camisole and matching pajama shorts, my hair thrown up in a messy bun and my reading glasses sitting on top of my head. Was he checking me out? He cleared his throat, and caught my eyes. "Um, my brother just bailed on me and I ordered way too much Chinese food. Do you…want to have dinner with me?" He held up the bagged take out from probably one of the best Chinese restaurants within a 5-mile radius.

Not a vegan. I thought to myself happily. "Yeah…I'd like that. Um, come on in." I moved out of the way and he stepped inside my apartment, looking around as he did. I went back to the couch, and closed my laptop and straightened out my paperwork. "Make yourself comfortable I'm just going to change." I rambled with a nervous laugh and rushed back to my room. I quickly changed into a simple t-shirt and yoga pants and came back out to see him looking at the photos on my mantle above the fireplace. It was one of the few I had out.

"Is that the boyfriend?" he asked lightly.

I let out a sharp laugh as I pulled plates out from the cupboard. "God no…brother. Step brother."

He chuckled. "Oh…well, good to know." He shot me a little smirk and I swallowed the dry lump in my throat as I brought the cutlery and plates over to the coffee table. I sat cross legged on one side of the table and he did the same, but out of the corner of my eye I could see him watching me as I nervously shuffled around opening the take-out boxes. "So…no boyfriend? Right?" he asked in a low rumbling tone.

My eyes snapped up to his with a sultry smile. "No boyfriend."

Damon grinned happily, and we both started digging in, the rest of the evening spent in easy conversation.

…

This became a weekly tradition for us. Friday nights, Damon would show up at my door with take out, and we would drink and stuff our faces with good food and tell each other random stories that happened earlier that week. It was something I looked forward to, and I know he did too. We didn't take it any further or question what it was, which was actually a bit of a relief. I was worried of what the pressure of taking it further would mean for this budding friendship we had and knowing me, I was good at screwing up a good thing with minimal effort. But I would be lying if I said I didn't want more.

One Friday night, when Damon showed up at my door, I was surprised to see him dressed up. His usual casual sweatpants and black t-shirt were replaced with a pair of black slacks and a charcoal button up, his hands linked behind his back. "Well…I feel slightly under dressed." I joked letting him in.

"I figured tonight we'd do something different. I want to take you out to dinner."

I chuckled. "Still a bit fancy for the Szechwan Palace, but okay."

He seemed to get amusement out of that and ducked his head hiding a smirk. "No, not the Szechwan Palace. I was thinking something a little nicer than that; wine, romantic lighting…more like a date." I must have been looking at him with a deer in head lights look because he winced dejectedly. "I like you, Bonnie; and being your friend has been great, but I want to be more to you than that."

I was stunned into silence. "Um…can you just…can you just wait here?" I rushed back to my room, leaving him standing there probably wondering what the hell just happened. I frantically rushed around my room, looking for something to wear, and hurriedly fixing my make up. I let my hair down, and slipped into a pair of heels, giving myself a once over before walking back out to him. His eyes glazed over and his lips parted. "A date sounds nice." I said with cheeky grin that make him laugh almost in relief.

"Thank God, I thought I screwed that up. You look amazing…that's got to be a world record for that fastest a woman has ever gotten dressed." He teased, holding his arm out for me.

I grabbed my purse and linked my arm through his. "Yeah well, I had a handsome man waiting for me…that's pretty good incentive." I joked back as we headed out the front door.

Out of all the times I pictured what it would be like to be his girlfriend, it never measured up to how it turned out. What I thought was just a crush turned into a full-blown committed relationship, something I didn't think I'd find, least of all next door. It was all double dates and couple's parties, Christmas with my family and Thanksgiving with his, romantic getaways and cozy nights in. We fell head over heels in love.

I remember the day he moved in; it was the beginning of the end of the old Bonnie Bennett – the shy, unsure, workaholic that managed to drive away every guy she dated. And I'll never forget the day he moved out…because that was when we started our lives as Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore.

…

AN: Okay, I know, kind of cheesy, super fluffy lol not really my style, and if I'm honest, not 100% happy with it, but I just had these cute visualizations in my mind and I'm not really sure if I played it out the way I wanted them to. Anyways, something to hold you over while I work on the next few ideas. Also…*drum roll* The multi-chapter Bamon fic is in the works! It's called 'Bloodstream' and I'm thinking the first chapter will be ready by next week, so please look out for it! Have a good weekend everyone! - Vanessa